Thursday, December 30, 2010

"The Walk"

"The Walk"

4 balls, you say?
How can it be?
I'm not even in the box.

Why are you pointing in my direction?

I came to swing
to hit it far,
not to stand and watch.

Quit telling me to go.

Not so dramatic
walk off walk
end the game with a keen eye.

Who does this joker think he is?

I came to make a splash,
came to here a cheer,
came to make a name about me.

You stole my thunder.

I should be grateful,
should be ecstatic,
should be popping corks as well.

I am so disappointed.

Bottom 9, 2 outs, loaded...
I've played this scenario before.
I win it all, with the long ball.

NOT AN INTENTIONAL WALK!

Shouldn't happiness be how I'm feeling?
Shouldn't I be celebrating with my mates?
I'm miserable, walking miserable.

A winner, however, just the same.

"Ice Ice, Baby"

I ice skated across the porch
and down the steps, across
the sidewalk to the car... impressive.
Slick as ice.

2 days until 2011 and some things
will never change: the weather in
my part of the world will always be
unpredictable.

It's Western PA at its best.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

"12:55 A.M."

I can't sleep. The reason varies actually.
I took a shower about an hour ago, and
when I do, that usually peps me up a bit.

Also, it appears that I have won a fantasy
football championship tonight by a mere
0.74 points. It is a family run league,
so having extended family bragging rights
for the next year is exciting. This may
seem a little simple, but I'm a simple guy.

I've been trying to retrospect with the
ability of 20/20 hindsight concerning
the year 2010, but I'm having a hard
time categorizing a way to do that.

As 2011 sneaks up on us, I think I would
rather forget what I forgot to do in 2010
than remember what was. I'm not even
sure if that makes any sense, then again,
I'm a no-sense kind of guy.

I am sure of one thing, I am 3 days closer
to a new year, and a year closer to eternity.
I'm not sure how "from" I am to eternity,
but I know I am closer. And when I
allow myself to think about it, the excitement
of that keeps me up at night.

Anticipation.

2011... 20-11... I'm not sure what it brings,
but I'm sure of what it doesn't... Good-bye, 2010.

Friday, December 24, 2010

"Merry Christmas"

From our family to yours, praying you all will have a very Merry Christmas.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Luke 2:4-20 NIV

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

"What's That Cross Got To Do With It?"

So, every year for Christmas I like to
decorate the outside of the house.

Multi lights, big lights,
little lights, icicle lights...
Snowman, Santa, wreaths...
and in some shape or form
a cross (which usually stays
up a lot longer than the rest of
the lights).

Usually (as pictured above) I use this
certain lighted cross in my display.
One year, I made a huge one on
the roof out of red lights... a good
'copter pilot would probably been
able to land on our roof if he needed to.

"What's the cross got to do with it?"

Isaiah says:
Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

Yes, without the birth, there is not sacrifice.
But I say, without the sacrifice, the birth
means nothing. So what then if God became
man? He didn't just need to do that to be
among us. He did it to redeem his people,
and the rest of us as well.

Isaiah says again:
This is what God the LORD says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
“I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness."

Monday, December 20, 2010

"Legacy"


"Then people brought little children to Jesus
for him to place his hands on them and pray
for them. But the disciples rebuked them.
Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me,
and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of
heaven belongs to such as these.' When he
had placed his hands on them, he went on
from there. Matthew 19:13-15 NIV


"God, They Are Yours"

Not mine, O God
Not mine, but yours
Blessings to me
Glory to you.

Love them, I do
Fail them for sure
Love them, You do
Love them for sure.

Give me your strength
to teach them up well
All of your might
Not mine, but yours.

Glory to you
Glory all yours
Here they are Lord
Here am I too.



Friday, December 17, 2010

"So..."

This why I never set out to write something
ongoing on here. As you may recall, I was
going to recant the most memorable Christmas
gifts that I could remember from a lifetime.
Did good for 2 days.

And then, I spent 24 hours fighting a very
eXplosive intestinal bug that left me virtually
in bed for that long.

Now, here I sit not longer wishing to remember
the Christmas past, and longing and praying
that Christmas present (or very near future)
will be eXplosive free for the rest of the clan.

OUT!

(and if you wish something different,
may I suggest this: CR

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

"12 Days Of Christmas Part II"

#11 The Tape Recorder

Not sure why this makes the list. It
wasn't an item that I remember hinting for.
But I do remember getting countless hours
of use out of it.

From tape recording people unbeknown to
them... to running our taped delayed
radio station, WFART... to singing...
to recording favorite songs from the
radio by placing the recorder near the
speakers of said radio...

It brought joy in some way... and considering
that I remember receiving it leads me to
believe it left an impression.

The next 10 may get a little harder to remember.

Monday, December 13, 2010

"12 Days Of Christmas"

In an effort to blog everyday for the remainder
of the year, I'm going to try to create a list
of the 12 bestest and greatest gifts I have
received for Christmas over my lifetime.
This is not going to be easy due to the fact
that my brain forgets more each day than
I can remember, and because blogging
each day never seems possible.

Also, the 12 will appear in no particular order.

#12 The Engagement Golf Set

Being a rather average hacker, and one with
limited funds that makes it hard to hit
the links at all any more, the engagement
golf set was delivered Christmas 1998.

Now, I'm not expecting to remember the
year I received most of these gifts, but
this one is a no brainer.

Engaged and waiting for March 1999 to come,
my lovely bride to be gifted me a new set
of golf clubs. It was totally unexpected...
which definitely propels it into the top 12.

Now, I'm not usually one who likes to give
gifts out of season. It's hard to gift a bike
to the kids for Christmas because to use
it you might have to wait a few months.

But for the engagement golf set, it didn't
matter. It was a splendid idea and worthy
of a top 12 ranking.



Friday, December 10, 2010

"9:44"

I wish I had some sort of thought at this moment
that would impact whoever reads this life.

9:45
But really, nothing comes to mind.
Nothing really does.

9:46
I just turned PBS kids on for the boys.
Still nothing in my brain.
But I am watching the snow flakes fall,
and it warms me in some way.

9:47
Broken thought, and I might have been
on the verge of something there.
Probably not however.
Did I get enough sleep last night?

9:48
Still snowing.
I need to eat something maybe.
I don't know.
I eat, the boys will want to eat too.
Now I'm clock watching.
Why?

9:49
The dog is rubbing herself all over the carpet.
Fur ball.
Still snowing.
Still watching the clock.

9:50
Yeah, I'm hungry.
Rather pathetic.
Why are my eyes tearing up?
Phone rings.

9:51

9:52
Talking to mom right now.
Probably shouldn't be.
She just wanted to ask if we needed milk.
Apparently in Calcutta, OH...

9:53
... it's $1.98 a gallon. WOW!
It's $3.45 a gallon here.

9:54
Time to get something to eat...

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens.
Ecclesiastes 3:1

9:55

Monday, December 6, 2010

"Nathan Stiles"

ESPN OTL: Nathan Stiles Story

#1 This link will take you to another page.
#2 Be aware there is a 15 second commercial
before the story actually starts

Saturday, December 4, 2010

"A Good Read"


The Christmas Tree harvest is always an adventure.

A Blessed Christmas




Wednesday, December 1, 2010

"Isaiah 53"

Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.