Shocking news
We love God but still don’t have a clear idea what He has in mind for us. It is stunning. We will be shocked. That is good news indeed.
Working up a thirst
It is as if I have been traveling across a desert. A very dry and weary desert. I am so hungry. I am very thirsty for my God. I have worked myself up to it. I just thirst after God. I can’t get enough of Him.
What does God want of me?
Here is a simple but profound reality. God loves the world and us personally. His directive to us is to love Him and to love each other.
That is it.
Atlanta Braves History: Eight years after Javy Lopez left
Eight seasons have passed since Javy Lopez ended his reign as Atlanta’s starting catcher. But everything seemed normal as he strolled through the Braves’ clubhouse wearing his familiar No. 8 jersey on Tuesday morning. “Every year, this is like home,” Lopez said. “It is fun to be around the players, hang out with them and try to bring back the memories. It’s always good to be here.”
The ongoing evolution of the Web
I was in a meeting yesterday with our partner Architelos. Their CEO Alexa Raad shared this slide that sums up well where we have been and where we are going with Web 3.0. Clearly mobile and social will rule the day.
What do you think? What else would you add?
Atlanta Braves History: THE card I would love to own. Hank Aaron’s 1954 Rookie Card
Hank Aaron is my baseball hero. He came to the Milwaukee Braves (now the Atlanta Braves) the year I was born
Whenever I dream of the one single card I would like to add to my collection more than any other, I picture the 1954 Aaron. Whenever I think of the one card that I would love to show every visitor to my house, it’s the 54 Aaron. It is the rookie card of the single greatest player in the history of my favorite team. It is the single most important card issued of any Atlanta Braves player. It is from one of the most beautiful sets that Topps has ever produced. It is perfect in each and every way.
“It’s a whole new year, and we need to be looking at it like that.” ~~Brian McCann (Atlanta Braves player)
Now this is an understatement. It is a new year. I am hopeful. The Atlanta Braves can redeem themselves for last year.
Go Braves!!
“We have an exciting team,” McCann said. “Everybody is excited to get going and to redeem ourselves. It’s a whole new year, and we need to be looking at it like that. We don’t need to be worrying about what happened last year.”
Atlanta Braves Report To Spring Training (FINALLY!)
You have to love today. It is Happy Pitchers and Catchers day. Baseball is starting and none too soon!!
What seemed like an eternity since the Atlanta Braves made the final out against the Phillies is now in the past and fans can only look towards the upcoming season now. Which players emerge like Freddie Freeman did last season? Which players succumb to injuries for most of the year as Jason Heyward did? Do guys like Mike Minor, Julio Teheran and Arodys Vizcaino break out in 2012? We’ll know the answers to these questions and more in the near future.
On Sunday morning, Braves pitchers and catchers reported to Orlando for the first official team meet and to get a little work in. Many members from the roster showed up a few days early, most notably Jason Heyward and Chipper Jones. We have tweet updates, photos and some newsworthy bits after the page jump…
via Atlanta Braves Report To Spring Training (FINALLY!) – FairWeather Report – SB Nation Atlanta.
Atlanta Braves History: Opening day April 19, 1919
The Boston Braves opened the season at home in 1919 on April 19th.
Manager George Stallings ended up losing 5 to 2 against the Brooklyn Dodgers. This was the first game of a double header that day (They would also loose the second game as well). Dick Rudolph was the loosing pitcher. Rabbit Maranville and Art Wilson both had RBIs accounting for the Braves 2 runs. The Braves left 8 men on base missing scoring opportunities. The batting wasn’t too bad for the day with an average of .270 for the team. Dick Rudolph helped out going 2-4.
Atlanta Braves History: Hank Aaron’s most memorable home run (1957)
It was Fred Haney’s second year as Manager. The Braves really turned it on that year. They were the NL champions with a 95-59 record, ending up 8 games ahead.
So what was Hank Aaron’s most memorable home run? It was number 109 which he hit on September 23, 1957. At the time, he wasn’t even thought of as a home run hitter. No one even imagined he would break the Babe’s record. Even though he would eventually hit 646 more home runs, this was the one he remembers most.
