Life is a Highway

Yesterday, I promised I would regale you with my break down of the NFL Draft, but after thinking about it, no one reading this blog probably cares about the draft on any level. My brief mention of Jerome Simpson's athleticism should be sufficient analysis.

But of course I won't leave it at that. Keith Rivers is a building block and Pat Sims is a poor man's Sam Adams (best case scenario, obviously). And despite the stigma attached to Florida receivers, I think the Cincinnati offensive system is creative enough to incorporate him quickly and he could be a Peter Warrick-type player right away, but much, much faster than Warrick. I also don't consider the drafting of three wide receivers a threat to T.J.'s long-term relationship with the club or the signaling of the end of Chad Johnson's career in Cincinnati. It's merely a replenishing of a depleted corp that has taken a hit because of injuries (Tab Perry), stupid decisions (Chris Henry) and free agency (Kelly Washington and Kevin Walter).

OK, the draft speak is officially finished. On to more important matters.

Tomorrow I am going to make one of the most unpleasant drives of my life. From Erie to Lancaster, Pa. The Triptik on AAA says five and a half hours but most of it is through the mountains and down through State College toward Harrisburg. I've been to Clarion and to State College and both are horrible trips. But I have my GPS and XM Radio, so I'll make the most of it.
The reason for the trip is a job interview at Millersville. The potential to run my own sports information department is intriguing even more so, an increase in pay. Millersville has had several SID's in the last few years but its been an interim situation almost every time. I think Millersville is in a fantastic location, close to Lancaster, York, Hershey and Harrisburg. Millersville also has good athletic teams and really nice facilities.

Being an ODL student, it also peaks my interest to have an opportunity to leave an imprint on an organization and I really think I can do that at Millersville, provided that they are willing to provide the resources to do it. I have a lot of ideas that I think can work and it should be interesting to see what the folks there have to say and see how well we mesh.

My life is quickly changing, though, and life-altering decisions will need to be made soon. I found out today that our associate athletic director at Mercyhurst is leaving, which may shake things up here, but who knows how and when? There are some other jobs that could possibly open soon, too.

Having a girlfriend that lived several hours away was never easy. But now that we are engaged and with a wedding coming up in September, it's even more challenging to find a location where we can each continue our successful careers. And the clock is running. The temptation to press and worry is always there, but I must remember to take everything one step at a time. I've been reciting Matthew 6:34 in my head frequently, " Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

That's always helpful, relying on God's Word for comfort. In fact, reliance on God is something that came out in my reading last night. I think I'll do an entire blog about it.

Stay tuned.

A Lot Going On

Quite the weekend.

It's pretty late right now so I'll save the details of the Keaggy show and my feelings about the NFL Draft for tomorrow.

But I'll do a brief summary in sports information bio style. Phil Keaggy's flute player isn't very good...Tom Shinness is one of the better all-around musicians I've ever seen...Phil Keaggy with a band is much different than Phil Keaggy solo...It was a rare treat to hear not only "Let Everything Else Go," which is my favorite all-time Keaggy song but "Time" for the first time live. It is the perfect jam session song.

Todd McShay is a dork...Mel Kiper, Jr., rocks...so does Chris Carter because he liked the Bengals' draft...Jerome Simpson is an unbelievable athlete and will someday be a 1,000 yard receiver...Corey Lynch was a fine pick up and is already a fan favorite for a certain blocked kick in a certain game against a certain hated team from up north...The concern about "character issues" is out of control.

21 is surprisingly good movie...A little unbelievable at times but fun and worth the price of admission...It was good to see a friend I haven't seen in nearly three years...And it was good to meet her husband...Kinda odd to say that...After meeting him, I found someone else that likes to tour battlefields...Adam was in town for the weekend...Of course he forgot something here...He usually does...This time, a pair of socks...Always a great weekend when its spent with great friends.

Yes, I'm a Phil Keaggy Phan

There are few events that I will drop everything and drive any distance to attend. One would be an Ohio State football game. Another is a Phil Keaggy concert.

Tomorrow I have the pleasure and privilege to drive to Youngstown, Ohio to watch Phil Keaggy and several other musicians recreate The Master & The Musician album on its 30th anniversary tour.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime concert. Making it all the more special is that Keaggy and the band's drummer, John Sferra, both grew up in Youngstown, so it is a reunion of sorts.

