Friday, May 30, 2008
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.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
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!
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!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
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!
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!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
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...
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...
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
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!
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!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
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
Saturday, May 17, 2008
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".
(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".
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
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.
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...
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...
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
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
Monday, May 12, 2008
Great Cartoons!
--
"It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive." - Bruce Springsteen
"Fatigue makes cowards of us all." - Vince Lombardi
Friday, May 09, 2008
The Youngest Kentucky Basketball Recruit
by Jeff Drummond of CatsPause.com
To hear Howard Avery describe it, Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie knew nothing of his son when their paths happened to cross at a recent AAU basketball event. As fate would have it, though, that chance encounter led to a scholarship offer from the Wildcats and perhaps the earliest verbal commitment in the history of college basketball's winningest program.
Michael Avery, a 6-foot-4 eighth-grader from Lake Sherwood, Calif., says he will play for the Cats. Now on with the business of finding a high school. "That's the funny thing," Howard Avery said with laugh. "We've got our college. Now we need our high school."
Avery currently attends Ascension Lutheran School in Thousand Oaks. He recently came east to interview with a private school in Culver, Ind., that he is considering attending next year. During that trip, the coach of Culver's upstart basketball program introduced the family to the Indiana Elite AAU staff, who subsequently invited Avery to play with their team in the King James tournament in Akron, Ohio.
According to Avery, Gillispie was scouting the event when the young player caught his eye. "The second game we played, coach Gillispie was there watching a couple of other players that he may have had an interest in," Avery said. "There was a 7-footer from Africa, a 6-10 player and a 6-8 player, so there were a lot of talented players at that game. I don't even think he was aware of Michael before this game.
"Michael came off the bench each half and had a good game against some really good competition. From what I understand, he displayed a total skill set and the basketball IQ to know when and where to use that skill set within the context of the game. I think that's what really impressed coach Gillispie."
Rules prohibit college coaches from initiating contact with prospects and their families at events like the King James tournament, but word was later filtered through the Indiana Elite staff that Gillispie was very impressed with Avery.
"So what I proceeded to do was make contact with coach Gillispie," Avery said. "I got a contact number for him and left him a message, but didn't hear back from him. I started wondering, does he really like my son? When I got in Los Angeles Monday morning, I decided to try again, and he answered the call. He told me he remembered my son, and that he was really glad that I called. He explained that he wasn't allowed to call me back, so it had to be me that initiated the call.
"We talked for a while and he said, 'I like your son. In fact, I like him so much I want to offer him a scholarship here at Kentucky.' I was like, 'You're joking, right?' He said, 'Nope. I'm serious. I really love the way he plays." When he told his son about the UK scholarship offer, the first official offer Michael Avery had received, it was difficult to restrain the excitement.
"I think Michael wanted to commit right then," Avery said. "But this is all so new to us, and I'm aware of the unusual nature of an eighth-grader giving a commitment to a college. I wasn't really sure how to react to it at first. A lot of people will say it's too early in the process, but after talking to some people who know coach Gillispie, we decided it really can't get much better than this opportunity.
"It's a dream school for any kid who grows up wanting to play basketball. There's only a few of them out there: Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, Indiana back east; UCLA out here. If you've got an opportunity to play for one of those schools and get a great education, why not? We don't need a hundred offers; we just need one great program and one great coach."
Avery had also been getting early interest from USC, who according to his father had invited him to the Trojans' elite camp this summer. Several other programs were just beginning to inquire about him. Family ties could make it easier for Avery to see himself playing in this part of the country. His mother is from Indiana, and his grandmother still lives near Indianapolis.
The elder Avery said he is not a diehard fan of college basketball, but his son is. "Michael's a student of the game. When he's not playing or studying, he's watching basketball. That's his life. He's really passionate about it. He must have watched about 12 Kentucky games last year. He knew all about them."
And what does the family know about Gillispie and his coaching style thus far?
"We just know that he's been really, really successful no matter where he's been," Avery said. "The turnaround at UTEP and the turnaround at Texas A&M... they speak for themselves. He's got a tremendous track record, and everyone we've talked to about coach Gillispie have nothing but great things to say about him. We know he's a coach who can develop Michael's game and get the most out of his ability."