It was tied up 2-2 at home. St. Louis was hanging in there with the Braves. Johnny Logan was on first. There were two outs. Billy Muffett threw a “fat” one. Out it went over the center-field fence in County Stadium. All of Milwaukee seemed to celebrate. The Braves won the NL championship on that home run. Aaron was mauled at home plate. He was carried off the field by his team mates.
Movie: The Rum Diary with Johnny Depp
Dawn and I watched this. I really like Johnny Depp and appreciate Hunter Thompson so I was looking forward to seeing this. Not as good as I hoped but I didn’t fall asleep. Can’t say the same for Dawn.
Based on the debut novel by Hunter S. Thompson. Tiring of the noise and madness of New York and the crushing conventions of late Eisenhower-era America, Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp) travels to the pristine island of Puerto Rico to write for a local newspaper, run by downtrodden editor Lotterman (Richard Jenkins). Adopting the rum-soaked life of the island, Paul soon becomes obsessed with Chenault (Amber Heard), the wildly attractive Connecticut-born fiancée of Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart). Sanderson is one of a growing number of American entrepreneurs who are determined to convert Puerto Rico into a capitalist paradise in service of the wealthy. When Kemp is recruited by Sanderson to write favorably about his latest unsavory scheme, the journalist is presented with a choice: to use his words for the corrupt businessmen’s financial benefit, or use them to take the bastards down. — (C)
Atlanta Braves History: Called because of heat? (1905)
Playing in Boston on July 12, 1905‚ the Reds score 7 runs in the 6th to beat the Braves‚ 15-3 in the first of 2. Rookie Charley Malay hits his only career homer‚ a-3-run home run‚ off Patsy Flaherty. Because of the intense heat‚ Reds manager Joe Kelley wants game 2 to be limited to 7 innings‚ but Boston manager Fred Tenney insists on 9, so the Braves win‚ 3-2. The next day‚ however‚ game 2 of the double header will be postponed till August.
Joe Borden (1876)
Joseph (Joe) Emley Borden was born on Tuesday, May 9, 1854, in Jacobstown, New Jersey. Borden was 22 years old when he broke into the big leagues on July 24, 1876, with the Boston Red Caps. He only had a one year career with the Braves (then known as the Red Caps) with an 11-12 record. He pitched what is considered the first no-hitter pitched in a professional game.
He had previously played for the 1875 Philadelphia White Stockings in the National Association, which is not currently considered a Major League. Although he pitched in just 7 games in 1875, he did throw two shutouts, one of which was a no-hitter against the Chicago White Stockings on July 28, under the pseudonym of Joe Josephs. Since the National Association is not considered a Major League, this no-hitter is not recognized officially as the first no-hitter pitched. It is, however, considered the first no-hitter pitched in a professional game.
Borden, still known as Josephs, does have the distinction of being the winner in the first ever game of the new National League, with his Red Caps beating the Philadelphia Athletics 6-5 on April 22, 1876 at the Jefferson Street Grounds
He died on October 14, 1929 in Yeadon, Pennsylvania and is buried in Oakland Cemetery, Westchester, Pennsylvania.
In synch all the time
John was one motivated man of God. He saw first hand the unique relationship Jesus had with God. They were perfectly in synch. Never ever out of touch at all. Jesus always hit the mark, doing what He saw His Father doing, saying what He heard His Father saying. Union and communion of the highest order.
The promise is that we can enjoy the same relationship with God as well. Jesus has made it all possible. We can enjoy that same communion too.
We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy! 1 John 1:3-4
Are you waiting on God?
I am waiting on God. There is no point in moving on without Him. In that waiting, I find strength. In that waiting, I find my heart finds courage. I need strength and courage and so ….
I am waiting on God.
What should I be thinking about?
How would Paul summarize things? Well, he would suggest that I fill my mind on some things that are positive. Not the power of positive thinking but something way beyond that. I need to practice these things. Peace will be mine if I do. There is a blessing attached to this.
Here are some ideas he suggests to me to think on and contemplate about:
- What is true
- What is so amazingly noble
- Who has a reputation for being Godly and who is authentic
- What is God compelling me to do in His power
- What do I know about God’s gracious nature
- The best that I have seen Jesus do
- Things that are so amazingly beautiful
- All I have to give thanks and praise for
Finally, brothers, 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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9
“He (Hoyt Wilhelm) had the best knuckleball you’d ever want to see. He knew where it was going when he threw it, but when he got two strikes on you, he’d break out one that even he didn’t know where it was going.” ~~Brooks Robinson
Am I on the path of right living?
