Thursday, May 31, 2012

Great Quote Thursday

It's healthy to look forward in life. The problem is, if we keep putting all our happiness, our rest, and our time for each other out there in the future, we'll miss valuable opportunities to live life in the now. Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). That means fullness of life today. Not someday. (John Trent- Chasing Skinny Rabbits; pg. 52).

Sunday, May 27, 2012

NBA Playoffs Conference Finals Predictions

Eastern Conference

(5) Boston Celtics vs. (2) Miami Heat
The Heat are clicking on offense after an early scare from the Indiana Pacers in the last round. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are willing Miami forward with solid play from the supporting cast. Chris Bosh being out hasn't hurt the Heat yet. Boston is banged up (Ray Allen with bone spurs; Paul Pierce has his usual nagging injury; Avery Bradley is out for the remainder of the playoffs) and struggled to get past an improving Philadelphia squad.

If both teams were at full strength, this might be an interesting series. They aren't.  Plus, the Heat appear to be much tougher mentally than they were this time last year.

The pick: Miami

Western Conference

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (1) San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs winning streak continues. It's amazing how well they still play when their big 3 (Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili) are healthy. A solid, multi-faceted bench has been a strength this season. The Spurs are deep and not as old as their reputation. The Thunder outwilled Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. They used their team speed to overcome a size disadvantage inside. The home crowd is raucous in OKC making it difficult to play the Thunder there.

This should be a fun, exciting series between to two superior offensive teams that play solid defense. Likely to go seven games, I'll take the more experienced team and coach.

The pick: San Antonio

Friday, May 18, 2012

Fun on Friday- More Turnerisms and Parkerisms

Raising two sons, 8 and 4, means we have lots of fun discussions in our home. Here are some more:

Turner: One time, when I ate spaghetti, I had a spaghetti burp.
Me: Shew!
Turner: No, it tasted good. For real.

Turner: We're you bored, with just one kid, before I was born?

Me: Good night, Turner. I love you.
Turner: Daddy, I love you. More than MarioKart.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Great Quote Thursday

The hard way is to have the courage to be patient- Dwight Eisenhower

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Connecting Despite Difficult Circumstances

In their book, "How to Build a Lasting Marriage", Elmer and Ruth Towns suggest that when facing difficult decisions, couples should (page 94):

Know you are a part of God's plan on earth
Not try to find the easy way out
Claim God's grace and guidance
Commit the results to God

And to always think "big-picture" (page 97):
Amazing things happen when you look to God
When you look to God, you'll begin to see God's purpose for your life
Remember that God is a problem solver

Monday, May 14, 2012

Connect Series: Difficult Circumstances

In our relationship series, Connect, we are looking at the lives of Bible couples and the issues they dealt with. This week, we look at the marriage of Xerxes and Esther, a couple who learned to connect while working through difficult circumstances.

When you meet someone, you usually want to know something about them. Here's some information on Xerxes and Esther:

How they met? Xerxes had relieved his wife, Queen Vashti, of her royal position after she refused to attend a banquet he had invited here to (Esther 1:10-12). Xerxes then held a beauty contest to find another queen and Esther was chosen (Esther 2:1-4).

What was she like? She was an orphan (Esther 2:7) who was lovely and beautiful (Judges 2:7).

What was he like? He had an anger problem (Esther 1:12) and was vindictive (Esther 1: 19, 20).  He also relied heavily, to his own detriment, on the counsel of those around him (Esther 1: 13-18).

What was their issue? Esther was a Jew and a captive in Xerxes' kingdom. There was a plot against the Jews led by Xerxes' right hand man, Haman.  Esther needed to communicate with Xerxes but that conversation had to occur properly to be effective (Esther 5: 1, 2).

How'd it end? By the providence of God, at risk to her own life, Esther had an opportunity ("for such a time as this", Esther 4:14) to represent her people before King Xerxes (Esther 5: 1-8; 7: 1-10). Xerxes trusted his wife enough to listen to her and as a result, the Jews were spared and King Xerxes' kingdom was strengthened (Esther 8: 1-17).



