Year after year we watch athletes worldwide point to the sky after scoring, taking a knee seemingly as a gesture to give thanks to God for their recent achievement. With that being said, what exactly is the big deal about Tim Tebow and his actions, comments and Christian lifestyle choices? Why do people feel the need to mock someone who has been consistent with infusing religion in everything he does and “walking-the-walk” going back to high school?

I strongly disagree with the mockery that has been taking place across the country. Maybe instead of mimicking an athlete you should be praying about something of substance in your personal life. Maybe someone being so openly Christian bothers people and this is a way to deflect and not talk about the influence Christ has in this entire conversation. Heck, maybe I should focus more of this Blog entry to chat about my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Comments?

I could have this all wrong. Maybe people are actually praying in all the photos listed on the web. For all I know, Tebow could have a breathing condition that requires him to take a knee to catch his breath and may not be praying at all. Clearly this joke is on me. POW!

At the end of the day, Mr. Tim Tebow, THANK YOU for standing firm regarding your strong Christian beliefs.

Is this a little too much?

Regardless of what happens on the football field you are a true inspiration to a number of so called believes and Christians who dare not paint scriptures on their face or take a knee to mediate during a game. Each day I strive to walk a little stronger in my faith and I think there are some lessons we can all learn from your example of being a good person, a believers and staying focused on what you need to do. Tim, keep on smiling and working on your technic but please, no more singing on NFL highlight reels.

So, get off the Tebow Train and create your own pose.  BTW, whatever happened to planking? I think we should go back to doing that………………….AMEN!

RC-F

There was the 4^th on the White House Lawn in D.C., Time Square and the pier in New York, the Art Museum steps in Philadelphia and most recently the Phillies/Astros game a couple of years back here in Houston. I think it’s the unmistakable trigger of July heat and burning chicken on a grill that strikes a chord and etches a memory in my brain.  Have you ever tried to navigate through Philadelphia on the 4^th?  Blocked off streets and misguided bus routes at every turn. Smiling faces with dripping popcickes and ice cream running the streets freely without a care in the world.

Clearly, holidays mean different things to different people.  Each year is marked by age and growth of a nation as we (our country) shift from one issue to the next, just like I have cycled through relationships and challenging family issues. I think about the faces that were at last years party but didn’t make it to the table this year. Watching the elders of the family and neighborhood appear as ghostly images as they watch above with protecting wings guiding the next generation to carry the torch of smokie meats laughs and dominoes.  Cherish this time with your family, take the good with the bad, call your brother, kiss your wife. We have no idea what next year will bring.

On this day WE received our independence and freedom. Before you take another sip or consume another bite please take the time to say a prayer for our troops who have been at war for the better part of 10 years now. Remember why we get together.  I AM BECAUSE WE ARE!  Happy Birthday America.

God Bless American and God Bless Me!

R

If you are thinking about moving to Houston, Texas, here is my short list of things that might be done a little different from where you are from. This list is pretty random, in no particular order, but very true to my heart and I stand by it.

1. Jam on It-Midnight on Saturday and it is highly possible to find yourself sitting in a traffic jam on the loop. It’s a fact of Houston life. Before hopping in the car to get on the free, make sure you use the rest room first. You never know, you might have to sit in traffic before you get to your destination.
2. Jalapeños Please-These little green jobbers are everywhere and on everything but your cereal: jalapeño cornbread, jalapeño sausage, stuffed jalapeño, jalapeño poppers, jalapeño cheese bread and jalapeño bagels just to name a few. I had no idea this pepper was in such high demand.
3. Look at all these roaches, can’t take it no more-Now, I grew up in a Philadelphia row home. Roaches where commonplace; it’s a fact of life in urban dwelling life that you get used to. Well, I thought I had seen a big roach before coming here. NOT THE CASE. Roaches in Texas require leashes and you will frequently see them walking down the street after dark…but don’t work, the larger roaches are “non-infesting so you have nothing to worry about!” Did I mention they fly…………………
4. “2 More Dollars”-Man, I thought I knew Blues. Throwing around B.B. King and Muddy Waters names will get you nowhere fast in these parts. Latimore, Z.Z. Hill and Mel Waiters are few names you need to know walking in the front door. You talk about some soulful music! All I have to say is “Bone Me Like You Own Me” You better strap up—I swear, I can’t make this stuff up people.
5. Hurricanes-No matter where you live in the country, you will have to deal with the threat of some kind of natural event. Here in Houston, it just so happens that Houston may be in the path of a Hurricane or two each year.
6. Look Mamma, A Black Cowboy in a huge truck!-Pardon my ignorance with Blazing Saddles Shame attached to it but I never thought about cowboys being African-American. At the Houston Livestock and Rodeo Show I learned about all kinds of things that never crossed my mind. Needless to say, I had to get a lesson on the various types of pickup trucks that you will find in Texas. Believe it or not, most American truck brands have a “Texas Edition” what does that mean? I wish I could tell you—sounds like a great topic for a subsequent blog post. Personally, I am shooting for the King Ranch Quad-cab Dooly edition with the diesel V8 hemi engine
7. One-Two-Three—Green Light-People burn through yellow and red lights here like nothing. If you are ever at an intersection, be sure you count to two before pressing the accelerator NEVER, EVER jump a green light in this town.
8. Can you stand the rain?- Four to six inches of rain and hour causing instant flash floods happens at least 3 times a year or so. You have not seen rain until you have lived in Houston. It will rain for consecutive days without letting up. Image a thunderstorm lasting all day long….who knew! The longest thunderstorm with driving rain that I could remember in Philly was no more than an hour.
9. Charlie Brown…two times-Line dances here seem to be a birthright. Everybody does them to just about any song. Personally, I find it annoying but it’s how they get down. Make sure you brush up before stepping on the dance floor.
10. Services starts at 7 AM-You can’t talk about Houston without mentioning the size of the churches here. Most are like small college campus with several buildings. Church is an event that you should miss. If you don’t want to park 4 blocks away, you might want to arrive at services 20 minutes early.

