Mike Outler's Blog

As I type this, one news source has reported that former Penn State Coach, Joe Paterno, has passed away from complications of cancer.  Other sources have not!  Sometimes, navigating the murky waters of the internet can be tricky.  While one website can be reliable, other sites can not.

Either way, if he has passed on or not, there’s only one word to sum up the last six months,

SAD!

 One thing that kept coming to the frontal lobe region of my head is this: WHAT IS THE PROPER RESPONSE, AS A CHRISTIAN, TO THE EVENTUAL DEATH OF JOE PATERNO?

I ask this because I truly believe there’ll be some who will spew vile comments about the former Nittany Lions coach, simply because of what has transpired in 2011.  Let’s get one thing straight, Joe Pa made a terrible mistake and had a lapse in judgment when he failed to report Sandusky for allegedly abusing young boys on school campus.  He admits it himself.  Monumental mistake!  There’s no telling how many kids could have been saved from the evil hands of Sandusky had he gone further with personally investigating the matter.

I certainly do not want to grant him sainthood, but as believers, we have an obligation to be careful with our words.

I vividly recall how some Christians responded to the sudden and untimely death of Michael Jackson.  Pedophile or not, it really bothered me how some almost rejoiced in the fact that he died.  It was as if they were thumbing their nose at such tragedy.  All I could think of was, “Wow!  You’re really not making a good name for us as Christians!”

Whether Joe Paterno has asked God to forgive him for sins of omission, I don’t know.  BUT, it isn’t our place to stand in judgement and ridicule him or point the finger, lest we make a similar mistake.

I believe our position should be as such: Be kind and thoughtful with our words and not come to a conclusion about him that isn’t warranted.  

Whether or not Joe Pa has passed from this life into the next, isn’t the main thing for us.  How we respond as Christians is important.

I would like to say that I hope he’s resting peacefully and not in pain–if he’s still alive.  If not,

God speed and Rest In Peace!

Long time friend, Michael Jones, who’s a minister near Detroit, Michigan, shares my frustrations with the common misconceptions about taking Christ out of Christmas as well as the greater part of American society.

However, THIS TIME, IT’S THE OPPOSITE!

Here’s what he said:

I say this every year. “X” in Xmas is not the English letter X, it is “chi,” the first letter in the Greek word “Christos” which means “Christ.” Since X is an abbreviation for the word “Christ” (and has been for two millennia), “Xmas” means “Christmas.” It is not a 21st century attempt to remove Christ from Christmas. Now please, can we all just let it go.

Check it outXMAS

Do you find that this sign is almost extinct?  If not, then it sure wins the award for the “MOST IGNORED”.

What sign do you see that people just can’t seem to follow?

LIKE IT

Can Florida Basketball Coach Billy Donovan catch up with Coach K?  I’m not so sure but I really have a great deal of respect for this man.  In my opinion, he’s a class act!  That’s right, coming from a Georgia Bulldog fan, through-and-through, I can say that Coach Donovan has my utmost respect. 

Yes, he did pull the first Urban Meyer “escape move“ for Florida but he quickly changed his mind.  Confused?  Check it out here.

Meanwhile, Coach D won his 400th win and he’s still doing a great job!

Read it here: 400th Win

LOVE IT

As for the situation going on at Penn State University, there are so many things that can be said, so many fingers to point, BUT, we must focus on those who have been victimized, not the ones who’ve covered their tracks or the ones who’ve made sure they are loyal to an institution.  Afterall, there are victims in this situation.  Innocent lives who’ve been forever damaged by the evil acts of one person. 

What point am I trying to make?  Just read this Open Letter from Tyler Perry to Penn State 11 year old.

I hope you enjoy this first of many!

Mike

Please take a minute to read this before you post your next status update.  If there’s one thing (among many) that gets on my last nerve when it comes to Facebook, it’s the misspelling of words.  Most noticeably in the status update section. It makes me want to climb to the top of the tallest building in South Georgia and scream, “For the love of everything sacred, please CHECK…YOUR…SPELLING!!!“

I could write for hours on end about the butchering of words while hammering out your thoughts on the World Wide Web, via the end-all, be-all of social realms–FACEBOOK.

