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guest writer series intro

People often ask me what I’m passionate about.  I love this blog!  But it’s not blogging that this creative, semi-colloquial wordsmith is most passionate about.  I’m more passionate about the people than the posts.  I’m more passionate about dialogue than simultaneous direction.  And I’m more passionate about respect than being right.  That’s one of the aspects about our so-called “united state” of America that disturbs me most; we continue to justify disrespect because we feel we’re right.  Few approaches, friends, are more foolish.

 

In case you have not recently reviewed our web site’s mantra, allow me to familiarize you “about the Intramuralist”…

 

My name is AR.  I believe that all topics, regardless of intensity of controversy, can be discussed.  The key is utilizing respect.

 

The challenge is that when we become emotional, sometimes we justify omitting respect — and simply spew opinion.  That isn’t necessarily wise.  My goal is to be wise… and to encourage that in each of us.

 

Over the next approximate 3 weeks — beginning this coming Sunday — we will practice this sharing of respectful opinion via our 5th annual Guest Writer Series…  fire up!

 

You will hear from a teacher, author, future author, pastor, grandparent, ad exec, food bank director, etc. and from one mom of some very hungry boys.  You will hear from all ages, lifestyles, etc.

 

Listen also to this…

 

You will hear stories and opinions designed to motivate, influence, and encourage.  Some of those opinions, friends, will be ones with which I actually disagree.  But if we cannot entertain divergent discussion, then that means we are refusing to grow.  That, too, is foolish, no matter the intellect of the opinion’s holder.  The Intramuralist believes we will only grow and craft actual solution when we engage in dialogue that is interactive, others-focused, and respectful.  Always.  Through that process, we can encourage one another.

 

As also said “About the Intramuralist”:

 

… encouragement is my gifting.  Hopefully, we use it here well. 

 

So enjoy these next few weeks — a unique, clever, respectful sharing of opinion by several persons I hold in high esteem.  I hold them in high esteem regardless of opinion — regardless of agreement.

 

Let these inspiring writers hear from you.  You’ve got 3 weeks to let them know how you feel.  Give them feedback.  Chime in.  Feel free to agree, disagree, or add perspective.  Join the conversation.  However you participate, no less, just like them, do it respectfully.

 

Yes, let the games begin…  on our beloved Intramuralist…  Know, too:  I will be back.

 

Respectfully (of course),

AR

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current questions

As August nears and summer enjoys its seasonal last hurrah’s, I find myself with a few things I still feel need to either ask or address.  Yes, I have lots of questions regarding current events…

 

Why does Congress recess for the entire month of August?

Do they still get paid?

 

Why is the President still campaigning about Obamacare?

Does he realize the bill remains unpopular?

Is he telling us the entire truth?

Are the people even listening to him anymore?

 

Did William & Kate consider any other names?

Is there any chance Kate always dreamed of a baby named “boy George”?

 

Now that Detroit has gone bankrupt, who will be next?

Will there be a next?

Who else has borrowed too much money for too long and made far too many promises of future payment?

 

What should we learn from the Trayvon Martin situation?

Was a guilty man set free?

 

Does Al Sharpton realize that racism comes from all sides?

Why won’t all African-Americans refuse to say the word “nigger”?

Don’t they realize it’s derogatory?

 

Will Hillary run?

Should she?

What’s she thinking now?

 

How will my Reds do in the push to the playoffs?

 

Why did the Patriots not address the character of Aaron Hernandez sooner?

Did they ever cover up for him?

 

When does college football start?

Will Heisman winner Johnny Manziel say and do all the right things?

 

How ‘bout the pros?

How will my fantasy team do?

Will I dominate my sons? (ever so gently, of course…)

 

What have we learned from this summer?

 

As always, there is much to learn.  There are many questions to ask, and there is great need for each of us to listen in order to discern correctly; that means listening to persons other than self — other than the knowingly likeminded.

 

Over the course of the next 3 weeks, the Intramuralist will offer creative opportunity to listen.  Beginning Sunday, Aug. 4 we will host our 5th annual Guest Writer Series, a treat for all involved.  You will have opportunity to listen and dialogue with persons expressing viewpoints that may or may not be the same as mine.  I will share with you later this week the means and motive for the series.  We are not all clones, friends; we don’t all think, act, or believe exactly alike.  Several of you, in fact, probably have different questions.

