New Year's Eve Is Overrated

I am aware that many people realize that it is just another regular night. Nevertheless, many among us are stressing out about where they are going to go, what they are going to do, who they are going to see, (who will see them) what they are going to wear, how much they will drink; and the list goes on. I have one piece of advice in three parts:(1) Don't worry about anything (2) Relax and have fun (3) STAY SOBER. Please remember: New Year's Eve is overrated. I remember asking a woman many years ago, several days after the New Year holiday: "Did you get drunk?" She answered: "Are you kidding me? It was New Year's Eve!" I know, I know. Not everyone gets drunk at New Year's celebrations. However, New Year's celebrations are celebrations with too many unfulfilled expectatations and aspirations. Why? Because New Year's Eve is overrated. It is overrated because so many of us have, for decades, been "sold a bill of goods." I have one question for you: Don't you know how to have fun? New Year's Eve is just another night. If you must celebrate; then celebrate life. Don't be satisfied with celebrating just one night or one day. Celebrate every day and every night. Celebrate, celebrate, celebrate. Celebrate with friends, food, refreshments (that don't kill your brain cells) conversation and games that stimulate. Watch some movies, sing some songs, recite some poetry. Don't be afraid. Alright; stay up late if you like. Go to a New Year's Eve service at a Church that preaches the love and power of Jesus Christ. Give God thanks for another year of blessings. If you think it is timorous or insipid; think again. The party or "package deal" you might be planning to attend, may be full of people trying really hard to impress others. They will be trying real hard to prove to you that they are witty, good looking, intelligent and avant-garde. Of course this can happen just about anywhere. Just please remember: a function that is motivated for profit, self-aggrandizement, and titillation is different than a function that is motivated by an attitude of gratitude. Happy New Year.

James Bain

Today, James Bain was released in Bartow, Florida after spending 35 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. ( a rape accusation) New DNA evidence exonerated him.
He was 19 years of age when sentenced. He is now 54 years of age. He says that he is not angry with anyone. "I'm not mad at anyone. I have God. He is the most important thing in my life." Those are his words. The world needs to know what he said. Why? Because it takes a miracle not to be angry if one spends 35 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Bain declares the source of that miracle and the peace that he has within him. It is God, and the world needs to know. The media, most likely, does not consider this newsworthy. But I sure do.

The Tiger Woods Scandal

Some of the things I say in this entry; you have probably heard before. Nevertheless, I am sure that these realities of life and their consequences tend to be based on expectations. I really do not want to drive this whole issue into the ground. Everyone has opinions. Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone is tempted. But here lies the difference. Not everyone is the best golfer in the world. Not everyone has wealth and income that approaches one billion dollars. Not everyone is young, healthy, educated, talented, famous and wealthy. Everything of value obviously has a price. Privacy is something that we all value. Tiger Woods makes his living via the viewing public. Because of this, he has relinquished a certain amount of his privacy. How much he has relinquished is of major importance in this matter. He is a celebrity. This status comes with a cost. Most people do not care that Tiger woods had an affair. Nevertheless, the media has an agenda. The agenda consists of monetary profit. The media wants to "make us care." They have the power to attempt it. From another point of view: What does God say about adultery? "Thou shalt not commit adultery." (Gen. 20:14) Does it make a difference what God says? Does it make a difference what the wife of Tiger Woods thinks about the situation? Does it make a difference what anybody else thinks? Why is it a scandal anyway?

Little Gangster (Part 10) The Confession

Jet felt a certain comfort and peace as he walked into the spacious living room. However, it did not allay his tension or feelings of guilt. He saw Tiffany's mom. He felt a respectful warmth inside of him. She approached him and gave him a big hug. Tiffany was upstairs; when she heard noise she came downstairs. Tiffany was a reserved, studious, conservative, quietly attractive young woman. But when she saw Jet; she screamed a scream of joy mixed with some other emotions. She cried. She broke Jet's heart. She loved him. He loved her. He was hurting inside. He had some very serious unfinished business to take care of. It wasn't going to be easy, but it had to be done. He started this way: "Hello Mr. and Mrs. Olson, please allow me to share some things with all of you that need to be shared. The first thing I want to say is I love you Tiffany. I love you with all of my heart. But I need to tell you something that really hurts. I have been seeing a young woman from East L.A. for about 4 weeks now and I don't want to see her anymore. I want to be with you. I don't want to see you just a couple times a month. But I am really concerned that I have probably seriously messed up our relationship. Please, please forgive me. I cannot begin to tell you how bad I feel." Tiffany was softly sobbing. She knew that her dedication to her studies and her pursuit of high academic achievement took up a great deal of her time. She knew that there were sacrifices to be made toward getting a high caliber education. She actually felt a certain amount of guilt for not spending enough time with Jet. obviously however, she was not pleased with the words she had just heard. She was astonished, angry, and hurt. She felt really betrayed. She was Jet's girlfriend. But it was kind of a strange relationship. Jet felt that if he did not see Tiffany too much that it would be a sign of respect. He missed the mark. It gave him too much extra time. Now, he was trying to pick up the pieces. He was actually trying to save the relationship. He was determined. He was driven. He had nothing to lose and everything to gain by giving it a serious try.

If Laziness Could Talk

Wait a minute: Laziness can talk. It usually makes 10 statements:(1)I had something else in mind.(2) I don't want to be bothered with it.(3) I don't have time for that. (4) I don't want to be seen doing that. (5)Its' not my job. (6)Somebody else can do it. (7) Somebody else will do it.(8)I don't want to get sweaty/dirty. (9) It is just not my style to do that. (10) What if I mess something up?

Biblical Health Care

"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." (Matt. 10:8) I have absolutely nothing against the science of medicine. Nevertheless: how can I reject something that has worked for centuries for millions of people. As already stated: I have nothing against medical doctors and those who practice in that field and it's related technologies. I will just say this: Faith works. I have seen it work too many times to discount it. I know a man who passed away at the age of 106 years. He died a natural death. He was a healthy man for most of his life, and he did not go to doctors. I am a witness of the power of God. For Him; absolutely nothing is impossible. I know people who have been healed from serious diseases; including cancer and AIDS. No disease or health malady exists that God cannot heal. My own nephew was healed from blindness. Many people have been healed from alcoholism and/or drug addiction. What about depression? Is depression a disease? Let me put it this way: whether or not it is a disease is beside the point. It is simply something most people do not want to be experiencing. "The joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehem.8:10) Simply stated: With God's help; a person can be joyful EVERY SINGLE DAY. It is available. That is just the way it is. Have faith in the promises of God. He is not a Liar. "Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." (James 5:14,15) Go for it. Be healthy. It may not be part of Obama's health plan; but it certainly is part of God's health plan.

Abraham Lincoln's Most Famous Letter

On November 21, 1864; Abraham Lincoln wrote a letter to a widow named Lydia Bixby upon learning that she had lost 5 sons in the Civil War. The letter was published in the Boston Transcript on Nov. 25, 1864; the same day she received it. There has been a great deal of controversy over this letter. Some even say Lincoln did not write it.
I believe part of the controversy stems from the fact that in the letter he states his belief in God by stating: "I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement..." Many Lincoln scholars attempt to downplay, ignore or discredit Lincoln's faith in God. I, as a life long student of history, the American Civil War and the life of Lincoln; continue to be persuaded that Abraham Lincoln's faith in God and in God's Word has contributed greatly toward Lincoln being the greatest American President. Here is the letter:

"Dear Madam, I have been shown, in the files of the War Department, a statement of the Adjutant-General of Massachusetts, that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously in the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice on the altar of freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,
Abraham Lincoln."

"To Mrs. Bixby, Boston, Mass."

Whiners and Winners

During the month of September I wrote a blog entitled: "Transfer the Passion." I would like to approach the theme from a different perspective. I submit to you that it is all about attitude. Part of the responsibility of a high school football coach is to decide whether or not it is worth it to keep a certain player even if he has a poor attitude. The big question continues to be: "Can we win games with this guy on the team, can he help us win games?" It is about team. It is about attitude. I remember a great athlete. I grew up with him. He had all the tools. He was outstanding in every sport that he played. I was standing next to him when his little league coach was scolding him for his poor attitude. He ended up quitting the team. I was saddened by his decision. I guess I was too young to understand that it was too hard for him to control; not necessarily his temper.....but his attitude. If one cannot control his cockiness, arrogance, elitest thinking, feelings of superiority; then he cannot control an attitude that is detrimental to the team. I suppose it is akin to the need to control your temper. It hurts; but he will have to go. I understand that not all coaches will agree with me. I think I can understand that. The main goal of a team is to have a winning season. If a coach can be instrumental in changing a player's attitude; then more power to him. I have seen coaches kick players off of a team and then regret what they did. I have seen players humble themselves and ask to be admitted back. This is a tough call for a coach sometimes. Sometimes it is not. It is all about attitude. Of course this also includes the attitude of the coach. Can a coach give a kid enough breathing room so that they both don't lose face? Does the coach have enough integrity, compassion and wisdom to be able to discern what to do in these situations? Does that young player love football enough to change his attitude? Does he love winning enough to change his attitude? One of the jobs of a high school football coach is to turn a whiner into a winner. And the coach needs to know whether or not it is worth the effort.

