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justanotherdrfan · 2 months

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WELCOME ALL DANNY FANGIRLS TO YOUR INSTALMENT OF DANIEL RICCIARDO’S DTS BREAKDOWN! 🍯🦡

I’m leaving this one open since you all skipped straight to this episode! (I waited and I don’t know how)😂

S6E9 (Three’s a Crowd)

GIF by @arturleclerc

DANNNNNNNNYYY BOYYY 😍😍😍😍😍😍

He’s already laughing (god I love him)

‘Alright, what’s up?, Daniel Ricardo, this is season six drive to survive, and yes I’m back’ (fangirling HARD)

WAIT HE WAS IN SYDNEY, HE WAS IN FUCKING SYDNEY (why did no one tell me I would have called sick at work)

Daniel and Blake I really wish you went ahead with that podcast because you two are poetic chaos together

Cue another Daniel montage (they have his whole discography on file don’t they?)

He looks so fucking tried though

Logan and Alex talking about DTS frothing at the mouth about Daniel returning is the most factually, correct thing I’ve ever heard 😂

Logan: ‘All I know is the most excited people when Danny Ricciardo came back was Netflix.’

Alex: ‘I literally think they had to change their pants three times. I know the episode already. Let…let me run it through. Ready? Here we have Danny Ricciardo watching on the sidelines. “Yeah, it hurts to not be racing.” Then all of a sudden, pans to Nyck de Vries. Lock up. [imitates brakes screeching]. Off the track. Crash. Oh shit! Boom. Fast-forward. Silverstone. Test. Daniel Ricciardo. Super quick. [laughs] Danny looking at it like…big smile on his face. “It is what it is. You know?” [man]“I never left” “I never left. I’m back,baby. Honey Badger. Don’t give a shit.” (Hire him now DTS because he nailed that)

Fuck why they got to follow that shit with Zandvoort though

Daniel whoring about in his Enchante tattoo thigh high shorts

“Feels right. Feels good” (It sure does Danny is sure does)

EVERYONE LOVES DANIEL

And they get him straight to a photoshoot to whore him out

THEY DID NOT USE HIM WINKING IN THE INTRO (da fuck you lot doing? Give the people what they want)

Yes Christian 2025 prospect (he’s a shoe in ahh? See what I did there) 😉👟🍾

FUCK YOU MICAHEL ITALIANO (why is he getting air time) I’m glad he’s left F1

OHH NO OHH NO OHH NO NO NO NO NO NO

IM CRYING AGAIN. I CRIED WHEN IT HAPPENED AND IM CRYING AGAIN

Ohh they have his X-ray

Clairey bear

Cue Liam Lawson (I do love you but I missed Danny terribly)

The others telling Liam to be prepared (this is very welcome to our toxic work environment)

‘She doesn’t even go here’ (a Danica story)

Liam out qualifies all the red bull drivers (yes kiddo)

DANNY BACKS (SCREWS AND ALL) for engineering purposes only

Umm why are you hurting him? DONT TOUCH HIM! (Look yes I know it’s physiotherapy and he needs it. But I’ve broken my hand before the left one as well and driving a normal road car caused me to cry in pain so when I say don’t touch him I mean it)

I SWEAR TO GOD ZAK YOU STAY THEY HELL AWAY FROM HIM

Checo clips Yuki and he’s out (he probably thought it was Daniel trying to take his seat. It’s his in 2025 mate there’s no fighting it)

Ohh look Alpine with reliability issues (things you continue to see)

Yes DTS let’s show Russel’s crash from another angle 😂

POINTS FOR LIAM 🎉🥳

Are we positive he was in Sydney and not Perth?

Yes king SWEAT SWEAT SWEAT

Yuki GP time

Not Suzuka having Daniel, Yuki and Liam on all the banners

Poor Yuki being overwhelmed by the fans. I understand fans being excited but he’s cornered in the car and clearly doesn’t feel safe (and for Michael to be like it’s ok the fans are happy is actually the problem at hand. His and all the drivers safety has to come first and he point blank didn’t feel safe you arsehole Michael so it’s not okay)

Yuki honey it’s okay Liam not going to hit you

If we can’t have an Aussie a Kiwi will do

Liam finding out Daniel’s and Yuki are getting announced for 2024 🥺

Liam mate I’m sorry you deserve better

Mexi-coooooo

HES BACK BACK

Yes yes your P10 in the constructors (just you wait, just you fucking wait)

Checo out before turn 1 (its AUSGP all over again)

Ohh look another McLaren/Alpha Tauri incident 😤

No McLaren the plan is not to attack Daniel (haven’t you fucking done enough?)

P7 BABBYYYYYY

ENCHANTE, MON AMI

See your P8 now (told you to wait and see)

Yes Christian, Daniel did drive a good race (remember that and who didn’t)

Look at him and his little moustache

Will: ‘ I think this is only part one of a far wider story.’ (Yes 2024 season will be epic for Danny Ric)

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sirtravisjacksonoftexas · 4 years

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Should the story of the woman caught in adultery be removed from the Bible? Um, NO, and here is why:

The story of the woman caught in adultery is one of the most powerful historical events to be found in the Gospels. It speaks to the heart of God’s love and mercy, a love that we are to share in our hearts, a love we are to share with the world. It is also a foreshadowing of the gift of grace and salvation to come, a gift won by the physical death and resurrection of Christ, a gift that can bring about our own spiritual resurrection. Who cannot feel compassion as this woman is dragged before the public, an invisible scarlet letter emblazoned on her chest as the religious leaders speak out loud about her sin? Who cannot feel her broken spirit as they mention the Old Testament laws about how those guilty of adultery were to be stoned? And who cannot feel her shock and relief when Jesus states ““Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7). Who cannot imagine her exhilaration when Jesus said that he did not condemn her? What a beautiful story of Christ! It is almost impossible to imagine the Gospel of John without it.

And yet, there are many Christians who want it removed from the Gospel of John! I repeat: there are many Christians who want it removed from John’s Gospel! Now why, pray tell, do they want it taken out of the Bible? The following note in the ESV bible offers a clue:

“The earliest manuscripts do not include John 7:53-8:11.” That’s right. The Oldest copies of the Gospel of John that we have do NOT have the story of the woman caught in adultery, which is also called the Pericope Adulterae. Indeed, the earliest copy we have of the Gospel of John that has the story dates from the 5th century AD (though this doesn’t mean that there weren’t earlier copies of John with the passage in it. Not all manuscripts from the ancient world have survived to the modern era. Thus, some may very well have had it. Indeed, there is evidence for this; the Pericope Adulterae made its way into Jerome’s Latin Vulgate Translation in 383 AD, in the 4rth century AD (the year he finished translating the gospels. The Old Testament was translated into Latin from Hebrew by 405). This seems to have been a story that was circulated for a time and then later added to John. Indeed, it is believed by many to have been part of the early Christian oral tradition, just as the rest of the Gospels were before they were put into print. Though many scholars accept that it tells a historical event, its placement in scripture has been a point of debate. Indeed, there was some debate in the ancient world about it as well (more on that later).

