The Rock Almighty. The Dysfunctional Family of Jesus? And The Rock Almighty Weekend On The Rocks Feat. Bloodgood

 

The Dysfunctional Family of Jesus?

• Author Rev. David B. Smith

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress." And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"

‘For he was our childhood pattern

Day by day like us He grew;

He was little, weak, and helpless;

Tears and smiles like us he knew; …

Christian children all must be

Mild, obedient, good as He.

(Cecil Frances Alexander, 1848)

It's the first Sunday after Christmas - the ‘Feast of the Holy Family’. That’s how this Sunday is remembered in the Catholic church at any rate, and our Gospel reading this morning does also give us a depiction of the earthly family of Jesus during his childhood such that it seems appropriate for us too to remember the Holy Family today.

We are of course in the midst of a series of traditional feast days so far as Christians around the world are concerned. Two days ago we celebrated the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. Yesterday was the day after Christmas, known commonly as ‘Boxing Day’, though as my father always used to remind me it was also ‘St Stephen’s Day’ - the feast that commemorates the brutal death of the first Christian martyr, St Stephen. And Tomorrow is the ‘Feast of the Holy Innocents’, where we remember Herod’s horrendous murder of the children of Bethlehem as he attempted to kill Jesus as a young child.

Tomorrow is also, interestingly, the Islamic feast of ‘Ashura’, which remembers the martyrdom of the prophet Mohammed’s grandson and his family and friends. It is curious, I think, that this Christmas season has become such a time of remembering so much brutality, and yet right here in the middle of all the bloodshed is the Feast of the Holy Family‘ where we focus on the joys of the family home - presumably the last place we would expect to find violence.

In truth, this does seem to me like an odd time to remember ‘The Family’ for a number of reasons, and not only because of the way this remembrance day is sandwiched in between the memories of so many martyrdoms. Indeed, what struck me as most peculiar about this particular family day is that it is the only day of the year devoted to a focus on the family, and even then only in the Catholic end of the church. For you get the impression from a lot of Protestant churches in particular that the family is basically what Christianity is all about!

Take a look at just about any Protestant church building in this country and you’ll find that their main Sunday service is promoted as the ‘Family Service’. The Church indeed is generally recognised as the key institution that elevates and upholds the significance of the family, and in Western society at large ‘Christian values’ and ‘family values’ are taken to be almost synonymous.

Go to the homepage of Fred Nile’s ‘Christian Democratic Party’ and what does it say right at the top of the page? "Promoting Family Values for over 28 Years"! This is fundamental to what it means to be Christian, is it not - to uphold the place of the family in society? And that’s why Fred urges us to resist all suggestions of the legalising of same-sex marriages. For the god-given institution of the family must be persevered!

In truth, ‘Christian Family Values’ are generally advocated particularly by those who are most voacl about sticking to what the Bible says though the irony is that the Bible actually has very little to say about the significance of the human family, and in terms of the childhood family of Jesus, this snippet from Luke chapter 2 is all that we get!

That itself is surely surprising! Why do the Gospels say so little about the childhood of Jesus? Why is there only one story in one Gospel giving us any idea of what Jesus was like when He was growing up?

Of course I’m not including the stories that proliferated in apocryphal literature, composed centuries after the earthly life of Jesus. Those who have read the Gospel of Thomas - a book attributed to the Apostle Thomas, but which is generally believed to have been written in the 3rd Century - will remember the highly entertaining stories from the boyhood of Jesus that are recorded there:.

At age 10 the boy Jesus supposedly saves his parents from an attack by a lion, and at age 8 there’s the famous clay pigeons episode where the model pigeons the boy Jesus was fashioning out of clay suddenly turned into real pigeons and flew away!

Then there’s the story of the boy Jesus who is playing by etching some channels in the mud and another boy comes along and mucks up the channels with his hand. Immediately the boy’s hand withers. Another boy plays a joke on the 6-year old Jesus by jumping on his back and he immediately drops dead. Of course the dead boy is raised and the withered hand is restored.

While these stories are no doubt the product of fanciful human imaginations, their very existence highlights the paucity of the genuine material that actually exists. Human imagination had to fill in the blanks!