 

Keep asking.  Look for more on our exciting series soon… (fire up).

 

Respectfully,

AR

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‘yes’ means ‘yes’

There are a few things hopefully each of us learns as a child…

 

Don’t covet.

Honor your mother and father.

And never stick your tongue on a flag pole in the winter.

 

As an adult, I see at least one, glaring wise nugget that far too many have missed…

 

Let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’  Speak the truth.

 

So it bothers this semi-humble blogger when I see so many supposedly smart people speak and act so counterintuitively to the truth shared above…

 

It bothers me when Pres. Obama again hits what “feels like” a campaign trail and repeatedly utilizes the phrase, “phony scandals.”  The screening of conservative groups by the IRS is not “phony.”  The secret seizing of journalists’ phone records, emails, etc. by the Justice Department is not fake.  The Intramuralist, for one, is very concerned about the potential abuse of power by these 2 federal branches of government.  Hence, fake or phony are inaccurate adjectives at best…

 

Let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.‘   Speak the truth.

 

Granted, a second example could easily be written about current NYC mayoral candidate, Anthony Weiner, a congressman who resigned from office, acknowledging personal wrongdoing, but then who continued the same wrongdoing long after his resignation and reported repentance… but alas, we digress… he isn’t worth our time…

 

Let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.‘   Speak the truth.

 

Perhaps, no less this week, the example that causes the greatest cringe comes from baseball’s Ryan Braun.  Braun is an outfielder with the Milwaukee Brewers (sorry, my Wisconsin friends).  In fact, the talented Braun — nicknamed “The Hebrew Hammer” as a perennial standout in the sport — was actually voted the league’s 2011 MVP.  Last week Braun was suspended without pay for the rest of the season due to his use of performance-enhancing drugs.  As Braun stated in his acceptance of the suspension, “I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions.”

 

While I commend Braun’s willingness to accept the consequences, I cringe at the 2 years prior.  In 2011, Ryan Braun came under scrutiny for a then failed drug test.  Instead of admitting — or granted, even denying — any wrongdoing, Braun attacked the investigator and his process.  As he said through his spokesman:

 

“There are highly unusual circumstances surrounding this case which will support Ryan’s complete innocence and demonstrate there was absolutely no intentional violation of the program.  While Ryan has impeccable character and no previous history, unfortunately, because of the process we have to maintain confidentiality and are not able to discuss it any further, but we are confident he will ultimately be exonerated.”

 

So in 2013 — after lying in 2011 — only now does Ryan Braun actually “accept the consequences.”

 

Seemingly smart people only adhering to nuggets of wisdom when they can no longer deny the truth…

 

Let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’  Speak the truth.

 

Always.

 

Respectfully,

AR

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the king

He’s here!  He’s here!

 

The future king is here!

 

Granted, Prince William and Kate Middleton’s baby was initially nameless, but the newborn babe has now been pronounced as none other than Prince George Alexander Louis; note that William’s name went unannounced for one whole week while his father, Charles, actually waited an entire month.  Regardless, a king is born!

 

Interestingly, this week my youngest teen strolled into my room, and via a manner of not so eloquent words asked, “What’s the big deal“ about England’s most recent royal birth.

 

He’s a king!  The king has been born!

 

[As originally penned in early 2009…]

 

People historically clamor for a king.

 

The Romans clamored for the great Cincinnatus.  The Sicilians clamored for “the General,” Giuseppe Garibaldi.  And lest you are on the edge of your seats, ready to pounce, thinking I may again address the perceived, first term Obama, Greek-columned, kingly adoration, we should acknowledge that many have been equally guilty with the elections of previous presidents…  “Now that a conservative Christian is in the White House… now we can finally save America!”

 

Yes, the king will save us!

 

In approximately 1050 B.C., the ground swelling rose to its maximum voice.  The people had spiritual leaders, men and women to guide them, helping them see the world rightly and give God credit for his creation, but they didn’t have a “king.”  “Give us a king to rule us!” the people fervently chanted.  “If only we had a king, those hopes would ring true.”

