Klint Pleasant's Blog

Last Kiss

2011-08-29T07:32:00.002-05:00

Six years ago today I kissed my wife goodbye for what I thought was the last time and then wept in a dark hallway at Henry Ford Hospital. Words cannot express my gratitude to God that that was not our last kiss.

Much Love Rachel, Klint

One of the Most Memorable Nights of My Life!

2010-12-21T14:24:00.002-05:00

I have been blessed with a tremendous nuclear family...and one heck of a Dad! He's the most "giving" man I know, and last night an entire community decided to "give back" to him. Check this out!

Abbey Xmas Play Solo!

2010-12-19T19:35:00.002-05:00

Sermons

2010-12-05T21:36:00.003-05:00

Link to some of my podcasted sermons...Some are me and some are my partner, Mark Love.

http://lochurchofchrist.nextmeta.com/content.cfm?id=213

Before Kids!

2010-10-27T17:16:00.002-05:00

A few pictures when Rachel and I lived in Abilene, before kids! We hung out every night (when I was home and not recruiting or coaching!). Fun times.

Associations

2010-10-19T20:05:00.006-05:00

To the left is the skyline of Seattle; It is by far my favorite skyline. Seattle is a great city. It's clean, there is a coffee shop on every corner, the people are incredibly friendly and it's the home of my favorite musical genre, grunge rock. I've been fortunate to have had the opportunity to spent significant time in this great city. [Note: the mountain range in the background is the Olympic mountain range, and of course I have spent time hiking and sightseeing there.]

But more than anything, this skyline represents an incredible friendship I have. My friend Travis Bass grew up there. And so what I really think about when I see this picture is deep, meaningful friendship. I think the power of "association" is amazing. Every time I see this great city on t.v., I instantly think of Travis and the countless memories we've made.

We've made them all over the country, but the times we've spent in Seattle together are especially meaningful to me...and they will continue to be as long as I live.

Enjoy

2010-08-30T21:17:00.000-05:00

Abbey and Julia

2010-08-07T21:43:00.002-05:00

Julia Laughing

2010-07-24T14:03:00.002-05:00

Pikes Peak: 14,115

2010-07-19T21:06:00.005-05:00

I hiked to the summit of this mountain 7 years ago. It was the hardest physical challenge I've ever undertaken. Now that I've had knee surgery, I hope to do it again! I've stood on top of Colorado and Hawaii...just 48 states to go!

Favorite Quote

2010-06-14T21:18:00.002-05:00

This has always been one of my favorite quotes. I remember taking a job that a lot of people told me not to take. They said, "You can't be successful." I've always leaned toward taking a risk vs. sitting in the stands and making observations.

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

-Theodore Roosevelt

Julia Louise Pleasant

2010-05-09T21:45:00.000-05:00

PJ

2010-04-24T09:29:00.003-05:00

I've written before about my favorite band, Pearl Jam. I remember sitting in chapel at ACU back in 1993 and being so excited because Mike Cope (the speaker in chapel that day) referred to Pearl Jam's music as "pre-Christian." I always thought that, but it was confirmed by an older preacher! Most of Eddie Vedder's songs have deep spiritual meaning (mostly about not loving material things, etc.). He spends a lot of time reaching out to troubled teens and people who feel lost (and donating to such causes). I'm convinced that he's on a spiritual journey; although he hasn't landed on Jesus as Messiah yet! I always say, "He's a Christian, but he just doesn't know it." While this song (actually written by Bob Dylan) uses some language simply for shock value, I think the overall message is impressive. Especially the verse about money.

Enjoy.

Arches

2010-03-08T19:22:00.007-05:00

This is a picture of Delicate Arch in Arches National Park (Moab, UT).

I visited Arches back in the mid-90's and made the hour hike to the Arch. Needless to say, the view is amazing. There are many beautiful places in this world, and I have had the privilege of seeing many of them.

I've looked out over Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower

I've toured the ancient city of Rome and have stood in the great Coliseum

I've hiked and picnicked in the Swiss Alps

I've enjoyed a cup of coffee on Martha's Vineyard Island while watching the sun rise

I've golfed in Banff, CA up in the Canadian Rockies

I've snomobiled in the Grand Tetons

I've hiked in the Grand Canyon

I've had pancakes and warm maple syrup while driving through the Green Mountains in Vermont

I've camped in Arcadia National Park in Maine overlooking a cliff above the Pacific

I've spent a day at Mount Rushmore

I've driven through Montana

I walked the amazing Great Lakes coastlines in my beautiful homestate of MI

I've stood and stared at the Golden Gate Bridge

I've summitted Pike Peak

I've jogged along the Oregon coast while looking at the "haystack rocks"

I've spent time among the redwoods in Northern CA

I've hiked in the Smokey Mountain range in East TN

I've walked in Central Park, NY

I've spent a week in the lush, green "bush" while in West Africa, Nigeria

I've seen countless sunsets in the West Texas desert

I've been on the beaches in Florida and honeymooned on California's Pacific Coast 1000 feet above sea level

I've camped in the backwoods of Idaho

I've driven every scenic route in beautiful Washington state

But in my opinion, all these are a close second to the breathtaking red rocks in Southeastern UT.

Article

2010-02-16T22:22:00.002-05:00

Someone sent me this article a few day ago. It was published in the Christian Chronicle when I was coaching at ACU.

Klint Pleasant (left) turned down the offer of a lifetime. The 27-year old assistant basketball coach, only a few years removed from his days as a student at Abilene Christian and Lipscomb universities, turned down an offer to join the coaching staff at the University of Arkansas, one of the biggest college basketball programs in the country.
The job could have led to a coaching career in the NCAA’s highest division, complete with arenas of 20,000 screaming fans and appearances on ESPN.
Pleasant’s father, Rochester College head basketball coach Garth Pleasant (left), recalls what his son told him about the decision to bypass the big time.
“Klint told me that the commitment it would take at Arkansas would not be good for his marriage or his faith,” the senior Pleasant says.
Last summer, Klint became head basketball coach at Abilene Christian University and created the first father-son basketball coaching tandem among colleges and universities associated with churches of Christ.
Almost 30 years earlier, Klint’s father began his coaching career in much the same way. Fresh from Lipscomb College, Garth returned to Rochester, Mich., to become head basketball coach for his first alma mater, Michigan Christian College (now Rochester College). At his first game, Bill Fowler, the school’s vice president, sat next to Garth on the bench. That day, Garth’s father gave him a new sport jacket to wear courtside.
That first game started a run of more than 500 wins (the second highest total by a coach in Michigan college basketball history) and a national small college championship in 1989. Along the way, Garth married Pat, his MCC sweetheart, and had three children: Kim, Klint and Johnny. In 1980, he became the pulpit minister for the church in Lake Orion, Mich., a ministry he continues today.
The combination of coaching and preaching meant long hours, but Klint says his father let nothing stand in the way of being with his wife and kids.
“My father was always there. He took me everywhere with him: recruiting, games, scouting and speaking engagements,” Klint says. “He decided a long time ago that he was not going to allow coaching to interfere with his relationship with God, his wife and his children.”
Garth says, “I remember people would say that it’s not the quantity of time you spend with your kids, but the quality of time. I never bought that. I wanted quantity. My family was my first church work.”
Garth’s fatherhood philosophy meant that young Klint spent a lot of time on the court, and it started to rub off.
“I always sat next to my dad on the bench and I was always at practice,” Klint says. “He was the person I looked up to and wanted to be like. Dad played a huge role in my decision to become a coach.”
Garth also played a huge role in the kind of coach Klint would become.
“A lot was made when we won our 500th game, but basketball, to me, is not about victories and championships. It’s about seeing kids change their lives,” Garth said. “I look back at all of those players and know that I had a role in making them better people.”
That philosophy echoes in Klint’s ambition for his work at ACU. “I hope that in 30 years I can look back at my players and say with confidence that I played a role in helping them to become better people in all aspects of life,” Klint says.
As Klint’s career began to take off and he moved from jobs in the NAIA to NCAA Division II and finally to Division I at Kent State, he still sought his father’s advice.
“We talk about every other day,” Klint says. “We rarely talk X’s and O’s, but we talk about philosophy a lot, how to deal with players, how to motivate. He’s always the first person I call when I need advice.”
Garth said he’s given his son two main pieces of advice. The first: “Who you work for is the most important thing. It’s more important than money.” Second: “When you make a decision, don’t turn around. Don’t look back.”
Klint took Garth’s advice and followed his dad’s example when he walked away from Arkansas to accept his “dream job” at ACU. “ACU is where my relationship with God became the most important thing to me,” says Klint. “I feel the same about ACU as my father feels about Rochester College.”
Taking over Abilene’s men’s basketball program would be no game of H-O-R-S-E, however. The Wildcats only won a few games in the three seasons previous to Klint’s arrival. Garth recalls that someone privately told him that Klint would be lucky to grasp a handful of victories in his first season.
Coach Klint Pleasant exceeded all expectations, however, and led his new team to 13 wins during his first season. Unfortunately, sharing a career with his son meant Garth couldn’t make it to Klint’s first game as a head coach.
“My wife flew down to watch his first game,” Garth says. “I was scouting at Wayne State (University in Detroit) that night and I kept calling on the cell phone every 10 or 15 minutes to find out what was happening.”
Bill Fowler, now head of ACU’s accounting department, sat on the bench next to Klint that day. Before the game, the young coach received a letter of blessing and a package from his father.
Inside — a new sport jacket to wear courtside.

The Road

2010-01-06T23:59:00.005-05:00

I read "The Road" a few years ago by Cormac McCarthy. It was an incredible book and maybe one of the most emotionally moving novels I have ever read. It gives the most compelling description of how much a father loves his child. In fact, I hope one day to pass the book on to Abbey and say, "This might help you understand just how much I love you." The book was recently made into a movie. It was a low budget film and is only showing in smaller theaters. I usually prefer not to see movies made from books I have enjoyed (because the movie never satisfies what one has depicted in his/her mind while reading the book), but I decided to see this one. I saw it today at a small "knock off" theatre in Royal Oak. It was a moving experience as I fought off emotion and tears throughout the 2 hour show. I love my children so much, it hurts. It truly is an indescribable love. I would do anything for my two girls. Read this book, and watch this film.

Good Music

2009-12-30T23:59:00.004-05:00

I like all kinds of music genres and am fond of several different bands. I've worked security (right in front of the stage) for Diamond Rio (country band) and was the only Caucasian in Joe Louis Arena for a Run DMC concert, and everything in between. However, since 1993 there has been one band and one voice that I have enjoyed the most. Pear Jam led by lead singer Eddie Vedder. His voice and their music is very important to me. For one, I think Vedder is extremely talented and a great song writer. I also think he has one of the most unique singing voices. He had a troubled upbringing and comes from a broken home. Many of his songs have incredibly deep meaning and if you have ears to hear...most have a spiritual depth to them that mimic a gospel parable or a Psalm from King David. Their music is also associated with meaningful relationships. I spent a summer driving across the country with my dear friend, Travis Bass, listening to nothing except the voice of Eddie Vedder. My relationship with another dear friend, Andy Blackston, began because of a mutual affection for this band. Another special friend, Scott Samuels, traveled to Toronto with me last summer to hear the band. And of course me and my brother have been to Chicago and Nashville following the band and enjoying their music.

The band has been playing for 20 years now and have mellowed out significantly. Some of my fondest memories are the times I've spent bloodied in a mosh pit while Eddie Vedder and the band played long and hard (something most people probably didn't know about me!).

Check this recent song out from their latest album and then contrast that with the "early days" on the second clip.

