Friendship Like the Sky

The critical thinker, thinks on high. 

The critical thinker, declares friendship is like the sky. 

The proud friend, like storm clouds attempt to overshadow all others. 

Your best friend, your child's friend, your sister, your brother. 

The proud friends say that they'll be right there. 

But like your last balloon ride, they're full of hot air. 

They need their space, but you need their best. 

You need your space, they won't let you rest. 

Seasons and hours most often do change. 

A so-called friend like the formation of clouds rearrange. 

The so-called stand in the way, they pour out life lessons. 

Your True Blu's listen, and pour out sweet blessings. 

Lying in a field on my back, looking to the sky, I watching the sun burn away, as it does everyday. I notice that the clouds are not consistent in shape or form, only in the fact that they fade away. I thought about the similarities between them all, and about friendship.

The sun comes and goes daily, but it's assured that the sun will come. Even if you abandon it, or even if you cannot see it because of the clouds, it's guaranteed that the sun is still there. The sun like a best friend, gives you time to rest, and takes time to take a break from you as well. The clouds are sporadic, and flighty. They provide temporary relief, possibly even from your best friend, but unlike the best friend, they dissipate and leave you with a blank space, a blue space, a void, that only the sun can fill. Friendship is like the sky in a sense. Feel the warmth of your best friend, enjoy the temporary satisfaction of your so-called friends, but by all means do not rely on them to help light your path in the days to come, regardless of how bright or dark the forecast says that those days will be. 

Going,

going,

and, 

gone!

Thanks for being there without my having to ask...

Bombers Fell (Fail), Fallen Boston Gets Up!

Courtesy of Google Maps

A friend of mine said something that really hit home to me. He wrote on his Facebook status, "It(')s sad. It takes tragedy in this country to pull us together. As soon as the tragedy is over we(')re right back cutting each others throats(.)"

Crisis conversion seems to be the most popular movement in our nation nowadays. It converts the weak into believing they're strong, because they use strong language. It converts the quiet American into the ultimate Patriot, because they use strong Patriotic language. It converts non-believers into believers (some temporary), or so-called believers. It converts the slightly ignorant into the extremely ignorant.

New York's tragedy quickly became America's tragedy. Most recently Boston, became America's tragedy. Before that Sandy Hook, and even further back Pearl Harbor.

9/11, and Pearl Harbor trickled into worldwide tragedies, and caused other countries to lament with us, while others laughed at us. Although, there might not be as many fatalities in Boston, it is slowly becoming a worldwide tragedy. The Boston bombings are opening the eyes of other nations, and it is slowly but surely opening the eyes of many Americans. We here in America hear about bombings in other nations, but we have not been accustomed to hearing about such events here in the United States, at least not until the turn of the century. Pearl Harbor was the last devastating event of war or mass destruction (other than natural disasters like Southern hurricanes) to take place on American soil until 9/11. We Americans, and good people of the world (the human race) still continue on. "Look for the helpers. You will always find PEOPLE who are helping," is what social networkers are saying that Mr. Rogers once said. I am not sure that Mr. Rogers actually said that, but I can totally see him saying that, and it's powerful.

We Americans argue about politics, we argue about religion, sports teams, and about the cities we're from being better than any of the other cities on the planet, but it all boils down to this... it is not one that makes us American, it's all. Born here or Naturalized, it's all of us. All of us that live to defend the declaration set many years ago; the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. "E Pluribus Unum." Many that make US ONE!

Our global community is human. It's not one human, nor one country that makes us human, it's all of us. We can't hate one religious group (well we can, but we shouldn't), because of tragedy. We can't be quick (well we can, but we shouldn't be, although, unfortunately, we usually are), to accuse someone on whim. Capriciousness, often causes unnecessary actions, injustice, and unjust movements, like wars that could be prevented.

