November 19, 2007
November 18, 2007
I Love Tina Fey
I'm married. So I say this with all due respect.
I love Tina Fey. If my wife suddenly died, I'd kill Tina Fey's husband because I want her to be mine.
That's all.
P.S. No, I'm not planning anything evil. Yet...
I love Tina Fey. If my wife suddenly died, I'd kill Tina Fey's husband because I want her to be mine.
That's all.
P.S. No, I'm not planning anything evil. Yet...
Fire Mike Bellotti
This season has been glorious. Mike Bellotti put together a wonderful team, a wonderful coaching staff, and had us all on the edge of our seats thinking about Oregon's first shot at a national championship.
In fact, over the years, Bellotti has done far more good than bad as Oregon's coach, and has been a key piece in bringing the team to its almost-current prominent (and dominant) position nationally.
All that said, assuming John Hunt and John Canzano at the Oregonian are telling the truth (and I'm assuming they are), Mike Bellotti needs to be let go. Now.
Quoth Hunt: "Dixon had a torn anterior cruciate ligament, but he did not suffer the injury on that first-quarter play. He had torn it on a similar move 12 days earlier, against Arizona State. After that game, and after discussing his short- and long-term future with those closest to him, he decided to try to play with a completely torn ACL.
"'Dennis asked of us, on behalf of himself and his family, to not let anybody know -- he wanted to continue to try to play,' Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said of Dixon, who has rehabbed the knee since the ASU game and wore a brace Thursday night. 'But he did feel some instability, obviously, on the play in question -- that was the concern that we had.
"'Our doctors had talked with him extensively about his knee and his situation, and I had told him I would support him in whatever he wanted to do -- whether he wanted to play or not play.'"
Quoth Canzano: "Team doctors knew about Dixon's injury, suffered Nov. 3 against Arizona State. Trainers knew. Coach Mike Bellotti and his staff knew. Dixon and his family knew. And so did the Ducks' teammates. Turns out, the only ones who were in position to do a preemptive thing about it -- the coaching staff -- decided the best plan was to bet the house and play ACL-roulette?"
WTF? Sure, Dixon's no kid. He's a fifth-year senior playing his heart and his guts (and his knees) out for a team he loves and a cause he believes in. That said, it's up to Bellotti and the team's coaches and staff to look out for this guy who had been their meal ticket and make the mature and responsible choice when his heart wouldn't let him. There's no way a guy who's future is in jeopardy and who's at risk to lose millions of dollars should be allowed by his college coach to play on an already-torn ACL. That's simply ridiculous. I'm terribly, terribly disappointed.
As much as I was hoping for the Ducks to finish at the top this season, I would never ask Dixon to play with a torn ACL, even though I've already said on this very blog that the Ducks have no hope of doing anything without him. And if some no-name idiot like me is smart enough and responsible enough to make the right call despite my sincere wish to see the Ducks go all the way, the coach making the millions should be held to that same standard.
Fire Mike Bellotti. Like the Blazers before, I'd rather see integrity and character than success.
In fact, over the years, Bellotti has done far more good than bad as Oregon's coach, and has been a key piece in bringing the team to its almost-current prominent (and dominant) position nationally.
All that said, assuming John Hunt and John Canzano at the Oregonian are telling the truth (and I'm assuming they are), Mike Bellotti needs to be let go. Now.
Quoth Hunt: "Dixon had a torn anterior cruciate ligament, but he did not suffer the injury on that first-quarter play. He had torn it on a similar move 12 days earlier, against Arizona State. After that game, and after discussing his short- and long-term future with those closest to him, he decided to try to play with a completely torn ACL.
"'Dennis asked of us, on behalf of himself and his family, to not let anybody know -- he wanted to continue to try to play,' Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said of Dixon, who has rehabbed the knee since the ASU game and wore a brace Thursday night. 'But he did feel some instability, obviously, on the play in question -- that was the concern that we had.
"'Our doctors had talked with him extensively about his knee and his situation, and I had told him I would support him in whatever he wanted to do -- whether he wanted to play or not play.'"
Quoth Canzano: "Team doctors knew about Dixon's injury, suffered Nov. 3 against Arizona State. Trainers knew. Coach Mike Bellotti and his staff knew. Dixon and his family knew. And so did the Ducks' teammates. Turns out, the only ones who were in position to do a preemptive thing about it -- the coaching staff -- decided the best plan was to bet the house and play ACL-roulette?"
