My Reading List

In the May eZine, I'm going to have an article about reading. The theme will be to encourage everyone to expand their minds by reading more non-fiction works. I am currently reading several books at the same time (I know, not the best thing to do). Here's my current reading list:

No Good Deed by Lewis M. Cohen, MD (the debate over how we die)

Ford County by John Grisham (a collection of short stories by one of my favorite authors)

Everything Must Change by Brian D. McLaren (about Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope)

I recommend all of them for various subject expertise and for making a person think way outside the box.

What's on your list?

On Butler's Success - Build On Strength

Last night's NCAA men's basketball final was as good a game as I have seen. Of course I was cheering for the underdogs from Butler to win. Butler surprised everyone but themselves in getting to the championship game, and they barely missed two shots that would have won the game. How were they so successful when they were playing bigger and arguably better opponents?

Easy. They built their game plan around their strengths, and covered for each other. Butler's quick help in their man-to-man defense is as good as I have seen. They were constantly in the grill of any Duke player who wanted to spot up for a three-pointer.

Offensively, Butler played at their pace. They took advantage of Duke's bigger players by driving around them. They ran the weave and kept everyone involved in plays.

In the end, it came down to whether the round ball went in the hoop on the last two shots.
Butler's lession for us -- play your game, leverage your strengths, play with confidence, and look out for each other.

Nice run, Butler Bulldogs! I'm sorry you did not win, but you are winners in my book.

Bluebirds are here!

Philip built a bluebird house several years ago, and we never put it up so I decided a couple days ago to seal it and make it available. Today a bluebird couple checked out the new place (see photo). I hope they decide they like it and want to stay. I was just saying yesterday that I don't know how the birds know there is a vacant property available.

I jokingly emailed some friends and said maybe there is a bird multiple-listing service. My friend Mark emailed back and said they probably use "Twitter"! Of course.

The moral of the story is that nothing of value is really of value until you put it to use. Good example -- a bird house. Better example -- a great sense of humor!