Do I pray for Boston, New York, schools nationwide, and all of my other fellow Americans? Of course I do. For the safety of each venue, from educational facilities, to rival sports venues. I pray for them, and those that view, me, us, and them enemy. I may bad mouth the Yankees, Sox, Knicks, and Celts, but that's because they are my people and we LIVE for those moments when we can say we bested you in LIVELY competition, not in jihad... Which by the way is the ugliest oxymoron ever! Holy and war together, not if you're a true man or woman of God. Most importantly, we live for those moments to say that we can boast about our togetherness, the love of sport, country, and fellow man. Boston blessing to you, from your quiet neighbors down here in the Bible belt, we love you and stand with you, because together we make this nation what it is. FREE and COURAGEOUS!

How Many We're Left?

How many gears are left? When do we switch gears? For Kobe Bryant it was around game # 32. Ironically enough, it is not only my old number, or baby girls current number, it also happens to be Earvin "Magic" Johnson's old number. What's ironic about that? Well the Lakers are a sub .500 team, which for you math buffs and non-sports fans means they have not won as many games as they have lost. They have, however, improved. They are only 3 games below .500 (24-27) now and on a tough East Coast road trip. They've battled injury and managed to get closer to .500 in part, due to Kobe Bryant changing the way he plays. Now the heavy non-sports critic might ask, "Seriously, one guy really made that much of a difference?" The answer is, somewhat, yes he did. It's a collective (team) effort, but it has to start somewhere right? So goes life.

Kobe stepped away from the "me first, me only," scoring mentality and dared to be more like a previous Laker great Magic Johnson, and has began to get his teammates involved. The Lakers are more productive as a team, and gradually getting back to the Laker norm, and winning games. Also bettering their chances at another title. So how many losses does it take to realize it's time to switch gears?

With that said, how many are left? Meaning how many are left that would want to play with a ball hogging, shoot first, washed up scoring champion, that couldn't help "them" win an NBA Championship? Not many. But how many would desire playing with a past NBA Champion, that was also the NBA Scoring Champion, and made them a part of that championship legacy? Most!

What's better, telling your kids or grand kids that you played a solid defensive game, while Kobe did not, but that he scored 45 points that night as you lost by 12, or... telling them that he set you up for 3 wide open 3's that you drained like lay-ups, and he led you with a sweet pass that turned into a dunk? Let's say also, WHILE he scored 4 or 44 (who cares because you won by double digits), and took the NBA crown all in the same breath! Yeah the latter sounds much more appealing right?

So how about friendship? What about family? Do you have a me first and me only mentality? Yes, I'm speaking to self most of all. What are you going to do when there are none left that want to play in YOUR game, or on YOUR team? Will you switch gears keep family together, to keep old friends around, gain new ones along the way, or will you be all about self and retire lonely? YOUR worth, good times, and attractiveness are fading, what do you have left... money? If so I can assure you not near enough to buy love, just enough to fake it and get lost in it. Wait though, you don't need money or anything else, after all they're family and friends, right? They're family and friends, they have to love you, right? Isn't that a given, won't they get over my abusing them? Physical abuse might leave a memorable fleshy scar, but what if the physical or even verbal abuse cuts deeper? You can put a band-aid on a surface wound, or a cast on a broken limb. You can see those things. Smoking around your children and exposing them to second hand smoke or teaching them that smoking is cool and creating an illness like asthma, emphysema, or bronchial diseases you can't see. It's the me first mentality talking.

Yelling at your partner in front of your children, or parents for that matter, you don't physically see the trauma until they express it. Cancer works that way. The way you're acting in a situation like that is the same difference as cancer, you can't see it.

So was your action a scratch, cut, or broken bone or was it a cancer? Choose your words wisely, and your actions even more wisely, and make sure that they are not cancerous. You may kill off the love of those closest to you with no hope of remission. Who knows? Let's hope that's not true, but let's not test it either. You can only ignore the wrong so many times, and only say I'm sorry (if you even really mean it) so many times. So how many are left today? How many will be left, providing you, or they see another tomorrow? Just a little something to think about this week as you leave home, career, and any other activity I may have missed.

