7 Things Football Teaches

by an observer in desperate need of exercise David L Lewis

"For when the One Great Scorer comes to write against your name,

He marks - not that you won or lost - but how you played the game."

Grantland Rice, 1880-1954

Although never was a real athlete, nor received any sports award, I’ve always suspected sports greatest thrill must be the Olympic Gold Metal ceremony. Second greatest thrill, of course, would be winning a SOUPER BOUL (Have to be careful how you say it, a certain Foosball Legion might sue for royalty payment!)

In two weeks it will once again be SOUPER BOUL SUNDAE! After 32 teams played 640+ games, the two who have won right to compete on February 11^th are San Francisco 49rs and Kansas City Taylor Swiftees. Smart money is on KC.

If you follow the game, watch for what it unintentionally teaches...

Football Is Made for TV

It defies good sense that anyone pays a lot of money to sit half-mile from field in freeing rain to watch a game. Millions of us much smarter folk -- including me & Kenny -- stay home and watch the perfect TV game, Football! Football telecasts more of real life than ‘reality’ TV. Whether you care who’s playing or not, something happens on every play which effects intangible outcomes – which keeps us watching.

Interesting Is Not Always Historical

It has become popular, particularly among those with something to sell, to refer to what happens on any given field of professional sport as “history”. It is not history, but trivia. It is of interest for the moment, but makes no lasting difference in the lives of any but those who participated. Believe it was Willie Mays who called them games played by boys for entertainment of people too old to play their self.

Any Given Sunday

It is axiomatic that on any given Sunday any team can beat any other team. The team which goes 1-15 wins one Sunday afternoon. The underdog may be more highly motivated. The game may be evenly matched; but the ball bounces to the left, or to the right; it flies 2 inches too high, or 3 too low. One team may play badly and not deserve to win, the other simply loses.

Somethings Can’t Be Changed By ‘Thoughts And Prayers”

On some extremely remote occasions, just maybe, God actually cares who wins, or at least has some higher purpose in mind. If I’ve learned anything about sports and real life it is that watching the game does not change the score – only fighting in the trenches, by the rules, brings both victory and defeat with honor.

The Last Whistle Blows

Games are played with known rules, by people who play to win and hate to lose. Then, as with most of life, an ending point is reached. A horn sounds, the last man is out, the final whistle blows. The worst thing about sports is that somebody loses. Somebody who dedicated their lives to this moment loses. Somebody who’s compelling story deserves victory loses. We complain about some official’s call, blame it all on one bad decision, cry ‘next time’. But, in the end it is what it is, and that is life, too.

Gentleman's Response

At game’s end watch for what makes football be football, shows sportsmen as sportsmen, reveals good people are good people. Watch as they who have played hard, hit hard, and trash-talked for three hours will search out opponents with smiles, handshakes and hugs. That is how to play the game, how to live a good life.

Monday Morning Comes To All Mankind

Every football player, every athlete, every human eventually learns that good or bad, win or lose, historic or incidental, any given Sunday is followed by any given Monday. And life goes on, I forget why.
     World peace is as elusive as ever;
     Earthquakes – real and metaphorical – occur daily;
     Children still suffer around the world, in America, in Indiana.
     Heart failure in one way or another gets us all some given day.

Until that given Monday life and football continue to teach men how to live; and The Great Scorer continues to put a mark against our name.

On any given Monday, as with any given Sunday, it is about how you played the game.

Just writing for some future generation’s SOUPER BOUL SUNDAE!

theOldTimePlayer!

 I Have THE Answer!

By justifiably unknown & ignored philosopher-historian-theologian David L Lewis

Have told the story many times because it has proved too true: In 1974 Evangelist Billy Graham said, Every problem we solve creates two new, unintended problems which we would not have had it we’d not solved the first problem. The problem is now so complex there is No answer. In 1974!

Believe it or not they ‘solved’ a lot of problems in last 50 years, result being it’s getting a bit scary out there. Have you been watching the “News” lately? No, not the ‘our-way-or-the-highway’ shows which use ‘news’ stories to keep attention of their target (i.e. money) audience. Rather, are you watching what is actually going on in the world? If not, DON’T!

If you knew everything bad that was going to happen worldwide in next ten minutes, the volume of information would drive you mad: Wars and rumors of war, earthquakes and volcanoes in numerous places, plague and famine, economies built on fiat currency backed only by shifting sand of hubris. Just name most the obvious.

​In keeping up with all this, one YouTube channel I follow is Rev. Ed Trevers, an Anglican Priest in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. No, he’s not always right; but, e is a straight-talking guy with true gift of teaching. In one of his videos he asked a good question: What would you do if you were God? Don’t pretend to know what God would do, and certainly doubt my ability to out-think Him. But, in my observation this would be THE Answer:

First, all us folk who are going to heaven anyhow should go-ahead and go off to heaven, anyhow. Surely there would be hundreds of us?

Next, all those folks who aren’t going to heaven anyhow should go-ahead and go to wherever folks who don’t go to heaven go, anyhow.

