I. When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ``Repent'' (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of
repentance.
Today marks the 500th anniversary of the posting of Martin Luther's 95 Theses, commonly considered the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
So, yeah, MM#103 (on a Tuesday!) is rather predictable.
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Martin Luther
(Frederick Hedge translation)
A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God's own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.
That Word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever!
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Monday, October 30, 2017
800-273-8255
I looked at the list of Monday Melodies. And the ones I hinted that I'd eventually get to.
And on that first list was a haunting song. (Not that kind of haunting.)
But...it was too close. And too tricky to post anything besides the song itself.
Hell, to post the song would be to invite questions.
And - if you want to see where I've come from - depression - just look at the blogs titled depression.
BUT...I concede that my family is lucky. Damn lucky.
As far as I know, on the family tree, we haven't lost anyone to suicide (currently a more dangerous killer than homicide).
I think about my friend from Illinois at MWSC...I think she said she'd had a relative...
I think about my other friend from Beshears hall...who had to call a father with severe concerns...
I think about my other friend in Leavenworth...freaking out about an out-of-state friend...
This too will pass
MM#102
For Annie
Petra
No one ever noticed Annie weeping
People all around, but she was all alone
Mama's got her meetings, Daddy's got his job
and no one's got the time so Annie's on her own
No one ever knew her desperation
People couldn't hear her cry out silently
Locked inside the bathroom she grabs a jar of pills
The medicine that cures becomes the poison that kills
[Chorus]
And it's too late for Annie, she's gone away for good
There's so much we could tell her and now we wish we could
But it's too late, it's too late for Annie
Sadness fills the hearts of Annie's family
Daddy tries to comfort Mama uselessly
They hoped she knew they loved her, but they really didn't know
They just want to know why did their baby go
[2nd Chorus]
And it's too late for Annie, she's gone away for good
There's so much we could tell her and now we wish we could
We would tell her Jesus loves her, tell her Jesus cares
Tell her He can free her and her burdens bear
But it's too late, it's too late for Annie
If only we had known her situation,
We'd have tried to stop this useless tragedy
Annie's lost forever, never to be found
But there are lots of others like her all around
[3rd Chorus]
And it's not too late for Annie, she could be next to you
Don't miss the chance to tell her before her life is through
We gotta tell her Jesus loves her, tell her Jesus cares
Tell her He can free her and her burdens bear
Tell her Jesus loves her, tell her Jesus cares
Tell her He can free her and her burdens bear
You've got to tell her Jesus loves her, tell her Jesus cares
Tell her He can free her and her burdens bear
It's not too late
Monday, October 23, 2017
Ungrateful rascal
So...Pastor preached about complaining. And how God doesn't like it. And he used a lot of verses about the grumbling mumbling ungrateful children of Israel. Whining about the food. Whining about the water. Whining about meat. Whining about the giants. Whining about being told they weren't going to the promised land. Whining about everything.
And, this song came to mind. I told Pastor Michael to youtube it.
God knows I need this sermon on at least a monthly basis. I'm terrible about complaining and need to be reminded to be grateful. (Another song about gratitude is on my list for MMs later this year, closer to Christmas)
And...if God has provided me everything I need...for me to complain is for me to be ungrateful and to say that I know better than the Almighty...YIKES!
--------------
MM#101
So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt
Keith Green
So you wanna go back to Egypt
Where it's warm and secure
Are sorry you bought the one way ticket
When you thought you were sure
You wanted to live in the land of promise
But now it's getting so hard
Are you sorry you're out here in the desert
Instead of your own back yard
Eating leaks and onions by the Nile
Ooh what breath for dining out in style
Ooh, my life's on the skids
Building the pyramids
Well there's nothing do but travel
And we sure travel a lot
'Cause it's hard to keep your feet from moving
When the sand gets so hot
And in the morning it's manna hotcakes
We snack on manna all day
And we sure had a winner last night for dinner
Flaming manna souffle
Well we once complained for something new to munch
The ground opened up and had some of us for lunch
Ooh, such fire and smoke
Can't God even take a joke? Huh? NO!
So you wanna to back to Egypt
Where your friends wait for you
You can throw a big party and tell the whole gang
Of what they said was all true
And this Moses acts like a big shot
Who does he think he is?
