Ken

As a self-admitted baseball fan, I must confess to being a die-hard Cub fan. Along the way I've cheered on the Padres and Giants, and went to a few Oakland A's games as well. But I've never been a big fan of the Chicago White Sox. For people from in and around Chicago, it's rare that someone cheers for both teams. This is in spite of the fact that they are in different leagues. You just don't do it.Most of my lack of affection for the White Sox has to do with my lack of affection for the American League. In my mind, real baseball is when the pitcher bats. That's just the way I am.So ... for that reason, I've never really followed the White Sox. But here's where the Illinois in me comes out. The White Sox are in the ALCS and I'm cheering them on. Well, not…

I'm actually not real grouchy but I assume I should have some sort of feelings about getting a speeding ticket. A motorcycle cop pulled me over less than a block away from Twiggs and said he paced me going 50 in a 25. Impossible!

When was the last time you woke up and thought to yourself, “I have the opportunity to make an eternal difference in someone’s life today”?Perhaps each of us should have those word printed on little cards and stuck to our bathroom mirror. It wouldn’t hurt. In fact, it might help us to see our daily interactions as divine opportunities to bless someone else.Too often we see a situation through a temporary set of eyes. It’s an interruption. It’s a chance meeting. We miss the clues that allow us glimpses into people’s real needs – the needs for love, forgiveness, and purpose.Tomorrow morning take a look around. See people not as a certain age or gender but as people who have eternal destinies. Not as a waitress or clerk but as a person destined to spend eternity with or without God.It may be your smile or word of encouragement that helps…

I receive a daily dose of A.W. Tozer (and so should you). Here is today's installment.*****Failure and Success: The Small and the Great..Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." --1 Peter 5:5Some time ago we heard a short address by a young preacher during which he quoted the following, "If you are too big for a little place, you are too little for a big place."It is an odd rule of the kingdom of God that when we try to get big, we always get smaller by the moment. God is jealous of His glory and will not allow anyone to share it with Him. The effort to appear great will bring the displeasure of God upon us and effectively prevent us from achieving the greatness after which we pant.Humility pleases God…

After enjoying the Julian Melodrama and returning home, I did a quick turnaround and zipped over to La Mesa for a concert by the Gooses. Little did I know that it was also Octoberfest in downtown La Mesa. The closest I could park was about a mile away (not such a bad thing after eating apple pie in Julian).Cosmos Cafe was packed to standing room only. And it was good to see people ordering coffee. The Gooses played for about an hour and hammed it up as usual. Dave decided to sport a nice 80s-styled headband. They play an unusual brand of music that is somewhat reminescent of Barenaked Ladies -- both musically and lyrically. In other words, it's just plain fun. I'm not sure where their inspiration comes from but I have suspicions that it involves late-night television and old Mexican food.