throw away the stereo types

so I was very amused. I watched an incredible event yesterday. It was Michael Phelps' second attempt at a gold medal-the Men's 4 X 100 freestyle relay. It was probably the greatest event in swimming (if not Olympic) history - but that's not what surprised me, yeah USA upset the French, yeah there was a lot of smack. What surprised me is when I noticed the third leg on the relay team; the man's name: Cullen Jones. Cullen is an African American, a world class swimmer! Just when you thought swimming was a sport that didn't feature black athletes, there he was. Amazing, here we are in the midst of an African American Presidential Candidate and now an African American Olympic Gold Medal Winner.

In 1987 former Los Angeles Dodgers General Manager Al Campanis, was explaining on ABC’s "Nightline" why blacks could never become baseball field managers or team executives, argued that swimming proved that blacks didn’t have what it takes to reach the top.

"The just don’t have the buoyancy," Campanis told an astonished Ted Koppel. Hmm, interesting comments Al, may all stereotypes be removed and diversity embraced.

is just not right

it's not right how perky and happy the 5 am newscasters are. It never ceases to amaze me the obnoxious joy of the morning folks on TV. I mean they're all giggles and snickering - that's enough of that. Just the facts, just tell us what we need to know.

condition of our logic

are we getting smarter or are the commercials getting dumber? so cassandra and i are watching tv and marveling over the point of commercials. there was a time when we're entertained by commercials, we would laugh or smile - but now, we just find ourselves - well, annoyed. am i being too critical are my expectations too high? am i desperate for a giggle. or just getting old and crabby?

the things we think but dare not say

how insecure is the typical person? are we threatened? are we jealous? if we wore t-shirts that had the words to describe our doubts, fears, angst, or deep feelings - what would it say.

What does the Resurrection mean?

1 Corinthians 15

Got hammered this morning from this passage. The Resurrection means so much more than dead coming to life. It means grace is real, it means there is hope, there is purpose, there is repentance, there is renewal, there is something (someone) who now thinks of my life, my every day, my family, my role, my fears, my gifts, my shortcomings, He thinks of me. Resurrection tells me that there is something in the horizon that calms my fears, my insecurities. It tells me which way to go, it tells me I'm not alone, I'm not a failure, it tells me that through the haze there is a promise. The Resurrection tells me that I can keep going on, that life is not the ending, that He is new, He is here, He is surprise to surprise. He is not predictable, He is wonder, He is awe. There is good because He is good, He can be trusted

My Fourth Grader

So my daughter is beginning to text! What's the big deal, you may ask? She's a fourth grader! I just got over the "leaving a voice message", and now she enters into another chapter of life titled "texting". She's so proud of herself. She text'd me this morning 143 (which is a I love you), and I thought it was cute, and then I got some anxiety about my fourth grader beginning the stages of teendom.

Nationwide Insurance

So, this morning I'm watching an Insurance commercial. It's these two ladies having a conversation. One on the couch one looking out the window. The one looking out the window is looking down three or four stories outside at a car parking on the street. It's a yellow car and it's owner is just in front of the vehicle, screaming and is visibly upset. He's screaming up at his disgruntled significant other who is throwing stuff out of the window.

Now, here's the scary part, no it's not that stuff is landing on his car. It's what's landing on his car. This girl hurled a bowling ball (okay, not bad), but then she's throws out a television! (wow, she's strong), then, it's the clincher, the woman throws out a loveseat! (a loveseat, we're not talking about a chair, a loveseat!)

So here's my thought today, what was this guy thinking dating a woman with so much strength? She's obviously someone who doesn't play around. Anyway, my thoughts on women who can through loveseats outside apartment windows? ....think about your choices.

Holidays and Happiness

Why are we all nice on holidays? I'm in a cafe as I write and it's so funny to see how nice people are. "Happy Valentine's Day, what are you doing tonight?". Everyone is so... nice. It's funny, I imagine tomorrow will be the "What did you do? Where did you go?" What's sad about that is it's a comparison trap. No, I'm not down on this holiday, it's just funny to me

Happy Valentine's Day

Driving

I have to confess that I like to watch people when they don't realized that they are bing watched! Twisted? Yes. Creepy? I don't mean to. It's funny though, you can tell a lot about people. How often do they look at themselves? What disgusting things are they doing? Are they nasty, are they distracted?


I was watching this dude in my rear view mirror today and he was really in to himself. I don't know if he had a date or an interview, but he wanted to make sure he looked good.

He was so into himself, so much that the car behind him honked. Thus, people who honk have another issue...

Friends and Health

Funny how a beautiful day can make things a little better. It's warmer and not raining. I am thankful for my friends, people that I've know through thick and thin. I am also thankful that I can walk, run, and I'm in good health.

Ever had a thought

What are you up to God? It's sometimes often that I ask this question. I think and ponder about what God is doing in my life. I'm in Arizona (it's great right now) and I'm wondering what is He doing in my life. I'm at the place where I'm beginning to look and assess where He may be leading. God is good, He is faithful, but I have to be honest, I'm struggling with what He may be saying. I'm listening, trying to hear you Lord.

Today was odd, I miss a lot of aspects of ministry. I didn't know this until they were missed. It's difficult not being in many decision and conversations. But later I realized that I enjoy control of things. What an epiphany! Pride and discontent are all too familiar to me lately.