Little Gangster (Part 9) Six Regretful Weeks

For two weeks Jet Visited Leti practically every night. Jet continued to work at the community college. Jet was not a drinker or a drug user. He had never experienced a hangover in his life. He was a responsible employee. But Leti had introduced him to some new experiences. He was hooked. He was hooked on her. Tiffany was busy with her final exams at UCLA. She and Jet were talking on the phone about twice a week,
usually about 12 minutes per call. Tiffany loved Jet. He was the only boyfriend she had ever had. But Jet was real busy with Leti. They started to spend whole nights together. This lasted for 6 weeks. It was the middle of the month of May. Jet had started to drink beer a little bit. He didn't really like it. He drank because Leti liked to have a few cans with her Marijuana. Leti was still in touch with the gang members in the projects. They respected her because they knew her, and they didn't bother Jet. One night Jet started to feel extremely guilty for his relationship with Leti. He started to miss Tiffany in the worst way. He missed her parents. He missed Tiffany's classy ways, her gentleness, and innocence. Although Jet and Tiffany had never been sexually intimate; they were dear to each other. Jet knew he was hooked on Leti because of the sex. He was "hooked" on her; but he was not in love with her. He was in love with Tiffany. He loved her family. Jet had courage. He had a competitive spirit. He was an athlete. But in this circumstance he really had to dig deep beyond his ego. He was in a tough situation. One thing he was sure of: he needed to end the relationship he had with Leti. It wasn't going to be easy. But he was determined to do it. One night Jet decided to drive to Santa Monica to see Tiffany. They had not seen each other in weeks. Jet had a great deal on his mind. He was worried. But even in spite of all of that; he wanted to surprise her. Jet left work early. He took the 405 and headed West. He nervously arrived at her house. He parked his car, got out, and slowly walked up to her luxurious house surrounded by a beautiful, green, manicured lawn, adjacent to the elegant landscaping. He knocked on the door. Tiffany's dad opened the door. he was so glad to see Jet, he gave him a big hug. This was the first time the dad had ever done that. Tiffany's dad owned a successful accounting business in Santa Monica. His wife was an elementary school teacher. Both were graduates of UCLA. They were financially successful. Tiffany was their only child.

A Freeway World Series

The Los Angeles Angels of the American League, MLB are hot. They will sweep the Yankees. They will move on. The Dodgers will win the National League pennant. The World Series competition will be between the Angels and the Dodgers. The Angels will sweep them in 4 games. The Angels are too "hot to handle" right now.

Bullying In Schools

Bullying in schools can be reduced significantly. A school wide policy needs to exist. But teachers need to be the main players if bullying is to be reduced. Once a teacher told me: "I can't be the world's policeman." No, but he/she needs to take an active part against bullying, and not justify their inaction by saying:"Boys will be boys." No! I say: "Boys will be taught." Without teachers being in direct dissension with bullying; and taking direct action against it; it will continue. Teachers need to have a burden for the safety of students. They need to be creators of "school as a safety zone." Helping to keep a school safe is part of the job of every teacher. The teacher may not view it that way, but it is the truth anyway.

JB's Proposal

To complicate things (or maybe uncomplicate them) JB got an offer from an NFL team to be an assistant coach. The salary was triple of what he was earning as a school teacher. JB waited. "First things first," he thought. It was during the month of March. Football season was over. JB decided he was going to propose marriage to Anne on the approaching Saturday night. He took her to dinner at a restaurant in the Gaslamp Quarter of Downtown San Diego. After dinner he said the following words: "Anne, You are really, really special to me. I have never loved anyone the way I love you. I would do anything for you. You are so beautiful and nice. You have been really good to me. You have put up with me. You have put up with my schedule. You have won me over. You have "pancaked" me. "What does `pancaked` mean,"she asked.
"Well, when an a blocker on the offensive team blocks a defender and flattens him; they call that a pancake block. That's what you have done to me. Will you marry me? Before you answer; please allow me to explain something that is very important to me.
I love you. I love football. I have been offered a job to coach football in the NFL. This also is a dream come true. Please understand my situation. I don't want to live without you. If you say yes, we will need to move to the Midwest somewhere. Later, we may need to move somewhere else. We can work things out. Marry me. What do you say? "How soon would you like to get married?" She responded. They have been married over 9 years. They have 2 daughters.

The Two Loves Of The Football Coach

His name was JB. I knew him well. He loved football. He had been playing since his childhood years. He was a star running back in high school and college. He wanted to play in the NFL, this had been his dream for many years. He didn't really care what team he played for. He just wanted to play pro football. He tried out for several teams. Once he survived until the final cut. This was glorious for him. He rubbed elbows with greatness on the gridiron. It whetted his appetite for the NFL. He was told he was not big enough. He never forgot the environment of the NFL. He met many players and coaches. But he never became a professional football player. He became an assistant football coach in college. Later, he became a high school teacher and football coach. During this time; he wrote letters to different NFL teams for the purpose of becoming part of the coaching staff of any team that would accept him. JB knew football. He loved football. He sacrificed for football. A particular team showed some interest in him. However, they did not make him an offer. He kept on teaching and coaching at the high school level. I had the privilege of coaching with him. I learned a great deal from him. He never lost hope that someday an NFL team would hire him. Then something happened to him that had never happened to him before. He fell in love. Her name was Anne. She was tall, slender and beautiful. She was an elementary school teacher. It didn't matter that he was shorter than her. He impressed her too. They dated for 6 months. He wanted to marry her. Now he had 2 great loves. Anne and football. JB had a dillemma: How was he going to propose to her?

The Padres Beat The Dodgers Last Night

What a game it was. Tuesday October 29, 2009. Petco Park. Jimmy Mann, John Gibbs and I had some great seats; slightly above left field. It is notable that the starting pitcher for the Padres was Los Angeles native, Cesar Ramos, who was making his first major league start against the team that he has pulled for most of his life. Ramos pitched 6 innings. He did a fine job, limiting the Dodgers to only one run.Tony Gwynn Jr. hit a homer and also stole second base. Bunts, a homer, stolen bases, a pickle, double plays, excellent pitching. What a game! The Padres got a Dodger in a pickle between first and second, they got him out. The runner on third who tried to take advantage of the situation was thrown out, resulting in a double play. Heath Bell struck out three in a row to end the game. The Dodgers failed to clinch the Western Division for the third staight day. We prefer that no rival team be celebrating such an event on our home turf.

Because He Is A Champ

He works hard. He trains hard. He postpones pleasure because being the best brings him pleasure. He hurts sometimes. But hurting is part of the trip. The "trip" is a major adventure. The trip represents preparation. Winning is the goal. It is the destination. He trains. He practices. He trains and practices hard. He takes care of his body. He eats well. He sleeps well. (if he can) Winning is his way of life. He must do what he must do to win. He must "will himself" to win. Losing is not an option. He must be mentally prepared as well. He must think of as many possible scenarios in the contest that could occur. He must train for them, practice them; and then if they come up; he knows what to do. They say "practice makes perfect." But I submit to you that practicing well, practicing at high levels, practicing with the pursuit of excellence; and being consistent with that pursuit "makes perfect." It has to do with love. We make sacrifices for love. We make sacrifices for the one we love. We make sacrifices for the thing we love. A champ loves to compete and win. It won't happen without sacrifice. But he will do it. He will do it because he is a champ.

Immigrants Declare It Is A Great Country

We have all heard the phrase: "America is a nation of immigrants." It certainly is. Some have crossed the Mexican border. Some have crossed the Canadian border. Some arrived on the coasts of Florida, Texas and California. Some arrived via other coasts. Millions arrived through Ellis Island. Some were brought by force. All came for one of two reasons: To improve their quality of life or to improve or maintain the quality of life for someone else. All who stayed assimilated in varying degrees. Their children assimilated to a greater degree. All of those children born in this great country are or were Americans. Some refused and refuse to call themselves by that title. Many served and serve in the armed forces of the United States. Many sacrificed their lives and limbs. The majority of them have served with honor. They wouldn't have it any other way. Many of the immigrants from Mexico, Central America and South America are termed "illegal" because they snuck across and did not go through the legal procedures to obtain the legal documents to be in this country. Some have been caught, arrested and sent back. Most of those sent back have returned either to be rearrested or to stay for good. Some have been deported many times. Some have been robbed by their own countrymen. Some have died of starvation or dehydration. Some have been murdered. Some have been maimed. Some of the women and children have been sexually abused. The immigrants keep on coming. Why? Because of the possibilities. Because of the hope. Because of the dream. Because of the freedom. It is a sacrifice. It is a sacrifice whether they leave their families behind or bring them. Many will give their life savings to a smuggler, only to be disappointed. They continue to come. Some commit crimes and go to prison. Some of those in prison have actually told me: "I would rather be in prison in America than go back to my country." Through their actions; the immigrants continue to declare: "AMERICA, IT IS A GREAT COUNTRY."

What Serena Williams Should Have Said

Serena Williams is one of the greatest female tennis players in the world. She has proven it time and again. But recently at the US Open she really lost her composure. She yelled obscenities at the line judge. She used the "f" word. When asked to repeat what she had said she was neither gracious, humble or honest. She should have apologized to the whole world for her rude behavior. She should have said the following words: "I am so sorry for conducting myself the way I did at the tennis match. I should have been more respectful. I should have told the judge that I did nothing wrong, if I did not agree with her decision. I should not have said anything intimidating to her or anyone else. I was wrong. I have no excuses. Please forgive me. I must play a higher quality brand of tennis and not place myself in that type of situation. The fans of tennis deserve better. I also apologize to all young athletes who aspire to take their talent to great levels. Please don't conduct yourself the way I did that day. Thank you."

Lambasting President Obama

When Barack Obama entered politics, I'm sure he knew what he was getting himself involved with. Politics is the dirtiest business on the planet earth. Unfortunately,
too many things cannot be accomplished without it. Politics exists at all levels of human groups. It is not always unpleasant, but at higher levels it is the struggle for power. It is the struggle for money and it's implementation in society. How can we not expect to have argumentation and disagreement when such things are at stake? Sometimes people feel that the way government handles it's resources will determine the very existence of the people and the nation. Is it not true that they who control the money control the power? Politics is the struggle for power, therefore it is the struggle for money's use. The money spoken of is tax money. Does government actually have money of it's own? Politics is dirty business for one main reason: because of the money needed to operate in politics. We cannot survive without politics because we cannot survive without government. Obama can handle the job as President. He is not God, but he is President of a free country. The people have rights. The people have a right to disagree with his policies. They have a right to communicate things to him in ways that are not always cordial and pleasant. He will be lambasted. He can handle the heat. Heat comes with the job. He knew that when he took it.

