Monday, August 24, 2009
August 24, 2009 Sharing God’s Word
TODAY'S ENCOURAGING WORD
And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.
-- 1 John 2:28
THE DREADFUL DAY OF THE LORD
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
-- Malachi 4:5
This is the next-to-last verse of the Old Testament and so marks the final mention in the Old Testament of the fearsome theme of the Day of the Lord. As the text says, it will be a "great and dreadful day."
This phrase occurs frequently in the Bible, reminding us over and over again that although God is merciful and longsuffering, He will not remain silent forever. Man's "day" will end someday, and the day of the Lord will come.
Note some of the other prophecies: "Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! . . . the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light" (Amos 5:18). "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come" (Joel 2:31). "The great day of the LORD . . . is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness" (Zephaniah 1:14-15). "Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger" (Isaiah 13:9).
The phrase also is repeated in the New Testament, most awesomely of all in 2 Peter 3:10: "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (see also 1 Thessalonians 5:2, etc.).
Without trying to sort out the precise sequences and events associated with all such prophecies, it is obvious that the Day of the Lord is a coming time of terrible judgment on all who have rejected or ignored the God who created them. But God's faithful believers can take great comfort, for then "the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD" (Zechariah 14:9).
PRAYER FOR RENEWAL
Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Forward to your family and friends!
Want to be added to list or removed from list? Email ceptxj@gmail.com and indicate to be added or removed.
God Bless You!
And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.
-- 1 John 2:28
THE DREADFUL DAY OF THE LORD
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
-- Malachi 4:5
This is the next-to-last verse of the Old Testament and so marks the final mention in the Old Testament of the fearsome theme of the Day of the Lord. As the text says, it will be a "great and dreadful day."
This phrase occurs frequently in the Bible, reminding us over and over again that although God is merciful and longsuffering, He will not remain silent forever. Man's "day" will end someday, and the day of the Lord will come.
Note some of the other prophecies: "Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! . . . the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light" (Amos 5:18). "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come" (Joel 2:31). "The great day of the LORD . . . is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness" (Zephaniah 1:14-15). "Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger" (Isaiah 13:9).
The phrase also is repeated in the New Testament, most awesomely of all in 2 Peter 3:10: "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (see also 1 Thessalonians 5:2, etc.).
Without trying to sort out the precise sequences and events associated with all such prophecies, it is obvious that the Day of the Lord is a coming time of terrible judgment on all who have rejected or ignored the God who created them. But God's faithful believers can take great comfort, for then "the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD" (Zechariah 14:9).
PRAYER FOR RENEWAL
Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Forward to your family and friends!
Want to be added to list or removed from list? Email ceptxj@gmail.com and indicate to be added or removed.
God Bless You!
Friday, August 21, 2009
August 21, 2009 Sharing God’s Word
TODAY'S ENCOURAGING WORD
And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.
-- Ephesians 1:23
RESPONSE TO PRAYER
In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedest me with strength in my soul.
-- Psalm 138:3
God's response to our prayers are delivered into two ways: practically, in the circumstances the direction, and spiritually, in the "inner man" (Ephesians 3:16).
We are often so focused on the physical or external event for which we are insistently praying that when the answer comes we fail to receive the full blessing--even if we read the practical answer correctly. Our heavenly Father is committed to providing our needs on earth (Philippians 4:19; Luke 12:30), but such supply is of minimal significance in the scope of eternity. The good thoughts (Jeremiah 29:11) and the good gifts of God (Luke 11:13) are toward the expected end, the ultimate conformity "to the image of his Son" (Romans 8:29).
While God responds to our physical needs, His heart and His purpose is to fill us "with all the fulness of God" (Ephesians 3:19). He blesses us "with all spiritual blessings" (Ephesians 1:3) and has chosen us to be "holy and without blame" (Ephesians 1:4). God's Word is designed to allow us to participate in the "divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). God's desire in responding to our prayers is this: "that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfullness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light (Colossians 1:9-12).
But please be on notice! This internal and spiritual worship and praise cannot be kept private. The "internal" blessings of God will overflow in godly behavior and visible joy (James 3:13; 1 Peter 1:8).
PRAYER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
God our Father, you see your children growing up in an unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you, and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Forward to your family and friends!
Want to be added to list or removed from list? Email ceptxj@gmail.com and indicate to be added or removed.
