"Life collapses on loafers; lazybones go hungry." ~~King Solomon

"When a person cannot deceive himself the chances are against his being able to deceive other people." ~~Mark Twain

"Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting." ~~Elizabeth Bibesco

Calm me with His love

What is it about His love? It is so calming. I know He is here to save me. He is so happy I am back. He sings to me and calms me. All is well!!

Now that is good stuff. So very simple but powerful.

May I delight in His love. May He calm me as He sings to me.

Jerusalem will be told: 'Don't be afraid. Dear Zion, don't despair.

Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you.

Happy to have you back, he'll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs. Zephaniah3:14-17

"Religion idolizes concepts and avoids personal experience." ~~Bill Johnson

“Nature is pleased with simplicity.” ~~Isaac Newton

"Things don’t have to change the world to be important." ~ Steve Jobs

[categories personal]

"If you need a performance appraisal to tell you how well you're doing--then you're not doing very well!" ~~Tom Peters

“As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness.” ~~Henry David Thoreau

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." ~~Leonardo Da Vinci

“Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.” ~Mother Teresa

 

Provoked to sarcasm

Am I one Jesus brings into the room with Him or am I the one provoked to sarcasm and left out of His presence? This is an essential question. Imagine telling Jesus he didn't know what he was talking about. Oh my goodness.

Peter, James and John got in. I want to be one of the ones who goes in with Jesus. I don't want to be sarcastic with what our Lord can do. Nothing is impossible for Him!!

He permitted no one to go in with him except Peter, James, and John. They entered the leader's house and pushed their way through the gossips looking for a story and neighbors bringing in casseroles. Jesus was abrupt: 'Why all this busybody grief and gossip? This child isn't dead; she's sleeping.' Provoked to sarcasm, they told him he didn't know what he was talking about.

But when he had sent them all out, he took the child's father and mother, along with his companions, and entered the child's room. He clasped the girl's hand and said, 'Talitha koum,' which means, 'Little girl, get up.' At that, she was up and walking around! This girl was twelve years of age. They, of course, were all beside themselves with joy. He gave them strict orders that no one was to know what had taken place in that room. Then he said, 'Give her something to eat.' Mark 5:39-43 

"Large, naked raw carrots are acceptable as food only to those who lie in hutches eagerly awaiting Easter." ~Fran Lebowitz

Georgia 31, Georgia Tech 17

The story could change in any number of ways over time so let the record show: Yes, by all indications Mark Richt really was in danger of losing his job after Georgia's season-opening losses to Boise State and South Carolina. Ten games and two-and-a-half months later, his team just finished off the longest winning streak of Richt's career.

My how things can change.

"The same people who want 60 minute worship services rent 2 hour movies & watch 3 hour ballgames. It's about our heart's focus!" ~ J. Bull

God can do anything

I have ideas. I imagine, "what if". Some of this stuff is pretty cool!! Does it seem to be far fetched sometimes? Yes, it does. But God can do anything. He can go way beyond my ideas, my dreams. And, He does it through His Spirit which is already at work within me. Wow!!!

May I not limit God to my dreams. May I lean in to hear what He has in mind. It is more than I can ever imagine. His desire for  me is greater than my desires for myself.

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Ephesians3:20

"Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit." ~~Wilma Rudolph

"If you're bored with life, if you don't get up every morning with a burning desire to do things - you don't have enough goals." ~~Lou Holtz

The promise

Our Father's promise is not just for me. It is for my relatives and anyone who God invites to the table. The new agreement is that He has made me accepted in His sight. And, anyone I touch, through His power, has access to the promise too. Starting with my family and to anyone else He invites.

His word is true. He is faithful to His promise. He invites me move in closer. Lean in and hear His promise. The promise starts close to me. Then to those I care most about. I need the courage to believe. I need the love to persist. He is mighty and He will deliver on His promise.

Woo Hoo!!! He is so amazing.

