Last night, in what stood to be the greatest sports night of my life, my Phillies took a 2-2 tie into the bottom of the 6th with a chance to win the Series. That was about 15 hours ago. In 30 hours, the situation will be precisely the same. I know what you're thinking:
Wow, somebody's fouling off a LOT of pitches!
Nope, not exactly. A game that began in rain, and was being played in ridiculous rain, and then finally suspended in equally ridiculous rain is now going to be stopped for at least 2 days. I might be 3 innings away from a championship I never thought I'd see. Or maybe 3 1/2 innings away from blowing an incredible opportunity but having 2 chances left. And in the meantime, I'm. . . I don't know what I am, other than filled with emotional turmoil and not sure what to do or try to concentrate on.
So here, have a worthless blog. It's about as much as I can expect out of myself right now, in the 45 or so hours in between the top and bottom of the 6th of game 5. Wow.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Hate Me for a GOOD Reason (There Are Plenty!)
I haven't seen it yet, but I'm sure I will. There's a movie that just came out that seems like it's basic premise is to ridicule, shame, mock, and basically belittle all things Christian. I remember seeing one band in particular (who was touring with a band of Christ-followers, no less) introducing a song with something similar to "This song is for everybody who doesn't believe in stupid a f'n fairy tale. . . ." I remember seeing a roadie once with a shirt that said "Christianity is stupid."
What's the deal on all this? Why do some people hate other people for believing in something? I understand not believing. . . but who cares if somebody else DOES believe?
I have a Lions fan buddy who seems legitimately convinced that there's a league-wide conspiracy to keep the Lions down. I don't believe that, but I don't hate him for believing or write songs or make shirts or make films dedicated to making him look dumb.
I'm not sold on the idea of aliens or ufo's or whatever. In fact, if there really is intelligent life "out there," and they are so intelligent as to come to our planet from theirs, I think that we'd all know about them if they wanted us to and none of us would know if they didn't want us to. They'd have to be really, REALLY smart, you see. So I'm skeptical on ufo reports and what not, but there's no reason to hate those who do believe, right? Why would I care? How is the fact that people believe in grey creatures from another world worth manufacturing negative energy?
So, obviously, I believe Jesus Christ was who he said he was. I hope you agree! But if not, and if you decide to hate me for it, that's on you.
What's the deal on all this? Why do some people hate other people for believing in something? I understand not believing. . . but who cares if somebody else DOES believe?
I have a Lions fan buddy who seems legitimately convinced that there's a league-wide conspiracy to keep the Lions down. I don't believe that, but I don't hate him for believing or write songs or make shirts or make films dedicated to making him look dumb.
I'm not sold on the idea of aliens or ufo's or whatever. In fact, if there really is intelligent life "out there," and they are so intelligent as to come to our planet from theirs, I think that we'd all know about them if they wanted us to and none of us would know if they didn't want us to. They'd have to be really, REALLY smart, you see. So I'm skeptical on ufo reports and what not, but there's no reason to hate those who do believe, right? Why would I care? How is the fact that people believe in grey creatures from another world worth manufacturing negative energy?
So, obviously, I believe Jesus Christ was who he said he was. I hope you agree! But if not, and if you decide to hate me for it, that's on you.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Believe the Hype
Even though -- check that, especially since -- there is no hype.
Let's face it, we live in an over-promise, under-deliver world. We've been promised so much and received so little that we often expect to receive less than we're promised in an attempt to be disappointed less, and still we're disappointed all too often. Is there anything that truly delivers? Anything that has a reasonable price and an unreasonable payoff?
Yes Virginia, there is.
Butter Baked Chicken is the Tuesday night special at Cracker Barrel. It costs $8 and comes with two sides plus cornbread or biscuits. It's a lot of food, and it's ridiculously delicious. In fact, if you go to the Fern Creek location, it seems to sell out by about 6:30.
Let's face it, we live in an over-promise, under-deliver world. We've been promised so much and received so little that we often expect to receive less than we're promised in an attempt to be disappointed less, and still we're disappointed all too often. Is there anything that truly delivers? Anything that has a reasonable price and an unreasonable payoff?
Yes Virginia, there is.
Butter Baked Chicken is the Tuesday night special at Cracker Barrel. It costs $8 and comes with two sides plus cornbread or biscuits. It's a lot of food, and it's ridiculously delicious. In fact, if you go to the Fern Creek location, it seems to sell out by about 6:30.