NBA Playoffs Conference Semi-Finals Predictions

Eastern Conference

(5) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers
Boston is making one final run with the Big Three (Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen) and Rajon Rondo. They will play hard. Philadelphia defeated the injury-riddled Chicago Bulls to advance and are a team on the rise. But they're not a contender, yet.
The pick: Boston

(2) Miami Heat vs. (3) Indiana Pacers
The Heat are all in. Expectations are through the roof, particularly with the Bulls being eliminated in Round One. Indiana, a surprise 3-seed will battle and play as a team. That won't likely be good enough.
The pick: Miami

Western Conference

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (3) Los Angeles Lakers
Oklahoma City is young, exciting and plays fast. Can Kobe will the Lakers to advance? Will Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum play big, literally and figuratively? If they do, this could be a great series. If not, Showtime will lose to the small market Thunder. Watch for tight officiating as James Harden and Ron Artest (aka Metta World Peace) are back on the same court.
The pick: Oklahoma City

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers
The Spurs are rested (having swept the Jazz) and tested (veteran leadership by Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili). The Clippers have a great leader in Chris Paul and Blake Griffin brings excitement every night. But the Clippers don't always play smart defensive basketball. San Antonio usually does.
The pick: San Antonio   

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Great Quote Thursday

Abstract knowledge is of little value, but applied knowledge is wisdom (Gary Chapman, The Four Seasons of Marriage, page 168).

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Book Review: Redemption by Bryan Clay

The reigning Olympic decathlon champion, Bryan Clay, has released an autobiography in the run-up to the 2012 Summer Olympic Games to be held in London, England.

Clay is quite honest in the difficulties he experienced in his early life: his parents' divorce, a physical altercation with his stepfather (whom he now has a solid relationship with), his alcohol abuse, his partying lifestyle.

The book goes to great lengths to recognize the people who have positively impacted Clay. The list of positive influences includes his mother who consistently prayed for him, a childhood teacher, his high school coach, his collegiate coaches at Azusa Pacific (who remain his coaches today).

But Clay's story is one of redemption. Upon meeting his now wife, he was encouraged to make a significant life change. But it was only when Clay gave his life to Christ that he was truly released from the life of rebellion he had been living.

While there is ample material chronicling Clay's decathlon exploits and track meet history (including a chapter about the 2008 Olympic Game experience), it's obvious that Clay wants to use this book to encourage men to be better husbands and fathers.

Clay's openness and honesty make this a good read. I'll be rooting for Clay in this summer's Olympic Games.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Working Together Successfully

In their book, "How to Build a Lasting Marriage", Elmer and Ruth Towns suggest that couples who work together successfully (page 73):

Are willing to give more than they receive
Are willing to give and take suggestions from each other
Respect the talents their partner brings to the job
Practice openness about mistakes and problems
Enjoy working together
Build a marital love that is stronger than financial pressure

And these reminders to promote working together effectively (page 78, 79):
Keep Christ as the spotlight in ministry.
Be involved as a couple.
Complement and support each other's strengths.
Be free to minister for God together.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Connect Series: Working Together

In our relationship series, Connect, we are looking at the lives of Bible couples and the issues they dealt with. This week, we look at the marriage of Aquila and Priscilla, a couple that was always working together.

When you meet someone, you usually want to know something about them. Here's some information on Aquila and Priscilla:

How they met? We don't know; we only see them together as a married couple in Scripture. Therefore, we don't know much about how they were as individuals. What we do know about Aquila and Priscilla, however, is that the Bible presents them as a great example of unity, constantly working together.

Aquila was a native of Pontus (Acts 18:2), modern-day Turkey. His name is Jewish while Priscilla is a Gentile (non-Jewish) name. The couple lived in Rome until AD 52 when Roman Emperor Claudius ordered all Jews to leave Rome. They settled in Corinth, which is where they met the Apostle Paul.

