A Wildcat Victory!!

I had the strangest dream last night. I dreamed that K-State finally beat KU and ended it's 24 year drought at home. Wait a minute, it wasn't a dream, it's TRUE!!!!

Daughter Amanda and her husband Chad were there to witness history in Bramlage. She said she didn't storm the court, as she feared for her life. She said it was quite a sight though.

I know, one victory doesn't erase all the ears of frustration, but for at least one day, life is good in Wildcat land.

GO CATS (first place all alone in the Big 12)!!!!

De Colores

How 'Bout Them Cats!!

Son-In-Law Chad called this past Friday and said he had 2 extra tickets to the K-State/Iowa State Basketball game on Saturday. Brian and I quickly took him up on it (Lori had to go shopping while we were at the game).

I had seen Michael Beasley a couple of times on TV, but it doesn't do justice as compared to watching him in person! What a scoring machine! He had 33 points in only 32 minutes of action, along with 14 rebounds. He is so smooth. Fellow freshman Bill Walker was also a beast. Too bad we probably won't see either of them after this year...

K-State is off to a 4-0 record in the conference and are back in the Polls at #24 this week. They meet up with rival KU at Bramlage tomorrow evening. Should be a great game. Can Beasley, Walker and company put an end to the nation's number 1 ranked undefeated season? I don't know, but it should be a whale of a game!!

GO CATS!!

De Colores

Saturday Shorts

It was my turn to work the Saturday shift here at the bank, and it's slow, so my mind is wondering. Things that have gone through my mind this morning are.....

Congrats to the MHS girls basketball team on their big win against Hillsboro last night! First win against them in how many years? More than I can remember! They won on Hillsboro's court, so even better!

My son Brian and I are going to Manhattan this evening to watch Michael Beasley, Bill Walker and the rest of the KSU Wildcats take on Iowa State. Bramlage Colliseum is sold out, so the house should be rockin'!!

My sincerest condolences to Rick and Hannah Saylor over the passing of their wife and mother Jan. Some day when I reach heaven's gates myself, I'll finally be able to understand why our loved ones are sometimes taken from us way too soon. May God grant the family peace, strength and grace as they go through this time of loss.

Congratulations to our daughter Erin for receiving a nice promotion at the KC Country Club! Wow, managing a department and staff at 21!! You go girl!!

Have I ever mentioned on this blog how lovely my wife is? Well, she is!!

Cory and Leigh Ann, my invitation to move to Marion/Aulne still stands!!

The next Walk To Emmaus is April 10-13 for the men and April 17-20 for the women. It will be at the Wheatstate Camp in Augusta. Ask me about it, I'd love tell you!!

Have a great weekend, go to church!!

De Colores

Viola Kelsey

This past Friday, heaven gained a real saint when Lori's mom Viola Kelsey passed away. She was 82. If I were asked to describe her using just a few words, I would say that she was quietly elegant, and had real class. As one of her sons said in her eulogy, she could say so much without saying much or anything at all. She let the way she lived her life speak for herself. She was truly one of God's servants.

Thanks to all for the prayers, cards, flowers, meals, etc. We are truly blessed to be surrounded by such good friends and family.

I was truly blessed to be Viola's son-in-law. I love you and will miss you terribly Viola, but I know that you were ready to go be with your heavenly father, and you are freed from your earthly heart problems that took your life. Your heart now beats strong, and you can run and skip down the streets of gold.

Until we meet again...

1 ARK

Yesterday during church, I was blessed to hear one of the neatest children's stories during our moments for youth (you are never too old to learn during children's time, so always pay attention!!). Torey Hett showed a video clip from the movie "Evan Almighty". In the clip, Evan asked God what He wanted him to do, and God's response was "change the world". Evan asked how he was supposed to do that, as he was only one person. God replied that He wanted him to build 1 ark.

The "1 ARK" is actually an acronym. It stands for "one Act of Random Kindness". The lesson is this: If every person on this earth were responsible for committing one act of random kindness a day, think how dramatically this world would be changed! God was telling Evan that it had to start with him. God is telling each of us that we are Evan, and He is counting on us to change the world "one act of random kindness" at a time.

Matthew 25: 34-40 says: "34Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

My challenge to each of you is to look for a way to commit one act of random kindness a day. Let's change the world together!!

De Colores

Now It's Cold!!

Man, sometimes Kansas weather drives me nuts!! On my last blog from Monday, I mentioned that it was 60 degrees outside. I'm looking out the window today, and it's 30 degrees and the snow is flying!! AARRGGHH!!

You know, come to think of it, my Christian life can sometimes be like that. One day I'm on fire for Christ, and the next day I can be totally cold. One day I feel like Jesus is walking right beside me, and the next day it feels like I'm all alone. Why is that? Wouldn't it be great to always have that burning desire in our hearts to love God totally all the time!! Wouldn't it be great to feel God right beside us every minute of the day!!

Thankfully, God does not run hot and cold on us. He loves us totally and unconditionally every day. An Emmaus saying goes something like "God is always close beside us, even when we don't feel close to Him."

Until I get rich enough to move to Hawaii, I guess I'll have to put up with the Kansas weather. Until I become perfect in Christ in eternity, I'll struggle with running hot and cold. Thank God that He is always the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow!!

De Colores

Warm Weather!!

It's almost 60 degrees outside today!! It feels so good to get outside to run again!! I am thankful that we have our little "wellness center" here in town, but running on a treadmill while staring at a wall for 45 minutes isn't exactly invigorating.

I logged 940 miles last year, but yet gained a couple of pounds. Life is so harsh!!

De Colores

Chrysalis

My son Brian attended a Chrysalis Flight in Topeka last week. Chrysalis is the youth version of the Walk To Emmaus that you may have seen mentioned in previous blogs. He had a GREAT time!! Judging by his new outlook on life, God must have made Himself known to Brian in a mighty way.

Now his challenge is to go back to school and his every day environment and try to live the life that he knows God wants him to live. It won't be easy with all the temptations and influences that he'll daily be subjected to.

Pray for our kids, they need it!!

De Colores