I am struck by the fact that personal faith and political agendas are intertwined more closely now than at any other time in recent history.

I think our failure in the production of good town churches of distinctive character must have struck you often as it has me when contrasted with our comparative success in country churches.

In the Brown decision the United States Supreme Court unanimously struck down the legal and moral footing of racially segregated public education in this country.

Sydney in the 1960s wasn't the exuberant multicultural metropolis it is today. Out in the city's western reaches days passed in a sun-struck stupor. In the evenings families gathered on their verandas waiting for the 'southerly buster' - the thunderstorm that would break the heat and leave the air cool enough to allow sleep.

The biggest thrill a ballplayer can have is when your son takes after you. That happened when my Bobby was in his championship Little League game. He really showed me something. Struck out three times. Made an error that lost the game. Parents were throwing things at our car and swearing at us as we drove off. Gosh I was proud.

On Memorial Day I was out floating on Lake Norman and came across Denny Hamlin. We struck up a conversation and one of the first things we were talking about was how much it helped him when he started racing the Cup car and how much it helped his Nationwide program.