Recently my friends and I played volleyball. It was a fun and competitive series of games.

Later that month I gathered many of the same late-night friends for another series of games. Even though it was after midnight I had the same expectations as the previous evening: I was looking forward to the same fun, competitive games.

We lost the first closely contested game. We dominated the second game as their team laughed and clowned around as they played sometimes sloppily. I prefer to win, but I actually felt sorry for one of their teammates who was evidently annoyed.

As I was approaching fifty years old I sought the wisdom of my elders. I sought out men and women older than I was to learn lessons on life that they had been learning.

Monday I began a series entitled A Treasure Chest Of Wisdom, including:

1. Don’t Hold Grudges
2. Take Care Of Your Health.
3. Compassion Makes Sense and Giving Is Better Than Taking
4. Greed Gains Momentum

Instead of focusing on what we don’t have, it’s important to be grateful for the amazing gifts we already have.

Loving family
Faithful friends
Good health

As I was approaching fifty years old I sought the wisdom of my elders. I sought out men and women older than I was to learn lessons on life that they had been learning.

Monday I began a series entitled A Treasure Chest Of Wisdom, including:

1.  Don’t Hold Grudges 
2.  Take Care Of Your Health.
3.  Compassion Makes Sense and Giving Is Better Than Taking

Today is the day after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday.  A nationwide marketing “holiday” to trigger sales in anticipation of holiday gift-giving and gatherings.

Curtis Eichelberger’s new book Men of Sunday reviewed here recounts the story of Trent Dilfer, his son, and his family’s heart-aching, heart-breaking, and inspiring saga. You might want to read part 1 and part 2 and part 3 first.

The Lesson

It’s been nine years since Trevin’s death. He’d be nearly fifteen now and probably following in his daddy’s footsteps playing football in the Stanford area. Instead, Trent and Cass are following Maddie, who has become quite a volleyball player and is being scouted by Division 1 programs.

Curtis Eichelberger’s new book Men of Sunday reviewed here recounts the story of Trent Dilfer, his son, and his family’s heart-aching, heart-breaking, and inspiring saga. You might want to read part 1 and part 2 first.

“I never asked why,” says Dilfer. “I’ve never been obsessed with what it was or why it happened.”

Dilfer believes that God is loving and merciful and that there must have been something at play that he couldn’t comprehend.

Who could comprehend good coming out of so much suffering?

Curtis Eichelberger’s new book Men of Sunday reviewed here recounts the story of Trent Dilfer, his son, and his family’s heart-aching, heart-breaking, and inspiring saga. Part 1 was yesterday.

While Cass could patiently sit in the room for hours, Trent had a hard time with it and would go to the hospital’s rooftop garden or to the chapel for prayer.

Dilfer had made millions of dollars. He’d been to the summit of the game he loved. Was God saying, “Wait a minute. Not so fast”? Dilfer says he never went there. He’d recommitted to Christ in college; he’d repented and never looked back.

“Trevin was Dilfer’s only son, the only other man in a house full of women. He loved to hang out with his daddy in the locker room and often challenged Trent’s teammates to footraces.”

Curtis Eichelberger interviewed many current and former NFL players including Mike Singletary, Justin Tuck, LaDainian Tomlinson, Oshiomogho Atogwe, and Jay Feely about football’s violent nature, the sacrifices players and families make, adversity they face, temptations they endure, and the call to being leaders and role models.

Eichelberger’s new book Men of Sunday reviewed here recounts the story of Trent Dilfer, his son, and his family’s heart-aching, heart-breaking, and inspiring saga. 1

I read Curtis Eichelberger’s new book Men of Sunday this weekend.  It’s a compelling book I’ll quote several times this week before I post my full review this weekend. 1

As I read Eichelberger’s piece on former “Pro Bowl Denver Broncos offensive lineman Mark Schlereth I was inspired, awed, and perplexed.

I had to ask, is this man mad, filled with machismo or ministry minded?

Madness, Machismo or Ministry?

Yesterday in Pumpkin-Seed & Peeps I mentioned that embattled people can still be gracious.

It’s true.

We can choose to respect people we don’t like.
– We can choose to tolerate your differences.
– We can choose to talk things out rather than stuff your annoyances.

We can choose to bring happiness.
– If we hug people, let’s offer everyone hugs.
– We can all choose to forget the drama.
– We can all choose to forgive the guilty.

That final point, “choose to forgive the guilty” is a sticking point for many.

Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people; come near and rescue me. 1

Sharon Williams is sixty-six years old.  She is a mother of five children, and a grandmother of several grandchildren.  Sharon spent her professional career trying to make the world a better place.

Several years ago she chose to hear God’s call to “remember me.”

Sharon was a good person, but with God’s help she became a life-transforming person. 

In the years since Sharon retired from public service she continues to serve the community helping organizations raise money from the comfort of her living room.