Raich, Ligety, Svindal in Giant Slalom

Austria's Benjamin Raich took top honors today at the 2008 Audi Birds of Prey World Cup Giant Slalom followed by American Ted Ligety and Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal.

Ligety was the only American to place in the top three at the 2008 Birds of Prey while Svindal's third place finished marked his third podium of the event.

Mark your calendars now for the 2009 Audi Birds of Prey... December 4-6, 2009.

Aksel's Got to Go!

Congratulations to Aksel Lund Svindal on back to back 1st place finishes at the FIS World Cup Races in Beaver Creek this week. Yesterday - 1st Place in Downhill. Today - 1st Place in Super G.

PS: The Hermanator was back today with a strong 2nd place finish.

PPS: Bode Miller finished the race today. 14th place.

Why Not Be Part of the Action?

Thanks to many churches across the UK for getting together and mounting a fun campaign to reach people in a creative way. Listen to two 30-second radio spots by clicking the links below.

> Football match Christmas ad
> Horse racing Christmas ad

Why not be part of the action, at church, this Christmas!?! www.ourchristchurch.org

Anyone out there willing to work with me to but some airtime on KBCO this month? :-) Seriously, let's do it!

Speedy Christmas

Frankie Hipwell-Larkin, from Portsmouth, UK, won CAN's first prize of £500 for his video, Speedy Christmas, which tells the story of the Nativity at breakneck speed. Hear Frankie talk about his video on Radio 4's Today programme.

Don't miss the third place finisher... Will you marry me? by John Crowley from Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. Visit CAN's page and scroll down to the yahoo audio file on the right side.

Svindal Wins Birds of Prey Downhill

Aksel Lund Svindal wins the 2008 Birds of Prey Downhill!

Visit the Vail Valley Foundation Blog for more.

Congratulations to our Norwegian friend Aksel for his strong recovery after his season ending crash here on the Birds of Prey course in 2007.

Marco Buechel of Liechtenstein came in 2nd, and Canadian Erik Guay finished 3rd.

The Austrians and Swiss put up strong team totals today, as usual, but did not place a finisher in the top 3.

Congratulations also to American skier Steve Nyman on his very strong 7th place finish, just .72 second behind Aksel, the Norwegian winner.

Bode Miller did not finish the race, disappointing his US fans, but that's his style...going for broke, winning some, losing some, and doing it all "his way."

Behind the Scenes with Al

Watch the whole "Al" series here and here.

The 'Nevers' of the Gospel

The following prayer is found on page 116 of The Valley of Vision:

O LORD,

May I never fail to come to the knowledge of the truth,
never rest in a system of doctrine,
however scriptural,
that does not bring or further salvation,
or teach me to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts,
or help me to live soberly, righteously, godly;
never rely on my own convictions and resolutions,
but be strong in thee and in thy might;
never cease to find grace sufficient in all my duties, trials and conflicts;
never forget to repair to thee in all my spiritual distresses and outward troubles,
in all the dissatisfactions experienced in creature comforts;
never fail to retreat to him who is full of grace and truth,
the friend that loveth at all times,
who is touched with feelings of my infirmities,
and can do exceeding abundantly for me;
never confine my religion to extraordinary occasions,
but acknowledge thee in all my ways;
never limit my devotions to particular seasons but be in thy fear all the day long;
never by godly only on the sabbath or in thy house,
but on every day abroad and at home;
never may piety a dress but a habit,
not only a habit but a nature,
not only a nature but a life.
Do good to me by all thy dispensations,
by all means of grace,
by worship, prayers, praises,
And at last let me enter that world where is no temple,
but only thy glory and the Lamb's.

AMEN!