Mountain Men...Well Maybe Not

I recently picked up an old hobby - mountain biking. When I was in high school and college I rode a lot. I rode with my cousin, my brother and a bunch of his friends.

Mountain biking is a great way to exercise while seeing some beautiful parts of this state. This past weekend Sean, Darren and I went for a ride. The camera didn't get the best pictures but here's what we got from our ride at Stony Creek.
























































This next picture needs a little explanation. Darren was climbing up a hill when his tire got stuck in a rut and fell over. Sean coming up behind him hit Darren in the back. Sean bent his rim on Darren's back. Let me repeat that - Sean bent his rim on Darren's back. I got this shot just after the collision.















Ash

Legends of the FALL!!!

Yesterday our Detroit Tigers clinched a playoff birth!!! Every year for as long as I can remember I always talked them up at the beginning of the season - just like I did this spring. In the back of my mind I never thought they were going to be good. This year they are!!!

They still lead their Division by 1 1/2 games over the Twins with a week left in the regular season. If they win the Division they'll play Oakland at home in the first round. If the Twins over take them this week the Tiger's will start the playoffs against New York in New York.

I'm going to the first home game of the playoffs. I'm slightly excited about that! A full report from that game will come.

Ash

Oh My Gosh...it's Paul Baloche

This past Monday night Kelly and I were able to worship with Paul Baloche. It was a great night of worship. Paul has written many worship songs you probably know including "Open the Eye of my Heart Lord" and "Above All."

It was especially cool because Chris Lindsay and I have been watching a DVD series by Paul, teaching us a bunch of stuff on the guitar. I've never had any formal guitar training, so the DVD has been great for me.

The concert was on Sept 11th and there was a lady in the audience who's husband died because he went to save other peoples lives. The husband was an FBI agent who had worked late the night before Sept 11th so he didn't have to go in the next day. After seeing what happened on TV, he left and went to the towers. Having only a cheap, paper-thin mask he saved many lives. Two and a half years later the smoke, sut and everything else he breathed in killed him.

It's amazing to think of all the families affected by what happened on Sept 11th. Fathers, mothers, sons and daughters...lost. It's just amazing!

I have a friend (who shall remain nameless) who heard on the radio some of the phone calls from inside the tower to their loved ones. It brought him to tears.

I serve a God who is present even in the midst of something as bad as Sept 11th. The devil may have control of some cowards who fly a plane into a building. My God is a God of compassion, a God of Grace, a God of LOVE!!!
Ash

An Evening With Ernie

Tonight Kelly and I went to a fundraiser for the Church of Christ Care Center. The key note speaker was Ernie Harwell. He's what you'd call a local legend.

Here's a little background on Ernie. He was the Tiger's broadcaster for 42 years. He was the first broadcaster voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Over the 42 years working for the Tigers he missed 2 days of work. And most importantly he's a Christian.

Ernie is also a direct link to my dad's dad, Papa. Papa LOVED the Tigers. He watched every game on TV but would turn the volume down and listen to Ernie's broadcast. So when I hear Ernie's voice I think of my Papa.

As we were checking in tonight I noticed Ernie standing just a little ways away by himself. So I went and introduced myself to him. I got a brief moment to talk to him. Just hearing his voice was amazing!

When he got up to talk he told a lot of great old baseball stories. He also told a story of a turtle on a fence post. He said you know the turtle didn't get on the fence post by himself. He used that analogy to show he got where he was today with God's help.

It was so cool to hear the voice of the Tigers and my Papa talking about his love for our God. I could have listened to his stories all night!!!
Ash

WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE

This weekend we went up north with some friends. Good golf and great sunsets.

We didn't get home until late Monday night and came home to a little surprise. We had been TP'd.














Even our grill even got TP'd.

































The TPers did a really good job! Three of our neighbors commented on how beautiful it was. One of them even asked if it was our anniversary.

As good of a job as the TPers did they broke a couple simple rules of TPing:

1. Don't get caught at Meijer by one of our co-workers
2. Don't go to work trying to play like nothing happened
3. And most importantly don't leave incriminating evidence at the crime scene

Paybacks are coming!!!