The Good Thing

Mark Zuckerberg has been all over the news the past few weeks. The founder of FACEBOOK  has dominated the headlines as his company began selling stock on Wall Street and according to some accounts, Zuckerberg may have lost five billion dollars of assets in the process. All that stuff is another language to me so I'm kind of baffled. In other incredibly related news, Zuckerberg somehow showed up in a Chinese police film advertisement in a crowd scene: I can't believe that was coincidental. Everything he does makes news and since FACEBOOK has become polarizing in some ways, he is a public figure many have strong opinions about. I do know FACEBOOK has made an impact on my life in the past thirteen months and without Mark Zuckerberg, no FACEBOOK. It is amazing how people we will never meet can impact us indirectly and directly.

But this isn't about FACEBOOK or Wall Street or the Chinese government or even TIMELINE for those who still don't like the change. Two weeks ago, Mark Zuckerberg did something I really admire- he renounced bachelorhood. He married his Harvard sweetheart, the lovely Priscilla Chan. (I have to admit my bias and tell you I believe women of Asian descent are beautiful.) The bride is tremendously accomplished in her own right, becoming Dr. Chan scant days before the nuptials. The ceremony was a surprise as the invited guests believed they were coming to celebrate Priscilla's completing medical school. The press has made a big deal of her wedding dress and wedding ring, a red ruby not a traditional diamond. There have been sightings of the newlyweds on their honeymoon in Europe where they seem to be blending in quite nicely with the locals while they would be hard pressed to have any sense of privacy in public back here in their native land. Do you know what I like? They seem to be as normal as any recently married couple in spite of their fame, primarily his but increasingly hers, as well. 


I tell my students the first institution put in place by God was marriage way back in Genesis 2, you know, 'a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife.' I was working this morning on Charlotte's wedding ceremony. Charlotte played basketball for me and in October will be wed to Tyler who I have yet to meet but I am honored they asked me to perform the wedding. I'm always impressed as I put my part of the celebration together how many truths are in the Word of God concerning marriage and its sanctity, from 'it's not good for man to be alone' to ' thou shalt not commit adultery' to the church being called 'the bride of Christ' in a spiritual sense. One of the best thoughts on men and marriage comes from Proverbs 18, verse 22:
'He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and gets favor from the Lord.'
We know who penned that gem, none other than Solomon, a guy who knew just a little bit about wealth himself. At the risk of being presumptuous, let me try to frame Solomon's words as it concerns our story tonight: When Mark Zuckerberg founded FACEBOOK, he made billions of dollars. When he found Priscilla, he became rich. And rich is always better than just having money.

Applicable quote of the day:
"A successful marriage is an edifice that must be rebuilt every day."
Andre Maurois

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

Griffith VS. "Griffith"

The political season is about to be in full bloom. Is there anything stranger than politics? This is one of the best stories I have heard in the arena of public service, taken from November 11, 2006.



The elections are over but the fallout is in full descent. In Wisconsin, legendary actor Andy Griffith has filed suit against William Fenrick over the use of his name. In his quest to be elected sheriff of Grant County as an independent, Fenrick legally changed his name to Andrew Jackson Griffith. Fenrick, hoping to make political gain from the name of the revered sheriff of the fictional Mayberry, still finished third in a three-way race. The eighty year old sidekick of Barney, Floyd, Goober, and Earnest T. Bass et al, was not amused. The authentic Griffith contends the Andy-come-lately infringed on his copyright and trademark rights in addition to his privacy as he tried to link his name to the veteran of film and television. He is asking the courts to require Fenrick/Griffith to return to his original name as well as issue public apologies and disclaimers. For his part, the would-be politician claims he never reaped any financial advantage from the name change, insisting all promotional items that hyped the name of the famed actor were given away. Stay tuned! Could there be a Law And Order episode stemming from this conflict? I can hear the NBC ad now: "RIPPED FROM TODAY'S HEADLINES! Non-descript imitation politician steals storied actor's name in bold political power grab!" Your local news at 10:00 PM. I can't wait!

Invoking the use of another's name is nothing new. It isn't all that unusual to have a student forge a parent's name on a form or note. Kids have used false ID's for decades in an attempt to purchase alcohol as minors. Two thousand years ago, Jesus prophesied his name would also be used in a deceptive way as impostors would step forward claiming to be the Messiah. The Savior even predicted in Matthew 24 that the ruse would be successful as many would be led astray by the false claims. In John 8, as Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Feast of the Tabernacles, the crowd in the temple asked him bluntly, "Who are you?" His reply, equally as blunt, was "Just what I have been claiming all along." What he claimed to be was one sent by his Father in heaven for the deliverance of the world. His name and his claims were authentic. He did not use deceit to prove a point or improve his popularity. He was simply who he said he was, the Son of God and the Son of Man. Those titles cannot be copyrighted or duplicated. There is only one rightful owner to wear those names: Jesus of Nazareth.

