Bowling, Baseball and the Big Dance

Hosts: Stan Cox and Larry Fain

Stan and Larry talk about Barack Obama’s NCAA Basketball picks.  Not so much the teams, but the controversy surrounding the President taking time out to fill out a bracket, go bowling, and talk about it on a late night talk show.  Should he be more focused on the problems the country is facing?  Is it un-presidential for him to be hitting the late night talk show circuit?  And, is the punishment fitting the crime regarding his faux paux with his “Special Olympics” comment?  One thing is for sure, it wasn’t a good week for the President.

Show Notes:

• Stan Scheduled for Gospel Meeting. For those listeners who live within driving distance of Brenham, TX, Stan is scheduled to preach in a gospel meeting for the Hwy 290 church there.  The dates of the meeting are March 26-29.  Thursday and Friday evening, services will be at 7:30pm.  Saturday afternoon the meeting will be at 5:00pm.  On Sunday, Bible class is at 9:30am, morning worship at 10:30am, and evening worship at 6:00pm.  To visit the Hwy. 290 website, click here.
• Bowling and the Big Dance. Barack Obama made several gaffes this week, upsetting Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski by picking North Carolina to win the NCAA Basektball Tournament, and picking Duke to fall short of the Final Four.  Also, while trying to be self-deprecating in his humor, (something he is not very good at), Obama dissed the Special Olympics.  Finally, the question must be asked, Is it un-presidential for Obama to be appearing on The Tonight Show?
  • Obama, Coach K get trapped into March Madness
    
  • Oklahoma knows the time to rebound is now
  • Special Olympics Bowler Offers Obama Bowling Tips
• Stan’s Weekly Rant: “Know-It-Alls”. Stan is irritated by those people who seem to think that they know everything.  You know who you are.  And, Stan believes that Obama is one of them.  The problem is, when someone who thinks he knows everything gets into a position of great power, it can be problematic if he really doesn’t!  To read Stan’s latest rant, click here!
• Stan’s Website Review: The website Stan reviews this week is called: Appliance Aid. The site saved him about $100 last week.  He was looking for instructions on how to change out a motor coupling on his washing machine, and came across Appliance Aid.  The site had instructions on how to make the repair, and get this, step by step PHOTOS.  Less than an hour after getting the part, Stan (who has to recite “Righty-Tighty, Lefty-Loosy” before unscrewing a screw), finished the repair!  Lots of good stuff at this site for those of us a bit challenged on the handyman front.
• Larry’s Bible Verse: Larry comments on John 9:5-7. Jesus in the light of the world.  We must look to Jesus for guidance, but it is necessary, as the blind man was required to wash in the pool of Siloam, that we too obey the will of our Lord.

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Music provided by the JPFM Band, from their album Paris S.K, via Jamendo under the Creative Commons Liscense.

I can just hear some of you saying, “Stan, you and Larry sure seem to be ‘know-it-alls’ to me”.  And, of course, that is part of the danger of airing your opinions each and every week.  But, I am willing to admit to you here and now that in many areas I am ignorant!

When I was a kid, I had a close relative, about my age, that went through a stage of being a know-it-all.  Fortunately, he outgrew it.  But, for a while it was no fun talking with him because he was always having to show off, pontificating about some subject.

When I first began using a computer, I had a preacher friend who was fond of talking about his fine computer.  He  would talk about the speed of his processor, the amount of memory he had, and the size of his hard drive.  He would brag about having the latest software, and what his computer could do.  My computer was much less impressive, and I, at the time, was making due with less powerful software as well.

Well, one day he called me on the phone, and asked for help.  He was trying to edit a circular for a gospel meeting, and was having a hard time with a technical issue.  He thought that since I had used the same program, I might know the solution to the problem.  After describing the problem, I suggested he hit the backspace key.  He was quiet for a minute, then meekly said, “Thanks, that did it.” And hung up.  He never bragged about computers around me again!

There is a passage of scripture that fits situations such as this, it is from the book of Proverbs.  “Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” (29:20).   Or, how about this one.  “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” (26:12).

