Black Friday

Ok, so I’ve never been into the whole Black Friday thing, partly, because I don’t enjoy shopping in general. I am all about great deals, but I firmly believe it does not require me to be involved in such a ridiculous practice. I have no problem with crowds, I love NYC. I do have issues with determined shopping crowds though. I know my view is not the American norm, thus the existence of Black Friday. However, my view is strengthened when I see the news at the end of Black Friday each year. I understand anything of large scale carries some incidents. I guess in perspective the incidents are a low percentage, but what discount is worth a person being trampled to death in Wal-Mart? What bargain brings value to two dying in a shooting? Both incidents were reported in today’s news. So, I say to the tradition of Black Friday, “No thanks.”

Campaign Trail (Part 2)

Campaigning is over and I’m glad. Election Day began with waking up at 5 AM and standing until the polls closed at a voting location. The locations became packed out well before voting opened. I was drained by the end of it. I had spent the previous days finishing door to door promotions and I now know this city better than ever before. We also had to relocate the majority of the promotional signs to the precincts the night before. My legs didn’t want to allow me to stand anymore by the close of Tuesday.

I did enjoy meeting other candidates of other positions and talking with people I had voted for. It’s encouraging to really enjoy the company of the people you vote for and it’s great to connect on a more personable level with those that you share values and issues with.

The funniest vote he got was from a woman that walked out and pointed to the sign my dad was holding and said she voted for her. My dad informed her he was Pat and the woman said, “What?! I was only voting for women!”

The results (3 positions to fill):
Pat Bentley…26.15% (4089 votes)
Stephany Eley…24.57 % (3842)
Bill Mettrick…26.44% (4134)
Damian Wilson…22.84% (3571)

Campaign Trail (Part 1)

Today was spent campaigning at an early voting spot. Tomorrow’s agenda looks the same and of course Tuesday will be a long day. I’m well aware of the record number of people voting this year, but today I observed American citizens pouring in to cast their votes. I vote absentee for every election so I don’t have to wait in the lines and I’ve never been so glad until today. I would place the average wait time just over three hours for those coming to the polls early. One voter informed us he had waited in line for four hours. Reminder, early voting has been open for a few days now and these are work days. I’m not sure what to expect tomorrow and Tuesday.

For those who don’t know my dad is running for city council, so I have been campaigning for a while. I’ve worked in previous years for campaign stuff as well. I hope my dad is happy that he at least got one of his children interested in political things like he is. Anyway, when you do these things you can expect to have people honk and cheer for your candidate and sometimes receive fingers and booing. City council is a smaller scale but people wave a lot for my dad’s signs because of the rep our council has on the news here and the desire to have someone new. It’s cool when people tell you they’ve studied up on him and he has their vote. I thought it was funny to get the thumbs down for the first time today from a driver. I don’t take things personally, but it was it dawned on me it was not just an issue or candidate that I was for…it was my dad. He has a hater! haha

You meet others out campaigning for different things and it can be fun even when you know the signs contradict. One lady today from a neighboring city apologized she was not able to vote for my dad since he was not running in her city. Within my mind I informed it was okay because I did not vote for the candidate she was promoting either, even though I did have the option as he was running for a higher position that includes my district.

Awkward moment of the day: I was stared down by some dude as he rode by in the back of a cop car. It was caged in but the window was open. He was actually leaning forward in the seat with his face against the caging as he slowly rode by me.

The Politic Game

I have to say I’m getting sick of the political popularity game. Focus on cheap shots to undermine characters is not what interests me. An important election is ahead and a lot of issues are on the table, but media time and stories are wasted on misinterpreted comments (stupid or not) and popularity ratings. I know the current standing statistics of the candidates have a place in news, but I believe the issues themselves deserve greater reporting time. I’m not voting for homecoming king/queen; I’m voting for a new U.S. President! This is about America’s future, and speaking of America’s future, what example do these campaign tactics illustrate to young people that make up America’s future? Is this what we want portrayed by leadership?

Character is a central element, and in this large of a setting all details are important as we face November’s decision. However, a person’s character does not become greater by bringing discredit to another’s. It is strengthened by respectable talk, stance, and action. I am ashamed to have to say that my respect for much involved in all aspects of this race is not high.

This is not an attack on any party or reporter, but rather a thought about the whole state of this race.