Leveling a road takes a while. It is not something that happens over night. Because I am in right standing with our Father, he levels the road for me. But I have to be content when I see the sign with your decision to stop, to not be in a hurry. You are in front of me leveling the way. When you decide it is clear, I can go.
May I be content to linger in the path with the signs of your decision.
The path of right-living people is level. The Leveler evens the road for the right-living. Isaiah 26:9
Are you abundantly free?
God made plans for us that gave Him pleasure in putting together. It was not an inconvenience to Him in any way at all. Just as we as parents love to make plans for our children, our heavenly Father delights in an even greater way.
God sent His son Jesus to make us completely free. Not just a little. Abundantely and completely free. He was willing to risk and sacrifice everything for us.
He has made provision for everything. No detail left out at all. It is all spelled out in His new plan and goals for us. His mission of love makes everything right. Now that is good news.
Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth. Ephesians 1:7-10
Atlanta Braves History: Joe Adcock hits a blast to center field at the Polo Grounds (1953)
Some things aren’t easy. This was one of them. On April 29, 1953, Joe Adcock becomes the first ML player to homer into the Center Field bleacher seats in the Polo Grounds‚ over 475 feet away. His homer in the 3rd‚ with Pafko on‚ came off a Jim Hearn fast ball. Luke Easter‚ in a 1948 Negro League game‚ and Schoolboy Rowe‚ in batting practice before a 1933 exhibition game‚ also accomplished the feat.
Lou Brock and Hank Aaron will match it is as well in 1962. The Braves won the game 3-2 on a 9th-inning knuckler by Hoyt Wilhelm that eludes Sal Yvars for a wild pitch. Billy Bruton’s perfect throw cuts down Monte Irvin for the final out. After the game‚ manager Charlie Grimm buys Adcock’s homer for $25 from the fan who caught it. I wonder how much that is worth today?
Is God too slow?
Is Jesus slow? No, not all. God has made certain promises and some days we say, “OK God, when?” God seems awfully slow to us. But what is a billion years to God? He is the epitome of patience. He is very patient with us. He wants us all to have the view of life that never ends. He wants us all to change our minds and meet His goals for us.
He isn’t slow. He is patient.
Looking for the best
God is love. He is always looking for the best in us. He doesn’t see our foibles and quirks. He is not keeping a list of all of our failings. He sees us as fully redeemed sons and daughters.
How many times do we have the image of a God who is like us or people we know. Critical. Judgemental. Harsh.
God is not like that at all.
May I love like my Father and always look for the best.
Love always looks for the best. 1 Corinthians 13
Some thoughts on speed (Now!!)
I am focused on 3 cultural issues right now with the core being an open culture. Here are some of my thoughts on Speed (Now!!). The pace of business continues to change and move faster and faster. That is clear and it requires that we have a world that understands and enables that. Faster, more predictable ways of creating and changing technology are no longer a nice to have — they decide which of us will survive and which will not. For technology professionals, that means it’s not a question of whether we will adopt lean and agile techniques but how soon and how broadly we will adopt them. That doesn’t mean charge into the transformation blindly. If we do, we may meet an untimely but fairly predictable end — we’ll fail to realize the benefits because we didn’t properly execute. As I have been reading and talking to technology and business staff on this, there seem to several trends to consider.
We have to do more than pass out this blog and pray for results. We (I) all need education, coaching, and practice to understand how agile differs from traditional methods. Business groups will need even more attention as we learn how and why our roles will change — take great pains to explain what value agile will bring us, and make sure we accept the role of owners. Do we own speed? Do we own agility? We also need to look for the right initiatives to attempt to speed things up — we should seek those that are not already rigidly defined or too complex, and avoid complex integration, dependencies, and mission-critical efforts in our attempts. Of course, simplicity and usability also help here. If is too complex, can we simplify it? That will help speed delivery and support radically.
