United Way's Season Comes To A close

The United Way 6th Grade Boys' Basketball season came to a close on Saturday, March 14, 2009 as they were knocked out of the post-season double elimination tournament, losing 40-25 to Blue Cross/Blue Shield and 37-33 to Crites Title Company. With the losses United finishes with a 5-3 record.

Blue Cross won the championship, defeating Crites 25-23.

A broken wrist, a reinjured pulled groin, and a fever were the biggest reasons United ended up losing both of their games. Jackson Berg broke his wrist earlier in the week at a baseball practice, so he was completely unavailable to play. Lucas Carpenter, who pulled his groin last summer playing baseball and reinjured it at practice on Thursday, March 12, was not nearly as effective as he normally is. Malik Joyner showed up for the game running a temperature over 102 degrees, which his coach only learned about from Malik's mother at the conclusion of the second game.

United had a chance to take an early lead as Daniel Ferguson should have had 4 assists in United's first 4 possessions of the game, but Lucas Carpenter's and Malik Joyner's shots were all falling short as they both were struggling from the field. It was obvious that Lucas was in a lot of pain from his injury, and it affected his shot, as well as his defense. He ended up being shut out for the first time this season, going 0-5 from the field and 0-4 from the free throw line. Malik Joyner, too, failed to connect early on as he was unable to attack the basket and the boards as he normally does due to his weakness from the fever. Daniel Ferguson, seeing how his teammates were struggling, tried to do too much on his own on both ends of the court and he got into foul trouble trying to help out as the Blue Cross players were able to consistently drive by the injured legs of Lucas Carpenter and the slow Bobby Pearson. Daniel also turned the ball over 3 times in the opening period as he was trying to dribble between the double team that Blue Cross threw his way all the game. So instead of being up early, as they normally would have been with the easy shots they were getting, they found themselves down after 1 period of play trailing 22-4.

Malik Joyner seemed to catch a second wind in the 2nd quarter as United pulled a bit closer as they outscored Blue Cross 9-2 in the period. However, United was unable to pull any closer as they were on the short end of a 10-9 score in the 3rd period and a 10-3 score in the 4th.

The difference in the game really was the 1st period as United did manage to outscore Blue Cross in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th periods 21-18. United had its opportunities early on, but not only did they miss from the field as Daniel Ferguson was the only United player to make a bucket and score, they also missed all of their free throw opportunities. Lucas Carpenter went 0-4 from the charity stripe and Daniel Ferguson went 0-1 from the line. Malik Joyner was the lone bright spot at the free throw line, connecting on all 6 of his attempts in the game. United went 7 for 14 for the contest.

With the loss, United next faced Crites Title Company, who had advanced by defeating Conlin 37-12. United played much better in this game as both teams exchanged baskets to end the 1st period in a 6-6 tie. The offenses picked up for both teams in the 2nd quarter as United led at halftime 17-15. The third period came to a close with United nursing a 1 point lead 24-23. However, United seemed to run out of gas in the 4th period, which had been very good for United all season. Malik was obviously tiring out, and Daniel Ferguson was being hounded by double and triple coverage throughout the game. As the buzzer sounded United bowed out, losing 37-33.

United Way may have lost the games, but they played honorably. Crites played dirty as they threw elbows from the start of the game to the end, and they also committed intentional, flagrant fouls. It is unfortunate that they do not get called for these fouls as often as they should, although one was called in the overtime period in which these 2 teams played the previous week when Daniel Ferguson was shoved from behind getting knocked down to the floor following a steal. Ben Sheff took an elbow thrown deliberately into his throat in the contest played on the 14th, and the game had to be stopped for a few minutes in order for him to recover from the blow. No foul, however, was called.

Daniel Ferguson finished with 9 points in the first game as he went 4 for 12 from the field and 1 for 3 from the line. He had 1 assist, 2 steals, 7 rebounds, 2 blocked shots and 5 turnovers. Malik Joyner, in spite of the fever, scored 14 points as he went 4 for 8 from the field in addition to his 6 for 6 from the charity stripe. He had 4 steals, 8 rebounds, 1 blocked shot and 4 turnovers.

