Tonight is the beginning of the North American Christian Convention, the annual gathering of members of the Christian Church. This year they have invited several of us from Churches of Christ to teach and preach as we seek greater unity 100 years after the formal split of Churches of Christ and Christian Churches.
I am supposed to leave at 7:29 for Louisville this morning in plenty of time to speak tomorrow.
But . . . I’m not going. When I agreed to go, I was thinking that the baseball season was over. I didn’t factor in all-stars. (Chris is 13 in a 13-14-year-old league, so I thought he might have to wait until next year to be on the team.) But he’s on the team, and I was asked to help coach. And this is the week!
So, thanks to Ben Merold and Brian Jones, my co-presenters, who are willing to cover for me. (By the way, Ben Merold is a legend. I believe he’s in his 70s, but he’s the senior minister for a multi-campus church in the St. Louis area.)
It’ll be a great event. Wish I was going to be there tonight to hear David Faust, president of Cincinnati Christian University.
But I feel pretty confident that I’m supposed to be in the dugout. There are lots of preachers from Churches of Christ. My son has only one dad.
- - - -
On the subject of baseball, did you see the meltdown of Joe Mikulik, the minor league manager of the Asheville Tourists? It’s what my grandma used to call a hissy fit. A temper tantrum. Earl Weaver must have been proud to have someone carry on his legacy.
This outburst involved screaming, stomping, ripping up second base and throwing it into right field, tossing a resin bag from the mount, throwing bats, and covering home plate with dirt (which he then poured water on).
Two thoughts:
1. Must have been a really, really bad call at second.
2. Aren’t you glad your worst moment isn’t captured on video and played over and over on national television? (I am.)
Reading your dilemma, I could think of a dozen different rationalizations for going to the NACC instead of Chris’s ball game. I’m sure you could think of at least a dozen more. I’m glad you didn’t use any of them. Thanks for your positive example of how to set priorities and “choose what is better.”
Mike,
You’re the man!
Way to go Chris!!! What a comeback!
Mike,
Best move! Right reason! For the game? I simply hope your son looks good in his uniform. May one of the teams win by winning and the other team win by losing.
I applaud your decision.
i see you have your priorities right. great choice.
Mike thank you for having your priorities right. Thank you for setting an example to ministers not to neglect their families. How easy it is for ministers especially to do just that.
Thank you Mike being an inspiration to fathers by being their for Chris. May we all learn from your example in being there for our sons when they need us and making a difference where it counts. In the lives of our families.
God bless you.
A hearty AMEN!! to all the previous comments!
Chris has truly been blessed with a great dad! The rest of us have been blessed with a great teacher/preacher!!
Good choice, Mike. I’m at the point where I can see the end of Little League in sight so I even sit through the practices. It is a social event here in Abilene, ya know. See you out there.
Mike,
I hope you realize that by doing this you are taking food off of the tables of future therapists, self-help book authors, prison gaurds, and Jerry Springers.
———-
There is a word for your decision: Legacy.
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Plus you can’t spit seeds on the stage at the NACC
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I made Allstars at 13 (our league was 13-15 so it was a big deal for me) and my dad didn’t see one game. In fact, my dad never watched me play a single game of the hundreds I played age 7 thru college. You can go ahead and change your “pretty sure” to an “absolutely positive”…trust me.
———-
I know you didn’t post this for show or for affirmation. You did it to teach. It is who you are. Know this Bro Co, the lesson was learned.
———-
Tell Chris to follow his dad’s lead and keep his eye on the ball.
Quile - I have a friend who said his dad never saw him play one inning of baseball, one second of basketball, or one play in football from middle school through high school — because he was a famous preacher jetting around the world. He never quite got over it.
Mike - As for the umpire throwing the fit, I think it became a bit after awhile. I think after he got into it he just started doing schtick. It was still pretty incredible, though.
Mike…my son’s first all-star game (11 year old team) is tonight. Tonight, I am also missing a church outing which I organized. I’d rather sit in the stands for his game than be anywhere else. Thanks for witness to faithfulness.
