"It is necessary to help others, not only in our prayers, but in our daily lives. If we find we cannot help others, the least we can do is to desist from harming them." - Dalai Lama
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
A Good Quote
"A nation that cannot control its borders is not a nation." - Ronald Reagan
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Failure
"If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward." - Thomas A. Edison
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Smile
Sunday, November 20, 2011
My Battle with a Stone
What makes it worse is all the things I have missed because of it. We had to postpone Bree's baptism because I was too sick to baptize her. I missed two weeks of work, including a very important meeting (I ended up in the ER that day instead of at the meeting). I was on some heavy duty drugs that made me sick and so weak I couldn't get out of bed. It was horrible. I felt like I was wasting away. I was so tired of laying in bed that I kept getting up but when I did I just made myself worse. So I stopped trying to get up.
Now if you know me then you will know that me laying in bed all day is something I would rather not do. So, with me stuck in bed not able to do much of anything, I was slowly going crazy. After two weeks of this I had had enough. I decided that I was just going to deal with the pain without narcotics so that I could get back to my daily normal life. I still have pain but I have learned the warning signs of when an attack is coming on so I can prepare myself for it.
Someday this stone might pass, but I am not holding my breath. It will probably bug me for a long time still, but I am used to pain so I will just deal with it. No more heavy duty pain meds unless I have more surgery. Then I will take some. But until then I have taken my life back. I have gone back to my normal routine. I have even gone back to running as often as I can. Running really hurts but I hope that running will help push the stone out of my kidney so I can get rid of it.
Although I have gone back to my normal daily life, I still have the constant nagging of the stone. There are times when I don't really feel it, but most of the time I do. I am not in horrible pain all the time. It is usually just a dull ache or pressure in my back. But there are times when the pain kicks in. I think the worst part is that I feel like I am always sick. Whenever the pain gets above a dull ache I start feeling nauseous. And then I get really cold. Like the cold you feel when you have a high fever. Wrapping up in blankets doesn't even warm me up. After a couple hours of that, the pain really kicks in and I have to load up on pain killer and lay in bed until the pain passes.
I have managed to make it over three weeks without taking any narcotics for pain. I hope that I don't have to take any more because I can't stand the sick and drugged feeling that I get when I have to take them. So I hope to never have to take them again. Especially now that I have almost gotten caught up in all the tings that I fell behind in while I was down and out.
I think now the hardest thing for me to get back to normal is my sleeping pattern. I used to get up and 4:45 in the morning and go running. After sleeping so much I am having a heck of a time getting out of bed at all in the mornings. My body just wants to sleep. So I am working on getting myself back into the routine of getting up early. So far I haven't succeeded but I am getting close. But mornings are always the worst for me. I don't know if it is because I have been laying down for the night and when I get up the stone moves into a position that makes me sick, or if it is just a mental thing at this point. Either way, it is my biggest challenge that I still need to overcome. One day at a time I guess. I will get there.
A Day of Reckoning
Wow
It has been a while since I posted anything. I'm slacking off again I guess.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Milestones
I hit a big milestone this weekend. I passed 175 miles of running on a treadmill so far this year. I am not counting soccer or the 5k's I have run this year. That is pretty good. My goal is to run 250 miles by the end of the year. I am really hoping I make it. Part of why this is such a big thing for me is because of my knee injury this spring. I missed 2 1/2 months of running time. Plus, when I run now it can get pretty painful. Even after 6 months my knee still hurts a lot. Like today, my knee has felt like I had a knife lodged under my knee cap. I have more good days than bad days but the bad days can really hurt. But I push through the pain. It is the only way I can make it to where I want to be. Besides, my knee will never fully heal so I might as well get used to the pain.
I am thinking that next year I am going to shoot for 300 miles. That is unless I hurt myself again. But I don't forsee that happening...
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Playing with QR Codes
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
San Diego here I come!
I am on a plane right now on my way to San Diego. It is my companies annual meeting and we are having it in San Diego this year to celebrate 20 years of business. Pretty dang cool. Heck, I might even post some pictures...but probably not. I will leave that to Leona. It should be fun, with a little bit of work in between.