So…the Apostle John didn’t write it, its not in the earliest manuscripts of John (i.e. that we have), and therefore, according to many Christian scholars, it should not be considered scripture. Seems like a pretty strong case, doesn’t it? It would be, if it wasn’t for the fact that its based on both the special pleading fallacy (aka double standard) and a refusal to accept the early church father’s testimony about it.

Let’s deal with the latter issue first.

Didymus the Blind, a Christian theologian who lived in the 4rth century, wrote that the story was found in “certain gospels”. It was presented as a historical event in the third century Christian document the Didascalia Apostolorum. Jerome, who translated the bible into Latin (the “Latin Vulgate”) put the story in his translation, even though he acknowledged that it wasn’t found in some versions of John. However, he stated that it was found in many Greek and Latin manuscripts of his day. Augustine was a big supporter of the passage. Indeed, he mentions something quite sinister about Christian leaders who opposed the story in his lifetime: “…certain persons of little faith, or rather enemies of the true faith, fearing I suppose, lest their wives should be given impunity in sinning, removed from their manuscripts the Lord’s act of forgiveness toward the adulteress, as if He who had said, 'sin no more' had granted permission to sin.”

Augustine, De Adulterinis Conjugiis, 2:6–7. Thus, people were removing it from the scriptures.

Is it any wonder, then, that none of the early copies (before the 5th century AD) of John that survived to the modern era don’t have it? Some must have, in order for Jerome to have put it into his translation (remember, he also said there were many Greek copies in his time that contained it).

Now, some have discarded Augustine’s testimony, saying that he also defended the Old Testament Apocrypha (1rst and 2nd Maccabees, Judith, Tobit, Ecclesiasticus, etc.), which are found in the Catholic Bible but not in the protestant bible (save for some King James Bibles). This is a genetic fallacy, a logical fallacy where someone disregards an argument based on its origin instead of on the merit of the argument itself. Yes, Augustine did have some bad theological views, but so did Martin Luther, who started the Protestant Reformation (Luther wrote an anti-Semitic theological book titled “On the Jews and Their Lies”. I guess we should all be Catholic now…). Plus, the fact of the matter is that Augustine actually didn’t consider the apocrypha on par with scripture.

“So what?” the enemies of the Pericope Adulterae will say, “Its still not in the early manuscripts of John! John didn’t write it, therefore it’s not scripture!” Really? Really want to go down that road? Well, then you might as well cut out sections from the Pentateuch as well…

For many ages, Moses was considered the sole author of the Pentateuch aka Torah. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy were thought to have been entirely pinned by Moses. Then skepticism reared its ugly head, and many scholars rejected the idea of Mosaic authorship, pointing out passages that proved problematic to it (more on them later), as well as repetitions that differed in details and different names of God being used in certain parts of the books (including some areas where Yahweh was used in stories that take place before Moses. The name of Yahweh wasn't revealed to humans until God spoke it to Moses, according to Exodus 6:2-3). This led to the Documentary Hypothesis, the idea that the Torah was written in stages over many centuries, with no parts written by Moses. Eventually, these documents were put together as the Torah.

Interesting idea, but even it has recently come under scrutiny, primarily due to the fact that ancient near eastern literature was known for odd repetitions that at times differed on details (see Paul’s conversion tales in Acts 9, 22 and 26). Individual storytellers and writers in the ancient near east did this, and Moses would have been expected to do the same. Other aspects of the Documentary hypothesis, including the use of different names for God in some passages, likewise fails under closer scrutiny (The passage in Exodus 6:2-3 can be translated to mean that “Yahweh”, as a name for God, was known of long before Moses was born).

Personally, I’ve never accepted the documentary hypothesis, in part due to the fact that there are multiple verses that indicate that Moses wrote a significant amount of the Torah (Ex 17:14, 24:4-8, 34:27, Num 33:2, Dt 31:9, 19, 22, 24). Combined with the fact that most of the material from Exodus to Deuteronomy deals with Moses’ life, as well as the answers to objections about repetitions, differing details and the use of different names of God noted above, one can conclude that a good case can be made for Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch or Torah.

But did he write the entire Torah? Um…Nope.

Genesis 12:6 is our first clue:

“Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.” At that time…the Canaanites were in the land. Now, if Moses wrote this, then there is a BIG problem.

You see…the Canaanites were STILL in the land while Moses was alive! The Israelites hadn’t even invaded the land yet (Dt 26:1)! That didn’t happen until after Moses died, when Joshua led the invasion (se Joshua chapters 1-3). Indeed, if you read the book of Joshua closely, chapters 13-18 show that, despite the hyperbolic statement of Joshua 11:23…the land had not been fully conquered. After Joshua died, there were still Canaanites in the land (as shown in Judges chapters 1-2). Indeed, they were still in the land during the time of Ezra, when the Israelites returned to Israel during the time of the Persian Empire (Ezra 9:1)! This happened during the reign of Cyrus the Great of Persia, who conquered Babylon in 539 BC and then gave the Jews permission to go back home.

Cyrus died in 530 BC.

Moses lived about 1400 BC.

Next, let’s look at the Edomite Kings list in Genesis 36:31-39:

“ These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the Israelites. Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom, the name of his city being Dinhabah. Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place. Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place. Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, reigned in his place, the name of his city being Avith. Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place. Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth on the Euphrates reigned in his place. Shaul died, and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place. Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his place, the name of his city being Pau; his wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, daughter of Mezahab.”

Now, did you catch that first verse? Let’s look at it again:

“These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the Israelites.” (emphasis mine) Moses didn’t write that. How do I know?

Because King Saul, the 1rst King of Israel, didn’t live until centuries after Moses! Heck, his reign marked the end of the Judges period!

Now, to be fair, Abimelech, son of the Israelite Judge Gideon, was made king of Shechem, and ruled Israel for 3 years (Judges 8:30-9:22). However, his kingship wasn’t instituted by God (thus God didn’t recognize it, see Dt 17:14-17). He was an evil king, and during a battle a woman threw a millstone onto his head. Not wanting to die due to a woman, he had his armor bearer run him through with a sword. This was all due to the wrath of God (Judges 9:1-57). Oh, he also lived long after Moses and Joshua.

Now, some may say that there may have been a king who reigned during Moses time, someone who wasn’t mentioned in the Bible. Well if that’s the case (no evidence for it whatsoever), then how do people who believe that explain Deuteronomy 17:14-17:

“When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, "Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us," be sure to appoint over you a king the LORD your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite. The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the LORD has told you, "You are not to go back that way again." He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.”