There is a maxim that has been attributed to Mark Twain, Abraham Lincoln and Albert Einstein, among others.   It says that, “It is better to be quiet and thought a fool, than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.”  The idea behind it probably came from the 17th, chapter of Proverbs, verse 28, that says, “Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.”

And so, I will close this rant with a confession.  I don’t know all the answers.  We talk politics, economics and range far and wide on other topics.  I know some things, and am reasonably confident with what the Bible teaches on many of the topics.  And even though I may not have all the answers, there is one thing of which I am relatively sure, despite Barak Obama’s obvious belief to the contrary, the federal government does not have all the answers either!  And the more he talks, the more it seems to be “removing all doubt” considering his foolishness.  I just hope either he, or we, learn before its too late!

“How ’bout them Boys!”

Host: Stan Cox

Larry Fain misses a second, (and hopefully) final week after having oral surgery.  Stan spends time this week exercising his filibuster privileges, and talking about Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, the Dallas Cowboys, two examples of Hollywood immorality (Madonna and Jennifer Aniston), and our smoking (literally) President-elect Barack Obama!  (Note:  There is an occasional “glitch” in the audio, I’m not sure where it came from.  It does not greatly impact the program, just an occasional “click”, but I am aware of it, and I will do some testing to make sure it doesn’t crop up again next week).

Show Notes:

• Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich indicted for trying to sell Obama’s senate seat. We may have to give Obama a pass on this one, as it doesn’t seem that he is involved, it gives us an opportunity to talk about the pervasive use of profanity in our society.
  • Bleep!  Illinois Governor’s Recordings Show Colorful Language
  • Illinois AG Asks High Court to Declare Governor Unfit
• Dallas Cowboys controversy with Terrell Owens and the other receivers complaining about Tony Romo throwing too often to the tight end! The dysfunctional Dallas Cowboys are imploding as we speak.  Stan (who is a fan) predicts the Cowboys will not make the playoffs.  But, it speaks to another society problem.  Arrogance and a sense of entitlement that is too prevalent.
  • Cowboys Phillips Dismisses Rift Among Players
    
• More Examples of “Hollywood” Immorality. The antics of two ladies, Madonna and Jennifer Aniston, give us the latest examples of a prurient and immoral segment of our society.  Unfortunately, these ladies are rather influential, especially among the young.
  • Lustful Madonna Offends God, Says Clergyman
  • Jennifer Aniston Not Nervous to Get Naked
• Obama A Smoker. He has tried to hide it, but Barack Obama smokes cigarettes.  He is trying to quit, and is being trumpeted yet again as a potential savior.  This time by his example making America healthy again!  They are going to be disappointed, but many in America truly believe that Obama is going to perform miracles immediately upon ascending to the Presidency!
  • Anti-Smoking Groups Hope Obama Will Be Role Model
    
• Stan’s Weekly Rant: This time Stan’s daughter, Kendra Cox, rants on the River Oaks Police Department. Kendra Cox writes a letter to the editor about the hypocrisy in the River Oaks Police Department (a suburb of Fort Worth), where a D.A.R.E. officer warns children about tobacco use, while officers on duty patrol the city with cigarette in hand.  Stan reads the letter.  To read it yourself, click here!
• Larry’s Bible Verse: Stan again fills in for Larry, quoting from Matthew 19 in response to the latest cover story of Newsweek magazine, where author Lisa Miller argues that neither Jesus nor the Bible ever explicitly states that marriage is defined as one man and one woman.
  • Gay Marriage: Our Mutual Joy
• Stan’s Website Review: Well known gospel preacher and writer, Robert Turner, published a monthly periodical, Plain Talk, for 20 years.  Brother Turner passed away last year, but gave his permission for all 20 years of Plain Talk be published online.  He was a wonderful and sage writer, and you would benefit greatly by reading his interesting, humorous, and always enlightening articles.  The articles are found on the Cedar Park church of Christ’s website, and can be accessed by clicking here.

We want your input! Feel free to post your comments using the form below!

