Favorite Parable

 Know anyone who needs to hear this?  Besides you and me?

This video is great.  Well done.

Of course, the ending of the parable doesn't work out too good for the forgiven one in the full parable, does it?  

Don't be that guy.

"Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us."

Meant to be a blessing, but could be turned into a horrific curse.

Lord, have mercy.

Hat tip, Higher Things.

So Let's Try This Again

It's been almost 8 months since I posted anything.  Not a record, but not what I envisioned for 2021.

At the beginning of each year, I try to set a few goals to keep me from being a slug.  Last year I set a very high posting goal for this blog at 100 posts.

Let's see...how'd I do?  Sixteen you say?  Well, at least I wasn't even in the ballpark and fell just short.  Such things are deflating when you come close and still fail.

Once I realized I was going to fail on this one, I guess I went big.

The rest of my goals weren't so bad.

I actually hit my push up and squat goals in early September.  I finished the year with 15,000 of each.

I have no idea how many steps I took, because things took a major change for me last year in the phone area.  

I stopped carrying my phone with me.  I would sometimes go days without even checking it, only to see it was dead.  (I highly recommend doing this if you can).

And since I was using my phone to track my steps, I no longer tracked them.

However, things took a dramatic turn for me last year regarding my overall health and fitness.  In addition to the above body weight exercises, I added significant amounts of weight training as well as now walking and running.

Last year I wrote the following:  "I'm getting a little slower, a little grayer, a little less strong, and a little less energetic...I am honestly exhausted."

By the grace of God, I can honestly say that is no longer the case. I am faster, stronger and more energetic than I was a year ago.  And I don't know how, but I think I am less gray.  Thank you.

I did well with reading.  Finished the Bible around Thanksgiving, reading 4 chapters a day.

Would like to get in more reading this year, in general.

As far as specific goal setting, here is what I think is realistic:

1- 15,000 push ups and squats

2- 10 books

3- 50 blog posts

4- Run my first 5K.

5- Recite the Lord's Prayer, The Creeds, Luther's morning and evening prayers every day.  I can't believe I haven't done this every day.  Maybe I should just read the Treasury of Daily Prayer every day.

6- Listen to Issues, Etc and morning chapel every day it's available.

7- Get up at the same time every day.  I had been doing this for 10-15 years prior, but last year I became a little less rigid about it.  That was a bad idea.

As always, Deo Volente.

This Year's Goals Update

Checking in again.

Today I hit 5000 pushups.  I will hit my goals by mid to late October, God willing I stay healthy and no unforeseen circumstances.  I have added a lot more exercises, too.

I have finished Luke, John and Acts in the New Testament.  

I decided after finishing Acts that I would do 4 chapters a day in the Old Testament, and suspend the New Testament, so that when I get back to it and start to read the Epistles it would be in bigger chunks than just a chapter a day.  

I think the Epistles should be taken in larger chunks to help the reading context.

So I have now read from Joshua through Ezra 4.

My posting is way behind, but I am still confident I can make that up with the summer close at hand.

I have yet to sit and watch a baseball game this year.  I do check the standings.

Hope everyone is well.  Blessings to all!

Must Hears- Covenants and The Passover/Last Supper

Long time no see.  Or such.

If you have the time check out Fighting For the Faith's breakdown of covenants.  

Then listen to Dr. Arthur Just's lesson on the Passover/Last Supper in Luke from Issues, Etc.

Then think about how well they tie together.

Think about what remembrance is referring to here, as we hit Maundy Thursday.

God does everything for us.  We do nothing.

Wow!  Deep, amazing and awesome stuff going on here, Maundy Thursday.

It will take about 2 1/2 hours, but there is no way you won't be glad you spent it.

1.

2.                    Encore: The Passover According to Luke – Dr. Arthur Just (issuesetc.org)

Reading Updates and My First Act As Your King

Been awhile since I last checked in.  

If I were king, my first official act would be to outlaw wallpaper.  

I hope that gives you an idea of the kind of days I have been having the past 11 days.  I am convinced the only people who decide to hang wallpaper in a room are those who have never had to take it down.

Not good, clean fun.

But I have persevered and conquered so far, thanks be to God for that.  Just one room to go.

'Nuff said about that, except I hope you will give me due consideration for the position just for that stroke of genius alone.

Anyway, we are now two months into the year.  I have been able to keep up reading and exercising, despite my mess.

I have read since February 20th, the date of my last post:
Deuteronomy.
Luke 8-18.

I am at 2400 push ups and 2200 squats.  

I am behind on posting, but I have a good reason and should be back posting regularly again soon.  I have a back log of ideas coming.

Last 9 Days Reading and Morning Chapel

Friday Reading:
Numbers 10-12.
Mark 15.

