THE SOUND OF SILENCE

Over the last few of months I have been really interested in silence. You know that sound of "nothing"

Ask yourself:

When was the last time you turned your radio off when driving?

Have you sat on your couch without the TV or Radio on?

You spent an evening by yourself just relaxing?

Are you busy just being busy?

Is the pace at which you are living your life sustainable?

We are designed and created to live a sustainable, sane life. But, for the most part, most individuals at some point in life have decided against that notion and just live a life with their "hair on-fire" at 100 m.p.h. These are the same people who have also decided that five hours of sleep is enough them. People certainly brag about their pace of life, or even complain about it but most don't do anything about it.

Ok, another question here -- are you valuing the noise all around you more than you are valuing the voice of God when he is trying to speak to you? Can you even here God when he is trying to speak to you?

I am as guilty as most when it comes to leading a "noise filled life" ... But something can be done and something is being done. Just try a few things -- turn your radio off, shut your TV down, take that walk along the river, relax by yourself on a weekend night, shut off your cell phone or maybe even change your job! I challenge anyone to do one (or more) of these things for an extended period of time.

Hear me when I say this - "Don't try and fit God into your life but rather place God in your life ... Daily."

Are you adding to the noise of this world or trying to hear the silence in your life?

SCHOOL IS IN SESSION

It seems that learning all this information (Interpreting the Old Testament at a Graduate Level) in a three-day period is a bit much. I think I would equate it to a small child trying to cram down an entire buffet at a Chinese restaurant.

Here's the main point - I drink coffee pretty regularly and, in fact, it's almost a bad habit. Let me tell you now, there is not enough caffeine to get through a three-day intensive class paying 100% attention. I found myself day-dreaming a fair amount but not a whole lot. You know what though!?! ... there was a lot of interesting information and insightful stuff that I never knew was there.

I wouldn't call it too hard but maybe just too much in too short of time period. However, there is something to be said for being done with going to class. I mean I still have to write a 20 or so page paper in the next three weeks but at least I don't have to sit in class from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. til my next class begins in the middle of September.

In all I wrote down 35+ pages of notes and my hand was entirely red at one point. You can really tell on the pages in which I was starting to fade away because the words become a little more sloppy. By the end of the three days I was just done. Have you ever seen that commercial were the egg is frying on that pan and getting burned to a crisp?!? ... Well, that's my brain!

One class (almost) down ... A lot more to go! Bueller?!? ... Bueller? ... Bueller?? ...

LAST 24 HOURS ...

This has been insane.

I would like to first off say "THANKS!" to everyone who was there last night from neaveH. Thanks for all the photos! My "final pitch" (see picture) was a strike! I was so freakin' excited to throw a strike! It felt good to get out and have a suedo Good Bye type thing.

Class today was well, a lot of information. I have to read a whole freakin lot so wish me luck!

I will share more in the future but wanted to post something because it might be a while til I get something new posted!

My brain is on fire right with all this stuff floating around in my head.

DIARY FROM THE BALLPARK #5

Ok, here's the final installment of my diary from the ballpark! (I can't believe I was putting Dairy - like milk - for the first four!!)

For obvious reasons a lot of people have been asking me the simple question "are you going to miss it"? Well there is no doubt that I will miss certain aspects of working in baseball. However, there is no doubt that I will be having fun spending time on summer nights in the future doing things that I want to do instead of having to be at the ballpark!

I will miss some of the extra perks that comes with working in baseball like mascot appearances, watching kids smile when grabbing a foul ball, playing catch during "down time" on the field, speaking engagements, free tickets for my friends and, of course, views from the roof just to name a few.

However, I won't miss watching the radar and wondering if I have to pull tarp to go along with crazy complaining fans, long (and I mean long) working hours, sleepless nights rolling hot dogs for DARE day games and, of course, pulling trash!! Oh, I certainly will not miss Scout Night! Those crazy kids never sleep!!!

