Stand Strength Team

American win the Met-Rx 2006 Worlds Strongest Man

2006-09-25T08:29:00.000-04:00

Congradulations to Phil Pfister 1st Place in the Worlds Strongest Man Competition 2006, Job well done and our team salutes you! Also, the 3rd place spot went to another american Don Pope. Way to bring it home Guy's after a 24 year american drought!

WSM Wrap-up
It had rained the night before the last day of the 2006 MET-Rx World’s Strongest Man finals and the gray skies that morning looked ominous. As the start time of the first event approached, the weather was improving, which is to say it was merely getting very hot with jungle-like humidity. The hope had been that the very last event, the Atlas Stones, would be run around noon, but for reasons dictated by the government, the start time was pushed back to 2:30 and by then, it was pouring rain. At about 3 p.m. the decision was made to postpone the event until 4 p.m., with the idea that the weather might clear up by then, but if not, the event would just have to go on anyway.At least in some quarters, there was a feeling that rain favored Phil Pfister over Mariusz Pudzianowski in the Atlas Stones - a wet surface would reduce Mariusz’s unquestionable advantage in foot speed, but the rain would also work against tacky, something that would hurt Mariusz more than Phil, especially given Phil’s longer arms. As someone very close to the core said, “Somewhere, Phil is doing a rain dance right now.”It was still raining when the final event was getting underway, but when it came down to the final pair - Pudzianowski and Pfister - the pairing that would decide who would become the 2006 MET-Rx World’s Strongest Man, and who would finish in second place, the rain let up.Pudzianowski led Pfister through the stones, maybe by a second, but on the final stone, Pfister was closing the gap . . . would it be enough?You can play 17 holes very well and the title might come down the final putt . . . sink it, which is what Pfister did, and you get the win, but miss it and you drop the title, which is what happened to Pudzianowski.Emotions ran high after, with Bill Kazmaier summing up a common feeling: “The 24-year drought is over.”Somewhere, we hope that someone is telling Phil’s mother-in-law what a smart lady she is.

Article is from www.Ironmind.com
visit his webstie at : www.strongmanphil.com

Facing the Giants!!

2006-09-20T19:43:00.000-04:00

I have spent some time reviewing the movie and study guide.
If you are a Christian, non-Christian, Adult, Youth, or Child this is a must see movie! Ladies and Gentleman when it comes to making a difference in the world it starts with us. Do something that can save families and rescue hearts! Get you Family, Freinds, Co-Workers, Church Members and even your enemies and go see this movie. It opens September 29 - October 1, 2006, check the website for times, listings, promotions and even youth study guides! www.facingthegiants.com

The New addition!

2006-09-11T11:46:00.000-04:00

Congratulations!

We are sending out a special congratulations to "Bulldog" & Allison Miller on the announcement of the pregnancy for their second child. The "Dog Pound" is getting bigger. God Bless and congratulations. If you want to send a message to Bulldog and his family, his email is bulldog@standstrengthteam.org

Anti-Religious School Policy Struck Down

2006-09-07T12:23:00.000-04:00

Anti-Religious School Policy Struck Down
By Jim BrownSeptember 5, 2006
(AgapePress) - A constitutional attorney is praising a federal appeals court for tossing out a Florida school board policy that banned students from passing out "religious or proselytizing" literature.
The Lee County School Board in Fort Myers had barred seventh-grader Michelle Heinkel from distributing religious and pro-life literature at Cypress Lake Middle School during the "Day of Remembrance," a day set aside to remember victims of abortion. Last year, a federal district judge ruled the pro-life pamphlets have no place in schools, stating that allowing such distribution could turn the campus into a "battlefield."
But recently the Eleventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously overturned the lower-court ruling, declaring the board's policy unconstitutional. The policy also gave too much unrestricted discretion to school officials to deny speech, said the court.
Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel, which represented Heinkel, says his clients free-speech rights have been vindicated.
"This case certainly involves, I think, the twin sisters -- both religious and political speech -- so to speak, without which we would have no freedom," says the Liberty Counsel chairman. "They are strongly protected in the First Amendment; and while public schools may ban obscenity or libel, they cannot ban religious and political speech."
Neither religious nor political speech stops at the schoolhouse door, says Staver. "[W]hen schools try to ban religious speech, it sends a wrong message that religion is taboo or second class," he notes.
The ruling by the Eleventh Circuit, says the Christian attorney, advances religious freedom for his fellow believers. "Certainly, when we show up, when Christians engage the culture, you can make great headway," he says. But for too long, Christians have not been doing that -- "and we lose by default," adds Staver.
However, the attorney says when Christians "show up" and "advance the gospel for principled reasons, then God is ultimately glorified -- and I think this is a great decision along those directions."
Staver adds that "educators need education about American history and the Constitution -- and certainly the First Amendment protects free speech."
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
© 2006 AgapePress all rights reserved

Men captured in Pakistan church attack

2006-09-07T12:09:00.000-04:00

Washington Times; United Press International
Men captured in Pakistan church attack
Sep. 6, 2006 at 11:28PM
Pakistani police have arrested four Muslim men accused of being part of a group that destroyed a church and beat Christian women and children. Joseph Francis, coordinator of the Center for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement, told AsiaNews the Apostolic church in Mominpura Thaiki village will not be rebuilt until the entire group is arrested. AsiaNews said at least 30 armed Muslim men from another village threw hand grenades against the church last month and set two adjacent houses on fire. Mominpura Thaiki is home to 65 Christian and 10 Muslim families. AsiaNews said local Muslims helped to defend their Christian neighbors and forced the attackers to flee.

Wal-Mart Partners With Gay and Lesbian Group, Lets us know what you think?