Mr. Homeless, please respect my school

Dear Mr. Homeless, I'm sorry you are poor. I'm sorry you don't have a nice place to live. Why don't you work and have a house? I'm a 4th grade girl at a new school in the downtown part of a city. I love my brand new school. My room smells brand new and nice. It will be so much fun at my new school! We will have recess in the parking lot. I love my teacher and the girl principal. So far everybody is nice. I just have a favor to ask of you Mr. Homeless. Please stay away from my pretty school. The other day you were looking in the dumpster and you threw trash all over the place. If you hang around during the day, you might scare the kids. If you hang around at night, you might leave more messes. Just like, the other day it was really stinky when I came to school. It smelled like poo. Yuck! Please do not leave messes. Please do not poo or pee by my new and pretty school.

Little Gangster (Part 8) First Time Cruising

The following night Jet came by Leti's house in his new Monte Carlo. "Lets' cruise around the Eastside," she suggested. He went along with the idea. She got into the car. They took off. He felt good. He was fascinated to be with such a pretty girl. It was during the month of April. The weather in Los Angeles was pleasant. Leti was wearing a mini-skirt. They were waiting for the light to change on Whittier Blvd. She searched through her purse and pulled out a joint. "Do you mind if I smoke this?" She asked, as she turned to her left on the front seat of the passenger side she revealed the light pink panties she was wearing. Jet maintained his composure but he was moved by a very natural passion that was awakened. They kept going on Whittier Blvd. Jet knew of a secluded area by City Terrace where one could see the City of Los Angeles. It was getting dark. Jet parked his Chevy. He and Lety just started to talk. Even though Lety's eyes were glassy from the marijuana she had smoked, She looked beautiful to Jet. He liked her. She seemed to like him. They continued to chat and listen to the radio. They talked about the people they knew and places they had been. Jet talked a litle bit about sports and how he kind of missed competing. He told Leti that he didn't like to get high, but that he partied once in a while. He was not in a gang himself but he knew many gang members. On the other hand, Leti had been around gangs all of her life. She was attracted to the mystique of gangs and gangsters. Her dad was locked up. One of her brothers had been murdered. Her other brother was in prison. So was her boyfriend. She told Jet that she didn't like cops. He didn't tell her that he was thinking about joining the LA Police Dept. He didn't tell her about Tiffany either. Leti smoked another joint. She became uninhibited and giggly. "I wanna sit next to you," she said." The car had bucket seats so they could not sit next to each other. She giggled as she said: "Lets move to the back seat." They did as she suggested. Jet was shy. Leti was not. She started kissing Jet. Jet had never kissed a woman the way Leti kissed him. They continued kissing, then touching, fondling and rubbing. They had sex. they talked. They had sex again.

Coach: Transfer the Passion

I think one of the toughest challenges that a high school football coach has is motivating the team. How does one inspire? How does the coach transfer the passion
that he has for the game and for winning.....to his players. It can be done. It can be done harshly, gently, loud, or quietly but it can be done. It has to be done.
It has to be done or you don't win football games. (let alone championships) The coach prepares his offense, defense and special teams. He selects his starters and his backups. He has drilled them, practiced them, run them. He works with his assistants to get the team prepared for Friday night. He has talented players. He has players who know what is required for their respective positions. Then, all of a sudden; the coach hears some bad news. No, it is not an injury. Five of his starters are ineligible due to bad grades. To make matters worse; some of the players are ineligible due to low grades both in scholarship and citizenship. It may sound strange; but this is a passion matter. It is a love matter. Why bother to "strap on" that uniform if he doesn't love the game. Why bother to make the sacrifice of going to practice Monday through Thursday if there isn't enough passion for the game to conduct himself properly in and out of the classroom? The responsibility of the coach begins to take a different dimension/direction. He needs to convince, persuade, inspire, and motivate. He needs to transfer the passion that he has for football, to his players. It may be a challenge, but it can be done. It must be done.

No Such Thing As An Addiction?

Recently somebody told me that there is no such thing as an addiction; there are only choices. It seems to make sense. Sure, its' a choice alright, but there is much more to it than that. Some people just seem to have a hard time with their choices. It comes down to this: the "choices" one makes; whether it is the
consumption of liquor, overeating, viewing of pornography, smoking tobacco or marijuana, and other drug use, sexual abnormalities (that may or may not clash with certain religious values and government statutes) are often times not considered the problem. Think about it. It is not the actual conduct of certain choices; it is the consequences of the choices. For example; is drinking liquor at the beach the real problem? No. The real problem was the littering, fights, disorderliness and crime. In reality; "littering" is an understatement. It is not the appropriate word. The more accurate description is "trash dumped all over the place." Thus a local statute was passed: no drinking at the beach. There are only 24 hours in one day. If the consequences and the habit itself are taking up excessive amounts of time which does not allow a person to do the things he/she must do to survive; then the person just needs to make different choices. The fun is not worth the "unfun."

The Great Leader

Who is that great leader? Where is he? Where is she? What is he like? What does she have? Where has he been? What has she done? Who have those leaders been with? What has that leader been exposed to? The people are looking for leaders. They are looking for a leader. Many questions with few answers. But I will try. The first thing I want to say is just because a person has a title does not mean that person is a leader, nor does that title necessarily mean that the person knows what he/she is doing. I am going to make it real simple. Being a leader means being 10 things.
(1) A leader needs to have courage, patience and enthusiasm. (2) A leader needs to love people. (3) A leader needs to be informed. (4) A leader needs to know his job. (5) A leader needs to keep up and be aware of changes. (6) A leader needs to have good communication skills.(7)A leader keeps on learning, studying, and researching.
(8) A leader needs to know how to listen. (9) A leader needs to be able to detect leadership in others, know how to use it,and not be threatened by it.(10)A leader needs to have integrity. This might be the most important one, because this is the one that creates respect. The leader must not be a liar, cheater, conniver, deceiver, or thief. This includes his private as well as his public life. Why? Because a great leader is not a hypocrite. I realize that these 10 points are standards. They may also be called ideals. Leaders will fall short. Circumstances may, at times, appear to present the need to violate one or more of the aforementioned. But leaders must not be controlled by their shortcomings or their excuses and defense mechanisms. They need to be guided by ethics that are also fueled by a desire to do things that create success.

An Open Letter To Michael Vick

Michael; I am glad the Philadelphia Eagles have signed you for one year. I am confident that you are capable of doing a great job. You are 29 years old and a 6 year veteran of the NFL. You are a gifted athlete. Sure; you messed up; but it is time to move on. Enough about your criminal record. Enough about your crimes. you did the crime; you served the time. Let us move on. I'll get right to the point. In order for you to succeed you must do 12 things. Here they are: (1) Never be late to practice. (2) Focus, concentrate on your job and responsibilities (3) Work extremely hard. (4) Learn as much as you can regarding your position. (5) Do not drink liquor. (6) Do not use drugs. (7) Stay away from bars, casinos, night clubs, and parties(man, you are not 19 years old!) (8) Carry no lethal weapons with you. (9) Obey your coach. (10) Obey the laws of the land. (11) Pray hard, read your Bible every day and worship God in a cell group or Church. (12) If you have a fiance. Get married as soon as possible, but be sure that the woman you marry is the one that Jesus has given you. Be sure to receive adequate pre-marital counseling from a qualified minister full of the Holy Ghost, knowledgeable of the Word of God and who knows what he is doing.
Ask God to protect you from accidents and injuries. Ask him to help you to do your very best every time you step on that field for an athletic contest. Have a great time and God bless you. Please remember: your talent is a gift from God, and your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. What you do with it; is your gift back to him.
Do it His way. You have already tried the other way.

He Said: "I Was Too Nervous"

This is a story about an 8th. grade boy I once knew. He liked a girl. He tried to time it perfectly so he could see her every day walking to one of her classes at school. She was so pretty, she made him nervous. One day she smiled at him. This really made his day. He kept walking by her every day. He was really, really moved by her. This went on for weeks. One day he said hello. She returned the hello. He was fascinated that she actually greeted him. He was planning his next step. He actually wanted to have a conversation with her. He was not sure how he was going to go about it. But he was determined to talk to her. Then something tragic happened. She became the unintended victim of a drive-by shooting. She was shot in the head and she died shortly thereafter. I attended the funeral. Needless to say it was a very sad event. A few days passed, and the 8th. grade boy took me aside and told me about his attraction to the girl. I don't remember much about the conversation; but I remember he was hurting inside. I do remember these words for sure: "Mr. D, I was too nervous to tell her. If I ever like a girl again; I'm going to be sure to tell her."