This lack of historical material is surprising enough, but what is even more surprising is that the one genuine story that we get of the Holy Family hardly leaves us with a pattern that we would want Christian families to emulate!

We read it this morning in Luke chapter two. The 12-year-old Jesus and His family are in Jerusalem. Jesus’ parents head for home, presumably as part of a larger caravan where the boy Jesus had been left with the other children of His own age. A day’s journey from Jerusalem they eventually realise that Jesus, for some inexplicable reason, had decided to stay behind!

When Joseph and Mary get back to Jerusalem they search high and low, eventually finding the boy Jesus in the temple three days later, dialoguing with the academics. When Mary confronts Jesus with his behaviour and the amount of distress that he has caused to both her and Joseph, Jesus says to her, ‘What did you expect?’ "Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?"

"Christian children all must be mild, obedient, good as He", says the songwriter. Well .. It’s not for me to judge Jesus' behaviour, but if that incident is typical of His childhood, mild and obedient He apparently was not!

And we needn’t pretend that this ambiguous relationship between Jesus and His earthly parents somehow resolved itself happily as He got older, for indeed, the examples we see of Jesus with his mother and siblings in later life suggest that His relationship with His human family continued to be strained

According to the story recorded in Matthew 12 and elsewhere, where Jesus’ mother and brothers came looking for him, Jesus practically disowned them!

"Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Jesus says. "And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he says, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." (Matthew 12:48-50)

Further, Jesus’ statements about the importance of family and family unity hardly square with those who proclaim ‘family values’:

"For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law." (Matthew 10:35)

And then there’s Jesus’ notorious statement recorded in Luke chapter 12:

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26).

Now I know these verses are all open to interpretation and I don’t believe Jesus ever really requires of us that we hate our human families YET it has to be said that dear old Fred and his mates who represent those Christian groups upholding ‘family values’ are going to have a tough time showing that those values can be in any way grounded in the teachings of Jesus.

So what do we learn from the ‘Holy Family’ on this surprising feast day? What we seem to learn from the Holy Family in our Gospel reading is that there’s nothing particularly holy about the nuclear family concept as such!

I don’t know whether modern-day analysts would label the Holy Family as ‘dysfunctional’ or not, but we do need to accept, I think, that the relationships there were complex, strained and regularly uncomfortable.

Jesus was indeed a part of a human family and we have no reason to believe that childhood for Him was not still a beautiful experience, filled with all the joys and wonders we might hope to find in a family home. Even so, Jesus, we know, was not constrained by His human family, and His ultimately loyalties were not to his earthly parents.

What sort of childhood pattern this leaves our children, and what sort of parental pattern this leaves for us who would raise children I do not know, but I do see in this depiction of the Holy Family a de-emphasising of the ultimate significance of the human family unit and a recognition of the fact that however powerful the relationship might be between parent and child, it is not the most important relationship in life for either parent or child!

In the end our children must learn to deal with God on their own terms just as we who are parents have to. In the end, no matter who we are and no matter how closely we are bonded to our earthly families, we each need to recognise first the Parenthood of God and the ultimate claim of God upon our lives.

This all sounds rather negative and family unfriendly and frankly un-Christian! Even so, while the de-emphasising of the nuclear family may be painful, the flip-side of this is an emphasis on the all-encompassing Parenthood of God that makes us a part of a far greater and more inclusive family - one that includes all sorts of persons to whom we are not related by blood but with whom we are nonetheless united through our spiritual bond through of our Heavenly Father.

This is the family of faith that ultimately transcends our earthly families as the place where we find our true identity and spiritual home - a family that includes peoples of all races, cultures and languages, a community where we can reach out to one another and embrace each other truly as sisters and brothers, whether we be black or white or male or female or rich or poor or young or old or gay or straight or righteous or unrighteous.

This is the new holy family that God is forming - a truly inclusive family where all are accepted, all are appreciated for their uniqueness, and all are loved, just as our Heavenly parent loves each one of us.

"For He was our childhood pattern", yet in truth, it is a difficult pattern for us to emulate either as children or as adults. For from the first, what Jesus models for us is a refusal to be constrained by conventional family concepts and values as He follows God. Dare we follow this pattern? Dare we expose our children to this pattern? It could mean the end of any quiet, happy family life, though of course it could also be the start of something far more exciting?

