Ben

Dueling Oswalds

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 21:25:44 GMT

The Inspiration of Spiritual Initiative
Arise from the dead... - Ephesians 5:14

Not all initiative, the willingness to take the first step, is inspired by God. Someone may say to you, "Get up and get going! Take your reluctance by the throat and throw it overboard— just do what needs to be done!" That is what we mean by ordinary human initiative. But when the Spirit of God comes to us and says, in effect, "Get up and get going," suddenly we find that the initiative is inspired.

We all have many dreams and aspirations when we are young, but sooner or later we realize we have no power to accomplish them. We cannot do the things we long to do, so our tendency is to think of our dreams and aspirations as dead. But God comes and says to us, "Arise from the dead . . . ." When God sends His inspiration, it comes to us with such miraculous power that we are able to "arise from the dead" and do the impossible. The remarkable thing about spiritual initiative is that the life and power comes after we "get up and get going." God does not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as weovercome. When the inspiration of God comes, and He says, "Arise from the dead . . . ," we have to get ourselves up; God will not lift us up. Our Lord said to the man with the withered hand, "Stretch out your hand" (Matthew 12:13 ). As soon as the man did so, his hand was healed. But he had to take the initiative. If we will take the initiative to overcome, we will find that we have the inspiration of God, because He immediately gives us the power of life.

Cal Band will win $20,000...with your help!

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 03:39:25 GMT

Comcast is running a "Battle of the Bands" contest from right now until 12:00 pm PST on Wednesday January 28th.

Call toll-free 1-888-717-9724 as often as you can until then. Wait until you hear the "You Voted for Cal!" message, hang up, then try again.

The band could use any and all help that you can provide. Thanks, and Go Bears!!

Seriously.

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:28:25 GMT

"Scott Boras is brilliant at creating leverage, but just because he creates it, it doesn't mean a baseball team has to knuckle under to it. Life goes on."
--Peter King, SI.com

What? Ben's using LiveJournal? And using too many links?

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:02:12 GMT

Must be important.

Thank goodness this madness is going to get a heck of a lot quieter in a few months.

It has to stop. Ignorance, narrow-mindedness, bigotry. In the last few days:

*James Dobson, the president of Focus on the Family, has decried his own misinterpretation of Barack Obama's comments on the Bible. Obama merely said that we should not live by an Pharisaical interpretation of the Word and instead take passages like the Sermon on the Mount much more seriously. This one particularly stings because Dobson is a well-respected Christian leader and, unfortunately, quite popular in certain conservative circles. However, this dust might get brushed off Barack's sleeve like so much else. Huh...sounds familiar.

*Glenn Beck thinks that if you could possibly endanger America, you should just be shot. His words sound like those of a caveman trying to defend his cave with a club. Primitive, fearful, and reeking of a lack of clear thinking.

*And, perhaps saddest of all, a good friend has made reference to some evangelicals blaming California fires on the fact that the state has recently legalized gay marriage. (I won't post his blog here for the sake of privacy.) This evening, I read on the Letters from Kamp Krusty blog that the American church could solve poverty if it really wanted to...and we've got our congregations protesting at churches?

Part of me wants to--and occasionally does--react in anger. Sort of like Jack Nicholson's president in Mars Attacks! Or perhaps the robots of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation, who put "the mindless jerks against the wall" when the revolution came. But neither of these seems to be the appropriate response. Instead, we're called to be bigger than the Pharisees, not in an annoyingly self-righteous holier-than-thou way, but in a humble, peaceful, loving way. It's so hard to do this consistently. But we're fighting for a Kingdom beyond a state.

For the 25th anniversary...

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 05:58:28 GMT

Happy Play Day!

Destruction Of National Pastime Given Two-Minute Standing Ovation

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 22:46:29 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO—A sellout crowd rose to its feet and exploded into ecstatic cheers Tuesday night as Barry Bonds completed the downfall of America's most revered sport by hitting a thundering 435-foot shot into the left field bleachers for career home run No. 756 and tainting baseball's most beloved record.

Celebrations broke out throughout AT&T Park and thousands of flashbulbs went off as Bonds took his ceremonial trip around the bases, his arms raised in a jubilant gesture of triumph as he completed his desecration of baseball. Fireworks filled the night sky to mark the utter destruction of the national pastime, a scramble for the infamous baseball broke out in the stands, and the game was interrupted for 10 minutes in the bottom of the fifth to mark the shameful occasion.