I've been looking forward to this show since it was announced way back in the fall. I bought tickets on the first day they were available. But watching Keaggy with a band is a rare treat. He usually tours by himself, playing acoustic sets. In fact, this will be the eighth time I've seen him and only one other time I saw him with a band.

Interestingly enough, it was the first time I saw him live and that show was also in Youngstown. It's also going to be a special night because Trista will be going along. This will be her first taste of live Keaggy. Funny how my first Keaggy show was with a band in Youngstown, and her first show will be the same.

This should be display of musicianship of epic proportions. The Master & The Musician album has a wide variety of tunes ranging from the Celtic, medieval, new age and modern jazz. Just thinking about Keaggy breaking out the Zion electric (which he NEVER does in solo shows) makes me all tingly inside. I've read a couple concert reviews from previous shows and the set list not only includes songs from that album, but classic Keaggy tunes like "What a Day," "Noah's Song," "Love Broke Thru," and...be still my beating heart..."Time." If they do "Time" live, I might scream like a school girl.

This album predates my birth by six years, but great music (and Phil Keaggy) is timeless.

Mixed Emotions

There is nothing wrong with caring about your favorite professional teams, but I've been obsessed this week.

The Celtics are in the playoffs (and kicking some Hawk backside). The Bengals are prepping for the NFL Draft (my favorite event that isn't a game), and the Reds fired their general manager, which has put me on the war path. Oh, and a note on the anonymous comment left on yesterday's blog - Dan O'Brien traded Sean Casey, not Wayne Krivsky.

Actually, I could probably just blog about nothing but my three teams for the next month or more, especially with all the fodder than Chad Johnson, Chris Henry, Bob Castellini and Kevin Garnett are giving me.

But the only thing I'm going to mention about sports today is the likely retirement of David Pollack.

I can't blame him for making the decision, though. David, a former first round pick of the Bengals, broke his neck while making a tackle in the first game of the 2006 season. He's been medically cleared to play, but apparently just doesn't feel comfortable in returning to the field where there is a chance that the same or a worse injury could occur. Hey, spending six months in a halo would weight heavily on your mind if you decided to play football again.

But David is a devout and active Christian. He leads Bible studies and participates in weekly Bible studies with the team and in the community. To be certain of his decision, he fasted and prayed for quite some time. I've admired David since his college years at Georgia. I can remember when the Bengals picked him. I literally jumped up and down. Not only was he a fantastic player, but he had a personality the you couldn't help but love.

Certainly, David could have been a phenomenal football player, even after his injury. I have no doubt about that. But he and his wife have their first child on the way. He surely wouldn't want to return to the game just to be injured again and never be able to hold his daughter.

Without a doubt, David loves football. I'm sure he'll stay close to the game, maybe as a coach. But it is clear to me that he knows there is more to life than football or even a job. He knows that God has great and wonderful plans for him and his family. For a lot of players, it is difficult to walk away from the game, and I'm not saying it won't be for David, but it will be a lot easier for him because he realizes that his real purpose is not to be a defensive end but a disciple for Christ.

David hasn't officially retired yet, but it Coach Marvin Lewis said that it will likely happen soon. In the meantime, I'm going to keep David in my prayers as he makes the transition away from football. As a fan, I'm sad that he's retiring. But as a brother in Christ, I am proud of him.

A Little Cheesed Off

For those of you who don't know, or don't care, Reds' GM Wayne Krivsky was fired today. I've blogged about this move extensively on thebuckeyebunch.com. I felt the need to vent...

I’ve made it obvious that I not only don’t understand why Wayne Krivsky got fired so suddenly, but I’m not a fan of the move at all.

Bob Castellini unjustly fired him without warning and without justification. When asked why he canned Krivsky, Castellini simply said, “We’ve come to the point where we just aren’t going to lose anymore.”

I agree, Bob. I’m tired of the Reds losing, too. But you know what? They were losing before Krivsky got here. They were in a bad, bad way when Krivsky got here. You hired Krivsky. You hand picked him to turn around the organization. Turning around an organization that had been run into the ground by boneheads like Jim Bowden and Dan O’Brien takes a while to do. A lot longer than two and a half years.

How can Castellini, on any level, put the blame on Krivsky for the 9-12 start?

I’m so glad that one of the reporters asked Castellini at the press conference if continuity to the organization was important. After all, there have been six GM’s and five managers in six years.