"Just Breathe"

"Alive" (this song is about when Eddie was told by his mother that his father is really his step-father and his real father died when he was a little boy)

Slide Show

2009-12-24T17:52:00.001-05:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Julia Louise Pleasant

2009-11-29T00:28:00.002-05:00

My 3 day old daughter, born just 30 minutes before Tgiving day (11:30 PM on Nov. 25).

The Love of My Life

2009-08-27T21:55:00.003-05:00

I know she's my daughter...but I think she's the prettiest thing I have ever laid eyes on!!! I guess this is what happens when you marry a beautiful women!

Pictures From 2 Day Vacation

2009-08-16T11:04:00.010-05:00

These are some pictures from a recent get-away. We spent a few days on Boyne Mountain and stayed in a real nice condo with my sister and brother in law, and it was free...(thanks Randy!). It is a skiers paradise but the summers are equally as fun (indoor waterpark, walking trails, great food, great shopping and Great Lakes! We also did a one day excursion to Mackinaw Island. It was a blast! Boat ride over, horse and buggy ride, tour of the Grand Hotel, great Mackinaw Island fudge and fun shopping!

Enjoy!

Almost 5 Years of Blogging

2009-08-15T22:20:00.004-05:00

Below was my very first blog post in Jan of 2005. I originally started this to journal personal thoughts and have a place to save/archive them. When I started there were not many blogs out there at all. Little did i know they would become very popular wheras almost everyone "had to have one." I have posted about 170 times in 4 1/2 years. I never intended my blog to be a place where people would visit to "hear what i think and say." It was just a place for personal reflection and thinking on paper. I have been humbled to hear that people actually read it (when i used to post regularly!). i have run into people who have said, "I start my saturday morning with a cup of coffee and your blog." that being said, i don't think anyone under the age of 50 should be able to write a book...seems a little PRESUMPTUOUS that we would know enough by then to "share our wisdom." however, I hope to one day lock myself in a cabin (preferably in northern michigan) and write for 30-60 days. i think i am the oldest 34 year old i know. my experiences with coaching, traveling, preaching, being a vp at a college that came within moments of closing and of course saying goodbye to a wife (and secretly planning a funeral) only to see her alive again...are all on the tip of my pen/keyboard. i don't care if it is a personal memior that i print off at kinkos or a ny times best seller...it is something i desire to do. if i can ever find the time in the midst of my 4 different jobs (vp of enrollment, athletic director, basketball coach and preacher) i really would enjoy it.

lots of coffee, lake michigan out the front window, big head todd on the ipod, notes from all my blog posts...and a macbook.

MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2005

Just the beginning

I have decided to create my own "blog" site. I have been reading my friend Mike Cope's "blog" recently and feel compeled to start my own. I don't know exactly how I will use this. However, I pray that God will bless me as I begin to journal thoughts (hopefully on a daily basis). More thoughts later. Klint

Reason 7,142

2009-08-02T11:48:00.007-05:00

There are thousands of reasons why I love my wife. She truly is a magnificent individual and a wonderful spouse. Yes, yes....the saying is true, "I over achieved."

However, the thing I am grateful for today is that she is so simple and not very into style, fashion and the latest trends or fads. I sometimes refer to her as a "throwback," because I think she represents everything God intended a spouse to be. For example, we recently started working on the nursery for our little girl (arriving Nov. 22, or thereabouts) and we were able to put Abbey's old crib back together. It is a white crib, but unfortunately the white rocker/glider we used to have is broken and not useable. I have a friend who offered some of their old nursery furniture, but it is all made of dark wood. Rachel responded, "no big deal, that will be fine." So we will have an old white crib and an even older dark brown rocker/glider.

My guess is that this new little girl will appreciate the love she feels from her mother much more than the latest fashion and color schemes. Just another reason why I'm glad I married the women I did. It will be 9 years this Tuesday!

Blessings

2009-07-30T20:41:00.002-05:00

Blessings come in many shapes and sizes. I have been so fortunate to have been able to coach basketball for the past 11 years. I have coached at all college levels and been both an assistant coach and head coach. Moreover, I have had the privilege to coach some great players. I was able to coach Antonio Gates (current pro bowl NFL tight end) at Kent State and John Edwards (former NBA player, Pacers and Hawks) as well. Not to mention several players who have and are playing professionally overseas. I recall one game while coaching at Kent State vs. Western Michigan Univ. The game was back and forth the whole night, and the last 5 minutes of the game Antonio and WMU best player literally traded baskets. All coaches on both benches just sat back and watched them go. We had the last possession and Antonio hit a 15 footer at the buzzer. It was truly an amazing moment and I remember walking back up to the locker room fighting back tears. I was crying because I love the game so much and was so overwhelmed with the opportunities I had coaching (not to mention the emotional swings during that particular game).

All that being said, I think Trevor Huffman is the best player I've ever coached. He had an incredible ability to "make plays." I used to work him out and watch him make 30, 40 and even 50 3's in a row...going game speed. The first time I ever worked him out was my first day on the job at KSU. I had no idea who he was and I remember getting on him pretty hard and chewing him out a little. I think that caught him off guard, but he appreciated it and had nothing but respect for our relationship and I was able to coach him successfully all year. Trevor went on and worked out for several NBA teams. There's no doubt in my mind that he was an NBA player, but he got hurt while playing for the last spot for the Phoenix Suns and never recovered.

Coaching basketball has been one of the great blessings of my life.

Above picture is Trevor with the Phoenix Suns...he is on the right. I might add that Trevor worked all year to bench press more than me, but never could...true statement!!! I was slow, but I was strong...key word is WAS.

Are You Attractive?

2009-07-15T20:14:00.005-05:00

I think one of the most attractive qualities in a person is the ability to be reasonable and see things from all perspectives. I seem to be attracted to people who will have an open conversation and not just default to"my way or the highway" or simply react with the latest Rush Limbaugh sound-byte. I recently preached through the book of Micah...needless to say it was exciting, terrifying and bold all at the same time. I told my congregants that many preachers have used this book to push a certain political agenda. I told them that I absolutely WOULD NOT do that! I am harmless when it comes to politics. I was an independent before it was "hip and cool" to be independent! I am not going to carry a card or pledge my allegiance to any political party. I have supported both republicans and democrats since I've been of voting age. I really do try and allow my convictions as a Christian to determine how I see issues, not a particular party allegiance.

That being said, here are some things to consider.

Isn't it odd that most people who are pro-life also support war? So they are against killing babies but they are ok with killing other people.

And the antithesis is true. Seems that most people who are pro-choice might lean toward pacifism. So they are ok with aborting a fetus but not ok with killing those on whom we declare war.

I sure do admire people who are consistent and willing to see the "holes" in their logic (just as there are "holes" in the above examples based on when you believe the fetus is a human being with certain rights).

I remember (when growing up as a boy in the Church of Christ) hearing grown men argue for baptism by immersion by saying, "The Ethiopian went down into the water." Which of course must mean he was immersed if we went "down into" the water. But they wouldn't pay any attention to the fact that Jesus first broke bread with His disciples "up" in a room. Seems to me (if we want to be consistent) we ought to take the Lord Supper upstairs and not on the first floor. Or better yet, I would hear that women must keep silent in the assembly because that's what Paul said in his letter to the Corinthians, but he also said that women were to keep their heads covered and not wear much jewelry...I didn't see that one enforced!

Think about what you say. Think about what you believe. And remember, when in doubt...be humble, be open...and be respectful. And doing that does not mean you have to set aside deep convictions...it just means you will be more attractive. And I have found that more people will listen to what you think and say if you have an attractive attitude!

9 Years Later

2009-07-09T21:02:00.003-05:00

I was browsing through some old pictures and found this. When this picture was taken it was just me and Rachel. We would work all day and then come home, make a 3 course meal, visit for awhile, watch a movie and stay up late. We didn't have a care in the world other than each other and our jobs. Times have changed! Little did we know that our world would be turned upside down with the addition of a little girl and then again with a headache, MRI and a fight for Rachel's life. And now we've been married for 9 years and while we are still very much in love...our lives are a little different. Raising a 4 year old, allergies, swim lessons, dance lessons, pre-school, playing with cousins, trips to St. Louis, Xmas lists, Disney movies, Friday night family nights, Saturday morning "daddy time," getting ready for church...I could go on and on.

Oh, almost forgot...multiply all the above by 2...were having another little girl! I think I was made to raise girls! There's nothing like a little princess!

P.S. Dad and Brad (father in law). Would you please set some money away for me every month and give me some help in about 20 years...there's NO WAY I can afford two weddings!!!

Heaven On Earth

2009-07-02T17:39:00.004-05:00

Except for hanging out with Rachel and Abbey (and running a basketball practice) there is nothing I'd rather do then to travel out west with good friends. I have made several trips all over the country (Europe and Africa too!) and have visited every state except Alaska and North Dakota.

These are pictures of me and my dear friend Travis Bass. Travis and I have traveled tens of thousands of miles together.

My idea of heaven on earth...a honda accord with a full tank of gas, a snapple ice tea in the cup holder, an open Rand McNally atlas, windows down, a mountain in front of my face, Eddie Vedder's voice coming through the speakers, and most importantly...a good friend in the passenger seat! Enjoy the pictures.

Just Tryin' To Help!

2009-06-28T17:53:00.007-05:00

I found these picture looking through some old emails tonight. Rachel and I were on vacation (with Rachel's parents) in Gulf Shores, AL. A guy caught this shark when we were walking by and was struggling to lift him out of the water and over the wall. My father in law and wife thought I was nuts when I offered to help him. We pulled the shark over the wall and it began to squirm around on the sidewalk.

The fisherman eventually killed the shark and drug it back to his truck bed. I assumed he had "shark filet" for dinner...which I've had and I didn't like it!

My "American Girl"

2009-06-06T15:19:00.005-05:00

Abbey, Rachel and I stopped in Chicago a few weeks ago on our way home from St. Louis. We took Abbey to the American Girl Doll Headquarters on Michigan Avenue. We had a blast! Abbey had actually been saving her money and wouldn't you know she had "exactly enough" to buy one doll! I wouldn't trade these memories I'm making with Abbey for all the money in the world.

The Mastercard commercial really got it right when they advertised the fact that memories are "priceless."

Wedding In St. Louis

2009-05-19T21:19:00.005-05:00

Rachel, Abbey and I were in St. Louis two weeks ago celebrating Hannah Stevens wedding (Rachel's sister). Here are a few pictures...we had a blast!

One Reason Why...

2009-05-15T18:59:00.002-05:00

One of the many reasons why I love my wife:

She is showing the world what Jesus would look like if He were 32 years old recovering from a severe brain injury and partially blind.

Instead of being depressed she has chosen to show the world how Jesus would look and act if dealt that hand...I think she's playing her cards very well.

A Letter On Mothers Day

2009-05-11T21:49:00.002-05:00

Rachel and I just made it in from St. Louis. We were there the past few days celebrating Hannah Steven's wedding (Rachel's sister). After I unpacked the car I checked my email and I had a message in my inbox from my father with an attachment. The attachment was a letter he wrote yesterday (Mother's Day) to his mother, Ina Pleasant (Granny). Granny has been gone for over 4 years, but we all miss her very much...especially my Dad. He gave me permission to share this, and I'm glad he did because I believe it is holy ground. Enjoy.

Dear Mom,

It was your birthday yesterday and today is Mothers Day. This morning I was up early and I sat and thought about you for the longest time. I spoke of you in my sermon today & mentioned the last meal we shared together. The one where I ordered chicken and chicken livers and you ordered two Coneys’. You remember the deal I offered you……1/2 my chicken livers and a drum stick for one of your Coney’s. You didn’t hesitate to take me up on the offer……I don’t know if you really wanted to make the deal or if you just wanted to make you son happy. It is hard to believe and sometimes to bear the fact that you have been gone over four years. My pain is somewhat eased thinking of you and dad enjoying and loving each other in heaven. It was a sobering feeling knowing that after your last breath there was no one on this earth who loves me unconditionally.

