HEADED TO STATE!

(So sorry for my lack of blogging lately. (No one may care, but I care! Ha! It's a time problem, but more importantly, a computer problem.  My computer is FULL.  I can't save any files, and I've had a hard time storing them on the external drive.  I think it's almost finished storing....after 9 days!  So, I still may not have the time to blog, but at least when I do, I can! It's been really frustrating!)

We're excited in Tipton!  In the past week, our sports programs have had great success, yet again!  My boys played in the Regional Tournament for golf on Monday...the last one they'll ever play together.  They were 4th out of 12 teams and that qualifies them to go to STATE!

This is the second year in a row that these boys have gotten the opportunity to play at the State Tournament.  Last year they were just excited to get there. This year they hope to be in the top five at the end of the tournament.  The top three would be great!  The champions?  Well...that's probably out of reach, but you never know!  They compete next Monday and Tuesday.  We're ready for it to be here now!

Although neither of my high school boys play baseball, we're extremely excited that the high school baseball team made it to State for the first time in history of our school.  (Actually there is evidence that a team MAY have gone in the 50's...It's being checked out.)  But, wow!  To go to State and win the Championship in football....go to State in basketball....now baseball and golf, not to mention in power lifting and track....it's been a great year for the Tipton Tigers!

This Senior class is extremely talented.  We've known since they were little bitty that this would be a great ride in their sports careers and it has been.  Although we're excited about the groups coming up, as well, there will most likely never be another group like this who has such a high level of natural athletic ability.  Two of the Seniors have been on all four of the ball sports State teams.  One of them got hurt in football, so had surgery and hasn't been able to play the others. The other one plays everything, and plays them well.  He's going on to play football in college.

The article above was written about this group of athletes.  It's a great write up about them.  Of course, as parents, it's been fun.  As fans it's been fun.  As a school and community it has been fun.

What a great year!  There's not much these Tipton boys can't do, for sure, when it comes to athletics!  We've been blessed. 

All the Way To STATE!!!

What a season these boys have had! Actually, what a career these Seniors have had! Without question, the guys in our Senior class this year have had the most athletic ability as a whole, than any other class we've had. From the time they were in grade school, even before, actually, we knew how talented they were and we're looking forward to watching them for many years. None of us wanted it to be over, and with weight lifting, track, baseball and golf still to go, it's not over, but for the bigger team sports in our small school, it is. This team made it to State for the second year in a row, played the same team for the second year in a row, and unfortunately got beat in overtime for the second year in a row...this year by six points, last year by five.  These boys aren't used to overtime! They've not seen it many, if any other times in their whole careers!!

The amount of talent in the top of the team, which happens to be all of the Seniors, is unreal! Many of them are going on to play a sport in college. All of them could and may. We look forward to hearing about them and watching them. We also challenge them to go and be the best person they can be, not just on the court or field, but in life. It's easy to get caught up in the sports life (I mentioned recently that I do it, too!), but that's not ultimately what is important. Who you are matters. What you stand for and what you fall for matters. That's what's important. How you finish this life matters. Eternity matters.

Our son is a Sophomore on this team. He's had a great experience! We look forward to him becoming a leader for the team in the next few years and watching how they grow and improve as a team. Maybe these successful years aren't "over"! Maybe they will continue! Either way, I'll be there cheering the Tigers on! I can't wait! 

Underdogs

Do you enjoy rooting for the underdog?  Many people do.  It's fun seeing someone not expected to excel or win, excelling or winning.

Friday night our high school football team traveled almost four hours north to compete in the quest for the gold ball in Class C 8-man football.  We were playing Deer Creek/Lamont Academy (DCLA), the number one ranked team, who hadn't been beat in 23 straight games and who was last year's Class C State Champs.

Our Tipton team was ranked seventh, after loosing two games in regular season play.  They played well in the first playoff game, advancing to the second round.  All sports websites and reports predicted Tipton would lose badly, but they didn't know what was about to happen.  They didn't know that our football team was determined to win and didn't care if they were predicted to lose.  They didn't know that our team didn't feel intimidated by playing the number one ranked team and defending state champions.

But now they do.  Now they know because our boys BEAT DCLA - 13 to 12!!!  In the first quarter, Tipton scored a touchdown, making the score 6 to 0 early on.  At that point, DCLA was at a place where they hadn't been in two seasons of play.  They were down!  And they stayed behind the whole game.  The Tipton Tigers have advanced to the state semi-finals and our town is extremely proud of the boys for their hard work, dedication, and determination.  We'll be cheering for them Saturday night!

Underdogs.  Not any more!

As I thought about the Tipton Tigers being the underdogs in Friday's game and what they were up against going into that game, my thoughts turned to another underdog.  An underdog in the Bible.  I thought about David (1 Samuel 17).  Young David was a shepherd and didn't have experience fighting, except for killing some animals that had threatened the sheep, but he was willing to fight the over nine feet tall Goliath.  His faith to win the battle over Goliath wasn't because of what he thought he could do, but in what God could do through him.  Yes, David was an underdog, but he relied on the power and strength of a mighty God!  And, he won!  He defeated Goliath!!  With the help and power of the Lord!

