It's Friday. Time to Relax

This is my 3rd attempt for the day. The other two times I started, I kept getting into some philosophical point that was taking too much space and creating too much chaos in my head. It's Friday, right? Time to kick up the feet and relax for the weekend. All the while, the chaos in my head hasn't quieted but I will move on with the Friday theme.

Tonight is Decatur's homecoming. My wife and daughter will be there to support the blue and white (and controversial black) and battle the crowds of people who do come home. I'm not a fan of homecoming and I would like to meet the person who created the whole mum frenzy. It's bizarre.

My son and I will travel to Argyle to see the Yellowjackets of Boyd take on Argyle (the Eagles, I believe). It should be a really good game with a good 2A team going up against a growing 3A program (Arglye was in the 2A state championship game last year).

No baseball this weekend so I get to mow! Woohoo. Have a great weekend and if you want to test out a zero turn radius mower, just drop by around 8:30 Saturday morning.

Run to the Finish Line

Yesterday, I had the joy of watching my daughter run in a cross country meet. These meets are usually run over a 2 mile (or slightly longer) course. I could tell funnies about the course and some of the people there but the attention was all on the girls. A girl from Lindsey came in first way, way, way ahead of everyone else. A girl from Alvord couldn't finish the course and I could see what I thought to be confusion and agony in her eyes as she was going to her knees. We later heard she might have been suffering from hypoglycemia. After that long of a run in the lovely 93 degree blazing heat, all the girls looked tired as they came close to the end. I saw an older man standing near the next to last turn cheering every girl from every school on for the final stretch. Neat stuff.

It was good to see several young ladies I knew run and compete well but there was one who had my eye. A tall, pretty girl who really dislikes getting up in the morning for early morning practices and has never seemed to be a big fan of sweating ran a great race. It wasn't her best time and she didn't finish at the head of the pack but what she did was compete, try hard, overcome heat and dust and put out the effort to finish the race. It was her kick at the end, not wanting to let an opponent get by her, that really let her spirit show through. Coming through the last turns, she looked like she had already given all she would give but in those last few yards, she dug down to find a bit more. That will serve her well through life and I am so proud of what she has accomplished. She has improved a great deal in the past several weeks with her times dropping dramatically. I know she has grown physically stronger. Even more, she has grown mentally stronger - taking on a challenge and accomplishing personal victory. She ran and she finished and all the while is winning personal victories. I am very proud of her.

You go girl!

Fall Is In The Air

It feels good today. It was somewhere around 58 degrees when I ran the school route this morning. I love it when the cool air comes to town. Rumor has it that we'll see 90 again this week so I'll enjoy today all I can.

Last Friday was our 16th wedding anniversary. We celebrated at a favorite restaurant where we had the wedding rehearsal and enjoyed sitting out on the patio among the trees and close to a large fountain. It was a great evening. Even more, it's been a great 16 years. I've already said all my gushy stuff in private so here I'll just say "thank you" and "I love you" to my beautiful wife. I trust the years will continue to bring us more happy and joyful moments.

You may have noticed my postings have become less frequent. It's not that I have less to say, only that I have less time to say it lately. I hope to get back to a more routine posting and may try giving it a go in the evening. Thanks to those of you who have said something about it. I know I have a generally quiet audience (save the "golf is the one true sport" and the "Sonic coney" guys) so I want to say that I appreciate you taking the time to drop by.

Life in LA

I'm back in Los Angeles and saw what will probably be the baseball game of the year last night. I was at the Dodgers and Padres game and it was a fantastic finish. The LA fans boo their team at the drop of a hat and cheer wildly when they do something great. It was an interesting night and one I enjoyed.

This trip I have a great view of the marina across the street from our hotel and all the boats (big boats) that are parked there. There's quite a few I would like to hop aboard and take a ride on but the police might not look at it the same way.

I walked down Venice Beach yesterday. I saw Muscle Beach and the basketball courts that have been seen in a number of movies and lots of wierd people. The guy walking on broken glass barefooted had to be the craziest. There were several homeless looking folks but they didn't beg like they do in other cities. Skimpy bikinis (I closed my eyes) and one guy in a leopard print thong and roller blades (I wish I would have had my eyes closed). I'm sure it was more subdued on a Monday than it would be on the weekend and I'm pretty sure I'm thankful for that.

I miss my wife and kids. I called home tonight and my son answered the phone and I could hear the happy voice that I wish I was with. I got to talk to my angel and remembered how sweet and loving she is to me. I'll visit with my lovely bride later and look forward to Thursday when I'm home and with them all. I miss you.

The Rosie Way

Much is being made of Rosie O'Donnell's recent comments on The View that radical Christianity is as dangerous as radical Islam. I'm not Rosie fan (nor a fan of Barbara Walters or any other TV mouthpiece) but her comments are being discussed by many in liberal and conservative camps with very little support for what she said.

Comments like these are the danger of TV, radio and even blogging land. Something you say can easily be taken out of context or said without thought to a wider interpretation of what you mean. It's dangerous to open your mouth sometimes.

Rosie's comment received applause on the clip of the show I was able to see and I'm sure she has supporters but most of what I've seen and heard as been negative. Then again, I don't run in the most liberal circles in the land so maybe I'm just missing alot.

In my mind, the key to her comment was "radical Christians". I'm not completely sure what she meant by that but would agree there are some in our country who kill and hurt in the name of Christianity. I am saddened when I hear of someone blowing up an abortion clinic in the name of Christianity. I don't think that is what Christ would have us do. At the same time, I believe we must speak up, we must teach and not to those who are right in front of us but also to the masses. I'm all for a campaign to ABC wanting a retraction of that statement and even to have someone like Rosie pulled from the show but I also worry about the language or tone some would use in doing that.

