Bull Riding

Attempting to ride a bull, I believe, is the most fun thing a person could do. I say “attempting” to ride a bull because that really is what I do. I wouldn’t call myself a bull rider as much as I would a bull fall offer. Allow me to qualify that real quick. To be a true bull rider you must ride all the time. Every weekend or at least every other weekend you must be on the back of a bull. That is how you become good. Many bull riders will tell you that if they go a couple weeks without riding, they will be out of their groove and therefore not as good. Riding often is the main thing that makes a good bull rider.

I get to be in rodeos two or three times a year. And when I do get to ride it has been at least four or five months since I have even attempted, thus increasing the level of difficulty. It is very hard to ride a bull, but it is even harder to ride a bull if you do not do it on a regular basis. This means that when I enter rodeos in Lincoln County or Eureka I am just a little bit over my head. Thanks to an e-mail from Kristin I entered a professional rodeo today!

Here is a good way to think about it.

In high school you can have a varsity baseball team. Some High schools have varsity rodeo teams. The state of Missouri has a high school rodeo league.

Most of the rodeos that I have been in are part of the Missouri Rodeo Cowboy Association. This is kind of like playing baseball at a community college level.

What Major League Baseball is to baseball the PBR (professional bull riders) is to bull riding.

So if you have been following along, my skill level might be a little over High School and a little under community college.

The rodeo I am trying to enter is probably somewhere around single A baseball.

It promises to be fun!


Here are some websites for more info:
http://www.longhornrodeo.com/

http://familyarena.com/calendar/index.html?section=calendar&submit=detail&event_uid=500&year=2008&month=01&day=11

Father-to-be

Despite what you might hear over the next couple of days I want to officially announce that I am not and will never be the father of Jamie Lynn Spears' (Britney’s sister) baby. At this time I would like everyone to be reminded that my name is Casey A. Eldridge.

Thank You

Light

Genesis 1:3-4
And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.

Exodus 13:21
By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.

Deuteronomy 25:13
Do not have two differing weights in your bag--one heavy, one light.

2Samual 22:29
You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light.

Ezra 9:8
…God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage.

Job 3:4
That day--may it turn to darkness; may God above not care about it; may no light shine upon it.
Job 3:20
"Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul,

Job 17:12
These men turn night into day; in the face of darkness they say, 'light is near.’

Job 24:13
"There are those who rebel against the light, who do not know its ways or stay in its paths.

Job 29:1-3
1 Job continued his discourse: 2 "How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me, 3 when his lamp shone upon my head and by his light I walked through darkness!

Psalms 4:6
Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord.

Psalms 18:28
You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.

Psalms 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear?

Psalms 104:2
He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent

Ps 112:4
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.

Ps 119:130
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

Ps 139:12
Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

Proverbs 6:23
For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life,

Ecclesiastes 2:13
I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness.

Isaiah 2:5
Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Isaiah 9:2
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

Daniel 2:22
He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.
Micah 7:8 - Show Context
Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.

Matthew 11:29, 30
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

John 1:4-5, 7-9
In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

John 3:19-21
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

John 11:9, 10
Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light."

John 12:35-36
Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light."

John 12:46
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

Acts 13:47
For this is what the Lord has commanded us: "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"

Ac 26:18
To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God

Romans 13:12
The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

2Corinthians 4:4
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2Corinthians 6:14
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

Colossians 1:12
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

1Thessalonians 5:5
You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
1 John 1:5
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

1John 2:9-10
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.

Revelations 21:23
The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

Revelations 22:5
There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

For Sale by Owner

Does anyone out there want to buy the Cubs? For that matter does anyone want to buy Wrigley Field?
The Cubs are for sale (again) and no one wants to buy them (again).

My little note to any possible Cub suitors;
The Cubs suck, have sucked, and (my personal favorite) they will always suck.

Maybe Mark Cuban heard the chant “ninteenOOOOOOOOOOeight!” all the in Dallas.

