The NFL Draft

Did you watch the draft? We watched the first four picks. Ceil was interested in seeing Trevor Lawrence. I was interested in the QBs. A great QB can rarely lift up a terrible team. It’s hard and rare for a college QB to dictate what team drafts him. Lawrence didn’t seem to care. The other QBs were left to the whims of the teams.

The Jets took the BYU QB second. When a bad team is drafting a QB in the first round every few years, they’re not able to assemble a team around them. The 49ers passed over Justin Fields and Bama’s Mac Jones to take North Dakota State QB, how really only played one season in college, at a lower level.

Then the Falcons took the TE/WR from Florida, the best athlete available. A great player, but more WR then TE. The Birds will still need to keep a traditional TE. I wouldn’t mind seeing Julio traded. He’s great, but oft injured. Plus Julio takes up so much cap room. The Falcons still need a RB and lots of help on defense.

Experts and fans debated where Justin Fields would land. Fans wanted to see him go high, but the talk is always about landing on a good team. Nobody had the lowly Bears taking him. You work your whole life to get to the NFL, and then you get drafted by the Bears. Good to see how humble Fields has been. His #1 Bears jersey is selling like hotcakes.

That left poor Mac Jones. Many thought the 49ers would take Jones third, then he seemingly sat forever alone in the green room. Some compared him to Bernie Sanders sitting alone at the inauguration. Then the Patriots snatched him up. A great place to land. Jones fared better than Fields, and perhaps is in a spot better than the other four QB’s drafted ahead of him.

I went to bed at ten. When C finished her program I heard her change the channel back to the draft. She likes the ESPN College Gameday crew: Reese Davis, Herbstreit, David Pollock, etc. When she game upstairs she gave me a report on Mac Jones.

Supper had been breaded chicken tenders, which we both cut up and put in our tossed salad.

Jeff Henderson: "Letting Go" is one of the most helpful and painful lessons you’ll ever live. When you let go you’re saying goodbye to control and influence, while saying hello to uncertainty. It’s open hands versus closed hands. It’s impossible to let go with closed hands. Opening your hands creates a sense of vulnerability. It’s easier to keep your fists clenched and to hang on. If you’re called to a new season, opening your hands and letting go are requirements. Letting Go is something we all need to practice. It’s like a vaccine to a lack of emotional health.

• Letting Go of wondering if I’m ahead or behind. The vaccine for this is Keep Moving. My favorite quote in this new season comes from John Maxwell: “I never had a clear vision. I just kept moving.” 
• Letting Go of worrying about COVID. I’m not dropping my guard. I’m getting the vaccine and optimizing my health. But I have to let go of the reports of whatever may be happening in places around the world. I can’t control that. The vaccine to this fear is, ironically, the vaccine, protecting your health and letting go of what you can’t control. 
• Letting Go of what others may or may not be saying about me. As Troy Fountain reminds me, “No one is talking about you or me.” And even if they were, you and I can’t waste mental energy wondering about it. The vaccine to this is building, not maintaining. When you are building, you can’t waste time looking backward. In the words of Nehemiah: “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down.” 
• Letting Go of perfection. One of Facebook’s core values is “Done is better than Perfect.” Steve Jobs said, “Real artists ship.” At some point, you have to ship the product. There’s a difference between perfection and excellence. That’s the vaccine to perfection. Perfection is comparing yourself to an impossible standard. Excellence is comparing yourself to your potential. Let Go, do your best, and ship the product.

ME: reminds me of the monkey trap: a jar with a treat in it. The monkey grasps hold of the treat in the jar, then can’t get his fist out of the jar. The monkey won’t let go, and can’t carry the heavy jar, and his caught by the trapper.

I so enjoyed my high school and college years, as well as my years being single. Also of course when the kids were young. I think creating the calendars and journals and my blog helps memories stick in my mind. Yes it is sure fun to look back. Man the years fly by, the kids grow up and move on. Things change. Perhaps now more than ever I'm thankful to have close friends for wise counsel and to help me through.

First Place Braves

The Braves have now won 4 of their last six, and are tied for first place in the NL East. Another good outing from young starter Ynoa, who received the silent treatment in the dugout after his hitting first home run.

