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Senior PGA at Valhalla- My Take on Day 4

Posted by Bryce Raley on May 29, 2011 with 0 Comments

Senior PGA Day 4Well, that was something special. And to think I was wanting to work all week and miss the event just 6 days ago. Thanks to my father in law Perry, and my neighbor Hal for talking me into volunteering. Thanks to my business partner Jay for making me stick with my decision, and thanks to my angel of a wife who kept our four kids busy while daddy had fun at the course. What a memorable week and four great days of competition.

So when I arrived today at 11:15 for my volunteer shift, I started right into registering patrons on iPads for the PGA sweepstakes. Go ahead and enter. It’s my last shameless plug for the week. Seriously they are giving away a Valhalla Foursome along with tickets to the Ryder Cup, PGA Championship and next years Senior PGA Championship. Plus their email updates are full of value-added information. Not too much not too little.

I saw a few players coming through 13 and 14, and grabbed one last Bogey Burger, Kettle Chips and Gatorade for the week. The food was stellar this week along with everything else. I couldn’t find a thing to complain about, not that I’m one to look for things to complain about (I’m pretty laid back— not the VIP type). Even the scoreboard guys had their ducks in a row today. See yesterday. To me I’m amazed at how events like this can go off so smoothly with volunteer help (yes the marshals, retail folks, scoreboard operators, and many others are all volunteers). Not to mention tons of inebriated (that means drunk : -) fans allowed to operate cell phones. I had a friend on Twitter say you never realize how many people cough and sneeze until you marshal a golf hole.

Hang with me and I’ll get to the golfing. A couple other notable things happened during my volunteer shift. I saw Ted Schulz birdie 13 on his way to a 68. I closed yesterday by saying I’d like to see him go low today and he did. Second thing was I met a key guy with the pga.com and a twitter buddy. John Kim took time out of his busy schedule to stop by and shake my hand. We were able to connect offline which is always a cool thing for Twitter followers. He does a great job running content, social media and maintaining the pga.com web presence. Give him a follow. He’s also quite witty. My kinda dude. Also, I’ll give a shout out to Elana Cooper with the PGA who coordinated our team this week. She did a fantastic job.

So what about the golf Bryce? Here goes. I said “watch out for David Eger” early in the day to my father in law. I also said yesterday I liked Peter Senior as a darkhorse if conditions were tough. The wind did swirl quite a bit today, but not enough to bring scores back to 7 or 8 under. Watson was my favorite . So I had 3 out of the top 5 in my morning line. I was looking for an Irwin collapse. He didn’t really collapse. He doubled a very long hole number 6, and lipped out a lot of putts. Like every putt he hit. I felt bad for him. For like a second. It would’ve made for a good story, but not as good as Watson. I thought Murota might sneak back in, but I wasn’t feeling it either. Just so you know that I’m not the kinda guy who always predicts stuff, my yahoo fantasy golf team is in 12th place of 18, and this particular week I had 5 of 8 guys miss the cut. End of disclaimer. I do have the occasional gut feel while tournaments are unfolding. If I can get into some kinda fantasy league for that, I’ll be golden.

David Eger was steady down the stretch. He looks pretty unflappable. Of course the guy has one 4 times on the Champions Tour. Tom Watson was just plain magical, mystical, but not like a Beatles tour. He was in the flow and on a mission. Watson had 2 bogeys and 4 birdies— the biggest coming on 15. I love that Watson plays so efficiently. I also love when patrons question his gameplan. On 13 guys were giving him grief for hitting the driver. I believe he did it all week there. Watson has always been known as a quick, aggressive player. I think it’s served him well. He won some majors. Like 8 on the PGA tour and now 6 of the Champions Tour. That’s um OK. I also love hearing fans say contradictory things like the guy in 18 gallery trying to convince the world around him that Watson’s never been a very aggressive player. Go ahead and add that he can’t scramble either. I also heard a few lines about him choking at the British. I love when fans remember the one the guy lost, versus the 13 he’s won. Clowns. I do have to say the majority of fans were supporting Tom. I felt bad for Trevor Dodds, but I guess those guys get used to that kind of thing. When you’re playing with a legend, what else can you expect.

I thought Roberts or Lehman or Price would make a run. Instead two of them stayed pretty level, and Lehman gave back a lot of those birds he picked up on that 6 hole streak the day before. Golf giveth and it taketh away. I always say I can’t stand prosperity. I prefer to give my birdies back the very next hole.