P.s. It is really turbulent right now so I am sure there are typos
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Ads on My Blog
Also, you might see me post an advertisement every once in a while. This is because I have signed up to post sponsored ads. As of yet I haven't had any but I am hoping to have some soon. I could use a little extra money right before the Holidays.
I have tried to make it so the ads don't make my blog look too ugly. The nice thing about the ads that are shown kinda go along with what I have been blogging about so they are somewhat relevant to me. Kinda cool how Google does that.
Grading Papers
PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WORDING AND SPELLING. IF YOU KNOW THE BIBLE EVEN A LITTLE, YOU'LL FIND THIS HILARIOUS! IT COMES FROM A CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEST. KIDS WERE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE BIBLE WERE WRITTEN BY CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RETOUCHED OR CORRECTED. INCORRECT SPELLING HAS BEEN LEFT IN.
1. IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, GUINESSIS. GOD GOT TIRED OF CREATING THE WORLD SO HE TOOK THE SABBATH OFF.
2. ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE . NOAH'S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK. NOAH BUILT AND ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS.
3. LOTS WIFE WAS A PILLAR OF SALT DURING THE DAY, BUT A BALL OF FIRE DURING THE NIGHT.
4. THE JEWS WERE A PROUD PEOPLE AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH UNSYMPATHETIC GENITALS.
5. SAMPSON WAS A STRONGMAN WHO LET HIMSELF BE LED ASTRAY BY A JEZEBEL LIKE DELILAH.
6. SAMSON SLAYED THE PHILISTINES WITH THE AXE OF THE APOSTLES.
7. MOSES LED THE JEWS TO THE RED SEA WHERE THEY MADE UNLEAVENED BREAD WHICH IS BREAD WITHOUT ANY INGREDIENTS ..
8. THE EGYPTIANS WERE ALL DROWNED IN THE DESSERT. AFTERWARDS, MOSES WENT UP TO MOUNTCYANIDE TO GET THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
9. THE FIRST COMMANDMENTS WAS WHEN EVE TOLD ADAM TO EAT THE APPLE.
10. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT ADMIT ADULTERY.
11. MOSES DIED BEFORE HE EVER REACHED CANADA THEN JOSHUA LED THE HEBREWS IN THE BATTLEOF GERITOL .
12. THE GREATEST MIRICLE IN THE BIBLE IS WHEN JOSHUA TOLD HIS SON TO STAND STILL AND HE OBEYED HIM.
13. DAVID WAS A HEBREW KING WHO WAS SKILLED AT PLAYING THE LIAR. HE FOUGHT THE FINKELSTEINS, A RACE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BIBLICAL TIMES.
14. SOLOMON, ONE OF DAVIDS SONS, HAD 300 WIVES AND
700 PORCUPINES.
15. WHEN MARY HEARD SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF JESUS, SHE SANG THE MAGNA CARTA.
16. WHEN THE THREE WISE GUYS FROM THE EAST SIDE ARRIVED THEY FOUND JESUS IN THE MANAGER.
17. JESUS WAS BORN BECAUSE MARY HAD AN IMMACULATE CONTRAPTION.
18. ST. JOHN THE BLACKSMITH DUMPED WATER ON HIS HEAD.
19. JESUS ENUNCIATED THE GOLDEN RULE, WHICH SAYS TO DO UNTO OTHERS BEFORE THEY DO ONE TO YOU. HE ALSO EXPLAINED A MAN DOTH NOT LIVE BY SWEAT ALONE.
20. IT WAS A MIRICLE WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND MANAGED TO GET THE TOMBSTONE OFF THE ENTRANCE.
21. THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED THE LORD WERE CALLED THE 12 DECIBELS.
22. THE EPISTELS WERE THE WIVES OF THE APOSTLES.
23.ONE OF THE OPPOSSUMS WAS ST. MATTHEW WHO WAS ALSO A TAXIMAN.
24. ST.. PAUL CAVORTED TO CHRISTIANITY, HE PREACHED HOLY ACRIMONY WHICH IS ANOTHER NAME FOR MARRAIGE.
25. CHRISTIANS HAVE ONLY ONE SPOUSE. THIS IS CALLED MONOTONY.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Bored
Lately I have been really bored. It isn't that I don't have anything to do, its just that I don't feel like doing anything that I do have to do. I need something new and different to do...
