I’m a musical connoisseur and live in the 21st century so I am well acquainted with what’s on the charts today. One artist in particular has caught not only my notice but has taken the industry by storm. Her pseudonym is Lady Gaga. (The link is safe, just don’t do an image search) Some of you are thinking, what??? others are thinking so what??? Listen, if you want to debate music – hit me up I’ll show you a thing or two. If you want to discuss the morality of the pop culture icons of today, don’t waste your breath, she’s not a good person – just remember neither are you and God loves you anyway.

Now, I don’t intend to discuss the music or the person. Just a particular song, and why she thinks she can sing it.

“It doesn’t matter if you love him, or capital H-I-M
Just put your paws up
‘Cause you were Born This Way, baby”

She starts it this way, Born This Way of course being the title. Many of you have heard it, maybe a few of you like it. I won’t say my opinion – not discussing the music remember? However, where does she get off? What authority does she have reference to the opinions of “capital H-I-M?” She says later in the song:

“I’m beautiful in my way,
‘Cause God makes no mistakes
I’m on the right track, baby
I was Born This Way…In the religion of the insecure
I must be myself, respect my mouth

A different lover is not a sin
Believe capital H-I-M (Hey, Hey, Hey)

Mi amore vole fe yah (Love needs faith)” translation from elyricsworld

If you’ve blown this off as Homosexual propaganda you’re missing the point. She’s not claiming that America, or Nature or even some obscure cosmic force such as Love validates alternative lifestyles. She’s claiming “capital H-I-M”.

In today’s culture, truth is validated by a formula something like acceptance*feeling/perception^tolerance (to be read acceptance times feeling divided by perception to the tolerance power). Why does Gaga feel the necessity to include God in the conversation? She sings as though it’s a slam-dunk argument, as if we could just as Him and He’d let us know.

God is fairly clear on the subject if we are willing to approach what has been validated as His revealed word, I’ll let you discover that on your own, try the book of Romans for starters. However, if you’re struggling with how to approach this crazy world, remember that God’s opinion still matters, even to Pop-Diva wackos like Gaga however distorted that opinion has become. Similar to how being “religious” is often politician’s game it has also become as Pop fad as well. This can be used to our advantage Christianity, let’s not ignore it.

So, if you’re ticked at me let me know, I like angry people…

However, I have a concept to posit and figure this medium is as good as any.

Economics is the science of choice. Economists determine what resources, what commodities, what products are “better” and what are “worse” and, from that, determine their value. Several factors impact this determination, the most important to my topic are: Supply, Demand, Scarcity and Utility.

Simply defined they are: how much we can get (Supply), how much we want (Demand), how much we have (Scarcity) and how much we like it (Utility).

Get it? Yeah, me neither…but I get it enough to try and apply it to God. This idea came from a sermon about the Church, in which my Pastor was making the point that Christ is the whole satisfaction of the body. I was taking notes and my mind began to center on the concept of satisfaction, this is what I wrote:

“God is an infinite commodity. His worth does not depend on anything apart from Himself. In the human realm, everything is in an economy, where value is determined via comparison and utility. God being “given Glory” is in fact a continuous, infinite expansion of His revelation to a lesser being which has no choice but to explode in “enjoyment” or manifestation of that revelation of Himself. In Heaven we will be infinitely receiving revelation and responding to it, on Earth we truly worship, or give Glory, when we “experience”, “look at”, “receive” God into our being. That is our created purpose, to perpetuate the eternal knowledge and enjoyment of our Creator. All creation, both His chosen and the “rejectors” are revelations of Himself. We don’t give God Glory. God is Glory, we are demonstrations of that.”

Make sense? Haha, I’m sure you understand perfectly. I’ll leave it at this and if you have questions let me know, if they’re easy enough I might be able to answer them.

W-L – 11-16; HRs – 17; RBIs – J Heyward (24); BA% – M Prado (.337); K’s – T Hanson (33); http://tinyurl.com/2fzqoah

Game 2 saved the series, but just barely. Team strikeout leader, Tommy Hanson, took the mound against Luis Atilano. The game started quickly, both teams scoring in the opening frames. Hanson lasted 6 innings, allowing 4 runs on 9 hits and a 2nd inning jack from Ian Desmond. Atilano got rocked for 6 runs on 7 hits in 5 1/3. Omar Infante had a 2nd inning homer. With a 6-4 lead, Peter Moylan tosses a scoreless 7th for his 4th hold of the season. Saito was sent the 8th. He gave up 2 runs and records his first blown save. Kris Medlen was then sent out for the 9th, in case the game went long, and is flawless. The Nationals sent out their closer Matt Capps, who was 11-11 in save chances, to hold the tie for the 8th and 9th innings. In the 9th, Troy Glaus singles, Brandon Hicks pinch runs, Melky Cabrera sacrifice bunts Hicks to second, and Matt Diaz strokes an opposite-field-game-winning-rbi single. Billy notches save number 3 and the Braves have a win.