In the last game, Daniel Ferguson scored 12 points as he went 4 for 11 from the field and 4 for 4 from the line. Malik Joyner had 11 points on 4 for 13 shooting from the field and 3 for 3 from the line. Lucas Carpenter added 6 points while Zachary Brooks and Sean Dawson both chipped in with 2 points each. Daniel Ferguson had 3 assists, 3 steals, 5 rebounds, 2 blocked shots and 3 turnovers. Malik Joyner contributed with 2 assists, 2 steals, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots while committing just 1 turnover.

Sean Dawson's 2 baskets for the day were his first points of the season, which was really good to see.

Daniel Ferguson's stats for the season are as follows: 11.0 points per game; 4.4 steals per game; 7.4 rebounds per game; 2.3 blocked shots per game; 2.8 turnovers per game; and 3.3 assists per game. The average score per game was United 30.3, their opponents 27.0.

The Triumphal Entry

“And when they drew near to Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying unto them, ‘Go into the village that is just ahead of you, and straightway you shall find a donkey tied, and a colt with her: untie them, and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them’; and immediately he will send them.’ Now this is to happen that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, ‘Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, meek, and riding upon a donkey, and upon a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ’ And the disciples went, and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey, and the colt, and put on them their garments; and He sat thereon. And most of the crowd spread their garments in the road; and others cut branches from the trees, and spread them in the road. And the crowds that went before Him, and that followed, cried out, saying, ‘Hosanna [save now!] to the Son of David: Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.’ And when He was come into Jerusalem, the entire city was stirred, saying, ‘Who is this?’ And the crowds said, ‘This is the Prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.’” (Matthew 21:1-11)

The incident we just read comes on the Sunday of the last week in the life of Jesus Christ prior to His crucifixion that Friday. This is obviously a very important event for it is recorded in all four Gospels, but if the reader is not careful he will miss the great significance and lessons being brought forth in its message. But the story of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem is brimming with treasure to be gleaned from its study. One of the first things that strikes the reader is that we have evidence of the supernatural powers of Jesus put on display. Jesus, as King, sends two emissaries into Bethpage to retrieve the animals, a donkey and its colt, that He would ride as He entered into His city. This is not something that had been planned in advance, for when the owners see the emissaries untying the animals, Jesus instructs His them to inform these men, “The Lord has need of them.” The owners were obviously disciples of the Lord Himself, for when they hear the phrase “the Lord,” they unquestioningly allow the disciples to take the animals with them. We also see how Jesus has supernatural power over the animals themselves, for Mark 11:2 tells us that the animal He chooses to ride, the colt, has never been ridden by a man before. It is not without significance that the colt made no resistance to having to carry the Lord on its back, proving once again that Jesus is Divine, having acknowledged power over nature itself, just as God did when He opened the mouth of the donkey to speak in Numbers 22:28 and when He sent the whale to swallow up Jonah in the deep.

Although this very same crowd in just a few short days will turn on the Lord and cry out for His crucifixion, they nevertheless at this point acknowledge Him as the true King of Israel, saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” The people were moved to shout "Hosanna," a Hebrew word of exclamation and adoration which means "Oh save!" or "Save now!" May we never forget to acknowledge the Lord as our Savior and King!

Jesus Cleanses the Temple and Us

In John chapter 2 is found the account of Jesus’ first cleansing of the Temple. The Prophet Malachi (Malachi 3:1-5) had predicted that the Lord would suddenly come to His Temple to deal with such goings on as were taking place at the time of Christ. And Zechariah (Zechariah 14:21) had foretold that on the day of the Lord, there would no longer be any merchant in the Temple precincts.

It is amazing how blind everyone was at first to the meaning of this event! The Jews expected the Messiah to give them certain signs, and one of the signs the Prophet Malachi prophesied was that the Messiah would suddenly come to His Temple and purify the sons of Levi. The Messiah had just done that, but they did not recognize Him. Instead, they said to Him, "What sign have You to show us for doing this?" Our Lord's answer, of course, was to give them the only sign that would have any meaning to them – the sign of His own resurrection!

