Orange Man Wrong

Lots of people calling out Trump for posting such a racist image of the Obamas on his social media platform. And rightly so. Trump was wrong to do so. No one should behave that way, especially the President. Trump is a bully and a boor. That said, I'm glad he's on our side. Far from pretty and nice, but he gets the job done. Not like he's the only politician acting unbecomingly.   

Question: why weren't all these people upset when all the memes were portraying Trump as the orangutan?   

Some are saying the Obamas were only in the last 2 seconds of a longer clip about 2020 election interference. No outrage over a potential government overthrow. Hard to know what is and isn't truth these days. Unwise to speak out without really knowing the facts. As always, I'm speaking to myself, more than anyone else.

Friday: the the day got busy. Spend almost 2 hours at the gym, then returned home to get ready to go down to lunch with W&MC.

Ate at Sammy's just south of downtown on Northside Drive, about a mile south of Mercedes Benz Stadium, at the corner of Fulton Street, which runs all the way to 75/85 at the Georgia State Convocation Center / baseball stadium / football stadium. 

I had the Cuban sandwich. Will had the reuben. MC the Italian sandwich. Ceil got the Greek salad. Good food. Lingered for almost two hours. MC stayed there to finish her work day. 

As we were talking a familiar face walked in - Willis Norman. He's taken a new job with a startup construction company across the street. Right now the six person firm is building one project at a time (a single family home), with a few smaller renovation projects going on as well. Willia, Joel, and Charles all have birthdays coming up. 

Took an hour to drive back home. Traffic traffic traffic.

A very nice evening at the Halls last night, celebrating Lee's 70th birthday and my retirement. My other friend Reid grilled chicken and shrimp, to go with all the Mexican fixings. Nine in attendance: the Halls, Earharts, Murphys, Chos, and Sean Brasfield. The Halls gave me a cowbell to summon Ceil, and a red button that screams NO!    

Cindy Cho brought a delicious Mexican dip. Cindy specialized in cooking her native Korean cuisine. She says she might start a ladies dinner club once her youngest heads off the college this fall. Women will be falling all over themselves to sign up. 

Anna had a High Country yoga event at the Avalon this morning, then she and C went shopping. Caleb is out at the Waste Management Open in Phoenix.

This morning I pulled out 12 shirts to give away, a pea coat to take to the cleaners, and 30 shirts / jackets / qtr zips / jerseys to sell or give away. And the closet is still crammed. 

Plus I sold another pair of sneakers, making the current count 37 pairs of shoes I own, and an even 30 pairs that I've sold in the past couple of years. Sold my adidas Premiers, sneakers I like but rarely get the chance to wear.

Wolves In Sheep's Clothing

It never ceases to amaze me how Christians expect non Christians to behave like Christians. Or to expect the government to do the work of the church, as opposed to putting the interests of our country ahead of citizens of other nations.

What the preacher from Texas said in this article is spot on, declaring how Christians shouldn't choose to vote on a candidate based on perceived morality, but for the candidate who will do the best job governing the country and protecting the rights and interests of its citizens. He explains it better than I can.

Every election cycle you see candidates paying lip service to the church, then after election day their words and deeds are nothing but an abomination to the Lord God of the universe. And time after time, so many Christians allow themselves to be fooled. 

To call out one non Christian politician for not being familiar with the Bible seems petty, when so many politicians in Washington are so obviously corrupt and act in such illicit ways, proclaiming obvious lies, and working to personally benefit from their power and position.

The Bible says to pray for your leaders. It also says to judge not. This morning I am hearing a lot of "but he said he was a Christian!" Judge not. Point a finger and you have three pointing back at yourself. Christians reveal themselves with their fruit.    

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

So many people I know are only looking at half of the picture, with their heads in the sand, casting a blind eye on so much of the evil going on in the country and world.

