...and everyone is going to the Series. Yep it's a new year and the possibilities are endless. There is little doubt in my mind that both the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers will be meeting each other in late October to decide it all. I think this year I would like to post the wins and loses of each day for my two teams. This might take some work and there may be days I miss or times, like when I'm at camp that I can't post, but on my return I should get things up to date.
Now a word about my teams. I am adamant that a fan of a team cannot be a fan of the cross town / cross state team as well. For instance, if you declare yourself a Yankees fan you cannot cheer for the Mets in any way. Like wise with the Cubs and White Sox or the Dodgers and Angels. Or even the Cardinals and the Royals. This rule crosses into all professional sports, and do I even have to say college sports as well. NY Giants fans should never root for the NY Jets. You cannot cheer for the Lakers and the Clippers, you must choose one. And if you're from Texas you must choose between the Rockets, the Mavericks and the Spurs. If you root for Florida St., then you must without prejudice dispise Florida and Miami. Texas A&M is detestable to any Texas fan. Yada, yada, yada. I hope you get the point. And none of this rule is in void, just because the two teams might be in different conferences, divisions or leagues.
Now I say all that to set up this dilemnia in my life. While I am a Houston Astros fan I also unabashedly support the Texas Rangers. I break my own rule. I don't know how to reconcile this blanant disregard of my personal standards. But please allow me to explain: More than a Astros or Rangers fan growing up I was a Nolan Ryan fan. When Ryan signed with the Rangers my problem began, even though I had yet to establish this rule for my life (and yours). So I was cheering for the 'stros one day and the Rangers the next.
This is how I have chosen to resolve my troubles. I have decided to cheer for both. Once one team has one a World Series title I will publically direct all my support to the other team. It came real close two years ago when the Astros made it to the World Series, but fell short against the Sox of Chi-town. But this year...things will have to change...they both will make World Series appearances.
On Monday the Astros open against the Pirates.
And the Rangers open against the Angels.
Happy happy joy joy!!!
Show us the one thing that unfailingly makes you smile, no matter what.
Submitted by Sourire.
These make me laugh.
Video: Show us a documentary or film based on a true story that really moved you.
THE DOCUMENTARIES
Baseball: A Film By Ken Burns. Yeah yeah yeah, it's about baseball. But the stories told and the lives lived inspired me greatly. I could put it in today and watch it for hours.
The Civil War: A Film By Ken Burns. Again the way that Burns did these films was incredible when first released. Still today I can push play and be engrossed for days. The pictures, the narration, the stories. An amazing work.
&
RECENT MOVIES INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS
Allow me admit that I am a crier. I pretend to bring in lots of napkins to wipe my hands, but they are there in case I get emotional and start to cry.
The Pursuit of Happyness Now I didn't cry until the very end when Smith's character finally gets the good news that he worked, and struggled, and sacrificed to get. One of Smith's best preformances! What have I honestly struggled with in my life? What has honestly cost me hardship?
Freedom Writers I think this one hit me hard because I work with students, and the stories that were presented are real and happen in similar ways everyday in every city. Swank's character wasn't a teacher. She was a servant, a minister. Another story of sacrifice and difficulties endured.
J.R. Briggs had an interesting post on his blog BrokenStainedGlass about a recent article in Newsweek that essentially says that there is more poverty located in the suburbs today than in the cities. Briggs cites the following passage:
"Once prized as a leafy haven from the social ills of urban life, the suburbs are now grappling with a new outbreak of an old problem: poverty. Currently, 38 million Americans live below the poverty line...But for the first time in history, more of America's poor are living in the suburbs than the cities - 1.2 million more, according to a 2005 survey." (Newsweek, February 12, 2007, "Poor Among Plenty" p. 54).
We need to be careful not to begin grouping all cities and suburbs into rich verse poor or one over the other. There is still rampart poverty in cities. But I think the type of poverty and allusion of success are harder to quanitify.
If ever the church needed to be a source of compassionate love and provision it's now. And we really need to begin to evaulate what is essential vs. what is desired. We easily make excuses for why we must have something.
I think my mind will be dwelling on this issue for a while.
We have been given a glimpse at the covers of the highly anticipated final edition! Check them out....
Conspiracy theorist are already deciphering the clues.
Video: Show us a TV series you own or watched on DVD.
These are the sets I own.
And these are the series I've watched, but don't own.
Well I'm not doing too bad.
10 of the Sweet 16 still are alive on my bracket.
6 of the Elite Eight.
3 of the Final Four.
And both of my National Champion contenders are still alive.
- Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature.... Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
- Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all - the apathy of human beings.
Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.
Helen Keller
It's humbling to hear/read this from someone who lived life with the handicaps that Helen lived with. To be able to see hope when you have no sight. I want that.
I also want to be "full of the overcoming". I desire to be someone who endures the difficult, knowing that Hope is in my future. I want to be like Lt. Dan after the storm at sea.
