Some time ago, I posted about a computer program I’d purchased. It was a patient program, which I hoped might be useful. used it only a few times because our home computer seldom offered the privacy that I might like for speaking aloud to a machine. However, I recently updated my version and loaded it onto my work computer. So here I am testing it out one more time. Continue reading
Today, I had a plan.
Church in the morning, followed by lunch and a baby shower for some friends. The Rider/Bomber game was on TV at 11 AM our time. I conceded that I’d not even try to catch the end of the live showing. I’d simply watch it online afterward.
Somewhere in there, I caught the final score.
And that saved me three hours. Hidden blessing!
On Sunday, we spoke at church about how the dimension of work in our lives is meant to take on meaning and be a realm of life.
And today, THIS article popped into my inbox.
Coincidence? I think not.
From today’s Winnipeg Free Press, a beauty of a list to get the weekend started early!
TOP 10 REASONS WHY THE ROUGHRIDERS SUCK
10. Crummy history
In 96 seasons, the Roughriders have won the Grey Cup a pathetic three times — less than every team in the CFL, including three defunct franchises. The Bombers, meanwhile, have played in the big game a CFL-record 23 times in 80 seasons, winning on 10 occasions.
9. Crummy players
The Bombers have 39 members of the CFL Hall of Fame, while the Riders have just 19.
8. Winnipeg’s whipping boys
The CFL record book is filled with tales of Winnipeg’s dominance over Saskatchewan:
• Biggest shutout: Winnipeg 56, Saskatchewan 0 (July 5, 1986)
• Largest margin of victory by a road team: Winnipeg 61, Saskatchewan 8 (Aug. 29, 1959)
• Most kicks blocked in one game: 3 by Winnipeg vs. Saskatchewan (Sept. 13, 1992)
7. Did we mention crummy history?
The Riders would have to go on a 77-game winning streak to raise their all-time record to .500. The Bombers, meanwhile, would have to lose 56 in a row to fall to that level. To reach the Riders’ current level of all-time ineptitude, the Bombers would have to go 7.5 seasons without a victory.
6. Their recent history isn’t that great, either
The Riders just finished losing to the Edmonton Eskimos, arguably the worst team in the CFL.
5. Biggest current “star” is terrible
Quarterback Darian Durant has the most interceptions, worst completion percentage and lowest passer rating of any full-time starting QB in the league. In his last five games, Durant has thrown four touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
4. Biggest past “star” was terrible
Of course, crummy quarterbacking is nothing new in Regina. Their “greatest” all-time passer, Ron Lancaster, threw a CFL-record 396 interceptions in his career — 115 more than the next-most-careless QB. He threw 63 fewer TD passes than picks.
3. Nobody good works there … for long
While Winnipeg steals promising coaches (Paul LaPolice, Kavis Reed) away from Saskatchewan, the Riders hire castoffs (Doug Berry, Jim Daley) who weren’t good enough for the Bombers.
2. A ground squirrel is not a gopher!
Their mascot is Gainer the Gopher — perhaps the only species of rodent that DOESN’T exist in Saskatchewan.
1. A watermelon is not a hat
This is simple stuff, people.
Have a great Labour Day weekend!
Oh, man! Yesterday marked the end of a summer teaching series I was doing on the Lord’s Prayer, and I have GOT to say, “I’m going to miss that stuff.”
I know–it’s not like I need to tuck it away in a lock box. “You can use it anytime you want, Jason.” Yes, I know. But it’s the in-depth soaking that has done me a world of good this summer. And quite frankly, I’d be up for staying in this pool almost indefinitely.
And I suppose I shall.
An older spiritual mentor told me that in mid-life, his prayer patterns changed significantly. He gave real shape to them, even incorporating some middle-of-night practice. And he confessed to me that the Lord’s Prayer, those old and oft repeated words, played a large part in the focusing of his mind along the way. And I can see why.
They take thirty seconds to speak, and I’m not sure thirty years would be sufficient time to become all that these words force us to voice.
If your prayer life is in need of a boost, or a resusitation, let me be so-not-original: Go back to Jesus’ prayer. Use it throughout the day, recite it occasionally, re-phrase it in your own terms over and over, sit with single lines of it, and AMEN it as best as you know how.
You may be shocked at the power in those lines.