Applicable quote of the day:
"A name pronounced is the recognition of the individual to whom it belongs."
Henry David Thoreau

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

The Face

I'm almost never home at 3 PM on a weekday but I was this afternoon. I turned on the television and Dr. Oz had a show on how they are becoming closer to finding remedies to slow down or reverse Alzheimer's, something dear to my heart. The following is from April 26, 2009.
They sat two rows ahead of me in worship this morning. In many ways, this family is much like mine. There are several grown children and the father/husband is one of our former elders. But the resemblances don't stop there. The wife/mother has Alzheimer's. I have seen this beautiful, cheerful lady slowly fade into the shadows of the dreaded disease. My family has been down that same path. The sisters and brothers in our congregation love on her, just like other Christians did on our mother in St. Louis. This morning as we sang, she barely moved her lips as it seemed she was fighting for something she might recognize. I remember that, too. The last thing I think Mom lost in her memory were the hymns she had been lifting to the Lord since her infancy. My brother, Dave, said that when people offered condolences on Mom's passing, everyone had their own story; a parent, a grandparent, an aunt or uncle, or a best friend had suffered just like Mom. And as I watched the daughter lovingly wheel her mother out of the church auditorium this morning, I was reminded how that family each day is living through their own story.


Not many people know what I am about to tell you. Last summer, I was approached by HBO about participating in a documentary concerning the effects of Alzheimer's on families. A researcher had found a blog I had written about Mom and contacted me. To make a long story short, HBO was interested in filming Karis and me as we transported Mom from her St. Louis nursing home to her new residence in Wichita last June, putting a camera crew inside the vehicle as we made the journey. I spent several hours on the phone with those in charge of the project, looking at the logistics. I did some soul searching and discussed it with family members for input. HBO wanted realism and realism and Alzheimer's do not make a pretty combination. I would not agree without the consent of the family, especially Karis, but in the end, we felt Mom's story would honor her and help families dealing with their own situations. Because of the time frame we were working in, there were problems and in the end, HBO's legal department would not sign off on it. It would have been very difficult to obtain permission from any patient at either facility, especially since many could not speak for themselves and our window of opportunity was tiny. So, it never came to be but for two days, I thought Mom, Karis, and I would help put faces on this disease that threatens the dignity of more and more of our seniors. I admit to a small bit of disappointment but then I already knew the face of Alzheimer's as I looked at my mother- it was the face of an angel.



Applicable quote of the day:
"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.”
Washington Irving



God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

Tails, I Win

I was leaving the school building this afternoon to go swimming when I poked my head into The Wildcat Store, which is where all our WCS school supplies, uniforms, spirit wear, etc. is purchased by our students and their families. It's undergoing remodeling and I was really impressed by what I saw! The layout of the store has been completely rearranged, there is new paint, and a fitting room has been added. But the real reason I entered The Wildcat Store was who I saw inside. Lisa Berglund was working with the assistance of her soon-to-be seventh grade daughter, Jenna. Lisa is the store manager and Jenna was on my basketball team this past year. (I penned a blog about Jenna two weeks ago which you can read if you care to at: http://stevehawley.blogspot.com/2012/05/resemblance.html.) We talked for several minutes as Lisa told me about the big project and our construction team, the Ramirezes, who can do anything. I enjoyed myself as I always do in the presence of this mother-daughter combo. Lisa is kind of everyone's mom- caring, compassionate, always knows what to say and what questions to ask. Jenna? Well, one reason I love coaching Jenna is that I invariably laugh in her presence and that is one valuable commodity in this often heart-wrenching world. 


As we talked, and I'm not sure how it came up, Lisa told me a story about Jenna I had not heard even though it involved me. On the first day of school, Jenna was registering for classes as a new student- the Berglunds had just moved to Houston from Colorado. She was down to a choice between being in chorus or being in basketball and I take it she was not enamored with either option. And so, they flipped a coin and Jenna called tails and she ended up starting her career on the basketball hardwoods. And the rest is history, or at least the opening paragraph of the first chapter of her history.