Monday, October 13, 2008
All right, then
I'll give credit -- Dodger fan represented very nicely tonight. There were a few scattered booo's for Victorino, but much less than I was expecting after the ridiculousness of last night. And after what should have ripped their hearts out in the top of the 8th, the crowd energy was really quite high the rest of the way (especially for an L. A. crowd).
So, in fairness: respect.
So, in fairness: respect.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
BOOOOOOO!
That's for you, Dodger fan.
Anybody who's been watching (which, incidentally, may be just me) has seen there have been some tight pitches in the first couple games of the NCLS. There's only one that I can imagine could have had any intent behind it, and only one guy knows for sure. Still, it wasn't completely surprising that a Dodger pitcher went after a Philly hitter tonight. Weak, but not surprising. What was even weaker, though, was Dodger fan's reaction.
The pitcher who's name I don't know and don't care enough to look up buzzed a fastball a foot over the head of Shane Victorino. An odd choice, since he's not one of the highest profile guys in the lineup and by all accounts is a bona-fide good guy who goes out and plays hard every game with a smile on his face. Then, in an emotionally charged moment in the playoffs after having to duck a 90 mph bullet that was aimed at his melon, he responds with understanding and grace, at least to a degree. When a lesser man would have charged the mound and brought it to blows (which would have been understandable!), he basically gives permission to throw at him, just not at his head! Wow, if that isn't the coolest thing a guy could possibly do in that situation. "I get it, do what you have to do," he says, "but keep it away from the head." He ends up grounding out and is minding his own when the pitcher starts yakking at him, and eventually the benches clear and people as oustide of the situation as Manny Ramirez come charging in from left field to have to be held back. The whole time, Victorino above all people conducts himself with the highest standard of thoughtfulness and understanding -- particularly for a guy who just dodged a heater to the head.
What does Dodger fan do the rest of the game? Boo Victorino.
BOOOOOOOOOOO!
That's for you, Dodger fan. Weak sauce.
Anybody who's been watching (which, incidentally, may be just me) has seen there have been some tight pitches in the first couple games of the NCLS. There's only one that I can imagine could have had any intent behind it, and only one guy knows for sure. Still, it wasn't completely surprising that a Dodger pitcher went after a Philly hitter tonight. Weak, but not surprising. What was even weaker, though, was Dodger fan's reaction.
The pitcher who's name I don't know and don't care enough to look up buzzed a fastball a foot over the head of Shane Victorino. An odd choice, since he's not one of the highest profile guys in the lineup and by all accounts is a bona-fide good guy who goes out and plays hard every game with a smile on his face. Then, in an emotionally charged moment in the playoffs after having to duck a 90 mph bullet that was aimed at his melon, he responds with understanding and grace, at least to a degree. When a lesser man would have charged the mound and brought it to blows (which would have been understandable!), he basically gives permission to throw at him, just not at his head! Wow, if that isn't the coolest thing a guy could possibly do in that situation. "I get it, do what you have to do," he says, "but keep it away from the head." He ends up grounding out and is minding his own when the pitcher starts yakking at him, and eventually the benches clear and people as oustide of the situation as Manny Ramirez come charging in from left field to have to be held back. The whole time, Victorino above all people conducts himself with the highest standard of thoughtfulness and understanding -- particularly for a guy who just dodged a heater to the head.
What does Dodger fan do the rest of the game? Boo Victorino.
BOOOOOOOOOOO!
That's for you, Dodger fan. Weak sauce.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Stick Your Nose In 'Em!!!
Due to the underwhelming response to my previous "favorite" post (see below, if you think you'll care more than other people), I've come to a conclusion -- you need more exposure. Sooner or later, you'll come to appreciate my perspectives and opinions. Or stop reading. Or, more than likely, you never started reading in the first place, so it doesn't matter. That said, here we go with the 10 (plus a couple) most insightful, helpful, and generally enjoyable books (Bible excluded) that I've been through. There are plenty of people who are much better read than I am, but based on the fact that you're on-line reading my blog, I'm guessing that you're not one of them. So:
Honorable Mention:
Courageous Leadership, Bill Hybels: I didn't want to have more than one book by a single author on the top 10, so this gets left off. Inspiring and courage-inducing ("encouraging" sounds to weak and sentimental to mean something similar to "courage-inducing," doesn't it?).
A Whole New Mind, Daniel H. Pink: Fascinating and legitimately helpful.
Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, John Piper: 31 day-sized nuggets of wisdom that prove eternally helpful in keeping the pastor centered.
And the winners:
10) Chasing Daylight, Erwin Raphael McManus: Inspiring and particularly influential in helping me to stop living in fear and make my life worth living.