WTF? Sure, Dixon's no kid. He's a fifth-year senior playing his heart and his guts (and his knees) out for a team he loves and a cause he believes in. That said, it's up to Bellotti and the team's coaches and staff to look out for this guy who had been their meal ticket and make the mature and responsible choice when his heart wouldn't let him. There's no way a guy who's future is in jeopardy and who's at risk to lose millions of dollars should be allowed by his college coach to play on an already-torn ACL. That's simply ridiculous. I'm terribly, terribly disappointed.
As much as I was hoping for the Ducks to finish at the top this season, I would never ask Dixon to play with a torn ACL, even though I've already said on this very blog that the Ducks have no hope of doing anything without him. And if some no-name idiot like me is smart enough and responsible enough to make the right call despite my sincere wish to see the Ducks go all the way, the coach making the millions should be held to that same standard.
Fire Mike Bellotti. Like the Blazers before, I'd rather see integrity and character than success.
November 16, 2007
November 13, 2007
Jason Quick is a Good Guy
I often enjoy tuning into The Fan to listen to Jason Quick's "Blazer Insider" bits on game days and on other occasional times when Blazers news is afoot. He's a solid reporter who clearly knows how to toe the fine line between keeping the confidence of the team while keeping things as transparent as possible for the fans. He's really a very good beat reporter, and I'm so happy he's around.
Also interesting, though, is his blog at the Oregonian. And today I saw what has been, perhaps, one of his better pieces in awhile. It's always nice to get a feeling for the people who's stuff we read so often.
I'm copying Quick's post below. The original is here. This is really good stuff, in both telling us how helping others is so good for helping ourselves, and in also telling us some of the good stuff the Blazers are doing in the community. I think for those who don't normally see his blog, this is worthy of sharing
Also interesting, though, is his blog at the Oregonian. And today I saw what has been, perhaps, one of his better pieces in awhile. It's always nice to get a feeling for the people who's stuff we read so often.
I'm copying Quick's post below. The original is here. This is really good stuff, in both telling us how helping others is so good for helping ourselves, and in also telling us some of the good stuff the Blazers are doing in the community. I think for those who don't normally see his blog, this is worthy of sharing
It's been a long time since I've had a bad day.
But sure enough, Monday came and brought with it everything that could possibly go wrong. Everything, it seemed, was going against me.
As a result, I was in a foul mood.
And then, it all changed, and it came from the place I least expected.
After a horrible morning, and a bad afternoon at Blazers practice, I begrudgingly headed to a volunteer commitment for the Blazers at their 12th annual Harvest Dinner at the Rose Garden.
As it turns out, the Harvest Dinner completely changed my day.
The Blazers on Monday opened the doors of the Rose Garden to anyone in need and offered them a free meal of turkey, ham, stuffing, green beans and rolls. There was also an area where people from SuperCuts gave free haircuts.
I helped dish some green beans. To my right, Blazers center Joel Przybilla handed out rolls. Down the line, general manager Kevin Pritchard was spooning heapings of ham. And behind me, Greg Oden was plopping handfuls of stuffing. All of the players and coaches were there, dishing out food and signing autographs.
The people were hungry, humble, and very polite. I can't count how many times I heard them thank the players. Some of them wore old Blazers shirts. And some of them brought plastic containers to load up food for the coming days.
In all, the Blazers figure they fed more than 5,000 people.
I only spent about 90 minutes at the event, which lasted more than 5 hours. But in those 90 minutes, my day changed completely. I began to smile. I started to feel good. I realized my nagging problems were so trivial. And I realized what an impact the Blazers organization has on this community.
As the people streamed through the food line, many of them recognized Oden. Some of them shouted out to him to take care of his leg. Others gawked at his size while nudging the person next to them, saying "That's Oden.'' Clearly, it was a big deal for these people to see him, and Greg didn't let them down, talking freely and easily with them all. He is going to be such a huge asset to this community.
At any rate, it was and is a great event, one that made thousands of people feel better.
In all my years of covering the team, I had never helped out at this event, and quite frankly, I'm embarrassed that it took me nearly 10 years to do so. I will never miss another one.
--Quick
November 06, 2007
SOAP Notes
A semi-regular Tuesday night tradition: more SOAP Notes.
November 6, 2007
Job 30; Psalms 120; Galatians 3 & 4
S: Galatians 3:3
Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
O: The discussion is directed at people who were saved by the Spirit yet still overly-focused on attaining perfect adearance to the law. It points out a regression in the people who had previously so strongly encountered God by stepping away from human understanding.