There is a recent song by Steven Curtis Chapman I keep close to me when I think about the call to be present with my children. Here are the lyrics:
I Believe In You
Aren’t you the little one
That hid in my arms afraid of the thunder
Are these the little hands
That held so tight to mine
Didn’t we both agree you’d never grow up
And now here we are
And here you go
Of all the things I want to say
The things you really need to know is
I believe in you
I believe in you
Everything you are
Everything you are becoming
And I believe in you
I believe in you
So spread your wings and fly
On the winds of knowing
I always believe in you
So many prayers we prayed
So many dreams to get to this moment
Now this is where we stay
While you go change the world
But I’ll be where I have always been
Up in the stands cheering you on and
Singing this song
A song the very God who made you
Has been singing all along
I believe in you
I believe in you
Everything you are
Everything you are becoming
And I believe in you
I believe in you
So spread your wings and fly
On the winds of knowing
I will always believe in you
And when you rise and when you fall
I’ll still believe in you
Just close your eyes and hear me calling
I believe in you
Oh, I believe in you
I’m not at all surprised by your decision, Mike. Given who you are and who your son is and what really matters. . .thanks for doing your life this way!
I know the Convention will miss you and your inspiring words, but the dugout is likely a much more powerful podium. I know one thing for certain: the stakes are much higher.
I hope Chris has fun and wins, though he is already a real winner. . .just like his dad.
And yes, I’m thankful there was no video back in my coaching years–as my wife reminded me just yesterday! Love you, brother!
i don’t know what the big deal is about Joe Mikulik, at least he cleaned up after himself. that is a great example. imagine how mothers would feel if there sons would clean up after themselves and not just brush the dirt away but use a cleaner.
Hi Mike:
Just from today’s postings I have learned that you are “the man” and a man who makes good decisions. You make great choices and have the right priorities. You’re a great dad and a great teacher and preacher. You are building, no doubt to all of these things, a legacy! And this is just from the responses to today’s post.
I have heard that if you have a Bible question it’s the Church of Christ folks that know the Bible. That being the case when I read your blog entry many months ago, and then again two weeks ago in regards to the Kingdom breaking in, I was intrigued, and as you were the author of these statements I turned to you for guidance. You are, after all, “the man!” I am a seeker, you are a teacher, you seemed the man to ask. You are a preacher for a Church of Christ, so again, you seemed the man to ask. Promises have been made to get back to me, but you never have. Why? What have I done to offend you? I am struggling to understand God’s word.
What does the “Kingdom breaking in” mean?
You cannot imagine how frustrating it is to see post after post, reply after reply being made, and not seeing an answer to my one simple question.
John
OK Mike, I have a confession. I think I know myself well enough to say that if I had been a famous preacher when my kids were growing up, I would have neglected them as badly as your friend’s Dad did his. I believe it was by God’s grace that I ministered in relative anonymity during those years. I went to tons of swim meets, tennis matches, high school plays and concerts. The end result is two adult children who love Jesus and their Dad. I know some people–including you–who have the maturity to maintain a healthy balance in a high-profile ministry. I’m pretty sure I didn’t, and have had occasion to thank God that he never allowed me to get in over my head.
Larry - Would it frighten you to find out that we have some well preserved video clips from some Richardson parents who have you on tape from your coaching days? (Relax. Just kidding. We’ve all had our moments, haven’t we?)
Seriously, John. Chill out. I’ve pointed you to sources. (Have you checked those out, if you’re so eager?) I’ve said I’ll write more on this. And I will. But I don’t want to produce that post (or those posts) in the 10 minutes I spend hammering out a few words in the morning. The kingdom is already/not yet. The reign of God has broken it, but not in its fulness like we shall some day experience (at the fulness of the “new creation”). That’s why we pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven (which, in the Lord’s Prayer is parallel to the request, “Thy kingdom come”). More later.
Clint - Love it! So maybe he’s actually a GOOD role model?
