"Your faith has saved you, go in peace"

In Luke 7:36-50, Jesus is invited to a Pharisee's house for dinner.  He goes and enjoys dinner.  During the meal, a woman approaches him ands begins to wash his feet. We don't know if any words are exchanged at this moment, but we do know that the woman is seen in the community as a sinner. Plus, she doesn't use the traditional wash rag and water. Instead, she uses her tears, her hair, and a bottle of perfume.

The owner of the house begins to talk to himself and Jesus responds with a parable. The parable shows the homeowner that those who are forgiven more will love more.

How convicting this is! I know there are many times I tell myself, ' you aren't that bad.' The thing is, I am still as a sinner and need Jesus as much as someone who has done worse in the worlds eyes. For me, I can't get comfortable relying on myself. I need to rely on Jesus.

Jesus told the woman as she finished, "your sins are forgiven" and "your faith has saved you; go in peace."

What a rush! We all want Jesus to tell us that as we live a life full of faith in him and a peace knowing he has us covered.

Golf

With the fellas

Securing victory

9:01 pm. Jimmy Graham just caught a pass for 9 yards. He needs to be at 79 yards or less no touchdowns for victory tonight!

Giving cred and sharing a moment in time

I would like to credit Alicia Hollinger and Jordan Hollinger for the following slice of the past. With the new Google Drive, I came across this Google document below. The Hollingers organized the many games, events, and battles outlined below. Try one or all with your friends. Remember old clothes!

The Party Line laced up their bootstraps and entertained the masses for a night in August 2008. Though it is hotly debated as to the greatest day in Party Line History, Takahisa Kiyone's going away party on that August night topped the list for me, with greatest moment being the game "Run, Run, blind Man."

The scene was dark as the sun set, the headlights shown through the trees to light up the field adjacent to Wormie's truck and Abraham's burial site. The water balloons were flying as Takahisa, blind-folded, charged his way through the battle zone searching for the coke bottle, all for the good of his team.

EVENTS by Jordan and Alicia Hollinger
"Juicy Egg in the Face"
- Each team will send one member to the table. A carton of eggs, containing both hard boiled and raw eggs, will be set out and the two members from opposing teams will pick one egg (the first egg they touch has to be used). The opposing members (one from team Monkey and the other from team Penguin) will then smash the egg on each other's heads. If a raw egg is smashed on the opposing team, then that team gets a point. This cycle will continue until everyone on each team has gone. The team with the most raw eggs smashed on the opposing team's heads (the team that gets their rival team messiest), wins.


"Yummy Tummy"
-16 secret dishes will be placed on the table. One member from each team will start the game by sitting down at the table and choosing a numbered dish. The dish will be revealed (by mamasan) and each member will have to eat what is on the plate with their hands behind their backs. The member that eats the food on their plate the fastest, wins a point for their team. This cycle continues until all the dishes are gone (meaning that some members of the team may have to go more than once). The player with the most points once the dishes are gone, wins the game.

BONUS ROUND: Mamasan decided she wanted to make everyone her famous American mochi balls. Each member of both teams will have to eat a mochi ball. The team that finishes their mochi balls first, gets an extra point.


"Boom Boom goes the Water Balloon"
-Each team will pick one member to sit in the shaving chair. The rest of the team will rotate and try to shave a straight line on a shaving creamed water balloon that is placed on the seated member's head. If the balloon pops, the next member will put shaving cream on another balloon and try to shave a straight line. The team that shaves the most balloons without popping (and thus drenching their team member) in 2 minutes, wins.


"Run, Run, Blind Man"
-One of the teams will pick a member to be blindfolded. The rest of the team will be notified as to where a 2 liter of coke is placed on the playing field. The team will then attempt to tell the blindfolded person where to walk to get to the bottle. Meanwhile, the opposing team will be allowed to distract the blindfolded person by shouting other directions, singing, yodeling, and throwing massive amounts of water balloons. Once the blindfolded person gets to the bottle, they can take off the blindfold and run back to their team. The team must then drink the whole bottle. This event will be timed, and then the whole event will be repeated by the opposite team. The team with the fastest time, wins.