I don’t think I can say anything to close other than, a legend came to town not prepared to win, but always living to compete. He found a golf course suited to his game the first few days ( he’s been referred to as the best bad weather golfer ), and he fixed his swing to get him through the rest. He executed. He closed. He dazzled us. He gave us more Valhalla memories. He’s not done yet folks. He’s a humble ambassador of the greatest game ever played (hat tip: Disney movie- definition of originality is forget where you got it).

Thanks PGA. Thanks Valhalla. Thanks Players. Thanks Patrons. Thanks Volunteers. Thanks Tom you old geezer.

So until 2014.

 

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Senior PGA at Valhalla- My Take on Day 3

Posted by Bryce Raley on May 28, 2011 with 0 Comments

Senior PGA Day 3So I snuck out and played 18 this morning. How can I guy watch that much golf and not wanna go play. The results were less than stellar. Quite boring. I shot a 78 with pars and bogeys. Ball striking was great with the irons. I watched the pros and remembered that tempo kinda matters, and that I don’t have to take a full swing every shot.

Enough about my golf game and on to more important matters. Day 3 at the Senior PGA in Louisville, KY at Valhalla Golf Club. As I arrived the leaders were making their way to number 3. I grabbed my usual spot on the right hand side of number 7. I met my usual crew, but also ran into an old golfing buddy. I tagged along with he and his dad for most of the duration.

My biggest takeaway from number 7 is that high wet rough, tucked pins, water and tight lies are tough even for the best in the world. While watching all the leaders come through number 7, I saw Mark O’Meara thin a wedge off a wet matted lie. I saw Bobby Clampett do the reverse. He chunked one. Then thinned the next. I saw the leader at the time Murota plug an approach then hood a wedge out. I watched several pitches off tight lies that came up way short, or had the sod laid over them ( as we amateurs like to say). After watching the leaders come through that area we headed to the area between 13 and 18.

On 13 we watched the leaders hit their approaches into the island green while turning to watch players bomb it toward 18. Did I mentioned yet that I am developing a man crush on Tom Watson? Tom (we’re way past the Mr. Watson thing) had birdied 9 and 12 before hitting what appeared to be a thin shot over the back of 13 green. In Watson fashion he got it up and in. I wonder how many times he’s done that in the clutch. Another player that has my attention this week is Peter Senior. He manages a course really well. It’s like he dissects it. Yesterday he was bogey free. Today he closed with a birdie for a round of 1 under. He’s only 5 back. With tough conditions you never know.

I also love Loren Roberts game. It seemed he was a little upset by some of his wedge shots. For Loren Roberts upset means shaking his head. For some others like Hale Irwin it meant tossing a club, swinging it hard in the rough and pounding the sand in a bunker. All performed during a double bogey on the last. He seems a little too amped up for me. I kind of remember that from when I was a kid, although I tried to forget it for the first 2 and 17/18 rounds.

Other notable happenings. Tom Lehman made 6 birdies in a row starting on number 9. Wow!

The guys running the 18th hole scoreboard need some help. They had Loren Roberts in with a 209 with an eagle on the last as he stood over his 18 foot birdie putt. Also, as he stared at the scoreboard. Bad omen. They also had Irwin at -10 under after his closing double. Where I was taught arithmetic 11 minus 2 equals 9. Maybe not on Saturdays though.

Right after the round I was reminded of these players and their dedication. Many of the top leaders were on the range within minutes of finishing. I rode 18 holes in cart at age 35 and I couldn’t imagine hitting another ball. What a wimp I am.

I’m pulling for Watson, (did I mention I’m developing a man crush on him?) then Roberts, then Lehman, then Perry and Peter Senior. Wouldn’t mind if Price or Pavin snuck in there. My man Schulz had a rough one but I’d love to see him go low and close well tomorrow.

 

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Senior PGA at Valhalla- My Take on Day Two

Posted by Bryce Raley on May 27, 2011 with 0 Comments

Senior PGA Day 2So for starters my picture is terrible. Quick iphone picture, but it captures the day pretty well. Overcast. Chilly. There were hand warmers, rain jackets, and it seemed like lots of coffee was sold. I never saw the sun peek out.