W-L – 12-16; HRs – 18; RBIs – J Heyward (24); BA% – M Prado (.339); K’s – T Hanson (38); http://tinyurl.com/2ajsuda

Game 3 was painful. Tim Hudson continues his bid for “most unlucky NL starter” or the “Zach Greinke” award against Scott Olsen. After 7 1/3 innings, the Braves hadn’t mustered a single hit on Mr. Olsen. Hudson went 7, giving up 2 on 5 – which is a quality start. Albeit, 2 of those hits were long balls to Pudge and Dunn. Olsen’s no-no not only was broken up, but so was his shutout and his win bid as he allowed 2 runners who eventually scored in the 8th on a pinch-hit 2 RBI single to none other than Jason “THE GREATEST EVER” Heyward. He had tweaked his groin the night before and was only available in a pinch. O’Flaherty came in to relieve Hudson and tossed a scoreless 8th. Then in the 9th – once Clippard had settled down after the uber-choke to Heyward – O’Flaherty remained in the game with a save chance. He walked the lead off – Adam Kennedy – and was promptly yanked. Peter Moylan replaced him and proceeded to not get anyone out. Zimmerman doubled putted runners on 2nd and 3rd, Guzman pinch hit and was intentionally walked bringing up Nyger Morgan (another pinch hitter). Morgan singled into right scoring Kennedy and giving the unlucky O’Flaherty the loss. Philly is next on the docket, and the Braves need something to shake up the bats soon.

W-L – 12-17; HRs – 18; RBIs – J Heyward (26); BA% – M Prado (.327); K’s – T Hanson (38); http://tinyurl.com/2f3jppn

W-L – 9-15; HRs – 15; RBIs – J Heyward (19); BA% – M Prado (.356); K’s – T Hanson (33); http://tinyurl.com/24kr75v

Game 2 was a party for Atlanta. Top-tier pitchers Hudson and Wandy Rodriguez faced off. Wandy has been struggling in 2010 and this game was no different. Infante, leading off, Prado and Glaus all had 3 hits as the Braves pounded out 10 runs on 15 hits. Glaus showed signs that his potent bat may be awakening as he went 3 for 5 with 2 doubles and 4 RBIs. Wandy only survived 5 innings, giving up 10 hits and 5 runs, though only 2 were earned. Hudson went 6 2/3 allowing 1 run on 5 hits. Moylan finished the 7th, O’Flaherty tossed a scoreless 8th, and Venters tossed a scoreless a 9th. Oh, and Jason Heyward homered…again!

W-L – 10-15; HRs – 16; RBIs – J Heyward (20); BA% – M Prado (.368); K’s – T Hanson (33); http://tinyurl.com/2dwkszf

Jason Heyward pretty much owns the Astros. Bud Norris pitched against Derek Lowe. Norris only went 4 2/3 allowing 7 runs on 8 hits. Heyward drove in 3 and scored twice with a double, for once he didn’t homer. Lowe was unusually sharp, going 5 with only 1 run on 6 hits. Kris Melden pitched a spotless 6th and 7th, Saito followed suit in the 8th and Wagner pitched a fake-save for the 9th. Melky Cabrera also added 3 RBIs and the Braves completed their first sweep of ’10. Next they head to Washington for a 3 game series against the Nats.

W-L – 11-15; HRs – 16; RBIs – J Heyward (23); BA% – M Prado (.354); K’s – T Hanson (33); http://tinyurl.com/345wa73

W-L – 8-12; HRs – 12; RBIs – J Heyward (16); BA% – M Prado (.392); K’s – T Hanson (26); http://tinyurl.com/2dpedtx

Game 2, featured Ace Chris Carpenter against 3-0 Derek Lowe. The Braves once again jumped out to a lead scoring 2 in the 2nd. The bats were active this night, just horribly unlucky. Lowe was his usual shaky self, giving up 5 on 5 in 5 2/3, that’s runs, hits and innings. Carpenter was solid allowing 2 runs on 3 hits through 6. The Braves got their chance though. In the 7th it took 4 Cardinal pitchers to get 3 outs. Hanksworth started the inning and allowing 2 unearned runs on 3 hits. Reyes relieved him and got the 2nd out. Then Boggs came in and walked the bases-loaded. Heyward came to the plate and was struck out by Miller. Motte finished up the last 2 innings to get his first save. The Cards got 4 of their 5 in the 6th, when they chased Lowe. Moylan finished the inning and then Medlen and Wagner threw a scoreless 8th and 9th. And again, just not enough to get the win, 5-4.

