It used to be a long time ago that when something happened to someone in a community, the community rose up to help them out. I picture the Amish in building homes and industry buildings. Biblical times when families considered responsible for what today would be extended family. And during colonial times, entire communities came to celebrate weddings, harvest time, to mourn deaths and clamity, and to assist in the care of those who were ill. Today, we all should be that community when one in our midst is suffering. A young girl who spends her day with our kids at daycare is in desperate need of help. She is suffering from two someone related illnesses--a benign vascular tumor on her neck and an arterial malformation on her coratid artery that is still growing. Both of these unfortunate illnesses are causing serious health concerns including hindered bone development, compromising immune systerm and required steroid treatments. All of this is too much for a 15-month old to take, and for her family--mom, dad, and 4 year old sister. If the Lord puts it on your heart, can you help support this little girl and her family as they make several trips to Englewood, Colorado to meet with a highly specialized physician to remove from this little girl these infirmities.

Baseball used to be a game where the players were men who were honored and humbled to be playing a game while being adored by millions. Now it’s a game played by spoiled kids where everything is fed to them and taken care of, where money grows on trees and the only limitations are the foul lines during the game. Even Cal Ripken Jr.—arguably the most respectable man ever in baseball—demanded his own locker room at his home ball park and stayed in his own hotel room—sometimes even a different hotel—while on the road. What we have now is not an honorable game played by honorable men. It’s an often corrupt game played by spoiled boys…I am starting to have a greater appreciation for the Boy Scouts program. I’ve now had the opportunity to experience three Eagle Scout projects and they are unbelievably well done and attractive. If you have an opportunity, support a local Eagle Scout project…The most respectably occupations in my mind are these: teachers, social workers, and church staff. These are most often paid well below their worth. Those who take these occupations are doing something with their life outside of themselves.

July 23, 2007 Part 2

With the sad story of the first base coach killed by a line drive foul ball that hit him in the temple, how long will it take to hear of leagues who overreact by requiring base coaches of any age to wear a helmet?...Perhaps the best golf major I've seen in my lifetime, the drama of the British Open yesterday was awesome, especially when it looked like Sergio was going to run away with it after Saturday...

July 23, 2007

Whoever said "A bad day on the golf course is better than a good day at work" never shot 108...Anyone else love the two 90 degree days yesterday and today that the weather people predicted? All the technology in the world only gives weather people the ability to tell you better was is happening this very moment and what has happened. Technology has not in the end helped them predict what is going to happen...The Salvation Army's Most Amazing Race was on Saturday. A lot of fun. It was great to see the winners cross the finish "shield." Soon after they finished she jumped into her fiance's arms and screamed, "Now we can go on our honeymoon!" Apparently on their run to the finish line she was starting to slow down and he said, "No pressure, but if we win this we can go on our honeymoon." Great motivation. You can check out final results, pictures and hopefully soon--video at http://www.thesalarmy.org/... Speaking of The Salvation Army, I had the privilege of serving lunch at one of The Salvation Army's service centers on Friday. It was such a blessing. I got to realizing that these men and women who have humbled themselves to accept their falacies and want to deal with them are not all that different than you or I. For most of them, their sin was alcohol or drugs and it put them in their state. What sins are you and I committing right now that don't get us into worldly social situations like homelessness, but destroy other parts of our lives...I am amazed at the humility of the staff working every day to make sure that these people are fed a square and respectable meal. I am also amazed at the gratitude of those coming to eat. The only complaints, crabbiness and demands we got were from the rehabilitation staff!

Welcome!

Welcome to my very first blog. I've always wanted to write, and sometimes have some flare in my writing. So now I've got this blog to share with you some of those writings, hopefully I'll get better and you'll enjoy it . I'm sure I will.