The following excerpt is pulled from Hal McCoy’s blog…

Castellini was testy when asked about continuity - five managers and six general managers (two were co-GMs on an interim basis in the last six seasons.

“We haven’t had six, we’ve had two,” he said, using semantics. The organization has had six GMs since 2002 - Jim Bowden, co-interims Brad Kullman and Leland Maddox, Dan O’Brien, Krivsky and Jocketty. “The franchise has…yes.”

So is he concerned about continuity? “Absolutely I am. Absolutely. I respect the question, but this has been a very tough decision. Krivsky did a whale of a job in some areas.”

Jocketty jumped to Castellini’s rescue.

“I believe in continuity,” he said. “Very much so. But sometime it takes a little time to get thins the way you want. There are a lot of quality people and quite a few quality players here and now we have to find a way to make it work.”

Jocketty says he is impressed with the staff, on the field and in the front office, and doesn’t anticipate any changes.

Manager Dusty Baker, the fifth manager in six years (Bob Boone, Dave Miley, Jerry Narron, interim Pete Mackanin, Baker) addressed the continuity issue, too. Asked about the importance of continuity, he said, “I think it is very important. Wayne did some great things here. He built our farm system. It is very important to keep some consistency, which is one reason I kept the coaching staff.

“I mean, you listen to quarterbacks complain about four offensive co-ordinators in four years. Doesn’t work. Good organizations keep a lot of the same people for a long period of time,” Baker added.

So management is concerned about continuity, and it’s important to have continuity, but yet you are axing a GM after less than three years in the position and are now unwilling to even wait out the third season or wait out the possibility of your two most heralded prospects (Jay Bruce and Homer Bailey) reaching the majors and making a significant contribution. One of the most important jobs of a general manager is building the farm system and Krivsky stated that since he arrived the Reds moved from near dead last to third in the Baseball America rankings. The turnaround has been unbelievable in the minors and I don’t think any one can argue with that. When he took the job, he was told to build from the inside because the Reds were a “small market” team. Building processes take three to five years. He hasn’t even made it to three.

I love that Baker said good organizations keep the same people for a long time. Maybe he was drawing on his experience in baseball and thinks Krivsky should still have his job. Maybe he’s making a plea for his own job. Notice that Castellini said “which is one reason I kept the coaching staff.”

WHAT? Firing the coaching staff after 21 games was a consideration? Talk about your snap judgments. I’m an impatient fellow, but really, Bob, get a grip.

So firing Wayne Krivsky will help the Reds win this year? Only a few hours after the announcement was made, the Reds lost 9-3 at home to the Dodgers.

Look out Walt Jocketty. Another outing like that and your next.

Rob Neyer of ESPN.com is puzzled, as well.

“Yes, the timing is strange. If Krivsky’s bosses preferred Jocketty, didn’t they know before now? The Reds are 9-12. If they were 12-9, would he still have his job? And if so, isn’t a three-game difference a thin reed from which to hang a key decision like this?

“The danger here isn’t that the Reds may have lost a great GM, or have replaced him with an incompetent one. The danger is that people in the organization may wonder if the people at the top have any idea what they’re doing.”

A Gift for Everyone

Unfortunately, I attended a funeral this weekend. It's never high on anyone's list of favorite things to do.

People are sad and for good reason. But two things stood out to me much more than the grieving. First, the dedication of Nathan's friends. I couldn't imagine losing my wife and I hope I never have to go through that. Nathan's friends, though, stood by his side and rallied around him in the toughest of times. That's the true definition of a friend.

Their actions reminded me of my failures as a friend and thanks to them, I'll know how to respond if something ever happens to one of my friends.

The other thing I was reminded of this weekend is the peace and comfort we can find in God. Many people spoke about fond memories and fun times with Lindsey. Some were friends, some were cousins and aunts and uncles. Some cried while speaking. But some laughed and smiled, and it was evident to me, and I'm sure every other person in the building, that there was rare peace in the hearts of those particular individuals that only God can give.

Lindsey's dad went to the front and it would be quite understandable if he wondered why this all happened. But he didn't question anything. He stood up, thanked the friends and the family and said that he wished he could return the favor but he only had one thing to offer: Jesus Christ. He went on to say that without Jesus in his life, there would have been no way he could have possibly stood and spoke. Jesus was his strength and the reason he had a peace in his heart on that day. He told every person in attendance that the peace was available to them, as well.

