Requested Quote From 5-23-10

Yesterday in the lesson from 1 Chronicles 22, I presented a portion of the inaugural address of John F. Kennedy in 1961. Afterward I presented a reword of his statement, trying to embrace our spiritual commitment. I received requests for copies, so I am posting it here. The reword was done by a preacher named Dave Owens.

I want us to be able to declare…“Let the word go forth from this time and place…to friend and foe alike…that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Christians living in our secular society…Let it be known that we are proud of our Lord Jesus and His Word and His body, the church…let every person know that we will pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of the church. This much we pledge and more!”

Fortitude Writers!!!!!!!

For several years I have been writing for a website called Qonido, formerly Qassia, to help promote a blog site or two. There is a new launch taking place that allows writers to make money for submissions. It is called Fortitude. I hope some of my writer friends, as well as any reader of this post will take a look at the possibilities Fortitude offers. There is an annual fee of $23.88 to join, but I believe it could be very worthwhile for good and prolific writers.

If you would do me the honor and use my referral link below, I would appreciate it.

Remembering Robin Roberts

May 31, 1957, was a magical night for a young baseball fan from South Texas. My family was visiting my mother's family in Bordentown, New Jersey for a couple of weeks. My dad and my uncle took me to Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia to see my first Major League game in person.

The Phillies' pitcher that night was the awesome right-hander Robin Roberts. He was in the midst of 6 consecutive seasons of 20 wins. And he was facing the Brooklyn Dodger with their awesome line-up, Gilliam, Cimoli, Snider, Furillo, Hodges, Campanella, Neal, Zimmer, and the Don Drysdale as the opposing pitcher.

The game lived up to my imagination. There was excellent pitching and defense. There was a majestic by the great Dodger catcher, Roy Campanella, off the top of the stadium. But Roberts only gave up three hits, pitched a complete game and got the win. For years after that magical night I would want to be a second baseman like Junior Gilliam. And, in my mind, I would pitch, copying Robin Roberts and throwing the perfect pitch in the pressure situation.

Robin Roberts passed away yesterday. But the memory of his mastery will live as long as I do!

Johnny Neun Quote!

I just read a quote by a man who was in his late eighties and still swinging his fungo in spring training at the time. Johnny Neun had played in the 1920's for Ty Cobb and managed the Yankees and Reds. Young players today would do well to listen.

"It is important to remember how careful you have to be about the way you live your life. It's to your advantage not to do too many things off the field that interfere with your life on the field. You turn on the TV and you hear that some committee or other is investigating things out of someone's past and lives get ruined. When you play this game, you're in the public eye. I once heard a great poet say that if you're going to go public with your life, your life belongs to the public. Be careful with our life. In the long run the thing that's going to be the most precious to you, the thing you're going to treasure all your life, is your peace of mind."

Dig in and make sure you get the full benefit of your natural ability. Only a few of you are going to make the Big Club. But for the others, you ought to be able to leave saying. 'I gave it my best.' Don't worry about tomorrow. Don't worry about things you have no control over. Do it this way and someone may walk up to you and say, 'you're the one.'"

National Day of Prayer in League City

I got a call from a League City resident named Becky Gualt this morning. I have never met Ms. Gualt. She called to inform me of a plan that she and a number of ladies with whom she meets to study the Bible have developed for the National Day of Prayer that is scheduled for May 6. I liked her plan and her approach to the whole matter and thought you would like to know about it.

First, they have reserved the club house in the Magnolia Creek subdivision, 4752 League City Parkway, for the day. It will be open from 6:30 am till 7 pm, in order to accommodate commuters who leave early or get home late. They are making a true DAY of prayer rather than a short gathering. It is a non-denominational activity.

Second, they have set as their purpose to Pray for our families; Pray for our schools-Administrators; Teachers; Students; Support Personnel; Pray for our community – Local Businesses; Civic Volunteers; Pray for our churches – Pastor and family; Pastoral Staff; Congregations; Pray for our Law Enforcement Officers Pray for State and Local Government; Pray for the three branches of our Government –Legislative; Executive; Judicial; Pray for the Armed Forces; Pray for the media

Ken Clark, a county commissioner, has agreed to take part, though the schedule has not been set as of this writing. I have told Ms. Gualt that I will participate as a concerned citizen, but not as a representative of the congregation here. Whether you want to participate in the community effort, please make a special effort in your personal prayers to lift up acknowledge the power of God and our need for Him.

Hope For Haiti's Children!!!

Yesterday at the preachers’ luncheon we learned about the work of a faith based group called Hope for Haiti’s Children. This group feeds, educates, and for some orphans, houses children in the outskirts of Port Au Prince. They can fully fund that work for about $40 per month per child. They were already in Haiti before the earthquake and their students were among the top in standardized testing for the whole country. In the aftermath of the quake they have been distributing food and supplies to other organizations—no strings attached.

One of the things that really caught my attention is that the folks who set the ministry up established a separate fund for administrative costs. It is supported by folks who want to assure the work will continue. And that allows that every donation that is made for the children goes, 100 cents of every dollar, directly to the needs of those being helped! Rainy season began about two weeks ago, with most folks living in tent cities with little or no sanitation facilities. To take a look or to donate, go to http://hopeforhaitischildren.org/

Opening Day At Minute Maid '10!!!

Opening Day has been a huge part of life for my wife and I. We have celebrated 43 anniversaries, 42 of them at Opening Day for the Astros. The only time we missed was when we celebrated our 35th in New York City. We just returned from the 2010 edition.

Roy Oswalt started for the 'Stros against Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants, the reigning back to back Cy Young winner. Oswalt pitched creditably, but not well enough to avoid the loss. He gave up three runs in his six innings of work, while Lincecum did not allow a run in his seven innings of work.

Houston did not hit the ball hard very often tonight. Carlos Lee had a line drive off the wall in left, but the next well struck ball was in the 9th inning when J. R. Towles had a double to left center field to drive in the second run of the evening for Houston.

There were not too many bright spots for the over 43,000 in attendance. I wonder how many fans will be in the stands tomorrow.