Ted Cruz defeated Jimmy Kimmel in a game of one-on-one for charity:

“The reason this is happening is because after Game 7 of the [NBA] Western Conference Finals, I likened Sen. Cruz to a blobfish,” Kimmel explained, according to Deadline.com. “And he did not like that … so he challenged me to a game of one-on-one. And I accepted.”

The two players agreed that the loser would donate $5,000 to a charity picked by the winner, but both later agreed to donate $10,000 to both charities, the Texas Tribune reported.

Cruz selected Generation One Texas, an anti-poverty organzation, while Kimmel chose the Texas Children’s Hospital, the Tribune reported.

Pretty sure the headline here should be “Ted Cruz DESTROYS Jimmy Kimmel,” or some variation thereof. pic.twitter.com/etMWTGhl50

— Sonny Bunch (@SonnyBunch) June 17, 2018

The best part, aside from worthy charities getting donations, is that Kimmel guaranteed victory over Cruz, whom he called a “greasy blobfish.” Cruz embraced the blobfish insult, made it his mascot, then beat Kimmel’s ass. 😂

— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 17, 2018

No, no, Ted. You’re supposed to insult Kimmel’s appearance twice as hard. Haven’t you learned anything?

I bet the money that Ted Cruz pledged to charity actually goes to charity, and not to a portrait of Ted Cruz in his offices or some dishonest stunt like that.

I bet it doesn’t take months for the charities to get their money, either.

What a mensch. How I wish this guy were our president.

[Cross-posted at The Jury Talks Back.]

It is the fourth Sunday after Pentecost. The title of today’s Bach cantata is “Ich habe meine Zuversicht” (I have placed my confidence).

Today’s Gospel reading is Mark 4:26-34.

The Parable of the Growing Seed

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

The text of today’s piece is available here. The Gospel reading says that even when evidence of the Kingdom of God is as small and difficult to see as a mustard seed, we can place our trust and confidence in it. Similarly, the cantata says:

I have placed my confidence
in my faithful God,
there my hope rests firmly.

. . . .

Though He might conceal His love,
yet His heart secretly thinks upon it,
since He can never withdraw it;

Happy listening!

[Cross-posted at The Jury Talks Back.]