Category: blogging, writing, social media, art, drawing, books, reading, publishing

Covid- Teachers Perspective

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Covid is taking its toll on schools, students, parents and teachers all across this great country we call America. It is ravaging the world as well, but for my purposes I will write about what I witness on a daily and weekly basis as a local career educator and coach. Different states, cities, towns and districts all have different standards and protocols in place. This inconsistency has gotten things all jumbled up and out of sync. Governors are putting in mandates while others are leaving it up to the local school board to decide. Some washed their hands of it due to political reasons while others are doing what they want regardless of the polticial consequences.

Covid is very real and I am a survivor of the sickness. Last December right around Christmas while I was at home ordering food in, staying out of the public, wearing a mask, being careful and teaching from home online as directed by my school district I contracted the sickness. Within five days it had ravaged my body and put me in the hospital. I could not breath, walk or hardly talk as it took its toll on my lungs and body. I fought back and survived and Thanks to God I came home. It took 30 pounds off me quickly, messed with my lung function and put me at a high risk of other issues. So as I write about Covid I do so as a survivor that nearly died in the hopsital fighting to breath and not give up.

I see schools are trying to return to normal and have implemented mask mandates, staying six feet apart and other guidelines to protect their students, teachers, staff and families. But is that enough and are those simple little guidelines realistic to stopping the spread of Covid and saving peoples lives? I am not for nor against a mask and other guidelines. I am simply saying this Covid thing goes much deeper and farther than a guideline. If a person is exposed the guideline says this. If they are vaccinated it says this. If they are not it says this. All of this means nothing because when it comes down to it Covid scares many people and even others that will not admit it.

If you are a teacher you know that it is true that kids come to school all the time sick with colds, coughs, flu and other things. Parents send them to school to make sure they do not miss any work time or even do not have to keep the kids at home. I have seen the stress Covid is putting on the staff at schools and the anxiety it gives many of the students. Some act as if it is no big deal, but to others it is real because they have had it, seen someone fight it or even worse lost someone from it. Covid does not care if your young, old, healthy, fat, skinny, diabetic, sick, not sick, etc. Covid attacks us when we are weak and takes it toll on the body.

I know of several people I would conside fit as a fiddle that died within a week of it. I have seen case after case at school, exposure after exposure at school and your told look at the protocol. What they do not understand is a person that has a mother, father or older person at home does not care about a damn protocol. They are worried they may take it home and give it to someone else that could pass away. A paper of process cannot replace lives lost due to protocol. Covid will not be going away soon and will continue to ravage as it wants to.

How we react to it is what matters. Do we live scared? Do we live free of it? Do we proceed with caution? What do we do? Is remote learnig best? Is alternating weeks best? Is face to face with spacing and masks best? These are the things the politicians, school boards, administrators and leaders must face. But for the front line people, the teachers, nurses, police, firemen, and other civil servants it is more of how do we face it and move forward. I see people taking time off, stepping away, leaving the field and doing safer occupations. I see people on facebook talking about “if you do not like what you do or are scared then do not do it”. That is easier said than done when it comes to leaving a profession you love, giving up an income and not taking care of the family needs and wants.

Covid, you suck and need to go away. Our kids need to be in school. Our teachers need to be teaching them. Our kids need to play football, be in the band, hang with friends and live life. We need you to go away as quick as you came. Wishful thinking yes, but it sounds good to me for it to go away. As for me I will be at work, be as safe as I can and take care of my students, my family and myself. Prayerfully I can teach, coach, mentor and survive this thing called Covid.

Americana- Football, Family, Friends and Faith

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There are three things that have been a part of my family tradition for what seems forever and a day. Football, Family, Friends and faith are all part of my American dream. For millions of Americans these four F’s have become part of what we know as the annual right of passage from early September to the Middle of February. For many of us that have grown up playing the best game on earth (American Football), yes the one that you hit and tackle people while playing. It all begins with kids playing in the backyard, in the road, a field or on a hill at a friday night varsity home game. We all began out football career by tackling, rolling down hills, getting smashed up, hit, beat on and ran over by our older siblings, cousins and best buds.

Then we start playing little league, pee wee or pop warner depending on where you live and what it is called. That is when it starts getting more serious and we have to learn to be the best we can, be tough, have faith in ourselves and learn a system of depending on family and friends. Then we go to middle school and it gets even more serious. Throw in some AAU travel football and it is feeling for real then. Teamwork, family, friends and faith become part of who we are as we battle with each other and for one another. We represent our communities, families, schools, teams and neighborhoods the best we can.