Fans who complained about the Braves stockpiling pitchers a few years ago are now eating crow. Some didn’t work out, like Folty. Some became relievers, like Newcomb. Some were traded, like the guy they sent to the Reds. Soroka and Fried blossomed, but are sidelined with injuries. But young Anderson, Ynoa, and Bryce Wilson have stepped up, with a couple more youngsters still in the wings.

Centerfielder Heredia joined outfield mates Acuna and Ozuna in the striped stocking club (top). Dansby's sage sensation has spread to a commemorative t-shirt.

Not much else. Mexican for supper: grilled chicken, refried beans, rice, salsa. The Braves were on ESPN so I got to watch. Then later a little Seinfeld. 

Matthew landed a job he liked better than the Flower Child prep cook position, this one at a gluten free bakery closer to where he lives. He’s also working with the Norman boys at Bellwood Coffee.

 

"Wisdom may be defined as the ability to take spiritual truth and consistently apply it to life's realities." – Tony Evans

Atlanta’s most vibrant city centers that aren’t Atlanta. The median home values listed in the article are not accurate – typical real estate boosterism. I adjusted a few. And where is Roswell? Canton and Duluth have revitalized their city centers as well.

1. 1858 900000 Alpharetta

2. 1880 400000 Hapeville

3. 1828 296000 LaGrange

4. 1821 254403 Lawrenceville

5. 1834 454210 Marietta

6. 1870 206868 Norcross

7. 2004 900000 Serenbe

8. 1839 191271 Stone Mountain

9. 2016 900000 Trilith (Pinewood Forest)

10. 1897 229744 Woodstock

https://www.atlantamagazine.com/homeandgarden/10-of-metro-atlantas-most-vibrant-city-centers-that-arent-atlanta/?fbclid=IwAR2nhO8CXliNE_blhmFQlY7hv1Pgz9l-9nxXiTK363t3fHplrEJ21P4lD1Q 

 

Denison: Jesus engaged in spirited debate with others, but never deviated from the truth or inaccurately maligned the other person. Jesus kept his focus on the most important issues, speaking in a way to foster understanding and growth for everyone involved.

https://www.denisonforum.org/columns/daily-article/president-biden-delivers-first-joint-address-to-congress-two-lessons-on-gods-calling-to-serve-others/?utm_medium=email&_hsmi=124167480&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_B3SS-IKZrnGkBdBhRUrIXlMt6Eme5mI2DaVlnIyaSzgD1ojKl6LZI8AnHOqCTBAr0VQ-CJmXAvSzuGs759M3mqUFrMA&utm_content=124167480&utm_source=hs_email

JIM BOTTOMLEY [SABR Bio] is the only player to hit 40 doubles, 20 triples and 30 home runs in a single major league season, in 1928  He managed the Browns hallway through the 1937 season. After Rogers Hornsby led them to 4+ losing seasons they replaced him with Bottomley who did little better in his only MLB managing stint at 25-56. Bottomley broke Wilbert Robinson’s record for the most RBI in a single game. On 10-Jun-1892, Wilbert Robinson had 11 RBI for BLN (He only had 57 all year!). Bottomley had 12 RBI on 16-Sep-1924, a record that has been once tied, but never broken.

 

Household chores make you smarter. I must be a genius. Chores help keep your mild sharp, especially as you grow older. Better cognition, compared to peers who don’t do chores.

https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/household-chores-make-you-smarter?ltm=UcykKXKGiToIllt0vSh%2BTd3E30pIvGRgl0onTpBn2R%2BLJtc0S13pWU10lcuTH4T4&subscriber_type=member&utm_source=member&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-newsletter&utm_content=dnl-2021-4-21

Five calls to make every week: (1) to a sounding board, (2) to someone who stretches you, (3) to someone doing something cool in a different profession, (4) to an old friend, and (5) to a younger mentor. I think articles like this are written by and for free-lancers and “consultants” and the unemployed.

https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/5-phone-calls-you-should-make-every-week-to-get-ahead-in-your-career?ltm=pgN1ZvRqXy5AUS%2BRYeQf11iCUBEmwi5gTzbri4SQCjBO8BjiMiHqqgQI%2F5wSjnZk&subscriber_type=member&utm_source=member&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-newsletter&utm_content=dnl-2021-4-24

An Icon to Get Behind

Ben Stinar, a young NBA reporter based in Atlanta, wrote “I don’t think people outside of Atlanta realize the city has never truly had an icon to get behind like Trae Young its more than basketball.” What a croc. Even Trae took time to disagree. After Stinar’s tweet went viral he offered a lame apology, but that just stirred up the fire.