I arrived at 7:30am even though my volunteer shift wasn’t until 2:30PM. I started by heading right out to the 13th and 14th hole where my volunteering starts. I saw the best up and down that I have ever seen. I’ve watched a lot of golf. See day one post. I believe the guy was a club pro. He hit a very bad tee shot on 14. It hit in the trees on the right. They are 20 yards right and 30 yards short of the green. It was not well hit. It dropped below and behind the trees. His only option in my mind was to hit it into the bunker then to try and get up and in for a 4. Not likely in my mind. If he takes his medicine I’m thinking 5. If he gets cute I’m thinking 6. This pro, after a fairly long delay and a non-ruling (called an official in but it didn’t appear to change his lie) hits his shot into a very steep bank above the bunker, it hops onto the green, goes over the ridge and ends up about 3 or 4 feet. Smooth par. Write that one down without all the details please.

After watching the miracle shot of the day at 7:45AM, we headed over to the area between 4 green, 5 tee, 7 green and 8 tee. It’s a popular area because you can hop around and see four holes at once. That kinda went without saying. I’ve never been accused of brevity. See this post. We (Hal, Big Hal, Smitty and my buddy Greg Heldman) watched a bunch of great pairings roll through— still finishing up their first round. One observation I had was that no matter how many marshals you put out there, there will be a couple of guarantees. First— that the grounds workers or people grilling food, will still be loud as hell while players putt and tee off. It was so bad I thought about walking over myself. Second—people don’t know how to silence a freak-in cell phone. I watched one group of guys who had a phone go not once but twice in a matter of hours. They just don’t get it. This tournament has phone zones set up all around the course. It was easy to turn your phone on to make a call, send a text or check email (twitter for me) and turn it back off to go watch play. These guys will screw that up for everybody.

After watching several groups play 7 and 8. I decided to follow Loren Robert’s group for a few holes. I really loved Loren’s attitude and insight at the Evening with Champions Tour Players event this week at my church. I got to stand within 10 feet of him hitting his wedge into number 2. He got the yardage, 88 yards, from his caddie and committed to his shot. He had a lie in the rough but not a bad one. He didn’t even finish his follow through before he said “no Loren, not over there.” He had dumped it into the right bunker. He paused, kept a great attitude, and told his caddie that he missed the shot 8 yards right of where he was aiming. I wish I talked about misses like that. He bogeyed the hole and you can tell that’s one of the few things that a pro has trouble leaving behind— a bogey on a short par 5. Ouch!

I watched guns a blazing next, as Kenny Perry, Tom Lehman, Fred Funk, Nick Price, Mark Calcavecchia, Craig Stadler and Jay Haas, made birdies on various holes on the front. Some were long putts, but most was laser beam wedges and short irons. The way the players chose to play number 7 was very interesting. I believe I watched Tom Pernice Jr hit 3 balls into the water on number 7 today. He seemed to play the rest of the golf course well aside from that hole. I saw some big name players duff chip shots. I’ll save the names. I even saw Stadler hit what appeared to be a shank today off 8 tee. It never got very high off the ground, ended up 60 yards short and in the high weeds. Of course he made like 7 birdies in the round. Don’t think it affected him like it would you and me. Also, he did grab his hand or wrist after contact and let go of the club. May not have been a bad swing.  Bob Tway also hit a ball into the drink on 7 after going for it in two. He got up and down from I guess about 185 yards for par. These guys are good. He’s also a lot taller than I always pictured.

Local favorite Ted Schulz seemed to play steady, although I only saw him play one hole— the 14th. He shot even both days. Tom Watson dazzled yet again. He wore a bright green long sleeve shirt, and got it around really well despite a double bogey start on 10.

I only lost the jacket today for about 2 hours. Basically during my volunteer shift.

Most of the notables made the cut. There were only a few I thought would that didn’t. Tom Kite being one of them. Played was suspended with some groups needing to finish as many as 6 holes I believe. Cut is to low 70 and ties. I’m back out tomorrow. Since the TV coverage is pretty limited, I figure why not.

 

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Senior PGA at Valhalla- My Take on Day One

Posted by Bryce Raley on May 26, 2011 with 4 Comments

Valhalla Senior PGASo I’m volunteering this week at the Senior PGA, and in turn I get a hall pass for the week. Pretty cool deal. Of course most everyone else in the city of Louisville is doing the same thing.