A lot has happened in the last four years…..some things you would have enjoyed so much and other things make me think that is was probably best you had gone on. You now have 4 great grandchildren and one on the way. Palmer is now 6 ½ and is a perfect little gentleman. He knows no stranger and he still lights up a room when he enters. Klint and Rachel had a little girl right after you left us. Her name is Abbey, she is 4 ½ and what a beautiful girl. She has such beautiful eyes and hair. Oh how you would have enjoyed braiding her hair into pig tails! Kim and Randy have a little girl who will be 2 next month. Her name is Lainey Hope and what a busy little girl she is. She doesn’t miss a trick and can really hold her own. She has sandy colored hair and the most beautiful blue eyes. Johnny and Erin have a little boy, Logan Palmer, who just turned one. He is adorable….so tiny and so loveable. Klint and Rachel are expecting their second in November. I can just see you sitting in the chair and watching them play. They are precious.

Klint, Rachel and Abbey moved back to Michigan the summer after you passed away. They live in Oxford and are in the same sub as Kim and her family. Johnny, Erin and Logan don’t live far from us here in Rochester. About a year after you left us we about lost Rachel. What we thought was a malignant brain tumor turned out to be a brain abscess and she suffered a mid line brain shift and was thirty minutes from dying when emergency surgery was performed. God spared her life and we praise him. A year after your death I failed my physical and had to have stints put in a blocked artery. Last summer I wasn’t feeling well and had another blockage which required another stint. I know you would have worried yourself sick. Ida moved in with us last fall and I think how much you would enjoy just being able to visit with her. What a Godly lady she is. The basketball team won back to back National championships…….how proud you would have been. Last October I was inducted into the Michigan Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. All the family was there including Paige, Dennis, Nancy, Carol June, Ray, Joel & Dana. A number of players were there and Coach King and his wife. What a great evening. As I sat on stage I couldn’t help but think of you and dad and how much I owed you. Aunt Katharine died a couple of weeks ago and was buried near you, dad, Grandma & Grandpa. Uncle Raymond, Brent and his family came to Michigan and I officiated the service. Uncle Raymond looked at Paige and said, “That’s my sister.”!! Uncle Raymond is 90 and though his mind is sharp he needs a walker to get around. All in all our family is so blessed.

Can you believe I will be 60 in a couple of months!!!! Mom, today I couldn’t help think of how indebted I am to you. How blessed Paige & I were to have had such Godly parents. My mind is flooded with memories and my eyes are filled with tears as I think of you. The day you walked me to my first day of kindergarten and how I cried when you left me and little did I know you were crying too. The life on Gilbert street……..backyard baseball games, playing in the Swamp, the Crooked Tree and working in the Garden…..I would not have changed a thing. Graham school, Dye school and Ainsworth. Speaking of Dye…….Mr. Poelstra made a surprised visit at the college one day. It was so great and he had kind things to say about you & dad. I told him you thought he was the best teacher I had in school.

Mom, you were always there. I know I wore you out growing up and you wondered if I would ever make it. I am indebted to you for always believing in me when others didn’t, for supporting me and encouraging me to be the best I could be. I am indebted to you for working at Kroger’s and then working so hard at home. I am indebted to you for teaching me songs like “Jesus Loves Me”, sharing with me Bible stories and for praying for me and sitting on my bed at night teaching me and listening to me pray. I am indebted to you for making hurts feel better, for making me feel important when I was down on myself and for loving me when I did not deserved to be loved. I am indebted to you for loving my dad and being an incredible wife to him. Mom, you were my # 1 fan & you formed me in so many ways.

Mother’s Day is about over but I want you do know that it is never over in my heart. Again, please know how indebted I am to you and I can’t imagine having a better “Mom”. I know you are happy and I know there is a song on your lips and I know how much you are enjoying heaven.

As I close I want you to know how much I would enjoy tasting your fried chicken or eating your Potato soup one more time. I would love to hear you laugh, listen to you talk about the Pistons and oh…. how I would love to hear your beautiful alto voice singing one of the great hymns. But most of all mom, I would love to hug you neck, give you one more kiss and tell you how much I love you. Happy Mothers Day. Love, Garth

The Ultimate Responsibility

2009-04-28T22:09:00.001-05:00

"Imitate me, as I imitate Christ."

-Apostle Paul, letter to the Corinthians

Evolving Desires

2009-04-27T17:27:00.003-05:00

It's interesting to look back and see what my goals used to be and what they are now. I graduated from College 11 years ago and set out to accomplish many things. 11 years later...some I have achieved and some I haven't. However, throughout the last few years my goals, dreams and desires have been completely re-calibrated. At the moment I have two desires that are on my mind constantly.

1) I want to celebrate 50 years (or more) of marriage with Rachel

2) I want my children to have a relationship with God that trumps everything else in their life

Jesus and John Anderson

2009-04-23T12:40:00.002-05:00

The other day Abbey and I were driving around and she began singing songs that she has leaned in Sunday school. It's pretty encouraging when you hear your daughter (on her own) start to sings things like, "I've Got Joy In My Heart" and "Jesus Loves Me...This I Know." (A testimony to the importance of taking your child to church by the way!) She then asked me if I could play "that country song." It amazes me when she picks up lyrics of songs I listen to. The song she wanted to listen to is a song by John Anderson called, "I've Got It Made." She knows all the words and sometimes walks around the house singing it.

I like the fact that she is learning "church songs" but sometimes I wonder if songs like this from "secular" artists will shape her faith as much anything. That's been the case in her father's life!

I've Got It Made by John Anderson

A high dollar woman in a low cut dress
God never wanted me to have a woman like that I guess
A forty room mansion sitting high on a hill
I ain't ever lived in a place like that and I never will

But I've got the mornin' sun, I've got the evenin' breeze
I got the woman that I love lyin' close to me
I've got a few good friends and all my bills are paid
I got the moon and stars above and I've got it made

I don't need a gold mine or a long limousine
I'm not the kind of man to surrender my soul to material things
Just give me an iced tea and a shady spot to sit
To me that's about as close to heaven as a man can get

But I've got the mornin' sun, I've got the evenin' breeze
I got the woman that I love lyin' close to me
I've got a few good friends and all my bills are paid
I got the moon and stars above and I've got it made

I've got a few good friends and all my bills are paid
I got the moon and stars above and I've got it made
I got the moon and stars above and I've got it made

Easter: Confusion to Clarity

2009-04-12T19:03:00.004-05:00

I like the way Mark's gospel account retells the resurrection story (it is by far my favorite), but I forced myself to avoid the temptation of going with my "favorite" and decided to preach something else this morning. I chose to look at both Matthew and John's resurrection account and then sprinkled in a little Luke at the end.

My emphasis was "Confusion to Clarity." We read the Mt. account and then watched the clip from the Mt. video series and then we read John's account and watched the clip from the movie "Gospel of John." After reading and viewing the two accounts I pointed out all the differing details and facts. Have you ever stopped to notice that the 4 gospels tell the story differently?

Here are just a few differences in the Mt. and Jn. accounts:

-Mt. says its dawn when Mary visits

-Jn. says its still dark

-Mt. says that both Mary’s went to the tomb

-Jn. says that only Mary Magdalene went

-Mt. tells of a violent earthquake…we don’t get that in Jn.

-Mt. says an angel of the Lord rolled the stone away and sat on it, then spoke to Mary

-Jn. says Mary runs away to get Peter and John and later sees two angels in the tomb

-Mt. tells us that both Mary’s run off and Jesus meets them on the road

-Jn. tells us that Mary is weeping at the tomb and mistakes Jesus for the gardener

I avoided the temptation to defend the Bible (and all these differences) and instead tried to make an important point. The one constant in these two stories is the fact that Jesus has been resurrected. Yes, the details don't add up. Yes, the characters are out of place. Yes, the two texts seems to contradict each other. But all the while...Jesus is the risen Savior and in our midst.

The Bible can be confusing; these texts can be confusing; our faith can be confusing...and God knows that our life can be confusing. But as Christians we are the ones who believe in a resurrected Savior...and that changes everything. I went on to say that everything hinges on the resurrection. If they find "Jesus' bones"...I won't preach another sermon; I'll walk away. Our lives are defined not by how comfortable we are at any particular time, not by how much money we have, not how secure we are at work, but in the fact that we serve a risen Savior. And that message doesn't bring confusion, instead in offers clarity. Clarity, that we are people who worship and hold up a resurrected Lord.

I was recently visiting with a basketball recruit from Bosnia. He explained to me that he was a Muslim and wanted to know if that would be "ok" as he considered attending the Christian college I work at. My response was "absolutely." I will do whatever I can to make him feel comfortable and welcome. And I promised him that I would never force Jesus down his throat (just like I wouldn't want someone forcing Muhammad down Abbey's throat if we moved to the Middle East). I assured him that I would go the extra mile to be sensitive to him as he worships freely. However, if I ever get to the point where I have developed a trusting relationship with him and we discuss our beliefs...I will explain that I believe I worship a risen Savior. You can't visit Jesus' grave. Everything hinges on the resurrection!

I ended my sermon with the story in Luke about the two men on the road to Emmaus. These men were confused, frustrated and angry. They were filled with both doubts and questions. And you know what? The risen Savior was right in their midst and they couldn't see Him. He walked right by their side and they didn't notice. Their confusion got the best of them and therefore robbed them of their clarity. Does the same thing happen to us today? Do we sometimes get so confused and distracted with life, security, material possessions and desires (and in the case of the men in Luke...an earthly kingdom instead of a spiritual one) that we lose sight of the fact that the resurrected Lord is walking beside us?

I heard a story once about a man who went on an expedition by himself to the North Pole. He set his camp up one evening and a terrible blizzard blew in. He recounted that the blizzard was so bad that, "He couldn't even see his hand in front of his face." He decided to take a few steps outside of his tent to get one of his supplies when he was all of a sudden blinded and lost. He knew he only had a few minutes until hypothermia set in. He happened to be carrying a stick and decided to jab the stick into the snow and tie one end of his scarf to the stick and grab hold of the other end of the scarf. He then ventured out a few steps in one direction, but no tent. He then ventured out into another direction, but no tent. He tried a third time, but no tent. Finally, on the forth attempt he found the tent and was able to survive the blizzard. Later he retold the story and said if it were not for the stick (which he referred to as his "centering point") he would have surely froze.

The resurrection is our "centering point." It reminds us that no matter how difficult life may be, no matter how small our bank account may get, no matter how difficult it will be when we lose our job...we serve a resurrected Savior.

And that's a message worth believing...even if the details are out of order.

Klint

Abbey Montana

2009-03-18T19:02:00.002-05:00

All of a sudden Abbey's new favorite person is Hannah Montana. My Dad took her to the store the other day and told her she could pick out something and she insisted on the Hannah Montana wig. She's 4 going on 14...

Abbey Pix

2009-02-28T01:09:00.003-05:00

Abbey 4!

2009-02-02T22:46:00.004-05:00

I have this ongoing joke with Abbey that I am going to "freeze" her so she can't get any older. She is growing up so fast, so I will say, "If you don't slow down daddy is going to freeze you." Of course, she freaks out because 1) She thinks that I actually have the power to freeze her and 2) She wants to grow up.

