MACU tournament challenge

 

Blood On The Coal by Bobby Joe Angles (my father my he rest in peace)

Most people from different parts of the country view the underground miners as low-mentality people; a concept that couldn’t be more wrong. Stop and think and just give me your attention for just a few moments. Put yourself in my world. 

I live in southwest Virginia. It is beautiful country. But living off the land went out big time around the same time I turned 10 years old. I was raised on a large farm. My old man raised us six boys on a 12-dollar-a-week salary. But we had free trade in livestock. That year the farm changed hands and we moved to town.

Now it is ’91 and I’m the one with the young family. Mining is my way of life. I’d hell of a lot rather be farming, but in order to do so my family would suffer. My boys deserve better than what I got. I almost made it through college. Had I just a small amount of support I am sure I could have. But I was raided poor and knew when to say enough.

After quitting college I tried several jobs and soon found out that in this part of the country it’s No Risks, No Bucks. I guess that’s a crude way to putting it, but so be it. Although it doesn’t seem that long ago, it’s been almost 15 years since I first went underground.

Here lately I’ve been rode hard and put up wet. I’m sure you’ve probably heard from the news that the coalfields aren’t doing well. And when times get like this it always makes the life on an underground miner much harder. You’re expected to produce just as much mineral, with a little over half a crew, as you produced with a full crew.

Needless to say, times are hard. But an old coal miner is pretty well used to that. Coal mining has always been a boom-or-bust, feast-or-famine way of life. Whether or not we can produce the coal has never figured into it. That’s taken for granted. 

A man can be the best in the field one day and without a job or for not having one the next. But it’s like I say; we old miners are tough, and we hang in there. Every man that’s worth a damn cares about more than himself, a good man has a conscience. I live and work for my family as well as myself. And that’s what keeps me and a lot of other miners going.

I’m talking about the times when the mountain is cruel and hard. Times when it’s too low to sit up straight and take a drink of water. Crawling in water up to your privates, with somebody back in a high dry place hollering about what’s taking so long to get that miner moved place to place. Your first impulse (and I used to take it) is to just crawl out of that hole. Get off whoever’s hill you’re on and head toward the house. But a man with a family has more than his feelings to take into account. So, a “good un” will just grin and bear it. A man’s got to overlook a lot of ignorant people in this old world. 

The mountain is hard but it’s fair. If you’re willing to work hard and pay attention, you can make a living. Conditions are always changing. She’ll be wet and low for maybe half a mile, and then it might get pretty good for a whole mile or so. The work is always the same—it’s the conditions that change. But you’ll never get a large oil company (they own most of the mines) to understand that simple fact. 

When conditions are good and we’re top producers, setting records and such as that, everybody lives well. When conditions are bad the Company automatically puts the pressure on. Lack of production has to be the result of insufficient motivation on the part of the Boss or the men or both. The first thing they do is replace the boss. And then they start on the men. Meanwhile the conditions will change and you’re back on top. But a lot of times you lose a damn good Boss and end up working for one with an inflated ego and very little knowledge of mining and the men who live there. You see, a lot of people visit mines, but we live there.

I’ve been bossing for the last little bit. It involves a whole lot of thinking and responsibility. I went for better than ten years without having to resort to bossing as a means of making a living. It all boils down to the family man I talked about earlier. 

I find myself in a predicament—a “puzzlement,” the mountain men would say. I agreed to boss because of the times and the lack of job security. And I did well – to good. Now they’re taking me away from my mines and crew to send me to a so-called “problem mine,” one that’s going through bad conditions. I’ve got no choice in the matter. 

Let me sort of lay out the setting here for you. These men have been going through Hell for the last little bit. They’ve been told that if they don’t do better they’ll be replaced. And them sending me to replace the other boss is a show of the power the Company has over mortal man.

I’m sitting here right now studying – that’s what we call deep in thought. Just how am I going to approach these men? I know how they’ll be before I even get there. Cause I’ve been through it a lot of times on both ends. 

They’ll be there in the bath house changing into their work clothes. Some come an hour before work time, others make it just in time to catch the man-trip. Usually the old ones, the old-timers, allow themselves for time than the younger ones. 

I’ll come in and pick me out a locker. Not too far from the heater or too close to the door. They’ll act like they don’t even see me, sort of look at you out of the corner of their eye. They’ll make small talk; some form my benefit, some for pure entertainment. The talk for my benefit will be along the lines of what and all can become of a man in the little dog hole…terrible things that have been known to happen to SOB’s who tried to push their weight around. 