I certainly don't claim to be expert in what's going on. Sure seems like satan is running rampant in the world. For my Christian friends who rail against the current president day after day - and hardly ever share anything else about what God is doing in their lives - how was our country and the world doing when the other party was in power? Such obvious corruption and waste of American taxpayer money - how can my friends argue against exposing and correcting these things?

Should every special interest group be upset when the President doesn't bend over and cowtow to every whim of every group? You can't please all the people all of the time. There are costs to all these proposals, and many are quick to forget that the government doesn't have a blank check to pay for everything that everyone wants.

I am no expert of scripture. I'm sure there will be pharisees saying that some of these verses are being taken out of context. But certainly not all of them. 

Romans 13:1-2 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

Daniel 2:21 God changes times and seasons, he deposes kings and raises up others.

John 19:11 Jesus answered Pilate "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given to you from above". 

1 Peter 2:13-14 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority, whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to the governors,... 

Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will give an account.

Proverbs 8:15 By Me kings reign.

The Free Gift of God

Yesterday I asked how we can get to heaven if all have sinned, and the wages of sin is death. But God, in His perfect love, opens heaven's door to all who confess that Jesus is Lord. Just as God forgives our sins and imperfections, so also should we forgive others for perceived past transgressions. God is the judge, not us.  

Romans 6:23 - The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Romans 5:8 - God shows his love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  

 

Romans 10:9-10 - If you confess your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

Romans 10:13 - Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

A good small group session last night, on Genesis 31-33. In 33:8-11 Jacob was reconciled with his brother Esau. If God can bring those two back together, God can indeed reconcile any broken relationship. 

Question of the day: who had your team's best nickname? Trying not to repeat other's answers, I added Alex "Captain Who?" Hawkins, Peachtree Bart, Jim "Meat" Mitchell, Tree Rollins, The Haitian Sensation, Megatron, the Young Lefthander Kim King, Ramblin Robert Lavette, John Spider Salley, the Little Bulldog Pat Jarvis, the Roadrunner Ralph Garr, the Beeg Boy Rico Carty, and El Oso Blanco Evan Gattis.  

Tuesday supper: breaded chicken, baked potatoes, and tossed salad. Watched Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, and Best Medicine.

Slept well last night. Could've slept later, but the workers arrive to start their day at 8 am. I moved the cars out of their way and walked Winnie, then went to the gym a little earlier than I had been. Trying to take it easy to rest my aching back, but was able to stay on the treadmill for over 80 minutes total, plus 30 minutes in the sauna. 

Yesterday I was in the steam room when a hesitant first-timer stepped in, asking if it was really hot. I delivered the classic Kramer line: "It's like a sauna in here!"

JOE PEPITONE  [SABR Bio] was the first player to hit two home runs in one inning in the Expansion Era. Pepitone was the first & final player to get a hit the 8th inning of the game in Yankee Stadium on 23-May-1962, but they were both home runs. First off the Kansas City Athletic's John Wyatt then Dan Pfister. Barely 9,000 paying fans were in attendance at that game . Pepitone was an All Star in 1963, 1964, & 1965. He was a Gold Glove winner in 1964, 1965, & 1969. In December of 1969, the Yankees traded Pepitone to Houston for Curt Blefary. Mickey Mantle led the Yankees in home runs in 1968 with 18. Pepitone hit 27 in 1969 to lead all Yankees. 

DENISON: the current epidemics of depression, loneliness, and "deaths of despair" illustrate that our efforts to improve the world have been unsuccessful. Stuart Jeffries appraises the latest book by psychoanalyst Adam Phillips. In The Life You Want, Phillips explains why our quest for happiness and fulfillment is so often unfulfilled: we are goaded by our materialistic society and the advertising that engulfs us to make our lives better with things. As Jeffries notes, "We are trying to fill an existential chasm inside ourselves with expensive nonsense."