It's funny, every now and then I have friends ask me if I am dating some one or if I have a "significant other" and my standard response was I am 'married to baseball.' It's a pretty cool deal, I mean she may leave at the end of September every year but she will always come back around in early April!! Well, I guess I better come up with a better come back when asked that question!

You know I actually look forward to being a baseball fan again. This year I have yet to watch a game "just for fun as a fan." It will give me great pleasure to sit in the stands and know that I can't be reached on the radio to fix a problem!

Get-up and stretch one last time!!

DAIRY FROM THE BALLPARK #4

Well, here we go with installment 4 of 5 ... Enjoy!

The summer of 2004 was certainly a memorable one (oh, was it a memorable!) but there wasn't one specific moment that really stood out above all the rest but rather a stretch of days that would drive most normal people crazy and drive crazy people to be normal.

You gotta understand that each summer day was busy and there was always (and I mean always) something happening at the ballpark. There was one stretch of time that I worked 52 straight days from sometime in June til August. I don't mean I worked 52 straight Monday through Friday days but rather everyday for 52 straight days!!

I think this was the time period in my life were I had to have coffee on a daily basis. I can't pin point the exact moment when caffeine was the needed item but it was some where in this 52 straight days of mayhem and madness!

During the time period the ticket for the Bob Dylan & Willie Nelson show went on-sale that was an everyday circus. I knew I finally needed a day off when on Monday afternoon and fan called with one simple question "how much are tickets" ... Seems simple, right?!? Folks it took me like five minutes to formulate the thought and answer the question correctly. I can't even describe how "out of it" I was during that phone conversation. I hope the lady on the phone came out to the game that night!

So the minute I hung-up the phone, I filled out a vacation request form and got that Friday off. Yes, 52 straight days at the ballpark. People say that the best part of working in baseball is working at ballpark everyday. Well, I just don't recommend doing that for 52 straight days!

And also, my friends and family wonder why I didn't tell them were I went on my end of the season vacation last year! Well, there's your answer!

My last regular season game is Monday evening! Kind of bitter-sweet but at least I get to throw out the first pitch.

DAIRY FROM THE BALLPARK #3

This is the third of a five-part little "look back" at the moments that will be forever marked in my mind. These really aren't in any specific order but all are unforgettable.

The moment that every fan dreams about during a rain delay was taking away by yours truly on a Monday night in the middle of June. If you have ever sat through a rain delay at the ballpark I'm sure you have wondered "it sure would be fun to get out on the field and slide across that tarp." After all it is the world's biggest slip n' slide!!

Monday home games with the Silver Hawks generally are a "little more interesting" so to speak back when we offered Dollar Beers to the patrons. I was already have a not so good day and when we had to roll out the tarp for a rain delay in the fourth inning, so the tarp pull didn't make things any better. And to make matter worse, there was like one stinkin' rain shower in all of South Bend that day and of course it was over the ballpark!

After rolling out the tarp I some how ended up being the only full-time staff member in the third base dugout to wait out the rain. Briefly after catching my breath I catch out of the corner of my eye three fans (1 guy, 2 girls) climb over the railing for their tarp slide. I am none to happy about these events!!

There was a part-time employee with me so I told him to grab the two girls and get them off the tarp. I was ticked off and went for the dude. This freakin' idiot is flopping around the tarp like a fish out of water so I grab him by the shirt and pull him up very angry-like. While pulling him up I hear this "rrrrip" from his shirt. Yes, I tore his shirt!

Some of this is a blur but as accurate as I remember ... He started screaming at me about how I ripped his shirt and I start jawing back that he was trespassing and was going to jail that night (I threw in a couple of "not so polite adjective"). He also preceded to tell me that he was a taxpayer and he helped build the stadium. I continue to tell him that he is going to jail and I think I was pointing my index about a half an inch away from his face. Rather angry stuff.

I finally get him back into the seating bowl area. He told me his shoes were two sections away and he needed them. I didn't care. As I am basically pushing this guy toward the first cop I can find. I think every fan is now booing me for pulling this idiot off the tarp. Oh well, he didn't deserve to be on the tarp.

