Kentucky Bound!

The kids and I are leaving today after school. It's a 20 hour haul and we will be gone for a total of four days! We haven't been there in 2.5 years. The weather will be very cold (27 & 14) on Monday...thank God for Texas!

Greg Maddux - The Professor

Greg Maddux:

- 4 Cy Young Awards
- 355 career wins (more than Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez, and Randy Johnson)
- 3.12 career ERA
- a World Series title

He is one of my favorite pitchers to watch and root for over the years.

NBA Rookies

He was an NBA prospect since 8th grade! I remember when I lived in Georgetown, KY (1999 - 2004), and a friend named Joe Thurmond told me about a young rising star from Ohio named O.J. Mayo. Now, he is one of the top 3 rookies in the NBA, playing for the Memphis Grizzlies - here pictured with fellow rook, Derrick Rose.

Crazy how we are enamored by young players and yet the predictions were right...this kid can play.

Springsteen & The Dream

Bruce Springsteen is releasing yet another CD - "Working On A Dream". I have not bought the last few of his...Magic & The Seeger Sessions, but fully intend on getting this new one.

Even at 59 years old, he still amazes me with his energy, creativity, and passion.

Jon Mark in Germany

These pics were emailed to me by Paul Hartwell, who took these in July on the German Mission Trip.

President George W. Bush - ducks shoes!

A Baptism - 7 Years Ago Today

Jon Mark and Emma were baptized by me on this day in 2001 in Georgetown, Kentucky! It was an awesome day...

Repo Day

My van has been taken by Wells Fargo. I am losing everything...

Christmas Has Come Early!

The kids opened up some gifts just in time for our frigid weather!

IT SNOWED IN HOUSTON!

We were totally surprised by at least 3 inches of snow last night! It started around 5:00 here in Deer Park and did not stop until about midnight...CRAZY!

Clearwater Beach, FL

Dr. Beach named Clearwater Beach, pictured here in our old neighborhood of Dunedin, the best beach of 2008!


Been there...done that.

Abby & Santa

She left Santa's lap without saying what she wanted for Christmas. When Aimee said that she didn't tell Santa what she wanted, she shrugged her shoulders and said, "He didn't ask me?"

HA! We laughed so hard, it was awesome!

Description of a Poem

"A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom."
-Robert Frost(1874-1963)

Mr. Feeback, the Super-Sub

I love sub-teaching. You get to meet new students every day, or be a part of a class for several days. They all think I am no older than 28...maybe 32; which is hilarious!

They get enough of you to like you and then I move on...it's the ideal situation. Anyway, soon enough I will have a permanent spot at DAEP - where the "bad" kids go. I will be there Social Studies teacher for as long as they are assigned (usually 30 days, 15 with good behavior).

WATER...WATER...WATER

In code language, Pastor Chris explained on Sunday that "Women are like camels, they can go without water for several weeks. Men are like fish, without water we die"!

OMG ..hilarious! It's the only thing I remember from the sermon!!

Hero & Statesman: Ken Griffey, Jr

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Ken-Griffey-Jr-goes-to-Washington-makes-us-all?urn=mlb,123207

Martin Luther

I copied and pasted from www.history.com

October 31: General Interest
1517 : Martin Luther posts 95 theses

On this day in 1517, the priest and scholar Martin Luther
approaches the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg,
Germany, and nails a piece of paper to it containing the 95
revolutionary opinions that would begin the Protestant
Reformation.

In his theses, Luther condemned the excesses and corruption
of the Roman Catholic Church, especially the papal practice
of asking payment--called "indulgences"--for the forgiveness
of sins. At the time, a Dominican priest named Johann Tetzel,
commissioned by the Archbishop of Mainz and Pope Leo X,
was in the midst of a major fundraising campaign in Germany
to finance the renovation of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
Though Prince Frederick III the Wise had banned the sale of
indulgences in Wittenberg, many church members traveled to
purchase them. When they returned, they showed the pardons
they had bought to Luther, claiming they no longer had to
repent for their sins.