And then again some will be cordial. They’ll try to feel you out, see if you have any mountain boy in you. Questions like, “Did you get any deer this year.” I’ll take my can of Skoal out, being sure to take the proper time to open it carefully and on purpose. I’ll carefully take a dip, offer him the can, and he’ll probably say, “Thank you just the same, but I don’t use it.”

Then I’ll look around the bath house but never at the men, and then I’ll look just to right or left of the man who spoke, miners never looking directly at whom they’re talking to. If you did your light would be in their eyes. That’s an insult. You live underground a lot of years and you do it by nature. 

“Killed a buck and eat a doe,” I’ll finally answer him. He’ll know by my downward glance that I’m not overly proud of either, and by the same token that, yes, indeed I’ve got some mountain boy down deep. And there is a bond there, between two mountain men. We both know that we can survive on top of the mountain as well as under it. And I know that if I show him I’m there to make a living he will do the same. 

It’s common practice at all company mines for the Boss to give a safety talk at the start of the shift. I like to wait until we have portaged to the face and set our buckets down at the power center. That’s the time that a smart boss tells the men what he wants them to do. If you talk work before work time, some take it personal.

In there, I’m responsible for the whole crew. Anything they do can and will be used against me. I start out by saying I never was much for speeches. But that I do feel there are times when something needs to be said. 

"We all know the reason I’m here (I’ll stop and take a long time spitting.) I don’t know your old boss…whether he was a good one or a bad one…I don’t guess it much matters now. He’s gone his way and I’m here.

We’re all out here to make a living. The Company isn’t something we can deal with but, still, it’s the one we choose to live with. If that weren’t so you wouldn’t be our here tonight nor would I. 

Fellers, we’re all out here to make a living. I don’t ask any of you to do more than you’re capable of doing. 

I hate the words “job sacred.” I know that when you try too hard you get hurt—sometimes bad. I don’t want that. The Company doesn’t want that. 

You’re all good coal miners. You have been for a lot of years. I’ll give you a chance if you’ll give me one. We’ll do what we do best or leave with the rest. But most of all I want you to know, I don’t want one damn lump of coal going out here with blood on it.

Now, you all go do what you do best and I’ll try to fit in."

There is nothing like a bulldog

I hope you are able to know the love of a bulldog. My family and I were blessed to have our bulldog for 10 years as part of our family. There are some wonderful breeds of dogs, in fact some of the best dogs I have ever met have been those that it is impossible to tell what was their breed. That being said, I love bulldogs. What makes bulldogs so special? First, it is their temperament. Lucy was the sweetest dog to not only me, but more importantly to my little girls. She was so patient and laid back, she would let the girls do about anything with her. They hugged her, they played with her, they even brushed her teeth. Second, I love the sounds bulldogs make. For some these sounds can be endearing to others annoying, for me the sounds of snoring, gruning, and such help me to relax and sleep. Without them I have had a hard time sleeping. Third, I think they are beautiful. I know, that is very subjective. So be it. This bulldog has been a wonderful constant in lives of my family and me. The picture to your left was when she was our mascot for VBS one year. She did wonderful, bulldogs really are bread to be mascots. Let me share a few pictures and thoughts with you. I know this is for my own healing, so bear with me. 

This is the first the first time I meet Lucy. Crystal, my wife, was in Georgia for a work trip and she came into contact with a man that had bulldog puppies. She shocked me when she brought home this beautiful bulldog.  She quickly became a source of great comfort and love for me. 

One of my favorite things in the world to do was to sit on the couch work on the laptop, watch college football, and hold my sweet bulldog. She was always happy to see me, happy give me love, and to listen to me. I went through a rough patch of depression during this time. Having Lucy to love and to hold was very important for my mental health. No matter how I was feeling, what was going on, my attitude, or mood, she was always there ready to love and to be loved. I will always be grateful for this wonderful bulldog because she was there when I needed her most. 

When we had our little girls everything in our lives changed, and for the good. The joy they have brought to our home is immeasurable. Lucy was a part of their lives from day 1. They loved her and she loved them. At night she would go room to room checking on the girls and then back to our room. She would not go to sleep at night until she knew the girls were in their rooms, in their beds, and safe. She would often lay by their beds until they went to sleep. Then she would come back to our room. She would not go to bed until I was in my bed and often would be very annoyed until I turned off my laptop and we could go to sleep. Below are several pictures that show the love between little girls and their bulldog. 