"On Thanksgiving Day we acknowledge our dependence." ~William Jennings Bryan

"Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action." ~W.J. Cameron

Getting ready for Thanksgiving

Giving Thanks

Now this is something to be thankful for. I am qualified. No doubt about it. God has done it for me. He sent His Son, Jesus the Messiah and it is now complete. Nothing else for me to do qualify to be a child of God. He has done it all. It is finished.

In my "work" and sometimes "family" life, I have to qualify myself. I have to prove myself. I have to demonstrate I can get it done. That is the way it works.

God's world is different. It doesn't make sense to us but it is reality. I can share in the inheritance that my Father is preparing for me and all the saints. He has done it. There is nothing I can do to make it happen myself.

This is some good news.

Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. Collosians 1:12

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." ~~ Albert Einstein

Shouldn't we be afraid?

You know, if you really think about it, we should all be terrified of God. Anybody that can create the Universe with a word, light up the stars by the millions and breathe life into mankind is simply awe-striking. The sheer power of our God should have us all on our knees trembling in fear, shouldn’t it?

But, Love has been added to the equation. While we are on our knees, it is God's Love that lets us feel His hands on our cheeks. And He is turning our face upward to Him. He is telling us that He loves us and He is saying that He even knew us before we were born. And we can hear Him. And there is no need at all to be afraid.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Romans 8:35

"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult" ~~Seneca

"You don't save a pitcher for tomorrow. Tomorrow it may rain." ~~Leo Durocher

Our Father would rather do it right than do it quick!

Our Father would rather do it right than do it quick! He is in the "doing it right" business.

Now, in a culture of "I want it now", that may come as a shock. He knows what He is doing. He is doing it right. He is doing it. I can count on that. He is a strong man. Mighty in every way. He is doing it and doing right. I must lean in to hear Him and what He wants. Nothing is impossible with Him.

He so ROCKS.

“More time on the problem isn't the way. More guts is." ~~Seth Godin

“More time on the problem isn't the way. More guts is. When you expose yourself to the opportunities that scare you, you create something scarce, something others won't do.” ~~Seth Godin

Meet Max

"So much of what we call management consists of making it difficult for people to work." ~~Peter Drucker

Can't keep quiet about God

God is speaking. He is moving. Will I keep quiet about what I have seen and heard?

God had used Peter and John to heal a lame man. The story is stunning. They were arrested for it. After spending the night in jail, they were bold beyond belief.  They drew the line in the sand with the religious leaders. Do we listen to you or to God?  They chose God.

May I not keep quiet about what I see God doing.

They (the religious leaders) called them back and warned them that they (Peter and John) were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John spoke right back, "Whether it's right in God's eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there's no question—we can't keep quiet about what we've seen and heard." Acts 4:18-20

"Carpé diem quam minimum credula postero." ~ Horace (Roman poet)

Translation: Seize the Day, put no trust in tomorrow.

He whispers to me

The LORD comes to me and whispers to me not to despair. He is present with me. He is here. He is always here, even when I don't know it.

He is strong like a warrior. Strong like an Iron Man. He is not decrepit. He is here to save me. He is very happy I am his child. He calms me with His love. He delights me with His songs. He lifts my soul as He whispers to me not to despair. Nothing is impossible for Him.

"Baseball is like church. Many attend few understand." ~~Leo Durocher

Listening to John Foley, Blue Angel pilot

Vision
Clarity
Liberation

That is the belief level.

“We don’t believe because we understand, we understand because we believe” ~~Bill Johnson

"Some people care too much, I think it's called love." ~~Winnie the Pooh

Words of strength and heart

John the Baptist was an amazing man of God. His words gave strength to people. His words put heart in them. Of course, they also offended the powerful. But John was faithful to the Message. His focus was on delivering God's message of hope. He did not focus on who he would offend in the process.

May I have his same faithfulness. May I speak words that give people strenght and heart.