Hey Mark if you want to make some money buy an NHL team for Kansas City. Think about it, Kansas City is closer to Dallas and no matter what team you buy at least they won’t be the Cubs!

What I’m wishing for this Christmas is that the Cubs are not sold by the start of the season and the Tribune Company puts them on Ebay. I just wonder what the reserve would be.

P.S. Wrigley Field has nets to catch pieces of concrete that fall into the stands. Oh and by the way Cubs long time rivals, the Cardinals and the White Sox, have both won World Series in their new parks while the Cubs are still waiting to win a one in their “new” park.

Opening day can’t come soon enough!

Life

Here is what has been on my plate lately.

• Work sucks because it’s in KC and because 40 year old men act like 13 year old girls.
• Christmas is coming fast! That’s good
• Kristin’s gift is a pain in my butt, but fun!
• Ice, ice and more ice
• The driver side window in my car leaks
• I’ve been finding out that Logan might be the coolest person I know
• I have been working Saturdays and only seeing Kristin one day a weekL
• My brother is going in the air force!!
• I’m having a poker tournament Saturday!!
• God is good even when I’m not
• At the same time Kidz makes me want to have kids and Kidz make me not want to have kids!
• Life is an adventure and I’m trying to have fun in the ups and downs!!!!
  
  Have a good day

I like you

Guys I like (in a heterosexual way) and why in 5 words or less

Brian…..maybe the funniest person ever
Bob……..great mentor
Chadd…..would do anything for me
Clayton....has a good heart
Ethan…...all-around fun person
Gabe……funny, mainly just awesome
Kyle…….light hearted and funny
Monty…. easy to talk to
Phil……..witty, smart
Randall.... good leader, (sexiest person alive?)
Rob……..great sense of humor, awesome
Ryan……irreplaceable, unshakable friend
Shaun…..fun and competitive
Steve…...makes you feel good
Jason…...fellow Cardinals die-hard fan
Logan….too funny for his own good
Nick…...good conversationalist, fun
Tony……fun person to be around

This is not all I like about you. I only had 5 words to work with, give me a break. If you're not on the list I’m sorry. I probably still like you.

Girls I like (in a heterosexual way) and why in 5 words or less
Kristin...she's awesome

The greatest thing we've never seen

I am getting tired of hearing that we are witnessing the best whatever in history. It is true that numbers make the world of sports go ‘round, but as we all know numbers as well as stats lie…..a lot. And too many times numbers are left out of the equation all together. Right now you may be asking what in the world I’m talking about. Well here it is.

According to ESPN, FOX sports, and every other source..…

The 2007 New England Patriots might be the best football team ever
Alex Rodriguez is the best natural baseball player the game has ever seen
Rodger Federer is the best tennis player in the history of tennis
Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon make HMS the most dominate NASCAR team ever


Sidney Crosby may be the best the NHL has ever seen
Bryant's 81-points is more impressive than Chamberlain's 100
Randy Moss and T.O. are the best two receivers ever to catch a ball
"This" years New York Yankees are the best team ever assembled
LeBron James is the next (and maybe better) M.J.
Tiger Woods is the most dominate all-around golfer ever When was the greatest NCAA basketball tournament? Was it this year or last year? Maybe it was two years ago.
Barry Bonds is the all-time greatest hitter and maybe even best player in baseball history
Tony Romo is the next Brett Favre
Should I go on?

How many times hours or even minutes after a game do you hear “This is one of the greatest games in the history of_____!”?

Everyone loves a good countdown at the end of the year. Let’s see how many of those plays happened in the last five years when you watch the top 100 plays of all-time. How many games happen in the 2000’s that have been the greatest ever?

ESPN Classic, a channel dedicated to “classic” games, now has instant classics on everyday. They also have the college football game of the week. How can a "game of the week" be a classic already?