"Happy Flying Marshmallows"
-Each team will choose a thrower. The thrower will be stationed at the table of chocolate syrup marshmallows. The thrower will try and throw the marshmallow into a team member's mouth from a distance. If the member does not catch the marshmallow in their mouth, they must move to the back of the line and let the next team member try to catch a marshmallow. The team members will cycle through for 2 minutes. (Judge Bob will need to keep track of both teams' marshmallow scores.) The team with the most marshmallows caught in the mouth after the 2 minutes, wins.


After this event, the winner of the American game show will be announced. Then, the teams will clean up a bit inside, while Judge Bob puts together the bonfire. Marshmallows will still be prevalent, so these may be used as well.

Recounting the 9th

As you know or do not know, I play for the Lexington Knights in the Las Americas baseball league. I also grew up playing for many baseball teams over the years. Baseball is a great game because the game isn't over until you get that third out in the 9th. And oh, how hard it can be to get that third out.

We played Mineros last night and pulled off one of the best comeback rallies I have ever been a part of or witnessed in baseball. The Mineros had beaten us twice already this year and we were headed for a third straight loss to them. Their pitcher kept our bats quiet for the entire game and we trailed 6-1 going into the bottom of the 9th.

And then the fun for us began.

I led off the bottom of the 9th. I was fortunate to square up a ball and drive it to deep left center to get one of those Adam Dunn home runs that "don't matter because the game is already decided" home runs. This only made the score 6-2.

However, Brian followed with a base hit up the middle and then Bryce hit a ground rule double to left center. We all thought it was a home run because it appeared to us that the ball tipped off of the center fielder's glove and over the fence for a home run Jose Canseco style. Regardless, we now had runners at second and third, still down 6-2 but nobody were out.

Mineros decided to change pitchers. Their ace had gone 8 plus innings and until the 9th, we caught nothing but bad breaks against him at the plate.

Our next batter, Taylor forced a walk after taking several close pitches that just missed being strikes. His walk loaded the bases with no one out.

Adam came up and was called out on strikes on a pitch down and in. One out, still down 6-2.

With Mineros getting their first out and breathing a slight sigh of relief, Clinton came to the plate. He fouled off some pitches before lacing a line drive into center field. The ball actually tipped off the short stops glove and would have surely been a double play to end the game if it was caught. But the catch was not made and we were still alive. Clinton's hit was nominated for the Pontiac Clutch performance of the year. His RBI single plated Brian and we now trailed 6-3 with one out.

Brendan came to the plate with the bases still loaded. He popped a ball up to the first baseman for the second out and we were down to our final out.

Duke took his turn to bat and promptly hit a fly ball to right field that dropped in front of the right fielder for an RBI single. This made the score 6-4 with still two outs.

Jordan came to the plate with the weight of the game hanging in the balance on or above his shoulders. For every boy or girl who has played baseball/softball or any gamer that has played MLB the Show, this is the situation you dream of: being down a run or two, bases loaded, two outs, bottom of the 9th, and you are up to bat to make yourself a hero or a someone less than 1 and greater than negative one.

Jordan opted for the hero. He quickly got down in the count 1 ball and two strikes. The next pitch barely missed on the outside corner. From the vantage point of us, our loyal fans, and the opposing pitcher who was walking off the field because he thought it was strike three, it was 'kiss the baby' and 'warm up the bus Shorty' because this game was over. The rally would have been dead on a called third strike.

But this was not the script. The umpire called the ball a 'ball' and Jordan "Cookies" was still alive.

The next pitch will go down as one of my favorite baseball memories and is also the Dairy Queen/Sonic play of the game.

"Knights still trail by 2 with Jordan digging back in to the batter box. His brand new Locker Room bat had just come out of the wrapper three hours prior. Count is 2 and 2 and two outs. The pitcher sights the sign from the catcher, checks the runner at third and delivers his pitch plate ward. Jordan swings hits a high drive! Left field! Does it have the distance? It does!!! Home run for Jordan and the Knights have won this game 8 to 6! What a game! The Knights rallied for 7 runs in the bottom of the 9th on 6 hits as 9 men bat to pull off one of the biggest comebacks in Knights history."

And so it goes, Knights win, Knights win.