I am trying to soak up and enjoy every minute with her because I know I'll blink and she will be in College. I try and never miss an opportunity to be with her. We really are close, and we have the coolest Saturday morning routine. We go to the bank together (she gets a sucker), then we go to the post office (she puts the bills in the mail slot), then we go to Tim Horton's (where she gets her apple juice) and then we walk around Meijer together (sometimes we know what were buying and sometimes we don't). If nothing else, I usually get her a push pop and then we go home. And that hour is the highlight of my week!

This is a picture of her reminding me of how old she is after I told her I was thinking about making her 3 again!!!

My Baby Is Growing Up!

2009-01-31T21:40:00.003-05:00

Abbey in the living room...

Rachel Update

2009-01-22T20:07:00.002-05:00

Rachel's heart surgery seemed to go smoothly. The device fit well and covered up the hole. We are glad we did it because the hole was rather large. She was doing great up until around 10PM on the night of her surgery (Monday night). She was laying in the hospital bed and broke out into a head to toe rash. It really had the doctors stumped because most of the med's she received were pretty mild.

The rash continued to worsen and she became very uncomfortable. They ended up discharging her on Tuesday afternoon but she looked and felt awful.

Neither one of us felt comfortable with her condition and were worried that the antibiotics she was taking were making her condition worse. We made an appointment with an allergy specialist and we saw him on Wednesday (same doctor that sees Abbey). He seemed to think that it might have been the morphine but at this point it is just a guess.

It is very important that Rachel be on antibiotics to protect her heart as bacteria is prone to attack the device in her heart! But her body seems to reject most everything we give her. At the moment she is on 6 medications (antibiotics, steroids and blood thinners)!!!

She did feel better today when she woke up and she is starting to look better too.

Thanks so much for your prayers! We are so grateful for all the family and friends who called, wrote, emailed, texted and visited...and brought us some great meals!!! We don't know what we would do without you! We had a good friend (Aly Thrift) visit with Rachel on Monday night and Tuesday morning...and she came over this morning to help with Abbey. My mother was here all day on Wednesday and is taking Rachel to the doctor tomorrow so I can get some work done. My sister Kim watched Abbey this afternoon for several hours to allow Rachel to rest. My Dad is watching Abbey on Friday so Rachel can go to the doctor and rest. People from church are constantly calling and emailing. All this to say...thanks!!!!

Please keep Rachel's mother Sue in your prayers as well. She wasn't able to be here because she fell and broke her hip. I'm sure she will be up here ASAP to help out (actually that will just be the excuse, the real reason...to see her grand-daughter!!! She is such a blessing to our family!

Thanks again!

Klint, Rachel and Abbey

Rachel's Heart Procedure

2009-01-17T21:13:00.003-05:00

Rachel and I will drive to Children's Hospital in downtown Detroit early Monday morning for the procedure we have been anticipating for the last three years. After several doctors visits and countless hours of internet research we have decided to get the tiny hole in Rachel's heart closed up. The hole is known as a "PFO" and will be closed through a catheter. The doctor will make a small incision in her inner thigh and insert the catheter into one of the arteries that makes its way to the heart. He will then use an "umbrella" like device to patch the hole and eventually the skin in the heart will grow over so the device is no longer exposed. We are doing this to prevent any infections "sneaking" through this hole and making their way to the brain again...like it did three in a half years ago!

The procedure lasts a couple hours and then Rachel will have to lay still for another 6-8 hours while the incision area clots up. She will stay in the hospital over night and hopefully come home on Tuesday afternoon. We are both excited that this procedure is finally scheduled and will be completed soon. The doctor performing the procedure is Dr. Forbes and we both like him very much. We are anxious to put this behind us and move forward with some closure to the past 3 years.

Thanks to all who have been praying and will continue to pray. I hope to give an update on Tuesday.

New Years and Abbey's Birthday

2009-01-05T20:20:00.002-05:00

Desire to Learn???

2008-12-29T22:23:00.005-05:00

One of my former college professors is now a close personal friend and was even a colleague for a few years as we worked together at the same institution. We were together at a baseball game this summer and I apologized to him for not being a better student when taking his courses in college. I was a decent student but I don't think I tried as hard as I should've. Most of the material came rather easy and I could get at least a "B" if I attended 3/4 of the classes and studied the night before the test (except Algebra!!!). Boy, do I regret that! Now all I want to do is learn. After I apologized to my prof (in the middle of the 4th inning) he told me, "Don't worry, most people don't really start to learn and study until they are out of college." And then he said that he remembered me being an "engaged student" which made me feel a little better. I remember having a class in Hermeneutics with Dr. Mark Black with only six students in the class!!! What I wouldn't give to be back in that class, and to listen more carefully, ask more questions and take better notes.

Again, now my desire to learn and study is so much greater. In fact, when coaching basketball at ACU I would audit classes in the M.Div program from time to time...simply to learn. It was sort of funny when the professors would look at me and say, "Aren't you our basketball coach? What are you doing in my class?" And I would reply, "I want to know more about New Testament Theology."

I read more now than I did in college. I usually read a book about every 10 days or so. I read everything from New York Times best sellers to commentaries on the Minor Prophets. I'm currently reading an 800 page book on President Lincoln and I'm absolutely loving it...and learning! I spent last fall studying for the LSAT thinking I might go to Law School. I studied harder for that test than I did for every college test combined. And when I received a good enough score to be accepted into Law School I started reading a book on Tort Law and a book on Contract Law (because those were the two classes I would begin with). I remember reading through the Tort Law book and wanting to understand every line of every chapter...not to pass the class or the bar but because I wanted to know more about Tort Law than any other student in my class so I could be the best lawyer I could be!

I say all this because we have a few basketball players who are ineligible because they didn't perform very well in the classroom. Part of me wants to sit them down and lecture them and the other part of me understands that..."you don't understand at that age."

Isn't it funny when you look backwards in the rearview mirror and see how many mistakes you made?...when at the time it just didn't seem to be that big of a deal. I guess I feel older now because I can officially look at college students and say, "you will look back on this opportunity and regret you didn't go to class and try harder." Although, sometimes those "bad decisions" end up being blessings in disguise because they shape us into the people we end up being...however, just remember to apologize to your favorite professor.

Update

2008-12-19T21:45:00.002-05:00

I so badly wish I had more time to update my blog on a regular basis. Although, I never started a blog intending or desiring for people to read it (something about that seems arrogant and presumptuous...as if I have something to say that needs to be heard by so many). It was started as a personal diary so I could document my activities and have a record of them (I have poor penmanship and so I thought typing would be better). However, I seem to run into several people who say, "I wish you would update your blog more often." Ya, me too...I just have a hard time finding the time. By the grace of God I think I was able to connect with a lot of people while writing about Rachel's health ordeal, almost losing her, and all the aftermath.

I wish I had a month to just get away and write. I love to do it; it's just so hard to find the time. Below are some of the things that keep me busy:

1) I am the Vice President of Development at Rochester College

2) I was just asked to take over the enrollment/admissions/recruiting process at the College so now I am also the Vice President of Enrollment!

3) I am also an assistant basketball coach for the men's basketball team at RC, where I attend every practice and every game...that alone is more than a full-time job!

4) I preach every Sunday in Lansing, MI...which is an 1.5 drive from my house in Oxford.

5) Oh...I'm also a husband and a father of a 4 year old girl...and spending time with these two ladies is my favorite thing to do.

So these are 5 reasons why it is so difficult to keep my blog updated. I thought I would put my sermon up every week but even that hasn't happened.

I'm finishing up a 3 week series this Sunday leading up to Xmas. Two Sunday's ago my topic was "Xmas According to Dr. Seuss." I talked about the theology in the short film, "The Grinch That Stole Xmas." It's a modern day parable and there's a lot there if you have "eyes to see." And then last Sunday my topic was "Jesus' Graveyard...While We Wait." I preached on Mt. Ch. 1 and the genealogy. I really enjoyed preparing for the lesson and wish I had time to share everything I said. And then this Sunday my topic will be "Xmas According to Matthew...Not Charlie Brown." I will talk about the Xmas story in Mt. Ch. 2 and focus on King Herod and the fact that when Jesus was born...baby's all throughout the land were murdered. Don't worry...the message will end up being a positive one as Jesus was born into a world of pain and sickness and death...that's why Matthew emphasizes the fact that his name is "Immanuel...The God that is with us." With us even when suffering is breaking out all around us.

So, there is a brief update. Oh ya...Rachel is having a heart procedure on Jan. 19th. I will try and write more later...

I've Come Full Circle

2008-11-03T20:05:00.004-05:00

I still remember sitting in my apartment in Abilene, TX. I was living in University Park #711... must have been 19 years old. My Dad suggested I read a book; "Six Hours One Friday" by Max Lucado. I bought it at the ACU bookstore...actually I think I put it on my account which little did my Dad know he was picking up at the end of the semester. I went back to room opened it up and began to read. I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning. I didn't put it down until I was finished. It completely changed my life. For the first time in 19 years...I understood the Gospel and believed that Jesus loved me. And I decided right then and there that I would be a serious Christ follower.

Well, from that point on I read every word of every Lucado book that was published. I even knew the exact date the newest book would be released and a few times was at Family Christian Bookstore the morning of the release waiting for the doors to open. I drank deeply from those books as they shaped my faith.

I guess that ended about 8 years ago. The last Lucado book I remember reading was "In The Grip of Grace." They became a little to "fluffy" for me as I began to opt for N.T. Wright, Henri Nouwen, Barbara Brown Taylor, C.S. Lewis, Kathleen Norris, Ann Lamont and Walter Bruggeman. Again, books that I have drank deeply from as my faith has been on the anvil again and again.

However, this past weekend I had a reunion of sorts with my old friend Max. He came to Rochester College and spoke at our annual Fall banquet. He were able to visit a few minutes as we became acquaintances when I was coaching at ACU (he called me one day and asked me to recruit his daughters boyfriend). I, of course, returned his call and we stayed in touch via email for the next two years.

His message was amazing and it reminded me of why I appreciated him so much. He simply reminded me of the Gospel...and how much God loves me. And as he talked about Lk. 24 and the two men on the road to Emmaus that Jesus encountered...I too felt my heart warm as he shared the simple yet powerful story of the Gospel.

Praise God for the "fluffy" messages that bring people to Jesus again and again.

Thanks Max...I've come full circle.

Glen Arbor, MI / Sand Dunes / Lake Michigan

2008-08-30T19:32:00.004-05:00

Remembering

2008-08-28T20:25:00.004-05:00

Exactly 3 years ago tonight my wife was fighting for her life. I was absolutely convinced that this night 3 years ago would be her last night alive on this earth. I wish I had the words to express the utter despair and loneliness I felt while sitting in that Henry Ford Hospital hallway. In fact, in about 5 hours from now (2:30 AM) I was told she had just a few minutes to live... My brother watched from a distance as I pleaded with the doctor to do his best work as he emergently removed my wifes skull.

Rachel and I went to dinner tonight with our beautiful daughter Abbey and Rachel's parents (Brad and Sue Stevens) and my parents (Garth and Pat Pleasant). While everyone else enjoyed a meal and visited...I quietly celebrated the moment and gave thanks.

I count each and every day with her a blessing because 3 years ago I stayed up all night...and I now have the "terrible gift" of knowing what it feels like to have to live without her...

Words could never express how grateful I am for each and every person who read this blog and prayed...it gave me strength for several weeks that I'm convinced I would not have had otherwise.

