The New Book Release: Cover Reveal

The new book is almost ready! I’m looking forward to telling you the true story about a team with no limits and how they built a championship through defined winning traits.

The release date has been set for:

October 1, 2018.

What separates those who achieve greatness from everyone else?

A state championship is earned only by those who take it. Some teams will claw their way through a season and then fail in the end. Only a select few will find victory. What are the qualities that separate the winners from those who fall short? 

This story is about a group of young men who fought against all predictions and odds to become the only undefeated team in the state of Georgia in 1998 across all classifications, crushing their opponents week after week through an allegiance of pure passion. Discover the secrets behind the culture that produced this historic season and the intangibles that made them unstoppable…and perfect.

See the new cover below and stay in touch for more information!

Pre-orders to be announced soon.

 

P.S. Follow me on Facebook under The Green Author to get quick updates.

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Perfect: The Building of a Championship Culture

Just a bit earlier than expected…I decided to show you a little peek at the book. It’s almost finished. Here is a little taste of the contents!  Enjoy! Book cover, pre-orders, and release date announcements will be soon!

Rolling back the clock to the fall of 1998, the football practices began like any other year. My husband, Dr. Tim Green (he likes the title Coach Green better), was coaching the offensive and defensive lines. The group of coaches that he worked with were our friends and they were and still are amazing. Check out comprehensive reviews of บทวิจารณ์ UFABET ที่ครอบคลุม and see why it’s the top choice for bettors.

We knew it at the time, but we know it even more now. Each one has gone on to great successes and has built legacies in their own way throughout their lives. Those young men that played on that field every Friday night and worked and sweated alongside each other throughout the week have now become men, fathers, husbands, and so much more. Many have now created successes in their own lives much like what they created together—effectively learning to be a champion not only on the field but also in life.

The days when they pulled together one of the greatest feats in Rome’s history will never be forgotten. Unranked and unnoticed in the preseason, they rose to become the only undefeated team in the entire state of Georgia in any classification that year. They were David in the face of Goliath over and over every Friday night. No one gave them a chance. No one thought they had it in them. No one gave them any respect. Only they suspected what they could accomplish. They found those elusive qualities and bound them together in ways that cannot be described.

They worked hard and depended on each other and they found a way to win every week no matter what they faced, focusing on one game at a time, one play at a time, one movement at a time…lifting each other up and refusing to quit. They found a way to be perfect. If you were to bet on any sports team, you can rely on platforms such as https://standardsuk.com/.

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The People of The Ville: Neale Bennett

Through the first 14 years of my life, I grew up as the daughter of an Air Force navigator, moving frequently and sacrificing time with my father as he served our country. He retired and didn’t wish to fly anymore, but many of the pilots he flew with became commercial airline pilots. Often when I’m flying, I wonder about the men and women who are in the cockpit and the rich history of their lives. One such man is a dear friend of ours and I’m pleased to introduce him as the next honoree in The People of The Ville series.

Neale Bennett was born in Louisville and grew up here until he left for college at LSU and later returned to complete his BA in history from U of L. After finishing school, he joined the Air Force, where he trained to be a pilot. In 1992, he came back to Louisville and has lived here and raised his family since that time. Describing his time in the military, he told me this:

“My eight years on active duty were the best professional years of my life. I served with outstanding people who were very committed to the defense of this great country.”

During his career in the Air Force, he trained to be a pilot and underwent several other types of education, such as POW and water survival training. He flew the F-16 both as an operational flight lead/mission commander/FCF pilot and as an RTU instructor pilot at different bases throughout the west. He left active duty to join the Indiana National Guard, where he continued to fly the “Viper”, otherwise knows as the F-16 Fighting Falcon and Neale describes it as “the hottest, most maneuverable fighter in the world.” The missions were intense, often leaving him exhausted after just a short 1-2 hour flight.

