Football in Bremen!

This past week I loaded up the van with my family and took the 9 hour drive to Bremen, Indiana to watch some High School football. Call me crazy.

Two of my nephews start for the team – one is quarterback and the other a wide receiver. Proud uncles can’t resist a combination like that!

Bremen has a proud football tradition. I was there in Indianapolis when they won the state championship... not a bad feat for a little town with a total high school population of some 400 or so (including the girls!).

The boys were picked to lose this game against the rival John Glenn team from Walkerton, but I never believed it. The day began with nephew Matt announcing to the school via morning announcement video feed that “the relatives from Canada are here to see the game... so let’s win one for Canada!” That got him 5 bucks.

Later that night, we walked to the stadium with hats and gloves and grabbed our spots high up on the bleachers on the 50 yard line. Some Miller kid ran the opening kick off back for a touchdown – which is always a pleasant way to start a game. The kick was good and it was 7-0 Lions with barely a minute (17 seconds to be extremely precise) off the clock. Bremen kept the lead throughout, although Glenn was threatening in the fourth quarter when nephew Matt perfectly timed a clutch tackle that popped the ball out of the receiver’s hands making for a very incomplete pass!

Matt's Amazing Tackle

Nephew Chris was rock solid tossing the pigskin, although this was primarily a running game. I never saw the totals, but he must have rushed for about 40 yards himself... with some stunning dish offs ("the option" to purists). Enough to make his uncle cringe in fear! There he was, all wrapped up by some hulking Glenn defender and in the process of falling to the ground when – boink – he would toss the ball to a teammate for some extra yardage. He must have done that 723 times in the game! And it worked. Chris is the king of the little shovel pass in my books.

Chris with the Shovel Pass

After the victory, the whole team gathered before the stands and sang a sweaty rendition of the school song. Chris spotted me in the crowd and gave me the shout out. That got him 5 bucks.

My kids loved the game and while everyone was playing football, Mrs. Kerux was meeting up with all kinds of old friends from school days. (She saw most of the game, though!)

Best of all, I watched a couple boys I used to throw passes to in the backyard of Grandpa’s house acting like men. And not just on the field either. Both Chris and Matt have given good testimony to a work of God in their lives and these fellows live for Jesus. An uncle could not feel much prouder.

Chris taking off on another fantastic rush!

Matt lining up on defense... he plays both ways.

Still curious?

FINAL SCORE:
BREMEN 28
WALKERTON 18

And Saturday morning we got up and drove 9 hours home so I could preach today. What a nice few days!

(Photo Credits: Aunt Karen)

Is This What Your Family Does at Christmas?

How these things get started is really a subject of deep mystery. Nevertheless, our family was treated to a rare appearance of that comedic genius, Lester Bogus Hornbunckle, this past week. Not every family gathering includes live entertainment, especially of this calibre. And for that you should be thankful.

Yes, that is me he is mocking near the end. It went on for much longer, but thankfully my memory card filled up.

Well, that was nice!

Mrs. kerux, the keruxettes, the mini-kerux and I came back last night from almost a week of travel in the US. We were down to take part in the wedding of our flower girl (which made me feel about 137 years old!) who is 23 or something now and found a great guy to marry who has quite a throat-clearing surname.

I also managed to preach Sunday night at Grace Fellowship Church of Bremen – a church pastored by my brother-in-law Jon Hueni and his dad (my father-in-law and good pal) Bob Hueni. The church is also shepherded by one Aaron Hoake who is married to an Erin Hoake. Not that this is confusing. The three of them, the first Aaron, my brother-in-law and father-in-law are good eggs and good shepherds.

I was sicker than a hound dog hit by a Mack truck and left for dead on the wedding day – a nice little fever and pretty much every symptom known to man. The mini-kerux was ring delivery boy and one of the keruxettes was flower girl and I, the real kerux, was emcee of the reception. Here is a hint for all aspiring emcee’s: do not take two puffers of unknown substance, three Imodium, two Tylenol and antibiotics immediately before standing in front of people when you are trying to be funny.

We stopped by our friends the Macmaster’s on the way home. They have a lovely new home in Michigan which makes me think they will find the commute to church in Toronto a little long. They live in a place called Zeeland, which of course, being Canadians, they pronounce “Zedland.” You can tell there are a lot of Dutch people living around there since it is the only 12 square mile grid in all of Michigan with decent roads. Speaking of terrible roads in Michigan, the University of Michigan was spanked by USC 32-18 in the Rose Bowl, but we still passed thousands of people lining the interstate to catch a glimpse of the boys as they returned in shame. What would the traffic had been like if they won? Grown men were climbing the freeway fence to stand in the cold and wave. Those Yankees and their sports...

We came home to find out that a goldfish can live for 6 days without food. That was a mercy.

Still no snow in Toronto. That’s okay. It could go summer on me now and I would be happy... Christmas is over!

[Update: Mrs. kerux says the crowds were for the President Ford funeral procession. I am sticking with my story though. Now let's see... exactly where is the University of Michigan...]