PUT THAT COOKIE DOWN!!!

Recently my gorgeous wife and I made a TON of chocolate chip cookies for our Sunday school class that we teach together. There were quite a few cookies left over after church. Seeing this bounteous surplus, I thought it would be a good idea to share these cookies with someone else as a random act of kindness (and senseless beauty). I recall feeling great about this idea, until some other situation erupted that broke-up the plans forming in my head.

Time passed and somehow I lost my resolve. Being the "grazer" that I am, I'd snag a cookie every time I drifted by the kitchen that afternoon. I think my kids were doing the same thing. Mentally, I figured there would still be enough to take a plate to someone. But sure enough, when the time came and I decided who I could share the cookies with, they were gone.

I think this is a great example of our power to bless other people's lives. It takes time and steady effort to build up a store of good things we can share. We may sit back and admire what we have accomplished and design to share it with others, but the temptation arises to keep what we have earned, rather than give it away. It takes self-control, discipline and sacrifice to help other people. The rewards for giving away our cookies are so much greater than stuffing them down our greedy throats "with nothing to show for it" later.

Honestly, I blew it. I hoarded my cookies and missed a great opportunity to perform a small, simple act of kindness. "Behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass." Next time, I'll start with the end in mind and (as Arnold would say) PUT THAT COOKIE DOWN!!!

High Octane Prayer and Trophy Women

I have to give NASCAR credit for its uniqueness. I personally can't watch it, like Golf or Baseball (post-season excluded). I need some right turns and 100 less laps. I'll watch all of the accidents on ESPN later. However, in the midst of a desk-jockey triathlon, I witnessed a major sporting even open with a prayer, and a pretty meaningful one at that. Next, the National Anthem was sung (really it was sung, not just an American Idol warm-up exercise) and they panned almost every driver in the race - I have no idea what race it was - and I don't care. What caught my attention after a while, was that every driver had some serious arm candy at his side. Yes, no one does gasoline, God and women like the south.

I could hear Rocky's trainer Mickey screaming "WOMEN WEAKEN LEGS!!!" True, but drivers (athletes-cough) don't have to do much running in a race. My old offensive line coach would ask the guy who comes in second place, "What's the matter with you? Are you in love?" For as manly as NASCAR seems to be, this female faux pas is strangely overlooked. I'm grateful to see a prayer before a game, but this trophy wife/girlfriend/escort thing doesn't work for me. I suppose one could argue that fast cars and fast women just go together. Like peanut butter and... well, you know.

With Honor

This is an inspirational speech given by Bronco Mendenhall, the head coach of BYU football. Something for everyone in it. Hope you enjoy...

Here is a modern day Captain Moroni. You can work in a violent profession and rise above it all. I've been inspired to get a "Return with Honor" sign above the door for the house. After watching this I had that "let's tear off the door and win this thing feeling." I love that feeling.

Oxymoron

I've always enjoyed "West End Girls" by the Pet Shop Boys. As upbeat as the song is, and as much as they sing about "girls" neither of these themes seem to show up in the video...

I'm not surprised by any of this considering the "orientation" of the band, perhaps the two artists themselves are the "West End Girls." At first blush, this was a very boring video, but then I really enjoyed the stark contrast between the beat and female thing and what actually shows up visually. This could take the cake for the most uninspired performance in the history of music video, a generally wild genre.

Final thought: is it just me or does Tennant (singer) almost look like an LDS missionary? Thank you for allowing me to waste five minutes of your life.