Well it's true that God works lots of miracles
But Moses thinks they're all his
Oh we're having so much trouble even now
Why'd he get so mad about that c-c-c-cow (that golded calf)
Moses seems rather idle
He just sits around, he just sits around and writes the Bible!
Oh, Moses, put down your pen!
What? Oh no, manna again?
Oh, manna waffles
Manna burgers
Manna bagels
Fillet of manna
Manna patty
BaManna bread!
And, this song came to mind. I told Pastor Michael to youtube it.
God knows I need this sermon on at least a monthly basis. I'm terrible about complaining and need to be reminded to be grateful. (Another song about gratitude is on my list for MMs later this year, closer to Christmas)
And...if God has provided me everything I need...for me to complain is for me to be ungrateful and to say that I know better than the Almighty...YIKES!
--------------
MM#101
So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt
Keith Green
So you wanna go back to Egypt
Where it's warm and secure
Are sorry you bought the one way ticket
When you thought you were sure
You wanted to live in the land of promise
But now it's getting so hard
Are you sorry you're out here in the desert
Instead of your own back yard
Eating leaks and onions by the Nile
Ooh what breath for dining out in style
Ooh, my life's on the skids
Building the pyramids
Well there's nothing do but travel
And we sure travel a lot
'Cause it's hard to keep your feet from moving
When the sand gets so hot
And in the morning it's manna hotcakes
We snack on manna all day
And we sure had a winner last night for dinner
Flaming manna souffle
Well we once complained for something new to munch
The ground opened up and had some of us for lunch
Ooh, such fire and smoke
Can't God even take a joke? Huh? NO!
So you wanna to back to Egypt
Where your friends wait for you
You can throw a big party and tell the whole gang
Of what they said was all true
And this Moses acts like a big shot
Who does he think he is?
Well it's true that God works lots of miracles
But Moses thinks they're all his
Oh we're having so much trouble even now
Why'd he get so mad about that c-c-c-cow (that golded calf)
Moses seems rather idle
He just sits around, he just sits around and writes the Bible!
Oh, Moses, put down your pen!
What? Oh no, manna again?
Oh, manna waffles
Manna burgers
Manna bagels
Fillet of manna
Manna patty
BaManna bread!
Monday, October 16, 2017
On this day...and MM#01
From my Xanga of Friday, October 5, 2007
"2. MONDAY MELODIES. Starting next week, I'll be blogging on a song of my choice. Recommendations may be accepted or ignored at my choosing. Like my twin, I also did a musical bracket. Once. Based solely on music I had on my computer that day. Took me two weeks, but I found the winning song, so it gets first billing. "
It would be fitting for me to go back to MM#89, since today marks 19 years since the Phil Driscoll concert at Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, MO - the church I attended for 12 years. (The church I got married in. The church my children were dedicated in. The church my children were baptized in.)
Or we could go back to MM#01...
Yeah.
We're going back to MM#01.
From Word of Life's album "There With Me" in 2005
Beautiful Savior
Draw us near, Holy Lord
Do to us thy grace accord
True faith and love to us impart
That we might hold these in our hearts
Beautiful Savior of wondrous love,
Beautiful Savior, no other name above
And I give my all to thee, completely,
And follow you with all of me.
Jesus, name of wondrous love
Human name of God above
Leading only, this we plea
Helpless oh, our God to thee
Beautiful Savior of wondrous love,
Beautiful Savior, no other name above
And I give my all to thee, completely,
And follow you with all of me.
Holy Jesus, every day
Keep us in your narrow way
Until at last we too proclaim
With all the saints thy glorious name
In paradise our songs renew
And we'll praise you like the angels do
Yes we will praise you like the angels do
Yes we will praise you like the angels do
Beautiful Savior of wondrous love,
Beautiful Savior, no other name above
And I give my all to thee, completely,
And follow you with all of me.
Beautiful Savior of wondrous love,
Beautiful Savior, no other name above
And I give my all to thee, completely,
And follow you with all of me.
