Have you heard about the recent exchange between Arizona Governor, Jan Brewer and President Obama? Maybe you have seen the picture of her finger pointing up toward the face of Obama? I have even read her personal letter and invitation to President Obama when he visited Arizona. Did you get the point?! Rather than deal with the particulars of this encounter on the tarmac in Arizona (there is already much buzz about this among many), I want to play off this and address a deeper issue for all of life—do you Get The Point?!

This is the time of year for many to travel in special trips around the world and when many who can, decide to go on an adventurous cruise. Personally, I am aware of many who have recently been or still are on special mission trips or even some cruise. News of last Friday’s tragic crash (ironically on the 13th :-! ) of the large Italian cruise liner, Costa Concordia, continues to impact people worldwide, even reminding many of the tragic historic sinking of the Titanic, 100 years ago this April. Search efforts continue for some 21 (of the 4,200 Concordia passengers) who are still unaccounted for, with 11 now confirmed to have died. While divers have found some passengers still alive days after the tragic crash, a continued gradual sinking of this tilted ship that ran aground is controlling the search efforts, putting rescue workers at greater peril and diminishing the hope of finding any more survivors. Reports of some questionable actions of this cruise ship’s captain, possibly even leading to the tragedy itself, have further complicated this story, leading to his incarceration and making future manslaughter chargers likely. Apparently, warnings and instructions were not given in a timely and proper manner and panic ensued as the ship’s crews tried to control getting passengers safely off the ship. As we pray for those families impacted from this latest tragedy and for those still hoping for some miracle rescue (including for 2 Americans), I would like for you to think with me further about this idea of cruise control.

Looking at a title like this, what could I be talking about in this article today? What lessons are there to learn from what has become a talking point for sports people and many other people all over the world? By now, you likely have heard of the controversy surrounding NFL quarterback, Tim Tebow. Many are talking about his many miraculous-like comebacks and end of the game wins this season. Nearly all Sports commentators can’t get enough of a story like this and a chance to offer a variety or opinions and responses. Late night talk show hosts, comedians, politicians and commentators are taking notice and sometimes even mocking Tebow’s public dedication to GOD and his signature of bowing on the field in reverence. The recent playoff game win and first in some time for the Denver Broncos propelled this even further into the mainstream discussions in homes throughout our society and all over the world. Why such interest in this? Why are so many critical and even mocking? There are underlying issues here that I want to address in this article; it has to do what I’ll call “The Sport of ThE-Bowing!”

January 2012! According to many in various segments of society, this year is set to be a year of great change. Economic problems in the world and the great debt and obligations that many Countries carry will no doubt add to the winds of change. The United States political election for the Presidency will also add to all of the intensity and upheaval of change and calls for more change. No doubt, you have heard of alignments in space or even the discussion about the Mayans and the interesting ending in their calendar surrounding this date of 12-21-12. Well, I will not take the time to delve into the specifics of all of these claims, but I do want to take this moment in time and deal with something that you likely have considered at the beginning of this year. Do you have goals or expectations? Are you Resolved!?

What potential this day has and this whole time of year, when people celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah or Kwanza or the beginning of winter or whatever! As 2011 comes to an end, another influential day comes when the New Year of 2012 begins. This entire season and particularly this day that is called Christmas has more power of influence over all the people in the world than any other day! What is so special about December 25th and this whole month and holiday season? Amid the hustle and bustle of this time of year, as shoppers look for gifts for family and friends, and amid the additionally sad news of crime and more legal problems for Virginia Tech in the athletic program, I want to take this opportunity to focus attention on something far sweeter than a Sugar Bowl ;-). Consider CHRISTmas Potential!

Lock down! Another shooting on the Virginia Tech campus…another gunman is at large! One has been killed and we know now it was a policeman. Now, another has been found dead…the suspect is said to be a young white male in a hooded sweatshirt with backpack….the Interstate 81 rest stop in Radford in also closed indefinitely. This is how Thursday afternoon went here in the Blacksburg and New River Valley area of Virginia. (There had been a trial run of this type of thing back on 08-04-11, just before the semester began.) Could this actual 12-08-11 shooting event be another 04-16-07 all over again?!? Ironically, all of this activity was happening on the same day that there was a hearing about alleged violations of the Clery Act in Virginia’s State Capital, Richmond. Police from all over the area were descending upon Blacksburg again; Virginia State police were taking the lead in the investigation. The news media was on the story and the local news agencies were overriding normal programming. News of this latest shooting event again spread quickly around the world! Horror, sadness and wonder gripped the emotions of people all throughout the community! Fear began creeping in and controlling decisions that people all over this area were making. Fear was being created!

Following up on my last blog article and remembering today as the 70th anniversary of “a date which will live in infamy,” I am writing to address this issue of sacrifice and suffering a bit deeper. It was 70 years ago today when America was surprisingly attacked at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. 2,402 Americans were killed and much U.S. property was destroyed in this horrific attack that fully thrust the United States into World War II. That attack on Pearl Harbor came at a great price, yet it ended up mobilizing a pearl of industry and involvement in this Country that led to the victory of the Allied forces in World War II and the defeat of Hitler. From this tragedy and irritant came a pearl of great price! Beautiful pearls can come from irritating things, if we allow our Creator to use these events to mold and make us.

Now that the holiday season is upon us, a very important thought comes to mind, which so many are so often neglecting. As you think about it, failure to do this is what really leads to so many tragedies and so many broken relationships all around us. Understanding what I am addressing here would help revolutionize the psychological world and even do wonders for the business world. In fact, when you consider the depth of this, it is at the very core of the Character of GOD and the reason why we can celebrate any greater meaning to the holidays. What am I talking about here?: Self Sacrifice.

Following up from my last blog article, I’m thinking more about how recent news events bring up a very important truth—Intervention! Finally, we see some intervention by city leaders around Wall Street in New York to help curtail the public health and safety issues that are being compromised at many of the Occupy protests. If people occupied The Street I talked about in my last article, there wouldn’t be all of the problems at many of these Occupy protests! Another serious news story out of Pennsylvania has also rocked the news world and a well know college campus and football program. The reason why so many are being let go or resigning and the big question coming out of all of that alleged child abuse has to do with why there was not more intervention. So, what is our responsibility to intervene?