Thursday, August 18, 2011
When it rains it pours
This week has really sucked so far. It has been a really expensive week. It started off with us shelling out $100 for a new windshield on our van. Then Tuesday one of the tires blew out on the van while on the freeway. I knew my van needed two new tires but I was hoping that they would make it another month. But they didn't. So we had to spend another $237 for tires. Then on Wed. Leona got a speeding ticket for going 35 in a 35 zone. Unfortunately there was construction and they posted the speed limit at 25. Fortunately the officer didn't cite her for the construction zone so the fine isn't double. I just hope that the rest of the week doesn't have any unexpected expenses. I can't afford that. I am already broke.
Here is hoping for a nice, expense free weekend.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Camping
One funny thing to point out is that the campground we were in (Upper Meadows) only has outhouses. After two days Star was saying that she wanted to go home because home has toilets that flush. The funny thing about that is she has a bad habit of not flushing the toilets. So I don't know why an outhouse was such a big deal for her. It isn't like she is doing anything different at home most of the time. I just thought that was kinda funny.
Despite the heat (it was really hot in the afternoon because our campsite didn't have much shade in the afternoon hours) we had a good time. I am the only one that got sunburned (and it wasn't much of a burn). We had no major injuries. Star only tripped over our canopy cords and fell once. No one else did surprisingly (in Yellowstone last year we all tripped over the cords at least once). All in all it was a good trip. We made a point of not taking any electronic devices with us. I know that is a big thing for me because most of my day is spent on a computer of some kind. But when I am in the mountains I don't need anything but a good book and some shade to enjoy myself. Getting away from all the fast paced craziness of my normal life is a real battery recharger. I need to go camping more often.
Not only was this our first camping trip this year it was Leona and my 11th anniversary. Last year we were in Yellowstone for our anniversary. I think it would be nice to make it a tradition to be camping for our anniversary. Leona would disagree with that but it has worked out the last 2 years. I am hoping for more :)
Our friend, Karen, and her kids went up with us for the first night. Her kids and my kids all get along really well and they all had a lot of fun. My kids were bored to death after Karen and her kids left. Eventually they found ways to entertain themselves but next time Karens kids are going to have to stay the whole time so my kids don't drive me crazy when they get bored.
If you want to see pictures of our trip check out Leona's blog.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Having a bad day at work?
Rob is a commercial saturation diver for Global Divers in Louisiana . He performs underwater repairs on offshore drilling rigs. Below is an E-mail he sent to his sister. She then sent it to radio station 103.2 FM in Ft. Wayne , Indiana , who was sponsoring a worst job experience contest. Needless to say, she won.
Hi Sue,
Just another note from your bottom-dwelling brother.
Last week I had a bad day at the office. I know you've been feeling down lately at work, so I thought I would share my dilemma with you to make you realize it's not so bad after all.
Before I can tell you what happened to me, I first must bore you with a few technicalities of my job.
As you know, my office lies at the bottom of the sea. I wear a suit to the office. It's a wet suit. This time of year the water is quite cool.
So what we do to keep warm is this: We have a diesel powered industrial water heater. This $20,000 piece of equipment sucks the water out of the sea. It heats it to a delightful temperature. It then pumps it down to the diver through a garden hose, which is taped to the air hose.
Now this sounds like a darn good plan, and I've used it several times with no complaints.
What I do, when I get to the bottom and start working, is take the hose and stuff it down the back of my wet suit. This floods my whole suit with warm water. It's like working in a Jacuzzi.
Everything was going well until all of a sudden, my butt started to itch. So, of course, I scratched it. This only made things worse. With in a few seconds my butt started to burn. I pulled the hose out from my back, but the damage was done. In agony, I realized what had happened.
The hot water machine had sucked up a jellyfish and pumped it into my suit. Now, since I don't have any hair on my back, the jellyfish couldn't stick to it. However, the crack of my butt was not as fortunate.
When I scratched what I thought was an itch, I was actually grinding the jellyfish into the crack of my butt.
I informed the dive supervisor of my dilemma over the communicator. His instructions were unclear due to the fact that he, along with five other divers, were all laughing hysterically.
