R.I.P. Mr. Baseball

Bob Uecker passed away on Thursday. He was 90.

I liked Bob. He grew up in Milwaukee. Played for the Braves, Cardinals, and Phillies. Hired as an announcer by the Braves and later the Brewers, and was inducted into the Baseball hall of Fame. Frequent guest on the Tonight Show. Starred on the sitcom Mr. Belvedere and numerous commercials. Wrote a book.

I own his old Milwaukee Braves jersey, as well as several bobbleheads and nesting dolls. Bobbleheads include: in Braves catching gear, a talking Harry Doyle bobblehead (his character in Major League), a figurine of his Miller Park statue. A Uecker alarm clock – when the alarm goes off, it’s Uecker yelling at you to wake up. A Uecker bottle opener. Maybe more.

Uecker made an inadvertent splash in the May 19, 2008 Sports Illustrated. In an article about a Brewers road trip, a shirtless, well sculpted 73 year old Uecker turned heads in the background of a poolside photo.   

A 2013 Sports Illustrated article: The Endless Summer of Bob Uecker.

Classic Sports Illustrated photos of Uecker.

You know you’re funny when you can get Bob Gibson to smile.

BOB UECKER  [SABR Bio] is known as “Mr. Baseball”. In 1965 all his home runs were off Hall of Famers, and his first home run the following year was off a third Hall of Famer. Uecker homered off Gaylord Perry on 05-May and off Sandy Koufax on 24-July, then on 29-Apr-1966, he took Fergie Jenkins deep. He was the first former player to host “Saturday Night Live” on 13-Oct-1984. Jack Morris & the Tigers had beaten the Padres in the 4^th G of the WS earlier that afternoon. Uecker appeared as sportswriter/sportscaster George Owens on the ABC sitcom Mr. Belvedere from 1985-1990. He appeared in the infamous beer commercials for Lite Beer from Miller. A clip from the movie Major League: click here. 

I try not to have heroes. I do have people I admire and look up to. Others are people I like, that entertain me. No one is perfect. Most will disappoint somewhere along the line.  Others in the Uecker category off the top of my head include Greg Maddux. Herschel Walker. Jack Nicklaus. Tiger Woods. Bobby Dews. Fred Biletnikoff. Michael Jordan. Joe Namath. Charles Barkley. Larry Bird. Maravich. Leno. Steve Martin. Martin Short. Dale Murphy. Tom Hanks. I could go on.

Speaking of, I’ve been watching several comedy specials by Nate Bargatze. Funny guy.

Behaviors of people who have few friends: constant negativity, poor listening skills, lack of empathy, overly competitive, self-focused, fear of vulnerability, inability to forgive, avoids conflict, unreliable, and lack of self-awareness. As always I post this article in an effort to learn and grow my own self. Know anyone with these traits?

MASH Ran For So Long The Showrunners Accidentally Made The Exact Same Episode Twice.

Jupiter Golf

GOLF: at 7 pm last night Ceil’s show ended and she wanted me to change the channel. The new indoor golf league was just coming on ESPN – did you see it? Semi interesting. Nice to have Tiger and Colin and the others miced up. Back during the father son tourney in December I had noticed Charlie wearing a Jupiter cap. Didn’t realize it was the name and logo for Tiger’s team. I got so many caps, but I might have to get me one of them caps.

So of course today I stumbled across a beautiful old 2017 Braves spring training cap, all nice and slouchy and well broken it. Fits good, and a deal for two bucks. New Era 59Fifty with the spring training logo. Forget that I already have a similar navy tomahawk cap.

A good warning from Elizabeth Prata’s The End Time Blog: a post titled “The Double Life of Christian Influencers: Beware of Hypocrisy”

Kicker Rodrigo Blankenship signed with the UFL, a spring league. I’m just about over my fandom of Hot Rod. Somehow he came off as inconsistent despite making 83% of his NFL kicks. He missed four extra points and always seemed to miss the clutch kicks. Other kickers seem much more reliable. But good luck to the kid.

Man I am seeing clips of the old Newlywed Game and the old Dating Game. As a kid I had no idea just how R rated some of those shows were. The “new” Match Game wasn’t much better. The old original Match Game didn’t seem as bad, the black & white version that aired back when the show Concentration was on. I see The Hollywood Squares is back on TV again.

Archie Manning texted Eli to remind him that the QB's in the national championship game were roommates last summer at the Manning Passing Academy. Eli shared the text, since dad signed it.

