The Nine page 14

 The Nine page 14 by ric gustafson

My name is Justice Clarence Thomas

I came from nothing. I endured poverty. I stood up to racism. I was one of the first African Americans to graduate from Yale School. I have been a Supreme Court Justice since 1991.

Do you know who encouraged me to become the man I am today?. That man was my maternal grandfather. His name was Myers Anderson. I called him Daddy. My memoir is based largely on this man. My grandfather was dark, strong and proud. He was my hero. He still is.

I lived with my mother until age 7. Then I moved in with my grandparents.

My brother Myers and I went to a segregated grammar school in town. My mother worked long hours to provide for us. My father abandoned us. At age 7, my brother and I went to live with my grandparents. We moved in with them in 1955. I called my Aunt Aunt Teenie.

research help: ' Going Further' by Ted Cruz

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God Reflections: Proverbs 4

God Reflections: Proverbs 4 by ric gustafson

How do you keep pace with Jesus?. Proverbs 4 says I will teach you wisdom's ways and lead you in straight paths. How do we keep up with Jesus?.

According to Psalm 1, we make time for the Word. We must make time each day to read God's Word. God's Word must be our daily guide. We must make time for prayer. To hear Jesus's voice, we must tune out outside noise. According to Matthew 6, we must need quiet time to pray. 

Jesus loves us very much. He always has. He always will.

research help: ' Meaningful Moments with God' by Christian Art Publishers

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

The Road to Omaha page 2

The Road to Omaha page 2 by ric gustafson

It was a Friday afternoon June 13 2008. Eight head coaches walked into the Hall of Fame Room. This was at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium. On the field, eight teams were spending their Friday doing batting practice, team photos and media interviews. Tomorrow June 14, the 2008 College World Series would begin.

Since June 14 1950, the College World Series followed the same routine. Eight teams, two weeks, double elimination and one champion.. Every coach knew what had to be done and what was at stake.

The teams of Florida State, Stanford, Miami, Georgia, Rice, Fresno State, North Carolina and LSU were in awe of the history of this event and Rosenblatt Stadium.

The schedule for the Friday before the series started was always the same. There was team photos, hitting and fielding, autographs, dinner, opening ceremonies and fireworks at 9:40 pm.

The schedule never changed.

research help: ' The Road to Omaha' by Ryan McGee

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Public Enemies page 1

 Public Enemies page 1 by ric gustafson

On June 8 1933, Charley Floyd was hiding inside a farm house garage. He was crouching

 next to a car he wanted to steal. It was a black Pontiac. Charley wanted the car badly. He could hear the owner's voice near the garage door. Charley was hoping he would go inside the farm house for the evening.

All of a sudden, Charley heard a padlock being put on the garage door. Charley began cursing. For months now, this was the way his life was going. 29 year old Charley Floyd had been given a nickname by the newspapers. Because of his good looks, the nickname of ' Pretty Boy' had started.

As Pretty Boy Floyd, Charley was already famous in his home state of Oklahoma. He had become a local hero to people suffering from the Dust Bowl.

Pretty Boy Floyd grew up in Akins Oklahoma. In 1925, Charley robbed a store in St Louis. He was in a Missouri prison from 1925 to 1930.

The night Pretty Boy Floyd stole Joe Hudiberg's Pontiac, Floyd was heading for Kansas City.

research help: ' Public Enemies' by Bryan Burrough

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God Reflections: John 6

 God Reflections: John 6 by ric gustafson

There will come a day when we will go to the other side. It is the side of death. When we reach heaven, we will stand face to face before God. He will ask us one question. Why are we here?. The right answer is simple. There is only one answer. That answer is because of Jesus Christ. He alone is our Lord. That simple answer will unlock the doors of eternity. Jesus will be there to welcome us home.

John 6 says my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life. Jesus can't wait for us to be with him for eternity. I can't wait.

research help: ' Meaningful Moments with God' by Christian Art Publishers

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

the Road to Omaha page 1

 the Road to Omaha page 1 by ric gustafson

On Thursday June 12 2008, a red Arrow bus took the off ramp exit 454. On board the bus was the college baseball team of Fresno State University. The team's nickname was the Bulldogs. Bus driver Chris Clark knew the players would be seeing a big green road sign soon.

" There it is" shouted one of the players. The players ran to the windows of the bus. Then they saw the big green sign. ' Rosenblatt Home of the NCAA Men's College World Series'.

The Fresno State Bulldogs talked about Rosenblatt. They read about Rosenblatt. They watched games from Rosenblatt on TV. Rosenblatt was the goal of every college player.

In 36 hours, the Fresno State Bulldogs would be playing in the 2008 College World Series.

research help: ' The Road to Omaha' by Ryan McGee

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Beatles the early years page 18

 Beatles the early years page 18 by ric gustafson

In November of 1956, Little Richard came on the scene. His songs were big band with vocal, piano and saxophone. Only Elvis Presley had affected Paul and John that much.

At this same time, John got his first guitar. It was time to let go of the banjo. It was a cheap little acoustic guitar. He learned to play it using the first four strings of the banjo. George Harrison learned how to play guitar with a Hofner Committee. It was a bird eyes maple blade guitar. George and Paul became closer friends when they both had guitars. They would play and sing around Paul's front parlor.

In November of 1956, John Lennon decided to form his own group. He decided it would be a group with his friends. The first person John asked was his friend Pete Shotton. John wanted his group to be a skiffle group. Pete agreed to strum a washboard. John asked his friend Eric Griffiths to be his guitarist. Then John invited his friend Bill Smith to play the tea chest bass.

The new skiffle group needed a name. Bill Smith came up with a name. It was agreed up on by the others. John Lennon's new skiffle group was now called the Quarry Men.

research help: ' Tune In' by Mark Lewisohn

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric