Comments on the Draft and J.C. Ryle

I was only able to check in on the draft here and there. But a few comments are necessary.

1) If I were a Detroit Lions fan, I would sell all my Lions Jerseys and hats this morning. I can understand making the same mistake twice. I wonder what goes on in the Lions war room? If I had the chance to be in the draft war room, here’s how our conversation would go.

Brian: Mr. Millen. What are you thinking for your pick?
Matt: Brian, we’re just one good receiver away from making it to the playoffs.
Brian: Who is going to throw the ball to these receivers? Jon Kitna?
Matt: Brian, we’re just one good receiver away from making it to the playoffs.
Brian: Who is going to block for Kitna (muffle a laugh) and give him time to throw to your receivers?
Matt: Brian, we’re just one good receiver away from making it to the playoffs.
Brian: Mr. Millen, How many alcoholic beverages have your consumed this morning? Mr. Millen, did someone bet you a lot of money that you wouldn’t draft 4 receivers in a row? Mr. Millen, is Mike Ditka your personal draft advisor?

2) Looks like owners/coaches/G.M.’s of NFL Teams are closet readers of Sweet Emotion. What other explanation could there be for Brady Quinn dropping into the late first round? Sweet Emotion is impacting the world.

3) Worst pick of the draft has to be Ted Ginn Jr. I’m not saying they should have taken Quinn, but good grief. I don’t see Ginn being anything but at best a good number 2 receiver.

4) Best draft: Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots. I’m sorry, but Randy Moss! If he doesn’t explode in the locker room, Randy Moss with the New England Patriots is a scary combination. It will be fun next year watching a Bill Belichik and Randy Moss yelling match on the sidelines. The New England Patriots might just be the new Miami Dolphins. Randy Moss and Brandon Merriweather (head stomper in Miami) should be quite a combo.

Changing gears now....around every corner there seems to be bad news. Cancer, hardships, and death seem to be more frequent. It’s probably only a part of aging and comes with widening the scope of people one knows. However, it’s made me think. Amidst all these events, I’ve noticed something that J.C. Ryle brought to my attention.

A murder, a sudden death, a shipwreck or a railway accident will completely occupy the minds of a neighhbourhood and be in the mouth of everyone you meet. An yet these persons dislike talking of their own death and their own prospects in the world beyond the grave. Such is human nature in every age. In religion men are willing to talk of anybody’s business rather than their own.

How true: We can talk about death, but refuse to think about our own. We hear about cancer, but rarely think about the logical conclusion: There is a good chance I might be diagnosed. An individual loves discussing “religion”, but is deathly afraid to confront himself with tough religious questions. Case in point: ask a person in the south if he’s a Christian, and many times it’s an offensive question.

However, death, illness, and tragedy remind us that no one will avoid the grave. Where is my/your hope? If it’s not in the Lord Jesus Christ who has lived the life I should have lived on my behalf, and paid the penalty of my sin on the cross, then the last beat of my heart is a paralyzing fear. It’s a paralyzing fear that can only be dealt with by avoiding the subject altogether.

“The state of our souls should always be our first concern….The converted man will always think first of his own heart, his own life, his own deserts and his own sins. Does he hear of a sudden death? He will say to himself. “Should I be found ready if this had happened to me?”…Let us feel tender pity and compassion for all who suffer violence or are removed by sudden death. But let us never forget to look at home and to learn wisdom from ourselves from all that happens to others."