Needless to say I aborted the dive. I was instructed to make three agonizing in-water decompression stops totaling thirty-five minutes before I could reach the surface to begin my chamber dry decompression.
When I arrived at the surface, I was wearing nothing but my brass helmet. As I climbed out of the water, the medic, with tears of laughter running down his face, handed me a tube of cream and told me to rub it on my butt as soon as I got in the chamber.
The cream put the fire out, but I couldn't poop for two days because my butt was swollen shut.
So, next time you're having a bad day at work, think about how much worse it would be if you had a jellyfish shoved up your butt.
Now repeat to yourself, 'I love my job, I love my job, I love my job.'
Now whenever you have a bad day, ask yourself, is this a jellyfish bad day?
May you NEVER have a jellyfish bad day...!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Utah Drivers
Saturday, July 30, 2011
The Gloves are Coming Off!!
What is frustrating for me is the fact that we can't seem to get anyone to help out. There are plenty of people in the branch that would make great leaders. I don't know if the reason they aren't is because they haven 't been called to the position or because they aren't willing to do it. From what I have been told it is because people keep turning down the opportunity. I think that is more frustrating than anything. We have all these boys that are in need of the cub scout program and yet no one is willing to put forth any time or effort to help them. It is so sad.
To those that aren't willing to accept the calling I ask why? For those that say it is because they already have a calling all I have to say is that is no excuse. You live in a branch. You should plan on having more than one calling unless you are in a presidency position. One calling is nothing. Heck, two callings is nothing. Right now I have three. And that isn't counting home teaching as a calling, or the fact that I am standing in for the cub master that we don't have. Plus I get called on all the time to help out with other things. My wife has three callings as well. She has run into the same problem with the Activity days program. She can't get help either. And they only hold meetings twice a month. So come on people. Stop declining callings because you already have one. That is no excuse here. I know that is harsh of me to say but it is the truth. This branch has a lot of good people in it. But the only way the branch is going to function is if people are willing to make sacrifices to keep things running. For those of you that have never been in a presidency position you have no idea how much time is put into their callings. They do way more than they should be because people aren't willing to help them out. I know. I have been in that position (and still am in a way). It is very frustrating and tiring at the same time.
Another thing that is frustrating are those that accept the calling and then don't do anything with it. Don't accept a calling if you don't plan on fulfilling that calling to the best of your ability. I know that people are busy. We all are here in the branch. Extra time is hard to come by. But I know that people can make time for their callings. No matter what the calling is. A lot of people have "Sunday" callings. Teaching callings and such. I know that you have to put more time into the calling than just on Sundays. One of my callings right now is an Elders Quorum teacher. I used to teach Sunday school. I know what it takes to keep things running in the branch. Even the smallest calling can be time consuming. But it is a sacrifice that is well worth it. So to those that say they don't have time for a calling, make time. You will be glad you did. The blessings are well worth the sacrifice. Trust me. I used to be one of those people that thought that I didn't have time to do what I was asked. But I have changed my ways and I am glad I did. The blessings far out weight the time you lost that you would have spent watching TV or playing games.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
As A Man Thinketh
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Computer Troubleshooting Blog
Monday, July 11, 2011
Attitude
If you think you dare not, you don’t;
If you’d like to win, but you think you can’t,
It’s almost certain you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost;
For out in the world you’ll find
Things begin with a fellow’s will;
It’s all in the sate of mind.
If you think you are outclassed, you are;
You’ve got to think high to rise;
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man;
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Torn
Right now the thing that has got me down the most is what is going on with soccer. I have just been able to start playing again after six weeks of being out injured. I tell you what, a torn MCL is not fun. It could have been worse though so I am grateful that it wasn't severe. But it was bad enough that even after almost two months it still hurts. The pain comes and goes but it is definitely there. Because of the injury I have gotten really out of shape. I also missed almost the entire soccer season. I don't mind standing on the sidelines being the coach. But when I should be out on the field playing it is really hard. It got frustrating standing there not being able to help my team. Once I was able to play again I was out of shape and couldn't keep up. That was really frustrating for me. I spent the whole winter making sure I was in good shape for the season only to have this happen in the first game. But I survived.
