So there is a lot of talk and such right now in the world of sports about the use of PEDs (Performance Enhancing Drugs). It seems to be focused primarily on Major League Baseball, but the NFL has also been looked at in the last few years. Really the NBA and NHL are the only "big" leagues that you haven't heard much about as far as PEDs go.
Now, all of this did get me thinking. In some regards I can understand the thinking behind taking these drugs. You are looking for an edge, something to be able to continue on at a high level. It got me to wondering though: what are some professions that we should start testing for PEDs? Here is a list of 10 that came to mind (with a nod of thanks for the contributions from R-Dub).
10- Administrative Assisstant- Think about it. Who would ever think to test an Administrative Assisstant for PEDs? What would the signs be? They answer the phone faster, make copies more quickly and their typing ability soars through the roof. Things to be on the look out for if you suspect your Administrative Assisstant is juicing.
9- Female Fashion Models- Signs that maybe there is rampant use of PEDs in the modeling world: They actually look like normal healthy human beings, they are able to get into and out of their turns on the runway with greater fluidity.
8- Journalist- Mainly print journalists here. Look for stories that are better and acurate quotations of what was said by those who were interviewed and deadlines reached on time.
7- Author- Less confusing plots and the number of books written to sky rocket.
6- Artist- Paintings make more sense and sculptures are of things that can be recognized.
5- Scientists- Look for experiments that go faster and yield more immediate results. Also look for better calculations and formulas.
4- Photographer- They will do better getting young children to not cry and to look at the camera. Also the pictures will be composed better and the process will go faster for everyone.
3- Seamstress/Taylor- Sewing ability and stats go through the roof. Thread flying off the spools.
2- Preacher- Sermons become more concise and to the point. It would seem that one side effect of PEDs, the "roid rage" has been around for years in the pulpit--we have just always called them Southern Baptists.
1- Librarian- Look for books to be back on shelves quicker and new books to be in earlier. Also look for threatening late notices warning of more than just a "fine" for overdue books.
So that's it. These are professions that have never to my knowledge had any history of testing for PEDs, but with the obvious explosion and expansion of their use, it may now be time to consider testing these very professions. Peace and Love y'all.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Popcorn
Riley: "I wish I could slow motion record popcorn popping."
Blake: "That would be awesome."
These are the kinds of conversations we have late at night (or any other time really).
Blake: "That would be awesome."
These are the kinds of conversations we have late at night (or any other time really).
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Our Vows: Witness
This is a new one that has been added in the last year or so I believe. It used to be that our vows were (in the Methodist church at least) were that of prayers, presence, gifts and service. In the last year, or since the last General Conference of the UMC witness has been added. I like it, I think it is important to have that as one of our vows.
So what does it mean to make a vow of witness? Again all I can really offer on this are my own thoughts and insights (if that is what we want to call them). But I know what it brings to my mind. For me, to make a vow of witness means that we are going to do what we can, to the best of our ability, to allow Jesus to be seen in us. Paul seems to really hit on this in 1 Corinthians 9.
In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Paul writes about his approach to doing ministry. Here he says that he does his best to become all things to all people in order to win at least a few of them to the Gospel of Grace that is the good news of Jesus. This can be very easy to misunderstand it seems. It almost seems to imply that Paul is trying to be many different things and in a sense is being two-faced or hypocritical about things. In truth, as William Barclay writes in his commentary on this letter, Paul is doing more to find that common ground with those people he is being a witness to. He is in a position where he is able to speak to them about the tings that they know, not only what he knows. His witness is that of getting to know people and what matters to them and then being able to talk to them about those very things and relate to them.
This is where our vow of witness should begin: with understanding of those around us. Barclay says that "the man who can never see anything but his own point of view, who is completely intolerant, who totally lacks the gift of sympathy, who never makes any attempt to understand the mind and heart of others, will never make a pastor or an evangelist or even a friend." It is through this ability to relate and know and listen to others that we are able to win others.
It is important for us to remember that as the Body of Christ, it is not always the things we say that will convey the Grace of God that is Christ to others, but rather the things that we do. We are being watched, even when we don't know it (and i don't mean by Big Brother). This is how we convey the truth and depth of Grace to our world and those around us. The world must be sick to death of our talking about the Grace, and is longing to be a witness to that Grace. As a witness it is time for us to talk less and act more in the name of Jesus. In the words of Saint Francis "Preach the Gospel at all times; if needed use words." If we are truly wanting to extend the Grace of God that is Christ to others we must first demonstrate it to them lived out in our lives. That is how we fulfill our vow of being a witness. Peace and Love y'all.
So what does it mean to make a vow of witness? Again all I can really offer on this are my own thoughts and insights (if that is what we want to call them). But I know what it brings to my mind. For me, to make a vow of witness means that we are going to do what we can, to the best of our ability, to allow Jesus to be seen in us. Paul seems to really hit on this in 1 Corinthians 9.
In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Paul writes about his approach to doing ministry. Here he says that he does his best to become all things to all people in order to win at least a few of them to the Gospel of Grace that is the good news of Jesus. This can be very easy to misunderstand it seems. It almost seems to imply that Paul is trying to be many different things and in a sense is being two-faced or hypocritical about things. In truth, as William Barclay writes in his commentary on this letter, Paul is doing more to find that common ground with those people he is being a witness to. He is in a position where he is able to speak to them about the tings that they know, not only what he knows. His witness is that of getting to know people and what matters to them and then being able to talk to them about those very things and relate to them.
