QUARANTINE BLOG # 703

April 17, 2022

👉  The sermon today from the Crawfordville Pulpit is my Easter message: “By What You See?”  I read from three passages – Exodus 14:1-9; 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:8; and Matthew 27:62-28:8.

👉  This is not “Good-bye, Farewell, and Amen” (which was the 2 1∕2-hour episode of M*A*S*H that first aired on CBS on February 28, 1983, ending the series’ original run, and the title I borrowed for my last column in The Augusta Chronicle).  

I know I told at least two people that today’s QB would be the last one for this time, but I have changed my mind (“Is there something wrong with the one I have?”).  On Wednesday – instead of Friday – I will share another of those incredible stories about people I found in the obituary section of The New York Times (many of you have commented favorably about their inclusion in the QB).  And I’m going to continue to share on Sunday some of my old columns from the Chronicle, and from my website during the four years after I was cancelled by “the South’s oldest newspaper.”

Most of you know that we are going on our first cruise since the pandemic shut everything down (I am scheduled to do 9 talks).  We be sailing to Italy and staying there for a bit doing touristy stuff.  Bonnie and I will be writing about our days and when we have the opportunity, posting some pictures.  I don’t know if I’ll send out emails like I have with QB or not, but if you check in at davidsisler.blogspot.com you can keep up to date with our ramblings and wanderings (when you click on that link it will take you to the most recent blogs – if it’s been a while since you’ve checked in, scroll the list on the right side of the page to find previous issues).

We are paying Royal Caribbean International more for two weeks of Internet on board Odyssey of the Seas than we pay WOW! for two and a half months (and I get one device on the ship as opposed to the 3 computers here at 233 and the devices of everyone who visits) so click in!  New blogs will start Saturday.

👉  I love baseball.  I wish the Yummies Up On Carpet Corridor would leave the game alone.  It’s too slow they whine.  Change the rules.  Put in a shot clock.  Don’t let the pitcher bat (well, they did that one – the designated hitter is universal – BOOO!).  Blah, blah, blah.

Well, last week a great moment happened in Atlanta.  In the bottom of the eighth inning, with Braves up 13–3, the Washington Nationals put outfielder Dee Strange-Gordon on the mound, as the game was well out of hand.  No sense using another pitcher.

Strange-Gordon didn’t have the sharpest pitching appearance, walking three hitters and allowing one home run.  And, to top it off, he ended up hitting Travis d’Arnaud, giving the Braves a 15–3 lead. 

When d’Arnaud was hit by the 52-mph pitch from Strange-Gordon, he decided to give an Oscar-worthy reaction.  Here is that pitch and d'Arnaud's reaction.  Great baseball moment!

Oh, that above picture is from the 1909 World Series (which the Pittsburgh Pirates won over the Detroit Tigers 4 games to 3) and features two of the greatest players of all time Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner.

👉  Well, it’s time for some humor, QB-style, so here goes:

Well, what did you expect to find?

How old is a teenager? 13-19, I think.  I'm not sure who should be fired, the headline writer or the copy editor.

🛐  Today’s close is by Renee Andrews.

“It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:25)

“God bless you.”

I waited, thinking someone had sneezed. Then the woman on the other end repeated the words “God bless you.”

“Oh, hello. You called about my son’s car.”

She excitedly asked if we could bring it to their home, because they didn’t have a vehicle. The housing projects where she lived were often on the news, but I said, “Okay.”

We arrived at the home and stepped on a welcome mat that read, “I am blessed when I go in. I am blessed when I go out.” She had a single sheet-covered couch and a television.

“Keisha got a basketball scholarship but doesn’t have a car.”

Her daughter squealed when she saw the restored BMW Kaleb had put several months and all his money into.

While Kaleb took Keisha to drive the car, the woman said, “I have two hundred dollars and can give you eight hundred dollars later.”

Kaleb had purchased the car prerestoration for much more. “Oh, he was asking for more.”

The woman pulled out the paper and showed me an ad for a car fifteen years older with a phone number one digit off from my cell. “This isn’t our ad.” I turned the page to show her ours, for five thousand dollars.

The kids returned, and Keisha wanted the car, but her mom explained they couldn’t afford it. We left and drove a couple of miles before my sixteen-year-old broke down in tears. “I can save and get another car. I just want it. She needs it.” Then we turned around, and he gave her all he had.

Faith step: Follow Christ’s example and give something away today. Don’t give of your leftovers, but give something you love, something the recipient will love. Experience the exquisite joy of giving.

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