Rev. David B. Smith

(The 'Fighting Father')

Parish priest, community worker, martial arts master, pro boxer, author, father of three

www.fatherdave.org

Get a free preview copy of Dave's book, Sex, the Ring & the Eucharist when you sign up for his free newsletter at www.fatherdave.org.

US Sports Martial Arts: How to Teach Basic MMA Striking and That DAMAGE 😳 Who Has The Most DANGEROUS Kicks In ONE?

 

How to Teach Basic MMA Striking

• By Grant Young

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Stepping into the gym for one’s first MMA (or any other martial arts) class can produce crippling anxiety. 

Not only is there the inherent fear that the practitioner will make a fool of themselves in front of more experienced peers, but the stakes of failure in a combat sport are much higher (meaning, more painful) than in just about any other sport. 

While all aspiring martial artists will need to enter the gym and test their skills eventually, learning a few basic techniques from a MMA course online is a fantastic way for them to develop their striking base without subjecting themselves to a strict martial arts coach or unforgiving classmates. 

Having a simple, straightforward way for coaches to teach these basic techniques is also a great idea to make the initial MMA endeavor for students more digestible.

And Constellation 52 Global (C52G) has the teaching of MMA striking’s most important techniques down pat. 

Constellation 52 Global (C52G) is a Martial science program based in Maryland that’s dedicated to genuine 52 Blocks Combat, Culture & Fitness, and focuses on the tri-star method of the 52 experience. The program’s “52 Combat” is a stellar Boxing and Self-defense program that is taught by genuine Instructors who have earned their community's respect.

52 Blocks is a simple system but inside its simplicity lays layers of complexity discovered by the practitioner. The number 52 represents the geometry that the hands take while defending/shielding the body from harm.

This is why Constellation 52 Global’s ‘52 Blocks MMA’ course is an excellent tool for new students and martial arts coaches alike. Not only will it teach them how to be an effective striker in MMA, but their course also emphasizes how to shield oneself from harm while delivering offense. And as any martial artist knows, having a solid defensive base is even more important than having a solid offense. 

Basic Strikes

The jab is the most important strike in MMA (and in any other striking sport) because of how simple, quick, and effective it is. But just because the jab is simple doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily easy to throw, nor that it’s impossible to mess up.

This is why any basic striking course for MMA should always start with some basic information on how to best throw a jab. 

C52G notes that before the jab technique, fighters should be sure that they’re postured in an athletic position with their torso pointed slightly outwards, their face directed toward their opponent, and remaining light on their feet with their hands up near their cheeks/temples for defense. 

When the jab is thrown from this position, the first movement should be with your lead foot (left foot for righties, right foot for lefties). The foot should be stepping between 3-6 inches forward and slightly outward while the punch is thrown. As for the jab itself, it will be thrown with the lead hand and should be thrown in a slightly upward direction. 

The reason the jab should be practiced getting thrown slightly upward is because it will help prepare for facing a taller fighter, and will also train the puncher to keep their chin tucked under their shoulder while they’re throwing the jab. 

Just as important as throwing the jab is bringing that lead hand right back to its position beside your cheek/temple regardless of whether you land the punch or not, your lead side will be susceptible to a counter-punch if your hand doesn’t quickly return to its starting position. 

Basic Footwork

While the jab is the most important punch in combat sports, the second most important is the cross. 

The cross is thrown with the rear (strong) hand and generates more power than the jab. The footwork involved with throwing a cross is also imperative if the puncher wants to maximize their power output and generate as much damage as possible. 

For this, C52G says that a great concept to consider for striking footwork is dividing the floor beneath you into quadrants, sort of like the points on a compass (North, South, East and West). When you’re trying to get within striking or grappling range with an opponent, it would be wise to not just move North on the compass in a completely straight line, because that will lend itself to receiving offense from your opponent. 

Instead, C52G suggests that one should be moving laterally to avoid incoming attacks while also moving forward to get within one’s range. A good way to think about it is moving either northwest or northeast in order to get within range and land offense against your opponent while staying off of the center line. 

Combos Off The Slip Inside

Another integral part of MMA striking defense (along with every other striking combat sport) is the slip. 

