Stay Plugged In

There is a system of thought out there that says ‘If it ain’t broke don’t fix it!” I agree with that. But I can also see the wisdom of the idea that if you aren’t growing then you’re dying. That means that you can’t stay the same by repeating the same thing over and over.


But what I don’t get is for someone who is affiliated with a group of people that like to have fun together, that enjoy each other and that challenge each other on their ideas or behaviors when they don’t seem appropriate, to stop meeting with them.

This group described above is an example of the principle called iron sharpens iron and that means you become like the people you associate with. Ideally the group contains others that can help you learn and grow beyond your current level.

You indicate your agreement with what the group stands for by your attendance and participation with the group as well as your willingness to accept their suggestions, advice and / or criticisms.

Why would you stop attending a group like the one above after several years? I guess there could be a number of reasons from a disagreement with one or more of the group members, something or someone else gets your attention or interest, or you find your beliefs are changing and aren’t the same as the group members. There also may be some other reasons.

Some advice that was given back in the early days of Ancient Greece is applicable I think. The advice is to ‘know thyself’. Good advice but it isn’t always easy to figure everything out for yourself. You can save time and heartache by heeding the advice of others who know you, who have already gone down the path that you are moving down or learn from others who are more knowledgeable in areas that you aren’t. Just as your group can do.

Trusting only in yourself may not be the best approach.

What a movie can do

Sometimes watching a movie triggers some thoughts, some emotions or some old memories. And sometimes a movie just entertains you.


Watching a movie tonight triggered some thoughts about my dad. The movie was ‘A Warrior’s Heart’.

Watching the movie tonight brought back memories and emotions. I saw a dad who was involved in his son’s life - at least involved in helping his son with his Lacrosse career in high school. His dad would teach him how to be a better player.


My dad and I weren’t real close as I grew up but we did talk occasionally. We talked mostly about sports and some current events after he got home from work at night, if I was home. As I got older I was out most nights.

We didn’t do much together. We didn’t hunt or fish or golf or do chores or walk together or anything like that. Mostly my dad came home from work ate dinner, read the newspaper, listened to the radio, drank a few bottles of beer and then went to bed.

It was pretty much the same on weekends.

During the summer months I would occasionally take him to work so I could use the car during the day so we talked during those times but it was only a 10 or 15 minute trip so we didn’t have a lot of time together.

We did do a few things together. Occasionally I could talk my dad into playing catch with me with a baseball and I did get him to help me deliver papers on my Sunday newspaper route when it got colder.

When I was young and even early into my adult life I would have difficulty with anger. I never understood why I would get upset so easily. And it took a while to get through it.

After participating in a ‘Men’s Fraternity’ group a few years ago I started to understand why I was angry when I was younger. One of the causes identified is that an absent father, either physically or emotionally, can be the reason for anger in men, both young and old. This translated means that the dad isn’t there to teach the son how to do things or to teach him about life or to just spend time together.

I would have blamed my dad when I heard that if I hadn’t already realized some time earlier that my dad didn’t have a dad that was involved in his life. So he didn’t have a good relationship or a good example that he could learn from.

My grandfather worked all day then came home to get cleaned up and eat and then went out to the backroom of a local restaurant to play poker all night according to my mom.

What helped me through the anger more than anything was my relationship with God. God transforms your life when you accept Him and let Him lead you. And the way this is made evident in your life is through the fruit of the Spirit. Some of the fruit is kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. Read about the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5.

A good example

I saw a guy today that I haven’t seen in a number of months. We have known each other for several years but don’t see each other very often.


I always feel good after talking with him for even a few minutes because he always asks how I am doing, how my projects are going and how my wife is doing. He always encourages me.

After I left I took some time to think about why I enjoy seeing him and I wrote down the following: He is strong in character, committed to his cause, consistent in his beliefs, willing to serve others and positive in attitude. He is sincere and I never feel that he is using me or taking advantage of me.

What I finally realized is that he is the kind of guy I would follow into war because his words and actions are in agreement. He is a good example. He is a man of character and someone I trust even though I don’t agree with all his ideas.

It was good to see him. It was a good reminder.

Stop the Insanity

I think it is time for the NFL and NCAA to take control of the assaults that are occurring on quarterbacks in their respective leagues. Quarterbacks that in many cases are standing defenseless after releasing a pass, that don’t practice for contact and that don’t work out in the weight room to bulk up.

Behavior can be controlled by rules and regulations with the exception of those who refuse to abide by the rules for whatever reason. Are the inhabitants of our prisons rule followers?

People will do whatever they can get away with and many times in sports players are encouraged for making the big hit by the fans and media. So it is up to the leagues to take the lead to protect layers.

In fact I am all in favor of putting the defense on defense by giving the offense opportunities to attack the defense by giving them the opportunity to hit, hold and block anywhere on the field at any time.

But the penalty that can have the greatest impact is one that makes the defensive player, or the player who delivers the injury causing blow, sit out for the same period of time as the injured player. A series, a game, a season or a career. But it must be a player of equal impact for both teams. Not a substitute or second team player who takes out an All-Pro player. Then the Team should be penalized if they have more than one of these types of players during some period to be defined by the league.

The way to make this more effective is to increase penalties geometrically for the first, second and third offense. Only three episodes in a career and then the player is banned from the league.

Harsh? Sure. But this idea or something like it can change things. Football hasn’t always been about taking out other players. Most tackling used to be about wrapping your arms around a player and pulling them down. No leading with the helmet or shoulder. But it can remain fun and enjoyable eliminating intentional hits to seriously injure other players.

Do wishes have a cost?

Forbes Thought Of The Day


“ Wishes cost nothing unless you want them to come true. ”

— Frank Tyger

Don't ask don't tell

Did Penn State have its own version of don't ask don't tell in place since the mid 90's? If so, it doesn't appear that it was formal or sanctioned by the university but nonetheless there is the impression that many more people in the community and at the Universaity knew what was going on with Jerry Sandusky and the kids he was molesting than have let on.

According to published reports authorities were notified numerous times through the years of Sandusky's alleged abuses but nothing was done until just recently as a result of a Grand Jury investigation.

Penn State officials, including coach Joe Paterno, have indicated that they fulfilled their legal responsibilities by reporting things through the appropriate channels but for some reason warning lights didn't go off when Sandusky frequently turned up at football games and other events accompanied by children. There were also claims that he would take kids out of their schools for periods of time.

Is it too much to expect that football coaches, university officials, teachers, townspeople and others pay as much attention to details like these as they do to the details in a game or to what is happening with their employees, or other students or their neighbors?

What many members of the public think is that these folks noticed some things but may have chosen to ignore them either due to formal directives or informal pressures to keep quiet. Perhaps the football program or the University or the Head Coach or all of them were deemed to be more important than the boy's well being.

Identify the cause not just the reason

During the election for Montgomery County Commissioners this week the Republicans lost control for the first time in about 100 years. There were some comments on the story on KYW and after reading them I thought I would offer an opinion.

'Bruce Castor, Republican candidate and incumbent commissioner, may be right in his assessment of why the Republicans lost the Montgomery County Commissioners race. According to Castor the Democrats won because they had more money and more votes. That is more the reason than the cause.

But I think it comes down to the lack of a compelling reason to vote for the Republicans or even a compelling reason to vote. Republicans many times seem to come up short on motivating the voters.


Certainly it can’t be because the other side doesn’t provide the material to work with. I think the GOP has to figure out how and when to use that material rather than expecting that people will automatically vote for Republicans just because they talk about lowering taxes or creating jobs. It has to become a more personal message directed at the voters.'