Vice President JD Vance has to miss the national championship game due to the inauguration. He'd like to get the game moved to the national mall in Washington. Buckeye fans hope the Ohio State alumni stays away. Vance attended the game against Michigan, and the Buckeyes lost.

Luke 12:1-12 warnings and encouragements

1. Thousands gathered. Jesus warned his disciples: “Beware of the Pharisees, who are hypocrites. 2. Nothing is hidden that will not be revealed. 3. Whatever you say in the dark will be heard in the light. What you whispered in private will be shouted from the rooftops. 4. Don’t fear those who kill the body, who then have nothing left to do. 5. Fear him who has authority to cast into hell. 6. Are not five sparrows sold for 2 pennies? Not one is forgotten by God. 7. The hairs of your head are numbered. You are more valuable than sparrows. 8. Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I will acknowledge before God. 9. He who denies me before men will be denied before God. 10. Everyone who speaks a work against me will be forgiven, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11. When they bring you before the synagogue and the rulers and authorities, do not be anxious about how to defend yourself or what you should say. 12. The Holy Spirit will teach you in that hour what to say.

Beanballs

When Greg Maddux was a rookie, he was told that he’d be sent back down to the minors if he didn’t win his start against the Padres. He was winning 4-2 but needed to finish another inning to get credit for the win. Then Padre pitcher beaned Cub Andre Dawson, clearing the benches. Veteran pitcher Rick Sutcliffe went to Maddux in the dugout and told him to get the next three Padre hitters out to qualify for the win, then in the inning after that Greg could hit a Padre batter if he wished. Maddux said no – and went out and hit the first batter he faced. Maddux was thrown out of the game. He was sent to the minors – for the minimum 15 days. Then he was called back up to the majors, and never went back down.

After the Braves traded Dale Murphy to the Phillies in the late 1980’s, the Braves and Phils were engaged in a beanball war. After another Braves batter was hit, manager Bobby Cox told young Tom Glavine to hit the first Phillie batter in the next inning. Glavine threw three inside pitches to Murphy, who backed out of the way of each pitch. Glavine hit Murphy with his fourth pitch, and immediately headed toward the Braves dugout, knowing correctly that he’d be thrown out of the game.

Braves chairman Terry McGuirk’s wife Nancy is a member of Marsh’s class at Peachtree Pres. Last week McGuirk bought a penthouse condo in Palm Beach for $5.9 million. McGuirk is a member of Augusta National, and serves on the International Olympic Committee’s Radio & TV Commission. Good work if you can get it.

Marsh would always ask me about the Braves. Not sure when Ceil got close to Myra, but it did seem like that when we were teaching Lang’s grade in Sunday School, Ceil had Myra come sit in on her girl’s class once or twice. Not sure. Then years later the Marshes were close to the Ewings, and we were with the Marshes at a couple of their gatherings. Bob did visit us at Piedmont when Will was born.

Marsh: this long obituary was printed up in booklet form and handed out at the service.  Said that as a young pastor he typed out his sermons, then took to the streets, running around town with the sermons in hand to memorize them, so he could preach from the pulpit without notes. As usual I was oblivious to the machinations of when Marsh stepped down at SPdL. The obit called it burnout, in part.

The obit gave a website where Marsh posted his writings: https://anchorss.org/bobs-blog/ - the Anchor Sunday School  class at Peachtree Pres where many former SPdL members migrated: Jim Phillips, Marby Rainer, the Leinz’s, the Lindsay’s, the Scott’s, the Johnston’s, etc. Dan Hayes is listed as a member.

Some time after Marsh had left SPdL he arranged to use an extra Peachtree Road Race number that I had. This was before cell phones, but we managed to find each other in the huge crowd. I almost didn’t recognize him, as he sported a bushy goatee.

Luke 11:33-36 The Lamp of the Body

33. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but on a stand, so those who enter may see the light. 34. Your eye is the light of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad your body is full of darkness. 35. So be careful so the light in you isn’t darkness. 36. If your whole body is full of light, without any darkness, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp gives you light.

More on Marsh

At his funeral Bob was likened to the Jimmy Carter of preachers – doing even greater things on the mission field. At SPdL he was able to direct a large part of the church budget to missions. In his heart I bet he wished to send not just money but also people into the field. 