I worked my shift for yesterday’s practice round so today I hit the links to watch some cool play. Quick secret. It’s always been my dream to play on the Champions Tour one day. As a kid we always dream of these things. I dreamed it would be baseball, then I gave that up two days into college. I dreamed it would be golf, but in high school I could barely break 80. So I tabled it. Over the years I’ve made my way down to a 2.5, and I’ve won a couple tournaments at my club. Nothing major. I’ve still never tried to qualify for any state open or amateur events. Another thing on the bucket list. So I mentioned this because it will set the stage for where I go with these posts over the next few days.

As I arrived I felt the nostalgia immediately. I saw lots of players I had never seen or heard of on the tour. I’ve watched golf faithfully since I was 12 years old. With my grandpa, my dad and now with my wife. At least she pretends. When I noticed that I didn’t recognize many of these players I thought— interesting. Maybe that dream is possible for a hack golfer like myself. Who knows? Only the one who gets the glory knows that. We’ll see what he has in store.

I noticed lots of names that slipped past my radar. Lots of players who slipped onto the Champions Tour while I watching the PGA. There are some big names out there now. At one point I stood with about 3 or 4 other patrons and watched Tom Watson, Mark OMeara, Corey Pavin, Wayne Levi, Hal Sutton, Andy North, and Steve Pate putt on the practice green.

I watched Watson go about his business. He sounds just like he does on interviews. I think I heard him say something about turks or turk and playing a nice round. I thought young turks? Someone’s nickname? Maybe just self-talk? Whatever it was, it was priceless. He hit a bucket of balls in a way I admired. Quickly. The goal of many amateur golfers is to see how quickly you can get to the bottom of the bucket. Maybe Tom feels the same way. He looked like he was just getting loose. Not even aiming. A man after my own heart. My favorite line of his came walking off 8 tee when he said “not bad for some old guys”. He, Hal Sutton and Mark Johnson had all stuck it pretty tight on the Par 3 8th. Watson also started out in a great fashion. He was left in the trees off 1, yet he cut it in through the trees to about 12 feet short of the hole. I just imagined that the other two players thought they had the upper hand (if this were match play). Not so much.

I noticed lots of little things. Sam Torrance was like a postcard from Scotland. Like a character from my Hercule Poirot Box Set. I love Poirot. He’s the detective of Agatha Christie fame. He looked like he just went at it, went and found it, and went at it again. He smoked a real small cigarette. He hit a great lob wedge on number 1 from a stymied lie. Over the bunker onto about 10 feet of green downhill to the hole. The look he gave his caddie would have made a great picture— raised eye brow after a puff off the cig.

Andy North is a tall guy. The combined age of he and his caddie was probably North (pardon the pun) of 135. Andy’s only 61 sayeth Wikipedia, so his caddie is um, up there. Not that there’s anything wrong with that (hat tip: Seinfeld) but I thought it was noteworthy.

Other interesting factoids, even if only interesting to me, were that Ted Schulz hits a high ball. I’m envious.

Peter Jacobsen cracked a joke upon entering the practice green area. That fit with the humor we see from him on TV. He also seemed to have the shortest prep time. I like his style too. He joked with Jay Haas and Larry Mize on number 1 that their putts were good. Among friends and all.

Corey Pavin seemed to be sporting a Wilson 8802 putter. I always thought he was a Bullseye guy. Maybe I saw it wrong. I putt with an 8802. I was turned onto it by my buddy Smitty. He always let me putt with his in scrambles. I loved it. I got one a few years back. Best club in my bag. It worked for Arnie, Phil and Crenshaw, and they can putt OK :)

Wayne Levi had a great exchange with maybe his daughter? I’m guessing it was his daughter caddying for him. I couldn’t see as she was wearing rain gear with a hood. I overheard him say. “Which lucky numbers do we have today?” She said 6′s. Then they headed for 10 tee. He carted it around well at 1 over, and finished birdie, birdie.

I love these little moments. It was much easier to catch them here then it was at the Ryder Cup or PGA Championships.

The rain hit us in the morning, then came down like an avalanche around noon. Play was postponed from 12:19 or so until 3:30 PM. We bailed out. The sun came back out, and I thought about a trip back out. We live 7 minutes away. But the thought of another gusher kept me at home, and kept me dry.

I am geared up for tomorrow. I’m planning to follow Kenny Perry, Tom Lehman, Loren Roberts and Ted Schulz. Also, I have a golfing buddy who caddies at Valhalla. He picked up a loop with a club pro, and I want to go out and watch him do his thing.