Mike Bacsik, the pitcher who made the difficult and admirable decision to pitch to Bonds as if he were a normal player, and who will forever be known as the man whose fastball was sent out of the park along with the last remnant of baseball's self-respect, could only watch. Bonds would later present Bacsik with an autographed bat.

Moments after Bonds crossed home plate into the loving arms of his family and the eventual judgment of history, he addressed the fans, thanking them for their support on his long, hard road of perverting baseball.

"Thank you very much. I got to thank all of you, all the fans here in San Francisco. It's been fantastic," he said to his deluded and complicit home crowd as his godfather Willie Mays, a fading symbol of what baseball once was, stood at his side.

As soon as Bonds completed his self-congratulation, a self-conscious gasp could be heard as a videotaped message from Hank Aaron was played over the video screen, sending surprise and a fleeting moment of uncomfortable self-awareness through both the crowd and Bonds himself.

"Throughout the past century, the home run has held a special place in baseball and I have been privileged to hold this record for 33 of those years," said Aaron, whose legacy of persevering with profound personal dignity through racism and persecution to become the all-time home run leader will hopefully not be tarnished by public acknowledgment of Bonds.

"I move over now and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historic achievement," Aaron concluded, displaying infinitely more grace than Bonds, baseball fans, and perhaps even baseball itself had any right to ask of him.

Bonds then presented his helmet, gloves, and bat to a steward of the Baseball Hall of Fame for shipment to Cooperstown, where they will be enshrined forever, allowing fathers and sons to come and stare at them glumly as they bear mute witness to baseball's diminished glory.

The Nationals won the game, 8-6.

--The Onion

So, yeah, that whole "balance of power" clause...guess that's pretty much out the window, huh?

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 00:00:14 GMT

Washington (AP): "President Bush ordered his former White House counsel, Harriet Miers, to defy a congressional subpoena and refuse to testify Thursday before a House panel investigating U.S. attorney firings (emphasis added)."

If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 07:20:03 GMT

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Wed, 30 May 2007 23:19:21 GMT

I'm enjoying the kicks here at TH. I'm in my old Room (#12) all by myself, which is wonderful. Only a stone's throw from other rooms, and I have been sleeping on a really comfortable couch and catching up on much-needed reading, thinking, prayer, and contemplation. I've got food and everything I need--it's a pity I've got to pick up sticks and move on, come Friday.

Went to the A's game with Eric today and caught up on good conversation about baseball, band, and life. The "life" part came after the main event--definitely an answered prayer, because he's a great guy. He and I have been wrestling with the same questions lately--I will not put them bluntly here, but we are both asking ourselves a question that is not answerable by logic and questioning alone. Experience is the key.

Speaking of which, I have been getting into Al Gore's Assault on Reason lately, after finishing a great book about Catholicism and the End Times. His book and his ideas really make me want to vote for him if he ever runs--he poses questions that are seemingly so simple to answer, but half of America still doesn't seem to get the picture.

Hoping to have dinner with my old roommates tonight, and maybe do a bit of work before and after (if I don't get caught up playing video games with them).

Excited about embarking on a new period of my life--to be a senior at one of the greatest universities in the world with so much potential. I am not seeking to boast, but God has given me so much to work with, and it would really be shameful if I didn't use everything to further his name and glory. There are some pieces that I haven't been able to fit yet, but he answers if we persist.

Right--thanks for listening. If you want more to listen to, check out Lily Allen's music...

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:49:28 GMT

marriedtothesea.com

What's the meaning of life?

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 22:03:40 GMT

Charlie Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Band

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 23:48:20 GMT

Express Yourself!
Express Yourself!

You don’t ever need help from nobody else. All you got to do now:

Express Yourself!

What ever you do, do it good.
What ever you do, do it good. All right...

It’s not what you look like, when you’re doin´ what you’re doin´.
It’s what you’re doin´ when you’re doin´ what you look like you’re doin´!

Express Yourself!
Express Yourself!

They’re doin´it on the moon, yeah...
In the jungle too.
Everybody on the floor, now.
Jumpin´ like a kangaroo.
So let the horns do the thing they do, yo...

