Fun on Friday

I know alot of people think the NBA Playoffs go on seemingly forever (and they do) but I enjoy the nightly playoff games on TNT and ESPN right now. My 7 year old told me today that "we'll start watching baseball games after basketball is over". I love that kid.

Not much in sports is more exciting than the sudden death nature of NHL game sevens.

If Tobias Harris chooses to stay at UT, my family will be pumped. But if he chooses to enter the NBA Draft, the team that drafts him automatically becomes one of our favorites.

Great Quote Thursday

Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline- Jim Collins

Easter 2011

Eternally grateful that Christ arose. And that He lives.

Fun on Friday

Something I learned today: sometimes when there is a 10% chance of rain, it actually does rain.

Today, my three year old called me a "No person". I think I'll take that as a compliment.

Great Quote Thursday

Although not always easy, the right thing to do is always the right thing to do.

Fun on Friday- First Round of the NBA Playoffs

The NBA Playoffs tip-off tomorrow. Here are my picks for the winners of the first round matchups:

Eastern Conference-
Chicago over Indiana ; Miami over Philadelphia; Boston over New York; Orlando over Atlanta

Western Conference-
San Antonio over Memphis; Los Angeles over New Orleans; Dallas over Portland; Oklahoma City over Denver

I’m going with the higher seed in each pairing but I’m guessing the closest series will be Orlando/Atlanta; San Antonio/Memphis; and Dallas/Portland.

Great Quote Thursday

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work- Thomas Edison

Don’t Be Stupid- The Children of Israel and the Golden Calf

I recently taught a series called, "Stupid People in the Old Testament". The concept is that it's very easy to look back at the past and see where people made "stupid" mistakes but so easy to overlook the fact that we often still make the same poor decisions today.

In Exodus 24, Moses goes up on a mountain to receive instruction from God. He is there for 40 days. During this time, although God has blessed them in many ways- release from Egypt, parting of the Red Sea, daily manna- the children of Israel grow restless. So much so that they turn to polytheism (the worship of many gods) and ask the priest Aaron, the brother of Moses, to build another god for them, a god that they can see. Aaron takes their earrings and crafts a golden calf (Exodus 32: 3,4).

When Moses comes down from the mountain, he is so disappointed and angry that he melts the golden calf, grinds it into powder, then scatters the powder into the water and makes the people drink it  (Exodus 32: 19, 20).

The people’s impatience led them to take their focus off of their loving, wonderful God and to seek another option for guidance, leadership and direction.

Don’t be stupid: You may have grown tired of waiting for an answer from God- for a parent’s salvation; for answers to your sister’s substance abuse issues; for having a child; for getting a new job- but don’t give up and turn away from God. Keep praying. Keep waiting.

My Pastor, Hollie Miller, recently said, “Just because you don’t see the hand of God working doesn’t mean God is not working”.  

Don’t be stupid.

Don’t Be Stupid- The Angry Brothers

I recently taught a series called, "Stupid People in the Old Testament". The concept is that it's very easy to look back at the past and see where people made "stupid" mistakes but so easy to overlook the fact that we often still make the same poor decisions today.

In Genesis 37, we are introduced to a young dreamer named Joseph. As his father’s favorite son (v. 3), Joseph receives special attention and gifts from his dad. This special treatment was obviously not well-received by his older brothers (v. 4). When Joseph naively shares the dreams he is having with his brothers and his father, the brothers’ jealousy reaches a boiling point and they scheme to rid themselves of their favored sibling (v. 18). Instead of killing him, the brothers sell him into slavery.

Due to God’s amazing blessings, Joseph goes from slavery to prison to second in command of all Egypt. And some 40 years later, the same brothers who wanted him dead come to Egypt begging for food in the midst of a worldwide famine. The angry brothers don’t recognize Joseph but he recognizes them. Finally, after four decades, the brothers are reconciled but they as well as their father lost years and years of peace.

Don’t be stupid: If you have something unsettled with someone you’ve offended, don’t waste time. You’re not going to have peace until you seek forgiveness and make peace.

Fun on Friday

Here's something I wonder about. How can bagged bananas cost less per pound than non-bagged bananas? I mean, shouldn't the bagging process alone make the bagged bananas more expensive? Maybe since they're often greener, the bagged bananas aren't grown as long, making them cheaper?

My family likes to shop at Old Navy. The clothes are affordable; they offer some cool items (like NBA, MLB and NFL shirts); and often have great sales. But my favorite thing about Old Navy may be the 25 cent superball machine. It's an inexpensive takeaway that the boys always enjoy. And it buys us some shopping time.

Great Quote Thursday

Doing the basics well every single time leads to success- Deborah Taylor

Pick for Tonight's NCAA Championship Game

Butler is back in the big game for a second consecutive year. UConn is on an amazing post-season run. The Kemba Walker vs. Shelvin Mack matchup should be a great one- they may both go for 25 tonight. Matt Howard is Butler's leader inside but he seems to always be in foul trouble in big games. I'm hoping for a great, close game but in the end I think UConn's depth and length inside will be more than Howard and Butler can contain.

Thank You For Being Here

I was out of town for a couple of days last week at a conference. When I'm away, I always try to bring something back for Tonya and the boys. Nothing major, just a simple "I wasn't here, but I was thinking of you" small gift.

Last week, during a break in conference sessions, I went out in search of my take-back-home gifts. As I exited a store I was in and pushed the exit door handle, I noticed a sign that most all stores have, the "Thank you for shopping with us. Please come again" sign. But this time that sign struck me differently than before. As I read that "thank you", I realized that I needed to take a moment this week in the young marrieds Bible Fellowship class that Tonya and I lead and thank the couples for being there.

So this morning, before I began teaching, I shared the story of the store exit sign. And then I thanked the couples for being in class. Think about it, on a beautiful Sunday morning, they could have gone hiking, gone to another church, spent the morning in bed, gone for a run in the park, gone to another class at our church, worked around their house and yard. You get the idea. There were lots of options. Some better than others and yet they chose to spend their morning in Bible study and fellowship with us.

And that's why I wanted to tell them, "thank you for being here".

Picks for Today's Final 4 Matchups

This weekend's games involve four teams that probably did not expect to be here. Kentucky couldn't win a game on the road for much the SEC regular season. UConn had to win 5 games in the Big East tournament, which means they were a low seed in their own conference tournament, to hit their stride. Butler reached the championship game last year, in what many people deemed to be a fluke, but lost their best player to the Utah Jazz in the first round of last year's NBA draft. VCU played in a play-in game just to be a part of March Madness.

VCU vs. Butler- It's amazing to think that VCU is still playing. Butler was in this spotlight last year. That experience alone should be enough to give them an advantage. Can the VCU run continue? Why not, I wouldn't be surprised, but I don't think so. Butler to the championship game.

Kentucky vs. Connecticut- This game, unlike the early game, involves two traditional college basketball powers. It hurts me to admit but UK seems to be on a winning roll. Can Kemba Walker carry the Huskies once again? I hope so (anybody but Kentucky!) but the Wildcats team speed should offset the Huskies bigs. I hope I'm wrong but.....Kentucky to the final.

Fun on Friday

For the sports fan, this is a fun stretch. Major League Baseball's opening day was yesterday. The NCAA Final Four weekend determines the college basketball champion on Monday night. The NBA and NHL playoffs begin soon. NFL draft news is picking up. Lots to enjoy.

Congratulations to our friends the Tyners who brought their two new sons home from Ethiopia today. It was a treat for our family to meet them upon arrival. Now that's fun on Friday.