W-L – 8-13; HRs – 12; J Heyward (16); BA% – M Prado (.367) this is after going 0-5; K’s – T Hanson (26); http://tinyurl.com/24m79kx

Game 3 was almost worse than any of the previous losses. Jaime Garcia tosses 7 shutout innings and the Braves just get trounced. Kawakami is the recipient of the lackluster offense. He wasn’t his best only going 4 1/3 while allowing 5 runs (4 earned) on 5 hits. Venters gave up one more in his 1 2/3 innings. But then O’Flaherty and Chavez stopped the bleeding. The Cardinal relievers maintain the shutout and the Cards cruise 6-0.

W-L – 8-14; HRs – 12; J Heyward (16); BA% – M Prado (.361); K’s – T Hanson (26); http://tinyurl.com/29f7w8n

Series Finale was no better than the rest. Wainwright against the ailing Jair Jurrjens and bad went to worst. Jurrjens left after just 1 inning of work, in which he gave up a 3-run homer to rookie Ryan Freese. Medlen gets through 3 innings, giving up one run on 3 hits. Chavez then gets rocked, giving up 5 runs on 5 hits in just 2 innings, 3 runs coming from Freese’s bat again, this time a double and then also a Greene solo shot. Moylan also gives up a run in his inning. Saito is able to hold his inning, but the Cardinals had already scored 10 runs. The Braves mustered 4, including Heyward’s 5th home run, but it was hardly enough. The Braves head home for a much-needed series against the equally as anemic Astros next.

W-L – 8-15; HRs – 13; RBIs – J Heyward (17); BA% – M Prado (.360); K’s – T Hanson (26); http://tinyurl.com/26lnoum

New Addition – 5.0 games back of NL East (NY Mets); 4.5 games back of NL Wild Card (SF Giants)

W-L – 8-9; HRs – 12; RBIs – J Heyward (16); BA% – M Prado (.406); Ks- T Hanson (18); http://tinyurl.com/33escu6

The second game of the series came on Chipper Jone’s birthday. Unfortunately it was a frustrating day for Atlanta. Jair Jurrjens (0-1) faced off against Jon Niese. Both pitchers were ok, JJ going 6 2/3 and only getting hurt by Bay, Franceour and Davis to give up 3 runs on 4 hits. Niese tossed 5 1/3 but only gave up 1 run on a David Ross RBI single. Manny Acosta was called on in the 6th to get out of a jam, and although only pitching one more inning, recorded his 1st win of the season. O’Flaherty ended the 7th and Medlen tossed a scoreless 8th in relief for the Braves. K-Rod again was nasty notching his 3rd save. Mets win 3-1.

W-L – 8-10; HRs – 12; RBIs – J Heyward (16); BA% – M Prado (.409); Ks – T Hanson (18); http://tinyurl.com/22kr535

The finale was a summation of the series. Massive storms were in the Queens area and the game was called in the 6th inning due to rain. Mike Pelfrey got the call for New York and is perfect on the season. Hanson started for the Braves and was pitching awesome, through 5 innings he struck out 8 batters and only gave up 5 hits. Jose Reyes got a 2 out single, stole second and scored on a Chipper Jones error in the 1st. That was the only run of the game. Rain prevented Valdez from appearing in relief, no other Atlanta pitchers appeared. The Braves mustered 5 hits on Pelfrey but were 0-5 with runners in scoring position. Mets win 1-0 and take the series. A 4 game trip to St. Louis is next on the docket.

W-L – 8-11; HRs – 12; RBIs – J Heyward (16); BA% – M Prado (.406); Ks – T Hanson (26); http://tinyurl.com/2a82wvb

W-L – 8-6; HRs – 11; RBIs – J Heyward (16); BA% – M Prado (.431); K’s – T Hanson (18); http://tinyurl.com/239lun8

Game 2 was a bit of a downer for Atlanta, in the form of Doc Halladay. Tim Hudson faced off against the Cy Young winner and did his part, giving up only 2 runs on 6 hits in 6 innings. Venters pitched a couple scoreless innings and Saito finished the evening also scoreless. However, Halladay was cruising. He shut-out the Braves on just 5 hits; Chipper with 2 of them. The Braves lost 2-0 and were frustrated yet again by an opposing Ace.