A: My walk with Christ has been an amazing testament to the fact that mere repetition does not necessarily lead to growth. I often think that when I first became a Christian, back in 2nd grade, I had a more complete understanding of Christianity, and a life more reflective of such understanding, than I do today. Indeed, I don’t just think it, I know it. Back then, my life with Christ was about learning how He related to me. The only “works” aspect that I thought was necessary was learning memory verses (something I’ve never been good about), which indeed was always directed towards building a relationship, as opposed to being a “follow-the-rules and grow-by-works” sort of thing. Over time, I became more concerned with walking my faith, which was fine. Except, somewhere along the line, the walk became a matter of my effort and my strength as opposed to what it was supposed to be. My focus came away from God and growing my spirit. The focus moved towards acting the part and working under my own power.
Many times in my life I have moved back to the truth. Our faith is one of relationship. Our God is not about draconian rules and ruthless authority, but instead is about love. As Peter notes later in the Bible, our God freed us from the power of sin, which is to say He freed us from the condemnation that flows from our persistent and habitual inability to live up to the standards of the law.
We have to be careful, of course, to live our lives in moderation. A life entirely focused on the Spirit loses its effectiveness in the world. A life focused too much on the world loses its spiritual satisfaction. The same goes for our Christianity in the sense that focusing on forgiveness to the exclusion of obedience leads us to dangerous and wanton sin, which reinforces so much the idea that so many have of us Christians having a double-standard. Focusing on obedience and toeing the line causes us to lose sight of God’s mercy, and ultimately to lose the grace we are to extend to eachother. This, of course, leads to the reinforcement of the other stereotype, the Christian bible-thumper full of hell and brimstone and lacking in love.
In the end, so much depends on our understanding that our Christianity is not a matter of us efforting our way into a special status. It’s about us receiving freely from that which we have all been given, if we choose to, and living a life that reflects that (as opposed to thinking our life causes it). The attainment of this understanding is a challenge I often fail, and until I internalize this truth into my heart and from my head I’ll continue to stub my toe on the same block, again and again.
P: Lord, help me to understand that it’s not about me. So much of what is wrong in my life is about how I look at the world: me first, me at the center, me in charge. I know I am to love myself, but I know more important is that I love You and Your love for me. Help me to stop my striving to “be more Christian,” and help me instead to simply become a better friend to You. Amen.
November 6, 2007
Job 30; Psalms 120; Galatians 3 & 4
S: Galatians 3:3
Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
O: The discussion is directed at people who were saved by the Spirit yet still overly-focused on attaining perfect adearance to the law. It points out a regression in the people who had previously so strongly encountered God by stepping away from human understanding.
A: My walk with Christ has been an amazing testament to the fact that mere repetition does not necessarily lead to growth. I often think that when I first became a Christian, back in 2nd grade, I had a more complete understanding of Christianity, and a life more reflective of such understanding, than I do today. Indeed, I don’t just think it, I know it. Back then, my life with Christ was about learning how He related to me. The only “works” aspect that I thought was necessary was learning memory verses (something I’ve never been good about), which indeed was always directed towards building a relationship, as opposed to being a “follow-the-rules and grow-by-works” sort of thing. Over time, I became more concerned with walking my faith, which was fine. Except, somewhere along the line, the walk became a matter of my effort and my strength as opposed to what it was supposed to be. My focus came away from God and growing my spirit. The focus moved towards acting the part and working under my own power.
Many times in my life I have moved back to the truth. Our faith is one of relationship. Our God is not about draconian rules and ruthless authority, but instead is about love. As Peter notes later in the Bible, our God freed us from the power of sin, which is to say He freed us from the condemnation that flows from our persistent and habitual inability to live up to the standards of the law.
We have to be careful, of course, to live our lives in moderation. A life entirely focused on the Spirit loses its effectiveness in the world. A life focused too much on the world loses its spiritual satisfaction. The same goes for our Christianity in the sense that focusing on forgiveness to the exclusion of obedience leads us to dangerous and wanton sin, which reinforces so much the idea that so many have of us Christians having a double-standard. Focusing on obedience and toeing the line causes us to lose sight of God’s mercy, and ultimately to lose the grace we are to extend to eachother. This, of course, leads to the reinforcement of the other stereotype, the Christian bible-thumper full of hell and brimstone and lacking in love.
In the end, so much depends on our understanding that our Christianity is not a matter of us efforting our way into a special status. It’s about us receiving freely from that which we have all been given, if we choose to, and living a life that reflects that (as opposed to thinking our life causes it). The attainment of this understanding is a challenge I often fail, and until I internalize this truth into my heart and from my head I’ll continue to stub my toe on the same block, again and again.