Saturday Reading:
Numbers 13-15.
Mark 16.

Sunday Reading:
Numbers 16-18.
Luke 1.

Monday Reading:
Numbers 19-21.
Luke 2.

Tuesday Reading:
Numbers 22-24.
Luke 3.

Wednesday Reading:
Numbers 25-27.
Luke 4.

Thursday Reading:
Numbers 28-30.
Luke 5.

Friday Reading:
Numbers 31-33.
Luke 6.

Saturday Reading:
Numbers 34-36.
Luke 7.

We have been trying to incorporate Morning Chapel into our daily routine, although some days it doesn't work out.  You can find it at Issues, Etc.

I appreciate the variety of the worship formats, from the Divine Services to Matins and such.

When my reading and either Sunday Service or the Chapel Services come close together, it is a pretty cool thing- "Hey, we just read this!".  Doesn't happen often but does enough that it gets "extra" attention from my mind.  I know, that is pitiful, but it is true.

Sometimes the opposite happens, a service has a reading or sermon on something I know is coming up in a few days or relates to the readings somehow in the near future.

This happened with the reading from last Tuesday in Numbers 22 about Balaam and his ass.  We had just had a message from Morning Chapel the previous week on that.

Definitely worthwhile to make the time to listen when you can.

Last Week's Reading

Friday:
Leviticus 16-18.
Mark 8.

Saturday:
Leviticus 19-21.
Mark 9.

Sunday:
Leviticus 22-24.
Mark 10.

Monday:
Leviticus 25-27.
Mark 11.

Tuesday:
Numbers 1-3.
Mark 12.

Wednesday:
Numbers 4-6.
Mark 13.

Thursday:
Numbers 7-9.
Mark 14.

The countdown is at 6 days for Spring!

I have to admit I had no excitement about the Cardinals looking toward the next baseball season, until a couple weeks ago.

That is when the Cardinals front office seemingly woke up from a several years nap.

Since then there have been 3 major developments which have changed my level of interest.

1- They traded to get Nolan Arenado for as little as anyone could imagine, and avoided having to pay for him at all this year.

2- They re-signed Adam Wainwright.

3- They re-signed Yadier Molina.

I think they have another move left in them, now that they are awake.  Time will tell.  But I am glad to see the team trying to win something, rather than just hanging around the edge of the playoffs.

I am just glad they finally stopped slumbering.  Get them some coffee and we might have a real contender by opening day.

Last Week's Reading And The End Of Winter

Friday Reading:
Exodus 34-36.

Mark 1.

Saturday Reading:
Exodus 37-40.
Mark 2.

Sunday Reading:
Leviticus 1-3.
Mark 3.

Monday Reading:
Leviticus 4-6.
Mark 4.

Tuesday Reading:
Leviticus 7-9.
Mark 5.

Wednesday Reading:
Leviticus 10-12.
Mark 6.

Thursday Reading:

Leviticus 13-15.
Mark 7.

A lot of chatter again this year about groundhogs and the end of winter.  This always puzzles me, because I often hear people proclaim that winter will be 6 more weeks.

But we all know that spring starts when pitcher's and catchers report.  And for a long time that date was not nailed down for 2021.

I am happy to report, with certainty, as opposed to our groundhog show-offs, that I know the exact date of the end of winter.

                                          "Hey, who you callin' a show-off, punk?"

OK, OK, listen I don't want any trouble.   I know we have had our differences in the past.  Let's move on.

And that date would be February 17th.  In 13 days!

Just in time, as we look to be getting a blast from winter in the few days.  A last hurrah, I guess.

Less than 2 weeks of cold weather.  I am ready.

Tuesday To Thursday Reading

Tuesday Reading:
Exodus 25-27.
Matthew 26.

Wednesday Reading:
Exodus 28-30.
Matthew 27.

Thursday Reading:
Exodus 31-33.
Matthew 28.

A few things I wanted to note in this past 3 days reading set.

First, I could have posted this in Genesis 20, but it also goes with Matthew 27 which deals with the crucifixion.  

Fighting For The Faith once again came through here in the series on Understanding The Old Testament.  It's another must see in this series.  If you haven't seen it, you really need to do so.  Go to:

(129) A Pirate Christian's Guide to the Old Testament Part 3 - YouTube

Really awesome.

Secondly, is the seriousness of the Sabbath in Exodus 31.  

However, as we read a few chapters ago in Matthew, the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  Applying the principles we have learned from Pastor Rosebrough, to reconcile this we are to see and understand that Jesus is the Sabbath.

Lastly, I chuckle every time I read Exodus 32, for the sheer "ludiocrisy" of Aaron and his quick thinking.  That well thought out excuse he gives for the golden calf incident.  

