Cool Video

This is a cool video that is on YouTube. This is a group of people who decided to do something incredibly creative at their church. They have on white gloves and are performing in front of a black light. Enjoy!
www.mychurch.org/blog/30635/coolest-video-ever

Go CVL!!

In my last blog, I mentioned the Midwest Plains Regional Tournament that is going on here in Marion. As of this afternoon, our "Host Team", the boys from our town, are still in the tournament!! They have a 2-1 record so far, and will be playing a quarter final game this evening. This is very exciting, as they have so far beat 2 teams that won their state championships!! Not too bad for some "local boys"!!

GO CVL!!

De Colores

Big Tournament In Marion!!

Starting this evening, the sleepy little town of Marion, Kansas will play host to 12 year old Midwest Plains Regional Tournament. State Champion Babe Ruth teams from 7 surrounding states will compete in this tournament, with the winner moving on into the Little League World Series. Should be some great baseball, featuring some of the best 12 year old Babe Ruth baseball players in the area. Weather permitting, the champion will be crowned on Tuesday evening. Our own 12 year old tournament team is the "host team" and gets to participate in the tournament. It is a daunting task, but they took 3rd place in our State tournament last weekend, so they should be very competitive.

Play Ball!

De Colores

End Of The Season

The Legion Post 366 baseball season came to a close this past weekend with 2 losses at the State tournament in Garden City. They started out well with a hard fought extra inning first game victory. Brian pitched the frst 5 innings and did very well. He only allowed 2 hits and 1 earned run, while striking out 4.At the plate, he was 2 for 2 with a walk.

Unfortunately, the ball didn't bounce their way in the next two games. They lost a heatbreaker in 10 innings in the second game, and then got bounced out of the tournament in the third game in another close one. We had runners at 2nd and 3rd with one out in our last at bat, but a line drive out and a strike out ended the game and the season. Brian played 3rd base and got to start a rare triple play by fielding a hot grounder, stepping on third, throwing to second and then relayed on over to first. They got a WOW award for that play!! He was also awarded the MVP for the game for his efforts at third. He had 4 really good plays from there. One was charging a bunt, scooping up the ball and throwing out the batter while on a dead run. There was a radio announcer there, and he said "man that kid has a cannon for an arm!"

For the summer season, he finished with a .358 batting average. Not too bad for a 16 year old playing with and against a lot of 18 year olds. I'm very proud of his pitching, as his ERA was only 1.81 (that's earned runs allowed per 7 innings of pitching).

He of course is sad that the season is over. I think he would play year round if he could!! Lori and I though are ready for a break. The first day of high school baseball started February 25th, so it has been a looong season.

Time to put away the baseball shoes and get out the gridiron cleats, here comes football season!!

De Colores

District Champs!!

Congratulations to the Hillsboro American Legion Post 366 baseball team for winning their District Tournament this past weekend!! They defeated teams from Hesston, Salina and Abilene to claim the championship hardware. This is a picture of the team with their medals and plaques. Brian is second from the left on the top row. They also were awarded the "Sportsmanship Award" for displaying good sportsmanship throught the tournament.

They are one of 8 teams from across Kansas that have qualified to play in the State tournament in Garden City. What could be better than baseball in Southwest Kansas in the middle of the summer!! They'll be heading out there Thursday to check in and their first game is Friday night.

GO TEAM!!

De Colores

Parallel Universe

Have you ever had days when you felt like Beetle Bailey? Don't fit in, don't care?

Reminds me of a song we used to sing in our quartet. The first verse goes like this...

This world is not my home, I'm just a passin' though.
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door,
and I can't feel at home in this world any more.

Some day I'm heading to that parallel universe called heaven. Until then, I'll just keep on keepin' on, and keeping "the main thing the main thing".

De Colores

Counting The Days

We're counting the days until our new state of the art gymnasium and indoor swimming pool facility is completed!!

The pool (right portion of the picture) is open for business and is a big hit. It will be open 365 days a year. Now, swimming will be available to the public all year round. It has a big water slide that actually wraps outside the building, and then back in. It has 6 competition lanes for swim meets. There are several outdoor water features for the kids that are to be completed in the next couple of weeks that will allow them to go outside and spray each other, and play in the water outdoors.

The new gymnasium is a "top loading" building, wich means that you walk in at the top of the gym, and the seating is all down towards the floor. It will have a seating capacity of approx. 2,500 when all the bleacher area is folded out. With this type of capacity, we hope to get some major high school basketball and volleyball tournaments. When not needed, they fold away, and allow for 2 full basketball courts for practicing. The floor is a new type that is the first in the state for a high school gym. I'm no engineering genious, but they tell me it will have no dead spots, and the ball will bounce "true" anywhere on the court. Heck, we even have the NBA style goals!! Around the perimeter of the gym is a walking track that will also be available year round for exercising. No more excuses for not getting out for a walk on those cold winter days!!

Everything is supposed to be done in a matter of weeks. We can't wait!!

De Colores

Independence Day

Happy 232nd Birthday to our country!! We'll be celebrating Indepence Day with family and friends. I'm sure there will be lots of food, fun, and of course FIREWORKS!!

Sometime on July 4, take a moment to stop and give thanks to the countless men and women who have served our country and fought to establish and preserve the freedoms that we enjoy today. Freedom does not come without a price!!

Also, take a moment to stop and give thanks to God for the gift of Jesus Christ, who purchased our freedom from sin and death. Because of Jesus' life, death and resurrection, we are set free from our sins, and can look forward to eternal life. Romans 8: 1-3 says "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering."

Happy Independence Day!!

De Colores

Don't Be Deceived!

Immediately after the tornado hit the little town of Chapman, Kansas a few weeks ago, this picture began circulating around the internet, claiming to be taken by one of the residents just as it was entering town. Despite it being a very impressive picture, it was soon discovered to be a hoax. The tornado hit Chapman well after dark. This picture was actually taken several years ago in another part of the country.

With technology as it is today, it is easy to become deceived by some of the pictures that are sent around. They can be digitally "doctored" to make them appear to be something they are not, making us believe that what we are seeing is real.

The bible warns us many times about being deceived. It is mentioned in Genesis and Revelation, and many, many times in between. Satan is constantly trying to deceive us with worldy things. Our fellow man deceives us with promises that cannot be fulfilled. Oftentimes, we even deceive ourselves.

First Corinthians 3: 18-19 says "18Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight."

Be on guard, watch out for those who would try to deceive you in this world. Above all, don't deceive yourself into thinking that you are smarter than God. Lean on Him, depend on Him, trust in Him. Then you will be truly wise.

De Colores