It is no question that we are living in a special time for sports. The Red Sox have won two world championships in four years. The single season home run record has been broken and broken again in the last ten years. Not to mention the all-time HR record. The NFL is bigger, faster, and stronger than ever and I’m not talking about the players. The NBA Finals rating is higher and higher every year. Contracts in every sport grow and grow at the same rate as Barry Bonds’ arms.

Speaking of that.....have we ever thought that there is a reason so many records are falling?

Look at the workout routine of your average pro athlete now compared to fifty years ago. How many sit-ups do you think Babe Ruth did? Also we might want to consider the advancements in technology in regards to sports equipment, nutritional supplements, diet, exercise, HGH, steroids … oh wait I didn’t just say that did I? Do you think Rolen and Enos use the same glove? What about Jerry Rice’s and T.O.’s gloves? Hockey sticks aren’t lighter and stronger are they?

I didn’t graduate from college, but I think Chamberlain’s 100 is still more points than Bryant’s 81. One hundred minus eighty one carry the one….where is a good calculator when you need it?

Don’t get me wrong the Patriots might go undefeated, Sydney is the most fun to watch, and Alex makes 2.75 times more than the entire Florida Marlins 2008 roster. But no matter how great they are, no matter how many records brake, there is a place for all-time greats.

Somewhere M.J. is still M.J., Brett is still Brett, the Babe is still the Babe, and Stan is still the Man.


We may be living in the greatest sports era ever, but that’s what they said in the 90’s and the 80’s and the 70’s and the 60’s and the 50's and the 40’s and the 30’s and the 20’s...

Downfall

Every time I hear these words it gets me thinking. I think about the constant struggle of laying stuff down . The struggles to believe that God is bigger than my problems and while I am dirty still know that there is a love that can make anyone clean.

Some how I can worry about things, not trust God enough to handle them, and then wonder why they don’t get better. It’s almost like I don’t want Him to see my shortcomings or bother Him with my issues.

I could see a conversation going like this…

"Wonder how you sleep
I wonder what you think of me
If I could go back
Would you have ever been with me
I want you to be unused
I want you to remember
I want you to believe in me
I want you on my side
Come on and lay it down
I've always been with you
Here and now
Give all that's within you"

"Be my savior and I'll be your downfall"

"Here we go again
Ashamed of being broken in
We're getting off track
I wanna get you back again
I want you to trouble me
I wanted you turning down
I want you to agree with me
I want so much so bad
Come on and lay it down
I've always been with you
Here and now
Give all that's within you"

"Be my savior and I'll be your downfall"

"Yeah, be my savior"
"Only love can save us now "
"Don't lay me down"
"Only love can save us now "
"I'll be your downfall"
"love can save us now"

"I'll be your downfall, don't save me now"

"Lay it down
I've always been with you
Hear and now
With all that's within you"

"Be my savior and I'll be your downfall"

"Only love can save us now
Lay it down
I've always been with you
Hear ME now"

Downfall
by Matchbox Twenty

The Snowball

There are three days next year that I am looking very forward to. February 25th, March 31st and October 1st.

February 25th is the Matchbox 20 concert in Kansas City.

October 1st will be the start of the Major League Baseball playoffs and hopefully another step towards the 11th World Series championship for my redbirds.



When I was 19 years old I was sitting in my uncle’s driveway at a family gathering of some sorts. My Uncle Bryce and I were discussing the upcoming baseball season and wondering how our beloved Cardinals would fare. He told me that, as always, he was going to Opening Day and asked if I was going. I had not really thought about it. When I realized that I was off work that Monday I decided to go. I bought a ticket from a dirty scalper and the rest as they say………..

On that Monday not only did I see what Uncle Bryce was telling me about, but I fell in love.

You see for a true baseball fan the last game of the World Series has two parts. First you crown a new champion and then the “next year”, that Cub fans have been talking about since May, begins.

