Congratulations Winners!

By now you all saw the winner is Jeff King! I tried to watch the end of the race on television this morning and I guess I just kept flipping to the wrong stations because I didn't see ONE thing about the Iditarod Race Finish!

How disappointing! I wanted to see that.

Anyway, Jeff King, Doug Swingley, Paul Gebhardt and DeeDee ---great job mushers!

To the ones still on the trail---keep hangin' on to those dogs and that handlebar!

What a grueling race! Looking at Jeff King's frozen face makes me wonder why anyone would want to do this? Their desires to keep on racing in Alaska's bitter cold bewilders me. Same with those that want to climb Denali Mt! BRRRRRRRRRR!

According to ADN, Martin Buser continues on in 26th! Come on in Buser! We love ya!

Now that the race is getting over I want to share this story that Doug sent to me.

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him.

It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastors visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.

The pastor made himself at home but said nothing.

In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor got up, took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting.

The Pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday."

We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.

What a great story!