Dolly Sods Bear Warning

I like to include local oddities on this blog, and like to share hiking/camping adventures with you, which I haven't been able to do much of lately. I thought I'd share this one with you today. This is the first time I've heard of aggresive bear activity since we moved here 4 years ago.

"Dolly Sods Bear Warning

A black bear has recently destroyed a backpacker's occupied tent and backpack off of the Blackbird Knob Trail. A smaller yearling bear has been invading Red Creek Campground and going through the trash cans. Also, A hiker reported being bluff charged 5 times by a bear last week while in the Sods. He scared it off all 5 times. Don't know the location of that one.The Forest Service has posted signs at all trailheads recommending that tent camping be discontinued until the problem has been resolved.

Contact the Potomac Ranger District before planning any trips there at 304-257-4488 to check on the status of the situation."

They're Back

Thousands of students have returned to Morgantown, moving in over the weekend, and they are affecting every aspect of Morgantown life as we know it. On the negative side of things, it took me 35 minutes to drive the 3.6 miles from the old Stadium loop downtown to University Town Center in Star City. On the positive side, it was evident that the students are back in yesterday's service. Lots of new and returning faces.

Yesterday, I finished a quick two part series called "20/20", dealing the vision that God has for our preferred future, and what the Bible has to say about sex, and dating and marriage relationships. I enjoyed preaching this series, and hope it makes an impact on our people.

Belinda's workload is coming back down to a manageable level. She is the Executive Coordinator for the Augusta on the Square apartments, a brand new complex that has been built literally a stone's throw away from downtown campus. Hillery, a fellow StoneBridger, is the new property manager and will be starting a small group for college females on site in September.

It's almost football season, and I can't wait to see how my teams are going to fare this season: Morgantown High, WVU, THE University of Texas, and America's TEAM, the DALLAS COWBOYS.

I am Better Now

Just thought I'd share that.

I'm In a Pit..Somebody throw me a Rope

My blogging has been infrequent for some time now. Not sure if that is a symptom of a greater problem or not. Had a good week last week, and really enjoyed my message prep and getting to speak Sunday. I'm doing a two part series on marriage and dating principles, and having the proper perspective for what God desires for our futures. I think the message really hit home for a lot of folks based on several comments after the service.

Since Sunday, this week has really begun to drain me. Found out today that a young couple that had visited three times has decided to join the local megachurch down the road which is also much closer to their house. Belinda has been working crazy hours on probably the largest project she's ever had to manage in her life and tomorrow is her deadline and its 3:30 in the morning and she is still at work, which is not cool.

Do any of you ever get to the desire to stick a "for sale" sign in the yard, pack up the car, and head out for a destination unknown? That's about how I feel right now. I've had it.

I'm sure all this will pass, tomorrow is a new day, but right now I just need to vent. LIft up a prayer for the Knight family when you have a spare moment.

Bacsik Gives Up 756

I missed watching Barry hit #756 last night by about 15 minutes. Didn't really read too much about it until I noticed a write up in the Dallas Morning News this evening about the pitcher who gave up the historic home run -- Mike Bacsik.

Rewind to 1995. Belinda and I attended just about every Grand Prairie High School (my alma mater) baseball game that year. GPHS was ranked #2 in the nation by USA Today behind Germantown, TN who was ranked #1. Our ace pitcher was Kerry Wood, famous as a pitcher with the Chicago Cubs and for tying the single game strikeout record (20) in 1998. Our #2 pitcher was Kevin Walker, who pitched for the San Diego Padres for several years. Shortstop Jeff Ryan went on to be the National Collegiate Player of the Year for Wichita State. Third Baseman Lale Esquivel went on to start for the National Champion Miami Hurricanes. Catcher Danny Fatheree went on to play in the Houston Astros organization. This team was loaded. Rangers GM Tom House said it was the greatest high school baseball team he had ever seen.

Yet, on a cool night in April 1995, Belinda and I watched as Mike Bacsik, pitching for our hated rival Duncanville Panthers, matched Kerry Wood pitch for pitch, and due to a couple of errors, was leading the game 2-1 going into the 7th inning. The winner would cinch up the district championship. In the bottom of the seventh, Bacsik walked the first batter, then gave up a shallow single. Kerry Wood then hit a walk off, 3 run homer to win the game and the place went nuts.

I hadn't thought much about Mike Bacsik until tonight. Didn't even know he was pitching in the majors. Hope I didnt bore you with the baseball details, but I thought I would share a little history from the annals of Dallas Fort Worth baseball history.