"Loudmouth liberals?"

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 09:23:18 GMT

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Prominent politicians from both parties and a gay-rights group on Saturday condemned right-wing commentator Ann Coulter for her reference Friday to Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards as a "faggot."

"Ann Coulter's use of an anti-gay slur yesterday was un-American and indefensible," Edwards said in a posting on his Web site, www.johnedwards.com.

"In America, we strive for equality and embrace diversity. The kind of hateful language she used has no place in political debate or our society at large.

"I believe it is our moral responsibility to speak out against that kind of bigotry and prejudice every time we encounter it."

Edwards' campaign posted the video on their Web site, and asked readers to help them "raise $100,000 in 'Coulter Cash' this week to keep this campaign charging ahead and fight back against the politics of bigotry."

Coulter made her comment in Washington during an address to the 34th annual meeting of the Conservative Political Action Conference, during which she gave her opinions about the Democrats' slate of presidential hopefuls.

"I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards, but it turns out that you have to go into rehab if you use the word 'faggot,' so I'm - so, kind of at an impasse, can't really talk about Edwards, so I think I'll just conclude here and take your questions," said Coulter, whose comment was followed by applause.

CNN has reached out to Coulter's representative, and received no response.

But the New York Times reported that she responded, in an e-mail, "C'mon, it was a joke. I would never insult gays by suggesting that they are like John Edwards. That would be mean."

A spokesman for Sen. John McCain, a Republican presidential candidate, called Coulter's comments to the conservative group "wildly inappropriate."

In a written statement, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said, "Ann Coulter's words of hate have no place in the public sphere much less our political discourse. Not only should she apologize but those who participated in the conference with her should denounce her shameful and divisive actions."

"Ann Coulter's use of this anti-gay slur is vile and unacceptable," said Neil G. Giuliano, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, "and the applause from her audience is an important reminder that Coulter's ugly brand of bigotry is at the root of the discriminatory policies being promoted at this gathering."

In a written statement, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean called on Republicans to denounce her remarks. "There is no place in political discourse for this kind of hate-filled and bigoted comments," he said.

I'm a Christ Follower (Mac vs. PC Parody) Part 04

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 04:33:28 GMT

I'm a Christ Follower (Mac vs. PC Parody) Part 03

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 04:30:18 GMT

I'm a Christ Follower (Mac vs. PC Parody) Part 02

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 04:29:18 GMT

I'm a Christ Follower (Mac vs. PC Parody) Part 01

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 04:28:18 GMT

Opening your eyes

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 18:42:02 GMT

"NEW YORK (CNN) -- What the hell happened? Where did we go wrong? How was Christianity co-opted by a political party? Why are Christians supporting laws that force others to live by their standards? The answers to these questions are integral to the survival of Christianity.

While the current state of Christianity might seem normal and business-as-usual to some, most see through the judgment and hypocrisy that has permeated the church for so long. People witness this and say to themselves, "Why would I want to be a part of that?" They are turned off by Christians and eventually, to Christianity altogether. We can't even count the number of times someone has given us a weird stare or completely brushed us off when they discover we work for a church.

So when did the focus of Christianity shift from the unconditional love and acceptance preached by Christ to the hate and condemnation spewed forth by certain groups today? Some say it was during the rise of Conservative Christianity in the early 1980s with political action groups like the Moral Majority. Others say it goes way back to the 300s, when Rome's Christian Emperor Constantine initiated a set of laws limiting the rights of Roman non-Christians. Regardless of the origin, one thing is crystal clear: It's not what Jesus stood for.

His parables and lessons were focused on love and forgiveness, a message of "come as you are, not as you should be." The bulk of his time was spent preaching about helping the poor and those who are unable to help themselves. At the very least, Christians should be counted on to lend a helping hand to the poor and others in need.

This brings us to the big issues of American Christianity: Abortion and gay marriage. These two highly debatable topics will not be going away anytime soon. Obviously, the discussion centers around whether they are right or wrong, but is the screaming really necessary? After years of witnessing the dark side of religion, Marc and I think not.

Christians should be able to look past their differences and agree to disagree. This allows people to discuss issues with respect for one another. Christians are called to love others just as they are, without an agenda. Only then will Christianity see a return to its roots: Loving God with all of your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself.