2006-09-07T11:36:00.000-04:00

Wal-Mart Partners With Gay and Lesbian Group
Also Hires Gay-Marketing Shop as Retailer Works to Alter Image
By Mya Frazier

Published: August 24, 2006

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AdAge.com) -- In an unprecedented push, Wal-Mart Stores has hired a gay-marketing shop, joined the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and begun discussions with activist groups about extending domestic-partnership benefits to its employees.

The initiative comes as Wal-Mart aims to broaden its appeal and woo both upscale and urban markets, but this is not the first time Wal-Mart has attempted to appease critics in the gay and lesbian community.

'Very pragmatic'
"Wal-Mart is going about this in a very pragmatic way," said Justin Nelson, president of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, an independent organization with 24,000 members. "They have been viewed with some degree of skepticism by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community, and it's important for them in terms of gaining market share to change that."

A Wal-Mart spokeswoman declined to comment on the trio of moves and would only confirm the company's partnership with the NGLCC.

The initiative comes as Wal-Mart aims to broaden its appeal and woo both upscale and urban markets, but this is not the first time Wal-Mart has attempted to appease critics in the gay and lesbian community. In 2003 -- after years of lobbying by activist groups -- Wal-Mart extended its workplace nondiscrimination policy to include sexual orientation.

Firm typically a consultant
Despite an ongoing review for its $578 million ad account, Wal-Mart hired Witeck-Combs Communications, a marketing shop known for its work targeting the gay and lesbian consumer market, according to Bob Witeck, president of the Washington-based firm. Wal-Mart would not confirm the assignment and Mr. Witeck declined to comment on the "nature of the relationship," but added: "We work in more of a consulting role with most of our clients."

Founded in 1993, the eight-person agency's client list boasts automotive brands Volvo, Land Rover, and Jaguar, in addition to American Airlines, Citigroup and at least a dozen nonprofits, such as the American Association of People with Disabilities.

Witeck-Combs, a member of the NGLCC, is also a participant in the organization's supplier-diversity initiative, or SDI, a certification program launched this year and modeled after minority- and women-supplier development programs. Corporate participants already include IBM, American Airlines, Motorola and American Express.

Conference sponsor
As part of the Wal-Mart Stores partnership with the NGLCC, Dee Breazeale, VP-divisional merchandising, Sam's Club Jewelry, has joined the organization's Corporate Advisory Council and Wal-Mart will sponsor two of the organization's annual conferences.

Mr. Nelson said Wal-Mart approached the organization four months ago, expressing interest in the supplier-diversity initiative. "The expectation is that Wal-Mart will encourage their core suppliers -- the P&G's, the Johnson & Johnson's and the Gillette's -- to also diversify their revenue streams to include LGTB businesses," Mr. Nelson said.

He said the retailer is "working right now on providing domestic-partnership benefits" and that Wal-Mart may soon join the 261 members of the Fortune 500 that offer the benefits.

Strongest signal yet
The steps being taken by Wal-Mart are the strongest signal yet that the company may be taking a permanent stand on the side of gay rights, despite the inevitable lambasting from right-wing conservative groups, such as the Family Research Council and the American Family Association, said Nu Wexler of Wal-Mart Watch, the Washington-based coalition backed by the Sierra Club and the Service Employees.

"This partnership shows Wal-Mart is changing," Mr. Wexler said. "It's worth noting they declined to publicize this partnership and left it up to the chamber. Wal-Mart is very eager to publicize partnerships. It's possible they fear a backlash from their conservative consumer base."

Some Pictures from Tri-City Baptist,MI.

2006-09-06T12:21:00.000-04:00

Where are we this Weekend! Sept 9th & 10th

2006-09-06T11:57:00.000-04:00

Is the Stand Strength Team in your area? Check it out!

Saturday - September 9, 2006
L.E.T.S. E.A.T. Food Drive
( see link : http://www.letseat4.com/schedule.htm )

Freedom Hill County Park,
14900 Metropolitan Parkway (16 mile rd.)
Sterling Heights, MI
Program time: 1:45 p.m.

Sunday - September 10, 2006
Keystone Community Church Family Outreach,
3375 Saline-Waterworks Rd.
Saline, MI. 48176
Contact: Senior Pastor, Pastor Ken
Church phone @734-944-5397
PROGRAM TIME: 1:00 p.m.

Also you can email any athlete from our website; StandStrenghtTeam.org
How do you schedule an event in your area? By calling our office at 586 997 6378 we will be glad to talk with you and help you reach your community, school, chruch, fair, prison, etc.

West Virginia!

2006-08-31T14:16:00.000-04:00

Hey Everyone,

Stand Strength Team will be placing and new East Coast Team based out of West Virginia! Our own dear Chris "Crush" Rusher is spear heading this move and developement. So "Mountaineers"!, gives us a call and meet Chris "Crush" Rusher, International Highland Games Competitor and Captian of the East Coast Team to schedule your School, Church, Fair, Prison, or Youth Assembly today. You can email him at crush@standstrengthteam.org or call our office at 586 997 6478.

This Weeks Event

2006-08-31T11:17:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone,

Check out Stand Strength Team live and in-person on Friday September 1, 2006 at:

Breau Family Tabernacle of Faith Auditoruim
66 West Walton Blvd.
Pontiac, MI 48340

Its and evening event starts at 7:30 and as always its a free event
We would love to see you there!!

New Venture

2006-08-30T12:28:00.000-04:00

Thanks for dropping by our new blog site and we'll be adding new features, photos, upcoming events, etc. to this site and so we hope you come back to find out more about what we're doing and where we're going. We look forward to this new outreach and being in contact with all of you.

Starting a Blog

2006-08-30T12:10:00.000-04:00

The STAND Strength Team has officially started their blog.