Either he's stupid, or he thinks Moses is stupid, or he is just a terrible liar.  

Probably all 3.And that goes for every one of us, too.  .

Anyway, it is one of the funniest moments in the Bible.  I'm sure this is what I must look like to God at times.  So glad this part of the story was recorded.

So much good stuff here.  Thanks for reading along.

Five Days Reading And Tom Brady

Thursday:
Exodus 10-12.

Matthew 21.

Friday:
Exodus 13-15.

Matthew 22.

Saturday:
Exodus 16-18.

Matthew 23.

Sunday:

Exodus 19-21.

Matthew 24.

Monday:
Exodus 22-24.

Matthew 25.

I was stunned by Tom Brady's win yesterday, even though I shouldn't have been.

About 5 years ago I did not consider him to be the best there ever was, and I even remember scoffing about his plans to continue playing until age 45.

I don't even think it can be argued now, after watching him yesterday complete the transformation of Tampa Bay into a championship team, that he is the greatest quarterback who has ever played.

It's not even close any more.

He is going to his 10th Super Bowl.  That is incomprehensible.

This number is the stuff of Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell, people who have legends based on records that no one will ever even approach.

We are witnessing an era that people will talk about as long as men play football.  He will be forever the standard by which everyone else is compared.

Glad I got to see it.

Past 5 Days Reading And My Proposal

Saturday:
Genesis 46-48
Matthew 16.

Sunday:
Genesis 49-50.
Matthew 17.

Monday:
Exodus 1-3.
Matthew 18.

Tuesday:
Exodus 4-6.
Matthew 19.

Wednesday:
Exodus 7-9.
Matthew 20.

Thanks to Barb The Evil Genius for pointing out my mistake on my post January 11th when I stated that the year was a third over.  Of course I meant to say the month.  I have left it up there as is, without correction, in all of its glory.

But what if that could be true.  Think of all the great things that could happen if the year was only 31 days long.

First, we would all live much longer.  Instead of our life expectancies being only 80 years roughly, they would instead be 960 years.  Which is as old as Methuselah.

We would spend many more years in school.  It would take us 144 years after kindergarten to even graduate high school.  Think of how much more we could learn and how much smarter we would be.

Think of all the time off.  

Saturdays and Sundays would account for roughly 8-10 days of the year.  We would have to jam in all the holidays in the 21 to 23 days remaining.  New Year's, Martin Luther King's Birthday, President's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I count 10 holidays.

That would mean we would only work 11 to 13 days a  year.

The only downside I see is having to file income tax returns every 31 days.

What do you think?  Sounds great to me. 

You're welcome.  Sometimes great things happen by accident.  But I'll keep working on more ideas to advance our world, too.

Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday Reading And Christ In The Old Testament

Tuesday:
Genesis 34-36.
Matthew 12.

Wednesday:
Genesis 37-39.
Matthew 13.

Thursday:
Genesis 40-42.
Matthew 14.

Friday:
Genesis 43-45.
Matthew 15.


In 2019's last post I embedded a video from Fighting For the Faith about understanding the Old Testament.  

That series was awesome.  As I read through the story of Joseph and his brothers, I am reminded of this in particular.

Here is the link.  Very incredible.

Weekend And Monday Reading

Saturday and Sunday:
Genesis 25-30.
Matthew 9-10.

Monday:
Genesis 31-33.
Matthew 11.

Well, we are a third of the way through the year.  Let's take a little inventory on how the year is going:

Pushups 600.
Squats 600.
Steps ? my app is amiss because I don't like walking with my phone.  I am not hitting 10,000 though I am sure.
Posts 6.

Doing well except not sure how to get the steps in now and count them.

Wednesday/Thursday/Friday Reading, Lot, And Rev. Paul T. McCain

Wednesday:

Genesis 16-18.

Matthew 6.

Thursday:
Genesis 19-21.

Matthew 7.

Friday:
Genesis 22-24.

Matthew 8.

So why is Lot mentioned in Genesis?

He is surely as wretched as all of us, and seems like a side story, until we come to the point.  I love Genesis 19:16.  The LORD was merciful to Lot.  He just up and saved him.  Not because of anything he had done.  My goodness, look what he tried to do to his daughters.

Genesis 19:16, and really verse 15, are very comforting words to a bunch of wretches like us

A few years ago I commented on this event in a post here.  Hard to believe that was 10 years ago.  When I went to look for it, I thought it was maybe 3-5 years ago.  Wow.

This post in 2011 is also remarkable for the fact that the Rev. Paul T. McCain was kind enough to visit my blog and leave a comment.

