Jim Mulholland-I get irritated when sports figures accomplish some great feat - scoring a winning touchdown, or pitching a no hitter, or sinking a game winning basket – and then say, "I give all the glory to God." Those words are like fingernails on a blackboard to me. I always cringe.

Philip Gulley-Know a man who bought a big, old house that had fallen into disrepair.  He wanted to fix it up and live there.  It was a huge house, its problems were extensive, and after a few months of work it became clear he had underestimated the complexity of the project and overestimated his ability to fix it.  Last week, when I said I would be answering the question "Who is God?" today, it seems I underestimated the complexity of the question and overestimated my ability to answer it.  Nevertheless, I am a tilter at windmills, a man with more enthusiasm than sense, so I forge ahead.

Philip Gulley-I watched the debate Thursday night with my family.   Times aren't too good in our country right now, and we know that because the politicians are no longer concerning themselves with religion.  I don't believe I heard the word God mentioned even once.  This probably was a vast relief to God, who often gets talked about, but is seldom given ninety seconds to respond.

Philip Gulley-Joan and I rode our bicycles to the Dairy Queen last week.  In our family we have to earn our ice cream by pedaling a mile uphill.  So we were up there eating our ice cream cones and a teenage boy sat next to me on the long bench and we began to talk.  His mannerisms, facial expressions, and even the tone of his voice, were familiar to me, but I couldn’t place him, and was too embarrassed to ask his name.  Then his mother approached and I remembered who he was, the nephew of my best friend growing up, Tim.  Tim died in 1981, but his nephew had many of the same qualities, which is why he seemed familiar.  It was an odd experience, like having my best friend back for a moment.