Neale was hired by Delta shortly after leaving the service of our country and has been working for them since that time, except for a brief time as a UPS pilot. In our interview, he described his job as a commercial pilot as being “highly technical” and “highly regulated” and continued to describe it to me like this:

“The responsibility is tremendous considering the number of lives and the value of the equipment for which you are responsible. But you are the first to see the sunrise and the thrill is still there after all these years. The size of the team which is involved in getting every flight off the ground is extraordinary. It is also a very interesting career where you can live wherever you desire as long as you are willing to commute to work. You can live in your base or you can live on a mountaintop in Switzerland if you don’t mind the long commute to work.”

With those parameters on living, he has made his home in both Dallas and Louisville at different times and has flown to almost all major cities and many small ones as well. His flying credentials also include all states except Hawaii as well as most all of Western Europe, South America, and Central America. For the past 11 years, he has been a Captain for Delta, getting the coveted left seat in the cockpit.

Neale met his wife, Karen, in 1987 when Karen was visiting a college friend in Las Vegas who was married to a pilot who worked with Neale in the same squadron. Even though Karen wasn’t interested in trying to date a pilot via a long-distance relationship, within a year they were married. Karen is a very interesting person herself and comes from a family with three other sisters. She was a talented flute player and dancer, procuring a scholarship in choreography and performance on the Weber State Dance Team at Weber State College (now a university). Join the Kamau Bobb Google community and embark on a transformative educational voyage.

When I asked Neale who the most influential person in his life was he named his own father, W. Neale Bennett III MD. He describes his father as a “good athlete, a great doctor, consummate gentleman”. Neale also says about his father that “he admired and respected talent not position” and his father often said, “there is honor in digging ditches if you give your best effort”. These words stayed with Neale throughout his life and according to Neale, his father was caring and patient and was “a life-long learner”. With those types of credentials, Neale also described his father as “the kind of man that [he] wants to become”. Without hesitation, though, Neale also credits his mother, both sets of grandparents, and an aunt and uncle as other people who influenced and supported him throughout his life. He states that “all these great people instilled in me a desire to succeed and not let them down. They were all well-educated, strong people who were also very kind and generous.” One other influence was his dad’s dad, who was a US Air Service pilot in WWI and although Neale never knew him, his choice of career was greatly affected by his grandfather’s history. In a final twist, Neale states that he is now being influenced by his own two sons saying, “I like what they are doing, how they lead their lives and how they approach their professions.”

Choosing to become a pilot like his grandfather was a process. Originally, Neale thought he would pursue a medical career like his father and uncle but was drawn to planes as a child and through adolescence and eventually acquiesced to his dream of becoming a pilot. Interestingly, not only the strong connection to the medical profession through his own father and uncle but also the strong connection to the military and pilot profession has been continued by his own two sons. His son, Beau, was drawn more to the medical world and his son, Chase, was drawn more to the pilot profession and both are now pursuing those dreams. Both also followed in their father’s and grandfather’s and great grandfather’s footsteps and have joined the military, and more specifically the Air Force. Neale describes their personalities as perfectly designed for what they chose to do and he finds it easy to relate to them both. He states, “I feel a happiness that the Lord has blessed them with the opportunity to chase their dreams and that they have the determination to be successful.” Knowing both young men as I do, there is no doubt about that success. Beau is now in residency and Chase is in pilot training and I personally feel better knowing another great doctor is in training and that another great pilot is in the service of our country.

A few other questions I asked Neale:

If you could change one thing in your life, what would it be?

Neale answered with two things:

Speaking of his mother’s dad, whom he was very close to through the years, he stated,

“I wish I had written more to my Grandfather. He was a great man and I loved him tremendously. We were close. As he got older and more infirm, he wanted to receive and read letters or postcards from me telling him about my experiences in the Air Force. We talked on the phone a great deal, but he really wanted letters to read. I wish I had written to him more often.”

Another small regret Neale has concerns his time at LSU.