Great day today and more to come tomorrow….

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Perseverance have you been blessed with the chance to develop it

Posted by Bryce Raley on March 7, 2011 with 0 Comments

PerseveranceHow would you define perseverance?

Staying power?

Battling through the odds when they are stacked against you?

Dictionary.com defines it as: steady persistence in course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

I like that definition, but I like Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s description better.

Here is an excerpt on perseverance from his March 7th devotion in “A Year With Dietrich Bonhoeffer”:

To whomever God grants such experience— to an individual or to a church— to them God sends much temptation, restlessness, and anxiety; they must cry out daily and hourly for the peace of God.

Been there. How about you? At first glance like many other blessings from God, it seems a curse. Until you learn God’s peace and joy amidst circumstance. I’m learning and forgetting. Learning and forgetting. It’s pride. The forgetting happens when I think I’m doing of my own accord. The learning happens shortly thereafter. My prayer is to stop forgetting.

I always think back to one of my trips to the Dominican Republic. Sitting in Gabrielle’s church in Santiago worshiping with the softball guys, the church, and the team at G.O. Ministries. The church was alive with joy as they sang, “I’ve got a joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart— Where? down in my heart. ” What did they have to be joyful about? God’s peace in a daily life of perseverance.

By the way, I like the apostle Paul’s definition too:

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character and character, hope.

Romans 5: 3-4

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Faith, Inspiration

Our Decision to Homeschool

Posted by Bryce Raley on September 30, 2010 with 0 Comments

Those who know us, realize homeschooling wasn’t a last minute decision made on a whim. We stated after Madison, our first child who is now 5; was born, that we planned to homeschool. It’s a decision many of our friends from church have made and Ashley is very involved in the local homeschool loop. It just seemed obvious to us for our situation. It’s not for everyone and we’re certainly not dogmatic about our beliefs.

My wife Ashley was a 4th grade teacher with her Masters in Technology Education when we met and married. Four children later and she is putting her skills back to work. No I don’t believe you need to have a Masters or a college education to homeschool your children. I know some of the wisest people on the planet who were self taught. Sometimes I wonder if “education” as we know it isn’t a disadvantage to some.  That’s another debate for another post.

Anyway, I thought for all the naysayers I would put together a little list of those throughout history who were homeschooled.

Here goes:

Artists

  • Claude Monet
  • Grandma Moses
  • Leonardo da Vinci
  • Rembrandt Peale

Athletes

  • Michelle Kwan
  • Jason Taylor
  • Tim Tebow
  • Serena Williams
  • Venus Williams

Authors

  • Agatha Christie
  • Alex Haley
  • Beatrix Potter
  • C.S. Lewis
  • Charles Dickens
  • George Bernard Shaw
  • Hans Christian Anderson
  • Louisa May Alcott
  • Margaret Atwood
  • Mark Twain
  • Phillis Wheatley
  • Pearl S. Buck
  • Robert Frost
  • Virginia Woolf

Businessmen

  • Andrew Carnegie
  • Colonel Harland Sanders
  • Dave Thomas
  • Joseph Pulitzer
  • Ray Kroc

Composers

  • Felix Mendelssohn
  • Irving Berlin
  • John Philip Sousa
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Entertainers

  • Alan Alda
  • Charlie Chaplin
  • Christina Aguilera
  • Dakota Fanning
  • Hanson
  • Hillary Duff
  • Jennifer Love Hewitt
  • Justin Timberlake
  • LeAnne Rimes
  • Louis Armstrong
  • Whoopi Goldberg
  • Will Rogers

Explorers

  • Davy Crockett
  • George Rogers Clark

Inventors

  • Alexander Graham Bell
  • Benjamin Franklin
  • Cyrus McCormick
  • Eli Whitney
  • Thomas Edison
  • Orville Wright
  • Wilbur Wright

Military Leaders

  • Douglas MacArthur
  • George Patton
  • John Paul Jones
  • Robert E. Lee
  • Stonewall Jackson
  • Matthew Perry

Photographers

  • Ansel Adams

Presidents

  • Abraham Lincoln
  • Andrew Jackson
  • Franklin Delano Roosevelt
  • George Washington
  • Grover Cleveland
  • James Garfield
  • James Madison
  • John Adams
  • John Quincy Adams
  • John Tyler
  • Theodore Roosevelt
  • Thomas Jefferson
  • William Henry Harrison
  • Woodrow Wilson