"When I speak of a man 'growing in grace' I mean simply this—that his sense of sin is becoming deeper, his faith stronger, his hope brighter, his love more extensive, his spiritual mindedness more marked." —J. C. Ryle

The Wages of Sin

Question to ponder: if the wages of sin is death, and all have sinned - how can anyone go to heaven? It's right there in black and white. Think about it. If I happen to be talking to you, I may just ask you what you think.

Romans 3:10 - There is none righteous, no not one.

Romans 3:23 - All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23 - The wages of sin is death.

My goal in retirement is to spend less time on my phone, but it ain't easy. It's like a newspaper that's constantly adding new stories and weather updates. 

I don't have much interest in the Super Bowl, or last night's "Pro Bowl" events. Sunday night as usual we'll be watching "When Calls the Heart" on the Hallmark Channel. Doubt any of our friends will have a party, since we're all gathering together on Friday night.

Monday: I was on the phone for three hours with AT&T, then spent another hour in the AT&T Store. Some AT&T people were very helpful, others not so much. Wasn't able to save my 404 number, that I'd had for over 20 years. The only cell number I'd had. They're not giving out the 404 numbers any more, so I had to take a 770. In the end it's my fault that I lost my old number. The good news is that we're getting several new discounts on our cell phone bill, and our "home" number, and our home internet. And I got a brand new cell phone.

After the AT&T Store we met Matthew at the Willys next door, and had a nice late lunch. Didn't eat supper. 

Tuesday: got a haircut, went to the bank, donated to Goodwill, spent two hours at the gym (despite my aching back), and spent over an hour on the phone. A productive day, but not on what I needed to work on.

YOGI BERRA  [SABR Doc] has hit more World Series doubles than anyone in history, with ten. Jeter is 2nd with nine. No other catcher has won more regular-season Most Valuable Player awards than Yogi. He was MVP in 1951, 1954, & 1955. Fellow catcher Roy Campanella also won three. Yogi was the Mets' skipper in 1973. Gil Hodges, Davey Johnson, Bobby Valentine, & Terry Collins are the  only other Mets managers to win pennants.

"The whole work of sanctification, from its first step to its last period, is all of grace, all must be ascribed to God's free goodness." —Thomas Manton (1620–77) 

Burying Grandmother

We braved the cold to bury my grandmother's ashes this afternoon at 2 pm. Breezy out at Crest Lawn Cemetery. We only lingered outside for about 20 minutes. 

My cousin Betsy organized the day. She drove down from Elijay. Her sister Becca was snowed in near Dahlonega. Her brother Drew brought his two teenage daughters from Sandy Springs. He works for a company that supplies butter to Whole Foods and other places. Ceil often buys his brand. Both his daughters row crew out on the Chattahoochee. 

My sister and brother in law drove up from Macon, bringing her friend along for the trip. My brother had only planned on joining us afterward at the restaurant, but must've changed his mind when he learned his wife had planned on joining us at the gravesite. Then for some reason he went straight home from the cemetery. He missed a sweet time of fellowship.

Afterward we warmed up at Maggianos at Cumberland Mall. Lots of flurries on the short drive over, we worried if the weather was getting worse. 

Lots of discussion at lunch about my grandmother and family history. Since she passed away in 1996, her obituary isn't online. Wish I'd made time to write up a tribute. 

The lasagna was delicious, baked in a sweet tomato sauce. Ceil loved her salmon and mashed potatoes. By the time we finished, the sun was shining off the Galleria office buildings. 

Ceil picked up dessert at Whole Foods. When we returned home there was a light layer of snow on our front yard, and on my car. Later I took a nice nap. 

The Braves had canceled Saturday morning's open house, so at least I didn't have to weather the cold for that. Instead I joined Ceil on a 2 hour Zoom call with our missionary support team. 

That didn't leave us much time to bundle up for the afternoon. I layered up: knee high Stance socks, Nike longjohns over my underwear, my heaviest pants, Nike belt, long sleeve undershirt, turtleneck, heavy quarter zip, my warmest high top Puma sneakers, wool overcoat, fingerless gloves, golf gloves, and winter cap. 

