Words to live by...

• Professionals built the Titanic, amateurs built the Ark.
• Sometimes we turn to God when our foundations are shaking, only to find out it is God who is shaking them.
• A person that learns from their mistakes is smart. A person that learns from other people's mistakes is smarter.
• Always try to be the best, but don't ever think you are the best.
• Be careful of your thoughts, they may become words at any moment.
• Character is what you are. Reputation is what people think you are.
• Character, like good soup, is made at home.
• Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.
• It is better to sleep on what you intend doing than to stay awake over what you've done.
• Nothing has value but that which you grant it.
• The most beautiful sunsets are made by cloudy skies.
• The word listen contains the same letters as the word silent.
• We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
• When someone points skyward, it's the fool that looks at the finger.
• Who gossips to you will gossip of you.

Richard Chambers, Good and Faithful Servant

In my 36 plus years on this earth, there are very few men I have met that I held in as high esteem as I did Richard Chambers. He passed away a few days ago and tomorrow (today actually) will be his funeral. My wife grew very close to his wife, Patty who is a teacher at Mandarin Christian School where my wife also works.

Richard was an elder at Christ's Church and in every encounter I ever had with the man, I could sense he was different. Not in an standoffish or righteous way by any means but in a way that I could tell he played by a different set of rules than most people are use to. In 2 Corinthians it says that when you are in Christ, you are a new creation. I have always taken that to mean that we are no longer bound by what we have done in the past, or how it's always been done or even by what everyone else is doing or thinks is ok. THAT was Richard.
I bet most people don't know many men they would call "strong" and be able to include that same person when asked to name people they consider "humble." THAT was Richard.
When my wife and I took he and Patty a meal a while back, Richard and I sat in the living room and we chatted for probably close to an hour. Even in his tired state, he was sure to tell me how much he appreciated all I was doing in the Sports Ministry and wanted me to talk about things that moved me. THAT was Richard.
Upon his passing, two emails were sent out that specifically talked about Richard and how much he meant to them and their time in the ministry. Both included how vital Richard had been over the years in keeping our church and ministry pointed in the right direction during critical times and how he was a rock that many could always depend on. Yes...that was Richard.
He did what Elders are suppose to do. He was a quiet, unassuming leader that had a servant heart most of us never saw and that was not an accident. From all indications, he was an excellent father, husband and professional.
And now, even in death, his influence is living on in the succession of a new elder who will be able to use Richard as an incredible role model for what a servant-hearted leader is suppose to look like. That future elder might not be stepping in right now. Or maybe not even in five years. But when he does, the example and influence that Richard left will no doubt help in assuring Christ's Church has another rock in place to steady us in the rough times. Yes...that was Richard.

May God's peace and comfort be with the Chambers' family in these trying times and days to come.

Funny Stuff and a quick read....

• A priest, a rabbi, and a minister walk into a bar. The bartender says, "What is this, some kind of joke?"

• Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

• The early bird gets the worm, but the early worm gets eaten.

• Two things that are essential to life are WD 40 and duct tape. If it moves and it isn't supposed to, use the duct tape. If it doesn't move and it's supposed to use the WD 40.

Fresno State's Baseball Title Perspective...

For some of you who are coming here after reading the CC Sports E-Newsletter, this is the continuation of what I wrote on 6/26. I had to keep it short in that email but I wanted to expound a bit more here...(and if you didn't catch the beginning through the enewsletter, I was relaying how incredible a feat was that Fresno State achieved when they won the college baseball world series as the lowest seeded team ever to win a National Title in NCAA history, in ANY sport.

Just to put that into perspective, remember that the NCAA hosts Championships in such sports as rifle, field hockey, rowing, water polo and skiing along with the more notable football, basketball, etc. I attempted to do a rough count on how many championships have been won in the history of the NCAA and I called it quits after looking through roughly half the sports. I came up with 1560 which means had I looked through the remaining sports it very easily could have topped 3000 team champions crowned in intercollegiate athletics. That's D1, D2 and D3.

