In case you needed evidence the bloated, over-saturated bowl system doesn't work, check out this link. It is a blog from the Chicago Sun-Times that found the Humanitarian Bowl, that incredibly appealing game on the blue turf featuring Maryland and Nevada, has sold a grand total of 24 tickets as of Monday.
That's right, 24 tickets.
The BCS has essentially rendered the bowl season meaningless and, apparently, the fans of Nevada and Maryland are voting with their feet.
Who could blame that? In this economy, in that weather, on that blue turf -- Maryland versus Nevada? Yeah, I'd stay home too.
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I'm kicking myself this morning for not taking pictures yesterday. It's an opinion, and I know it's debatable, but yesterday was the most beautiful day we've ever experienced in Fresno.
Allow me to set the scene.
Saturday, the girls and I drove up to Shaver Lake for some pizza. There is a wonderful little pizza joint there that reminds me so much of Perrigo's Pizza and we love the scenery on the 45-minute drive up. The weather was mild and crystal clear in the valley on Saturday, but as we neared the foot of the mountain at Auberry, clouds began to thicken. Before we made it to 4000', it was snowing. About 2" covered the ground at Shaver and we were able to enjoy our pizza (pepperoni, beef, mushroom, and black olive, in case you were curious) and the beauty of the falling snow.
On Sunday night, I shared with the assembly how that in the south, there is an old adage: "if you don't like the weather, just wait an hour." In California, that could be said, "if you don't like the weather, just drive an hour." Thanks to the elevation changes, the weather can be drastically different just an hour outside of Fresno.
Which brings us to Monday. Mandy and I hosted the paid staff of Woodward Park for a holiday luncheon. After the last guests departed, a black cloud formed, similar to the thunderheads of the south in late spring. The next thing we knew, hail started falling. The street and our yard were covered in pea-sized hail, such that it looked as if it had snowed. And then, Monday night, the hail came again, prompting Trae and Tori into the street with other neighbor kids to play.
That brings us to Tuesday morning. We awoke to brilliant sunshine, not a cloud in the sky or trace to Tule fog. About 2 feet of snow had been dumped on the Sierra Nevada's, with dusting in the foothills as low as 1000'. There was no smog. There was no haze. Just brilliant, picturesque proof of God's handiwork as far as the eye could see.
I took an afternoon drive to the Seminary to collect my final essay for the semester and, all along the 168 Freeway, I marveled in amazement at the scenes to the East.
This morning, the typical Tule fog has returned, blocking the scenery that yesterday brought so much visible proof of God's power. For David, the clearest evidence of the power of God seemed to lay in the heavens (see Psalm 19.1-6 and 33.6-9). I envision David, lying on his back after a hard day, the sheep safe within the fold, gazing up at the Palestinian night sky and marveling at the evidence of God in the stars. Each day, at times subtly and other times forcefully, God reveals His power within creation. We have inspiration all around us to pen our own Psalms.
