COLTS top SAINTS in stellar Superbowl match-up!

Okay, so I’m making my pick.  I know that the Saints are a great team and they have been stellar all year long.  I know they went undefeated for a long period of time as well.  I get it that the city of New Orleans is grabbing hope from this great story written in the stars.  I’m aware of the fact that Drew Breese hasn’t won the big game.  Any yet…

I know that the Colts went nearly the whole season undefeated, and many of those games were hardcore blow-outs.  I get it that Manning has already one the big game.  I’m aware that the supporting cast was not the same superstars of years past; with a rookie receiving core and all.  I’m sure I’ve heard about 50 reports on the status of Dwight Freeney’s class 3 high ankle sprain.

However, I happen to think… {drum-roll please} … that the COLTS will win 31-27 over the SAINTS.  Even more so, I think that the game will be close, nervous, and defense the first quarter and a half.  About midway through the 2nd, the offenses will start to come alive and make it entertaining going into halftime.  After a weird show by Who (yes The Who), the whole second half (I predict) will be a tug-o-war between the offensive prowess of Breese and Manning.

The game ender (predictive game ender of course) will be a late great drive by the SAINTS halted by a tragic turnover.  The result will be that the not so high ranked COLTS D-Fense of past years will redeem themselves in this victory.  And in the spirit of great athletes, I don’t think the turnover will be Breese’s fault.  Instead, I see a receiver or running back coughing it up.

So, that’s my prediction… of course it could also be a blow out (ha ha).  Either way I will be at Catalyst!

** DVR-ing the commercials for sure!

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²⁰I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  ~ Gal. 2:20

⁹But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? ~ Gal. 4:9

¹⁸For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise. ~ Gal. 3:18

¹¹I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up.            ~ Gal. 1:11

Pretty amazing how these ancient Words of Life can still inspire today…

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Lost Cast in Lego... now that's funny!

So the final season of LOST premiered Tuesday night.  And for the record, I’m completely confused (some would say LOST… ha ha.  I know you haven’t heard that before).  I watched the 2-hour episode and found myself almost thinking I’ve figured it out, but then “guess who” comes back to life!  He’s my least favorite character on the show by the way.

But I do have a theory or two… and here they are.  Let me know what you think, where I’m wrong, and other mysteries as well.

1. Jacob and the Dark Shirt guy of season 5’s ending are feuding Egyptian gods.  They were banished to a floating island where they must live out eternity hating each other.
2. Richard Alpert is a servant or lesser god-like being who does the bidding of Jacob to prevent the evil of Dark Shirt dude (of which we don’t yet have a name… or we could call him John Smoke [ha ha]).
3. These ‘gods’ are using people as pawns to try and loophole their banishment and kill each other or better yet return home (off the floating island).
4. Everyone you’ve seen as dead, was dead and were inhabited by these gods to pawn out their purposes.  Manipulating the people towards loopholes in other words…
5. However, because this is TV, something restorative will happen at the end and most will be restored to life (especially the central cast).
6. This is my wild adjustment to the theory.  Desmond is going to be a surprise character which actually has a bend towards evil working with John Smoke.
7. As for time travel… no idea.  That’s not my favorite aspect of the story.  Ask Doc and Marty.

Either way, wrong or right or close, I’m excited to see how this story ends.  It’s been some of the most entertaining television I’ve seen (evil Coca-Cola Polar Bears and all).

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If you get a chance, click the pic above and give a listen to a recent sermon series I taught at Big Valley.  The whole series revolved around three priorities Christ gave us out of John 15:1-17.  For me, it was an encouraging moment to reflect on simple, yet powerful, truths that shape our relationship with God and others.

Give a listen, send me some feedback, ask a question, enjoy…

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1. A major component of spiritual direction is addressing our image of God.
2. All the saints of the early church regarded themselves as great sinners, but not necessarily great God listeners.
3. Discipline is the art of remembering what our souls truly want
4. Snow is an amazing metaphor of Jesus.  (a) The unique snowflakes fall from above, they cover the ground with white, and then they eventually melt and flow away.  (b) Jesus descended to earth via the incarnation [a unique God design], He covered us with His sacrifice and love making us white as snow, and even at His departure we are nurtured by the Holy Spirit; sent to water us daily with streams of grace.  Isaiah 1:17-19 themed.
5. “It’s not good to learn faster than you can live.” – Chinese Evangelist
6. “It is not uncommon to give the worst of our time to God, and the best to His work.” – Reginald Somerset Ward
7. “Structures that act like LORD, demanding more or other than the LORD, need to submit and surrender to the LORD.” – Paul Jensen
8. The rod and the staff of Psalm 23 are a form of “disguised grace”
9. The key word in Psalm 23:4 is “through“.  He leads me through trials in His time.  And time isn’t quite the demand on God as it is to us.
10. Psalm 23:6 – “Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” … but will I follow Goodness and Mercy all of my days?
11. When I remember the friendship I have with the Savior, performance quickly gives way to relationship.
12. “I’m not asking you to carry the weight and pain of my story, but I am saying ‘Don’t carry your weight alone.’” Community in the body of Christ is extremely important element of our faith.
13. God brought the animals to Adam to see what he would name them.  What a special relational privilege granted by God to the man; he who was to work and care for the Garden.
14. Blood was shed to cover Adam and Eve… to reconnect them God in a way (Genesis 3).  Jesus Christ was killed to cover us and re-create holy community with us (Ephesians 2).
15. “Pain slows time, Healing takes time.” – Paul Jensen
16. “Jesus invited people (to follow Him) that needed rest for their souls.  Can you relate to that?” - Chuck Miller
17. “We often help people ‘know things’ but not always ‘do’ them” … Chuck speaking of spiritual shepherding
18. If you read all of these, I think I owe you coffee.
19. “My heart is set on a pilgrimage …” from within the context of Psalm 84.