Forever Indebted,

Klint

"Up North" Michigan W/ Abbey

2008-08-05T16:09:00.008-05:00

Rachel and I spent 3 days with Abbey in Northern Michigan last weekend (a beautiful condo on Lake Charlevoix which spills out into Lake Michigan). I have been to 49 of our 50 states (I'm trying to find a reason to travel to North Dakota!) and several countries on 3 different continents and rarely have I seen beauty like Northern Michigan. The Great Lakes are breathtaking. Places like Mackinac Island, Harbor Springs, Traverse City, The Homestead, Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, Isle Royale National Park, Petoskey and Charlevoix...are absolutely beautiful. Its amazing how many "movie stars" and other wealthy people own homes in Northern MI or simply "summer" there. Most people don't realize this but Michigan has more coast line than any other state in the country...yes, including both Florida and California. The majority of the state is surrounded by water and includes an "upper peninsula" and dozens of Islands.

However, just to prove that I'm not biased because its my home state...nothing compares to the Red Rocks of southern Utah!!!

Middle Reader

2008-07-19T13:08:00.002-05:00

My friends in the academic world call me a "middle reader." Thats because I read a little bit of everything. It's not unusual for me (in the same week) to read a commentary on one of Paul's letters written by Gordon Fee or N.T. Wright and then read through a New York Times best selling fictional novel. I love to read. My main interest has been in New Testament theology and other spiritual topics such as pain and suffering, prayer and the spiritual disciplines (some of my favorite authors are Henri Nouwen, Walter Brueggemann, C.S. Lewis, N.T. Wright, Ann Lamont, Barbara Brown Taylor and many others). However, in the past few years I have really enjoyed secular fiction...I'm a sucker for a New York Times best seller (especially the ones with quirky titles). And I got to tell you...at times I get as much or more out of one of those then I do when reading something classified as "spiritual" or "religious." One of the best sermon ideas I have ever had came after reading "The Kite Runner" (New York Times best seller) a moving story about forgiveness and reconciliation. Another one that impacted me for months was "The Color of Law."

I recently finished "The Art of Racing in the Rain." I picked this book up because of its creativity (its written from the perspective of a dog). It was a great book. Its about a family of 3; father, mother and little daughter (and of course the dog). The mother gets cancer and suffers a long and painful death. Her in-laws then want sole custody of the little girl and the father is devastated. He is trying to make it as a NASCAR racer and is very busy and travels a lot. However, he loves his little girl more than life itself and drops everything to fight for her. The little girl so badly wants to be with her father but the grandparents "frame" him and he gets accused of sexually harassing a 15 year old girl. The grandparents are very wealthy and hire powerful attorneys. The father sells everything he has (including his house) and lives in his car just to afford legal counsel.

He eventually gets custody and is reunited with his daughter...but there are many twists and turns along the way that leave the reader impacted for weeks to come.

This summer has been a difficult one. Work is hard, my Dad has had some health concerns and I have a dear friend in Seattle that's fighting for his life. However, when I get the chance...my favorite way to relax and wind down is to sit in my leather chair (or up north on Lake Michigan!) and read a good book. I just need to meet a friend that owns a Barnes and Nobles because books can be expensive!!!!

Suggestions:
The Art of Racing in the Rain
Water for Elephants
The Tender Bar
The Tricky Part
The Color of Law
The Kite Runner
Riding the Bus With My Sister
Jesus Land
Clapton (autobiography)
Father Joe
The Road
The Five People You Meet In Heaven
The Year of Magical Thinking
And many, many more...!

" I'll Go "

2008-07-05T19:13:00.003-05:00

"I'll Go." Two of the wisest words I have ever said.

I was 19 years old and a Freshman at Abilene Christian University in West Texas. The spring semester was winding down which meant spring football practice was too. I still remember the conversation as well as the setting. I stayed late after practice to run some routes and catch some passes as the quarterbacks (who were competing for next years starting spot) worked on their timing. I walked into the football locker room to take off my pads and shower; most of the players were already cleaned up, clowning around and heading off to dinner. A sophomore transfer linebacker from Boise State (and only other player on the 100 member squad not from Texas) named Travis Bass was walking out of the locker room as I was walking in. I had just sat down at my locker to take off my pads and cleats when Travis made an announcement to all the fellas in my section of the locker room. He said, "Hey, when school is out I will be driving back to Seattle and I'm going to take the scenic route...anyone want to come with me?" On an impulse...and almost without hesitation I said..."I'll go." He said, "Great, I'll wait for you in the hallway and we'll go to the Bean together (the "Bean" is the cafeteria at ACU).

We ate that night together and then went back to his dorm room and talked most of the night. Although we had been teammates all spring (I transfered in second semester) we had never hung out and didn't know each other that well. We lived in separate dorms and because he played defense and I played offense we rarely interacted in practice (not to mention he was on first team and I was fighting for a spot on second team). However, we ended up hanging out every night the rest of the semester getting to know each other and planning our trip.

I still remember the day he drove his little blue Honda Civic to pick me up in my room as we headed off...the car was literally packed from top to bottom...every nook and cranny. We left Abilene and headed for Albuquerque, New Mexico...our first stop among many.

We drove thousands of miles and visited 11 states on our way to Seattle. That trip remains one of the highlights of my life...I still reflect on and cherish the memories that were made during those two weeks. Too many stories to even begin to tell in this post.

All that to say, saying those two words was one of the best decisions I ever made. Travis was and still is one of my most special mentors and friends. Since that trip we have spent countless hours together.

I could write pages about how our relationship blossomed since that day in 1994 and maybe one day I will. For now...I'm just grateful that I said..."I'll go."

Travis has been very ill lately. His medical doctor diagnosed him with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). He is fighting and I expect him to get stronger and recover...

...we have more trips to take.

Psalm 13

2008-05-11T20:38:00.004-05:00

I used Psalm 13 as my text today while leading the communion thoughts at church. I said something like the following:

Last Sundays communal prayer time really got to me...in fact, it was overwhelming. We've been praying for so many families for so long and the suffering just continues. I think of the Felts family, the Kirkpatrick family...and even my family. I found myself whispering while we were taking prayer request..."How long, how long can some of these people continue with such pain in their lives?"

Well, that cry is not original with me, those are ancient words. The cry "How Long, Oh Lord" appears over and over in scripture...especially in the Old Testament. However, in my opinion the words are more poignant in Psalm 13 than anywhere else. When the Psalmist cries out;

1 How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?

How long Oh Lord? I know some of us can identify with David in Psalm 13 all to well. Because we too have cried out. One of my favorite musical artists is Bono of U2. He wrote a song using Psalm 13 as inspiration. He sings out, "How long Oh Lord must I sing this song. I want to sing...sing a NEW song...How long to sing this song?"

Life can be overwhelming at times.

One of our difficulties is that we are bound by linear time and the suffering can seem endless as if it will never go away. But I want to urge us to try and think like God for a moment. Because God is not bound by linear time. He isn't limited to time, dates and a calendar. So if we would stop and think like God for a moment...surely the second coming is just over the horizon.

But for some the pain is very real even right now at this moment. So how do we get through today?

My answer is the same answer Jesus gave. Until I come again..."Take, Eat."

Welcome to the table of the Lord.

Trips With Travis

2008-04-26T16:09:00.003-05:00

The following are some pictures from the early-mid 1990's. My friend Travis and I share a lot of things in common, one of which is traveling. We have had some great times together exploring this beautiful country.

A Parents Love

2008-03-09T11:12:00.003-05:00

I think I'm just now starting to realize just how much my parents love me...thanks to the fact that I'm now a parent.

Abbey was up most of the night last night and her fever got as high as 103.4. However, what concerned me most was her eyes. She laid there with no energy and her eyes had no life. I ended up calling her doctor at about about 4:30AM. He said as long as she was drinking and the fever didn't get over 104 to keep her in and not go to ER. Who knows, maybe it was nothing but it's the worst feeling in the world to watch your child lay there sick...I hate it!

I love solving problems for people and I'm usually a guy who can make bad situations better, so to watch a sick child lay there and moan when there is nothing I can do about it is awful!

Oh, one more thing...its amazing how ones prayer life changes when in a desperate situation. I never stopped last night and said, "Dear Father..." However, there were several times I just softly spoke, "God, please reduce this child's fever..."

She's feeling a little better this morning and the fever is around 101. Hopefully it doesn't spike again tonight...

Art

2008-03-03T16:09:00.003-05:00

I met up with some good friends of mine while in Tulsa,OK; Jerry and Gloria Burns. They drove up from Dallas to visit and watch our mens basketball team compete in the National Tournament. Jerry is a Rochester College alum (class of 1959-60) and his father (C.C. Burns) was my dads minister while growing up in Flint, MI. They are great people and mean so much to my family and Rochester College. They took me to the Gilcrease art museum in Tulsa and we spent the afternoon taking in some great art. The two pictures above are the two pieces of art that impacted me the most. The water fall picture is "Shoshone Falls" just outside of Twin Falls, ID. I visited these falls in person in 1998 and stood there speechless. The original painting is displayed in the Gilcrease and as soon as I saw it I knew what it was. It was painted by Moran, a very famous painter who made Yellowstone famous with his artwork.

The other painting is by Russell. Russell is known for his western art and more specifically the Native American culture. This particular painting really impacted me. It's a lady who has buried her husband with her child standing next to her. She is "cutting herself" which is tradition when native american women are in mourning. She has also killed her husbands horse as it represents the great spirit watching over him.

Thank you Jerry and Gloria...really enjoyed spending the afternoon with you.

My Two Girls And A Bear

2008-03-02T21:03:00.004-05:00

Rachel and Abbey spent a few days in St. Louis when I was in Tulsa this past week. They had decent weather one day so went to the zoo.

Off To Tulsa

2008-02-25T17:36:00.002-05:00

I'm headed to Tulsa tonight with the Rochester College men's basketball team. They are playing in the National Tournament and seeded #1. It wont all be pleasure...I'll be working as well. My hope is to make a presentation to a charity in Tulsa that has been a donor of RC in the past as well as "wine and dine" some RC donors, alum and friends that I have invited to the tournament. Also, a few of my colleagues just gave me some additional names to look up while there as well.

I hope I'm blogging in a few days about an RC men's basketball championship and a few successful donor visits!!!

Kent State Basketball

2008-02-16T15:05:00.005-05:00

Kent State mens basketball has won 20 games or more for 10 straight years. I have not done the research but there are very few (maybe none) other mid major Div. I teams that can say that. They are coached by one of my closest friends, Jim Christian. Jim and I were assistants together at Kent State in 2001-2002. We won 30 games that year and went on to the NCAA Elite Eight and eventually lost to Univ. of Indiana to go to the Final Four. I learned a lot from Jim that year and continue to as well. His strengths are; keeping things simple, motivating players to play hard, game management and adjustments and relating well to players during the recruiting process...to name just a few. I look forward to watching them the rest of the way and hopefully sitting behind their bench in the first round of the NCAA tournament!

Jesus Cooks Breakfast

2008-02-11T21:27:00.000-05:00

Anyone care to hear the sermon I preached at Bristol Road Church of Christ a few weeks ago?

Copy and paste the link below to your address bar and go to "online sermons" in the upper right hand corner...then click on the link "Jesus Cooks Breakfast" on 1.27.08...

www.churchofchrist.org

Sunday Night Church

2008-02-10T22:48:00.000-05:00

I went to the U2 concert tonight in 3D at the Henry Ford IMAX theater. It was incredible! I highly suggest it; doesn't matter if you are a fan or not, old or young...just go! I would argue that Bono is one of the top theologians in the world today...

Books

2008-01-30T18:32:00.000-05:00

The following are some good books I have read in the past few months... Wish I had time to write at length about each one. I recommend them all as they have played a role in shaping who I am...

