A time to tear down and (re)build: saying goodbye to the 2015-2021 Cubs era

Checking in. Health is improving, praise God. Perhaps in some ways this hiatus may become shorter than expected. New job, lots of new learning, which I believe will indeed lead to big things down the road. But for now, I still need to sleep a lot. I'm following advice from two trusted sources to take six months off from school (yes, even though I was only taking one class at a time, June of this year excepted). I will resume my studies, eventually. I'm still planning on seeing not only this particular degree through, but also the longer-term path that my sweetheart and I have charted together since early in our relationship.

But that's not why I'm here writing today. I'm writing because of yesterday. No, my personal life is good and predictable right now, which the way I'm finding I like it. I mean yesterday in terms of the sports world. Mostly, you have seen me write about basketball, a sport in which I became a fan due to growing up when Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and co. were bringing championship titles home each year (almost). But today I'm primarily going to write about baseball. Specifically, the Chicago Cubs.

Specifically, yesterday was about saying goodbye to this:

...and saying hello to new beginnings. Yesterday, and in days leading up to this, the Cubs traded away the last of the main players* from the 2016 championship team. A team that at one point looked like it could have become the beginnings of a dynasty, but, well, in the years since didn't.

[*I put an asterisk because the team still has from the 2016 team Jason Heyward and Kyle Hendricks, and Jake Arrieta returned to the team this year after spending a few seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies in the interim.]

I digress, though. In sum, this week, the Cubs traded away Anthony Rizzo (New York Yankees), Javier Baez (New York Mets), Kris Bryant (San Francisco Giants), and Craig Kimbrel (Chicago White Sox), among many others. While Kimbrel wasn't on the 2016 team, he was someone that would've been an excellent piece, if the Cubs were contenders now. Which they are not. They're in fourth place. And all four will be free agents at the end of this season.

The team hung on to their core for years after the championship, but frustrating trends began to take hold that led to first gradually dismantling the organization, such as manager Joe Maddon's contract not being renewed, and even team president Theo Epstein walking away. Players like Jon Lester and Kyle Schwarber, also 2016 title cornerstones, were let go when their contracts expired at the end of last year. Interestingly, both signed with the Washington Nationals, and even more interestingly, both were also traded this week, to the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox, respectively.

I'm all in support of it. For the Cubs to push toward winning again sometime in the future, this needed to happen. In fact, I prayed for precisely this. And my prayer got answered.

I'll be honest, though: I felt pain, too, reading as each new trade materialized. Unlike previous generations (and there were many), these were the guys that brought the Cubs that very-long-awaited championship that I and so many others groaned, pined, wept for. These guys did it. And they're now gone. We don't know if they'll ever come back to the team down the line.

The fact is, it's really hard to win a championship in sports, baseball especially. Baseball hasn't had a repeat champion since the 2000 Yankees, and they haven't even had a team win more than one in a very short span since the 2014 Giants (who won in 2010 and 2012 as well). Every year since 2015 baseball has had a completely different champion. Teams that won that also looked like they could win again (just like the Cubs) haven't been able to get back to the mountaintop. Now, that could change with the Los Angeles Dodgers this year. That team is a monster, and this season isn't over yet. But we'll see.

The other thing too is the fact that the Cubs underperformed from 2017 to this year. At one point, one of the star players admitted that they themselves got lax after the title. It was apparent in 2017, but we all thought, ok, fine, it's hard to repeat as champions. We get it. But surely, they'll be back the next year. One key component that made the team so good -- discipline -- disappeared and never returned. The guys are all still so talented. But, they underachieved. Hence the clearing house.

I support the trades. I prayed for it. The Cubs needed a reboot, and amazingly, it wasn't until this year that it finally became obvious that it was needed. I saw it all the way back in 2018, when the team lost in the wild-card game. But it still hurts, because these guys weren't only so good, but they were great human beings, too. Like it or not, anyone in the public eye is a role model, and that includes athletes. These guys were folks that nameless, faceless fans could look to and admire and root for. A certain weird kind of connection gets built, and it got built, over the course of 6, 7, 9 years or so, depending on how long each team member was here in Chicago. There's history here.

I wish each guy that got traded the best. They each still have at least half their careers ahead of them, ready to make new memories and do all they can to establish their own baseball legacies. But we'll have our memories to cherish as the Cubs reboot.

Even with the pain of the goodbyes, and in a sense the suddenness of it, this week (and particularly yesterday) was also about new beginnings, with new prospects and new players, and a new foundation. A "formative moment for the Chicago Cubs," one ESPN sports analyst put it.

To close, an apropos passage:

1 There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, NIV

Amen, indeed. And so it goes. 

Hiatus, continued

Although I am posting tonight as a brief check-in, I am currently taking another hiatus from blogging. Since July 4th, I fell really ill, went to the hospital, got diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, returned home from the hospital, and a few short days later, began a new job.

I wouldn't recommend lining up such events again.

God is good, even when I get frustrated, which seems to be happening more, although primarily due to fatigue.

