A wedding, a funeral, a birth

A wedding, a funeral, a birth.

My son was married in March. My mom died in May. My grandson was born in June.

Three of the most significant events in our lives, a wedding, a funeral, and a birth, involving persons near and dear, and all three took place inside 121 days.  I had one kind of life on March 1 and by July 1 it was all different.

But these events are not only literal. They are illustrative, as well.

A funeral. Mankind died when Adam fell and was doomed to eternal spiritual death apart from the redemptive actions of a merciful God. And then Christ comes to a believer, and there is another death - the old man dies. There is a new creation and the desires change. The believer is not the person he used to be.

A birth. Christ has come, “born to give us second birth” as the carol goes. My second birth depends on Him and His coming to me. He comes by His birth as a baby boy in Bethlehem, and by His coming as Savior by His Spirit.

A wedding. Some day, a day which the Father alone knows the date for, Christ will come and gather His elect from every nation, His Bride. There will be a great wedding feast and an endless loving and knowing between Jesus and His Bride will commence. The proper consummation of His redemptive work will be revealed. The longing will cease.

For now, though, the longing continues. And our longing is not too different from the longing that Israel felt as she awaited Messiah. We feel our need, our lack, and know that it will not be met from within, but from without. Someone outside of us must intervene.

And He did.

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting Light

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight

Just write

From James Lileks at the Bleat:

Look: If you don’t know what to write about, start writing.It doesn’t matter what you’re writing about. Just write. This is the only advice of any note I can offer. Don’t think. In fact, try not to. Just type.

C.S. Lewis on writing

C.S. Lewis did not use a typewriter, but wrote all his books and letters longhand. Why he did so goes to an ingredient of the writer's craft.

Lewis thought the typewriter broke the writer's rhythm and the reason he thought that - his pen.

Take a look here.

What was learned

"This is dedicated to . . . ."

So begins so very many books. The author starts the story by dedicating the whole shootin' match to someone who, usually has nothing to do with the story, but very often a great deal to do with its existence. Here is the first thing I learned. Well, it may have not been, in chronological order, the first thing I learned, but it is the first thing I want to mention. That is, the authors are telling the truth when they write the dedication. There is a writer out front, sure, but behind the writer is who knows who else and he, she, or they are sacrificing who knows what in order to leave the writer alone to write. I have seen it.

And before I am unfairly accused of presumption, let me clear something up. I am under no illusion about what I have done this month. It's a homemade blog that contains between 50 and 60 posts that run roughly 3-5 paragraphs apiece. It is no book. I know that. But I also know, and you cannot deny that I know, just exactly what it takes to crank out fifty-some-odd posts in 31 days and that is why I can say that anyone who takes on a book (a real, live book) is telling the truth when he says it would not have been possible without so-and-so. I have seen it.

Which leads directly to the next thing that was learned. It takes time. Lots of time. If a person intends to write, it is good if they can write for a living. In others words, it is good if they do not have to go to another job in order to pay the bills. As you can see, this is directly tied to the issue that has already been addressed. If one has a full-time job and then needs the evenings to work on the book, or the article, or the blog, well, it just wears on everybody. Be sure you have time.

And when you decide to give time to writing, guess what? You have taken time from something else. This has been covered above in relation to people in your life, but other things get ignored, too. I like to read, but you can't spend too much time on that if you mean to write. Cardinals baseball? Can't watch it very much. How about staying caught up on sports blogs, news blogs, and other info in my reader? Can't do it. I spend my evenings slaving over a hot keyboard.

It is work. Again, this draws on so much of what has already been said. Generating ideas gets hard after you have thought of all your ideas and you still need to write 12 more posts this week. So you pad Friday with pictures and you fill Tuesday with haiku. And if you think of something, how do you make sure it doesn't sound like something you wrote the other day. The mind and the fingers head to the familiar places. It is work.

