I saw the ND game vs. Stanford this past weekend. It was, to say the least, hard to watch. We lost, badly. Even worse, it was our third loss in a row.
Uggghhh.
Still, it was only a football game. I have a richer life because of my graduation from Notre Dame. But, football does not define my life, it only provides entertainment and ongoing attachment to my alma mater.
Go Irish!
I had a chance to experience a new (for me) way to use my iPad. Now, Saturday evening, my alma mater, Notre Dame, was playing at Michigan State. The kids are all in bed and my wife is watching TV with me. She also does not like football. Her ability to tolerate it is surpassed by her love for me, or I would never be able to enjoy games since we married. So, I’m watching this back and forth contest with MSU and she is reading a book. I can tell she would prefer to watch something else instead of read. So, I looked around and found the Count of Monte Cristo on some movie channel. Bingo (for her). As for me, it meant missing large swathes of the game.
So, I picked up my iPad and turned on my iPhone version of ESPN ScoreCenter (I’m just not paying for the iPad version, ESPN. Highway robbery.). I was able to keep up with the game as she watched her movie. I checked in on the game from time to time after I saw a good play mentioned on ScoreCenter. Once her movie was over, I was able to switch back and watch the heart breaking overtime loss.
Overall, the iPad afforded me a chance to sit with my wife as she watched TV and I read about my game. Thanks Apple.
So, I am getting a new iPhone 3G today. I have had the original for about 1 1/2 years, so it has been a good tool for a while. My original desire is to wait for any new announcements, but as with all things technological, waiting around means you never buy anything.
No matter what you eventually purchase, it will be replaced/upgraded within 6 months. I decided a long time ago that despite my desire to wait, it’s just not worth it. Buying now means you have the tool sooner and not later. Waiting guarantees nothing, even when the manufacturer announces a release date.
Sometimes we have to remember that any ministry website, as good as it might be, is no substitute for making personal relationships. I recently had the good fortune to take the youth group to a Spurs game. It was a lot of fun. Yes, the Spurs won, but it was more than that. The youth were happy to get away from home and watch a game together.
Even though they see one another each week in Sunday School, this was more enjoyable. The chance to get to know one another better and talk about things outside of church is what ministry leads to. Sure, we are following the Great Commission of telling others about Jesus Christ. But, we need to be in their midst to do it. A Spurs game seems like as good a place as any to me.
So, I travelled home yesterday on American Airlines. It was quite uneventful, apart from the landing in rough East Coast turbulence just days before.
After making my connection in Dallas, I had a chance to fly over the new Texas Stadium home of the Cowboys. Now, while I do not currently cheer for them (still a Niners fan, sorry Mother), I was quite impressed with the structure. Very nice. I wanted to take a pic, but we were not allowed to turn on “approved electronic devices” on the plane at that time. Sorry, they only picture I have is my memory. That is not likely to make it onto the web anytime soon. (but you can look at this guy’s pic instead.)
I did take this picture somewhere after leaving DC.