For those who don't know, this frequent contributor to the great Issues, Etc. was the publisher at Concordia Publishing House.  I was saddened to hear of his passing this past November.  

Betcha he is not sad like the rest of us.

Tuesday Reading And More Flood Stuff

Genesis 13-15.
Matthew 5.

I have the Lutheran Study Bible and one of the footnotes on Melchizedek from today's reading states that the early church fathers and even Martin Luther "associated" him with Shem.

I don't remember ever reading that anywhere, even though I have read this multiple times, but if it were true would be kinda cool.  So, to test whether this theory is even possible, I pulled out the ol' reliable Timechart Of Biblical History.  There are some pretty cool charts on that resource that put forth timelines.

If you don't have this, you should.  Remember yesterday when I mentioned the basement of the Ark Encounter being their bookstore?  Well guess where I bought this book?

The timeline is a treasure trove of people, blood lines and contemporaneous events. 

By studying the timeline, I am happy to report that not only was Shem alive when Abram walked the Earth, but he was also alive at the time Isaac was born!  And the Great Sphinx was built.

No wonder Abram treated him like he did- it may have been his great-great-great-great...OK, I am too lazy to try to calculate how many greats I need...grandfather.

So it is very possible this legend could be true.

It helps when you live over 500 years.  You sure get to see a lot.  Not sure I will make it, though.  We'll see.

Monday Reading And The Flood

Genesis 10-12.
Matthew 4.

I love reading about The Flood, so yesterday's reading was the foundation of all that.

If you haven't yet been to the Creation Museum or The Ark Encounter, you are missing a couple visits you will never forget.  Make it your summer destination if possible.

The Ark Encounter is awesome.  We went there in 2018.  I am looking forward to going back.

The massive structure is stunning to behold.  The exhibits are so well done, from the weather and climate, to the engineering explanations of how the ark could have functioned, including waste removal and fresh water systems, to the feeding and living quarters.

And I could spend a couple hours alone in the basement in the gift shop, just looking at the books and resources.

I also recommend Answers In Genesis, the force behind both, as a worthy charity of which to contribute.  I have never been disappointed by anything they have ever done and have gladly given my hard earned money for a few years.

These are some photos I snapped with people in the foreground in order to try to show the scale of this structure.  It might help to click on each photo to see as the post itself will not do it justice.

Massively awesome.  Can't wait to go back.

Weekend Reading And Being Good-Looking

Saturday:
Genesis 4-6.
Matthew 2.

Sunday:
Genesis 7-9.
Matthew 3.

I haven't changed the look of my blog in a long time, until now.

I must say I really like it, and don't think I have ever had a theme like this one.  Maybe I'm wrong.

Is there any way to go back and view historically what our blogs looked like say 5 or 10 years ago.  I can remember a few themes, but not all of them.

I remember a black and gold theme after the Cardinals won the 2006 World Series, to signify the win and trophy.

I remember a baseball and grass theme at one time.

But I have stuck with mostly reds due to the Cardinals, and grays and blacks and off-whites.

It would be nice to put a picture up on this blog, but can't figure out how to put it in the background instead of having it tile across.

Anyway, we will go with this one for awhile, at least until Spring.  The start of which has apparently not been declared yet.  Hurry it up already!

So what do you think?  I kinda like it.  Looks good, no?

Been Asleep At The Blogging Switch- Did I Miss Anything I Could Have Posted About?

Good morning!

Haven't posted since 2019.  So, I'm sure a lot has happened.  Anyone want to fill me in?  

And will it take long?  I have some things to do.  Please hurry it up.

Anyway, I haven't changed, at least not that I have noticed.  Except I'm getting a little slower, a little grayer, a little less strong, and a little less energetic.  

Actually that last part is not exactly true.  I am honestly exhausted.

Other than those 4 things, I really haven't changed.

But a little rest in the near future, starting today, and I should be good as new soon.

While some would say this past year has been trying, and it certainly has been that, and a lot of people would like all this to end and go back to the way it used to be, and I certainly can understand that, just think about those who lived through a couple World Wars.

Think of the uncertainty, the sacrifice, and the day-to-day grinding it took to make it through those times.  We are just about a year into this, and people are already weary.  Can you imagine having another 3 years of this to endure?  I have my doubts that "we", collectively, could do it.

We just gotta take it one day at a time, lest we forget tomorrow is promised to no one.  I know not how we could forget that in the year we just had, but I have at times.

So, since we're now going to be living one day at a time...

...let's set some goals for the year!

It's been three years since I've taken a through-the-Bible reading journey, both personally and on this blog.  So here we go again.

For today:
Genesis 1-3.
Matthew 1.

Please join me.  We will definitely finish before the end of the year, unless someone gets sick.  Or I actually get interested in professional sports again.  