Then high school comes along and many of those that played younger begin to drop like flies. Suddenly it is more than a game. It has become something bigger than the individual and is truly a family and team sport. Families line up outside and pay the gate fee to support their kids and neighbors. They tailgate eating good food enjoying family and friends before the big game. The players, coaches and fans fellowship on preparation for the big battle about to take place. Football teaches us how to win, lose, battle, fight, overcome, endure and be a better person. It teaches us to have faith in ourselves, family, community, friends and God.

Then some of us work hard enough to play on Saturdays in front of big crowds at various levels. Some in big time arenas in front of 100,000 people at the highest level. We see the blessing in that and how fortunate we were to be able to do that playing a game that we simply love. Others play small ball in front of a few hundred people in the stands. Either way, the game is played hard and means just as much regardless of the size of the stadium or arena. Regardless of the level of ball it is about football, family, friendships and faith. I developed all of these playing ball from pee wee to mid level college football.

I have stood on the sidelines as a player, coach and parent hearing the national anthem which still gives me the goose bumps on Friday night. I have played, coached and watched high level ball. I have played, coached and watch low level ball. All in all I have found that football, family, friends and faith are what has made me who I am today. I am a piece of Americana because of Football. God Bless football, family, friends and faith!

Spirit Chronicles: Was It Real or Not

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I was driving down the road the other day and off to my right I saw something step into the woods. I wasn’t sure what it was but I know it was not a bear, deer, coyote, dog or large cat. It was bi-pedal and stood to be about five or six feet tall. I caught just a glimpse of it as it made its way into the brush and disapeared as if it was never there. I have driven that road many times in the past and have always felt like it was an area that something unexplained could hide in or be protected from. The woods are deep and thick with Pine Trees and big hard woods. There is a rock quarry across the road and a large wooded boggy area about three or four feet deep near the sighting.

That bog has plenty of wildlife surrounding it with fish, turtles and other critters in the water. It is a perfect habitat for a large predator to live and prosper in. It provides plenty of cover, railroad tracks, water, a huge man made rock quarry and plenty of roots, fruit trees and wild flowers. I know I saw something and when I was nine years old I saw something similiar to this. I was told by another person that I trust that I saw a shaoe shifter that day but I am still not sold that it was not a bigfoot. This looked like a bi-pedal being and it moved through the woods smoothly and just was gone. It was not a trick of my mind.

I stopped the jeep and got out to go check it out and maybe grab a photo. I snapped a few and heard movement down in the valley a few hundred feet away but that could have been any type of wildlife so no proof of anything. Whatever was moving made some heavy paths and noise as it moved through the thick brush. It was getting dark so I went to my jeep and rode on to the house. The whole time I was thinking about what I had seen and have not mentioned it to anyone until writing this today. I will be going to do an investigation in that area soon to see if I can find some evidence or grab a very rarely seen photo of what it might be. I will continue to believe that there is something out there deep in the woods all over the world that is yet to be found. Time will tell and we will see.

Physical, Intellectual and Spiritual Growth

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Today as I was eating breakfast with my wife I looked over a side table and staring at me was a prized picture of my mom and dad. I had been thinking about growth and praying to God for guidance in that area. The mention of my parents is because when you look at the three types of growth mentioned above my folks would meet all three categories. Obviously they had physically grown into adults well into their 70’s prior to passing away and moving onto greater things. My mom physically was short in stature about 5’0 tall and medium build. She was dynamite in a small package. My dad on the flip side was 6’4 and 350 pounds. He was a full grown man that stood over people in any room and rarely would you see a man much bigger than him. Intellecually they were both very mature adults. I cannot remember one single time in my childhood or adult life around them when they fought or argued. I am sure they did at times but they knew that was to be done away from people and the kids so they did it in private.

Spiritually they both loved the Lord and were great role models for my family in that part of life. My dad read the entire Bible 3-4 times from start to finish and kept notes in a notebook and his own Bible that I still have in my possession. Mom was a Sunday school teacher, mentor and volunteered at church and in the community. Rarely did you ever hear either of them say a curse word or something off the wall. They had been raised to be physically, intellecually and spiritually grown people. Even into their 70’s after their bodies started to reverse course and fail on them with achy joints, diabetes and other physical issues they continued to seek to grow intellecually and spiritually. Mom would read, watch TV shows and do puzzles to keep her mind sharp. Dad would read, listen to music, and still read the newspaper like the old days. They knew that being able to read and write were basic adult abilities and tools that could help you be successful in life.