Now I have a real dilemma to deal with. I have been so flustered with things lately that I have seriously considered not doing the team any more. When I have practices like tonight where one person comes to practice it really makes me feel like I am the only one that really cares about the team. I know there are some people that can't come that would be there all the time and I understand that. But what gets me is people want to improve their game but they don't come to practice. I wonder if they think that the way I do my practices isn't going to improve their skills like running drills would. But I know from 25 years of playing and several years of coaching that drills will only gain you so much. Yes you need to do them. And we do. But most of the time we just scrimmage. I do this for several reasons. One, it is to get everyone in shape. By the end of the first half everyone is worn out. The second half is where you really need your energy so being in shape is very important. My game will definitely help with that. Second, I do it to practice the same things we would practice doing drills. Only in a game setting you learn faster. Passing drills are great but how often do you have a nice easy open pass option available to you? Often times you have someone running at you and you have to pass between two opponents. It is hard to practice that with just drills. Third, I use the small nets to help people improve their accuracy. Not only does it help improve shots on goal it helps you develop more ball control skills as well as passing skills. When you pass the ball to a teammate you have a smaller target to hit than those nets. Fourth, I do it so we can get a feel for how each other plays. That is probably one of the most important things to know in a team sport. You have to develop a trust in each other. You have to be willing to pass the ball to everyone on the team. Sure you can develop that team oneness by just playing in real games, but it takes a lot more time than the season allows. So splitting up into two teams and playing helps speed the process up. Fifth, I do it to make practice fun. Trust me. Doing nothing but drills for an hour and a half is not fun. Not fun at all. This league is about having fun. If the games are supposed to be fun then the practices should definitely be fun. So I do my best to make them fun. There are several more reasons that I do things the way I do but I won't list any more.
The thing that has me so torn is whether or not to continue the team. I really want to. I love the game. I hate not playing whenever I can. But it has been really hard keeping the team going. We lose at least half the team every year and we have to find new players. That makes it hard. It doesn't help that our winning record isn't all that great. I like the team we have right now. I think we have great team morale and that makes things fun for everyone. I would love to keep this team the way it is. But I don't think that will happen. It seems that people have been slowly dropping out. We used to have a good turnout at practices. Now we have pretty much no turnout. That breaks my heart. It makes me feel like I am not a good coach. Which in turn makes me feel like not running the team anymore. I could easily find a team to play on and then I wouldn't have to deal with all the manager stuff. It would certainly give me more free time and let me enjoy the game more. But at the same time I feel like it would be giving up my best friend.
So I have a short time to decide what I want to do. I just hope that everything works out so that I can still play the game and have fun doing it.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Life Sucks
Have I ever mentioned that life can realy suck sometimes? Right now my life is at a really sucky point. I won't go into details right now though. I just hope that things get better soon because I am getting tired of all this suckiness.
Monday, June 20, 2011
My new toy
I am writing this post with my new toy. My work bought me a Samsung Galaxy 10.1 tablet. It is quite nice and I am enjoying it. Gotta love a company that spoils their employees every once in a while.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Summer Craziness
The last post was about how I injured my knee. Well, there was good news and bad news with that. The results of the MRI showed that I didn't tear my meniscus. That was great news because that meant I didn't need surgery. The bad news was that I almost completely tore my MCL and completely tore some Osteo-something tendon that is in the middleish area of my knee. So that meant that I would be out from soccer for 6 weeks. Talk about bad news. What made it worse was it was the first game of the season. So I have been standing on the sidelines watching my team wishing I could be out there with them. But come Friday I will be back on the field. I am so excited. I have practiced a couple times with the team and haven't had much pain so I am good to go. The worst part of it all is that I am now really out of shape. So I will probably die during the game. Oh well. I am working on that. I am just happy that I can finally play again.
Next on my list would be Cub Scouts. I am the committee chairman and so far things have been tough getting started. We did have our fist pack meeting last month and it went well. We only had like 4 boys come though. I am hoping for double that this month. We are still trying to get all our leaders in place. That has proven to be quite a challenge. No one seems to want to do it. So I have been filling in as cub master since we don't have one. On top of all of that I need to start getting the scouting program started because I am the committee chairman of that as well. That might have to wait until the end of the summer before I can get that going. Right now my focus is cub scouts because the scouts have mutual to go to every week and the cubs don't have anything. The younger cubs have been having den meetings and now we have a two deep leadership in place for the older boys so now we can get their den meetings going. I just need to find some people for the middle boys. Hopefully soon that will be in place.