Like baseball.

And the New Year is a good time to start exercising again, something I have neglected the past 10 months.  I will set very modest targets this year, which I hope to blow through.  No more 25,000 or 30,000 push ups or squats goals as in years past, at least not this one.  How about 10,000 of each, and 10,000 steps a day?  That's easy to remember.

Looking forward to lots more posting this year.  I'll say 100 posts sounds doable to me, if not down right frightening for anyone still out there reading.  

I can't believe I still have some followers.

I may even venture into something called MySpace and Twizzler(?), which I have heard are becoming popular.

Of course, Deo Volente.

How I Am Filling My Time Shout Outs, Especially Fighting For The Faith

I still am watching and liking the Cardinals chances, only 3 games out, with the offense yet to get on track.  It is bound to happen.  Waiting for the inevitable big streak to begin.

Still listen a lot to Issues, Etc.  It's still the flagship of my Saturday morning garden listening.  As well as my drives to and from work.

MeTV is my go-to non-Cardinals television.  Although Saturday afternoons still belong to PBS and Saturday nights to RFD-TV.

Hardly ever watch HGTV anymore.  Too many reruns and too little variety.  I still record House Hunters to watch, but rarely actually get around to watching it.

Hardly ever watch DIY anymore.  Same reasons.

I watch some YouTube, mainly Pecos Hank and NewsBeFunny.

My new favorite thing to do in my free time is listen to Pirate Christian Radio's Fighting For the Faith, also watching it on YouTube.

I first heard Pastor Chris Rosebrough on Issues, Etc., with his regular end of the week segment on "This Week in Pop American Christianity".  I find his teaching style easy to listen to and of course informative.

I have embedded two of my favorites I have listened to recently.

His blasting of Joel Osteen is, granted, low-hanging fruit.  But it's still worth a listen.

How can anyone want most of the American Church teaches, when you can have what Scriptures really teach?  Don't answer, I know.

But the second embed is the real meat to this post.

The realization that Scriptures are not about us, not a guidebook for our lives and how to live a better one, but about Jesus Christ, from Genesis to Revelation, is the key to understanding who God is and our relationship to Him.

I hate to say it, but I never got that until I started attending a real confessional Lutheran Church 18 years ago.  Before that, I looked to find me and my life in every book, chapter and verse of the Bible.

I finally understood the Old Testament and its importance to understanding the New Testament.  It's all there, it just took looking at the books with a different lens that what I had tried my whole life.  It finally all made sense.  It's all Jesus Christ.  That's it.

And when you finally have that "Aha" moment, which he described happening to himself in the video, it blows one's mind because it is so simple.  But it opens up everything.

Leviticus?  Can't understand it?  Well, it's all about Jesus Christ.  The Tabernacle?  Hello, Jesus.  The prophets?  Everything else?  Of course.

What Pastor Rosebrough is saying here is so vitally important.  That's why I had to post it.  I will probably watch it again and again as years go by, to keep me grounded.  Looking forward to Part 2.

It's Early...But...

I really like this team.

The Cardinals in my lifetime, have been traditionally slow out of the gate.  At least too slow for me.

I always fretted as a child when the Cardinals came out slow, because at my school there were always Cubs fans, who seemed to always start as fast as the Cardinals did slow.  I often had to listen to Cubs fans brag (God only knows why) about it being "the year".  By the time summer started the Cardinals had usually caught or were about to catch the Cubs.

And by the time the Cardinals had passed them up, school was out, and by the time school started, it was Cubs fans saying "who cares, wait 'til next year".  So it was difficult to "get back" at their ridiculous predictions, so to speak.

I remember as a child one season, 1973, when it seemed they were never going to win another game.  And yet they were in first place by the All-Star Break that year.

Here's how whacky that year went (credit Baseball Reference):
0-5 start
1-12 April 22nd
2-15 April 28th
5-20 May 8th (a famous day in Knicks history as noted in a previous post)
61-50 August 5th (high water mark before losing 8 in a  row)
81-81 finish after winning their last 5 games.

They almost made the playoffs, had the Cubs beat the Mets on the last two days of the season.

And in the previous post I just chronicled a year in which they started 15-19 and yet won 101 by years end.

Anyway, this year got off to another slow start initially, with St. Louis going 1-3 in Milwaukee.  But I've learned by now baseball is a long, long, long season.

In fact, traditional baseball wisdom is to check the standing after 40 games to see what you have, not before then, and that gives you a good snapshot of how the season is going to go forward.

But I can't help but be optimistic.  I came in to this season with higher than usual expectations.  After 3 mediocre years, we have to be due for a breakout.  Balls had to bounce our way again.  One run games had to be won by us this time.