This might have been the moment in my baseball life were I became "angry baseball employee" ... Really I think I'm a nice guy but I can't stand bull crap like that.

DAIRY FROM THE BALLPARK #2

Ok, this will be the second of a five-part little "look back" at the moments that will be forever marked in my mind. These really aren't in any specific order but all are unforgettable.

This is probably the story I tell the most so this is either the most memorable or the one I laugh about the most. Hey, maybe a little bit of both.

Somewhere in the middle of my first year in the business I became the "I'll do anything intern." And in this capacity of wearing dozens of different hats on any given game night, I was the on-field M.C. for the promotions like the dizzy bat race, lawn mower race, etc., etc.

I will never forget this -- there were two outs with the visiting team batting and then out of no where I see this little, maybe 20 pound, dog loose in right field (yes the infamous right field pictured). I was against the dugout waiting to do the dizzy bat race with two little kids watching this dog run around the field for a few second and then realizing this, "Some one should get that dog off the field" (Pause) "Oh wait, that some one is me!"

So in all my intern glory I jog out to right field to get this dog so the game can continue. Ok, folks at this point in my life I am a slow, out-of-shape, overweight college student. I chased this stupid dog around right field, center field the warning track and everywhere in between for at least 5 minutes (probably longer)!!

Finally, I get within about 3 feet and the dog is facing the other direction. I think to myself "I finally got him" and since I am completing out-of-shape and out of breath this is the final chance to catch him. And by the way, none of the other staff bothered to join me in this journey of dog catching!! Anyway, I lunge for the dog from three feet but the dog sees me before I start my jump and thus darts off and I end up grabbing nothing but air and grass in my feeble attempt to capture the freakin dog!!

After laying in the grass for about 10 seconds with my head buried in my hands and along with about 1,000 fans laughing at me, I look up just in time to watch the dog leave the playing field. So out of breath and embarrassed I make my way back to do the dizzy bat race with the two little kids (who probably still laugh at me to this day!).

DAIRY FROM THE BALLPARK #1

Ok, this will be the first of a five-part little "look back" at the moments that will be forever marked in my mind. These really aren't in any specific order but all are unforgettable. Enjoy ...

Oh, the joy of being the General Manager of a Minor League Baseball team. Most people think as a G.M. you sit back and make trades, pay the employees and let all of your employees do all the work. HA, I only wish that was the case! In fact this is very far from the case.

About three days before the start of the 2001 season for the Pulaski Rangers there were two players that needed to be picked up from the Roanoke Airport. The airport was about an hour from Pulaski. So being the G.M. I told one of the interns to pick them up and no problem, right? Well, I get a call around 7:30 p.m. from the intern to inform me that only one of the players was there.

I start frantically calling the Head Minor League individuals for the Texas Rangers because we are missing a player. So we finally tracked down our "lost player" around 9:30 p.m. and he was stuck at the Dallas airport. I remember thinking "well at least we found him." He was now on his way to Atlanta to catch his next flight. He gets to Atlanta around 10:45ish and he can't leave for Virginia because his flight is delayed because of lightning so he is just going to get a flight in the morning and stay the night in Atlanta. Ok, good stuff and off to bed and I am really tired!

Not so fast!! I get another phone call at 11:30 p.m. to inform me that his flight did take off from Atlanta and he is on his way to the Roanoke Airport. I just freakin' fell asleep and now I (Yes, Me!) have to wake-up and drive an hour to pick him up. Mind you, I have to be up and moving by 7 a.m. the next day!

Our "lost player's" flight finally gets to the Roanoke Airport at 2 a.m.!! So thankfully he is on the flight and he tells me that he is hungry! Great! - now I have to feed this guy! Well, say hello to the Waffle House! After he gets his food we finally get to Pulaski around 4:15 a.m. and I get like two hours of sleep!

