A Tribute to a Dear Friend - Tony Alley

A dear friend, Tony Alley, died January 15, 2008 after a year long battle with brain cancer.  He leaves his beloved wife, Priscilla and two adult children, Elise and Ryan.  Vera and I came to know Tony and his wonderful family while we were stationed at Zweibrucken AFB, Germany.  Tony was an RF-4 pilot.  He flew reconnaissance planes.  Tony loved flying and everything about planes.  I recall him telling the story of when he would take Priscilla on dates before they were married.  He would take her to the end of the runway of a local airport and watch the planes take off and land!  Tony was very active in the small military church that we both attended.  Tony would preach, teach bible class, and do whatever was needed.  He loved Jesus and was committed to sharing the gospel with everyone he knew.  My wife and I would visit Tony & Priscilla’s home and enjoy a meal and a movie together.  Those were great times I will always cherish.  Tony had such a great sense of humor!  He was also a natural leader.  Even though he was soft spoken, you listened to what he said.  I admired him as a Christian and as an officer.  Tony loved his wife and children with all of his heart.  I am so thankful that God blessed me and my family with knowing and loving Tony, Priscilla, Ryan and Elise.  Tony was very influential in my spiritual growth.  I will miss him very much.  Tony, I salute you!

Tecumseh Girls - State Champs!

Tecumseh High School’s varsity girls bowling team won the Division 2 state championship last Friday, Feb. 29. The very next day the Indians had sophomore Kara Richard record two 300 games and a state record setting 1486 six-game series.

The City of Tecumseh recently declared Sunday, March 9, 2008 as Tecumseh High School Girls Varsity Bowling Team Day, after the Indians defeated Coldwater, the three time defending Division 2 champions, in the state finals to bring another championship trophy back to Tecumseh.

Tecumseh’s JV girls team won the state championship last weekend and just last year the Indians’ varsity softball team picked up the state championship trophy at Bailey Park in Battle Creek.

“The one thing I can say about these girls is that they are a true team,” said Tecumseh coach Doug McKowen, during the ceremony at city hall.

And what a team they were during the state finals. The Indians downed the Cardinals 1746-1645 in the championship final with Kara Richard bowling 241, Whitney Hastings, 206, Tawni Vollmer, 197, Cassie Marsh, 189 and Mary Withrow, 150.

Tecumseh was seeded number one after scoring 3647 points ahead of Bay City John Glenn’s 3531. Coldwater was seeded third with 3375.

In the quarterfinals, the Indians blasted Flint Kearsley from the picture, defeating the Hornets 1739-1505 to advance to the semifinals.

Coloma also advanced to the semifinals with a 1703-1660 victory against Wyoming Rogers but was no match for the Indians. Tecumseh eliminated the Comets 1720-1603 for a chance at the title while Coldwater just edged out Bay City John Glenn with a 1687-1676 final.

Coach McKowen knew his team had the potential to win a state title but realized that team members had to be on top their game to do so.

“We had a strong enough team to win a state championship, but to go and do it is something else,” said McKowen. “They all responded to everything we wanted to do and it showed. We went all the way to the top.”

Easter - It’s Going to be HUGE!

Small Group Surge - It’s Going to be HUGE!

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Believing is Seeing - Expect the Best

Jesus said, “Everything is possible for him who believes.”

So many people get just what they expect.  They don’t expect to succeed.  They see themselves failing and achieve their self-fulfilling prophecy.  They experience the worst in others, for that is how they see them.  They expect the worst of conditions and get it with amazing consistency.

Here is a radical, yet biblical, thought:

Start to expect the best in everything!  Begin with yourself!  Believe that God will provide all you need for this life and the life to come.  Begin to see yourself as a success, then you will see yourself as a success!

Expect the best out of yourself, your spouse, your friend, your work, the weather, the economy, people, etc.  Begin to believe in the best and you will see the best!

What is it that you want to accomplish in life?  Do you see yourself succeeding at it?  If you can perceive it you can achieve it!  Visualize success.  Visualize that which is good.  Visualize the best.  Speak it.  Put your heart into it.  It will become reality!

Can One Man Make a Difference in Government?

It depends on who that man is.  If it is a man like William Wilberforce the answer is emphatically yes!

To learn more about this courageous man and how he changed his world, watch the movie, “Amazing Grace.”  To view the trailer go to http://www.amazinggracemovie.com/

Here was a man driven by the most basic Godly values.  The value of life.  Freedom.  Justice for the most oppressed among us.

William did not turn his head in ignorance.  He did not shrink from using his influence to correct that which is blatantly wrong and evil.  He did not compromise.  He did not rationalize.  He did not get philosophical.  He did not cower from the fight.  It took 18 years, but he and those who fought with him, were victorious!

A people will be judged by how they respond to the needs of the most desperate among them.

Who are the most needy in our world today?  Who are the most oppressed?  Who are the most defenseless?  Who will stand up and fight for them?  Do we carry the same burden for injustice?

How could humans do what they did to those Africans?  They had to somehow convince themselves that they were less than human.  John Newton felt the same way for years.  He transported thousands of slaves during his career as a slave trader.  One day he was brought to his knees in conviction for the evil he had shared in.  God brought him to his knees.  As a sinner saved by the grace of God, John then penned the words to the familiar hymn, “Amazing Grace.”

How accommodating it would be during the time of William Wilberforce to have the doctrine of Pro-choice.  I may not agree with slavery, but it’s your choice.  It’s legal.  It’s inhumane, but it’s your choice. 

Thank you dear God for men like William Wilberforce who would not compromise on the basic value of life.  All life.