Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness
or you’ll be like him yourself.
Answer a fool according to his foolishness
or he’ll become wise in his own eyes. [Psalm 26:4–5]
Wait, what?! Do I respond to that annoying person at work, or not? Should I answer the belligerent guy in the plaza? What about the pompous poster on social media?
No pat answers here. That’s the nature of biblical wisdom. There are times when you do speak to your teen’s foolishness. If you don’t, he may think he’s right or wise. And there are times when you don’t answer lest you get pulled into the nonsense (e.g., of the social media political arguments, etc.) and end up just as angry (and foolish) as the rest.
Have you learned the beauty of the Christian life and its call to spiritual discernment? Our faith is not all “thou shalt” and “thou shalt not.” Sometimes it’s a measured tone of common sense, of keeping one’s eyes and ears open and humbly deciding the better course for this moment.
For your reading accompaniment: “April, Come She Will” by Simon and Garfunkel
A beautiful (and sad) little ballad by these vocal geniuses who could also write great lyrics. It is April. Even if the Cleveland weather doesn’t confirm that.
I read the sports today, oh boy
More on the torpedo baseball bat
It turns out that MIT Physicist Aaron Leanhardt is the genius behind the new bat that has everyone talking (and hitting home runs). Leanhardt’s design was to move the fat part of the bat closer to the bat’s handle. In so doing, the “legal” weight of the bat is redistributed to the area where hitters make the most contact with the ball. So it’s a smart guy behind this controversial change. It’s still wrong in my book—but not in the baseball Commissioner’s.In other Yankees baseball news: their fielders are testing out a new glove.
On the Guardians front—here’s the forecast for today’s opening game:
No comment. Except here is some data on the warmest and coldest opening days in Cleveland:
On Sunday evening, the University of Connecticut won the women’s NCAA basketball championship for a record 12th time! They overwhelmed defending champs South Carolina 82–59! I really appreciate watching the women’s side of both basketball and professional tennis. Is Paige Bueckers the new Caitlin Clark?
On Monday, the University of Florida men’s basketball team beat the Houston Cougars for the national championship. Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler are probably a bit depressed right now. I am still wondering when The Ohio State University will field a nationally competitive basketball team again. By the way, did we celebrate OSU football’s championship this year enough? Doesn’t seem like it.
I saw a film today, oh boy
So, from what I have read, Netflix is taking a crack at C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia. Already I am a bit nervous. Please don’t mess with Jack’s treasured story. The Magician’s Nephew will be their first attempt. I am getting more nervous. Even though in the “Narnian timeline,” this story precedes The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, The Magician’s Nephew is the sixth book in the series and serves as a kind of prequel (albeit after-the-fact) that gives us the history of the White Witch, the origin of the wardrobe, and even the eternally lit lamppost in the middle of the wood. Supposedly, James Bond (aka Daniel Craig) has a role. And Meryl Streep plays…Aslan! Hmmm. Now I am quite nervous! Don’t get me wrong—I think Streep is an amazing and generational actress. But Aslan, the Christ figure, is a male lion—the King of Narnia! Why? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Coming to theaters just in time for Holy Week is the animated film The King of Kings. The timeless story of our Lord is embedded in a story of a father telling his son about Jesus, and what starts as a bedtime story becomes a life-changing journey. The boy walks alongside Jesus through the power of his imagination. Angel Studios has outdone themselves with such notable actors lending their voices as Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan, Oscar Isaac, Uma Thurman, Forrest Whitaker, and Mark Hamill. This is no low-budget, second-rate, schmalzy Christian film.
Quick hits
Pizza as a stress reducer
I knew it! Research at a university in Norwich, England demonstrates that just the smell of pizza can lower stress levels. The wonderful smells of the dough and tomato sauce and melting mozzarella cheese (hungry yet?) trigger a calming effect in the brain which reduces feelings of anxiety and can even alter one’s mood! How about the anchovies?
Presidential photo bomb
Did you see this one? Portia Moore’s family photoshoot of the cherry blossoms in DC and her two children was spoiled by an unaware photo bomber. It wasn’t until they got home and looked at the picture that they realized that not only did a stranger invade her picture of the two cute children, but the photo bomber was none other than former President Barack Obama himself.
- The doctor is in…
Canada, that is. With political tensions rising and the present condition and respect for the American medical profession at a very low level, many U.S. physicians are seeking work opportunities in Canada. Health agencies from Canada are recruiting and bringing medical professionals from the United States to help fill gaps in their patient care. The number of American doctors obtaining a medical license in Canada between October 2024 and March 2025 has risen 583% compared to the same period last year. - This just in…
A recent study found that toasters are more dangerous than sharks. Pens and pencils are, too! Whereas there are only an average of 70 shark attacks per year and only around 4 ever prove to be fatal, 700 people worldwide are killed annually by toasters! And 6,000 people per year go to the hospital for pencil-related injuries. Often the injuries are the result of a pencil being stuck in someone’s eye. See (no pun intended), our moms were right!
Note: I will be in Italy next week teaching an intensive course on Old Testament Wisdom Literature to college students. Our reliable pinch hitter and impeccable editor Katherine Wetzel will wield the Tuesday Afternoon pen in my absence.
We give you thanks, almighty and eternal God, for sending your only Son in the fullness of time to redeem the world with his obedient life and innocent death. When he entered Jerusalem he was hailed as king by those who spread their garments and palm branches on his path. We carry these branches as signs of the victory he accomplished. Let his victory remain with us, even as we take up our crosses and follow him, that we may die and rise with him, and finally enter his kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
“Lord, give me grace to hold righteousness in all things
that I may lead a clean and blessed life and prudently flee evil
and that I may understand the treacherous and deceitful falseness of the devil.
Make me mild, peaceable, courteous, and temperate.
And make me steadfast and strong.
Also, Lord, give Thou to me that I be quiet in words
and that I speak what is appropriate.”
[John Wycliffe]