Little Gangster (Part 7) Jet Meets Leti

It was 1973. His name was Jet. He acquired that name as a result of his exploits in the parks and playgrounds of East Los Angeles. He was a very fast runner. In high school he was a track and football star. He did not have a dad, but he was real close to his mother. She was very proud of him but didn't really encourage him to go to college. He was offered scholarships to college but after high school graduation he chose to go to a community college close to his house. He had a good year in both football and track. Jet was very popular. The school he attended was proud of him and offered him a full-time job in the athletic department, even though he had no degree. He accepted it and he liked it very much. He worked full-time and was enrolled as a part-time student. He bought himself a brand new Chevy Monte Carlo, just before his 23rd birthday. He had a girlfriend from Santa Monica who was the daughter of an accountant. He had met her after a track meet that was held at UCLA. Her name was Tiffany. Tiffany's family was a very devout Catholic family. Jet was also Catholic but he never attended Church. He loved Tiffany. He respected her. Occasionally they went out on a date, but usually he just visited her at her house while her parents were there, they really liked Jet. She was a senior at UCLA, and very busy. Jet liked to work out. He stayed in shape. Sometimes he worked out at school, sometimes he ran in the neighborhood. One day he was running in his neighborhood. He kept running and running. He actually left his neighborhood and ventured into another neighborhood. He found himself in the middle of the projects. Somebody recognized him. She was an admirer. She yelled: "Hey big guy, when are you taking me for a ride in your new Chevy?" He stopped and looked to see who it was. There she was; standing in front of the projects where she lived. The most beautiful chola he had ever seen. She was wearing a pink spaghetti-strap shirt, that exposed her belly-button, white shorts, big gold hoop earrings, gold sandals and not too much makeup on her olive complexion. She had long, black, curly hair, and hazel eyes. Self-assured, he strutted over to where she was. "Hi, whats' your name?" He asked. Leti. Que Barrio?" "City Terrace." He responded. "Aren't you a little far from home?" "Yeah, just a little. Wanna run back with me? Or will your boyfriend get mad?" "My boyfriend is locked up. He's in San Quentin, he's a gangster, and he ain't getting out for a while. And no, I don't wanna run anywhere. I don't like to run, I don't like to get all sweaty unless I'm dancing. Do you like to dance?" "A little bit. Wanna walk a few blocks with me?" "Sure," she said. They walked toward City Terrace for about 5 blocks. Then they stopped. There was still a long way to go, and Jet had to get the rest of his run finished. Leti had told Jet that she lived with her older sister, Lupe. Lupe had two small children. Leti also had a child. He was 4years old. He stayed with her boyfriend's mom. Leti was 21 years old. She liked to party. He got her phone number. In those days there were no cell phones. Jet asked if he could come by the next night. She said of course. The "of course" got to him. He liked Leti. He ran home pretty fast; thinking about her all the way home. He knew he had a girlfriend; but that didn't seem to matter. Jet called Leti later that night. They talked on the phone for about an hour. Later he called Tiffany. They talked on the phone for about ten minutes.

John Basilone

His name was John Basilone. He was one of 10 children, the son of an Italian tailor. He was from Raritan New Jersey. He was a Marine during World War II. He loved the Marine Corps. He was a "Marine's Marine". During a long night in the month of October, 1942, Basilone found himself in the heat of combat against a determined and overwhelming force of Japanese. He was on Guadalcanal. He was attempting to preserve a thin Marine-and-Army defense line around Henderson Field. A wave of Japanese soldiers knocked out the machine guns on his left. Basilone lifted a machine gun and its tripod, consisting of 90 pounds of weaponry.He raced 200 yards to the silenced gun pit and started firing. Japanese bodies began stacking up in front of the emplacement. Enemy soldiers attacked his rear. He cut them down with his pistol. He fought til dawn.* Over 38 bodies of the enemy lay dead. Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone came home with the Congressional Medal of Honor.
If you ever travel in Southern California; there is an area between Orange and San Diego Counties. Just North of Camp Pendleton, on Freeway 5, there is a stretch of road. It is called Basilone Road. It is named in honor of this Marine hero who fired his weapon until heat blistered his hands, and he kept shooting.

*An excerpt from "The Marine who went back"(12/10/90: US NEWS & WORLD REPORT)

So Who Takes Out The Trash?

I think most of us have been in this situation. You have roommates who like to leave messes. So who cleans the mess? At work, a trash can is brimming with trash. Who empties it? Who drinks coffee? Who makes the coffee? Who cleans the coffee area? The employee's lounge is a mess. Cutbacks have eliminated the custodian's job. Who cleans the lounge? Ideally, everyone pitches in. What if someone in the office is highly educated? "I didn't get my Master's to be someone's maid." Does cooperation mean anything? Does fairness mean anything? "Yes, I believe in fairness but I don't want to get my hands dirty." Basically there are 5 options:
(1) take turns (2) set up a system/protocol, and guide yourself by it. (3) let the same person do it all the time. "He likes to do it anyway." (4) pay someone to do it.
(5) let the mess remain.(this, however, may not be considered an option) Communicate with one another. Work it out. Let me make a point. Have you ever visited a convalescent home? People are hired to do things for others who cannot do those tasks for themselves. Basically; when something needs to be done; and one can't or won't do it himself; then one usually pays someone else to do it.

Humble Yourself (Part 3)

This is actually my fourth entry on the subject of humility or humbleness. I continue to declare that all the knowledge of all human beings that live, have lived, or ever will live is not greater than the knowledge and the wisdom of God. God owns the blueprint for living. He created it. "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought to think," is just a small portion of Paul's letter to the Romans. I think most people would view the statement as reality, common sense, and a wise choice. I view it as the eternal Word of God. I repeat: God knows more than all people put together. If you actually think that you are "all that and a bag of chips," I suggest to you that you stop thinking that way; and humble yourself. I can think of two men who recently did not humble themselves; and paid the price. One is named Crowley, the other is named Gates. One is a cop. One is a professor. One yelled at the top of his voice saying(among other things): "You don't know who you are messing with." The other should have just listened and let the man vent. Both men did not humble themselves, therefore, both men were wrong. Charges of racism ensued and the event became a scandal. I was not there. I've only read the reports.
Nevertheless, I know this: "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." (Prov. 15:1) God is never, never wrong.

Use Of The Word "Stupid." Part 2

Approximately 11 months ago I wrote a blog entry regarding the use of the word "stupid" in conversation, accusation and evaluation. I find it necessary to discuss it again in light of the fact that US President Barak Obama; who is possibly one of the most articulate men to ever occupy the White House; received a great deal of heat for using that word to describe the actions of a certain police officer of the Cambridge Police Dept. The incident in question was the arrest of an African American professor in his own home. He is Professor Gates of Harvard University. Before I go on; I must state that I firmly believe in the freedom of speech. It is freedom of speech and freedom of the press that has helped mold this country into the great country that it is. Nevertheless; the word "stupid" continues to be a word used by angry, bitter, unsophisticated and ignorant persons. People who are free have choices. Especially people who are educated. Barak obama made a poor choice. He suffered the consequences for it. So will anyone else who uses that word too freely. I guarantee it.

Philippians 4:13 ? Yes, Yes, Yes !

His name is Tim Tebow. He is a Heisman Trophy winner and a two-time national champion. He is pictured on the cover of the July 27, 2009 issue of Sports Illustrated. Under each of his eyes is expressed a text. I consider that scripture to be one of the most important verses in the life of a Christian. Whatever it may be. Whatever task lies ahead. Whatever responsibility is placed on a person's shoulders. Whenever a person starts to think: "I can't do this; it is just too hard for me." Remember Philippians 4:13; forget the doubting and the doubters. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13) I have been preaching the Gospel in the San Diego County jails for 29 years. I quote that verse at every service. I ask every inmate to memorize it and live it. When lived and applied; it is a win, win situation, because you are not alone. You are never, never alone when you live by that creed. Sure, it takes faith. Go for it.

IDNHTNGTIMPH

You must be wondering what those 12 letters of the title represent. They represent hard work. They represent dedication to a goal and toward a goal. They represent endurance and discipline. They represent an unwillingness to give up. They represent the maxims: "Winners never quit and quitters never win," and "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." Those 12 letters represent the pursuit and the passion for excellence. Those 12 letters represent a willingness to postpone pleasure; a willingness to pay the price. They represent the desire to "get it right." They represent blood, sweat and tears. Those 12 letters remind me of two previous blog entries I have written about Rocky Marciano and Raymond Berry. But the 12 letters go beyond excellence in athletics. They can be applied to all positive fields of endeavor. Those letters represent a recipe for success. I DO NOT HAVE THE NATURAL GIFTS THEREFORE I MUST PRACTICE HARDER.

Abraham Lincoln's Creed

"I believe in God, the Almighty Ruler of nations, our great and merciful Maker, our Father in heaven, who notes the fall of a sparrow and numbers the hairs on our heads. I recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proved by all history that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord. I believe that the will of God prevails. Without him, all human reliance is vain. With that assistance I cannot fail. I have a solemn vow registered in heaven to finish the work I am in, in full view of my responsibility to God, with malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right , as God gives me to see the right." Abraham Lincoln

Recently I heard a US History professor, who is also an author, declare that Abraham Lincoln was an atheist. He made this claim in a lecture with over 300 participants. I found it necessary to present a disclaimer; so I did. RD

My Trip To Gettysburg Was Great

Many thanks to my friends who inquired about my trip to Gettysburg. It was such a memorable experience. I studied at the Civil War Institute of Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania for my third time. The CWI was started in 1983 by Professor Gabor Boritt, a noted Lincoln and Civil War scholar and historian. This year the main theme was "The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln" and "The Life of Mary Todd Lincoln." I learned that there was a conspiracy to assassinate the 16th President. This conspiracy developed the moment John Wilkes Booth heard a speech by Lincoln that encouraged the idea of allowing educated Blacks to vote. Someone heard Booth say: "That is the last speech he will ever make." I visited Ford's Theatre where Booth shot Lincoln on the night of April 14, 1865. The President died the next morning at 7:22. He died at the Peterson House. A place I also visited. I took a photo of the bed where Lincoln died. Twelve days after Lincoln's death; Booth was surrounded in a burning tobacco barn in the state of Virginia. He was shot through the neck. What a President Lincoln was! I have much more to say about my trip. There will be a part two.

