A Christmas Blessing

             For a seven-week stretch in mid-October to November 2009, I had the opportunity to teach basketball lessons to the kids at the Murphy House just outside of Jasper.  The Murphy House is not only a house—there is a large study room, fully-functional kitchen, toy room, and meeting room—it is an after-school program for kids with behavioral and emotional problems.  I was called on to teach the Murphy House kids the fundamentals of basketball for forty-five minutes a week. 

            We had around twenty kids to participate in the program.   Each week, I would teach a different skill, and conclude the instruction with a brief “life takeaway.”  These were very simple lessons of life—have focus, read a book, study hard—yet I felt as if these kids weren’t learning these things at home and they were life lessons that were worth repeating. 

            At times, it was very difficult for them to pay attention in drills and simply follow instructions.  I often had to call them out and correct their behavior.  Some of the kids couldn’t pay attention, even for five seconds.  Most of them had never even shot a basketball, much less executed a fundamentally-sound lay-up. 

            I couldn’t imagine what home life was like for some of these children.  These weren’t children who were raised in the most affluent Beverly Hills home—they were country children who grew up in the sordid sections of Walker County.  Some of them wore the same outfit every week.  Others struggled with proper English.  But I noticed two distinct things that were prevalent among every child there. 

            First, every child wanted my attention.  They would often say, “Hey coach, look at this…I can dribble” or “Hey coach, watch this shot” or “Hey coach, I can make it from here.”  They had a certain thirst for recognition and approval.  As human beings, we all seek out the approval of others when we perform.

            Secondly, I noticed that all of the children there had a heart of gold.  There was something special and sweet about each one of them.   They were good children, capable children, yet children that needed some encouragement.  I tried my best to encourage them and praise them when they did well. 

            It was the last session of the camp, and I was standing in front of the huddled mass of children.  I finished our lesson, and, one by one, each child started asking me if I was going to come back.  I promised them that I would come back soon, and we said our goodbyes. 

            About a month had passed and I was working in my law office in Jasper.  I was about to go to lunch and I walked out and checked the mail box.  I found a package inside addressed to Coach Al Blanton.  Unsure of its contents, I opened the manila envelope and found several Christmas cards, addressed to me.  It was from the Murphy House kids.  Each child had sent me their own, personalized Christmas cards.  Some of them nearly broke my heart.  I would like to share a few with you at this time.

Thank you for teaching me to play basketball now I’m playing basketball at a church.  Thank you.

To Coach Al for Aaron.

I miss you Coach Al

Heyy, Coach Al

It’s been awhile since we’ve seen you

thanks for all the things you taught us.

Just to let you know I have been practicing.

thanks again and have a great holiday. 

Love always/Jackie

You are the best coach ever

Have a Great Christmas

            After I read all of the cards, I sat at my desk and was overwhelmed with joy and appreciation.  That was so sweet of them to do that, I thought.  I will never forget those kids.This is what Christmas is all about.

            I lounged back in my office chair and smiled as a tear rolled down my face.  My job as their basketball coach was to enrich them and in some small way, be a blessing to them.  But it was I who received the greatest blessing—the heart of a child. 

No Greater Love

            Why is it so difficult for us to accept the fact that God loves us?  We are reminded time and time again through the Holy Scriptures of the depth and breadth of God's love for his children.  I'd like to take some time this morning and examine God's love as discussed in the Bible. 

1. Who does God love? 

a. The World

            John 3:16, " For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 

b. Us (The Children of God)

            John 16:27 "No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God."

            Ephesians 2:4-5 "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." 

            2 Thessalonians 2:16  "May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope.."

            1 John 3:1 "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

2. How does God demonstrate his love?   

a. By being faithful and keeping his promises

            Deuteronomy 7:9 "Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations." 

b. By sending his son when we don't deserve it

            1 John 4:9 "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him."

c. By exhibiting an unfailing and enduring love

            Psalm 36:7 "How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!" 
            Psalm 136:2 "Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever." 

d. By giving us the Holy Spirit

            Romans 5:5 "And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."

e. By dying for us
            Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 

            Examining these verses, what is our response to this?  First, we should accept the fact that God loves us.  I believe this is the most crucial step in the life of a believer.  Do you believe this?  Does this resonate with you, even when you are experiencing suffering in your life?  Let me echo this sentiment:  GOD LOVES YOU, and he loves you resolutely more than you can ever imagine or be mentally cognizant of.  He loves you more than your father, your mother, your wife, your husband, your son, your daughter, or anyone else in your life. 
            Secondly, we should love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Why is this so crucially important to our life?  Because if we love God, we know God AND are known by God.  Consider the following verses, coupled together: 1 Corinthians 8:3 says, "But whoever loves God is known by God." 1 John 4:7 offers " Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." 
            Lastly, we should love one another.  1 Thessalonians 4:9 says, "for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other."  1 John 4:7 "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God."  And finally, 1 John 4:11,"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." 

My Tribute to Creg Rinehart

              One day.  That was the projected lifespan of Creg Rinehart by doctors who brought him into this world and said he didn’t stand a chance.  Three months premature, weighing only two pounds, and blind, doctors said that Creg would not last more than one day.  He was diagnosed with the most common developmental disability in the United States—cerebral palsy—which greatly impedes the neuromuscular potential of the human body.    He was placed in an incubator for six months, fighting to stay alive.  That was fifty years ago. 