Much can change in a player's body and physical development between the eighth grade and his senior year of high school. Avery could end up being much taller and developing into another position, but his father said the UK staff envisions him as a combo guard at this point.
Rivals.com does not rank players at such an early age, but some services list Avery among the top 10 players in his class. "He was ranked third in the U.S. Elite Camp at Baylor," Avery said. "And he was ranked eighth at the Junior All-American Camp.
"But, you know, I don't think coach Gillispie was aware of any of that. He just saw my kid play. There's something to be said for that. He's not going based on what anyone has told him or where some website has Michael ranked. He saw his ability and potential himself. I really respect it."
The Averys have not made a final decision on his high school future. If he does not come to Indiana, he will likely play for Crespi High School in the L.A. area.
"No matter where he is, he's got a lot of motivation now," Avery said. "He's going to be working really hard to improve his game because he knows a lot will be expected of him when word gets out that he's going to a school like Kentucky.
---------------------------------------------------------
So, how young is too young for a college coach to offer a kid and his family a college scholarship? I say it's never too young. That's a chance the college coach is taking assuming the kid will remain as competitive as he has been against his own competition. We'll see in like the Fall of 2012, when Michael arrives on campus in Lexington as the youngest "signee" Kentucky has ever recruited.
To hear Howard Avery describe it, Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie knew nothing of his son when their paths happened to cross at a recent AAU basketball event. As fate would have it, though, that chance encounter led to a scholarship offer from the Wildcats and perhaps the earliest verbal commitment in the history of college basketball's winningest program.
Michael Avery, a 6-foot-4 eighth-grader from Lake Sherwood, Calif., says he will play for the Cats. Now on with the business of finding a high school. "That's the funny thing," Howard Avery said with laugh. "We've got our college. Now we need our high school."
Avery currently attends Ascension Lutheran School in Thousand Oaks. He recently came east to interview with a private school in Culver, Ind., that he is considering attending next year. During that trip, the coach of Culver's upstart basketball program introduced the family to the Indiana Elite AAU staff, who subsequently invited Avery to play with their team in the King James tournament in Akron, Ohio.
According to Avery, Gillispie was scouting the event when the young player caught his eye. "The second game we played, coach Gillispie was there watching a couple of other players that he may have had an interest in," Avery said. "There was a 7-footer from Africa, a 6-10 player and a 6-8 player, so there were a lot of talented players at that game. I don't even think he was aware of Michael before this game.
"Michael came off the bench each half and had a good game against some really good competition. From what I understand, he displayed a total skill set and the basketball IQ to know when and where to use that skill set within the context of the game. I think that's what really impressed coach Gillispie."
Rules prohibit college coaches from initiating contact with prospects and their families at events like the King James tournament, but word was later filtered through the Indiana Elite staff that Gillispie was very impressed with Avery.
"So what I proceeded to do was make contact with coach Gillispie," Avery said. "I got a contact number for him and left him a message, but didn't hear back from him. I started wondering, does he really like my son? When I got in Los Angeles Monday morning, I decided to try again, and he answered the call. He told me he remembered my son, and that he was really glad that I called. He explained that he wasn't allowed to call me back, so it had to be me that initiated the call.
"We talked for a while and he said, 'I like your son. In fact, I like him so much I want to offer him a scholarship here at Kentucky.' I was like, 'You're joking, right?' He said, 'Nope. I'm serious. I really love the way he plays." When he told his son about the UK scholarship offer, the first official offer Michael Avery had received, it was difficult to restrain the excitement.
"I think Michael wanted to commit right then," Avery said. "But this is all so new to us, and I'm aware of the unusual nature of an eighth-grader giving a commitment to a college. I wasn't really sure how to react to it at first. A lot of people will say it's too early in the process, but after talking to some people who know coach Gillispie, we decided it really can't get much better than this opportunity.
"It's a dream school for any kid who grows up wanting to play basketball. There's only a few of them out there: Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, Indiana back east; UCLA out here. If you've got an opportunity to play for one of those schools and get a great education, why not? We don't need a hundred offers; we just need one great program and one great coach."
Avery had also been getting early interest from USC, who according to his father had invited him to the Trojans' elite camp this summer. Several other programs were just beginning to inquire about him. Family ties could make it easier for Avery to see himself playing in this part of the country. His mother is from Indiana, and his grandmother still lives near Indianapolis.