Kid needs to learn some history. The city has been filled with icons to get behind. Trae isn’t even the most iconic Mr. Young in Atlanta history. That would be Andrew Young. Other icons: Henry Grady. Crawford Long. Asa Chandler. Margaret Mitchell, Ivan Allen. MLK Jr. John Lewis. Jimmy Carter. John Portman. Ted Turner. Gladys Knight. Usher. Tyler Perry. Ryan Seacrest. Elton John.

In sports: Bobby Jones. Heisman. Dodd. Lothridge. Aaron. Niekro. Murphy. Bobby Cox. Chipper. Maddux. Smoltz. Glavine. Chipper. Freddie. Acuna. Nobis. Claude Humphrey. Bartkowski. Deion. Vick. Calvin Johnson. Matt Ryan. Julio. Herschel.

In basketball: Lou Hudson. Dominique. Heck, even Spud. Fifty years ago Pete Maravich created a national buzz. The Pistol was Trae Young and more. Trae won’t be having his college arena named arena after him any time soon, unlike Maravich at LSU. Trae has made how many all-star teams?

.avg.RB.apg.FG%.FT%.games

27.4 3.9 8.7 42.2 86.1 32 Trae college

44.2 7.5 6.2 44.7 81.1 83 Maravich

23.6 8.1 1.7 53.3 75.2 78 Wilkins

 

24.1 3.9 8.9 42.8 85.6 195 Trae pro

23.9 4.0 5.8 43.1 80.4 226 Maravich 24.2 career

22.1 6.6 2.6 47.7 75.2 244 Dominique 24.8 career

Of course the term “icon” is way overused these days. Definition: worthy of veneration. Trae is no Michael Jordan. Even Dominique’s career pales in comparison to MJ. Deion might’ve been the best CB in history. Maddux the greatest pitcher. Hank, for sure. Herschel. Bobby Jones. Plus a few of the luminaries on the list of non-athletes. If everyone is an icon, then no one is.

https://thespun.com/nba/atlanta-hawks/trae-young-response-nba-reporter-ben-stinar-atlanta-tweet

Margaret Mitchell graduated from Washington Seminary in 1918. My grandmother attended Washington (now the Westminster Schools) around that same time, perhaps a year or two behind Mitchell.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Mitchell

Braves win again, 5-0 over the Cubs. They’ve won at least 3 of their last five, and 6 of their last ten - better than any other NL East team. Only a half game out of first place – without their top two starters and best reliever (Fried, Soroka, and Newcomb). Fans should be thrilled.

Since Dansby had burned sage all around the ballpark, when he came to bat the Braves organist played Simon & Garfunkel’s Scarborough Fair, for the “parsley sage rosemary and thyme” line.

Tuesday: on the way to work this morning I cashed in a coupon for a free Wendy’s Maple Bacon Chicken Croissant. Not terrible, but that square bun was no croissant. And the “chicken” was of course processed and pre-frozen. Worked from before 8 am past 7 pm. Took a short lunch, eating leftover pizza at my desk. Got home and crashed on the couch.

Watched Seinfeld, the classic pinky toe episode. Perhaps the most - wait for it - iconic scene in the entire series. Kramer describes finding the lady’s severed pinky toe, and his heroic bus ride to the hospital, culminating with the lines “You kept making the stops?” and “Well they kept ringing the bell!” Also the episode when George pushes the women and children out of the way while fleeing a fire, later stamped out by Eric the Clown’s oversized shoe.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fire_(Seinfeld)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVajLREARbg

JOHNNY MIZE  [SABR Bio] a Hall of Fame first baseman, he was known as the Big Cat. Nickname was based on the graceful way he played his position…or so he claimed. Check his SABR Bio for the full story. He was a slugger known for bat control. As an example, in 1947, he hit 51 home runs and he struck out only 42 times. He was born and died in the same small town. Demorest, Georgia, population 1,823 in the 2010 census. Mize was born there in 1913. The town had fewer than 700 residents in the 1910 census.