P: Lord, help me to understand that it’s not about me. So much of what is wrong in my life is about how I look at the world: me first, me at the center, me in charge. I know I am to love myself, but I know more important is that I love You and Your love for me. Help me to stop my striving to “be more Christian,” and help me instead to simply become a better friend to You. Amen.
Get Out and Vote!
Generally I don't like people holding signs along the roadside. I always appreciate the get-out-the-vote signers you see as you drive into downtown at election time, though. Honestly, it's a great service.
Here's my ballot, which I just delivered at Courthouse Square.
You may agree with how I voted. You may not. Either way, the only legitimate means of voicing your opinion in an election is to vote it. So comment if you'd like, but more importantly, GET OUT AND VOTE.
Here's my ballot, which I just delivered at Courthouse Square.
You may agree with how I voted. You may not. Either way, the only legitimate means of voicing your opinion in an election is to vote it. So comment if you'd like, but more importantly, GET OUT AND VOTE.
November 05, 2007
Hey, Mark & Dave, Where's My Invite?
Isaac noted over at his blog tonight that Mark & Dave had invited him to the Sam Adams Domain-Gifting shindig tomorrow thanks to his supportive discussion at his blog.
That's all well and good. But, really, where's my invite? After all, I have a whole topic devoted to the issue.
You can e-mail me at rustyblog at gmaildotcom. Don't make me boycott you...
That's all well and good. But, really, where's my invite? After all, I have a whole topic devoted to the issue.
You can e-mail me at rustyblog at gmaildotcom. Don't make me boycott you...
So, How Good Are the Oregon Ducks?
Tonight I was listening to the radio as I headed to dinner with a friend. I caught a 15 minute segment of John Canzano's Bald-Faced Truth show, and they were talking about the Ducks.
I like Canzano. He's a good guy. He and I have been able to go back and forth in the past, discussing a variety of sports stuff, thanks to having a mutual friend and both enjoying the use of e-mail (seriously, the guy answers e-mail proficiently, which is super-cool from the local big-time sports columnist). He and his co-host were previewing the remainder of the Ducks' season, and their prospects for post-season bowl play, and it got me thinking of related thoughts which, as far as I can tell, are actually my own.
First, they were saying that the Ducks have an excellent shot at making the national championship game. I agree that they do, if they win out. I think LSU probably has a loss coming (I'd guess to Florida, as opposed to Georgia, but I could be wrong) and I wouldn't be shocked to see Ohio State slip up to Michigan in the Big House (other than the Appalachian State loss, Michigan's had a pretty good season).
But we saw on Saturday that there is one big problem with the "if they win out" portion of the Ducks' equation. Because, if Dennis Dixon goes down, I don't believe that Brady Leaf can effectively run the Ducks' offense.
As an aside, that also has me worried for next year. If he's the slated starter for the 2008 campaign, we're in trouble, because our offense revolves around speed at the quarterback. But, I digress.
My belief, sadly, is that if the Ducks are able to make it to the national championship game, they will lose. Production has fallen way off as our receiving corps has been decimated, and we are getting way too one-dimensional. And, no disrespect to Aaron Pflugrad, who's having a great year for a freshman, but when he's quickly becoming your go-to receiver as a 5'8", 170-pound guy, you're really in trouble. The fact is, as Oregon has lost our top two guys to injuries and our next guy to a team suspension, we've seen Dennis Dixon's passing yards, and our team's scoring totals, dwindle steadily. Dixon's picking up the slack with his feet, but as defenses become less worried about the pass, they can start to focus more on following the ball in Oregon's confusing ground game.
My second thought is born out of watching the team struggle with Leaf on Saturday. It's so clear that Dixon is such an essential element on this team in creating its success that I don't know how Dixon doesn't get the Heisman, assuming he just maintains the status quo. Sure, Johnathan Stewart will be the higher draft pick (probably), but Dixon is the reason this offense works. His quickness on the field physically, his great decision-making, and his very adequate passing skills have combined with Chip Kelly's system to produce a potent offensive backfield that just wouldn't exist with any other quarterback I can think of.
Next year I predict a slump that will highlight how special Dennis Dixon was for this team. And any objective Heisman voter should be able to see the tremendous impact Dixon has had on this team's good fortunes as clear as the nose on their face. As Canzano noted, it's Dixon's award to lose at this point. Assuming he stays healthy and maintains a 3-1 TD to INT ratio in his last two games, along with at least 80 yards rushing, I think he takes it.
Chime in. Your thoughts are welcome.