 

The citizens were told that a king could not save them; a king would be ineffective…  incapable.  A king could not do what only God can do.  We should never put more faith in one man than in the one who created man.  But yet, the people continually ignored wisdom.  They continued to mandate, “We want a king so we can be like everyone else!”  Adhering to the wants of the people as opposed to the wisdom of one greater, the leading prophet of the land surrendered to their wishes.  Yet he eerily added, “The day will come when you will cry in desperation because of this king you so much want for yourselves.  But don’t expect God to answer.”  Because their trust was displaced, their prayers were also discarded.

 

No one man (or woman or even a Hillary) can save America.  No conservative Christian.  No liberal, independent, franchise quarterback, or even global warming aficionado.  No man can do what only God can do.  So why, as a people, do we continue to look for love in all the wrong places?  What makes us clamor for a king?

 

God bless you, William and Kate.  You’re the closest thing to royalty with whom most of us will ever identify.  We loved Diana.  She was authentic.  She could relate to us, but her death came so suddenly, so tragically.

 

So c’mon, William and Kate… raise that child well.  Here, then, is to Prince George — third in line for the royal throne.

 

We need a king, you know.

 

… or at least, for some reason, we think we do…

 

 

AR

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ESPN news

To hear the sportswriters tell it, it was “the best round of his life”… “a most improbable win”… “completed in stunning, awe-inspiring fashion”…

 

On Sunday, golf’s most popular lefty, Phil Mickelson, captured the coveted Claret Jug, as the winner of this year’s British Open.  He was 5 strokes behind the leader when the day began, and as one writer penned, “Mickelson barely got a mention on the broadcast.”

 

Before we continue, friends, let me offer an initial, concise caveat.  While the Intramuralist is without question a lover of sports, this is not a sports post.  Not at all.  In fact, with all due respect to the male members of my extended family, I’m actually not incredibly passionate about watching that little white, dented ball be smacked around on the grass all day.  Play and partake?  Gladly.  Watch 4 hours on TV on a regular, weekend basis?  No way.  It’s just a little (ok, maybe a lot) too slow a sport for me.

 

Being that sports lover, however — and living in a household uniquely dominated by testosterone — it’s rather important that I am “up on” and equally knowledgeable regarding all that occurs in the athletic world; we have some great conversations around our house.  Hence, I subscribe to regular sports updates from ESPN, the unquestionably successful Entertainment and Sports Programming Network.  Throughout the British Open, they sent me multiple daily texts, alerting me to the Open’s current status.

 

Here’s the non-sport-aspect challenge…

 

All 4 days of the British Open, ESPN sent me updates about Tiger Woods.  Tiger was never in the lead.  He spent most days somewhere around 6th place.  But every text from the sporting news network — save for when Mickelson finally seized the lead — included information about Tiger Woods.  In fact, going into Sunday’s final round, when Tiger had crept to a then current second place tie, the person with whom Woods was actually tied with was omitted from ESPN’s tweets.  ESPN’s British Open tweets were always focused on Tiger Woods, regardless of who was performing better.

 

My “a-ha” moment came somewhere between rounds 3 and 4…

 

Does ESPN think I only care about Tiger Woods?

Why are they so seemingly fascinated with him?

Who then is deciding what is “news”?

Is the network deciding for me what’s newsworthy — even if it’s not?

 

I wonder.

 

I wonder how often media outlets dictate our news.

 

Are there times the media omits relevant information because of what they feel will gain greater ratings?  … a larger audience?  … and increased revenue?  Are they, then, actually dictating what is “news”?

 

For the record, the answer is Hunter Mahan.  Hunter Mahan was the professional golfer tied with Tiger heading into the fourth and final round of this year’s British Open.

 

Note:  the Intramuralist will never intentionally omit a relevant detail in order to sway your response.  We will not be the decider — nor, uh, the manipulator — of what is actually news.