There was a lot more of this—words that gave strength to the people, words that put heart in them. The Message! But Herod, the ruler, stung by John's rebuke in the matter of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, capped his long string of evil deeds with this outrage: He put John in jail. Luke 3:18-20

Ronald Reagan on the equlity of all men and women

"Recognizing the equality of all men and women, we are willing and able to lift the weak, cradle those who hurt, and nurture the bonds that tie us together as one nation under God." ~~Ronald Reagan

Patriotic Neighborhood

Out for a walk with Gizmo and love what I am seeing.

Leaning In: A Poem

I am not where I want to be.
I am leaning in to hear
the Lord more clearly.
I want to get closer.
I want to hear Him clearly.

I want the completeness
that comes from knowing Him.

So what can lead to that?
What is the path I should be on?

Trust.
Trust steadily in Him.
Trust completely.
Trust in what He says to me.

Hope.
And hope more.
Hope unswervingly.
Hope without the doubt
that can creep in.
Hope.

Love.
Love extravagantly.
Love without fear.
Love perfectly in His love.
Love like He loves me.

The best of all of these
is His extravagent love.

"While faith brings answers, enduring faith brings the answer with character." ~~Bill Johnson

"Only enduring faith taps into the mystery of compound interest." ~~Bill Johnson

"Focus on something that stirs your soul, it's hard to excel at anything that you don't love." ~~Susan Rice

Nick in Las Vegas with custom car

A couple of weeks ago, Nick was in Las Vegas for a car show with a car he and his class built. Yes, that is built themselves.

I'm proud of you Nick!!

Life Starts with my Heart

My life starts with my heart. That is the center of everything. Nothing else matters so I need to be vigilant over it. I should guard it like I guard nothing else. Since everything flows from my heart, I need to be careful not speak out of both sides of my mouth. I should completely avoid careless banter that can hurt others and me. Little white lies hurt my integrity and I need to avoid them at all cost. Gossip hurts others and so it damages my heart.

So ... I should keep my eyes straight ahead and completely ignore distractions which take me away from you, my Father. If I watch my step and focus on what you want, the road will be smooth. It will straighten out in front of me. If I focus on my relationship with you, looking only at you, I will leave evil in the dust.

"We are what we believe we are.: ~~ C. S. Lewis

"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." ~~Elmer Davis

When?

When has God had enough and gives up? When does He draw the line in the sand and say "That is it"?

When does he get frustrated and quit? When does He just walk away from it all?

Never!!

"I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness." ~~Mother Teresa.

"Freedom is never free." -Author Unknown

"One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than a hundred teaching it." ~~Knute Rockne

Putting my foot down

I was a dupe of sin. I was stubborn, refusing to believe Jesus. I went around with a chip on my shoulder. But this is the season of reminder. God, my kind and loving Savior God, stepped in. He saved me from a life of hatred. He saved me from a life of selfishness. He stepped right in!!

It was completely His doing. I had absolutely nothing to do with it. He gave me a good bath and I came out a totally clean man. I was washed on the inside. I was washed on the outside. Clean inside and out!! My Savior Jesus poured out a whole new life for me. It is a generous life. It is a gift of right relationship with my Father. He has given me back my life. AND, woo hoo, there is more to come. An eternity of the glorious life. I can count on it. If is a fact Jack!!

So ... I am putting my foot down. I really am. I am taking a firm stand on all of this. I am putting my trust in God and concentrating on the essentials that are good for me. I am staying completely away mindless issues and the fine print. It gets me nowhere. I am radically trusting in Jesus. The HOLY Spirit that raised Him from the dead is in me. And with me.

I am putting my foot down.

"Leadership is a combination of strategy and character. If you must be without one, be without the strategy." ~~Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf

The LIST

Sometimes we keep a list of other peoples wrongs. We can recite it chapter and verse. It can actually be quite long. My heavenly Father does not have a list of my sins. He doesn't keep one. He is love and love doesn't keep a list. That is the truth. Anything else is a lie.

