Send Me Your Tired, Your Poor, Your Cash

I just read this afternoon that Televangelist Benny Hinn has posted a plea on his web site for $2 million in donations. You’ve seen this guy. He’s the Middle-Eastern-looking man who wears the Nehru jackets and is a very charismatic evangelist. He smacks people in the head to cure them of whatever ails them. I’m not sure how that all works, since I’m a big believer in Priesthood authority, but nevertheless, here’s his picture, just in case.

A little history, thanks to Wikipedia. His real name is Toufik Benedictus Hinn. He is an Israeli and runs his “Miracle Crusades” in large stadiums and such, which are later broadcast across the globe on his tv show, “This Is Your Day.” I guess millions of people attend his crusades every year. He even claims to have spoken with a billion people since he started his ministry.

He also claims to have what he calls the “anointing”, which he says is the gift of healing the sick. He has allegedly healed the blind, the deaf, AIDS and some other severe sicknesses and ailments. He’s made some rather preposterous prophecies over the years, too, including the death of Fidel Castro (not happened yet), the election of the first female President of the US (again, not happened yet), and the East Coast of the US being devastated by earthquakes (again). All of these could happen, I’m sure (and just might), but they were supposed to happen by the beginning of the century. He’s just a little late.

I’m not saying that the man doesn’t have a gift from God. Far be it from me to judge anyone. I’ve got enough problems of my own without thinking I’m better than anyone. Frankly, I’m not better than anyone, but that’s for a different entry. I’m sure Mr. Hinn is a very good man who believes everything he says. Whether he’s in it for the dough or not is not my issue. It’s the plea for money that gets me.

This sounds very Oral Roberts-y, if you know what I mean. Before you get all worked up, I also thought Oral Roberts was a good man, just like the Pope, Billy Graham and Billy Sunday. They all do a lot of good things in the world and have helped countless people. I haven’t helped that many people in my life. Have you?

But in 1987 Brother Roberts pled with the world to send him $8 million or, as he said, “the Lord would call me home.” Sounded like a dramatic plea and I’m sure there were a lot of folks who sent him some cash. Thing was, God didn’t call Oral home for another 22 years.

Don’t get me wrong. Hinn and his like do much good. While I was reading about him on Wikipedia, I saw that he supports A LOT of charities and helps a lot of people with his money. I’m impressed by that. I really am. I wish I had the wherewithal to do so much good. In the end, they’ll all probably go to a higher kingdom than will I.

It just seems a little awkward to ask the public to send you money. I never hear the Prophet ask for money. He DOES tell us to pay our tithing, but if we don’t, he doesn’t get up during conference and say that the Lord’s going to call him home. Tithes and offerings are between you and the Lord. The Prophet has no say in it at all, except to encourage you to get the blessings that come from faithful obedience.

I guess part of Brother Hinn’s thinking, though, is that things are tough all over. He’s got to pay his taxes, too, you know. I just hope he doesn’t tell us next that the Lord’s going to call him home if we don’t pony up.

Maybe I could try this approach on my web site. Things are tough here in Virginia, too. I must come clean first, though. I’ve never talked to God like these brethren say they have. I say my prayers and really try to talk to Him, but I’ve never seen a burning bush. I’m not the best man in the world, but I try hard. I’m not as humble as I should be, I don’t study the scriptures like I could, and I spend way too much time watching television (not televangelism). I also have a bald head, too much weight around the middle and a chronic case of dry mouth. If you’re still cool with sending me a few bucks and think I’m an all right guy (despite my obvious flaws), you can send me an email and I’ll let you know my address. The post office is well equipped to handle such a deluge.

In the meantime, does anyone out there know of a good tailor? I am really digging those Nehru jackets he’s got.

More Photos!!

Here are some more photos from our time in Yellowstone and Utah. I hope you enjoy them.

Utah trip photos!!

Well, you asked for it, now you got it. Here at last the first batch of photos taken on our trip to Utah and Yellowstone. More to come.

You know, you don't have to be mad!

Sitting in the Reagan airport waiting for our plane to Utah. It was supposed to leave at 5:30 this evening. It's now 9:29pm & we r still here. Gotta b patient

Game time. I have a feeling about this. Play ball!!!

At the field for a 10am game.

We won again, 5-2. On to the district championship!!