"2. MONDAY MELODIES. Starting next week, I'll be blogging on a song of my choice. Recommendations may be accepted or ignored at my choosing. Like my twin, I also did a musical bracket. Once. Based solely on music I had on my computer that day. Took me two weeks, but I found the winning song, so it gets first billing. "
It would be fitting for me to go back to MM#89, since today marks 19 years since the Phil Driscoll concert at Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, MO - the church I attended for 12 years. (The church I got married in. The church my children were dedicated in. The church my children were baptized in.)
Or we could go back to MM#01...
Yeah.
We're going back to MM#01.
From Word of Life's album "There With Me" in 2005
Beautiful Savior
Draw us near, Holy Lord
Do to us thy grace accord
True faith and love to us impart
That we might hold these in our hearts
Beautiful Savior of wondrous love,
Beautiful Savior, no other name above
And I give my all to thee, completely,
And follow you with all of me.
Jesus, name of wondrous love
Human name of God above
Leading only, this we plea
Helpless oh, our God to thee
Beautiful Savior of wondrous love,
Beautiful Savior, no other name above
And I give my all to thee, completely,
And follow you with all of me.
Holy Jesus, every day
Keep us in your narrow way
Until at last we too proclaim
With all the saints thy glorious name
In paradise our songs renew
And we'll praise you like the angels do
Yes we will praise you like the angels do
Yes we will praise you like the angels do
Beautiful Savior of wondrous love,
Beautiful Savior, no other name above
And I give my all to thee, completely,
And follow you with all of me.
Beautiful Savior of wondrous love,
Beautiful Savior, no other name above
And I give my all to thee, completely,
And follow you with all of me.
Saturday, October 14, 2017
Tango Whiskey Charlie
The one constant in the universe...is change.
Someone once asked...where do you see yourself in 5 years. When I think about that question, I laugh a painful laugh.
I have no idea what things will be like in 5 years.
Going back, there has always been something changing. The only rather stable 5-year span in my life was April 2004 to October 2010 - same job, same family size, same church, same address... and that had its own amount of chaos.
I haven't had the same job on back-to-back 4th of July since 2009-2010 working as a programmer for an Army contractor. Since then...'11 & '12 unemployed. '13 call center from home. '14 Wal-Mart. '15 call center for a bank. '16 Home Depot. '17 unemployed. (Now with Hallmark since the day of the eclipse)
I can argue that the two most tumultuous years in my life were 1986 (new brother, new school, new church, moved back to Leavenworth) and 2013 (new job, changed churches 3 times, moved back to Leavenworth, and other things). Don't remember much about 1986. But 2013...that year was...I ended that year with this on Facebook
"I started this year quoting a conversation between two characters about to go over a waterfall. And I thought things were challenging then...
This has to go down as the worst year in my life, so far. Good riddance to '13.
And yet, despite everything, more than most of y'all know, I cannot escape the truth of Romans 8:37-39."
So...where will I be in five years? God only knows.
Someone once asked...where do you see yourself in 5 years. When I think about that question, I laugh a painful laugh.
I have no idea what things will be like in 5 years.
Going back, there has always been something changing. The only rather stable 5-year span in my life was April 2004 to October 2010 - same job, same family size, same church, same address... and that had its own amount of chaos.
I haven't had the same job on back-to-back 4th of July since 2009-2010 working as a programmer for an Army contractor. Since then...'11 & '12 unemployed. '13 call center from home. '14 Wal-Mart. '15 call center for a bank. '16 Home Depot. '17 unemployed. (Now with Hallmark since the day of the eclipse)
I can argue that the two most tumultuous years in my life were 1986 (new brother, new school, new church, moved back to Leavenworth) and 2013 (new job, changed churches 3 times, moved back to Leavenworth, and other things). Don't remember much about 1986. But 2013...that year was...I ended that year with this on Facebook
"I started this year quoting a conversation between two characters about to go over a waterfall. And I thought things were challenging then...
This has to go down as the worst year in my life, so far. Good riddance to '13.
And yet, despite everything, more than most of y'all know, I cannot escape the truth of Romans 8:37-39."
So...where will I be in five years? God only knows.