Thus, many of the Edomite kings in the Genesis 36 kings list lived long after Moses. Ergo, Moses didn’t write Genesis 36:31.

It’s also safe to say that he didn’t write Deuteronomy 34, which records his death. No one writes their own obituary.

Some try to say that Moses was writing about his upcoming death as a prophecy, but if he did…why did he describe it in the past tense? Indeed, the passage seems even less like a prophecy in verse 10: “And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,” Indeed, in Dt 33:1, right before he gives his final blessing on Israel, it states: “This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death.”

Similar arguments have been made for Genesis 12:6 and 36:31. Some have tried to make the case that both are actually prophecies penned by Moses, the former referring to the eventual removal of the Canaanites, the latter to future Edomite kings and the future Israelite monarchy. However, just like the passages about Moses’ death, they are described in the past tense. There is a reason for that; Genesis is a history, not a prophetic book. True, it does record some prophecies (Genesis 3:15, 15:4-5, 13-16, etc), but Genesis 12:6, 36:31 and Deuteronomy 33:1 and 34:1-12 (Deuteronomy is also a history) are written in the past tense, meaning...that they already happened when these passages were written down. They are no different from the rest of the historical passages in the Torah. They are structured as history, not prophecy. To say otherwise is to commit eisegesis, instead of considering the historical facts of the Bible. Let’s face it: Moses didn’t write these particular passages. Indeed, there are no doubt other parts of the Torah that he also didn’t write. Though Moses wrote the Torah, people added to it over time. Indeed, some of these additions were put in centuries after Moses’s died.

Just like the story of the woman caught in adultery was put into the Gospel of John a few centuries after it was written…

This begs the question; why are the same people who want to cut out John 7:53-8:11 not raising a ruckus about these passages in the Torah that Moses didn’t write? Why the double standard??

I could understand a little if they believed in the Documentary Hypothesis, but the Documentary Hypothesis doesn’t jive with the Biblical evidence for Mosaic authorship seen above. Whether one thinks that Moses wrote a little bit of the Torah, or most of it, there is no denying that some of the Torah was written much later. And yet, the scholars who dismiss John 7:53-8:11…don’t dismiss Genesis 12:6, 36:31, or Deuteronomy 34. I once had a short twitter debate with a Biblical scholar (whose name I won’t mention) over the Pericope Adulterae . When I brought the passages up in the Torah that Moses obviously didn’t write, then asked why he didn’t want them gone because they weren’t written by Moses, yet still wanted John 7:53-8:11 gone, because it wasn’t written by the Apostle John, he said “That’s not how textual criticism works.”

What a way to sugarcoat a Special Pleading Fallacy. Now, some will cry foul, saying that there was controversy over the passage even during the ancient world. Well...guess what? Come on, guess what?

There was also controversy over Jude, James, Hebrews, the Book of Revelation, 2 Peter and 2 and 3rdd John! Indeed, in the third century, these (and several other NT works) were at times excluded from scripture! Though there was already recognition of some NT books being canon in the 1rst century (2 Peter 3:16) it wasn’t until 367 AD that the New Testament canon acquired its current form. Folks, Textual criticism is an interesting field of study. To see what was originally in a historical document and then dismissing what’s not can be comparable to a surgeon removing a tumor from a body. But we also have to remember that God is the ultimate author of the Bible, inspiring John, Moses and countless others to write these sacred treasures. The story of the woman caught in adultery is no different. To remove it from the Bible would be like a surgeon removing a healthy organ from a body. Like Jude and the book of Revelation, this passage passed the test of the ancient church and later the reformation (when the Old Testament Apocrypha was removed). It speaks to the character of Christ, whose life perfectly reflected the truth that God is love (1 John 4:8,16).

Sources:

“Nelson’s Dictionary of Christianity” by George Thomas Kurian (Editor), 128-29 “Encountering the Old Testament” by Bill T. Arnold and Bryan E. Beyer, 168-169 “The Apologetics Study Bible (Holman CSB), 1587 “Archeological Study Bible (NIV)”, 15 “Oxford Guide to the Bible” by Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan (Editors), 102-104

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vulgate

https://www.bibleodyssey.org/en/passages/main-articles/woman-caught-in-adultery

https://confessionalbibliology.com/2016/03/29/response-to-james-white-on-augustine-and-the-pericope-adulterae/

https://purelypresbyterian.com/2016/12/01/defense-of-the-pericope-adulterae/

https://www.ancient.eu/Cyrus_the_Great/

https://www.ancient.eu/Moses/

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/martin-luther-quot-the-jews-and-their-lies-quot

https://www.christiancentury.org/article/critical-essay/on-luther-and-lies

https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/logicalfallacies/Special-Pleading

https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/special-pleading

https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/logicalfallacies/Genetic-Fallacy