John,
I admire your persistence and understand your frustration (although not with respect to this blog).
Hang in there and think on your own. If it doesn’t make sense you have the freedom to question it. You don’t have 30 years of answers laid in store just waiting for a question to be asked. It may not seem like it but this is a huge advantage when discovering something for the first time or afresh.
You chose the better thing.
Mike, because you are human (you are, aren’t you?) I know you make some mistakes as a daddy, but you for sure made the right decision this time……..and Chris will be blessed because of it.
As for the coach, I think it is a sad state of affairs when you can act that way in public and not get arrested…. ONLY because it was an athletic event! Is that how far we have declined? If he does that at McDonald’s or Wal-Mart, he spends the night in the slammer.
I hope he is not a professing believer in his community.
DU
Mike,
I have always admired you as a preacher, but after hanging out with you over the past 7 years, and living at your place for over a month the past year, I have come to respect you even more as a father and husband. I haven’t witnessed you and Matt together as much, and I wasn’t blessed with the amazing opportunity to see you and Megan together (I wish I did), but I have seen you and Chris. The love you two have for each other is admirable. A few things stand out:
1) You and Chris like being together. It isn’t just a father and a son hanging out; it is two friends.
2) Chris LIKES staying home to watch movies with his parents, and to play sports with his family. That says a lot about you and Diane.
3) You are a good sport, even when Chris beats you in basketball and ping-pong. Oops, I just leaked that one to the blogging world. (Next time, fake an injury or something).
It reminds me of my relationship with my dad. He coached me, threw the ball with me, took me to games, made sacrifices to be at every single thing I ever did, etc. In fact, both of my parents were always there. The only game my mother ever missed was the only game I ever got carried off the football field. I praise God for that one.
It wasn’t until I was older that I realized the amazing gift my parents gave to me by their “ministry of presence.” It was a blessing.
I love you, Mike, and thanks for being a good friend.
Now, if your oldest son and daughter-in-law will just get back to Houston so we can hang out with them!!!
But the best part of Mikulik’s antics was him diving into second base. I don’t know what got into him, but it was pretty amusing.
Anyway, in a world full of men who find success through countless hours in the office, justifying their time away from their families with excuses like, “I’m making money, fame, power (fill in the blank) for the family”, it’s great to hear of men who love their families so much that they’d be willing to sacrifice money, fame, and power to spend a few afternoons with them. Good luck Chris!
Mike,
Very good choice for a number of reasons. The main reason, being there for your son is the best one, but one that some would never understand. The most important to me is that team needs you in the dugout.
Years ago, I had a ticket to the final four in San Antonio, complete with a free private plane ride to San Antonio and back, and would be traveling with my best friend who would have picked up the tab for everything. I turned it down to stay and help coach a rec league soccer game for my daughter and attend my son’s rec league game. My friend, the father of three boys, understood completely. Others, some of whom had children, considered it a foolish choice. I am amazed to this day of the reaction of some people to that choice, amazed and saddened.
Your example may help change these attitudes.
P.S. Didn’t we just have a similiar talk about this same subject?
I thought the manager’s tantrum was outrageous. But then a friend of mine said, “Obviously, you haven’t been to a Little League game lately!”
Charlie - One thing we’ve learned this year is that a lawyer and a minister CAN have a lot in common — especially when they share a church and a dugout.
For a GREAT story from Fenway Park, read here. Thanks for writing about it, Steve.
Sure appreciate your decision with respect to the big game.
Also, with respect to John’s persistence and your response (not that it’s any of my business, but that’s the nature of a blog), I followed your suggestion to the resources on John York’s site (http://johnyork.faithsite.com/content.asp?lShow=20&ListSG=260&Start=21) and found it to be tremendous. Thanks!
