Committing to a Dream
by Paul Michalski
Remember Coach Don Nava? For guys new to NCS, Coach Nava is a Christian life fitness coach from California who was up on stage at several NCS retreats inspiring us to get physically fit in some wacky but fun and memorable (I still have nightmares about the shoulder rubbing chains) ways. Don wrote the book “Fit After 40” and has a fitness program called “Totally Fit Life” (
http://www.totallyfitlife.com/pages/about_coach). Well, this is not about Don but about his son Daniel. An amazing story was shared today by David Lane (a brother of Jim Lane and one of the 23+ progeny of Jim Lane, Sr. who came up on stage at the 2009 Retreat).
We Really Need Energy Groups
By Jim Lane
Many of you already know of the tragic death of our friend and NCS brother, Leo Stephens, who ended his life two weeks ago at the age of 46. Leo was a devoted husband and father and an active member of the NCS Manchester, Vermont chapter.
Although Energy Groups have been around for several years (one of my NCS New Canaan groups started in June 2004 and is still going strong), three Chapters have arranged for Energy Groups to meet in the same location as Chapter meetings.
I made my first visit to NCS Orlando/The Parks Society last week--my wife Lisa and I were invited down to tell "our story" (must have been an off-week). Although Orlando was cold and overcast, the Parks Society meeting was warm and bright!
I attended a funeral service today for an NCS brudder, Ed Wheeler. I don’t like funerals, because they remind me that my days are numbered. I particularly dislike funerals of people who are not really old, because they remind me that my number is unpredictable. Ed was only 55. I am approaching 49. But Ed’s funeral made me think about “showing up”—what we say NCS is about at its core (I thought about it so much that I sent myself an e-mail that said “showing up” just so I wouldn’t forget). It also made me think about what it means to be a “faithful presence”—what the 2010 Retreat is all about.