Plus, I just like Paul Goldschmidt.  In fact the whole team is very likeable.

I'm playing it cautious, but I suspect I have watched more baseball this April than in the previous 3 Aprils combined.

And I do like what I see.  Looking forward to more to come.

1985- A Heck Of A Year

There is a great video on the Cardinals' 1985 season.  My favorite year.

1985 was originally to be the year the Cardinals finished last.  Instead they finished on top of the baseball world (except for one umpire's psychotic call).

The Cubs had won the division the year before, for the first time ever.  Cubs fans were more obnoxious than usual.

It was supposed to be the year Whitey Herzog would be fired.  Instead he was manager of the year.

This was the most exciting brand of baseball I have ever witnessed, and probably ever will.  

Speed.  Defense.  Pitching.  Incredible highlights.

Just watch the video.  It's all there.

I went to one game that year.  The Saturday night Cubs game in mid-June shown in the video (the series starts at 10:48).  Sat in the left field loge section.  Cardinals won in their last at bat.  

A Cub-Cardinal game at old Busch was usually quite loud.  I remember Lou Brock's 2997th and 2998th hits against the Cubs in 1979 and how loud that was as he closed in on 3000.  But as Curt Ford's (his MLB debut) game winning hit fell that Saturday night in June 1985, and Ozzie streaked home after stealing on the play, I never heard old Busch so loud (11:02).  Definite was a whole lotta shaking going on of the whole Busch structure.

Excitement every play.  Virtually every inning that season.  

Heck of a year.

It was a special year.  The beginning of the whole Mets-as-pond-scum rivalry that would continue throughout the rest of the 1980s.

It was also the year I graduated college.  Got engaged.  Took off for more schooling.

Heck of a year.

I remember going out until late hours that summer, then heading home and tuning in to KMOX in my car to see if the game was over and if the Cardinals won.  

Sometimes after midnight, the game that night would still be the topic of discussion.

I remember moving in late summer, meeting new people and starting over again.  But the Cardinals remained the one constant in my new surroundings.

Heck of a year.

Meeting new Cardinals fans to share that late season with.  The last week showdown with the hated Mets.  I sweated out 3 straight nights listening to my radio and trying to study at the same time.

The clinching against the Cubs in the 161st game.

The falling behind in the NLCS out in LA, only to come roaring back to win the next four games.

The late Saturday morning game, the Sunday night where Vince Coleman was eaten by the tarp machine, Monday's Ozzie HR and Tuesday's Jack Clark moon shot (best home run trot in history).

Won't ever forget any of it.

The World Series that was won, until it was un-won by the event that shall never be mentioned again.

Heck of a year.

The arrival of Jack Clark and Vince Coleman.  NL MVP Willie McGee flying around in the outfield and the base paths.  Tommy Herr's career year.  Ozzie's defensive acrobatics.

So much fun to watch.  Getting to 101 wins after stumbling out of the gate to a 15-19 record.

And to listen to, with Jack Buck in his prime and Mike Shannon as his wingman.

I miss this type of baseball.  So much better than today's game.  

Truly a team for the ages.

Anyway, my favorite baseball year.  Although I guess I should qualify that with a "so far".  One can never know.

First Day of Baseball Games...So Let's Watch Some Football

First Spring Training game today.  So glad it is now Spring.  It was a long winter.

To celebrate, I am posting one last old time pro football video.  This one from 1971.

Two years after the Chiefs won the Super Bowl, they were one of the favorites to win again.  But first up in the playoffs for them was an upstart team from Miami looking to make a name for themselves.

It was the second season after the merger.  And the NFL decides to have a playoff game on Christmas day.

No harm there.  Start the game in the afternoon, entertain the fans and get out 'fore dinner.

Yep.  That was the plan.

And it might have worked, if not for a few bad breaks along the way.

Instead it turned into a controversy that almost was as bad as the Heidi game, although not nearly as famous.

Today it is remembered almost exclusively for being the longest game in NFL history.  It went two overtimes.

And for that reason, was the end of Christmas football.

I still remember the delayed Christmas dinner it caused.  I was eight years old, and although I no longer believed in Santa Claus, I had one of the best Christmases I can remember.

My brother and I got fuzzy headed and bearded GI Joe Adventure Team Action figures.  I got the Army jungle adventure version with the ape, net and net and Safari buggy.  Some of which I played with at my grandpa's house while watching the game.

Which I watched.  And watched.  And watched.

My memory is not really clear, but I think we were called to dinner more than once.  That offer was declined in order to watch the game.  Or maybe it wasn't an offer, maybe more like a request.  Mighta even been a command.

