Ray Lewis

Ray Lewis is a winner and this video totally explains why. He not only wins on the field, but he seems to be even better off the field. (Minus one issue 10 or so years ago, in Atlanta). I wish we would all go through defeats this way.

Quirky things in my office

These are some of the strange things in my office.

99 Balloons

Yesterday at Watershed, our church community, we showed this video. I am still wrecked from it. But I do know this, some how, some way, I am loved! Watch it…..cry….think on it….and then… go love on someone.

99 Balloons from Igniter Media on Vimeo.

Tim Tebow

So, I had a friend of mine recommend that I check out the phone interview that Tim Tebow did with ESPN. He told me to listen to his reaction to the criticism that former Denver Broncos QB, Jake Plummer, referenced about Tim expressing his faith in God on the field and in the media. I have been a Tebow fan since his college days (except for one game where my Michigan Wolverines beat his Florida Gators in a bowl game). He has been such a competitor, a fighter, and an all around pretty good guy (from what I can tell, via media). This guy just refuses to lose…and has a heart even bigger off of the field than he has on it. So to hear his response to critics is no surprise but his painting the word picture comparison between expressing his love in Jesus and a husband telling his wife he loves her is stellar.

Here is the interview…go to the 9:33 mark for the comment reply. Absolutely priceless and classy remark.

Tim Tebow Interview

BTW…I just watched Tim march his team down the field and beat the Chargers in overtime. #winning

Jesus Loves You??

If I told you that this is what the singing will sound like in Heaven, would you still want to go? (Said tongue in cheek)

Smack Dab in the Middle of God’s Love

I was asked to review Brennan Manning’s new children’s book, Smack Dab in the Middle of God’s Love as a part of a blogger book review from www.booksneeze.com, and as always, I am not required to give a positive review but an  honest one.

Set in a little Mexican village called Hopi, Smack Dab in the Middle of God’s Love explores how Willie Juan and his wife share their lives with the children of the village. Vibrant illustrations help paint the picture of their loving exchanges with the children, showing them walking, teaching, feeding and encouraging in an effort to show them that they are always smack dab in the
middle of God’s love.

One thing that I do know about this book than anything else is that our 3 daughters absolutely LOVED me reading it to them.

I have always been a HUGE Brennan Manning fan but now I can say that I have passed the fandom down to my little girls. They smile whenever they say Smack Dab.

I wholeheartedly give this review a 5 start rating.

Queen City Reads

Ladies and gents,

October 25th @ The Van Landingham Estate is the Queen City Reads Event. This is the must come to  event of the year! Ever wonder if something “really” makes a difference, I will guarantee that this is one of those things. Join my friend, WSOC-TV ABC Charlotte News Anchor, Blair Miller, for an incredible night of fun and fundraising. We Need Your Help! Led by Blair, we can truly make a difference with our youth. There are three schools in Charlotte that are missing essential learning tools to help them succeed, while every other school has this. Without any help, they won’t be able to obtain these accelerated learning books, supplies and tests which have been proven to show
they help students perform. We can all agree that knowledge is power and knowledge comes through reading. So, dust off the sparkly duds and head on over to the Van Landingham Estate for a stellar gala including guest speaker, NASCAR driver Ryan Newman and members of the Carolina Panthers football team. You will not be disappointed.

EMAIL: QueenCityReads@gmail.com for tickets and info

Book Review: Jolt! By Phil Cooke

I am reviewing the book, Jolt, by Phil Cooke. While I have always enjoyed Phil’s writing in blogs, articles, and such, this book seems to be a lot of the same repeated self help ideas that have been conveyed in so many books before it. I actually feel that Phil left so many areas untouched in this book. Perhaps it is because I am not in a midlife crisis, but I just didn’t connect to the information. Even though Phil relays a good bit of advice, it was a bit stale at times. One thing that Phil always does well is include quotes. And he included some great ones that I have never heard before. And he actually never says anything new. In fact, in his challenge to stretch new thinking, he says we just need to do what we have always done. A bit confusing at times. Even though Phil has always been known for inoovation, he falls short here. I was definitely not JOLTed.
I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review of the book.

Shuttle Launch-Atlantis

Today is the final launch of the Space Shuttle program. It is a sad day but I can reflect on all of the great memories of watching those launches as a kid.

Watch it live right now.

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

Father’s Day

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to play in a golf tournament courtesy of my main man, Daniel McCollum. It was a really fun day and on hole #7, we hear a pair of golf carts coming down the path towards our green and as we looked closer we saw that on that cart was golf legend, Fuzzy Zoeller. Fuzzy made his way to the green while we finished out the hole. In fact, he stood a few steps away from me while I had the opportunity to sink a 9 foot putt and with ice water in my veins, I SANK IT! He then posed for a picture with us. And as we were taking the picture, it clicked into my mind that my father’s favorite golfer in the 80′s was Fuzzy.

My father passed away when I was 18. That day hurt me alot, and honestly, 19 years later, it still hurts sometimes. But today is not about pain, it is about hope, love, and dedication.

My dad did what he had to do for us. He fought through tough economic times in a tough economic area and always seemed to provide in the best way he could. Even when my mom asked him to leave in the 4th grade, he still showed up around the house on a weekly basis, he still showed up with a smile. Being a once divorced person, I know how tough that is seeing your children in an environment that does not include you and sometimes that can be bothersome. But needless to say, my dad fought through all of that to see us.

Paul Larry Grammatico was raised by a father who was a tool and die maker and thus became a tool and die maker himself. Being a contracted company for GM, Buick, Oldsmobile and Cadillac would seem like it would make a pretty good living but alas, the rigors and disease of alcoholism forced my father into some poor decision making. And again, he raised up out of all of that to love us. Most people from the outside may not have always seen my fathers love but his love helped me to better realize what it means to be a father. So with that being said, this blog is a dedication and a Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. Keep going, keep loving, keep teaching, keep motivating, and keep fathering. It”s a job that NEVER stops!