Lucy was very tolerant of their playing with her, that is a wonderful thing. 

 These two pictures of above are the girls waiting for Crystal to get home from work. The first one is our oldest and the second is both of them about 3 years later. 

The one on the left was our oldest one and Lucy both taking a nap side by side. 

As Lucy got older she slowed down so very much. She did not play like she did when she was younger. She slept a lot, but never lost her love for us. On Saturday when I got home in the evening, Lucy was in her bed and had not been up all day. I went in and carried her outside so she could relieve herself. She was not able to walk so I helped her and then carried back in. I was able to get her to drink, but she would not eat or take her pain medicine. As the evening progressed I knew this was likely the end for my sweet bulldog. I have been with 10's of people when they have passed. The process for Lucy was very similar, the breathing and everything. I took her and put her in the bed with me in another room, just the two of us. She could not get comfortable in her bed and was clearly in pain. 

When I put her in the bed beside me. she laid in the crock of my arm and was content. I held her for several hours as she rested. I petted her and told how much she was loved. At 2 AM I recognized the sound of her breathing as being near the end. I prayed for God to let her rest and she died in my arms. I prayed and thanked God for letting have such a wonderful dog in my life. I realized she was there for me when I needed her most and was always there for me. I realized she brought she tremendous joy and comfort to my life. I thanked God that my little girls were able to know the love of a bulldog. I also prayed about how they would handle it, they have never known life without Lucy in it. The next morning, when the girls got up I was still holding Lucy. They came in and I told them. There were many tears, and many more to come over the last few days. 

I had to get up, and get ready to do what I must at the church. So I did. When I came home we buried Lucy in a part of the yard she loved and the girls decorated her grave with things they thought she would like. I hate death. I know Lucy was dog, not a human. I know there have been and will be much greater hurts and losses in our lives. Nevertheless, it hurts. I so look forward to the day when there is no morth death or mourning or tears. Until that day we cherish those we love, most of all our kids and spouses and friends, but also our fur babies. 

An Immigrant’s Story

They were young, poor, and scared. However, they had love.  Joe loved his newlywed wife and he loved his first born son. He wanted to do what was best for them, and was willing to pay a price for it. With his wife and young child in tow, he fled his homeland looking for safety. 

The local political leadership was very corrupt. Their leader was brutal. Joe had heard the stories of how the dictator had put to death anyone he thought was against him or could somehow threaten his power. There was even talk of him being mentally ill. It would not be first, nor the last leader that struggled with mental illness. He manifested his rage by ordering the slaughter of children. No one in their right mind would kill little kids. Since he had all the power, the military obeyed his orders.

Joe was afraid for his family and they fled to more prosperous and safe country. They crossed over the boarder secretly. As refugees they had no rights and little opportunities, but they had hope. Hope will lead us to the unknown. Hope will keep us going, even in a place where we don’t know the language or the culture.


In time, the dictator died and Joe and his family came back to their own land. There they lived simple lives of faith. When the child grew to be a man he began to travel and experience life. But safety was not to be found. As a small child he fled persecution. Now the greatest force the world had ever seen was in power. They would not allow anyone to disrupt their power or will. The military came to his country, took it over, and implemented their own policies. Religious freedom was compromised, there was no freedom of the press or speech. As an ethnic minority, from a race of people that were tolerated at best, the young man was in danger.

He became a powerful leader among his own people. He was a tremendous speaker, able to attract thousands of listeners. He was both beloved and hated, as is always the case with those that seek to make the world a better place. He was arrested on false charges and was not given a fair trial. He was sentenced to death and there was nothing anyone could do about it. It was wrong, it was cruel, and it was reality. The forces felt threatened and they responded as most in power do, with violence. They killed the man, Jesus.

I thank God for this family of refugees that fled to Egypt and in time came back to Israel. I thank God that Jesus came and lived a life of a poor, traveling, teacher. I thank God that Jesus was willing to allow the Romans to nail him to the cross. No one would have believed the Savior of the world would come into a poor, refugee family. However, God’s ways are not our ways.

Who do you love?

            It is so easy to love some people. The precious giggles and kisses from my two little girls make it so easy to love them. The diligent, consistent nature of my wife makes her easy to love. The sweet, gracious woman that is going through cancer treatments, but still makes time to encourage me and bring my family meals is easy to love. The ones that make us strive to be more than we think we can be, are easy to love. The ones that show love to those I love, are easy to love. The ones that I agree with, are easy to love.