God Bless You!
And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.
-- Ephesians 1:23
RESPONSE TO PRAYER
In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedest me with strength in my soul.
-- Psalm 138:3
God's response to our prayers are delivered into two ways: practically, in the circumstances the direction, and spiritually, in the "inner man" (Ephesians 3:16).
We are often so focused on the physical or external event for which we are insistently praying that when the answer comes we fail to receive the full blessing--even if we read the practical answer correctly. Our heavenly Father is committed to providing our needs on earth (Philippians 4:19; Luke 12:30), but such supply is of minimal significance in the scope of eternity. The good thoughts (Jeremiah 29:11) and the good gifts of God (Luke 11:13) are toward the expected end, the ultimate conformity "to the image of his Son" (Romans 8:29).
While God responds to our physical needs, His heart and His purpose is to fill us "with all the fulness of God" (Ephesians 3:19). He blesses us "with all spiritual blessings" (Ephesians 1:3) and has chosen us to be "holy and without blame" (Ephesians 1:4). God's Word is designed to allow us to participate in the "divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). God's desire in responding to our prayers is this: "that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfullness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light (Colossians 1:9-12).
But please be on notice! This internal and spiritual worship and praise cannot be kept private. The "internal" blessings of God will overflow in godly behavior and visible joy (James 3:13; 1 Peter 1:8).
PRAYER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
God our Father, you see your children growing up in an unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you, and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Forward to your family and friends!
Want to be added to list or removed from list? Email ceptxj@gmail.com and indicate to be added or removed.
God Bless You!
This should wake us up.
One day, a man went to visit a church; He got there early, parked his car and got out.
Another car pulled up near the driver got out and said, "I always park there! You took my place!"
The visitor went inside for Sunday school, found an empty seat and sat down.
A young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took my place!"
The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.
After Sunday school, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down.
Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit! You took my place!"
The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still He said nothing. Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet.
Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?"
The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear fell from his eye, "I took your place."
Another car pulled up near the driver got out and said, "I always park there! You took my place!"
The visitor went inside for Sunday school, found an empty seat and sat down.
A young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took my place!"
The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.
After Sunday school, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down.
Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit! You took my place!"
The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still He said nothing. Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet.
Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?"
The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear fell from his eye, "I took your place."
Thursday, August 20, 2009
awesome prayer
Dear Lord, I thank You for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.
Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.
Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.
Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil.. And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God.
And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example -to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will.
Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those that will delete this without sharing it with others. I pray for those that don't believe. But I thank you that I believe.
I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.
I pray that everyone knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly.
Lord I love you and I need you, come into my heart, please.
This is my prayer.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.
Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.
Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil.. And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God.
And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example -to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will.
Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those that will delete this without sharing it with others. I pray for those that don't believe. But I thank you that I believe.
I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.
I pray that everyone knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly.
Lord I love you and I need you, come into my heart, please.
This is my prayer.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Boy, This is powerful
As you got up this morning, I watched you, and hoped you would talk to me, even if it was just a few words, asking my opinion or thanking me for something good that happened in your life yesterday. But I noticed you were too busy, trying to find the right outfit to wear.
When you ran around the house getting ready, I knew there would be a few minutes for you to stop and say hello, but you were to busy. At one point you had to wait fifteen minutes with nothing to do except sit in a chair. Then I saw you spring to your feet. I thought you wanted to talk to me but you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip instead. I watched patiently all day long. With all our activities I guess you were too busy to say anything to me.
I noticed that before lunch you looked around, maybe you felt embarrassed to talk to me, that is why you didn't bow your head. You glanced three or four tables over and you noticed some of your friends talking to me briefly before they ate, but you didn't. That’s okay. There is still more time left, and I hope that you will talk to me yet.
You went home and it seems as if you had lots of things to do. After a few of them were done, you turned on the TV. I don't know if you like TV or not, just about anything goes there and you spend a lot of time each day in front of it not thinking about anything, just enjoying the show. I waited patiently again as you watched the TV and ate your meal, but again you didn't talk to me.
Bedtime I guess you felt too tired. After you said goodnight to your family you plopped into bed and fell asleep in no time. That's okay because you may not realize that I am always there for you. I've got patience, more than you will ever know.... I even want to teach you how to be patient with others as well.