Years later we saw how North Point and JFBC made mission trips and having members dedicating years of their lives into mission work. Back in the 80’s and 90’s SPdL did not seem to be in a position to send people. Bob always seemed deep in thought.

As if it wasn’t cold enough, it is going to get even COLDER. Lows for the ten days: 29 31 30 32 41 30 19 15 14 19. Ugh. Supposedly the next winter storm will bring even more snow. Not sure when that will be.

I work my butt off to clear out my emails. Take off one afternoon and I am swamped again. Emails, orders to research and update. Never ends. Made me a little snippy this morning. Have made back down to 12 emails. It is interesting that some guys perhaps with cushier or less stressful jobs continue to work into their late 60’s or even early 70’s. I wouldn’t mind continuing to work, except this job is wearing me out. I am stressed and unable to do much living after getting home a close to 7 pm most nights. Plus when I get stressed I want to eat. I need to lose weight but instead I’m gaining.

There’s so much to do that there’s never time to do a good thorough job. I rush to frantically finish one thing as quickly as possible so I can move on to the next problem requiring my attention.

I share these articles for my own benefit. This one is fitting for today:

signs that I am a difficult person to get along with.

1. You are frequently the center of drama.

2. You struggle with empathy

3. Your monopolize conversations and give others little chance to share their views.

4. You are dismissive of others’ ideas.

5. You are resistant to change.

6. It’s hard for you to admit mistakes.

7. You rarely follow through with commitments.

8. You are overly positive, which can invalidate those who are struggling.

9. You are quick to blame others and not considering your own actions.

10. You are a poor listener.

Pastor rips into ‘horrific politicians,’ calling California a third-world state.

Conspiracy theories: the arsonists being arrested have no good excuse. Burning LA was planned, from the empty reservoirs to bringing in Mexican firefighters, who are associated with the drug cartels doing the human trafficking. Those elaborate plans for rebuilding LA appeared a little too quickly. With the New World Order increasingly establishing its foothold, will LA be renamed New Babylon, from which the antichrist will rule?  

Bob Marsh's Funeral

Dr. Marsh’s funeral was well attended. Charles delivered a well prepared eulogy. His children read Bible verses. Another pastor about my age who’d been a kid in Mississippi with Charles also spoke, as did a pastor from “Peachtree Church – a Presbyterian Community” as they call themselves now. Gave me a little understanding of how after their missionary work the Marshes were lured to Peachtree Pres by ex-SPdL members to teach a Sunday School class, perhaps looked upon warily by the church staff. Throughout the service there were several Baptist / Presbyterian jokes. I didn’t look at my watch, but the service must’ve lasted over an hour.

Along with the order of worship, I was handed a small booklet with the story of Bob’s life, probably written by Charles. Bob’s son spoke of watching old home movies with Bob and Myra, of reading essays that Bob had written at different points in his life. About the time in the late 60’s when Marsh led a group of teens from Haight Ashbury on a retreat in northern California, making the Gospel relevant to those kids used to listening to Rolling Stones lyrics. Of preaching “Amazing Grace for every race” to his Mississippi congregation for a month in a successful effort to let them accept a Negro family from Queens NY as members. Of Bob’s tattered old Bible. Of playing basketball with German kids. How Bob rarely referred to himself in his sermons – not many “I”’s and “me’s” but lots of “Myra and I”.

Many many familiar faces. As I walked in I saw Mark Stephens, and vowed to sit with him. Saw Mary and David Hubert. Sat in front of Becky Norman and her sister Diane Corbett. Ashley was not there. Sammy and Sylvia Nagib sat with them, along with Scott Rees and his wife. Dan Gastley sat with Mark. He looks good. Dan attended Passion City Church while his son was in high school, but now attends a church closer to home. I was reminded of how Leah used to pronounce Dan's name "How Gaustley!" Saw Victoria Taylor, who lives in Decatur.

I did not recognize the woman we sat next to until Hal and Linda Simpson came and sat with her. It was Hal’s sister Beth Simpson, whom I’d known from my single days. We both realized who each other were at the same moment. She does volunteer work in New York. Suzie and Jim Voyles sat in front of us, along with their daughter and young granddaughter.