I need to finish my Niekro book. The book reveals what a regular guy he is. Told in his vernacular, not gussied up to make him sound like something he’s not.  Cussing and all.

Trying to get my work emails down under 20, but they keep coming in. I do have several that have articles to read. Trying to knock out one of those a day.

According to a new study published in the Experimental Gerontology journal, consuming olive oil daily can dramatically reduce one’s risk of experiencing cognitive decline later in life.  More generally, the  Mediterranean diet has been documented to reduce one’s risk of dying at any age by as much as twenty percent. This diet contributes to longevity and cognitive health among older populations. A true Mediterranean diet is based fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seafood, olive oil, and dairy.

https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/olive-oil-can-reduce-alzheimers-risk?ltm=pgN1ZvRqXy5AUS%2BRYeQf11iCUBEmwi5gTzbri4SQCjBO8BjiMiHqqgQI%2F5wSjnZk&subscriber_type=member&utm_source=member&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-newsletter&utm_content=dnl-2021-4-24

Secret Church 2021

Secret Church kicked off this past Friday night at 7 pm. David Platt preached past 1 am. Three sessions separated by two 15 minute breaks, and had a few prayers and short videos mixed in. Platt preached through a 127 page workbook – 90% Bible verses. His theme: are we getting the Great Commission wrong? Platt aims to focus on the unreached people groups by opening a training center overseas in an undisclosed location. After the second session we went home, where we watched the last session. C wasn't feeling well so she went to bed, but I made it to the end.

Platt is lead pastor at McLean Bible Church in Washington DC. After working post grad at New Orleans Baptist Seminary, he pastored a church in Birmingham (Will and I visited when he was looked to attend UAB). From there he headed up the SBC International Mission Board, before going to McLean. Platt founded www.Radical.net an international ministry focused on missions.

Secret Church is put on by Radical each year in late April, to remind us of those who must worship underground. Churches around the world can log on and follow along in the workbooks. Each year Platt preaches on a different topic, but it's heavy with the scripture references. Last year a cyber terrorist hacked Secret Church, knocking it offline. Normally my Sunday School class gathers together for Secret Church, but due to Covid we split up into groups of about three couples. Ceil has participated four times. This was my second Secret Church.

Secret Church 2021: The Great Imbalance. The basic outline. I could go into much greater detail.

A. Four Truths

1. The ultimate purpose of God is to bring people from all nations to enjoy and exalt Him in all His glory.

a. World population = 7,750,000,000

b. 17000 people groups, none superior or inferior to the other.  

2. The ultimate purpose of every Christian and church is to enjoy and exalt God in all His glory among all nations.

3. God's plan for accomplishing this purpose is the great commission: disciples of Jesus making more disciples and multiplying churches among all the nations.

4. The great commission is not a general command to make disciples among as many people as possible; but a specific command to make disciples among all the nations (people groups).

B. Three Problems

1. Over 3 billion people in over 7000 people groups are currently unreached by the gospel, and on a road that leads to an eternal hell without even ever hearing how they can go to heaven.

2. Churches are spending approximately 99% of our missions resources in places that are already reached with the gospel. Put another way, churches are spending less than 1% of our missions resources among the 3 billion people in 7000 people groups who haven't heard the gospel – the great imbalance.

3. The number of unreached people is higher now than ever before, and will continue to increase until Christians and churches decide to change how we use our resources – change how we use our lives.

C. Two Conclusions

1. If we are going to obey the great commission, we must rectify the great imbalance.

2. You and your church have a unique and significant part to play in rectifying the great imbalance, obeying the great commission, and achieving the ultimate purpose of God in the world.

D. One Prayer

God, please use this night to bring about a tectonic shift in the way we view the purpose of our lives and churches in this world.

E. A God's-Eye View of the World.

1. We must see the needs among the nations.

a. Urgent spiritual needs, which are ultimate.