 

Respectfully,

AR

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advice column

In 2 intriguing developments…

 

John Rosemond has written a nationally syndicated parental advice column for years.  In addition to his column, Rosemond has authored multiple bestsellers, such as Parenting by the Book and Making the ‘Terrible’ Twos Terrific!  When responding recently to a question of how to handle their “highly spoiled underachiever” son, Rosemond advised the parents to strip the boy’s room down to essentials, take away electronic devices, and suspend privileges until the boy’s grades improved.

 

The State of Kentucky — specifically, the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology – then declared that by offering such one-on-one advice, Rosemond is engaging in the “practice of psychology” – something he is not entitled to do in the state since he lacks a Kentucky license, as even though he is a nationally syndicated columnist, his North Carolina credentials are not valid in Kentucky.

 

The bottom line:  the government says a citizen is not qualified nor allowed to do what he does without the government’s supervision, authorization, and approval.

 

Steve Cooksey, no less, is a blogger from North Carolina.  He encourages others, prompted by the passion of his own experience.  Listen to Cooksey’s brief bio:

“To summarize my story, I was an obese, sedentary, recently diagnosed diabetic when I began this journey.  I was on diabetes, cholesterol, and hypertension drugs as well as taking 4 insulin shots per day.  But within days things began to change and within a few months, I WAS A NEW PERSON!” 

Cooksey’s health improved drastically due to utilization of the growingly popular, high-protein Paleo Diet.

 

Yet alas, the State of North Carolina — specifically, the North Carolina Board of Dietetics/Nutrition — told Cooksey the advice-like language throughout his blog — and his offering of personal support to those attempting to transition to a “Paleo” lifestyle — were illegal.  Let me say that again:  illegal.

 

The bottom line:  the government says a citizen is not qualified nor allowed to do what he does without the government’s supervision, authorization, and approval.

 

Interestingly, both Rosemond and Cooksey have sued the government on the grounds of free speech and the First Amendment.  Let me also add that I’m certain there exist aspects in each case that we don’t know.  My prayer regardless is that their ongoing cases will be heard and directed by wise, fair-minded persons.

 

However, what concerns me is the potential precedent and lingering questions…

 

Is only government able to decide who is qualified?

Is only government able to decide who is allowed?

 

I wonder… in the future… if not in possession of a state teaching license, will parents be deemed qualified to teach their own children?  Will they be allowed?

 

I have no idea whether the words and wisdom of Rosemond and/or Cooksey are actually wise or not; the potential precedent, however, of the government’s increasingly intrusive, larger role disturbs me.

 

What if the citizens’ words are not wise?  Does the government still need to control that?  Are only wise words allowed to be shared?  And is only the government capable of determining what wisdom is?  Must they supervise? … authorize?  … and approve? …

 

… Be honest.  Be kind.  Love people well.  Never run from truth.  Don’t be afraid of the hard stuff.  Be respectful.  Be compassionate.  Say what you mean and mean what you say.  Forgive.  Forgive again.  Figure the faith thing out.  Don’t spend what you don’t have.  Exercise.  Ponder.  Reject hypocrisy.  Be humble.  Laugh often.  Make good friends.  Be loyal.  Invest.  Embrace your family.  Love through thick and thin.  Enjoy ice cream in the summer.  And read the Intramuralist faithfully.

 

There.  There’s my advice for today.  It’s free.  You’ll have to discern whether or not it’s wise.  Actually, that’s our job.

 

Respectfully,

AR

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racist

Sometimes as I witness society’s reaction, my soul is left disturbed.

 

Perhaps like several of you, I have turned off the television after my jaw dropped too many times watching reaction to George Zimmerman being found “not guilty” of the murder of teen Trayvon Martin.  Was he really “not guilty”?  Was he “guilty”?!  I don’t know.  I wasn’t there.  I wasn’t even in the courtroom.  Like positions, however, have not kept others from adamant declarations.

 

The reality is that Trayvon Martin’s tragic death has evolved into an issue of race.  It shouldn’t be.  The question should be whether or not a criminal act took place.  However, declarations of innocence and guilt have seemingly since been driven more by ethnicity than on evidence — or the lack of it.

 

Does skin color matter?

