Wednesday, September 09, 2020

Dad Cap

Will and Okie pose wearing the new Bellwood Coffee "Dad" cap. Hey, I'm a dad.
 
Sunday School notes: avoiding and overcoming sin.
 
1. Remember my union with Christ. Colossians 3: 1-4 We have died, raised, and dwell with Him. He is my life. Not following the jet - I am inside the jet, I am inside Christ. Starts with what I think and understand about the gospel.
 
2. Believe I have the power to overcome sin. Don't think "I will never change" but the opposite. Romans 6:11, a fighter verse: "Consider yourself dead to sin, alive to God in Christ Jesus. I have been raised with Christ, who broke my bondage to sin." We have the power. Lord help me.

3. Seek my pleasure in a different direction, my wants and desires. How? God wants us to stay away from things that are fleeting.
 
4. Don't worry but pray. Ask. How do I live this out?  Early morning prayer and bible reading. In the car choosing edifying things to listen to. Choosing edifying entertainment and books. What squelches my hunger for Christ? Some music and movies, talk radio, gossip, overeating, using the phone too much, being too idle.
 
Think about an activity you do. Can you immediately pivot to something spiritual? How hard would that be? What changes do I need to do this week?
Todd Gurley. Not a fan of the tilt of the Falcon decal on the helmets.

Late Saturday I began getting reports that my mother's phone had died. She's had trouble with it earlier in the week. Had a couple of conversations with my sister and brother in law, discussing options. Sunday morning during Sunday School and worship I got out my old phone and worked on it and my Apple Watch. Ever since I got my new phone I had been unable to unlink the watch from my old phone. I had to update both the watch and old phone to do this. Eventually I was able to link up my watch to the new phone.

Then I cleared out my old phone, taking off my email and other stuff my mom wouldn't need. Reset the phone. After several more discussions with my sister and brother in law I headed out to an AT&T Store. The store closest to us is always busy, so I drove across the river to the store just west of 400. It had closed down. Checked for another store, back across the river and east of 400. The clerk quickly added my mom's number to the phone. Since the store wasn't crowded, I stayed inside to use the Wi-Fi and worked with my brother in law to transfer all my mom's contacts and other info to this new phone.

It was 3 pm before I left for Macon. Down 400 through downtown, where traffic was heavy as usual. I hadn't eaten lunch so I stopped in McDonough for Taco Bell. They'd build a second RaceTrac at that exit, on the eastern side next to Taco Bell, across from the competing QuikTrip – so gas was a low $1.879. Gassed up and grabbed a free soft drink. Dropped off the phone for my mom, though I couldn't visit due to covid. Stopped by my dad's house for a quick visit. Stopped by CookOut for a chocolate shake and hot dog, then drove back to Atlanta. Got home before 9 pm. My mom was able to use her new phone immediately, though I didn't hear from her for 24 hours.

Monday I slept late, then cleaned upstairs. PB&J for breakfast, quesadillas for lunch. Laundry and did some dishes. Ceil went to walk with a friend.
Later we drove to Buckhead to take something back to Binders, located next to the Disco Kroger near Peachtree and Piedmont. Located in the space where the old Limelight disco used to be, they've painted a huge mural on the side of the building. Three girls were taking glamor shots with the disco ball as a backdrop. Caught lots of red light on the way home: Piedmont, Roswell, Powers Ferry, Lake Forest to Sandy Springs, then over to Johnson Ferry back across the river. Whole Foods and the auto parts store.

Then to Home Depot for mulch. Got home and cut the grass. My back had been hurting all weekend, but I cut the grass almost pain free. When I finished I was picking up some boxes to put back in Ceil's trunk. They were all the way on the ground. Not heavy but when I leaned over to pick them up it just killed my back. Supper was chicken and rice, and a tossed salad. The Hallmark movie wasn't too bad, but I didn't feel like playing on my laptop. Shut it off and tried to watch the movie, but went to bed before 10 pm.
I appreciated Lou Brock for several things. He was obviously a great player. He wore the classic uniform of the St. Louis Cardinals. He set records, but went about his business with class and respect, like most players from his era. I saw Brock play in St. Louis and in Atlanta. Though a true Hall of Famer, it's impossible for me to have every great player be one of my favorites. Here's what SABR had to say:

LOU BROCK  [SABR Bio] is an ordained minister. He delivered the invocation at the 2006 Hall of Fame induction ceremony 30-Jul-2006Brock Ministry. He was the first player to come to bat in a major league game in Canada 1st at bat at Jarry Park (Parc Jarry if you prefer) Montreal 14-Apr-1969 He broke the career stolen base record that had stood for more than seventy years. When Brock stole his 915th base on 04-Aug-1978, he broke the career record that Slidin' Billy Hamilton, then of the Boston Beaneaters (Braves) took over at 789 in 1897 and increased to 914 when he retired. On his way to the MLB record, Brock became (and still is) the NL SB record holder. He graciously relinquished the MLB crown in 1991. Brock was on hand when Rickey Henderson set the new MLB career record at 939 on 01-May-1991. When Henderson took the trouble to declare himself to then be the "greatest of all time", it was evident that that was what Brock had been the whole time without declaring it.

In the modern era, he is the only player older than thirty to steal 100 bases in a season. Stole 118 bases in 1974 at age 35. He is the second Hall of Famer to pass away this week whose nickname was "The Franchise. We lost Tom Seaver earlier this week. Seaver was also "the Franchise". Brock is the only player to hit a double, triple and home run in a single World Series game - 1968 WS G4. He made his major league debut in the same game as future Rookie of the Year Ken Hubbs. In that game, he got his first major league hit off of Hall of Famer Robin Roberts. Debut 10-Sep-1961. He and Hubbs were the first two batters for CHC that day. Both got hits.

Brock's statue sits outside a university athletic complex named for him. Linwood University is in the St. Louis suburb of St. Charles. The statue, unveiled on 18-Apr-2011, is a bronze sculpture, slightly larger-than life version of Brock sliding into second base. It was crafted by artist Harry Weber, and sits on a pedestal at the entrance to the home of the Lindenwood baseball and softball programs. The Lou Brock Sports Complex was built in 2005 and has hosted NAIA regional baseball tournaments along with the 2009 NAIA National Championship Opening Round.

Brock is the only player to collect seven stolen bases in a single World Series, accomplishing the feat in consecutive years - 7 SB in 1967 and 1968. He was named the National League Comeback Player of the Year in his final season. Brock won The Sporting News NL Comeback Player of the Year award in 1979. He was the first Cardinal to hit for the cycle at Busch Stadium. Brock, Aaron & Adcock are the only major leaguers to hit home runs to dead center in the Polo Grounds (483 ft), Luke Easter hit one playing in the Negro Leagues. Brock clouted his prodigious blast on 17-June-1962 just one day before Aaron hammered his.

Over the years the Cardinals have played in seven ballparks - four more than the Atlanta Braves.
1882 - 1892 - Sportsman's Park I
1892 - Association Park
1893 -1920 - Robison Field
1920 -1952 - Sportsman's Park III
1953 - 1966 - Busch Stadium I
1966 - 2005 - Busch Stadium II
2006 - Present - Busch Stadium III
Tonight is Roberto Clemente Day in MLB. A great player. Puerto Rican players can wear Clemente's #21 today if they wish (the Braves don't have a Puerto Rican player on their current roster). Couple weeks ago MLB celebrated Jackie Robinson Day, and deservedly so (I recently read that Jackie would've been the player chosen to re-integrate the NFL had circumstances been slightly different. Amazing).

But whither Hank Aaron? As many honors as he has received (mostly from the Braves), it hasn't been enough. 

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