Saturday and Sunday

 The Broadwells visited this weekend. 

Big Boy

 
Matthew's roommate takes in foster dogs. This week they're hosting a big boy.

Ceil had been talking to Caleb's dad about what kind of blower to buy - then John showed up and blew off not just our driveway, but also the entire front yard. I used my metal bar to clean out the dirt and debris from the seams in the concrete. We had a nice chat. He bragged on Anna, and I bragged on Caleb.

Friday: stopped by Costco for their $1.50 hot dog & Coke deal. Tasty, after eating healthy all week.

We re-upped for Netflix. The new season of Quarterback is on, with Joe Flacco, Cam Ward, Baker Mayfield, and the Washington QB. Not sure what C thinks about it. Several other shows I want to watch, including the Will Ferrell as a golfer show. Might re-watch Man on the Inside. That octopus movie with Sally Field. Ceil started watching the new rendition of Little House on the Prarie, and it's not bad. Need to make a list.

Is There Such a Thing as Good Fast Food?

I wrote this several months ago. Saw a ranking of top fast food places. So many are bad due to the poor service. High prices. Slow service. Fake, frozen, ultra-processed food. Literally leaves a bad taste in my mouth. But I can't stay away. I'm always looking out for a deal.

Five Guys. Good burger. High prices. Milkshakes are just okay.

Dairy Queen. High prices. Not crazy about their brazier burgers. Shakes are good but overpriced. Like most, it's institutional processed frozen food.

Subway is okay if you have a coupon.

Firehouse Subs: better than Subway.

Jersey Mikes: better than Firehouse.

McDonalds: sometimes you can get a decent deal on the app, or using the BOGO on the receipt. But the food just isn't that good.

Wendys: best of the burger places. Some relatively cheap options, plus some deals in the app. The Frosty is the best milkshake value around.

Burger King will sometimes have deals. The Whopper is literally half the size it used to be.

Taco Bell: portions are small, whether from the value menu or the premium items. 

Moes: better than Chipotle or Willys, though they're all pretty close.

Chickfila: the sandwich has shrunk over the years while the price continues to rise. But the speed of service and quality are tops in the industry.

Popeyes: not sure when I last ate at Popeyes. Supposed to be good. Supposed to have large portions. Not cheap.

Hardees: some tasty menu options, and some deals in the app. But oftentimes the service is extra bad.

Whataburger: the burger is big but not as tasty as Wendys. Decent deals through the app, receipt, and coupons.

Freddys: tasty but expensive.

Culvers: see Freddys.

Steak & Shake: good food and milkshakes.

Checkers: few cheap options but there are deals in the app. But the quality of food is low low low.

Arbys: decent food, and sometimes you can get a deal in the app.

Cookout: lots of menu options. Not sure I trust the BBQ. Dozens of milkshake options, though they're all just vanilla with a chemically concocted syrup added in (like Burger King and others). Overall, the food just isn't that good.

CiCi's: a good deal for the price. 

RaceTrac: right out of the oven, the pizza tastes good. Nothing special about the hot dogs and other roller grill items.

Costco: can't beat the $1.50 hot dog and Coke - a loss leader. Like RaceTrac, the pizza is good when its hot. The other items look tasty, but look prepackaged, frozen, and unhealthy.

Truth to tell, it seems like my appetite is changing, and my fast food days may finally be coming to an end - for the most part. Good riddance.

Top 50 College Football Players

SINow.com recently re-ranked the top 50 college football players in the sport's 150+ year history. I'd say they did a decent job. Hard to believe I've seen all but 4 or 5 of these players in action.