I gave this background because that is the example of grown that I have seen and bless thier souls my parents are now in Heaven together and have reached full mature growth in all three areas. They have new bodies and are strong and able. They have been granted the intellecual thought of Heaven and know so much now we only wish we could know. And finally, they have made the final step in spiritual awakening when they closed their eyes and took their last human breath and were in the presence of God himself. So now I have to ask myself am I grown and in what areas do I need to increase my physical, intellectual and spiritual growth?

The good old internet had a definition of physical growth. The process of the body changing, growing and aging into full human growth. Typically this physical maturity occurs by the early 20’s for most people so I can check that one off the list. I am now in my mid 50’s so I am way past the physical growth stage of life. The intenet also defines intellectual growth as the process of growing ones mind, mental capacity, learning and retaining knowledge. As a career teacher I have studied lots of information, read books, sought information and I think I have reached a good adult level of intellectual growth. Lastly, the good old internet defines spiritual growth as: the increase in knowing God’s word, learning the process of fighting off sinful actions in your life. Spiritual growth may have other meanings to you based on your releigion or lack of.

For me spiritual growth is the process of getting closer to God through his word and study. It is the process of awakening the soul and making a life long connection to God. It is seeking out him and his will in your life. I have made great strides in this area, but am far from where I need to be. With that said I have read the Bible for guidance and prayed and came up with these ways to become a master of spiritual growth. Not a masters degree, that is intellectual growth. I am talking about being awarded the ultimate growth certificate and that is to know God, his expectations in my life and how to meet those requirements. I want to live my best life in all three areas so to keep growing physically, intellecually and spiritually I will do the follwing things.

Physical Growth- The only growth I see at this point in my 50’s is my belly getting bigger and weight changing. I made a decision a year ago to make physical growth a must in life and have since lost about 50 pounds and have a long ways to go. I feel better with less weight, take less medicine, get more exercise and have more energy so that is how I can continue to grow in this area. Be smart, do the right things and live my best physical growth life.

  1. Eat better foods
  2. Drink more water
  3. Stay off sugary products and eat more natural
  4. Walk, bike, run or work in the yard to get exercise
  5. Lose some weight if needed

Intellectual Growth- I like to read about topics of interest such as faith, paranormal, spirit and leadership. I plan to continue to grow as an intellect and reach all the potential I can in that area. An idle mind becomes less effective the older we get. So I will read, write, research, study, watch and even take a few more classes of interest to grow this area.

  1. Read books you like
  2. Watch documentories about history, life and culture
  3. Go back to school or take some online classes
  4. Write, Blog or make videos using your knowldege and background
  5. Attend seminars, Church, conferences and other events designed to motivate the mind

Spiritual Growth- This is the most important area for me as I am now at the point of a full spiritual awakening with God and his spirit in me. I will read his word, research, pray and meditate so I can seek him and his full guidance in my life. I dare you all to do the same and see how this helps you live your best life and reach full growth in a physical, intellectual and spiritual way.

  1. Read God’s word daily
  2. Pray daily
  3. Meditate
  4. Go to church, attend conferences, watch videos, and other online opportunity
  5. Seek God first and ask him to guide you
  6. Submit to his will and watch what happens

Spiritual Growth

Hebrews: 4:12; For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Physical Growth

3rd John 1:2; Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.

Intellectual Growth

1st Peter 1:13; Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Spirit Chronicles: Defending My Friend

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Last night I prayed for a dear friend of mine prior to going to sleep. He has been struggling lately with some things and I am very concerned about him. I prayed that anything that may be getting in his way, attacking him or bothering him while he is weaker for away or show itself.

I have been known to see demons and spirits in my sleep and fight them off for myself, family and friends. I got my request as soon as I snoozed off I saw a demonic spirit in the kitchen of my nanny’s house and that is always where they present themselves to me.

It was messing with one of my dogs and laughing at me. It said to me”you cannot stop me” and started to choke my dog and lift it off the ground. When I fight a demon in my sleep I have the ability to push my arms out extended towards the demon and push them around with a light force that comes from God.