Yeah, you keep telling yourself that being a General Manager is easy! ;-) ... Now this "lost player" name is C.J. Wilson. So far from that 2001 Pulaski Rangers team, he is the only player to make it to "the show" and play as a Major League player. Granted he hasn't pitched well but he has made it.

He really was a nice guy and an amazing pitcher to watch but why could his flight be on-time? ... "Everyday is a New Adventure"

A FIRST (AGAIN) ...

It's kind of funny how things continue to remain different. The year I served as General Manager of the Pulaski Rangers I used to tell people that "everyday is a new adventure" and that saying kind of held true today.

Being that this my last go round as a full-timer in the business I've been trying to do all kinds of different of tasks. Well today brought something I never thought I would do (ok, just see picture). A local Harley Davidson dealer is raffling off a motorcycle and they were storing it in the front office. I'm not a huge motorcycle fanatic but there was something awesome about steering it around the ticket office prior to the game this evening.

After getting the bike into place in front of the stadium for the raffle, I pulled off grounds crew duty! Oh man, that was cool to "line off" the foul line and batters box prior to the game. OK, I know that doesn't seem like the most amazing thing in the world but I enjoyed it. The head groundskeeper keeps telling me I can mow the grass someday!

I'm not sure what I'll try and do for Wednesday's game. I'll have to try P.A. announcing or perhaps official scorer. Oh, well "everyday is a new adventure"

THE FINAL "HOME" STRETCH

And so it begins ...

... After working in the business of Minor League Baseball for five seasons I am "retiring" from the business from a full-time stand point. Today I began what will be my final homestand and it will be a crazy way to finish as the homestand is an eight-gamer that will certainly tax my body! (But hey, what a way to go!)

It's been kind of reflective during the day as I remember chasing dogs in the outfield, pulling (drunk) people of the tarp during a rain delay, amazing views from the roof and many sleepless nights! So I figure over the next few days I'll share the stories that one day will make those listening (or reading) to wonder "why in the world would I choose such a profession?"

I do take some pride in the fact that the average work-span of a Minor League employee is just 3 years (YES, just 3!!) and I made it through five! Of course that won't get me anything special but at least I beat the average and took years off my life in the process.

Play Ball!

BILL HYBELS

Ok, this will be real brief but just wanted to post something since it's been a few days since the last post.

The Leadership Summit just concluded and I am just in so much "awe" of what happens during the event. So many people are now better equipped and better trained after just 2 1/2 days! You could almost call it information overload!

Without going into a whole lot of detail b/c I'm still having most of the stuff process in my mind. I just want to go on record and say that, once again, Bill Hybels is just the freakin' man!! There are not enough adjectives to describe how important that man is in the leadership realm. I don't just mean in the church but just in the marketplace, school or where ever!

I had the extreme honor of meeting him a few months back. Now, he doesn't know me from Adam but just that brief two minute conversation was just so cool. If you ever get a chance to pick up one of his books please do so. He has so much to offer and what makes him so awesome is his passion. When he has something to say, you better listen b/c the stuff he has to share with people in second to no one.

Just one amazing individual! Really he will probably never know the impact he has had. His life has affected so many and certainly mine.

LEADERSHIP TIME ...

This is an exciting time! The Leadership Summit is here! I can not wait to hear from Rick Warren, Ken Ulmer, Henry Cloud and, of course, Bill Hybels. Everyone who is speaking obviously will have something of extreme importance to say and I can't wait to be apart of it!

Think about it, there are over 50,000 leaders who will be attending this event whether they are at Willow Creek or one of the 100+ places beaming it to their location via satellite. This event is argaubly the most powerful tool in the church today. I really hope and pray that those in attendance get fired up from what they will be hearing and put into action what God is nudging and inspiring them to do.

The whole purpose is to forcefully advance God's Kingdom like Matthew 11:12 says. But if this is going to happen all the Romans 12:8 leaders better start doing what they were called and created to do!

