"If Tyre and Sidon had been given half the chances given you, they'd have been on their knees long ago, repenting and crying for mercy." ~Jesus

What if Jesus said this to Dallas? I can imagine it. Jesus is in our midst. He is performing great and mighty acts of God right now. Do we see it? Do we change our minds and ask for mercy?

We should. Jesus demands it.

"If Tyre and Sidon had been given half the chances given you, they'd have been on their knees long ago, repenting and crying for mercy." ~Jesus

"God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into its nest." ~~J. G. Holland

""All heaven is interested in the cross of Christ, all hell terribly afraid of it, while men are the only beings who more or less ignore its meaning." ~~Oswald Chambers

"Jesus cannot forget us; we have been graven on the palms of his hands." ~~Lois Picillo

How puzzled would I be?

After Jesus was crucified, he was hastily buried as the clock was ticking moving toward the Sabbath. No work could be done. So they had to wait. And wait. And wait. It must have seemed like an eternity that long Saturday. On Sunday they were up and at it at the crack of dawn. When they got to the tomb, they couldn't find Jesus body. And they were puzzled. I know I would have been as well. Probably more than puzzled.

But they moved on from being puzzled into belief. The angels explained it all to them. Jesus wasn't there but raised up from the dead. And they remembered Jesus' words.

Belief. Faith. Joy.

At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared. They found the entrance stone rolled back from the tomb, so they walked in. But once inside, they couldn't find the body of the Master Jesus.

They were puzzled, wondering what to make of this. Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over them, stood there. The women were awestruck and bowed down in worship. The men said, "Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up. Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed on a cross, and in three days rise up?" Then they remembered Jesus' words. via Luke 24 MSG | YouVersion.

Who is in charge?

Who is Jesus? The very Son of God who, as man, died for us and is now resurrected. But in His resurrection, God has put Him in charge of everything. Nothing is exempt at all. Not a single thing.

So, how long will he be in charge? Imagine billions and billions of years. Imagine it never ending. That is hard to get my mind around some days because this is a world where things come to an end. In Jesus, who is in charge of everything forever, I live and have the same life. This is His gift to me.

All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. Ephesians 1:20 via Ephesians | YouVersion.

Atlanta Braves History: Opening Day 2012

Tommy Hanson's first opening day start was pretty good. Unfortunately Johan Santana, the Mets starter, did better as the Braves lost 1-0.

Santana was making his first start since September 2010 and as usual, he was stingy, allowing only one hit through the first four innings. The Braves threatened to score in the fifth, loading the bases on a double and two walks, but Santana escaped. They also put two on base in the sixth, but again failed to score.

The Braves were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

That pretty much sums it up for the day. Great pitching, no hitting.

Is there a plan B?

There is no plan B. There is no backup plan. Contingencies are out the door.

The enemy lies to me leading me to believe if I don't do what my Father wants, then someone else will do it. That isn't the truth.

Here is the truth. God created me to join Him in the work He is doing. This is the good work He has gotten ready for me to do. This is the work I had better be doing. He doesn't have anyone else in mind to do it. He doesn't have a plan B. There is no backup plan. It is His plan for me.

God is ready. Am I?

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

"God is never in a hurry." ~~Oswald Chambers

Anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination - "Play it real pretty"

MLK was an amazing man of God. You never know what your last words will be. I'm sure he didn't. Like him, they were great.

King's last words on the balcony prior to his assassination were spoken to musician Ben Branch, who was scheduled to perform that night at an event King was attending: "Ben, make sure you play 'Take My Hand, Precious Lord' in the meeting tonight. Play it real pretty."

Then, at 6:01 p.m., April 4, 1968, a shot rang out as King stood on the motel's second floor balcony. The bullet entered through his right cheek, smashing his jaw, then traveled down his spinal cord before lodging in his shoulder.

via Martin Luther King, Jr. - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

"Daughter, you took a risk of faith, and now you're healed and whole." ~~Jesus

With faith comes a risk. What if, we think. What if God doesn't answer.What if we look silly. We can have a whole bunch of "What ifs" rattling through our thoughts.

We need extraordinary courage to believe God will intercede.  God is faithful. When we step out in faith, take a risk, show extraordinary courage, He responds. God is God, good and great. What an amazing God we serve. All we need to do is believe Him. He will heal us and make us whole.

"Daughter, you took a risk of faith, and now you're healed and whole." ~~Jesus

Compassion in the heart

Now this is amazing. One of God's gifts is a sense of compassion in the heart. Even if I don't always feel it in the natural, when I am living God's way, it is a gift He gives me. That is His goal for me and He gives me the power to live that way.

The key is to live God's way. The fruit of compassion will come. That is how I learn to love more like our Father. He gives me a sense of compassion in my heart.

May I live God's way. May the fruit of compassion in the heart be mine.

But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like .... a sense of compassion in the heart. Galatians5:19-26

I don't believe ....

I don't believe He brought me this far to leave me now. I am in no ways tired. Don't leave me Jesus.