I've learned that you have got to have people in your life who will give of themselves so you can write. It is work and you have to give up some good things you enjoy in order to write. As a writer friend told me years ago, "Stay in the hard chair." It's true.

I've also learned I still love it, even when it wears me out. I love it when a sentence sounds good. I love it when I've built a story that satisfies at the end. I love words.

And I love my wife, without whom this blog would not have been possible. 

Thanks

I just wanted to say "Thanks" to all you folks for taking a look at the blog during the month of August. I know that time is limited and most everyone has multiple significant duties, people, chores, and playtime calling for attention. If you took time to read a post of mine, I am thankful, happy, and humbled. A few of you personally let me know that you are reading and that is very nice to hear.

If, by chance, you wanted to keep up with my thoughts, you can find me in three spots.

Fifty-five for thirty-one won't go away and I intend to post here more specifically about writing, examples of writing I like, and some words and pictures of my own.

More narrowly-focused, and of less interest to most of you, is Poppy's Front Porch which my cousin started and invited me to contribute to. It's mostly family stuff with rockets, maps, and cartoons thrown in.

And my long-time home, Central Standard, where I will weigh in on theology, sports, politics, and stuff that doesn't fit on the other two.

Again, thanks for reading.

My best cards V

What can you say about Stan Musial that hasn't been said?

I wrote a bit about him right after his death in January on my blog Central Standard. If you want to read that, the link is here.

He was a class act on the field and off. 

The greatest Cardinal ever, he was one of the best half dozen or so ball players who ever lived.

I acquired this card, a 1953 Bowman, about 20 years ago when I sold the bulk of my collection. The buyers, who knew of my affection for Musial and the Cardinals threw this in the deal, in addition to the money they paid.

It was a generous act befitting of the gentleman whose image is on the front of the card.

My best cards IV

I was tempted to label this, "My best cards 20". 

Lou Brock, my favorite player as I grew up, wore number 20 on his Cardinal uniform. He was the best base-stealer of his day, holding both the season and career base stealing records when he retired in 1979. An excellent hitter, he was, if memory serves, the eleventh player in history to collect 3000 hits. As of this post only 23 players in the history of major league baseball have more career hits than Lou Brock.

Brock was acquired from the Chicago Cubs in June of 1964, in exchange for a pitcher named Ernie Broglio. This is sometimes referred to as one of the worst deals in baseball history. Broglio had a lackluster career, while Brock went on to the Hall of Fame. In fairness, Broglio had been an All Star and the Cubs thought they were getting some help with the pennant drive in exchange for the promising young outfielder.

As it turned out, the Cardinals got the help they needed to drive to the pennant in 1964, with Brock hitting over .400 after the deal in mid-June. And Brock helped the Cardinals to two more pennants later on.

The card is from 1964, in fact, printed before the season while Brock was still a Cubbie. One of the reasons it's one of my favorites.

My best cards III

Bob Gibson.

That's all you need to say. One of the most intimidating pitchers to ever play the game. He was quoted once, remarking on the alleged antics of Babe Ruth in the '32 World Series, that if any player ever pointed to where he would hit the next pitch, "I would drill him. In his right ear and out his left."

The question sometimes comes up among baseball fans, "If you had to win one game and you could have any pitcher, who would you take?" Gibson is always on the short list of choices.

His 1968 season still stands as one of the greatest seasons ever turned in by a pitcher. His earned run average was an astonishing 1.12! Perhaps more amazing - he lost 9 games that year. How do you allow, on average, just over a run a game and lose nine? Nineteen sixty-eight is referred to as the year of the pitcher - batting numbers were down all over the league and they lowered the mound in 1969 to take a little edge away from the pitchers. Gibby probably wasn't getting a lot of support that year.

Perhaps even more remarkable than his 1.12 ERA was his number of complete games. Are you ready for this? He completed 28 games that year. And for good measure, he completed 28 in '69, too. Times have certainly changed.

The card is a 1965 Topps which is one of the best-looking sets ever produced, in my opinion. This design is what Topps Heritage next year will use. Start saving your pennies now.