https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/genetic

http://textualcriticism.scienceontheweb.net/FATHERS/Augustine2.html

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hellojulie1971 · 6 years

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Unregenerate pagans have no alternative but to use their carnal minds by doing what seems right and good. Therefore, God warned His people to avoid that leaven by not marrying dogs (Dt 7:3-5). However, because He takes human wives He allowed His people to marry pagan women. But in order to protect His church from the leaven that might be introduced by strange wives, the Lord issued certain guidelines concerning them (Ex 34:11-16; Nu 31:14-18; Dt 18:9-14; 21:10-13). As wise as King Solomon was and as much as he loved the Lord, he failed to control his pagan wives, and their leaven of Peor turned his heart away from properly serving God (1 Ki 11:3,4). Solomon then did something evil (1 Ki 11:6): He officially established religious toleration/freedom of religion in his kingdom (vv.7,8)! We’ve already reviewed other carnal ideas that seem “good” when examined with no consideration for the Bible, and we’ve seen some of them were fairly subtle. But if you were the King of Israel, the son of King David, and the Lord had appeared to you twice (v.9) do you think you’d be stupid enough to establish freedom of religion?! No, you say? Do you think you’re smarter or wiser than Solomon? Solomon’s mistakes show carnality is no respecter of wisdom and intelligence. And when we consider his actions realistically we must conclude that some combination of socio-political factors convinced Solomon and many others that religious freedom was a good idea. God’s anger (v.9), however, makes us realize that no matter how pressing life around us may seem, we must be careful to always through discernment consider the will of God as revealed in the Bible. God was so angry He decided to divide the kingdom (vv.11-13), but because of His love for David, He did it not in Solomon’s day, He waited until the reign of Solomon’s son, Rehoboam. Jeroboam and the congregation of Israel approached King Rehoboam one day with a democratic ultimatum: Reduce their tax burden or they wouldn’t serve him (1 Ki 12:4). King Rehoboam sought two sets of advice. One group told him to preserve unity by becoming a democratic public servant (v.7), and the other group said, “These willful spoiled brats need a heavier rod” (vv.10,11). God caused Rehoboam to reject democracy (v.15). So the people of Israel (like the British colonists in America in 1776) declared their independence from their king (v.16), murdered the king’s tax man (v.18), and rebelled (v.19). Ordinarily King Rehoboam would have been right to go to war and punish the rebels (v.21), but God stopped him (v.24) because He wanted the kingdom split. God’s people rising in rebellion against their king does not establish rebellion as a legitimate method of social or political change: Jeroboam is a type of Lucifer, his fellow Christians are types of the angels who joined the rebellion, and rebellion is always witchcraft (1 Sa 15:23). This rebellion was God’s punishment for His people. God also uses Satan (and other devils) to tempt and to punish Christians (Jb 1:8; 1 Sa 16:14; 2 Sa 24:1; 1 Ch 21:1), but that doesn’t make Satan good. And Daniel was a eunuch (Da 1:7-11,18) because God was punishing His people (2 Ki 20:18), but that doesn’t mean you should be castrated, too. When the twelve tribes of God’s people were split into two houses or kingdoms, the major portion of the congregation of Israel – the northern ten tribes – was called the kingdom of Israel, and the southern kingdom was called Judah (1 Ki 11:37,38; 12:16,17,20,23). It was later, during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah (2 Ki 16:1), when Syria and Israel were at war with Judah (2 Ki 16:5), that the people of Ju-dah were called “Jews” (2 Ki 16:6). The division of God’s people into two kingdoms was punishment for their apostasy. God continued to keep them as His people but His patience was wearing thin. In fact, it was only because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that God had not cast them from His presence “as yet” (2 Ki 13:23). As we shall see, the “as yet” means exactly what it says – the time was coming when He would cast them away from Him. He ran out of patience with Israel first. He had tried to get both kingdoms to repent, but to no avail (2 Ki 17:13,14). So He rejected His people of Israel and cast them out (Ho 1:4,6,9; 2 Ki 17:18,20,23). He kept the people of Judah even though they also were bad (2 Ki 17:18,19; Ho 1:7). Judah had some good moments (2 Ki 18:1,3), but God warned future punishment was coming (2 Ki 20:16-18; 21:12-15). In spite of these warnings God’s people continued in their carnal ways “till there was no remedy” (2 Ch 36:16). God cursed the kingdom of Judah by having it defeated and taken into the Babylonian captivity. God used pagan King Nebuchadnezzar as His servant (Je 25:9; 27:6) to punish and to bring evil (Je 25:29) upon the Jews in accordance with His wishes (2 Ki 24:3). (Interestingly enough, at the end of seventy years of having Judah captive, God would punish Babylon for doing evil to His people (Je 25:12)! It goes to show it doesn’t matter if your name is Satan, Balaam, or Nebuchadnezzar; you don’t mess with God’s people and get away with it – even if He is using you to punish them.) RETURN TO JERUSALEM When Judah was allowed to return to Jerusalem, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Malachi were leaders during the rebuilding of the city. They speak of God’s people disobeying His orders that they should not marry pagans, and they record the putting away of the pagan women they had married during their captivity (Ezr 9:1-10:44; Ne 13:1-3,23-31). Through the prophet Malachi, God rebukes them: Mal 2:9 says they were partial in the law; 2:10 says they dealt treacherously against their brethren; 2:11 says they had married heathen women of other religions; and Ne 13:23,24 says they did not require them to speak the Jews’ language. But Mal 2:16 says God hates putting away and knew His people were just trying to cloak their own sins by putting away their wives. So He warned them not to deal treacherously. 2:17 says they wearied God by claiming the evil of their disobedient marriages was good in His eyes; or, knowing they were being hypocrites they said in their hearts “God won’t do anything about this.” Once God’s people were reestablished in Jerusalem they continued to err. Some of their misdeeds I’ll cover in the doctrinal section, but for now I think it’s fitting to see how God’s people closed the Old Testament era with another democratic act: When Jesus Christ was arrested by His people He was tried by the pagan governor of Judaea, Pontius Pilate. Pilate announced to the assembled Christians three times that he had found no fault in Christ and would therefore chastise and release Him (Lk 23:13-22). But the voice of the people cried out that they wanted Barabbas released, and that they did not want Christ chastised – they wanted Him crucified. The will of the people prevailed (Lk 23:23) and Pilate did as the people required (v.24) and delivered Christ to their will (v.25). The carnal mind had reared its ugly “head” again. And by the time of Christ’s First Coming carnality had picked up another synonym to describe it: Previously it was referred to as carnality, doing what was right in your own eyes, living by your own inventions, living by your own counsel, the whoredom of Peor, the leaven of the Pharisees, the doctrine of devils, etc. Now it was also called philosophy (Co 2:8). We need to realize none of the mistakes mentioned in this and in the previous chapters was committed by stupid Christians. Saints who thought they were serving the Lord committed them, saints who were no different from you and me. These mistakes were made because the realities and events of everyday life caused our brethren to take their eyes off Christ and the Bible and instead to focus on the events themselves. We must never allow that to happen. We must always have some part of our minds objectively analyzing events in order to find and understand the Biblical concepts and principles behind them. And then we must have what it takes to walk by faith, not by sight. You and I have already used some of the events in the Bible to develop and practice our ability to objectively and Scripturally evaluate the actions of Old Testament saints. We are not condemning them; we are learning from them. As we move through the rest of the chapters in this section we shall continue practicing discernment by Scripturally evaluating the actions of Christians about whom we have read in our studies of world history. We are going to see why they made the decisions they made and see if we think they were the Biblically correct decisions, and in the process gain a better understanding of world history from a Christian perspective. By the time you finish this book you will understand how important it is for us to use discernment because you will see how the worldshaping errors of our carnal Christian ancestors down through history compounded and produced Western civilization and the unscriptural doctrines in our so-called “Bible-believing, Bible-preaching, Bible-teaching” churches.

http://allchristiansarewelcome.blogspot.com/2017/12/a-house-divided-against-itself.html