I recognized this one as being one of the strongest and meanest I had ever dealt with. I knew something was wrong and had sensed evil was playing a role in my friends issues. This one was big, old and nasty and was pretty powerful. When it started lifting the dog I instantly threw light at it and it dropped the dog and he ran out of the room.

The spirit came head on at me so I pushed it back to the wall and pinned it down. While holding it down I began to pray to God and say the Lord’s prayer to it. this of course made it event madder so it began to mousy hard back and swing at me. It cursed at me saying vile things about God and me.

I continued to push it away and demand it leave the room and leave my friend alone. It a like I can become a spirit warrior or light warrior. These things are nasty and real. You may think this is sci-fi but it is my life. I have been granted the ability to identify and defeat them with God’s help and guidance.

It is like being in a horror movie and that graphic. I made this one leave and sent it back to where it came from. Be advised that the enemy is real and is waiting to pounce on you when you are emotionally, physically and spiritually drained. You must fight, battle, pray and overcome it these things will infest you and destroy your life one day at a time.

I refuse to let it take my friends and family. I will gladly fight and with the backing of my Hod will continue to step into battle and win. Scary hit real so beware, be observant and be in prayer for strength and guidance. I call in my Angel protectors to help me and push the evil away.

Spirit Chronicles: Too Scared to Speak

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I saw a woman sitting in a chair and she sat there and pointed at the ceiling just staring at it and trying to say something. She was very frightened and could not speak to me but was trying. Whatver she saw was looking at her from the corner of the room and had her frozen in time just hanging her mouth open in terror. I looked in the corner and could not find anything other than a shadow or two. When I looked for them the shadow moved and the woman continued to point at them and hold her mouth open as if she wanted to either say something to me or warn me.

I asked her to speak and she just sat there scared. I tried to talk to her, sooth her and let her know that I could protect her from whatever it was. But she just sat there and stared at the ceiling and tried to speak to me. She was trying to tell me something but couldn’t. I turned again and ask whatever it was to face me and leave the old lady alone but it just kept moving around from corner to corner. It was a dark shadow and a bad being that had gotten influence over the poor old lady.

I prayed for her and told the shadow to move along and leave her alone. It continued to crawl around hiding and she continued to look at it in terror and point. I could never get it or the lady to talk to me and I soon woke up. The image of the old lady is still in my mind. She was dead and had lived through something horrible when she was alive. I prayed after waking up and advised the old lady to seek God and go to the light. I demanded that whatever that thing was go straight back to hell where it came from. I hope it helped the old lady haunted by the dark shadow spirit on the wall.

Spirit Chronicles: The Virus Encampment

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I had a vision of people standing in a maasive lines like they were trying to get into a concert. Individuals, couples and families just standing there waiting in these very slow moving lines. The weather was really hot and people were struggling especially the older ones. Younger folks were moving in front of them and breaking on line. People were hot, sweaty and tired and it was making them mean. They were turing on one another, arguing over line position and fighting. The lines were about a half mile long and there were five of them. They all began at a large fence made of stone and concrete about 15 feet high with razor wire along the top. Military dressed soldiers were stationed at each entry point where the lines began and others patrolled the area and lines trying to keep the peace.

Some people failed to comply to the military orders when they were fighting or arguing and were pulled from the line and beaten or taken to an other location in the back of a military jeep. Many of the people in line were coughing and weak. They looked very sick and fragile as if they were infected with something. If they couhged or looked really sick they were tagged with a red label “infected” and put into an even longer line separated from whom ever they were with. If they failed to comply they were stricken down and taken away. Announcements were being made in various languages to remain calm, stay in line and report to a soldier if they were sick or infected.

Some saw the soliders taking people away and tried to run but a full rigimen of soliders were behind the lines holding people back and capturing them. A group of medical people were walking up and down the lines checking on people with a scanner of some sorts. They did not talk and would just nod to a solider if they wanted someone taken away. The scene was massive with hundreds of thousands of people waiting outside in the heat to get help. On the other side of the massive wall was a series of military tents numbering in the hundreds.