My best cards II

Rod Carew was one of the best hitters of his generation or any generation. He played in the '60's, '70's, and '80's and his career overlapped with another great hitter's, George Brett. I invariably think of Brett when I think of Carew.

In 1977 he made a run at hitting .400 for a season. No one has done that since Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941. And this illustrates why Carew and Brett are linked in my mind. Brett made a run at .400 one year too. Carew finished '77 with a .388 average. In 1980, Brett finished with a .390 average. Which brings to mind a question: What are the best seasons, say over .350, since Williams' .406. 

Maybe I'll chart that, sometime.

This card is a 1971 Topps, which I always thought was a good looking set. The black background is a nightmare for collectors who worry about condition, because the black shows every bit of any wear.

My best cards I

For Foto friday this week, I'm going to show you some of my favorite ball cards.

The first pack of baseball cards I ever bought were 1968 Topps. I was 10 years old. I wonder how many kids get their first pack of cards at 10 years of age.

I still have some of those, though the largest portion of my collection went to a dealer about 20 years ago. I've bought a few over the years, but none appeal to me like the old ones.

Speaking of old, this Red Schoendienst card is from 1961. And it did not come from a wax pack bought at the dime store. It was on the back of a Post Cereal box. Post would put about four cards on the back of the cereal box and when the cereal was gone, you could cut them out. A lot of 10-year-olds really can't cut very well and so lots of these, if you can find them, are in bad shape. This one is pretty nice.

One of the best things I remember is my Grandparents Scowden would sometimes have a Post Cereal box back waiting for me when next I visited.

Sustained guiltless

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:4-9, ESV)

Here is another place that I am reminded of the Gospel - that Christ has done for His people what they could not do for themselves.

Here, Paul is addressing the Corinthian church which, has a number of problems attributable to the messes the people are making. In other words, these folks were far from perfect, like you and me.

Yet they, and we, are not so far gone that our Lord cannot keep us. If you are His child, this passage says Jesus will sustain you to the end. I like that word 'sustain'. It implies that we are not in a static state, and that without the constant oversight of the Lord Jesus, we would be undone. 

But oversee He does and we are sustained and will be sustained. Christian, have hope for your Lord will sustain you utterly!

Want some salty in your chocolate, sugar in your tea?

I mentioned recently a belated birthday celebration we had with some friends.

One of my presents was some dark chocolate with, in the makers' words, "a touch of sea salt". Also, if you hold the candy up to your ear you can hear the ocean. 

One of the last two sentences is wrong.

Anyway - salt in chocolate? Have you ever? Not me. But we all love the taste of the salt and sweet combination, don't we? We put peanuts in Coke, peanuts with caramel popcorn, Payday candy bar, chocolate covered peanuts, chocolate covered potato chips, chocolate covered pretzels, and on and on and on. But this was new.

And delicious! The maker is Lindt who, by the way, make those marvelous truffles, so they know a thing or two about being chocolatiers. (All for one, . . . )

So, if there is some sort of salty/sweet combo that you cook up at your house, bring it on! Get it packaged and marketed, because obviously we love this stuff.

Free facebook statuses

I didn't know what the plural of status was. Now I do.

Are you on facebook and do you read all kinds of clever status updates from your friends and think to yourself, "Boy, I wish I was so clever and unencumbered with things I actually have to do and had time to think of all kinds of clever status updates to write in the box."?

Well, here you go. Several slam-bang, sure-fire winning status updates you can use, free of charge.

You're welcome.

Circumstances are circumstantial.

The hero is never David - it is God.

Sometimes God intercepts us on the road to folly.

How bad must a thing be to make a millstone about the neck preferable?

Everything will be judged in light of the resurrection.

God's Word interprets God's providence.

In between bouts of fuzzy, indistinct music, the automated voice assured me that Customer Service was very important. I have my doubts.

Humility is the confidence that God actually does care.

Haiku tuesday, Triple Crown Edition

Rajah twice in St. Lou
the Kid got two in the Hub
- maybe Miggy, too?

Haiku tuesday II

the board is set, pieces
drawn toward appointed ends -
no queen, King of Kings

Haiku tuesday I

leaves turn, bells rung
shiny schoolhouse bustling, with
teacher and teachee

Oh, yes, Mr. Langford - it's a word now.

In due season

Two reminders Sunday from God's Word to be patient in waiting out whatever Providence has brought our way.

First, from Galatians during Sunday School:

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:6-10, ESV)

And then Sunday night:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7, ESV)

Two passages expressing the same idea. In Galatians, the phrase is "in due season". In I Peter, it's "at the proper time". 

Here's what I take away:

1) There are seasons, or times for everything.
2) It is not clear to us "what time it is", that is, what should be happening now. We think it should be one thing, but it's another.
3) We are tempted to give up when the season goes against us.
4) We are tempted to think we know better than God what season it should be.
5) Implied in #4, God is in control over the seasons. He is sovereign over them.
6) There are seasons coming - a reaping time, a time to be exalted.
7) God is faithful to bring about the season to come.
8) Do not be faithless in light of knowing a faithful God. Do not grow weary, the wind will change.

Discerning, beautiful Abigail

Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran. And there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel. Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and badly behaved; he was a Calebite. (1 Samuel 25:1-3, ESV)

Pastor preached from the 25th of I Samuel Sunday.

Notice the description of Abigail. The text does not just say she was beautiful, but that she was discerning and beautiful. Discerning is listed first. This is a fairly familiar text. Abigail is the wife of Nabal who is a foolish, harsh, and badly behaved man.

In the course of this story, Nabal manages to offend David, who then decides to lop off Nabal's head and kill anyone else attached to his household. A servant then runs to Abigail.

But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, “Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and he railed at them. Yet the men were very good to us, and we suffered no harm, and we did not miss anything when we were in the fields, as long as we went with them. They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. Now therefore know this and consider what you should do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his house, and he is such a worthless man that one cannot speak to him.” (1 Samuel 25:14-17, ESV)

The servant understands that Nabal is "such a worthless man that one cannot speak to him". What's more he understands he can say so to Nabal's wife, Abigail. I think this means at least two things: 1) it is no secret to anyone that Nabal is worthless and will not listen, and 2) Abigail, who knows #1, is possessed of such character, discernment, that she must be told of the danger if anyone is to survive. Nabal can't handle it.

And Abigail is successful, of course, in defusing the situation.

And David, of course, does not forget it.

A very merry un-birthday

You know, it's not just anybody who can rock the balloon hat.

Over the weekend we got together with friends for a belated celebration of my birthday. While we were at Culver's getting a delicious burger, a balloon lady came by our table. Apparently, it is her life's calling to afflict otherwise perfectly contented people with balloons she personally ties and twists before your very eyes.

Now, you may think the jester in this tale is I, as I am wearing the balloon world's version of the jester's hat. But you would be wrong. No, the jester in this story my friend who encouraged the balloon lady by telling her it was my birthday. The guy laughing hysterically at my obvious discomfort while she crafted my gift. 

But still, he and his wife treated the six of us to glow golf and we had a great time.

Even if they didn't let me win.

In color

A color TV set.

I heard somebody today use the phrase 'color TV' in a sentence and it struck me that we usually do not make the distinction these days between a color TV and an black and white TV. Which brings up the question, "Are black and whites available anymore?" I mean for a consumer to use in the home.

When we talk about TVs today don't we say something like, "flat screen", or "plasma", or "HD TV"? I think so. For me, it is just another sign of age. I can remember when having a color TV was a bit of a novelty. For a while the shows came on bragging that they were 'IN COLOR'. And like this. And this one. Okay, I could go on and on.

And we don't call them 'sets' much anymore. I remember when the TV was called "the set", or "the TV set". This may be a holdover from when radio first was available, a person used a "radio set".