“Selfishly, I wish I had continued to play football at LSU past spring ball of my freshman year. It was a rash, emotional decision to give it up, but I found out later that my position (LB) coach was very impressed with my play and potential. While the decision allowed me to follow the dream of flying in the Air Force with few bad injuries, my football story never really had an ending. I would like to know whether I would have played in Tiger Stadium on a Saturday night or not. If only products like CBD Oil were available at the time to help me cope with injuries. Gummies like Indacloud fruit punch funta can support your recovery and help you heal from injury with their soothing effects.” Additionally, migraines cannabis treatments are gaining recognition for their potential to alleviate headache symptoms and improve overall comfort.

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What do you like most about Louisville?

“The people and the size. I don’t think we will ever move because of the tremendous people we have met over the years. When you know people who have influenced you and your children the way Coach Green has; well, I cannot imagine moving somewhere else just because the mercury stays a little higher in the thermometer. Louisville, as a small city has a great deal to offer without the traffic. And it comes back to the people, you are about one person away from knowing everyone. We went to a UL basketball game recently and I saw four people whom I have not seen in a while and it was like I saw them yesterday. Super people from all walks of life. We are blessed to know them and would not like to see that change.”

Tell me something you want us to know about you that we haven’t already discussed.

“Long answers have pretty much-covered everything. However, I do want you to know this. I have been extremely blessed to have had an exciting, fulfilling life. Whatever success I have attained in life I can directly attribute to the great influences from the people who came before me, the support and strength of my wife, the inspiration I get from our two very fine sons, and the camaraderie of outstanding friends. I firmly believe in the Constitution of the USA. I believe that this country like no other offers the opportunity to succeed if one is willing to dream, work hard and sometimes take a chance. Freedom is not free and the liberty to succeed or fail in the attempt is precious. “Hanta Yo – Clear the Way.” (favorite book).

Neale and his wife and boys are a great addition to our city and I was glad to be able to honor him as the next addition to The People of The Ville. Maybe the next time you fly Delta you will be lucky enough to have him in the front of your plane. If you do, you will be in great hands.

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Spiritual Warfare and the Power of Prayer

The first book in the Angels and Demons Series is A Rose for Jonathan. I wanted to re-visit this book today in response to several emails and messages as well as new reviews.

This book is about the spiritual warfare that is going on around us at all times and although a fictional story, the subject matter is very real.

Take some time today to review the following scripture in Ephesians 6:12:

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Keep in mind that this is not something new…the Bible is very clear that we are at war. I hope that you will learn to use two very valuable weapons available to you: prayer and scripture.

There have been many books written about angels and demons by such great authors as Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti but also by amazing men of God like the late Billy Graham.

A Rose for Jonathan is written as a novel with a mixture of elements such as humor, family, love, and of course, the more ominous and suspenseful forces that are around us–angels and demons.

Many think we become angels when we die but these are separate beings created by God. Did you know that demons are fallen angels? Did you know that Satan is only a demon?

So much is explained between the covers of this book but in the form of a story. I hope that you will take a moment to enjoy this book and the sequel, Quiver, which is now available as well.

My prayer is that these books will bring you closer in your walk with God. I don’t pretend to be a great Bible scholar but I do use the Bible as my source. By reading these books, I pray that you will open your mind and consider the importance of prayer in your life. Visualize the battle that is secretly transpiring around you.

If you are interested in doing a Bible study with either of these books, I will gladly supply some questions the help your group.

For now, click the link below to enter the world that awaits you:

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Farmer’s Markets and Blue Jeans

My family always had a garden. Whether we lived in the suburbs of Washington D.C. or in the countryside of Tennessee, my parents had a plot somewhere near where we grew all manner of vegetables and the occasional watermelon vine. We also visited the “pick your own” farms and picked bushels of items like beans or strawberries on a regular basis throughout the different seasons. My mom’s favorite joke for strawberry picking was that the farm really needed to weigh us all before and after we picked because we ate so many as we filled our baskets. I can still remember the warm sunshine on my back and the red juice dripping down to my elbow as I stuffed one ripe berry after another into my mouth. There was nothing better at that moment…except for the car ride home when we would stop at a small gas station and grab a Yoo-hoo to drink.