We attended the 10 am service, and stood around afterwards visiting with the Eartharts and Halls, whom we hadn't seen for several weeks. Lee, Reid, and I finally found a place to sit. Being out in the cold had tightened up my back, and is really hurting something bad. Leftover spaghetti for lunch. 

Anna hinted that they needed help painting, so of course C couldn't say no. Usually we rest on Sunday afternoons, but I have complicated emails to write and bills to pay. We have a bunch of decluttering to do in the two bedrooms upstairs and the downstairs office. The kitchen and TV area is a mess. Winnie wants to be walked. Monday I'm going to have to spend several hours fixing this phone mess that I'd put off the past two weeks, and maybe it'll be warm enough this week to get the oil changed in both cars - something I've been putting off for too long. 

M was in Athens for the afternoon minor league hockey game: the Athens Rock Lobsters.

Pancakes for supper.

Monday: my back is hurting pretty bad. I think it tightened up being out in the cold this weekend after being in the sauna all week. Slightly better this morning than last night. Gonna try and make it to the gym for the sauna, and maybe the treadmill. Got a couple of other errands to run as well. 

Rookies who outvoted future Hall of Famers for the Rookie of the Year Award, before Expansion...

1948  ML Alvin Dark.........Richie Ashburn

1950  AL Walt Dropo.........Whitey Ford

1951  AL Gil McDougald...Minnie Minoso

1952  NL Joe Black..........Hoyt Wilhelm, Eddie Mathews

1954  NL Wally Moon........Ernie Banks, Hank Aaron

1954  AL Bob Grim...........Al Kaline

1960  NL Frank Howard...Ron Santo

Young Dr Alex Gallimore knows Don Head and the Cheathams. He's a fan of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, and the new senior pastor at SPdL.

DENISON: I have long appreciated the work of New York Times columnist David Brooks. I do not agree with all he writes, but I appreciate the reasoned way he seeks to advance his vision of American flourishing. He diagnoses our cultural condition: 

"Four decades of hyperindividualism expanded individual choice, but weakened the bonds between people. . . . As a result of technological progress and humanistic decay, life has become objectively better but subjectively worse. We have widened personal freedom but failed to help people answer the question of what that freedom is for. "

 

"The most grievous cultural wound has been the loss of a shared moral order. . . . Without shared standards of right and wrong, it's impossible to settle disputes; it's impossible to maintain social cohesion and trust. Every healthy society rests on some shared concept of the sacred—sacred heroes, sacred texts, sacred ideals—and when that goes away, anxiety and a slow descent toward barbarism are the natural results."

We want the benefits of consensual governance without the necessity of a consensual morality. But human laws cannot change human nature. At best, they can restrain some of us from harming others some of the time. They cannot produce the "shared moral order" that leads to the flourishing our Founders envisioned for us.

More About Sneakers

With all the repairs and renovations going on in our master suite, it looks like I will be getting my own personal shoe closet. The contractor was interested in exactly how many shoes I have, so I had to count. I know I just listed my shoes, but some were left out, and others listed twice. 

 

Nike waffle trainer

Nike KD7 (in box)

Nike Zoom Winflow running shoes (garage)

Nike golf shoes

Nike Panda Dunks

Nike Air Max 

Nike Hauraches (sell)

Nike Commuters

Nike Air Max Speed Turf black (sell)

Nike Air Force One (sell)

Reebok Zigs (garage)

adidas Stan Smiths

adidas golf shoes (car)

adidas Prophere (sell)

adidas SC Premiere black (sell)

adidas grey (car)

Puma RSX high tops (in box) (sell)

Puma RSX Emojis (sell)

Puma light grey (sell)

Puma golf shoes

Puma RS Dreamer basketball shoes (sell)

Hoka black

Hoka white

Hoka red

Hoka recovery slides

Cole Haan brown

Cole Haan black

Cole Haan blue (sell)

Cole Haan white (sell)

Brown leather driving loafers

Ecco loafers white sole

Ecco loafers black sole

Brown dress wingtips (in box)

Oofos recovery shoes 

Vans Ultra Range

New Balance gum soles

Crocs navy (office)

Crocs black (garage)

  

So ten Nikes, four Cole Haans, four Hokas, five Pumas, five adidas, one Reebok, one New Balance, two Eccos, two Crocs, one Oofos, one Vans, and two other pairs of dress shoes. 