Some thoughts about Michael Vick

I will be brief about it. Michael Vick broke the law. He paid his debt to society. He has been punished for his crimes. He has done his time. Give him a chance to play football in the NFL. He needs to be on a football field during the season. He needs to compete with the best because he is one of the best. To prohibit this man from doing what he does best is wrong. It is overkill. Alright, so he mistreated some dogs. Where is the forgiveness? Where is the compassion? Did he kill anyone? Did he pull a gun on someone? PETA and other animal protection activist organizations need to get off their high horses of self-righteousness, and channel their energies to a real moral problem: abortion. They don't need to change their acrostic. Just change the words each letter represents: The new PETA: PREVENTING, ENDING THE ABORTIONS. But such an action would mean exiting the arena of self-righteousness and entering the arena of the pursuit of real righteousness; saving human lives. But that would cause them to leave their comfort zone. Maybe some are willing. Certainly the zeal is there. But why not just leave Michael Vick alone? He paid his dues.

The Theory of the Spark

Be prepared to read some ideas that you may not agree with. Nevertheless, you are probably familiar with some of the incidents that I mention. Have you ever thought of something that someone else thought of at the same time? After a long silence; did you ever start to speak at the same time as someone else? Did you ever look at someone at the same time he or she looked at you? Did you just decide to walk out of your house and then realize that someone else walked out of his/her house at the same time? Why did so many people decide to do the same thing on a particular night? Something that they don't usually do. I will tell you why. I won't call it coincidence. It is because of the spark. What is the spark? The spark that I speak about has nothing to do with electricity, batteries, voltage or fire. It pertains to an invisible mental energy that is emitted by people that triggers action. In other words; the thoughts, words and actions of people that others do not know, hear, see or experience can have an effect on them. Why? Because of the spark. Is the spark influenced by other factors? Yes. But that is another story.

I'm Going to Gettysburg

Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War are some of my favorite themes. In fact, you can almost call the study of them a hobby. I will be making my third trip to Gettysburg College to study. This year it will be about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Each year a different theme is offered. There will be lectures, field trips, seminars, videos and open discussions. It will be a chance to renew old acquaintances and just have a good time. During the afternoons and some evenings I will be looking for Spanish-speaking people to tell them about the power of Jesus. During my last visit to Gettysburg I noticed a large segment of immigrants from Mexico, Central America and South America. They do not need religion. They need Jesus. He is the key to finding a purpose in life. Abraham Lincoln learned that truth very early in life. His grandmother taught him to read using the Bible as an instruction book. Is there a better tool for learning? Abraham Lincoln learned many great things. His life, words and deeds attest to it. He was not perfect, but he knew Someone who was/is.

I Want No Sports Dynasty

I want no team to become a dynasty in a particular sport. Sure; I want the best team to win. Nevertheless, I don't want it to be the same team year after year. If the same team wins a championship year after year, something is wrong. Don't get me wrong. Every team that steps on that court or field needs to play its' best. How many times have the Steelers won the Super Bowl? Too many times. How many times have the Celtics or the Lakers won the NBA championship? Too many times. How many times have the Yankees won the World Series? The answer is the same. Here is my point. First of all: I do not hate a winner. It is out there. Go for it. I refuse to be a sore loser. In the 1998 World Series the great San Diego Padres played against the New York Yankees. The Padres got swept. Back in "84" the Tigers beat the Padres in the October Classic but at least it took 5 games. It is obvious that the San Diego Padres are nowhere near a "dynasty," but I am predicting that one year the Padres will play in a World Series and win the MLB Championship. I don't know what year it will be, but it will happen. Eventually it will happen. Am I a Padre fan? You better believe it. (since 1948)

"Endowed By Their Creator"

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence begins with that sentence. I opine that the words: "Endowed By Their Creator" could possibly be the four most important words to precede the formation of this great nation known as the United States of America. When God is acknowledged and respected in the formation of something as important as creating a new nation; that new nation will be a great one. Is it not great? What a courageous endeavor; the formation of The United States of America. What feeds it's greatness? Freedom feeds the greatness of this nation. Where does freedom come from? It comes from the Word of God. It does not, and cannot come from any human government. In the United States; many, many great things have happened. Great leaders have developed. Great institutions of higher learning have developed. Great inventions have been made here. Great strides in music, the arts, sports, technology, industry, commerce and standard of living. None of this would or could have happened had it not been for the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. Men and women all over the world seek for that which will inspire and motivate them. They seek for that which will comfort and instruct them. America has it. The United States has within it an explosive force that cannot be measured by human demarcations. It is much too powerful. This force is in two connected parts: The power of the Word of God; and the power of the faith that it produces. Some may say that the United States is "on the ropes." Not so. As long as the Word of God is preached and taught in this nation; this nation will be blessed. George Washington clearly stated: "No nation can adequately be governed without the Bible." I agree with him.

Raymond Berry

His legs were crooked. One was shorter than the other. He had a bad back. He was skinny and not very fast. He was near-sighted. One of his hands had fingers out of joint. He did not have natural physical ability. Nevertheless, he was one of the greatest receivers to ever step on a football field. He played in the NFL for the old Baltimore Colts from 1955 to 1967. He was Johnny Unitas' favorite target. Some of his records have still not been broken. He led the NFL in receiving and receptions 3 times. He played in 6 Pro Bowls, and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1973. As already mentioned; his eyesight was bad. He was the first professional athlete to ever wear contact lenses. He also wore special dark glasses because the sun bothered his eyes so much. He made up for his physical shortcomings by practicing hard and by being highly disciplined. He had tremendous drive, and he took care of the details. He loved the game. He is an inspiration to many. His name is Raymond Berry.

Sasha, Janet and Shivaya

Last month,in Hawaii, 2 lesbians named Sasha and Janet Lessin gathered together with friends and held what was called a "commitment ceremony." The "commitment" being celebrated was not a renewal of their "marriage vows"; it was the incorporation of a third person, "Shivaya,"into their so-called "triad." In this case, Shivaya is both Sasha and Janet's husband, wife, spouse, mate, partner and vice-versa. Might this create confusion? This type of relationship between 3 people is called "polyamory." It is not necessarily something new. However, a relationship of this type, seeking legitimacy as a marriage, is something we are not accustomed to. Redefine marriage? Marriage is something in particular; not a construct of society that can be changed or redefined at will. What comes next?

Dwight Howard

Maybe he does not get much publicity; but he is a great basketball player. He was an NBA player at the age of 18. He was drafted right out of high school by the Orlando Magic. He is not a one-man team. Nevertheless he was a major factor in preventing Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers from participating in the NBA finals. He graduated from Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy. Maybe the media would have a field day if he got arrested in a night club or if he got a DUI. The media attention will come. It may take 7 games; but the Magic will win the NBA championship. Dwight Howard led the NBA in rebounds before he was old enough to take a legal drink. He performs on the court and he is a gentleman off the court. We shall see.

Love doesn't Die A Natural Death

Love is eternal. It cannot die. Love is even "stronger than the grave."(Solomon) No, it can't die a natural death. But it can be killed. It can be killed as a result of betrayal, indifference, jealousy, ignorance, selfishness, lack of respect, neglect, inattention, taking things for granted, and failure to give. You must give, if you must love. Love is not just a fact or a feeling; it is an act. Yes, you must give. One can give without loving; but one cannot love without giving. If love dies; it's death was caused by a sickness; or maybe it starved to death because it refused to give. It didn't die a natural death; it doesn't do that.

Its' Just "Stuff"

Some of us are guilty of hoarding, keeping, and collecting things that would best be thrown away. They take up space. They can cause a house to look like a pig sty. Perhaps many of us have tendencies to save and collect. I guess there is nothing wrong with wanting to hold on to certain things: favorite sweaters, books, and magazines. Or maybe souvenirs, mementos and keepsakes. Boxes, jackets, toys, gadgets,
tools, clothes, sports equipment, and the list goes on. Somebody told me once: "If I don't use it for one year; it goes in the trash." What about photographs, paintings and other objects of art? Its' just "stuff." Yes,some may say, but some "stuff" is valuable. Sell it, then. What about jewelry? The good thing about jewelry is that it does not take up too much space. The bad thing about jewelry is if it is very valuable it needs to be well hidden; and it can cause the owner to be paranoid. Some people steal, kill, maim and destroy to obtain stuff. Stuff is attractive. Stuff is valuable. How about those people who lost absolutely everything but the clothes on their backs in fires, floods and other disasters? Some were actually happy. How could they possibly be happy? They were alive. The rest is just "stuff."

A Few More Words About Jealousy

The Bible says: "Jealousy is the rage of a man." I have seen this play out time and time again. Intelligence does not necessarily prevent a man from being jealous. Jealousy is an emotion that intelligence cannot control, because jealousy comes from the heart. It is a powerful emotion. It causes a great deal of harm. Jealousy does not rest. It attacks using vicious words, schemes, and violence. Sarcasm and verbal abuse are the tools often used. Jealousy is an evil spirit. It is a poison. The best defense against it is prayer. Prayer sets in motion superior spirits that perform miracles. Great things start to happen; to the poisoned and to the poisoner.

An Open Letter From Rocky Marciano

"There is no doubt that man is a competitive animal. There is no second place. Either you win or you lose. When they call you champ it is because you don't lose. A professional fight last 45 minutes. You have to be physically prepared. You have to be mentally prepared. That means you understand pain. There is pain in training, in running that extra mile when your legs feel like logs in the dull, monotonous grind. But there is a reason for it. The moment you step into the ring you know it was all worth it. If you push your body into its best shape there is one less thing to think about. Maybe it will give you a minute more stamina. That minute can win you the fight. To win takes a complete commitment of mind and body. When you can't make that commitment they don't call you champ anymore." Rocky Marciano (1956)

The Work Ethic Does Not Just Happen

I have written about this topic before,(One of the best gifts from parents) posted on Feb. 14, 2009. I discuss it differently in this entry. It appears that some parents expect their children to grow up to be responsible, hard-working people.They expect their children to grow up to be moral, persons of integrity. All of this is possible. It requires that parents teach their children to be that way. How can a person grow up to be responsible if he/she was never taught to be responsible? The work ethic does not just happen. It must be taught. Children need to be taught to brush their teeth, and other health habits. They need to be taught the importance of helping out around the house. They need to be taught to do chores such as yard work, taking out the trash, keeping their rooms clean, washing the car, washing their clothes, doing their part. Doing their homework. They need to be taught to get up on time for school. They need to be taught that they are part of a team. The family is a team. It is a cooperative team. Most parents realize that their children do not have the maturity, knowledge, or time to take on major responsibilities in a household. Nevertheless, children must be taught. They must be taught to do their part. Most children do not do the major part of the tasks required to run a home. They cannot. They are children. Nevertheless, they can be taught to do their part. They must also be taught morality. The teaching of values and morality is not the major responsibility of the public school. It supports values and morality, but sometimes what is taught at school and what is taught at home regarding these matters are at odds with each other. When there is a clash, whose values will prevail? Most likely, the values that have been adequately taught. Parents have a major responsibility. The work ethic does not just happen. It must be taught in order for it to happen.