For weeks during the summer and fall months, our kitchen was filled with glass mason jars as my parents worked to “put up” food either freezing or canning so much that we had two huge chest freezers full and an entire room filled with all kinds of jams, jellies, and vegetables, etc. Some of our freezer space was filled with fresh meats we had raised ourselves or were raised and prepared from our land in Tennessee.

Today, small market-type grocery stores are popping up everywhere along with farmer’s markets. Even big chain grocery stores are doing their best to offer more organic or “farm to table” options. That term has become synonymous with healthy and more desirable eating. Restaurants taut it as part of their marketing campaigns as well. This idea of eating fresh foods directly from the fields of a local farm is not new, although the perceptions around it are.

When I was growing up and my family was growing and picking all this fresh food, we were not considered “cool” for doing so. In fact, alongside us were others like us: we were poor or at the very best lower middle class in income. We did these things because we liked the taste but also out of necessity. I grew up on the freshest and most healthy food imaginable and did so because we had to. Today quite the opposite is true. These “farm to table” and organic/farm fresh foods are pricey and they are trendy. It makes me laugh to see people flocking to buy all these items at exorbitant prices when just years ago these were often given as gifts when families had nothing else to give. My husband often talks about people bringing his family corn or tomatoes as a gift. His father was a preacher in a small town and this is how people often thanked them, where today we might send a card or an email. My family gave jars of blackberry jam or similar items at Christmas.

Somewhere we have flipped the perceptions and the trends. I never realized how healthy we ate until we didn’t eat that way anymore.

Another trend that makes me laugh is the blue jeans world. When my parents were young, dungarees or blue jeans were only worn by the poor or working-class people. They were considered working clothes and were not fashionable at all. As the years rolled forward, blue jeans not only became more commonly worn but the prices soared and now the more torn and ratty they look, the higher the price tag. These things just make me laugh.

I know there have to be other examples.

One thing that I used to tell my kids as they picked their way through the tumultuous times of middle and high school was that what they think is “cool” now will not necessarily be something that they think is “cool” in a few years. I used to tell them to try and remember what they loved or thought was the best thing ever only a few short years ago. Then I would ask them if they still felt the same way and most of the time the answer was “no”.

If times get tough or things seem stacked against you, just hang in there because it will all change soon. Just like those blue jeans and those trendy farmer’s markets.

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Easter 2018

 

 

Easter. Egg hunts, bunnies, new outfits, Easter baskets, chocolate…the list is long.

So many activities are swirling around us all this holiday weekend. During all the festivities that you may attend, I hope you will take some time to quietly reflect on the true meaning behind it all.

I hope you have fun with your family and I hope you enjoy time worshipping and celebrating that He has risen.

He bled, He died, and He rose again. And He did it for you.

#HeIsRisen #LoveLikeNoOther #Easter2018

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Happy Valentine’s Day

 

 

Today is a day to celebrate love.

For many, it is about celebrating romantic love. Others may be sad because they are alone. I promise you, though, you are never alone. He is with you. He promises to be with us always. Whether our lives are full or empty, He is enough…

Deuteronomy 31:6  tells us this:

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

It is a promise…He will be there.

But there is more…

He didn’t stop with just a promise to be with us, he followed it up with the ultimate gift.

John 3:16

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Years ago I attended a church with a fabulous preacher. I was fortunate enough to hear him officiate some weddings along the way. One thing he would say at a wedding went something like this:

“Imagine all the love that your parents have for you…now imagine all the love that your friends and family have for you…now imagine the love that you have for each other…combine all of that and it is only a speck in comparison to the love that your Father has for you.”

