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Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life
by Tom Kelley
Speed seems to be a very important issue in many sports. In track and field watching the one hundred meter dash is a lot more exciting than perhaps watching the one hundred meter crawl. The fastest time traversing the distance is what is considered important rather than finding out who can take the longest to cover the distance and still actually be moving the entire time. Speed makes foot races fun to watch. It does the same with NASCAR, IRL, NHRA and CART events.
Speed also carries some weight in boxing as well. Many boxers are known as being quick punchers with fast hands. There are also those who are known for being fast in the ring and avoiding the punches of more powerful opponents. However, the duration of the fight is not what we expect to be fast. While watching competitors run one hundred meters in less than ten seconds is what is expected, we kind of like to see a championship boxing match go a bit slower.
Seventy-six years ago today the fans filed into Yankee Stadium to watch what they thought was going to be a titanic struggle for the world lightweight boxing title between defending champion Sammy Mandell and challenger Al Singer. Eighty-six seconds and four rapid-fire knockdowns later Al Singer had his hand raised as the winner by a KO in the fastest title bout KO ever recorded. Ironically, in his first title defense less than four months later he stepped into the ring with Tony Canzoneri at Madison Square Garden and hit the mat just sixty-six seconds later as the loser in the fastest KO ever recorded in a title bout.
That's the kind of event where speed leaves a lot of people a little upset. Someone slow to get to their seat wonders what all the shouting is about and then is crushed with the disappointment of having missed all the fireworks and being able to witness history. There is one event that everyone will witness but not everyone will welcome its conclusion. The whole thing will happen in the blink of an eye and leave people with unbelievable joy or unbearable sorrow.
"Listen, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed -- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed." 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52 "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God." 1 Thessalonians 4:16 When Jesus comes again it will all happen in the blink of an eye. And you and I will see it one way or the other. Are we ready?
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Choking can be Hazardous to Your Eternal Health
Read Article »...He was the Minister of the Minorsville Christian Church located near Stamping Ground, KY.
...Becky and Tom have three children; John, single and in worship ministry in Nicholasville, Kentucky; Sean, married (Jennifer, elementary school teacher) with twins (Grace and Patrick, b.d. 10/31/04) and regional director of Papa John's Pizza in Central KY; Kara, married (Vince Taylor, prison guard) and working with Hospice East in Winchester, KY.
...Tom went to be with the Lord on November 13, 2009 after a lengthy battle with cancer. If you have been touched by Tom's writings please send an email to Tom's son at jkelley@catalystchristian.net
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