So, not only does the technology change and advance, so does the lingo.

Forbidden Island: A new game

Tonight we played Forbidden Island.

Our two-month-old grandson brought his parents over to our house for some supper and we gave them some. Then, Peter broke out a game he just got and we played for the first time.

It's called, if you remember the first sentence of this post, Forbidden Island. I'm not sure why it's forbidden. I will tell you that it is sinking and it is very important that you get off the island before it disappears forever. But you have to gather up four treasures before you catch the helicopter off the island, so you are busy, busy, busy.

It is a game of cooperation rather than competition. We, the four of us, managed to win our game, but it was close. It would have been less close had I not forgotten to give my daughter a winged lion card three turns before she finally got it. 

Peter was a fearful that the game might be a little simplistic given some of the promotions that were in the box when he opened it. But by the end, I think we all had a good time playing and look forward to playing again. I recommend it.

What it looks like.

The heart. Yours and mine.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7, ESV)

One thing that has never been very far from my thinking when I read the Bible is the importance of the heart, or the inner life, or the thought process of a Christian. And, by comparison, how unimportant the outward life, the activity is. Quickly, this is not to say that action is unimportant, but simply that action flows from the heart, so the heart, as the source of actions, would take priority.

And, I would think, this text is one of the central ones in informing us on the importance of the heart. Many of Jesse's sons were impressive outwardly. Many of Jesse's sons appeared kingly.

But God had sent Samuel to anoint another of Jesse's sons, the youngest, the shepherd, the ruddy one, with a "heart after God's own heart."

It seems desirable to have a heart such as this and yet it is a thing that I cannot cook up myself. Changing hearts is God's business. I am grateful my heart is not what it was and that is God's doing.

Freese trade

I think the St. Louis Cardinals will trade away David Freese, the MVP of the 2011 World Series. I have thought so for about a week, since Kolten Wong was called up.

I have been advocating a Freese deal almost all season. He doesn't really produce much, but is perceived as still having value. I say cash it in.

With the addition of Wong, the Cards have Alan Craig, Matt Adams, Matt Carpenter, Wong, Daniel Descalso, and Pete Kozma, along with Freese for four infield spots. Conversely, the club is carrying only four outfielders and just two catchers. It just feels like something is coming. I am sure the roster will not stay composed that way for long.

Fox's Ken Rosenthal also thinks like I do on this subject and adds that the third base position in free agency will be thin this year, so interest in Freese will be heightened. 

Friends I've talked to seem surprised that I'm ready to see Freese dealt, but it's really just a matter of Freese's poor production, the Cardinals' supply of young infielders, and the team's need to add pitching. It's really a no-brainer, but if dealing Freese bothers you, just wait.

I'm ready to deal Matt Holliday, too.

Bat-ffleck. I'm not worried

That collective groan you heard arise from the land Friday? The announcement that Ben Affleck has been cast as Batman in the upcoming Superman vs. Batman movie elicited the negative reaction.

And I'll admit, I was one that immediately thought it was an underwhelming choice. But, as I thought about it, my position softened. I think there is a very good reason to be optimistic, even to anticipate, the outcome of this casting decision.

But before I tell you my thoughts, I'll point you to another story which outlines a number of reasons (seven, to be exact) why the "internet" is wrong about Affleck as Batman. The author's best two points, in my view, were that this exact kind of outrage followed the announcements of Heath Ledger as Joker and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman in the most recent Batman movies. And the outrage was about as wrong as it could be. Ledger was brilliant as Joker, there's never been better. And Hathaway, who I doubted, nailed it as Catwoman. This leads me to why I am starting to look forward to this movie with Affleck as Batman.

Christopher Nolan. The director who oversaw the Batman movies, was executive producer for 'Man of Steel', and who has directed and/or written some of the best stories of late, is the executive producer again. I frankly think we just trust him on this. He hasn't missed yet.