A slip is a defensive technique that involves moving the head to the side to avoid a punch. When performed correctly, slipping is a major tactic that allows the fighter to not only avoid an opponent’s offense quickly but also position them to offer a counterpunch while their opponent is still reeling from missing their shot. 

Because the right cross is generally thrown with a lot of power, this means the person throwing it can become off balance, and therefore susceptible to getting slipped and countered. 

To do this, an orthodox (right-handed) MMA fighter would want to have their opponent’s cross timed, see it coming, then step off and move their head to the left when the cross is getting thrown.

This will put them on the right side of their opponent’s body, which will be wide open for a counter punch or a knee to the liver (or to the head). In addition, a grappler would want to take advantage of this and shoot for a takedown while their opponent of off balance. 

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The Rock Almighty. THE CHURCH OF GOD OR CHURCH OF MAN

 

• Author James Rondinone

PART 2 THE CHURCH OF GOD OR CHURCH OF MAN

WHAT’S THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT WE SHOULD INITIALLY BE LOOKING FOR WHEN SEARCHING FOR A PASTOR?             

We’re going to begin by looking at Scriptures that are from the book of Acts, the Epistles, and the book of Revelation that will assist us in unveiling the qualifications, duties, and what the teaching content of the messages of a pastor-teacher should be comprised of. You might ask, why aren’t you not using the Old Testament and the four Gospels Scriptures? This is simply because the revelation about the specifics of the leadership of the New Testament church wasn’t unveiled in any of those books.

I think we’d agree that most of the Old Testament Scriptures pertain to the theocratic nation of Israel that operated under obedience to the God-given institution of the Mosaic Law and its prescribed priesthood. While the four Gospels do unveil in a limited way Scriptures that talk about a new kingdom that was forthcoming, a power source that would reside within by means of the indwelling of one of the members of the Trinity, and a new attitude that focuses on the renewal of the thoughts of an individual, however, the specific office of pastor wasn’t mentioned until the revelation of such was disclosed to some of the apostles and disciples, proclaimed by them, and recorded in the writings of the New Testament canon. So, sit back, read, and enjoy what is about to be presented.

By the way, there’s one more important thing to be aware of. This study is going to present a lot of information about the office of a pastor. If you try to use all of it at one time as an aide in either assisting you in finding a pastor or in critiquing the pastor of the church that you’re currently attending or have yet to attend, you’ll probably become overwhelmed. So, what I recommend is to try and pick out just a few ideas from each chapter and use these to make a determination as to whether those in leadership pass what I’ll call the Bible rating.

 

Where should we begin?

Let’s start by looking at what I consider the number one thing that should be clearly evident to us when searching for a pastor.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

From this verse, we can deduce this question.

Is the pastor born-again? Another way of asking this is, has the pastor received the indwelling Holy Spirit?

This is by far the most important qualification of a pastor. In other words, was there an acknowledgment at a point of time when the pastor acknowledged themselves as a sinner to God the Father along with expressing a desire to turn from them and make a profession of belief in Jesus Christ, the Messiah/Savior, as to who He is and what He has accomplished? This is otherwise known as responding to the gospel of Christ.

What should this gospel convey to a listener?

The gospel of Christ is the good news that Jesus Christ, the God-man, who as one of the members of the Trinity, pre-existed time, left heaven, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life obeying the directives of another member of the Trinity, this being God the Father, died on a cross paying the debt for the sins of all mankind along with providing forgiveness for them thus satisfying the justice of God, rose again after three days never to die again, was witnessed on earth by over five hundred people in His glorified body, and ascended into heaven. Belief in this Jesus is one of the conditions for a person receiving the indwelling Holy Spirit. If a person has received the Holy Spirit, then they’re born again (born anew).

The other condition is repenting of one’s sins.

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

The word repent means to change one’s views, designs, and practices or to turn from one’s evil ways to God the Father, which precedes belief in His Son. When an unbeliever repents and believes, they’ll receive into their life (body) the person of the Holy Spirit.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

This verse supports the conjecture that it’s the belief of the truth (belief of the gospel of Christ, which includes repentance) that causes an unbeliever to receive and thus be sanctified by the Spirit. This begs the question.

