Introduction
By Paul Anderson
January is the time to start anew. New calendars. New resolutions. But what if you are a procrastinator? Well, then I get started in February.
While technically the Senior Bowl was the end of the 2022 college football bowl season, they use the trademark #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE, and the draft is one of the first events on the NFL calendar for their new season.
The 2023 Senior Bowl was a college football all-star game played on February 4th in Mobile, Alabama and was sponsored by Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. The game featured prospects for the 2023 NFL draft. The only prospect from the University of California Golden Bears football team who was invited this year was my cousin, Daniel Scott.
So, if the Senior Bowl was the beginning, is football like chess with a middle game and endgame too?
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!
In this case, Santa Claus would be the Draft. However, before the draft occurs the NFL holds their middle game, the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis from February 28th through March 6th. A total of 319 prospects have been invited to attend this year's event. Again, the only prospect from the University of California Golden Bears football team who was invited this year was my cousin, Daniel Scott. Here are the invitees, sorted by school.
My mom and I have been following Daniel's college football career since 2017 when Cal played the University of Colorado Buffaloes at our alma mater in Boulder, Colorado. While Daniel was red-shirted that year and did not travel with the team, he sent the team mascot, Oski, to greet us as new Cal Bear fans. We went to 8 road games (from Mississippi to Washington), 1 bowl game (2019 Redbox Bowl), and lastly, 1 home game (125th Big Game). The last game was the best as Daniel was the hero of the game with 10 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 1 interception. It was the first time I stormed the field!
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| Go Bears! |
While I thought I was watching the end of his college career as I streamed the 2023 Senior Bowl, it turns out sometimes endings are actually beginnings in disguise. I just hope this new beginning ends as well as the last one did.
Here are my top 12 verses on Beginnings:
Jesus On Beginnings
Mark 13:8 King James Version
8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
Luke 24:46-47 King James Version
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
John 2:11 King James Version
11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
Revelation 22:13 King James Version
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Beginnings In The New Testament
John 1:1-5 King James Version
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Acts 1:22 King James Version
22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
Hebrews 7:1-3 King James Version
1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
2 Peter 2:20-22 King James Version
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Beginnings In The Old Testament
Genesis 1:1 King James Version
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Job 8:7 King James Version
7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
Ecclesiastes 7:8 King James Version
8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Isaiah 1:26 King James Version
26 And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.
Conclusion Of The Whole Matter
The word "beginning" is used almost equally in both the Old and New Testament. However,
both one book dominates the occurrences in each section: Isaiah is double any other book in the Old Testament while John has similar numbers in the New Testament.
108 Bible results for “beginning” from King James Version.
- Old Testament (57)
- Genesis (5)
- Exodus (1)
- Numbers (2)
- Deuteronomy (3)
- Judges (1)
- Ruth (2)
- 2 Samuel (2)
- 2 Kings (1)
- 1 Chronicles (1)
- Ezra (1)
- Job (2)
- Psalm (2)
- Proverbs (6)
- Ecclesiastes (3)
- Isaiah (12)
- Jeremiah (5)
- Lamentations (1)
- Ezekiel (2)
- Daniel (2)
- Hosea (1)
- Amos (1)
- Micah (1)
- New Testament (51)
- Matthew (6)
- Mark (4)
- Luke (4)
- John (10)
- Acts (5)
- Ephesians (1)
- Philippians (1)
- Colossians (1)
- 2 Thessalonians (1)
- Hebrews (3)
- 2 Peter (2)
- 1 John (7)
- 2 John (2)
- Revelation (4)
Beginnings cover a wide range of topics. My favorite verse is Ecclesiastes 7:8, as it directly relates to how I approach chess.
In order to improve your game, you must study the endgame before everything else, for whereas the endings can be studied and mastered by themselves, the middle game and the opening must be studied in relation to the endgame.
(Jose Raul Capablanca - 3rd World Chess Champion)
From the beginning of the universe, to the beginning of the Gospel, to the beginning of Jesus' miracles, to the beginning of the end, "beginning" doesn't just start the Bible, it also spans the breadth of it, and even ends it.
Is it any wonder that Jesus would use it as one of his titles? I guess He is not only the first Word, but also He is the last word on this subject:
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Revelation 22:13 King James Version
Scripture contributions for January 2023 by: Paul Anderson, Matthew Anderson
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