So when Jesus overturned the moneychangers’ tables, He was fulfilling Scripture and making clear that the Messianic time of fulfillment was at hand. No more business as usual was going to take place. No more ho-hum approach to religion. It was now time for living out our faith, not just holding a religious belief. Zeal for God’s house consumed the Lord, and He had come to light the fire of zeal in us as well.

Studying these passages of Jesus driving the moneychangers out of the Temple provides for us an opportunity for our own gut-check. Has our religion become cold routine, a mere collection of intellectual convictions and external rituals as had become the case with the scribes and Pharisees? Is our righteousness more a monument to ourselves than to God as in the case of Herod who had built the Temple that Jesus cleansed? Is Christ crucified for us the power and the wisdom of God, or is He merely just a plaster figure hanging on the wall?

The story of Jesus and the moneychangers comes at the beginning of the Gospel of John. From the very outset of His public ministry, Jesus predicted His death and resurrection to His uncomprehending audience. It would be His self-sacrifice that would ultimately lead to a new beginning. And to prepare for that event, He cleaned house.

Each week we gather around the Lord’s Table to celebrate the mystery of redemption that is found in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. It is time for us, too, to clean house and to honor His self-sacrifice with authentic sacrifices of our own, and to make sure that we are offering out lives as our reasonable and acceptable service to the King (Romans 12:1).

May the Lord bless you!

The Raising of Lazarus

Jesus' raising of Lazarus from the dead as recorded in John 11 is a very detailed accounting. This miracle took place during what is called Jesus' Perean ministry, which occurred during the last year of His life. It truly is a very spiritually moving and faith building event that beyond doubt reveals the nature of real miracles and displays the power of the Son of God. It also quite explicitly reveals the dual nature of Christ as being both Son of Man and Son of God.

Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha, and they were all personal friends of Jesus (John 11:1-2). Jesus had a very special relationship with these people as can be seen in verse 5 of this chapter. John reveals, “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.” Lazarus and his sisters lived in the small town of Bethany, which was located about two miles from the city of Jerusalem (verse 18). Lazarus and his sisters were evidently financially successful, for it was Mary who anointed Jesus Christ with very precious, expensive oil in John 12:3-5. This would seem to refute those who believe that this Lazarus is the same Lazarus as the man in the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus found in Luke 16. Lazarus was described as being a poor man, a beggar, in the parable. The miraculous raising of Lazarus, as was the case with Jesus' miracles in general, was acknowledged as real even by His own avowed enemies (John 11:47), which cannot be said of those today who claim to be able to perform miracles.

This recorded wondrous work serves as more proof as to Jesus' Deity as the Apostle John continues throughout his Gospel narrative to thwart the heretical teachings of Gnosticism. Even a bodily resurrection of one who is decaying is not too hard for Jesus to accomplish. About thirty years following the raising of Lazarus from the grave, the Apostle Paul asks King Agrippa, "Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?" (Acts 26:8). Jesus said to Martha in the context of Lazarus' resurrection, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (verse 25). In conclusion, let us realize that while the account of the raising of Lazarus is indeed moving, Christ can and shall raise all the dead at the last day. Some will be raised to eternal life, while others will be raised to eternal damnation. Consider this statement coming from the very lips of Jesus Christ Himself: 28. “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice 29. and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:28-29) The One Who raised Lazarus also died, but He rose from that tomb, victoriously defeating death and Satan. When He conquered death, He was raised to die no more and became the "firstfruits of them that slept" (1 Corinthians 15:20, compare to Romans 1:4), where He now sits reigning over His Kingdom at the right hand of God (Romans 8:34; Colossians 3:1).

It Takes Overtime, But United Advances in Tournament Play!

The United Way 6th Grade Boys Basketball team took revenge upon the only team that had beaten them this season by defeating Crites Title Company 38-33 in overtime in the double elimination tournament on Saturday, March 7, 2009, held at Riddle Elementary School.