I love you so much that I wait everyday for a nod, prayer or thought, or a thankful part of your heart. It is hard to have a one-sided conversation.
Well, you are getting up once again. Once again I will wait, with nothing but love for you. Hoping that today you will give me some time. Have a nice day!
Your friend,
GOD
PS - Do you have enough time to share this with another person?
When you ran around the house getting ready, I knew there would be a few minutes for you to stop and say hello, but you were to busy. At one point you had to wait fifteen minutes with nothing to do except sit in a chair. Then I saw you spring to your feet. I thought you wanted to talk to me but you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip instead. I watched patiently all day long. With all our activities I guess you were too busy to say anything to me.
I noticed that before lunch you looked around, maybe you felt embarrassed to talk to me, that is why you didn't bow your head. You glanced three or four tables over and you noticed some of your friends talking to me briefly before they ate, but you didn't. That’s okay. There is still more time left, and I hope that you will talk to me yet.
You went home and it seems as if you had lots of things to do. After a few of them were done, you turned on the TV. I don't know if you like TV or not, just about anything goes there and you spend a lot of time each day in front of it not thinking about anything, just enjoying the show. I waited patiently again as you watched the TV and ate your meal, but again you didn't talk to me.
Bedtime I guess you felt too tired. After you said goodnight to your family you plopped into bed and fell asleep in no time. That's okay because you may not realize that I am always there for you. I've got patience, more than you will ever know.... I even want to teach you how to be patient with others as well.
I love you so much that I wait everyday for a nod, prayer or thought, or a thankful part of your heart. It is hard to have a one-sided conversation.
Well, you are getting up once again. Once again I will wait, with nothing but love for you. Hoping that today you will give me some time. Have a nice day!
Your friend,
GOD
PS - Do you have enough time to share this with another person?
A Taxi Driver and a Priest Die…
A priest and taxi driver die on the same day.
St. Peter, who is standing at Heaven's gate, allows the taxi driver to proceed on to one of the highest levels of heaven but the priest has to wait.
He waits for a long time and finally goes to St. Peter and asks: "Why could that taxi driver go to the highest level of heaven and I, who all my life spoke about God, have to wait for such a long time?"
St. Peter replies: "When you were speaking to the people at your church, everybody was sleeping. But when that taxi driver was driving, everybody prayed!"
St. Peter, who is standing at Heaven's gate, allows the taxi driver to proceed on to one of the highest levels of heaven but the priest has to wait.
He waits for a long time and finally goes to St. Peter and asks: "Why could that taxi driver go to the highest level of heaven and I, who all my life spoke about God, have to wait for such a long time?"
St. Peter replies: "When you were speaking to the people at your church, everybody was sleeping. But when that taxi driver was driving, everybody prayed!"
Beyond the norm - El Paso Times
Beyond the norm
Bill Knight
Staff
February 3, 2003
Section: News
Page: 01C
Deaf wrestler finds his path to success
The sweat dripped noiselessly to the mat in the Burges High wrestling room as the boy, a boy so rapidly becoming a young man, worked silently and tirelessly.
The only sounds come from a faraway place, soft ones, distant ones ... like garbled, distorted voices you might hear from the bottom of the deep end of a swimming pool. On he works. When he is not actually involved in the action, he is blistering those abdominal muscles, doing crunch after crunch.
In some ways, Chuckie Johnson is like so many other boys -- just your average teenager, a 17-year-old junior in high school, sometimes smiling and sometimes laughing and sometimes frustrated, working his way through yet another tough afternoon practice.
But there is little average about Chuckie Johnson.
Your average teenager is not the captain of his high school wrestling team, not a member of the National Honor Society, not listed in Who's Who Among American High School Students, not listed in Who's Who Among American High School Athletes.
Chuckie Johnson is also deaf.
No problem
"I've been deaf since birth," Johnson signed to his interpreter, Luz Arellano. "I don't think my deafness has ever been a problem. I've been mainstream since the third grade."
Johnson is one of 55 students in the deaf education program at Burges, the high school center for the entire city. The school has three teachers, nine interpreters and two assistants. The school also offers a sign-language class, one that counts as a foreign language, for all students -- obviously helping them communicate with their hearing-impaired classmates.
"Some of the students are mainstreamed, some are half-mainstreamed and some are in the deaf education program," Arellano said.