2. We must see the barriers to reaching the nations.

3. We must wisely consider what it will take.

F. A God-Centered Perspective of our Lives

1. Replace a limited, local focus with an expansive global vision.

2. Replace an either/or approach with a both/and approach to urgent spiritual and physical need.

3. Replace a focus on reached mission fields with a focus on reached mission forces.

4. Replace a flawed return on investment with a fixed resolve to complete to commission Jesus has given to us.

5. Replace the desire for quick success stories with devotion to slow, sustainable strategies, to establish churches in the hard to reach areas.

6. Replace our fear of the world with faith in God's word.

a. The anatomy of fear

…you disregard the goodness of God

…you doubt the greatness of God

……you magnify potential problems

……you minimize powerful promises.

7. Replace casual Christianity with passionate love for Christ.

8. Replace doctrinal weakness with biblical conviction.

9. Replace the idolatry at safety and prosperity in this world with hope and confidence in the world to come.

G. One Final Charge

The takeaway: to be a disciple of Jesus is to let his ultimate purpose in the world dictate everything you think, desire, and do.

H. Two Spiritual Realities

1. We are involved in a spiritual war, and our enemy is formidable.

2. The outcome of this spiritual war is inevitable, and our ally is indomitable.

I. Three Practical Steps

1. Pray differently – earnestly.

2. Give differently

3. Go differently.

J. Four Biblical Guarantees

1. God has the power to save.

2. The gospel has power to transform.

3. The church has power to change the world.

4. In the face of opposition, this commission will one day be accomplished, and this world will one day be new.

The Braves broke out of their slump after Dansby burned sage all over the ballpark. Sometimes I wonder about the boy. I'd like to think it was Ozuna's striped stockings that did the trick.

https://www.espn.com.au/mlb/story/_/id/31342946/dansby-swanson-burns-sage-ballpark-spark-atlanta-braves-slump

Several relievers have blown leads in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, and relievers might've given up runs in tie games in the ninth inning or later. But no Braves closer has blown a lead in the ninth inning since 2019.

JIM KAAT [SABR Bio] pitched to both Ted Williams and Darryl Strawberry. Williams (2 for 3 lifetime vs. Kaat) played from 1939-1960.  Strawberry, 1-4 in his two games against Kaat, played from 1983-2007.  Kaat's career was 1959-1983. He won Gold gloves playing for three different major league teams: for MIN 1962-72, for CHW 1973-75, for PHI 1976-77 – 16 GG in all. Only Greg Maddux has more. Kaat surrendered a home run to Bert Campaneris on the first pitch Campaneris ever saw in the majors. Top of the first on 23-Jul-1964. For good measure, he homered again off Kaat in the seventh inning on the sixth pitch he saw in the majors.

Braves: Time to Panic?

The way Braves fans complain about losses, you’d think they’d dance in the street after every win. Why don’t all the win-at-all-cost football fans who completely lose it when the Braves lose games 20 and 21 of a 162 game season also celebrate each win like the Braves just won the World Series? Lose two games and it’s the worst thing in the world. Win and it’s no big deal. I suppose winning is to be expected, not celebrated.

Why isn’t Freddie flipping over tables, these experts ask. Every team loses 60 games every year. Are they supposed to be flipping tables sixty times a year? The Braves had just returned from a winning road trip, then beat Arizona Friday night. Should they really panic after losing on Sunday? How many times did Chipper turn over tables in his long career? How many times in April, with three starters and a top reliever out?

It’s the GM’s fault. Snitker’s fault. Freeman’s fault. What about Ozuna? He’s hitting below the Mendoza line. Before he was signed, the fans were mad that he wasn’t re-signed as soon as the last season was over. You know Ozuna would bounce back when he wore the striped socks tonight (below). 

Fans are mad AA didn’t re-sign closer Melancon, but Melancon chose to sign for less money to be closer to home. Is that the Braves fault? Should the Braves have negotiated in the papers, so fans would realize they’d offered more than anyone else? I’m sure players would love that.

These same experts wanted a replacement for Austin Riley, who’s the hottest hitter not named Acuna. I refuse to live and die with every out, when there are 8,748 outs in a season. Does that make me any less of a fan? Do real Braves fans complain all the time? I am blocking Braves fans with ridiculous opinions.