On top of all of this we have been trying to get Leona and the kids out to Cali for their summer trip to visit her family. Things have been rough this year because her dad hasn't been able to help out financially at all on the trip. Normally he buys his plane ticket out here and helps with the gas money for the drive back. He was injured at work last winter so he hasn't had the extra income he normally has so he hasn't been able to do that. So I have had to scrounge up every penny I had to get the wife and kids to Cali. But they made it there. So I am a bachelor for the next month. But trying to get them out there took a lot of effort and now I have to try to get everything in the house back in order. So I will be plenty busy even with the family gone.
So I have lots going on in my life right now. To top it all off, I am kinda looking for a part time evening job so I can pay off some debt. So far things haven't worked out because nothing seems to work with my other jobs schedule. I could always go back into retail but I would only do that as a last resort. I hate working retail. I did my time in retail and I was so glad the day I got out of it. I really don't want to go back. So I am hoping I will get lucky and find something that works for me.
I am going to call it good for this post. There is so much more to say but I don't feel like typing it all out right now. Maybe tomorrow I will get around to it...
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
FORGET REDNECKS; THIS IS WHAT JEFF FOXWORTHY HAD TO SAY ABOUT UTAHNS!
work there, you live in Utah.
If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Utah
If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed
the wrong number, you live in Utah.
If 'vacation' means going anywhere south of Salt Lake City for the
weekend, you live in Utah.
If you measure distance in hours, you live in Utah.
If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you
live in Utah.
If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' and back again in the same
day, you live in Utah.
If you install security lights on your house and garage but leave both
unlocked, you live in Utah.
If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging
blizzard without flinching, you live in Utah.
If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you
live in Utah.
If the speed limit on the highway is 75 mph -- you're going 80, and
everyone is still passing you, you live in Utah.
If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled
with snow, you live in Utah.
If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and
road construction, you live in Utah.
If you find 10 degrees 'a little chilly' you live in Utah.
If you actually understand these jokes and forward them to all your
friends, you live in Utah.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Close To, Round About, Near By
He said, “In the Bible where it says that John baptized Christ ‘in’ the River Jordan it didn’t mean ‘in’ but meant close to, round about, or near by. Then again where it tells us that Phillip baptized the eunuch in the river it didn’t mean ‘in’ but close to, round about, or near by.”
After the service, as the people were filing out, one old fellow stopped by the minister and said, “Reverend, that was the best sermon I ever heard and it uncovered many of the mysteries of the Bible to me. For example, it tells us in the Old Testament that Jonah was ‘in’ the whale for three days which seemed hard for me to believe but now I see that he was not ‘in’ the whale, but that he was close to, round about, or near by swimming in the water.”
“Then there is the story about the three young Hebrew boys who where thrown ‘into’ the fiery furnace but not burned. Well, it seemed impossible but now I see they were not ‘in’ the furnace but were close to, round about, or near by just keeping warm. But the hardest to believe was where Daniel was thrown ‘in’ the lion’s den but wasn’t hurt. Now I see that he wasn’t ‘in’ the den but was close to, round about, or just near by…like at the zoo.”
“The revealing of these mysteries was very rewarding to me, but the greatest comfort of your sermon was because I am a wicked man who sinned much and it tells us in the Bible that the wicked will be cast into Hell. But now I see that I won’t be cast ‘into’ Hell but ‘close to, round about, or near by’!”
“And…next Sunday, I won’t have to be ‘in’ church; I can just be close to, round about, or near by. Thanks for the sermon. You have really put my mind at ease.”
