bonhoeffer does love

I finished reading two books a couple weeks back. This is quite the accomplishment for me. You see, I was at some point in seven books at the time. And after finishing these two, I immediately started three more. It's a disease and it's nearly lethal. Precisely why I rarely visit bookstores...

The two books I finished were fantastic and it turned out fitting that I read them at the same time...

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a name I'd heard a few times. I knew he was a German theologian and that he was somehow involved in the plot against Hitler. That's it. He was those things. And far more. He was a thinker, a family man, a musician, a writer, a teacher, a spy and ultimately a martyr. He was inspiring. He was constantly looking at the words of Jesus and trying to apply them to his life. He believed in the entire Bible and wouldn't give in when the Nazis threw out the Old Testament in order to punish the Jews. He practiced equality (attending a black church while spending several months in New York City) and he wasn't ashamed to publicly defy those went against what he believed to be true. Eric Metaxas did a fantastic job of utilizing quotes from his theological works, journal entries from Bonhoeffer and others within his inner circle, and interviewing living family members who knew him best. This is a book that is essential for anyone who loves a good biography and something spiritually challenging...

Bob Goff is not your everyday individual. He refused to accept his rejection from law school and literally lived on a bench across from the dean's office. He was accepted before the first week had finished. He also wouldn't accept that his now-wife didn't want to date him. So, he played the friend card and made sure to stick around long enough for her to change her mind. He refuses to live a boring life now too, working with refugee victims in Africa, foreign leaders on peace topics. He is adamant that the duty of Christians is to love, and that love isn't just words. Love Does.

Bonhoeffer wouldn't have to be convinced. His life echoed Goff's words. Does yours? Does mine? Good goals as we surrender all we are to Christ to better showcase his love.

what could have been

A few days ago, I started thinking about what the Seattle Mariners' lineup would look like if we hadn't made such foolish trades a few years ago.

Let's take a quick look:

• Adam Jones, Chris Tillman and others to the Baltimore Orioles for Erik Bedard, the talented but oft-injured pitcher who never really helped.
• Asdrubal Cabrera to the Cleveland Indians for Eduardo Perez, a platoon first baseman...
• Shin-Soo Choo to the Cleveland Indians for Ben Broussard, the second half of the Indians' platoon...

Those trades failed. We traded future stars and received little if nothing in return.

Here's what today's lineup could look like:

1. 2B Dustin Ackley

2. SS Asdrubal Cabrera

3. CF Adam Jones

4. RF Shin-Soo Choo

5. DH Jesus Montero

6. LF Michael Saunders

7. 3B Kyle Seager

8. 1B Mike Carp

9. C John Jaso / Miguel Olivo

There. A semi-decent lineup. The three hitters we traded would be in the middle! It wouldn't make us a playoff contender overnight but it would sure strike more fear in opponents. 

This is frustrating. Please don't make more trades like these, or the all-time evil trade for Heathcliff Slocumb...