This, that, and the other!

It is Tuesday, March 2, 2010 and I welcome you to today's version of "This, that, and the other." I start off with a photo that will speak for itself, make your day, and communicate the reason that great grand parents ooze with pride and joy. And, just for the record, don't forget, she is our little bundle of Madelyn Joy! Listening to the parents and grandparents talk reminds us of ourselves both as brand new parents and as brand new grandparents. The parents are trying to do their best by the book and the grandparents are there with the years of accumulated wisdom. That leaves the great grands to nod and smile but also to soak up the joy that comes from this little girl who is so easy to love. I think I remember the first couple of times we kept our first granddaughter, Tiffany, mother of Madelyn Joy, they gave us a sheet of paper with a variety of instructions. The more things change, it is the more they stay the same. Enjoy!

Sunday afternoon was a roller coaster ride for me as my head swung forth and back between the gold medal hockey match between Canada and the USA, and the NASCAR race out in Las Vegas. The driver I follow, Jeff Gordon, led most of the race but not the laps that count, the final ones. The hockey match was one of those heart pounding experiences that kept everyone who watched glued to the edge of their seat. When the USA scored in the last minute of regulation to send it into sudden death my wife said I didn't see the score. She was wrong. I did see the score but I couldn't process it. It took me a few seconds to realize they had actually done it. It was like one of those slow motion events where reality is suspended. Jeff Gordon's crew chief called for 2 tires on the last stop in the pits, everyone else got 4 tires. He had thought everyone would only take 2 but the rest of the leaders took 4. If everyone had taken 2 it would have been a good guess and a good decision. But taking only 2 when the others take 4 meant they would catch you and pass you before the end, and they did! The hockey overtime continued at a pace that caused me to hide my eyes at times but in the end the current most famous Canadian player, a young fellow, a great young talent, became one of Canada's greatest heroes as he slung a shot towards the net and it went in. What a finish! What a taxing afternoon. I was glad when it came time to go back to the meeting place for our local fellowship of believers just to be refreshed and restored.

While some scoff at thinking hockey to be a competitive sporting event worth watching, the overnight polling indicates one of the largest crowds in history tuned in to this match. For Canada, it would likely be easier to count those who didn't watch but even in the USA one out of every three households were tuned to this epic battle. I can't be too angry that Canada won since they were the host country and all, but I will confess my patriotic fervor does get aroused when Old Glory is on the line. The US garnered the most medals in history for themselves as well as for any country since the winter games began. Canada set a record with 14 gold medals which will make them feel good as they try to figure out how they will pay for the billions spent for this extravaganza. We watched quite a lot of the events and we did pick up on some of the drama within the different teams and the competitors that overcame great challenges to win. Wow! If we could encourage even a little of the commitment and discipline it takes to compete in this event and direct it towards the cause of Christ, no telling what could be accomplished. I'm talking about yours truly here as well as all believers and while seeing a life rewarded for a great athletic achievement is good, think about how much greater it is to help someone find eternal salvation and hope as they face life here on the planet. No comparison, and think about it, someday there will be a medal ceremony at the Judgment Seat of Christ where faithfulness will be recognized and rewarded. Amen. ......More later.