Thrilling Victory . . . Happiness Doesn’t Last Long–at least for me anyway.

The “Stone Boys” (Taylor, Tucker, and daddy) went to the second half of the Bears game last night vs. Drake!! What an exciting win and redemptive for a very difficult season for Barry Hinson and the Bears. But the cloud of Barry Hinson’s firing is still hanging around.

That joy did not last long as I heard this news of my friend’s firing as girls basketball coach at Nixa. I have always looked up to Randy Towe as a basketball player at then SMS. He was the point guard for the Bears when I first really remember going to Bears games with my parents back in elementary school. I have always looked up to him as a basketball coach as well at Nixa. They won their State Championship while I was still a student pastor at Hopedale and there was a ton of excitement in this area for their State title run. But I really began to look up to him when I became his friend and pastor several years ago. I began to see what really made him tick–his family, his friends, his players, teaching. His quiet unassuming manner of doing things is a much needed asset in our society.

I am deeply saddened by this news. What I am really sad about is the girls in Nixa who WON’T have the opportunity to play for a great coach like Randy Towe. As several of the comments on the article in the News-Leader state–I’m sure ANY community around here would absolutely LOVE to have Randy Towe as their basketball coach. Coach Randy, I sure hope that if Taylor (Goo-punch) and Tucker grow up to play basketball, they get the OPPORTUNITY to play for a great man like you someday! You are tops in my book!!