 

38 total pairs of shoes. No Imelda Marcos am I. Three live in the garage and two in my car. Three live in their boxes. Need to sell eleven pair, maybe more. That leaves 22 to squeeze into this new closet, including the three boxes. I was thinking about keeping a few pair in my office, if I ever get it organized.

Over the past few years I've sold at least 29 pairs of shoes on Poshmark, and more  on eBay before that. Just took four old pair to Goodwill. That's at least 70 pairs of shoes.

Matthew is ordering an Atlanta Thrashers jersey, so we were texting about that last night. Not sure which one. Sunday he's attending the Athens Rock Lobsters hockey game, with his new girlfriend. I'm giving him a few of my old Thrashers bobbleheads that I can't sell. Today I found his old Thrashers coffee mug out in the garage.   

Thursday: productive but tough day yesterday. Still trying to figure out all the ins and outs of Gmail. Not like my old work email.

Friday morning I spent two hours at the gym, on the treadmill and in the sauna. A 12000 step / six mile day. Two people in the sauna were having a long conversation about cruises. 

Friday afternoon I was tossing lots of stuff into the dumpster, so the garage is a little more open. Still a long way to go. 

"Self-awareness is indispensable to seeing the lines between what you want to be true and what is actually true." — Jonah Goldberg.

ALVIN DARK  [SABR Doc] was the first non-Dodger to win Rookie-of-the-Year, in 1948. He was the first National League shortstop to hit twenty home runs in a season more than once, in 1953 (23) & 1954 (20). As a manager, he won pennants with teams in each league: with the Giants in 1962 then across the Bay with Oakland in 1974.

Stop Hating What You Have to Do

Clay Smith JFBC

Ecclesiastes 2:18-26. This passage applies to every aspect of what you do every day. Clay: Not sure JF does a good job connecting God to your work life.

When Solomon uses the word toil, he's talking about work. Work is a dignified thing. God gave Adam and Eve work to do. In the future with AI we'll be challenged about this. All the great Bible characters had jobs: farmers, tent makers, etc.

A. What's the point? Work is where frustration and fulfillment collide.

B. Contemplating Frustration. Clay quoted the lyrics of Johnny Paycheck's song Take This Job And Shove It.

1. v 18-19 Your success is temporary. It's like when the tide washes away the sand castle you worked so hard to make.

2. v 20-21 You cannot secure the end result. The curse of the third generation - the Vanderbilts, etc. The first generation builds, the second maintains, the third squanders. There are no UHauls following behind hearses.

3. v 22-23 Your work creates anxiety. These verses are spot on - ask any of my former coworkers. You can't rest you mind.

C. Creating Fulfillment. Things you can do.

1. v 24-25 Receive your work as a gift. Take this job and love it. Find enjoyment in the toil, the verse says. This has everything to do with God. 

Philippians 4:8 Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.

There are many positives to take from your work.

Hebrews 12:1-2 The cross was a job for Jesus. He did it because God called him to do it.

2. v 26 Redefine success. For to the one who pleases God, can find wisdom, knowledge and joy. Christians should have a work ethic unlike any other.

Col 3 Work heartily, as for the Lord. Serve the Lord well. Takes integrity. Stand by your work. God is over all - both church and work.

William Tindale: there is no work better than another, to please God.

3. Rebalance your priorities. The phrase work life balance is a lie. You'll never get that balance. You can't do it all. What does God want most from me? It will never get easy.