We talk in class of several times in the Scriptures where a game of chance played a major role in the story of Jesus. Zechariah was chosen by lot to burn incense in the temple on the day when Gabriel announced the coming birth of John the Baptist. The soldiers gambled for the clothes of Jesus at the foot of the cross. Matthias was selected by lot as well, after prayer, to replace the departed Judas as an apostle. So there are Biblical precedents to flipping a coin. And it's just basketball for Jenna, no big deal. But I maintain it may be a big deal. I, Lord willing, will have three seasons to influence Jenna one way or the other and coaches can have huge impacts on the lives of youngsters. She is much more likely to become close friends with the other young ladies on the team and these friendships can last a lifetime. I pray every morning for every girl who has played in our program, both here and at Friendship Christian School in Tennessee where I coached previously, so Jenna will be prayed for every day until I die. And I've preached the weddings of close to ten brides who were part of my teams so that gives me a fighting chance to be the one who will ask Jenna if she takes a certain young man for the rest of her life. In fact, right before I dropped in on Lisa and Jenna, I was in my classroom, laying the groundwork on my ceremony for the October wedding of Charlotte, another former player who still calls me 'Coach.' So, in my way of thinking, that flip of the coin is pretty important. Jenna would have been a standout in chorus, I'm sure, if she called heads, but we'll never know. Do you know what Proverbs 16:33 tells us?The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
My interpretation is that the Lord wanted Jenna to play on our basketball team and that for whatever reason, it mattered to Him and it mattered to Jenna. He wanted her to be a shooting guard instead of a gifted soprano. I just hope Jenna remembers that the next time she gets mad at me: it wasn't my decision.

Applicable quote of the day:

"When the machine had been fastened with a wire to the track, so that it could not start until released by the operator, and the motor had been run to make sure that it was in condition, we tossed a coin to decide who should have the first trial. Wilbur won."
Orville Wright

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

Vietnam And Visas

Five weeks from right now, at this very moment, I'm in the sky on my flight to Vietnam for a twenty-eight day mission. I'm routed on Singapore Airlines through Moscow with a thirty-six hour layover/rest stop in Singapore. The tickets are bought and paid for and I'm starting to get in travel mode. That left just one little piece of formality. While my missions to Honduras and Haiti have not required visas, my trips to Asia have. So, this second day of summer vacation for me was set aside to apply for my permit to enter Vietnam which I have found is easier than procuring one to China and less expensive. But, this is still a relatively new experience for me as my first fourteen trips were with mission groups or churches and I'm not a very organized traveler. There were a number of steps that had to fall into place today and the Lord provided someone to help me every step of the way.


I don't have access to a printer right now so I had to e-mail several items to Trinka Sandahl, our WCS receptionist extraordinaire, and she printed what I needed. Cary Simonds, our Director Of Development, typed the online application form and made several duplicates. Amy Chavez, in our business office, copied my passport. At the bank, I walked right up to the teller without a wait and secured an $80 cashier's check made payable to The Consulate General Of Vietnam. I needed a pre-paid return envelope to have the visa/passport mailed back to me so I had to swing by a nearby Post Office. The lady who waited on me is a believer and when I asked her to say a prayer for my visa acceptance, she told me my prayers had already been granted. I did not get lost on the way to the Vietnamese Consulate as I did last year. There were no other applicants when I walked in although the security guard informed me there had been fifty or so in the previous two hours. The man who took my papers was very courteous and told me I should receive my passport with new visa within several days. And as I went through the automatic parking gate, it told me I had been inside such a short period of time, there was no fee! I drove back to my apartment a happy man.


Our minister, Dave Yasko, just completed a Sunday night series of lessons on Nehemiah that was terrific. One thing I've always loved about the story of Nehemiah is how the Lord opened so many doors to allow his journey to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls and gates of the City of David which were in ruins. He ran into all sorts of opposition when he arrived in Jerusalem but God had blessed him with safe passage and the means to carry out his work which was desperately needed. That's the way I feel today although my mission is on a waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyy smaller scale than Nehemiah. Every time I needed some help, it seems the Lord provided it, some from folks I know and some assistance from strangers, just as with Nehemiah.    Like I said, I need help getting from Point A to Point B and once again, our Father made it happen. Maybe I should change that to Point V.