How do you know if the pastor is born-again or born anew of the Spirit?

Just ask. Pastor, would you mind answering this question? Are you born-again? If the response was, I repented of my sins to God the Father and believed in His Son; God come in the flesh, deity (possesses the divine attributes of sovereignty, righteousness, justice, love, eternal life, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, immutability, and veracity), then Hallelujah.

If the response was, I hope I’m going to heaven because:

I believe in the Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I was sprinkled with water as a baby or immersed in water as an adult.

I obey the tenets of the faith that I’m a member of.

There are many avenues for someone to get to heaven.

Then it should become obvious that this leader hasn’t received the Holy Spirit.

Have you ever taken a test in school where you’re asked to answer many questions, but there’s one that has to be responded to in essay form that’s worth the majority of the points? Well, this is that one. Have you ever been given a box of chocolates, and when you opened the cover, each one had a slightly different appearance along with a unique ingredient inside that you couldn’t see? And you were afraid of picking the wrong one?

My favorite candy filling is soft caramel. I can think of a number of occasions at Christmas when I hoped that the sweet which I decided to choose was exactly what I wanted. And when it wasn’t, I couldn’t just spit it out in front of everyone. I’d quietly get up and go to the bathroom, discharge it out into the toilet, and flush it.

Finding the right pastor is kind of like this. There’s many of them that look good on the outside. They dress well. They speak well. They’re kind. But do they really have the key ingredient that we just talked about.

We’re off to a great start! In the next chapter, we’ll attempt to answer this question. Who calls and qualifies a born-again believer to the leadership office of pastor-teacher? But before we go there, I’ve got an article for you to read about how important it is to choose the right pastor as it would be in choosing the right kind of candy. Maybe this is an over-reach, but I think you’ll enjoy this.

This story mentions a movie that was called Forest Gump. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of it or seen it? I did. In the movie, the main character, Forest, says “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.”

HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT CHOCOLATE FROM THE GIFT BOX IN THE [BREAK ROOM]

Forrest Gump was wrong. [There’s] a way to know what you’re going to get in a box of chocolates — mostly.

[December] 13, 2016 

This time of year, at least in the US, the gift packages and treats come flying in (sometimes literally) from vendors and customers. People are saying “thank you” or “hey, how about sending some more business our way” — and they’re doing it the international language of business: food.

The most commonly used phrase in this language is the classic assorted box of chocolates. Sure, it’s a nice gesture. Most people enjoy chocolate candies. They don’t need to be cut, chilled, prepared, and [they’re] less likely to cause [guilt] due to their diminutive size.

But the box of chocolates comes with baggage — the anxiety of the unknown. We’ve all been there. You mosey on into the [break room] and see a surprise box of chocolates. You’re not an animal, so you’re going to indulge. But you can’t stand the thought of biting into the raspberry creme one, or worse, the monstrosity [that’s] the cherry cordial. You so badly want the chocolate or vanilla buttercream, the nougat, or the caramel one. But the thought of biting into the chocolate with the orange creme sends you into a bout of existential vertigo.

Fear not, friends, [I’ve] stumbled upon a very simple rule to help [you] navigate through the box of [chocolates]. If the candy is square and tall, [you’re] safe — it’s bound to be a [non-fruit-filled] candy. If it’s round, it will tend to be fruit [crème-filled]. Try it at your own risk.

Now, some boxes of chocolates come with guides — a printed paper that shows how the treats are laid out in the box, with their shapes, and tells you what’s in them. This is great, and if you encounter a box with a guide, you can safely dive in. But [it’s] not the common practice. The square/circle rule can help you to pick what you’re looking for in the absence of a guide.

I’m here to help, and I hope this principle has helped you. Let me know how it works for you this holiday season.2

Likewise, I’m here to help you in finding the right pastor to co-labor with. You’ll find something in the final section of this book that will provide you with the right spiritual ingredients so that you’ll know what to look for.                                             

Website: http://bit.ly/1RQnYJ8          

Endnotes

2Mike Sturm. “HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT CHOCOLATE FROM THE GIFT BOX IN THE [BREAK ROOM],” 7 January 2021

.

My name is James Rondinone.

I grew up in Massachusetts and began my own spiritual journey early on in life.