Thank you Andrew Gall and class for the Einstein quote:

Insanity is doing the same old, same old and expecting a different out come.

SWITCH GEARS before there are none! Peace...

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

25 or 6 to None

Childhood Memories... good ones, not so good ones, and utter tragedy.

In my childhood I recall school being a pleasurable place, a safe haven away from home, and a place in which a child represented his/her family by manifesting self-respect and self-discipline. A child went to school disciplined, and with respect already in place, because in my years of childhood, children had good "home training," as Jason Singletary would say. Thanks for that term J-Sing. Here is my two cents worth about the shots heard 'round our world.

Some people don't remember the tragedy that took place in Northeast Ohio, 42 years ago at Kent State University in 1970. (Lewis, and Hensley 1998). I wasn't a student there, but I do remember that it sparked enough interest to influence the nation. A well known rock band "Chicago" had a song called, "26 or 5 to 4" that was popular at the time and I still relate that song to the tragic event, and it was a tragedy that was talked about for years. As a youngster I thought the song meant that there were 26 or 5 National Guard personnel against 4 unarmed college students.

The Kent State tragedy involved college students/protesters, and a war in Vietnam, as to where the Sandy Hook slayings involved innocent grade school children, and a young man's mental and spiritual wars. I may not know much, but I do know a few things for sure. A gun ban is not going to bring back the 20 children or 6 adults that were slain in Newtown, CT. It may or may not prevent further or future tragedies, but the odds being against such prevention, say that it will not. Fact of the matter is, that if evil is going to take place, a gun ban will not prevent crime or murder. Timothy McVeigh used a bomb to take the lives of 168 people, including 19 preschoolers at the Alfred P. Murray Federal Building in Oklahoma City, OK in 1995. (FBI 2012). This type of evil has been around and quickly forgotten for thousands of years. Sandy Hook Elementary School, was not a victim of an order from a king that was set in place and neither was the Alfred P. Murray Federal Building. It was an act of evil.

My friend, and fine spiritual brother, Daniel J. Mount, shared a post from David Lorimer on his Facebook wall. In his post, Mr. Lorimer mentioned the birth of Christ, and with expert timing reminded his reading audience about the CHRISTmas story. Mr. Lorimer wrote, "Remember that shortly after (H)e (Jesus) was born, every young child in a whole area was murdered?" How familiar does that sound? The only difference with our tragedy in today's era is that society has made the decree, not a king. Not only were male children slain in our nations latest tragedy, but little girls also. The Christmas story from the book of Saint Matthew told the story of the safe keeping of the Christ Child, and told the story of His people that dealt with an evil, racist king, "Herod," and the slaughter of innocent children. (Biblegateway 2012) I can't begin to tell you what goes through this father's mind when he thinks about the safety of his child(ren), especially when it concerns his daughter.
Then there is the Aurora Colorado, theater shootings this past summer. (Augé 2012) Rumors spread throughout my community with statements saying that if someone else would have had their gun there at the theater that summer night, then the shooter would not have taken as many victims and would not be alive to stand trial. Again I would beg to differ. If, ifs and buts were candies and nuts we'd all have a Merry Christmas, but for the sake of argument what if a vigilante had popped up on the scene? Is it possible that the shooter would have killed the vigilante, and been even more outraged causing him to slay several others? Is it possible that the vigilante would have shot and killed innocent people trying to take down the initial gunman? All of those are possibilities, with the slim chance that the vigilante actually takes out the initial gunman, while preventing any deaths, other than the initial gunman due to his/her carrying their firearm.

Not even capital punishment is a deterrent. The conviction and sentencing of Timothy McVeigh did not prevent the Aurora "Midnight Massacre," the "Sandy Hook Shooting," or the most recent mall shooting in Portland, Oregon. "Witnesses from the shooting rampage said that a young man in a white hockey mask and bulletproof vest tore through the Macy's, food court, and mall hallways firing rounds at shoppers beginning around 3:30 p.m. PT" on December 12, 2012. (Curry, C., & Schabner, D. 2012) Where have we gone wrong with our youth? Lack of morally fit, quality leadership is where.

