Tim Ellsworth

Opponents on the gridiron, brothers in Christ
Gators’ Tim Tebow: ‘God, family, academics & football’
FSU’s Weatherford sees God’s hand in trials more than victories
Carson-Newman knocks off UTC 29-17
Pioneers take gospel and basketball to Poland, Lithuania

Talk about whatever is on your mind. Plug your blog. Tell us who’s going to win the NL Central. Give us your recipe for homemade ice cream.

If you’ve been itching to say something, now’s your chance.

A Colorado elementary school has banned the game of tag after a couple of parents complained about their children being harassed.

Here’s a story from mlb.com about umpire Ted Barrett and his crew handing out stuffed animals at a children’s hospital in New York.

“Most umpires have a heart of gold, and people don’t see that,” Barrett said. “If we can use the position we’re in to maybe help a kid out, then it’s worth it.”

Here’s a previous post about Ted Barrett, with links to three stories I wrote about him last year.

From Jay Leno. Is this even possible?

Hat tip: Geno

Dear Emmalee,

A year ago, you practically entered this world with a smile on your face. We’ve seen more smiles from you over the past 12 months than I can count, and you’ve secured your place as the little sunshine in our home.

You have brought much happiness to your mother and me, and to your big brother Daniel. God has indeed blessed us by giving you to us.

My prayer for you is that you’ll have a lifetime full of smiles. But more importantly, I pray that while you are still young, God will smile upon you — that He will work in your life and bring you to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is ultimately our source of unending joy and happiness.

Happy birthday, Sweet Pea. I love you with all my heart.

Love always,

Dad

I’m working on a column about the feminization of Christianity, and could use some dialogue and exchange to hone my thoughts. I’m just about finished with it but need to do some tweaking.

Has anyone read “Why Men Hate Going to Church”? Here are a few quotes from the book:

Tough, earthy, working guys rarely come to church. High achievers, alpha males, risk takers, and visionaries are in short supply. Fun-lovers and adventurers are also underrepresented in church. These rough-and-tumble men don’t fit in with the quite, introspective gentlemen who populate the church today. The truth is, most men in the pews grew up in church. Many of these lifers come not because they desire to be transformed by Christ but because they enjoy participating in comforting rituals that have changed little since their childhood. There are also millions of men who attend services under duress, dragged by a mother, wife, or girlfriend. Today’s churchgoing man is humble, tidy, dutiful, and above all, nice. …

Almost everything about today’s church — its teaching style, its ministries, the way people are expected to behave, even today’s popular images of Jesus — is designed to meet the needs and expectations of a largely female audience. Church is sweet and sentimental, nurturing and nice. Women thrive in this environment. In modern parlance, women are the target audience of today’s church. …

So what does today’s church emphasize? Relationships: a personal relationship with Jesus and healthy relationships with others. By focusing on relationships, the local church partners with women to fulfill their deepest longing. But few churches model men’s values: risk and reward, accomplishment, heroic sacrifice, action and adventure. Any man who tries to live out these values in a typical congregation will find himself in trouble with the church council in no time. …

Today, a good Christian is known mostly for meekness, sensitivity, passivity, and sweetness. This standard of Christian behavior is very tough on men (even those who are sold out to Jesus) while it’s easier for women to achieve. Men have gotten this message: you’re flawed the way God made you. You need an extreme makeover.

Here’s an article that also addresses some of these issues: Feminine Christianity turns men away from church, Stinson says

So, some questions:

Is Christianity being feminized in today’s culture?
If yes, what are some examples you can point to from your experience?
How do you think churches should address the issue?
What should they do differently?

Tyler/Newman/Neuman (pick a name and go with it, man) pointed me to this article about the role of clergy in times of martial law.

Dr. Durell Tuberville serves as chaplain for the Shreveport Fire Department and the Caddo Sheriff’s Office. Tuberville said of the clergy team’s mission, “the primary thing that we say to anybody is, ‘let’s cooperate and get this thing over with and then we’ll settle the differences once the crisis is over.’”

Such clergy response teams would walk a tight-rope during martial law between the demands of the government on the one side, versus the wishes of the public on the other.

Outstanding column by Mike Adams about Michael Vick, dogfighting, abortion and moral inconsistency. How indicting it is that we as a nation are outraged by the brutality of dogfighting, yet are perfectly accepting of abortion. Killing dogs is repulsive, but killing children is a matter of personal choice.

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Brett Myers coughed up a lead Saturday, then got ticked at a Philadelphia Inquirer reporter in the clubhouse after the game and had to be restrained.

When Myers was asked about the two home runs, he said they were really “just pop ups.”

A reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer questioned whether Myers really thought they were pop ups, and Myers got angry.

“You’re not even a beat reporter, you’re a fill-in, you don’t know anything about baseball,” said Myers, who then called the reporter “retarded.”

The Inquirer reporter asked if Myers could spell retarded, and Myers stood up. Burrell then restrained Myers, and Myers refused to speak any further.

Can you even spell “retarded”? What a great question to ask. I wish I could have been there to hear that.

The best take on the situation about Myers’ behavior comes courtesy of Rotoworld:

“All things considered, Burrell probably overreacted. The reporter wasn’t his wife, so it’s doubtful things would have gotten physical.”

Welcome to the Hotel Open Blog Friday. Check-in time is now. Check-out time is never!

Ben Stein’s “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed,” is coming in February. According to the movie’s web site:

Ben realizes that he has been “Expelled,” and that educators and scientists are being ridiculed, denied tenure and even fired – for the “crime” of merely believing that there might be evidence of “design” in nature, and that perhaps life is not just the result of accidental, random chance.

This is going to be interesting.

Hat tip: Tom

Tony has a question: Is it more important for someone to be actively involved in a local church fellowship or to be an official member of a local church fellowship?

Go tell him what you think.

Angels’ Anderson drives in 10
Patriot’s Game: It’s faith, family and football for Watson
Owings thanks God for big night
Leaving justice to God, Torres withdraws grievance

A couple of Atlanta Braves fans at Auburn University — Andruw Hall and Tyler Crawford — wrote this little ditty after the Braves traded for Mark Teixeira at the trade deadline last month. Since posting the video on YouTube, it took on a life of its own, and now the guys are going to perform live at Turner Field on Aug. 31.

Here’s a link to the video on YouTube, and here are the lyrics to the song:

Four and a half games back and I don’t Te-care-a
You know why we got Mark Teixeira
Got a new Braves jersey that I’m gonna wear-a
And written on the back is Mark Teixeira
The Mets are scared cause their lead’s gonna narr-a
They’re lookin’ over their shoulder at Mark Teixeira

Chorus:
We got Fred McGriff back in ‘93
Hampton’s out cause of injury
Schuerholz smiles cause he is happy and Bobby says,
“Let’s go Mark T.”

The National League it just ain’t fair-a
The Atlanta Braves got Mark Teixeira
Chipper and Andruw make a mighty nice pair-a
Let’s make it a trio add Mark Teixeira
A side effect is mild hysteria
The medical reason is Mark Teixeira

Chorus

Bridge:
Scott Thorman stinks and Julio is old
What did Shuerholz do? Must’ve sold his Sooouuulll

Pitchers beware cause he’s gonna scare ya
Throw him a strike now if you dare-a
He could probably steal on Yogi Berra(NOT Yogi Bear-a)
Biggest thing in Georgia since Scarlet O’Hara
If I were a woman I’d probably marry ya.

And that’s not gay cause its Mark Teixeira.

Hat tip: Rena