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