One of the days I was in the hospital, I opened up a Bible I had, and it opened immediately to the story of the woman who had had internal bleeding grabbing Jesus' cloak and was instantly healed.

Then yesterday, driving home, I passed a church (I forget where now), which had a roadside sign that read: "with his stripes we are healed."

I'm heavy on meds, but God's showing and telling me He will heal this thing completely.

I'm staying in Park Ridge for the time being. Among the many perks is that it is much closer to Itasca than Evanston is.

It feels good to not have to be constantly rushing to the bathroom 12+ times a day. And on that note, I'm out til the next time.

Sermons from Good News: to restore America, we must walk in love

[Blogger's note: after a crazy busy month, I'm back to posting, but once again have a backlog of sermon messages to post. I'm going to begin by posting the most recent one first, due to the holiday and a very timely message. And as always, glory be to God for this and all messages.]

Church 7/03/2021

Offertory scripture:

Colossians: we have been delivered from the power of darkness

Parallels between US independence from oppression by England, and our independence from sin and darkness vis Jesus’ blood. God wants you free and blessed. From everything that is darkness.

Total independence from everything of the world: your employer, the government, etc.

Sermon message:

245 years ago, the world changed for the better. (July 4, 1776)

We will be “Free and United”.

The diaries of those who were there—the men who wrote the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution—they had preachers come in periodically to preach the word of God. They had the preachers come in because they knew they needed the word of God to help guide them. They knew they needed God Himself to help them. They officially agreed on July 2nd to declare independence. But they made it public on July 4th. They also made copies of the Declaration of Independence to the preachers.

“We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men were created, (by God) and created equal.”

The founding fathers relied on these two passages as they were making their documents:

Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people. - Proverbs 14:34 https://biblegateway.com/passage?search=Prov.14.34&version=NKJV

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
Matthew 7:24-25 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%207:24-25&version=NKJV

Writing the Declaration of Independence took courage.

Let’s consider John Adams: first Vice President, second President.

“Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people. This document can only work for a moral and a religious people.”

The founding fathers believed that God was directing everything. They believed also that the constitution worked for moral people and people of faith.

God is not trying to divide us; he is trying to bring us together. But we need to love one another. As Christians we need to be setting this example.

What really matters is God’s opinion. We may have differences of opinion. But we can learn to love each other through the disagreement.

Point #1: God wants us to walk in love.

Jesus’s commandment:

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:30-31 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Mark%2012:30-31&version=NKJV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
John 13:34 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2013:34&version=NKJV

The result and payoff:

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2013:35&version=NKJV

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
1 John 4:7-12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20John%204:7-12&version=NKJV

Point #2: God rewards us when we walk in love and not strife

He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given.
Proverbs 19:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Proverbs%2019:17&version=NKJV

A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
Proverbs 19:19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Proverbs%2019:19&version=NKJV

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
3 John 1:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=3%20John%201:2&version=NKJV

Part of your soul prospering is for us to walk in love and forgive and take pity on them.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
James 1:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=James%201:17&version=NKJV

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Jeremiah%2029:11&version=NKJV

Point #3: division and strife have consequences

In marriage:

Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
1 Peter 3:7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Peter%203:7&version=NKJV

In community:

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:8-9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Peter%203:8-9&version=NKJV

This is how America will be and stay great.

“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Matthew 18:19-20 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2018:19-20&version=NKJV

But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
James 3:14-16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=James%203:14-16&version=NKJV

Point #4: walking in love is wise

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James 3:17-18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=James%203:17-18&version=NKJV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Galatians%205:22-23&version=NKJV

Point #5: blessings follow unity

Walking in love and compassion is paramount in marriage and in any relationship.

The founding fathers’ declaration:

“We’re independent of England but we are still dependent on God and on one another.”

Psalm 133, a song of ascents. Not just physically (in elevation) but also spiritually and emotionally. Talking about how precious unity is to God.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.
Psalm 133:1-3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Psalm%20133:1-3&version=NKJV

There is an internal war going on in our country, among churches and among pastors. But to stop this internal war, we need to walk in love, have love and compassion on one another, and to be in unity with one another, especially with others in the community of faith.

2021 Basketball playoffs reflections, part 2

June ended up being a crazier month than even I expected. I'm almost out of the woods, but I wanted to send a couple posts while I push through this final deadline. I'm being cryptic right now, but I will share more. I've got plenty of updates. Good updates, but anytime there's a lot going on, life has tended to be stressful. Almost there!

Now, to basketball for this post: we now have our two finalists in the NBA: the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks. I truly could not be happier. I think the Suns are an excellent feel-good story, narrowly escaping the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round (remember when it was actually predicted that LA would win?), and then beating the crosstown Los Angeles Clippers two rounds later? (That series ended up being closer than I expected.) Then on the other side, Milwaukee beat Brooklyn. It wasn't egos that derailed Brooklyn's championship run; it was injuries. By the end of the series, the only superstar still standing on the Nets was Kevin Durant. Right after I posted my previous predictions post, James Harden went down with a hamstring injury. He did come back later in the series, but he was playing on one leg and a shell of himself. A mere few days after Harden went down, Kyrie Irving went down also, and didn't come back.