May I love the way He loves.

Love doesn't keep a list of the sins of others. 1 Corinthians 13

"Busy does not equal important. Measured doesn't mean mattered." ~~Seth Godin

One of life's biggest temptations: The kid's chocolate treats on the counter.

"Never cut what you can untie." ~Joseph Joubert

A perpetual victory parade

Parades are so much fun. The bands, the floats, and the celebration of a special day. Everyone gets into it. The participants and the on lookers alike. Parades are a blast.

In Jesus, we are in one perpetual victory parade. We march through life, in Him, moving from place to place, always in victory. We are triumphant in His life of resurrection. The power that raised Him from the dead is in us and upon us. When the crowd sees us in His victory parade, they know it is Him who deserves the praise.

In the Messiah, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of the Messiah. 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

Songs from my heart

What excuse do I find to sing a song to God? I don't need one. Everything is a reason to praise Him.

May I drink in huge draughts of the HOLY Spirit. May I be filled with Him.

Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:15-20

I hunger

I hunger for His touch. It is all about the relationship. He wants me to be a glutton for Him. He wants me to hunger for Him like I do a great meal. Hunger like I do for King Crab or a great steak or that amazing hamburger.

I thirst for His word. I hunger for His word. I can't do without it. I can't wait for the next meal.

May I hunger and thirst for you like no other. May I receive your nurishment.

Take Heart

Many days, there is a whole lot of worrying going on. Fear can cripple. How many times does God come to us and say, "Fear not"? That is one of His great themes. Trust in Him. He is in control. He didn't bring us this far to leave us now.

Here is the good news. Jesus has overcome everything. He is seated at the right hand of the Father. All is well. It is finished.

 

“But take heart! I have overcome the world."

----- Jesus,John 16:33

 

"Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened." ~~Billy Graham

Never giving up

My heavenly Father never gives up on me. He loves me even when I haven't wanted to know Him. He loves me even when I wander off. He NEVER gives up no matter what.

May I love like Him. May I never give up. May I have His heart.

Love never gives up. 1 Corinthians 13

"The problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." ~~Margaret Thatcher

"The best thing you can do is the right thing to do, next best thing is the wrong thing, the worst thing you can do is nothing." ~~Roosevelt

Rock solid guarantee

There is the saying "As good as his word". All God has to do to guarantee His promise to us to give us His word. When He says it, we can count on it. No ifs, ands or buts. It is done.

I can take it to the bank. He won't break His promise to me. He is faithful so I can be faithful.

When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can't break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. Hebrews 6:18

 

Against the grain

In listening to Jesus, much of what He is saying (see Matthew 5) goes against the grain of what I have thought brings happiness. Here are some of the things that don't make sense in this world but lead to happiness in His Kingdom:

• With less of me there is more of God and his rule.


• I have to lose what is most dear to me.


• I must be content in who I am in His kingdom.


• I must be a glutton for Him spiritually. Hunger for Him more than food.


• I must care for others, not myself.


• I must get my inside world, mind and heart, right first.


• I must show others how to cooperate not compete.


• I must be comfortable that my commitment to God will provoke persecution.


• I must please Him first.

So, there it is. It is not conventional wisdom at. It is God's way.

"You will find the key to success under the alarm clock." ~~Benjamin Franklin

“Never let the fear of striking out get in your way." ~Babe Ruth

“Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way.” ~~Dr. Seuss

Things way over my head

That God has done something in my life is a real surprise, Him handling every single detail. It is nothing but a gift, His riches which I have a hard time understanding, coming to me every day. I am writing about things that are way over my head.

My task is to bring out into open what He is doing. His generosity is amazing. It is hard to get my arms around it. The credit goes to Him. It is His work for sure.