I attended Bible college, having completed a two-year Christian Leadership course of study, and graduated as valedictorian (summa cum laude).

I’ve written and published a number of spiritual books on various biblical topics.

These books can be found online.

Amazon.com: https://amzn.to/2RB0Y7D Website: https://makingtheonerightchoice.com

US Sports Volleyball: How to Teach Serving Volleyballs & Full 5th set from Penn State-Creighton in NCAA volleyball regional final

 

How to Teach Serving Volleyballs

• By Grant Young

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Teaching volleyball players how to serve can be a deceptively daunting task. 

Regardless of what level you’re teaching at, there’s a good chance that your players have already picked up poor serving habits and techniques that could cost your team when the games get underway. And if these habits aren’t quelled by a coach, they’re only going to worsen over time. 

Volleyball serving drills are a great way to hone your players’ serving skills. But in order for these drills to make an impact during the game, you need to get crystal clear on how to actually teach your players how to serve the volleyball.

This is why we've compiled a few of the best lessons on serving the internet has to offer. These three courses will give you a great idea of how to develop your volleyball players’ respective serves and help fix any flaws they have accrued on past teams.

And because these courses are taught by elite coaches who have decades of experience under their belts, you can be sure that their teachings have produced innumerable aces. 

Volleyball Serve: Basic Serving Technique

Allison Lebar has enjoyed great success during her tenure as the varsity girls' volleyball coach at Riverdale Country School in New York. She consistently led her program to the New York state tournament and helped many of her players achieve their dreams of playing volleyball at the collegiate level. Her ‘Volleyball Tips & Drills Video Library’ course contains some exceptional tidbits on how to teach the serve effectively. 

Coach Lebar notes that there are three basic elements to the serve. The first is the step, the second is the toss, and the third is the way the server moves their arm. 

When it comes to the step, an important point Coach Lebar makes is that players must take a normal, natural step when serving. Many players have a tendency to over-step when serving, which can cause them to fall off balance and deliver a poor ball. 

During the tossing portion of the serve, it’s crucial that the player toss the ball directly in front of them. Coaches often notice that some players have developed the habit of tossing the ball closer to their serving hand because they think that will make for a better serve. But doing so actually increases the chances the serve won’t be hit clearly. 

And the third portion of the serve is the way the server moves their arm. For this, Coach Lebar suggests that the server bring their arm back behind their head and then extend to the top of their reach to make contact. In addition, the server should not stop their swing at the point of making contact and instead follow through straight in front of her body.

Float Serving

Pat “PP” Powers is considered one of the world’s best volleyball coaches. He spent six seasons as Head Men’s Volleyball coach at the University of Southern California, winning 100 matches and twice coming within one win of the NCAA Volley Four.

But Coach Powers’ playing career is even more impressive. Among his many accolades is winning a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics, along with being only one of three players in the world who has won both an indoor and an outdoor world championship. 

His ‘Volleyball Tips and Techniques’ course includes a good few coaching tips that only someone who has both coached and played at the world-class level could know. 

Among these include how to execute a float serve. A float serve is volleyball’s version of a knuckleball, where the ball is jump-served and moves in unpredictable ways that make it hard for opponents to return it. 

When doing a float serve, Coach Powers notes one should make a concerted effort to not spin the ball at all when serving. The reason for this is that the server should want to take all control off of the ball, thus maximizing its unpredictable movement after it’s struck. 

In addition, Coach Powers notes that the first thing the server should do before executing the float serve is to locate the needle insertion point on the ball, and position that on the other side of where they’re going to hit the ball. The reason for this is that needlepoint weighs more than anything else on the ball, and therefore the ball will move more effectively and unpredictably if this point is positioned away from you. 

When it comes to making contact with the ball during a float serve, rather than hitting it with the fingers that will create spin, Coach Powers suggests the player hit it with the palm of their hand (specifically, in between the two bones right at the beginning of one’s hand) instead.

Serving

2024 was Coach Genny Volpe’s 21st season as the head women’s volleyball coach at Rice University in Texas. Genny Volpe has established the Owl volleyball program as a power in the Southwest, having taken them to eight NCAA tournaments (2004, 2008, 2009, 2018, 2019, spring 2021, fall 2021, 2022), the only eight appearances in Rice's history.