Come see us Wednesday, September 5th against the Hagyards or see the Knights take a run at the #1 team in the land against the Eagles on Sunday Sept 9th. Both games start at 7 PM and are played at Coolivan Park located at the intersection of 5th and Jefferson.

Spent

We all work hard at different things in life. We say so many times that we are spent after working hard at something. The feeling that comes with being spent is one where you feel you have nothing left to give. As a Christian, I want my life to be spent in terms of following Christ, living in harmony with others, and carrying out his will.
There is a current song by Moriah Peters on the Air 1/K-Love air waves right now called, “Well Done.” She sings, “Well done, well done.” In essence, Peters sings about being able to hear God tell us “well done good and faithful servant.”
We work hard at our jobs. We work hard in exercise. As Christians, we need to work hard at our being spent with giving our all to Christ. We are called in the great commission to spread the good news to every tribe and nation. We can always be working to deepen our relationship with Christ.

Working hard, giving it all. Spent.

Perry Victory Memorial

This past week, I took a family vacation up to Lake Erie. The trip included a boat ride out to Put-In Bay and the Perry Victory and Peace Memorial.



Perry Victory Memorial

Spikes vs. the face: the spikes won

COOLIVAN PARK, Lexington. Back on June 15th, 2012 the Lexington Knights baseball team that I am accounted for on took on the Don Omar baseball club. The game's dust had just settled when a bizarre play happened to end the 2nd inning.

To set up the scene, I was in center field, minding my p's and q's. A fly ball was hit on the infield but was not caught. All the infielders converged on the ball but no one was able to snag the catch to retire the side for Don Omar.

The ball bounced and the batter rounded first base and took off for second base. Observant to the going's on, I sprinted in to second base and took the throw from our short stop intending to tag the batter/runner as he attempted a double on a infield fly ball.

I caught the ball and caused the batter/runner to do a complete 180 and head back towards first base. He wanted to run!

Jordan, our right fielder, had assumed the first base bag that was unoccupied.

I chased the batter/runner faking a few throws before lunging at him and applying the tag. He's out!

When the tag was applied, we both seemed to lose our balance and fall forward into the first base bag.

The batter/runner's cleats pointed upward towards the sky and my face pointed downward towards the dirt. Collision, albeit unlikely, occurred with his cleats and my face.

I knew I was in trouble because all the guys where the metal spikes. This batter/runner was no different and what this meant for my face was a nice little cut.

I decided to wait til after the game so my buddy, the right fielder Jordan, could bring me a blizzard at the UK ER. My other buddy, Thad-who drove up from Tennessee just to see the Knights play baseball, took the following pictures.

My loving wife also held my hand as a tetanus shot was applied to my right arm.

Last but not least, as you view the pictures, you should have seen the other guy!

Woodford takes down South Warren 7-3 in State Quarterfinals

Woodford County took out the South Warren in the Kentucky High School Baseball tournament by a score of 7-3. The victory allowed Woodford to advance to the semifinals against Bishop Brossart.

Player At-bats Runs Hits RBI
Gross, Rodney 4 1 2 1
Parrett, Logan 3 1 2 1
Boggess, Eli 3 0 0 0
Ares, Chris 4 0 2 1
O'Reel, J.T. 4 0 0 0
Stepp, Andy 4 1 1 0
Hacker, Zach 1 1 0 0
Brown, Justin 2 1 0 0
Beavers, Gage 3 2 2 3
Total 28 7 9 6

Pitching IP R H SO
Parrett, Logan 5 3 4 5
O'Reel, J.T. 2 0 1 1

R H E
Woodford County 7 9 0
South Warren 3 4 2

Red letter commentaries 6-2-12

Time moves by at the same pace; however, it always seems like June and July go by at top speed because we are probably the most active during these months. The kids are out of school and wanting to do non-routine like over-the-top activities. It is warm so we get outside and run around. For me, the summer months offer a time to sweat because temperatures are high. This time of year usually offers more time to read too, and I have continued reading through the red letters of the Bible.

Two weeks ago, I left off at Matthew 4:19 with Jesus recruiting his fishermen disciples. Jesus begins to preach his well-know sermon on the mount in chapter five, so let's pick it up there in 5:3.