It begins like a snowball; teams can start talking to their free agents. Then they can talking to other team’s free agents. Some players sign with new teams (i.e. Edgar Renteria and Torii Hunter). Others sign with their same club (i.e. Jorge Posada) and some players say they will not sign with their old team then realize no one else will pay them $27.5 million per year for ten years and end up signing with their old team (i.e. Alex Rodriguez). Some big trades are talked and talked and talked about (i.e. Johan Santana and Miguel Cabrera). Then there are the GM winter meetings where big deals can get done everyday of the week. Free agent signings, trades, and looking for prospects continues for months until all 30 teams feel as if they have the best team to put on the field.

Soon February begins and it’s time for spring training. While wins and loses in the spring may not mean a whole lot, there is plenty to play for. This is when players get there timing down, see how they are improving after last year’s injuries, and for some it is a time used to prove they are worthy of playing in “the show”. A couple weeks into spring training and every fan’s snowball of anticipation is growing to be about the same size as their lofty hopes that the new season has brought.

As a fan my season starts when Jason and I camp, often in the snow, in a Schnucks parking lot all night to get a ticket for the experience that is Opening Day. (I could tell you which Schnucks we camp at, but then I’d have to kill you.)


Opening Day is the one day a year when nothing else matters. A concert will come and go. The October baseball you hope and pray will come has no guarantee. But Opening Day comes every year and on that day time stands still. It doesn’t matter who the president is, what a barrel of oil cost, or who will win American Idol. Baseball is all that matters on that day.


All of the sudden a ball of snow that has been building for five long months melts away in the springtime sun with the simple words…………..Play Ball!

Doing The Mostest Goodest

The Mission Statement of the Salvation Army USA
The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

This is the mission statement for the Salvation Army. I believe that the Salvation Army is a good organization that helps lots of people in need. I do not question them when they say they preach the gospel of Jesus Christ or that they meet human needs in His name.

The problem I have had with the Salvation Army for over a year is in their slogan. I have had the pleasure of volunteering with many human needs organizations over the years. Anything you do to improve this world, in my opinion, is doing good. No matter if it is building homes in third world countries, engaging in conversations, digging fresh water wells, or feeding the homeless, it is all good. Doing good is doing good in my book. If you give of your time and resources to people in need you are doing something good. There is no such thing as doing more good than someone else. I would think that this way of thinking would be very prevalent in any human needs organization especially one being called a “Christian” human needs organization. This is why the Salvation Army’s slogan “Doing The Most Good” bothers me. Is it not important to just do what is good? Do we need to compare how much good is being done between people doing good?


I give thanks to the Salvation Army for doing good. I just don’t give them more thanks than I do Living Water, Homes for the Homeless, Sunshine Ministries, or any other human needs organization.


Hebrew 10:24
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Life and the pursuit...

As I was thinking about life and the pursuit of happiness this is the trail I went down…

Matthew 6
…"Therefore I tell you, DO NOT WORRY about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? LOOK AT THE BIRDS IN THE AIR; THEY DO NOT SOW OR REAP OR STORE AWAY IN BARNS, AND YET YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER FEEDS THEM. ARE YOU NOT MUCH MORE VALUABLE THAN THEY?...

Casey 1
I know from this that God will provide for me. The time I spend worrying about being provided for is wasted time. God even provides for birds, but am I really more valuable than a bird in God’s eyes?

Genesis 1
…And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so…. And God saw that it was good….

… So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them…. God saw all that He had made, and it was VERY good….

Casey 2
Does God care about birds? Yes, He created them. Does God think of me as more valuable than a bird? Yes, I was made in the image of God and told to rule over the birds in the sky. (Genesis 1:26) God said birds are good, but that I was VERY good.

Birds are provided for. Barring an incident with a windshield, they will live a good life. They live a good life without a steady income and a 401k. If God thinks more of me than He does a bird why do I waste so much time thinking and worrying about money and things?

Philippians 4
… Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus…

Matthew 6
…"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was not dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?…

…But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore DO NOT WORRY about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own….