When mentioning horrific school events, who could ever forget Columbine High School in Denver, Colorado? Which to me was one of the greatest tragedies in our nations current history. (Jefferson Co., Sheriff's Dept. 2012) The young men plotting against fellow students at Columbine used guns and explosive devices. Therefore, again I pose this question; does a gun ban help our nation and the families that are mourning?

I once sat in church and a pastor said this about those die hard gun activists;
You claim to be faithful Christians, yet you place your faith in everything but Christ! Guns, coffee, and material things hi-lite your mornings/days. Do you truly have faith? If you have faith, then trust God and call on Him. Call on Him and you won't have to call on your police department that might show up late, but that you are still blessed with. Call on Him, and you won't have to regret not calling on him when your gun misfires! He's an on time God, that is never late.
The pastor didn't say that he was anti-gun, just that he didn't place more faith in his guns, than his God.

I had a dear friend, upset over the shootings at Sandy Hook, say that they did not believe in abortion, but if the shooters' mother had aborted him, then those children, teachers, and his own mother would be alive today. We're human and the human side tends to get the best of us at times. Again, possibly that holds true, but the probability of the matter says that it was their appointed time to go, and some other tragedy, or gunman would have claimed each life.
You want a solution to the tragic shootings? Integrity, is the solution. Train yourself, be self-disciplined, and while instilling that along with good moral values in your child(ren), then the shootings will lessen, if not end altogether. I'll conclude with quotes, and a personal story.
"Baptism, you two are dumber than a bag of hammers!" ~Everette McGill (IMDb 2012) "Baptism, some go in a dry devil, and come out a wet one!" ~Pastor Baker

Have you noticed, like I've noticed that the neighbors in most news interviews say, "He/she seemed like such a sweet kid, we would have never expected that he/she would do such a horrible thing.
As a volunteer coach it makes your heart feel good to hear a kid and his family say that they appreciate what you do. Yes, it feels good to not only know for yourself, but to hear that your kids and parents find that you are positive, that you are motivating, and that you show a genuine love for them both, kids and parents included. As a former coach and former youth minister it makes your heart sink to think that you gave a kid a second chance only to be slapped in the face by the entire family later on in life. We all have struggles and don't exactly know of each others exact struggles. We can at times, however, empathize to a certain degree, and make the effort to be civil, and understanding, rather than eager to hate someone. A hate that leads to loss in friendship which to me is tragic enough, but could also lead to a tragedy that involves a family, a community, or like the tragedies of the events mentioned above, a nation.

I overlooked the testimony of one student about another diabetic student stabbing a hypodermic needle into an activity bus seat at him on the way to a game, and overlooked the action of the same needle handling student later trying to intimidate other younger students at a practice in the same way on the practice sidelines, that he did on the activity bus. I overlooked it because the young man was respectful. When asked to put his needle away he respectfully apologized and put the needle away. He was a smart, well mannered young man, and was a good friend of mine. He, also at that time, had a position on the team to lose. Recently we had a misunderstanding. The misunderstanding stemmed from an issue involving faith. Unpleasant verbal exchanges were made, yes exchange means both parties were involved, and it was, well unpleasant. This young man no longer had a position to lose concerning a scholastic sporting event, therefore, felt that it is alright to be disrespectful to myself and former female teachers. In this instance, he was not respectful, and when asked to stop commenting or sending private messages, he refused. I addressed the issue with the young man's mother, simply because I had access to her on the same social network, and no access to his father. I offered up apologies not once, but twice to his mother, and said that I was willing to overlook any further action. I received an opinionated reply that pretty much said that I was not a good man, nor was I good for anything else, for arguing with her adult son.