Both teams seemed a bit nervous as they squared off in the opening period. Daniel Ferguson, who along with teammate Malik Joyner, led his team with 16 points, scored the first basket of the game to give United a 2-0 lead. United increased its lead to 7-4 as Daniel scored all of United's points, but as the period came to a close Crites hit a basket as time was running out to tighten things up and United held a 7-6 lead.

The 2nd quarter saw United's defense give up several easy baskets down low as their slim 1 point lead evaporated quickly, replaced by an 11 point deficit as Crites mounted a 14-0 run to take an 18-7 lead before timeout was called at the 2:45 mark of the period. The coaches for United told the players to play their game, and not to give up on themselves. When the halftime buzzer sounded, United had scored two more baskets while limiting Crites to just one lone free throw, but United found themselves on the deficit side of a 19-11 score.

The United players were very down and disappointed at their performance, but their coaches encouraged them again not to give up on themselves. They were told to still attack the basket, and play defense like they have been taught: stink on skunk! Daniel Ferguson had picked up his third foul in the second period so he had to sit out the entire 3rd quarter, and since Malik had not scored up to this point the boys still looked very downcast. United's coaches, however, told the boys they were going to come back and win, because they were the better team. They also told Malik not to focus on his not scoring in the first half, but to just play his game because the points would come, and they did, because Malik had a fantastic second half, scoring out in the process.

The 3rd quarter began, and Malik Joyner found his stroke again, working the ball well inside and drawing fouls. United outscored Crites 11-6 in the period, which was the best 3rd quarter put together by the United team all season long, and the United players came storming to the bench exuberantly as the quarter closed, trailing now only by a score of 25-22. The coaches told the boys they were going to win this game because we own the 4th quarter. Daniel Ferguson, with three fouls, went back into the game, and with both he and Malik hitting from the charity stripe, United outscored Crites 7-4 in the 4th period to tie the score at the end of regulation 29-29.

United played very well defensively in the 4th period and in overtime. They outscored Crites 9-4 in the extra period. Landon Crary made the shot of the day for United as he connected on a magnificent up-and-under, fade away, semi-hook shot that banked in off the glass to give the United squad the lead which they never again relinquished. What made it even better was that Landon was the smallest player on the court but he had managed to pull down his own offensive rebound from his missed attempt from the floor as he crashed the board to grab his errant shot.

This was the third time this season in six games that United has trailed after three periods of play by 3 points and came away with the victory. In each of these games they have also given up a basket to go down by 5 in the 4th quarter, only to come roaring back as their defense put a clamp down strangle hold on their opponents, stifling their opponents' ball handling ability and causing turnover after turnover. United handled the ball the best they have all season, committing only 5 turnovers themselves against a very good defensive team, which included one coming on an offensive foul called on Malik Joyner as he was driving to the hoop. However, poor shooting pretty much offset their excellent ball handling as United was an abysmal 22% from the field, connecting on only 11 of 50 shots. They did, however, hit the boards well again, grabbing 44 rebounds, pulling down 22 on offense and 22 on the defensive end.

The difference in the game came at the free throw line. Per their coaches instructions, the United players kept taking the ball to the hoop, forcing their opponents to foul them. Crites had two players foul out of the game while United only committed 11 team fouls, with 4 of these coming from Daniel Ferguson, and 3 from Malik Joyner.

Landon Crary may have made the shot of the game, but Daniel Ferguson had a very close second. In the opening period Daniel grabbed the ball down low as he hauled down an offensive board as he was surrounded by Crites players. He was swarmed by these four defenders from Crites along the baseline, and Daniel manged to get up in the air, corkscrew his body in his flight and somehow bank in the shot off the glass, all the while being fouled by Austin Warrem. Daniel then completed the 3 point play by hitting his free throw to give United a 7-4 lead at the time.

It was an intensely played game from start to finish with adrenaline running high on both sides, to say the least, with a, shall we say, very boisterous crowd in attendance. Daniel Ferguson was fouled intentionally in the overtime period after stealing the basketball, getting hit vigorously on purpose from behind by Jesse Smyser. Daniel went to the floor hard, incurring a pretty good floor burn on his knee in the process. He air-balled his first offering but he sank his next rainbow shot, hitting nothing but the bottom of the net, extending United's lead to 5. United also followed this by scoring on their subsequent possession, giving them their largest lead of the contest at 7 points.

