Monday, December 31, 2007
Absolute Power...?-Part 3
Thus far in my examination of the steady decline of school bands in southern Arkansas, I have focused on directors and administrators. But in cases where these two groups are on the same page where maintaining a good band program is concerned, and a decline is still evident, where should we look next? The Arkansas Activities Association. This is the organization that governs the rules, scheduling, etc. of school activities outside the academic realm, i.e. football, baseball, soccer, and band. One of their duties is to oversee scheduling so that no two activities conflict, such as a playoff football game taking place at the same time as volleyball tournament (just to give an example). Another one of their duties is to set practice guidelines for sporting teams, so that no one school can gain an unfair advantage over another. Good rules thus far? I think so. But what happens when they are allowed to tell schools when their band programs can meet? What happens when they are allowed to set the regular day's schedule of band rehearsal; not the after school stuff, but DURING THE REGULAR SCHOOL DAY? And what happens when that schedule is adverse to building a proper band program, such as jr. high band not meeting with all of it's kids on the same day and when they do meet, they can only go for half a period so that some can go to remediation because the schools test scores are too low? Those are just a few examples of the dilemma facing some school bands here in south Arkansas. And, as if that weren't bad enough, the current president of the Board of Directors for AAA is a former south Arkansas band director. So, what is AAA doing with the power in which they have been entrusted? I challenge you not to take my word for it. The reason for taking so long on this particular post, and for its vagueness, is the need for more facts. So I ask you to look it up. See for yourself. Am I a conspiracy theorist, or is the Arkansas Activities Association operating under an agenda that will only destroy school bands?
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
No Arbitration Talks Here
Allow me to walk away from my series entitled "Absolute Power...?", which focuses on the plight of South Arkansas school bands, for a moment or two. I have something more important to discuss.
On the morning of Thursday November 29, at 5:00a.m. I received a call from my friend and colleague, Gary Meggs. Calls at that time of the morning are rarely to deliver good news, so I braced myself. His exact words were, "start praying." I said, "okay. What's going on?" He then told me that he was following an ambulance "with Koskoski inside." Dave Koskoski is another friend, colleague, and also mentor to me. Apparently he had collapsed, and somehow been able to call Gary for help. The collapse had caused him to hit his head pretty good on something that hasn't yet been made known to me. But, I would soon find out that this was the least of his problems. What caused the collapse would become of major concern as the morning wore on. The doctor at Drew Memorial found fluid around Mr. "K"'s heart, and he knew if he didn't start draining it, Mr. K wouldn't live much longer. It was thought, because of a high white cell count, the fluid was infection setting in. However once the draining began, it appeared to be all blood. This told the doctor all he needed to know. Mr. K had suffered an aneurysm, rupturing his aorta. He was bleeding internally. He needed surgery and he needed it NOW. Knowing he wouldn't live long enough to get to Little Rock, the next closest option would have to do...El Dorado. Now here's where the story starts to get really interesting. You may be thinking as I was---EL DORADO?? Little known was the fact that God had already prepared for just this event in the life of my friend and mentor. You see, El Dorado just happens to be where the UAMS Professor of heart surgical techniques has his private practice. The man has an extensive resume', but just "wanted to live in a small town". Coincidence?
The initial surgery did not go off without a hitch. Nor did the second try, unfortunately. So, on his third attempt---in the same evening which was now speeding toward the wee hours of the next morning---this surgeon/UAMS professor, extensive resume' and all, revealed something else about himself. Before diving in to repair Mr. K's ruptured aorta, ---for the third time---he stopped...and prayed. See, not only had God sent a talented heart surgeon to little El Dorado, AR, but he sent one who KNEW that he could do NOTHING without the God of grace guiding his talented hands. Coincidence?
But this story doesn't end there. Perhaps the most telling example of how God moves occurred before the initial surgery was to take place. Gary, staying with his friend, was sitting in the ICU waiting room while Mr. K was being prepped for surgery. Those of you who know Gary Meggs know him to be a man of God. Gary had prayed for K all day, but he was pretty distraught and it was hard for him to comfort himself, or anyone else for that matter, with any particular scripture from the Word of God. It isn't that he didn't want to do so; his mind was simply all over the place. As he sat, the waiting room phone began to ring. There were a few other people waiting, but no receptionist at the time. Finally Gary decided to answer the phone himself. "ICU waiting room..." The voice on the other end said, "I beg your pardon??". Gary responded, "this is the ICU waiting room at Southeast Regional Medical Center in El Dorado." The voice on the other end replied, "who is this?" Gary: "this is Gary Meggs." Voice: "well hey, Gary. This is Wayne Sinclair." Allow me to stop right there and tell you that Wayne Sinclair is an Elder at a local El Dorado church. He also just happens to be Gary's cousin. What he would say next simply blew Gary away. Wayne: "I called because this number showed up in my cell phone." Gary: (partially chuckling) "Wayne, I've been sitting here for a while and can assure you that not I nor anyone else called you from this phone." After ascertaining why Gary was there, Wayne said, "I'm on my way." He arrived, took Gary by the arm, and they immediately went to the chapel. Once there, Wayne opened his Bible to Matthew 18:19, and read aloud: "Once again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by my Father who is in Heaven." It was just the scripture that Gary needed to comfort him as his friend and colleague, Mr. Koskoski, fought for his life. Then...they prayed.