Luther's frustration with this practice led him to write the 95
Theses, which were quickly snapped up, translated from
Latin into German and distributed widely. A copy made its way
to Rome, and efforts began to convince Luther to change his
tune. He refused to keep silent, however, and in 1521 Pope
Leo X formally excommunicated Luther from the Catholic
Church. That same year, Luther again refused to recant his
writings before the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V of
Germany, who issued the famous Edict of Worms declaring
Luther an outlaw and a heretic and giving permission for
anyone to kill him without consequence. Protected by Prince
Frederick, Luther began working on a German translation of
the Bible, a task that took 10 years to complete.

The term "Protestant" first appeared in 1529, when Charles V
revoked a provision that allowed the ruler of each German
state to choose whether they would enforce the Edict of Worms.
A number of princes and other supporters of Luther issued a
protest, declaring that their allegiance to God trumped their
allegiance to the emperor. They became known to their
opponents as Protestants; gradually this name came to apply
to all who believed the Church should be reformed, even those
outside Germany. By the time Luther died, of natural causes,
in 1546, his revolutionary beliefs had formed the basis for the
Protestant Reformation, which would over the next three
centuries revolutionize Western civilization.


--
"It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive." - Bruce Springsteen
"Fatigue makes cowards of us all." - Vince Lombardi

Brad Lidge - the perfect season!

This former Astro and fellow child of God (he mentions his faith often), was perfect this year and fittingly, closed the World Series for the Phillies going 7-7 in the post-season!

Class dude and a really good baseball player.

DREAM TEAM 92 VS REDEEM TEAM 08

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/basketball/news?slug=dw-dreamorredeem081808&prov=yhoo&type=lgns   "Fatigue makes cowards of us all." - Vince Lombardi "It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive." - Bruce Springsteen "If the world hates you, keep in mind it hated me first." - Jesus of Nazareth

Germany Was Great!

I am so glad and thankful that Jon Mark is home, he had a great time in Germany.

Here is a pic of Birdie and Gesa, long-time friends of our family, from Dusseldorf.

Dancing In Cincinnati

This the end of the song, Dancing In The Dark, which Bruce historically has brought a chic onstage. But tonight would be a little different...

Mighty To Save

This has to be my newest favorite song these days:

Josh Hamilton

- A man who was a first round draft pick.
- Quit playing baseball due to drugs and alcohol.
- Picked up again several years later and sober.
- Now is an All-Star and the star of the 2008 Home Run Derby.

My Book Wishlist

The Gospel According to Bruce Springsteen       By Jeffrey B. Symynkywicz, a graduate of Harvard Divinity School, a Uniitarian Universalist minister, and a dedicated Springsteen fan.   With a lively and engaging style, Symynkywicz probes each of Springsteen's albums and shows how his music helps make sense of the many threads of our lives, including experiences of sin and redemption, fear and courage, and above all - faith, hope, and love. Softcover, 198 pp.     "Fatigue makes cowards of us all." - Vince Lombardi "It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive." - Bruce Springsteen "If the world hates you, keep in mind it hated me first." - Jesus of Nazareth

John 16:31-33 (TNIV)

"Do you now believe? A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
- Jesus of Nazareth circa 30-33 A.D.

This of course is when Jesus is speaking to his followers about his death and how they will all leave him alone to suffer and die. I love the part, "In this world you will have trouble." OK - and your point is...

The point is clear in the next phrase. It is for them and us a glance of hope, a knot to hold onto, a glimmer of light in the darkest days..."But take heart! I have overcome the world." WoW!!! Say it again Jesus...I have overcome the world! One more time for those who know this text and line way too well..."I have overcome the world!!"

So whatever trouble we face, let's keep it straight...Jesus faced the world and won! If God raised Jesus from the dead, he too can raise you and I from the depths of hell and destruction, as long as we are breathing - there is hope. "Even though I walk in the shadow of death, you are with me..."

That's something to write home about, hang your hat on, and do a jig in the middle of the mall!

"I Don't Like Remembering"

If you haven't seen the movie Reign Over Me (Adam Sandler),
There's a scene in the waiting room of the psychologist (Liv Tyler). Sandler's character is very complex and has really "lost it".