"The Tender Bar"
"Lion In The White House...Teddy Roosevelt"
"Peace Like A River"
"The Shack"
"Swimming In A Sea of Death"
"Clapton...Autobiography"

George Bush

2008-01-28T17:45:00.001-05:00

Anybody watch the interview with President Bush last night on Fox news? I'm not a registered Republican or Democrat and at times have supported both individuals and ideas from both parties. That being said, I really enjoyed the exclusive interview. I know that he is not very popular at the moment and I realize people in his own party have even questioned the effectiveness of his presidency. Conservatives feel that he abandoned sound fiscal principles when reelected and spent money like a "drunken sailor" while liberals feel that he kills innocent women and children. All I know is that he seems like a decent man and a man that is principled. He believes his primary job is to protect the American people and spread freedom. I like him. I think he's tough and not afraid to lead...and we should respect him for that and give him credit for those two outstanding qualities.

**It will be interesting to see when the next President is elected and actually has to walk in his shoes and feel what he's felt...how they will feel about him then. Maybe they will wish they would not have spent so much time slandering him and second guessing him??? I'm not so sure 50 years from now he won't be thought of as one of our great presidents...

Law School

2008-01-21T22:47:00.001-05:00

It's official. I scored well enough on the LSAT and was accepted into Cooley Law School this weekend. I spoke with my adviser today and will begin on May 5. I will be taking Torts I, Contracts I and Intro. to Law during the first trimester. If all goes well It should take me 4 years. It could be as quick as 3 but with working full-time as well as being a husband and father I chose the 4 year schedule and might even extend it to 5.

I have had the desire to obtain a terminal degree for several years now. The two subjects that I have been interested in are the law and New Testament theology. I was going to have to go back and get an M.Div before I could begin a PhD program in Theology and it would have required me being away from my family too often...Cooley Law School is right around the corner and has a great reputation...recently voted the 16th best law school in the country, so law school it is!

I am going in with no expectations. I have been told that it's the hardest thing I will ever do (sometimes requiring 700-1000 pages of reading per week and 20 hours of studying outside of class time) and I plan on taking it one day at a time never forgetting that my family and my job at Rochester College are my top priorities.

Article About My Father

2008-01-20T18:27:00.000-05:00

This article appeared on the front page of the sports section this morning...thought I would share it.

http://theoaklandpress.com/stories/012008/spo_20080120238.shtml

**Copy and paste it into your address bar and it should come right up. If not go to theoaklandpress.com

Which Candidate?

2008-01-12T18:16:00.000-05:00

As my previous post mentioned I have really enjoyed the presidential race (coming soon to Michigan!). I'm still not sure who to vote for, there are still probably five candidates that I could legitimately side with. Five years ago I would have sided with Huckabee (or a candidate like him), three years ago I would have probably leaned toward Obama...however, its amazing how a little girl can change the way you think.

There's a little 3 year old girl that I'm madly in love with and I want her to grow up in a safe and war free America. I think McCain will do the best job protecting our country. Say what you want about him being too moderate, too liberal on fiscal issues and too compassionate with illegal immigrants...he knows how to defend a nation and he's no nonsense. I like that.

That being said, I'm listening hard to Romney, Obama and Huckabee as well. I originally really respected Rudy as a leader but he's dropped of the map...maybe he will make a comeback with FL and I will throw him back in the mix?

But every time I think about the world Abbey might (or might not) grow up in I think of McCain's toughness.

Two Dream Jobs

2008-01-08T20:14:00.000-05:00

Two Dream Jobs

I made up my mind at a very young age that I wanted to be a college basketball coach. Therefore, I spent several years preparing. Even though I am not coaching now I still feel most comfortable coaching. I have been helping my dad's team sporadically this season. And although I have not made many practices and only a few games I have enjoyed each one. In fact, I met up with the team a few days ago in Huntsville, AL for a game vs. an NCAA Division II opponent, University of Alabama-Huntsville. Something triggered in me during the game and I forgot I wasn't the head coach...or even a coach at all (sorry Dad and Brian)! I had an absolute blast for 40 minutes and remember saying to myself, "there is nothing in the world I would rather be doing at this moment." At one point I looked down and noticed that I was in front of the scores table screaming instructions to our point guard...and he was listening attentively to every word! Again, I feel most in my element when coaching.

That being said, for several years I have had a fantasy "dream job" and now I have two. I have always loved traveling. I am proud to say that I have been to 48 states (I will eventually get to Alaska and North Dakota), every National Park west of the Mississippi, several places in Canada (not just Windsor!), France, Italy, Switzerland and Africa. So, my "dream job" is to be a free lance writer for Travel and Leisure magazine (the only magazine I have ever subscribed to). I would love to be able to travel around the world experiencing adventure after adventure and write stories about it. Again...its a "dream job" not one I would actually ever pursue...I don't think?

Now I have a second. I think I would love to manage a Presidential campaign. I can't think of anything I would rather do than stay up for 72 straight hours, drink 64 ounces of coffee a day and travel across the country managing a campaign. I would love the competition, strategies, emotional highs and lows, shaking hands, writing speeches, tracking opponents progress, never ending stress and pressure...sounds right up my ally! I would also enjoy keeping my candidate pumped up and feeling on top of the world...maybe even be the candidate myself! I got my first taste of this lifestyle while coaching in the NCAA Division I tournament. I stayed up for 48 straight hours after we received our bid, got addicted to coffee and had an absolute blast...all the time thinking, "my dad's got the best job in the world."

I have really enjoyed following this Presidential race. I have been more engaged this race than ever before in my 33 years. I have watched every debate and usually stay up late watching CSPAN when FOX and CNN switch to something else.

Below are some thoughts:

Best Politician
Mitt Romney

Best Overall Leader
Rudy Giuliani

Best Commander in Chief
John McCain

Most Likeable
Mike Huckabee

Most Raw Talent
Barack Obama

Most Confident
Fred Thompson

Most Believable
Bill Richardson

Most Emotional
Hillary Clinton

Most Superficial
John Edwards

Most qualified, experienced and ready to bring about change...
NO IDEA

Our Home

2008-01-07T19:33:00.001-05:00

Holiday Family Pictures

2008-01-04T21:50:00.001-05:00

Something You Didnt Know About Me

2007-12-16T23:52:00.000-05:00

Rachel and I went to see a play this evening..."The Christmas Carol." We live about 15 minutes from both the Palace of Auburn Hills and Meadowbrook Theatre so there are plenty of opportunities like this. We don't get out to these things often but when we do I really enjoy it. I know it seems out of character for a former jock and coach to enjoy the arts...but I do. In fact, while coaching at Kent State University there was a dinner theatre in Akron, OH that Rachel and I would frequent (when I wasn't in the office working on a scouting report or on the phone recruiting of course). Our favorite was "Annie Get Your Gun." We also enjoyed the Shakespeare festival every summer summer in Abilene while living there.

"The Christmas Carol" was excellent. Everything; the venue, the actors and actresses, the stage, props and special effects. I love the Christmas season and I'm a sucker for a good Christmas play or movie...especially a classic! Ebeneezer Scrooge learns that money doesn't bring true happiness, kindness is better than bitterness, and that decisions really do matter. We can all benefit from a little "Gospel According to Charles Dickens" every so often. Rachel and I had a great evening.

Anyway, just thought I would share something most probably don't know about me.

Abbey and Palmer

2007-12-10T19:15:00.000-05:00

This picture is of my daughter Abbey and her cousin (and best friend!) Palmer. She absolutely adores him. This picture was taken at a little Christmas village called Canterbury in Lake Orion, MI which is open and has a Christmas theme all year around. I always get a funny feeling when I take Abbey there because it's only a few miles from where I grew up. The same place where this picture was taken used to be just an open field that my friends and I would ride our bikes through on the way to Lake Vorhies (the neighborhood beach). My parents adore this picture and I think would love to have it blown up and framed in their house.

Palmer is going to have a lot of pressure to make good decisions and set a positive example for Abbey as he continues to grow up because she mimics his every move! However, I'm confident he will, and I'm grateful that Abbey already at such a young age is choosing good friends!

Johhny's First Game...We Lost Our 400th Game!

2007-12-05T12:01:00.001-05:00

This is my brother, John Pleasant, with his two favorite people, Abbey and Palmer. Johnny has his own little one on the way, a baby boy he and his wife Erin plan to name Logan! He is the Head Boys Basketball Coach at Rochester High School and coached in his first game last night. My dad was unable to be there but John asked me to be there and sit on the bench with him. He did great! His team played hard but lost to the number one team in his conference. All three Pleasant boys (Garth, John and myself) have been or are head basketball coaches. And we have a winning record in our career opening games...2-1! My dad won the first game he ever coached (College) at 23 years old. I won my first game (College) at 26 and Johnny lost his (High School) at 27. However, I did a little research and discovered the Pleasant's lost their 400th game last night. Our (Garth, Klint and John) three records combine to total 660 wins and 400 loses (660-400). I might add my dad accounts for 627 of those and you already know that my brother is 0-1...so do the math to figure out what I have contributed...I have a feeling my good friend Clint Logue will read this and he's a little slow so thats...33. These wins (and losses) come from Junior College, Small College, NCAA Division II, class D HighSchool and class A High school. I wonder if there are any father son combinations out there that can account for 1060 basketball games and 660 wins??? Sounds like an ESPN story to me.

Anyway, didn't mean to steal the spotlight from my brother. He did a great job last night and I think Rochester HS hired a gem when they hired John Pleasant. I just hope my dad will keep coaching and that John will start winning (while I cheer them both on) so we can eventually win OUR 1000 game!!!

Ty Bass

2007-09-06T22:47:00.000-05:00

If you read my last blog entry about "Golfing and Traveling..." well that's not going to happen now. My dear friend Travis Bass, who was flying in from Seattle to make this trip with me, tragically lost his brother, Ty Bass, yesterday. Ty was young (I believe 30) but lived a difficult life. Ty had many health complications as a young boy and never fully recovered from many of them. In fact, I have heard Travis say that they never thought Ty would even make it to adulthood. Ty was a fighter, however, and lived for 30 years. I only knew Ty through Travis and was able to spend little bits of time with him when I would visit Seattle. Ty was gentle, friendly, kind and very generous. He would literally give you the shirt off his back if you needed it or asked for it. I recall one trip Travis and I made down the Oregon coast and Ty heard we were there and insisted we use some of his travel reward points to stay in a condo on the Pacific Ocean...that's how he was. He was very compassionate towards people and had a very special relationship with his sweet mother, Sheila. I'm sad for the Bass family but in an odd way rejoice with them because Ty was always in great physical pain...and we know he's not anymore.

Please remember the Bass family (Randy, Sheila and Travis) these next few days as they will be difficult ones. I believe they will come together and love each other in new and special ways as times of pain and grief usually do that.

It's such a relief to know we serve a God that in the end remains faithful to his promises. He was madly in love with Ty and I believe he's now resting comfortably in His gentle and warm embrace.

Golfing and Traveling

2007-09-05T09:47:00.001-05:00

I'm taking a short trip this weekend. My dear friend Travis Bass is coming up from Seattle to play in a golf tournament with me this weekend. We are going up a day early to do some sightseeing in northern MI. As most of you may know, MI has an "upper peninsula." My parents would never take me there as a child (we were only allowed to vacation in beautiful Tawas City). However, the "UP" is absolutely beautiful. It is full of national forests, elevation change, rivers, lakes, waterfalls and of course surrounded by the great lakes. We are going to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore which is in Lake Superior (the largest body of fresh water in the world). We are going to take a ferry boat tour of the lakeshore (see below, beautiful) and then we are going to take another ferry boat ride out to view some shipwreck sites. The ferry boat has a glass bottom so you can see the shipwrecks below!!!

Knowing Travis and I we will probably even find time to ferry over to Mackinac Island and do some hiking!

Eventually, we will end up just south of Traverse City, MI at the Crystal Mountain ski and golf resort for 90 holes of golf in 2 1/2 days!!!