So, best wishes to the Tipton Tiger football team as you play Saturday night!  We can't wait to cheer for you!! Interestingly, in the David and Goliath story, David cut off Goliath's head and he took it to Jerusalem.  The Bible doesn't say what happened to the head after that, but it seems it was kind of like a trophy (an odd trophy, but a trophy!).  Tigers, we want you to bring home a GOLD BALL!  (No heads, please!)

Traditions and Celebrations

Today in our little southwest Oklahoma town of about 900 people, there were three big events happening all at the same time. The events brought many visitors to our community, plus got many hometown people out of the house and right in the middle of town for some of the day.

The Centennial Celebration began yesterday and included several special events. It's too bad these types of celebrations only happen once every 100 years! The Tipton Fair was also held this weekend in conjunction with the Centennial Celebration.

Besides these two events was a 64 year old annual celebration at Tipton Home, called "Fun Day". "Fun Day" began 64 years ago when the Southwest church of Christ in Oklahoma City began to bring a day of fun to the children living at Tipton Home. (Note: Tipton Home is a children's home here in Tipton, Oklahoma.) Every year a group from that congregation comes in cars, trucks, and vans with games, blow up slides, and lots of prizes and food for all of the children and staff of Tipton Home. My husband's parents were houseparents at Tipton Home for 12 years (when he was 3 - 15 years old.)so he remembers lots of years of "Fun Day". Now he works at Tipton Home so we also attend the annual event.

Today over 65 people came from that Oklahoma City congregation to host "Fun Day". It's always amazing how much time and how much work this congregation puts in to this event each year. The children have so much fun, and it's one of the biggest highlights of their year.

Celebrations are special. They are a time for remembering the past and looking forward to the future. It's neat when a small town is able to have events like the ones held today. It's a great time for everyone whether they are residents or just visiting for the day.

Traditions are special, too. Our family is big on traditions. If there is something we've done for years and years, our children EXPECT it done - and without changes! But, my husband and I want it that way, too. That's what makes holidays and birthdays even more special - the traditions that go along with them. However, the traditions in my family wouldn't mean anything to you and your family. You have your own traditions that mean something to you or your family.

Fun Day at Tipton Home is a very special tradition. The 63 year old tradition carries on because one congregation makes it a priority to keep that tradition. That group of Christians is committed to keeping the tradition going and for that we thank them! It is a special day for the Southwest congregation, but also for all of those involved with Tipton Home.

This morning many of us will gather together to worship God all over the world. Worship is a celebration. Christians worship God, and we also celebrate the fact that God gave us Jesus as our Lord and our Savior! Sunday is a special day for Christians everywhere. Of course our worship shouldn't just be on this one day, but every day of our lives. Worshipping God and Jesus is the best tradition you and your family could ever have! It is a tradition that should never stop!

BACK IN THE DAY

If I could go back in time to visit, I would choose to go back to when the church first began. I think it would be a great time to visit and help us appreciate all we have, but also make us realize what is really important for us to do as Christians. Jesus died for the church - not a building, but the people who have become children of God. He died for the church, but also left instructions for what the church is to do and how the church is to live.

Twice a year our congregation here at Tipton does something that I feel is similar to how the early church lived. I believe it's the closest we come to living how the 1st Century church may have lived during that time - except for modern conveniences (which we are all thankful for!).

We have just finished a gospel meeting/revival. It began on Sunday morning with Bible class, then worship, followed by a noon potluck dinner. That evening we had services again. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday we had morning worship at 10:00 a.m. and a noon luncheon every day, then nightly worship services each of those nights. Every day we met together, sang together, prayed together, studied God's Word together, worshipped God together, and ate the noon meal together.

A special part of this week is having the Sojourners with us. I mentioned a few weeks ago that they were working at our Bible camp, QMCC. For these two weeks they are working at Tipton Home. They are a joy to have in our midst! The couples are from Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and Kansas. They agreed to having their picture taken for this post.

Another neat thing about the noon luncheons is that the whole Tipton Junior High and High School is invited to the meal. Every day between 40 and 60 students came to the luncheon. It is one of the benefits of small town living, I'm sure, and the school is just down the street from the fellowship building.


Of course, the best part of the week was hearing God's Word preached every day. It was a spiritual feast! The visiting minister did a great job delivering his messages as a servant of God. He inspired each of us to be great servants and our congregation to be a great church.

Look at this passage from Acts 2:40-47:

"And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." (emphasis mine)

I know I've used these verses before, but they really are some of my favorites. Can you see why I feel like I'm back in the 1st Century each time we do this? It's the daily meetings, the continued fellowship, and the continued teaching the early church did. I would like to be able to go back there, would you?

By the end of our four days, we're all exhausted, but spiritually uplifted. And to think - the early church did it daily! I hope you enjoy the pictures. If you ever think of visiting Tipton, Oklahoma, the third week in September and the third week in April is a great time to visit!