Before.....and after. It's all the same!




MOOCH says, Oops!

C'mon!

Mooch didn't know that he was supposed to put a winning team together. I'm sure he thought that it was okay for the Lions to be mediocre. At least that's been the case the last 50 years! Well it's not, and Ford showed real leadership as he ate $11 million dollars of salary and pulled the trigger on Mooch. The Lions' problems, however, are much deeper than Mooch. Millen started this mess and until he's gone nothing really changes. Mooch knows this and he's probably relieved to be relieved.

C'mon Ford, sweep the place clean and start over, or sell the team to Toyota!

DOM

CHRISTMAS TREES

It's that time of year again! Thanksgiving has come and gone with the indigestion and Gas-X chewables. Now it's time to move on to the grand-daddy of all holidays - Christmas. I was out and about today and observed a number of cars with the old traditional, live cut Christmas tree strapped to the roof ala Clark Griswold. Ahh, the smell of dying pine needles in the house...what a memory.

I stopped at Deurty's this afternoon and was surprised to see that he had already brought home a bagged tree. Listen to me now, this is important. When a tree retailer bags a Christmas tree and you can't see what it looks like....beware! The tree just may have a confused trunk that grew in a couple of different directions over it's 6 year life span.

Which leads me to this question. If you were a Christmas tree, what kind of tree would you be?

Goodnight Barbara,
DOM

ONE GOOD REASON

If I'm William Clay Ford, the proud owner of the losingest team in football, with the exception of Wellsley College, I would need more than one good reason why I shouldn't fire everyone from the top down in the organization. Since Ford's at the top, that would include himself. How can a team remain so hapless? Oops, did I say, team? That's not the case here. These Lions are not even close to being a team. Enough said! See ya Millen. See ya Mooch. See ya Joey. See ya last 3 first round draft picks. See ya offensive line. Defense and Jason Hanson can stay...the rest can leave at once.

Duped,
DOM

WHY DO WE NEED TO BE REMINDED TO BE THANKFUL?

Each year, Thanksgiving Day serves as the beginning of the three "family holidays." Thanksgiving means going home, gathering with family, and enjoying a great meal together. Thanksgiving gives each of us an opportunity to stop, look around, and be thankful for all that we enjoy with those we enjoy enjoying it with.

Who came up with the idea that the food for the day should be a turkey? Why do some traditions stay with us and others pass without fanfare? Why can't we be thankful without a special holiday to remind us...and what's a turkey got to do with any of this?

Thanksgiving Day - a great tradition - one that I look forward to each year.
DOM

Sprinting vs. Distance Running

When it comes to track, it seems like sprinting receives far more media exposure than the longer distances. During the year the summer Olympic games are held, the names and faces of the top sprinters in the world are easily recognized and known well by fans around the world. Sprints seem to fit our culture better than the distance events. First of all, sprints take less than a minute. We only have to focus our attention on the event for a very short period of time. Distance events require more concentration and more time.

Sprinters and long distance runners are worlds apart in their physical appearance. Sprinters have legs the size of my waist. They look powerful but yet graceful. They explode out of the starting blocks and accelerate quickly toward the finish line.

Distance runners on the other hand, look like someone who doesn’t mind missing a few meals each week. Their legs look like spindles. Their bodies don’t look athletic at all. Unlike sprinters, you’re unable to see muscles rippling everywhere. A distance runner is wiry. They start slow, run steady, and then pace themselves for a big finish.

When it comes to faith and following after God, are you more of a sprinter or a distance runner? Do you look good and strong on the outside, but only able to go so far in your faith before tiring? Are you training for short spurts of growth and happy with that, or are you training up for the long haul? Do you get out of the blocks quickly but fade and get discouraged when you see everyone pass you as you as they sprint to the goal?

DOM

WHAT MATTERS MOST

I came across another great quote today. This one from Charles Colson in the book Loving God:
"It is not what we do that matters, but what a sovereign God chooses to do through us. God doesn't want our success; He wants us. He doesn't demand our achievements; He demands our obedience. The kingdom of God is a kingdom of paradox, where through the ugly defeat of a cross, a holy God is utterly glorified. Victory comes through defeat; healing through brokenness; finding self through losing self."

I love good quotes because they help me condense and clarify my thoughts. Good quotes grab my attention and cause me to think...as well as encourage me to do some inner work.

The thoughts conveyed in this quote literally fly in the face of conventional wisdom. CW says, what we do, first and foremost, really does matter; that we need to continue to strive for what the world says is success; that achievements in this world are important. It's as if we will be asked to account for each of these areas some day when we cross from this life into the next. Kind of like turning in our blue book at the end of an exam.

All God wants, is all of me. This level of surrender would guarantee my full obedience. Given that, He opens the floodgates providing victory, healing, and purpose.

Give it up, to gain it all.
DOM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAV!!!!!

My little Hoosier grand-daughter, Savannah, turned 3! Happy Birthday Sav! Savannah is a special gift to our family. She is intense just like her father, and sweet like her mother. She loves to read books and I'm sure one day will read one of her dad's novels. I love the way she watches herself when she runs. She makes me laugh. Thanks for bringing so much joy to your grandparent's lives, Savannah. I love you and I miss you!

DOM

A.I. and 76'ers Flipped Off by Pistons

New Pistons coach, Flip Saunders, has brought the "west coast" offense to the Motor City, and unlike the Lions, the Pistons know how to run it! The Pistons are very deep and that bodes well for them when the tulips start blooming in May. The Pistons will definitely be fun to watch this year. Interestingly, the sports media and pundits continue to short the Pistons, and continue to talk about the two-diminsional team from Miami and the thugs from Indiana, coached by Jim Carey's look alike brother.

Go Stones!
DOM