So often, we refuse to remember. It's just too painful. But in my life, I've learned that the possibility of healing and redemptive value is worth the tears and pain.

Select, AAU, Traveling Teams, etc

This comic speaks to the sports teams we have created to help our youngsters "get ahead" of the regular athletes in our recreation, school, and city leagues.

Jon Mark has a really good shot with baseball, especially with pitching and defense. A local high school coach has told him and me if the high school we are zoned for does not choose him to be on the team, he wants Jon Mark to play for him and he promised he would be a starting pitcher. As you could imagine, this made Jon Mark really proud to be noticed already and he's only in 8th grade!

I must say that I was proud as well and thankful to the coach and his kind words. He watched Jon Mark pitch twice this year and said he is the hardest throwing pitcher he's seen in Little League Baseball.



Well, I don't know about that - but the kid has an arm!

Umps Can't See

This is today's comic from In The Bleachers:

Chasing After You - Lifehouse

Tremendous song by Lifehouse called "Hanging By A Moment"

Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
Closer where I started
Chasing after you

I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you

Forgetting all I'm lacking
Completely and complete
I'll take your invitation
You take all of me

Now.. I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you

I'm livin for the only thing I know
I'm running here and crashing
Where to go?
And I don't know what I'm diving into
Just hanging by a moment here with you

There's nothing left to lose
Nothing left to fly
There is nothing in the world that can change my mind
There is nothing else
There is nothing else..

Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
Closer where I started
Chasing after you

I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you

I'm livin for the only thing I know
I'm running here and crashing
Where to go?
And I don't know what I'm diving into
Just hanging by a moment here with you

Just hanging by a moment
Hanging by a moment..
Hanging by a moment...
Hanging by a moment here with you..

When Neighbors Die

I did a google search of my name and found this 3-year old post I had made on my xanga page - the precursor to this blog:

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Bobby Wilhoite. Friend and Neighbor. These two words are rarely used together. We never fought over property lines, dandelions, or dog poop (though we both owned one). Instead we chose to speak about our kids, our wives, our jobs, our love of the Dallas Cowboys, and our God.

How many footballs and baseballs did he throw to my young son Jon Mark? How many times did he smile as our young daughter, Emily, learning how to ride her bike would turn around in his driveway and bump his garage door? How many times did he get pulled outside by their dog Autumn just so she could find some relief? Bobby died yesterday @ 5:10 AM of brain cancer. I called April at 9:30 AM and we spoke for about ten minutes. After hanging up, the tears came easily and abundantly.

Goodbye Bobby, we will once again throw footballs as we live by one another forever, never having to move again. Bobby Wilhoite was 31.

"Land Where My Fathers Died..."

My Country, Tis Of Thee is a great hymn, as well as America The Beautiful. The phrase in the title of this post says it best when referring to which flag I honor first - the Christian flag. Though I cannot say it verbatim, it represents more for me of who I am than the American flag.

I am not anti-American, nor am I an American Christian (there is no such thing). I am a Christian that resides in a beautiful land called America.

I am free both as a child of God and as a citizen of my nation. Thank God.

Abby is 8!

Whoa! Are you kidding me? My little girl is growing so much. She yesterday informed me that she knew each of the four Presidents carved into Mount Rushmore. She actually named three, but still impressed the living daylight from me!


We are very proud of how she takes a stand for what she believes and is not afraid of anything or anyone.

A Tribute to Tim Russert

Jon Mark is 13!

OMG, can you believe it? Here are the signs of a teenage boy in the house:
1. There's a room down the hallway which continues to have a peculiar smell; a mixture of ballpark dust, sweaty basketball shorts, and Axe.

2. There are boxes full of Star Wars figures, Hot Wheels from the 90's, and sports cards in plastic sleeves on the top shelf of the closet.

3. The noise level intensifies when he is home.

4. MySpace is the favorite website visited daily on the family computer.

What a great kid he is as well. Though he still is rotten to his sisters and sometimes if brave enough to his parents, overall - he is doing quite well.
I am proud to be his dad and fellow brother in Christ.

Run, Abby, Run!