 

Unfortunately, to too many, it does…

 

… it matters to the female convenience store clerk, shown on a YouTube video, who told an African-American pastor, “We don’t serve your kind”…

… it matters to the Illinois, African-American man who beat up an American caucasian because he was so mad at “white boys”…

… it matters to CNN’s Nancy Grace, who during jury deliberations, said “[Hispanic Zimmerman’s been] out on bond, driving through Taco Bell every night, having a churro.”

 

It matters to too many whites… too many blacks… too many Hispanics, Asians, Arabs, etc.  Unfortunately, it matters.

 

My current sense is that most of the protests after the Zimmerman verdict were peaceful.  (Note:  the most sensational moments — however infrequent — receive the most media attention.)  Still, seemingly intelligent (and not so intelligent) persons say disturbing things…

 

For example, in response to the verdict, an associate professor at the typically esteemed, Ivy League’s University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Religious Studies called God a “white racist.”  Excuse me, but this professor who is teaching our children, is she attempting to divide — or to heal unite?

 

I look forward, friends, to a day when skin color truly does not matter to any of us… when it doesn’t matter to the whites, to the blacks, to every other color God created.  I look forward when there exists no justified prejudice — stemming either from initial ignorance or from retaliatory response.

 

I look forward to the lion laying down with the lamb… the leopard lying down with the goat… the cow feeding alongside the bear and their young lying down together.  I look forward to a day when none of the external “stuff” we so passionately cling to matters, when none of us judge by what we see with our eyes or hear with our ears.  I look forward to us being directed more by a Spirit of wisdom and understanding than by skin color and self.

 

I look forward to that day.  For each of us.  All of us.  Only then will skin color truly not matter.

 

Respectfully… always…

AR

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Martin & Zimmerman

This is a post I have little desire to pen.

 

It’s not that the Intramuralist fails to possess an opinion.  It’s not that I don’t have all the answers.  I rarely have all the answers.

 

I hesitate to write about the George Zimmerman verdict because so many of the responses have been so emotional…

 

Amidst the current outrage, much has been omitted.  Such as…

 

… “not guilty” is not equal to completely “innocent”…

… mercy always triumphs over judgment…

… the withholding of forgiveness only hurts the withholder…

… few of us were in the courtroom…

… and fewer still were there when the altercation occurred.

 

We don’t know what happened that fateful night.  We don’t know what Trayvon Martin said.  We don’t know what Zimmerman said.  We don’t know if there were threats by either.  We don’t know if either Martin or Zimmerman felt they were in danger of bodily harm.  We don’t know for certain who was screaming for help on the 911 call.  That’s the bottom line:  we don’t know.

 

I wish more would pause, recognizing exactly that:  they don’t know.  Just because Martin was an African-American and Zimmerman is a white Hispanic tells us nothing about innocence nor guilt.

 

But instead of the prudent pause, many embrace the far easier rush to emotional judgment — which is what seems to prompt the Rev. Al Sharpton to plan national protests this Saturday… which is what seems to motivate multiple liberal churches and organizations to announce a standing in solidarity with Martin and his family only, ignoring the Zimmermans…  and which seems to cause the NAACP to demand the Justice Dept. file federal civil rights charges against Zimmerman…

 

Did these persons and organizations forget that they weren’t there?

 

I understand the emotion, friends.  The death of Trayvon Martin was tragic.  It was awful.  No teen should die an early death.  Yet the outrage omits more truth than Rev. Sharpton & Co. currently care to admit… and that the media made significantly worse…

 

Soon after the altercation, for example, NBC’s “Today” show aired the following tape of Zimmerman’s initial comments to a police dispatcher.  This is what NBC reported…

 

Zimmerman:  “This guy looks like he’s up to no good.  He looks black.”

 

It was later acknowledged that NBC News altered the recording; the full tape went like this…

 

Zimmerman:  “This guy looks like he’s up to no good.  Or he’s on drugs or something.  It’s raining and he’s just walking around, looking about.” 

Dispatcher:  “OK, and this guy — is he black, white or Hispanic?”
Zimmerman: “He looks black.”

 

The death of Trayvon Martin is unquestionably tragic.  I pray for his family.  I also pray for George Zimmerman and his family.  The current outrage that omits both logic and truth — and only empathizes with one of the involved families — is equally, unfortunately sad.

 

Respectfully,

AR

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my bro’

Yesterday my younger brother got married.