W-L – 8-7; HRs – 11; RBIs – J Heyward (16); BA% – M Prado (.400); K’s – T Hanson (18); http://tinyurl.com/26d6u6y

The series finale was between old-timers Derek Lowe and Jamie Moyer. Lowe so far has enjoyed a fairly charmed season and his shaky pitching finally caught up to him. He went 5 innings giving up 6 runs, 4 earned, and his ERA climbed to an untidy 5.24. The bullpen also struggled. Medlen faced 4 batters and only recorded one out giving up a run needing O’Flaherty to pitch out of the inning. Moylan had a rough day as well giving up two runs on 3 hits in his one inning. Chavez was able to gain control though and tossed 2 scoreless to finish the night. Moyer was lights out giving up only 4 hits and 2 unearned runs through 6 innings. The Braves managed one more run on reliever Chad Durbin before the evening finished. Phillies won the series and really would’ve dominated had it not been for the late game heroics in the opener. The Braves travel to New York next to take on the division rival Mets.

W-L – 8-8; HRs – 12; RBIs – J Heyward (16); BA% – M Prado (.417); K’s – T Hanson (18); http://tinyurl.com/2475qjy

The first game pitted 2-0 Derek Lowe against Jason Hammel. Mr. Hammel had a major injury last year and there are a number of questions surrounding his effectiveness and potential this year. The Braves did their dead-level best to increase those questions. After just 5 outs, the Braves chased him with 7 runs on 8 hits, all coming in the 2nd inning. Eric Hinske had a great game, doubling his rbi total to 6 and Chipper added his 2nd home run of the year in the 5th inning off Rockies relieve Beimel. Lowe had his usual average game going 5 1/3 giving up 4 runs, 3 earned, on 7 hits one being a 3-run homer from Seth Smith. O’Flaherty came in and almost completed 2 innings, only allowing one hit but also walking 2 and letting a single run in. Kris Medlen cleaned up the last 2 innings, notching 3 k’s.

W-L – 6-5; HRs – 8; RBIs – J Heyward (12); BA% – M Prado (.463); K’s – T Hanson (14); http://tinyurl.com/y2cf4uv

Game 2 was a little piece of history. Unfortunately for the Braves it will find its way into Colorado History. Rockies Ace Ubaldo Jimenez went up against Kenshin Kawakami. The Rockies scored early with a 1st inning sac fly from Tulowitski scoring Gonzalez. They got 3 more 4th but they were more than enough run support for Ubaldo. Jimenez walked 6 but otherwise was spotless and recorded the first no-hitter in Colorado Rockies franchise history. One high note for Atlanta was the major league debut of Johnny Venters. He relieved KK in the 6th and pitched 3 scoreless innings. Jesse Chavez finished up the evening for the Braves.

W-L – 6-6; HRs – 8; RBIs – J Heyward (12); BA% – M Prado (.442); K’s – T Hanson (14); http://tinyurl.com/yyv8uox

Closing out the series were Braves’ ace Jair Jurrjens and Rockies’ left-hander Greg Smith. Due to injuries, Smith hadn’t gotten a decision in many  months. Both pitchers were tough, JJ went 8 strong innings, struck out 9 but gave up 2 home runs and 1 more run on 5 hits. Smith went 5 1/3 but only gave up 2 runs on 5 hits. A considerable amount of drama began when the Rockies homered in consecutive innings to take the lead in the top of the 8th inning. O’Flaherty pitched a perfect 9th and then the pressure was on. The Rockies sent Franklin Morales to the mound to get the save. Prado led off the inning with a single (maintaining his team lead in hits) and then McCann walked. Troy Glaus grounded into what would have been a game ending double play, but he beat out the throw at first. After Yunel Escobar walked, Jason Heyward stepped to the plate. He laced a 2 run walk off single and trotted down to first, once again bolstering his young career with amazing highlights. It’s off to Philly next for a 3 game series with the AL East rival and powerhouse.

