Ramblings from the Ol' Broadcaster

Today I noticed a difference in my generation and the one behind me. I was entering a store, it was raining, a couple who looked to be about my age was behind me and I held the door open for them, which is what I was taught to do. Both were very appreciative and both said, "Thank You" On the way out of the store there were 2 young men, in their early 20's coming into the store, it was still raining, so I held the door open for them, they never broke stride, never took their eyes off their phones and never acknowledged my presence. I didn't hold the door for them to thank me, but if I hadn't held it open, I think they may each have a concussion right now. My take is this "millennial" generation will cease to have personal, face to face communication at some point, they will be less appreciative of what they have and the means they have to provide it and therefore the compassion for others will cease to exist for the most part some day. I ce...

I love all kinds of music.  If you were to look at what I have on my tablet to listen to you would find Casting Crowns, George Jones,  Kansas, Chicago, the Eagles, Mercy Me, the Cathedrals, the Statler Brothers, Don Rigsby, the Grascals and plenty of Garth Brooks (just to name a few).  I like Garth, but there is one of his songs that I take exception to.  The song is called “Unanswered Prayers” and the reoccurring line says, “Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers” I want you to know that God ALWAYS answers prayers!  It’s just that sometimes God says either “Wait” or a flat out “NO.”  We have trouble accepting those answers and assume God either didn’t hear them or He doesn’t care.  Now, the premise of the song being God’s gift of unanswered prayer might be flawed, but when God does say “Wait” or “No” that can be a great gift.  You see, we see this moment in time.  But God sees the big picture, FAR down the road.  I...

As I lay down for the night I am still reminded of something that happened today that is keeping me from sleeping. I was in Walmart getting some items for the house. As I was walking around I noticed this older lady with her granddaughter. I know this was the case because I heard the youngster call her grandma. Apparently the young girl found her job of the day to speed her grandmother up through the store and roll her eyes every time grandma was trying to tell her something. Grandma was trying to teach her granddaughter a few things about shopping. The granddaughter was too busy texting her friends, snapchatting and listening to what sounded like 8 cats fighting in a broom closet. This got me to thinking about my Pa Rube. My mom’s dad. He was a mountain of a man. His hands are still the biggest hands I ever saw. I loved my Pa Rube and wanted to spend as much time with him as I could. Because Pa Rube liked to teach me things. And when Pa Rube told me to do something, he tol...

As I lay down after a long drive back from NYC I have a few thoughts I want to jot down before I sleep.  Our family just experienced a wonderful and well needed vacation.  We spent time in Philadelphia, Atlantic City and New York City.  I am firmly convinced time spent with family is the most important investment we can make on earth.  The time I got to spend individually and collectively with Tina, Tori, Tucker and Mason are times I will fondly cherish. I was reminded during this vacation just how incredible my family is.  My wife is an amazingly patient and loving woman.  I know she probably didn’t want to drive 45 minutes out of the way to watch an independent minor league baseball game or take the subway in New York as much as we did, but she didn’t complain.  She is a born organizer knowing where everything was in each piece of luggage we packed.   My wife exemplifies what Peter wrote when speaking about wives he said, “Don’t be concerned...

Feeling a little “soap boxy” today for my blog. So you have been forewarned. Moses – Murderer David – Adulterer and Murderer Peter – Denier of Christ Paul – Killer and Imprisoner of Christians Would any of these men, as described be welcome in your church? Before you just jump up and say “YES!” What if their names were Joe, Jim, Bob and Tom? Would Tom the murderer be welcomed with open arms into your worship service? He should be. But honestly, would he be? Or would there be a group over here and a group over there staring and pointing and talking about Tom? Would anybody in your church, including the Pastor, go up to Tom and welcome him and tell him how awesome it was for him to be in God’s house and you are honored he chose to worship with you? Or would Tom have to awkwardly make his way to a seat and feel like a leper in your service? How would people react if Jim the adulterer walked in? Would they look to the rafters to make sure the roof would fall in? Or how about thi...

Authors Note:  This blog post is written as a general observation concerning ALL Youth Baseball Leagues.  If you feel  this was written about a particular coach, you probably need to read it again, because you fall within the category of coach I am talking about. Ah, Youth Baseball season.  That wonderful time of year when the kids hit the diamond, mom and dad get their team gear and coaches yell at player and umpires like every game was game 7 of the MLB World Series.  I was a little league umpire for 30 years.  I was also an umpire at the American Legion, High school and even college levels.  I can say without a doubt the coaches who caused more problems happened at the most fundamental level, when the focus should have been spent on the fundamentals, learning and having fun.  Sadly, many of these coaches wanted to pretend they had a shot of managing the Reds someday and wanted to show off their yelling and arguing skills instead of showing th...

I was doing prep work for the Boys Sweet 16 a bit ago.  I was working on my scoresheets.  They are pretty common among broadcasters.  Some just buy a commercially produced scorebook.  I like making my own.  Like most it has players information (name, number, height, grade, averages, percentages etc) and a place to mark scores and fouls.  As I was working on my prep this evening, something hit me like a ton of bricks. In life, I think many (if not all) people keep a scorebook.  You do something nice and you get a tally in points column.  Do something wrong and you get a foul.  Say something nice to me and I give you a point!  Hurt my feelings and I give you a foul.  Be cruel to my friend, FOUL!  Gossip about me, FOUL!  Do anything that I think you shouldn't do, FOUL!!!! There are a couple of problems with this mentality.  First of all, we are told countless times in scripture to love each other.  In John 15 Je...