            However, there are some people that I find very difficult to love. Those that would do harm, physically, emotionally, or spiritually to those I love, I find very difficult to love. Those that are untrustworthy, manipulative, domineering, or lying, I find very difficult to love. Those that make it clear, through their words and/or actions, that they seek to discourage me, I find it very difficult to love. Those that use their both their spoken words and written words to tear down and bring division, are very difficult to love. Those that I totally disagree with, I find difficult to love.

            Nevertheless, the words of Jesus keep coming back to me. The law is summarized in two commands, love God with all your being and love your neighbor as you love yourself (Luke 10:27). He goes on to explain who our neighbor is by telling perhaps his best known parable, the parable of the good Samaritan. This story has become so well known that it is easy to miss the profound nature of what Jesus means here. It means more than simply helping the person you see in trouble, though that is a very good thing to do. It goes deeper than that simple meaning.

            For hundreds of years the Jews and Samaritans were hated enemies. This hatred is still seen, to some extent, with the conflicts between Israel and Palestine today. Both groups claimed they were the rightful heirs of the promises to Abraham and Moses, both claimed they were the rightful owners of the land. It was dangerous to travel between the lands in Jesus’ day. It can be dangerous today as well. If one takes a direct route from Galilee to Jerusalem, it will take them through the West Bank. Most Israelites today will avoid that route if possible. Most at the time of Jesus would take a less direct route and go to Jericho first, then go up the mountain to Jerusalem.

            Danger could still be found on this route as well. Robbers often preyed on travelers as they walked this lonely road. Often those who had been mugged were left for dead. In our story, a Jewish man had been beaten, robbed, and left for dead. A good Jewish person on their way to the Temple would be very hesitate to touch someone that might be dead, because it would make them ceremonially unclean. Thus, preserving their purity was more important, in their misguided view, than showing love to their neighbor.

            When the lawyer asked Jesus who counts as a neighbor, he fully expected the answer to be other Israelites. Yet, Jesus surprised him, and all who heard it no doubt, by teaching that God is much more gracious than he. God is the God of the whole world and a neighbor is anyone in need. Jesus turned the man’s question around and asked him, who is real neighbor in this story?

            Jesus was asking him, can you see that your hated enemy is also your neighbor? The lawyer had deceived himself, and most of his time agreed, into believing that God had shown Israel love and grace so that they could remain isolated, secure, and pure. However, the grace and love that God shows each of us should stand as a challenge to extend love and grace to the whole world. We as Christians must not be content to watch while someone we do not see as a friend lies half dead in the road.

            Yes, it is easy to love those that agree with us, look like us, think like us, and make us feel good about ourselves. It is much harder to live up to the words of Jesus, “the world will know you are my disciples by the way you love one another” (John 13:35).

            In 1 John 4:7-11 we are commanded to love another, if we are unable to love, then we do not know God. God showed us what real love is by sending Jesus to die for us. Therefore, “if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

            Let us be known as a community of faith that shows love, grace, and compassion because we have been shown the same by God. If God only loved those who are worthy, showed grace to those who had earned it (as if that were possible), and expressed compassion to those who deserve it, none of us would know the love, grace, and compassion of the Lord. Therefore, let us go forth and do the same.

7 Ways I Am Praying For Our President

     Like many of you, I am frustrated with the current political climate. This election cycle has been, and continues to be, full of negative campaigns, name calling, scandals, and a lack of respect on both sides. That being said, one thing I know for sure, God is in control. Regardless of the results of the upcoming election, God is sovereign and in the end, He will set all things to right. Also, let me remind you of the words of 1 Peter 2:17, “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”

     I reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul, in 1 Timothy 2:1-3, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior.” When Paul wrote these instructions, Nero was the Emperor. Nero was a persecutor of Christians and nevertheless, Christians were told to pray for him. Regardless of who is president now, or in the future, it is important for us to pray for them. So how do we do that? Let me make a few suggestions of how we can pray for our president regardless of our political affiliation.

1.     I am praying for our President to have wisdom. As Solomon prayed for wisdom in 1 Kings 3, I am praying for our President to have wisdom from God. The President needs wisdom to govern, to lead, and to inspire. True wisdom comes from God and I praying our President seeks the will of God in all things.

2.     I am praying for wise advisors. Proverbs 24:6 says there is victory in the multitude of wise counselors.

a.     I am praying for those that would advise toward evil or foolishness to be removed. Proverbs 25:5 says, “take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

b.     I am praying for God to raise up men and women like Joseph, Daniel, Esther, and Nehemiah. Men and women who love the Lord more than their political agenda. Men and women who fear God more than man.