I'm grateful for learning experiences. Here's what I've learned from the news reports and current events in my nation, and community: evil exists in the smallest towns as well as the largest cities. It exists in the smallest minds, as well as the most brilliant minds. Society often gives diseases and sickness way too much credit. Religion often gives Satan too much credit. Meaning that mental physicians diagnose patients with mental disorders, and might say that some people are bi-polar, or psychotic, sociopaths, while religion screams out that it's the devil. I've come to the conclusion that some people are just mean, and evil on their own terms. The word of God says, "Because your fight has not been with flesh and blood, but with Principalities and The Rulers and The Powers of this dark world and with wicked spirits which are under Heaven." (Biblos 2010) Satan unlike God, is not omnscient, omnipotent, nor is he omnipresent. Satan has demons and uses them well. Unfortunately, with some people, Satan doesn't even have to use those demons, because people are evil enough on their own.

If we desire to see our children safe, we will raise them to be well rounded, morally fit citizens. Don't get me wrong, even the best parents in history have rotten children, but not because of their lack of effort. Those parents that excuse irrational behavior have no one to blame but themselves. No not even their grown children may take the blame. It's all on you "parent" for excusing the early, and late irrational behavior of their children, until the unruly in that child overcomes. Stop the spoiling, the making excuses for your child(ren)'s wrong doings, stop alienating them and not spending time with your child(ren), and stop the nonsense. If you do your part as a parent, you may not save the world, but you will save him/her a lot of heartache, and possibly save them from a negative headline. A headline that reads like the Sandy Hook, or Columbine headlines.

In a perfect world there is no need to be concerned. Well here's an unfortunate, news flash, it's not a perfect world, and child(ren) need their parents to step up, and we all need a Savior. Merry CHRISTmas imperfect world from your imperfect Christian that is not your doormat, but still loves you.

Works Cited

Augé, K. The Denver Post. (July 12, 2012). MIDNIGHT MASSACRE: AURORA THEATER SHOOTING.
Retrieved from:
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site36/2012/0722/20120722_105338_UDA-1-20120722-FINAL.pdf

Biblegateway, (2012). MATTHEW 2:16-18 NKJV. MASSACRE OF INNOCENTS.
Retrieved from:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%202:16-18&version=NKJV

Biblos, (2010). EPHESIANS 6:12. ABPE
Retrieved from:
http://aramaic-plain-english.scripturetext.com/ephesians/6.htm

Curry, C., Schabner, D. (2012). OREGON MALL SHOOTING: MAN KILLS 2, SELF IN RAMPAGE.
Retrieved from:
http://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=17939128

FBI. (1995/2012). TERROR HITS HOME: THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING.
Retrieved from:
http://m.fbi.gov/#http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history/famous-cases/oklahoma-city-bombing

IMDb, Coen, E., Homer. (2012). O' BROTHER WHERE ART THOU/THE ODDESSY.
Retrieved from:
http://m.imdb.com/title/tt0190590/Jefferson Co. Sheriff Dept. (2012). THE

COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTINGS/NARRATIVE TIMELINE.
Retrieved from:
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/NARRATIVE.Time.Line.htm

Lewis, J.M., Hensley, T.R. (1998). THE MAY 4 SHOOTINGS AT KENT STATE UNIVERSITY: THE SEARCH FOR HISTORICAL ACCURACY.
Retrieved from:
http://dept.kent.edu/sociology/lewis/lewihen.htm

Things Aren't Always What They Seem

"Way down in the jungle deep, the lion stepped on the signified monkey's feet..."
Dolemite had a way with words, that's for sure. Well so does Pastor Skip from Calvary Chapel. Pastor Skip once told a story about a man, a lion, and a gorilla, that went a little something like this:

