Just a little update...

Sorry for the gap in any blog updates. The last few weeks have been crazy with a road trip to Utah and the beginning of our summer soccer camps. While I have been busy, my experience has been invaluable... even in my second season with the Seahorses.

As my last blog includes some information regarding our trip to Mexico, Don Godwin (the pastor of Hope Chapel) wrote a great summary of our six day trip in their Church's blog titled Seahorse Crazy. It is quite extensive, but if you have the time I greatly encourage clicking the provided link and checking out his summary of the week, accompanied by some great photos as well.

Simply being able to encourage the Godwin family was already incredibly rewarding, when you include all the relationships that were built and the opportunities that came up, the trip itself was simply unbelievable. All those who participated came back with a new perspective of being a Sports Minister, and how useful soccer can be to engage people and culture.

As far as the soccer goes, I've been fighting a few minor knocks... a couple of ankle sprains and the last week getting a nice big dead leg that spread over my entire thigh (I do not expect this to go away any time soon). Fortunately, I can still play... but some days it's a bit more of a struggle than others. Hopefully I'll be back to 100% here soon, we've got a few important games coming up against the Fresno Fuego.

As of now we stand 3-5-1. After starting out 2-0 this is not exactly where we had planned to be, but we can't go back to the 'what ifs' now. Time to work out our own kinks, do the little things right... no excuses, no explanations (Tony Dungy).

Our topic for SMT tonight was "Taming the Tongue"... It was a nice time to reflect over James 3, analyze the power of our words (not just our actions), and how we might take Salomon's advice a little bit more to heart... being quick to listen and slow to speak. It's crazy what words can do to a person. And from conversation your words are the hardest to tame because they are a true representation of the condition of your heart. However, we can gain self control over what we say. We don't always have to express the condition of our heart, and sometimes it would be best not to because someone may take offense to what we say... I believe that control only comes from giving God our best and our first, seeking after Him, and pursuing His love. This brings me to the verse of the week (or undetermined period of time):

Proverbs 15:4
The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,
but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

I know I have left a lot out, but time and sleep are hard to come by these days so I will hope to update again this weekend. Please keep praying for my time here in California as well as for those we met in Mexico.

Blessings,

Cyrus