Bonus. 110 Degrees in the Shade-Oh, it’s hotter than Hades in Houston from June through Oct. It gets so hot some days, when you cut the AC on, it feels like its blowing heat. I know this goes without saying but I would be negligent in reporting to omit this rather obvious face.

Well, are you still interested in moving to Houston? All I can say is this, Houston has no identity of its own. It has picked up pieces of culture from other regions and embraced it with open arms. I have been here for a while and I have struggled to come up with one thing that is uniquely homegrown to Houston. If you think there is something I missed from the list. Please let me know.

R

A Brotha is trying to sleep!

Admittedly, this post is a little more personal than most. I have internalized this private rant for a number of years now. I think sharing it with you will be therapeutic in helping me overcome my, how do we say ‘issue’. Nonetheless, some questions remain unanswered. I invite my female and male readers to comment. All I ask is that you keep it real.

I have several female friends who go to sleep each night with the TV on in their bedroom. How do I know you ask? Some I have dated but I have asked several through casual conversation. In fact, most go so far as to insist they cannot sleep unless the TV is on. Some set the sleep timer while others simply let it play through the night. Cut it out Ladies! There are some great drugs on the market these days that can assist you with getting to sleep. Is this what woman do to avoid hearing creaks or things that go bump in the night around the house? Is the sound of nothing so terrible? Please, I would love to know.

Tisk, Tisk, Tisk...

When it comes to being in the bedroom, I am of the mindset that there is no need for TV, one (our two) should make their own entertainment not depending on the idiot box to create a blue haze in the room. If you want to watch TV go to the living room so I can get some sleep. If the TV is on, I will watch it. If the radio is on, I will start dancing in bed. That’s not what I want to do. The bedroom is my sanctuary. My safe haven from all things dangerous in the world. My one retreat in the entire world where I feel untouchable. Please, allow me to reflect and meditate in silence before I drift off to my happy place.

Don’t get me wrong, I love TV as much as the next. When it’s time for sleep, I request peace and quiet. Just before bedtime is the only part of the day that I have to myself. At 5:30 AM every morning, I am jolted out of bed by a series of nerve jarring alarm clocks. After that, I get in to a car where I typically hear a number of sirens and horns as I sit in traffic on my way to work. Once at work, there are phones ringing and constant commotion all around me. Just before bedtime is the ONLY point in my day where I can truly control my environment and I opt for silence to bring my heart rate down before I slumber. Why would anyone insist on going to bed with lights or sound on? To me that is less than ideal for a good, sound sleep.

There are some great drugs on the market these days that can assist you with getting to sleep.

Ya, sure, once upon a time—when I was 10—I too preferred to go to sleep with the TV then I grew out of it when Arsenio Hall was taken off the air J My closing argument is this: Give your nerves, ears and eyes a break. Unwind to the absence of sound and light for a change, it will make you feel good, good, good…..

Time to come out of the dark and play...

I have been absence from my Blog for far too long. Almost ashamed to admit how I have neglected writing and this Blog site. In the coming weeks I will start to post a number of pieces that have stacked up in my personal archives that I have not seen the light of day.

Clearly, my thoughts, feelings and writing style has changed since my first post. I hope that you will remain entertained and come back to see what is on my mind as well as the minds of my closest friends. As always, I offer this site as therapy for me and entertainment for you. Don’t take everything so serious…lighten up! Change is coming and that change has to begin with me…

So, please continue to walk with me on my journey called life as I learn from you and you me. Peace and Blessings until we cross paths again.

R