Sports Blimp....

Author: Daynes Journey Posted under:
What a week of sports!! So much to report on, but where do I start...



Dexter Lee races into the history books at World Junior Championship


Dexter Lee made the record books again for Jamaica. He became the first junior athlete in history to win the 100 meters at back to back championships. He won his pet event in 10.21. He was however unable to win the 200 meters after being disqualified. He helped the 4X100 meters relay team to a silver medal yesterday. Lee is one to look for in the future and has maintained Jamaica's excellence in the men's sprint. One can only wonder what will happen in another year when he steps up to the senior level, we should have a stunning 4X100 relay team.



Yohan Blake runs stunning 200 meters..


Yohan Blake left many with their jaws hanging, with his blistering run in the 200 meters. Even though he placed second to Tyson Gay, his run out of lane 8 must go down as one of the best runs I have seen in recent time by any athlete. His time of 19.78 made him the second Jamaican to dip below Donald Quarrie's record. Tyson Gay must be a worried man right now, as he seemed winded coming into the straight. This was Blake's first competitive 200 meters. He gave full credit to his coach Glen Mills for all the work he has been doing with him.





Germaine Gonzales steps into the record books


This was totally a week of records. One cannot forget Germaine Gonzales run of 44.40 at the Diamond League, which is a new Jamaican record and the fastest time over the 400 meters this year. Gonzales is also coming out of the Mills camp, and like Yohan Blake he is maturing into a super athlete. However over the years he has been plagued with injury, but this year seems to be a break out year for him. Let's hope he can continue to improve and reach his full potential.





Kaliese Spencer whips Lashinda Demus in 400 meters hurdle...


There was much hype around US athlete Lashinda Demus going into the Monaco Diamond League. In the end, she was soundly beaten by Kaliese Spencer, in a time of 53.63. Demus ended in fourth place.
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Lessons from the storm...

Author: Daynes Journey Posted under:
"I would hasten to my place of refuge From the stormy wind and tempest." Psalm 55:8
In 1988 when I was a teenager in Jamaica, I encountered the devastating hurricane called "Gilbert". It was one of the scariest moments in my life, hearing the howling wind, and seeing my parents roof take wings like an eagle. I can remember in the midst of the storm there was a calm when the eye of the hurricane was over the Island. At this moment everyone ran outside and the sky were so bright, however, this was only the beginning of things to come. Suddenly the sky became dark again, and the winds raged, and the rains came rushing down. For a couple days the rains continued unabated. Jamaica was completed battered, with many people losing their life and property. We were without electricity for a couple of months. We had access to almost nothing, only the few items my Dad had bought. With our roof gone, we sought refuge at our neighbors house for a couple weeks, while my Dad and my brother sought to repair it.
It was a time that most would want to forget, but I learnt many things during that time. I wasn't a child of God then, but I felt that God had preserved Jamaica and its people. Even with the losses we had, there was always a ray of hope, as we could have lost more lives.
God was my family's and I refuge during that storm.
God has always been a refuge to his people, even when the storm of life rage. You see there are times when there are bright skies and we think our storm is gone, but the tempest returns with more. But we must cry out, as the psalmist says, "I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!". We can only trust in him when the storms come and go.
I am reminded of Proverbs 14:26, "in the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge." The bible tells us that the beginning of wisdom starts with the fear of the Lord. When we fear almighty God we have a refuge, safe under his arms.
I realized a great lesson after Hurricane Gilbert, how many people's faith was tested and restored. Many people showed love to each other. There was no TV, no radio, no cellphone, no fridge, but there was community and love. God was walking through the waters keeping us all safe.
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Quote of the day...

Author: Daynes Journey Posted under:
"Hold strong to the faith, let no man carry you into hell."
DCA
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Lessons from overwork.....

Author: Daynes Journey Posted under:
   "The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For his hands refuse to work;"
                                        Proverbs 21:25

By the sweat of one's brow a man shall eat always rings out in my mind. Those were the words I would hear when I was growing up in my parent's home. Without work, the bills cannot be paid and survival is in doubt. Throughout the bible we see where men and women laboured to feed themselves and their families. Communities worked together so that everyone could benefit from the harvest. It was a hard work, but great fun when the harvest arrived.