-- Author Unknown
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
My Poor Knee
How did I do all this damage to my knee? It was near the end of the game on Friday. We were down 2-1 and running out of time. The ball was kicked up in front of me by about 10 yards. I went sprinting after the ball. So did one of their defenders. We got to the ball at the same time. I went in kicking with most of my strength to make sure I won the ball. So did he. The difference is that I turned my foot out to control the ball so that I had it at my feet after we hit the ball. He didn't. He went straight on. We both hit the ball at the same time. I won the ball all right. But in the process my knee bent out in a way that it isn't supposed to bend. I didn't feel any pain right off. It took a couple steps before that happened. But it was bad. I tried to jog on it but that wasn't happening. So I subbed out of the game. I knew it was bad. I just hoped it wasn't a season ending bad. But it looks like it might be.
What is sad is that back in the day I took hits like that all the time and didn't think twice about them. My knees could take it. They were strong back then. They aren't so strong now. Maybe it is getting time for me to hang up the cleats. But the more I think about that the more I don't think I will. I have always said that as long as I can run I can play. And that is how it is going to play out as far as I am concerned. I will keep on playing until I can't play any more. Then I will just have to turn to coaching. It isn't as fun but it is close. But I feel like I have several years of playing time left in me before I am ready to retire from playing. I look forward to the day I get the go ahead to play again...
Monday, May 2, 2011
Loser Like Me
The Glee song Loser Like Me (Glee Cast Version)
The other Glee song Get It Right (Glee Cast Version)
I guess I am just one of those people that probably doesn't belong in society because either I don't understand society or society doesn't understand me. Maybe it is a little bit of both. I will tell you one thing. Being a social outcast gets really lonely at times. Especially when you need a good friend to talk to. Good friends are hard to come by and right now I feel like I am lacking in that area. Maybe someday I will have a good friend again that I can talk with and hang out with. But right now I will just suffer through life without one.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Opposition
Lock him up in a prison cell and you have a John Bunyon
Burry him in the snows of Valley Forge and you have George Washington
Raise him in poverty and you have Abraham Lincoln
Subject him to bitter religious strife and you have Franklin Delanore Roosevelt, the only president to serve four terms in office.
Burn him so severely in a school house fire that the doctors say he will never walk again and you have a Glen Cunningham who set the world record in 1934 for running the mile in 4 minutes 6.7 seconds
Deafen a genius composer and you have a Ludwig von Beethoven
Drag him more dead than alive from a rice paddy and you have a Rocky Blyer, running back for the great 1970 decade Pittsburg Steelers
Have them born into a society filled with racial prejudice and hatred and you have Booker T. Washington, Harriet Truman, or Martin Luther King Jr.
Have him born into a Nazi concentration camp, paralyze him from the waist down at the age of 4 and you have an Eastman Pearlman, the incomparable pianist.
Call him retarded and write him off as uneducated and you have Albert Einstein
Amputate the cancer-ridden leg of a young Canadian and you have a Terry Fox who ran half way across Canada on artificial legs.
Take both legs away from him and you have a Douglas Bater, an RAF fighter pilot who was captured three times by the Germans and who escaped three times on artificial legs.
Label him too stupid to learn and you have Thomas Edison
Blind him at the age of 44 and you have a John Milton, who 16 years later wrote the great Paradise Lost
Call him dull, hopeless, and flunk him out of school in the 6th grade and you have Winston Churchill
Tell a boy who loves to draw that he has no talent and you have Walt Disney
Spit on Him. Mock him, humiliate Him, and crucify Him, and He forgives you and you have our Lord, Jesus Christ
-- Author Unknown
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Dare to climb the Mountain
There’s a mountain that God offers, those who climb it must be true. It’s a peak called full-time service and it beacons now to you.
Will you dare to climb this mountain, though at times you’ll feel alone? Will you be a missionary, leaving your comforts at home?
Now the way it won’t be easy, many folks won’t understand, but there’ll be applause in heaven, and the Lord will hold your hand.
You won’t hear loud cries of trumpets when you tell folks of your plans. They may say, why climb this mountain? Stay and play in silver sand.
But the voice still cries from Heaven “Give me those with sights set high, give me those to match my mountain, those who’ll reach the top or die.”
As you journey up the mountain, you will feel the cold winds blow, and at times you’ll get discouraged and your feet begin to slow.
But if you’ll refuse to turn around and continue to press on, you’ll soon reach a’top the mountain – no better place to be found.
As you stand there at the summit with the world there far below, you’ll see sights reserved for climbers and your heart will feel its glow.