I like Canzano. He's a good guy. He and I have been able to go back and forth in the past, discussing a variety of sports stuff, thanks to having a mutual friend and both enjoying the use of e-mail (seriously, the guy answers e-mail proficiently, which is super-cool from the local big-time sports columnist). He and his co-host were previewing the remainder of the Ducks' season, and their prospects for post-season bowl play, and it got me thinking of related thoughts which, as far as I can tell, are actually my own.
First, they were saying that the Ducks have an excellent shot at making the national championship game. I agree that they do, if they win out. I think LSU probably has a loss coming (I'd guess to Florida, as opposed to Georgia, but I could be wrong) and I wouldn't be shocked to see Ohio State slip up to Michigan in the Big House (other than the Appalachian State loss, Michigan's had a pretty good season).
But we saw on Saturday that there is one big problem with the "if they win out" portion of the Ducks' equation. Because, if Dennis Dixon goes down, I don't believe that Brady Leaf can effectively run the Ducks' offense.
As an aside, that also has me worried for next year. If he's the slated starter for the 2008 campaign, we're in trouble, because our offense revolves around speed at the quarterback. But, I digress.
My belief, sadly, is that if the Ducks are able to make it to the national championship game, they will lose. Production has fallen way off as our receiving corps has been decimated, and we are getting way too one-dimensional. And, no disrespect to Aaron Pflugrad, who's having a great year for a freshman, but when he's quickly becoming your go-to receiver as a 5'8", 170-pound guy, you're really in trouble. The fact is, as Oregon has lost our top two guys to injuries and our next guy to a team suspension, we've seen Dennis Dixon's passing yards, and our team's scoring totals, dwindle steadily. Dixon's picking up the slack with his feet, but as defenses become less worried about the pass, they can start to focus more on following the ball in Oregon's confusing ground game.
My second thought is born out of watching the team struggle with Leaf on Saturday. It's so clear that Dixon is such an essential element on this team in creating its success that I don't know how Dixon doesn't get the Heisman, assuming he just maintains the status quo. Sure, Johnathan Stewart will be the higher draft pick (probably), but Dixon is the reason this offense works. His quickness on the field physically, his great decision-making, and his very adequate passing skills have combined with Chip Kelly's system to produce a potent offensive backfield that just wouldn't exist with any other quarterback I can think of.
Next year I predict a slump that will highlight how special Dennis Dixon was for this team. And any objective Heisman voter should be able to see the tremendous impact Dixon has had on this team's good fortunes as clear as the nose on their face. As Canzano noted, it's Dixon's award to lose at this point. Assuming he stays healthy and maintains a 3-1 TD to INT ratio in his last two games, along with at least 80 yards rushing, I think he takes it.
Chime in. Your thoughts are welcome.
The Boycott Shall Never Cease!
Sam Adams noted on Mark & Dave's show last week that Sam Adams (the non-candidate) had "said uncle" and told him that he could use the websites registered by Mark & Dave. He seemed to imply that the arrangement was not-so-open-ended, but he certainly didn't say that there was any restriction.
Whatever. I don't care. Without a formal apology, I don't regard this as being over.
This boycott, as far as the web goes, has become old hat and uninteresting. I'll let you know if I ever give up, but know for now that Sam Adams beer is verboten in the Rusty universe.
By the way, the eggheads at Harvard dissected the letter here. I'm not sure what their final analysis indicates. To me, it says Sam Adams Beer never had a leg to stand on.
Whatever. I don't care. Without a formal apology, I don't regard this as being over.
This boycott, as far as the web goes, has become old hat and uninteresting. I'll let you know if I ever give up, but know for now that Sam Adams beer is verboten in the Rusty universe.
By the way, the eggheads at Harvard dissected the letter here. I'm not sure what their final analysis indicates. To me, it says Sam Adams Beer never had a leg to stand on.
October 30, 2007
SOAP Notes
Yet another installment in the SOAP Notes series.
October 30, 2007
Job 21; Mark 5 & 6
S: Job 21: 7-21 (in parts)
7 Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
9 Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not upon them.
13 They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace.
14 Yet they say to God, 'Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways.
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?'
19 It is said, 'God stores up a man's punishment for his sons.' Let him repay the man himself, so that he will know it!
20 Let his own eyes see his destruction; let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what does he care about the family he leaves behind when his allotted months come to an end?
O: It is significant to note that these words are uttered by Job in the midst of his affliction. They are the words of a devout and faithful man whose family, riches, and health have been taken from him, and who is in a shambles and clambering to keep the faith.
A: I read these verses and am partly shamed, and partly encouraged, and partly angered. It’s a weird combination.