In a million years or so some of us folk in heaven could visit earth and see how it’s doing without humans to solve problems.

Of course, those of us in heaven will miss favorite son-in-law. I mean what with him being over there in Libertarian heaven.

Overall I think it’s THE Answer, and pretty sure Billy and Ed would agree.

TheHeavenBoundDaddy!

ALTERNATIVE TRUTH

The Prime-Time Drivel of Cable News by David L Lewis

Listen my children for you shall hear

political talk to dread and to fear

As the movies taught us when I was young

beware they who speak with Forked-Tongue

Election season now calls all to the fight

and we must discern our left from our right

Candidates telling tales of only their side

what makes them look bad they certainly hide

Each promising to do what we want them to

knowing they promise what no man can do

They’ll spout Party line if truth in the way

the American People want whatever they say

What-about-that-guy-ism forgives all sin

the Polls only true if say our side must win

They blame others for all they did wrong

and Alternate Truth is name of their song

Being wrong does not mean an evil intention

nor telling painful truth ever transgression

Perhaps in some day to come just for fun

we can find someone worth electing to run

There is Always more to the story . . . ALWAYS

доверяй, но проверяй

doveryai, no proveryai (Google it)

theDubiousDaddy!

 

 

Dr King and I

The what-I-learned experiences of David L Lewis

THIS IS A TEST- Answers at end:
1) You see a random person walking down the street. What is the FIRST judgment your mind makes about that person?
2) You see a random person walking down the street. What is the SECOND judgment your mind makes about that person?

January 15 2024

The greatest recorded oratory of my lifetime was the Martin Luther King Jr. “Dream speech” at Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963. That part of his “dream” which became engraved in my soul is the line: “I have a dream that my four children will some day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” This sentence became a touchstone by which I have tried to live in the world in which we actually live.

Five years after that speech Martin Luther King Jr. Day became the federal holiday observed on third Monday of January.  Given how much America has changed for the better since 1968, it is good that our country observes this commemoration. However, Civil Rights Day might be a better designation. As with many such commemorations, the man represents not himself but the contributions of innumerable people who contributed something. As professor Eddie Glaude put it, “You can change the world if you do a little more than nothing”.

This is about my own minuscule contribution to how much America has changed for the better since 1968.

Growing up in St Louis I encountered almost no “Negro” people. There simply were very few around. I started high school three years after Brown vs Board of Education. Thus began my introduction to “Blacks” (the correct word at the time). My general impression these many years later is that they might have thought less of me for being white than I of them for being black.

Looking back over some eighty years, I see many times when my ignorance kept me from seeing how blind I was to what God was showing me:

• There was the nurse who taught me at age 7 to treat all nurses with respect.

• The mixed-race couple passing by when I was 12 who got me in trouble with my friend’s mother because I saw no harm in such a relationship.

• The young custodian who taught me to respect all work, especially work I wouldn’t want to do myself.

• That time I accepted an invitation to attend Deliverance Temple, not knowing I would be the first white man to ever walk in the door. When we left that town it was an ‘integrated’ church and I was sent out as something of an ambassador.

• When I felt led to attend another ‘black’ church. Arrived at time on the sign, 9:00AM, and stayed to end, 3:00PM. One of deacons said I was “first white man to ever stayed for whole thing”. Never occurred to me to offend them by leaving early.

• Of all the people alive today the person whom I’d most like to meet is President Barack Obama. Somehow feel I owe him an apology. Understand that every President is hated by a percentage of people for their policy or actions. It just never occurred to me, though, a President of the United States of America would be hated because of skin color or ancestry; or be judged by what they are, and not by the “content of their character”. As another great man who happened to have black skin, civil rights hero Congressman John Lewis, said of America: “We’re better than that”.

As we honor Dr. King and his accomplishments it seems unreasonable to ask a white person to understand what it like to live in black, or red, or yellow skin. This is not possible because I’ve never ‘walked in their moccasins’. All anyone has a right to ask of another person is to be treated fair and be concerned if I have caused pain.

TheStillLearningDaddy!

Answers: #1) Gender #2) Race

Think about it, you only notice when you can’t automatically, unconsciously make that judgment.

 How Big Is Your God?

Part II - More Unanswered Questions of David L Lewis

Many years ago a professor proposed something like the following:
     Whatsoever you divine truth, purpose, and balance in life;
     Whatsoever you define as peace and security amid turmoil and trouble;
     Whatsoever you devote thereto time, effort, and wealth to support;
     Whatsoever you defend without limit, recourse to evidence or testimony;
     Therein determines how big is your divinity.

How Big Is Your God When It’s Your Country That . . .