Religious Leaders

  • Brigham Young
  • Dwight L. Moody
  • Joan of Arc
  • John & Charles Wesley
  • William Carey

Scientists

  • Albert Einstein
  • Blaise Pascal
  • Booker T. Washington
  • George Washington Carver
  • Pierre Curie

Statesman

  • Alexander Hamilton
  • Daniel Webster
  • Patrick Henry
  • William Jennings Bryan
  • William Penn
  • Winston Churchill

United States Supreme Court Judges

  • John Jay
  • John Marshall
  • John Rutledge
  • Sandra Day O’Connor

Other Famous Women

  • Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams
  • Clara Barton, started the red cross
  • Florence Nightingale, nurse
  • Martha Washington, wife of George Washington
  • Susan B. Anthony, women’s rights leader

Famous Homeschooling Parents

  • Lisa Whelchel
  • Kelley Preston and John Travolta
  • Will and Jada Pinkett Smith

So to summarize their accomplishments, let me take a moment for very long run-on sentence which is mostly fact and some of my opinion. We have ,The Mona Lisa and Last Supper, Starry Night, Storm of the Sea of Gallilee and another lady who was painting masterpieces from age 70-100. A two-time Olympic Ice skating medalist, a 6-time Pro Bowl selection, a Heisman trophy winner and National Champion, two of the best women’s tennis players in history. The greatest mystery writer, Christian author (outside of the bible) and American author are all on the list. Plus the guy who wrote Pygmalion and the guy who wrote A Christmas Carol.  The founders of McDonalds, Wendy’s and KFC are on the list above along with possibly the greatest business man in our country’s history. A couple of pretty decent composers are on the list along with the inventors of the light bulb, telephone, the lightning rod, the stove, odometer, cotton gin and a couple brothers with a plane. I skipped over 3 of the more important figures in our country’s frontier history- Will Rogers being one of my favorites. Generals from the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and the World Wars. Two of my 3 favorite presidents are on the list, Honest Abe and Teddy Roosevelt. There were 12 others in case you didn’t count. The founder of a bible college and of a large Christian denomination were on the list. Scientists who discovered more than I care to list here. A couple of our founding fathers are on the list and the great English bulldog who led the world out of war- Sir Winston is on there. A handful of supreme court justices- a few of the more memorable ones at that. Founder of the Red Cross, the most notable nurse of our age and some other amazing women. I skipped the entertainers and the popular parents of today but if that helps you- they are listed and have some pretty big names.

I’m finished. I used several different sources to compile these lists and narrowed it down to some of my favorites and those most notable.

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Trip to Walmart changed my weekend

Posted by Bryce Raley on September 27, 2010 with 0 Comments

Anyone who knows me, knows I’m not a Walmart fan. It has nothing to do with corporate welfare, mom and pop businesses, health insurance or any of those old debates. It has to do with the organization of the store. I can never find anything like I can in a Target. There is too much stuff to choose from. The same goes with Sam’s vs Costco.

Well I made a trip to Walmart this weekend and I’m thinking about going back. What changed you ask? Was it better organized? Nope- still took an hour to find 5 things. Were the groceries of a little higher quality or just that much cheaper? Nope- I didn’t go to buy groceries. Did I need something that I could only get at Walmart? Nope- I was just using a gift card that was so kindly given to us for our new baby. So what was it? It was the guy who checked me out.

As I approached the aisle; I was groggy from lack of sleep, overwhelmed and stressed to get back home and a little out of routine since we’re normally at church on Sunday morning. As I entered the checkout aisle, this man ( I didn’t catch his name but I will) came into the aisle himself to greet me. He said “good morning sir, how we doing today?” I shared that our 4th child was just born so we were just trying to stay sane. He asked when she was born while he scanned my large storage bins in my cart. He returned to his checkout position while asking how many other children we had. He asked what the mix was boys versus girls. He said “that’s just great well congratulations.” He scanned my items and said “sir I’ll have a total for you just here in a second.” He noticed my cap which was from the Ryder Cup in 2008 at Valhalla. He asked who I thought would win this years. I said unfortunately Europe. He said I agree. He shared some facts about Tiger’s record in Ryder Cup and said even though he was on the team it may not help much. He kindly told the folks behind me that he was almost finished with me. I paid with a gift card, visa gift card and my debit card. He prompted me with each step I would see on the screen. He told me to have a very blessed day twice. As I walked away he began the routine with the next customer. How old is your baby? 18 months …

I walked into Walmart to buy some things for our new baby, for momma and for our home. I walked out a bit changed by a man who gratefully goes about his job each and every day. I’ll go back to Walmart if for no other reason to see him again and to say thanks. Maybe even to take him a gift. He deserves it. I prayed for him a lot yesterday.

“Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I’ll give you a man who will make history. Give me a man with no goals and I’ll give you a stock clerk.” ~ J.C. Penney

“If you are called to be a street sweeper, sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Filed Under: Inspiration

Isaiah 40 and the Serenity Prayer

Posted by Bryce Raley on August 23, 2010 with 1 Comments

I keep reading this verse of scripture daily and it really refreshes me. It’s the verse quoted by Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire during one of his sermons. The text from the NIV translation is below the video. Also, below that I’ve listed the full version of the serenity prayer shared with me by my friend Cory Miller. I hope you find comfort in these verses as I do. May they lift you up to persevere through whatever battle you may be fighting.

Isaiah 40:29-31

He gives strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall;

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen.

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Filed Under: Faith, Inspiration

A little inspiration

Posted by Bryce Raley on August 20, 2010 with 0 Comments

Getting back to a little inspiration.

I’m sitting watching Chariots of Fire at 5AM. The intro is the part we all remember. When the runners are all jogging on the beach. Wind blowing back their hair. Their lungs expanding and contracting while gulls fly overhead. Splashes from the waves and the sand hitting their feet. The amazing coastline of Great Britain in the backdrop. And of course the music. That unforgetable ballad in the background.

Before I turned the DVD on, I was anxious, and a bit overwhelmed. Even after reading the entire book of Phillipians in an early morning bath. My favorite book of the bible. A book that always uplifts me, and points me in the right direction. That puts my feeble faith and trust back in the Lord as my provider and peace. But still I believe God uses others, even movies to inspire us and encourage us.

So how could such a simple act as watching guys run on a beach enlist such emotion. Emotion for me to overcome, to rise above, and to believe in the human spirit. Especially the human spirit which is lead by the spirit of God within Christians.

“I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel his pleasure.” Eric Liddell

So today, what is it that God made you. Whatever it is find it, do it for his glory and feel his pleasure.

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Filed Under: Faith, Inspiration

Tact and Truth on Saturday Morning

Posted by Bryce Raley on April 12, 2010 with 0 Comments

This Saturday I rescheduled a tee time at the last minute to make time for the Saturday Morning Men’s Study at Southeast Christian Church. Pause for applause and accolades. I am an infrequent attendee. We have 3 kiddos under 5 and one on the way so cut me some slack. I’m the guy the regulars give grief because I make it early in the fall, early in the winter and then for big events. I would call Bob Russell teaching a big event. Thus I moved the 7:57AM to 8:17AM and arrived at the course with about a minute to spare.

Bob shared some amazing wisdom per usual and poked fun at Joe Donaldson to start the session per usual. The two biggest takeaways I had were that: “the world is in rebellion against and has always rebelled against truth.” Bob was and I am referring to the truth of the scriptures, the word of God is living and active …

The second takeaway was a great quote that he credited to someone but honestly I can’t remember the original source. Plus they say the definition of originality is to forget where you got it. Bob said if you can’t be tactful be vague. I love that. If you glossed over that little nugget maybe you are the guilty party.

Last, Bob mentioned that many young preachers want to preach something new or cutting edge. He quipped about a young preacher who was going to preach a Mothers Day sermon about the mother of the prodigal son. Bob said good luck since there is nothing about her in the bible. The preacher said it would be partly supposition. This little story reminded me of 2 Timothy 4:2. Preach the Word, be prepared in season and out … It doesn’t say find a new Word to preach. Find a cutting edge Word to preach. Preach an edgy Word. Just Preach the Word.

Usually the end of Bob’s teaching is the most profound as he wraps up everything with 3 or 4 points- in laser beam fashion. I must confess I left at 11 til the hour and not a minute too soon for my golf game. If I missed some more nuggets leave them in the comments below.

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Filed Under: Faith
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