BONDS, SOSA, MCGWIRE, ET.AL.

We've all been given a second chance. By someone, somewhere, sometime. Many of us have been given thirds and fourths and ad infinitums.

We should be thankful for them. Many times we're not. We humans learn the hard way. Sometimes the only way we get something through our vanity or pride, our youthful indescretions, our lapses in judgment.

I know we are not to judge others. Someone far greater than all of us put together is the only judge. We've been told that time and time again in scripture. But that doesn't stop us from making judgments about others. There's even a fairly new book out about snap judgments, Blink. The author makes the point that somehow our snap judgments or first instincts are correct in a majority of situations. It's a good read.

So where am I headed? I'm not sure. What I mean is I try not to judge people, but I'm told I'm a good judge of character. I try to give people second (or more) chances. But this steroid thing in major league baseball has me puzzled.

Jason Giambi used them and he's still playing. Sosa corked a bat and was caught and fined and then he lied to Congress when he said he couldn't understand English. McGwire lied, too. He said he would serve on a committee to help stop steroid use among youth. He never followed up on it. I guess he wasn't there to talk about the future either. Then there's Mr. Bonds. And Balco. And clear and cream and more denials.

It's hard not to judge. But I kinda feel like DeNiro burning pictures. Now, where are all my old baseball cards? Naugh. There are too many good guys in the game. Gonzales, Pujols, Eckstein. I could go on and on. Where's my old commissioner card?

THERE ARE THOSE

who wonder why this mug shot was not historically accurate. They wonder how how a guy with no apparent good looks or good voice, unless you like guys who talk their way through songs a la Lee Marvin in " I was Born Under a Wandering Star," ever made it big without a little help from their friends. There are those who never trusted the Rat Pack and the Kennedys and Marilyn Monroe(pictured in her high school yearbook) and others.

But that's not the purpose of this blog this day. Its purpose is to stump for two candidates from different sides of the country. One running for mayor of Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Ray Botch. I've known Ray since he moved to Mt. Vernon from the northern part of Illinois. A Cub fan since birth, Ray has many other redeeming qualities. As a former City Manager of Mt. Vernon, he helped bring a lot of industry their way. Industry and jobs that for years now have been going south to Marion, Illinois. Ray knows and is liked by the movers and shakers because he's an up front, kind man who sincerely cares about people and his adopted hometown. He's qualified, he's concerned, he's a great guy. I've always considered him a friend.

My second candidate to vote for is gubernatorial (that can't be right; I mean that word should be dropped from the English language) candidate for Governor of Arizona, Len Munsil. A former member of my church and current member of the Arizona Diamondbacks season ticket holders' group I'm in, he represents all things I love in a politician. He's simply a straight shooter. He won't flip flop on any issue whether it hurts him in the polls or not. Like Ray Botch, he loves his constituents. Also like Ray, he's kind, concerned about the direction the state is headed under the current governor, and he's a great guy. Qualified? Yessir. He's done his homework. Just listen to him, and you will be ready for new leadership from a guy who knows his positions, knows his roots, and knows he's not using the governorship(or is gubernatorialship?) for a political stepping stone. He doesn't want to appeal to all people for all the wrong reasons. He wants to appeal to all the people for the right reasons.

Thanks for reading, if you're still with me. I feel pretty strong about the these two guys. We need them more than they need us. As far as Sinatra, well "New York, New York" is good, but that's about it. And don't get me started about Springsteen.

I THREW IT AWAY

And I'm glad I did. The DaVinci Code that is. With this week being the holiest of weeks for Christians, I thought a little preaching in order.

Where else to begin but with this novel. Yes, it was a novel. Which means fiction. And we all know several of these that have been written in poor taste. This one tops the list.

When my wife purchased the book, maybe two years ago, anyway(s) when it first came out, she read it first since she reads much faster and is a more dedicated reader than I. She didn't say much about it, but that's pretty normal; we usually don't talk much about a book we co-purchase until we've both finished.

When it was my turn, I raved about it. For about 90 pages. I remember saying, "You didn't tell me what a great book this is." Her response, "How far along are you?" When I told her, she replied, "Keep reading, but I don't think you'll like it."

Intrigued, puzzled, confused, I mean it had a great plot. It had a murder mystery. It took place in Paris, a city we know a little about; in the Louvre, we could picture much of it clearly in our minds. Until.

Blasphemy! Our Lord Jesus, just a person like everyone else! I don't think so. That's what the Easter season is all about. He is Risen!! He is Risen indeed!!

And no secular dan brown book will ever put an inkling of doubt in the minds of Christians.
I threw our copy in the trash after I finished it. I can't remember doing that with any other book. There are so many great books out there--please don't waste your time on it. Try Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life instead. It answers the question, "Why was I put on this earth anyhow?" And, of course, HAPPY EASTER!