I could tell you a lot about the birth of Creg Rinehart, but what I would like to tell you about is his life.

Most people within the reach of this newspaper have at least heard of Creg Rinehart, who lives with his family in the community of Heiberger, but my life has been tremendously blessed by having the privilege to know this titan of a man.  What he has meant to my life cannot be adequately measured nor appropriately described with my limited writing ability. Nevertheless, I will try to find the words to express a proper tribute to my most valued friend. 

Our paths first crossed when I was interviewing for the head basketball position at MMI.  When I pulled up in front of the Ireland Center, I noticed that there was another car parked in the circular drive in front of the gym.  As I was walking into the gym, Creg was mustering up enough strength to get out of his car.

            “You need some help?” I asked in my ignorance.  His salt-and-pepper hair and penetrating blue eyes caught my attention, along with the laborious way he emerged out of his blue Ford Taurus. 

“No, I’m fine.  I’ve just got to get into the gym to watch basketball practice,” he softly replied. 

As the door to the automobile swung open, I noticed that Creg was on crutches, and his custom leather shoes with Velcro straps had pieces of metal on the soles, scraping the ground as he plodded forward, one foot in front of the other.  I walked over to introduce myself. 

            “I’m Al Blanton.  It’s nice to meet you.” 

            “I’m Creg Rinehart.” 

            A relationship had begun.  At that moment, little did I know the extent of the impact that Creg would make on my life. 

            After I got the job, I learned quickly that Creg was indeed MMI’s biggest fan, and that he would most likely be in attendance at every home game.  For the first couple of games, Creg sat directly behind me on the bench and was hollering at the referees more frequently than I was.  It just didn’t seem right for Creg to be in the stands, so I asked him if he wanted to be my assistant coach and sit on the bench with the team.  At first, he hesistated, but after I assured him that he wouldn’t have to wear a suit and tie or go on recruiting trips, he agreed. 

            “Creg, all you have to do is just help me,” I said.

            “I can do that,” he offered. 

            Creg became the bright spot and a sense of unity during two difficult seasons of basketball.  Creg went on road trips with us, ate meals with us, gave pregame speeches, and yes—cheered for the team with everything he had.  I always took great pride in watching the players rally to assist him in getting off the bus and to and from the gym.  I was hoping that these moments with Creg were teaching them a little bit about serving other people and about manhood. 

Creg customarily traveled with us on road trips that were no more than two or three hours away—Selma, Tuscaloosa, Jasper.  In January 2007, I asked Creg if he could go with us to Jacksonville, Florida for a two-day tournament at Trinity Baptist College.  “I’ll have to ask my parents,” he replied.  A couple of days later I got a phone call from Creg, informing me that he could go. 

While we were in Jacksonville, the team took a short road trip to St. Augustine, the oldest permanent European settlement in the United States.  I let the players walk around at their leisure while Creg and I strolled around and took pictures and visited the little shops of the old town.  I was glad that Creg was able to experience this bit of history, and I hoped that it would be one of the lasting memories of his life.  It didn’t take long for me to realize that being able to spend time with Creg in that moment was one of the greatest satisfactions of my life. 

If you don’t know already, Creg works in the MMI dining hall, taking up lunch tickets and greeting students and faculty as they walk in the door.  He has been doing this for several years now.  Every morning, Creg makes the twelve-mile drive from Heiberger to Marion to fulfill the duties of his job.  But it is those people who come in contact with Creg that receive the greatest fulfillment.  I have had the pleasure of sitting down to have many meals with Creg in that same cafeteria, and I believe that our relationship was built during these small moments together.

So what is it about Creg Rinehart that makes him such a special person?  The first thing is that he pours his life into the lives of other people.  Make no mistake about it, Creg loves sports, and he is indeed MMI’s biggest fan.  But I believe that athletics has merely been the conduit for Creg’s greatest ministry—investing in the lives of young men and women.  Creg cares about each individual kid on a personal level.  Those players know that Creg not only wants them to win but to see them succeed. 

Creg is content with the person he is.  There is not a selfish bone in his body, and he has no desire for self-gratification in any form.  I believe that the only thing Creg wishes he could have done is to play sports just one time.  And it’s a shame, because he would have been the kind of player that I would want on my team. 

There is no sadness in Creg’s life, just the pure joy of living.  He lives with his parents, and he will probably never marry.  He struggles daily to walk a mere ten feet.  He has to have assistance in the most fundamental of life activities.  Yet there is no anger within him regarding his condition.  He never complains or questions why God made him this way, he just makes the necessary adjustments and rolls on with life. 

Creg does not let his afflictions define him.  As debilitating as his condition in, he runs through the tape of limitations and stretches his boundaries as far as they can go.  When others tell him that he can’t do it, he says “Watch me.”  When the odds are stacked against him, he says, “I’m willing to try.”  This, my friends, is called courage. 

I could not imagine someone who has lived a fuller and more abundant life. Creg is the best person I know at squeezing the most out every inch of existence, caressing and holding the little moments of each day as if it were some precious jewel.

I have never met a person, nor do I believe that I will ever again come in contact with anyone whose life is as captivating and inspiring as Creg’s.  His life and his example is the most profound testament of courage that I have ever known. 

When I look at my life, I feel that I have achieved fairly modest success.  I have been a college professor, lawyer, and college basketball coach.  But when my life is stacked up next to Creg Rinehart’s and all that he has meant to those around him, I can only look up in awe at the giant that stands in front of me.