4. Redefine your purpose. The sinner gathers and collects to give to the one who pleases God. You have a great opportunity to represent God in the workplace.

WALLY MOON [SABR Bio] was the first player on a team west of the Mississippi to lead the majors in triples. Moon, an alumnus of Texas A&M University, hit 11 triples for the recently-relocated Dodgers in 1959, tied with Dodger 2nd baseman Charlie Neal. It was the only time either of them led their league in a major offensive category. On 11-Sep-1959(1), just after Moon closed out a particularly productive skein of 4 HR in 7 AB, & just after there was news that the Soviet Union had landed the first unmanned probe on the moon, Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully proclaimed, “It’s another moon shot!” After that, use of “moon shot  ” proliferated with and without the Apollo Program. The origin of the phrase is lost in the mists of time.

Looks At Books

Currently reading The Iowa Baseball Confederacy, by WP Kinsella, the author of Shoeless Joe, which was made into the movie Field of Dreams. Very good so far.

Listening to two books. Today I'm finishing up Woodsong, a memoir by Gary Paulsen, detailing his transformation from a hunter to a dog musher in Minnesota and Alaska. The author detailed his first Iditarod Dog Sled Race. Took him two weeks to mush his dogs from Anchorage to Nome, a journey of over 1100 miles. At least twice he took wrong turns, traveling over 40 miles out of the way each time. Once some 23 dog sleds followed him off the wrong way. The last leg of the race travels over the frozen bay into Nome.

I had to look up Whittier Alaska again to remember where it was. This summer JFBC is sending a team on a short term mission trip to Anchorage. I'm sure they'll find some time for some sightseeing. I'd like to go on an Alaska cruise. Might be the only type cruise I could get to go on. 

Just sold my like new Reebok Furys to a guy in Anchorage. I loved them but they weren't comfortable as other Furys I'd had. They don't really fit in with my outfits.

Next up is "True: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson", by Kostya Kennedy. I had already read Kennedy's "56: Joe Dimaggio and the Last Magic Number in Sports".

I am getting more into the habit of actually reading a book (for now, on my phone). My goal is to read 30-60 pages a day. I am just starting out with the reading thing. Would rather not read off my tiny phone, but it's a start. Those 60 pages are tiny - the size of my phone screen. Not sure the book is really 600 pages long. It's easy to check out e-books from the library. I have ten books on hold, so I have a steady stream of books flowing to me. I have a Kindle that's bigger, but that would take some figuring out. 

Looks like I messed up my phone number. Might have to get a new one, which will be a tremendous hassle changing everything. Was trying to get Ceil to help me out. AT&T wasn't much help. Lots of roadblocks. In the end I am the one to blame. We have shaved off almost $100 per month in various bills we've been paying, and hopefully we can find more savings on insurance, garbage, etc.    

FRANK HOWARD  [SABR Bio] was the first Los Angeles Dodger to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award, in 1960. Many were reminded of him when Aaron Judge arrived on the scene with the Yankees. Howard's 6'7"-255-pound countenance made him truly stand out among major leaguers, much as Aaron's 6'7"-282 pound mien does today. Howard was an All-American in both basketball & baseball at Ohio State University in his home town, Columbus, Ohio. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors in the 3rd round (21st pick) of the 1958 NBA Draft. Instead, he signed with the Dodgers. 

Today's Denison: when we forget who God is, it becomes far easier to forget who we are. We were meant to find the essence of our identity in the fact that we are made in God's image (Genesis 1:27). When our lives are submitted to his will and we see ourselves through his eyes, we don't have to be afraid of the areas where we're weak or flawed, because those weaknesses do not define us.

However, when we live as if we are made in our own image instead, strength—or at least the appearance of strength—can easily become foundational to every other aspect of our lives. And when that strength is threatened, everything else becomes threatened as well. Owning our mistakes and understanding when we're wrong are simply not outcomes we can tolerate very well. That's an exhausting way to live, yet it's the path many people choose to follow.