Our culture can propel or kill new ideas. We should beware technical and business factions that don’t want the change that agile brings — for example, will staff that consider working in an agile world consider it to be an incorrect methodology? Will businesspeople not want to participate in faster projects because they are too busy? We have more options with our technical world, but if we’ve done everything we could in explaining to stakeholders how agile can add business value and they still don’t buy it, we may need to move on — it may be that the business domain does not require agile — or start our approach with speedier transitions like a water-scrum-fall approach with more work in the water and fall parts of the process. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
Is agile right on huge, monolithic applications that change infrequently? Probably not. Advanced agile organizations seem to set up multiple scrum and traditional teams to deal with large, monolithic apps. If requirements are stable, we should consider sticking with what we have done for years if it’s working and the business is not complaining. Agile techniques seem to shine where innovation and changing requirements are part of the business model. We have lots of examples of that. Where stability is the norm, agile may not be the right answer. We should also be careful to least ask the question. The lack of complaints may only reflect a business assumption that technology approaches are always slow. That may not be fair but it could be the perception.
Improvement of any kind requires that we understand our business partners are today and where they want to be in the future and that we muster the right human, financial, and political resources to ensure success. We should focus on value for the business first, establish how we will create value, and set proper goals. When we know the goal, we can define outcomes against those goals, and measure success accordingly. Driven by business-value priorities, we will need to assess our approach using both qualitative and quantitative approaches.
Here is a way to think of change. Improve or transform?
What is my job.?
What is my job? I need to build myself up in my faith. That is thing number one. Don’t know how to pray? No problem. Pray the way the Holy Spirit of God leads me. But even more important than all of this. I need to keep myself in God’s love. I need to be patient and wait on the mercy that Jesus gives me. That mercy leads to a life that never ends. Imagine that a billion years from now.
Are the Atlanta Braves really that happy?
With pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training one week from today, the Braves’ roster looks about the same as it did during the September swoon that kept them from the playoffs.
This disappoints me because I wanted general manager Frank Wren to shake things up. But players who endured one of the worst late-season collapses in history seem pleased to have the same cast as they crank things up again.
“I’m happy,” said closer Craig Kimbrel, National League Rookie of the Year after leading major league relievers with 127 strikeouts and tying for the NL lead with 46 saves.
“We have a good team. All the pieces are here. It’s not like we had to go out and get anybody. The team’s talented. We’re going to be fine. We’ve got a really good clubhouse; that’s a big part of having a good team. I’m glad we didn’t break that up.”
The Braves’ pitching staff, one of baseball’s best in 2011, could be even better if the Braves can stay reasonably healthy. They return all key members of the NL’s top-rated bullpen, led by Kimbrel, Jonny Venters and Eric O’Flaherty. Also back are their four best starters — Tim Hudson, Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson, Brandon Beachy — and a group of young pitchers who will compete for the fifth rotation spot and one or two bullpen openings.
The Braves traded veteran pitcher Derek Lowe to Cleveland with a year left on his contract, agreeing to pay $10 million of his $15 million salary in order to turn the page after his second disappointing season and to open a rotation spot for a youngster from a group that includes Mike Minor, Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado.
Hudson had back surgery in November and will be brought along cautiously. He might not be ready at the season’s outset, but the Braves think the worst-case scenario is a return by early May.
Braves players understand we wanted change, even if some wanted change for change’s sake. Others were disappointed the Braves didn’t add the big outfield bat that general manager Frank Wren said he was looking for after the 2011 season. Wren says they could still add a hitter or fill other needs in the coming weeks, but the Braves will evaluate some of their own players during spring training to gauge those needs.
“Any time you struggle the way we did down the stretch, it’s the last thing anybody remembers,” said Venters, arguably the majors’ best reliever until his late slump contributed to the Braves’ 10-20 skid to the finish.
“[But] we had the fourth-best record in the game going in the last month. Our team’s great. The clubhouse chemistry is better than any that I’ve been a part of. I’m excited about the team.
“I think we have everything we need to be successful. I don’t think we needed to make any moves, and I think Frank did a great job with the way he approached the offseason and let it play out. I mean, we had some unfortunate things happen last year — Tommy getting hurt, J.J. [Jurrjens] got hurt, Brian [McCann] got hurt, [Martin] Prado. And then you had J-Hey [Jason Heyward]. He’s not going to do what he did [in 2011]. He’s too good of an athlete to not make the adjustments and figure it out.”