The Guide that led you to the top will be there at setting sun and will whisper at life’s ending, “Come home and rest – well done.”
Will you dare to climb the mountain though at times you’ll feel alone? Will you be a missionary leaving comforts of your home?
Now the way it won’t be easy, many folks won’t understand, but there’ll be applause in heaven, and the Lord will hold your hand.
-- Author unknown
Monday, April 25, 2011
Old People
Today I was really irritated by the old people. There are only like 10 treadmills in the place. Well, when I got there this morning the back row of treadmills (the good ones) were already taken. So I ended up taking one in the front (at least I got one). What upset me is that the treadmills behind me were both taken. One had a water bottle on it and no one there. That isn't uncommon. People will take equipment by putting their stuff on it and then run to the bathroom. No big deal. Anyways. The treadmill next to it had an old lady (about 65ish) on it. What made me mad was the fact that she was the one that the water bottle belonged to. She was saving the treadmill next to her for her friend that wasn't there yet. That is just not ok when that is the only treadmill without a person on it and there are people waiting to use it. They are first come first serve. Not get there and save one for your friend. You would think some 65 year old woman would understand that concept. I guess not. I just hope this old people who want to get in shape at 5 in the morning phase ends soon. It is really getting annoying.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
What is Easter Really About?
The resurrection of Christ isn't just something that happened. It is probably one of the most important events in the history of our world. Without this one single event there would be no hope for any of us to ever return to live with our Heavenly Father. Jesus overcame the bonds of death so that we in turn can overcome those bonds. The entire plan of salvation hinged on that one event. Without the resurrection there would be no point in anything else. We wouldn't need repentance, baptism, commandments, service, nothing. There would be no point in them because they would lead to nothing. We would die and that would be it. There would be no real and goal any more. The resurrection is, in my opinion, one of the most important things that has ever happened. People need to remember the sacrifice that was made to save them. Each and every one of us has been impacted by this one event. We can't change that. We will all be resurrected. All thanks to Jesus overcoming the bonds of death. He didn't have to do it. No one made him do it. He did it because he loves each and every one of us and he wants us all to be able to return to live with Him and our Father in Heaven.
So as you go through the day today remember the real meaning of Easter. Don't let the egg hunts and candy replace Jesus this day.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Deep Thoughts
Don't Quit
When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must but don’t you quit!
Life is a queer with all its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.
It may be near when it seems so far.
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit,
It’s when things seem worse,
That you must not quit.
-- Author Unknown
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Someone Cares
When someone cares to hear my heart, I gratefully confide.
When someone cares to lift me up when routines may seem dull,
When someone cares to strengthen me, my days can be so full.
Then I can give to someone else with spirit still to share,
And I may bless another life when I know someone cares.
Because you cared to give yourself and helped along my way,
The joy you gave me yesterday is mine to give today.
I’ll listen more within my heart as burdens may unfold,
A loving touch, a helping hand, to share a heavy load.
And I may bless another life when I know someone cares.
And when we bring to life our love, the circle will begin,
For what we choose to give away, comes back to us again.
We’re doping what our Savior taught; take time to feed His sheep,
We’re caring for each other well, the circle is complete.
Then I can give to someone else with spirit still to share,
And I may bless another life when I know someone cares.
-- Bonnie Partridge
Friday, April 15, 2011
Life
Good things and bad things, pleasure and pain.
We can’t have all sunshine
But its certainly true
There is never a cloud the sun didn’t shine through.
So always remember that whatever befalls you
The power of God is always beside you
And if a friend disappoints you, and plans go astray
And nothing worked out in just the right way,
And you feel you have failed in achieving your goal
And life wrongly placed you in an unfitting role.
Take heart and stand tall
And remember who you are
For God is your father and no one can bar
Or keep you from reaching your desired success
Or withhold the joy that is yours to possess
For with God on your side
It matters not who is working to keep
Life’s good things form you
For you need nothing more
Than God’s guidance and love
To insure you the things that your worthy of
So trust in his wisdom and follow his ways
And be not concerned with the world’s empty praise
But seek first his kingdom
And you will possess the world’s greatest riches
Which is true happiness.
-- Author Unknown