Diving for Bronze

Best finish of this year’s Olympic Games?

Am I referring to one of the relays in the pool or the fingertip win by Phelps? The action would have made more sense in water. It wasn’t even for gold. It was to grab the bronze. Of course, I am talking about the amazing dive David Neville took across the finish line in the men’s 400-meter final. My cousin and I could not stop laughing. When the commentators mentioned he was hurt we were laughing all the harder, not because he was hurt (what kind of sick person do you think I am?). It just seemed like an obvious factor when a full speed Olympic runner dives into a track. I have been in pain after making a trained dive into a softball base, I can’t imagine considering a forward facing dive into a running track. I was wondering if this was something that he had foreseen as a consideration or if the idea just hit him in the moment. I found out after the race that he has actually done it once before in a race last year to secure a silver for USA. After the race he said, "Sometimes we have to sacrifice our body and our mind and our spirit for what we really want." All I know is he wanted that bronze and he did not leave without it. His action also completed a sweep by USA in the race's medals.

...with several amazing finishes in this year's games this one may not top, but it was definitely exciting to see.

Congratulations Michael Phelps

Relief…the outcome of no more what if scenarios. The chase for eight is complete. This year’s events all began on 08.08.08 and now Michael Phelps is eight for eight. It was a remarkable race by Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen, Michael Phelps, and Jason Lezak. China’s Water Cube didn’t have an empty seat. You know something special is happening when Kobe and LeBron are among the spectators. It’s more than national pride or interest in a particular sport. It’s a moment shared by human spectators of all backgrounds around the world; a moment to pause and cheer for a fellow human being as greatness is realized in capturing a life’s dream through dedication. What a journey! And, just because I have been posting the medal status throughout my postings I conclude by saying, “Zero to go!”

Too Close

A win by 1/100 of a second! I thought it was over and I think it's completely unexplainable how he got his hand up there first. I have to admit I completely wrote it all off in that last stroke. As the clips play over in slow motion and from different views I can't believe it. How? How? How? Thank God for the touchpad that reads the time of touch and proves his victory because the visual shot still leaves my mind's eye with doubts. Even with the technolgy I was nervous as a protest of the win surfaced. I'm glad the protest verdict was finalized quickly and in favor of the original claim to victory. The close win seized by Lezak earlier this week was exciting; this close call was stomach turning.

Michael Phelps has officially tied Mark Spitz in earning seven gold medals in a single Olympic season. Yesterday he received his sixth and after this race he has one more to go to hold more gold than any other in a season. I have believed fromed the beginning he had the capability to reach his goal, but I have never written off the competition. Anything can happen in a moment. Any upset is possible. Just one to go! How unreal!

How amazing was Dara Torres and her sportsmanship to put aside her focus to ask officials to hold the race for her competitor during some swimsuit trouble. I love her drive but more than that I love her spirit. She is an inspiration. Even after the distraction she was able to pull off an incredible win.

Four and...FIVE

What a day for Michael Phelps! It is official; Michael has more gold medals than any other! Ten would have done it, but he now holds eleven. After his accomplishment he led another relay giving an untouchable lead to the U.S. team. His chase in reaching eight gold medals this year is now within grasp. Just three to go! It’s amazing to watch history being written. If you aren’t watching you are missing an incredible thing.

The only frustration of the day was his goggles filling with water in the 200m butterfly making the finish closer than he would have liked and the time a little longer than hoped for. But, the 4x200m freestyle relay was completed under 7 minutes at 6:58.56. And so, the frustrating moment was paled in retrospect. The day’s events came and went in true Phelps’ fashion: record breaking, a new record in medals and two more time records turned in.

“The people who came before us and competed in the Olympic Games are some of the greatest athletes who ever lived, and to be or to win the most gold medals is unbelievable.” -Michael Phelps

Gold Again for Phelps

At the risk of repeating myself, another gold and another world record seized. He swam the 200m freestyle in just 1:42.96. This gold brings Phelps' Olympic career total to 9! He has matched the holders of the most Olympic gold medals. Of course, the challenge remains to surpass these holders and also take home 8 in this year's Olympic events. Five more to gain! The Americans definitely owned the pool tonight!