Johnson is not only a fully mainstreamed A-B student, one with the highest grade average on last year's wrestling team, he is also taking a pair of honors classes.
"Chuckie is amazing," Burges High English teacher Sylvia Polhamus said. "He's extremely intelligent, has a great sense of humor and loves to tease. I actually sometimes forget he is deaf. He's taking advanced placement English with me, and that is not easy for anyone. But he's not just taking it, he's in the top percentage in the class."
Burges High wrestling coach Jeff Himelspach said, "He has such a great attitude, which is why he was voted captain. He's always here, always leading by example, always helping the underclassmen with their moves. He has that excellent attitude, the attitude you have to have in this sport, the desire to win."
Conroy Henry, a teammate and junior classmate, said, "Chuckie is very motivated, always trying to push everybody. He is also a good person, easy to communicate with -- especially for me, since we've come through high school together."
And sophomore teammate Gil Esparza said, "He has a lot of technique in his matches and he wrestles by himself, since he can't have a coach screaming at him, telling him what to do. He is a big team motivator. After a win, he will come off, raise his arms and yell 'yeah' and everybody really gets pumped up. And if he sees anybody slacking during practice, he will get on us. He's just a great guy and a lot of us here have learned some basic sign language."
No easy ride
But it has been a long journey for Chuckie Johnson, a young man with endless energy and a quick sense of humor.
"I tried a lot of sports," he said. "Baseball, soccer, roller hockey, football. I think maybe the other kids thought I was dumb when I first got mainstreamed in the third grade. But if I hadn't been mainstreamed then I probably would be dumb today. I know it would have been hard if I had just started in high school."
Of course, right there with every triumph and every setback, every joy and every disappointment, were his parents, Lourdes and David.
"We assume he has been deaf since birth," Lourdes Johnson said. "He was never sick, always healthy as an ox. He was diagnosed when he was a year and seven months old. Emotionally, it was incredibly tough for us. You always have this vision of the perfect child. So when we found out, we went through a mourning process. Within a week, though, we were going to classes and learning. We just took it as if we were given this child from France and that we didn't know anything about France. So, we had to learn the language ... we had to learn all about France."
Obstacles to climb
There were challenges, though -- always challenges.
"We put him in wrestling because he was just a bundle of energy and because he always had this great upper-body strength," his mom said. "Plus, it was an individual sport. We put him in all these sports, but wrestling was the one where we didn't have to worry that kids would hesitate to pass him the ball because he was deaf. That happened a lot. He is so intelligent and such a good athlete, we always thought he would be a good catcher in baseball -- but we could never get a baseball coach to let him have a chance.
"When he started school, the district told us Chuckie would probably never read above a fourth-grade level," Lourdes Johnson said. "That became our battle cry."
Johnson has always been able to do things, always been a high achiever. He grew up watching television, with his parents lugging a decoder (that would print out the dialogue on the screen) everywhere they went. Now, all televisions made since 1995 ("Thanks to the first President Bush," Lourdes Johnson said) automatically have the words. He spends long sessions on the computer, communicating with his friends ("I'm a line freak," he said, grinning). He drives a truck and has a CD player blasting away. A CD player?
Laughing, Lourdes Johnson said, "He said he had to have that for his truck, because all his friends want to listen when they ride with him."
Almost two years ago, he went into a local car wash with a complete résumé, wanting a part-time job. They would not hire him, because of his hearing. No problem. He started his own lawn service and, with a teammate, works lawns on Sundays and in the summer.
Right now, though, he has his energies on wrestling and school. Johnson, who has no trouble making his weight at 160, finished second at the district meet this weekend and will compete in the state meet. He played some football at Burges, but said he will now focus on wrestling. Last summer, he took a giant step forward.
"Chuckie went to a two-week wrestling camp at Oklahoma State last summer," Himelspach said. "His mother went with him and was his interpreter. That has really set him apart."
Henry said, "After coming back from there, he has just been going up ever since."
Johnson said, "That was a great experience. I want to continue to improve, to get more experience. My goal is regionals and state. There were so many kids at that camp. It was great a lot of fun."