The elder Avery said he is not a diehard fan of college basketball, but his son is. "Michael's a student of the game. When he's not playing or studying, he's watching basketball. That's his life. He's really passionate about it. He must have watched about 12 Kentucky games last year. He knew all about them."
And what does the family know about Gillispie and his coaching style thus far?
"We just know that he's been really, really successful no matter where he's been," Avery said. "The turnaround at UTEP and the turnaround at Texas A&M... they speak for themselves. He's got a tremendous track record, and everyone we've talked to about coach Gillispie have nothing but great things to say about him. We know he's a coach who can develop Michael's game and get the most out of his ability."
Much can change in a player's body and physical development between the eighth grade and his senior year of high school. Avery could end up being much taller and developing into another position, but his father said the UK staff envisions him as a combo guard at this point.
Rivals.com does not rank players at such an early age, but some services list Avery among the top 10 players in his class. "He was ranked third in the U.S. Elite Camp at Baylor," Avery said. "And he was ranked eighth at the Junior All-American Camp.
"But, you know, I don't think coach Gillispie was aware of any of that. He just saw my kid play. There's something to be said for that. He's not going based on what anyone has told him or where some website has Michael ranked. He saw his ability and potential himself. I really respect it."
The Averys have not made a final decision on his high school future. If he does not come to Indiana, he will likely play for Crespi High School in the L.A. area.
"No matter where he is, he's got a lot of motivation now," Avery said. "He's going to be working really hard to improve his game because he knows a lot will be expected of him when word gets out that he's going to a school like Kentucky.
---------------------------------------------------------
So, how young is too young for a college coach to offer a kid and his family a college scholarship? I say it's never too young. That's a chance the college coach is taking assuming the kid will remain as competitive as he has been against his own competition. We'll see in like the Fall of 2012, when Michael arrives on campus in Lexington as the youngest "signee" Kentucky has ever recruited.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
EVERYTHING by Lifehouse
This was shown at our church last Sunday during the sermon...twice! It's worth watching again. The song is "Everything" by Lifehouse.
Monday, May 05, 2008
WLEX & Chief Meteorologist Bill Meck
In Lexington, KY I enjoyed the news on WLEX-TV (NBC), where my favorite weather caster Bill Meck still gives the daily report on the weather at www.lex18.com. 
He won an award for his coverage of the 2005 tornado at Masterson Station, which also sent us running for cover in our Georgetown home. Well, actually after I saw that the family were bunkered safely in the basement, I ran upstairs onto the deck to try to see a twister! It was lightning like crazy, so I knew the night sky would be lit up enough for me to catch a glimpse of one, but never saw it. It was a terrifying night for everyone in the area and there were prayers ascending from our family and many more I am certain.
He won an award for his coverage of the 2005 tornado at Masterson Station, which also sent us running for cover in our Georgetown home. Well, actually after I saw that the family were bunkered safely in the basement, I ran upstairs onto the deck to try to see a twister! It was lightning like crazy, so I knew the night sky would be lit up enough for me to catch a glimpse of one, but never saw it. It was a terrifying night for everyone in the area and there were prayers ascending from our family and many more I am certain.
April 3, 1974
Click the link below (or paste the link into your browser) to be connected to the Tornado History Project website:
F4 Tornado of April 3, 1974 which removed the roof of our church gym while my parents and others were in worship that night.
http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/map.php?i=19740403.21.20&source=map&ref_url==&yr=1974&mo=4&day=3&st=Kentucky&fu=%25&co=Any&l=auto&submit=Map&ddat=on&dsta=on&dfuj=on&dfat=on&dinj=on&dcou=on&format=basic&p=1&s=1&submit=Go
other sites and cool links to April 3, 1974:
wikipedia
April 3, 1974
Louisville, KY
F4 Tornado of April 3, 1974 which removed the roof of our church gym while my parents and others were in worship that night.
http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/map.php?i=19740403.21.20&source=map&ref_url==&yr=1974&mo=4&day=3&st=Kentucky&fu=%25&co=Any&l=auto&submit=Map&ddat=on&dsta=on&dfuj=on&dfat=on&dinj=on&dcou=on&format=basic&p=1&s=1&submit=Go
other sites and cool links to April 3, 1974:
wikipedia
April 3, 1974
Louisville, KY
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