May 1, 2012

1. I saw in this month’s SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN an article entitled “A Unified Physics?

New Efforts to Unite Quantum Mechanics with Einstein's Relativity.” Interesting–scientists, like people of religion, try to find a point of unity in the midst of intense personal belief.

2. Book reviews are being churned out across the planet about Robert Caro's new book PASSAGE TWO POWER. This is his fourth installment on the life of Lyndon Johnson. This volume covers a brief period: from 1958 through 1963, and concludes when Johnson becomes president after JFK’s assassination. I've got to admit I cannot wait to read it. Caro is 76. Here’s hoping he has the strength and good health to complete his work. There have been famous examples of biographers who were unable to do so. Two who come instantly to mind are Douglass Southall Freeman in his series on George Washington, and, more recently, William Manchester and his biography of Winston Churchill.

3. Guilty pleasure: I have now finished the first two seasons of the FX TV series JUSTIFIED. I checked out all of the DVDs from our local public library, which made it nice in that I did not have to use up my selections at Netflix. Timothy Olyphant always makes a great lawman, but in the second season, Jacksonville, Texas native Margot Martindale

steals the show. No wonder she won an Emmy. The series was intense enough to make the hours on the treadmill pass by rapidly.

4. All right, how many of you put money down that the Texas Rangers would be leading the Anaheim Angels of California by nine games by the end of April? On top of that, who would've imagined that Albert Pujols would not have a homerun in the entire month of April. Just for the record, he will start hitting soon. I feel confident that by season's end, he will have his fair share of home runs.

            b. It makes me nervous that the consensus of the experts of baseball is that the Rangers are MLB’s best team.

            c. I like it that the Cowboys traded up to select Morris Claiborne as the sixth pick in the draft. If the Cowboys secondary stays healthy, and they get good play out of their offense line play, they might have a shot to make a nice run in the playoffs.

            d. The Mavs are 0-2 in their series with Oklahoma City. This does not concern me because I have already written this year off. I hope they can make some healthy signings in the off-season.

            e. I used to be a huge fan of the Dallas Stars. Are they still a franchise?

            f. The Cleveland Browns did Colt McCoy a huge favor by drafting Brandon Weedon. Lacking a good offensive line and quality receivers, the Browns can fail offensively with Weedon for a while. Trent Richardson notwithstanding, Weedon (who is a few years older than McCoy) will not succeed until the other offensive needs of the Browns are met. By that time, it might be too late. McCoy, healthy and competitive, will be ready to lead the way.

5. I’ve never seen an episode of the TV show COMMUNITY, but from what I read, it sounds like another metaphor for the church as described by the New Testament.

*Thanks to Peter King for the inspiration for this blog's title.

 (With a nod to Peter King for this idea)

1. I was sad to see that former Monkey Davy Jones died suddenly last week. I grew up watching (periodically) TV episodes of THE MONKEYS. I always enjoyed their music more. Compared to other rock bands, there always seemed to be a sweetness and an innocence to the group.

            Quite possibly, Davy Jones’ status as an icon will remain because of the famous BRADY BUNCH episode, in which he appeared, where Marcia Brady (Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!) asked him to her prom.

            I read last week that was the most downloaded TV episode in history.

2. I remember watching the New Orleans Saints’ defense savage Brett Favre in the NFC championship game two years ago. I could not help but think they were coached to play dirty. Now, I know they were. I would love to see former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams suspended for and entire season. There is no place for bounties in the NFL.

3. More on the Josh Hamilton situation. I consider Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, and Sam Bradford to be tremendous role models. But I still think Josh Hamilton is one as well.

            It is a hard thing to get through life without making a mistake. It is a hard thing to get through life without making several mistakes. It is a hard thing to get through life without making some major mistakes.

            What I appreciate about Josh Hamilton is: when he makes a mistake, he steps up and confesses it. He does not try to cover it up, and he tries to live out the fruit of repentance.

           Our society seems to have an ability to forgive those who come clean on their mistakes and sins. And that is a good thing.

4. Watching all of the recent brouhaha about government spending makes me wonder if the national divide is so great, our only hope is for the federal government to not fund—anything. 

            Okay, that’s probably not realistic. Still, no one likes the way the money is being spent. You have liberal versus conservative; religious versus secular… the divide grows wider. Moreover, what are the spiritual considerations for federal spending? What are the moral underpinnings?

            I hate to write this. Everybody has something he likes when it comes to federal government spending, and everybody has something he despises.

            I like national parks, federal highways (interstates), etc. as much as anybody. I thrilled watching humans walk on the moon, but what we are doing is clearly not working. Meanwhile, our nation sinks deeper and deeper into debt.

            There is an old saying—all politics is local. Perhaps the more local the spending—the better.

5. Friday afternoon, six freshman Harding students left their Searcy campus in two vehicles to spend Spring Break in Ft. Worth. About 6:30 that evening, they were involved in a chain reaction wreck on I 30 outside of Hooks, Texas.

            Five of the students were treated and released from a local hospital. Ty Osman was hurt critically. While checking on a lady in another vehicle, he was attempting to get back into his pickup when someone hit it. Ty was thrown several feet in the air before landing.

            He was airlifted to Good Shepherd Hospital in Longview, Texas. He never regained consciousness, dying early Sunday morning.

            My daughter Haleigh, a Harding student, was acquainted with these students and left approximately the same time they did. She took a different route after reaching Texarkana. Still, this hits so close to home.

            During this tragedy, I frankly did not find myself asking the question—why? Rather, considering the millions of students who travel in our country during spring break, and allowing for the millions of variables involved, I frankly began to wonder why tragedies such as this do not occur more often. I am thankful they do not.

            My heart has been aching for Ty’s family. Yet, I know they have been strengthened by the knowledge that Ty was a faithful disciple of Jesus. Surely that understanding brings great solace.

            Please pray for Ty’s family and for his friends.