To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, Ephesians 3:8

"The Message that points to Messiah on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction." ~~Apostle Paul

The way God works seems silly to those who don't know Him. For many, "Why" is the big barrier to a true relationship with God. "Why did this happen?" "Why would God work that way?"

Of course, this is the way children think as well. "I don't get it" they say. "Why can't I do X?" they ask. "I don't understand why you want let me" they protest after we have explained it 10 times. Our decisons seem silly to them.

That what God is doing makes sense to me is a sign that I am on the way to salvation. I am on the road. I must stay focused on what He is doing and not get diverted by what He isn't. If I stay focused on His wisdom, I will be more than happy.

The Message that points to Messiah on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It's written, I'll turn conventional wisdom on its head, I'll expose so-called experts as crackpots. So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn't God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb—proclaiming the Message, of all things!—to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation. 1 Corinthians 1:18-21

"Do not be anxious about anything." ~~Apostle Paul

My part is to rejoice. God is so very good and He is always in this amazing mood. Jesus has a mission to bring Good News to me. Am I hearing bad news? It is a lie then. That is from my enemy Satan. So, I will rejoice at the good God is doing now.
 
I need to talk with my Father, ask Him for what I need, and be thankful in my conversations with Him. He knows what I need and will do more than I can imagine.
 
I don't understand it, but as a result, His peace is mine. I can rest and relax. His peace is at attention in my heart. He is protecting me and the enemy can't reach my heart.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-9

 

 

"People will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." ~ Maya Angelou

Isn't it true. Life is short. Live long. Treat people like it is your last day.

"People will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." ~ Maya Angelou

"I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart." ~~King David

It all starts at home. Work is important and so is the church, but living love out at home is where it all starts and ends. It can't be faked at home. Either I do things out of love with a blameless heart or I don't. Everyone at home knows.

And so I seek to do every act at home out of pure love. No selfishness. No boasting. No ego gratification. Only love.

I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart. Psalm 101:2

 

"Regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it." ~~ Apostle Paul

God has chosen us for a new life. It is a life of love. It's characteristics are:

• Compassion
• Kindness
• Humility
• Quiet strength
• Discipline
• Even tempered
• Forgiving

And so, we should wear love everyday. It is a garment we should always put on.

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Colossians 3:12-14

"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity." ~~Dorothy Parker

"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity." ~~Dorothy Parker

"I've made myself available to those who haven't bothered to ask.' ~~God

Our God is amazing. He doesn't wait on us. In fact, He did it all by sending Jesus to take care of everything we need to meet God's goal for us. He just  did it even though we didn't bother to ask. What an amazing God.

He is there. He is available. He is ready.

"I've made myself available to those who haven't bothered to ask.' ~~God (Isaiah 65:1)

"My arms wave like banners of praise to you." ~~King David

I must find the place of worship. I must open my eyes. In His generous love, I can really live. It is about His strength. It is about His glory. I must praise Him in an excessive way. I must go overboard in my thanks.

So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open,
drinking in your strength and glory.
In your generous love I am really living at last!
My lips brim praises like fountains.
I bless you every time I take a breath;
My arms wave like banners of praise to you. Psalm 63

Mere busywork

Not all work is the same. Some things are much more important in the Kingdom than others. I shouldn't waste my time on useless work. Am I just doing busywork? Do I see that as a sham? How would this look in the light of Jesus and His glory?

May I know what He wants me to do and may I do it with enthusiasm!!

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them--Ephesians 5:11

"I pray for good fortune in everything you do—that your everyday affairs prosper." ~~ Apostle John

God wants me to prosper. He has every good thing in mind for me and wants me to have them. He is in a good mood. Period.

And, it is not just for a few parts of my life, it is for everything I do. Every part of my life. My health, my finances, my relationships. Everything. He wants me to prosper. That is just His way.

May my everyday affairs prosper, as He has them in mind for me.