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sportsleague365 · 6 years

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Did Not Play, Formations, Personnel, GM/Coach-Speak WR Trevor Davis (hamstring), WR Jake Kumerow (shoulder), RB Devante Mays (hamstring). [House and McCray limited.] Demovsky WR J'Mon Moore was the first guy working on the JUGS machine before practice and the last guy after practice. Demovsky Alexander with the first rep in punt return. Huber Looks like the Packers have settled on the top of their CB depth chart: Kevin King and Tramon Williams in the slot, Jaire Alexander in the slot. Been pretty consistent over the past week. Wood [This isn’t the clearest tweet ever.] Gutekunst on NFL market at this time of year: "Calls are constant, the movement is not much, right now." Says teams are trying to get through the next game to get a larger sample of what they have. Wood GM Brian Gutekunst said he "comes from a school [of thought] that a quarterback is pretty important and if you've got guys who can play, you want to keep as many as you can and develop them." Could that both Brett Hundley and DeShone Kizer (or maybe Tim Boyle) stick? Demovsky Based on comments from Mike McCarthy and Brian Gutekunst today, I'd say both Brett Hundley and DeShone Kizer are going to make the 53-man roster. Kruse MM on the backup QB job: "I'll just say this: They both are making progress. I'm really pleased with the step that Brett has made since last year. It's really apparent." Mike McCarthy saying “both” as if there isn’t a certain third quarterback also battling for a spot just broke my heart. Herman Brian Gutekunst says finding offensive linemen is one of the hardest things to do in personnel acquisition. "Finding big people who can run" isn't easy, especially at this time of year. Will be hard for the Packers to upgrade their tackle depth moving forward. Wood Not sure who is responsible, MM or Philbin, but the Packers are using more WR floods with the RB flaring under for easy gains. Nonetheless, it needs to transition over to the season. Eye in the Sky Actual Plays - Offense LeShun Daniels makes a nice adjustment in seam to catch a downfield pass from Rodgers. Hodkiewicz Kizer throws a beaut of a pass to MVS for a 45-yard touchdown in team move the ball. Hodkiewicz Marquez Valdes-Scantling with another deep reception, this time for a touchdown over Donatello Brown. Looked to be 45 yards. Great throw from DeShone Kizer. Cohen Marquez Valdes-Scantling with a beautiful leaping grab from Aaron Rodgers on a deep post route. Very impressive catch. Cohen WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s speed is obvious, but his suddenness is also difficult to cover. Stops and starts on a dime. Shook Josh Hawkins on a couple comeback routes. Even beat Tramon Williams on a red-zone slant, but the throw was off. Very impressive athlete. Wood 2-minute drill ends with Ty Montgomery unable to catch a short ball over the middle on 4th down. Rodgers put it high because Montgomery was covered. Silverstein Demetri Goodson had some good reps in WR vs CBs. Punched out a likely catch. Davante Adams also did Davante Adams things. Hodkiewicz Nice play by OLB Kendall Donnerson, jumping to bat down DeShone Kizer’s pass Offensive, Defensive Lines/TE Blocking: DT Mike Daniels was on a tear in 1 on 1 pass rush with OL. Dominated everyone he faced, including Lane Taylor, who dominated him in this drill last summer. Silverstein With Patrick taking reps at center, Dillon Day getting reps at LG. Packers moving people around this week. Lucas Patrick, a natural guard, getting some reps at center, just like yesterday. Almost snapped one ball over Aaron Rodgers’ head. Still, a positive for Patrick to show his positional versatility. Wood. Kyle Olé Murphy is going to get someone killed. This is on the same level as Don Barclay playing tackle. At some point, it has to stop. Kyle Murphy cannot play left tackle. Kyle Murphy cannot play left tackle. Eye in the Sky [Pittsburgh preseason game] Mike Daniels looked good in his return to one on ones. Took three reps. Lucas Patrick also looks at home at center. Took some competitive reps there against starters. Hodkiewicz [Earlier tweet than Woods’] Marcedes Lewis drawing a lot of praise from position coach Brian Angelichio for his knowledge of cadences during a blocking drill. He’s sharp off the ball. Cohen Robert Tonyan keeps making down blocks like this and he’ll be on somebody’s 53. You want your tight ends to be part-time club bouncers too. Eye in the Sky/retweeted by Herman TE Robert Tonyan credited veteran addition Marcedes Lewis for daily help developing as a blocker. Looks like it's paying off: Kruse Special Teams: K Mason Crosby hits 6 of 6 on FGs, hitting from 33, 40, 42, 44, 48 and 50. Silverstein Crosby hits all six field goals. Bradley had the first snap and they alternated after each. No problems on any of them. Huber Miscellaneous: Deshone Kizer really threw this on a rope. A deep comeback far left side of the field. Zero margin for error. This is an Aaron Rodgers caliber throw. Eye in the Sky [from the 2nd preseason game regarding the 82-yard TD pass to Kumerow] In conclusion, this team can ill afford to have Davon House as its starting cornerback. Eye in the Sky Dean Lowry played a lot of Nose Tackle and I’m not sure if it’s because Pettine is trying to find a spot for him or he thinks he can actually anchor on the centers. Either way it was disastrous. Eye in the Sky [on preseason game two personnel decision] Byron Bell is serviceable at Guard. Depth is needed there. Boyle probably won’t last on PS. 50 hasn’t played well. It’s preseason. Chris Odom flashed. He was active and needs further review against better comp. Eye in the Sky 1st series [in Pittsburgh Preseason Game] with Aaron Rodgers pressure came from: [First] Kendricks; [Then] Linsley; [Finally] Linsley/McCray. Not a clean series for an experienced line. Nothing more needs to be said there. End of note. Eye in the Sky Two things about Reggie Gilbert. He likes to gamble with an inside move at LOLB. If their QB is mobile this move is risky because you give up contain. If Gilbert is at ROLB he faces much more athletic tackles. Subsequently, his production will decrease at ROLB. Gilbert has excellent lateral ability to cross the face of tackles and ruin their pass set. Eye in the Sky Hopefully, Kentrell Brice is playing hurt. Lloka is an interchangeable Safety that’s better at SS. HHCD could use more “splash plays” but that’s the nature of Free Safety. Fans should be far more concerned with Kentrell Brice. Eye in the Sky Filed Under:FeaturedPackers NewsNFL Categories:Green Bay PackersTags:Training CamppracticePackers 2018PreseasonLike * Like Like * 0 points #AaronRodgers #KevinKing #BrettHundley

#AaronRodgers #KevinKing #BrettHundley

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buddyrabrahams · 6 years

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10 best moves of the NFL offseason

The new league year is still less than two weeks old, but already the entire NFL landscape has changed quite a bit thanks in large part to free agency and an uncharacteristically active trade market. Couple that with a plethora of new head coaches, new general managers and shifts in front office structure, and there’s been a substantial amount of shakeup around the NFL.

But which teams and players have benefited most from all these changes? Who has gotten better? Who has gotten worse?

Here’s a look at the 10 best moves of the 2018 NFL offseason to date.

10. Eagles acquire Michael Bennett

The Philadelphia Eagles won their first Super Bowl title on the shoulders of their dominant defense, which was highlighted by one of the better and more versatile defensive lines in football. So, what did the Eagles do as they begin their path to a repeat? They further bolstered their defensive line with the addition of Michael Bennett, who had been traded by the Seattle Seahawks as part of their organizational purge.

To land Bennett and a seventh-round pick, the Eagles sent back a fifth-round selection in the 2018 draft and wide receiver Marcus Johnson, who signed with Philadelphia as an undrafted rookie out of Texas in 2016 and was rarely used.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, Bennett came with some unexpected baggage. He recently had a warrant issued for his arrest as part of an ongoing assault investigation. Bennett allegedly injured a 66-year-old paraplegic woman during Super Bowl LI, which led to an indictment by a Texas Grand Jury.

