A Champion...

This story is not about my kid. It's about someone else's kid. Someone else's kid that I don't even know, but his impact on me has been huge, and that's putting it mildly.

My kid is the one in green, he finished fourth at the state tournament. He wrestled hard and left everything he had on the mat. I am so proud of him. The kid the story is about, is the one in red. He finished second. A great wrestler, a strong competitor, an athletic force to be reckoned with...but the impact he made on the mat had nothing to do with his athletic abilities, and everything to do with his heart.

His name is Cody, and I know nothing about him except what I have seen, and what I have seen is stunning. For me, the story begins a few weeks ago. My oldest son, Brey, wrestled at Jefferson High School. I worked that evening and when he returned home, I asked him how his match had gone. "I got pinned", he said. "Bummer", I responded, "how did that happen?" He responded, "he's last year state champ, he's undefeated, a great wrestler, his name is Cody Manzi."

Cody didn't cross my mind again until the district wrestling tournament 2 weeks later. Our family traveled over to Harrisburg, OR, to watch Brey compete for a chance to go to State. Brey wrestled hard and made it to the championship match. His opponent for first place in the 3A district championship was Cody Manzi. Just like most wrestling moms, I anxiously waited in the stands and sized up the competition. I watched Cody as he prepared to wrestle Brey. The competetive spirit in me hoped that Brey would beat him. He didn't. Cody pinned Brey, again, and both of them advanced to the State Tournament. On the long drive home, we discussed strategies for beating Cody. We discussed his strengths and talked about how he probably hadn't faced a challenging opponent in some time. We hoped he would at the State Tournament...

He did.

It wasn't my kid. It was someone else's who faced Cody, but I couldn't wait to see it. Brey finished fourth, so he was done wrestling for the season. We climbed into our seats and waited for the championship rounds to begin. I didn't care about anyone else's match, I was waiting for Cody's. I wanted to see him wrestle a really tough match, and that's exactly what I got.

The boy who wrestled Cody for the District 3A State Championship Title brought everything he had. He wrestled his heart out. He gave everything he had. He fought hard when most would have given up. He is worthy of much praise and congratulations. But my story is not about him...it's about the boy who lost. It's about Cody...

As I watched and cheered for the underdog, Cody fought for his title. He wrestled hard, struggled to strategize and tried to control a determined opponent. But like all of us, Cody is human. He met a better wrestler that day and ultimately lost his title. It should have been a tragedy for Cody Manzi...but it wasn't. As the stunned crowd looked on, Cody Manzi did something absolutely amazing. He loved...

When Cody realized his defeat was certain, he began clapping his hands. In the center of a packed arena, with all eyes on his match, he began clapping his hands in celebration of his opponent's success. When he finished clapping he grabbed his opponent's hand and he raised it to the ceiling proclaiming his stunning victory! The joy on his face was so pure it was contagious. I couldn't take my eyes off of him as he congratulated the winner, hugged the officials and both coaches and ran off the mat, leaving the new state champion to enjoy his fame.

Humbled, is the only word that can describe my heart at that moment. A seventeen year old boy had taught this old girl a lesson in the love of Christ. I love the Lord with all that I am, but I know myself well enough to know that I would not have had the strength that that boy had in that moment. That only comes from heaven...

When met with the challenge, Cody Manzi "loved thy neighbor as thyself". And the result was sobering to a self centered generation focused on winning. The event in that stadium was far greater than physical strength and accomplishment. It was a spiritual challenge given to Cody, that he met with more fortitude than any match he ever wrestled. The impact goes beyond anything he will ever understand, but his willingness to be used by God definitely qualifies him as a champion.

Congratulations Cody, I'm so proud you!

Going to State!!!

Warning! I have become one of those annoying "bragging" parents...I know, I'm surprised myself, but it just snuck up on me out of nowhere! All the sudden I remind myself of those mom's on that reality TV show about pageants. I haven't gotten Brey a spray tan and teeth whitening yet, but I also haven't ruled it out...just sayin...

So, our oldest son Brey (see above photo) came in 2nd last weekend at the 3A district finals and gets to compete in the Oregon 3A state wrestling finals this weekend. We are all so excited. Me, especially, since I get to figure out what to wear...(told ya! scary...) We are heading to Portland on Friday and T's parents are meeting us, we're taking all the boys with us and we probably will look like some "dugger family" fiasco, but, oh well! We wouldn't have it any other way. We are all so proud of him and just wishing him great success.