This has been a very refreshing trip!

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Tomorrow, this will be the view out my bedroom window.  This is a picture of the mountains of Pine Springs Ranch just outside Idyllwild, California.  It’s a beautiful place this time of year.  The snow lay on the peaks, the air is crisp, and it’s definitely sweatshirt weather.  I’m heading down for The Journey.

The Journey is a spiritual formation retreat that involves 6 retreats spanning over a 2-year period.  This will be my second cycle through it (therefore the “Take 2″ above.  Actually “cycle” is a bit of a pun too).  It has been such a place of health, growth, and personal spiritual development that I signed up to journey again.  I’m excited to see how God uses this time.

I will post truths gleaned while listening to the Lord some time later this week.  For earlier posts and learnings, click here.

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The Saints represent that epic story of hope in a city torn by tragedy.  Then there’s Sean Payton’s coach prowess.  Add in the fact that Drew Brees has been stellar all year plus that he hasn’t yet won the big game and you have yourself nearly convinced the Saints are the choice.  But…

But what about Peyton Manning?  This guy is a genius at reading defenses, making rookie receivers look good, and remaining poised no matter what the situation.  And that’s not even considering the marked improvement of the Colts defense.

How do you root against Manning?  How do you root for the NFC South?  I think the jury is still out.  And as much as I like city of New Orleans… it’s going to be hard to beat the Colts.

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During my last post I shared my new found love for the sport of stage-race cycling.  But, even so, nothing will replace my first love of football!  It’s the greatest game of strategy, hard hits, passion, lead changes, trick plays, injury, drama, and nail-biting overtimes around!

The sad part is that college ball is over, but at least the NFL has provided some great games lately.  I can’t tell you how great it was to see the Cowboys get their pants beat off this past week by my rising favorites, the Vikings.  Favre has been amazing to watch and statistically stellar.  This week will provide quite a great PLAYOFF match-up.

Here is a look at the clash of the NFL greats.  Colts & Jets, Vikings & Saints!  With that said, I’m going to give my Super Bowl picks.  I predict a VIKINGS & COLTS bowl!  (Which means half of the pro-bowl starters are out!)

Now people are saying this is the perfect Super Bowl scenario… and I agree.  So because of that, that’s the way I’m rooting.  I would love to see the Saints in it too… but ugh, can’t happen.  Well, actually it will happen this Sunday in the NFC.  Odds are that this game will be even better than the Super Bowl itself when the Vikings win it all.

We’ll see.  But my predictions are out there… now let’s see how good a prophet I am!

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I was surprised the other day to hear these statements from Christian broadcasting personality Pat Robertson.  Well, actually I wasn’t.  This is a sure trend from him.  Don’t believe me?  Well, then watch here, here, here, and here! (and take a tums first).

John Stewart’s reaction is the reaction of many in the media.  Now, I don’t agree with everything said.  But as a believer, there has to be a better way to address disaster with hope, the gospel, and good news!  Here is one way!

And besides, Colossians 4:4-6 instructs us to “be wise” in how we deal with outsiders.  Conversations like this just don’t seem all that wise to me.  There are Christians in Haiti gutting it out.  Shouldn’t we speak a word of love and hope to them too?  Christ was full of TRUTH and GRACE.  Maybe we need a better balance…

I, for one, want to be an example of that balance.

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This year it will be interesting to see the premiere of Team RadioShack.  I am really looking forward to the showdown between the infamous Spaniard, Alberto Contador, and his former team member and rival, Lance Armstrong.  Lance’s number one wing man Levi Leipheimer (of Santa Rosa) ought to be fun to watch this year as well.

If you would have told me some three years ago that I would be excited about watching cycling on TV, I would have laughed.  And now, I find my self anticipating the coming tours; especially the time trials.  Things change I guess.

Follow yourself on VERSUS (VERSUS.com).

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