Lastly, it's a Superman story. Granted, the graphic novel that will inform Batman's involvement, "The Dark Knight Returns" is quite obviously a Batman book. But the movie is a sequel to 'Man of Steel'. It will be a Superman story with Batman in it. It won't be up to Affleck to be all that Christian Bale was and carry the movie. He'll just need to be a bit better than General Zod. 

I'm not worried.

Suzuki has enough

Ichiro Suzuki is a Hall of Famer.

Ichiro just accumulated his 4,000th career hit IF you count the hits he had during his career in Japan. It's pretty clear that the Japanese league stats will not carry over, but I think he is worthy of the Hall based on his Major League Baseball numbers alone.

He has over 2700 career hits here. He has more hits in a 13-year span than anyone who ever played. That includes you, Peter Edward Rose. Ichiro was Rookie of the Year and American League MVP in 2001. He has finished in the top 10 in MVP balloting four times. He has led the AL in hits 7 times and won two batting titles. He is a 10-time All Star.

He is signed through next year, so we can probably add another 100 to 125 hits to his total.

Based on this data alone, I'd vote for Ichiro for the Hall of Fame and I think the guys who actually do have a vote will put him in, too.

Yankee cap tipping
salt and pepper head bowing
Ichiro

How could I resist a haiku for a Japanese ballplayer?

Projecting the pennant races

The time has come for one of my favorite exercises of the baseball season: the "Calculating of What We Gotta Do To Win" exercise. Frankly, this is even more fun when the Cardinals are in first place, but we do it anyway.

Here's how it works: You assume the team in first place plays .500 ball the rest of the way and figure out what their record would be based on the number of games they have left. Then, calculate what the second place team must do to beat the first place team by one game. Then, ask yourself, "Can you see this happening?" It's a "Yes" or "No" question. From there, you can make some assumptions about the races, what you hope to see, and how likely these scenarios are.

Let's try it out. These are based on results through Wednesday, August 21.

First, let's eliminate a couple of races. The Atlanta Braves have a 15-game lead in the National League East and I do not see the Washington Nationals threatening them. I say this one is done. Next, the NL West, where the Dodgers have an 8 game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Eight games is doable, but the Dodgers have been so good lately (historically great, actually) that I think this lead will grow over the rest of the season. As good as the Braves are, the best team in the NL right now might be the Dodgers.

Now, to the other end of the spectrum, the really close races. Only one game separates Boston and Tampa in the American League East and just one game separates the Pirates and the Cardinals in the NL Central. And the Reds are just another 2 games back of St. Louis. In the AL West, two games separate first-place Texas and second-place Oakland. These races are so close, there's no need to figure them. They are neck-and-neck and the numbers would be about the same for all involved.

So there remains one division, the AL Central, where it is not yet decided, but it's not so close that the figures would be nearly the same. Detroit has a 6-game edge over Cleveland. If the Tigers play .500 ball the rest of the way (18-18), they would finish 92-70. The Indians would have to go 24-11 the rest of the way to beat Detroit by a game. What this shows us is that, while the division is mathematically up for grabs, the Tigers would have to slow down quite a bit and the Indians would have to play over their heads to take this division away. Yes, it's possible. But I think it's unlikely. I would think Detroit is going to have this division sewn up by mid-September.

The upshot is it appears we have three good races right now, the East and the West in the American League and the Central in the National League. As these races unfold, you can re-visit the calculations, so enjoy! 

One more thing. I mentioned it before, but seriously, you HAVE TO SEE, if you didn't, how historically great a run the Dodgers are on and how improbable it is that they have the record they do after the start they had. Let's say it this way: If you had done the calculations I just outlined in June on the Dodgers, you would have said, "There's no way they can pull this out!" Yeah. Except they are.

Foto friday III

Look at that roof line!

One of my favorite places - a long time ago. If you go in there now, you'd think the place was on the verge of going out of business. It is dark and dingy. There are empty shelves. There is weird merchandise.