I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health—that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul! 3 John 2

 

A man after His heart

What is the BIG THING my heavenly Father is looking for? He is desperately seeking a man after his own heart. How will I know what is in His heart? Have a relationship with Him. Know what makes Him tick. Seek to please Him at all costs.

May I be a man after God's own heart!! May I do what He asks me to do.

"The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people ..." 1 Samuel 13:13-14

"Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

How true this is. A Godly life isn't thinking alone. We must act and that comes from being responsible for what we hear from God.

"Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out

My love for the Father should squeeze out everything else. Wanting my own way is not the Father's way. Wanting what He wants is the way. What does He want? He wants me to love Him. He wants me to love everyone who is a part of my life. He wants me to love like He does.

May my love for the Father squeeze out everything else.

Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity. 1 John 2:15-17

 

Chipper Jones on the Braves chances

Chipper Jones, after last night’s loss to Philadelphia, on if Braves still have what it takes to make it:

"Yes. no doubt. We can play tooth and nail with the best teams in the game. We’ve proven that. We proved it tonight with a guy who started the year in Double-A. He pitched great, we played good defense behind him. We swung the bats good in certain sections of the game, not so good in others. Again, when you’re running up against a Cy Young winner, he doesn’t make too many mistakes. I think we probably took advantage of the few that he did make."

iPhone 5 ... do you want it?

Well, you know it is coming. And so, do you want it? Do you need it.

This grahpic helps shows how may be in line to buy it.

What do you think?

What He gives in love

Am I cheating on God? There are times I just want my own way. That cheats God of the relationship He wants to have with me. I am more than happy when I know what he wants and then do it. He cares. He really cares a lot. What He gives to me in love is above and beyond anything else I could get.

May live in His love and be more than happy.

You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that 'he's a fiercely jealous lover.' And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find. It's common knowledge that 'God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.' James 4

 

Love keeps going

What is it about persistence in love? It must be something like the Energizer Bunny. It just keeps going and going. But how often has my love stopped? Some offense. Some bad circumstance. Some care of this world. That is not how my Father loves. His love just keeps going.

May my love be like His. May it just keep going. Going and going with to the end.

But love keeps going to the end. 1 Corinthians 13

Fred Flintstone Quotes

Yabba Dabba Doo!!! - Fred Flintstone

Don't toy with me, Barn. - Fred Flintstone

Where's your get up and go? It just got up and went. - Fred Flinstone


You're too fat, Fred! - Barney Rubble

Sometimes I just don't know what's the matter with men. - Betty Rubble

Bam! Bam! Bam! - Bam Bam

Wilma!!! - Fred Flinstone

My name is Mr. Frederick J. Blublublubluh. - Fred Flinstone

The nerve of that guy, waking up a man in his hammoc - Fred Flinstone

Why can't they invent something for us to marry instead of women? - Fred Flinstone

Oh Fred! - Wilma Flintstone

And what may I ask do you think you're doing? - Fred Flintstone

Ahhh, seatbealts are for kids. - Fred Flintstone

I told you to buckle the seat belt. - Barney Rubble

Fred, why don't you go outside and vroom that lawn mower around the yard. - Wilma Flinstone

What do you say partner, is it a deal? - Fred Flinstone

Wilma, where's my razor? Wilma, where's breakfast? - Fred Flinstone?

All right rubble, what is this? Fred Flinstone

You want to get in the game Fred? You could use some exercise around that infield there. - Barney Rubble

If Fred doesn't come home soon, dinner will be ruined. - Wilma Flinstone

Wilma, I'm back! - Fred Flinstone

Nobody's pushing me around. My decision stands! - Fred Flinstone.