3.     I am praying for the President’s family. All of us know that what happens in our homes greatly effects what happens in our jobs. I am praying the President has a strong marriage, a spouse that loves the Lord, loving children, and unity based on trust and faith. I am praying for their health and their safety.

4.     I am praying for the President to have humility. Thomas Jefferson once said, “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever.” A wise President knows that they are only human and not divine. They understand that there is a day of judgment for all.

5.     I am praying for the President to seek what is righteous and just. Romans 13 says that the primary function of government is to reward those that do good and punish those that do evil. I pray the President understands what is right in the eyes of God, and what it means to bring about justice. Furthermore, I am praying that our President seeks to keep our nation, and the whole world, safe.

6.     I am praying for the President to have the courage to do what is right. We live in an age that is directed by opinion polls and negative feedback. I am praying that our President will listen less to what people seem to want, and rather will seek to do the right thing regardless of public opinion.

7.     I am praying for the President to be quick to listen, slow speak, and slow to become angry (James 1:19). I pray the President is quick to listen to the Lord, to wise counselors, and to those that disagree with their policies. I pray the President is slow to say words that cannot be taken back. That his/her words would not be malicious, untrue, or spoken without forethought. I am praying for the President to control his/her temper. There are things that should make us angry, but we are not to allow anger to control us.

      I love our country, I served our country, and would again. Because of that, I am praying. These are just a few things I am praying about in regards to our current and future President. Will you join me in these prayers?

Stars Wars was really cool, let's do it again, sure why not?

There are no midichlorians, no Jar Jar, no senate speeches, no weird bad chemistry forced relationships, no over the top CGI, and they didn’t kill the cool villain in the first movie (like in Episode 1) and that is all good. Yes there are desert worlds, quests, droids, Skywalkers, the Millennium Falcon, lightsabers, and other such elements we want to see. I love that it is a return to original feel. I also love a few of the new characters, there is a strong female lead and this new/old universe now has people of color, that's cool. It is fast paced with great concepts and potential.

On the negative it relied too much on the original story. I can imagine J. J. Abrams and his writing group sitting around brainstorming what to do with this movie. Hey I have an idea, I loved the originals, I mean who didn’t? So let’s take our favorite parts and just redo it with different characters. Like what? Well, Vader is the coolest villain ever, so lets get a fanboy wannabe, sure why not? Let have him have a black mask too, sure why not? Hey everybody loves R2D2, so let’s bring him back, but let's get a new one too that is real cute and smart, sure why not? Hey why we are at it let’s have him carrying vital information and put him a desert planet, sure why not? Hey let’s have the Vader wannabe arrive on the scene shortly after that information is handed off looking for the droid, sure why not? Hey let's have that guy and some storm troopers kill a village why we are at it, sure why not? Hey it was a cool scene when Darth Vader tortured the hero, let’s do that again, sure why not? Hey let’s let one of our heros be from that same planet and be strong in the force, but not know about it yet, sure why not? Hey we had Obi Wan teach them, we need an old wise guy to teach right, how about using Han Solo, everyone loves Han right, sure why not? Hey it was fun how Han was always in trouble with a criminal element right, so let’s do that again, sure why not? Oh and remember in the originals Obi Wan died at the hand of Vader, well how about our new wise one dies at the hand of the new Vader, sure why not? Oh and remember how Luke had to watch it from a distance and could do nothing to stop it, well let’s do that again too what do you say, sure why not? Hey do you remember there was a military leader in the originals (Tarkin) that was equal to Vader in authority, but could not use the force? We need someone like that again this time, let’s call him General Hux, sure why not? Hey we need an cantina scene with some cool looking aliens, sure why not? I loved that they introduced the Emperor as a big, mysterious hologram and that was cool, let's do that again with the new really bad guy, sure why not? Hey remember that time that Obi Wan used the force to get a stormtrooper to do what he wanted, well we have to do that again right, sure why not? The death star was cool enough for two movies, why not a third; hey let's make it really big this time like a planet and why not blow it up too, using X Wings and monitored in a control room by Leia, sure why not?

Well you get the idea, but you know what? It was cool, so sure why not. I’d like to see it again and hope the next one is not just Luke training his apprentice in a weird planet like Yoda. Well, that was pretty cool and I miss Yoda, so why not?