Final Blog

Kids write to Santa for basic needs instead of toys...

Secret Santa gift exchanges have been a long-standing Christmas tradition, but in this economic downturn, a lot of families rely on it to make or break their Christmas. This article chronicles a nationwide secret Santa exchange sponsored by the postal service. The post offices around America get thousands of letters to Santa each year, and they depend on secret Santa’s to help make these children’s wishes come true.

As Christians, we all know the importance of giving, especially in this season. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, we must keep in perspective that He gave us the ultimate gift.  He gave us His life to save us from our sins, this is something we can never repay or equal, but it is something we can spread.

It is our job to spread His gospel to the world, and where better to start than in giving at Christmas. The children writing these letters are really searching for hope, for a light in their dark times, so in giving them the joy of a gift, we can also impact them with the Word.

In times like this, where the whole nation is suffering financially, it can be tough to supply these kids with all the physical items they wish for, but with a little work and creativity you could satisfy their emotional needs this season.

The workers at the postal service are doing their best to follow God’s will and provide these children with the happiness and joy that come with Christmas.

As a child, there is nothing more exciting than that feeling you get on Christmas morning, running to the tree to see what kind of “treasures” your parents have gotten for you. However, as you grow older, and hopefully wiser, you start to realize that the true gifts of the Christmas season are the simple joys that you can experience, time with family, time with friends, and knowing God’s love.

I feel that I have already received the best present that I could ever want, the ability to attend CBU. I have been blessed to have this tremendous opportunity and I am working my hardest to make the most out of it and follow God’s will. God has shown me great love this year, and as I reflect to about a year ago this time, when I was brand new in my faith, I realize that it took one person reaching out to me for me to turn my life over to the Lord. Now as I grow in faith I have realized the calling that we have to do the same for others.

This Christmas I have made it my mission to spread the love of Jesus Christ, because that will be the most meaningful present that these families could ever receive. It has been mine. 

Changing Things Up..

The title of this blog is "Changing things up," one, because I felt I needed to change my topic or my head would explode, because I can write a story or two about how are water polo team is doing, but there is not much excitement to blog about.

So I decided to change it to my one true sporting love, baseball. At least for this one blog.

The other reason that my title is what it is is because of how the Major League Baseball playoffs have played out thus far. Things are definitely different than what most thought going into the MLB playoffs, as there one team in the world series that until a few days ago was one of only three franchises to never make it to the world series. The other team has not been there since 2002 when they were led by a huge, juicing Left Fielder. Their leader now? A 170 pound scrawny twentysomething named "the freak."

When I was younger, I lived, breathed, and died for baseball. I knew all the stats, all the players, what teams were good at, and bad, and I was proud of it! Now, I've expanded my appreciation to many other sports, so Im not as much an expert, however I know that some things that have always stayed the same, changed this year.

1. You can  always count the Rangers out in AL West. (except this year :D)
2. The Yankees and Red Sox(Rays?) will finish 1-2 in AL EAST, and Rays will be bottom dwellers.
Changes this year...As evidenced in the standings: 2010 MLB Standings
3. The Giants can't succeed without Barry Bonds.(Buster Posey/Pitching?)
Rookie of The Year anyone?? A Little Bit About Buster

I, being a Mets and Angels fan, am very happy about 1/2 of the World Series contenders. I am incredibly relieved that the Giants defeated the Phillies in the NLCS, because there is only one other team I dislike more than the Phillies, the Red Sox.

The Rangers making the World Series is less of a thrill for me, as they did what the Angels failed to do last season, defeat the Yankees in the ALCS.

This has been a crazy year all around the MLB, with 6 no hitters(2 perfect games, and one in the playoffs, Roy Halladay's 2nd of the season), One perfect game thrown away by a missed call with 2 outs in the 9th, one surprise 50 home run man in Canada, the Buehrle meter, and many man more surprises.

So it is easy for me to say how much I am looking forward to this surprise World series. There are so many different stories going on, from the fakest real beard in the MLB to the ACE pitcher in Texas looking to bring a World Series trophy to his fourth team in two years. SEE: Cliff Lee Whoever your rooting interest may be, you will no doubt be able to find something intriguing in this all together unexpected series.

All these thoughts tie in to our school, because unexpected is exactly what we get from our baseball team. They had the best season in the history of the program last season, finishing 49-15 and earning a birth in the NAIA world series 2009 Record and it came out of nowhere, as the season before they finished a mere 5 games above .500. 2008 Record
I guess you can chalk these things up to the old addage, "that's why they play the game."

Water Polo...

Lancer Water polo is off to another terrific  start this season, currently with a record of 13-2 after this weekends Lancer Invitational. They went 3-1 in the tournament with their only loss coming at the hand of national number 1 USC. This game was one of the best of the tournament as the #16 Lancers lost a tough battle 11-7. This was a close call for the number 1 Trojans who are always a national powerhouse. We do have our special weapon of Aaron Steiger, who according to JJ Steele, led all levels of colleigiate Water Polo in goals scored last season. He is leading the Lancers so far this season in goals and steals as well this season with 53 and 28 respectively. the Lancers look to continue their aquatic dominance today at home vs. Golden West College today at 3:30pm.