9) Man's Search for Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl: You can skip the psychology part if you want and I don't think you'll miss a thing. But the section on experiences in a concentration camp will give the (even minimally) thoughtful reader a whole new outlook on how amazing their life really is and how little they have to whine about.
8) How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie: Hmmm, maybe if more Christ-followers read this and did what it said, less people would hate us. I mean, we'd be FOR that, right?
7) The Next Generation Leader, Andy Stanley: At a modest 160 pages, Stanley is twice as helpful as most leadership books that are twice the size.
6) The Purpose Driven Church, Rick Warren: It's sad, but more than 10 years after publishing, far too many churches show no evidence of having thought about what they're doing. It's ok if you disagree or don't take his articulation as gospel, but at least the dude thought about stuff.
5) Just Walk Across the Room, Bill Hybels: If you only read one book on personal evangelism, this should probably be the one.
4) Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller: The most readable, honest, attractive, non-threatening, and all together delightful account of Christ-following that I've come across. Plus, he made me laugh. PLUS, the "Christian Book Store" has a disclaimer on it.
3) Teaching to Change Lives, Howard Hendricks: If you teach anything, ever, on any level or in any way, read this book. You won't remember to thank me, but you'll have a great time and be much more effective if you listen to what Hendricks has to say.
2) Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis: I know it's a generic choice, but page for page, this book makes me smile more than anything I've probably ever read. Seriously, if you read my blog but haven't read this, you need to start reading better material. And you just might remember to thank me!
1) Good to Great, Jim Collins: Another generic choice, I know. And he's not a Christ-follower and isn't writing about churches per se, yada yada yada. Almost everything applies almost directly, though (and the Christian clone books have failed miserably, in my opinion), and if you're smart enough to read good books you should be smart enough to make the leap. Anyway, I don't think I've ever been as fascinated with any book ever as I was this one. And I know it doesn't make me right, but with millions of copies sold, I'm in good company.
Honorable Mention:
Courageous Leadership, Bill Hybels: I didn't want to have more than one book by a single author on the top 10, so this gets left off. Inspiring and courage-inducing ("encouraging" sounds to weak and sentimental to mean something similar to "courage-inducing," doesn't it?).
A Whole New Mind, Daniel H. Pink: Fascinating and legitimately helpful.
Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, John Piper: 31 day-sized nuggets of wisdom that prove eternally helpful in keeping the pastor centered.
And the winners:
10) Chasing Daylight, Erwin Raphael McManus: Inspiring and particularly influential in helping me to stop living in fear and make my life worth living.
9) Man's Search for Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl: You can skip the psychology part if you want and I don't think you'll miss a thing. But the section on experiences in a concentration camp will give the (even minimally) thoughtful reader a whole new outlook on how amazing their life really is and how little they have to whine about.
8) How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie: Hmmm, maybe if more Christ-followers read this and did what it said, less people would hate us. I mean, we'd be FOR that, right?
7) The Next Generation Leader, Andy Stanley: At a modest 160 pages, Stanley is twice as helpful as most leadership books that are twice the size.
6) The Purpose Driven Church, Rick Warren: It's sad, but more than 10 years after publishing, far too many churches show no evidence of having thought about what they're doing. It's ok if you disagree or don't take his articulation as gospel, but at least the dude thought about stuff.
5) Just Walk Across the Room, Bill Hybels: If you only read one book on personal evangelism, this should probably be the one.
4) Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller: The most readable, honest, attractive, non-threatening, and all together delightful account of Christ-following that I've come across. Plus, he made me laugh. PLUS, the "Christian Book Store" has a disclaimer on it.
3) Teaching to Change Lives, Howard Hendricks: If you teach anything, ever, on any level or in any way, read this book. You won't remember to thank me, but you'll have a great time and be much more effective if you listen to what Hendricks has to say.
2) Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis: I know it's a generic choice, but page for page, this book makes me smile more than anything I've probably ever read. Seriously, if you read my blog but haven't read this, you need to start reading better material. And you just might remember to thank me!
1) Good to Great, Jim Collins: Another generic choice, I know. And he's not a Christ-follower and isn't writing about churches per se, yada yada yada. Almost everything applies almost directly, though (and the Christian clone books have failed miserably, in my opinion), and if you're smart enough to read good books you should be smart enough to make the leap. Anyway, I don't think I've ever been as fascinated with any book ever as I was this one. And I know it doesn't make me right, but with millions of copies sold, I'm in good company.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
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