Coach Volpe’s ‘Game Ready! Implementing Game Situation in Daily Practice’ course contains a few excellent tips on teaching serving practice in a way that will help players retain that information. 

One way Coach Volpe does this is by creating game-like serving drills. An example of this is when Coach Volpe divides her roster into two different teams and has them competing against one another with their serves. 

This can be done in multiple different ways. A coach can have their players aim for a specific section on the court, and tally all the times they serve it in that section, a radar gun could be used and the team with the highest average velocity wins, or any other creative way a coach can come up with.

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The Rock Almighty Love Is Not Love: Rediscovering True Love in a World of Confusion

Glen Kelly

Introduction: The Misunderstanding of Love in Modern Society

What is love? The dictionary defines it as a “strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties, attraction based on sexual desire, or affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests.” But is that all love is? In today’s world, love has been reduced to a feeling—a fleeting emotion that often leads to self-gratification, greed, and selfishness. This shallow understanding has skewed our perception, leaving many to pursue what feels good rather than what is true. As society echoes the mantra “love is love,” it’s time to ask: what does love really mean?

1. Society’s Shallow View of Love: A Path to Self-Destruction

The phrase “love is love” is commonly used to promote the idea that any form of love is valid, usually about the freedom to pursue personal desires without judgment. This modern take on love often glorifies lust, pride, and self-centeredness. But is this kind of love sustainable, or does it lead us further away from true fulfillment? This perspective encourages a love driven by self-interest rather than a genuine commitment to others, distorting the true meaning of love and leading to broken relationships and empty pursuits.

2. Biblical Love: A Radical Contrast to Society’s Version

In stark contrast, the Bible presents a love that is selfless, enduring, and rooted in truth. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 describes this kind of love in powerful terms:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

This biblical description highlights a love that is not driven by emotions or desires but by a deep, unwavering commitment to others. It is a love that seeks the good of the other person, even at a cost to oneself—a far cry from the self-centered love celebrated in today’s culture.

3. The Four Types of Love: Understanding the Differences

C.S. Lewis, a renowned Christian author, outlined four types of love: affection (storge), friendship (philia), romance (eros), and charity (agape). Every kind of love serves a unique purpose:

• Storge (Affection): A familiar love, often for things like personal belongings, pets, or cherished memories. It is a comforting but often shallow love.

• Philia (Friendship): The love of true friendship, marked by deep bonds, loyalty, and shared values. This is the love between close friends who support and challenge each other.

• Eros (Romance): The passionate, often physical love that fuels romantic relationships. While beautiful in its rightful place, it is frequently misunderstood and idolized in today’s society.

• Agape (Unconditional Love): The highest form of love, exemplified by God’s love for humanity. Agape is selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional—a love that seeks nothing in return and reflects God’s heart.

4. Why Agape Love Is the Ultimate Standard

Of all the types of love, agape stands out as the most profound and transformative. This is the love that God offers to us through Jesus Christ—a love that remains steadfast despite our flaws and failures. 1 John 2:15-17 warns us:

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him… the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life are not from the Father but from the world.”

These verses challenge us to seek a love that transcends the shallow, prideful loves of the world. Agape love teaches us to look beyond ourselves, to serve others, and to live in a way that honors God.

5. The Danger of Redefining Love

When love is redefined to suit personal desires, it loses its true meaning. The popular narrative of “love is love” can lead to moral confusion, the erosion of values, and a culture that prioritizes self above all else. The biblical perspective calls us back to a love that is selfless, purposeful, and aligned with God’s truth—a love that builds up rather than tears down.

Conclusion: Choosing Love That Lasts

Love is not just love; it’s a profound gift that, when understood through the lens of biblical truth, can transform lives. In a world that often misguides us about what it means to truly love, we are invited to embrace a love that reflects the heart of God—a love that is patient, kind, and enduring. Let us strive to embody this kind of love in our daily lives, rejecting the shallow imitations and seeking a love that truly satisfies.

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I'm a single father who just got into writing. I attended three different colleges and wrote many essays, so, I decided to give it a go. I also design Christian T-Shirts.