Do these experts ever look at the standings? Only 4 teams in the National League have a better record in their last ten games than the Braves. No team in the NL East has a better record in the last ten games. The Braves are two games behind the first place Mets in the division, with 140 games to go. Is it really time to panic?

In the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul” the words in the final verse are going to be changed. It will no longer be “the trump shall resound”.

Friday: left work right at five. Picked up C and drove five minutes over to the Key’s for Secret Church. Just us and them. Ate BBQ out on the back deck, overlooking a babbling brook. Jim works for Coke (no relation to Bill Key). A good time. The Keys sometimes pile their BBQ on top of their baked potato, so that’s what we did. Jim went to Oklahoma State. Karen went to Texas A&M. They lived in Houston when he worked for Minute Maid. Both daughters went off to college in Texas. Developing friendships with people in our community. What a novel concept.

Saturday: cleaned upstairs, then laundry. English muffin eggy boy sandwich with pineapple left over from Friday night. 

Lunch was a black bean quesadilla. Later I drove C to Dekalb Farmer’s Market. There was hail at the Braves Stadium, but we missed it. Read a good chunk of my Phil Niekro book. Homemade pizza for supper. Excellent.

Sunday: attended in person worship for the first time in over a year. Johnson Ferry pastor Clay Smith’s sermon series is on relationships. Yesterday’s sermon was on marriage, including addressing the always fun “wives be subject to your husbands” passage. Tough topic, but he did well. He said if there were any complaints, to email him at Clay@JOHNSONSferry.com. Next week in person Sunday School starts back.

Brunch: scrambled eggs, toast, and oatmeal. Took the Toyota for an oil change. Filled it up with gas and stopped by Wendy’s for a free spicy chicken sandwich. Too spicy for me. Worked in the yard with C, who later went for a walk with friends. I cut the grass. Was outside until almost dark. Supper was baked chicken, squash casserole, and tossed salad.

LUIS TIANT [SABR Bio] his substandard first inning prevented his teammate, Orlando Cepeda from being history’s first designated hitter. On 06-Apr-1973 at Fenway Park, Tiant loaded the bases full of Yankees in the first inning, bringing up the sixth batter, DH Ron Blomberg. Tiant walked him, walking in a run. Cepeda was the sixth batter in the Sawks’ lineup, and might have been the first DH had things gone differently. Yankee starter Mel Stottlemyre was in his penultimate season, and Tiant was at the height of his career. Twice in his career Tiant had scoreless-innings streaks of at least forty innings. Scoreless streaks of 41 IP in 1968, then 40 IP in 1972.  Walter Johnson (1913 and '18) is the only other pitcher in baseball history with multiple scoreless streaks of at least 40 innings. On 8-May-1966, Frank Robinson became the only player to hit a ball completely out of Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium when he got a hold of a Tiant fastball. The Orioles commemorated the feat by placing a flag at the location where the ball left the ballpark. The orange flag had just one word on it: “Here”.

 

The best advice to give your younger self.

1. Approach everything with respect – and a clear perspective.

2. You can change your mind at any time.

3. Have more fun, and go on more adventures.

4. Don’t apologize when there is no need for an apology.

5. Stop caring what other people think.

https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/best-advice-youd-give-to-your-younger-self-here-are-5-good-tips?ltm=%2FxxWXopTX9VX%2FwAjFQJoV2ars%2FqN5bpvwM9Hsc80eeYGWKZGfh%2FxZyImgsrrlnl8&subscriber_type=member&utm_source=member&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-newsletter&utm_content=dnl-2021-4-23

The Perfect Date

The NFL broke down and relaxed its numbering rules, allowing backs and receivers to wear single digit numbers. Because it’s cool. Being old school, of course I’m forced to not like it. When everyone is special, no one is. Interesting that the oldest NFL player doesn’t like it either. Not listed: kickers and punters, who formerly were forced to wear 1-19. These days all the cool kickers wear numbers in the 90’s. Or 80’s, or 20’s thru 40’s. Can Rodrigo claim his old number 98 for the Colts?

Can’t believe the NFL didn’t go ahead and settle the next controversy: players will be wanting to wear “number” zero, or double zero. My take: 0 is dumb, but 00 much better. I think 00 is retired for the Raiders. As usual, social media gave Tom Brady a ton of flack for his opinion. Bet you a dollar to a donut they were taken out of context.