One Of The Greatest Victories

"One of the greatest victories you can gain over someone is to beat him at politeness." (Josh Billings) A person can shine in a world of darkness by being polite. By this I do not mean one must not be assertive. To be assertive is necessary at times. But one need not sacrifice politeness. I know it is difficult for some people to be polite. There are several reasons for this. They were not taught to be polite. They mistake courtesy or politeness for weakness. Some may feel that that by being polite; they are betraying themselves or are being hypocritical. Others may have some deep rooted problems/issues that they have not been able to come to terms with. Some men may have the false impression that politeness is not masculine because they have some identity issues. Some persons consider themselves intellectuals who do not want to "lower themselves" by practicing politeness. I agree with Eric Hoffer who said: "Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength." Be courteous. Be polite. You will reap benefits. Your life will be enriched. If you are bitter; rudeness will not take the bitterness away. When you are polite; you are on the same level as a king or a queen. When you are rude; you are like a poverty stricken malcontent begging for someone to help you, while using the wrong means. "Politeness and consideration for others is like investing pennies and getting dollars back." (Thomas Sowell)

A Broken Spirit

In the material world a broken spirit is devastating. In a competitive, aggressive world; a broken spirit is rendered useless. It has been said that there is no cure for a broken spirit, or broken heart. There are cures for many diseases; but there are no cures for a broken spirit. But let me speak of ethereal, abstract, and spiritual things. Let me speak of faith. Let me speak of miracles. One person's trash can be a treasure for someone else. Yes, a broken spirit can be the result of years of abuse perpetrated on a person. It can cause a person to refuse to go on with life. It can cause a person to not consider himself worthy. This may sound odd; but a broken spirit is one of the most valuable things a person can have. It is very, very valuable. But only if the owner knows where to take it. What if you realize that your creator does not despise you? What if you realize that there is hope? What if you realize that with God, all things are possible? What if you know where to take your broken spirit? A broken spirit is a major ingredient that is used for major rebuilding. It can be the foundation and the impetus for a brand new life. Nothing will stop you if you go to and stay in the right place. "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." (Ps. 51:10) A broken spirit is part of the cleansing process. It is a sacrifice necessary for rebuilding.
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God you will not refuse." (Ps. 51:17) Let the building begin. There will be no limits. Great things will happen.

April Fool

There is a type of fool who does not only exist in April. He exists as long as he maintains that there is no God. (Ps. 14:1) "The fool has said in his heart, there is no God."
Not believing in God is serious business. Somebody really "messed up." I am not referring to religion. I am referring to God. Often times religion is a substitute for God. This should not be the case. Religion and God are two separate entities. God is perfect. Religion is not. Religious organizations are run by men, therefore they have weaknesses. Men do not "run" God, He is omnipotent. He does not depend on humankind for His power. He already has it. He will always have it. God is eternal, omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent. He is perfect, pure and holy. He has absolutely no flaws. He is kind, loving, and merciful. Nothing is impossible with God. My statements are based on my faith. I do not call people fools. God does when He sees that they do not believe that He exists. Atheism is the antithesis of faith. A person is an atheist because he is so egocentric that he thinks that his so-called intelligence does not permit him to stoop to the level of believing in God. He is an atheist because he is upset. He didn't get his way. He is hurt. He is upset because the world is not a better place to live. Does he know how to make it a better place? Since he is "mad at God," he declares God's nonexistence. Solomon tells us that a person is better off running into a female bear who has had her cubs stolen than to encounter a fool and his folly. "The fool has said in his heart: there is no God." Pray for him. Be kind to him. Do your best. God will do the rest.

Give Respect, Get Respect

Respect is generally earned. How does one earn it? By giving it. The respect that one receives is like the reflection that a mirror gives. It gives that reflection because it receives that reflection. Be aware of those, however, who have a hard time respecting. They might be jealous of those who know how. They know that the respect that is given will most often bring positive results, and they are afraid that they won't be recipients of them. They may try to sabotage you with unkind words and a variety of insults. This is proof that practicing respect works: you have caused the enemy of respect to go to war. He shoots bullets made of lint, that travel slow. Keep on respecting and don't allow the losers to get in your way. They lose out, because due to their actions; it is necessary for them to spend a great deal of time by themselves. Disrespect produces loneliness. Disrespect produces sadness. Disrespect produces drama. The drama is a necessity for the one who cannot respect. Why? Because it is a substitute for the positive emotional experiences that he is not receiving due to his inability to respect. Take your life to a higher level. Don't play in the trash of unfulfilled aspirations. Give respect, get respect.

Delirium Tremens

They called him "Ace," he was a fair pool player. He was 35 years of age. When he got to drinking, he forgot about pool. He was an alcoholic. He was a part-time cook in North Park. He had a studio apartment in North Park: he paid $60 a month rent for it. The year was 1970. Ace got fired from his job for going to work under the influence of liquor. He decided to get drunk and stay drunk for a few days. He stayed drunk for a week. He drank beer and wine. He got sick. He stopped drinking for two days. The night of the second day is when the "strangers" came. Ace was in a fetal position when he started shaking uncontrolably. Then he saw them. Animals one will never see in a zoo.(or anywhere else) They were animals. They were monsters. Some looked like men; but these men had horns and sharp, long fangs. Some had bodies. Some were only heads. They flew all over the room. They laughed at Ace. They mocked him. They opened up their mouths and flew right at him. He swung at them and they flew directly through him. They had penetrating eyes. They had a look of hatred and violence. He saw many of them. It was like an army of them. Some had a great deal of hair or fur. Some were bald. Some had beaks instead of mouths. But they all had two things in common: All were flying; and all were mocking him. He decided to put a stop to all of this the best way he could. He started drinking again. He started drinking beer. He drank until he passed out. Passing out is paradoxical. It is the body's own response to the one trying to kill it. Passing out prevents death by alcohol poisoning. "The drunkard turns to drinking like an infant to the breast, coming to the age of weaning, only when he's laid to rest." (anon.)

I Remember Cleveland Williams

It was during the month of November in the year 2001. I was in Houston, Texas, for a National Convention of the Apostolic Assembly. I am an ordained minister in that organization. I have also been a boxing fan for most of my life. I remember Cleveland Williams. Although he was never a champ, I consider him among the greats in the heavyweight division of professional boxing. He won 78 fights and lost 13. He was afraid of no boxer in the ring. He "mixed it up" with both muhammed Ali and Sonny Liston. Although he was defeated by both of them; he hurt both of them with his brutal punches. He was called "The Big Cat." I was with another minister in the mini mart of a gas station in Houston; and it was no coincidence that when I saw a tall African-American man in the store: I asked him: "Would you please tell me me where Cleveland Williams lives? I need to talk to him about Jesus." He answered me and said: "You mean the big cat?" I responded with a yes. He told me: "I knew him well, I was his sparring partner, he died two years ago." I started to think about the man who fought with 5 Houston Police officers who had such a hard time arresting him; they shot him at close range. I do not judge what those officers did. I was not there. But Williams recovered from the wounds sustained from a 57 Magnum and got into the ring and fought the man considered to be the greatest heavyweight ever. And he did it with courage. Yes, I remember Cleveland Williams.

If You Want To Have A Friend

Friendships do not just happen, they need to be cultivated. They need to be nurtured. It is true: some relationships are "low maintenance," yet they are considered friendships. Why? The key word is "maintenance." How are friendships maintained? How else unless it is through communication, correspondence, and socializing? Do not friends stay in touch? Do not friends have a willingness to listen to each other? Part of the problem with friendships is that sometimes people want the benefits of friendship, but they are unwilling to make the sacrifices and commitments that friendship demands and requires. The best way to have a friend is to be a friend. And to be a friend requires sacrifice. It is a natural law. It is also a spiritual law. Recently, someone told me about a person who requested a favor from an acquaintance. The acquaintance answered "no." The requestor asked why. The acquaintance then answered: "Because that type of favor is reserved only for my friends; and you are not my friend." Although the response sounded harsh; it was very honest and it ended an "imaginary" friendship. That particular way of dealing with people may not be something we want to do because most of us do not want to make enemies. Nevertheless, many of us have experienced or have seen people who want the benefits of friendship but they refuse to be a friend. Again:IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A FRIEND; YOU NEED TO BE A FRIEND. Friendships must be nurtured, there is no other way. What is the best vitamin for friendship? B1.