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How to Perfect Pitch-Calling For Your Softball Team

• By Grant Young

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Calling pitches in softball can be one of the most challenging parts of being a softball pitching coach, regardless of which level you’re coaching at. 

There are various factors as to why pitch-calling presents a unique challenge. The pitching coach must take into account the batter's strengths and weaknesses, the game situation, and the team's overall strategy—all of which must be communicated to the pitcher and the catcher, who are often the ones who are making the final decisions on which pitch to throw.

Furthermore, the pitcher and catcher need to be in sync, which can be difficult in noisy or hectic game environments. Lastly, maintaining control and accuracy while keeping the batters guessing is crucial, and achieving this balance can be quite demanding.

There are some obvious times when calling a fastball makes the most sense, especially when you want to surprise the batter or when you need to bring the heat to challenge a strong hitter. It can also be useful in situations where you are ahead in the count and want to maintain control. Additionally, using a fastball early in the game can help establish dominance and set the tone for the rest of the match.

Yet, if you as a pitching coach believe calling a fastball in a situation is a no-brainer, the opposing hitter is likely thinking the same thing. This is why it’s crucial to understand when to break your typical pitch-calling patterns. And Amy Hunt can help you learn when and how to do so effectively. 

Coach Hunt has spent recent years working as a part-time Assistant Coach for Messiah College softball.

She was formerly an assistant coach with the team in 1998, where Messiah went to their first NCAA Final 6. Amy then continued her education, as she was a graduate assistant for the Marietta College softball team in Ohio.  She moved on to coach at Catoctin High School where she was the assistant coach for 1 year and head Varsity Coach for 6 years.

Coach Hunt has made a career out of trying to perfect pitch-calling. Her ‘Championship Pitch Calling System for Pitching, Catching and Coaching’ course is a great resource for any prospective pitch-callers at any level of softball. 

Why do STATS matter? 

Coach Hunt explains that being able to read and understand certain statistics makes a world of difference when trying to call pitches. 

One of the most important statistics to know is what a hitter’s hitting average is within the nine segments of the strike zone. Because every hitter is going to have a slightly different stance, goals at the plate, and preferred areas, having (and then using) information about how which pitch locations they hit will at and which they don’t can make a major difference in success on the mound. 

Coach Hunt makes it clear that a hitting average isn’t the same thing as a batting average, which is the more commonly used statistic. The difference between these is that, while a batting average measures a batter's performance by dividing the number of hits by the number of at-bats, a hitting average is simply the number of times they make contact with a ball in a certain area. 

This is crucial because it doesn’t take uncontrollable factors into account (like if a player hits the ball weakly but still gets a hit) like the batting average does. It will give an accurate indication of a player’s ability to make contact at the various segments of the strike zone. While collecting hitting average stats might sound difficult, it’s actually simpler to calculate than the batting average. A coach can just watch a recent hitter’s at-bats and chart what pitches they’re making contact with. 

Pitch Location - Pitch placement is CRITICAL!

Of course, any pitching coach or pitcher knows that the worst place to position a pitch would be in the middle of the strike zone. And it’s typical knowledge that throwing the ball on the outside corner is usually a great option.

But not enough thought is put into whether a pitch should be thrown at the top or bottom of the strike zone. Typically, a pitcher will always try to aim for low in the strike zone. And while that’s a good base strategy to have, the ability to throw a pitch for a strike at the top of the strike zone can spell the difference between a good and great pitcher. 

Even if a pitcher is just able to throw an occasional fastball at the top of the strike zone (or even above the strike zone, in a two-strike scenario with less than three balls), hitters love swinging (and missing) at pitches in this location. It will also adjust their eye level so they don’t get too comfortable with/can sit on a pitch that’s lower in the strike zone. 

Learning about Batter Weaknesses

As we mentioned previously, charting each batter’s hitting average will give you a good indication of where they like to hit the ball. But another integral part of this charting strategy is that it will likely give you an insight into what an opposing team’s coach is teaching their hitters, as it pertains to their hitting approach. 

If you notice that a team very rarely swings at non-fastballs low in the strike zone or on the outside corner, that is likely because their coach is instructing them to take those pitches. You will then be able to exploit that by focusing on throwing offspeed pitches either low or away, which will force the hitters to make adjustments.