Monday, February 26, 2007

A Stormy Weekend!!

I've had encountered a couple of storms over the weekend!

Our basketball kids had quite a scare last Saturday morning when a loud-mouth father of a daughter on our opponent's team stormed the floor yelling at our coach, referees and the crowd. It was quite shocking. This would be a perfect video to include in a segment called, "When A Parent Attacks (at ballgames)!"

I saw a video on television not long ago showing a father running across the football field and hit the opponent's player flat on the ground because this football player apparently gave a "late-hit" on his son. He got arrested and spent a day in jail plus heavy fine. Then Michelle and I got to see it, "LIVE", right in front of me. I didn't have my hearing aid on so I wasn't sure how loud he was until one of our team parent came up to me and said, "I'm glad you didn't hear this obnoxious guy! (chuckle)".

What apparently happened was one of the players on the opponent's side got too rough on our star player and our coach informed the other coach to calm their players down. Then the play resume and apparently one of our players got rough on this "Obnoxious Dad's Girl", the girl cried covering her face then the dad stormed the floor wreaking havoc! The opponent's coach yelled at our coach and said, "Then you tell yours to calm down!! Look at this poor girl!!" The referees gave the dad a warning and the wife of the dad yelled at him for making a scene. I could read her lips a mile away. She said, "You do this in every game! Come on! It's just a game!"

Quite a storm, huh?

Another storm... This time, it's weather-related.. 4.5 inches of snow in 6 hours!! We woke up yesterday morning wondering if there will be services at church. Checked the internet and my email. Still on. Walked out the door finding myself on a slippery walk. Started to sleet then quarter to half-dollar chunk size snow came down. Roads accumulating super fast! Managed to get to church. We worshipped God with all our hearts, minds, souls and strengths! By the time worship was over, there was approximately 2 inches of snow on the ground and still snowing!

We had Dr. Hughes from Pepperdine as our guest speaker yesterday. He preached the Word! He opened the lesson with a cute story about "Frederick" written by Leo Lionni. Then he quoted several verses in the Scripture including Matthew 25:32 (ff) where Jesus talked about those on His right and left, sheep and goats. Then he concluded the lesson asking people to get themselves into the "Story" where God continues to witness our love, faithfulness and obedience to His loving commands. Hope you've begun your journey with God and the "chapters" are continuing in your love story with God.

Another final storm of the weekend! It is, however, still brewing in the world today! What saddens me is that there are people in relationships that are on the brink of a fallout. Satan has been successful in destroying marriages. Either one or both of the spouse side with him rather than siding with God, the Designer of Marriage. Once a marriage falls apart, either one or both also depart God and close the love story with a final chapter. I often tell couples in any relationships to keep Jesus at the center, in between them. When you look at the person you're having a relationship with and before you "react in anyway" to the person, you must go through Jesus first. Here's an example, if you're going to "yell" at the person you love, you'll have to "yell" at Jesus first. If you're going to "hate" the person, you'll have to "hate" Jesus first. Every action and words must pass by Jesus first. Indeed, He'll be hurt because many of us, including myself, have hurt Him with words. This is the storm I hate!

May the Lord continue to be a blessing to you all this week!!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mark..

Thanks for this post! Sorry, if I remain to be anonymous, though I support your message.

There are storms everyday. In homes, at work, in the inner-self (person), on the road, at church (of course!), in marriages (and all relationships), in politics.. And many more!

I'm sorry that the kids had to see the awful example of this parent. What kind of a role model is he!? His bitterness. His perversion. His flared temper. Doesn't that scare the kids? I'm sure it scared the parents of those kids. And... The world is full of it!

I'm not a fan of a person who portrays bitternesses at all! I do forgive such a person (they may or may not change) but I will not associate with him or her. If I do, I could very much be like him then pass on that example.

Where's the Christ-like example when the world needs it. It seems there's more and more bad examples than Christ's-good-example.

And.. Marriage.. Tell me about it! I have many friends.. Divorced. Twice divorced. As a Christian, I tried. Tried to help them see God. Yet, they continue to invite a person of opposite sex into their home in hope for, yet, another relationship which eventually may lead to another broken one. They need God, first.

Anonymous said...

Hi Mark,

The same was true for us. One of my friend's daughter heard one father yelling, "_______", Who was that girl? That was our daughter who played very tough. I did not know until two days later.

We wondered about the kids, too. Very sad and heartbreaking for us!

Holly

Mark Lowenstein said...