Am I open to God?

I am open to God and what He wants to do. That is all that matters; what does God want? My soul thirst for God like I am living in the desert and need water to survive. Without Him and what He wants, I will die of thirst.

"Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose." ~~Bill Gates

"Take your stand with God's loyal community and live, or chase after phantoms of evil and die." ~~King Solomon

There is a way to live and there is a way to die. Living comes from aligning myself with God and His loyal servants. Dieing comes from a phantom life of evil and their friends. Wisdom knows the difference.

I will take a stand with God's faithful. That is the way to life. That is the way of Wisdom.

"Take your stand with God's loyal community and live, or chase after phantoms of evil and die." ~~King Solomon (Proverbs 11:19)

Let's start the coalition of Yes!

This is a very powerful concept. It seems some days, we do live in a culture of No. I don't want to live there. I want to be able to be able to say yes. Let's start the coalition of Yes!!

It's easy to join.

There are a million reasons to say no, but few reasons to stand up and say yes.

No requires just one objection, one defensible reason to avoid change. No has many allies--anyone who fears the future or stands to benefit from the status quo. And no is easy to say, because you actually don't even need a reason.

No is an easy way to grab power, because with yes comes responsibility, but no is the easy way to block action, to exert the privilege of your position to slow things down.

No comes from fear and greed and, most of all, a shortage of openness and attention. You don't have to pay attention or do the math or role play the outcomes in order to join the coalition that would rather things stay as they are (because they've chosen not to do the hard work of imagining how they might be).

And yet the coalition of No keeps losing. We live in a world of yes, where possibility and innovation and the willingness to care often triumph over the masses that would rather it all just quieted down and went back to normal.

Yes is the new normal. And just in time.

via Seth's Blog: The coalition of No.

"The Father who sent me, confirmed me. And you missed it. You never heard his voice, you never saw his appearance." ~~Jesus

God sent Jesus. Jesus is His plan. There is danger in missing all of this. Jesus warns us.

We must listen for God. We must see His appearance. He sends Jesus.

"The Father who sent me, confirmed me. And you missed it. You never heard his voice, you never saw his appearance." ~~Jesus 

"May we learn to intercede so wholeheartedly that Jesus Christ will be completely and overwhelmingly satisfied with us as intercessors." ~~Jesus

"A worker deserves three square meals." ~~Jesus

Jesus sent the disciples out to spread the good news about how God rules. He recognized that they would need a place to stay and meals to eat. Jesus set it up so that they would not be in need.  The same is true today. Jesus takes care of His workers.

"Stay at one home, taking your meals there, for a worker deserves three square meals. Don't move from house to house, looking for the best cook in town." ~~Jesus

"When we lose sight of God, we become hard and dogmatic." ~~Oswald Chambers

"Trivialize even the smallest item in God's Word and you will only have trivialized yourself." ~~Jesus

God means what He says. What He says is important. What He says is not to be trivialized in any way. When we do, we trivialize ourselves, not Him. His word will always be true.

Jesus demands that we understand that. It is important.

"Trivialize even the smallest item in God's Word and you will only have trivialized yourself." ~~Jesus

What can't God do?

If you think about it, the list of things we can't do is rather long. Whipping out our credit card will only get us so far.

Good news. With God, there is nothing He can't do. Not a thing.

"There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us." ~~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Silk Road Thai with my girls

"To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing." ~~Martin Luther King, Jr.

"One act of obedience is better than one hundred sermons." ~~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Sunset in Miami

Miami Beach

 

"Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you." ~Dr. Seuss

" A different world cannot be built by indifferent people." ~Peter Marshall

"The Son of Man is no lackey to the Sabbath. He's in charge!" ~~Jesus

What is more important? Rules and regulations? Or the Ruler?

Jesus deals with the problem of "being religious" head on. He is in charge. That is the central issue to be dealt with. Do I believe it and act on it? Will I today?

"The Son of Man is no lackey to the Sabbath. He's in charge!" ~~Jesus

KONY 2012

You must watch this and get involved.

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"We have become so self-centered that we go to God only for something from Him, and not for God Himself." ~Oswald Chambers

Should it be me first?

God is love. He isn't selfish. Plainly put, neither should I be.

May I love the way our Father does. May I always put others first.

Love isn't always 'me first'. 1 Corinthians 13

"To gain that which is worth having, it may be necessary to lose everything else." ~ Burnadette Devlin

"He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love." ~~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Who are we to question God?

Who are we to question God?

The answer is we are in no position to question Him. He is God. He does whatever pleases Himself.

He is God. He does whatever is right, in His eyes. He doesn't need our approval. Period. End of story.

We are no one. He is God.

Pride of His life

What an amazing day this was. Jesus goes to be baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist. His Father validates He is His son. The Holy Spirit comes down on Him.

The sign is a dove. The voice is "You are my Son." "You are chosen." "You are marked with love." "You are my pride of life."

That is our longing. We all want to know we are loved by our Father. We all want to hear He is proud of us.