The Apostle Paul describes this idea of love beautifully in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."

But don't take our word for it; look at what Jesus and his followers stood for in his time and what Christianity stands for today. Then come to your own conclusion."

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 08:28:03 GMT

Already feeling so peaceful and so hopeful, and I've only been home for a few hours. There is something about home that gives you perspective, vision that's so easily lost amidst schoolwork and other obligations. Plenty of time just to be alone here, something that's hard to come across in Berkeley.

There's a lot to think about. I hope to do a lot of soul-searching and reflecting, to be a better man on the other side.

If you're one of my livejournal friends reading this today, I'm thankful for you. There's a reason why you're in my life and I'm in yours, and I hope that you'll leave a comment so that I can see how you're doing. Peace and blessings. =)

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 09:40:19 GMT

Each and every day in this life, you will meet people, see places, and have experiences that are meant to mold you into the type of person that God made you to be. These people and places and things will change the way you think, the way you love, and they will cut you to the core and force you to reckon with what you believe. Be thankful for each and every opportunity to change for the better. Don't ignore it, for it was meant for you and you alone today-seize it, meet yourself, and grow.

"Dodgers Deliver Late Night Drama" -SI.com

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 09:32:39 GMT

"This is how you recapture first place. The Dodgers forced extra innings with four straight ninth-inning homers Monday before stunning the Padres 11-10 on Nomar Garciaparra's two-run shot in the 10th.

Fantastic finish
Dodgers stun Padres with wild ninth, walkoff in 10th

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Heads were shaking in both clubhouses. Nobody could believe what they had just seen.

And no wonder -- what they saw hadn't happened since 1964.

Los Angeles hit four consecutive homers in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game, and Nomar Garciaparra's two-run homer in the 10th lifted the Dodgers to an 11-10 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday night and back into first place in the NL West.

"That was the greatest game I've ever seen. I've never seen anything like that," Dodgers reliever Brett Tomko said.

"It was a great baseball game -- two good teams going at it. They got the last big hit," said Brian Giles, who scored in the top of the 10th to give the Padres a short-lived 10-9 lead.

After Los Angeles tied it in the ninth with four straight homers -- just the fourth time that's happened in an inning in major league history -- the Padres went ahead on Giles' double and Josh Bard's two-out, single off Aaron Sele (8-6).

But Rudy Seanez (1-2) walked Kenny Lofton to begin the bottom half, and Garciaparra followed by hitting his 18th homer deep into the left field pavilion.

The capacity crowd of 55,831 at Dodger Stadium stood and cheered for several minutes afterward.

Garciaparra had to talk his way back into the lineup after not starting two games because of a strained left quad. Manager Grady Little relented.

"I wanted to play. I was telling Grady: `Let me play, let me play,"' Garciaparra said. "I'm glad I was in the lineup. But you know what won that game? It was that ninth inning. No one was giving up."

Jeff Kent and J.D. Drew opened the ninth with homers off San Diego's Jon Adkins. Russell Martin and Marlon Anderson then went deep on the first two pitches thrown by Trevor Hoffman, who entered with 475 career saves -- three shy of Lee Smith's major league record.

The last time a team hit four consecutive homers was on May 2, 1964, when the Minnesota Twins accomplished the feat against Kansas City in the 11th inning.

Anderson, acquired by the Dodgers from the Washington Nationals on Aug. 31, had a career-high five hits, and Kent had four as Los Angeles moved a half-game ahead of the Padres.

"I can't explain it. It's absolutely the most wonderful night of my career, for sure," Anderson said. "And to be able to do it on this stage -- in a pennant race -- it was awesome. The guys pulled together and stuck together. That was absolutely the most wonderful game I've ever seen in my life at any level."

Fans who had left the game and were in the parking lot starting streaming back into the ballpark during the long-ball display.

The Padres took a 9-5 lead in the top of the ninth by scoring three runs off Takashi Saito on a wild pitch, Geoff Blum's sacrifice fly and an RBI single by Josh Barfield.

Then came the stunning bottom of the ninth.

"You wouldn't expect anything different the way this division has gone the last couple of years," Giles said. "There are a lot of ups and downs in this game. This is going to go down to the wire. It would be nice if both of us got in the playoffs."

The Padres have a 1 1/2-game lead over Philadelphia in the wild-card race.