Daniel Ferguson was 8 for 10 from the free throw line for the game, while Malik Joyner went 8 for 11. All in all, United was 16 for 23 from the stripe, which was very good, especially considering they lost the first game due in large part to their not converting their free throw opportunities.

United's next game is on Saturday, March 14 at Riddle Elemenatary School at 11:00 AM versus the #2 seed, Blue Cross / Blue Shield, who will be seeking to avenge their only loss of the season coming at the hands of United. United won 32-26 in their previous meeting on February 14. Blue Cross defeated #3 seed Gardner Whitworth 33-16 to advance to the next round. Earlier in the day Gardner knocked off #6 seed Rural King 23-17.

Rural King was eliminated by Crites who defeated Rural King 38-26. Rural King ends their season with a disappointing record of 0-7. In the other loser bracket game, #4 seed Conlin Home Inspection knocked off #3 seed Gardner Whitworth 40-33, setting up a rematch of the tournament's opening game. Earlier in the day Conlin lost to #5 Crites 32-22. Their rematch is set for noon on Saturday, March 14 following the game between #1 United and #2 Blue Cross.

Any one of these teams are capable of winning this tournament as the teams are well-balanced and all of them are very loaded talent-wise. It will be nice to see these boys playing together on a team as they move through junior high and high school in the upcoming years. Things are looking up for Mattoon basketball!

The Most Frightening Words Ever Uttered

What are the scariest words you have ever heard or read? To some, it might be a passage from the hand of Edgar Allen Poe, Bram Stoker or Washington Irving. For many people it is the vivid imagery found in biblical writing such as is seen in the apocalyptic books of Ezekiel, Daniel and Revelation. Still others may shudder at the fire and brimstone sermons they heard as a small child. But as for me, the most frightening words ever uttered are when Jesus said the following while in the Garden of Gethsemane the night He was betrayed in Matthew 26:53: “Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once send Me more than twelve legions of angels?” Take a few moments to ponder and consider the significance about what Jesus said here, and the eternal implications behind its meaning. Jesus was telling the absolute truth here, for had He been lying, then He would have sinned, and going to the cross would have become meaningless, for He could not have been that perfect, unblemished sacrifice and blood atonement required to satisfy the Father’s demand for justice as the penalty for the sins of the world. Jesus would still have been a sinless, perfect Man, He still would have remained the faultless Son of God, but He would not have been the Redeemer. Jesus could have pleaded to the Father to save Him from the agony awaiting Him, and the Father would have granted His request immediately! And had Jesus the Son of Man made that choice, a choice well within His grasp and purview as seen in the Scripture above, He still would not have sinned by making that choice. But had He taken that road, He would not have become the propitiation for our sins, either, which means that none of us would have the opportunity to be saved through the grace of God and live eternally with the Lord.

Jesus Christ was fully God, but He was also fully human. This means He was able to be tempted in every respect as we are, tempted, yes, but He never succumbed to those temptations, and He lived His life completely void of sin (Hebrews 4:15). So when we see Jesus rebuking the Apostle Peter by saying to him in Mark 8:33, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men,” we know that He said this because Peter was tempting the Lord to take the easy road. Jesus had just proclaimed to His disciples that He had to suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again, and he taught this plainly and openly. But Peter would have none of it. He loved Jesus, but he did not understand the Lord’s mission, and so Peter rebuked Jesus (Mark 8:31-32). When Peter said that none of these things should happen to Jesus (Matthew 16:22), Peter was saying the very last thing Jesus needed to hear at that moment, for it was the very thing Jesus the Son of Man desired. Jesus did not want to take on the burden that was being placed before Him, and that is why we are told He prayed to the Father three times to have that cup removed (Matthew 26:44). But because Jesus did everything to please His Father, He always added, “nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39). This is why Jesus added in Matthew 26:54, “But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” after stating He could ask His Father to rescue Him. He chose to do the Father’s will, not His own. No, Jesus did not have to go to the cross, but He chose to take that road out of His great love for His Father, and out of His great love for you and me.

