Thank you for the bread crumbs...

This a a video of a CNN interview with Steven Curtis Chapman about his daughter who was accidentally killed in the driveway of their home in May of this year. May God's mercy continue to be with this family as they cope with life after their loss.

They have WHAT in the Olympics?

Ok, I just have to share this since I am assuming there are those of you out there like myself who had no idea that TRAMPOLINE is an official Olympic event. Yeah, each participant gets 10 jumps to impress the judges.

I found it funny though that you have to be at least 18 years old to compete...aren't the younger people likely to have less fear and therefore wouldn't they make better participants?

Secondly, the US only has one man and one women competing and they made it in basically as afterthoughts because the IOC had empty spots to fill. Wow, you mean the US couldn't watch some of those Youtube videos and scout some sick talent to send to Beijing? Just kidding. (kinda...)

Am I becoming an Olympic Addict??

For the first time in my recent memory (as horrible as mine is), I have become a nightly Olympic watcher. I would initially characterize myself as a "casual observer" as I really only watch the high profile sports. The problem (for lack of a better term) is that I watch it until it's over. Which as some of you may know, is in the neighborhood of 12:30 or 1:00am. Ugh. I haven't stayed up that late since I stopped playing video games!

What got me hooked was on Monday (8/11) the commentators read a quote from French swimmer, Alain Bernard who said, "The Americans? We're going to smash them. That's what we came here for". Say what??? Oh no you didant.

Well, of course, now we had to sit there and watch.
Then the actual race began and it looked like the French team was gonna walk the talk and "smash" the USA. Not only would they win the Gold medal and back up the smack talk but they would deny USA star Michael Phelps of winning 8 Gold Medals.

Then in the last 25 meters (1/2 the length of the pool) Jason Lezak of the US made an absolutely remarkable push for the lead and touched the wall a fraction of a second (.08 to be exact) before the Frenchman. (replay, in case you missed it). My wife and I were screaming and hooting at the TV like we have never done before. We were hollering like you do in a crowded sports bar where you high five perfect strangers standing nearby!

Boy that felt good. My wife Kellea said it best when she said, "It wasn't like those guys won for just themselves...it was like I won it with them!" (cue song: "I'm Proud to be an American").

One last bit of "humor" that just kind of capped it off was in the post race interview, Garrett Weber-Gale, who swam the 2nd leg of the race said, "...Bob came by and said the Frenchies were talking...and I just said I didn't want to hear it and we just came and took care of business." Ummm, I'm gonna just..umm, leave that one alone.

But now I'm hooked. I actually looked up the schedule to see when the track and field events started and the individual gymnastic events as well. I even watched some badminton the other day...but just a few minutes. And man that volleyball is awesome! And I haven't even watched the Men's basketball yet! Sweet!

Hey gotta run...MSNBC has the Modern Pentathlon Finals starting in 10 minutes!

Thought of the day...

This past Sunday, Jason Cullum preached about the Good Samaritan from the Gospel of Luke. It's the story of having to love everyone just as you love your own self. And the parable goes on to describe how we have to love even the most undesirable person as much as we do our own selves.

What stuck with me the most was near the end of the sermon who Jason said, "Sometimes we play the part of robber...sometimes the priest". (You can hear all of our sermon series online here.)

Sure I've never beaten a man up and left him for dead like the robber did. But have I ever treated someone ugly or verbally hurt them and just walked away to leave them to deal with it on their own? I may not have taken money but I took peace from them.

Have I ever acted like the priest in the story and not slowed down to help someone in need. Oh, yea. Sadly enough, it's something I do and see daily.

How awesome it is to see a story that many of us have heard over and over yet it still applies to me as much today as it did the first time I heard it probably 30 years ago.

Lord, please help me be more like the Samaritan and not like the Priest or the robber. I know that I can not do it with out you. Please help show me the things I allow to eat up my time for others like the Priest. Please help me recognize the times I hurt someone or rob someone of peace in their lives. Help me be strong enough to swallow my pride and admit when I am wrong and do what I must to make it better. Thank you Lord. Amen.

Bulldogs #1 to start season...

How awesome it was to buy the USATODAY for my wife the other day so I could let her see her beloved Georgia Bulldogs football team listed as #1 in the pre-season poll. I can't tell you how long she has waited to see that glorious sight but I know she appreciated it for however long it will last. I do think they will lose at least one game but that doesn't mean they can't still win the National Title.