Half hour to game time. We are home team again.

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First Loss

It had to happen sometime, I guess. Jacob's team, the Gainesville American All-Stars, lost their first game of the tournament last night by a score of 2-1. They played beautifully, though with a couple of errors and more strikeouts than we've had in the three previous games combined. Too much watching that outside strike three pitch.

Jacob did very well. He played a flawless third base and also got two hits. Though he was erased going to second by the next batter both times, he did his part in trying to help the team win. I'll say it again, he's the best two-strike hitter I've ever seen. Having two strikes doesn't seem to bother him at all.

I was quite impressed with their play last night. They played the Chantilly American League team, which won the state tournament last year. They held them to one run over five innings and if it hadn't been for a non-called interference play, it may have been over six innings. To hold the defending champion to two runs over six is phenomenal. And we told them so after the game.

Of course, after the game, we all went out to eat together. I think that's had a dramatic affect on how these boys play together. They get to know each other through these little outings and then they play better together between the lines.

As far as Utah is concerned, we still don't know much. We now play on Thursday against the winner of the SYA East/Fairfax Dominion game, which is supposed to be played tomorrow night (Wednesday). We already beat Fairfax Dominion, so if it's them, I have no doubt but that we'll play Chantilly American again on Saturday. That doesn't make for a very good trip to Utah, especially when everyone else is leaving by Wednesday.

All-Star update

Here's a quick update on the All-Stars. Jacob went 1 for 3 with a double on Friday night, and the Gainesville American All-Stars won again, 8-4. You can check out the video of his double below. The first video is of him being introduced before the game. The second is of him hitting the double. He hit it to the gap in right center, but even if there had been a kid playing in that position, he would have hit it over that kid's head. It was a shot. We've been working on his hitting the last few weeks and it looks like it's paying off. Now they play again tonight, if it doesn't rain. They play Chantilly American, which is a really good team. I hope they can take it to them.

On Saturday night we (the coaches) took the boys to see the Washington Nationals play the San Francisco Giants at Nationals Park. It's the first time either one of us had been there, and I was very impressed. What a beautiful stadium. Unfortunately, the National's play wasn't beautiful and they lost 10-5. We had a good time, though, and enjoyed each other's company a lot. This picture is a shot of Jacob and his buddy Ian before the game. Our seats were on the left hand side of this picture. In fact, you can see our seats right off of Ian's right ear behind the guy next to the tarp. They were great seats and we could see everything. A big thank you to Coach Dave for setting it all up.

Swimming and Baseball

All of our kids are very active. Justin has played soccer and lacrosse and now lifts a lot (he's about 6'5" now), Hannah likes to swim, dance and play softball, and Jacob plays baseball. Saturday was a big day for the two younger ones, as Jacob had his first All-Star game and Hannah had a swim meet.

I don't know exactly when it happened, but over the years I've become an early riser. So it's not really that big of a deal for me to get up and go to the 6am swim meets (Kelly, you did not just read that). This one was over at Dominion Valley, a relatively upscale neighborhood about seven or eight miles from our house. It's a gated community, so you can imagine that it's pretty affluent.

Hannah was scheduled to swim in the 50m freestyle, the 50m backstroke (her best stroke) and the 25m butterfly. She really enjoys the swimming, though I'm not sure how much she enjoys the 6am aspect of it all, nor the 8am daily practices. She also likes hanging out with her friends at the meets, as a lot of her best friends also swim on the same team.

She's had some trouble with the butterfly so far this year, as she's been DQ'd each time. The bad thing is, we really never find out what she did to get DQ'd, so we don't know how to improve her stroke. This time, however, she got a time (I think it was something like 39 seconds), which really made her happy. She also lowered her times on both of her other strokes. Swedish fish anyone?

I've already reported on Jacob's Saturday All-Star game. They won by a score of 8-2. Jacob did well and so they played again last night against the National League team from Gainesville. There are a lot of boys on that team who have played with Jacob for years now, including playing on the Bulls travel team. So it was with some trepidation that we went to the game last night.

It started out innocently enough. We held them to one hit and no runs in the top of the first inning. The boys played very good defense before coming up to bat in the bottom half. We scored one run to put us up after one. We held them to no runs again in the top of the second, then scored a few runs in the bottom, Jacob getting a screaming line drive base hit to centerfield, then scoring a little later. Score after two full was 4-0.

