Take a look at this picture of the front page of the Indy Star from last Friday. 

Do you see anything wrong with this?…No?

How about the fact that the big story is about Bobby Knight.  A man who left Indiana 10 years ago, on a bad note, and has only been back a few times…gets the big story. 

Look at the bottom right.  See the story about the two Indiana soldiers who died overseas?  See how little attention they and their families received?  Does anyone else find this offensive?

I have never been a huge fan of the Indy Star and their cheap reporting but, it is the best newspaper in Indiana. These men died a heroic death and they feel that Bobby Knight is more important?  The Indy Star needs to get their act together.  We dont care about Knight anymore and he doesnt care about us in Indiana.  What we do care about is our friends and family in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Indy Star needs to realize that it isnt all about basketball and sports in this state.  I’m extremely offended and very upset about this.  Every soldier deserves more than they get, and this is just another example. 

This is for my brother and also for all the US Marines who have lost their lives for our country…especially those who have answered the call of duty since 9/11/2001

From the Halls of Montezuma,
To the shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country’s battles
In the air, on land, and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marine.

Our flag’s unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job
The United States Marines.

Here’s health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we’ve fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven’s scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

On 9/13, my mom would be 47 years old if she were still living.  I think about her often, and I miss her.  I’ll share a little letter with you, I hope she gets read it too.  If not, it’s no problem, I’m sure she is having a great time right now. I know this is kind of weird, but I don’t know how else to talk to her. It’s a letter full of love and may it represent how all sons should feel for their mothers. If you still have your mommy, give her your love.

Hey Mom,

It’s almost your birthday, you’re getting old.  Things are good down here, Nathan and I are making it.  Ball State is pretty cool, it’s a lot bigger than CCU.  The bus gig is pretty cool, I just drive and drive and go no where.  It’s pretty neat, and I get to meet a lot of people.  The radio job is in it’s boring stages right now, but it’s a start in the business I want to get into so I’m enjoying it for that reason.  Life is good down here, I cant complain.

Nathan is a Marine, looks great in his Marine attire.  He’s out in California and I miss a great deal.  He makes me very proud and I look up to him and admire all that he is accomplishing.  He is coming home in a couple weeks, and I cant wait to see him.

I was thinking about how proud you would be if you were still here.  You have one son half way through college and one is a United States Marine.  How cool is that? After all we went through, all our troubles, pain, and heartaches, your sons are getting through it.  You did your best as a mom, and you deserve credit for everything we do.  Good job mom.

That is all for now.

Nathan and I miss you and love you. 

We’ll meet again.

Love,

Matt

(via ilovecharts)

mrdrewlarison:

cottonintestines:

Step one: realize you’re nobody, and you deserve nothing.

Step two: work your ass off doing what you love, and never settle for less than what you want.

Step three: Never stop.

Step four: look back and realize you’ve found happiness. 

Step five: pass it on.

Recently I went to a Girls Home called Hope Hill Childrens Home which is near Mount Sterling Kentucky to do some chores around their facilities.  My main job was to help repair and put up new fencing around the horse pasture that they use for equine therapy with the girls.  It was extremely hot, and pretty tough work.  I worked with Sarah’s dad and it was usually just us two and he was a hard worker that I tried to keep up with but sometimes failed. 

Each day though, we took about 2 hours out of the middle of our day to spend time with the girls.  It was usually just a time to play cards, or Monopoly or Uno and I really enjoyed my time.  About the second day there, the girls started really opening up and talking a lot and let us know how much they appreciated us.  They often complimented our nice attitudes and overall happiness.  It was extremely encouraging.

Also, on Wednesday morning, we stopped work to join them in chapel.  I was taken back by their stories and what they have been through.  My life has been rough, but I am often humbled by what I witness in other people’s lives and that week was no different.  Throughout that week and since then, I have been thinking about a verse I once memorized, James 1:27. It says:

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (NIV)

I am often surprised by how I forget this verse because I think that I don’t have anything to offer.  What a shame.  I have a generally healthy body that can work hard, I have gloves, I have a hammer, and I have a heart for hurting people.  I know what it is like to be loved on when you think you have nothing to look forward to or if everything that can go wrong does, and someone is there to lift you up.  God has never failed me and has always given me someone to look up to and to help take care of me.  It is a blessing to pass it on.  I am honored that I get to practice James 1:27 and that I can pass on the love that God has shown me. 

What a beautiful God we serve.

Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work. -Mother Teresa

I just finished this book authored by the great John Wooden.  At the news of his passing I was greatly saddened, and I got to watching him and listening to bits about him and I realized, I have never read one of his books.  So, a friend let me borrow “They Call Me Coach.”  It was an amazing book.  I am a fan of sports, history, and biography type books, and this one has it all.  I felt like I was sitting in the room with Mr. Wooden and he was just sitting there telling me all these stories.  I could hear Mr. Wooden telling them to me.  It was so neat how I could just feel John Wooden in his book.  I have never had something like that before.  He is full of stories, and can remember everyone he meets it seems like. I really really loved this book and I encourage anyone to read it, even if you  are not a sports fan, I think you can get some real wisdom out of this book.  Now, time to hit the library so I can enjoy a new book.

Up to this point in my life, I havent been much of a golfer.  My interest in the sport didnt come around until the last few years.  I began reading about it, watching it more, and even playing it a few times.  The most recent book I read, is a book called Final Rounds. 

The author is James Dodson, and writer for Golf Digest.  Dodson, writes about his early childhood, and how he felt closest to his father while they were on the links.  While they would play golf together, Dodson’s father would teach him about the sport, the history of the sport, and tie it into to life lessons as well.  Dodson showed how both his father, and golf helped him throughout his life, and how it all led to one last trip.  James’ father learned that he has cancer, and only had 3 months to live.  The two had always wanted to go on a tour of Europe and golf the historic links that Europe had to offer, and relive the times that his father had their when he fought as a fighter pilot in World War 2. 

Final Rounds speaks of the historic courses of Royal Lytham and Royal Birkdale, to the windswept links of Carnoustie, where Hogan played peerlessly in ‘53, and the legendary St. Andrews, whose hallowed course reveals something of the eternal secret of the game’s mysterious allure over pros and hackers alike.

James also learns about what exactly his father went through when he was over in Europe during the war, and how he became the man that James always knew. Throughout their journey, the Dodsons humorously reminisce and reaffirm their love for each other, as James finds out what it means to have his father also be his best friend. Final Rounds is a book never to be forgotten, a book about fathers and sons, long-held secrets, and the lessons a middle-aged man can still learn from his dad about life, love, and family.

It was a great book, a great tribute to a man and a sport, and I soon wont forget what I read.  I highly recommend it, and you can easily find the book for $10-$12 on Amazon or other online book stores.

I just finished the first season of WKRP in Cincinnati, and I just want to recommend this show to everybody who might read this blog.  The first season is currently on the Hulu.  It’s about a small radio station in Cincinnati that hires a new production manager, and he changes the format to rock & roll.  It is rough at first, but after a while things start to pick up.  It is really funny, and every episode it gets more and more funny.  I could compare it to The Office very easily.  Except it’s a radio station instead of a paper company and it was in the 1970’s.  I love radio, and I love the Cincinnati tie ins that they have in the show that I totally understand.  In a time where I need something to cheer me up, and this show hits the spot.  I’m just sad they only have the first season up.  Hulu recommended a show called NewsRadio, so I’m going to try it now.  Andy Dick is in it, so I’m not sure if I will like it.  He was only good in Employee of the Month.  You know…the scene at the little kids birthday party.  HAHA, hilarious.  

Thanks for reading, stay tuned for more readings.