It was incredible to see his faith in action. I am so fortunate to not just have a large family but a large family that is passionate about Christ. I too echo Uncle Albert's message. Difficult times are much easier to navigate when you have a relationship with Jesus. I have seen it and experienced it. Knowing that Jesus has saved me and conquered death and suffering through His death on the cross and resurrection gives me confidence that nothing is too much to overcome.

If any one reading this blog is needing that peace and comfort, I would be more than happy to talk with you about it. You can e-mail me at ehulsey@mercyhurst.edu or give me a call. The Bible is the best place for answers to questions, but here is one passage that might help. And here's another.

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed...Just Thinking

I believe that America was founded on and still exercises a core group of unalienable rights (thank you, Mr. Jefferson). It’s the greatest nation in the world bar none and I’m pretty unwavering on that opinion.But what happens if my rights are ever threatened? What if some of these unalienable rights were taken away? That would be a dangerous path away from our republican democracy and toward…yikes, communism. Or worse.

I don’t necessarily feel like my rights are being withheld from me at this point in time but think about this for a second. What comes directly before “unalienable rights” in the Declaration of Independence? If you don’t know, I’m not surprise. It’s “endowed by their Creator.” Our Creator. Creator of life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness. Unfortunately, that little line is being marginalized and removed from our dearest document.

Like I said, I hadn’t really thought that my freedoms were in such danger until I went to see Expelled tonight. This is a documentary starring Ben Stein that attempts to show that there is “Big Science” in America and it is not only suppressing thought and ideas, it’s taking away a necessary principle on which America and the study of science was founded. This principle is the freedom to debate.

I’ve never been much of a movie critic, so I’m sure I will not do this film justice. I do not wish to discuss or critique the filming, editing, narration or other technical aspects of the movie. I would simply like to explain that this film is most certainly going to be an eye opener for many. I follow this topic on my own so I went in expecting affirmation of my already formed opinion. What I got was not only affirmation but a major wakeup call that the exclusion of Intelligent Design as an explanation for the formation of life by scientific organizations is a real, prevalent and serious threat to not only our educational systems but our way of life.

Refusal to accept Intelligent Design is one thing, but Expelled reports that careers of professors have been ruined for merely mentioning it as a possibility. It gives proof that proponents of Darwinism have put up a wall to the science community and that you can’t get in, can’t receive grants, can’t receive awards, can’t get published, unless you make no mention of intelligence. This “Big Science” has created an environment in which ideas cannot be challenged or debated…unless of course you subscribe to evolutionary theory.

As Ben Stein mentions in the film, exclusion of Creationism wouldn’t be so bad if it were factually incorrect and invalid. After all, we want to be teaching our children correctly and not feeding them so called fairy tales. But there’s a big problem. Even if scientists don’t want to believe that Intelligent Design at the very least a possibility, they must be able to explain Darwinism and evolution in logical, reasonable terms. As is seen in the film, they simply cannot.

Stein asked the question to several scientists: “How did life come from nothing?” Some danced around an answer, others offered theories like molecules piggy-backing off deformed crystals (what?) and some even explained that life was “seeded” on earth. In other words, we evolved from a single cell that was planted by aliens. But yet, Intelligent Design is completely and entirely off limits for discussion.

But let’s not even talk about the scientific evidence for either case. Let’s get back to the question of what problems occur when there is an inability to discuss or challenge viewpoints in an open forum.

Think East and West Germany. Think Hitler.

Yes, Hitler was a huge proponent of Darwinism. He was a huge proponent of natural selection. He believed in a master race and that he was helping along the natural selection process by killing off and experimenting on millions of disabled and crippled, not to mention Jews. Hitler, much like why the wall in Berlin was formed, wanted opponents to not have a voice. He wanted there to be no opposition or debate. A belief in Darwinism leads to a belief in that there is no free will, no life after death, no true meaning to life, and therefore, a total devaluation of human life. He removed God from the conversation. There is no place for religion (or intelligence) in the process of natural selection.

Disturbingly enough, that is the road we are headed down. I’m not saying that every believer in evolution believes in genocide. But what I am saying is that for evolution–as defined–to make sense, there can be no value to life on any level. It is a random occurrence of meaningless events. This makes it easier to justify abortions and promotion of planned parenthood. And this…this is what is being taught in schools all over the nation. And any opponent to this belief is shouted down and ostracized by bullying and threats. Not just by science, but by media and our own court system.