Applicable quote of the day:
“Here is a wise leader (Nehemiah) who counts the cost of the enterprise before he does anything – a man who doesn’t rush in a foolhardy fashion.  He is a man of faith, but he sees exactly what the task is before he starts”
David Pawson

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

Loop Hole

I can't be the only guy with this problem. I'm about 6'1" and I wear 34/32 dress pants every day to school as part of our faculty apparel code. Twice in the last six weeks or so, my belt loop has caught on the strike plate, the part of the door jamb where the lock tongue from the door knob is inserted, while exiting other people's offices. (Honesty requires me to divulge I did not know the term strike plate until just know when I googled it.) Both times, the loop was completely ripped off from my khakis, left hanging on a thread. With the first pair, the wonderful folks at Jos A. Bank restored it while they were altering the length. The second time, just two weeks ago, the amazing Ann Arnold, who oversees our large number of international students, repaired the damage with her sewing machine. It was a pretty intense sewing job as the tear damaged the fabric of the pants. Ann was worried the loop would not be wide enough after her tailoring but it is perfect. I just have to make sure I keep wearing thin belts!



You know, if I were an inch taller or an inch shorter, there would be no problem. These striker plates are in perfect position to wreak havoc on the pants of a guy of my stature! I'm usually in a hurry when it happens so I'm careless as I leave one office on my way to see someone else. I never see it coming so I don't protect myself. And belt loops seem like such a small thing but believe me, when you are evaluated fashion-wise by a bunch of female teenage students on wardrobe issues daily, it matters. Margaret/Laura/Angela, my committed trio of ensemble police, would spot the misstep from six desks away. So a small accident isn't really small for me.


Isn't that how temptation works? We all have weaknesses and what catches you might not entrap or even entice me. We often don't see the temptation coming but it grabs us when we aren't paying attention. I've never intentionally walked into one of those door jambs and yet, I'm having a hard time avoiding them. I think Satan puts people and situations in our path to cause us grief. Maybe the Lord allows it to test us- He did with Peter and Job, at least. Do you remember the old country song, Somebody's Knocking by Terri Gibbs? It had the great line that she never thought the devil would have blue eyes and blue jeans. I just wonder if those blue jeans had belt loops. Oh well, I won't be wearing dress pants much this summer so I'm safe for now. Maybe I'll grow a couple of inches taller in the next three months!


Applicable quote of the day:
"God is better served in resisting a temptation to evil, than in many formal prayers."WILLIAM PENN

(The pictures are courtesy of Jos A. Bank.com and hometips.com/repair-fix/door-knob-locks.html)


God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com 

First Grade Instructor

Today was not a normal lifting day for me but my workout yesterday was only half its usual length due to several graduation parties so I had to finish my routine. On the weekends, there are many Asian folks at my club playing badminton, sometimes joined by several not of that ethnic persuasion. When I lift, I rest for only a few seconds between sets or to get a drink at the adjacent water fountain. As I went for my first gulp this afternoon, there was a little boy who beat me to the fountain and he must have swallowed a gallon. He was holding a small badminton racquet and he ran back into the gym. I came back several minutes later and my buddy was once again inhaling water. He said something about us being there at the same time. I asked if he was out of school yet and he informed me he had to go through next Thursday and that he would be in second grade next year. I told him I was a teacher and that we were out. I told him a little bit about my summer plans including my mission to Vietnam. He excitedly told me he was going to Vietnam, too, which is his hometown. (I'm pretty sure he meant his home country or the country of his folks who were playing badminton.) He told me his dad had won a medal in badminton and he had given it to him. He went back in the gym but several times, I saw him peeking around the corner, watching me lift. You know it's a good day when you make a new friend!


On this Lord's Day, I was blessed to hear three good sermons, two by Dave Yasko in our English services and one by Ronnie Chang on Esther in our worship in Chinese. But those weren't the only lessons I heard today. You see, as I was talking to my water fountain partner, I asked him about his summer plans, besides the beach in Vietnam. I asked him a logical question from my perspective: 
'Are you going to get some sleep?' 
His six/seven year old incredulity-filled reply: 
"WHY SLEEP???? It's summer!!" 
I wished I'd said that. Actually, I wished I had lived that in my earlier years when I started teaching. I wasted several summers doing next to nothing except sleeping and that was more from boredom rather than exhaustion. This little boy understand the concept that summer is a gift to be cherished and not squandered. The scriptures teach the precious nature of our days and I'm doing much better than I did in my early twenties. Of course, I wish I had those summers back but that's not the way it works, is it? If I could retrieve them, I know a young man who would put them to very good use. Usually, I'm the instructor when it comes to kids. Today, I was the student and I learned from a master teacher, or "su phu." You know, that's how they say it in his hometown.

"Unlike grown ups, children have little need to deceive themselves."
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

God bless,

Steve
Luke 18:1

www.hawleybooks.com

E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com