Since I’ve been on the road so much, I’ve been knocking out a good chunk of books on tape listening. Three straight books with family issues I can relate with:
1. The House of Wolves, by James Patterson and Mike Lupica (fiction). An NFL owner is murdered, and his four children (and two ex-wives) fight over the team.
2. Greenlights, by Matthew McConaughey. The actor’s unorphodox memoir. Has parents who divorced twice, and married each other three times. Lots of stories, including how McConaughey landed the role of Jake Brigance in the movie version of John Grisham’s “A Time to Kill”.
3. I’m Glad My Mom Died, by Jennette McCurdy. The former iCarly child star recounts growing up with the conniving mother. Jenette didn’t realize all the damage her mother inflicted until she went to therapy.
Also (4) The Last Kingdom, by Steve Berry.
Just starting on (5) The Secret to Southern Charm, by Kristy Woodson Harvey.
McConaughey came across as not really my type. But as an actor I’d probably like him more than most. Probably a better writer and more creative as well. He had several good tibits about life.
Also from his book: when MM gave his agent bad news, that he was no longer going to accept roles in romantic comedies, and that would hurt the agent’s boss’ bottom line, MM’s agent replied: “I don’t work for them. I work for you.” A good line to remember.
He mentioned heroes, which compelled me to list some of mine. As Charles Barkley alluded to, human heroes will always let you down. Great and worthy is the man who rarely does so. Take heroes with a grain of salt. These are people I like for how they play a game or preach a sermon. Only God belongs on a pedestal. In no particular order: Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul. Abraham Lincoln. Jimmy Carter. Herschel Walker. Greg Maddux. Andy Stanley. Bob Marsh.
I recently heard someone say they didn’t want their funeral to be an evangelical service about Jesus, but about that person and their life. Is this what we all want? Does everyone care? How many people think such thoughts, but never give voice to them? What makes for a good funeral? I do want there to be laughter at my funeral, for it to be a celebration of my life as opposed to mourning my death.
This weekend I wore a size large shirt, and it wasn’t tight. It was an old shirt. Over the years have sizes gotten smaller or larger?
In this age of emails and texts, some people expect immediate responses to their questions. Some people feel pressured to give immediate responses. While a quick reply may be polite (especially to a customer in a business situation), it isn’t necessarily necessary.
An extensive study reveals the true effect mask wearing had on the general population.
OZZIE SMITH [SABR Bio] “This Week in Baseball” was narrated by veteran broadcaster Mel Allen from 1977 until the year of his death in 1996. Smith hosted from1997 to 1998. Ozzie attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA. Eddie Murray played alongside Smith at Alain Leroy Locke College Preparatory Academy (formerly Locke High School in Southern California. Murray was inducted to the Hall in 2003. Smith was voted in the year before. Smith won every NL Gold Glove from 1980 to 1992. The only SS playing in 2023 with as many as four is SF’s Brandon Crawford.
DENISON: China is pursuing a strategy of global dominance over the US. Its failure of transparency with the origins of COVID-19, its crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong and on the Muslim minority, its aggressive claims to the South China Sea, its support for Putin, and its threats toward Taiwan all exacerbate the failure of trust that exists between China and the US.
Christians are taught to “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another” (1 Peter 5:5) and to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). We are called to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18) so he can produce his “fruit” in our lives: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23). Imagine the difference if everyone exhibited such “fruit” in their relations with others.
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