WHAT IF?

That is a pretty powerful indictment.  For I'm afraid most use God to make things right in their lives.  As a big Santa, He even has our wish list for which we didn't even need a catalog.  But a loving God would want to provide for our every need wouldn't He?

There are various ways to pray.  Jesus even told us when He gave us The Lord's Prayer in the book of Matthew.  Others have used acronyms such as ACTS--adoration, confession, thanks, and supplication.  Matthew 7:7 tells us To ASK--ask, seek, and knock.

But all have thanksgiving in them in some form or fashion.  We simply don't thank The Creator enough.  But we're the first to blame Him when things, situations, circumstances, or even weather don't go as we think we deserve.  Even the schools' Act of God Days are used in the negative.

In most of my prayers, even saying grace and yes, I do that at every meal, not out of habit, not out of show, but out of respect to the One who has provided, I almost always thank Him for His creation, His loving kindness towards me, my family,  our church and other churches we're associated with, His Son, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Many times I thank Him for my good health that allows me to participate in an active lifestyle.  Also I generally thank Him for our friends.  And for His perfect plan for my life, that I may obediently follow and be a good servant.  Often times I pray for our country and its leaders.

It doesn't take that long, and it sure makes me feel better.

I wouldn't call myself a prayer warrior, but I wouldn't be disappointed if others thought so.  If a faithful reader(s) has a prayer request, please don't hesitate to ask me. I'll be glad to offer another prayer to our Father. 

BORN A CARDINAL FAN

Earlier last week the Arizona Diamondbacks clinched a playoff berth by winning the NL West.  I was glad for my hometown team, but hardly in a celebratory mood.  "Maybe if they get to the World Series, then I'll be excited,"  I thought to myself.  Keep in mind that I had been a partial season ticket holder for nine years.

But for the past, ok, for the whole season, like every other baseball season since I've been about 8 years old, I've rooted for the St. Louis Cardinals and followed them closely.  At no time have I been unable to tell you every starter including the 5 pitchers who make up the rotation.

When the DBax won the World Series in 2001, they had to play and defeat the Cardinals in playoff games in Phoenix.  Naturally, I wore my Cardinal attire and cheered for them.  When they lost, I was crushed, but I did rebound enough to root for Az in the series against the Yankees.

Last night, the Cardinals did what no other team had done and that is make up an 8 game deficit with three weeks remaining.  The Cardinals secured the Wild Card and will open the 2011 playoffs against the team they were rooting for last night, the Phillies.  Who eliminated the choking Atlanta Braves who coughed up the lead in September over the Cardinals.  It was great theatre; it's was the comeback kids.  Almost as impressive was the Tampa Bay Rays claim to the AL Wild Card over a Boston team, like Atlanta, strong but historically chokers in their own right.

What a night of seam ball.  Let's hope the playoffs are as exciting and the Cardinals get to meet the Diamondbacks for the NL crown.  If so, look for me in the stands wearing Cardinal red.

IT AIN'T NOTHIN' BUT A THANG

I never understood that expression that a good friend of my uses.  But it came to mind when I read that Brigitte Bardot turned 77 today.  Huh?  How can that be?
I remember when she was called a "sex kitten" and I was too young to know what that meant.  Come to think of it, I still don't know what that means.  Maybe between then and now I knew but forgot.

And Luke Skywalker turned 60. Paul McCartney is 70 and two of his four have already passed away.  Three counting Brian Epstein, the 5th Beatle.

I'm returning for my 45th high school class reunion.  The conversation yesterday went like this as I sat in the barber's chair.

"Like always, Ted."

"Oh, you have to do a great job today, Gio.  I'm going back for my high school reunion."

In all seriousness he continued, "Do you me to dye your hair?"

"Only if you also do liposuction.  I have a lot to work on."

Of course, no dye would touch my hair anymore than a cigarette would touch my lips (anymore).  That is until there's a breakthrough in mens' hair color.  The shoe polish look and single color look which makes mens' hair look like a toupee to me just doesn't cut it.

But I'll be sure to report on how my reunion goes.

Gio, being a wise barber, told me not to worry because all the fat guys at reunions used to be athletes whose muscle turned to flab.  But I don't remember being All-State. 
 

NEW STUFF AND WHY I DON'T LIKE IT

Because it ain't as good.  That's why.

Remember the New Coke?  It was terrible.  Flat.  No carbonation.  It didn't last, but Diet Coke has, and as a good, skinny friend of mine says, "The only people I ever see drinking Diet Coke are fat."

How about the new energy saving light bulbs?  Heck yes they save energy, but  putting in a lower wattage bulb would accomplish the same thing and not contain mercury and all the other stuff the new ones contain.  Yet neither alternative addresses the problem of adequate light.

The Beatles.   When most others not of the 60's generation were criticizing them, we knew.  We recognized their greatness, their universal appeal, their permanence.  Who's been better?  Maybe to some, Elvis, but if that's so, that further enhances my argument because he preceded them.

Automobiles?  Oh, don't go there.  Except in terms of gas mileage.  Maybe some, certainly not my, GPS or navigational system.  But style--forget it.  They all look the same and none can compare to the '57 Chevy convertible I saw and drooled over yesterday.

So give me new.  I'm ready.  By the way, if Herman Cain gets the GOP nomination and Hillary doesn't unseat Obama as the Dem candidate, will Blacks who vote for Obama be racist because he's only half Black?  Just wondering.