It’s pouring rain, so the dog and I are waiting for a break in the action.

Here’s Colson’s review of Luther.

Posting note: I edit my posts a lot, and one thing I try to do is eliminate the word “you” when in a semi-intense discussion- unless I want it to stay there. Note the difference in these two sentences:

“If you support smoking laws, you are trying to take away my rights.”
“Smoking laws take away my rights.”
“Those who support smoking laws should consider the rights of anyone to smoke.”

Which sentence is more likely to prompt the feeling that this has gotten too personal? (Do I sound like a teacher trying to show students how to argue.? Good.)

I hadn’t attended a high school football game in at least 16 years. It was a huge part of my Friday nights growing up, and our school was a perennial winner. Then, as a youth minister, it was just mandatory to be there. And eventually, I really learned to dislike it, not only as a culture in small towns, but in other ways. Football can be an exciting game, or, like last night, a game of inches, penalties, stopped clocks, poor plays, etc. (In contrast- at least for me- even the most boring baseball game likely will have some statistical matter or individual performance to hold my attention. Every confrontation between pitcher and batter is, to me, a new game.) But what was great for me was to be invited out by guys, to just hang out and be one of the boys again. That was a nice gift to me, and when we arrived, there were more guys I knew, so 8 of us hung out and laughed and had a great time. I’m even invited back.

The score was Rockcastle County 49, Clay County 6. Like many of our Ky mountain schools, Clay County is a 125% basketball school. No other program- not band, choir, football, cross country- matters at all. Here is a school of probably 1500 kids, with 30 football players, and it was evident that the lack of a real program in the middle schools puts the coach at a serious disadvantage. Few kids, little talent, a sad lack of physical conditioning. I cannot imagine what a coach in a situation like this does to build that program. I mean, you are going to lose. Just on the physical side of the game, you don’t have the kids to stay up with even a mediocre team. So it is just a beating, week after week after week. I admire their tenacity and dedication. But it must be a tough life, getting fat kids up for another whuppin’ next week.