Our girls are involved in the Deer Park Track Camp this summer. Here are some vids of Abby (purple shirt) in the first week:



It has been really difficult to wake up early and run from 8:00 to 9:30 AM in the Texas heat, but it's been worth getting them out of the house in the summer, not to mention keeping them active for 90 minutes in a physical activity.

Where is Jon Mark? Basketball Camp from 8:30 to 11:30 AM...running of course.

19 - 1

The Mets won the 2008 Deer Park Little League City Championship! We had an undefeated season and breezed through the first round of the playoffs. But in the Championship round, we beat the Astros 3-0 the first game. It was a perfect game pitched by Cade Wilson for 5 innings and Jon Mark Feeback for the final inning.

We went into the second game of the series with Jon Mark starting and going four innings on a sore shoulder. We lost 1-0. He pitched great and we played good defense, but did not hit the ball well. During the season, we averaged 9 runs a game and gave up an average of 2 per. It was rather shocking that we could not produced runs.
In the third and decisive game, we won 14-0! It was a great season and a great team.

Comedic Conversations With God

This is hilarious stuff by Comedian Tim Hawkins:



Here are some prayers I can recall praying:
- In 1992, Mabel Gillespie (90+ years old) asked me to pray that God would take her to relieve her suffering...she died two days later.

- Emma, when she was 3 asked me to pray for Dale Earnhardt's wife the night he died at Daytona.

- Jon Mark at age 6 prayed for the U.S. Troops and the Afghanistanian people the night we invaded and began the hunt for Bin Laden.

Ken Griffey, Jr

In 1992, I recall reading a Sports Illustrated article that suggested Ken Griffey, Jr would be the most likely candidate to hit more Home Runs than Hank Aaron (755).

Over time, that prediction has not been reached due to injuries, but yesterday he joined Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, and Sammy Sosa as the only players ever to hit at least 600 Home Runs. Watch #600!
He has been one of my favorite players (along with Greg Maddux, Roger Clemens, and Derek Jeter) over the last 20 years.

Can You Say Proud Parents?

Jon Mark received the 2007-08 Deer Park Junior High 7th Grade Boys 110% Award. He was really shocked, but I must say - though we are pleasantly surprised, it doesn't shock us. Jon Mark plays hard on every play whether he's involved directly or not. He has always has a keen sense of where to be on the field or court and what to do in order to be a part of the action.

Joan of Arc: A Hero's Life

- Joan of Arc was born in 1412.
- At age 12, she Began hearing "voices" of three Christian saints; St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret.
- When she was 16 years old, these voices exhorted her to aid the Dauphin in capturing Reims and the French throne.
- In May 1428, she traveled to Vaucouleurs and told the captain of the garrison of her visions. Disbelieving the young peasant girl, he sent her home.
- A year later, she returned, and the captain, impressed by her piety and determination, agreed to allow her passage to the Dauphin at Chinon. Dressed in men's clothes and accompanied by six soldiers, she reached the Dauphin's castle at Chinon. Charles hid among his guards and officials, but Joan immediately picked him out and informed him of her divine mission.
- Charles had Joan questioned by theologians, who then advised him to make use of this strange and charismatic girl.
- Charles furnished her with a small army, and on April 27, 1429 she set out for Orleans. Two days later, as a French sortie distracted the English troops on the west side of Orleans, Joan entered unopposed in the eastern gate.
- She personally led the charge in several battles and was struck by an arrow. After dressing her wound, she returned to the battle, and the French won the day. On May 8, the English retreated and Orleans was back in rightful French hands.
- On July 17, Charles VII was crowned king of France, with Joan standing nearby holding up her standard: an image of Christ in judgment. After the ceremony, she knelt before Charles, and called him king for the first time.
- On September 8, the king and Joan attacked Paris. During the battle, she was wounded but continued to rally the king's troops until Charles ordered an end to the unsuccessful siege.
- In December, Charles ennobled Joan, her parents, and her brothers. On May 23 1431, she was captured and sold to the English. In March of 1431 she went on trial before church authorities in Rouen on charges of heresy.
- The charge was her rejection of church authority in favor of direct inspiration from God. After refusing to submit to the church, her sentence was read on May 24 for her to be turned over to secular authorities and executed. Reacting with horror to the pronouncement, Joan agreed to recant and was condemned instead to imprisonment. Ordered to put on women's clothes, she obeyed, but a few days later they found her dressed again in male clothing. Questioned, she told them that St. Catherine and St. Margaret had reproached her for giving in to the church against their will.
- She was found to be a "relapsed heretic" and on May 29 she was handed over to secular officials. On May 30, 1431, Joan of Arc, 19 years old, was burned at the stake at the Place du Vieux-Marche in Rouen. Before the pyre was lit, she instructed a priest to hold high a crucifix for her to see and to shout out prayers loud enough to be heard above the roar of the flames.
- Joan of Arc helped turn the Hundred Years War firmly in France's favor and finally their freedom from English rule. In 1920, Joan of Arc, one of the great heroes of French history, was recognized as a Christian saint by the Roman Catholic Church.
---------------------------
Why blog about Joan of Arc? When I saw the movie, Joan of Arc several years ago, I was hooked and became interested in her and how she helped saved France and became a key player in world and Christian history.