This is where our vow of witness should begin: with understanding of those around us. Barclay says that "the man who can never see anything but his own point of view, who is completely intolerant, who totally lacks the gift of sympathy, who never makes any attempt to understand the mind and heart of others, will never make a pastor or an evangelist or even a friend." It is through this ability to relate and know and listen to others that we are able to win others.
It is important for us to remember that as the Body of Christ, it is not always the things we say that will convey the Grace of God that is Christ to others, but rather the things that we do. We are being watched, even when we don't know it (and i don't mean by Big Brother). This is how we convey the truth and depth of Grace to our world and those around us. The world must be sick to death of our talking about the Grace, and is longing to be a witness to that Grace. As a witness it is time for us to talk less and act more in the name of Jesus. In the words of Saint Francis "Preach the Gospel at all times; if needed use words." If we are truly wanting to extend the Grace of God that is Christ to others we must first demonstrate it to them lived out in our lives. That is how we fulfill our vow of being a witness. Peace and Love y'all.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Follow the Bouncing Ball
This is an incredible pass here.
Notice how it passed right between Grant Hill's legs. That was incredible to behold. Peace and Love y'all.
Notice how it passed right between Grant Hill's legs. That was incredible to behold. Peace and Love y'all.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Coming Clean
So, A-Rod has admitted to using steroids for three seasons when he was in Texas. He says he felt pressure to perform. Well of course he felt pressure to perform. He was on a last place team and had been signed to the largest contract in the history of sports at $252 million. Is it disappointing to find out? Yeah...mainly because even with the performance enhancers the Rangers were still in last place every year. Maybe there shouldn't be any punishment for A-Rod because I don't think the steroids did their job.
It's hard to be shocked or appalled by this news really. I mean, it isn't like he is the only one from this era in baseball to be juiced. I think that it is getting to be where many in the public will just assume that all the players at this time were taking something. It's sad really. There is the thought that if the players would just come clean about what they had done the public would be forgiving of them. The problem that the public has is that we don't like to feel lied to. Makes it much harder to be trusting and forgiving about the matter.
Finally, I have to say that I agree with Curt Schilling on this issue. He wrote on his blog 38 Pitches that there was a list of 104 players that were to have tested positive at the same time as A-Rod. If they are going to release his name, then they need to release the names of everyone else that is on that list. I'm not a huge A-Rod fan (I think Texas overpaid and he made the team better when he finally went to the Yankees), but it's not fair to target him for positive testing when there are at least 103 others that had the same result. Don't target him just because he is a superstar. If you are going to throw him out there, then do the same with the rest of the list. After all, he wasn't the only one to get caught. He made a mistake, even if he knew he what he was doing. It's only fair. Peace and Love y'all.
It's hard to be shocked or appalled by this news really. I mean, it isn't like he is the only one from this era in baseball to be juiced. I think that it is getting to be where many in the public will just assume that all the players at this time were taking something. It's sad really. There is the thought that if the players would just come clean about what they had done the public would be forgiving of them. The problem that the public has is that we don't like to feel lied to. Makes it much harder to be trusting and forgiving about the matter.
Finally, I have to say that I agree with Curt Schilling on this issue. He wrote on his blog 38 Pitches that there was a list of 104 players that were to have tested positive at the same time as A-Rod. If they are going to release his name, then they need to release the names of everyone else that is on that list. I'm not a huge A-Rod fan (I think Texas overpaid and he made the team better when he finally went to the Yankees), but it's not fair to target him for positive testing when there are at least 103 others that had the same result. Don't target him just because he is a superstar. If you are going to throw him out there, then do the same with the rest of the list. After all, he wasn't the only one to get caught. He made a mistake, even if he knew he what he was doing. It's only fair. Peace and Love y'all.
From Hollywood With Love
So Saturday night here in Quitman was the 2nd Annual Quitman Community Theater/Quitman Rotary Club Dinner Theater/Fundraiser (that is a lot of slashes for a small space). It consisted of various love songs from Hollywood musicals such as Annie, Guys and Dolls and Annie Get Your Gun. We had a great time and performed before a sold out crowd on Saturday. It was the largest single night crowd in the history of the QCT.
For the second time now in about 4 months I was a part of a show that involved a lot of singing and music. For me that is pretty crazy. I've never been much of a singer (I at least don't feel like I'm very good at it) so to say that this is a step out of my comfort zone is an understatement really. This is more of a catapult launch out of my comfort zone. I don't mind being on stage either as a speaker or in a play, but getting in front of a crowd of people for the sole purpose of singing, well that is hard for me to do. Thankfully, the audience only had to hear me do any kind of solo (longer than a single line of a song that is) one time. I was part of a duet that sang the song "High Hopes." It was fun to get to do though and I'm glad I had the chance...it's nice to stretch yourself really. Here is a picture of the cast from the show. Peace and Love y'all.
For the second time now in about 4 months I was a part of a show that involved a lot of singing and music. For me that is pretty crazy. I've never been much of a singer (I at least don't feel like I'm very good at it) so to say that this is a step out of my comfort zone is an understatement really. This is more of a catapult launch out of my comfort zone. I don't mind being on stage either as a speaker or in a play, but getting in front of a crowd of people for the sole purpose of singing, well that is hard for me to do. Thankfully, the audience only had to hear me do any kind of solo (longer than a single line of a song that is) one time. I was part of a duet that sang the song "High Hopes." It was fun to get to do though and I'm glad I had the chance...it's nice to stretch yourself really. Here is a picture of the cast from the show. Peace and Love y'all.
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