Even though scientists cannot explain the origin of life and even though more and more evidence mounts in favor of some sort of information-providing source, “Big Science” pushing Darwinism remains a looming, scary threat to our basic freedoms. And once one freedom is taken away, it is that much easier to take another. There is a power-holding group with intent on replacing religion with science. And its first goal: crush creationism. Disprove creationism and disprove the Creator. No need to prove evolution. Just eliminate the opposition.

I suggest you find Expelled in a theater nearest you and think seriously about this most important subject.

Nothing Like Golf

It was beautiful outside today. Fantastic weather. So perfect that I had to golfing.

Golf is a funny thing. Most of us are pretty lousy at it but there's something irresistible about hitting the links. Golfing is without a doubt my favorite pastime. If it weren't so darn expensive, I'd play every day. At least I have retirement to look forward to.

Today, I went out past Interstate 90 to a little course called Orchard Ponds. It's pretty flat and short and only nine holes. There's only one par 5 and a couple of the par 4's are right around 300 yards. But it's a well thought-out lay out considering they didn't have much to work with. Water is in play on a couple holes, there are some tight driving holes and it really does make you think out your shots more than some small courses. The crew also does a fine job manicuring the grounds.

My favorite hole is No. 8. It's listed right around 287 yards but you need to be careful not to gun for the green off the tee. There's a deep creek running in front of a tiny green that slopes severely from the back to front toward the creek. At this point, the course was still playing very slow because of the lingering snow melt-off and rain, but on a normal day, any approach shot behind the green and you are done. Of course today, I hit a wedge from 90 yards right over the flag stick in the back rough. It was an impossible chip shot. So I chunked it on purpose, landing it in the fringe just so it wouldn't run 30 feet past the hole and possible into the creek. The putt was not much easier but fortunately, the greens were running slow and I was able to hang it out to the right and tap in from there. I just love courses that penalize mistakes and reward good shots.

Best of all, Orchard Ponds is only eight bucks to walk and even though it was a beautiful day, there were only about seven or eight cars in the parking lot at 4:30 p.m. Sometimes it almost feels like your own private course. I could play there every day and not get tired of it.

Hopefully this will be the first of many times I get to play this year. By the way, my birthday is May 1. I'm in need of a new sand wedge and a 60 degree wedge, as well. Hint, hint.

Anticipation

A couple of dates I'm looking forward to:

Friday, April 18 - Opening of the movie "Expelled." I doubt that it will open anywhere around here but I'm going to try track down a theater. From the info I've read, Ben Stein is doing an great thing for the promotion of Creation.

Friday, April 25 - A possible trip to Cleveland for an Indians vs. Yankees game. Possibly.

Saturday, April 26 - Phil Keaggy, Master & The Musician Tour in Youngstown. I'll be there and watching the musician and his friends recreate the 1977 realease of the album.

April 26-27 - The NFL Draft. One of my favorite events of the year. I can't wait to see if the Bengals can get that pass rusher or defensive tackle they so desperately need. Or maybe I wide receiver? Ooooooo.

Thursday, May 1 - My birthday! Wow, 25. I'm old. Maybe I shouldn't be so excited.

May 16-19 - Trip to Shippensburg. It will be a busy weekend, but it will be great to get back to my second home and spend time with friends and attend Prince Street Church again.

April through the summer - The NBA Playoffs. Celtic Pride, baby!

I'm sure I left out a few more exciting events, but it's going to be a fun next couple of months.

Belting it Out

If you are reading this blog you know that I'm a rocker through and through (thanks for the line, Joe Dirt). Still, I can appreciate a great vocal.

It was Mariah Carey night on American Idol tonight. She's gone a little loopy in recent years but for my money she is one of the two greatest female singers of modern history. She is the most successful solo artist of all time if you can believe it. But 18 No. 1 singles is incredible.

After listening to those wannabes butcher Mariah's songs, I decided to check out a few performances on youtube. She's got range, she can belt it, she can sing you to sleep. She's great. But there's only one person that can top her...Whitney Houston.