Mom laughed and said, "I was the only woman there. But it was amazing the way they took to Chuckie. The coaches loved him to death. He's such a hard worker. Kids from all over the country were there. A boy from New York was there, being recruited by Oklahoma State, and he really took to Chuckie. There was a big burly kid in the room when they were all watching television and he said 'hey, change the channel to something Chuckie can watch ... this doesn't have words.' They were all great."
Showing some of that intensity while signing to Arellano, Johnson said, "I like wrestling because you are on a team, but it is a one-man sport. You have to work very hard in this sport, really focus. This is a self-improvement sport that's why I am wrestling. Maybe I'll want to try to wrestle in college, but for now I'm not sure whether I want all my focus on wrestling and school or just my major -- forensic psychology, solving crimes."
While he is intensely focused on wrestling, one of the most physically demanding of all sports, Johnson never forgets his work in the classroom.
"He will miss school with wrestling tournaments and extracurricular activities," Polhamus said. "But when he comes back, he is always prepared, always knows exactly what is expected of him."
On his way
The boy, the one who is so rapidly becoming a young man, works tirelessly through the daily two-hour practice sessions. Occasionally, he will smile and poke Arellano on the arm ... teasing a little.
"He's bad," Arellano said, laughing and signing, so Johnson could understand.
Johnson smiled and signed back quickly: "She's lying."
Not much average about this boy, not much at all. Normal? Yes. Average? No. And he appears to be one of those blessed young people, one who has that magnetic personality ... a charm and enthusiasm and joy of life that lures others to him.
"You do get attached," Arellano admitted.
Lourdes Johnson said, "The Lord really blessed us with him."
Chuckie Johnson is just a boy, a boy blossoming into manhood and a boy who knows what is possible in this life, what is always possible. No limits. And he will tell you:
"Deaf people can do anything but hear."
And on he works, noiselessly, silently ... hearing little, knowing so much.
Johnson file
Who: Chuckie Johnson, junior captain of Burges' wrestling team.
Age: 17.
Weight class: 160 pounds.
Academics: An honor student with an A-B average, highest on the team. Member of the National Honor Society, Who's Who Among American High School Students, Who's Who Among American High School Athletes.
Bill Knight may be reached at bknightelpasotimes.com
Photo Caption:Burges High School wrestler Chuckie Johnson, right, watched interpreter Luz Arellano during a recent practice at the school. Johnson is the team's captain and is succeeding in the classroom and outside school.
Photo Caption:Burges wrestler Chuckie Johnson finished second in his district tournament this weekend. He is one of the school's top wrestlers despite having been deaf since birth. Johnson's work ethic has helped him become a team leader.
Photo Caption:Communication is key Burges wrestler Chuckie Johnson, who is deaf, talked with head coach Jeff Himelspach during a recent practice. Interpreter Luz Arellano translates into sign language for Johnson, who is the team captain of the Mustangs wrestling team.
Photo Caption:Burges wrestler Chuckie Johnson, right, works out with teamate Kenny Berry during a wrestling practice.
________________________________________
Copyright (c) El Paso Times. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
Bill Knight
Staff
February 3, 2003
Section: News
Page: 01C
Deaf wrestler finds his path to success
The sweat dripped noiselessly to the mat in the Burges High wrestling room as the boy, a boy so rapidly becoming a young man, worked silently and tirelessly.
The only sounds come from a faraway place, soft ones, distant ones ... like garbled, distorted voices you might hear from the bottom of the deep end of a swimming pool. On he works. When he is not actually involved in the action, he is blistering those abdominal muscles, doing crunch after crunch.
In some ways, Chuckie Johnson is like so many other boys -- just your average teenager, a 17-year-old junior in high school, sometimes smiling and sometimes laughing and sometimes frustrated, working his way through yet another tough afternoon practice.
But there is little average about Chuckie Johnson.
Your average teenager is not the captain of his high school wrestling team, not a member of the National Honor Society, not listed in Who's Who Among American High School Students, not listed in Who's Who Among American High School Athletes.
Chuckie Johnson is also deaf.
No problem
"I've been deaf since birth," Johnson signed to his interpreter, Luz Arellano. "I don't think my deafness has ever been a problem. I've been mainstream since the third grade."
Johnson is one of 55 students in the deaf education program at Burges, the high school center for the entire city. The school has three teachers, nine interpreters and two assistants. The school also offers a sign-language class, one that counts as a foreign language, for all students -- obviously helping them communicate with their hearing-impaired classmates.
