Aug 19
Jeremy LangleyCurrent Events
The 2009 high school season is almost here. Most people know that I did play-by-play for the Gurdon High School Go-Devils last year on KDEL-FM out of Arkadelphia. I had the time of my life, but with my busy schedule, I had decided that I wouldn’t do it again this year. Gurdon is about an hour and 15 minutes from Magnolia, so rushing there for a ballgame was rough. It was even worse when I had to drive to some of the other locales that were even further away. I decided that after one season of calling football game, I’d hang up the headset.
That changed today. I got a call from a friend and former employer who asked if I would be interested in doing the play-by-play for the Smackover High School Buckaroos. I took a few hours to think it over and shuffle my calendar, but I made it work. I accepted the offer. Smackover is a lot closer to Magnolia, so I won’t have to take off work as much or as early to make it to games this year. It will be fun to follow the Buckaroos. I’m told the color commentator for the broadcasts is awesome.
So it’s back in the saddle on Sept. 4. I’m looking forward to it. The games can be heard on KELD-FM 106.5 out of El Dorado. If you listen in the first week, please forgive me. I’m sure there will be a few kinks to work out!
It just occurred to me that one of the first football games I ever attended was at Smackover. I was in elementary school and attended a school that didn’t have football at the time. I think it was probably my first football game ever. I don’t remember who won. I just remember I accidentally cheered for the wrong team because I had absolutely no idea what was going on. Ha Ha!
Here’s a thought to leave you with: Go buy Reba’s new CD. It’s awesome!
Aug 09
Jeremy LangleyCurrent Events, Random thoughts
Kind of a strange headline, huh? Last week was kind of a bad week for me. I’d venture to say it was one of the worst weeks I’ve had in several years. I had even begun to think that the direction I had begun to take in my life was all wrong. It was as if I had missed the turn completely. I didn’t know what to do. Let’s start from the beginning.
Now, I’m not going to use specific details because I don’t want to glorify the actions of the other person, and I don’t want to risk stirring the pot anymore than it already has been by letting you know who I am talking about. I don’t even know if that person knows I blog, so I doubt they ever ready this, but I hope they do. I think the lessons I learned could help that person too.
In the course of my day-to-day life I deal with a lot of people. I deal with people at work, and I deal with people in my personal life. I like people. But last week I came across a person of whom I quickly decided I wasn’t too fond. This person said very, very mean things about me personally, professionally, and every other way you can imagine. He even had the nerve to tell me that I would never be successful in life and that my career was heading nowhere but the sewer. He also told me that he had just finished telling these same things about me to people that I look up to greatly and that I see as my mentors. I was devastated.
After this person said all of these things to me, I was mad. I was upset. I was confused. I was hurt. I didn’t know how to process it. I tried to put it all behind me, but no matter what I tried to do it kept coming back. And it didn’t stop with that one attack on Monday. An attack came again on Tuesday, and even though I don’t know the direct source of the attack, I’m 99.9 percent sure it originated from this same person I had the falling-out with on Monday.
I had just gotten out of class on Tuesday evening when the second attack came. I was distraught. I went straight home, fell on my knees, and prayed. It’s all I knew to do. I needed direction from above. I then resumed my normal nightly rituals while the battle raged on in my mind. I wanted to get back at this person, but I knew I could not do that without causing the situation to deteriorate even further. Finally it came to the point in the evening when I read a book. I like to read before going to bed. It’s just a habit I’ve formed over the years. As long as it’s not a text book, I’ll read it!
I have forgotten what I was reading at the time, and when I reached for the book on my nightstand I read the cover and felt an immediate peace fall over me. You see, the book I was reading was entitled “God is in Control.” What an awesome statement – especially in the troubling moments I had been facing. The book was written by Dr. Charles Stanley (by far my favorite TV preacher – although he has nothing on my pastor – and one of my favorite authors). When I opened to where my bookmark was placed, the headline read “God can use adversity.” Again, I am in awe.
Dr. Stanley asks, “Is God in everything?” He answers by saying, “According to what the Word says, ‘God causes all things to work together for good …’ (Romans 8:28). Just in time God demonstrates His awesome, irresistible power.”
After reading that, I wasn’t near as mad as I had been. I wasn’t near as upset as I had been. I began to understand, and I began to get excited. Because I can’t help but think that when God uses that awesome, irresistible power, it’s going to be to bring that person who hurt me to his knees. I try not to judge people, but as my grandfather – a pastor for over 40 years – always said, “You can always be a fruit inspector.” Well, in my humble opinion, the guy who said those mean, hurtful things to me is covered in rotten fruit. His actions and his personal life show it. I pray that he seeks out the saving grace of Jesus for his life if he doesn’t already have it. And if he has, I hope he finds his way back to the straight and narrow pathway that Jesus has paved for us.
After I was reminded what Romans 8:28 said, and after talking with my pastor, I decided the situation wasn’t worth worrying about. In fact, I was no longer mad at the man who insulted me. You see, through this trial, that man helped me to strengthen my relationship with God. This person didn’t tear me down like they were trying to do, they lifted me up. They told me I’d never be successful, but what they didn’t know is that I have a mansion being built by a king on a street lined with pure gold. I don’t know how that could ever be topped!
“God causes all things to work together for good …” He never ceases to amaze me.
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