Lots of Mullens sat near the front: Pam, Holly, Tripp, and Audra (above with Mr. C). Rick and Miriam Statham, Tommy Statham, and Tommy’s dad. Kelly Curran said that Tommy often visits with Myra. Heather Swilley stopped by to give me a hug. Kelly Korey and her mother also sat up in the front. Got to chat for a while with Miriam, who said that Julie Adair had wanted to come from Arkansas for the service. Not sure if the snow prevented her. Rick Statham spent a good deal of time talking to Bryant Wright. Miriam said her parents (Frank and Glynda Crumpler) live in Alpharetta.

I had arrived early. Ceil came later. She walked in and sat with Mary and David Hurt, Jim Ewing, Jimmy Ewing and his wife, and Margaret Ewing Gaither and her husband Will. Older Jim Ewing will be having rotator cuff surgery. Ceil got to chat with Kitti Murray. Everyone wanted to see Ceil, who doesn’t make many appearances around SPdL people, as you know. Kelly Curran wanted to talk to her. Kelly’s older son graduated from UGA and is moving to Nashville. Her younger son is a sophomore at Georgia Southern.

Sitting with Mark was a hoot. We tried to figure out who people were. He did not stick around for the reception, and the Hurts were concerned about him. Mark seemed okay to me. Was it Mark who said he attended the JFBC church plant, Christ Community? That’s where Ashley goes.

Others included Curt Swilley, Ginny Greene, Deborah Light, Jimmy Light. Nancy Shippen (top, with Myra). Nancy Harris. Mary Elizabeth Teem earned her PHD and now works in Columbus. Charles Baugh shared what was going on with hm.

Had a nice conversation with John Flack, who was there with his mother. He has two kids in the JFBC youth ministry. Later I saw John speaking with Scot Wright – they both may be in commercial real estate.

Also got to speak to Glenn Goldsmith, who still works in ministry at Emory University. Jere Jr is retiring this year, and Dan Toholsky is considering it. 

Carl Bedingfield is 74 (above), and just retired this past fall. He says playing the stand up bass in the FBC Gainesville orchestra is therapeutic. Carl is still getting used to retirement. When he told David Hurt and me that he’d worked at AT&T for 37 years plus another ten at other jobs, I wanted to tell him that we’d get back with him if we had any job openings. Jane gave me a hug. Their two daughters were with them. Becca was surprised that I recognized her – she’s lost weight and looks great.

Herb and Dorrie McKoy, whom we’d seen when Dr. Marsh baptized Jimmy Ewing’s kids. Herb remembered how, as a teenager, he heard me talking about trying to teach my dog Speedle to pick up pine cones so I wouldn’t have to. Dorrie said he remembers everything.

Several of the old singles gang was there: Barbara Brown. George Volkert. Gayle Nelson attends a JFBC church plant in Roswell. Camile Roberts Christopher says husband Paul is working from home more, which drives her crazy. John Roma and his friend Dave were there.

David and Laura McDaniel. Scot and Peggy Wright sold their house to their child Land, who has 3(?) kids. Scot and Peggy moved to a nearby townhouse. They still attend Buckhead Church. Scot is 67 but has yet to retire. Sat behind Fred Henritze, who nodded to me.

Didn’t get to speak to David Wiley, David Deeter, Marby Rainer, Trish Lanier, or Jane Warren. Just a short chat with Thad Warren. Did speak to John Condra, who was snapping pictures to share with Margaret when he got home.

Hung out with David Hurt as the reception wound down. Said he has lunch with Ashley Corbett a couple of times a month, down at the Mad Italian in Chamblee, off 285. While we were talking we couldn’t figure out who a lady was, until she came over to give me a hug – Ruth Walker Demby, an old friend of Leah and Jane’s. Back in my single days Ruth and I shared a four hour drive to Alabama together, right after we had just met.

As usual we were one of the last to leave. Got back to our car at 5:30 – a long but sweet afternoon.

Change Only Comes From God

Clay Smith JFBC

Romans 1:1-7

“God Help Me Change”. Only God can bring about real change. Martin Luther and John Wesley were profoundly changed by the book of Romans, called the Mount Everest of the Bible. Clay will be preaching through Romans all year, taking a break during the summer.

Paul wrote this letter to the church in Rome. The center of the world at that time, where kots of religions were practiced. The church was diverse: Greek and Latin names, rich and poor, young and old. Jews and Gentiles. Everyone didn't always get along.

Main objective: to strengthen us in the gospel. v 1:11 and 16:25-27

Romans overview...

1-3: condemnation

4-5: justification by faith

6-8: sanctification, dealing with sin

9-11: vindication. 

12-15: application.