Technorati

I am totally not sure what this is, but the major bloggers out there seem to be involved in this community/world project of registering their blogs with technorati.

Perhaps this union will bring more "cyber-cred" to my weird online journal thingy or as some put it, "man-diary". My rank...a laughable 10,280,644!

Little League Playoff Time: Mets vs DRays

Second Inning Heat: Jon Mark Feeback Striking Out The Side!




The Mets won 21-0 with the help of strong pitching, great defense, solid hitting, and 3 Home Runs (including 2 grand slams by Cade Wilson!) Next is the Astros for the City Championship in a best of 3-game series. We won beat the Astros during the season with scores of 8-2, 3-1, and 2-1. It should be a great series!

Trajedy in the Chapman Family

Steven Curtis Chapman helped form my appreciation for "Christian Music" and what it brings to the body of Christ, the Church. Chapman, though not my usual choice of listening pleasure, is still one of the few artists and musicians I highly respect. He has been rock solid in his commitment to faith & ministry through music. The news of his daughter's death below I copied from the link provided:

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080522/TUNEIN03/805220370/1005/ENTERTAINMENT

This statement appeared at www.stevencurtischapman.com:

MARIA SUE CHAPMAN, DAUGHTER OF STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN, DIES IN ACCIDENT AT FAMILY HOME

NASHVILLE, TN...5/21/08... At approximately 5pm on the afternoon of Thursday May 21st, Maria Sue Chapman, 5 years old and the youngest daughter to Steven and Mary Beth Chapman was struck in the driveway of the Chapman home in Franklin, TN. Maria was rushed to Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital in Nashville, transported by LifeFlight, but died of her injuries there. Maria is one of the close knit family’s six children and one of their three adopted daughters.


More than five years ago, Chapman and his wife MaryBeth founded The Shaohannah’s Hope Ministry after bringing their first adopted daughter, Shaohannah, home from China. The ministry’s goal is to help families reduce the financial barrier of adoption, and has provided grants to over 1700 families wishing to adopt orphans from around the world. Chapman is a five-time GRAMMY ® winner and 54-time Dove Award winning artist who has sold over 10 million albums and garnered 44 No. 1 singles.
-----------------------------------
I am a dad of three (12, 11, and 7). I cannot imagine, nor would want to, what it is like to lose a child. It's not supposed to happen that way. Parents outlive their kids right? Unfortunately, some of our kids die at a young age and I will never understand why this happens. It is truly a nightmare and one I hope to never live. God rest your Spirit of comfort on this family tonight, tomorrow, the next day, and the next day, and so on...

Undefeated: From Winless To Perfection

In the Spring of 2006, Coach Jerry Cochran and I met on several occasions, along with phone calls and emails. The topic of the day was, "Should we move our sons up to Major league (ages 11-12), even though our kids were 10 years old"? With the age changes in Little League Baseball, this gave them an option to play their age with one more year in Minor League or play up against older kids, but play as an 11-year old twice.

