Thought of the Week (Week of July 28th...)

Why is it called a soap OPERA when nobody sings?


Discuss.

New York, New York...(and Josh Hamilton)

I don't know how many of you watched the All-Star game last week, but there was something for every sports fan. Every year, fans select their favorites from all of the teams. 64 players are chosen (32 from the American League, & 32 from the National League). And each year, the game is held at a different park than the previous year. Since there are now 30 teams, and one game a year, you can do the math. When it comes to your area, it is a rare thing indeed.

This year, the game was held at New York's Yankee Stadium. Yankee Stadium was built in 1923 to showcase the Yankees premier slugger at the time, Babe Ruth. This year, is the 86th and last season for Yankee Stadium. (They are building "New Yankee Stadium" as I write this, across the street from the original ballpark.)

The night before the All Star game, there is an annual event known as the Home Run Derby. 8 players are chosen from the aforementioned 64, and they have one goal: To hit as many home runs as they can. This year, Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers put on a show for the ages...(right click link below to open in new window)

All-Star Home Run Derby 2008

Now the reason this is in my blog in the first place is not to showcase the athleticism of Josh Hamilton. It is to recognize his accomplishments. Yes, he's been blessed with many physical gifts that enable him to make a living as a professional athlete.

But Josh Hamilton's biggest accomplishment happened off the field. Between 2002 and 2005, he was addicted to drugs. He abused his body. He lost his will to live. He was suspended by MLB for testing positive and eventually released. He was completely out of baseball for the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

So to come back from all that, to end up being the #1 story at baseball's grandest theater, you couldn't write a story any better.

And my two cents on this? NEVER give up. It may seem like things can't get any worse, (and sometimes get even worse) but ALWAYS get back up. And push forward. We were created for greatness, not failure. Like Babe Ruth. Like Josh Hamilton. We are no different. We were created to succeed, to hit "home runs" of our own...and to win.

Thought for the week (week of July 21st)....

George Carlin passed away recently, and I thought this week, I'd share one of his memorable "thoughts"...

"You can't have everything. Where would you put it?"


Discuss.

My Friend Kyle....

A friend of mine sent me this story and I KNEW I had to share it with everyone here:


One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school. His name was Kyle.

It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd."

I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends
tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.

As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt.
His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him.

He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes.

My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, 'Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives."

He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.

As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before.
He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before.

We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends
He said yes.

We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him. Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again.

I stopped him and said, 'Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday! He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends... When we were seniors we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke.

I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never
be a problem. He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship.

Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation.(I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak!)

On graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in his glasses. He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him.

Boy, sometimes I was jealous! Today was one of those days.

I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. "Thanks," he said.

Finally, the time came in the ceremony for Kyle's speech. He walked up to the podium and readied himself. As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began:

"Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends...

I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story."

I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met.

He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.

He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. "Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.

Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse. God puts us all in each others lives to impact one another in some way.

Never forget that.

Thought for the week (July 7th)

"If you were on a plane going the speed of sound and walked from the back of the plane to the front, would you be walking faster than the speed of sound?"



Discuss.

Sand and Stone...author unknown

I found this today, and it's something that I'm sure we've all witnessed or been through personally. So many times people let anger or hurt feelings steal moments away from us that otherwise should be cherished.


Two friends were walking through the desert.
During some point of the journey,
they had an arguement, and one friend slapped
the other one in the face.

The one who got slapped was hurt,
but without saying anything, wrote in the sand:

"Today my best friend slapped me in the face..."

They kept on walking until they found an oasis,
where they decided to take a bath.

The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire
and started drowning, but the friend saved him.

After he recovered from the near drowing, he wrote on a stone:

"Today my best friend saved my life"

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him,

"After I slapped you, you wrote in the sand, and now,
you write on a stone...

Why is that?"

The friend said, "When someone hurts us,
we should write it down in sand, where the winds
of forgiveness can erase it away.


But when someone does something good for us,
we must engrave it in stone, where no wind can ever erase it."

Learn to write your hurts in the sand, and to carve your benefits
and blessings in stone.

Thought for the week (Week of June 30th...)

Just what was the "Baby on Board" sign for? Did it help us decide which car NOT to hit in case of an accident?


Discuss.