The NFL also announced that players would be required to wear the surname suffix of their choice: JR, SR, III, II, or even ETC, NA, DBA, LLC, BLM, or ET AL. Or a first name, nickname, Twitter handle, or advertisement. Additionally, players handing the ball to the referee after scoring a touchdown will be penalized. I heard the NFL just changed their name to the NOW FUN LEAGUE.    

 

Being kind is more important than being right – Andy Rooney.

On prayer: I should pray in the car more during my commute, but usually I'm listening to books during that time. On the rare occasion I’m out walking / running, I usually use that time for prayer and reflection. On a treadmill I might try to listen to my book, but it’s noisy and distracting. Outside I try to keep my ears clear to listen for cars and animals, plus I don’t like to carry my phone. 

Lately I’ve tried to more proactively pray whenever I’m stressed, anxious, or worried – to quickly give concerns over to God in prayer instead of letting Satan run wild through my thoughts. I try to “pray without ceasing” particularly when I sense bad thoughts entering my head, or when I’m stressed at work. Also giving thanks for answered prayers the moment I realize how God has acted.

I’m not the greatest pray-er, but try to stick to the good old ACTS method of praying my regular prayers: acclamation, thanksgiving, confession, and supplication. That way I’m not selfishly asking for stuff. Whenever I do find myself asking God for things, I try to turn it into a regular ACTS prayer, praying for others as opposed to myself. Or having a conversation with God about it, how He knows what I need more than I do. Lifting up what’s going on in our country, asking God to show me what’s right.

I’ve been trying to pray for God to be glorified through the most challenging and hopeless things I’m going through. I try to stick to “regular talk” when praying, instead of using fancy theological words and such. Ceil’s prayers are confident and powerful, filled with scripture, rivaling the most spiritual people I know.

Not sure why, but oftentimes when I’m backing my car out of the driveway in the morning I get reminded of a hymn. When I do I try to run with it, singing the entire hymn once or twice. Hallelujah Thine the Glory was a recent one.

Anna and Matthew got together today to cook and eat.

TOMMY JOHN  [SABR Bio] was the oldest starting pitcher to win an Opening Day game. On Tuesday, 04-Apr-1989, NYY beat MIN 4-2 with John’s 7 innings earning him the win. John was 45 years, 10 months and 13 days old. He needed surgery after leading the league two years in a row in winning percentage. Led the NL w/.696 in 1973 and led MLB w/.813 in 1974, but missed all of 1975 with some medical procedure. John attended Indiana State University in Terre Haute in the early 1960s, Larry Bird attended ISU in the late 1970s.

Extended periods of silence improves critical thinking for both parties in a discussion. Also known as letting God speak to you. Use the STOP method:

STOP what you’re doing, pause your thoughts.

TAKE deep breaths to center yourself

OBSERVE what is going on with our sensations, emotions, assumptions, and feelings.

PROCEED, incorporating what you’ve learned.

https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/mit-researchers-say-this-is-the-ultimate-power-move-in-a-negotiation?ltm=lkhUIuHYql6ZaQ7STg625hCsBh6K4LGG%2FtgK7q%2Fs3or1A1IXwootZrUznMjFHUrA&subscriber_type=member&utm_source=member&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-newsletter&utm_content=dnl-2021-3-29

 

Low stress jobs for people with anxiety. Look for jobs with flexible deadlines and workspace. Freelance writing. Social media. Accounting. Computer programming. Librarian (few jobs). Dog trainer. Pet groomer. Landscaping. Forest ranger. School bus driver. Uber driver. Book store employee. Graphic designer. Court / Medical Proofreader / Transcriptionist. Retail / grocery restocking. Data entry. Web developer. Video editor. Virtual assistant.

https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/the-21-best-low-stress-jobs-for-people-with-anxiety?ltm=4d%2FJSls9OByVXfrgBOKq6v7fVdTFwbtMQOAlNz0KLjFDCt%2FeH4EmlLLFzEvHLtN0&subscriber_type=member&utm_source=member&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-newsletter&utm_content=dnl-2021-4-22