Monday, October 9, 2017
Every Monday Melody
| 10/08/07 | Beautiful Savior | Word of Life Church |
| 10/15/07 * 08/15/16 | Someday Out Of The Blue | Elton John |
| 10/22/07 | Chicken Dance | (n/a) |
| 10/29/07 | Dear Mr. Jesus | Richard Klender |
| 10/29/07 | Concrete Angel | Martina McBride |
| 10/29/07 | Alyssa Lies | Jason Michael Carroll |
| 11/05/07 | The Houseplant Song | Audio Adrenaline |
| 11/12/07 * 09/26/16 | If You're Going Through Hell | Rodney Atkins |
| 11/19/07 | Wild Horses | Stephanie Glenn |
| 11/26/07 * 08/21/17 | Total Eclipse of the Heart | Bonnie Tyler |
| 12/03/07 | Cleaning This Gun | Rodney Atkins |
| 12/10/07 | No Doubt | Petra |
| 12/17/07 | Same Auld Lang Syne | Dan Fogelberg |
| 01/14/08 | It's All About The Pentiums | Weird Al Yankovic |
| Sa 02/02/08 | Missing Person | Michael Smith |
| 03/10/08 | Leave A Legacy | Aaron Jeoffrey |
| 03/17/08 | Watch The Lamb | Ray Boltz |
| 03/24/08 | When God Ran | Phillips, Craig, & Dean |
| Tu 04/29/08 * 10/03/16 | Like We Never Loved At All | Tim McGraw |
| Tu 04/29/08 | Whiskey Lullaby | Brad Paisley |
| 05/12/08 | Still the One | Shania Twain |
| 05/26/08 | Arlington | Trace Adkins |
| 05/26/08 | If You're Reading This | Tim McGraw |
| 06/02/08 | I Don't Want To Miss A Thing | Aerosmith |
| 06/09/08 | Cat's In The Cradle | Harry Chapin |
| 06/09/08 * 10/10/16 | Bounce | Bon Jovi |
| 06/09/08 | Because of You | Kelly Clarkson |
| Tu 08/26/08 | Everything is Gonna Be All Right | Greg Long |
| 09/08/08 | White & Nerdy | Weird Al Yankovic |
| 09/29/08 | Livin' On A Prayer | Bon Jovi |
| Tu 10/07/08 | Move Along | All-American Rejects |
| 12/08/08 | Hurt | Johnny Cash |
| 12/15/08 | Away In A Manger | (traditional) |
| 12/29/08 | Auld Lang Syne | (traditional) |
| 01/05/09 | What A Friend We Have in Jesus | (traditional) |
| 01/12/09 | Alter Bridge | Metalingus |
| 01/12/09 | Kyrie | Mr. Mister |
| 01/26/09 | When You Come Back To Me Again | Garth Brooks |
| 02/02/09 | Wherever We Go | Newsboys |
| 02/09/09 | It's A Small World | Disney |
| 03/02/09 | It's My Life | Bon Jovi |
| Tu 03/17/09 | Bad Day | Daniel Powter |
| 03/30/09 | Grown Men Don't Cry | Tim McGraw |
| We 04/01/09 | Faith is the Victory | (traditional) |
| 04/20/09 * 10/17/16 | I Dreamed A Dream | Les Mis |
| 05/11/09 | It's A Great Day To Be Alive | Travis Tritt |
| We 05/20/09 | Summer of 69 | Bryan Adams |
| 06/29/09 | Battle Hymn of the Republic | (traditional) |
| 07/13/09 | Viva la Vida | Coldplay |
| 08/10/09 | The Storm | Garth Brooks |
| 08/17/09 * 08/22/16 | Second Chance | Shinedown |
| 09/28/09 | You Found Me | The Fray |
| 10/26/09 | The Sound of Silence | P. Simon |
| 03/08/10 | Mercy Now | Mary Gauthier |
| 05/17/10 | In Christ Alone | Michael English |
| Su 01/09/11 | Paradise | Coldplay |
| 01/10/11 | Fancy | Reba McIntire |
| 02/28/11 | A Different World | Bucky Covington |
| 03/07/11 * 10/24/16 | A Father's Love | Bucky Covington |
| 03/14/11 | When She Loved Me | Sarah McLachlan |
| 03/21/11 | I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For | U2 |
| 03/28/11 | Silent Running | Mike & The Mechanics |
| 04/04/11 | You Belong to the City | Glenn Frey |
| 04/11/11 | Counting Flowers on the Wall | Statler Brothers |
| 04/18/11 | Thicker Than Blood | Garth Brooks |
| 04/25/11 | All By Myself | Celine Dion |
| 05/02/11 | I Go Back | Kenny Chesney |
| 05/09/11 | Never Gonna Give You Up | Rick Astley |
| 05/16/11 | Peace of God | Hillsong |
| 05/16/11 | The Call | Matt Kennon |
| 05/23/11 | The Power of the Dream | Celine Dion |
| Su 05/29/11 | Highway to the Danger Zone | Kenny Loggins |
| 05/30/11 | 8th of November | Big & Rich |
| 09/05/11 * 08/08/16 | I Hope You Dance | Lee Ann Womack |