We get that in His Spirit. We get that in His love. We are chosen.

How cool is that?

After all the people were baptized, Jesus was baptized. As he was praying, the sky opened up and the Holy Spirit, like a dove descending, came down on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: "You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life." Luke 3:21-22

Atlanta Braves History: Dave Bancroft scores a go ahead run in the 13th (1920)

In Brooklyn‚ the Phillies win in 13 innings on May 2, 1920‚ 4-3. Zack Wheat's homer in the 9th ties the match‚ and Dave Bancroft (a Brave from 1924-27) scores the go ahead run in the 13th. Casey Stengel's sensational catch of Mitchell's long fly prevents another tie.

“If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship, he would keep it in port for ever.” ~~St. Thomas Aquinas

Is He strengthening me?

He is strengthening me. I don't feel it right now but I know it is true. There is nothing impossible with Him.

He is strengthening me.

Atlanta Braves History: Dave Bancroft breaks his leg (1919)

The Giants play their first legal Sunday game at home on May 4, 1919‚ before 35‚000 fans‚ losing to the Phils 4-3. More than 25‚000 turn out in Brooklyn the same day. By early June‚ the Giants will outdraw their 1918 attendance. The Phillies' Dave Bancroft (a Brave during the 1924-27 seasons)‚ 28‚ is carried off the field after breaking his right ankle while sliding into a base. He will be out of action until July 1‚ and next year he'll be traded to the Giants‚ with whom he will have his best seasons en route to the Hall of Fame.

Atlanta Braves History: Dale Murphy's record for most runs in month broken (1994)

Dale Murphy and Ron Cey owned the record for most runs in a month at 29. Records get broken. On April 29, 1994, Colorado 1B Andres Galarraga sets a new NL record by driving in his 30th run of the month in the Rockies' 6-5 victory over Chicago.

Not a case of easy come, easy go. But it went none the less.

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.

God -- you are my God. From you flows a river to quench my thirst.

And so, I jump in. I drink and drink and drink. You are so refreshing. Your HOLY Spirit fills me and refreshes me.

"Neutral men are the devil's allies." ~E. Chapin

Stunning day in paradise

Ash Wednesday

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."

Social media cheat sheet

Pretty good Social Media Cheat Sheet.

Fat Tuesday Dinner at Roy's

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.

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 19^th.



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.

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

"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

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." ~~Robert Brault

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.

"The goal of my spiritual life is such close identification with Jesus Christ that I will always hear God and know that God always hears me." ~Oswald Chambers

"We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear." ~~Martin Luther King, Jr.

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's truth judges created things out of love, and Satan's truth judges them out of envy and hatred." ~~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"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?

"Be exhausted for God, but remember that He is your supply." ~~Oswald Chambers

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.

"There are only five things you can do in baseball - run, throw, catch, hit and hit with power." ~~Leo Durocher

7 signs that Android is faltering as iOS strengthens

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 thoughts: Giants 34 - Patriots 20. And yours?

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."

"Are you willing to give and be poured out until you are used up and exhausted—not seeking to be ministered to, but to minister?" ~~Oswald Chambers

"This total surrender to “the love of Christ” is the only thing that will bear fruit in your life." ~~Oswald Chambers

Am I willing to ask God if He wants me to sell everything and sell it to the poor?

That Jesus didn't command everyone to sell everything gives comfort only to those He would say that to.

Jesus sometimes calls on us to sell everything we own. What will my reaction be when He asks me to do that?

“Don’t make the process harder than it is.“ ~~Jack Welch

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

"Success isn't permanent and failure isn't fatal." -Mike Ditka

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.

"There could be no hypocrites if there were no genuine Christians. No one would try to forge bank notes if there were no genuine ones." ~~Charles Spurgeoner

"Our Lord never requires the same conditions for discipleship that he requires for salvation." ~~Oswald Chambers

"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

Atlanta Braves History: Dale Murphy - An athlete who cared

Dale Murphy's clean-living habits off the diamond were frequently noted in the media. A devout Latter-day Saint, or Mormon, Murphy did not drink alcoholic beverages, would not allow women to be photographed embracing him and paid his teammates' dinner checks as long as alcoholic beverages were not on the tab. He also refused to give television interviews unless he was fully dressed. Murphy had been introduced to the church by Barry Bonnell, a teammate early in his career.

For several years, the Atlanta Constitution ran a weekly column, wherein Murphy responded to young fans' questions and letters. Murphy both advocated and financially profited from his reputation with frequent endorsements of family-friendly products such as milk, ice cream, and cameras in television commercials. In 1987, he shared Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsmen and Sportswomen of the Year" award with seven others, characterized as "Athletes Who Care", for his work with numerous charities.

"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.

via My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers.

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"

[youtube http://youtube.com/w/?v=SBzYytkGwPc&feature=youtube_gdata_player]

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

An approach to business technology that CEO’s will love

Here is a suggestion from Nigel Fenwick at Forrester. A new business technology scorecard. I think CEO's will love this approach.