Speaking of going a little loopy, Whitney has done that too and maybe a little more so. But let's not forget how fabulous she was. I listened to her Star Spangled Banner performance at the Super Bowl and it sent chills down my spine. Whitney could bring a grown man to tears with her voice. If you don't think so, go to youtube and search for Whitney Houston, One Moment in Time.

Here's the unquestionable and undebatable list: Whitney, No. 1. Mariah, No. 2.

(I can't believe I just blogged about that).

I come with a sad and solemn message tonight. My cousin Lindsey went to the hospital yesterday and then had gallbladder surgery yesterday. After the surgery, her heart stopped and was put on life support around 3 p.m. Several hours later she passed away.

She was 30 years old and leaves two young boys and a husband.

These kind of things are always tough to figure out. It was sudden. My Uncle Albert, and cousins Andrea and Erin have been through a lot now. They lost my Aunt Anna Marie (wife and mother) to cancer a few years ago.

I'm not going to profess to know why these things happen, and I can't say that there is a rhyme or reason for these things. There are some things that we can never understand. But no matter the tragedy, Uncle Albert and his family have an unwavering faith in God and I know it will carry them through this time, as well. But still, they will need comforting. Please pray diligently for Lindsey's family in the coming days and weeks.

A little of this and that

Let me begin by saying that I'm a curse. I went to the Reds vs. Pirates game Friday night. Not only did the Reds lose 1-0, but have gone on to lose three in a row. How about this for a stat; I haven't seen the Reds win since opening day 2005 and only twice since Ken Griffey, Jr., came in 2000. That's a horrible winning percentage. I'm done going to baseball games.

Also, I'd like to say that I ate real red meat--a big steak--for the first time in four months today. Yeah!

I went out on a walk just a bit ago and had some of the March Phil Keaggy Podcast left to listen to. This month, he devoted the show to some of his Christian artist contemporaries that have passed on like Keith Green, Mark Heard and Larry Norman. It was neat to hear some of the old recordings, but what was really special was a bootleg recording of a 2004 concert in which Keaggy invited Larry Norman on stage to sing a couple songs with him.

Norman has been considered the father of Christian music and not everyone in those circles liked him, but there is no denying his influence. To hear those two joking, telling stories and singing songs like "Here Comes the Sun," as well as a couple Larry Norman originals was awesome. You could tell that even though they were serious artists, they didn't take themselves too seriously and that there was a real brotherhood between them that went back 30 years.

I'll finish this blog by saying how disappointed I was in this year's Masters. I look forward to this tournament every year. To me, it signifies the beginning of spring. It embodies all the beauty and charm of the sport. And generally, there is nothing more exciting than watching the players battle each other and the back nine (especially the diabolical Amen Corner, where so much can change in one shot).

This year, though, was brutal to watch. While Trevor Immelman did just enough to win (congrats, Trevor), no one else seemed to want to win. Young Brant Snedeker was totally frazzled by the big stage. Paul Casey was out of it from the first tee. Phil Mickelson couldn't get anything going and Steve Flesch (Cincinnati's own) was playing solidly and seemed to be poised until a complete collapse on the back. And even Tiger--the man the media was already handing the Grand Slam to--missed short, makable putts at crucial moments. I told my Uncle Loren afterward that they should have renamed it Gag Fest 2008.

Nearly everyone talks about Tiger being the best golfer ever but he has NEVER come from behind to win a major. He finished second today just because everyone fell apart around him. No one made a charge. No one made a run. This has become an all too frequent occurrence in golf. It's more evidence to my belief that there are just no great golfers out there. Phil Mickelson is very good and it pains me to say it, but Tiger is great. But I'll stop right there. He's not the best ever. Think of the golfers with more than two majors: Mickelson, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh. That's the list. And they only have three apiece. Plus, only Mickelson is not over 40.

Jack Nicklaus faced the likes of Arnold Palmer (seven majors), Tom Watson (eight), Gary Player (nine), Lee Trevino (six), Seve Ballesteros (five), Ray Floyd (four), Billy Casper (three), Hale Irwin (three), Larry Nelson (three). Yet he still managed 18 majors and more impressively, 16 runners-up finishes. He also came from behind eight times.

Had Jack been playing against these losers today, he would have won close to 30. And when Jack finished runner up, he didn't get there by having everyone else collapse around him. In 1977 alone, he shot 66 on the final day of the Masters and the British Open only to be edged by Tom Watson, who shot 67 at the Masters and a 65 at the Open.