50. Bubba Smith, Michigan State DE 1964-1966

49. Joe Montana, Notre Dame QB 1974-1978 

48. Ozzie Newsome, Alabama TE 1974-1977

47. Michael Vick, Virginia Tech QB 1998-2000

46. Joe Greene, North Texas DE 1966-1968

45. Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M QB 2011-2013

44. Derrick Thomas, Alabama LB 1985-1988

43. Dave Rimington, Nebraska C 1979-1982

42. Marcus Allen, USC RB 1978-1981

41. Walter Payton, Jackson State RB 1971-1974

40. Sammy Baugh, TCU QB S 1934-1936

39. Travis Hunter WR CB Jackson St 2022 Colorado 2023-2024

38. Billy Sims, Oklahoma RB 1975-1979

37. Paul Hornung, Notre Dame QB RB S K P 1954-1956

36. Doc Blanchard RB LB K P UNC 1942, Army 1944-1946

35. Steve McNair, Alcorn State QB 1991-1994

34. Tommie Frazier, Nebraska QB 1992-1995 

33. Matt Leinart, USC QB 2001-2005

32. Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska DT 2005-2009

31. Peyton Manning, Tennessee QB 1994-1997

30. Larry Fitzgerald, Pitt WR 2002-2003

29. Bronko Nagurski, Minnesota RB DT 1927-1929

28. DeVonta Smith, Alabama WR 2017-2020

27. Ed Reed, Miami S 1997-2001

26. Lamar Jackson, Louisville QB 2015-2017

25. Baker Mayfield QB Texas Tech 2013, Oklahoma 2014-2017

24. OJ Simpson, USC RB 1967-1968

23. Reggie White, Tennessee DL 1980-1983

22. Jerry Rice, Miss Valley State WR 1981-1984

21. Archie Griffin, Ohio State RB 1972-1975

20. Ricky Williams, Texas RB 1995-1998

19. Vince Young, Texas QB 2002-2005

18. Charles Woods on, Michigan CB WR 1995-1997

17. Tony Dorsett, Pitt RB 1973-1976

16. Roger Staubach, Navy QB 1961-1964

15. Reggie Bush, USC RB 2003-2005

14. Deion Sanders, FSU CB 1985-1988

13. Joe Burrow QB Ohio State 2015-2017, LSU 2018-2019

12. Hugh Green, Pitt DE 1977-1980

11. Earl Campbell, Texas RB 1974-1977

10. Orlando Pace, Ohio State OT 1994-1996

9. Red Grange, Illinois RB DB 1923-1925

8. Tim Tebow, Florida QB 2006-2009

7. Dick Butkus, Illinois LB C 1962-1964

6. Bo Jackson, Auburn RB 1982-1985

5. Cam Newton QB Florida 2007-2008, Auburn 2010

4. Jim Thorpe, Carlisle RB DB K P 1907-1908 1911-1912

3. Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State RB 1986-1988

2. Herschel Walker, Georgia RB 1980-1982

1. Jim Brown, Syracuse RB DB K 1954-1956

Miller Pays a Visit

Anna brought baby Miller over today, and worked from our house. Miller was wearing Will's 33 year old t-shirt.

Later Matthew stopped by to borrow the lawnmower.

Breakfast (above) and lunch (below).

Jim and Karen Key stopped by to visit. I was showing Jim our backyard, and he spotted a deer across the creek. Later we FaceTimed with Will, Shiv, & Millie.

Cool article about the making of the movie Bull Durham. 

https://x.com/fayobserver/status/2077317393659892005?s=46 

Anthony Flanagan was a sports legend at SW Dekalb, the first black quarterback at UGA, and the first to play both football and basketball at UGA in years and years. Passed away from complications from diabetes in his early 40’s. 

https://www.ghsfhf.com/hall-of-fame-classes/2023-class/anthony-flanagan 

Back to De-Cluttering

Lee and Nancy stopped by to help us declutter. Made a tons of progress in my office, but it was a two steps forward, one step back situation. Lang called to check in. We discussed his father's funeral.

Winnie was hovering when I was eating both breakfast and lunch.

Spaghetti for supper.

Watched a good chunk of the MLB All Star Red Carpet Show this afternoon, held outside Independence Hall. Freddie Freeman was interviewed.

Saw the Seinfeld episode with Clint Howard, where Jerry and George visit Kramer in jail. At first Kramer is upbeat about his life in LA - before pleading for their help to get him out of there. Ever feel like that?

Cool photo overlooking the sold out FanFest at Centennial Olympic Park. 

Besides the Expos pinwheel helmet that debuted in 1969, was the Braves 1972 batting helmet not the first of it's style? I'll have to research. Soon thereafter the Brewers, Mariners, and Padres came out with similar helmets. Also the Orioles and maybe a few other teams. 

Doing the Work of the Father

Clay Smith JFBC

Forward: into our community

John 4:28-38. John models for us how to live on mission, talking to the Samaritan woman. Jews did not interact with Samaritans. The woman came to the well at noon perhaps because of previous bad decisions. After she left her water pot there, she went off to tell people about Jesus.

v 31-34 Jesus said I have food to eat that you don’t know about. My food is doing the work of the Father, of who sent me.

JFBC plans for the service to last 70 minutes, always ending by saying “You are sent”.

Jesus was sent to reveal the Father, to live a sinless life. The core of the Gospel. His righteousness is given to us. Jesus came to destroy the work of the devil.

He came to save. Luke 19.

The point: we are sent in His name. John 20 …as the Father has sent me, so I send you.

The question: are we sent? Or all we settled, like an oil & vinegar salad dressing?

Two lessons…

1. You have to see the work. On farms you had to wait to harvest. But then we can see what needs to be harvested.

2. Share the work. God wants us to help others along in their journey. How has our church gotten comfortable? Do we have margin in our lives, where we take time to look around? 

7 million people in Atlanta, and 67% don’t go to church. Ask ChatGPT about East Cobb…affluent, educated, materially full but spiritually thin. East Cobb has lots of depression and  apprehension. Lonely. An emptiness that can only be filled by Jesus. The same can be said about Buckhead and most of the rest of the city.

Expanding Ministry initiatives:

1. evangelism disciple making.

2. Home groups. Shifting ministry into neighborhoods. 30 have already been started.

3. More church planting in Atlanta.

4. Ministry to the vulnerable. Serve our city, etc. Food, emotional.

5. Adoption and foster care. Christians adopt and foster at a higher level.

6. Pro family and marriage.

7. Benevolence, assist those in need.

8. Reaching into local schools. Wheeler has 60 homeless children.

The goal is how many we can minister to, not how many we can fit into a new worship facility.

Goal: 100% participation. Not just a building program but an expansion of the entire church ministry. Aiming to raise $82 million. Includes regular budget for the next 2 years plus all of the usual additional offerings, like missions. JFBC currently supports 24 missionary units.

The church’s last building campaign was over 20 years ago.

Funny Thing About Love

Yes last night's Hallmark Channel movie was hoakey. Did have a couple of recognizable actors.

Monday: Matthew stopped by. Nancy popped in. I went for a walk. The Cho's brought us supper.

Actor Sam Neill has passed away. He was 78. Was in lots more than just Jurassic Park.