Jordan as a child with his father, Ken.

Expectant father, UMBC alumnus and UMBC development office Jordan Hadfield ’07, ’08, shares memories of his father, Ken Hadfield, Jr., in an essay in the Dundalk Patch.

While a student at UMBC, Jordan served as president of the Student Government Association, and also was a founding member of the a cappella group The Mama’s Boys.

Read the full story here.

1 Peter 1:13-21 (NIV)

¹³ Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. ¹⁵ But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ¹⁶ for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

¹⁷ Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. ¹⁸ For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. ²⁰ He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

Reflection:

Having experienced this wonderful blessing of salvation, the Apostle Peter encourages us with this challenge- the promises of God and the hope that we now possess should motivate us to live a life that is holy.  It is in this same hope we are to live with eager anticipation of Christ’s return.  What does a life motivated by this hope look like?  Well, in this passage Peter provides us with some insight:

-Preparing our minds to be ready for action at God’s prompting

-Disciplined and self-controlled lives that are not easily enticed away by the temptations of this world

-Holding on to a true hope with a confident expectation of what God has promised in light of Christ’s return.

-Living holy lives that are totally devoted and dedicated to God, set apart to be used by Him.

Yes, we are called to live extraordinary lives, reflecting this salvation and hope, which was graciously given to each one of us!

Responding to the Transmission:

Living holy lives, separated out for the Lord’s service, can be difficult in today’s world.  It’s especially tough trying to live this out with our own strength, but because of the Spirit of God in each one of us this is now possible.  Read over and pray through this passage asking for the Spirit’s empowering to live this out.

Courtesy of Eddie Malluk/ WireImage

‘Jackass’ star dies in fatal car crash.

Supreme Court decides there’s too many women at Walmart.

Academics rank the best supercomputers in the world.

And finally, here’s something guaranteed to cheer up your day.

So kids, whats the latest thing in pranks? That’s right. Cone-ing.

Alki Stevens recently posted a video on Youtube that shows him doing unusual things at ice cream drive-thru windows. Pretty simple right?

Well although it isn’t deadly,  this prank may sprout a little employee controversy. But who said a little ice cream cone could ever hurt anybody?

What’s your life worth? How about your death?

In California, your death could be worth $hundreds of million$!!!

A recent study conducted on the cost of California’s death penalty has found that each of the 13 executions in the last thirty years have cost taxpayers an average of $ 308 million each.

That has got to leave a cash-strapped state’s budget hurting… and California is in massive monetary pain.

This study comes on the heels of California Governor Jerry Brown vetoing the state budget proposed by California lawmakers.

The governor defended his decision, stating,

“It continues big deficits for years to come and adds billions of dollars of new debt.”

Perhaps spending $308 million on a single death row prisoner could be contributing to said deficit?

According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 34 states in the U.S. currently allow the death penalty.

What do you think? Is the death penalty worth the price?

Or should more states join the 16 U.S. states that don’t allow it?

Give us a break, we just started.   The Nitty Gritty will be up and rolling for fall 2011.  Keep us bookmarked so you don’t miss out.

In the meantime you can Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter, and shop online.