"Some of the students are mainstreamed, some are half-mainstreamed and some are in the deaf education program," Arellano said.
Johnson is not only a fully mainstreamed A-B student, one with the highest grade average on last year's wrestling team, he is also taking a pair of honors classes.
"Chuckie is amazing," Burges High English teacher Sylvia Polhamus said. "He's extremely intelligent, has a great sense of humor and loves to tease. I actually sometimes forget he is deaf. He's taking advanced placement English with me, and that is not easy for anyone. But he's not just taking it, he's in the top percentage in the class."
Burges High wrestling coach Jeff Himelspach said, "He has such a great attitude, which is why he was voted captain. He's always here, always leading by example, always helping the underclassmen with their moves. He has that excellent attitude, the attitude you have to have in this sport, the desire to win."
Conroy Henry, a teammate and junior classmate, said, "Chuckie is very motivated, always trying to push everybody. He is also a good person, easy to communicate with -- especially for me, since we've come through high school together."
And sophomore teammate Gil Esparza said, "He has a lot of technique in his matches and he wrestles by himself, since he can't have a coach screaming at him, telling him what to do. He is a big team motivator. After a win, he will come off, raise his arms and yell 'yeah' and everybody really gets pumped up. And if he sees anybody slacking during practice, he will get on us. He's just a great guy and a lot of us here have learned some basic sign language."
No easy ride
But it has been a long journey for Chuckie Johnson, a young man with endless energy and a quick sense of humor.
"I tried a lot of sports," he said. "Baseball, soccer, roller hockey, football. I think maybe the other kids thought I was dumb when I first got mainstreamed in the third grade. But if I hadn't been mainstreamed then I probably would be dumb today. I know it would have been hard if I had just started in high school."
Of course, right there with every triumph and every setback, every joy and every disappointment, were his parents, Lourdes and David.
"We assume he has been deaf since birth," Lourdes Johnson said. "He was never sick, always healthy as an ox. He was diagnosed when he was a year and seven months old. Emotionally, it was incredibly tough for us. You always have this vision of the perfect child. So when we found out, we went through a mourning process. Within a week, though, we were going to classes and learning. We just took it as if we were given this child from France and that we didn't know anything about France. So, we had to learn the language ... we had to learn all about France."
Obstacles to climb
There were challenges, though -- always challenges.
"We put him in wrestling because he was just a bundle of energy and because he always had this great upper-body strength," his mom said. "Plus, it was an individual sport. We put him in all these sports, but wrestling was the one where we didn't have to worry that kids would hesitate to pass him the ball because he was deaf. That happened a lot. He is so intelligent and such a good athlete, we always thought he would be a good catcher in baseball -- but we could never get a baseball coach to let him have a chance.
"When he started school, the district told us Chuckie would probably never read above a fourth-grade level," Lourdes Johnson said. "That became our battle cry."
Johnson has always been able to do things, always been a high achiever. He grew up watching television, with his parents lugging a decoder (that would print out the dialogue on the screen) everywhere they went. Now, all televisions made since 1995 ("Thanks to the first President Bush," Lourdes Johnson said) automatically have the words. He spends long sessions on the computer, communicating with his friends ("I'm a line freak," he said, grinning). He drives a truck and has a CD player blasting away. A CD player?
Laughing, Lourdes Johnson said, "He said he had to have that for his truck, because all his friends want to listen when they ride with him."
Almost two years ago, he went into a local car wash with a complete résumé, wanting a part-time job. They would not hire him, because of his hearing. No problem. He started his own lawn service and, with a teammate, works lawns on Sundays and in the summer.
Right now, though, he has his energies on wrestling and school. Johnson, who has no trouble making his weight at 160, finished second at the district meet this weekend and will compete in the state meet. He played some football at Burges, but said he will now focus on wrestling. Last summer, he took a giant step forward.
"Chuckie went to a two-week wrestling camp at Oklahoma State last summer," Himelspach said. "His mother went with him and was his interpreter. That has really set him apart."
Henry said, "After coming back from there, he has just been going up ever since."
Johnson said, "That was a great experience. I want to continue to improve, to get more experience. My goal is regionals and state. There were so many kids at that camp. It was great a lot of fun."