We decided to take a team and move them up giving them 3 years in Major League. The team we inherited was not very talented, but worse, the players were not teachable, nor was there overwhelming parental support. We lost every game going 0-12. We were no match to the other teams who had outstanding players such as Austin Rainer, John Martinez, and Kong (never knew his real name).

The next Spring of 2007, we knew we would be much better with our two youngin's coming back with a desire to win some games. First, we added 12-year old, Jacob Daughtery, who left his team to became available in the draft. His dad agreed to help the coaching staff, so we were able "freeze" him without losing a draft pick. Jacob is a solid player with good skills and a consistent bat, not to mention a great kid.

Next, to the draft board and with the first pick we chose Cade Wilson. Cade was an 11-year old with a great arm, along with family support. Thanks to one of the Minor League coaches who alerted me during the tryouts to watch Cade. I knew for us to contend, we needed more pitching, and Cade was the best pitcher in the draft. The other option was 10-year old, Nicholas Hunter or 11-year old, Spiderman (Joshua Martinez). They both were taken in the first round after Cade. This pic is Cade delivering a pitch in the 11-year old All-Star game with Jon Mark ready at SS

For the first pick of the second round, we drafted a kid with a broken arm and could not try-out, 11-year old Ryan Huseman. I had my eyes on Ryan for a year when he was in Minor League. My assessment was a good hitter, who could also play SS when Jon Mark pitched. Next came 12-year old, Eric Fitzwater, another good kid who had left his team frustrated about playing time and a coaching conflict. Eric was a natural outfielder with a good glove and long, fast legs. He also was well-liked by his teammates.

Next came Chris Gonzalez, who after the draft, decided to stay down in Minor League. The next two picks turned out to be players who could not consistently contribute to the team because of illness, injuries, and other factors - Joseph and Kevin. Our last pick was another kid whose parents were uncomfortable moving him up to Majors, so he remained in Minor League.

A few days later we had our team ready but with two vacant spots. Coach Jerry worked some magic and talked Bunker Scruggs into signing up. Bunker, a 12-year old, was a huge addition as a great hitter and SS, plus a tremendous attitude and teachable spirit.

A few nights later, I was driving to the field to look at the list of undrafted players from the ranks of Minor League. Coach Jerry called me and said, "There's no need to come over here, another player has just signed up late, he looks good. Since we need one more player, the league is going let us have him, his name is Taylor Sisemore. I turned around and drove home and asked Jon Mark about Taylor. His response made me smile, "Dad, he's really good, tall and athletic." Taylor was our power hitter leading the league with 4 Home Runs, none bigger than the 2-run shot that still hasn't landed in a playoff win versus the Astros. This is Jon Mark catching in the 2007 playoffs

We finished the season 7-5, which included a late-season rally winning 3 in a row. We were the hottest team in the playoffs sweeping the Astros in two games. And winning the first of three against the Cardinals. We lost a disappointing second game by one run. And then in the third game were met by a hungry 12-year old, Daniel Grider (another great kid), who pitched the game of his life striking out 13 of our batters and beating us 6-0. Our defense broke down in the first inning with 3 run-scoring errors and that pretty much sealed-the-deal with our offense being shut down by Daniel's pitching. This is the 2007 Mets after the championship game to the Cardinals.

This Spring of 2008, Coach Jerry and I knew that we were the team to beat, with 5 returning All-Stars; Cade, Craig, Ryan, Jon Mark, and Blain Medland (whom we added as our full-time Catcher) and a huge desire to get back to the championship round and finish it this time. Along with our All-Stars, we added good teachable role players: Matthew, Joshua, Jeremy, Taylor, Mac, and Robby.

How did you go undefeated?
---------------------------
1. The Draft: adding the right players for positions we needed.
2. Good Attitudes: getting teachable players, if possible, with a supportive family.
3. Pitching. Good pitching beats good hitting most of the time.
4. Smart Base Running: takes speed, listening to coaches, and practice.
5. Defense. We have drilled into their heads to ask, "What will I do if the ball is hit to me?"
6. Strong Up The Middle (P, C, SS, 2B, and CF). If the middle is strong, teams have difficulty taking extra bases, stealing, and advancing on passed balls.
7. Guard The Lines (3B, LF, RF, and 1B) to prevent extra base hits.
---------------------------
2008 has been special and fun. Let's hope the playoffs are an extension of the season. Thanks Coach Jerry for hanging with me and taking over this season, so I can assist and be a dad and a fan. Go Mets!

