Beech Tree News Network

There are a lot of stories being written about this Richie Incognito-Jonathan Martin bullying story.  Dan Patrick brought up the question of what is hazing and what is tradition.  This is not tradition.  If it is, the NFL has a massive problem.  If this is rookie hazing, well the guy is not a rookie anymore.  On November 5 at 6 am on Twitter, FOX analyst and former player Tony Siragusa asked “whatever happened to mental toughness”? So, he thinks people who get picked on are weak? I disagree.  It is my belief that the bullies are the weak ones.

My thoughts, remembering some who are or have been important in my life.

USMC
SSGT George H. Cron, fought for his Country in Korea, killed on the Island of Rhodes Greece while in the service of his Country, May 22, 1957.
Mike Miller, fought for his Country in Viet Nam, wounded and disabled in Viet Nam, returned home but never forgotten.
Joseph Roysdon, fought for his Country in Viet Nam, returned home but never forgotten.
Kenneth Bradley fought for his Country in Viet Nam, KIA, Khe Sanh February 28, 1968.

Recently, Bowling Green’s WBKO had a story about Black Friday shopping. The story said, “Stores across the country are opening up on Thanksgiving Day because they say that's what shoppers want” (http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/Black-Friday-Turning-into-Black-Thurs...). On Thanksgiving Day, stores used to be closed.

I’m sure you’ve heard the quote, “Life is a journey, not a destination.”  I’ve never cared much for that quote.  I guess it’s the kid in me.  Kids don’t care much for that quote either.

Our Lord Jesus Christ rules over us today. This is a fact that is lost on much of the world. After His resurrection and ascension, Christ sat down at the right hand of God to rule and reign over us. Daniel saw this day in his vision recorded in Daniel 7:13-14. The fulfillment of Daniel’s vision is seen in Acts 1:9-11 when Christ “came to” God and sat down at His right hand. Paul said that Christ is reigning now, and “must reign til he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (I Cor. 15:25-26).

In preparation for the Thanksgiving season, I thought I’d share my not-so-thankful-for list, getting it out of the way and making room in my head for more positive thoughts. Human nature causes us to have a little negativity. Those closest to me may already know my list: I may have complained (grumbled and whined) about these things before.

To most folks, perhaps the little things in history hold more interest than the ponderous, boring things – particularly to students studying history in school. Trying to memorize a bunch of dates is a poor way to begin to learn history. Just as trying to memorize the periodic table of elements in the study of Chemistry is a futile thing. The trick is to let happenings unfold around a date in history, or a chemical reaction in Chemistry. For instance, onions do not cause your eyes to burn.

At my house, you can tell when it’s deer season, because it’s the one time during the year when my husband, Garey, does laundry.  Let’s rephrase, when Garey does his own laundry.  I am not allowed to touch it, and that’s fine by me.  It is collected into special heaps in our bedroom, which I am careful not to fall over or even brush up against for fear of contamination—not what the clothes will pass on to me, rather what I will pass on to the clothes.

Luke 17:32 is a short verse, and it has reference to what happened to Lot’s wife as the family fled from Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19. As Lot and his family were leaving (II Pet. 2:6-9), they were warned not to look back to the city lest they “be consumed” (Gen. 19:17). And as humans are wont to do, when Lot’s wife was told not to look back, she did that very thing and “became a pillar of salt” (Gen. 19:26). Having been promised safety by God through obedience, when she sinned, she paid the penalty for her disobedience.

Tuesday afternoon, while enjoying my lunch ritual of watching the Dan Patrick Show, a question came to mind; why do we love sports? Sports lovers have their favorite teams.  Mine are Kentucky Wildcats, Tennessee Titans and St. Louis Cardinals.  Sports are good for a lot of things that might not even be considered.