Brett Favre can't quit!

Okay, I can't take anymore of this Brett Favre garbage! If he truly was ready to retire, he wouldn't want this. He should know in his mind now that there's not much chance of a team right outside the door of the Super Bowl needing a quarterback. If Brett can lead a mediocre team, which is what he is going to get, to a bowl, then I say bring back Elway. I would love to see my beloved Broncos take another. I, however, am ok with the fact that even the King of Denver couldn't pull them out of their current funk. Brett, give it up. I respect you for what you have accomplished but when you said I quit, make it stick. The NFL has too much up and coming talent for any team to base their Super Bowl hopes on an aging QB. I don't think there is a place for you now. I can see the tarnish already starting to appear if you continue this foolishness.

Crude oil prices vs. At the pump cost

What gives? Why is it that when there is an increase in crude oil barrel prices, we see an almost instantaneous rise in at the pump prices? However, when the cost of crude drops significantly, the relief for the consumer takes days even weeks.

A decline in oil prices wouldn't translate into relief at the gas pump for some time. Retail gasoline prices in the U.S. held steady at a record $4.108 a gallon, according to AAA auto club, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express. Diesel continued to advance, rising more than half a penny to a record $4.807 a gallon. (Yahoo! News 7/8/08)

I don't think I'll ever understand the thinking behind all of this mess. The consumer always gets stuck in the end. For once, I would love to see a wide spread protest at the pump. A protest where everyone vows to not purchase fuel for 2-3 days or longer if they wish. Of course, I know it would never happen. This is exactly why the interstate system is just as congested on say 4th of July 2008 as it was 3-5 years ago. Gasoline prices just don't have near the effect on keeping people home as they may have in the past, which is exactly why a protest would never happen as well. I hate paying these prices but unfortunately, until the government approves widespread development of alternative fuel sources such as hydrogen fuel cells, which won't happen because their hands are in the oil companies pockets, we will just have to deal.

Remember the Alamooooooo!!!!!

My family, along with Stubb's family decided to go to San Antonio for the 4th of July weekend. One of the main events on the agenda was to visit the Alamo. Of course most should know this as the place where many of our nations "heroes" took a stand against General Santa Anna's army for the independence of Texas from Mexico. Many men died trying to hold off the assault, great men like Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett ( he prefers David), Juan Seguin, William Travis and many others. This particular post is not for a history lesson but rather a complaint. Yes, I know, you probably don't care for reading someone else's complaints but please make an exception for this. You see, the excitement I had for visiting this famed historic site ( bolstered by Pee Wee Herman's search for the basement in Pee Wee's Big Adventure), was crushed as I stood before the old mission and walked the grounds. I observed a building that had been desecrated by sealing up many of the original doorways and windows which once existed. Now many are blocked up for whatever reason. The grounds of the Alamo also stands amongst many modern buildings, hotels, offices, etc, towering over her structures within a few feet. The layout of the original fort area has long since been covered by concrete and asphalt, which is shown to visitors in a diagram as they tour the disappointingly small museum they offer in the former barracks area. One photo even displayed a business in the early 1900's using the barracks area, as well as the mission building, as offices, manufacturing area or whatever else. I don't know if you care for history or not but one thing I can tell you is that it is a shame the people of this country have allowed our historic sites in many places to become what I witnessed in San Antonio. After moving to Texas 2 years ago, I have spoke to many people who aren't afraid to tell you of their "Texas Pride". Unfortunately I go to one of the sites of all that "pride" and am tremendously disappointed in what I found. It is a shame that over the short 150 years, give or take, a little more preservation measures couldn't have been taken to assure that the integrity of the Alamo and it's surrounding grounds survived more in it's original state. I hear and see many crying out for protecting animals, forests, oceans and so on, but it's obvious to me that protecting our country's important landmarks past just the main building and a few feet of ground that surrounds it may not be so high on our list. To finish, it's not that I was disappointed in being able to visit this hallowed ground but that I expected more. More from the people responsible for altering the buildings from their original state and more from the state and national governments in trying to preserve these type of sites. Thanks for listening!

Kosova

I would like to ask for prayer from all of you who read this. I am supposed to make a trip to Kosova in September but the opportunities for presenting the work there have not fallen into place like I had hoped. This results in the funds not being available for the trip. Dave Helmick is in great need of someone to move to that field to multiply the Word of God getting out to the people in Peja. Please pray that the Lord works, not only on the hearts of church members around East Texas, but also on my family as we prepare for this unknown step in our life. I am not quite sure of a timeframe but I do know that the Lord has it in His plans for us to minister to Kosova. Please PRAY!!!

Simply Ridiculous

This morning on Yahoo, I read a post about the most ridiculous rule ever to be associated with professional sports. The Kansas City Chiefs have a rule in place for fans that prohibits standing while attending games!!!!!!! What bonehead would have ever come up with something like this? Perhaps if the Chiefs had a team that was worth standing for this would be even more ridiculous. We all know, however, that the Chiefs fans probably keep the dust off those seats just fine, so they surely don't care about the rule (GO BRONCOS!).