Mom laughed and said, "I was the only woman there. But it was amazing the way they took to Chuckie. The coaches loved him to death. He's such a hard worker. Kids from all over the country were there. A boy from New York was there, being recruited by Oklahoma State, and he really took to Chuckie. There was a big burly kid in the room when they were all watching television and he said 'hey, change the channel to something Chuckie can watch ... this doesn't have words.' They were all great."
Showing some of that intensity while signing to Arellano, Johnson said, "I like wrestling because you are on a team, but it is a one-man sport. You have to work very hard in this sport, really focus. This is a self-improvement sport that's why I am wrestling. Maybe I'll want to try to wrestle in college, but for now I'm not sure whether I want all my focus on wrestling and school or just my major -- forensic psychology, solving crimes."
While he is intensely focused on wrestling, one of the most physically demanding of all sports, Johnson never forgets his work in the classroom.
"He will miss school with wrestling tournaments and extracurricular activities," Polhamus said. "But when he comes back, he is always prepared, always knows exactly what is expected of him."
On his way
The boy, the one who is so rapidly becoming a young man, works tirelessly through the daily two-hour practice sessions. Occasionally, he will smile and poke Arellano on the arm ... teasing a little.
"He's bad," Arellano said, laughing and signing, so Johnson could understand.
Johnson smiled and signed back quickly: "She's lying."
Not much average about this boy, not much at all. Normal? Yes. Average? No. And he appears to be one of those blessed young people, one who has that magnetic personality ... a charm and enthusiasm and joy of life that lures others to him.
"You do get attached," Arellano admitted.
Lourdes Johnson said, "The Lord really blessed us with him."
Chuckie Johnson is just a boy, a boy blossoming into manhood and a boy who knows what is possible in this life, what is always possible. No limits. And he will tell you:
"Deaf people can do anything but hear."
And on he works, noiselessly, silently ... hearing little, knowing so much.
Johnson file
Who: Chuckie Johnson, junior captain of Burges' wrestling team.
Age: 17.
Weight class: 160 pounds.
Academics: An honor student with an A-B average, highest on the team. Member of the National Honor Society, Who's Who Among American High School Students, Who's Who Among American High School Athletes.
Bill Knight may be reached at bknightelpasotimes.com
Photo Caption:Burges High School wrestler Chuckie Johnson, right, watched interpreter Luz Arellano during a recent practice at the school. Johnson is the team's captain and is succeeding in the classroom and outside school.
Photo Caption:Burges wrestler Chuckie Johnson finished second in his district tournament this weekend. He is one of the school's top wrestlers despite having been deaf since birth. Johnson's work ethic has helped him become a team leader.
Photo Caption:Communication is key Burges wrestler Chuckie Johnson, who is deaf, talked with head coach Jeff Himelspach during a recent practice. Interpreter Luz Arellano translates into sign language for Johnson, who is the team captain of the Mustangs wrestling team.
Photo Caption:Burges wrestler Chuckie Johnson, right, works out with teamate Kenny Berry during a wrestling practice.
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Copyright (c) El Paso Times. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
Difference between a winner and loser - THE EDGE by Coach Doug Reese
What is the difference between a winner and a loser? Many times it just boils down to confidence.
Over my coaching career I have seen many a team and individuals blessed with enormous talent and ability that couldn’t seem to grasp the victory that was theirs for the taking. They lacked confidence, faith, and assurance that they could capture the victory. They didn’t believe they could overcome and win. They didn’t think they could win, so they were never able to secure the victory.
As a college wrestling coach I am always searching for the best student-athletes possible. I attend a lot of high school wrestling matches. In the past two weeks I have watched 15 dual meets, two tournaments, and put on a high school wrestling clinic. Of course, I look for the athletes who make winning a habit, and who possess great technical skills, but what catches my eye is the athlete who walks like a champion.
The walk of a champion is built upon confidence, assurance, and self-possession. Confidence is faith in oneself and one's powers without any suggestion of conceit or arrogance. Assurance carries a stronger implication of certainty and may suggest arrogance or lack of objectivity in assessing one's own powers. The self-assured athlete will look at the impossible and say, ‘I can do this.’ Self-possession implies an ease or coolness under stress that reflects perfect self-control and command of one's powers.
I want the confident, assured, and self-possessed athlete on my team! How about you?
