The Vicks Vex

Michael Vicks is back. Let me state this up front: I have never been so proud to be an Philadelphia Eagles fan as I am now. I stand up and give the organization a loud applause
"Huzzahs" for signing Vick to a contract. As I have discovered in the last few days, I seem
to be very much in the minority - even in my own family. My cats don't care about the
Eagles. They are Bengal fans are therefore are suffering enough unless Palmer puts it
together this year.

Being an Eagles fan where I live is tough enough. I live in Ft Worth, TX. The school I
teach at is just down the road from the new Cowboys Stadium. I see it every day and most
nights when I go to work for the Texas Rangers MLB. I wear a Philadelphia Eagles watch.
So, I do not write what I do lightly here. I am in enemy territory all the way.

So, why am I so glad for the Eagle signing Vick? Simple - I believe in second chances. Mainly, because I have badly screwed up too, and have been given a second chance. Yes - what Vick did was horrible. Notice the tense of the verb though - DID. Vick committed a crime - in the PAST. He was tried, convicted, and did his time. He lost everything he had - including the respect of the majority if not all of his fans. He lost out on a ton of financial income. He went through the experience of jail. He paid a heavy price for what he did. Now, all he wants is a chance to move on from what he did and have a chance to have a life again (his chance for a normal life is long gone). Even then, he will be under constant scrutiny; even more than he
had before he was convicted.

Tell me - who out there could go through this? Who wants to live their life under such an
intense microscope? I know there are husbands out there who think that everything they
say and do is being monitored. Take that feeling and multiply it a few thousand times and
you will get what Michael Vicks is about to endure the next few months at least.

Is there anyone here who has NOT screwed up in some way? Jesus reminded the people
about to stone the woman in adultery to "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone."
In the same Testament, it is written "Let the one who going to take a sliver out of a
neighbor's eye first remove the log from his own." In the reactions I am hearing and reading
about Vick's signing, I am seeing a lot of people with substantial logs throwing stones right now.

Don't give me this argument that what Michael Vick did was a larger sin/mistake/bad thing than what others did. Sin is sin folks. In man's law there are degrees. In God's eyes - there are not. Paul of Tarsus was a murderer. Peter denied Him - THREE TIMES. Thomas doubted Him.
Chuck Colson helped to engineer one of the greatest cover ups of all time. ALL of these people
changed and lived lives that made this world a better place to live in. President Bill Clinton
committed adulterous acts while serving as President of the USA. He really never did come
clean about it, yet look at what he has been doing since then. His help to bring the two ladies
imprisoned in Korea home was a great act (and this coming from a staunch Republican).
Barack Obama once supported a minister whose diatribes were racist, and even anti-
American. He caught flack for it big time. Now, he is President of the USA. Hilary lied and
exgarreted about parts of her life. Now she is Secretary of State for our great nation.
People can get, and need to have, second chances folks. Don't we want second chances when we screw up too?

Please, don't give me the argument that criminals don't get their jobs back. We give criminals their jobs back all the time - and we call it politics. We call it accepting people back into our
families. We call it friendship. We call it fellowship. Yes - they need to be come clean and
admit their wrong doing (and not all people do and they are still given their old or even better
jobs back, right Bill?). Yes, they need to be held accountable. Micheal Vick will be held
accountable by Andy Reid, by Donovan McNabb, and by the other leaders of the Eagles.
What Michael Vick needs from us is our support so he CAN move on with his life, and have
the chance to truly live it. Again - wouldn't we want the same chance? Yes, it is a risk. But
isn't a risk for a human life worth taking? Or do you need to ask our brave military men
and women serving in Iraq that?

So - as soon as I can afford it - I am buying an Eagles Banner. I probably need two - one for my home and one for my office. Even if they have a bad season, the Eagles are the ultimate winners
for taking believing in a man who wants to move on with his life.

For those who are giving their Eagles tickets away or selling them on Craig's list - give them to
local charity if you really mean it. Or - send them to me. I have family in the Philly area.
I could always stay with them before and after the game. Philly is short airplane ride from
Ft Worth after all.

Fly High Eagles!!!!!!!!!

Keith B.

Here we go again

So, Josh Hamilton has just admitted to "slipping off the wagon" by drinking and being with
"scantily dressed women" last January. He stated he called his accountability partners, his
wife, the Rangers, and MLB to tell them what happened. He is taking full responsibility for
his actions. He isn't blaming anyone else while doing so.

He will still get flamed - but NOT by this blogger. After his long struggle to defeat alcoholism, he realized the battles are won, but the ongoing war against it continues. He messed up, he fessed up, and now he is going to work on fixing the damage it caused.

He will be told by others that his Christian witness is shot. Nope, not at all true. All this does is show his witness to be more valid than ever. He relied on God to help him fight his alcoholism. He slipped - as ALL of us do. He admitted it, and is now learning from it as he turns back to God once again for strength to fight the fight again.

We cannot judge too harshly. We all do dumb things, stop doing them, then slip up. It is part and parcel of who we are. Many people try to explain it away, make excuses for it, or blame others for what is happening. Then we turn around and expect others - especially those who
are famous - to live to a higher standard than we can attain ourselves. I know - I was part of
an organization who's leaders held its members to a higher moral standard than they were able
to live themselves. Before potshots are taken at Hamilton, look to the mirror to see if a perfect
human being is staring back.

Hamilton still deserves to be admired and respected. He still deserves to be given the chance to
play a game he loves. He will face whatever consequences the Rangers and MLB decide upon. He will do it as a man. We still have much to learn from Hamilton and his walk with God. His
witness will become even stronger. His career will, hopefully, go on.

As for this blogger - the Josh Hamilton autographed ball, the posters, the mouse pad I have will continue to be proudly displayed. I will still cheer for him when he gets introduced and each time he comes to bat. I hope others will do the same. He is still an example of what happens when we turn to Christ - we become forgive, still fallible human beings with a strength to fight whatever demons we face while having someone to pick us up when we fall down.

Keith Boepple