In preperation for this big weekend of competition, Thane and I have been assisting Brey with wrestling support. For instance, yesterday, Thane rolled out the wrestling mats in the garage (yes, people, we have actual high school wrestling mats in our garage...don't hate) anyways, Thane and Brey spent the afternoon watching the video tapes from last weekend and analyzing strategies and moves. The culmination of this ended up with Thane actually wrestling Brey on the mats. This is actually quite amusing to watch...Thane begins by assuming the wrestling stance and smacking Brey on the side of the head. Brey says "yo! why are you hitting me?" Thane: "does it make you mad?" (Thane smacks the side of his head again...) Brey: "hey! you can't hit me!" Thane: "Really? I think I just did." Brey: (adolescent eye rolling) Thane: "if your opponent smacks you on the side of the head at the tournament, are you gonna look at the ref and tell him 'he's not allowed to hit me!' " About that time, Brey decided to take Thane down and did so quite solidly. What followed was an all out, no holds barred WWF style match. They grunted and moaned, laughed and sweated together, and as of this morning, Thane still can't move his right shoulder (don't tell Brey though).

As for me, I play a much more strategic role in offering my plan of attack for Brey's upcoming competition. It goes something like this...Me: "Brey, I have some advice for you for this weekend..." Brey (trying to act interested) "yea?" Me:"I don't think you should get underneath that guy, he looks really strong, I would try not to get underneath him." Brey: "oookay, mom...thanks" Me: "oh, one more thing...I would just take it one match at a time, you can't win the last one until you win the first one..." Brey:"Right..." (I know, this is good stuff right? I should totally write a book on wrestling strategies)

So, we've been busy checking the brackets, the state rankings and watching all 6 "Rocky" movies this week. I'm so pumped up, I've been running around in trash bags, eating grapefruit and spitting. I'm afraid if I run into the competition in the halls of the Colisseum I might just take him down myself! But I'll probably just exchange hard looks with the other mom's though...I always win at that!

Gotta go...need to get his spray tan scheduled!

District 3A Semi-Finals, 195 lbs.

District 3A Wrestling Championship, 195 lb.

For the Cheaters, Shirkers, and Cherry-Pickers

Seven practical ways to make a difference ....pick one and try it! You will truly be blessed!
For the Cheaters, Shirkers, and Cherry-Pickers

Smiles, Tears and Obedience...

Goosebumps...that's the only word I can think of to describe what happened in our lives today. It seems like a lame word to describe what actually took place, but somehow it is the only description that comes to mind tonight. This post has been running through my head all day and my only fear in sharing it, is that I won't do it justice. But I'm in a season of great change and the Lord has pressed on my heart the importance of sharing it...so, here goes!

Still deep in the throws of the wrench the Lord threw in my life recently, called "7", (see previous post) I have been unable to enjoy my usual comforts while completely ignoring the less fortunate(thanks Jen Hatmaker). This usually is not a problem for me. My past behaviors will show that I am a Christian woman who rarely thinks much about the homeless, the hungry, the sick and the poor. I mean after all, I have to pick out something fashionable to wear to work, eat my breakfast, start one of my two cars and get to town early enough to stop and get my latte. Not to mention, save enough time to complain about it and force the barista to remake it when it isn't hot enough! (eye roll here) Sure, I love Jesus. I am a regular attender at my church, serve on the worship team, throw my allocated percentage in the offering plate and when a fellow church member is sick or has a baby, I make a meal. So, I am obediently following the standards of the modern American church, checking the box, blessing the blessed, serving the saved and all the while wondering..."is this it?" Well, this week that question has been answered with "actually, Rebekah...no".

The Lord is moving me. He is changing my heart. He is taking off the blinders I wear to protect me from seeing things that might make me uncomfortable. The man begging for money outside of Fred Meyer. The alcoholic who hears voices so he quiets them with drunkenness. The elderly woman who waits alone to die, rather than call an ambulance because she doesn't want to live anymore. The young boy at the wrestling tournament who drove himself there, no parent to cheer him on, no coach to teach him, no one to rely on but himself. All of the sudden, the disfortunate are all I can see. The Lord points them out to me everywhere, and His Holy Spirit pursues me to do something about it until I can no longer run from it. And I am so thankful to Him for the awakening.

That's the background, today's story goes like this...Last night, Thane and I went out to dinner with our friends. We almost didn't make it. There were plenty of obstacles that tried to prevent it. But we managed to get out to a lovely restaurant on the bay with our two closest friends who also love Jesus. We started talking about "7". They started asking me about it actually, and I am so overflowing right now that it's my very favorite thing to talk about! We talked about the modern church and its resemblance to, or lack there of, the bride of Christ. We all attend the same church, so I asked the question "if Jesus came to our church on Sunday, would He be pleased or would He look around and say 'Really?'" It's a challenging question, one I am wrestling with daily right now.