I hope we will see Christ using people to combat ludicrous comments made by people who are just like us, sinners in need of redemption. I hope they will speak in a way that will show the love and compassion of a Savior and I hope that people will see Christians as radical only because we believe in something that we cannot see and cannot touch but know in our hearts that exists...a loving God and a beautiful future in eternity.

The Trouble with Work

The trouble with work is that there is so much of it. Some of you have asked why I haven't blogged as much of late. I used to do it first thing in the morning before starting my work day but lately the work is starting earlier and earlier and I haven't been able to write. I've tried writing in the evenings on occasion but after working with a computer most of the day, I really don't want to touch one at home. Calgon, take me away.

I had a great lunch yesterday. My UPS rep is also a preacher for a church in Rockwall. He has been encouraging the eldership there to look at joining in support of a foreign mission work. I had told him awhile back about my trip to Brazil and so yesterday we met to discuss the work Randy is doing in more detail. He's going back to the Elders to ask them to consider joining in. I ask for your prayers that they will be able to help in this incredible effort.

Today I'm having lunch with one of our Elders to discuss a new mission work we want to begin supporting. I'm excited about it and hope we can add this to our missions program.

I was telling my UPS/Preacher friend yesterday about how I used to agree that missions was one of the things we needed to be able to check off on our church to-do list but the last few years have opened my eyes. Getting to know Randy and getting to spend time in Brazil has given me a deeper love for missions and a greater appreciation for God's calling to go and teach. I'm thankful the Decatur church supports our missionary so strongly and look forward to building a stronger presence in the mission fields.

Sacrifice

During the 9/11 memorials and shows much was said about so many sacrifices that have and will be made to protect us and our interests. We often have to sacrifice to get what we want and when we truly want it, the sacrifice never seems too great.

I heard the President talk about a woman whose husband was a New York City fireman who lost his life on 9/11. Her sons have since joined the Army and the FDNY. They were taught that sacrifice was good for them and good for those whom they would serve. The mother willingly accepts that her children may also give as much as her husband did to defend and protect us. The boys have willingly accepted that service to others is noble. What an incredible family and incredible example.

As I thought about this, it wasn't a far jump to think about the sacrifice that was made for me on a cross. I have such respect and admiration for those in public service to others who make my life easier and more enjoyable. That said, how much more I am thankful a Savior who gave his life for me, not that I would have an easier life but that I would have an eternal life.

I am glad people are willing to sacrifice for me but it doesn't compare with the sacrifice that was made to take away my sins, to cleanse and purify me and to send me home to be with my Father.

New Leadership

I was listening to one of the yapping morning shows when an interview with Hillary Clinton came on. Fortunately, the sound went out during most of it but I did hear one comment she made that I agreed with. "We need new leadership" Ms. Clinton claimed. How true, how true.

I wonder what challenges our children will face. We hear the term 'public service' thrown around when people are running for office but it doesn't seem they are always trying to serve the public. On the other hand, even good political leaders get slapped around by their opponents, typically groups on the extremes of normal society.

One of my favorite movies is Dave, a story about a decent guy who is an identical match for the President who suffered a stroke. The President is a sorry guy listening to some sorrier advisors and when he is hit with the stroke, these sorry advisors find Dave to people a talking puppet for them because they don't like/trust the VP. Dave turns out to be a leader, fights off the advisors and becomes a leader of the people. It's a feel good story but one I can almost imagine. Just imagine if we had a bunch of political leaders who spoke to and for the common people of this country, not the noisy extremists.

I never imagined myself agreeing with Hillary but today I do. We need new leadership.

Rangers and Longhorns

I had so hoped to be watching playoff games this year at The Ballpark (I still refuse to call it by it's new name). We are sharing tickets with a group of people and have enjoyed going to the games and at one point not long ago, the prospects of the Rangers making the playoffs looked pretty good. Even though they beat Oakland last night, it seems they are just playing out the season. It will be an interesting off-season. Michael Young needs to be locked up with a new contract because they have him for little money right now - that won't be the case very long. Is Gary Matthews Jr. the real deal or a one year wonder? Can Carlos Lee make this a better team?

The Longhorns played a meaningful game against North Texas last weekend (not) in preparation for the Ohio State Buckeyes this Saturday. So how do the 'Horns celebrate such an illustrious win (not) over the Mean Green? Well, a starting cornerback thought smoking pot was a good idea apparently. Since he was arrested for marijuana AND gun possession, he may not be thinking it was such a good idea now. Yes, yes, there may have been a mistake and we don't know all the facts yet but it doesn't look good for the young man.

Go Rangers! Go Longhorns! For one team, it is playing the rest of the season to get by. For the other, it is playing the rest of the season without anyone else getting high.

Labor Day

I'm laboring on Labor Day - the joys of retail being all that it is. It's a nice, rainy day when there isn't much else I could do but lay on the sofa looking out at the rain, relaxing, maybe reading a book and resting. Yes, I am glad to be at work!

I am thankful for the rain and cool weather. The summer has been brutal and most of you reading this know all the ill-effects we have suffered. We continue to have problems with our well and it scares me to think the water issues that may be slowly creeping up on us. I've heard it said that we could easily face a water shortage in our children's lifetime. I'm no scientist and don't know the facts but the thought of it after waking up several mornings with no water in the tank is a scary proposition.

But today it is raining, it is cool and I will enjoy today. Many have prayed for rain and today we will feel blessed to have it.