Three big themes in chapter one: how we need to be strengthened...

1. v 1-4 Person: the gospel of God. Paul considers himself to be a bond servant, a willing slave for Jesus, called to share the gospel. Set apart for the gospel of God. His goodness. His salvation. All this didn't start in Bethlehem. This was the plan going back before the world was created.

God's humanity and deity...in the lineage of David. A man but also the Son of God. Only Jesus could be raised from the dead. Christ was his title, not his name. We see the tri-unity of God. The gospel is about us knowing God. That's the point of the book of Romans.

Book: "the true story of the whole world".

2. v 5 Purpose: God's universal mission. Paul was a missionary, to preach the gospel. He wanted to preach in Spain v 16.

John Stott: the letter to Romans was a Christian manifesto. v 5 to bring about the obedience of faith. Sharing the gospel is the mission. The church doesn't have a mission. The mission is why the church exists.

Evangelism today is on life support

...only 1% of pastors today think the church is doing a good job of evangelism. 

...43% of SBC churches baptized zero last year. 

...33% baptized only 1-5 people. Church buildings are becoming museums and mausoleums instead of places of worship and evangelism.

3. v 6-7 Promise: the transformation of believers. We are beloved of God, called as saints, changed. We have a new identity and behavior, loving and forgiving, expressing compassion having received grace and peace from our Father.

George Foreman grew up poor in Houston. Became a boxer. After a loss he became a Christian. Named all 5 sons George, because he wanted them to always know who his father was, since George never knew who his father was. That's the goal. 

Brian Fox Sunday School 

Psalm 67

January is a good time to reflect and count blessings.

List your top 5 blessings from 2024.

God blesses us so He may be known, that the nations may be glad and sing for joy. 

1. We see this...

...in Abraham's covenant with God. Genesis 12:1-3.

...in Gal 3 God preached the gospel to Abraham

...in Jonah. Moses and the 10 commandments. When Jesus was preaching but the people didn't like what he was saying.

2. How have we been blessed as the people of God? 

a. Our Messiah has already come. We've been given the Holy Spirit

b. We've been chosen Eph 1:4

c. Rom 3:21-22

d. Rom 5:1 peace.

e. We've been reconciled 

f. Eph 1:5

g. Rom 8:28

h. Every year we need to grow to be more like Jesus and grow in the fruit of the spirit. More kind and gentle...more loving, etc.

i. I Cor 15 we will spend eternity in heaven 

j. Psalm 67 we've been given this so that Gods saving power may be known

k. Hab 2:14

l. The challenge: will we squander our blessing? Pray. Give. Send. Welcome those who come. Go on a mission. Remember the great commission. 

m. Psalm 90 Moses has 6 petitions. Life is fleeting...number our days...

Homework: Craft v 12-17 into a personal prayer. Use v 14 as a fighter verse, when you need help getting started. 

V 16 show your power oh Lord, to my kids, that they may follow you all the days of their lives.

V 17 use me to be a blessing (like Psalm 67)

22 in class 

Mark Trail and Me

Might’ve told you that cartoonist Ed Dodd modeled his character Mark Trail after my uncle, John Wayt, who founded the Atlanta Steeplechase in 1966.

While looking up photos on the internet I stumbled across a picture of Uncle John’s oldest son, John Wayt III, who we called Gus. I did not know that Gus passed away a couple of years ago, at the age of 68. 

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://whatsupnewp.com/2021/11/obituary-john-augustus-wayt/__;!!AE29DT8V!VrmIwPBWs8yEHyAaZiB38GldO6cXTbDRHYfcaSMFt24AsDKF0PT2XwaeJsXuB_m2zhALd_IwMcGRt4IaHwE$

DENISON: Meta fact-checkers are reduced by CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

The question of the day was "Who is your favorite Eagle?" My answer:

LA fires conspiracy theories: a couple of years ago Biden made a comment about how houses wouldn’t be damaged if they had the right kind of roof. No one knew what that meant at the time. Not sure any houses have been spared in the LA fires, but its interesting how houses and cars have been wiped out, but some trees are still standing. Some say the fires were set in an effort to destroy underground tunnels used for child trafficking before Biden leaves office. Oldest reports had said the tunnels housed a race of reptilian beings. I heard the same stories of “fire raining down from the sky” like there had been in the Hawaiian fires, and there have been UFO sightings in and around the fires. More conspiracy theories to come next week.