There is nothing I would rather do in the entire world than travel this beautiful country with a dear friend (except of course, travel it with my dear wife and precious daughter!).

Pictures below are Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and some of the golf courses we will be playing.

Abbey

2007-09-04T07:45:00.001-05:00

Abbey

2007-06-19T11:40:00.000-05:00

I guess my father in law took these when he was in MI a few weeks ago...I'm just now seeing them for the first time and am sharing them with you.

Just For You Clint

2007-06-06T17:19:00.000-05:00

My good friend in Texas, Clint Logue, requested some pictures of Abbey, so here you go Clint...we miss you and your family!

Teaching Prayer

2007-06-04T19:10:00.000-05:00

Wow, I have not written in quite some time, summer is in full swing and we are busy as ever.

This past Sunday the "prayer in school" (or lack thereof) issue came up both in Bible class and our Sunday night small group. I think I was in the minority because the issue just doesn't bother me all that much. I'll try and illustrate. I don't buy into the notion that our society is in shambles because we "took prayer out of schools." Now that I am a father I believe more than ever that Abbey's spiritual nurturing must happen at home, from both Rachel and I. And I want to instill in her at a young age that prayer is not just something we do in the morning, before each meal and just before we go to sleep each night. Of course all those things are great and I understand the whole "bedtime prayer thing" and how that is a special time with your toddler. But sometimes I tell Rachel that I don't think we should focus so much on the bedtime prayer and the prayer before each meal but rather start to teach and model that prayer is something we can and should do all day...and we don't have to stop, close our eyes and fold our hands.

That being said, the fact that when she starts school and sits in her first hour class and does not start the day with a "canned" prayer doesn't bother me all that much. Instead, I hope that I can teach her to be in such a relationship with God that everything she does turns to prayer. And that just her presence with others can be ministry because of her vertical relationship with her God. So whether she's on the swing set, science lab or school bus, every breath she takes...she prays.

And nobody can ever put a stop to that.

Encouragment In Tahlequah

2007-03-19T19:44:00.000-05:00

My Dad's sermon this past Sunday was on "Encouragment" and it reminded me of a personal story that I'll share.

My first year as a head coach I inherited a team that had won 6 games the previous season and we were not supposed to be very good. To everyone's surprise we got off to a very good start, in fact, we had equaled the previous season's win total (6) just 9 games into the season (6-3). Moreover, we continued to win games and be competitive even as the difficult conference season began. Then we traveled to Tahlequah, Oklahoma. We were playing Northeastern Oklahoma State University coached by Larry Gipson. Larry was twice my age as I was the youngest head coach in NCAA Division II at the time (27 years old!!!). Larry is known as one of the top coaches in the country as he had been a head coach at the highest level in college (NCAA Division I) and won both a Junior College National Championship and an NCAA Division II National Champioship. It was one of the most miserable and humiliating nights of my life as his team completly dominated mine and we ended up losing by 40 points. I'm sitting in the locker room after the game, a young coach, wondering if the sun would come up the next day and wondering if my team would ever win a game (or even score a basket) the rest of the season. And then a someone peeked into my locker room and it was Coach Gipson. He asked if he could speak with me for a minute. He went on to say that what he was doing was "out of character" and that he had never approached another coach in his locker room after a game. He said, "Your doing a great job, your team plays harder than any other team we have faced all year and your going to be hard to beat...your a bright young coach, keep your head up." I can't begin to tell you how much that meant to me. He did not have to do that...what a class act. I was choking back tears as I turned and walked off after thanking him and shaking his hand. As we both walked in seperate directions down the hall he turned and said, "coach", and I said "yes" and he said "we played above ourselves tonight, were not 40 points better... have a safe trip back to Abilene."

I vowed that day that if I was still coaching at his age I would go out of my way to encourage every young coach that I played against. And if I ever coach again...I plan on keeping that vow.

C.S. Lewis / Community

2007-02-24T08:47:00.000-05:00

I recently spoke to a group of students at Rochester College about "Community within the Church of Christ" and what that means to me. I shared with them one of my favorite quotes from C.S. Lewis...a man who understood the importance of community as well as the importance of genuine male friendships.

"I gave up Christianity at about fourteen. Came back to it when getting on for thirty. An almost purely philosophical conversion. I didn't want to. I'm not the religious type. I want to be let alone, to feel I'm my own master: but since the facts seemed to be the opposite I had to give in. My happiest hours are spent with three or four old friends in old clothes tramping together and putting up in small pubs--or else sitting up till the small hours in someone's college rooms talking nonsense, poetry, theology, metaphysics over beer, tea, or pipes. There's no sound I like better than adult male laughter."

C.S. Lewis

Oprah

2007-01-23T19:04:00.000-05:00

I had to come home early today to watch Abbey because Rachel had a 5:30 appointment. Rachel usually has Oprah on so when I got home I sat down to watch it for a minute.

The topic was stay at home moms and how important that is to the raising of the family. However, what impacted me was a lady who had a six figure job and walked away from it to stay at home with her children instead of put them in a day care. She actually dropped her child off on the first day and the day care attendant said, "please bring a disposable camera next time, we would like to keep it here and capture any special moments with you child since you will miss them...that way you can at least have pictures." The lady went right home and talked it over with her husband, he supported her and then she proceeded to go back and pick her child up.

I realize some women need to work and that's fine. In fact, there are some days (particularly at the end of the month!) that I wish Rachel worked. But the point is, "Where are our priorities?" I have had a few chances to take coaching jobs that pay in the six figures. So far I have turned them all down because I know it would take me away from my family and knock me way out of balance. Maybe someday I will be wise enough and balanced enough to responsibly handle a job like that. I found myself thinking this week about those jobs and even considering if I had made a mistake not taking them.

Then I went home early today to be with Abbey and Oprah reminded me..."your doing the right thing."

36 Inches

2007-01-04T23:10:00.000-05:00

Abbey had her 2 year check up today. She weighed in at 28 pounds (50th percentile) and measured 36 inches (3 feet) tall (off the chart). This is good news!

Our doctor explained to us that studies show your child will be double their height at 2 years old (give or take an inch). Do the math...Abbey should be 72 inches (6 feet)!!!

After coaching basketball for seven years and being in and out of locker rooms I was excited to hear the news that we were having a little girl. And for the past two years I have been thinking about how nice it is to have a girl thats into "girlie" stuff. And I must admit that I have encouraged the baby dolls, make-up kits, Cinderella and pretty dresses. However, things might be changing a little bit. I was thinking after the doctor visit..."a girl, six feet tall." My mom was thinking model but I was thinking WNBA!

I know a little bit about basketball, I know several women's college coaches and did I mention she may be "six feet tall." My moms thinking cover of Vogue and I'm thinking a six foot point guard in womens basketball...she'll dominate. So I may start to encourage playing with the ball a little more and the dolls a little less.

When we left the doctors office the first thing she said was, "Can I go see "coach" at his gym? ("coach" is her grandpa)." So maybe it will all work out and I won't even have to push it.

Either way, a six feet tall WNBA star or a five feet tall whatever...I will always love her...unconditionally.

X-MAS 2006

2006-12-27T18:44:00.000-05:00

Christmas 2006 was great. All Abbey asked for was a "stuffed doggie," "five baby dolls," and the "Big Red Car (Wiggles)." Santa brought all that and a little more... My grandmother was here (Abbey's great-grandmother) Ida Palmer. She lives in Nashville and doesn't travel very often so it was a real blessing to have her. Now were gearing up for Abbey's second birthday. Her birthday is on January 1 but were going to celebrate it on December 31. We will have Rachel's entire family in town and hopefully mine so it will be a great party.

Abbey's Picture With Santa

2006-12-03T21:11:00.000-05:00

This is Abbey's picture with Santa at 2 yrs of age.

She talks about Santa, she admits over and over that he's "nice" and she even likes looking at him. But sitting on his lap is a whole different story!!! When we were in St. Louis over Thanksgiving Abbey saw Santa twice, once at the mall and again at Grants Farm. Both times she looked at him from a distance and acted interested. So last night we took her to see him again and this time we decided to take a picture with him. We waited in line, talked about how much fun it would be and watched all the other boys and girls sit on Santa's lap. But when we got to the front of the line...Abbey changed her mind!!! She put a death grip on my neck and pleaded with me to hold her! She even refused to sit on Santa's lap with her older cousin Palmer. After holding up the line for a few minutes I tried to "reason" with Abbey and I even offered to sit on Santa's lap with her. The answer was no! Of course 5 minutes after we left she was talking about how nice Santa was and what she wanted for Christmas (which by the way is, a stuffed dog, 5 baby dolls, the wiggles figures and the wiggles big red car).

So my Dad got off cheap. He insisted that he pay for the grandkids to get their picture with Santa and since Abbey refused...he only spent one dollar instead of twenty. He found a photo both in the mall, put Abbey and Palmer in it, inserted one dollar and out came the picture.

Actually it will probably end up being a special memory. When Abbey gets older and is looking at pictures we can explain to her that on her second Christmas she sat on her cousins lap and not Santa's.

T-Giving 2006

2006-11-24T22:45:00.000-05:00

Abbey in St.Louis!

U of M Football and Cherished Memories

2006-11-19T22:40:00.000-05:00

*This picture was taken in Bo Schembechler's office. L to R is Dad, Johnny, Bo and myself.

Those of you who follow sports know that we lost a football legend last Friday, Coach Bo Schembechler. "Bo" was the head football coach at The University of Michigan for several years. It's hard to reflect on my childhood without thinking of "Bo."

I grew up going to Michigan football games every Saturday in the fall. My Dad had four season tickets so it was usually Dad, one of his friends, Johnny (my younger brother) and I. I have so many memories. I remember sitting in crowds of 110,000 people and being so hot I thought I was going to melt. And I remember watching Ohio State/Michigan one year and being so cold that my Dad was concerned we would get frostbite. So many memories...

This was the routine, which we NEVER deviated from...

We would leave early in the morning (a little after 7:00AM) because the games were almost always at noon. We would then stop at the local IGA grocery store and get a few chocolate donuts, a bucket of chicken, chips and pop. We would dig right into the donuts and save everything else for the "tailgate." It was about a 1.5 drive to the stadium so we would get there around 9:00AM. We would always park at the Ann Arbor Church of Christ (make a $$$ donation, of course) open the back of the minivan and party. Johnny and I would usually throw the football around, eat a few pieces of chicken and then off to Chrysler arena. Chrysler arena is the basketball arena that sits next the football stadium. Dad had "connections" so we were able to get into the locker room and listen to "Bo" address the recruits. This was always a treat! One of the things that I will never forget about those speeches is that when "Bo" would enter the room everyone would immediately take off their hats...total respect! Little did I know that at such a young age I was getting some great pre-game speech training that I would be able to use with my own team someday... After the speech we would walk over to the stadium. Walking into Michigan stadium (which is the largest football stadium in the country, seating close to 115,000!!!) was always exciting. We would watch the team warm-up, then watch the band perform and then the players would run out of the tunnel, hit the flag and then...kickoff!!! Typically, Michigan would win and we would wait for the crowd to clear out. After the stadium emptied out, we would make our way to the locker room tunnel where the players came out and Johnny would get his Michigan football signed. I think he eventually got everyone's autograph on that ball, I mean the thing is covered in autographs! I never was into getting autographs, I always preferred a handshake. After all the players were out we would head back to the minivan and drive home...another Michigan football Saturday in the books.

I went to the opening game this year vs. Vanderbilt. I must admit things weren't quite the same. No more season tickets, Dad bought them off the internet. No donuts or chicken...the old IGA grocery store is now a health club. We didn't park at Ann Arbor Church of Christ as it has relocated. We didn't hear "Bo's" pregame speech as he's no longer the coach and has since past away. We didn't even stay for the entire game; we left early in the 4th quarter.