| 09/05/11 | Independence Day | Martina McBride |
| 09/12/11 | Where Were You | Alan Jackson |
| 09/19/11 | Baby I'll Come Back to You | Joey + Rory |
| 09/19/11 | That's Important to Me | Joey + Rory |
| 09/26/11 * 08/01/16 | The Boys of Fall | Kenny Chesney |
| 10/03/11 | Opportunities | Pet Shop Boys |
| 10/31/11 | Paradise | Coldplay |
| 01/02/12 | The Boys Are Back | HSM3 |
| 01/09/12 * 10/31/16 | My Town | Montgomery Gentry |
| Sa 08/31/13 * 07/04/16 | Born This Way | Lady Gaga |
| Sa 04/26/14 * 07/04/16 | Life Happened | Tammy Cochran |
| Sa 07/25/15 | This Is The Good Life | Audio Adrenaline |
| Sa 02/27/16 | Even So Come | Kristian Stanfill |
| 07/18/16 | Lady | Kenny Rogers |
| 07/25/16 | Covenant Children | Phil Driscoll |
| 08/29/16 | Dancing in the Minefields | Andrew Peterson |
| 09/05/16 | He Didn't Have To Be | Brad Paisley |
| 09/12/16 | Severance Day | Daysend |
| 09/19/16 | Leavin On A Jet Plane | John Denver |
| 06/05/17 | Temporary Home | Carrie Underwood |
| 06/12/17 | The Boys Are Back In Town | Thin Lizzy |
| 06/19/17 | This Is Amazing Grace | Phil Wickham |
| 09/11/17 | Something To Be Proud Of | Montgomery Gentry |
| 10/02/17 | I Need Thee Every Hour | Annie Hawks |
| 10/02/17 | Jesus, Take The Wheel | Carrie Underwood |
| 10/09/17 | 10,000 Reasons | Matt Redman |
Monday Melody #100
I told my wife that I was about to post Monday Melody #100. I thought about doing Big Green Tractor (Jason Aldean, #Vegas)...and I would've done it for a Monday Melody, if it wasn't MM#100, if it wasn't 10 years since MM#1.
She immediately suggested MM#96, This Is Amazing Grace. Uh, already did it.
So she suggested another one. And after a few minutes of googling it, we found it.
Happy 16½th anniversary, Ivy.
Matt Redman
10,000 Reasons
Bless the Lord O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
oh
I'll worship Your holy name
The sun comes up
It's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
You're rich in love and You're slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
10,000 reasons for my heart to find
And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
10,000 years and then forever more
Bless the Lord O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
oh
I'll worship Your holy name
She immediately suggested MM#96, This Is Amazing Grace. Uh, already did it.
So she suggested another one. And after a few minutes of googling it, we found it.
Happy 16½th anniversary, Ivy.
Matt Redman
10,000 Reasons
Bless the Lord O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
oh
I'll worship Your holy name
The sun comes up
It's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
You're rich in love and You're slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
10,000 reasons for my heart to find
And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
10,000 years and then forever more
Bless the Lord O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
oh
I'll worship Your holy name
Saturday, October 7, 2017
A Decade of Monday Melodies
The Decade Collection
| 2007 | MM#02 | Someday Out Of The Blue | Elton John |
| 2008 | MM#26 | Bounce | Bon Jovi |
| 2009 | MM#51 | Second Chance | Shinedown |
| 2010 | MM#54 | Mercy Now | Mary Gauthier |
| 2011 | MM#59 | A Father's Love | Bucky Covington |
| 2012 | MM#83 | My Town | Montgomery Gentry |
| 2013 | MM#84 | Born This Way | Lady Gaga |
| 2014 | MM#85 | Life Happened | Tammy Cochran |
| 2015 | MM#86 | This Is The Good Life | Audio Adrenaline |
| 2016 | MM#90 | Dancing in the Minefields | Andrew Peterson |
| 2017 | MM#96 | This Is Amazing Grace | Phil Wickham |
So, yeah, I picked my favorite/the best/the only Monday Melody from each song this decade, since I've been doing Monday Melodies since 10/8/2007.
