Bag of Randomness for Monday, October 24, 2022

  • Of the many things I miss about having a healthy relationship with my children’s mother, sharing thoughts and experiences about our children is one of them. Sometimes one kid will do something heartwarming or have achieved something. I’d love to share it with their mother to celebrate and appreciate the moment, but I’ve been told she doesn’t want that sort of relationship. So, I’m left feeling a bit empty not being to brag or celebrate my kids with the one person who may love them as much as I do. For instance, DaughterGeeding wanted to play catch with the softball, and I jumped at the opportunity. I wasn’t able to do something as simple as that a year ago, but thankfully, spinal surgery now makes that possible. This was the first time we played catch in a long time, and the girl can throw a lot harder than she used to. There’s no longer an arch to her throw, she now throws heat. Pride kept me from asking 12-year-old DaughterGeeding to throw softer.
  • One of the hardest parts of healing is imagining how things could have been.
  • I like the athletic skills and ability of the Longhorns QB, despite the loss on Saturday. But, I really detest everything about this person, from the skanky mullet, to the sparse mutton chop-like beard, to his Southlake upbringing, to the skipping of his senior year of high school, and how he benefits from the NIL.
  • It even has a new paint job, but I’ve been wondering why we haven’t seen it in a while – Donald Trump’s Boeing 757 Flies Again –
    • During this time he had put the Boeing 757 into storage, since he didn’t expect he’d need it for eight years. As a result, he didn’t keep up maintenance on the jet. When it became clear he didn’t win reelection, he needed to do a bit of work to get his plane airworthy again.
    • Specifically, the Boeing 757 was stored at Stewart Airport in New York (SWF), and it needed a Rolls-Royce RB211 engine to even depart the airport. It would then be flown to Lake Charles, Louisiana (CWF), where the plane would undergo significant maintenance.
  • Where slavery is on the ballot this November – Over 150 years after the U.S. abolished slavery, nearly 20 state constitutions still allow forced labor as punishment for certain crimes.
  • When you live in Texas, you are forced to see and hear nothing but propaganda about how evil and damaging liberals are. When I was in DC, it was completely the opposite. It was very bizarre for me.
  • What a pregnancy actually looks like before 10 weeks – in pictures
    • In many states, abortion is no longer seen as a health procedure, but a morality issue
    • In 13 of those 14 states, abortion is banned even in the earliest stages of pregnancy.
    • Sometimes, patients want to see the tissue after an abortion. “They are stunned by what it actually looks like,” says Fleischman. “That’s when I realized how much the imagery on the internet and on placards – showing human-like qualities at this early stage of development – has really permeated the culture. People almost don’t believe this is what comes out.”
    • Patients may come in for an abortion fearful at this stage, having read through forums or looked at images online. “They’re expecting to see a little fetus with hands – a developed, miniature baby.” Often, she says, “they feel they’ve been deceived.”
  • I’d feel intimidated – Armed and masked ‘ballot watchers’ sat by a ballot drop box in Arizona, prompting police investigation
  • Mississippi unveils Emmett Till statue near where white men kidnapped and killed Black teen decades earlier – It would have been cool if they made it from recycled metal from Confederate monuments.
  • The Dallas Morning News has an article about the ten largest megachurches in North Texas. A few facts stood out:
    • Texas is home to some 210 mega-churches. Only one state, California, has more with 218.
    • A mega-church refers to any Christian congregation with an average weekly attendance of at least 2,000.
    • Roughly two-thirds describe themselves as evangelical; 40% are non-denominational and 16% are Southern Baptists.
      • I thought there would be more Southern Baptist churches on this list. But, most of those evangelical mega-churches are what I refer to as Baptist Splenda, or Baptist Light, as their members, founders, and leadership often come from a Baptist background. Barry over at LiberallyLean.com was surprised to find out Fellowship Church in Grapevine is SBC. The only time it’s mention, from what I’m told, is when you are about to join the church and it’s only barely mentioned. Also, when I was in the SBC, there was a trend of churches changing their names and leaving the word “Baptist” out of it because research found it to be a deterrent.
    • Nearly all mega-church pastors are men, who are often viewed as authoritative and charismatic, according to the institute.
      • Prestonwood Baptist is fifth on the list with an average weekly attendance of 17,000. It’s lead by a Hardin-Simmons graduated. I remember a non-Christian friend starting to explore the faith. He said he listened to a few of that pastor’s sermons and thought he sounded grumpy, mad, and disappointed in people. He was like, “Why would anyone want to be a part of that?” Thankfully, he continued to explore and found a church home he’s somewhat active in.

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