The charge carries a potential for 10 years in prison, but so long as Bennett gets his life in order and pays the proper restitution, it should still result in a good acquisition for the Eagles.

9. Texans sign safety Tyrann Mathieu

When the Arizona Cardinals decided to part ways with veteran Tyrann Mathieu, he immediately became the premier safety available on the free agent market. And it didn’t take very long for a plethora of teams to come calling. Mathieu made it immediately clear that money wouldn’t determine where he eventually signed, acknowledging that he needed 2018 to showcase his talents and prove he’s still the same dominant player he once was.

In the end, it was the Texans who walked away victorious in the Mathieu race, signing the Honey Badger to a one-year, $7 million deal. And now Houston will get the best Mathieu can possibly offer.

“This is my test. Not too many people have my story,” Mathieu told Bleacher Report. “And this is my story: A guy goes from unknown to a Heisman Trophy finalist. He gets kicked out of school. He absolutely rebounds himself. He becomes a millionaire. He’s taking care of his family. And then he’s getting injured.

“How can he get back to the top of that mountain? People never do it. You’ve seen guys go, and then drop off. They never returned. . . I will, though.”

8. Browns trade for quality quarterback, receiver tandem

The Cleveland Browns were extremely active to start the offseason and have not slowed down to date. And while they traded away some quality talent, they also brought some back in.

Whether or not the Browns intend to take a quarterback No. 1 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, they needed a starter for the upcoming season and were able to land by way of the Buffalo Bills, who accepted a third-round pick (No. 65 overall) in exchange for Tyrod Taylor.

With a quarterback in place, the Browns then sent DeShone Kizer to the Green Bay Packers for cornerback Damarious Randall.

On the very same day the Browns acquired Taylor, they also landed wide receiver Jarvis Landry from the Miami Dolphins for a 2018 fourth-round pick and a 2019 seventh-round pick.

It was a lot of wheeling and dealing for the Browns — just a small amount of the work they did through trade — but it gave them a quality quarterback-wide receiver combination for the 2018 season, and kept them in position to take a quarterback No. 1 overall should they so desire.

7. Patriots trade for DT Danny Shelton, CB Jason McCourty

The New England Patriots had an obvious problem on the defensive side of the ball in 2017, and Matt Patricia leaving to coach the Detroit Lions certainly added to lingering concerns as the new league year opened. But Bill Belichick and the Patriots promptly shored up some weaker areas by acquiring quality talent by whatever means necessary.

In two separate trades with the Cleveland Browns, the Patriots were able to land defensive tackle Danny Shelton and cornerback Jason McCourty, who will be paired with his twin brother, Devin.

What’s significant about these trades for the Patriots isn’t just that they were relatively inexpensive, but that they bolster their defensive line and secondary substantially. Shelton finished the 2017 with a Pro Football Focus grade of 81.5, while McCourty finished 2017 with a grade of 83.9.

Adding quality, consistent and serviceable talent is what the Patriots do in the offseason. Getting the most they can out of those players is what they do during the season. So love them or hate them, New England came out on top with both of these trades.

6. Raiders hire Jon Gruden as head coach

There were quite a few coaching hires in the NFL this offseason, including Steve Wilks by the Arizona Cardinals and Matt Patricia by the Detroit Lions. But perhaps none was immediately as impactful or stirring as the return of Jon Gruden to the Oakland Raiders.

Gruden’s return revitalized an Oakland fan base starved for success, and it seemed to have a similar impact on the players. And while there’s really no telling how Gruden’s second stint in Oakland will ultimately play out, it has the potential to boom just as much as it has the potential to bust.

It has, after all, been 10 long years since Gruden last graced an NFL sideline and 17 years since he was last part of the Raiders’ organization. But while serving as an ESPN broadcaster, he remained very close to the game. And there’s no denying the value Gruden was able to gain through his knowledge of football’s evolution even though he fully intends to go “old school” in his second stint with the franchise.

5. Jaguars swoop in, sign Andrew Norwell

When the new league year arrived on March 14, most NFL experts firmly believed that All-Pro guard Andrew Norwell would sign with the New York Giants. Some even went as far as to “guarantee” the signing, saying it was a mere formality.

Tom Coughlin, who spent over a decade coaching the Giants, had different ideas. And in a wildly unexpected twist, he and the Jaguars swooped in and pulled the rug out from not just the Giants, but a handful of other teams who were chasing Norwell.

Jacksonville landed Norwell on a five-year, $66.5 million deal, making him the highest-paid guard in the NFL. And in the end, it will be money well spent as the Jaguars look to continue their ascension and now feature an interior anchor for years to come.

4. Giants fill two major holes with Nate Solder, Alec Ogletree

The New York Giants had more than a few needs coming off of a 3-13 season in 2017, which included the termination of head coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese.

Under new general manager Dave Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur, the Giants entered the offseason with a renewed focus on repairing their damaged offensive line and shockingly thin linebacker corps. It didn’t take very long for them to address both areas.

They were able to acquire veteran linebacker Alec Ogletree from the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for two late-round draft picks, and later added left tackle Nate Solder on a four-year, $62 million deal that made him the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL.

Although the collective cost for the two players seems extensive on the surface, Gettleman & Co. did what they had to do in order to shore up two extremely weak areas. It won’t fix all of the team’s problems, but it will go a long way in helping to rebound after a franchise-worst season.

3. Jets move up to No. 3 pick in draft

The New York Jets, like many other teams, apparently have their sights set on a franchise quarterback entering the 2018 NFL Draft. Of course, with the No. 6 overall pick, they were on the outside looking in.

In an effort to move up, Gang Green paid a king’s ransom, sending the No. 6 overall pick and three second-round picks to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for the No. 3 overall pick.

The price to move up three spots was remarkably steep, but in a quarterback-rich draft, the Jets knew they’d put themselves in a position to snag one of the top three by moving up. Of course, the downside is that they weren’t able to get the No. 1 or 2 pick away the Browns and Giants, so they’ll ultimately have to pick up leftovers — assuming both Cleveland and New York select a quarterback with their picks.

The good news is that even in such a scenario, the Jets walk away with one of Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen or Josh Allen, and all three appear worthy of such a gamble.

2. Bills swap their way to a great position

The Buffalo Bills aren’t hiding the fact that they’re looking for a franchise quarterback in the 2018 NFL Draft. The only problem entering the offseason was that they weren’t in a great position to land one.

Although they may still be on the outside looking in, a series of very clever March trades have put them in remarkable position to ultimately finish the quest they embarked on the very moment the 2017 season ended.

First, the Bills unloaded quarterback Tyrod Taylor, trading him to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for the No. 65 overall pick. Then, just days later, they traded left tackle Cordy Glenn to the Cincinnati Bengals and swapped first-round picks, moving from No. 25 overall to No. 12 overall.