What were they like?
They were tentmakers by trade (Acts 18:3), likely a skill Aquila learned from his father.
They were hospitable (Acts 18:3), opening their home to Paul where he taught them deeply from the Scriptures.
They became missionaries to Ephesus (Acts 18:18,19), leaving Corinth with Paul on mission.
They were mentors (Acts 18:24-26). When Apollos, a Jew from Egypt and a gifted speaker, came to Ephesus, he preached about Jesus but as if the Messiah had not yet come. He taught of Christ but in the same way John the Baptist had, knowing only the baptism of John. By reaching out to Apollos and sharing with him all they knew of Jesus (much of which they learned from Paul), many believers and churches were blessed (Acts 18:27,28).
They were courageous (Romans 16:3,4). By allowing Paul to live with them shortly after his conversion to Christianity, they allowed him to build his positive reputation among the Christ-followers while at the same time providing him with protection and provision.
They started churches (I Corinthians 16:19). They used their home as a church meeting location.
  
How'd they finish?
The last time we see this couple in Scripture (II Timothy 4:19), they are continuing to serve God faithfully. Paul references them from prison, approximately 16 years after he first met them in Corinth. 

Friday, May 4, 2012

Fun on Friday- More Parkerisms and Turnerisms

Raising two sons, 8 and 4, means we have lots of fun discussions in our house. Here are some more:

While watching a baseball game:
Me: Turner, which team are you for?
Turner: The team that's winning, of course.

While watching commercials during a basketball game:
Parker: You know how the Michelin Man takes tires out of himself? I wonder why he never shrinks.

On a Sunday afternoon:
Turner: Can we take a fun nap?
Me: What's that?
Turner: When you don't really take a nap.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Great Quote Thursday

If you don't solve a moral problem in your life, it will eventually return again and again until you master it or it masters you- Elmer Towns (How to Build a Lasting Marriage- pg. 113).

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Learning from Bad Choices

From "How to Build a Lasting Marriage" by Elmer and Ruth Towns, here are some thoughts on why people make bad choices (page 104):

1. Habit- it's simply their lifestyle
2. Weakness- they aren't strong enough to say no
3. Ignorance- they don't understand there are alternatives
4. Naivety- they were never taught to make good choices
5. Example- they follow people they mistake as heroes
6. Pleasure- they are ruled by the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (I John 2:16)
7. Comfort- good choices are sometimes hard to make; bad choices are almost always easy

And these reminders to help make good choices (page 118):
Life is filled with choices.
There's usually weakness in strength. Remember the Lord gives strength (Phil. 4:13).
The enemy knows your weakness.
God is the God of second chances.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Connect Series: Learning from Bad Choices

In our relationship series, Connect, we are looking at the lives of Bible couples and the issues they dealt with. This week, we look at the relationship of Samson and Delilah. Their issue: bad choices.

Whenever you meet someone, you usually want to know something about them. Here's some background on Samson and Delilah:

How they met? Samsom had a continuing weakness for women of low character and Philistine (enemies of Israel) allegiance (Judges 16:4).

What was she like? We see that Delilah was a schemer (Judges 16:5); a deceiver (Judges 16:7, 11, 13); and a manipulator (Judges 16:6, 10, 13, 15-16).

What was he like? Samson was shallow (Judges 14:1, 2A); immature (Judges 14:2B, 13) and naive (Judges 16:16-20).

What was their issue? Their relationship was based on selfish desires that ultimately led them down a path of destruction. Samson wanted sex, Delilah wanted money and power. Combined with a lack of honesty, their relationship was toxic.

How'd it end? After he'd truly hit bottom, Samson called out to the Lord. God extended His mercy to Samson and allowed him a measure of redemption against the enemy (Judges 16:21-30).