Lance and Levi in small town race...

CARBONDALE, Colorado - Max Sommers couldn't believe it when his dad, one of the Western Slope Omnium's chief organizers, showed him the start list for Friday's Leg Breaker Time Trial, the first race in the three-phase, weekend cycling event.

"My dad handed me the start list for the pros and I saw Levi Leipheimer and Lance Armstrong," the 12-year-old relayed. "I was like, 'Shut up!' He was like, 'No, they're actually coming for the time trial.'"

That's right. Levi Leipheimer and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, two of the cycling world's biggest names, found their way to tiny Carbondale for the Omnium's kickoff race.

The Astana Cycling Team members are thick in training mode for the July 4-26 Tour de France, and used the 16-kilometer time trial, which routed riders along County Road 109 between Carbondale and Glenwood Springs, to test out some new equipment.

"They were testing out some prototype Trek time trial bikes," said Mitch Hyra, who's co-promoting the Omnium alongside Max's dad, Bill Sommers.

Hyra fielded a call from Armstrong's publicist on Thursday and gladly input the stars' names into the start list, albeit inconspicuously. With hopes of heading off a media and fan frenzy, Hyra did his best to keep everything under wraps in advance of the time trial.

"I actually made a conscious decision,” Hyra said. “I told like four people." (Read more...)

Jeff Caspersen
Post Independent Staff
Glenwood Springs, CO

Tweeting in church...

Although there are some pastors who are encouraging the use of Twitter during worship service to enhance the impact of their sermons, many are telling churchgoers to listen to the Word of God first and Tweet after church.

"When you are in corporate worship, Worship!" says John Piper, a prominent evangelical pastor and author. "There is a difference between communion with God and commenting on communion with God."

Since its launch in 2006, reports The Christian Post, Twitter has grown to 32 million users, including an active following of pastors and churchgoers. The microblogging service is touted as the fastest growing social networking site. Just a year ago, Twitter traffic was at 2 million.

Because it's especially popular among young adults and youths, some churches have embraced the technology and even encouraged Tweeting during church. Westwinds Community Church in Jackson, Mich., is an example of where worshippers' Tweets during worship are flashed on large video screens. But, the issue has sparked debate among Christians on whether it's appropriate.

"While I personally enjoy Twitter and find it to be a useful tool for sharing and receiving information, I'm not excited about encouraging people to use Twitter during the Sunday meeting," Josh Harris, senior pastor of Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Md., wrote in his blog. One of the reasons why Harris won't be encouraging his congregation to use Twitter during worship is that it will likely be distracting. Tweeters may be tempted to check their e-mail or read their Twitter feed during a sermon. Their mind may also focus on what to Tweet rather than on worship. Moreover, the minutes they take to Tweet would be minutes in which they weren't actively listening to the sermon.

"The most important thing I can do while I'm sitting under the preaching of God's Word is to listen to what God is saying to me," noted Harris, who is also on the council of The Gospel Coalition. "I need to actively engage my heart and mind to receive."

From The Pastor's Weekly Briefing, June 12, 2009

Don't be ridiculous...

“The anti-abortion fanatics have to shut up and go home. They have to back off and they have to respect other people’s point of view. This is an outrage, this is a national outrage.” (Quoted by Fox News)

When I picked up on this quote by Dr. Warren Hern, one of the handful of later-term abortionists still practicing infanticide in the USA, on how “rhetoric” from pro-lifers caused Dr. Tiller’s death, I couldn't let it go. This is a most ridiculous statement. Anti-abortion protesters caused Dr. Tiller's death? Come on.

Peaceful protesters whose only aim is to wake America to the fact that innocent human life is being snuffed out immorally are not to blame for anyone's death.

One misguided man, Scott Roeder, without guidance from any truly pro-life organization, ended Dr. Tiller's life violently and illegally. There were witnesses to the murder in Reformation Lutheran's foyer. Roeder will stand trial and likely be judged guilty by the State of Kansas. You can't pin this crime on anyone but him.

Hern's statement makes an illogical leap from protesters to murderer. End of rant.

What a difference a few miles makes...

My middle daughter drove me north about 30 miles last night to the fair city of Cheney. We were going there to pick up my niece so she could spend the night and ride with us to camp today. As an added bonus, we were picking her up at my nephew's little league game, so we got to watch him.

I must say, I enjoyed the game immensely. The players were (fairly) respectful of the umpire's calls. The fans in the stands cheered for their players AND the opposing team. They actually yelled, "Good play!" when the "enemy's" first baseman made an amazing catch on a hard hit ball and tagged out the runner who had left the base sure to make it to third if not home. It was refreshing.

You see, in Argonia fans would never dream of cheering an opponent's incredible double play. Raider supporters hardly know how to root for their own kids. They're too busy yelling threats at the umpire and griping about coaches to shout, "Good job!"

Maybe we should bring a few Cheney fans down to teach a sporstmanship clinic. Maybe a few of us should scream wildly when anyone, home or visitor, does something right on the field at a home game. I'm willing to give it a try. How about you?

A new personal best...

It was just over a week ago when I broke the 19mph barrier for the first time this year. Oh what a week and a still (for windy Kansas) night can do. This evening from the time I left my driveway, I knew it was going to be special. With little effort, I was up over 20mph and flying toward the highway. When I turned east into the wind, my speed backed off a bit and I settled into a fast cadence, powering over the slight inclines along the way to my turn around seven and half miles out.

As I spun around for the return trip, my computer read 18.9mph. I cranked up the speed and in less than a half mile I was up over 19mph. It was then that I knew I was going to have a personal best for the year. I was able to ride over 20mph almost the whole way back home. It got dark enough that I couldn't read my average, so I wasn't sure where I stood until I pulled into the driveway and opened the garage door. 20.1mph! That's what the computer said and it doesn't lie just to make you feel good. 15.37 miles in 45 minutes and 55 seconds! Awesome!

This is my second fastest ride average ever. Once before I rode solo at 21mph, but I don't really count that ride as a real record. I had a friend drive me 20 miles away from home and I had the wind at my back the entire time.

Lance's team is in...

Lance Armstrong's Astana team have given financial guarantees to cycling's governing body paving the way for their Tour de France participation in July.

The International Cycling Union (ICU) had threatened to withdraw Astana's Pro-Tour licence if the team had not met the UCI's financial requirements.

Astana receives most of its financial support from Kazakh state holding company Samruk-Kazyna.

But the Astana team's riders went unpaid for two months.

Armstrong, who is considering buying the team, was joined by all but one of his team-mates in blanking out the sponsors' names on their shirts from the seventh stage of the Giro d'Italia in protest at the team's financial problems.

The Tour de France starts on 4 July, when Armstrong will attempt to win the race for an eighth time.

From BBC Sport