Freddy Flinstone, You're all heart and a yard wide - Wilma Flinstone

Don't count your bowling balls before they're hatched, Fred - Barney Rubble

Make it good Fred, I gotta tell Betty the same story. - Barney Rubble

Put daddy down Bam Bam. Ouch! Not on the head. - Barney Rubble

I don't want to hear any more about it! - Fred Flinstone

That does it! - Fred Flintstone

Playing baseball in a football stadium (2011)

Chipper Jones and the Atlanta Braves are looking forward to playing in the Florida Marlins' new ballpark next year, especially after this difficult loss.

Jones lost Emilio Bonifacio's two-out chopper in the lights before Omar a game-ending homer off rookie closer Craig Kimbrel, giving the Marlins a 6-5 victory Monday night.

"You play baseball in a football stadium, I guess that happens from time to time, but it's just extremely bad timing," Jones said. "It's a pretty helpless feeling when the game should be over and I had no clue where the ball was when it bounced."

Atlanta now has dropped three of four, and its NL wild-card lead is down to 2½ games over surging St. Louis, which beat Roy Halladay and the Phillies 4-3 in Philadelphia. The Braves have eight games remaining, compared to nine for the Cardinals.

The Three Little Steam Shovels (1944)

The war continues. 1944, however, brought new life to the Braves (then in Boston). Lou Perini, Guido Rugo and Joseph Maney purchased the Braves. Bob Quinn who headed the previous syndicate move on to be President of the club. The new owners were known as the "The Three Little Steam Shovels." OK, they were contractors in real life.

So, they "shoved" Casey Stingel out as the manager. Did it really take all three of them to do that?

They brought on Bob Coleman. He had some minor league experience but none in the bigs. He did about as good as Casey had the previous year which wasn't too good. The Braves ended up 40 games behind the leader. That was "good" enough for a sixth place finish with a 65-89 record.

The decline (1880)

40-44 and sixth in the pennant race. It is 1880 and Harry Wright's career as a manager is declining for sure. The Braves (then known as the Boston Red Stockings) end up 27 games behing the leader. The glory years are over. It is done.

The Red Stockings need new leadership. It isn't forthcoming. They lanquish and suffer. They are sixth among eight teams. They didn't even win half of their games. Not good at all. That was the first time in their ten year history they didn't have a winning season. They also suffered from being no hit for the first time. Larry Corcoran from Chicago held them to no hits on August 19 in a 6-0 game. It would take another 12 years for them to have a no hitter on the right side.

The decline was bad and would get worse.

Beaneaters (1883)

1883 was an amazing season for the Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves). First, they changed their name from the Red Stockings to the Beaneaters. Second, in mid season the changed managers from "Honest" John Morrill to Jack Burdock. Third, they had a second half rally when they came from dead last on July 18 to win the National League pennant and the World Series.

They had a 63-35 record ending up 4 games ahead.

Beaneaters indeed.

"The Six W's: Work will win when wishing won't." ~~Todd Blackledge

"The Six W's: Work will win when wishing won't." ~~Todd Blackledge

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” ~~Ghandi

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” ~~Ghandi

Thinking is easy

"Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and
to put one's thoughts into action is the
most difficult thing in the world."

— Johann von Goethe: Was a German poet, novelist, and dramatist

Soldiers of God

Now this is a great one. If I am wearing the sword of God, am I using it? If not, why not?

"One of the greatest tragedies in the Christian life is to see soldiers of God go to bed night after night with no blood on their swords." ~~Bill Johnson

Progress in Milwaukee (1955)

1955 brought continued improvement to the Braves. Maybe it was the move to Milwaukee. Maybe it was Charlie Grimm the manager. Maybe it was Hank Aaron bursting onto the scene. Whatever it was, they ended up in second place that year with an 85-69 record. It was their third consecutive solid season. It wasn't good enough to outpace the Dodgers who won their first 10 games and 22 of their first 24.

The Braves were second most of the season. Brooklyn continued to rise and actually clinched on September 8, a National League record for the 154 game season. Of course, injuries didn't help them in 1955 either. Just like the year before. But it probably didn't matter. They couldn't have caught the Dodgers under any circumstances.