CONGRATULATIONS, PHIL! CONGRATULATIONS, LAKERS!
Congratulations, Phil, on your 10th --the most NBA championships in coaching history! Congratulations, Lakers, on your 15th NBA championship trophy! Now let’s go home and celebrate! What a great run you had! You showed us all that you are the greatest team in the world! I hope you can all come back again next year and do it all over again! Thanks!
Mark Overt Skilbred
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT!
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT!
President Barack Hussein Obama gave a brave speech in Cairo yesterday that was breathtaking in scope, hopeful in tone and passionate in leadership, that calls for a renewed commitment to Middle-Eastern peace, increased dialog and sustained efforts between Western and Muslim nations to build new relationships based on tolerance, common faith and shared dreams of peaceful coexistence and development. Skeptics will argue that “talk is cheap, but action is more difficult,” but this was a heroic start to the process of forging a new diplomatic framework in a region which has for so long stagnated under the weight of harmful and unproductive rhetoric and political and military strife. The interim prospect of a two-state solution for Palestinians who have suffered from the lack of a welcoming homeland and a regional development plan can perhaps pave the way for an integrated and holistic society where contentious boundaries give way to increased regional development of border-neutral pursuits such as education, infrastructure and regional prosperity. This is a wonderful beginning of a new era of diplomatic relations between the United States, her Western partners and all of those Middle-Eastern nations who share our dreams of reconciliation and a brighter tomorrow.
Mark Overt Skilbred
President Barack Hussein Obama gave a brave speech in Cairo yesterday that was breathtaking in scope, hopeful in tone and passionate in leadership, that calls for a renewed commitment to Middle-Eastern peace, increased dialog and sustained efforts between Western and Muslim nations to build new relationships based on tolerance, common faith and shared dreams of peaceful coexistence and development. Skeptics will argue that “talk is cheap, but action is more difficult,” but this was a heroic start to the process of forging a new diplomatic framework in a region which has for so long stagnated under the weight of harmful and unproductive rhetoric and political and military strife. The interim prospect of a two-state solution for Palestinians who have suffered from the lack of a welcoming homeland and a regional development plan can perhaps pave the way for an integrated and holistic society where contentious boundaries give way to increased regional development of border-neutral pursuits such as education, infrastructure and regional prosperity. This is a wonderful beginning of a new era of diplomatic relations between the United States, her Western partners and all of those Middle-Eastern nations who share our dreams of reconciliation and a brighter tomorrow.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT
THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT
“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked Him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important? “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Well said, Teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but Him. To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Mark 12:28-34 (NIV)
Here we have the whole duty of man summed up for us in a few verses by the Creator of the universe. Can it be that mankind’s problems are the result of our failure to follow these two basic commands? The apostle John emphasizes their importance when he says “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” 1 John 4:20-21 (NIV) How, then is it possible to have hatred toward our fellow human beings and treat them in such UNGODLY ways, and then claim that we love God? Any religion that teaches hatred cannot be from God!
Mark Overt Skilbred
“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked Him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important? “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Well said, Teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but Him. To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Mark 12:28-34 (NIV)
Here we have the whole duty of man summed up for us in a few verses by the Creator of the universe. Can it be that mankind’s problems are the result of our failure to follow these two basic commands? The apostle John emphasizes their importance when he says “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” 1 John 4:20-21 (NIV) How, then is it possible to have hatred toward our fellow human beings and treat them in such UNGODLY ways, and then claim that we love God? Any religion that teaches hatred cannot be from God!
Mark Overt Skilbred
Monday, June 1, 2009
FIND THE OPEN MAN!
FIND THE OPEN MAN!
The Lakers team that showed up in Denver last Friday night is arguably the greatest Lakers team in history, and there is certainly no team on the planet capable of defeating them. We know that Gasol, Odem, Ariza, Fisher and Bynum are capable of 20+ points per game when they show up, not to mention the bench, when they are mobbing. If Kobe delivers his usual output on Thursday, and the rest of the Lakers are already warmed up, the Lakers will win the first two games at home and the next two in Orlando. Maybe the Laker starters should scrimmage the bench mob somewhere for about 15 minutes just before tipoff time so they can hit the floor running and make that triangle offense really smoke! Then just look for the open man and get about 10 guys in double figures! This has been a great season! Great job, Phil! Here comes your 10th championship and the Lakers 15th!
Mark Overt Skilbred
The Lakers team that showed up in Denver last Friday night is arguably the greatest Lakers team in history, and there is certainly no team on the planet capable of defeating them. We know that Gasol, Odem, Ariza, Fisher and Bynum are capable of 20+ points per game when they show up, not to mention the bench, when they are mobbing. If Kobe delivers his usual output on Thursday, and the rest of the Lakers are already warmed up, the Lakers will win the first two games at home and the next two in Orlando. Maybe the Laker starters should scrimmage the bench mob somewhere for about 15 minutes just before tipoff time so they can hit the floor running and make that triangle offense really smoke! Then just look for the open man and get about 10 guys in double figures! This has been a great season! Great job, Phil! Here comes your 10th championship and the Lakers 15th!
Mark Overt Skilbred
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