Now I need to ask a series of questions. What is the best heart surgeon in the state doing practicing in little El Dorado, AR, when he teaches his craft some 90-100 miles away in the states capital? When did this man of skill develop his faith? How did an ICU waiting room phone number pop up in the cell phone of a man equipped to pray with another? And how is it that the man who needed this prayer partner and timely scripture was the one sitting by the phone when it rang---not to mention the fact that they are related, and anyone else who answered the phone would have hung up with no explanation of the need? I have the one word answer to all of those questions. GOD.
You see, we do not serve an arbitrary God; one who sits at a bargaining table and decides who He will love today more than another, or which prayers He is willing to answer based on where the individual in need happens to be at the time. No. Our God is a God of unconditional love. Our God places people where they need to be, when they need to be there. Our God is a God of infinite GRACE.
All WE need do, is trust Him.
On the morning of Thursday November 29, at 5:00a.m. I received a call from my friend and colleague, Gary Meggs. Calls at that time of the morning are rarely to deliver good news, so I braced myself. His exact words were, "start praying." I said, "okay. What's going on?" He then told me that he was following an ambulance "with Koskoski inside." Dave Koskoski is another friend, colleague, and also mentor to me. Apparently he had collapsed, and somehow been able to call Gary for help. The collapse had caused him to hit his head pretty good on something that hasn't yet been made known to me. But, I would soon find out that this was the least of his problems. What caused the collapse would become of major concern as the morning wore on. The doctor at Drew Memorial found fluid around Mr. "K"'s heart, and he knew if he didn't start draining it, Mr. K wouldn't live much longer. It was thought, because of a high white cell count, the fluid was infection setting in. However once the draining began, it appeared to be all blood. This told the doctor all he needed to know. Mr. K had suffered an aneurysm, rupturing his aorta. He was bleeding internally. He needed surgery and he needed it NOW. Knowing he wouldn't live long enough to get to Little Rock, the next closest option would have to do...El Dorado. Now here's where the story starts to get really interesting. You may be thinking as I was---EL DORADO?? Little known was the fact that God had already prepared for just this event in the life of my friend and mentor. You see, El Dorado just happens to be where the UAMS Professor of heart surgical techniques has his private practice. The man has an extensive resume', but just "wanted to live in a small town". Coincidence?
The initial surgery did not go off without a hitch. Nor did the second try, unfortunately. So, on his third attempt---in the same evening which was now speeding toward the wee hours of the next morning---this surgeon/UAMS professor, extensive resume' and all, revealed something else about himself. Before diving in to repair Mr. K's ruptured aorta, ---for the third time---he stopped...and prayed. See, not only had God sent a talented heart surgeon to little El Dorado, AR, but he sent one who KNEW that he could do NOTHING without the God of grace guiding his talented hands. Coincidence?
But this story doesn't end there. Perhaps the most telling example of how God moves occurred before the initial surgery was to take place. Gary, staying with his friend, was sitting in the ICU waiting room while Mr. K was being prepped for surgery. Those of you who know Gary Meggs know him to be a man of God. Gary had prayed for K all day, but he was pretty distraught and it was hard for him to comfort himself, or anyone else for that matter, with any particular scripture from the Word of God. It isn't that he didn't want to do so; his mind was simply all over the place. As he sat, the waiting room phone began to ring. There were a few other people waiting, but no receptionist at the time. Finally Gary decided to answer the phone himself. "ICU waiting room..." The voice on the other end said, "I beg your pardon??". Gary responded, "this is the ICU waiting room at Southeast Regional Medical Center in El Dorado." The voice on the other end replied, "who is this?" Gary: "this is Gary Meggs." Voice: "well hey, Gary. This is Wayne Sinclair." Allow me to stop right there and tell you that Wayne Sinclair is an Elder at a local El Dorado church. He also just happens to be Gary's cousin. What he would say next simply blew Gary away. Wayne: "I called because this number showed up in my cell phone." Gary: (partially chuckling) "Wayne, I've been sitting here for a while and can assure you that not I nor anyone else called you from this phone." After ascertaining why Gary was there, Wayne said, "I'm on my way." He arrived, took Gary by the arm, and they immediately went to the chapel. Once there, Wayne opened his Bible to Matthew 18:19, and read aloud: "Once again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by my Father who is in Heaven." It was just the scripture that Gary needed to comfort him as his friend and colleague, Mr. Koskoski, fought for his life. Then...they prayed.
Now I need to ask a series of questions. What is the best heart surgeon in the state doing practicing in little El Dorado, AR, when he teaches his craft some 90-100 miles away in the states capital? When did this man of skill develop his faith? How did an ICU waiting room phone number pop up in the cell phone of a man equipped to pray with another? And how is it that the man who needed this prayer partner and timely scripture was the one sitting by the phone when it rang---not to mention the fact that they are related, and anyone else who answered the phone would have hung up with no explanation of the need? I have the one word answer to all of those questions. GOD.
You see, we do not serve an arbitrary God; one who sits at a bargaining table and decides who He will love today more than another, or which prayers He is willing to answer based on where the individual in need happens to be at the time. No. Our God is a God of unconditional love. Our God places people where they need to be, when they need to be there. Our God is a God of infinite GRACE.
All WE need do, is trust Him.
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