I want to see this!

Coffey!

Sorry for the long time no write. I feel like crud. I've been fighting allergies for a couple of weeks now and now I seem to have picked up some sort of chest congestion thing. Awesome!

So, at times like these, when I feel down, I like to watch a lot of Tube video. This is Coffey, a Christian worship artist. I like what he does. Check it out.

A Story about Character

Wendy's Uncle Barry is a Pastor in Texarkana. He writes a blog called Vission-Mission-Passion that I read often. Today's post has an article from the Associated Press that is pretty amazing. Basically, a Western Oregon University softball player hits a homerun, her first ever. But, she hurts her knee and can't continue past first. Her teammates can't help her because it's against the rules. That's when members from the other team, Central Washington University, get up and carry her around the bases. Read about it below:

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - With two runners on base and a strike against her, Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon University uncorked her best swing and did something she had never done, in high school or college. Her first home run cleared the center-field fence. But it appeared to be the shortest of dreams come true when she missed first base, started back to tag it and collapsed with a knee injury.

She crawled back to first but could do no more. The first-base coach said she would be called out if her teammates tried to help her. Or, the umpire said, a pinch runner could be called in, and the homer would count as a single.

Then, members of the Central Washington University softball team stunned spectators by carrying Tucholsky around the bases Saturday so the three-run homer would count - an act that contributed to their own elimination from the playoffs.

Central Washington first baseman Mallory Holtman, the career home run leader in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, asked the umpire if she and her teammates could help Tucholsky.

The umpire said there was no rule against it.

So Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace put their arms under Tucholsky's legs, and she put her arms over their shoulders. The three headed around the base paths, stopping to let Tucholsky touch each base with her good leg.

"The only thing I remember is that Mallory asked me which leg was the one that hurt," Tucholsky said. "I told her it was my right leg and she said, 'OK, we're going to drop you down gently and you need to touch it with your left leg,' and I said 'OK, thank you very much."'

"She said, 'You deserve it, you hit it over the fence,' and we all kind of just laughed."

"We started laughing when we touched second base," Holtman said. "I said, 'I wonder what this must look like to other people."'

"We didn't know that she was a senior or that this was her first home run," Wallace said Wednesday. "That makes the story more touching than it was. We just wanted to help her."

Holtman said she and Wallace weren't thinking about the playoff spot, and didn't consider the gesture something others wouldn't do.

As for Tucholsky, the 5-foot-2 right fielder was focused on her pain.

"I really didn't say too much. I was trying to breathe," she told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Wednesday.

"I didn't realize what was going on until I had time to sit down and let the pain relax a little bit," she said. "Then I realized the extent of what I actually did."

"I hope I would do the same for her in the same situation," Tucholsky added.

Happy Birthday Grandpa! -- Happy Day of the Ascension! -- AND Happy National Day of Prayer

So, it's a busy day for my blog.

First, it's my Grandpa's Birthday! Though he doesn't read this, I like to share the news so that y'all can keep him in your prayers. My grandfather turns 96 today! Although he's losing his eyesight and his memory is going, he's relatively healthy for a 96 year old. God bless him! I've always hoped that it's his genes I inherit.

Second, Happy Day of the Ascension! For those of you not in the know, today is the day we celebrate Jesus heading Home. According to Christian doctrine Jesus went, full body, to Heaven forty days after His resurrection - that would be today. Today's Gospel reading reminded us that though He is no longer physically among us He said, "And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." Matthew 28:20.

Finally, Happy National Day of Prayer! I was thinking about this as I walked to school today: What about the atheists? Surely they must be opposed to a National Day of Prayer. And, apparently, I was right. According to Wikipedia, those opposed to a National Day of Prayer have established a National Day of Reason. And some groups, like the NYC Atheists organize events like blood donation drives on the same day. So, regardless of your religion or lack thereof, there's some good gettin' done today!

Speaking of Atheists and Prayer, I'll leave you with one of my favorite prayer jokes:

An Atheist walked through the forest, he looked at the beauty around him and said, "What natural wonders the powers of evolution have created."

Just then he heard a rustling near the river. He went to investigate and a 7-foot-tall grizzly bear came bounding toward him. The man took off like a shot and when he turned he saw the bear was catching up fast.

He tried with all his strength to pick up the pace, but he tripped and crashed to the ground. As he tried to get up, the bear jumped on his chest and picked up one paw to whack him.

The atheist screamed, "Oh my God!!!"

Time stopped! The bear froze. The forest was silent Even the river stopped moving.

As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice boomed from the heavens, "You deny my existence for all of these years, teach others I don't exist, and even credit creation to a cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?"

The atheist looked directly into the light, "It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Believer now, but perhaps could you make the bear a Believer?"

"Very well," the voice said.

The light went out! The river ran again. And the sounds of the forest resumed. And then the bear dropped its right paw, brought both paws together, bowed its head and spoke:

"Lord, for this food which I am about to receive, I am truly thankful."