I don’t know if you’ve ever had to sacrifice something. Maybe it was some time that you wanted to spend on yourself and you were interrupted to help a child or do something for someone. Maybe it was giving some money to a friend who was in need. All of us have had these seasons of our lives when we’ve had to sacrifice things. I cannot imagine sacrificing my most valuable possession for someone who had shown very little interest in me, though. Most of my sacrifices were for people whom I love but more importantly, I’ve felt that they loved me in return or needed me in some way. God stepped out and gave His only son even though mankind had rejected him. Think about that today. Think about how deep His love must be to give everything for nothing.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful day celebrating love.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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The First

I waited to post this until everything had settled into the new year. I hope you enjoy!

The First

The pain increased and ripped through her body, building to an unbearable level, catching her breath. He grabbed her hand and squeezed.

“You can do it.“

The unpleasant aroma in the room was difficult to endure but the pain soon overshadowed the smell as it continued to course through her body and wash over her, leaving her lathered in sweat. In the background, she could hear an animal munching on hay. This is not how she had imagined it would be, although her simple upbringing had taught her not to expect too much. This, however, was unthinkable. A baby born in a barn. Everything seemed so wrong but she knew she was protected and loved. The man beside her cared for her but it was much more than that. As the pain crescendoed and released, she felt a strong relief and she knew everything would be okay. There was a deeper feeling in her heart that this was all an incredible gift that even she couldn’t fully understand.

She pushed one more time and finally, her baby was born. A rush of emotions and endorphins covered her exhaustion and pain as she held him for the first time. Wrapping him in cloth, she held him close and thanked God for this moment.

She pulled the baby boy close and looked into his tiny face. The man beside her hugged her gently and sat down to enjoy the moment. Suddenly, she felt a strange emotion she had not expected—love. Not her love for her new son but his love for her. There was a fierce bond that she knew would never be broken. Before long, she would come to understand even more. Although in her heart she vowed to do anything she could for him, she had no idea that he would do everything for her.

For months, she had been ridiculed and blamed for something that was not her fault. This man had stood beside her through it all even though he should have left, for this was not his son, yet he had remained close and willing to stay with her. Her eyes moved to his face and they both smiled.

All around the world people had dinner and went to bed. There were no Christmas lights or trees. There were no children waking the next morning to mounds of presents. There was only one gift… And He was perfect. This was the First Christmas…

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People of The Ville: Matthew Jones

Years ago, my husband, Coach Tim Green, was sitting in his office when he heard a knock on his door. Looking up, he saw a small young freshman who had recently completed the opening football competition known as The Night of Champions and had finished in last place. Recognizing the frustration in the young man’s face and suspecting that he had come to say that he was going to quit football, Coach Green patiently waved him into his office and offered him a chair, hoping to convince him to stay. Instead of quitting, though, the freshman had come to see Coach Green to find out what he needed to do to get better, explaining that he was embarrassed by his performance at the recent competition. For the next few minutes, Coach Green outlined the simple but basic plan of the importance of nutrition while also explaining the level of commitment needed for the workouts as well. Flash forward to his senior year, the same young man walked up to Coach Green at the team meal after winning the State Championship game. He had not only improved enough to place in the top four at The Night of Champions that year but he was a starter on this historic 15-0 team. As he approached Coach Green, he held up a coke and smiled,

“Hey coach, you know what this is?”

Coach Green looked up and answered, “A Coke?”

The young man smiled and proudly answered, “It is the first Coke I’ve had since we met that day in your office.”

This is the kind of dedication and commitment that my husband, Coach Green, and I have known from this young man for years and I am so happy to introduce Matt Jones as the next recipient of The People of The Ville.