The area of the emcampment was about fifty acres in size and all of those tents were open air with thousands of beds lined up side by side. Most of the beds were occupied with people and they were lying still either giving blood, getting blood or getting a shot of some kind. At the back of the medical tents was a ten foot electric fence designed to keep people in it. Inside of that fence were people that were very sick, fragile and really looked like walking dead. Thousands of people were inside the fence with no security or medical staff just wondering around aimlessly like they did not know they were even there. I don’t think they were dead but appeared to be so sick that they had no idea of what they were doing.

Some had fallen down and were just lying on the ground and the others just trampled them or walked by. At the back side of this fenced in area about the size of five football fields there were cattle chutes like a farmer would run cattle into to board a truck or go into a pasture. There wer medical people and soliders at this chute and as the people would wonder in they would close the gate and push them into tractor traliers loaded with lots of infected and sick people. This area was where they sick were being taken from the lines outside the complex. This emcampment was designed to make those that had not taken a vaccination take it and get rid of the infected to slow the spread of a super virus that was attaking the wolrd and killing millions.

Behind that massive encmapment was an airport that had been setup as a control center and it housed leaders from all over the world. It was self contained and had buildings built that were designed to keep the virus outside and away from the elites of each country. Inside of this complex were the leaders of the largest countries in the world, their families and staff. Military were stationed by the thousands all around it guarding entry. Planes and helicopters were flying about patrolling the area as well. I saw a room inside the control tower and in that room was the designated leader of China, N Korea, Afganistan, Russia, Iraq and Iran. These countries had taken over the world and were ruling as a hard core one world rule.

America, Britian, France, Germany and others were no longer valid countries and had been consumed by the ruling party of the world. I saw them laughing, pointing and joking as they watched the world fall apart under their control and the virus that had been unleashed to dismantle all free countires of the world. I then saw a picture of the source of their ability to rule and destroy the world. They had used the internet, socila media, news agencies and other media to tell a story of deception, lies and propoganda designed to get people riled up about racism, freedoms, and social justice. The whole thing was a rouse to get people to self destruct as America did when the election happened.

I woke up sweating with a fast heart rate and wrote down what I had seen. I had this dream or vision and described it as I seen it happen. I am not saying this is to happen, but generally my dreams come to light at some point so we will see. Watch out for what information you are allowing to put into your head. It may be your downfall as you get programmed to be controlled and given the shot that you think may save you. In reality it may be the shot that gives them control and kills you.

Americana: Dirt Road Diary

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Growing up I spent most of my life living on an old dirt road. The road I grew up on did not get paved until I was in my later teens and I do not know how many times I ran up and down that road to see my friends and hang out. We lived in a rural area with eight houses on the road and all my friends and neighbors were within a few years apart from one another. The road we lived on was a cur through for many people heading off to work and coming back from town. It was a good route so people did not have to stop at a four way and turn and head down a real steep hill.

With all that traffic cutting by the house the dirt stayed flying about all the time. Later in my childhood some of the parents got together and put down rock on the dirt road which made it better for fighting off the dust. But man did those rocks hurt when you went over the handlebars of your bike ot missed a jump off about a six feet drop and wiped yourself all over that road. The rocks were brutal and always won against the skin of a child. I cannot count the times I rode up and down that road or ran up and down it. From my house to the bus stop was about two hundred yards dead sprint in the mornings. It seemed like a half mile at the time when I was little. If you got a late start heading towards the bus stop and heard the old bus rumbling down the county road then you best get to running and fast.

Back then the bus drivers would leave you if you were not at the stop and then would stop and get you if you were there when they came back through. My dad wouuld leave for work around 7:15 everyday and you best not be standing there which showed him that you had missed the bus. So on occasion when I did we would run into a tobacco field right beside the dirt road and hide. I am sure he knew we were there and after a few tines he figured out that we were safe either way. Back then the country was safer and kids could be outside playing, standing at the bus stop and hanging outside until it got dark.

I have so many memeories of that dirt road and all the antics we got into. We played football, baseball, basketball, and other sports on that dirt road. We raced bikes, cars, motorcycles and anything with wheels on that road. The neighbors had some big dogs and they would always chase your tail down the road and come to the edge of the yard sounding like a monster ready to tear your leg off and eat it. Most of them werre actually just good old dogs that wanted to bark and act all tough. I seen fights on that road, kissed a=my first girl on that road and probably some other stuff that I do not need to admit too on here (my wife and kids) may read this posting.