 

My family is both thankful and proud.

 

In preparation for today, the officiating pastor asked us siblings what qualities we most admire in our brother.  There’s lots I could say about Stun.

 

He’s witty…

He’s wise…

He’s athletic…

He’s strong…

He’s God-fearing…

He’s God honoring…

He’s loyal and faithful…

When he isn’t multi-tasking at all those activities he is so good at, he’s an excellent listener and a cherished friend.

It’s fun to be “on the other end of Stun.”

 

Let me also say this…

 

Stun is an elected politician.

 

I’ll add this…

 

Stun is the kind of person that should be an elected politician.

 

I humbly opine such because Stun is a man of integrity.  He’s authentic; he’s real.  His “yes” means “yes” and his “no” means “no.”

 

He doesn’t toe the line if it violates his moral compass; in other words, he doesn’t vote a specific way simply because someone tells him — or expects him — to.  Friends, that is the kind of person we need in office.  That is the kind of person who actually represents us well.

 

We don’t need any more persons in office who simply cast a robotic ballot, prompted by political engrainment and special interest paybacks.  We don’t need any more persons in office who spend and spend with no specific, measurable plan to pay it back.  We don’t need any more persons in office who give great speeches, but still seem only to care for small percentages of the country.  We don’t need any more persons in office who are prideful and arrogant — or who only listen to the likeminded.  We don’t need any more persons in office who only listen to themselves.  We need persons in office who are ethical, humble, teachable, smart, God-fearing, and without a doubt, men and women of integrity.

 

My brother got married yesterday.

 

I’m so proud of him.

 

Proud of him in office.  Prouder still of who he is.

 

Respectfully,

AR

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woe is me

When bad things happen, how do we respond?  With a woe-is-me attitude?  Believing, alas, that we are the victim?  Or what if we really are the victim?  … do we get angry?  … indignant?  … or an emboldened “it’s me against the world” mentality?

 

Truthfully, I can understand that.  I just don’t think it’s typically the wisest mentality to cling to so closely.

 

Note the freeing, contagious example of Michelle Knight…

 

Michelle Knight, 32, is one of the 3 young women who was kidnapped and trapped in Cleveland for the past 10 years.  Her captor, Ariel Castro, reportedly starved and punched Knight until she miscarried during her decade-long ordeal.  She suffered such severe beatings while locked up that she actually may need facial reconstruction surgery.  Make no mistake about it:  she is a victim.

 

(Alas, woe is me.)

 

Yet on Monday, Knight together with her kidnapped companions, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus, released a video to the public on YouTube.  Knight’s words were striking.  Even more so was the wisdom that shaped and girded her chosen mentality…

 

With her voice at times seemingly frail and faltering, the so-called “victim” still amazingly shared the following:

 

“Thank you everyone for your love, support, and donations, which helped me build a brand new life. I just want everyone to know I’m doing just fine.

 

I may have been through hell and back, but I am strong enough to walk through hell with a smile on my face, and with my head held high and my feet firmly on the ground. Walking hand in hand with my best friend, I will not let the situation define who I am.  I will define the situation.

 

I don’t want to be consumed by hatred.  With that being said, we need to take a leap of faith and know that God is in control.  We have been hurt by people, but we need to rely on God as being the judge.

 

God has a plan for all of us.  The plan that He gave me was to help others that have been in the same situations I have been in, to know that there’s someone out there to lean on and to talk to. I’m in control of my own destiny, with the guidance of God.

 

I have no problem expressing how I feel inside.  Be positive, learn that it’s important to give than to receive.  Thank you for all your prayers.  I’m looking forward to my brand new life. Thank you.”

 

Michelle Knight doesn’t deny nor dismiss the reality of what happened to her.  She also does not blame nor discount the existence of God.  In fact, she incredibly still sees God’s plan — and knows it will still somehow be good.

 

She doesn’t take the law into her own hands.  She hasn’t become indignant.  And she refuses to justify hate.  She won’t give in to the negative.  Knight is positive and hopeful.  And thus, her message is contagiously inspiring… so much more inspiring than any “alas” or “woe is me.”

 

Respectfully,

AR