Casey 3
Instead of worrying, I should pray? Instead of worrying about retirement and a house, I should live in Christ and seek first His kingdom? All too much I feel like Peter seeing Gods miracles, knowing He can be trusted, but remain one “of little faith.”

When I worry endlessly about the big picture of life I think God says to me the same thing Jesus said to the disciples in Matthew 8:26. "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?"

After all of this, this is what I have come up with.

When I worry about life, remember what I am living for.
When I worry about the pursuit; remember what I am pursuing.

Know that I Am (Yahweh) is who He said He was and know that I am (Casey) who He said I was.

"W" Songs

I found, while scrolling through my ipod, the other day that songs starting with the letter “W” are very good. I’m not saying that W has the best song overall, but overall average song quality is unmatched by any other letter! See if it is the same on your ipod, I bet it is. Here’s my list:

Wait a Minute- pussycat doll (they get better I promise)
Waiting on the World to Change- John Mayer
Wake Up Call- Maroon 5
Walk the Line- Johnny Cash
Walk This Way- Areosmith
Wasted- Brandi Carlile
We Are the Champions- Queen
We Will Rock You- Queen
Welcome to the Jungle- Guns ‘n Roses
What Goes Around- Justin Timberlake
What Would You Say- Dave Matthews Band
Wheel in the Sky- Journey
When the Heartache Ends- Rob Thomas
Why Georgia- John Mayer
With a Little Help From My Friends- Beatles
Won’t Go Home Without You- Maroon 5
Wonderful Tonight- Eric Clapton
Wouldn’t It Be Nice- The Beach Boys

Resume

Dear Mr. Bill Dewitt Jr.,

The purpose of the letters is to officially announce to you, and whoever it may concern, that I would like to be considered for your recently vacated general manager position. The Cardinals have a very rich history that I am well informed of. Something you may not be informed of is my rich history. I would hope that you would be able to overlook what some people would call “a lack of baseball experience.” To the people that would say that I say this; maybe I haven’t be on staff of a professional baseball franchise, maybe I haven’t played very much or any organized baseball, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be the best fit as general manager. I know that before hiring me you would like to know more about me and my back round. I also know that your time is very valuable so I have cut straight to the point for you. (You’re welcome)

Education and Professional:

High School: Graduated with a four year degree from The Wentzville Holt high school.

College: I don’t like to brag, but I do have some community college under my belt. I also graduated from the School of Awesome People with a master’s degree in General Awesomeness.

Jobs: I have pretty much done everything from changing oil, to selling cell phones, to literally sucking crap out of people basements.

Personal:I love the Cardinals and the game of baseball more than I could ever love a human baby. With that said here are some facts that may help you in you decision making. Some of them may seem unbelievable, but remember “unbelievable” is my middle name.
1. I attend on average 42.3 major league baseball games a year. 99.7% of those being St. Louis’ games.
2. I am a slightly above average softball player. I feel that this would help me in relating to my players.
3. The first baseball game the I attended was in Busch Memorial Stadium at a Cards/Cubs game.
4. I can run a mile in under 9.5 minutes.
5. My St. Louis Cardinal licenses plates read “H8DCBS”. You can figure it out on your own.
6. Lots of people think I am the funniest person ever.
7. I have a three foot by two foot box filled with baseball cards.
8. At least four people have voted for me for the president of the United States.

I have now informed you of what I bring to the table. Here is what I am expecting you and the cardinals to bring.

1. I would like to be refunded the near $1200 I spent on playoff/World Series tickets last year.I hope that we can meet in the middle on these terms.

In closing I would like to say that I feel that I would be a tremendous asset to the Cardinal family, bring a renewed since of passion and a winning attitude.

Favorite quote:“While it may be difficult, it is a fact that a 162 win season is not impossible!” Casey Eldridge

Yours truly,

Casey A. Eldridge