For those that never had the pleasure of living in the country and growing up on a dirt road I am sorry for that. Dirt roads teach us life lessons, some good and some bad. Dirt roads make good memories and tough memories. Dirt roads twist and turn, Dirt roads are dusty at times. Dirt roads have holes and can tear a wheel up on your vehicle. Dirt roads go deep into the woods sometimes and you might not know where it leads you. Dirt roads often give you a choice to go one way or another to get somewhere. This is like life as all of these things will happen.

You will encounter potholes, hills, curves, and forks in the road. You will have times when life is muddy and dusty. You will have crashes, trees in the way (obstacles) but no matter what if you take that dirt road and stay the course it will eventually take you to a point where you want to be. Remember earlier I said that the dirt road I grew up on lead to a shortcut that made getting from point A to B easier for people. So just know that a good old dirt road is fine and a great place to live. I now live on a half mile dirt road again and still love to hit the gas on ny jeep or truck and throw some dirt road dust in the air when I am driving to the house. You can drive hard, hit the humps in the road and make more memories on your dirt road diary.

Spirit Chronicles: The Golden Flood Gate

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I dreamed about a huge Golden gate that was holding back tons of beautiful water. The water was crystal clear and clean. It had no contamination and was pure of anything. It was the most beautiful water anyone could ever see. It was thousands of feet deep and came from deep into the earth. It was held back by a humongous gate that was made of gold. There were two huge Angels standing at the ends of the gate watching over it and they were the protectors. Another man was also standing there and he was looking out over the land that water was about to cover.

People were walking about doing their day to day life activity and many were doing things that they should not be doing. He pointed to them and some would shy away or wave him off. Others would acknowledge him and started to walk towards him up a ladder towards the huge Golden gate dam. The others continued to do as they pleased laughing, pointing back and mocking the gate guardian. One by many of the people climbed the ladder and went to safety away from the gate to higher ground.

The others soon began to be swept up by these black shadowy figures that placed them in cages. They were so wrapped up in themselves and the things they were doing that they got caught up in the sin of the world and did not seek to climb the ladder. After millions climbed the ladder to safety and the other millions of people were caged, tied down or unable to climb because the sins of the world they had committed with flesh, drugs, violence, self loathing and other sins held the in bondage. Even in bondage and struggling they would not seek the guardian the Golden gate.

Then the guardian of the gate told the two Angels to let the dam go. They pulled the dam and millions of gallons of that beautiful water began to sweep across the land and wash those tied down, in cages and bound up away and under the water. One by one the water washed them away or under and the cleansing of the earth had begun. Those that climbed the ladder stood and sang songs of praise to God and prayed for the lost ones that were being swept away by the waters. The water consumed the earth and it was flooded that beautiful water stayed pure of any contamination.

The gate was ordered closed and the flooding stopped and the earth was a sea of beautiful water and those that had been saved and came to the guardian of the gate were given new lands more beautiful than anything the earth had ever seen. Trees as tall as skyscrapers began to grow with multicolored flowers. Gardens of plenty were growing all over the earth and the water was going away revealing glory and heaven on earth. Watch for the guardian of the gate and go to him before the gates are opened.

Football Time Again

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After two years away from coaching football. I have accepted the role of Head Football coach at Thomasville Middle School. I am excited to get back into the sport as a head coach on my terms. I stood on the sidelines in 2019 after a tough playoff loss as an assistant at Thomasvile High School and decided it was time to step away for a while to see where things were going. I had been a community coach. college coach, Varsity assistant, JV Head Coach, Interim Varsity Head coach (2X) and coordinator during my football coaching career. I had a goal from the time I was in high school to become a high school head football coach but the cards never seemed to fall in the right place at the right time.

I had come to a point where the game I had played or coached since I was seven years old was no longer exciting and felt like the career had come to a close on the sidelines. I had a bad back, bad knees, was overweight and was just tired. I had coached 2-3 sports (football, wrestling and softball) a year for ten plus and was just wore out physically and mentally. I needed to get healthy, be with my family and just relax. I needed time to heal and grow as a person, husband, father, teacher and mentor. I needed me time and have enjoyed the last two years more relaxed with no seven day a week football work schedules, Sunday afternoon film sessions and an additional 30-40 hours a week of practice and game time.

I know that God is good and he leads us in the direction we need to go in life. We follow his lead by following our heart and his word.. After much thought, prayer and my family’s blessing it is time to put some more energy and time into the the game that has given so much to me and my family. To achieve our goals in life we must put time, energy, patience and hard work into it. To make it to our final goal we have to be willing to put in the work and build ourselves up in preparation for that.