If I had to list the top 3, they would go as follows, starting with the misspelling first:

ALOT- This word is commonly mistaken for the 2 words, “a lot“.  When typing this out, a good rule to remember is this, while writing similar words, would you write, “alittle“, or “afew“?  IT’S TWO WORDS!!!  Give them some space, please!

YOUR- This word is proper in some cases, but NOT when you are writing a contraction.  YOU’RE is a contraction of  “you are“, as in “You’re nice to me“.  YOUR is actually a possessive adjective.  It describes a noun by telling us to whom it belongs.  Example; I love your status update.  Got it?  Good (-:

THERETHEYRETHEIR- This one gets messed up and I just don’t want to get into the nuts & bolts of it now, I’ve got shows on DVR to watch–so go to this site.

If you have any other words to add to this list, please feel free to comment below.

As I view people’s profiles on Facebook, I have seen a trend this month and it has to do with being thankful.  To be specific, some are using the 30 days of November to post one thing they are thankful for, each day.  I was a little late on this as I do enjoy some of the trends that Facebook has to offer–I carefully say, SOME of the trends.  In other words, when I get the usual status update that says something to the effect, “If you love baby Jesus and don’t slaughter innocent puppies, you WILL post this to your status for the next 7 hours and 28 minutes…”, you can guarantee that I will NOT be copying that!!!

Anyway, this month I’ll be randomly posting a list of things that I’m thankful for.  There’s no limit to how many items I’ll have.  This particular post, I thought of some of the people I’m grateful for.  And when I listed each one, I very quickly wrote down the first thing that came to mind.  I could have very easily elaborated on each person as to WHY I’m thankful for them, but chose to stick with one per person. 

My God.  For continuing to love me unconditionally, no matter how many times I fail Him.

My wife, Alisha.  Her diligence in sticking to our goals and communicating about them.  It’s the little things.                 

My oldest daughter, Savannah.  For her keeping me in check and on the right track as a parent.  Both kids do.

My youngest daughter, Sydney.  For forgiving me when I fail them and realizing I’m human too.  They both do this.

My mom.  For being such a strong, disciplined woman.

My brothers.  For setting a high standard as men, husbands, and fathers.  It keeps me striving to be better.

My extended family.  For being genuine and caring.

My job.  For providing employment so I can take care of my family.

My friends.  For listening to me when I need to vent…and not condemning me.

THAT’S ALL FOR NOW!

The Head Ball Coach, Steve Spurrier, finally released his 5th year senior quarterback, Stephen Garcia–who should be thought of as a young Jerry Garcia–think left-handed cigarettes!  Garcia, after being suspended FIVE TIMES SINCE THIS SPRING, violated the no-boozing it up rule and was found in violation of smoking marijuana as well.  Six times to get kicked off the team?  Talk about getting a 2nd and 3rd and on and on and on….

Does anyone remember the defensive end, David Pollack from the Georgia Bulldogs?   Three-time All-American, 2002 SEC Player of the Year honors, the 2003 and 2004 Ted Hendricks Award, and, all in 2004, the Chuck Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award, Lott Trophy and SEC Defensive Player of the Year. His 36 sacks for the Bulldogs remain a school record.  Just a few records!  Anyway, he has teamed up with the one and only Mr. Bachelor, Jesse Palmer to co-host the show, Palmer and Pollack.  They will cover the latest in college football, stats, analysis, games, etc.  In the 2005 NFL Draft, he was taken 17^th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals. His NFL career was cut short, however, after he broke a cervical vertebra in a game versus the Cleveland Browns in 2006. The Bengals announced Pollack’s retirement before the 2008 season.

I wish him well–great guy!

For all you Tebow-Haters out there, now’s your time to rant and shout!  Come October 23rd, he will be under center for the Denver Broncos as the captain of that ship as they take on the win-less Miami Dolphins.  Miami has always been my team but I am hoping that Tim does well and quiets all the naysayers.  He’s a man of character, humility, and pure talent.