Again, I don't remember.  But I do remember being glad when the Dolphins won the game on a FG by Garo Yepremian, as I didn't like the Chiefs at the time (see previous posts).  I don't remember how late dinner started, nor whether I even got one.

And so ended the great Christmas NFL playoff experiment.

Later on, the NFL expanded to 16 game seasons, so he playoffs start after New Year's now.  However, it was another 18 years after this two OT game that the NFL dared having another Christmas game.

And according to Wikipedia, there have only been 19 such games in NFL history.  One of which occurred earlier the day of this game, when Dallas beat Minnesota.

A few of other things I learned:
Last game in KC at their old Municipal stadium.  Arrowhead opened the next year.  Loved the look of that old stadium.
It was the Chiefs first home playoff game.  How is that even possible, considering they had been to two Super Bowls?
Ed Podolak was a beast in this game.  Wow.
Jan Stenerud has never recovered and never will.

Wow.  You can see the pain in his face even decades later.  So easy to relate to if you have ever failed to deliver, no matter what that is in life.  Nothing anyone can say.  Nothing anyone can do.  Haunts you forever.

Anyway, it's very enjoyable.

Next...on to baseball!

The End

Today we will post the last installment on the history of the AFL.

As we have already learned, Al Davis hated how it came about.  He thinks the AFL would have buried the NFL and had the upper hand in negotiations.  But gave it all away when the AFL was absorbed into the NFL.

Even though that was not the objective the original owners had.  The reason the AFL even came about was the NFL was not interested in expansion and the eventual AFL owners wanted pro teams.  So those owners got what they really wanted back in the beginning by the deal.

But Davis was different.  He wanted to compete and win.  And I believe the AFL would have, because it seems the AFL owners were smarter than the NFL owners.  At least according to this historical count.

If Davis had had his way, I believe football history would have been much more interesting.

And I think the Super Bowl might have become even bigger if there were still an NFL and an AFL.  Especially if the teams rarely, if ever, played each other during the season.  Would have been much more intriguing.

I also think one of the worst things the MLB ever did was start interleague play.  The mystique of the leagues disappeared.  I wish the World Series was the only way we decided which league was better.

Anyway, here's the end of the AFL, ironically after their triumph in Super Bowl IV.

This was a fun series.

I Propose A New Holiday...

Super Bowl Eve.

So, Merry Super Bowl Eve.

A lot of Super Bowl talk and hype going on right now.

But has there ever been a Super Bowl more talked about than the one shown in the next installment of "Full Color Football"?

That would be Super Bowl III.  The one that immortalized (in the American sense) Joe Namath.

Total dominance by NY in this game.  Fueled no doubt by anger and disrespect.

Those feelings I believe are the most powerful motivators any human can experience.

The other thing I notice about this game is how visually and aesthetically pleasing the game is.  The colors are terrific and the uniforms classic.

Enjoy the 4th of 5 installments.

So I Complain About Modern Football And I Get Two Fun Games As A Result

Last Sunday's games were awesome.

And although there was no mud or grass, it was a worthwhile expense of my time to watch.  Tony Romo made the experience of the AFC championship that much better.  The man is uncanny in the accuracy of his analysis and foresight.

So, we won't get the Chiefs in the Super Bowl for the first time in 49 years.  But we will get the Patriots for the 4th time in 5 years and 9th time in 18 years

Anyone seen this movie?  Yawn.

Strangely, I'll root for them anyway, against the Rams, the team without a home.  Can't stand them since they moved from St. Louis, to a land where no one gives a fleck of mud on their cleats about them.

The Super Bowl hype starts this week.  It's that time to manufacture some more news.  I've had enough of that as well.  Double yawn.

I guess the timing is right, then, for this post and the AFL history lesson that I've attached.  In it, we finally get to the leadup to the first Super Bowl in 1967.

I have grown to agree with the opinion, one stated in this series, that the NFL won those first two Super Bowls solely because it was the league of the Packers, not because the NFL was superior.  The Packers were simply the best team around in the '60s.

Those Super Bowls proved nothing about which league was better.  They just proved no one could defeat the Packers in that era.

Anyway, enjoy this next video, the 3rd in the 5 part series.

This Was Football

What you won't see today.

Mud, clotheslines, late hits, piling on...real football!

I've been watching a lot of old football clips from the late '60s and early '70s, as a result of the Showtime AFL series I am embedding.

The 2nd part of the AFL series, while worthwhile watching, is a probably the weakest of the 5 installments as far as star power.  But the stories are great fun!

Who goes to a desert dude ranch for training camp?!!  Rats, snakes, tarantulas...and the scariest thing of all...the non-working toilets.

Fun to see Jack Kemp and Ernie Ladd, though.  And Bill Belichick and John Madden.

