Say it isn't so!

Mitchell's report is in and he names Clemens, Bonds, McGwire, Tejada, Sheffield, Pettitte, and many others as users of performance-enhancing drugs. Well, at least the sports radio guys will have lots of material for the weeks ahead! What will happen next? Half of the guys are no longer playing, so they are likely free from any penalty....but what about the current players?

The Toaster

I do this almost every day: I plug the toaster in, use it, then unpug it. Does anyone else do this? I caught myself today and wondered why I do this. I thought it must be a fire hazard or something, but then I looked around. Virtually every outlet is in use 24/7! Are toaster inherently more volatile than lamps, TV's, etc? Maybe...maybe not, but I have a feeling that I'll keep unplugging the thing.

Duck Huck!

You better duck Huck! Mike Huckabee is in for a beating. He's surging in the polls and seems to have a refreshing authenticity BUT HE'S NOT going to get the nomination. Trust me. The GOP big boys aren't going to let a Baptist preacher be the nominee. Believe me, it ain't going to happen. They've already started the hatchet job and it's just beginning. He's being branded as a whacko. He's soft on crime...he raised taxes... he rejects evolution... he's wants to quarantine people with aids, etc. More will come and he'll be branded as "unelectable" and too overtly religious. Guliani is the annointed one, so just relax and watch it unfold.

Hitman Hatton

Rick "Hitman" Hatton will meet Floyd Mayweather this Saturday night in Las Vagas for for Mayweather's Welterweight title. Hatton is the current Light Welterweight champ. He's moving up in weight. This will be a tough bout for Ricky because he's moving up in weight and because he is a at a significant reach disadvantage. Both men are undefeated. There's been a big build up and Mayweather has been doing a lot of talking (what else is new?). In Hatton's last fight he KO'd José Luis Castillo with a body shot.

Sexual temptation and men

Many authors have written voluminously about men and their struggles with sexual temptation. Books abound. Accountablility systems are available. Worshops. Retreats. The list goes on, but Mark Moore (from Ozark Christian College) has written a concisely yet practically on his blog about this subject. He concludes, "If you can't be a good man you better be a wise man." Check it out.

Whatcha talkin bout Willis

Pretty much says it all.

Happy Holidays?

Soren wrote an great piece on the "Happy Holidays" issue. Check it out. Now my thoughts...

While I basically agree with everything Soren wrote I've decided to add my perspective. Frankly the move to "Happy Holidays" is increasingly irritating to me and i actaully find it refreshing when someone says "Merry Chrstmas." Let me emphasize that my irritation with the whole "Happy Holidays" jive is cultural not biblical. It doesn't bother me if Christians do or don't celebrate Christmas. I don't even care if they want to celebrate Christmas as a purely secular holiday. So what society does in this regard is not important to me from a Christian/Biblical perspective. My problem is now we have to give equal time to every "holiday" even made up ones!

My oldest daughter sings in the chorus at her elementary school. I went to program where they sang three songs obstensably as part of a celebration of the "season." They did three numbers. The first song was instrumental with kazoos and some plastic pipes they tapped for percussion. I have no idea what kind of song it was. The second number was unfamilar to me since it was a Japanese New Year song (sung in Japanese). The final number was a Kwanzaa song. Happy Holidays!

Of course the greens and reds of "Christmas" were around with the obligatory candle, snowflake and snowman thrown in to boot! Yet, not one Christmas song, not even the non-Jesus ones like Jingle Bells! I'm sure they'll get one in during the next and larger program along with a Hanukkah tune of course.

Here's my beef the social engineering in schools would leave one with the impression that all of these holidays are to be valued equally and are equally practiced. I wonder what's next...Ramadan? Yeah, I know it's already here. Pluralism, mulitculturalism and a holiday season. Oh boy!!!

Christmas?

My buddy Soren has written an insightful and provocative piece about the "Happy Holidays" issue. That has given my inspiration to weigh in on these matters. I'll cover it in two parts. First, let me address the Christmas holiday...

I used to be one of these "keep Christ in Christmas" guys but I've moderated my position over the years. I basically see four approaches to Christmas taken by Christians.

1. It's not biblical, so we don't celebrate it. (Also, some troubling issues with it's pagan and catholic origins might be involved).


2. It's a CHRISTIAN HOLIDAY. Less than blatant expressions of a Jesus' birthday approach are unacceptable. Hence, Santa, Rudolph & Frosty must go!


3. It'a a secular (non-christian) celebration. Bring on Santa, Rudolph, Frosty and everything else, just don't give me that Jesus' birthday nonsense!


4. A little of all of the above. That's what I do.

I read Luke 2 and watch Charlie Brown and sing Silent Night as well as Jingle Bells. I do Christmas Eve service and Santa. I concede it's not biblical, but I still think it's nice to focus on His coming in a special way.

My 9 year old speaks...

My 9 year old daughter dropped her Chrstmas wish list on me tonight and she surpasses her little brother. Her list...

• Nintendo DS Lite


• Nintendo Wii


• Laptop computer


• Digital camera


• Cell phone


• Ipod Nano

What happened to a Barbie & an Easy Bake Oven???

Oh boy!

We were leaving our Real Life Group (aka. home Bible study/small group) tonight when my son suddenly stuns me. He's only four but he has quite a Christmas list. He said he wants a bumble bee transformer (seems reasonable) and an Ipod! ... and a cell phone! ... and a Nintendo DS lite! ...and a Nintendo Wii! Oh boy! Things have changed that's for sure.

I'm back

Yes, I'm finally back, but I'm not quite 100% yet. I've picked up the "crud"...with the congestion, etc. It could be worse for sure. I did enjoy my time away and Thanksgiving with the family and ate lots of good stuff. I also indugulged my pumpkin pie craving. We did a little shopping too. Yes, I did the "Black Friday" thing this year. I haven't sone it in a couple of years but my wife & I decided to get back in this year. We went to Walmart & picked up a couple of GPS's. They was actually for my Mom who is giving them as gifts. She saved a nice chunk of $$$. Anyway, it was fun and it got me a out of bed. As I walked a mall in South Carolina I noticed something you've probably observed too. I don't think there has ever been a time that a jeweler didn't have a "sale." There is always a discount: 50%, 60%, etc. ...be it Mother's Day, Valentines Day, Christmas - it doesn't matter. Anyway, I'll get my blogging groove on tomorrow (maybe).

Out

The Willis family is off for a little "R & R" in South Carolina. My sister lives in Pawley's Island & we will be going down for Thanksgiving. I might update my blog while I'm there...then again...I might not. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Flax Seed Oil?

The jig is up, the news is out... Barry Bonds appears to be in deep trouble. He thought it was just flax seed oil and some vitamins. Sure he did...

John Piper on the prosperity gospel

John Piper rocks!

Don't get too excited

I know a lot of conservatives & republicans are excited that Hillrry Clinton is in "trouble." Some are even suggesting that she is finished. Really? Are our memories really that bad? Bill Clinton has adroitly dodged much more serious problems. If the Monica Lewinsky scandal (& MANY OTHERS) couldn't topple Bill Clintion I don't think that the Mrs. is any serious trouble. I still think we will see a Clintion/Obama ticket in '08. As crazy as it seems to some, I actually think they have a chance thanks in part to the ineptitude of the republicans.