United Way Wins 4th Straight 32-16

The United Way 6th Grade Boys Basketball team defeated Rural King 32-16 at Riddle School on Saturday, February 28, 2009. The victory leaves United Way with a 4 game winning streak and a 4-1 overall record, as well as the number 1 seed for the upcoming double-elimination post-season tournament, beginning on Saturday, March 7, 2009.

The team had goals of scoring at least 12 points in the first quarter while giving up 2 or less, and as the first quarter ended the score was 18-0 United. The team played extremely well on both ends of the floor as Daniel Ferguson scored 9 points to lead the squad.

The coaching staff pulled the starters and asked the boys to work the ball to players who normally do not score so as to not run up the score, and 6 of United's 9 players got into the scoring column.

United crashed the boards well as they cleaned the glass, hauling down 44 rebounds as everyone on United contributed. The team was led by Malik Joyner with 9 boards and Daniel Ferguson with 8.

United's 1-3-1 trapping zone defense was outstanding again, causing several turnovers, including 31 steals. All but one of United's players had a steal in the game. Landon Crary led United with 7 takeaways, followed closely by Daniel Ferguson with 6 and Malik Joyner with 5. Malik Joyner had 3 blocked shots and Daniel Ferguson had 2.

If there was one area in which definite improvement is needed it would be for the team, particularly the second unit, to take better care of the ball as the team committed 17 turnovers. The second unit also needs to improve on its shooting by taking better shots and running the offense better.

I had a little fun and played a prank on the team before this past Saturday's game, and I even got one of the officials from the league to help me pull it off. The boys have been very good at coming to practices this season, even showing up early, and we have probably held more practices than the other teams. But last week we had some kids miss some practices due to illness and funerals, so I scheduled an additional practice for last Friday evening. However, only two of the boys showed up for it, my son, Daniel, and the son of one of my assistants. The other kids were attending a party at school instead.
I really did not mind at all that they went to this activity, because they are only going to be this age once. Anyway, I got one of the league officials to play along with me as I gathered the team together and told them that I had some bad news to tell them. I said, "As you know, I scheduled a practice for last night, and only 2 of you showed up for it, as the rest of you went to the party instead. And since we only had 2 players at practice, we can only start 2 players for the game. And since we have to have a minimum of at least 4 players to start the game, we are going to have to forfeit." I said this with a straight face, with just a touch of sadness and disappointment in my voice, doing my best Pat Paulson impersonation I could manage. The league official, who I thought was just going to stand there basically as a prop to make it all look official, really got into the spirit of things, and he stated the following, also with a very straight, yet sad, face, "I am sorry, boys, but those are the rules!" You should have seen the faces of the kids! I then just burst out laughing, and I said, "Boys, we are just kidding! I don't mind at all that you went to the party. But if you are all going to go and have some fun like that, then I thought I would have some fun at your expense today!" We all had a very good laugh then, and I think the whole thing just really loosened up the boys a lot, and helped them to have the great start they did, finishing the first quarter with an 18-0 lead!

Fit-To-A-Tee Ends Season

The 4th Grade Boys Basketball Fit-To-A-Tee team's season ended dismally as they fell to Country Companies 34-9 at Riddle School on Saturday, February 28, 2009. The loss left Fit-To-A-Tee with a 0-5 mark for the campaign.

Damien Ferguson had 7 of his team's 9 points, plus he had an assist on the only other basket the squad could muster. Damien played very hard and very well, but his efforts were not enough. He also contributed defensively by garnering 4 steals. He grabbed 11 rebounds and he had 4 blocked shots. The double coverage of Damien by Country Companies led to Damien committing 4 turnovers.

Although Damien was on a team with a lot of problems, he never complained, he never pointed fingers of blame at anyone else and he always did the very best he could, hustling at both ends of the court at all of the games and the team's practices. And for that I was most proud of him!