The Magic of Opening Day

Friday is opening day for the American League Champion Texas Rangers. It only took me twenty-nine years as television director for the Rangers to be able to type that wonderful line. Hopefully it won’t take nearly that long for the next chance to say that. In my mind there is no more special day in sports than opening day in baseball. The smell of freshly cut emerald green grass delights the senses. The base lines are painstakingly and perfectly defined by a grounds crew that is committed to perfection on this day. Red, white, and blue bunting give the ball park a festive world series look. The players today act like little boys. This is the one day that these privileged athletes seem to forget they are millionaires and actually appear grateful that they are paid to play a kid’s game. Children skip school and parents do not care because memories are being made for both of them. The hot
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A Buckeye Believer Ponders Jim Tressel

I was in Ohio when the news broke about Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel. For a day or two the economy and world unrest took a back seat in the Buckeye state. Conversations centered on reactions to Tressel’s very late admission to having knowledge of two player’s potential rule violations. The reaction in the Buckeye state was primarily surprise. Jim Tressel is a revered figure in Ohio and not just because his teams have beaten Michigan. Buckeye Nations’s surprise seemed to be followed mainly by disappointment. Comments like these were overheard often. “I had hoped he was different.”“He is just like all the rest.” Buckeye fans (and many others) want to believe that what Coach Tressel espouses is true. They want to think that their coach is really molding young men and preparing them for life. They also want to win. That is the tough line Jim Tressel walks. I chose not to write about Jim Tressel for a few days until I had time to reflect as both a
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Perfect People

One of my passions is trying to create excitement about the need for Christian community. Time after time after time I discover that people who seem like they are flying through life are really not. When people feel safe in a community of believers they reveal hurts and fears and doubts. All of this was prompted by a song by Natalie Grant on the morning stroll with dog friend Hannah. Her song “Perfect People” played on the iPod and I related to the words. Never let ’em see you when you’re breaking Never let ’em see you when you fall That’s how we live and that’s how we try Tell the world you’ve got it all together Never let them see what’s underneath Cover it up with a crooked smile But it only lasts for a little while I often quote my friend Bruce McNicol of Truefaced.com. Bruce says “there are no together people…just some people with whiter teeth”. His
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Not Alone

(The weekly iPod Devotional from theFish.com) Part of the fun of writing these weekly thoughts is to try and find artists that are new to me. This was a great week of personal discovery when I downloaded a recent album from the band Red. The new CD is titled Until We Have Faces but the song that inspired today’s iPod Devotional is called “Not Alone”. The lyric begins with a haunting psalm-like lament. Slowly fading away You’re lost and so afraid Where is the hope In a world so cold? Looking for a distant light Someone who can save a life Living in fear that no one will hear your cries (Come and save me now) Then the tone changes and the song becomes an anthem of hope. Why? Because God has promised we are not alone. I am with you I will carry you through it all I won’t leave you I will catch you When you feel like
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