But, back in the day, it was this! And when it was that, it was there that I selected my first Matchbox car. From then on, trips to Springfield were glorious adventures wherein I might get to pick out another Matchbox! And the collection grew. Birthdays and Christmas meant another Matchbox. What a deal!

About 10 years ago, I sold that collection for roughly $150. I'd like to have one or two of them again, for old times sake, but I'm OK without them.

Now, baseball cards are another matter . . . 

Foto friday II

Solo Cup, formerly Lily Tulip, Springfield, MO

Today, I visited with a man who used to work at this plant.

It was Lily Tulip in those days. He said he was the photographer there which meant he got images ready for burning onto plates. I would have never thought of that, but the designs have to get onto the cup somehow. It is a paper cup, after all, obviously, they were printed.

When I was a boy and we made the occasional trek into the magical world that was Springfield, seeing this huge likeness of a paper cup was always a highlight. Many years ago, Solo bought out Lily and now the plant is sold again and who know what will happen next.

But no matter what becomes of it, they gotta keep the cup, right?

Foto friday I

No one drives in anymore. At least not here.

I can only remember going to a drive-in movie one time. It was in college and I think we went to a theater on east Sunshine, if memory serves. A car full of college guys - the movies were forgettable. 

Now the drive-ins are mostly gone. According to this site, there are still 356 drive-ins operating in the United States, which seems like a lot to me. There aren't any left here in Springfield, but there is one just down the road in Aurora.

I should check with my lovely bride about heading out to Aurora for a show.

Ball park sounds

Well, I like this.

It seems that Fox Sports Detroit broadcasts some select games with no announcers. There are extra microphones around the park to pick up more of the stadium sounds, umpires calls, vendors, and so on. You can get a taste of it at this link.

I think this is a great a idea, a fun way to keep track of a game while at home. And it's not because I don't like the announcers - I do. I wanted to be one, once upon a time, and I learn a great deal about the game by hearing the guys who know talk about it.

It'd be nice see - and hear! - Fox Sports Midwest try this.

Pujols now

I read this article with interest. It concerns the contract that the Los Angeles Angels will have to honor with their injured first baseman, Albert Pujols.

The article takes the position that it will surpass Alex Rodriguez' contract as the most terrible deal in baseball. If you read the piece, it will be hard to argue with the author on that point. While nobody is happy about Pujols' season-ending injury, I am very pleased that St. Louis is not on the hook for Albert's contract.

For the better part of a decade, Cardinals fans got to watch an historically great baseball player, a Hall of Famer, when the time comes. And I was disappointed that he chose to leave in one way, but in another, I was glad that big bill was not St. Louis' to pay. It would have hamstrung efforts to build a roster around Pujols.

And the good news is, the Cardinals have not missed him. Yadier Molina has become the heart and soul of the team. I think you could argue he is more important to the team than Albert ever was. When Yadi goes down, as we recently saw, not only is the batting order disrupted, but I think the pitching also suffers.

Take and read

I was thinking over the weekend - and I'm sure the Lord was prompting me - about how little I read of the Bible. That is, reading for my own soul's good, what is often referred to as a 'quiet time.' I read it in church and I read it to prepare for Sunday School, but I give scant time to the nourishment of the my soul by means of the Word of God. And I find that I miss it.

On the heels of this came Sunday morning's sermon from I Samuel 23-24. David is in hiding from King Saul. Saul's son, Jonathan, who has sworn a covenant with David, comes to visit and comfort his friend:

"David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. And Jonathan, Saul's son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this.” And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home." (1 Samuel 23:15-18, ESV)

Our pastor made the point here that Jonathan comforted David by means of the Word of God, that is, by means of reminding David what the Lord had already said concerning what He would do for him. The Lord had anointed David as Israel's next king. As bleak as things appeared in the moment, it would not last for God had other plans. Similarly, we may be comforted by the Word of God. 

"Take and read."