How do you see yourself? Is it as a champion who wins nearly every bout or as a loser – someone who struggles, never seeming to conquer a single problem? How you perceive yourself is very important because it will ultimately affect the way other people see you!
A loser carries an air of inferiority with them. They talk negatively, make excuses, and lose self-control. It is not hard to pick out this kind of attitude in people. On the other hand, the self-confident and self-assured are easy to recognize… because they ooze confidence.
It is a simple fact that you will project what you feel about yourself to others. So how you see yourself is exactly how others will see you!
In Romans 8:37 Paul tells us how we need to see ourselves. He writes, “…we are more than conquerers…”
The words “more than” are derived from the Greek word huper, which literally means over, above, and beyond. It depicts something that is way beyond measure. It carries the idea of superiority – something that is paramount, first-rate, first-class, top-notch; greater, higher, and better than; superior to, dominant, and incomparable; more than a match for; unsurpassed, unequaled, and unrivaled…
This is the word that Paul uses to explain what kind of conquerors we are in Jesus Christ. We are huper-conquerors!
Who are you? You are precisely a first-rate, beyond measure, top-notch, dominant and incomparable, unequaled conqueror in Jesus Christ! So stop looking at yourself as a struggling loser. Regardless of your past experience, you must begin to look at yourself through God’s eyes in the light of Romans 8:37. God declares that you are a winner!
Now you need to start walking like a champion, oozing out that confidence in all directions. Not only will you see the difference, but others will notice it too.
Make a decision right now to see yourself the way God sees you – as a Champion, a walloping and conquering force! You are more than a match for any adversary that comes against you. Walk like a champion.
Over my coaching career I have seen many a team and individuals blessed with enormous talent and ability that couldn’t seem to grasp the victory that was theirs for the taking. They lacked confidence, faith, and assurance that they could capture the victory. They didn’t believe they could overcome and win. They didn’t think they could win, so they were never able to secure the victory.
As a college wrestling coach I am always searching for the best student-athletes possible. I attend a lot of high school wrestling matches. In the past two weeks I have watched 15 dual meets, two tournaments, and put on a high school wrestling clinic. Of course, I look for the athletes who make winning a habit, and who possess great technical skills, but what catches my eye is the athlete who walks like a champion.
The walk of a champion is built upon confidence, assurance, and self-possession. Confidence is faith in oneself and one's powers without any suggestion of conceit or arrogance. Assurance carries a stronger implication of certainty and may suggest arrogance or lack of objectivity in assessing one's own powers. The self-assured athlete will look at the impossible and say, ‘I can do this.’ Self-possession implies an ease or coolness under stress that reflects perfect self-control and command of one's powers.
I want the confident, assured, and self-possessed athlete on my team! How about you?
How do you see yourself? Is it as a champion who wins nearly every bout or as a loser – someone who struggles, never seeming to conquer a single problem? How you perceive yourself is very important because it will ultimately affect the way other people see you!
A loser carries an air of inferiority with them. They talk negatively, make excuses, and lose self-control. It is not hard to pick out this kind of attitude in people. On the other hand, the self-confident and self-assured are easy to recognize… because they ooze confidence.
It is a simple fact that you will project what you feel about yourself to others. So how you see yourself is exactly how others will see you!
In Romans 8:37 Paul tells us how we need to see ourselves. He writes, “…we are more than conquerers…”
The words “more than” are derived from the Greek word huper, which literally means over, above, and beyond. It depicts something that is way beyond measure. It carries the idea of superiority – something that is paramount, first-rate, first-class, top-notch; greater, higher, and better than; superior to, dominant, and incomparable; more than a match for; unsurpassed, unequaled, and unrivaled…
This is the word that Paul uses to explain what kind of conquerors we are in Jesus Christ. We are huper-conquerors!
Who are you? You are precisely a first-rate, beyond measure, top-notch, dominant and incomparable, unequaled conqueror in Jesus Christ! So stop looking at yourself as a struggling loser. Regardless of your past experience, you must begin to look at yourself through God’s eyes in the light of Romans 8:37. God declares that you are a winner!
Now you need to start walking like a champion, oozing out that confidence in all directions. Not only will you see the difference, but others will notice it too.
Make a decision right now to see yourself the way God sees you – as a Champion, a walloping and conquering force! You are more than a match for any adversary that comes against you. Walk like a champion.
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