• was conceived in the best of times, in the worst of times, in the times of learning history rhymes;

• was born in insurrection and weaned on slavery;

• was raised conquering those in the way, even though here first;

• was brother against brother, leaving dead 600,000 mother’s sons;

• was war to end all war, to make world safe for American democracy;

• was Black Friday with ten years of Depression midst great wealth;

• was 16-million under arms, every home touched, first Atomic Bomb;

• was the greatest generation, if you were white and a man;

• was Cold War, birth of an Atomic Age; the McCarthy Committee and lives it destroyed;

• was 13 days of the greatest crisis in human history;

• was Nixon resigning, with unintended consequences of pardon;

• was being lied into undeclared conflict in various places;

• was yo-yo economy, dark money, judges for sale;

• was the famous, the fortunate, the failures in a White House;

• was forgetting promise and hope of that statue in a New York harbor;

• was opposition for sake of opposing, absolute political power for sake of power, my side or else, not a lie if the liar believed it;

• was threat on Rule of Law, a promise of violence, the violence;

• was he who alone could save, riot and death at the Bastille, indictment and arraignment;

• was cutting lines which had moored Ship of State to faith of founders;

• and has an unknown, factious future which little from past history has prepared?

Hey, it’s 2024, it’s an election year. How big is your God when it’s your Country that...

Just asking for some future unbelieving generation,

TheObservantServant!

Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the

soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell

prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!” (I Kings 18.39, KJV)

 Is It Another Year Yet?

Observations on the comings & goings of new years by David L Lewis

It does appear selection of January 1^st as ‘first day of the year’ was done arbitrarily by some forgotten person with dubious motivations. In fact, in the earth’s annual orbit around the sun, any random day would work as well…
     According to tradition, during his reign (c. 715–673 BCE) Numa revised the Roman republican calendar so that January replaced March as the first month. It was a fitting choice, since January was named after Janus, the Roman god of all beginnings. March celebrated Mars, the god of war, and Spring is ‘when kings to forth to war’. [Wikipedia]
     Chinese calendar is based on the changes in the moon and is only sometimes changed to fit the seasons of the year based on how the Earth moves around the sun. Because of this, Chinese New Year is never on January 1. It moves around between January 21 and February 20. [Wikipedia]

Coming of this randomly imposed new year thing supposedly brings with it hopes of a new season, of a new opportunity, of a new beginning. The past was past, the future all brand-new! Such hope is a delusion. Whenever it begins, no year starts brand new, divorced from the past. Earth continues to revolve around the sun, today picking up where yesterday left off, ignorant of what we call a new year.

Turns out there is nothing much this old man can do to change the past nor modify the future. So, this is what I intend to do as the earth circles the sun; and humanity recklessly goes on without seeking my wise counsel, nor giving me authority to solve anything:

• Stay out of hospital! This should be easier than it sounds, unless I’m unlucky enough to get one of them diseases touted in TV ads. Turns out in-home hospice gives you just enough really kool meds and loving care to keep a fellow at home.

• Reach 3,000 Solitaire matches on my computer! This, of course, is solely because we old folk have to keep our brain alert. It is definitely Not because I am some kind of Obsessive Compulsive Player. I mean, you know, I only paused writing this here diatribe three times while I completed important Solitaire games. Besides, will need something to do if not going to hospital multiple times a year.

• Hope to continue writing my inane ramblings; although less often -- I’m running out of anything to say, Only started writing to find out what I think; now it’s more a matter of finding out if I’m still thinking at all. As youngest son Benjamin put it, am I still me? Hopefully enough people who love me will read what I write and realize if I’m no longer me and tell me so. Who knows? I might even listen.

So, have lots of important stuff to do in the 365¼ days they’ll name 2024, whenever it starts. Is it another year yet?

theDayOlderDaddy!

 Breaking News!

BABY BORN IN BETHLEHEM BARN

Unprecedented story compiled & edited by David L Lewis, BA in Biblical Studies

WARNING: Rated GRR – Granddaddy Required Reading

Approved for All Grandchildren

Some readers have encountered problem following Christmas story. This is primarily because events have not always been told "in order". We have sorted through reports from the field to effectively relate how it all came about, including special reports from:

• John, an early disciple, who wrote his version of gospel account last, actually starts the narration before either of the others.

• Luke, a physician, relates what he learned from his source, belived to ne Mary, baby’s mother.

• Matthew, also early disciple, provides Hebrew law and prophetic prospective; and tells story from viewpoint of witness Joseph, step-father.

• Mark, a later follower, begins at beginning of the ministry of Jesus.

After exhaustive review of all available testimonies, the true story can now be told step-by-step:

Background John 1.1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Gabriel sent to Mary Luke 1.26-38

And [Elizabeth’s] sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, “Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women”.

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

And the angel said unto her, “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”

Then said Mary unto the angel, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?:

And the angel answered and said unto her, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible”.

And Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word”. And the angel departed from her.

Angel appears to Joseph in a dream Matthew 1.17-25

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins”.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name ‘Emmanuel’”, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Birth of Jesus at Bethlehem Luke 2.1-20

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger”. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Trip to Jerusalem on 8th Day Luke 1.21-24, 39-40

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord); And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

Visit of the Wise Men Matthew 2.1-11

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him”.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, ‘And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel’.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

Joseph Warned (Matthew 2.13-14)

And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

Summery John 1.4

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Announcement of the Ministry Mark 1.1

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God!