Julius Erving, helicopter

"Too bad, America, but you missed one of the greatest basketball shows on Earth. Or, rather, one just a few feet off the Earth. That was Julius Erving last week, launching himself from various points on courts in Denver and New York, soaring and scoring, passing, rebounding, blocking and stealing - all in the undeserved obscurity of the ABA championship finals. By Saturday night Erving and his underdog New York Nets had Denver down three games to one, which is what can happen when humans go five-on-one with a helicopter." - Pat Putnam, Sports Illustrated, May 17, 1976

I read this paragraph when it was new. My copy of the May 17, 1976 issue of SI was in my hands, or more likely, lying flat on a clean table so as not to crease the magazine. The imagery conjured by the words, "which is what can happen when humans go five-on-one with a helicopter", was pressed into my head as surely as if my mind had been run through the web press with all those slick magazine pages.

I was trying to think of any writing that I remember reading any earlier than this paragraph. The only things that come to mind are the Bible, Green Eggs and Ham, and a short story by Isaac Asimov titled The Singing Bell. This lone paragraph, and especially the helicopter sentence, made a lasting impression.

Why do I write? For one reason, to craft sentences as fine as that one which, 37 years later, I still recall and recite to friends who never are as impressed as I was. Perhaps it's my delivery.

The original Sports Illustrated article can be read here.

Haiku tuesday

summer backyard, if it's
on the garage, the porch, or the neighbor's
house, a home run

spring blossoms fade
the anchor whither I'm bound
impossibly dissolves

Good enough

One thing that you run into when you are writing a lot, as I am trying to do with this project of 55 posts in 31 days, is avoiding using the same words and phrases repeatedly. It is easy to rely on the same constructions you have used a thousand times before, yet we do because it is easy.

The truth is, it takes work to write things that do not sound like just about every other thing you have written. Work, I tell you. Time, effort, thought. And that naturally fights against this particular effort because I do not have a lot of time to spend on this, but time is one of the essential ingredients required for success.

So here comes the solution: Good Enough. The posts will simply have to be written until they are Good Enough and then no more. I do not have time to massage them in the manner I prefer and, I suppose, in the manner to which you are accustomed.

I will simply have to write enough and no more and you will have to be happy about it.

Like this post, for example.

For Jack

the long wait
the treasured bundle
a humbling, blessed gift
joy

(my frame of mind the day our grandson was born)

Anyone could see

Batman, Spiderman, and Daredevil were having coffee somewhere in the Lower East Side when Batman stiffened and said, "Silence!" Looking out the window, he watched a very large man get into a black sedan, the car door closed by a vigilant aide, who then got into the front seat as the car rolled away.

"Kingpin," muttered Spiderman. "I wonder what he's up to."

"Any good to go after him?" said Batman. "He couldn't have gotten far."

"He'll just be going to his office and it will all look very kosher," said Spiderman.

"You're sure it was him?" said Daredevil.

"Do you know anyone else who looks like a dump truck in a three-piece suit with an ascot? It was him."

"I see," said Daredevil.

God moves the Philistines for David

Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon. And Saul and his men went to seek him. And David was told, so he went down to the rock and lived in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. And David was hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them, a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land.” So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape. (I Samuel 23:24-28, ESV)

A marvelous tale of the Providence of God.

During the period of time when King Saul was persuaded that David was his enemy, Saul pursued him often through the wilderness where David hid. Saul was intent on David's destruction.

In this passage, Saul was closing in and it appeared that David's capture was imminent. But no sooner than all appeared lost for David, Saul's armies began retreating. They stopped chasing David and turned, and headed for home. 

The reason? Philistines had made a raid on Saul's kingdom and his presence was required. He must respond to this immediate threat on his lands. So he calls his army back and they head for home. David and his men are saved.

The future king of Israel would not die on the mountain at the hand of King Saul, God would see to that. And He used the enemies of Israel to do it.

As someone else once said, "God can cause anyone in the world to meet your need."