Nowadays the story is quite different. People's whole outlook has changed, making lots of money is the priority. Being able to buy a big house, a fancy car, and lots of 'toys' is the motivation to chase the dollar bill. Some still have the aim to provide for their families, but the interest of self is now the main focus. Community is not a concept that is regarded, your neighbour can be starving as long as you are okay is the order of the day.

In an effort to achieve mountains of dollars, people are now forced to overwork themselves, because without spending long hours these days, people will never achieve the money to meet those goals.

"What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?" Ecc 1:3

As the writer in Ecclesiastes points out, all of the things we chase, such as money is just vanity of vanities. In countries like Canada and the USA, people are constantly overworked in an effort to make more money. Christians are dragged and enticed into the lure of the 'greenback'. The time that we use to spend worshipping God is now dedicated to making money to meet our earthly goals. Whereas in Jamaica, you would have the time for bible study, retreats, camps and other spiritual gatherings that cemented your faith.

In the end, after all these labors another will enjoy the harvest. The lesson from being overworked is that there will never be enough time to enjoy it all, and at what cost. Would you rather lose your soul than have God? The chose is clear in my estimation, God must come first in everything. My whole outlook on life has changed, I am refocussing my thoughts, putting my faith first and everything else after. However, in all things we still must work to provide for ourselves, families and others who are less fortunate, that is what God requires of us.

When you overwork yourself though, you have moved away from the purpose of labor. Are you in this life to build treasures on earth? Or does God want you to build towards your glory above? The bible seems clear of this, that we labor for the gift to reach heaven, to live with God forever. This is my goal, to see God one day, but I can't do that if I am overworked. A sacrifice must be made, and its an easy one, a simple life is better than one without God.
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My latest article from the Registered Financial Consultants of Canada Newsletter

Author: Daynes Journey Posted under:
My editor has given me my own section in the Newsletter to write on sports from a business point of view. I hope you all enjoy my upcoming article. Blessings always...

Click on link to open article:
http://www.iarfc.ca/the_business_of_the_world_cup.aspx
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Quote of the day...

Author: Daynes Journey Posted under:
"It's funny how the years go by and you look back counting the regrets even in the midst of all the blessings."
DCA
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Quote of the day...

Author: Daynes Journey Posted under:
"The mind of man has never understood the simplest thoughts of God."
DCA
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Lessons from the World Cup...

Author: Daynes Journey Posted under:
                          "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for thee." Psalm 25:21
The World Cup has attracted the attention of many football lovers. Its appeal is no doubt hypnotic in nature, compelling even the non-sport lover. For me though, the World Cup this year has been one of the worse on record in terms of honesty and true respect for sportsmanship. As I watched the Ghana versus Uruguay match today I felt a sickness come over me as I observed what a player will do to win a match. I mention here the deliberate hand ball by a Uruguay player who at all costs sought to stop the opponents header from going into the goal. Yes we know what happened next, he was red carded, and the Ghanian player missed the resulting penalty to the joy of the red carded player. Mission accomplished the opponent didn't score, my job has been done, must have been in thoughts in his mind.
We have seen throughout the World Cup, not just in this game, but teams like the US, Mexico and England and others were subjected to bad decisions by referees and players. It seem in the nature of man that they will do anything to win. The concept of honesty and righteousness seem to have been lost in all realms. It has never been this bad in the World Cup and now the microscope has been taken from the lab and is peering meticulously at the events.
It is not surprising that the man of the world seems to do such things, he is forever at war with righteousness. The World Cup and the actors who take the stage for each match are well groomed in the art of winning at all costs. The producers and directors are all in sync reaping the cheers of the fans. The morals that may have existed in the common man has been replaced by the sounds of coins in a pocket. 
Personally I have been losing interest with each passing game, consoling myself with the reality that the things of this world are just vanity. The words of Solomon ring out in my ears from Ecc. 3:19,  "for the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity."

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