But most of all, things weren't the same because Johnny wasn't with us. My memories of U of M football will always be memories of spending time with my brother and my Dad.

And those memories...I will always cherish.

Angel Abbey

2006-11-01T21:32:00.000-05:00

Abbey celebrated her second Halloween as an angel!

She went to our neighbors on each side and then we spent the rest of the evening at church. The youth group at the Lake Orion Church put on a great "trick or treat" party at the building!!! Veggie Tales played on the big screen in the auditorium, bobbing for apples and donuts on a string in the fellowship hall and candy in every classroom! Abbey came home with a bag of candy and made it clear it was "my candy." She doesn't even like sweets; she just enjoys unwrapping all the candy and leaving it all over the house.

Before I came home I spent a few hours watching the Detroit Pistons practice. I was visiting with one of my good friends who works for the Pistons and explained to him that I was taking Abbey trick or treating tonight. He immediately said, "I would give anything to do that with my daughter, in fact, I have never even been home on Halloween since I have had children." Watching the Pistons was fun but trick or treating with Abbey was priceless.

I have no idea what kind of person she will grow up to be like, I have no idea if she will have a relationship with God, I have no idea what kind of friends she will choose and I have no idea what kind of decisions she will make.

But what I do know is that I am going to spend all the time I can with her and do my best to raise her up in the Lord. And in the end I hope and pray she turns out to be like...an angel.

Cardinals Take The Series

2006-10-28T21:05:00.000-05:00

Well it wasn't World War III at all in our household. Rachel, Abbey and I were very friendly as we watched the Cardinal beat the Tigers in 5 games. In fact, in game 5 Rachel "felt bad" for Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander and started yelling "strike him out Verlander." However, Verlander and the rest of the Tigers pitching staff, while the best in baseball throughout the regular season, couldn't get it done when it counted.

Congrats to the Cardinal (who have always been my second favorite team)! And thanks to Sue, my mother-in-law, for the Cardinals World Series T-shirt.

Notice, Tigers manager, Jim Leyland. A coach once told me that after a loss; the players grieve for 5 minutes; the assistant coaches grieve for 24 hours and the head coach grieves until the next game...I guess Leyland will be grieving about 7 months!

Disney On Ice!!!

2006-10-15T20:20:00.000-05:00

Abbey had her first taste of Disney and all the characters last Thursday night! Coach and Peej took Rachel, Abbey and I along with Uncle Randy, Aunt Kim and Cousin Palmer to see Disney on ice! We had a blast. Abbey watched with great interest all night as she sat in her seat and literally danced for 2 hours (I lied, when the big (scary) blue whale came out to swallow up Pinocchio...she jumped in coaches lap quick!...so for 1 hour and 59 minutes she danced. It's so much fun watching your child have a good time.

I know some people give Disney (the company) a hard time but I say...who cares! For two hours they highlighted different movies, all of which had a positive message and all of which brought joy to each child!

Enjoy the pictures.

*Abbey and Coach at the souvenir stand
*Abbey enjoying the show
*Abbey and Palmer with Mickey Mouse

Bagels (and Llamas) With Abbey

2006-10-08T07:55:00.000-05:00

Abbey and I have started a tradition. We've been doing it faithfully now for a few months and I hope it lasts. On Saturday morning I take her out for bagels...just the two of us. We give her mother some "personal" time after a long week and let her start the weekend with peace and quiet. We each get a whole wheat bagel at Big Apple Bagels just north of Oxford and we sit there and chat and watch all the other patrons. This Saturday was special because we hooked up with Abbey's cousin Palmer and her Aunt Kimmy and Uncle Randy. So after bagels we decided to drive to Sherwood Forest and let them see the petting zoo that they set up throughout the holiday season. Of course, Abbey LOVED all the animals but she really liked the "silly" Llama. She had never seen a Llama before and we had never run across any in her animal books so this was a fun "first time." She has been asking about the "silly" Llama ever since.

I wish I had a picture to share with you but I don't carry a camera on "dates with Abbey." However, pictures that are etched in our minds...are the best kind.

A Tribute to the Burns Family: Connecting the Dots

2006-09-29T15:53:00.000-05:00

*Jerry and Gloria Burns

Even though I never met him, I didn't care much for C.C. Burns growing up. Everytime I heard the name Brother C.C. Burns, I knew I had done something wrong. You see C.C. Burns was the preacher at Carpenter Rd. Church of Christ in Flint, MI where my father grew up. However, C.C. Burns was more than just a preacher to my father, he was a spiritual giant and a true mentor. Growing up, everytime my father would misbehave (which I heard was often) brother Burns would say, "Garth, in the side of your head you have a set screw and it's called your attitude...and you need to turn the set screw, which means you need to change your attitude."

So, when I was growing up I would get the same speech. "Klint, Brother Burns used to say...bla, bla, bla". I know, I know, I need to change my attitude. But over the years I have grown very fond of the Brother C.C. Burns I have never met. Because he helped shape my father's faith and played an important role in his spiritual growth. And maybe just as important, he is responsible for my Dad attending Rochester College (then Michigan Christian). He picked my Dad up years ago and drove him to the the college and said, "Garth, this is where you need to go to school." So he did, and he met my mom, had us kids and has been in ministry at the college ever since. Thanks Brother Burns.

Above is Jerry Burns and his wife Gloria. Jerry is C.C. Burns son. Jerry attended Rochester College (then North Central Christian College) when the doors first opened in 1959. He and his wife have been our honored guest this weekend as they returned to visit the college and where Jerry grew up. He spoke to our student body today in chapel and will be preaching on Sunday. They have become very special to me and my family over the past year. Throughout Rachel's illness, nobody sent me encouraging emails as frequently as Jerry. So I think it's pretty special that in 2006 I am getting to know the son of my Dad's spiritual hero.

I love Mitch Albums' book, "The Five People You Meet In Heaven." The reason I'm so fond of it is because it speaks of the importance of relationships and how each life effects another. Today dots were connected in my life and I realize even more how all of our stories so easily blend into one. I'm grateful for the Burns family and what they have meant to me and my family.

Rachel, Abbey and I went out shopping tonight for Halloween costumes and believe it or not Abbey started to get a little fusy. So I decided to pass Brother Burns legacy on as I said, "Abbey you have a set screw in the side of your head..."

It's been such a blessing getting to know Jerry. And today...dots have been connected.

Hello Everyone...A Few Random Thoughts.

2006-09-24T20:44:00.000-05:00

Sorry (if anyone is reading) I have not posted in awhile. Been very busy at work, traveling, etc... Rachel, Abbey and I are doing well. I recently have traveled to Washington D.C., Abilene, TX and St. Louis speaking on behalf of Rochester College. Rachel and I started a Marriage class called Family Dynamics by Joe Beam...we are learning a lot about each other! (my sister and brother-in-law along with my parents are attending as well). I recently finished "Night" by Elie Wiesel...I highly recommend it! Due to Rachel's vision problem we are looking to buy a safer car for her and Abbey something with side air bags (she can't see on her right side) and something that handles good in the snow! Let me know if you know of a vehicle with these features and good safety reviews that is affordable!!! I am enjoying the fall season and cooler weather...I forgot how much I enjoy the changing of the seasons after living in the south for so long. Sports in metro Detroit are good as the Tigers are officially in the play-offs and U of M football is off to a great start and of course, Rochester College basketball is just around the corner.

Congrats to my friends Andy Blackston and Eric Magnusson...both are fathers to new baby girls (Reese Blackston and Malina Magnusson).

One Year Ago...

2006-08-24T09:14:00.000-05:00

A year ago today I was sitting in a waiting room while Rachel was having an MRI on her brain. We were told a few hours later she had a tumor and were given little hope.

I woke up beside her this morning and told her I loved her...what a year.

Abbey

2006-08-15T08:54:00.000-05:00

She's wearing a ponytail now!

I Know I'm Her Father...

2006-08-10T20:04:00.000-05:00

I know I'm her father...but she is BEAUTIFUL!!!

She's Driving!!!

2006-08-07T21:59:00.000-05:00

The following is a message from Rachel:

To my family and friends that have supported me throughout this past year:

Thank you for your prayers!
Thank you for your encouragement!
Today, I received my daytime driving license!!!

What a blessing it is to celebrate the freedoms we have. Please take time today to pray for someone who is experiencing captivity. Praise God in the Good Times, Praise God in the Bad Times. Above all else, Praise God.

Love,

Rachel

Tawas City, MI

2006-07-15T22:06:00.000-05:00

Lake Huron is the lake that runs along the east coast of MI. I grew up speding my summers on beaches like this.

These are cabins that we used to stay in before bigger and better hotels were built!

Were going to Tawas tomorrow!

I grew up spending at least one week a summer in beautiful Tawas City, MI. Tawas City is a quaint little town about 3.5 hours north of Detroit on the shores of Lake Huron (one of the 5 great lakes). It has become a family tradition. My father grew up vacationing in Tawas and his mother (my grandmother) did as well. Pleasant's have been vacationing in Tawas for probably over 75 years.

I have so many fond memories of Tawas City vacations. The Pinconning cheese shop we always stop at on the way up, sandy cabins with no a/c, blow up rafts and intertubes, downtown shopping (Pendleton’s and Ben Franklin), the old Indian museum, the traditional walk up and down the boat marina, Dad tossing us into the waves when we were little, Johnny (my brother) playing with the bungee cord and getting stitches in the Tawas Hospital ER, luggage flying off the luggage rack on the old mini-van as we were driving up, cinnamon bread from the H&H bakery, jet skiing with dad (long story), blue moon ice cream and so many others.

I remember beginning to grow sick of Tawas in my teen years and having the feeling that it wasn't "cool" anymore and that I had outgrown it. And now, I can't wait to get up there tomorrow and enjoy a few days with my family. I plan to introduce Abbey to all the regular family traditions (except the sandy cabins with no a/c!!!) and she will enjoy it for a few years. And then there will come a time when she outgrows it and it won't be "cool." However, one day, along time from now, maybe she will take her children up to Tawas for the first time and start to pass on the same family traditions...and she will explain to them that for years the Pleasant's have been making memories in Tawas.

Pictures of Abbey

2006-07-07T18:55:00.000-05:00

Abbey Smiling!

Abbey and her Grandpa (who she calls "Coach")

Abbey and cousin Palmer (who she calls "P-Paul")

NACC

2006-06-28T15:16:00.000-05:00

I'm representing Rochester College this week in Louisville at the NACC (North American Christian Convention). It is an annual convention for the Christian Churches but this year the Churches of Christ were invited. It was 100 years ago that these two groups split and this is an effort to promote unity between the two groups. It was an incredible experience to participate in the praise and worship today with thousands of other Christians representing Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. We sang some songs with instruments and some songs were acapella. And today in Louisville God's kingdom got stronger.

TIGERS SWEEP

2006-06-25T14:59:00.000-05:00

My wife and I have had a quiet "World War III" in our house the past three days. Her favorite team (St. Louis Cards) and my favorite team (Detroit Tigers) have been battling it out just 30 miles south of our house at Comerica Park in downtown Detroit. The Tigers just completed a 3 game sweep of the Cardinals and cruise to 51 victories (best record in baseball I might add). I also reminded Rachel of the past as well...last time the Cards and Tigers met in the World Series. Tigers came home with the trophy. Sorry, Rachel looks like Abbey will be a Tigers fan!

**By the way, If Clint Logue is out there...The Tigers are getting ready to beat up on the Astros as well. And any other team from texas (all lowercase)!

Abbey

2006-06-20T06:40:00.000-05:00