5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. What does it mean to be poor in spirit? It could be a surrendering of your own ideals and putting God's will first. With God in control, the kingdom of heaven will come.

5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. The mourners need a strong base around them so they can feel this comfort.

5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Using the humble theme, the meek could be the ones to invest in preserving the world we live in.

5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. This is something that as a Christian I feel we should never stop desiring. This insatiable thirst and hunger for what is right in God's eyes will give a filled cup.

5:7 Blessed are the merciful, they will be shown mercy. This can be described as if you do good things to others, you too will be shown good things.

5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. As we commit to living move for God and not for ourselves, we allow God to work more in our lives.

5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they are called sons of God. Christ mentioned many times to retreat from conflict and this declaration is perfect evidence because for God to call us his children, he wants us to make the peace, not break the peace.

It's a game of inches (or feet)

The Knights of Lexington (not to be confused with the Knights of Columbus), played last night in the Las Americas baseball league at 5th and Jefferson. The baseball game was a close one until Kentucky Trade scored 7 in the bottom of the 8th to put the game out of reach and send the loyal fanbase to the parking lots to warm up their cars. The final was 11-5 Kentucky Trade over the Knights.

The game started out with the Knights going against the Jamie Moyer of the League. A lefty with a mixture of slow and slower fastballs, curveballs, and spinners kept the Knights off balance for the first four innings. The only bright spot for the Knights was a long ball by Tyson 'the quiet bat-master' Murray. In the bottom of the first, the Trade got a few runners on base to bring up their talented third batter. He ripped a liner down the right field line that according to infield-outfield-catcher Jordan 'Cookies' Adler, "it was foul by four feet." Fair or foul, without the luxury of an umpire down the right field line to identify the correct landing of the ball, the home plate umpire called the ball fair and the Trade was scoring runs unabashedly.

The Knights bats cooled off when Cody came into the game to pitch for the Trade in the 5th inning. A big tall southpaw with a mixture of fast and faster balls as well as a ball that broke away from the right hand batter, it looked bleak for the Knights. However, the bleakness of the night turned when Tyson stepped up the plate. He took a fastball and crushed his second homerun of the game to make it a 4-2 score with the Trade starting to wonder if the game was going to tighten up as their lead was diminished.

The Trade's fears were realized. After two quick outs, Cody all of a sudden couldn't find the strike zone. He walked Matt and Michael with two outs. Then Dave stepped to the plate with the Pizza Hut play of the game. "Unsure of the count, Cody sets the sign and delivers plate ward. The pitch is swung on and crushed to right field! The right fielder might have a play on it. No! The balls screams past and we are off to the races folks! One is scored, two runs are scored. Dave is heading for third with a two out-two run triple! We are tied at 4! The Knights have tied the Trade at 4!!! What a game! Talk about coming through in the clutch! Who doggies!!!"

Jordan Adler would then rip a single up the middle to give the Knights the lead 5-4.

The lead unfortunately wouldn't last for the Knights. The first batter for the Trade in the bottom of the 8th squibbed a ball to first base and barely beat the throw to a covering pitcher Michael.

Then the wheels fell and before the dust didn't settle on the infield, the Trade had scored 7 runs in the inning.

The Knights went quietly in the 9th and that was all she wrote. In the words of the cowboy Jeff Brantley, it was time to 'kiss the baby.'

The Knights next game is Thursday May 31 at 5th and Jefferson.

The Red Letter Commentaries 5-19-12

DC Talk came out with a song a in 1998 called the "Red Letters." Basically they sang about Jesus' life how the red letters offer hope, love, and peace. For you country music fans, Brooks and Dunn also released a song called, "Believe." Both of these songs talk about how some versions of God's Word include the words spoken by Jesus Christ are written on the pages in red. Granted, Jesus spoke in Aramaic and the versions I read are in English because I am still many years away from understanding, speaking, or reading Aramaic.


With that said, I have begun my personal commentary about the red letters of Jesus. I am reading a New International Version of the Bible given to me by my loving, beautiful bride and I will also cross-reference in spots with a New King James Version.


Let's begin in Matthew and work our way forward.