Personally this is one event that will be on my schedule every year and should be on the schedule of every leader who want to be apart of something will blow their mind! It is going to freakin' rock!

TO MELISSA ...

Ok, never did this before but for some reason I feel like I should, even though I can't describe why. So the below is my "open letter" to Melissa Halliday. Really it's just for her but anyone is welcome to read. It's just what is on my mind ...

Melissa,

So the next chapter of your life is here but the question is how are you approaching it? See I think you have a choice that parallels the end of the movie "Forrest Gump." You can either float around "accidental like" like a feather in the breeze or you can put your one and only life in the hands of the destiny maker.

Many people have chosen option #1 and have just floated around life. Well, as you can attest to what you are going through in a new environment you certainly have put your life in the hands of the destiny maker. Think about it, did you ever think you would be in Kansas City?

As I have stated numerous times during our friendship, God wants to do things in your life that will "blow your mind" and do things so far out of your comfort zone that you can't even see it. However, you have to commit yourself to letting God move in and through you on a daily basis if you want to be blown away! God really does want to execute Esp. 2:10 in your life but you have to allow him to be apart of your life regularly!

All of your friends are committed to you praying for you daily - really we will! No matter how crazy and uncomfortable the situations may come and go during this chapter you know that we are committed to you and your endeavor. We truly want to do "life together." And more importantly so does God!

I can not wait to hear the stories that you are about to create. Because I'm sure that they will be just as good as the ones you already have created and lived through!

Remember - "Love to live. And live to love!"

Keep Living Courageously and Smile Daily!

Your Friend,
Stephen

SUNDAY MORNING

Well, every now and then God gets a hold of your heart. And mean really grabs you and tugs at your emotions. Let me start by stating that I am not a morning person at all. In fact, I sometimes wonder why the letters "a.m." actually exist on the clock.

Today was the 2nd "see you later" (because good-bye is not the word) I had to say in a week. My friend Amber left at 7:15 a.m. for anywhere from 12-18 months to serve our country. There was a group of about 30 people that showed at the airport to say our well-wishes. Amber is an amazing individual. I mean her constant smile and positive attitude are just a fresh of breath air no matter what situation. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing her soon and feeling her impact in the church again!!

At church, God just made some amazing things happen. Once a year at Granger Community Church, there's a series that is really (and I mean really) committed to helping seekers make their decision to become a Christ Follower. The church gives non-believers the opportunity to walk across "the Gap" between God and Man immediately following the message. It was so freakin' inspiring to watch hundreds of individuals walk across that "Gap" and commit themselves to God in a public forum.

I've been hearing about how Satan is winning the battle for the hearts of people. But you know what, God was winning the battle this weekend at Granger Community Church!

ROCK N' ROLL DOUBLEHEADER

At this point I'm not sure whether to feel happy or sad that the Def Leppard & Bryan Adams tour has come and gone through Coveleski Stadium. There is a sense of excitement that comes with being the Ticket Manager for a major tour like this and all the bells and whistles that comes with that. However, when you work at the venue that hosts an event like this there is more than just ticket managing that goes on.

Unlike last year when Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson came to the ballpark for their tour, I was much more prepared, as was the entire full-time staff for this year version of the Rock N' Roll doubleheader. From the moment I arrived at the ballpark at 8 a.m. it was just one of those days were you were going to "live with your hair on-fire"

The phones rang off the hook and the ticket office was buzzing with activity. The weather was perfect and thus I think it brought more people out since there was no threat of bad weather. Everything ran pretty smoothly until our ticket server decided to basically shut-down for about 10 minutes around 4:15. And considering the gates for the concert opened at 5:15 or so this was not an ideal time for this happen. After biting my tongue and finally trying everything I could think of, it finally came back on-line and luckily it only caused a minor inconvenience to a dozen or so patrons.
After the gates opened and people started finding their spots, everything ran very well until some of the concert promoters told us that we had to move cars b/c the tour buses couldn't move. Basically it was move the cars or they get towed. Not a pretty situation but no cars were towed and no patrons were screaming or yelling at me or any of the employees - Thankfully!!