Jacob came to bat two more times in the game, getting a bloop single to right and grounding out to second. He scored twice in the game and got a few more ribbies, and his team ended up winning 11-0. He made several very nice plays at third base, scooping up one throw from the pitcher to keep the ball from rolling to the fence and saving at least two runs. He also fielded a sharp bouncer and threw home to prevent them from scoring with bases loaded and none down.

Now it's on to Fairfax Dominion. We play them Friday night.

All-Stars

I know there are several of you who have been following this, nervous about the fact that we might be having to travel to Utah later than expected. The cause of your consternation you know well, the All-Star team. I guess I should give you an update.

Jacob played his first game in this year's All-Star grey last Saturday. His first hit was a solid single, right back through the box. He got an RBI on the hit, and when the Fairfax team decided to throw home, he went to second. He later scored.

In his second at bat he hit it to the third baseman. Bases were loaded at the time and the third baseman just tagged the runner going past him. Fielder's choice, but he was on. With two outs, though, he died there when the next guy grounded out.

Later, in his third at bat, he hit a lazy popup behind first base. The second baseman ran over to make the catch, but he dropped it, allowing Jacob to get on base. It was a tough play for the second baseman and the official scorer gave Jacob a single. When the ball hit his glove, though, it scirted out into short right field, giving the runner on third time to score and Jacob to go to second. He later stole third on a passed ball and then scored on a single up the middle.

So, if you're keeping score there at home, that's 2 for 3, 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs and a good, solid game. The team scored 8 runs and won 8-2. Jacob directly accounted for half of those runs, knocking in two and scoring two. Not a bad outing.

They play their next game tonight (Tuesday) against the National League team from Gainesville. It's filled with boys we know very well. We know what we're getting with them, having played against them and with them all year. It will be a good game, but my prediction is that we 10-run them. I think we'll do very well.

Utah is looking darker and darker all the time.

UPDATE: You can read a reporter's first hand account of the game at http://www.gainesville-times.com/news/2010/jul/06/gainesville-all-stars-take-first-round-fairfax-8-2/.

Independent Day

May I just say, right from the outset, that Manassas City does it right? They really know how to put on a show. For the last five years or so, we've gone over to Manassas to see their fireworks show on the 4th of July. We usually make a day of it, getting some good sausages and kraut, some fried dough with powdered sugar, and a mess of bbq. It's something I look forward to every year, not to mention the superior fireworks show they put on. Just mention the Fourth and my mouth starts to water.

This year was different, though. The 4th fell on a Sunday, and so no brats, no dough, no bbq. My taste buds were outraged.

I could justify the fireworks show, though, since we don't pay to get in, and afterall, Heavenly Father did set this country up. It's by His hand we're all here today. I thought it a good opportunity to celebrate that fact. I hope I'm not becoming one of the godless horde I so often complain about.

The show was fantastic again, though marred by a 15 minute intermission between stages of the pyrotechnics. It started off with a bang, so to speak, and went for a good 7-8 minutes. Then, nothing. The "band" played on (music supplied by a town speaker system and someones iPod, no doubt), but the fireworks were earily silent.

In the distance one could see the fireworks display from the city of Manassas Park. Theirs was pretty good, too. But we sat and waited, and at last the fireworks started up again. Good thing, too. The natives were getting restless.

Hannah was in rare form. She is such an independent thinker. She had to wear her Chucks with a dress. Nothing else would please her. You can see that evidenced in the video clip at the bottom of the page. She's the most independent little girl I've ever known.

Jacob had a good time, too, playing around with some of his friends and making me take about twenty pictures of him and his mom doing goofy faces. This is one of the better ones. Better, as in, goofy. Yes, they're all like that. But I love them. Kelly has the most child-like (NOT childish) spirit I've ever known.

The only thing Manassas really has to do is find some way to get people out of there without having to wait an hour. This is the scene more than 45 minutes AFTER the fireworks had ended. We waited about 20 minutes after the show had concluded and then had to walk about five or six blocks to our car. We waited in traffic for a good 20 more minutes before finally getting into some open lanes where we could actually drive. But, I must say that it was worth it, even though my taste buds will protest every day having to wait so long for their annual savory sensations.