Matthew 3:15 Jesus is just baptized by John the Baptist and said, "it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Jesus understood what needed to happen in his life and one of the first things for his ministry was to be baptized. Christ offered the humbling act to be performed by John, who resisted at first, but eventually agreed.


4:4 Jesus went into the desert and is tempted by Satan. Satan tries to get Jesus to turn some rocks into bread because Satan knew Jesus was famished. Jesus replies, "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Jesus is referring to the Bible because God breathed the words into the authors exactly what he wanted them to write. I feel that so many of us try to rely on 'bread'-money, status, or a job alone in life and it can't sustain us. It is the word of God that will offer us the sustenance that we need.


4:7 Satan again tries to tempt Jesus to call on angels to save him from a fall off of a tall building. Jesus responds with, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test." Jesus understood God's will and knew that throwing himself off of a tall building only to have God the Father send angels to catch him would not prove anything. Satan tempts us constantly to try something we shouldn't because he knows he can rule over us with the smallest of footholds. Jesus response extinguished any foothold Satan tried to gain.


4:10 Jesus scolds Satan and shouts, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written, Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only." Satan will promise us so many things and a lot of it looks very glamorous. But we worship only the true God of this world and serve and give him our time.


4:17 Jesus preached, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." How true is this? Very true! I think that our lives as Christians begin the day we decide to follow Jesus. We know that heaven will come after we die, but while are here on earth, we have the opportunity every day to serve Jesus and share our hope we have in Christ with others.


4:19 Christ told the fishermen near the bank, "Come, follow me. And I will make you fishers of men." The men left at once to follow. No delay or time to scratch their heads to figure out what Jesus was talking about. Jesus has called us to follow him today!

2012 Derby Day Stakes

I ran today in the 1st annual, "run for Madi," Derby Day Stakes. The foot race at Coldstream Park offered 5k, 10k, and 15k races. I, being the ever optimist and doing what I haven't done yet, signed up for the 15k race. For those without a conversion table nearby, this is 9.3 miles. I ran the Moonlight Madness Marathon in 2008 with the Party Line, but that race was considered unofficial by some estimates.

This race was bona fide and and had a lot to offer for challenge. The weather gave us thunderstorms at daybreak but the threatening weather moved out by the 8:35 AM start. Humidity did give way for plenty of sweat for the shirt.

Aside from the distance it would torture the body, I suffered a back strain on Thursday thanks to base running out at 5th and Jefferson. I wasn't going to let this deter my race so I slapped a Icy Hot Patch before the start and jogged a mile to loosen the legs and back.

The race started at a good pace with the first mile going by at a 7:06 clip. I ran with a youth in a neon green jacket and a middle-aged man in a plaid kilt. The second mile took us out to citation boulevard and up a down a few hills. I was going through the motions good enough for a 7:25 second mile.

The third mile was the bright spot of the day. We raced through a bank parking lot or maybe insurance/law firm. I passed three people in front of me but was passed by another middle-aged man in a ball cap. I latched on to him and we drafted the entire third mile down hill and with the wind at our back. The result? A 6:13 third mile!

I followed the cap through the fourth mile but started to loose the draft. The fourth mile slowed to a 7:11 time. During the fifth mile, I suffered a pass from the middle-aged plaid kilt. As I tried to keep up with him, onlookers would shout the obvious to him. He didn't seem to respond, all business from this competitor. I finished up mile five in 7:31.

I was starting to feel the muscles in my hips right at the waist start to tighten. The back was feeling great, but my mile splits were moving into the mid to up seven minute quadrants. Only natural, right?

I watched from a distance as the cap and kilt battled each other the next three miles. For me, mile six took 7:43, mile seven paced 7:25, and mile 8 lasted 7:57. Mile 8 would have been over eight minutes but I sprinted for about ten seconds to secure the under eight mile.

Mile 9 came and passed with little event, I did run with a few of the 10k runners. I ran the 9th mile in 7:45 and had three-tenths to go. I ran up a hill and at the crest of the hill were encouragers and race officials. The course went downhill and ended on a nice flat stretch. 2:11 clocked off for my last leg.

Total time was 68:30. I am glad to be able to run and run for fun!