Music provided by the JPFM Band, from their album Paris S.K, via Jamendo under the Creative Commons Liscense.

Old Men, Pregnant Men, and Pac-Men

Hosts: Larry Fain & Stan Cox

Will Hillary Clinton become Secretary of State?  And What is it about politicians fighting and then making up?  Are they a bunch of phonies?  Stan and Larry also discuss some of the absurd examples of social decay and disorder.

Show Notes:

• Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State? Will she accept the appointment?  And why is she and Obama chummy all of a sudden, after all the vitriol of the Democrat primaries?
  • Clinton Lawyers Vetting Her for Secretary of State.
    
• “Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled.” Larry and Stan discuss the text of John 14:1-ff, and the fact that we as Christians should continue to trust in God, regardless of the circumstances of our lives, and those of our country.
• Disturbing News and Absurdities. Stan brings up three examples which show just how bad our society has gotten, and he and Larry discuss each in turn.
  • Mexico City to Give Elderly Men Free Viagra
    
  • Pregnant Man Doesn’t Deliver Much Depth
  • Pacman Reinstated
• Stan’s Weekly Rant: The “Big Fish in a Small Pond Syndrom.”  We are talking here about Pride, which can be so very destructive. Stan discusses the problem, and the cure.  To read Stan’s rant, click here!
• Larry’s Bible Verse: Rather than a verse this week, Larry instead gives tribute to a fine Christian lady, Ovie Henderson of Florence, AL, who has passed on to her reward.
• Stan’s Website Review: The SeekYe1st search engine.  Created by Thomas Keese of Wichita, KS, this search engine indexes a large number of web sites authored by Christians to give perhaps the best and most complete resource of sound Bible study materials to be found at any one site on the internet.

We want your input! Feel free to post your comments using the form below!

Music provided by the JPFM Band, from their album Paris S.K, via Jamendo under the Creative Commons Liscense.

Sometimes this can be less cute.  When my oldest son was a junior, their basketball team (a team that was not very good, by the way), entered a holiday tournament filled mainly with teams from small private schools.  Early in the tournament our team, which had only won a couple of games all year, played a team that consisted mainly of beginners.  Some of these kids could barely even dribble.  As the game progressed, and our kids got out to a large lead, some of them started to talk trash, and ridicule the other team.  They were acting like they were the best team to ever step on a basketball court, even though a week earlier they were the ones that were being demolished on the court.

A big fish in a small pond.  A kid may be on a team that hasn’t won a game all year, but if he is a starter on that team, he is a stud… at least in his high school.

Of course, we are talking here about pride!  And, pride and arrogance are not only obnoxious to those who have to put up with them, they are abhorrent to God!  “A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin” (Proverbs 21:4).

The attitude, when seen in adults, is often destructive.  It is what fueled Saddam Hussein, and just about all of the other tyrants in history.  It makes tyrants out of employers; church bosses like Diotrophes; and abusive husbands.

Perhaps you have heard the story about the man who had been belittled by his boss at work?  He went home and yelled at his wife, who in turn screamed at the kids, who kicked the dog, who chased the cat, who ate the mouse.  Poor little mouse, eaten up because of a bad day at work!

What is the cure for the big fish in a small pond syndrome?  A little bit of humility.  Consider Jesus in this.  Paul did, and revealed in Philippians 2 that although Jesus was in the exalted position of God’s right hand, he made himself of “no reputation”, and humbled himself… even to the point of dying on the cross as a substitute for us.  Good thing that Jesus did not have the Big fish in a small pond syndrome!

It is a difficult lesson to learn.  I have seen kids (even after an 0-10 season), still acting as if they are the best players on God’s green earth just because they are better than someone else on their team or in their school.  It is sad, really, and indicates an extreme degree of immaturity.

Of course, God has promised he will exalt the humble and bring down the proud, in His time.  If I may say so without being flippant or irreverent, ultimately the prideful will be humbled before the Biggest Fish in the Biggest Pond.  God Himself.

To paraphrase the oil filter commercial.  You can be humbled now… Or you can be humbled later!