Little Gangster (Pt. 6)

This particular "gangster" was not really "little." And, he was not really a gangster per se; He just benefitted from some of the gang-related, illicit activity he was involved in. He was an ally and he played the part. But this particular young man should have known better. He was a married man with 3 children. He was 28 years of age. He was a cement finisher. He did a good job and work was steady. He was ambitious. That is not so bad. He was trustworthy. That is a good trait. He was muscular because he lifted weights in his garage. He had sizable biceps and forearms which accentuated his tattoos. His nickname was "Clover." We all have our weaknesses and shortcomings. Clover's weakness was that he had a great deal of pride. He was very concerned about his image. Because of the neighborhood where he grew up; he knew drug dealers. They trusted him. Every now and then he was asked to deliver drugs and collect money. He was offered reasonable portions of some of the drug money. He took it. He enjoyed having the extra cash, and it seemed so easy to get. He never got arrested. One time he was asked to make a delivery of heroin. He was to receive $10,000 in cash. He was told to keep $4,000 for himself and to deliver the remaining $6,ooo to a certain address. He went to deliver the cash, but nobody was there. He took all of the cash home. Weeks passed and he heard from nobody regarding the undelivered cash. One day he received a phone call from someone who wanted the $6,ooo. It was not the same person who was originally supposed to collect it. Clover told him he would not give it to him; and not stated in a courteous manner. Several weeks passed and one Saturday night, Clover took his family to an expensive Mexican resaurant in West Los Angeles. Two men approached him and his family and demanded the $6,000. Clover made a serious mistake. He cussed the men out. No humility. No discussion. No reasoning. No promise of a future payment. No. Just pride, image and a false belief that rude words would end the problem. One of the men pulled out a 38 Special revolver and shot 4 bullets into Clover's chest. Clover's wife and 3 sons (ages 9,7 and 5) screamed as they watched Clover bleed to death in the parking lot. It was a tragic scene. It was extremely sad. It did not have to happen.

Little Gangster (Pt. 5)

His name was Toro. He was 15 years old. He was big for his age. He was in a gang, but he was the type of gangster that had an uncommon trait. He looked for trouble while by himself. He was a bully. He really enjoyed picking on other students at school. Kids stayed away from him. They got out of his way. Toro liked to fight. Toro was driven by a need to prove himself strong and tough. He won all of his fights. Some were at school, some were off campus. But the law of averages was against him. By this I mean that he was not going to be able to continue to do what he was doing and continue to win. He humiliated others. He intimidated others. Toro was not much of an athlete. In a Boys' P.E. class the day finally came. Toro and his team were playing football against another team in a P.E. class. A big boy who was called "Flash" blocked Toro and knocked him down. Toro was embarrassed, so he stuck out his chest, closed his fists, cussed at, and challenged Flash. Flash was extremely fast. (thus the nickname) He hit Toro 7 times. With the eighth punch Toro landed on the ground. He did not hit Flash once. Flash stood over him and yelled: "Do you want some more?" Apparently none of the coaches saw what happened. Nobody got suspended from school. Nevertheless Toro took a few "days off" from school. Some time later, a teacher mentioned to Toro: "I heard you got into a fight, Toro." Toro responded by saying: "Fighting never accomplished anything."

George And Abraham

This is their month. I honor them this morning. The greatest American Presidents. I realize that in this short blog entry I am unable to fully explain their greatness. It will suffice to say that they were men of God who studied and believed in God's Word. This is why they were gifted. This is why they were men of courage. This is why they had motivation and wisdom. They were leaders of men. They were leaders during difficult times. They were men of prayer. They were men of faith. They realized that without God they could do nothing, so they trusted in Him. George Washington and Abraham lincoln. They are men of the ages. I will be writing more about them in the future. What a legacy they have left us!

12 Famous African-Americans

There are many more besides the ones I am going to mention. I will mention only 12. They are all famous African-Americans. I will state each name and then mention each field of endeavor. Duke Ellington (music). George Washington Carver (science) Thurgood Marshall (justice) Shirley Chisholm (congress) Harriet Tubman (freedom worker) Wilma Rudolph (athlete) Ralph Bunche (statesman) Martin Luther King (civil rights leader) Booker T. Washington (educator) Mary McLeod Bethune (educator) Jackie Robinson (athlete). As I said; there are many more. These 12 persons of renown all have something in common. They all had faith in the Word of God. They all had faith in Jesus Christ. They are with Him now. They do not have religion in common. They have Jesus in common. Jesus was the main thing in their lives. That is why they did great things. He blessed them.

Barack Obama: He Is Mr. President

All of the United Sates Presidents have had enemies. No exceptions. All have had faults. Barak Obama is no different. It may be too early to predict this, nevertheless, I will. He will be the greatest president this country has ever seen. There are several reasons for my saying this: He is young, confident and probably the most intelligent person to ever hold the office. He has a fresh, new attitude. He is unlike any previous president. He has picked a great team. I get the impression that he is on top of the situation. He shows courage. He is a "people person." He has a commanding, friendly presence. He has no problem touching people, kissing some, and hugging some. He is a great communicator. He is articulate when he speaks. He exudes success. He is a winner. He has a strut and a bounce when he walks, because he is "cool." He is the first "cool" President we have ever had. His smile is a victory smile because he has a victorious attitude. He cares about people. He makes sense. I realize some ultra conservatives (and others) may not like him. That is their right. I really believe that some are just sore losers and/or jealous people. Would they rather see him not succeed? If so, why? Let us all remember: He is President of this nation. Like it or not. He won. Therefore he is everyone's President, whether you voted for him or not. Back him up. He needs our support. Pray that he make wise decisions. He is the leader of the free world.

I Am A Bondservant

I am a slave to nobody else, only Jesus. Let me explain: Bondservant means "slave." I am that kind of slave. I am a voluntary slave. Forced slavery or involuntary servitude is the kind of slavery most people talk about when discussing this topic. Nevertheless, I want to make it perfectly clear that I am a "love slave" of and for Jesus. I have chosen to be His slave because He is the wisest, kindest and most powerful boss, leader or master a person can ever have. I am His slave. I am His bondservant. He called me and I answered. He is a perfect Master. I am an imperfect slave. He is always kind, merciful and forgiving. I cannot truthfully say that I am always that way. He wants me to work at it. This Master is also my Father; my Heavenly Father. I am His son. He gives me comfort. He gives me joy. He gives me strength. "The joy of the Lord is my strength." This is a win-win situation. It is impossible to lose. That is why I am His bondservant. (see Rom. 1:1)

John Adams And The Constitution

"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." (John Adams, 2nd. President of the U.S.)
If it were not for the freedoms that the United States Constitution guarantees; the irony of Bill Maher's verbal attacks on people of faith would never exist. Satirist Bill Maher is making much more money off of religion than most preachers ever dreamed of. There are 3 main reasons for this: Maher's skill, Maher's passion, and Maher's freedom. The freedom, of course, is not available elsewhere. This sort of freedom is only offered in the United States of America. The strategy of mocking and offending someone's faith as a means of entertainment would not fare well in most parts of the world; either financially or otherwise. Freedom is beautiful and can be lucrative. Let freedom ring. Freedom exercised will never change eternal truths. Talented, educated, angry and sophisticated clowns and satirists will never change this. Jesus said: "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life." The Word of God is a powerful spirit that produces powerful results. Here is the key to freedom/liberty: "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (II Cor. 3:17) The eternal Word of God is the producer of liberty. "It is impossible to govern the world without the Bible." (George Washington)

We Are Not Creatures of Circumstance

"We are not creatures of circumstance; we are creators of circumstance." (Benjamin Disraeli) I would like to expand on Mr. Disraeli's quote. First I must state that I am not a "Pollyanna," but I firmly believe that life is what you make it. You have a destiny to forge. You are destined for success. Why not? Of course you must want it. If you don't want it, it probably won't come by itself; because success is created. How? By creating circumstances that produce success. Firstly, two things are essential: Passion and purpose. It does not matter which comes first; you need both. Then you need to prepare. Then comes perseverence; which can be another term for hard work and smart work. The smart, hard work needs to continue because it produces powerful results. The strategy then is: Passion + Purpose + Preparation + Perseverence = Productivity. Productivity equals success. There are basically 4 parts to this process. It is necessary not to exaggerate or overdo any one part. Balance is important. We are creators of circumstance. We must rise above those who try to stop us; the bitter ones, the haters, the envious, the critics and doubters. They are not calling the shots. If they could they would. Forget them and move on.

One Of The Best Gifts From Parents

There is an old saying I heard a long time ago: "If you give me a fish; I can eat for one day; if you teach me how to fish, I can eat for the rest of my life." It seems that I have come across a great amount of lazy people. To meet someone who really likes to work is pretty special. How did they get that way? Why do they like to work? Why are they responsible? Why are they seldom late or absent from work? What is it that motivates them? Why the motivation? I think most of us can answer those questions. They were taught to be that way. They were encouraged to be that way. They were rewarded for being that way. They were loved for being that way. So who did those things for them? Probably their parents (or parent). Parents can leave their children wealth, property, and many things of material value. However, if their children were never taught the importance of being a hard worker; those "children" could possibly have a very difficult time when they become adults. It seems that hard and smart workers are always in demand.

On Intolerance, Tolerance and Indifference

I remember being called intolerant. Some people who claim to be tolerant are intolerant with anyone who disagrees with them. The reason I was called that was because I did not agree with the lifestyle of a certain person. I want to make it real clear that it is not normal or soundly reasonable to agree with everyone all of the time. I want to make it clear that I am a firm believer in freedom. I also want to make it clear that I refuse to hate anyone. I have certain convictions that persuade me that there are some things that I will never do. I am capable of doing them, and it is possible for me to do them, but I refuse to do them. I ALSO REFUSE TO HATE THE PERSONS WHO ENGAGE IN THE CONDUCT THAT I HATE. Is it not possible to hate a certain lifestyle and not hate the persons who engage in it? There are some mixed up people in this world who confuse compassion and respect for others with indifference to others. Many of those people are not really tolerant. They are indifferent. A writer who really believed it was Somerset Maugham. He said: "Tolerance is only another name for indifference." G.K. Chesterton said: "Tolerance is the virtue of a man without convictions." Indifference? It is serious business. Some say it is worse than hatred. "I did not hate them; I was indifferent to them. My crime was far worse because I was not an anti-Semite." (Albert Speer: A Nazi war criminal) "Indifference, to me, is the epitome of evil. The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference." (Elie Wiesel) Tolerance is a positive attribute; I really believe it. But only if it is truly tolerance and not merely indifference.