And, except for MM#54, there's a Saturdays blog in which I referenced each of these songs in my "I Go Back" feature, or introduced it.
In bold are my top three Monday Melodies all-time, Bounce; Second Chance; and This Is Amazing Grace.
Monday, I release MM#100.
Expected Trophies in Soccer
Like last week's blog, we're looking at expected trophies. This time, instead of Kansas City, we're looking at Major League Soccer.
Each year, we assign 1/league + 1/league + 1/country as xT - expected trophies. (For Canada, 2008-2010, 3; 2011-current 4). So at the start of the league, for 10 US teams, xT is 0.3/yr. At current, xT for an American team is 0.159; and a Canadian team's xT is 0.350
Then, for each trophy (MLS Cup, Supporter's Shield, Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, Canadian Championship), if the team won one, add 1 to Trophies. (Also adding 1 for the continental and the intercontinental for DC United in 1998, because being the best team in the Americas is worth something)
Chart 1 shows how the 10 original MLS teams fared.
DC and LA are on top. DC sits at 7.15 T>xT, and LA is right
behind at 6.15. SKC is 3rd among the originals at 1.15, and Columbus
Crew sits just above 0 at 0.15.
Below 0 are San Jose (on hiatus for two years), at -0.36. FCD has jumped with a great 2016, but is still at -1.85. Red Bull New York had the longest run without silverware, but now sits at -2.85. New England and Colorado, each with only 1 trophy, are at the bottom, right about -3.85.
The Tampa Bay Mutiny won 1 Supporters' Shield in their six years, but the team ceased to exist after the 2001 season.
Chart 2 shows how the best 6 teams by T>xT.
Again, DC and LA are 1-2.
Seattle Sounders opened with three straight Open Cup wins, and won three more trophies to put them at a very respectable 4.61.
Chicago Fire had a great first decade, peaking at +3.6 ten years ago, but haven't won a title since. They're still 1.75 T>xT
The best team in Canada is Toronto FC. They will have a higher xT due to a 1/4 chance of winning the Canadian Championship. Their five Canadian championships put them at 1.32 T>xT.
Sporting KC is 6th on the chart, and the only team in the top 6 to ever fall to -1 T>xT (the year before the 2000 MLS Cup/Shield double; and the year before their 2012 US Open Cup)
Each year, we assign 1/league + 1/league + 1/country as xT - expected trophies. (For Canada, 2008-2010, 3; 2011-current 4). So at the start of the league, for 10 US teams, xT is 0.3/yr. At current, xT for an American team is 0.159; and a Canadian team's xT is 0.350
Then, for each trophy (MLS Cup, Supporter's Shield, Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, Canadian Championship), if the team won one, add 1 to Trophies. (Also adding 1 for the continental and the intercontinental for DC United in 1998, because being the best team in the Americas is worth something)
Chart 1 shows how the 10 original MLS teams fared.
Below 0 are San Jose (on hiatus for two years), at -0.36. FCD has jumped with a great 2016, but is still at -1.85. Red Bull New York had the longest run without silverware, but now sits at -2.85. New England and Colorado, each with only 1 trophy, are at the bottom, right about -3.85.
The Tampa Bay Mutiny won 1 Supporters' Shield in their six years, but the team ceased to exist after the 2001 season.
Chart 2 shows how the best 6 teams by T>xT.
Again, DC and LA are 1-2.
Seattle Sounders opened with three straight Open Cup wins, and won three more trophies to put them at a very respectable 4.61.
Chicago Fire had a great first decade, peaking at +3.6 ten years ago, but haven't won a title since. They're still 1.75 T>xT
The best team in Canada is Toronto FC. They will have a higher xT due to a 1/4 chance of winning the Canadian Championship. Their five Canadian championships put them at 1.32 T>xT.