Holly,

Wow! I can imagine that because your daughter is a big girl and is capable of roughing things up a bit. But that's part of the game! I don't like sissy games where you politely play by saying, "Ok.. It's your lane now. Drive and score! Way to go!" Come on! :)

It's good that your daughter is deaf that she's not able to hear this guy yell at her. That'll keep her momentum up!

Anonymous said...

Howdy Yalla'all,

The Old Man Winter is enjoying the most for all of us, seeing all the snow coming down in your area (East Coast) and here (Midwest-West). Snow is God-Given special gift for our Earth nature. Let it Snow -- don't be afraid, everyone !!!

Anyway, for that "sport bullying" is very typical and nothing new, which of course the media has bought lot of attention and wide-eye-openers -- however its not new all way since the Grand Old Days of Greek Old Olympics (little bit after the Bible old days). All the same. Its just add up drama after the media exposure about sport bullying. It will not solve -- i don't think it will improve the healing of sport bullying, just because of the media exposure. The media will not help us regardless !!!! ONLY use the FAITH through the Dear Lord Jesus Christ the Savior in real soulful heartfelt prayers. When more people use this God-Given method in the sport world, all things will be very good and excellent -- sure fun watching. On the same page, "being tough or rough" is just fine and healthy as long as it only belong ON THE COURT-FIELD (playing area) as strictly bekindled by the sport behavior. Just like you saw Super Bowl, the Colts-Bears game is probably very good "sport behavior" even though both teams express the Toughness-Roughness. Just due respect to the game itself -- think about give respect to the Lord itself same thing. How sad the media HAS BOUGHT the drama. Think about 40 or 50 years ago (where the media didn't exist too much) -- the game is much more "polite" be seen, but still same Rough-Tough. LET THE SPORT KEEP ROLLING THE SAME VALUE FOR THE LORD DITTO SAME. Yes, its shocking to see that sport bullying and not even explain to the kids, WOW .... it should forewarn (pre-prepping) as the kids will aware quickly etc. In fact, I will be joining my son's lacrosse team as the assistant (to assist the coach, not being head coach) ... it will be fun ... it will inspire me alot as i can give all the help for the team. Oh yeah, maybe one game come up later on, where the sport bullying would be happening. Oh boy, i hope nothing happens !!! Good effort to the team, DITTO to good effort for the Lord.

For the marriage situation, like I explained about the sport bullying above as relation (being tied to) to the media whirlwind. The media also cause the marriage go becoming the sour and rotten grapevines too many times (the percentage of divorces went skyrocketed since 1970's because of the media effect !!!!) -- yes also the Lord "ignorance" from the marriage faith as given by the married couples. REMEMBER, at the first place, the Bible has said THE MAN AND THE WOMAN BECOME THE ONE FLESH. It means BOTH human beings BECOME the "spiritual" ONE human being (in Faith way). Hey, WHY "go ahead war and fight against each other" ??? It won't work !!! One new flesh together = stick together forever until the death. Inside that flesh, cannot let Fights or Wars whirl and spiril out of control. Yes, in my belief, in my own wording (just like Mark said, just different wording), use the Lord "GUIDE" One new marriage flesh go by smoothly and get through the storms !!!! Mark, don't hate that special storms huh !!!!! I think high percentage of married couples DON'T KNOW what two human beings can become the ONE. Lot of them had told me (just continusing and stubbornly kept saying so etc) that they felt the marriage is only if they agree something like CONTRACT (you know what the Contract means like if you buy a house, there is a contract paper)... there is NONE NONE NONE a Contract for marriage !!!! No !!! Absolutely Not. Marriage is a special get-together into God-Given law seen for the couple to become the ONE. OK, for most people, yeah -- HOW SAD ... they said blah blah like Contract etc. If the Contract not work out happen, they say GO GREEN LIGHT to go Divorce and say happy good-bye. DUH DUH -- Stupid !!!! Let pray for all troubled couples to keep stay on Marriage -- like we survived before, don't let the Media beat you !!!!!

Happy Cheers -- DONT FEAR ON ALL THINGS ON EARTH. Ignore the media. Go have fun together (to all couples) and be happy good times.

To all Married couples, have fun all the way until the Dear Lord get you up there. Simple !! Is that too easy in Life Brain ??? Yep !!!

Oh the Snow all bless on all couples too -- you see color White -- its beautiful in heart.

Anonymous said...

WoW! awesome! No snow in Georgia for the winter but raining most of times. Last week it was very cold. Now it is warm this week. Weird weather!!!!! Patty Ann