In terms of being ashamed, I see a man who is counted by God as among His elite, a man of such great faith that God has no worries in testing him. And this man, put to such a test, shares thoughts that I have in a life of relative ease. I can’t imagine where my mind, and my heart, and my faith would be if I were in Job’s shoes. If I’m already expressing these feelings, and I’m barely being tested in my days, how lost would I be if God were to push me as far as His servant Job?
In terms of being encouraged, it is nice to see that even a man with the faith of Job, a faith that is unbreakable, falls prey to the same thoughts that I have. So much of my Christianity is a matter of sheer faith. So much of it defies reason and logic, and so much of it even defies empirical evidence. Like Job, I look and see faithless men who live lives so much more robust in appearance than my own. Like Job, I question it. So, in a sense, I am more like Job than I think on first blush. It is nice to know that, even when you become a mighty man of faith, these simple questions still challenge you.
In terms of being angered, I continue to struggle with the unfair feeling that God should pay me for being a Christian. So often I look around at people who don’t live a life of principle, or who operate on principles foreign to me. Many have beautiful homes, glorious women, fancy gadgets, and are carefree financially. They travel, relax, and so on. I spend my time being jealous of what they have, as my wife and I try to figure out how we’re going to make ends meet, or buy Christmas presents, or afford to have another child. And, in this, I feel cheated.
I know this is not fair. I know this is wrong. But it’s how I feel, and it’s a struggle for me. Job has the struggle, in this moment of his weakness, of looking and seeing these men prosper, unafraid of God and without any mind as to why, or how, they got to the place they are.
I am often assured that this will all pay off in the end. I will go to heaven. They will go to hell. My children will be blessed. Theirs will be cursed. Job has the feeling that I have: let’s see justice delivered now! Let these people reap the whirlwind that they sow. Instead of meting their punishment out upon their children, let them be destroyed themselves. And, as for me, let me prosper. Let me have their wealth. Let me feel their joy.
And it’s not easy to walk away from these thoughts. It is not easy to right my mind. I draw my peace from knowing that the upheaval in my life is a digging. It deepens the well from which I can draw water in times of need. I have seen how easy it is to upend some of these people who seem so prosperous. I have seen how their external shimmer hides an internal rot. If I focus correctly, I see that so much of what they have is directed at helping them feel better about their life, which is empty without their stuff. My life may seem empty without stuff, but I have the love of my family, the respect of my friends, and the assurance of a lasting peace. Does that always make it feel worthwhile? No. But it does allow me to see that the process is worthwhile, and that I need to accept it and move through it to meet the goal.
P: God, let me learn from Job. Thank you so much for showing me that even a man of such great faith can struggle with the same secret thoughts I have. But don’t allow me to rest in that knowledge; instead, inspire me to be like Job. Help me to grow my faith so that in those times of struggle, I don’t move away from you towards apparent happiness, but instead help me to perservere for the greater good. Lord, don’t put me through Job’s battles, but Lord, if you do, help me to be faithful to You. Amen.
October 30, 2007
Job 21; Mark 5 & 6
S: Job 21: 7-21 (in parts)
7 Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
9 Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not upon them.
13 They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace.
14 Yet they say to God, 'Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways.
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?'
19 It is said, 'God stores up a man's punishment for his sons.' Let him repay the man himself, so that he will know it!
20 Let his own eyes see his destruction; let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what does he care about the family he leaves behind when his allotted months come to an end?
O: It is significant to note that these words are uttered by Job in the midst of his affliction. They are the words of a devout and faithful man whose family, riches, and health have been taken from him, and who is in a shambles and clambering to keep the faith.
A: I read these verses and am partly shamed, and partly encouraged, and partly angered. It’s a weird combination.
In terms of being ashamed, I see a man who is counted by God as among His elite, a man of such great faith that God has no worries in testing him. And this man, put to such a test, shares thoughts that I have in a life of relative ease. I can’t imagine where my mind, and my heart, and my faith would be if I were in Job’s shoes. If I’m already expressing these feelings, and I’m barely being tested in my days, how lost would I be if God were to push me as far as His servant Job?
In terms of being encouraged, it is nice to see that even a man with the faith of Job, a faith that is unbreakable, falls prey to the same thoughts that I have. So much of my Christianity is a matter of sheer faith. So much of it defies reason and logic, and so much of it even defies empirical evidence. Like Job, I look and see faithless men who live lives so much more robust in appearance than my own. Like Job, I question it. So, in a sense, I am more like Job than I think on first blush. It is nice to know that, even when you become a mighty man of faith, these simple questions still challenge you.