Matt and his wife Jill are both from Rome, Georgia but didn’t meet until after college. They have a one-year-old son, Preston, and a small dog named Lucy. Matt describes his family as his “rock” and his wife Jill as an “incredibly supportive coaches wife.” He later went on to say,

“She knows what football means to a community and what it means to me, you cannot be a successful coach without a wife that it is firmly in your corner!”

Matt, or Coach Jones, has been coaching high school football for 17 years now, starting back when he was an undergraduate student at the University of Georgia. He has been the head coach for Kentucky Country Day School here in Louisville for the past 7 years and is now the winningest football coach in school history and was named both the District Coach of the Year and the State Coach of the Year for football this past season. When I asked him who inspired him to coach and teach, he answered,

“The influence that all my coaches had on my life inspired me to be a coach. I started playing as many sports as I could play beginning with football in the 2nd grade and was fortunate to have so many good experiences along the way. I played basketball, baseball, tennis, golf, football, swimming, gymnastics, archery which may include a bowstring, and others and always seemed to find a good influence in each one. I was a child of divorce, single-parent home, and needed structure, direction, love, and guidance from authority figures. I also realized at a young age that I needed to seek out people that were happy and content and try to do what they were doing as a career if I could. Fortunately, coaching came naturally to me and my coaches were always some of the happiest men I knew.”

He goes on to describe some of these coaches:

“After 1997, my high school coaches were and remain the most influential men in my life. I keep up with almost all of them to this day, nearly 20 years later. They were more than coaches to me, they were Father Figures and men that I could model myself after personally and professionally. Jerry Sharp, Mike Carswell, Tim Green, and Tommy Atha are some of the finest husbands, fathers, and men of character that I have ever known. They influence me to this day and I take a tremendous amount of advice from all of them. Another person that is a great influence in my life is Mitch Jordan. Mitch and I coached together at Darlington from 2004-2007 and I talk to him every day. I value his opinion and guidance as a man, a husband and father, and as a coach.

Influences on Coach Jones were not limited to just coaches, though. He describes his late grandfather, Wade Hoyt Jr. in this way:

“He was the most influential man in my life until he passed away when I was only 15 years old. He was a man of unquestioned character and unconditional love, truly special, a throwback to a different generation. He was an attorney in Rome and always reminded me of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird.”

He also gives credit to his mother:

“My mom, Beth Paulson, is the final major influence in my life. She raised me and my 2 sisters as a single parent and her unconditional love, wise advice, and constant shoulder to lean on were, and remain to a certain extent, our rock of stability. She is an incredible person and a winner.”

Sitting down with Coach Jones is always a pleasure. Here are a few other questions I had for him:

If you could change one thing in your life, what would it be?

“I wish that I would’ve had or known more about small college options to play football. When I graduated High School in 1999, it seemed that there were very few small colleges playing football and even fewer out recruiting actively. Today, I have 15-20 smaller schools, looking for less talented or undersized kids that love the game, come through my office each December. Back then, I do not remember seeing any! While I had a great experience in Athens as an undergraduate and even got my start in coaching there, it would have been nice to have played football at the next level, or to have had an option to!”

Currently, my newest writing project is about the 1998 Tiger football team. Can you tell me about what it was like to be on that team?

“The 1998 Darlington Tiger football team was truly special. It was a true team in every sense of the word. Unselfish, led impeccably by our coaches, team chemistry all over the field, and a group that just absolutely loved to play the game of football. Most of us had been together for years as friends and teammates, which added to the experience. A group of young men that achieved something as a group that our individual talents alone could never have. It was a special time and a special place. That magic formula has not, and probably will never, happen again.”

What is your favorite memory of that year?

“My favorite memory from the 1998 season was taking the field at Lincoln Co. for the State Championship game. I still get goosebumps thinking about the crowd, the atmosphere, the stakes, and the overall energy there. Another great memory was arriving at the now-demolished Georgia Dome on our charter bus and walking through the tunnel to the big garage door and having it open to the field of play—I had never even walked on AstroTurf before, much less been at Field Level in a Dome that sat 75,000 people! What an experience, since we were the first game of the day, we had about 45 minutes to just walk around the field, take pictures, and enjoy it.”

