The Devil In Sports

The Devil in Sports


Why do we, as fans get so worked up about sports?
This past week has been rough for the locals. LSU loses the
National Championship game and the Saints losing in the NFC playoffs.
We (I’m not speaking for others – but assuming) get worked up
and spin ourselves into a tizzy.
For what? For sports.
There is a fine line between getting worked up and … well,
getting worked up. A fine line between being a fan and a failure. A fine line between
excitement and anger.
Is it ok to get excited?
To get mad or angry when things go wrong. Should we sit back and let it
build inside?
Who knows? I don’t. But I do know that anger and getting close to
tipping that cup can hurt others and lead to things people can regret.
The problem with getting too excited is that the more you get
to the edge of that spectrum, the closer you get to being angry if things don’t
go well. Then the chances of hollering and cussing and getting so stressed – it
can make you bust.
When you have extreme passion in a team – in a sport – that is
ok. But when is it not ok? That passion – in certain events can steadily turn
into anger.
That is why I titled this The Devil In Sports. The devil
wants us to fly off the handle. He wants us to go on a cussing rampage. He
wants us to waste our energy on getting aggravated.
Let’s take the recent Saints game. Up and down emotions. The
Saints take the lead late – they got this. Then they let the other team take
the lead. Stress but excitement. Then the Saints take the lead with a quick TD
strike. We got this. Then out of nowhere, the other team scores with 9 seconds
to go. Even if – in most cases the Saints win, the emotions brought out when
things looked bleak – or when a stupid play happened – everyone feels better.
But can the negative words or thoughts that came out during the bleak times
just go away? No.
So, in sports My emotions have gone to over the top status. If
you are reading this, please don’t think I am a maniac and get pissed off every
time I watch sports, but as a man, as a husband, as a father and as a grandfather,
I am not afraid to admit that I am not the best when my team does bad. Once
when I was a kid, the Dodgers lost to the Cardinals in the NLCS. All I wanted
to do was get my pellet gun and go shoot Cardinals in the woods.
So, to the point of this…
There are so many more important things to spend our Energy
on. I didn’t say time, but energy. In energy I mean the stress we spend on sports.
The excitement will always be there. But like the duck – I will
try to let stuff in sports roll off the back.
When I think of hurts like Baby Tripp. The 2 year old hero
who had Epidermolysis Bullosa. He passed away yesterday.
Kids who go hungry every day. Kids who have no homes. People
who lose in life – lose loved ones, etc. People who succumb to abuses of drugs
and alcohol and hurt their loved ones and themselves.
Families devastated by cancer and other terminal diseases.
Families who are devastated by untimely deaths.
There are so many worthy causes and issues we can stress and spend
time about. Causes and people we can spend our time and energy on.
Sports should not be one of them.
Watching and loving sports will always be a part of the world
and part of me, but the anger and upsetting moments when the favorite team
loses, hopefully won’t be a part of me.
We shall see. I get a little reprieve with hoops. I love
basketball, but don’t seem to get stressed about it as much as LSU and dodger
baseball – or football.
Time will tell, hopefully I…we.. can concentrate on the
important things in life and let a loss or bad play roll off the back.

My Last College Football post of the season

First, I haven't posted much so this may my first.

Alabama - LSU.
1- Face it, the better team won.
2 - Bama defense was a beast.
3 - their offense helped their defense.
4 - LSU defense played good and hard.
5 - LSU defense had to go up against the Bama offense and
it's own offense. The LSU offense hurt our defense Period.
6 - play calling and play in general was terrible.
7 - but with all that said. It is my fault. I wore red
shorts during the game.

See ya next year. But first.... One prediction.

The SEC will win a 7th straight title next year.

From the Old Farmer's Almanac 2012 desk Calendar

"He who is of calm and happy nature will hardly feel the pressure of age." Plato, Greek philosopher (c.428-348 B.C.)


BEAUTY TIP
To relieve dry, itchy skin, add a cup of apple cider vinegar to your bathwater. Soak for at least 15 minutes.


"We do not remember days, we remember moments. the richness of life lies in memories we have forgotten." Cesare Pavese, Italian writer (1905-1950)

2012

As 2012 begins

I never do resolutions. Maybe when I was a kid. But this year I thought of a few goals. I
probably set goals often but don't often think of them. That's not to say they
don't get accomplished.

So here are some things I want to accomplish in 2012.

Read the bible through this year. My wife and I will do this together. It will be fun
and I am sure much discussion will come of it.

I want to read more period. I love to read but lately I haven't read much. 2011 was
probably my lowest reading output, in terms of # of books.
I don't want to put a number on it but I would like to get over double digits. Low total for
many buy a good start for me.
Some of the books on my hit list: a re-read of Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle, maybe another
one or two KV re-reads; John Grisham's The Confession ( I already started this
in 2011 - I haven't touched it in 3 weeks - it is a great book, I've been busy); Walter Isaacson's
Einstein. I have had this book on my shelf for awhile with every intention to read. I will read it this year; any Ted Dekker novel I haven't read yet; I would like to re- read some classics also - maybe something by
Jules Verne, Hesse or anyone really; I want to read some of the books that my
devotionals come from; Another book on my shelf that I want to read is Myron S.
Augsburger's The Fugitive (Menno Simons).
I need to stop typing and start reading.