Now THAT's golf.

Friendly Call

OK, maybe I was a little harsh in my generalization of doctors yesterday. They aren't ALL morons. I apologize to the good doctors and there are plenty.

Tonight I received a phone call from my friend Neil. We've known each other since the first day we stepped into Sardis Elementary. Not many people can say they've kept in touch with a friend for nearly 20 years.

I didn't get to the phone when he first called and I felt horrible again today. The last thing I feel like doing when I am sick is talking on the phone. It just so happens that I was leafing through one of my leadership books and highlighting certain passages for future use when I came upon the "Seven Things to Do" that was given to John Wooden by his father.

No. 6 on that list is "Don't take friendship for granted. Study friendship and make it a fine art."

At that point I realized that I am not a very good friend. But like everything in life, I don't believe this was a coincidence. Stumbling upon that phrase was a reminder from God that friendship isn't about making phone calls only when I feel well. So often I get lost in a meaningless and pointless daily routine that it becomes uncomfortable and inconvenient to break away from the habits. But as No. 6 on the list says, friendship is not a given. I've been fortunate enough to know someone for 20 years and by not returning a phone call, I would certainly be showing no appreciation for the relationship.

I'm glad Neil called. We both contribute to thebuckeyebunch.com and it feels like I talk to him more often than I really do simply because I read the articles he's written. It's nice to feel connected on that level, but it is no substitute for an actual conversation. Neil is as good a guy as you can meet. No one ever wants to listen to a fellow talk about his medical problems, but he allowed me to vent and said that he would pray for me. Being frustrated with my health, no better friend can be found than one that will listen and pray.

Now that's something that I should highlight for future use.

I have nothing worth mentioning today except that I've had it with doctors.

I used to give the benefit of the doubt to all doctors and believed they knew what they were doing. That was before I started having to visit doctors. And now I think they are all morons.

That's all I have to say today.

Update

Sorry to have been MIA the last few days. I mentioned last week that Trista was coming up and I usually don't blog when she is here. No use wasting time at the computer. I also had a bit of a medical procedure done today and was pretty well out of commission until early evening.

Other than a severe headache afterward and stomach pain from not being able to eat beforehand, the procedure went well. I got all doped up on meds and the last thing I remember this morning was the nurse saying, "If you feel funny, it's the medicine." Just like that, I was out. I woke up in another room and apparently had been talking out of my head. I have no memory of what I said but Trista said I was saying some pretty crazy things. That's what happens when you are all doped up I guess.

The good news is that the doctor didn't find anything. That's also the bad news. Even if he didn't find something, there has to be something there that is causing the pain and discomfort on a regular basis. Additional test results are supposed arrive in 3-5 days. I was really hoping they'd figure out what was wrong with this test. Now, who knows what to do next.

I appreciate everyone who was praying for me, though. I haven't spent much time in the hospital before the last year and I still get uneasy when I have to be there (especially when I have to get IVs). It's comforting to know that folks are praying for me.

Love Alone

I'm looking forward to this weekend. Trista is coming to Erie and it's not all the time we get to spend time together. She's going to hang around until after my little medical procedure on Tuesday since I won't be able to drive afterward. I'm also ready to get that over with and finally figure out what the heck is going on.

It would be an even better weekend if the softball game would get canceled tomorrow afternoon.

I found a new song the other day. It's actually an old song, but new to me. You know how it goes. It's called "Love Alone" by Caedmon's Call. I'm one of these guys that likes to know the meaning of songs. I listened to it a few times, stared at the lyrics and just couldn't quite put my finger on it. So I googled it and read someone else's blog. The blogger pointed out that sometimes it just simply hurts to love. The people you love suffer and you suffer too. It hurts us to become humble enough to love our enemies and the criminals. We try to love the troubled but their troubles bring us down, too. But we must love. It's necessary to love. God commanded it. Sometimes its just flat out hard to love someone.

But then I looked at it from Jesus' perspective. The lyrics then made even more sense. Especially this little stanza...

"And the pain of the world is a burden
And it's my cross to bear
And I stumble under all the weight
I know you're Simon standing there
And I know you're standing there"

If I ever have a hard time loving someone I just need to remember what Jesus did and how unbelievably hard it must have been for Him and how unlovable I am.

Here's the song with a video that someone put together for YouTube. I'd like to hear what you think about it.