In terms of being angered, I continue to struggle with the unfair feeling that God should pay me for being a Christian. So often I look around at people who don’t live a life of principle, or who operate on principles foreign to me. Many have beautiful homes, glorious women, fancy gadgets, and are carefree financially. They travel, relax, and so on. I spend my time being jealous of what they have, as my wife and I try to figure out how we’re going to make ends meet, or buy Christmas presents, or afford to have another child. And, in this, I feel cheated.
I know this is not fair. I know this is wrong. But it’s how I feel, and it’s a struggle for me. Job has the struggle, in this moment of his weakness, of looking and seeing these men prosper, unafraid of God and without any mind as to why, or how, they got to the place they are.
I am often assured that this will all pay off in the end. I will go to heaven. They will go to hell. My children will be blessed. Theirs will be cursed. Job has the feeling that I have: let’s see justice delivered now! Let these people reap the whirlwind that they sow. Instead of meting their punishment out upon their children, let them be destroyed themselves. And, as for me, let me prosper. Let me have their wealth. Let me feel their joy.
And it’s not easy to walk away from these thoughts. It is not easy to right my mind. I draw my peace from knowing that the upheaval in my life is a digging. It deepens the well from which I can draw water in times of need. I have seen how easy it is to upend some of these people who seem so prosperous. I have seen how their external shimmer hides an internal rot. If I focus correctly, I see that so much of what they have is directed at helping them feel better about their life, which is empty without their stuff. My life may seem empty without stuff, but I have the love of my family, the respect of my friends, and the assurance of a lasting peace. Does that always make it feel worthwhile? No. But it does allow me to see that the process is worthwhile, and that I need to accept it and move through it to meet the goal.
P: God, let me learn from Job. Thank you so much for showing me that even a man of such great faith can struggle with the same secret thoughts I have. But don’t allow me to rest in that knowledge; instead, inspire me to be like Job. Help me to grow my faith so that in those times of struggle, I don’t move away from you towards apparent happiness, but instead help me to perservere for the greater good. Lord, don’t put me through Job’s battles, but Lord, if you do, help me to be faithful to You. Amen.
October 29, 2007
Sam Adams Boycott, Days 5-7
Well, the (3-day) weekend (for me, that is) is past. After spending a full day celebrating my daughter's second birthday, I've had a chance to play a little catch up.
As noted here this weekend, Sam Adams (the beer) has taken conciliatory steps towards Sam Adams (the candidate). In fact, in a press release issued by Boston Brewing, the company appears to be stepping down entirely.
This half-assed effort at smoothing things over isn't convincing to me or to anyone else. In my own ear, these words ring hollow to me for (at least) a couple of reasons.
First, the implicit statement here is that, until the sites are actually legally transferred to Adams, there's still an issue. "We hope these URL will...be transferred to candidate Sam Adams where they rightfully belong," along with being grammatically incorrect, injects the corporate IP lawyers' thought that there's a difference between buying them for a candidate, and a candidate buying them for himself. By saying "shout your name from...your website," it appears that Boston Brewing is saying "once it's in your name, we no longer care."
Subtle, but still troubling.
Let me ask you this, Boston Brewing geniuses. Having myself once run a campaign for a local candidate, and having gone to steps to put together a website, I'm privy to a couple of facts. Many candidates don't own their campaign. It's actually funded by a committee, run by a campaign manager, and manned by a bunch of different people who do different things, often without the candidate's specific knowledge. What's the difference between a campaign committee buying a candidate a URL and a couple of well-wishing DJ's doing the same? It seems to me the implication here is that, unless Sam Adams himself actually owns these URL's, we're still operating solely by the good graces of Boston Brewing. They're being nice, as opposed to actually acknowledging that they're full of shit.
Further, I was thinking about their original Cease and Desist letter (again, viewable here). It alleges a serious violation of Federal law by Mark and Dave and, if read in the broad sense it was meant, by Sam Adams (the candidate) if used for his campaign. Suddenly we're supposed to just accept that Federal law was not an issue?
This pisses me off. Lawyers (which, again, I am one of) threaten non-lawyers with inaccurate readings of laws, implicitly accusing people of violating the law in a strong-arm attempt to bully people into submission. When it doesn't work, or when the back-lash finally hits them, they drop the issue. If the law was really being broken, I'm sure they wouldn't. They knew when they wrote the letter that the use of the URL's, as intended, was legal. They were simply trying to protect their monopoly on the name Sam Adams.