Mike,
You have been a cherished friend and mentor since our days as a dynamic AYBA coaching duo. I have wrestled within myself about whether or not to attend the NACC and too chose to stay home for family reasons. Your sharing this decision with us may have a huge impact on ministry families for years to come as ministers like me make similar discernments for our families. Somewhere in our decision-making process will be the image of Coach Mike in the dugout and we will be better for it. Thanks.
js
Mike, Kudos to you!!! Trust me today Chris needs you more and you need him more. The Church has been spit for a long time and you will have opportunity to work on that issue for years to come.
It is good to hear and see parents of faith having their priorities right.
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A praise and answer to prayer - One of my closest friends today has left a Children’s Home in Thailand with their new adopted son.
Joe - That is, indeed, a reason for praise. Thanks.
John - It was no accident that we teamed up to win that city championship in basketball. I had the age and coaching experience; you looked like someone who had actually PLAYED basketball. Glad you made the same decision to stay home, brother. Lots of good things will happen in Louisville, and we’ll get to hear about them.
For those who missed the manager getting thrown out, there’s a video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0JTaJCiEdM
I was thinking more of a Whitey Ford, and Tommy Lasorda had a few moments as well but you’re probably right; Earl was the king of hissey fits!
Mike: I, too, appreciate your example but it seems sad that we are being applauded (I go to everything, coach everything…) for doing something we all should be doing with our kids. Man, we must have a had a few years of dads NOT doing what they were supposed to do…
Earl is good but… Billy Martin - now that’s a hissy fit pitcher!
A little clarification… in Alabama, we don’t throw hissy fits… we pitch ‘em!
I love your choice and am overwhelmed by the responses to it. My dad made a similar choice over 25 years ago. At the time he was blasted for it. His only response was, “Who else is going to take my kids to see the fireworks?”
I praise God that his people have grown since then to see that ministers matter to their families as well as the church.
Praise God for wonderful fathers.
First, you have lived in the flatlands too long if you call the mound a “mount.”
Second, I feel pretty sure the coach was part of the show. Today I saw him giving the play-by-play of the incident and he seemed to be enjoying himself. I think the joke may be on the rest of us more than he.
Finally, I too applaud your priorities regarding Chris. So often growing up I heard that such a choice was ill-advised because it placed sports above (fill in the blank). The fact is, “sports” could also be interchanged with whatever interest your kid might have. And, yeah, that’s pretty important if it shows your kids that they are important. I am glad you are teaching the kids more than just baseball. Sadly, this year we had a coach that was woefully inept at both. He’s coaching our All-Stars as well. We can’t seem to get away from him.
Good choice Mike. I loved the tantrum thrown by the manager. I say promote him - that’s big league material. Otherwise baseball can get a bit monotonous in the dead of summer. I’m still wondering how the tantrum went from a head first slide into second to dousing homeplate with water?
So, Val, I should cancel my series on “The Sermon on the Mound”? (Sorry about that typo!)
Actually, no. I would like to hear what you have to say about a sermon on the mound. I remember that Orel Hershiser used to sing hymns on the mound. Maybe you could work that in.
My son got injured in the 4th or 5th game of the spring with season ending surgery on his elbow of his pitching arm. He was devastated, of course, but is bouncing back. I miss both my days in the dugout managing and the last couple of years in the stands cheering him on. We’ve had several conversations over the years that started with either something that happened on the ball field or an attitude he witnessed (either good or bad) that led to great dialogue and an opening to how practical this Bible that he reads, really is. About 3 or 4 years ago, my team mom cussed me out in front of several people because she was irate that her son had not made the all-star team, and she held me personally responsible. (I nominated her son, but I was only one of 5 votes) Anyway, my sons witnessed the verbal barrage on their daddy and they were ready to declare all out war on her. Talk about walking your talk! Through God’s Grace I was able to maintain a calmness and listen without blasting her back( which part of me wanted to do) My sons could not understand why I wouldn’t return fire. It was a great opportunity to model what we had talked about at home and what they have heard in church all their lives about turning the other cheek and returning kindness for evil, etc. Sorry for being so long winded, but some of the most spiritual times can be in the ball field, in the dugout, on the tennis court, just daily walking with your kids and taking advantage of opportunities to show Christ through your humanity.