Ernie Ladd.  My memories of him are really as a professional wrestler in the '70s which I watched on Saturday or Sunday afternoon All-Star Wrestling.  He was huge, I believe he was 6'9"...loved the crown, and the "Promises Promises" warm up.

He was a heel, though, and I never rooted for him that I can recall.  I was a Dick the Bruiser fan, and it seems he usually wrestled against him.

I am including as a bonus video the 1968 AFL Championship game highlights.  This is the famous Jets team that won Super Bowl III.

I think the Raiders team here, coming off a Super Bowl loss the previous year, would have won Super Bowl III against the Colts as well.

Loved those white and silver unis.

Enjoy both.

Double Doink And The Chiefs

I am finally recovered from last week's Bears playoff loss.

I hate to place the blame for the loss on one person...but...doinking field goals was this guy's specialty this year.

I just knew he wasn't going to make that FG...I saw it on his face as he took the field.  I tried to wish it in, but just knew deep down what was going to happen.

And it did.

That said, the Bears' defense bended too much to win the game.  I was very surprised by that.  It shouldn't have come down to a last second field goal.

And the offense looked a little off, too.

Conclusion- it was a team effort loss.

So I'm out of any rooting interest this year.  Kansas City is the closest team to me by geography still left, so I'll probably root for them.

I was hoping Indy might win, but I'll take it.

Because with KC's win, I finally get to post about something I have wanted to for about 4 years, but was waiting for the right opportunity.

And that time is now.

In 2014 I watched a series on YouTube that originated I guess on a cable network.

It's about the history of the AFL.  And no team in my lifetime epitomizes the AFL more to me than the Chiefs.

You see, I was born in 1963 and am too young to remember Super Bowl III.  The year the AFL officially became a legitimate power.

I remember Joe Namath and all that, and I remember him being a big deal, but I really didn't pay any attention to football in early 1969.  I was in kindergarten.

But I definitely remember Super Bowl IV.  I was all set to watch the Vikings clobber the Chiefs.

In my six year old mind, I had the odds of the Vikings losing to the Chiefs at near infinity:1.

I've posted about that game before, so I'll spare you the details.  Go here if you want to read about it.

Anyway, the leagues merged after that game, and the AFL was dead.  But my lasting memory of the AFL is of the Chiefs as champions, not just of the AFL, but of football.

My other memory of the AFL is of the Raiders and their rivalry with the Chiefs.  Naturally, I always rooted for the Raiders due to my Chiefs hatred.

But something funny has happened as time as gone by...I actually have grown to like that Super Bowl IV Chiefs team.

Mainly due to my liking of Hank Stram after he started to broadcast games, a lot of times on the radio with Jack Buck.

Anyway, I'm going to post that AFL history series over the next couple of weeks.  It's really a fun and informative documentary.  I learned a lot about the AFL and the early history of some of the NFL's more storied franchises.

Hope you enjoy it.  I sure did.  Try to watch it on full screen if you can.  The uniforms are awesome!

This is the football, very late '60s, early '70s, that got me hooked.

And I can't wait 'til next year...Go Bears...

Since The Bears Are Playing San Francisco Today...

It made me think of this game.

Of course I didn't witness it as I was only 2 years old.  But I heard about it a lot as a child, read about it, and have seen the highlights many times in my life.

By the time I was old enough to be interested in football, he got injured.  My only memories of him watching live was in his attempted comebacks from knee surgery.

And of course, Brian's Song.  But that's a story for another day.

Latest Reading And I'm Done Reading

Nahum.
Habakkuk.
Zephaniah.
Haggai.
Zechariah.
Malachi.


I finished the Bible again yesterday October 8th.  I do believe this is the earliest I have ever finished.  I usually finish around the end of November or in December.

I decided this year to read 4 chapters a day.  So I did 3 Old Testament and 1 New Testament chapter each day, until I ran out of New Testament about 3 weeks ago.

The only time I didn't stick to this formula was reading Psalms.  I did 5 Psalms a day, which meant it took me 30 days to finish.

I'm not sure what to read next to fill out the year.  Any ideas?

Reading And I Knew It

Lamentations.
Ezekiel.
Daniel.
Hosea.
Joel.
Amos.
Haggai.
Obadiah.
Jonah.
Micah.
Revelation 5-22.

For the third straight year, the Cardinals are out of the playoffs.  That hasn't happened since 1997 to 1999.

Nineteen years.  There's a lot to think about the past year.  The biggest are the what ifs.  Like, what if Mike Matheny had been fired in June?

Anyway, the team was fun to watch the last 2 months and unwatchable before that.  Winning does that I guess.

Another possibly interesting offseason will start soon.  I predict no major changes to the club.  Again.