After not seeing one moment of the Def Leppard show as I was trying to settle the ticket numbers with the promoters and band personnel plus the whole car towing thing, I did get to watch several of Bryan Adams songs from the field level. I was thrilled to meet-up with some of my friends for a few minutes. After hearing "Summer of '69", I then got to watch a few songs from the roof. That was an AWESOME view to see all the people. By the way, it was the biggest event in Coveleski Stadium history! I thought Bryan Adams did a great job from what I saw and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves a great deal.

Once the show was over I helped count some of the concession money. After that task was completed around midnight, it was off to "trash duty" til about 2:30 a.m. Let me tell you something, I don't think I ever smelled worse and felt more dirty that I did very early Saturday morning! Getting home at 3 a.m. and another "typical" 18+ hour work day at the ballpark is complete. Also, I'm glad that God made soap!! Oh yeah, I was back at the ballpark at 10 a.m. to open the Ticket Office for home game 59 of 70 this evening!

Lots of memories to share in the future! I hope that all that were there had a good time!

P.S. -- Laura I hope you got some sleep! And I hope you are hearing ok today!!

JEWISH WAY OF THINKING

Over the last month or so I've been more intrigued (for lack of a better word) about the Jewish way of thinking and most specifically the Torah. Well, it all really started around Christmas while I was listening to Ray Vanderlaan's "On This Rock" sermon at Willow Creek. Then my friend Blair Carlstrom gives me this book called "Jewish Spirituality: A Brief Introduction for Christians" and I am really blown back by some of the stuff.

The books general challenge is to see the world and the way you live it through a "new lens" and re-shape how you view the world. It seems that a majority of the people do a quick read of the bible and never really think deeply about it. I love how this book just has no fear about questioning the Who, What, When, Where, Why about the bible. There is just so much more there than just words on page, there are stories behind it so why no explore it ... you know?!?!

I HIGHLY recommend picking this book up for anyone who wants to have their mind messed with! It's an easy read with some amazing challenges! More over, I started this book at 3:30 a.m. and I was wide awake while reading!

WATER OR COKE?!?

OK, so I am a bit of health nut. Well, really I am more health conscience then anything else. So I get this forwarded e-mail today and it basically details why I don't drink soda ...

WATER
1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.

2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so
weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.

3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's
metabolism as much as 3%.

4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger
pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a
University of Washington study.

5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses
of water a day could significantly ease back and
joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy
short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and
difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a
printed page.

8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the
risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the
risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less
likely to develop bladder cancer.


And now for the properties of COKE:

1. In many states (in the USA) the highway patrol
carries two gallons of coke in the truck to remove
blood from the highway after a car accident.

2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of coke and
it will be gone in two days.

3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into
the toilet bowl and let the "real thing" sit for one
hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke
removes stains from vitreous China.

4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub
the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap
aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.

5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals:
Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble
away the corrosion.

6. To loosen a rusted! bolt: Applying a cloth soaked
in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

7. To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into
the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and
bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished,
remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix
with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy.

8. To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of coke
into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run
through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help
loosen grease stains.

9. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.

For Your Info:

1. The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid.
Its pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4
days. Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones
and is a major contributor to the rising increase in
osteoporosis.

2. To carry Coca-Cola syrup (the concentrate) the
commercial truck must use the Hazardous material
place cards ! reserved for Highly corrosive materials.

3. The distributors of coke have been using it to
clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years!

Now the question is, would you like a coke or a glass
of water?

WELCOME!

Well, every now and then this technology thing comes up with something unique and different that can really mess with people. This blogging thing is the greatest thing on the internet besides ESPN.com and well, dare I say, www.willowcreek.com - HA!. So it was my personal goal that every week I just type what is going on inside the mind of Stephen Matthew Hinkel. So to all those who read, good luck and have fun! Please feel free to respond to anything and everything.