Cultivating Character and Competence // Changing Communities and Culture
Welcome to the professional website and personal weblog of Jeremy Del Rio. Whether you're a client, friend, or curious onlooker, please don't stay a spectator. Engage the conversation. Your contributions matter here.
Great game last night. The Nets kicked Buck Butt, 108-95. Jason Kidd had his third triple double in four games (10, 10, 10) and the 80th of his career, and Vince-anity Carter scored 36. In keeping with last year's tradition of opposing teams not performing well after my chapel services, perennial Buck All-Star and the NBA's 3rd-leading scorer (28.9 ppg) Michael Redd had his worst game since April 15, 2005. He was the first to show up for chapel from either team. (Great guy, too, the generous son of a preacher man.) Hmm.
The highlight of my evening was Pastor Willie Alfonso. We've met repeatedly over the past 5 years or so, but never spent much time together before last night. After being abandoned by both parents at age 11, he was homeless for the better part of his teens and became a dope fiend for 18 years. Unable to read or write, he met Jesus in the mid-80s at Gateway Cathedral in Staten Island and was instantly delivered from his addictions. A church volunteer tutored him weekly for 3 years to teach him to read, and now he's chaplain for the Nets and the Spanish chaplain for the World's All-Time Greatest Sports Team Yankees. The lives he influences in turn influence thousands of others every day. What an amazing testimony of God elevating the lowly to unimaginable heights. After the game, journeyman Mikki Moore, who's finding himself this year as a member of the Nets, thanked Pastor Willie for encouraging him to fan into flame the gift of God that is within him.
In honor of Pastor Willie, here are two of of my favorite athletic achievements in the NBA by players overcoming logic, reason, and gravity to soar to historic heights.
Vince Carter dunks over 7'2" Frederic Weiss in the 2000 Olympics (literally, jumps over his head)
5'8" Nate Robertson rejects 7'6" Yao Ming (November 2006)
Welcome to the professional website and personal weblog of Jeremy Del Rio. Whether you're a client, friend, or curious onlooker, please don't stay a spectator. Engage the conversation. Your contributions matter here.
(Two chapters)
(Commentary throughout)
(Study questions throughout)
December 16th, 2006 at 4:40 pm
i think Stackhouse gave his pops a church too just recently.