poem

My brother (who finds things that he deems important and writes them here) gave me a book for Christmas which is a collection of poems and writings from a young, emo, punk kid named Bradley Hathaway. Along with the book came a 14-track CD of Bradley performing his poems. The book is actually very enlightening but I enjoy listening to the poems. Since I don't claim to have any type of poetic ability I wanted to share a particular poem that sort of met me where I was at this particular day....

"The Celebration Wedding"

This is for the ones whose HOPE is falling

And you no longer hear your Savior's calling.

This is for the ones whose BACKS are turning and that Passion-filled HEART you once had has stopped burning.

This is for the ones ABANDONED
Now all alone with no solace
and you think that you're STRANDED.

This is for the EMPTY, by life branded
that Had a vision that took leap
but it never landed.

THIS IS FOR the ones who are PLAGUED by those mysteries in life
And you feel Torn inside by this mind and spirit strife.

This is for the ones whose desire to do good is ALWAYS OUTWEIGHED and you don't do as you should.

This is for the ones whose mistakes are too many to count and the GUILT on your chest just continues to mount.

This is for the ones who've been done wrong by SINS
At the coRRuPTed hands of perverted men.

HOLD ON.
HOLD ON.

BECAUSE SOON WILL COME THAT CELEBRATION WEDDING
AND BUNDLES OF RESTORATION WILL BE OUR BEDDING.

SOON WILL COME THE CELEBRATION WEDDING
AND BUNDLES OF RESTORATION WILL BE OUR BEDDING.

The TRUMPETER is taking a breath
The GUESTS are taking their seats

The BRIDE is putting on a veil

The FATHER is making last-minute preparations

there's TEN THOUSAND time TEN THOUSAND ANGELS waiting in HOLY Expectation

The readied GROOM is ready

SOON WILL COME THE CELEBRATION WEDDING

If you are hurting, your hurt will cease.

If you are restless, you will find peace.

If you are empty, you will be filled.

All of these doubts and questions they'll be stilled.

If LIFE for you is just too trying, your tears will dissipate.
There won't be anymore crying.

If the ONLY thing you know is shame
you will be CLEANSED
and never again feel the same

If you can't see straight

FOCUS,
persevere,
and wait...

SOON WILL COME

THAT CELEBRATION WEDDING
and bundles of
COMPLETE RESTORATION will be our bedding.

-Bradley Hathaway

the sport that I love

My favorite sport is baseball. I love playing it (though rarely these days), watching it (Fox Saturday baseball), listening to it (Pat Hughes and Ron Santo), and of course, going to the ballpark to take in the sights (ivy on the wall, sun up in the sky..), the sounds (crack of the bat hitting the ball), and the smells (hot dogs and beer). Recently however, my attitude towards the game of baseball has been tainted by the Major Leaguers who feel the need to use performance enhancing drugs to get an upper hand. This has been very discouraging to me because not only am I big fan of the sport itself, I am a big fan of Major League Baseball. The recent breaking news that Sports Illustrated released of Alex Rodriguez testing positive in 2003 was a huge shock to me. Not only did I happen to think A-Rod was a great player, but I even pulled for him to be the one to break Hank Aaron's (notice how I don't even mention Barry Bonds) HR record. After Bonds surpassed Hank Aaron on the record sheet with a big asterisk next to his name, Alex Rodriquez was supposed to be the guy who was going to clean up the sacred record by surpassing Bonds. Now, it looks as though his numbers are tainted and that is very frustrating as a fan. Not only is Alex Rodriguez named in this news release but there are 103 other Major Leaguers who tested positive as well. How in the world do I continue to support this?

Peter Gammons, baseball analyst for ESPN, held an exclusive interview with Alex Rodriguez regarding his postive test of using performance enhancing drugs in 2003. To A-Rod's credit, he has come forward and apologized and I respect that very much. During the interview, A-Rod definitely came across as emotional and genuine and that says a lot to me.

Whether or not A-Rod told the complete truth, I still give him a lot of respect for making the effort of first off, confessing that he used steroids, but also apologizing to the fans. This still doesn't, in my opinion, negate the fact that he 'cheated' but it does clear up any ill feelings I may have towards him. That is something that can't be said for Barry Bonds and Mark McQwire, who continue to deny any use or even "talk about the past", but hopefully they will do some thinking while behind bars to the tune of maybe they should've done what A-Rod did.

But still, I am in a dilemma because it seems as though the game that I love and the league that I love watching has changed. It has changed so much that players are going out of their way to put harmful substances in their bodies just to boost numbers. I think the thing that frustrates me more than anything is that baseball, specifically Bud Selig, knew that this was going on and turned a blind eye to it.

There's still a lot to be uncovered and a lot to be said but right now, at this very instant, I still love the game of baseball and I am hopeful that one day the Major Leagues will get back to being, America's Pasttime. Until then, should I continue to pour so much time and energy into rooting for these guys? I guess, only time will tell.

I've posted a Kansas Basketball update + some thoughts on the game that I love on illreezon. Read it here.

Snow day!

I realized just before writing this entry that this will be my first post of 2009. Wow, where have I been? It's been well over a month since I last blogged. I should have a lot to talk about right? Well, on the contrary. The only thing that is on my mind right now is snow. I received a phone call at about 5:32 this morning letting me know that school was cancelled for Rachel. Though I found it enjoyable to wake her up and let her know this joyous news of a snow day, I am a little jealous for I still have to go into work today.

But as I look out my window the snow truly is beautiful and I am brought to mind the passage in Isaiah 1:18,"though your sins are as scarlet,they shall be white as snow, though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." I love the imagery that is used. The whiteness that I see out my window is beautiful and pure. The snowflakes glisten on the trees, and the fresh covering of white on the grass is like a blanket.
Oh, how I marvel at the grace of the LORD. From scarlet to snow, from crimson to wool!

Though I have to work today Rachel, enjoy the SNOW day!