Hoffman said he didn't remember giving up homers on back-to-back pitches.

"Marlon's been in a groove," Hoffman said. "You've got to tip your cap. It was just a pretty impressive ballgame on both sides of the field."

Hoffman would have started the ninth had the Padres not scored three times to take a four-run lead, which took him out of a save situation.

"It's something we've been done for the last 13 or 14 years. I prepare to go in there when there are two guys on. Unfortunately, there were two guys in," he said with a smile.

The Padres snapped a 4-4 tie in the eighth against Jonathan Broxton on a run-scoring double by Barfield and an RBI single by pinch-hitter Todd Walker.

The Dodgers made it 6-5 in the bottom of the inning when Anderson tripled and scored on a single by Wilson Betemit. Scott Linebrink struck out Garciaparra with runners at second and third to end the inning.

The Padres took a 4-0 lead in the first after Brad Penny retired the first two batters. Adrian Gonzalez singled and scored on Mike Piazza's double. After Russell Branyan drew a walk, Mike Cameron hit a two-run triple and Blum followed with an RBI single.

The Dodgers battled back against Jake Peavy to tie it on Jeff Kent's RBI double in the first, solo homers by Anderson in the second and Rafael Furcal in the third, and back-to-back doubles by Kent and Drew later in the third.

Penny was lifted after allowing seven hits and four runs in five innings. He walked three and struck out six. Peavy was also taken out after five innings, giving up nine hits and four runs. He walked one and struck out five."

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 07:10:43 GMT

Even Clark Gable didn't get it right the first time. That's why there are retakes. =)

Quote of the day

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 08:49:47 GMT

"Much unhappiness has come into the world because of bewilderment and things left unsaid." -Fyodor Dostoyevsky

As promised...part 1/4

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 05:55:18 GMT

Saturday, July 1: Feeding the swans in Staines, England. Some of them got upset when we didn't have any bread, and started coming up on the shore. That's when the fun was over. I'm wearing my England shirt because they played Portugal in the World Cup that day.

Tuesday, July 4: No fireworks today, but a nice recognition of the 4th by the Captain over the ship's P.A. After two and a half days at sea, our first stop on the cruise was Stockholm. I'm not sure of the story behind this statue, but that's my sister Caiti on the other side of it. Stockholm was a nice city. I expected it to be a massive IKEA but it was really just like America, with 7-11 and McDonald's and the whole bit. The big difference is that everyone looked like models. The benefits of state health care?

Wednesday, July 5: An amazing church in Helsinki, Finland. It is built into rock, with a dome rising above the stone. A fairly modern church on the inside.

Thursday, July 6: My family in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. If you spent one minute looking at everything in this museum, and went there during every hour that it was open, it would take you seven years to get through everything. Needless to say, we only saw a little bit. From left to right: Grandpa, Angela, my sister Laura, Dad, Caiti, and me.

Friday, July 7: Hanging out on a Friday morning in front of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. A bit sleepy from a ten hour time difference (compared to Southern California) and staying out late at an amazing Volga choir show the night before. This day, we saw the historic sights on foot and on a bus tour.

from SI.com

knight.of.aslan@gmail.com — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 05:16:47 GMT

Why Cal can win it all: The Bears may have the best offense and defense in the Pac-10. Offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar, hired from Northwestern to install the spread, figures to create opportunities for RBs Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett. Preseason All-Americas DT Brandon Mebane and CB Daymeion Hughes lead a veteran defense that came on late last year.

What must fall into place: There's one huge question mark hovering over the Bears: quarterback. Sophomore Nate Longshore is the projected starter, but he missed nearly all of last season with a broken ankle. He'll need to shake off the rust and handle the reads in Cal's new spread formations. The O-line, which lost three starters to the NFL, must pull its weight as well.

How it could go wrong: The Bears' offense is loaded with weapons -- Lynch, Forsett, receivers DeSean Jackson and Robert Jordan -- but it won't go far if Longshore and/or backup Joe Ayoob makes as many poor decisions as Ayoob did last year (14 interceptions). It also doesn't help Cal to be visiting USC near the end of the season (Nov. 18), when the experience edge matters less.

Good omen: Another Pac-10 team, Oregon, improved by five wins last year after installing the spread. Five more wins by Cal would mean an undefeated season.