More Than Just A Beautiful Mess

I'm the one with big mistakes,
big regrets, and bigger breaks than I'd ever
care to confess. Oh but, You're the one
who looks at me, and sees what I was meant
to be, more than just a beautiful mess.

(You Are Everything by Matthew West)
----------------------------------------------------
A beautiful mess is how I have seen myself in the past...well, way too many years. It's true that I am beautiful, or should I be more macho and say handsome? Regardless, of how I see me though it needs to be with more self-respect - God sees me as more than a handsome mess.

In a conversation that has lasted for 41 years, God has said some things to me that I did not believe due to blindness, pride, sin, shame, and the darkness of doubt that surrounded me for so long.

He said that I was created by him and that's enough to be called beautiful. He said that all of creation is good, except for me - which he paused and said I am very good. He said I am worthy enough to worship him, even though my imperfections are a direct contrast to his perfectness. He said that he looks at me and sees that my sins are gone, vanished, and thrown into the depths of the ocean.

Now here's the weird part - he mentioned that he cannot remember my sins. Huh? But aren't you God - the all-knowing Deity of the universe and beyond? He said that he has forgiven my sins and has forgotten them. If that's the truth, then no wonder he sees me as more than just a beautiful mess! He sees (gulp) perfection, sin-lessness, a new creature redeemed by his son.

The reason he sees me this way is because of Jesus. Jesus death and sacrificial blood has washed me so clean that God does not see the junk, filth, and garbage that has nearly ruined my life, at least from my horribly filtered view.
---------------------------------------------------
Check out this vid and read the lyrics below of "Ocean Floor" by Audio Adrenaline:



The mistakes I've made, that caused pain;
I could have done without, all my selfish thoughts
All my pride, the things; I hide You have forgot about

They're all behind you, they`ll never find you
They're on the ocean floor, your sins are forgotten
They're on the bottom, of the ocean floor

My misdeeds, all my greed; All the things that haunt me now
They're not a pretty sight to see; But they`re wiped away
By a mighty mighty wave; A mighty mighty wave

They're all behind you, they`ll never find you
They're on the ocean floor, your sins are forgotten
They're on the bottom, of the ocean floor

Your sins are erased; And they are no more; They're out on the ocean floor

Take them away, to return no more; Take them away, to the ocean floor
To the ocean floor, to the ocean floor

They're all behind you, they`ll never find you; They're on the ocean floor, your sins are forgotten
They're on the bottom, of the ocean floor

Your sins are erased; And they are no more; They're out on the ocean floor
Your sins are forgotten; They're on the bottom; Of the ocean floor
Your sins are erased; And they are no more; They're out on the ocean floor

Facebook Is Overrated

Are you kidding me? I mean, don't mishear me - it's really cool to reconnect with so many friends and foes from the past. But my frustration is that it is an "online community" and that's it. Real community, one which shares life with another is rare and much tougher to accomplish.

(Abby serving as a volunteer at Field of Dreams 2008 - an event organized by our church - she had a blast working with Girls In Action for five hours in the heat giving away bottles of water!)
I know I sound simplistic and as one co-worker suggested (I am perhaps jealous of the success of it), but let's be honest and say that all these "confirmed requests" for friends does not make a friendship. It' a modern-day, internet-driven facade.

Authentic relationships share life and is better accomplished by on our feet and not our seat. Community is...
- getting our hands and feet dirty in a clean-up effort after a storm
- taking care of your dog and mail while you are on vacation
- playing basketball with your neighbor's fiancee
- sharing a meal together (a lost art and expression of love)
- taking cookies to a retired couple next door sounds so 1950ish, but it works!
- tossing the ball back to our yard after the massive grand slam by dad
- rubbing shoulders with humanity

All these things have happened recently in our neighborhood. By the way, the majority of our neighbors are not Christian, but they understand community and the value of sharing life together despite political, economical, and religious preferences. Community is better experienced face to face.