Really, they expect me to believe they don't use Google? Either that's true and these are the stupidest people alive, or it's a lie and they are guilty of super-assholery. Either way, I'm still not done boycotting.
Not unless, and until, a full apology is rendered for this capricious act of corporate violence against everyman will I back down from this boycott. Mark and Dave themselves continue to request that a Boston Brewing lackey speak directly to them, and they continue to be refused. Not until their website indicates that they've been given a satisfactory apology will I consider this war over.
I encourage anyone still reading this drivel to take the same stand.
(P.S. Still waiting for someone to accept the Wikipedia challenge...)
As noted here this weekend, Sam Adams (the beer) has taken conciliatory steps towards Sam Adams (the candidate). In fact, in a press release issued by Boston Brewing, the company appears to be stepping down entirely.
On the other hand, there have been occasions over the years when individuals actually named “Sam Adams” have registered domain names that included the words Sam Adams, and we have had no quarrel with that.
Similarly, we believe that Sam Adams, the mayoral candidate, has every bit as much right to use his name as we do. Our namesake, the patriot Samuel Adams, stood for public service and free speech, and we do too. We hope these URLs will, in fact, be transferred to candidate Sam Adams where they rightfully belong.
Candidate Sam Adams – shout your name from the rooftops and your Web site!
This half-assed effort at smoothing things over isn't convincing to me or to anyone else. In my own ear, these words ring hollow to me for (at least) a couple of reasons.
First, the implicit statement here is that, until the sites are actually legally transferred to Adams, there's still an issue. "We hope these URL will...be transferred to candidate Sam Adams where they rightfully belong," along with being grammatically incorrect, injects the corporate IP lawyers' thought that there's a difference between buying them for a candidate, and a candidate buying them for himself. By saying "shout your name from...your website," it appears that Boston Brewing is saying "once it's in your name, we no longer care."
Subtle, but still troubling.
Let me ask you this, Boston Brewing geniuses. Having myself once run a campaign for a local candidate, and having gone to steps to put together a website, I'm privy to a couple of facts. Many candidates don't own their campaign. It's actually funded by a committee, run by a campaign manager, and manned by a bunch of different people who do different things, often without the candidate's specific knowledge. What's the difference between a campaign committee buying a candidate a URL and a couple of well-wishing DJ's doing the same? It seems to me the implication here is that, unless Sam Adams himself actually owns these URL's, we're still operating solely by the good graces of Boston Brewing. They're being nice, as opposed to actually acknowledging that they're full of shit.
Further, I was thinking about their original Cease and Desist letter (again, viewable here). It alleges a serious violation of Federal law by Mark and Dave and, if read in the broad sense it was meant, by Sam Adams (the candidate) if used for his campaign. Suddenly we're supposed to just accept that Federal law was not an issue?
This pisses me off. Lawyers (which, again, I am one of) threaten non-lawyers with inaccurate readings of laws, implicitly accusing people of violating the law in a strong-arm attempt to bully people into submission. When it doesn't work, or when the back-lash finally hits them, they drop the issue. If the law was really being broken, I'm sure they wouldn't. They knew when they wrote the letter that the use of the URL's, as intended, was legal. They were simply trying to protect their monopoly on the name Sam Adams.
Really, they expect me to believe they don't use Google? Either that's true and these are the stupidest people alive, or it's a lie and they are guilty of super-assholery. Either way, I'm still not done boycotting.
Not unless, and until, a full apology is rendered for this capricious act of corporate violence against everyman will I back down from this boycott. Mark and Dave themselves continue to request that a Boston Brewing lackey speak directly to them, and they continue to be refused. Not until their website indicates that they've been given a satisfactory apology will I consider this war over.
I encourage anyone still reading this drivel to take the same stand.
(P.S. Still waiting for someone to accept the Wikipedia challenge...)
October 27, 2007
Have They Really Apologized?
Read here.
Sam Adams (the beer) has offered a semi-apology to Sam Adams (the candidate). It's not clear to me if they've allowed the usage of the websites registered by Mark and Dave, or if (as their attorney said earlier) such use would be subject to constraints placed by Boston Brewing.
Tell me what you think. Should the Boycott end now? Has Boston Beer surrendered their ludicrous stand?
Sam Adams (the beer) has offered a semi-apology to Sam Adams (the candidate). It's not clear to me if they've allowed the usage of the websites registered by Mark and Dave, or if (as their attorney said earlier) such use would be subject to constraints placed by Boston Brewing.
Tell me what you think. Should the Boycott end now? Has Boston Beer surrendered their ludicrous stand?
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