Knights finish off Don Omar 5-4

COOLAVIN PARK @ the corner of 5th and Jefferson

The Lexington Knights defeated Don Omar 5-4 on Friday April 20. Adam and Bryce took care of the pitching duties for the Knights, throwing as close to half a game each with Adam pitching 4 2/3 innings and Bryce 4 1/3 innings.

The Knights jumped out to a 2-0 lead after Adam's RBI single and a failed Don Omar pick-off attempt that led to a run because the ball ended up in right field and the runner on third base trotted home with ease.

Don Omar threw up a crooked number of their own by scoring four runs on hits, sacrifice flies, and walks with the bases loaded to lead 4-2.

The Knights would battle back in the bottom of the inning as Duke lead off with a double and moved to third base on a wild pitch. He then jogged home after Joe hit a single up the middle to make it 4-3.

The lead for Don Omar would last through the inning but would lose it in the next inning when Brendan doubled and Mikhail hit a fastball over the left-center field fence to give the Knights the 5-4 lead.

Bryce shut the door with four scoreless pitched innings and the first victory of the season for the Lexington Knights was secured.

The next game is April 29th at 7 PM at 5th and Jefferson. Come on out to support the Knights!

Let's play ball!

All games begin at 6:45 PM

Friday April 20 - Knights vs. Don Omar

Sunday April 29 - Knights vs. Aguascalientes

Thursday May 3 - Knights vs. Bravos

Friday May 11 - Knights vs. Mineros

Sunday May 20 - Knights vs. Eagles

Friday May 25 - Knights vs. KY Trade

Thursday May 31 - Knights vs. Potros

See you at Cricket Field off of 5th Street and Jefferson.

Dunbar runs ahead of LCA 84-79

“Dunbar runs ahead of LCA 84-79”
LEXINGTON, KY Paul Dunbar Bulldogs turned back the feisty Lexington Christian Eagles Thursday night 84-79. Dunbar was led in scoring by Will Gary with 34 points. Mike Smith also added 18 points for the Bulldogs. Taylor Barnette led the Eagles with 32 points.
A great crowd gathered at Paul Dunbar’s gym to watch the top 25 LCA Eagles take on the home team Paul Laurence Dunbar Bulldogs. ‘Camouflage night’ was the theme as most of the Dunbar student section pulled on their deer hunting shirts, leafy hats, and Carhart overalls. The fans engaged in a duck call and shot clay pigeons at halftime.
LCA came into the game with the upper hand as it beat Dunbar 81-69 back in December on its home floor.
The game started with a fast pace that included back and forth play as the teams played like the basketball was on fire and neither team wanted to hold it for very long for fear of being burned. Dunbar led at the end of the first quarter 21-19. However, LCA got two three pointers from Barnette in the first quarter, including one at the buzzer.
Dunbar’s Jamal Adu-Peasah gave the Bulldogs a counter weapon for the LCA attack with a couple of baskets and free throws. Adu-Peasah finished with 11 points.
Dunbar’s Will Gary shot the three with precision to lead Dunbar with 15 first half points. After every three, he held up the significant three fingers to ignite the crowd. Dunbar led 37-34 at halftime.
The third quarter saw a flurry of points for both teams. Mike Smith for Dunbar drove to the basket on several occasions to score for the Bulldogs.
LCA’s plan was simple. Barnette drove to the hoop to draw the defender and then would dish off to Jon Lannerton for an easy lay-up. This maneuver worked several times for the Eagles. LCA was able to keep up with Dunbar’s fast pace by making sharp cuts to the basket. However, at the end of the third quarter, Dunbar led 63-56.
Dunbar jumped on LCA to start the 4th quarter and built a 12 point lead at 74-62 with just under four minutes to go in the game. Point guard Tyler Harville fouled out for the Eagles soon thereafter and finished with 10 points, including two three point shots.
LCA struggled at the free throw line most of the night. Dunbar, on the other hand, made their free throws when the game was on the line. Up 78-74 with 48.3 seconds to play, Will Gary knocked down two free throws to put the game out of reach. The teams traded a few more free throws to end the game before the Bulldogs student section erupted in joy.
The home crowd left happy with Dunbar coming out on top 84-79. Dunbar improved to 13-3 and LCA dropped to 9-4 on the season.