No wonder Facebook has become so huge. It caters to our anonymous online lifestyle, while rejecting our need for touch, tears, and laughter with a friend, who thank God is not a profile and will not ask me to click "confirm" or "ignore".

Leaving Badlands

Read these lyrical lines from the song Badlands and I will explain how I am packing my bags and leaving:

Lights out tonight, trouble in the heartland
Got a head-on collision, smashin' in my guts, man
I'm caught in a cross fire that I don't understand.

But there's one thing I know for sure girl, I don't give a damn
For the same old played out scenes, I don't give a damn
For just the in-betweens,
Honey, I want the heart, I want the soul,
I want control right now

Talk about a dream, try to make it real
You wake up in the night, With a fear so real
Spend your life waiting, for a moment that just don't come
Well, don't waste your time waiting

CHORUS
Badlands, you gotta live it every day
Let the broken hearts stand as the price you've gotta pay
We'll keep pushin' till it's understood
and these badlands start treating us good

Workin' in the fields till you get your back burned
Workin' 'neath the wheel till you get your facts learned
Baby I got my facts learned real good right now
You better get it straight darling

Poor man wanna be rich, rich man wanna be king
And a king ain't satisfied till he rules everything
I wanna go out tonight, I wanna find out what I got

I believe in the love that you gave me
I believe in the faith that could save me
I believe in the hope and I pray that some day
It may raise me above these

CHORUS

BRIDGE
For the ones who had a notion,
a notion deep inside
That it ain't no sin
to be glad you're alive
I wanna find one face
that ain't looking through me
I wanna find one place,
I wanna spit in the face of these badlands

CHORUS
---------------------------------------------

I would say to the insightful writer, Bruce Springsteen, I have been living in "badlands" for far too long. I have tried to:
- work myself out of it
- deny that I am living in it
- distract my mind with gadgets and technology
- become cynical of those who seem to be living in "goodlands"
- and with much hell-bent pride and bitterness - believed and lived as if there is no God (or at best, he doesn't seem to have my interests in mind.)

While working the night before Easter this year, well really it was Easter morning after midnight. Anyway, God reminded me that if he can raise his Son from the dead...let me phrase this another way for the over-saturated religious minded readers, which includes me...if he can breath life into a dead man and make him walk, talk, and eat again, he surely can resurrect me and my family from the "badlands" where I live and created with walls of pain and hurt.

This raising of new life includes a bad job situation, declining health due to fatigue and lack of sleep, anger over losing a job/career in which I had spent all of my adult life studying for and doing, a family that has been struggling for a long time, finances in disarray, and general overall sadness of a pathetic path I have chosen or been given by God (I can barely tell the difference these days).

If Jesus walked out of the grave, not in the form a ghost, but as a living, breathing human being - then I will too will walk out of this darkness of misery, shame, and sadness.

I would say to Mr. Springsteen, "Bruce, like you I believe in the love that God gave me, I believe in the faith that He saved me, and I believe in the hope and I pray that someday He will raise me above these badlands...and oh, by the way, you are right...it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive.

The Boss in Houston!

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
April 14, 2008 Houston, TX: Toyota Center

Set List:
Cadillac Ranch
Radio Nowhere
Lonesome Day
Atlantic City
Magic
Murder Incorportated/Because The Night
Candy's Room
Prove It All Night
She's The One
Livin' In The Future
The Promised Land
Girls In Their Summer Clothes
Terry's Song
Point Blank
The Rising/Devil's Arcade
Last To Die
Long Walk Home
Badlands

Encore:
Always A Friend (with Alejandro Escovedo)
All Just To Get To You (with Joe Ely)
Rosalita
Born To Run
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Out In The Street
American Land

Too bad I missed the show...

Favorite Female Characters

"Fatigue makes cowards of us all." - Vince Lombardi

"It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive." - Bruce Springsteen

"If the world hates you, keep in mind it hated me first." - Jesus of Nazareth