As you may be aware, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  There are so many ways you can “support” breast cancer.  From running in the Race For The Cure to participating in daily events with the Susan G. Komen Organization.  Some people even go so far as to travel with bumper stickers LIKE  THIS.

No matter how you choose to give, supporting it through your pocket-book is probably the most dedicated avenue.  Not only that, it will, indeed, have the most impact.

During the fall of 2003, I received a phone call from my mom that no son wants to hear.  I’ll always remember it.  I was about a thousand miles away in a grocery store on a Sunday night.  She called to tell me that she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer.  I can remember how I felt.  Lost!  Helpless!  Unable to breathe!

Why at the age of 68 was she being hit with a sickness that typically visits younger women?  The average age of a woman being diagnosed with breast cancer is 61.  I wasn’t mad with God, just confused.  I kept wondering, why now?

At the time, my dad had been diagnosed with Emphysema.  Now my mom had breast cancer?

No way!

But, I knew she was a tough woman, a fighter.  She even expressed that in our first conversation.  I’ll never forget, she said, “Michael, we’ll beat this!”  At the time, I didn’t find much comfort in those words.  All I could think of was the worst.  Haha!  I soon found out how tough my mom really was.  In fact, those four words she spoke to me that night, she believed it and really meant it!

To make a really long story (a great one at that) short, my mom endured 6 full rounds of chemotherapy and 40 rounds of radiation.  I have no clue how she did it.  The chemo alone should have ended her life.  BUT, her will to live prevailed.  Here determination overcame her giving in to defeat.

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING

She had surgery on October 9, 2003 to remove a small lump.  After going through chemo and radiation, and in March of 2004, she was told her markers look good (they never told her she was in remission).

My mom has been “CANCER FREE” for almost 8 years!!!  Thank God!  She has endured, not only that, but the death of my dad, her husband.

A few years ago, my oldest daughter and I, Savannah, decided to run the Susan G. Komen, Global Race for the Cure 5K at our Nation’s Capitol.  It was in honor of my mom being a survivor of breast cancer.  That particular year, there were over one million participants.

Well, I’ve stepped it up a notch!  I’ve decided to go a bit farther.  After hearing about a promotion that was going on in Jacksonville, FL, I made the decision to join in.

Alaric Health, Beauty, & Wellness has run a promotion for those who want to give to breast cancer awareness.

During the month of October, if you register–$5 to register– to win a breast augmentation (valued at $5,500) you’ll get a free tattoo.  Not a bad deal at all!  So I did it!

Noooooooooo, I don’t need breast a reduction, lift, or anything of the sort.  I know if I didn’t make that disclaimer, someone would have been   But I did get a great tattoo.  And, if I do win, you can bet that I’ll give the $5,500 to someone who’s had breast cancer and is in NEED of the surgery.  (No, my mom doesn’t want it).  I’ll feel so good if I win and can give it to a woman who has survived breast cancer and can benefit from the surgery!!!

Here’s the photo:

I know I speak for both of my brothers when I say that our mom is the toughest woman we know.  We love her and she is our hero!

It’s been 8 wonderful months and I wouldn’t change a thing about it.  No, I’m not talking about a relationship with Alisha or a job or hobby.  I’m talking about this….

The disposable razor I use for shaving my head!!!  That’s right, I’ve used the same razor since January of this year and I still experience NO nicks, cuts, or bleeding on my nugget!

The obvious question that would follow such a claim would be, “How?”  Or perhaps, “What’s your secret?”

I’ll gladly share it with you…

I first read about using ONLY ONE disposable razor for up to one year on Clark Howard’s website.

Basically, he received a call from a viewer/listener who claimed he could make a razor last an entire year by drying it after each use.  Razors do not “go bad” from use, rather they get dull from being wet and getting corroded.  So, if you dry them off after each use, they’ll last longer.

I had to put this to the test.  After all, I was shaving my tender head that doesn’t do well without the perfect conditions.  Hot shower, a mirror that doesn’t get foggy, shaving cream that soothes my sensitive skin, you get the idea (-:

Are you up to the challenge, men?  And women?  Read this short article and try to follow the instructions, then let me know how it works for you.

CLICK HERE