I want to do a Bucket list. Just for fun. If I write one I will post it.

I want to Write more. Just write in general. I have so many projects either started on
paper on in my head. I just want to write more and the rest will fall into
place.

I want to be more consistent with blog posts.

I want to be an all around better person.

I want to serve more. Not just serving the less fortunate
but all who need and in whatever way they need. I am so blessed in my life and
I don't think I do what the Lord wants me to from a service standpoint.

I want to communicate better in an all around way.

I want to relax more. Maybe with more reading and more
writing that will happen. I want to take at least one nap a month.

I want to love and take care of my family more. That should
be a goal for everyone.

I probably have many more things I want to accomplish in
2012 but if I don't stop typing I won't accomplish anything.

So happy New Year and Merry Christmas. Jesus was born so
that he could die for us. So everyday is Christmas.

Better Than Fortune Cookie Logic

I love Chinese food.
And although I rarely eat the cookie, I like to read the fortune inside of it.
Some fortunes are good. Some are not so good.
Some are true. Others are just words.
In a devotion this week I was reading from the book of Proverbs.
I thought, some of this stuff would be great in fortune cookies.
The Bible is full of awesome messages. The entire book is a message.
I was looking at Proverbs again recently and you can really fill an entire warehouse full if cookies with these messages.
And ALL would be great. And ALL are true.

Proverbs starts like this. (from the NIV Bible). "The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young - let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance - for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise."

As I was reading and skimming through, here are some that I decided to jot down.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." Proverbs 1:7

"Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you." 3:29

"Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you." 4:6

"Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth." 10:4

"When pride comes then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." 11:2

There are many more I could have written down.
I am beginning to read Proverbs start to finish. Like all parts o the Bible, re-reading and rediscovering the words and lessons are true blessings.
I need to do a better job at rediscovering the Good Books words.

The Beep Beep

The beep beep.

We are spending a nice decompression weekend at Pine Lake Camp.
No plans.
One goal....... To relax.

So far so good.
We are staying in the Bender House. Not a soul here except us.
Nice.
This is a true beautiful place.

We arrived last night.
Unpacked and relaxed. Set the heat. Around 9 ish. Pm. I heard a soft beep beep. I didn't think too much about it. But I did look at my phone to see the time. 9:03 pm.
Then about an hour later we both heard it. I looked at the time - 10:03 pm. So I looked under the beds. Behind the beds etc. I didn't see anything.
We were tired and sleepy so the lights went out.
I was having a battle inside of me. Coffee and Mello yello ( I drank on the trip up) vs Tylenol PM. So I decided to wait until 11 and see if I could here the beep.
So I played games on the phone. Read some news apps. Looked at the window, dozed a bit.
I looked at the clock. 11:01. Ok come on beep. I am ready to close my eyes.
The coffee/mello yellow combo still tag teaming against the Tylenol. What a battle.
11:02. Getting closer. That minute between 11:01 and 11:02 seemed like an eternity.
Eyes getting heavy. I gotta make it to 11:03. Finally. 11:03 hits.
Nothing. No beep beep.
I wait a few loooooooooong seconds. Nothing. The clock still shows 11:03.
Finally I say to myself. We must have been hearing things (knowing full well we heard it).
So I put the phone down and rollover. I close my eyes and ......... You guessed it. I hear Beep Beep.
I get up and grab the flashlight. I am again looking under the beds between mattress an Side boards of the bunk beds (they have a regular bed and a set of bunk beds). I don't see anything.
(by the way. In true fashion. As I am typing this on Saturday afternoon. At 3:03. Beep beep)
So I get back into bed an eventually fall asleep. My last thought after my prayers - I am finding the beep beep tomorrow.
Saturday morning. We are talking about the beep and wala it happens. 7:03.
At 8:03 I will be ready. I will get close to where I think the noise is coming from. I will find it.
It is Getting close to 8:03. I was going to lay on the top bunk. It came from that direction. Then I started to move stuff again. Wala in the corner. Under a bed. Behind an extra mattress. A watch.

( note - As of now I have yet to move the watch. I will before we leave.
It didn't bother us at all. Especially now knowing what it is. No biggie.
I think it is funny though. )

Buttermilk

Butter? Yes
Milk? Yes
Buttermilk? No .... In other words, I ain't Enos (deputy who loved buttermilk from the Dukes of Hazzard).

A long time ago I tried buttermilk. Couldn't do it. Just now I tried some more. Same result. Two sips (small sips) was all I could do.
I will eat buttermilk pancakes and biscuits all day long. Other baked goods with buttermilk? Yes.
But something about that thick white liquid I just can't do. I don't get it. I eat raw fish for crying out loud.
So, my buttermilk consumption will have to be through biscuits, pancakes, etc.
Now I have to go brush my teeth. Buttermilk breath.