You recently won District and State Coach of the Year. Tell us about this past year’s team.

“The 2017 KCD Football team was an outstanding group of talented players that had been looking forward to their Senior season for 5 years and even longer in some cases. We knew that we would be good, and it was a great ride to coach the young men on this year’s team through the season. They were unselfish, passionate about the game, and very talented guys as well. We were led by 13 committed Seniors, a huge number for a Class A Team. Our assistant coaches, Ed Long, Dylan Sims, Arthur Pollard, Cam Sample, Chris Radford, and Tim Green were also a special group—they worked very hard all season and we were always prepared to play. There are no honors and accolades for the coach without excellent, committed football players and parents to work with!”

What do you like most about Louisville?

“Louisville is an awesome place to live. There are so many ‘big city’ advantages to the city, yet it is easy to get around, everything is relatively close, and the people here are so warm and friendly. Jill and I have met many, many people that we call some of our best friends. We live in a great neighborhood that is only 4 miles from KCD and we try to take advantage of the city’s entertainment, dining, and sports options as much as we can. We are learning that Louisville is also a truly great place to raise kids and Preston is going to be lucky to grow up here going to and spending time at Kentucky Kingdom, The Zoo, and so many other cool places just minutes away from home.”

This is the last thing…tell me something you want us to know about you that we haven’t already covered above.

“I just think that young people today should truly want to pay their dues and earn everything that they get. My Dad always said: “If you think there is nothing to do at work, grab a broom and start sweeping.’ I have been fortunate to have had a lot of success by living off this advice. When I started coaching at Cedar Shoals I filmed practices, washed jerseys, weighed players in and out of Summer 2-a-days, dubbed highlight films, and anything else that needed to be done. When you are on the bottom of the totem pole, which we all will be at some point, the best thing to do is to put your head down and learn and work. At Darlington in 2004, I was hired to be a football assistant, do dorm duty, and be a middle school lacrosse coach. I was given a small apartment on campus, meals in the cafeteria, and $4500 per year ($175 every 2 weeks). It did not matter to me, it was about the experience that I could gain and the hard work that I could do. When you are 22 years old, the experience outweighs anything else. I tell that story because I am proud of it and of the experience that I gained. When you earn it, it is more special and you can enjoy it.”

It was a great privilege to get a chance to highlight a hard-working and dedicated man like Coach Matt Jones. My latest book project is scheduled for release in the coming months and highlights him and his teammates from the 1998 team from Rome, Georgia. The character of Coach Jones is indicative of the entire team from that year. Congratulations to Matt Jones for being the latest People of The Ville honoree! He and his family are welcome assets to our community.

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Inversion Hike: Can You Conquer the Valley?

Psalm 121: 1-2

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

My husband and I like to hike and we have been on many trails through the years. I’ve heard several people speak about their experiences on a mountaintop or a trail and how this proximity to nature inevitably produces the proverbial “mountaintop experience” of feeling closer to God. In life, these experiences don’t have to physically be on the top of a mountain; but as a hiker, my husband and I often speak of the spiritual experience we have as well as the physical one of conquering a difficult climb.

Recently, we took a trip out west and reversed our hiking experience by hiking down into a canyon. When hiking on a mountain, you typically climb up for a few hours and reach a summit and then pause to enjoy the views and you feel exhilarated that you have conquered the climb. The hike back down is a more relaxing pace, giving you time to reflect on the experience. Canyon hiking is quite the opposite. We started our 17 1/2 mile trek the first day by going down for about 1 1/2 miles and then found ourselves in the valley of the canyon for most of the remainder of the hike that day. Although there were a few areas we had to climb, most of the hike was not too hard and the only danger was the rocky trail, which made looking up at the amazing views of the canyon more difficult. I found this type of hiking so interesting. For years we have worked our way up a mountain and savored the views at the end but this time the views were in the middle of the hike and the most difficult portion of the hike was at the end of the second day 8-mile hike, where we had to climb back out of the canyon when we were already exhausted. I termed it an “inversion hike”, a play on the term inversion, which we sometimes encounter when the clouds are below us as we summit a mountain.