Jurrjens (knee) and Hanson (shoulder) missed most of the second half, and both are healthy now and without restrictions. Through July 9, Jurrjens and Hanson were a combined 22-7 with a 2.14 ERA in 33 starts. After July 9, they went 2-6 with a 6.75 ERA in 12 starts.
“There’s no doubt that our rotation was the strength of the team,” Venters said. “That’s why we [relievers] pitched so much because our starters kept us in so many games. If those guys stay healthy, there’s no telling. … I expect to be in the thick of the division race anyways. But having those two guys, they’re horses. They’re No. 1 starters on most teams.”
Jurrjens and left fielder Prado were at the center of many offseason trade rumors, but Wren said all along he wouldn’t trade key players in any deal unless it made the Braves better. The Braves didn’t sign a major league free agent from outside the organization.
“I don’t think any of us really expected [significant moves],” third baseman Chipper Jones said. “Nobody was going to be a free agent; everybody was coming back. The bottom line is, for 4 1/2, 5 months we were pretty dang good. We had the third- or fourth-best record in baseball. We were right there. We just didn’t finish it out. I think that’s the sour taste that everybody still has in their mouth — [everybody] that’s not inside this clubhouse.
“We’re confident that we can go out and still play the same brand. I really didn’t expect us to do anything position-player wise, other than maybe a move or two off the bench. I expected most of the movement that we made to be done in the pitching staff, and you’ve seen it. With the exception of D-Lowe, there hasn’t been much, period. We’re OK with that.
“You sit back and you watch some of the other teams in your division make moves, you’re thinking to yourself, ‘They’re getting better by the day.’ But that’s the nature of the beast. It really doesn’t mean anything.
“On paper it looks good for those people. It might sell a couple of extra tickets. But if you make all the moves and you look up at the end of July and you’re still five games under .500, it doesn’t do you a lot of good. We don’t plan on being in that spot.”
“God has given His commands to us, but we pay no attention to them, … because we do not truly love and respect Him.” ~~Oswald Chambers
“We don’t consciously and deliberately disobey God— we simply don’t listen to Him. God has given His commands to us, but we pay no attention to them— not because of willful disobedience, but because we do not truly love and respect Him.” ~~Oswald Chambers
Can I get out of my coffin?
I need to wake up from my sleep. I need to get up out of my coffin. Jesus is showing me the way. He is shining His light on me. I need to watch my step. I need to use my head. I need to think and not live carelessly. I need to understand what Jesus wants me to do.
May I understand what Jesus wants me to do. May I know it deep in my heart. May I not only know but also do it, demonstrating my obedience.
This is why it is said: Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. –Ephesians 5: 14-20
What is important in our Future of CRM world?
We had a change management call on Friday for our Individual Giving and Charitable Estate Planning eCRM implementation. Here is a pretty important slide about what is important. Do you agree?
Clean up after the flood
Yesterday we had a disaster. So now the clean up begins. Glorious day in paradise. Whole lot of drying going on.
Atlanta Braves History: Lew Brown (1876, 1877, 1883)
Lewis (Lew) J. Brown (February 1, 1858 – January 15, 1889) was a Brave in 1876, 1877 and 1883 seasons. His debut was on June 17, 1876. Primarily a catcher and first baseman, he played for seven seasons in total and played for six different teams from 1876 to 1884. Brown was primarily a catcher, but he also logged over 100 games as a first baseman. He also appeared twice as a pitcher. His final game was October 19, 1884.
In his 1876 season with the Braves, he hit a lack luster .210. Probably not burning things up, even for a catcher. 1877 saw improvement to .253 but in 1878, off he went to the Providence Grays. Brown missed the 1882 season due to being blacklisted for “confirmed dissipation and general insubordination.” Apparently he showed up drunk at an exhibition game and was suspended for the season. Imagine that.
He returned for a season in 1883 for the Boston Beaneaters (now known as the Atlanta Braves). He only played in 14 games, batting .241. He was sent to the Louisville Eclipse. Brown died at the age of 30 in Boston, Massachusetts, and is interred at Forest Hills.
Atlanta Braves History: Dave Bancroft ruptures his appendix (July 1, 1924)
1924 wasn’t a great year for the Boston Braves (now know as the Atlanta Braves). With a 53-100 record, they would finish 8th in National League. On July 1, the Braves’ player-manager Dave Bancroft ruptures his appendix. The future Hall of Fame short stop will not play again until September 10.