Injuries have played the biggest role this year. It makes sense. You look at the date: normally in the NBA cycle, by the time we reach July 4th, the NBA finals have been done for at least a few weeks, and the draft has also already happened. Normally by this time, the league is in that weird "moratorium" where free agent players can begin negotiating with any team regarding signing their next contract, but are still yet a few days away from being able to actually sign them. But, because of how COVID-19 and all related restrictions wracked the previous season (2019-2020), this season didn't start until Christmas, a mere two months (or less?) after the previous season concluded. That's two months later than a season normally starts (it usually begins at the end of October), and yet it was still a quick turnaround. As such, injuries have dominated and taken out every team. To wit:

1.) the Los Angeles Lakers lost both LeBron James and Anthony Davis both for much of the regular season and then again in the playoffs. They lost in the first round.

2.) the Brooklyn Nets (like I wrote a couple paragraphs ago) lost both James Harden and Kyrie Irving during the season and again in the playoffs. They lost to Milwaukee in the second round, albeit by the hair of their chinny-chin-chin. (Or more accurately, a clutch shot that Durant made at the end of regulation in Game 7 that tied the game instead of gave the Nets the lead, because Durant was wearing extra-large shoes (for him) and his toe was on the three-point line. Later, in overtime, Durant again had the opportunity to make a game (and series) winning shot, only for it to airball it as time expired.)

3.) the Philadelphia 76ers lost their star player, Joel Embiid, early in the second round. He did return a couple games later but was still a shell of himself, as the 76ers ceded the series to the Atlanta Hawks, who...

4.) ...lost Trae Young for a couple games in the third round against the Milwaukee Bucks. Like with Embiid, Young came back after sitting out a couple games but was not anywhere his near 100% self. And they lost to a Milwaukee Bucks squad, who...

5.)... themselves lost Giannis Antetokounmpo to a hyperextended knee, who sat out the remainder of the series, and whose status for the NBA Finals is currently up in the air.

6.) Remember how I said that the series between the Suns and the Clippers was closer than I expected? That's because the Clippers similarly lost Kawhi Leonard early in the series, while the Suns were pretty much at full strength (asterisk, more on that in a minute). The series was closer than I expected because Paul George played out of his mind for two (or three) games. Mercifully, Phoenix (and specifically Chris Paul) took care of business. That's miraculous because even Chris Paul admitted he wasn't 100%. A good thing that Phoenix beat the Clippers a few days before Milwaukee closed out Atlanta, so as to allow him to rest his hand. But, that's interesting, because...

7.) Paul was apparently much more banged up throughout the playoffs than we realized. The aforementioned asterisk about Phoenix being at full strength is simply that Paul tested positive for COVID ahead of the Clippers series, and missed the first two or three games. And I'm hearing him say he was still banged up, even after all that rest? I will say therefore that it is a testament to his work and his game, because, unlike literally every other superstar and star that got injured, Paul was the only one who could a.) play through his injury, and 2.) not let it affect his game one bit.

There may be other injuries that occurred, but these were the ones that swung the playoff picture. I thought it interesting just a few days ago, after Phoenix closed out the Clippers but Milwaukee and Atlanta were still battling it out, albeit without Antetokounmpo and Young, respectively, that this must be what it was like to follow the NBA in the 1970s, before Larry Bird and Magic Johnson came on the scene, and forever changed the trajectory of how champions were made. Since 1980, almost all champion teams won many and not just one championship. The Showtime Lakers and Bird's Celtics dominated the 1980s. The Bulls dominated the 90s. (The Rockets got a bite in the mid-90s, and the Bad Boy Pistons got their bite at the turn of the decade.) The first decade of the 21st century was dominated by the Lakers and the Spurs. And then in the 2010s the teams that won were typically whatever team LeBron James was on, or the Golden State Warriors. Sure, we've had a few smatterings of one-time champions here and there (2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, and 2019), but that's pretty much it. However, even those champions beat teams in the final round that themselves had won. That's not the case this time. Looking back in the 1970s, teams like the Washington Bullets, Portland Trail Blazers, Seattle SuperSonics, and New York Knicks, all got a championship apiece (I think Seattle won twice).

So it's now Phoenix and Milwaukee. It's really too bad Antetokounmpo is out. He really may not come back to play in the Finals at all. This to me gives the edge to Phoenix. Then again, Paul finally winning his first championship would make for an excellent story. The guy has been in the NBA for 16 years, and never previously gotten past the second round in the playoffs. Or, perhaps Milwaukee's supporting cast can pull it together even more and win Milwaukee's first title since a young Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was there, back in (you guessed it) the 1970s.

Following my previous pattern of predictions, I'm picking the Suns to win, in six games, due to Antetokounmpo sitting out the entire series. I'm also getting tired of seeing great players drop like flies due to injuries. Nonetheless, a great story.