Absolutely Astonished

"Smash the Americans?" So, the US was not the favorite to win tonight and the French dared to bring trash talk. The talk was nothing more than a push of inspiration for the US team. The Olympics aren't about talk they are about action and the US team brought it. The previous world record was absolutely demolished! It may have very well been the best relay in Olympic history. So excited right now! Gold #2 for Michael Phelps! Six more to go BABY! Thank you Jason Lezak for bringing the fastest final sprint ever to pull it off (46 flat) and congratulations to you! It was beautiful!

Athlete to Watch

Today pretty much revolved around the Olympics for my cousins and me. I am glad that the time of most of the swimming events places them prime time here. I was so excited to see Michael Phelps attain gold already. Seven more to go! Even better was the fact that he crushed another world record in attaining it! It's just too bad the country that put on such a spectacular presentation for the world yesterday happened to have a technical glitch in the middle of our national anthem. It would have been nice to hear the whole song. Anyway, I'm eager to see how the rest of Phelps' events unfold!

Dara Torres also had a great swim and is deserving of props although the USA team did not pull a win in that race. To be in the Olympics at age 41 and still prove to be one of the strongest competitors in the race is amazing.

One

If you didn’t see last night’s opening ceremony to the Olympics you really missed a well orchestrated phenomenon. All controversies of this year’s events aside, it was a stunning vision from start to finish. Everything was executed with great precision and attention to detail. The most inspiring part was the unified imagery produced by more than 15,000 synchronized individuals. Several times the words of the commentators were brought back to the producer who envisioned this masterpiece and the awe of how it was being manifested in that moment.

The message China is bringing to this year’s games,
One world. One goal.

As a Christian my mind was carried to God’s plan for the body of Christ,
One body. One message.

I have actually been thinking about the importance of God’s beautiful concept of one body for awhile now. Various readings and experiences have provoked my thinking. In a way greater than how last night’s performance captured the attention of people all over this world, a unified body of Christ would captivate our dying world. No individual in last night’s performance was repeated. A few had roles that brought more personal attention than others, but each role was significant to the full picture. It was a reminder to me of the Christian’s responsibility to live out their role, the will of God for their life. It’s not about a jealous spirit of those who appear to be more visible than us. There is a purpose to our life and the picture is so much greater than any one of us. Just as last night’s performers only had a single moment before the audience of the world, we have only one life. It is brief and it’s our one chance to live it for God. When our focus turns away from self glorification to the greater message our lives take on a meaning so much larger than our human perspectives can comprehend. We will see the picture one day in its full glory. For now we need to follow our Producer, our Creator in portraying the vision He has for mankind. It’s bigger than us, but there is a role for us.

You can easily enough see how this kind of thing works by looking no further than your own body. Your body has many parts—limbs, organs, cells—but no matter how many parts you can name, you're still one body. It's exactly the same with Christ. By means of his one Spirit, we all said good-bye to our partial and piecemeal lives. We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which he has the final say in everything. (This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized.) Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain—his Spirit—where we all come to drink. The old labels we once used to identify ourselves—labels like Jew or Greek, slave or free—are no longer useful. We need something larger, more comprehensive.

I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less. A body isn't just a single part blown up into something huge. It's all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together. If Foot said, "I'm not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don't belong to this body," would that make it so? If Ear said, "I'm not beautiful like Eye, limpid and expressive; I don't deserve a place on the head," would you want to remove it from the body? If the body was all eye, how could it hear? If all ear, how could it smell? As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it.

But I also want you to think about how this keeps your significance from getting blown up into self-importance. For no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of. An enormous eye or a gigantic hand wouldn't be a body, but a monster. What we have is one body with many parts, each its proper size and in its proper place. No part is important on its own. Can you imagine Eye telling Hand, "Get lost; I don't need you"? Or, Head telling Foot, "You're fired; your job has been phased out"? As a matter of fact, in practice it works the other way—the "lower" the part, the more basic, and therefore necessary. You can live without an eye, for instance, but not without a stomach. When it's a part of your own body you are concerned with, it makes no difference whether the part is visible or clothed, higher or lower. You give it dignity and honor just as it is, without comparisons. If anything, you have more concern for the lower parts than the higher. If you had to choose, wouldn't you prefer good digestion to full-bodied hair?

The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don't, the parts we see and the parts we don't. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.

You are Christ's body—that's who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your "part" mean anything. You're familiar with some of the parts that God has formed in his church, which is his "body":

I Corinthians 12:12-27 (The Message)