Hard lesson to learn on the baseball field

Sometimes life is not fair. I tell that to my kids but today, I had a dose of my own medicine. I love baseball. Always have. Since the age of six, I have played on baseball teams. Some good and some terrible. Today, my company, Cox Communications played in a co-ed, double-elimination tournament. We have really good players so it makes it difficult for the coach to get everyone involved on the team. Unfortunately, I did not see much playing time. In fact, out of three games I played only two innings and those were in game that was over in the second. Oh well, I had fun warming up. So life doesn't always go the way you want it to. What do you do? Forget about it or will eat at you. I write about it so others can do the same. Fairness is the enemy of right. If we try to be fair all the time, doing what's right may get dropped. Our society demands fairness and, in-turn, we get worse and worse. We teach to the lowest common denominator, we hire based on quotas and skin color and reward only if everyone gets something.

So, I didn't see the kind of playing time I wanted. Fair? No. Right? Probably. I can't hit left-handed, which is what all the men had to do... just to make it fair. ;)

Close the Zoo!

I can't wait for the week between Christmas and New Years. We leave for a quiet vacation. The Zoo will be closed! Dana and I were introduced to this concept when we taught Growing kids God's way. Periodically, Zoos will close to give the animals a break from the people. They can go about their day without having someone always looking at or talking to them. The animals eat better, are less agitated and tend to be more friendly with each other. Then, when the gates open again, the animals are happy again.



So, are we much different? Every night, we are on the go and during the day, it's very busy with the normal frantic rush. SO when we close the zoo, we're going away and will hopefully eat well, exercise, relax, sleep become more friendly with each other

Fireproof your marriage

The movie Fireproof is in theaters. It's really good. They zero in on the issues that break up marriages. For the man, it's collecting stuff and satisfying lustful desires and for women it's dealing with submission. There's much more but it's worth seeing. It won't be in theaters long. These movies seldom last that long. Don't miss it! It could save your marriage!

One more thing.

31. Men should be able to prepare for a hurricane.

I'm amazed at some of the "men" I've come across this week that are either clueless about hurricane prep or they're just plain stupid about it. You may never have to use any of your prep work but your family is depending on you to be the man and take care of things.

25 (30) Things Every Man Should Know

I went back through Popular Mechanic's 25 Things Every Man Should Know and reworked them plus added a few. I came up with 30 and I could probably add more but this is a basic list. Every man should know how to do these things. It gets you out of a jam, allows you to live more comfortably and allows everyone around you enjoy life more abundantly. MOST importantly, God has created man to be the primary provider of his family. It's rather wimpish to hear a man say he can't, or doesn't do these things. Perhaps he's right. Just don't call yourself a man.

30 Things Every Man Should Know:

1. Lead another to Christ.
2. Satisfy your wife in bed.
3. Be a gentleman.
4. Tie a tie.
5. Fall a tree.
6. Iron clothes.
7. Change a diaper.
8. Siphon liquid through a hose.
9. Understand refrigeration.
10. Basic wiring and plumbing.
11. Cook a five course meal.
12. TXT MSG.
13. Speak to a group of 25 or more.
14. Balance a checkbook.
15. Patch a radiator hose.
16. Protect your computer.
17. Frame a wall.
18. Back up a trailer.
19. Build a campfire.
20. Navigate with a map and compass.
21. Sharpen a knife.
22. Perform CPR.
23. Clean a fish.
24. Maneuver a car out of a skid.
25. Paint a room.
26. Mix concrete.
27. Change oil and filter.
28. Paddle a canoe.
29. Repair a flat tire.
30. Get a car unstuck.

Load out/Stay - Jackson Browne

I don't know why but I've always liked this song. While I'm not a musician and can't understand what they feel being cheered by enthusiastic crowds, the thoughts come to me about my family and friends and the desire I have to be near them...all the time. My family is precious to me and my friends are fun to be around. So when we have get-togethers at our house, my emotions are similar to Jackson. A little stupid I know.

8 Reasons I Don't Share My Faith

This is perhaps the best short video on why most people, including myself, struggle with talking to others about Christ. When it comes down to it, it really is just excuses.