A man named Mic Huge Éttooadees had lost his job, and was on the look for a new one. Mic went everywhere in search of any line of work that he could find. His family was in need, and their funds were fading fast. Desperately Mic went to the zoo, and spoke with the lead keeper, Mr. C. J.  Helpanîmales. Mic said he would shovel dung, clean habitats, whatever they needed. C.J. with deep regret, informed the Mic that he had no openings. At that moment, another keeper ran in, and pronounced an unfortunate event. The assistant keeper informed the C.J., that their gorilla Big Moe had passed away. C.J. quickly turned and called the 6'9" 350lb Mic back. C.J. explained to Mic that Big Moe had passed, and that there was a group of school children coming to see him. So, C.J. hired Mic to bury Big Moe, and put on a gorilla suit and perform for the children. Mic retrieved the shovel and all of the tools he needed to lay Big Moe to rest and also had a moving eulogy for the big gorilla, then Mic climbed into the fur suit to portrait the late zoological icon. C.J. led Mic to the gorilla habitat, and told him not to speak, and just be playful with the children. Mic was beside himself, and ready to perform! Mic went in and examined his area diligently and noticed the lions den just below his habitat. Mic climbed the massive tree in his exhibit and noticed a trapeze on one of the larger branches. Mic walked out cautiously to the big swing, grabbed the wooden dowel fastened to two thick ropes, and began to swing. Mic perched on the branch, looked playfully out at the children first, then down at the lion, and thought to himself, "King of the jungle huh?" Mic pounded his chest and bellowed out at the lion. The lion paced below, looked up, and roared ferociously! Mic kept swinging, and pounding his chest, suddenly and unfortunately Mic lost his grip and plummeted into the lions den! The impact momentarily knocked the breath out of Mic, so he couldn't cry out even if he wanted to. The lion stalked him, almost as if to torment him for mocking him from above. The lion inched closer, and closer, and Mic crawled away from him trying to catch his breath, and regain his composure. He scampered backwards frantically until his back hit the concrete barrier. The lion placed one huge paw over Mics shoulder and roared! Mic fought with every ounce of courage in his being to keep from screaming, now that he had his wind back, because he didn't want to disappoint the children or the zookeepers. Then the lion placed the other paw over his shoulder, and let out another ferocious roar. It was at that moment Mic cracked, and screamed, "Please, please someone stop him!"The lion quickly placed one of his paws over Mics mouth and whispered in his ear, "SHUT UP man, what are you trying to do get us both fired!?"

And the moral of this story is that things aren't always what they seem.

Part 2 hopefully tomorrow... on the Imperfect Christian Blog... The imperfect one will share an experience that taught a valuable lesson.

Three Crowns for Seven (Answers to Triple Crown Winners)

His Royal Airness

If you read the previous blog: http://blogwieser.blogspot.com/2012/07/ncaa-title-nba-title-olympic-gold.html  you now know that, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, and Michael "Air" Jordan are two players that have won NCAA and NBA titles, as well as an Olympic Gold. So can you name the other five without looking at the link? Of course you can't or you wouldn't be back! Here are your hints again...

First hint a gimme is Magic Johnson. Magic was the only player to win the NCAA title as an underclassmen, and the tournament MOP, while winning an NBA title as a rookie and being the only rookie to win the MVP award in a title series, where he played three different positions. He is also the only retired NBA player to go on to win an Olympic gold medal.

Magic was also one of the coaches, but there are three more. Out of those three, two were collegiate, Olympic, and pro teammates. One was a player coach. Magic and Michael are/were owners, and own different sports teams outside of their expertise as players. Still don't know who the others are? I didn't either, and you would have to be a real sports junkie to figure out who they are!
  

 According to the experts, the link below has all of the triple crown winners:

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/list/201207/basketball-triple-crown-ncaa-nba-championships-olympic-gold-medal#1

NCAA Title, NBA Title, Olympic Gold...

Which seven players went on to win NCAA titles, NBA titles, and Olympic Gold? Here's a hint, my favorite player is one of the seven (pictured below), and one of my favorite schools has a player involved, and one school has two players from the same seasons! Four went on to coach, one was a player coach, two became owners, and two have gone on to own other sports franchises. Can you name them?