Fresno State came in with an RPI ranking of 89th at the start of the post-season. They started the season 8-12 and their 31 losses on the season (against 47 wins) is the most ever by a World Series Champion. In the post season, they knocked off the #3 team in the nation (Arizona St.), the #6 team (Rice) and the #2 team (North Carolina) twice. Then to complete the dream season, they knocked off the #8 ranked Georgia Bulldogs twice.

Impressive? Yea. I'd say that's no fluke.

One-liners of Interest

I thought I would share some of these funny or thought provoking one-liners I have found along the way. I wouldn't normally share these but when I read some of them and actually laughed out loud, I knew I wanted others to enjoy them as well. I was probably most impressed with these because they are ones I haven't heard before or at least they aren't common place like "He who dies with the most toys...still dies." Funny, yes. Been around awhile, yes. So here are some that I wanted to share. Hope you like them.
(Please note, the views or opinions expressed in this blog do not represent the views or opinions of Cameron LeSage, Christ's Church, Cameron's family...Haha!)

• A company is known by the people it keeps.
• My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I am right.
• A morning without coffee is like something without something else.
• God put me on this Earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now, I am so far behind I will never die.
• Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.
• Quitters never win, and winners never quit, but those who never quit AND never win are idiots. (ugh, I hate using that word (idiot), so please forgive me!)
  
• Quote from the Boss: I didn't say it was your fault. I said I was going to blame it on you.
• The only person getting his work done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe.
• Things could be worse. Suppose your errors were counted and recorded every day like those of a baseball player.
• Three kinds of people: Those who can count and those who can't.
• Work hard for eight hours a day, and eventually you may become a boss and be able to work twelve.

Youth Soccer fun

As my first season of running youth indoor soccer is winding down, I am really starting to miss the thought of it ending. My daughters have had a blast in this their first experience playing any type of soccer and my wife who is coaching both teams has enjoyed it immensely as well. The indoor version of soccer is much more enjoyable to the spectators because of how much closer to the game they are and the increased scoring. OK, well some of our K-1st games to resemble the 1-0 scores of soccer games we are use to seeing.

The fans have been very supportive of the players and overall I am happy with the leadership my coaches have imparted on the players on their team. It is so refreshing to see the kids sitting in a pre or post-game huddle actually listening to the coach talk about that days devotion.

And in our younger divisions it is becoming more common for teams to need an occasional player from another team to fill a spot if they happen to be short one or two players. The first few times, it seemed some of the kids were hesitant to step over into "foreign territory" even if just for one period. Now as the season has progressed, more and more little hands pop up when the coach says "Ok, who wants to go play for the red team for the next 8 minutes?"

A huge thanks goes to all the coaches and ministry coordinators who have made this a smooth season and one I will truly miss.

Small Celtics Comment

I will resist the temptation to go on and on about my favorite basketball team (the Boston Celtics) winning their record 17th NBA championship. I will likely expound later but for now... just a photo.

"Failure" Michael Jordan

An inspirational commercial from Michael Jordan.

MJ Nike Commercial

I forgot how awesome some of these old Gatorade commercials with Micheal Jordan use to be. This is the one-on-one version with the young Jordan facing the old Jordan and then at the end the Jordan with the North Carolina Tar Heels jersey comes out.

Not What it seems Commercial

I think I laughed for a good 10 straight seconds the first time I saw this one on TV. Seriously.

Mike Huckabee VP for McCain?

Here is a neat article on the possibility of Mike Hucakabee as the VP for John McCain.

This in no way is an indication as to my political preference to either party or any of the candidates. Just wanted to share an article that could be used to help make a more informed decision.

My first political blog thought...

An interesting thought about Barack Obama...below is an excerpt from a Wall Street Journal article.

"As for Mr. Obama, Mr. Johnson now joins an intriguing and growing list of Mr. Obama's ex-associates that includes the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Father Michael Pfleger, and former terrorist bomber William Ayers. We might call this list eclectic, except that there is a consistent pattern of bad judgment followed by an initial defense, then followed by rapid disassociation and regret that none of them were the men Mr. Obama "knew."