Blog about Nothing

Another long sports information day and I just felt like mentioning a couple things that have nothing to do with sports information.

Because I listen to the Tony Kornheiser podcast every day, I've started paying attention to American Idol. But instead actually watching the show (which is incredibly drawn out and filled with fluff), I watch the performances (about two minutes each) on youtube the next day while listening to the podcast. I find that I am only in agreement with Mr. Tony about Carly Smithson, who I like very much. Otherwise, I think one of his co-hosts, Kevin Stanfield has the eye for American Idol talent.

I can't believe I'm paying attention to Idol. Yikes.

The Reds won on a walk-off home run. I didn't hear it because I turned it off after Junior flew out in the eighth. I'm glad the Reds won but I'm more happy for Edwin Encarnacion, who my friend Jay and I refer to as Yeahdwin. He had a horrible throwing error that led to two runs and couldn't get down a bunt before he won the game. Yeahdwin had such a terrible spring and a terrible start to the year that he needed this.

The Celtics keep winning. It's almost "go time." The playoffs are just around the corner. The regular season has gone better than I could have hoped and at the start of the year I thought that getting to the conference finals would be a fantastic year. Now, I'm thinking the C's have a chance to win it all. Banner No. 17? How sweet it would be.

A Lesson From the Lepers

If you've read any of my recent blogs, it shouldn't take much inferring that God wants me to do something. I just haven't figured out what that something is.

For the longest time I've thought that to truly love God, I must serve Him. Serve Him how? Well, the gospels of Matthew and Mark quote Jesus as saying in no uncertain terms (and I think this command too frequently gets chopped in half), go and make disciples (or preach the gospel) and baptize.

That seems to be fairly straight forward instructions. If Jesus was writing an instruction manual for disciples, I would suppose those verses would be right at the top of page one.

Certainly, there were first-century Christians that weren't like the apostles. Not every believer was traveling from town to town and preaching in the streets. As Paul said, some are given to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (yes, there is a difference between each one). But these are the jobs that are available. Notice there are no openings for "idle believer."

My fear is that if I'm not telling others about Christ, then I'm idle and there is no place for that in God's kingdom.

I love listening to Ravi Zacharias' podcast and encourage you to do the same. Tonight I listened to a two-part series titled "Why Sit Here till We Die." That message sparked this blog.

Ravi preached from 2 Kings 7. It was a dark time in Israel as there had been a terrible famine and the city was surrounded by the Syrians. Doom seemed inevitable. The people in the city had resorted to cannibalism. It was a desperate time (and we think gas at $3.40 a gallon is bad).

Starting with verse 3, there were four lepers at the entrance to the city, who had been cast out because of their affliction. They too had run out of food and reasoned among themselves, if we go into the city, there is no food and we will die. If we stay here, we will die. But if we surrender to the Syrians, maybe, just maybe, they will have pity on us and give us food. Worse case scenario, they kill us. They had four choices and only one had life as a possible conclusion. Pretty sound reasoning to me.

You may know the rest of the story. The lepers show up to the Syrian camp, but no one was there, for God had intervened and caused the Syrians to flee and leave all their food and possessions behind. These four outcasts started having quite a party. But then they thought, we shouldn't keep this to ourselves. We should go tell the king of the good news.

Imagine if these lepers would have stayed at the camp. They could have lived their on their own indefinitely. And who could have blamed them? They were lepers that had been run out of town. However, they had an abundance. They had something that their city needed.

Just as Israel needed this food, we Christians have something that our neighbors need: the message of salvation. It would only be selfish to live on the abundance of God's favor and not share it with those in need. Obviously this could include material items or finances, but above all else, the message of Christ. Food and clothing are necessary, but as Jesus told us, if we have faith in Him, God will provide that. It's like the old "give a man a fish...teach a man to fish" saying.

This brings me back to my original point. God wants me to do something. Maybe I don't know what just yet. But in the mean time I could--no, should--be sharing my faith with a city full of people that need it as desperately as a starving person needs food. That's what God put me here for: To share the best of what I have (which is the love of Christ), not wait to die.

Let me close this blog by quoting Ravi from his message. This refers to the plight of the lepers, who were deciding between life and death. "Siting and doing nothing. It is a form of death. Why not go and see what God is doing and join in with Him. All too often, we do what we want to do and ask if He wants to join with us."