Occasionally the play of an athletic team transcends the boundaries of its sport and profoundly impact the larger culture. I think this is true for this year's Patrick County High School girls' varsity basketball team. At a time when many people are suffering economic hardships in our community and the news is often depressing, the play of the Lady Cougars this season has inspired many of us and reminded us that we can all overcome adversity if we persevere or, as the Apostle Paul, put it "press toward the mark".
Because of their perseverence, the PCHS girls basketball team won the Piedmont District regular season championship for the first time in a decade and finished the regular season undefeated at 8-0 including 2 wins over arch-rival Bassett High School. It is difficult to beat a team of the quality of Bassett three times in one season, and unfortunately Patrick County fell just short of accomplishing that feat when it lost to Bassett in the district tournament final Friday night, Feb. 20, in a hard-fought battle of champions. However, the Lady Cougars have every right to hold their heads high as they prepare for action in the Region IV tournament this week. We are the Champions!
The fact that the Lady Cougars are champions goes far beyond their play on the basketball court. The PCHS girls basketball team has not only rekindled our pride as Patrick Countians but the team has also given us an emotional boost that is much needed during these tought times. I commend the team for its spirit, courage, and determination, which are very admirable qualities that we can all reach down deep inside and draw upon as we positively strive to better our community and ourselves despite personal and community problems that sometimes seem insurmountable. Thanks to the Lady Cougars for this lesson on life...and good luck to the team in the regionals.
I would personally like to congratulate the Patrick County High School Lady Cougars as a team that truly works together and gives its best at all times! Individually, my congratulations go to Kylene Culler and Whitney Bowers who have been named to the All-Piedmont District First Team, to Casey Bradshaw (All-District Second Team), and to PCHS girls' basketball coach Glenn Burnett, who has been voted the Piedmont District Coach of the Year. Way to go Cougars! You have touched our lives in a special way both on and off the basketball court.
Taking pride in our community,
Richard
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
A Creation of God!
It seems that more and more our nation is turning away from its trust in God, the bedrock upon which our country was founded. The fact that today we find ourselves facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and a daunting set of problems at home and abroad is a result of the corruption, greed, and other ungodliness that has gripped humanity in general and our country in particular.
An article that I read recently serves as a prime example of the moral decay that has enshrouded our country and the world threatening our very existence. The Associated Press reported this week that more than 970 churches in the United States are observing Evolution Weekend revisiting the queston of whether man evolved from lower order species or, as I believe, was created by a higher being, the Lord God Almighty! The AP story added that these churches...thankfully, mine is not among them....are participating in this observace through sermons, Sunday school lessons, and even evolution dances as the world marks the 200th anniversary of evolution theorist Charles Darwin. The 974 churches across the country that are taking part in Evolution Weekend has more than doubled since the event began in 2006, the article stated.
Even though organizers of this observance said they're not abandoning the Bible's story of Adam and Eve, rather blending theories in a way that helps today's faithful reconcile the modern world with Biblical teachings, I find the Evolution Weekend idea shocking! Although I am not the smartest person around, I do have a college degree and I pride myself in trying to be open-minded to a variety of viewpoints. However, I have been taught that the Holy Bible is the Word of God, and that it is an infallable guide to the way in which we should live our earthly lives to prepare us for the eternity beyond. The Bible clearly teaches that God created mankind, the world, and the vast universe around us. That is what I believe and will continue to place my faith and trust in despite the fact that some scientists try to tell us that evolution is fact. Evolution is not fact; it is only theory. Masterfully crafted by our Creator, I believe that if humans and other animals have evolved over time, it has been under the guidance of a Supreme Being!
It is obvious to me that the complexity of life and the orderliness of the universe are the result of an intelligent design. We are the handiwork of God, not the result of billions of years of evolution that began with a so-called "Big Bang" eons ago. I am a creation of God! I know this is fact because God's Word tells me it is the truth. "In the beginning, God created...", begins the Bible. That is what I believe. Faith tells me it is so! Considering that where I'll spend iternity...in the paradise of Heaven or in the inferno of Hell...is on the line, I can not afford to believe anything else!
I think these over 900 misguided churches that are participating in Evolution Weekend are an example of what has been happening in the ministry in recent years. Too many churches, it seems, are getting away from a strict teaching of the Bible and giving in to the worldliness that has drawn us away from our God and the spiritual realm. We need to get back to the Bible and to pray that our nation will return to the moral principals upon which it was founded and became great. Only then will the greateness of the United States of America be restored! That is my belief. I would like to know what you think. Please click on "comments" and let me know. Thank you for your input to this blog. May the God who created us all bless you with a "great day"!
Richard
An article that I read recently serves as a prime example of the moral decay that has enshrouded our country and the world threatening our very existence. The Associated Press reported this week that more than 970 churches in the United States are observing Evolution Weekend revisiting the queston of whether man evolved from lower order species or, as I believe, was created by a higher being, the Lord God Almighty! The AP story added that these churches...thankfully, mine is not among them....are participating in this observace through sermons, Sunday school lessons, and even evolution dances as the world marks the 200th anniversary of evolution theorist Charles Darwin. The 974 churches across the country that are taking part in Evolution Weekend has more than doubled since the event began in 2006, the article stated.
Even though organizers of this observance said they're not abandoning the Bible's story of Adam and Eve, rather blending theories in a way that helps today's faithful reconcile the modern world with Biblical teachings, I find the Evolution Weekend idea shocking! Although I am not the smartest person around, I do have a college degree and I pride myself in trying to be open-minded to a variety of viewpoints. However, I have been taught that the Holy Bible is the Word of God, and that it is an infallable guide to the way in which we should live our earthly lives to prepare us for the eternity beyond. The Bible clearly teaches that God created mankind, the world, and the vast universe around us. That is what I believe and will continue to place my faith and trust in despite the fact that some scientists try to tell us that evolution is fact. Evolution is not fact; it is only theory. Masterfully crafted by our Creator, I believe that if humans and other animals have evolved over time, it has been under the guidance of a Supreme Being!
It is obvious to me that the complexity of life and the orderliness of the universe are the result of an intelligent design. We are the handiwork of God, not the result of billions of years of evolution that began with a so-called "Big Bang" eons ago. I am a creation of God! I know this is fact because God's Word tells me it is the truth. "In the beginning, God created...", begins the Bible. That is what I believe. Faith tells me it is so! Considering that where I'll spend iternity...in the paradise of Heaven or in the inferno of Hell...is on the line, I can not afford to believe anything else!
I think these over 900 misguided churches that are participating in Evolution Weekend are an example of what has been happening in the ministry in recent years. Too many churches, it seems, are getting away from a strict teaching of the Bible and giving in to the worldliness that has drawn us away from our God and the spiritual realm. We need to get back to the Bible and to pray that our nation will return to the moral principals upon which it was founded and became great. Only then will the greateness of the United States of America be restored! That is my belief. I would like to know what you think. Please click on "comments" and let me know. Thank you for your input to this blog. May the God who created us all bless you with a "great day"!
Richard
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