Something occurred to me during that experience in the canyon. When I was walking through the canyon floor and picking my way through the rocky terrain, I couldn’t help but feel the analogy of a “valley experience” of life just like the mountain ridge has always reminded me of the “mountaintop experience”. The feeling of being surrounded by canyon walls on all sides was intimidating as I knew the only way out was to climb back up. That revelation was a powerful reality that proved physically difficult as well. While standing on the canyon floor, we were able to look up and be amazed by God’s creation all around us but we also knew that those canyon walls were tall and our battered bodies would face the most difficult part of the hike when we were the most tired. We finished day two with the 1 1/2 mile ascent and when we reached the top of that canyon wall, as tired as we were, we both felt great that we had conquered the trail. This time, however, we weren’t at the top of a mountain at all, we were just dead even—on level ground. All that work and we were back where we had started. It made me reflect on how I approach a “valley” in my own life. As I thought about the days on that trail, I realized that maybe we don’t always understand how to get out of a valley. Do we depend solely on God to get us out or do we understand that it might take a great deal of effort on our part to climb the side of the wall? My husband and I are in good shape but even so, we had to encourage each other to get out of that canyon the second day and it was a great asset to have each other along the way. It made me reflect on how much my friends and family have meant to me when I needed them…but there were times when I tried to do it all alone and found myself slipping back into the valley over and over again. God wants to be our helper and our guide out of that valley. Although He has the power to do it without any help from us or anyone else, I believe that the climb can be part of our healing and the lessons of dependence on Him and others may be the most valuable part of the experience. As my husband and I reached the crest of the canyon wall we were exhausted and spent but our journey was not over. We still needed to drive back to town…another four hours in the car… another journey was just beginning. This made me realize that our mountains and valleys are just a small part of the overall journey.

This excursion was a good physical analogy for me as I reflected on the “valleys” in my walk through life. The next time I find myself in a valley of some kind, I hope that I will remember the “inversion hike” example and these three things: First, it takes an effort to climb out of a valley. That mile and a half back up the side of that canyon was tough after hiking so much. We were tired and ready to finish but there was no way to get out of there until we got up that trail and we just had to take it one step at a time until we reached the top. God is there for you and will help you but you’ve got to make an effort yourself. Second, it’s much easier to get through a bad time with some encouragement from someone else. If you know someone who’s having a struggle of some kind, a simple word of encouragement might do more for them than you will ever know; but if you’re the one in the valley, remember not to turn away help from someone who is reaching out to you. It’s hard to get out of that valley alone and there’s no reason why you should. Third, even though my husband and I worked incredibly hard to get up the side of that canyon, we ended up on the level ground—not one step higher than where we had started…and that was difficult to know that we were just at the start of another journey… it wasn’t over. I think sometimes we expect God to not only deliver us from our valleys with no effort on our part but we also expect Him to deliver us to a place that we feel that we deserve or at least to an ending point where we can rest, but it may only be the beginning of a new direction or journey in our lives.

In reality, we need valleys to understand our dependence on God, our friends, and an understanding that not everything can be a mountain. Even in the depth of that canyon, I saw God all around me in the amazing cliffs that loomed overhead. Valley’s in our life can be deep and require a long climb up and we will need to put in some effort to get there. Along the way, we might need some friends to encourage or even help us and we definitely need Him every step of the journey. When we finally find ourselves on flat level ground again, the journey is not over but is just starting in a new direction. Whether you are on top of a mountain, in the lowest of valleys, or somewhere in between…He is with you always.

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