Some years are just like that. In baseball you can go from bad to worse. All you can do is persevere.
Super Bowl 2012: We can watch it completely online this year. How cool is that?
Who would have thought a few years ago that you would be able to do this. I am wondering how many people will either supplement or use exclusively this service. Good news: it is free.
This year’s Super Bowl marks a digital first: The game will be the first Super Bowl that you can watch online — legally. NBC, the broadcast partner for this year’s game, is going to stream the game live.
NBC has actually been streaming some NFL games online since 2009, though never the Super Bowl. While it opens up the game to a whole new online audience, NBC sees it as a “second screen” experience — a complement to the TV broadcast rather than an alternative.
Still, streaming an event as huge the Super Bowl (last year’s broadcast had a record 111 million viewers) brings with it a whole different set of variables. What devices can you watch it on? What extras will the stream have? And most important — will it have the ads? Read on for our comprehensive guide to watching Super Bowl 2012 online.
via Super Bowl 2012: Everything You Need to Know About Watching It Online.
Atlanta Braves History: July 4, 1919 (Second game)
The Boston Braves (now known as the Atlanta Braves) won the second game of the Double Header on July 4, 1919 at Ebbets Field after having lost the first game. At this point in the season we were in 7th place, 15 1/2 games behind.
My dad was born this day. He probably would have expected them to split this. He saw or listened to a lot of games over the years. Johnny Rawlings, the second baseman, went 4 for 5 at bats in this game with a home run, a double, and a stolen base. Rabbit Maranville, our shortstop, went 2 for 3 with a home run and sacrifice hit. Dick Rudolf was the winning pitcher with a complete game. Both runs were earned.
And so, my dad was born. He would come to love the Braves.
Movie: Red Tails with Cuba Gooding, Jr.
Nate, Dawn and I saw Red Tails last night. Our adventure out to the Studio Movie Grill. I really enjoyed it. Big fan of Cuba Gooding, Jr. This review by Roger Ebert is on target. It was an entertaining movie but somehow I was expecting a little more.
The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of African-American fighter pilots who were trained despite the racism entrenched in the U.S. armed services during World War II. They were deployed in action and achieved fame and many decorations for their skills against German pilots, which included engaging and shooting down Messerschmitt Me 262s, the first jet fighters. So successful were they at escorting American bombers that the white pilots requested them — contradicting a “study” at the time that claimed “Negroes lack the intelligence to operate heavy machinery.” Read the rest of this entry »
Atlanta Braves History: July 4, 1919
My dad was born on this day. He loved the Atlanta Braves. They were the Boston Braves at this point. 1919 was not a great year for the Braves and July 4th would be fairly typical of the season. The played a double header on this day. They split the pair with the Brooklyn Dodgers. And so, my dad was born and the Braves split a pair.
Atlanta Braves History – 1919 Summary
1919 was not a very good year for the Braves. They were in Boston playing at Braves Field. The attendance for the year was 167,401 (7th of 8). Not overwhelming fan support.
They had a 57-82 record, finishing 6th in the National League. George Stallings is the manager. This is not George’s best year since he won the World Series in 1914. One more year and he will be out. Always sad to see that.
When you look at their run totals, that kind of tells the story. They scored 465 runs and allowed 563 runs.
I like the year 1919. Not because of the Braves because they kind of stunk but because my dad was born on July 4th in 1919. Because of that, I enjoy poking around what was going on with the Braves that year.
God doesn’t have victums does He?
There is something horribly wrong with a “victim mentality”. It is complete and total mistrust of God. God is in control. He is in a good mood. He loves us and wants the best for us. God makes everything come out right. Not a few things. Not things occasionally. He is the God of making everything RIGHT.
How easy it is though to not trust Him and wallow in our misery. Too easy some days. I can see clearly what He isn’t doing in my life. I am happy however when I focus on what He is doing.
So … God makes everything come out right. That is that and that is all there is to it.
God makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet. Psalm 103
Atlanta Braves History: Sad trade for Dale Murphy (1993)
April 3, 1993 was a sad day. The Rockies signed free agent veteran Atlanta Braves outfielder Dale Murphy. The two-time MVP will hit just .143 in 26 games for the Rocks. Unfortunately, I remember it. I wish he had simply retired in Atlanta.
“It’s hard to be ready for the jungle when you train in the zoo!” ~~Kris Vallotton
Now this is a good and convicting word from God. Jesus calls us to be passionate and all in for God. He shows us the way and promises we will do greater things than He did when He was here.
I am desperate for God. I want more of Him. I am lost without Him every minute of the day.
It’s hard to be ready for the jungle when you train in the zoo! We have domesticated the Lion of the tribe of Judah, which has caused us to loose heart for the call of the wild. Jesus took water and turned it to wine. 2000 years later we have turned the wine into grape juice. We have proactively organized risk right out of the Gospel (Good News) and wonder why we are bored out of our minds. Religion has left us starving for the great adventure. Where are the Believers that rock kingdoms and sent demons on a screaming exodus? ~~Kris Vallotton
Atlanta Braves History: Joe Adcock gets beaned (1954)
You have to love Joe Adcock. On August 1, 1954, Dodgers Clem Labine beans Joe Adcock in the 4th. His helmet apparently saves him from a serious injury‚ but he is taken out of the game as a precautionary measure. He will appear in the starting line-up the next day. Gene Conley reciprocates by knocking down Jackie Robinson in the 6th and Robinson ends up scrapping with Eddie Mathews. The Braves win 14-6‚ their 10th win in a row‚ as Conley runs his record to 10-5. The Braves set a ML mark for extra bases on long hits in 2 consecutive games (44).
1954 was a great year for the Braves. It was tough for Joe when you play with the likes of Hank Aaron and Eddie Matthews.
Exactly like Jesus says? Yes, that is our job.
Jesus has things he wants us to do. He gives us instructions. Do we do it exactly like He says? Or do we attempt to do it “in the spirit” of what He meant? Well, we tell ourselves and others, He didn’t really mean it that way. Or, that was just for his disciples then, it doesn’t apply to us today. Really? That is our approach to our Master. Do effective employees “kind of do” what their boss wants them to do? Not if they want to keep their jobs. I want to keep my job with Jesus.
The disciples went and did exactly what Jesus told them to do. ~~Matthew 21:6
“When we touch the foundation of the reality of the good news of God, we will never bother Him anymore with little personal complaints.” ~Oswald Chambers
I need to understand that God sent Jesus to redeem the whole world, not just me. What am I willing to endure to bring the good news of God to others? Criticism? Torture? Jail? Death? Ostracism?
Is it worth it? Yes, it is. It’s not about me.
It is an injustice to say that Jesus Christ labored in redemption to make me a saint. Jesus Christ labored in redemption to redeem the whole world and to place it perfectly whole and restored before the throne of God. The fact that we can experience redemption illustrates the power of its reality, but that experience is a byproduct and not the goal of redemption. If God were human, how sick and tired He would be of the constant requests we make for our salvation and for our sanctification. We burden His energies from morning till night asking for things for ourselves or for something from which we want to be delivered! When we finally touch the underlying foundation of the reality of the gospel of God, we will never bother Him anymore with little personal complaints.
My Bible from 1970 when I was 16. Look who gave it to me!!
I must admit that most of my reading these days isn’t with physical books. I am an avid on-line / Kindle kind of person. I love the convenience of that way. But I do still have physical books and my most treasured are my Bibles. Here is the oldest one I have. I was 16 at the time. When I pulled it off the shelf a few minutes ago, I didn’t recall I had bought it myself so I looked at the front to see if there was an inscription. Low and behold, look at who gave it to me.
How awesome is that?
Kris Vallotton – Perseverance for Breakthrough
Kris shares a powerful word about persisting and pressing on until we see the breakthrough we are looking for. “How long do you have to hit it?” “until it splits” “He equates faith with people who don’t lose heart” “Sometimes… I think that the lord is more interested in the work he’s doing IN us, than the work He’s doing THROUGH us”
Check out Kris Vallotton’s site:
http://www.kvministries.com/
The full version of this message can be found at:
http://www.ibethel.tv/watch/429
iBethel.Tv is a production of Bethel Church,
http://www.ibethel.org