I want to Thank my wife Cindy for her blessing to get back into the sport I have loved for so long. God is leading me where I need to go and I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to coach again and being sought after feels really good. It will be an honor to coach football again. I cannot wait to hear the national anthem just before the game. Watch the boys run on and off the field, compete, work hard and see what happens on game day. Look into the bleachers and see my family sitting there rooting the team on. Those are the things that make the game so special. It is football time once again for me and step in the direction I always wanted to go.

Coach B

Spirit Chronicles: Obstacles In The Road

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I dreamed I was walking into school and everywhere I looked there were obstacles standing in the way. I walked around them, through them and over them and they kept popping up. A man was standing beside me walking with me and he kept looking at me and smiling as if to motivate me to keep pushing forward. I cleared those obstacles and kept walking out to my car and in the parking lot were the same obstacles. One by one I cleared them and kept pushing forward. I climbed, went around, crawled and did what I had to do to get to my car. I made it to my car and cleared the parking lot and when I got into the car I saw a lady behind me sitting in the back seat and she just smiled at me.

I started driving down the road heading home and then obstacles started falling in the road. I was driving my jeep and I used it to run around, run over and knock things out of the way. These obstacles were of various shapes, sizes and colors. They were made of foam or some kind of light material like a building block that kids play with. These obstacles were more of an annoyance than anything to me. I knew I could get past them but I had to push forward and not give up. The guardian with me just kept smiling at me and wanted me to keep going.

I knew that I had some obstacles coming from another dream or vision that I had and was waiting on this to happen. It had been a month or so and I was in waiting of the dream to show me what type of obstacles were coming. It was kind of an ah hah moment for me and let me know that I was prepared mentally, physically and spiritually to handle what may come at me down the road. I had been in prayer for guidance and direction on some things in life around career, family, finances and such and this was a positive step in the right direction. It gave me hope, focus and motivation to continue to push towards my goals in life with physical, mental and spiritual health.

Isiah 57:14; And it shall be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people’s way.”

Jeremiah 6:21; Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will lay before this people stumbling blocks against which they shall stumble; fathers and sons together, neighbor and friend shall perish.’”

Faith- Finding Gods Will In Your Life

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In my reading today I was looking at how to follow or find God’s will in life. I have to admit that I often ask for God to influence my life and give me his direction. However, I am not so sure that I have been doing that for the right reasons. I think as humans we often seek things and ask for things because it will possibly fill a void we have or allow us to advance in life. I know in my heart of hearts that I want God’s will to be in my life and after thinking about it, studying the word and praying I have come to a clearer understanding about how to seek that will and guidance in my life.

The Bible tells us about many promises God made to us and one of those is that he will use us for his work and give us guidance in the process. God also allows us to make our own choices and I know personally speaking I have often went the wrong way, took the wrong path or stepped backwards instead of forward. To move forward we must step beyond our past and learn from those missed steps and stages God had set up for us in our lives. For me it is a combination of a few things being a goal driven teacher, coach, father and mentor I have personal goals that may not have always lined up to what God expected of me. I work hard and value being a good man, friend, husband, father, teacher and coach. So I think I over halfway there but have a long ways to go to achieve what God wants me to achieve.

In Psalm 32 the Bible tells us that we should allow God to instruct us and guide us. We can do that by listening to his still small voice and doing as he wants us to and not as we want to. I pray daily for Gods grace, mercy, guidance and will and he is working hard on me and my family. He makes me a better man everyday with his support. I put together a list of things that I need to do to become the best I can be from a perspective of Gods will in my life and not just what I want to achieve as a professional teacher, writer, blogger, coach, mentor and family man. With Gods will in my life and by opening up to that he will enable me to grow my physical, spiritual and mental capacity to seek his will.

1- Be in prayer daily asking for God’s will in my life

2- Read the word daily. Seek his will by diving into his word and growing in wisdom from the word.

3- Follow the commands God puts in our hearts. I have to do better at following his will and not my own.

4- Seek to live in a Godly community and surround myself with God loving people.

5- Truly be open to God’s will and guidance and submit to his word and will.

Proverbs 16:3; Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established.

Proverbs 3:5-6; Trust in the Lord with all your heart. And lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him. And he shall direct your paths.