Sporting KC is 6th on the chart, and the only team in the top 6 to ever fall to -1 T>xT (the year before the 2000 MLS Cup/Shield double; and the year before their 2012 US Open Cup)
Monday, October 2, 2017
Only by the grace of God
I keep having to remember the same lesson.
Once upon a time, I knew that God knew better,
and that He cared about me.
And once upon a time, I walked on my porch
and knew that I hadn't gotten myself in the good place I was
- and it was a good place.
And I'm often frustrated
That I need divine assistance
Divine grace
Divine wisdom
And that the brains He gave me in '80
and the brawn
and the guts
and the good looks (ha!)
aren't enough to get me through,
that I need His help, almost daily.
And then I remember the times when I moved without Him
When I took control
and made choices
and screwed everything up so badly
(almost everything bad about my personal great tribulation
is entirely my fault
and the deliverance
I can take no credit for.)
And I'm in the best place in my life
and I wouldn't trade it for any other position so far
although I think I'd do better if I had another chance
except some things I couldn't fix
----------------
MM#98
"I Need Thee Every Hour", Annie Hawks
I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.
I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is in vain.
I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.
I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessèd Son.
I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.
-----------------
MM#99
"Jesus, Take The Wheel", Carrie Underwood
She was driving last Friday on her way to Cincinnati
On a snow white Christmas Eve
Going home to see her Mama and her Daddy
With the baby in the backseat
Fifty miles to go and she was running low
On faith and gasoline
It'd been a long hard year
She had a lot on her mind and she didn't pay attention
She was going way too fast
Before she knew it she was spinning
On a thin black sheet of glass
She saw both their lives flash before her eyes
She didn't even have time to cry
She was so scared
She threw her hands up in the air
Jesus, take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Jesus, take the wheel
It was still getting colder when she made it to the shoulder
And the car came to a stop
She cried when she saw that baby in the backseat
Sleeping like a rock
And for the first time in a long time
She bowed her head to pray
She said I'm sorry for the way
I've been living my life
I know I've got to change
So from now on tonight
Jesus, take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Oh Jesus, take the wheel
Oh, I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
Save me from this road I'm on
From this road I'm on
Jesus, take the wheel
Oh, take it, take it from me
Oh, why, ooh
Once upon a time, I knew that God knew better,
and that He cared about me.
And once upon a time, I walked on my porch
and knew that I hadn't gotten myself in the good place I was
- and it was a good place.
And I'm often frustrated
That I need divine assistance
Divine grace
Divine wisdom
And that the brains He gave me in '80
and the brawn
and the guts
and the good looks (ha!)
aren't enough to get me through,
that I need His help, almost daily.
And then I remember the times when I moved without Him
When I took control
and made choices
and screwed everything up so badly
(almost everything bad about my personal great tribulation
is entirely my fault
and the deliverance
I can take no credit for.)
And I'm in the best place in my life
and I wouldn't trade it for any other position so far
although I think I'd do better if I had another chance
except some things I couldn't fix
----------------
MM#98
"I Need Thee Every Hour", Annie Hawks
I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.
I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is in vain.
I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.
I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessèd Son.
I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.
-----------------
MM#99
"Jesus, Take The Wheel", Carrie Underwood
She was driving last Friday on her way to Cincinnati
On a snow white Christmas Eve
Going home to see her Mama and her Daddy
With the baby in the backseat
Fifty miles to go and she was running low
On faith and gasoline
It'd been a long hard year
She had a lot on her mind and she didn't pay attention
She was going way too fast
Before she knew it she was spinning
On a thin black sheet of glass
She saw both their lives flash before her eyes
She didn't even have time to cry
She was so scared
She threw her hands up in the air
Jesus, take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Jesus, take the wheel
It was still getting colder when she made it to the shoulder
And the car came to a stop
She cried when she saw that baby in the backseat
Sleeping like a rock
And for the first time in a long time
She bowed her head to pray
She said I'm sorry for the way
I've been living my life
I know I've got to change
So from now on tonight
Jesus, take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Oh Jesus, take the wheel
Oh, I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
Save me from this road I'm on
From this road I'm on
Jesus, take the wheel
Oh, take it, take it from me
Oh, why, ooh
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)