First Love

I was just a few months away from being 5 years of age, but like many others, I was already in kindergarten. I was with my friend, Arturo. He and I were trying to check out books at the San Diego County Library in San Ysidro. We were having a hard time because we could not speak English. And then she came. Her name was Norma Rogers, I saw her for the first time. And then she spoke. I'll never forget what she said. I never saw anyone so pretty, as she said: "These boys are trying to tell you that they want to check out a book." And then she smiled at me. That smile did it. I didn't know what to do as I felt a gentle warmth encompass me. I guess my face got really red. I can't say for sure. However, I know this: I was introduced to a brand new feeling. It felt good inside but at the same time it was funny, curious and mysterious. Yes, it was brand new. I guess many experiences are brand new when you are that age; but some have a greater impact than others. Time passed and I never saw her again. Then something unusual happened. I was working in the shoe department at Sears in 1967. She came in with her husband and greeted me. She was an attractive woman, and she smiled that smile. But twenty years later it didn't have the same effect. I told her that I knew her. She didn't remember me. And that was fine. Nevertheless, in spite of the innocence of the experience, Kahlil Gibran's thoughts on the subject might be applicable. "Every young man remembers his first love and tries to recapture that strange hour, the memory of which changes his deepest feeling and makes him so happy in spite of all the bitterness of its mystery."

Cultures Cannot Remain Static

We observe and report, observe and report, observe and report. At times many of us are cultural anthroplogists, sociologists, or social scientists; albeit without the titles. Due to the fact that the term "culture" has approximately 12 meanings: I will select several and just deal with that. Firstly, however, I will state clearly that anything that is alive; whether it be plant, animal, human or protista cannot survive without culture. Culture is a requirement for life. Why? Because there will be no life unless there is a way of life, and simply stated; culture means way of life. "A style of social and artistic expression peculiar to a class or society. Intellectual and artistic activity." Those are two of the twelve definitions given to us by Webster. Is it safe to say that all aspects of culture are constantly changing? Yes, if you are referring strictly to human culture. Let us assume that we are talking to a sociologist that started teaching at a university in 1960. He is still teaching at that same university. If we were to have asked that sociologist in 1960: What is American music? We would have gotten a certain answer. If we could have asked him that same question in 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000, we would have heard different answers. Why? because culture is always changing. Besides that; it is difficult to define our terms when discussing abstract matters of art within eclectic societies. I realize that this is perhaps too broad of a subject to deal with in this entry. To conclude: As a roaming sociologist, I will ask a man in the street: "Will you please name 3 Mexican foods?" He answers: "Sure, enchurritos, flying saucers, and fiesta pita delight."

"That Is Just The Way I Am"

"That is just the way I am, thats' just me, you know how I am." And the list goes on and on. What do I say to that? I say: Baloney! Particularly when someone does something extremely rude, inappropriate, or injurious; and then defends his/her actions by responding with such blather. People make choices. Every action (not necessarily a reaction) is a result of a choice. This means people selected to execute certain actions. "That is just the way I am." Okay. Just remember this: Our inconsiderate words and actions produce consequences. "Thats' just the way I am" will not forge an escape from consequences. Sometimes those consequences are dire. I know we all make mistakes. I know because I have made plenty, and there has been plenty to pay. Have you ever heard the words: "He knew what he was doing." Or, "That is no excuse, he knows better." It sort of confirms what I am talking about. All of us are in need of compassion and forgiveness. I am in favor of it. But do we scrape away the layers of nonsensical justifications first; and then forgive; or do we forgive first and then start scraping?

1/12 Of The Year Is Almost Gone

Time flies. January of 2009 will soon be history. What did we accomplish this month? Did we use our time wisely? How much time did we waste? Time is a gift. We need not misuse it. Let us get some things accomplished this year. Why not improve? Why not do better? Why not change for the better? Be determined that this year is going to be better than any year in the past. Make it happen. Life is what you make it. It can be a glorious experience or it can be a real dumpster. The choice is ours. Longfellow put it this way: "let us then be up and doing, with a heart for any fate, still achieving, still pursuing; learn to labor and to wait."

The Cardinals Will Beat The Steelers

It will be a historic first for for the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLII. They will defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cardinals are a team of destiny. Kurt Warner is the best quarterback in the NFL. The Cardinal special teams are prepared and will play aggressive, focused football. On defense, the All Pro strong safety: Adrian Wilson will be making some vicious hits. He will not be denied. Dockett, Smith and Pace will be stopping the run up front. Antrell Rolle with his career 5 touchdowns on 9 turnovers will make at least two interceptions. Warner, James, Hightower, Fitzgerald, Boldin, and Breaston will play the greatest game of their careers. Gandy, Wells, Sendlein, Lutui and Brown will provide pass protection for Warner like never before. Warner will be passing to Fitzgerald who will be running routes the Steelers have never seen before. Fitzgerald has the best hands in the NFL. He will out-leap all defenders. He runs great after the catch. He will confuse Polamalu. The Cardinals are driven. This could be a blowout, with the Cardinals winning by 3 touchdowns.

Michelle Obama: What A First Lady!

She is definitely the most unique first lady I have ever seen. I know the spotlight has been on her for months and months. I know she is attractive, educated, and classy. But there is something of importance that I must point out. She is a wife, and she is a mom. Her husband, Barak, would not be where he is if it were not for her. She loves him, and it shows. She has been (and is) his best friend. She has counseled him, encouraged him, accompanied him, loved him and brought out the best in him. She understands the concept of "team" in a marriage. She recognizes his power as a husband. She recognizes her power as a wife. They are not competing with each other, they are a team. She is the whole "offensive line," Barak is the quarterback. She gets her glory, he gets his. It may not be exactly alike, but it is a united glory. This is teamwork, division of power, and division of labor. It is also called marriage. But what about her role as a mom? During the inaugural, as the first family (elect) was seated, the look on her face told it all as she gazed upon her daughters. Only a mom gives a look like that one. We have seen it somewhere before. The look said: "Look where we are girls. Are you okay? I love you so much." "She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her." (Prov. 31: 27,28) Michelle Obama is a blessed woman. What a first lady!

Both Sides Prayed

In Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, he quoted the Bible about 5 times. He also mentioned ; regarding the Civil War; that "both sides pray to the same God." He went on to explain that God's ways and purposes are superior to the ways and purposes of man. Much is being said these days about the greatness of Abraham Lincoln. The attention on him comes and goes. He was a great president. He was the appointed man to lead this great country during the greatest crisis it has ever experienced. He was a man of prayer. He was a man of faith. he was a man who not only read the Bible, he studied it. As a child he learned to read English from it. He attended Church. He did not have a formal membership in any church. Nevertheless, he depended strongly on prayer and study of the Bible. The result was that he was a very wise man. Presidents need to be wise. Yes, he was a great president. Probably the greatest. And I know what made him great. I will discuss much more about him in the future.

Integrity, Influence and Leadership

There is much to be said regarding this topic. It seems that everyone is looking for a leader, and in different areas of their lives. People are not necessarily looking for persons with titles. They are seeking leaders. Leadership is at its' lowest level when it is based on position only. It grows and grows to a higher level as you develop relationships with others. That's when they give you permission to lead beyond the limits of your job description. By this, I do not mean the process of usurpation or the encroachment on the authority of someone else. I mean taking the company, agency, business, division, department, facility, shop, factory, school or church to a higher level because you are a great influencer. Chiefs, managers, supervisors, superintendents. vice presidents, presidents, commanders, directors and more; are in leadership positions; but, are they influencers? A true leader is an influencer. And, by far, the most important characteristic of the influencer is integrity. Genuine integrity is not for sale. The need for integrity is perhaps as great as it ever has been. And it is absolutely essential for anyone who desires to become a person of influence. Integrity is crucial for business and personal success. A joint study conducted by the UCLA Graduate School of Management and Korn/ Ferry International of New York City surveyed 1300 senior executives. Seventy-one percent of them said that integrity was the quality most needed to succeed in business. As important as integrity is to your business success, it is even more critical if you want to become an influencer. It is the foundation upon which many other qualities are built, such as respect, dignity, and trust. If the foundation of integrity is weak or fundamentally flawed, then being a person of influence becomes impossible. Even people who are able to hide their lack of integrity for a period of time will eventually experience failure, and whatever influence they have temporarily gained will disappear. I would like to thank Rick Warren and John Maxwell for their guidance/insight on this topic.

Say No To The Good

Please do not misunderstand the title of this entry. The complete title should read: "Learn to say `no` to the good so you can say `yes` to the best." It is a quote that I read in a small book about leadership. I would like to expand on it. When I refer to "good," I am not talking about goodness, kindness or giving. I believe those are fine concepts but they represent a different meaning of the word. When I speak of "good," I refer to levels of opportunity, pleasure, experience, and the pursuit of objectives, goals, accomplishments. In the first place: Why settle for good when you are capable of the best? Regarding tests, projects, and assignments in school: Is a "C" a good grade? Maybe. Maybe not. Is a "B" a good grade? Maybe. Maybe not. The bottom line here is to sacrifice something that is satisfactory for something that is a great deal better. In matters not necessarily related to school or training, but in relationships, careers, personal growth, the pursuit of success, or achieving purpose in life: there are times when one must reject something good in the hope of acquiring something better or the best. This is certainly not a new idea. You say you passed up an opportunity? An opportunity for what? When you passed up that opportunity; you probably took a step in a positive direction. You need to lose to win sometimes. Postpone or reject a gratification for an achievement of a greater gratification. This is a "law of life." Unfortunately some people never learned it. They never learned it until they were too old, too sick, too poor, or too miserable. Some can bounce back. If they want to. Some cannot bounce back. Even if they want to. You reap what you sow.