Thane has been listening to me every night, so none of this was new to him. He has patiently lent an ear to my mandatory readings from "7" and has nodded his head, tilted his head to the side and raised his eyebrows, and once he even asked, "are you going to start giving away all my stuff?" He is such a remarkable man. He takes in so much, but reveals very little. He is not full of words, he is a man known by his actions. So, I have definitely felt his support in this season of change, but not necessarily a desire to participate. But I am the only one accountable for me, so I trust the Lord to work on everyone else.

This morning as I hurried myself to church ahead of my family. (worship team practice) I was late as usual, worried about my voice (ahem, image!) and focused on trying to remember when to come in on all the different songs. I saw Thane and our boys come in to church, and as worship began, I smiled at him from the stage and his eyes greeted mine with the same twinkle he has always had when he looks at me. Then something scary happened...as I was singing, I heard someone say "ask them if they're ready to have their hearts broken". What?!!! "who said that?", I thought as I continued singing. "ask them if they're ready to have their hearts broken for what breaks mine." What the?....Lord? is that you? "No", I quickly dismissed it, "that is NOT the Lord, that is just you trying to make things about you and what you're experiencing...that is NOT from the Lord!...now, just keep singing!" The next song started, and we got to the line that says, "break our hearts, to see the need in this world...King of hope, your kingdom come"...I heard Him again, "i want you to ask them". When the song closed, the worship leader started talking about the needs that exist all around us that we don't even see, when he finished speaking I put my mouth up to the microphone and obeyed the Lord. "He wants me to ask you if you're willing to have your heart broken...He wants to show you what breaks His heart so you can show His love." We sang the song again and I fell to my knees, I could not sing, I layed on the floor and cried, I literally poured out myself at the feet of Jesus, many from the congregation and the worship team joined me. We sang, we cried, we asked the Lord to open our eyes and fill us with compassion for what we see. As worship finished, I came to my feet and noticed Thane rising up from the floor also. It overwhelmed me to see him there, to see he answered with action. I could not stop smiling.

When church finished today, we made our way to the door visiting and chatting with our brothers and sisters in Christ. When I was ready to go, I started to look for Thane. I didn't see him in the sanctuary so I headed outside and spotted him visiting under a tree with a rather unkept man. The man was carrying all of his belongings in a very tethered backpack. His shoes were worn, his clothes were dirty, his hair was greasy and everything he owned was in this backpack. I watched as Thane visited with him, listening and sharing like he had nothing else to do today. They talked for some time and I waited, watching from a distance. They shook hands and parted ways. I went and got muffins on the way home as a treat for the boys, and when I got home Thane wasn't there. "Where's your dad?" I asked the boys. "oh, he went in the garage and got his military backpack, you know the one with the frame, that he got in the army...the one that he loves!" my second son said..."he's givin it to that homeless guy that he was talking to outside the church."

When he got home a few minutes later, I greeted him with a huge hug and a smile. "wow!" I said, "you are amazing! I am so proud of you!" As he shared the story with me in our kitchen, I could not stop grinning, and crying...The joy of the Lord is uncontainable, His love has no boundaries, He challenges us with opportunities to love every day. When we give ourselves over to Him, He is able to do great things...

An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess

So, I have been absolutely dying to share this with you. The Lord has been stirring up something very profound in my heart, or I should say He is completely turning my world upside down! I have become obsessed with a new book He lead me to by Jen Hatmaker. I started it a few days ago, and have not been able to put it down. I mean, if it wasn't for that pesky thing I have to do called work, I'd be done it already!

I'm sharing it here with you because the Lord is readying me for a revolution of sorts. I'm wondering how many of you will join me...it starts with being fed up with having so much (we really do, ya know) and doing so little with it. It has to do with giving up the very things that are ordinary "essentials" to us, in a country where "more is better", in an exchange for "more" of Jesus. Have you ever stopped to think that while you're tossing away food that no one in your house felt like eating, thousands in the world are dying from hunger? And it's more than just making you feel guilty for having food, clothes, computers, cell phones, cable or a kindle. It's about sacrificing or "fasting" from comfortable things in exchange for making room for a Saviour who wants to speak to you.

I have a feeling this is the beginning of a journey that will change my life...I hope you'll join me, either by "joining me" or praying me through it...even better, praying for those who don't have enough to eat tonight.

Click on the link below to read Jen's introduction to the book, she explains it much better than I do. Looking forward to what the Lord has in store for us!
An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess

Aubrey 1/31/12 Newport, Round 1

Round 2

Round 3