When we grow up, I'll be dead!

1 Corinthians 2:6
However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
1 Corinthians 14:20
Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.
Philippians 3:15
Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
Matthew 13:30
Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
Ephesians 2:21
in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
Ephesians 4:15
but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ
Ephesians 4:16
from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Colossians 2:19
and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
2 Thessalonians 1:3
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each others
2 Thessalonians 3:13
But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.
1 Peter 2:2
as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
2 Peter 1:5
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
2 Peter 3:18
but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Trying to Write More

I'm trying to write more, and I read this evening that when you want to write, write. If you don't have anything to say, write. You'll soon have something to say, the muse, as they say, will strike. Why I was reading about writing and not writing, well, its the story of many a life. We don't want to do, so we read about it... or watch Youtube. We pretend to be something, but its more dreaming that we are that, then the reality of who we are. Sad way to live. Life offers more to us than the option to read about living.

I've been thinking a little over the past few months, since I've left my comfortable job, of what I would do differently to end up in a different place today, well, same place but with a different job. But, I can't go back. I don't really want to. I need to have some joy in this time, this day, this moment! I can make plans for tomorrow, but not for yesterday. Why do we "what if" about the past? Because then we get to make up a life we don't have now, generate excuses for why we're not doing something (anything?)now. Its safer to fly if you keep at least one foot on the ground, right? Same for life. Grasp it firmly by the horns, as long as the horns are made of paper and don't have 2000 pounds of risk attached to the other end of them.

Get a life! Stop dreaming, the morning has come.

Life Lessons from For Whom the Bell Tolls

So we watched a classic not on "our list" Saturday evening... For Whom the Bell Tolls. The movie is based on a Hemingway novel which gets its name from a John Donne poem... confused yet?

I couldn't help but follow the similarities between Gary Cooper's character, Robert Jordan, and Jesus. Jordan comes in from a foreign country (America of course!)to help a people not his own because it is something he believes in. A line from the movie hints at the reason, "A man will only fight for something he believes in". In Jesus situation he not only fought, he died, as did Robert Jordan.

Now, Gary Cooper's not Jesus, but as I've stated before, I believe we can find "the best" story hidden in all these other ones. Here's an earthy reminder to us of sacrifice and counting the cost.

Look what I got in the mail yesterday!

Why did Nobel go this way?

Some possible reasons why Barack Obama won the Nobel Prize:

a) Voting was done last December or January, it was a popularity thing.
b) Nobel was hoping to hear their name in the news and the easiest way to do that was to attach Obama to themselves.
c) Nobel Inc. hope that this makes Obama do something, feel guilty about doing almost nothing about peace.

Of course, I don’t really know what I’m talking about here, but, come on. Really, the Nobel Peace Prize means something doesn’t it? What could be a greater honour? Why would they feel they need to cheapen their award to give to someone who is more popular than busy? A bigger splash could be made by giving it to someone no one has ever heard of. Suddenly the Peace Prize means almost nothing, unless there is some major unheralded peace agreement that Obama has arranged. And there isn’t. Diplomacy is not something to award a prize for.

"The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons...”

Doesn’t diplomacy imply talk, not action- kind of like a blog, except with people actually listening? Mr. President has had the opportunity for lots of talk, where are the results? I don’t knock him, he’s a made for tv politician. Rhetoric and charm. I just figured that Nobel prizes were outside the bounds of public opinion and trying to win favour.

The View From Here... sorry TVO

Here's the view we had on our recent baseball tour.

Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park:

Our first time to Nationals' Park, Washington DC:

Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore

Back to Washington... back row of the upper deck!

And finally, CitiField in New York City