Blessings on you, Greg. There are lots of rewards from coaching — but often not from parents. I have some of my own painful memories. There was one mom a couple years ago who unleashed on me in front of some players, saying that I didn’t play her son a whole game because I didn’t like him and had never liked him. (I’d had him two years.) Then she said she thought I probably had something against single parents. She took her tirade into her church class at another church here in town. I heard about it from a couple people. It was offered as a sort of prayer request — that her son be delivered from an evil coach.
I cared deeply about her son. He stunk at baseball — but who cares? Certainly not me. I tried to build a relationship with him for two years, and whenever she wasn’t around we did great together. He knew I valued him and he knew that there were players with more ability. (Plus, I’ve always tried to play everyone more than the minimum, so he usually played at least half a game.)
From my perspective, she’ll wound him in ways that he’ll spend years trying to get over. Letting him know that everything is the fault of others. “You’re not playing because this man doesn’t like you and doesn’t like single parents.” Imagine how healthier it would have been if she’d said: “Your coach thinks you need to be one of the players who isn’t in the whole game. I happen to disagree with his judgment on that. But I’m not the coach. I’m just thankful you have someone who cares about you, who isn’t yelling at you, and who wanted you back on his team. There are lots of things in life more important than how much time you spend on the field in baseball. But every second you’re out there, I’m proud of you. And every time I see you in the dugout cheering on your teammates, I’m just as proud of you.”
But, alas, not many parents like that.
Mike,
Thanks for your example you are setting. If I ever become a dad, I want to emulate your devotion and presence in the lives of your kids!
Regarding the temper tantrum, I saw it. It did remind me of Weaver, ejected from more games than any manager in baseball history. Also reminded me of Lou Piniella.
Aren’t you glad preachers don’t respond that way after a bad call from the elders or in the aftermath of the “men’s” business meeting at 4:00 on Sunday afternoon? …overturned pulpits…songbooks and tracts thrown everywhere…communion cups flying through the air…Church of Christers experiencing sprinkling with Welch’s grape jucie…grafitti sprayed on the river painting behind the baptistry. Wouldn’t be pretty.
JJ
Mike,
I Amen all of those and yourself for truly making the right decision. I drove Dan and Linda Clymer to the Manchester, New Hampshire Airport this morning as they began their journey to Louisville. Dan is the director of Restoration House Ministries where I am being blessed during my ACU field education. It is an Independent Christian Church Plant organization that is celebrating its 10th year in October. I have had the blessing of receiving my undergrad education from an Independent Christian Church College in Maryland and now I am finishing up my graduate degree at ACU in December and it truly is an exciting time for me to be able to see and know so many of the names on both sides of the family that are coming together this year. Thanks for all of your reports in this 100th year interactions and as always, the sharing of your own journey.
Third thought on the manager’s tantrum.
That guy must be an elder of a COC somewhere!
Joel, I would hope that you would show more respect for the elders of the congregation where you are a member than to make a comment like this about any elders. As an elder in a congregation of the Church of Christ, I do not find your “third thought” humorous. I will assume that you are young enough to benefit from reading I Timothy 4:12.
Hey Terry, maybe you should not take yourself so seriously and learn to take a joke! If Joel’s comment had been aimed at a SPECIFIC elder he would have been out of line, but it wasn’t so he wasn’t. And besides, were you not aware that many elders in the “Lord’s Church” have a reputation for behaving rather childishly at times?
Tim, thanks for responding; thought possibly Joel would. Wonder how Joel’s attitude would be received if he applied this reasoning when talking to a gay person or an African-American? It seems in our society that the offended is the one guilty of not having a sense of humor, unless it be one of the protected minority. Guess Christians are fair game for anything to be said to/about them. I do not take myself seriously, but I do take the ministry of shepherding the people of God seriously. If you knew me personally, you would know my sense of humor is very much intact, toward myself and toward others.
Thanks again for your response.