Fantasy Update #13

NFL: I had a good weekend, going 4-2. Only one of my teams has a losing record -- but that team got a win. Still looking doubtful that any of my six teams will make the playoffs; the team with the best chance took a 4-point loss -- Brady outpointed my Romo by 5.

NBA: I went 1 and 1. The Kevins, formerly 2-0, have lost 2 in a row. The Kobes, formerly 0-2, have won 2 in a row. Both teams are 2-2.

College Football: season over. I won the championship, with an 11-1 record.

Houston Nutt haters: you people are truly living in a fantasy world. You finally ran off a fine coach passionately committed to his dream job. There's a strong likelihood that one day soon you'll wish he was back (though you'll never admit it). Here's one thing you can count on: beating Ole Miss just got a LOT harder. Good luck, Houston. But ... Go Hawgs!

Thanksgiving Proclamation

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor -- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be -- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks -- for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation -- for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the tranquility [sic], union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed -- for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted -- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions -- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually -- to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed -- to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn [sic] kindness onto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord -- To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease [sic] of science among them and us -- and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best. Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

George Washington

I Am Thankful

We'll be celebrating Thanksgiving at the Greer home tomorrow, as Jerusalem and Nathan and Wylie and Miles throw a big shindig. My parents, Tanya's parents, Nathan's parents, my Aunt Zada, son Joshua and his girlfriend Brandi are all expected. There may be more! Daughter Jemimah and hubby Adam will be far away in Germany. Daughter Judea and boyfriend Frank will be even farther away in Texas. We will miss them, but eat some turkey and dressing in their honor.

I am thankful this Thanksgiving ... for the privilege of still being married to the girl of my dreams ... for our four beautiful children ... for two fine sons-in-law ... for two spectacular grandsons ... for our parents still being with us ... for my 3 brothers and their families ... for being healthy and gainfully employed ... for getting to pastor a church full of wonderful people ... for having so many material blessings when so many have so few ... for the Lord Jesus and His faithfulness to us for so many years.

I am thankful, too, to be an American, and to live in a nation that still values the individual and cherishes liberty. Let us never forget, freedom is not free. We must all do our part to help the USA remain the land of the free and the home of brave. God bless you on this Thanksgiving!

Fantasy Update #12: I am The Champ

College Football: The fantasy season came to an end last weekend as I won the championship game 210-185, and finished 11-1. I started the season with a 6 game winning streak and closed with a 5 game winning streak. I scored a total of 2,357 points for the season -- and 573 of them came from the Razorbacks running backs. Way to go D-Mac, Felix the Cat, and supporting cast. When you're hot, you're hot. This year in college football, I was EN FUEGO!

NFL: Another 3-3 weekend. Some abysmal performances have led to some roster housecleaning. One of my teams is 7-3-1 and, with 3 weeks to go, has a shot at the playoffs. My 6-5 team is a long shot. The other four have no chance. I'll just have some fun and start a goofy line-up or two toward the end. Having 2 or 3 non-competitive teams is not something to which I'm accustomed.

NBA: My winless team finally broke through, and my undefeated team kept on winning, so I was 2-0 last week. Both teams have started well this week. My 1-2 team has only 5 of the top 90 fantasy players; my 3-0 team has 7 of the top 90 -- but two of them are #3 and #4. There's NBA action almost every night -- but my fantasy rosters are locked once the week's action begins and cannot be changed until the next week starts. Line up decisions loom large.

Letter to Daughter #1

In response to Jerusalem's beautiful essay

on the pains and pleasures of life in the churches.

(see her blog)

Sweet daughter,

you (and all these friends)

are experiencing in life what you have known in your head

(because your daddy preached about it more than once),

a truth that our souls (intellect, emotion, and will) often resist,

but our hearts (spirit) must come to accept,

and, maybe, even eventually embrace --

there is NO substitute for TIME.

When you were four,

you wanted to be a teenager.

Took time.

When you were a teenager,

you wanted to be a woman.

Took time.

When God created a life in you,

many days you wanted that baby to be born NOW!

... but it took time.

There is NO substitute for TIME.

And so it is with the walk of faith ...

with church life ...

with the Christian life

(the two are not the same!)

... and everything worthwhile.

Those beautiful things you create ...

those wonderful meals or songs Nathan produces ...

those precious boys you are raising.

Takes time.

God sometimes acts suddenly ...

but never hastily.

HE has decreed:

there is NO substitute for TIME.

Fantasy Update #11

NFL: I broke even, 3 wins, 3 losses. Emerged from the weekend with 3 teams with losing records (3-7, 4-6, 4-6), one at 5-5, and two with winning records (6-3-1, 5-4-1). I expected that 5-4-1 team to be 5-5 as Monday Night Football began. All my players were done, my game was tied 90-90, and my opponent had SF tight end Vernon Davis on his team. All he needed was 1 point to win the game. Davis had 4 yards, zero points and I tie instead of losing. Go figure.

College Football: Razorback running backs had a tough day in the loss to Tennessee, scoring only about half their usual points. But I had made a brilliant roster decision -- having played 2 QB's all season, I dropped one QB and started a second set of RB's -- Navy -- who racked up an incredible 89 points against North Texas, ensuring my win in round one of the playoffs. Go, Navy! Now I face off against the 2nd best team in the league for the championship. I beat him by about 20 points in our regular season game. I ought to do it again ... but you never know.

NBA: Second week mirrored the first. My Kevin Garnett team won, my Kobe Bryant team lost. Kevin is 2-0, Kobe is 0-2. Already having to make tricky roster decisions. Long season ahead.

A Perfect Birthday Present!

This is the book that the 'Roo Crew gave me for my birthday. (That's Jerusalem, Nathan, Wylie, and Miles.) I finally finished it this week. It was great.

It's an account of sportswriter Clay Travis's odyssey attending a football game on every Southeastern Conference campus in 2006, plus the SEC championship game, along with reminiscences about his life, family, being a Southerner, and an SEC football fan in particular.

I certainly identified with many of the things he recounted -- and I also clearly recognized the generation gap between the younger Clay and myself! There were a few things I couldn't identify with (kids and booze, for example), and a few choice four letter words here and there (it's football fans, after all), but most of the book spans the range of amusing to hilarious. I highly recommend it to any college football fan, especially those who love the SEC.

Many thanks, 'Roo Crew! Wooooooo, pig, soooie!

Fantasy Update #10: More of the Same

NFL: Winning ways continue -- I went 4-2 again last weekend, third good weekend in a row. I have two teams with winning records, 4 with losing records. Tough season continues. Player performances are so erratic this year.

College Football: Razorback running backs led the way again with a record-setting performance, absolutely shredding South Carolina and Steve Superior. Ha ha! I win the regular season with a 9-1 record. Now two weeks of playoffs await. I should dominate ... but you never know.

NBA: The first week is in the books. I went 1-1. My Kevin Garnett team won, my Kobe Bryant team lost. I've tweaked my rosters. Here comes week two in a long season.