W-L – 7-6; HRs – 8; RBIs – J Heyward (15); BA% – M Prado (.426); K’s – T Hanson (14); http://tinyurl.com/y2aqz9t

W-L – 3-5; HRs – 5; RBIs – J Heyward (9); BA% – M Prado (.519); K’s – T Hanson (7); http://tinyurl.com/y5gryn6

Game 2 featured a home-coming for California native Tommy Hanson. With dominating stuff, Hanson cruised through 6 strong innings, fanning 7 and giving up only 1 runs on 4 hits. He was in danger of getting hung out to dry until the bats woke up in the 6th with McCann driving in a couple and Heyward plating another. One inning later Troy Glaus launched a 3 run homer and the Braves never looked back. Moylan, Saito and Wagner pitched scoreless innings and the Braves won 6-1.

W-L – 4-5; HRs – 6; RBIs – J Heyward (10); BA% – M Prado (.469); K’s – T Hanson (14); http://tinyurl.com/y3msona

The finally pitted Tim Hudson against Mat Latos. The bats start out early this time getting runs in the 1st, 4th, 5th and 8th innings. Martin Prado, leading the majors with a sick nasty .459 batting average, homered in the 1st. Once again Heyward was right in the middle of the scoring with 2 rbi doubles raising his team-leading total to 12. Kris Medlen, Eric O’Flaherty and Peter Moylan all register holds and Saito and Wagner toss scoreless innings as well to close out the series with a 6-2 W. The two Padre runs coming on a Everth Cabrera single and a Will Venable solo shot in the 6th. The Braves head home to take on the Rockies next.

W-L – 5-5; HRs – 7; RBIs – J Heyward (12); BA% – M Prado (.459); K’s – T Hanson (14); http://tinyurl.com/y5rw2pj

Game 1 was between Jonathan Sanchez and Tim Hudson. Both pitched well, especially Hudson. 7 innings giving up 2 runs on 3 hits and no walks, which is pretty impressive. Both runs came in the bottom of the seventh, so he had a shut out cruising. Sanchez was touched up for 3 runs on 7 hits in 4 innings. As will be the theme of the series, the Giant relief pitching was extremely tough and was spotless but for an 8th inning run off of Joaquin, which at the time was merely insurance. Saito held the 8th and Billy came in for his 2nd save chance. Then the trouble began. After Aaron Rowand broke out of an 0-4 day with a single, Edgar Renteria sent the game tying home run into the seats. 4 innings later, after a pick-off, a failed bunt/strikeout, a Bobby Cox ejection, and some shutdown Giant pitching, Aaron Rowand singled in the game winning run off of Kris Medlen, who got the loss despite not giving up an earned run. Sadness abounds.

W-L – 2-3; HRs – 3; RBIs – J Heyward, Y Escobar (5); BA% – M Prado (.625); Ks – T Hanson (7); http://tinyurl.com/yyma9bp

The second game featured Todd Wellermeyer for the G-men going against Derek Lowe. Lowe gets the call for the second time and once again, isn’t perfect but keeps Atlanta in the game. The offensive drizzle of the past couple games finally broke through for the Braves as they chased Wellermeyer after spotting 4 runs in the 6th and 7th innings. Highlighted by an Escobar double and the second Heyward home run which opened the scoring. They didn’t stop there piling another 3 runs on Joaquin (the Giants might want to think twice before sending him out again). Eric Hinske got in on the action with a screaming rbi double chased home by a following double by Omar Infante. Once the dust settled and the Giants had snuck in a run against Jesse Chavez in the 9th, the Braves won 7-2 ending the Giants 5-0 streak.

W-L – 3-3; HRs – 4; RBIs – J Heyward (7); BA% – M Prado (.600); Ks – T Hanson (7); http://tinyurl.com/yaz3bv5

The rubber game was between San Fran ace Timmy Lincecum and Braves 5-man Kenshin Kawakami. It seems like a mismatch, and it is, but KK has been tough in the past against Aces, beating Halladay and Lee last year. The Braves jumped all over the Cy Young winner with a 2-run blast from Brian McCann in the 1st inning. When Jeremy Affeldt replaced Lincecum in the 8th the Braves had mustered only 3 more hits. Kawakami pitched well, but a pair of Sandoval extra base hits resulted in runs and he left having given up 3 in 6 innings. Kris Medlen once again struggled giving up another couple on a Sandoval home run and even Eric O’Flaherty gave up a run. Heyward tried to launch a one-man come back, launching his 3rd home run off of Affeldt in the 9th, but it was too little, too late. The Giants took the series with a convincing 6-3 victory. The Braves head to San Diego to face the struggling Padres next.

W-L – 3-4; HRs – J Heyward (3); RBIs – J Heyward (8); BA% – M Prado (.542); Ks – T Hanson (7); http://tinyurl.com/yeyvvzf