While that’s not high enough to walk away with one of the draft’s top quarterback prospects, the trades have helped stockpile assets for the Bills, who are now expected to attempt a move up into the top five. And with No. 12 and No. 22 picks in Round 1, as well as picks No. 53 and No. 56 in Round 2, the ammo needed is most certainly there.

It has been an aggressive strategy for the Bills, but their wheeling and dealing has put them in good position to reach their ultimate goal.

1. Vikings make a big splash, sign Kirk Cousins

Entering the offseason, the prized free agent was always expected to be quarterback Kirk Cousins. And even after Case Keenum put up wildly unexpected numbers for Minnesota in 2018, the Vikings intended on entering the Cousins sweepstakes.

With the Jets, Broncos, Browns and others also quarterback-hungry entering free agency, the race was destined to be a tight and expensive one. But in the end, it was the Vikings who came up big, signing Cousins to a three-year, $84 million deal that is fully guaranteed.

Expensive? Without a doubt, but the addition of Cousins immediately turns the Vikings into an even stronger Super Bowl contender and shores up the quarterback position for at least three seasons.

“I would be here a long time if I were to read off the grocery list of reasons why this is the right fit,” Cousins said during his introductory press conference. “But for the sake of time, winning is what I said it would be all about, and it’s true. I came here for the chance to win. Probably the best chance. That is all that matters in this business.”

It’s a match made in heaven for both Cousins and the Vikings because they legitimately provide each other the best chance to win.

from Larry Brown Sports https://ift.tt/2GfM6na

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yourgodmoments · 7 years

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Waiting on God is the Hardest Part

Sometimes we have to wait for God’s presence, or for Him to act on our behalf, because we haven’t been holding ourselves accountable for our behavior. This is especially so if our actions have run contrary to His word. In this case, He distances Himself from us, and maybe throws a little discipline our way to get us back on track. We are always just a confession and a repenting, away from God’s restoration:

Why should a living man complain, a man, about the punishment of his sins? Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD! Lam. 3:39, 40. ESV

Moreover, even in our darkest hour, we can always depend upon the love, mercy and steadfast faithfulness of our God - who covers us with the limitless grace that we could never earn on our own.

Our loving God takes no pleasure in dishing out the discipline (justice) that we (during our slip and falls) have forced His hand to administer. He only does that to save our lives:

For the Lord will not cast off forever. Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men. Lam. 3:31 - 33. NKJV

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lam. 3:24 - 26. NKJV

Another time that we may have to wait on God, is for answered prayer - especially because we want them granted within our desired timeline.

Jesus tells us that whatever you pray to God for, in His name, Christ will make it happen. (Jn. 14:13, 14.) The caveat is that what you pray for must align with God’s will and not be detrimental to you or others:

You ask and do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. Jm. 4:3 NASB

Or, you may be holding a grudge against someone at the time of your prayer. God will not answer your prayers while you practice unrighteousness. (Mk. 11:25)

The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous. Pr. 15:29 NKJV

But God can turn you around in a heartbeat through His mercy, after He first hears your repentant prayer:

He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, he shall see His face with joy, for He restores to man His righteousness. Job 33:26 NKJV

And then the door is open:

…the Lord has set apart for Himself [and dealt wonderfully with] the godly man [the one of honorable character and moral courage - the one who does right]. The Lord hears and responds when I call to Him. Ps. 4:3 AMP

Lastly with regards to prayer, you may need to shore up your faith to get it answered:

…whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mt. 11:24 ESV

Nevertheless, even after you have met God’s conditions for answered prayer, you may still have to wait. Why? Because God loves you so much, He is going to wait until you are ‘positioned’ in your life (i.e. have the maturity and understanding) to use HIs blessing to get the utmost out of it and to accomplish His will in you - and that’s a good thing.

The last thing we may have to wait on God for, is His promises. And as far as I’m concerned, His biggest promise is about gaining the presence of Christ to usher us into eternity. In our eyes, this has been a long wait. And if we think it has been long, let’s consider our ancestors.

It was approximately 3500 years ago when people were first introduced to the Messiah by Moses - when they heard that He was going to take out the devil. (Gn. 3:15). Later, Moses also revealed that Jesus would come from the Hebrew people and speak for God. (Dt. 18:18).

The Hebrews waited another 400 years to get more information, when they find that Christ will come from the line of King David of Judah. Three hundred more years’ elapse until the people learn more about their Messiah from the prophets Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah and Daniel. Another 500 years’ pass before the Hebrews hear more about the ‘Anointed One.’ So many generations of people waited for their Deliverer. Regardless, many stood fast in faith:

By faith, Noah, being divinely warned of things not seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark…and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called out to the place which he would receive an inheritance…By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child who she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar off, were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Heb. 11:7, 8, 11 & 13. NKJV

They (and many more) had faith that God’s promises would manifest in the right time.

A little over 2000 years ago, Jesus did come, and many beheld the promise. Yet a little over 30 years later, Jesus was caught up to HIs Father - all according to God’s plan and promises.

So here we wait:

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I hope in Him!” The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. Lam. 3;24 - 26. NKJV

(Still, thank God that we have access to Christ now through the Holy Spirit.)

But regardless when Jesus physically comes, (and He most assuredly will), the promise will be fulfilled at just the right time:

“Surely I am coming quickly.” Rv. 22:20 NKJV

Waiting on God can be hard; but He is a promise keeper. They will be fulfilled for you at the right time. To help that time come about, prepare yourself. Just as it was said in the movie Field of Dreams, “When you build it, he will come.”

For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising your faith to, develop moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge (insight, understanding), and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, steadfastness, and in your steadfastness, godliness… 2 Pt. 1:5 - 7. AMP

Goodnight and God bless.

#barriers to answered prayer #depend upon God #God keeps promises #perfect God timing #waiting on God #when will God act #why does God wait

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buddyrabrahams · 6 years

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15 best players of Super Bowl LII

Super Bowl LII will see many talented players take the field from both the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles. The Patriots, as we know, boast a lot of talent led by one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, while the Eagles have a lot of talent themselves, including a rather fearsome defense.

Who are the best players going to be during this game? Let’s take a look at 15 of them from both teams.

1) Tom Brady, QB, Patriots

He’s the best. The legend only grew in the AFC championship when Brady led New England to yet another comeback win in the playoffs with a stitched-up throwing hand. The 40-year-old threw another 32 touchdowns in 2017 to just eight interceptions, good for 4,577 yards and, quite possibly, another MVP award. That remains to be seen, but he’ll certainly prefer another Super Bowl. Whatever happens, he’ll be the best and most important player on the field when Super Bowl LII kicks off; everything the Patriots do revolves around him.

2) Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots

The Patriots sound optimistic that Gronkowski will be good to go for the Super Bowl, which is great news for the Patriots. He was his usual self this season, staying healthy after a difficult 2016 and leading the team in receptions (69), yards (1,084), and touchdowns (8). He’s a matchup nightmare for opponents and probably the game’s best tight end. As long as he plays, he’ll probably play a big role in any success the Patriots have against the Philadelphia defense.

3) Fletcher Cox, DT, Eagles

The Eagles’ defensive line may be their biggest strength, and Cox is the king of that unit. The fact that he’s the primary focus of blockers and still racked up 5.5 sacks this season is a testament to how great he is. Cox’s presence is what opens things up for his fellow defensive linemen and Philadelphia’s linebacker corps. He constantly draws double-teams and can take up the attentions of two blockers at once, opening up opportunities for his teammates. He’s one of the game’s very best defensive linemen.

4) Brandon Graham, DE, Eagles

Graham has basically become a wrecking ball on the Philadelphia defensive line, leading the team with 9.5 sacks in something of a breakout season for him. He’s one of the NFC’s elite pass rushers who can win a one-on-one battle with most foes, causing chaos in a backfield. He’ll be one of Tom Brady and the New England offensive line’s chief concerns in the Super Bowl. It will be a long day for them if they can’t at least contain him.

5) Zach Ertz, TE, Eagles

Ertz is the preferred target of Nick Foles, and Carson Wentz before him. One of the league’s very best tight ends, he was the Eagles’ leading receiver in terms of both catches (74) and yardage (824), to go with eight touchdown receptions. He’s one of the NFL’s rising stars. While Gronkowski will get much of the tight end publicity, Ertz will be out to prove that he’s no slouch. He’s not far behind his rival, if he even is behind him.

6) Brandin Cooks, WR, Patriots

When favorite Brady target Julian Edelman went down with an ACL tear in the preseason, it was obvious that someone was going to have to step up and do some heavy lifting. Many eyes looked to Danny Amendola, but it was Cooks who seized the opportunity and became an indispensable part of the New England offense. He was second on the team with 65 catches, 1,082 yards, and seven touchdowns — just four catches, two yards, and one touchdown behind Rob Gronkowski. He has proven to be well worth the first-round pick New England gave up to bring him in.

7) Nigel Bradham, LB, Eagles

Bradham’s off-field issues have been mostly forgotten this season as he’s let his play speak for itself, and it has spoken quite loudly. His 88 tackles led the team, and he’s had to assume a bigger role in light of the injury to middle linebacker Jordan Hicks. It’s a role he has embraced as he has become one of the key men on the Philadelphia defense, assuming a leadership role, and proving a force to be reckoned with as the Eagles marched to the Super Bowl.

8) Malcolm Jenkins, S, Eagles

Jenkins is the heart and soul of the Philadelphia defense. He had an outstanding season that ended with his second Pro Bowl nod. He was third on the team in tackles and grabbed two interceptions. He also serves as a veteran leader of both the secondary and the entire defense, rightly regarded as one of the best safeties in the NFL. His presence and performance will be very big when the Eagles face off against the Patriots.

9) Stephon Gilmore, CB, Patriots

Gilmore took a while to get acquainted with New England’s defensive scheme, but you could make the argument that he is now the most important player in the team’s secondary. You hardly ever heard Gilmore’s name called over the final two months of the season, and that’s because he rarely allowed opposing receivers to do anything noteworthy. Gilmore has surpassed Malcolm Butler as the Patriots No. 1 cornerback, and his diving pass breakup at the end of the AFC Championship Game is one of the reasons the Pats are back in the Super Bowl. He should see a lot of Alshon Jeffery in Minneapolis.

10) Alshon Jeffrey, WR, Eagles

Jeffrey didn’t quite have the huge statistical season he might have hoped to in his first year with the Eagles, but he was still a very effective weapon in their offense. He was third on the team in receptions and second in yardage, but his nine receiving touchdowns did lead the team. Like many of his teammates, he had a huge game in the NFC championship against the Minnesota Vikings, reeling in two touchdown catches as the Eagles romped to victory.

11) Danny Amendola, WR, Patriots

Amendola has now been with the Patriots for five seasons, and he is having his finest year yet. He has taken over the Julian Edelman role and delivered for New England with 61 catches for 659 yards and two touchdowns. He’s also returning punts for the team and has averaged around 8.5 yards per return, with a long of 40. Perhaps his biggest contribution has come this postseason. Amendola has 18 catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns this postseason, including two big TDs against the Jaguars. He has become a reliable, sure-handed target for Tom Brady, repeatedly coming through in clutch situations.

12) Devin McCourty, S, Patriots

The veteran safety remains a key part of the New England defense. He racked up the tackles in 2017, leading the team with 97. He added one interception during his season as well. It was a slow start to the season for the New England secondary, but McCourty has been there and done that, and played a big role in organizing the unit and spearheading their improvement later in the season. He’s a big player for New England.

13) Lane Johnson, T, Eagles

The anchor of Philadelphia’s offensive line is Johnson, especially with veteran Jason Peters sidelined for the season. A first-time Pro Bowler, Johnson had one of the best seasons of any tackle in the NFL, protecting Carson Wentz and then Nick Foles with aplomb. His career looked like it might be in legitimate trouble a year ago as he battled the NFL over a drug suspension, but he’s back and better than he ever has been. Plus, he’s a brash leader of the Philadelphia offensive line who has started a trend in the city this playoff run.

14) Trey Flowers, DE, Patriots

The New England sack leader is a threat to opposing quarterbacks on every single play. His 6.5 sacks were a team best, and he, along with Kyle Van Noy, were constant headaches for Blake Bortles in the AFC championship, jointly leading the team with nine total tackles. Flowers didn’t get a sack, but he hit Bortles four times, showing that even when he’s not filling the stat sheet with sacks, he has a major impact on opposing offenses.

15) Malcom Brown, DT, Patriots

The third-year defensive lineman has matured into a defensive tackle to be feared, one of the anchors of the New England defensive line. He had 49 tackles and 2.5 sacks, but his importance goes beyond the stat sheet. He’s a big run stopper who also plays a role in collapsing the pocket, occupying blockers so guys like Kyle Van Noy and Trey Flowers can get home. He still has room to grow, and he looks like he’s going to be a star before too long — if he isn’t already.

from Larry Brown Sports http://ift.tt/2Bznu5Q

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hellojulie1971 · 6 years

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A HOUSE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF

#IFTTT #Blogger

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hellojulie1971 · 6 years

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http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

#A HOUSE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png <div style="text-align: cen

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hellojulie1971 · 6 years

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http://allchristiansarewelcome.blogspot.com/2017/12/a-house-divided-against-itself.html

#text-align: center;#A HOUSE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF <div style=> <img alt="Image result for A HOUSE

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