The National Football League begins the first round of its 2011 playoffs today. Four games are scheduled this weekend. Here are my predictions for the weekend:
Saturday at 4:30: Saints over Seahawks
Saturday at 8:00: Colts over Jets
Sunday at 1:00: Ravens over Chiefs
Sunday at 4:30: Eagles over Packers
Let's see how this goes.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
Fun on Friday
Here's what bothers me about the voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY: How is it that Bert Blyleven gets "better" in his 14th year on the ballot and was finally elected to the Hall on Wednesday? Along the same line, according to the votes he received, Barry Larkin got 15% "better" this year. Seems to me, if a guy's stats are good enough to earn induction, it shouldn't take a number of years to earn your way in.
My son and I had the opportunity to meet UT Basketball player Skylar McBee following a recent game at Thompson-Boling Arena. He posed for a photo with my son (I may post some photos later) while wearing his Carhartt toboggan. Gotta like a guy like that.
My son and I had the opportunity to meet UT Basketball player Skylar McBee following a recent game at Thompson-Boling Arena. He posed for a photo with my son (I may post some photos later) while wearing his Carhartt toboggan. Gotta like a guy like that.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Great Quote Thursday
The secret is to work less as individuals and more as a team. As a coach, I play not my eleven best, but my best eleven- Knute Rockne
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Finish Well
Last month, on Sunday evening, December 19, I was ordained as a minister following an ordaining council and ordination service at our church. Along with my family being there, one of the highlights of the evening was to go through the process with three friends (T.J. Earl, Michael Newman and Neal Thornton) with whom I've served on our church staff.
That evening, our Pastor Hollie Miller, shared a sermon (http://vimeo.com/18068955) of challenge and encouragement from II Timothy 4 that he titled "Finish Well". The sermon focused around 5 main points:
1. Always be ready to communicate the Word of God
2. Remember Whom I'm serving
3. Don't ever stop reading
4. Don't be discouraged by people
5. Just keep trusting God
It was an evening my family and I will always remember.
That evening, our Pastor Hollie Miller, shared a sermon (http://vimeo.com/18068955) of challenge and encouragement from II Timothy 4 that he titled "Finish Well". The sermon focused around 5 main points:
1. Always be ready to communicate the Word of God
2. Remember Whom I'm serving
3. Don't ever stop reading
4. Don't be discouraged by people
5. Just keep trusting God
It was an evening my family and I will always remember.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Life, Love and Family
One of the highlights for me of working in a ministry to young married couples is when I get to go to the hospital to celebrate with a couple upon the birth of their child. Today was one of those days.
A couple that Tonya and I have grown to know and love over the past several years has been in the process of adopting a little boy. That little boy was born very early this morning. When I arrived at the hospital mid-morning, I entered a room filled with joy and hope and anticipation. And I was reminded how beautiful the gift of life is.
Here's The Point: As I watched the first-time grandfather (Pops), also a family friend, hold his new grandson, I couldn't help but think that love is really a matter of the heart and of the head and not necessarily based on your bloodline. Standing there beaming, "Pops" couldn't have been happier.
Life, love and family make a beautiful combination.
A couple that Tonya and I have grown to know and love over the past several years has been in the process of adopting a little boy. That little boy was born very early this morning. When I arrived at the hospital mid-morning, I entered a room filled with joy and hope and anticipation. And I was reminded how beautiful the gift of life is.
Here's The Point: As I watched the first-time grandfather (Pops), also a family friend, hold his new grandson, I couldn't help but think that love is really a matter of the heart and of the head and not necessarily based on your bloodline. Standing there beaming, "Pops" couldn't have been happier.
Life, love and family make a beautiful combination.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Changes Ahead
Been in a Barnes and Noble or a Books-A-Million lately? While Christmas shopping in recent days, I've found myself in a couple of these stores. What immediately struck me upon entering the stores is that they are selling themselves out of business!
How? At the front entrance of both book chains, the Nook, an e-reader is featured prominently. Well trained and professional staff are hawking the e-readers (another version of the Kindle) to anyone who enters the store. Based on the people traffic, they were selling the Nook quite successfully. But as I watched Nook after Nook head toward the checkout, I could not help but think that this is the beginning of the end for traditional bookstores. In the long term, no one will need these stores to purchase an e-book. In the future, as more information goes digital, a bound volume containing paper pages may become more of a novelty than the norm. I recently spoke with a research librarian from the University of Tennessee and she said the majority of the books currently being added to the school's vast collection are now e-books. That is a major change.
Speaking of change, a Yellowbook phone book (the non-real, "Real Yellow Pages") arrived on our front porch a week or so ago. I can't remember the last time I used a traditional phone book. We just look numbers up online. Many people now use their phone as their phone book.
Here's The Point: Change is constant. It is to be expected. But for followers of Christ, we must remain grounded. Colossians 2:7 reminds us to be "rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith". As culture changes and we interact with that change, we must maintain our foundation, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We may adjust methods of engagement and certainly must keep up with technological advances but the redemptive sacrifice of Christ must remain central.
Though Barnes and Noble or Books-A-Million may make a quick dollar now by selling e-readers, it will ultimately impact the future of their business. Similarly, if we as Christ-followers, in an effort to adapt to change, sell out to try to keep up with the culture, it will have a negative impact on the cause of Christ.
How? At the front entrance of both book chains, the Nook, an e-reader is featured prominently. Well trained and professional staff are hawking the e-readers (another version of the Kindle) to anyone who enters the store. Based on the people traffic, they were selling the Nook quite successfully. But as I watched Nook after Nook head toward the checkout, I could not help but think that this is the beginning of the end for traditional bookstores. In the long term, no one will need these stores to purchase an e-book. In the future, as more information goes digital, a bound volume containing paper pages may become more of a novelty than the norm. I recently spoke with a research librarian from the University of Tennessee and she said the majority of the books currently being added to the school's vast collection are now e-books. That is a major change.
Speaking of change, a Yellowbook phone book (the non-real, "Real Yellow Pages") arrived on our front porch a week or so ago. I can't remember the last time I used a traditional phone book. We just look numbers up online. Many people now use their phone as their phone book.
Here's The Point: Change is constant. It is to be expected. But for followers of Christ, we must remain grounded. Colossians 2:7 reminds us to be "rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith". As culture changes and we interact with that change, we must maintain our foundation, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We may adjust methods of engagement and certainly must keep up with technological advances but the redemptive sacrifice of Christ must remain central.
Though Barnes and Noble or Books-A-Million may make a quick dollar now by selling e-readers, it will ultimately impact the future of their business. Similarly, if we as Christ-followers, in an effort to adapt to change, sell out to try to keep up with the culture, it will have a negative impact on the cause of Christ.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Welcome 2011!
Happy New Year! Happy 2011!
I've taken the last few weeks off from blogging. Initially, it was out of necessity due to time constraints at work (adjusting to a new position on our church staff; end-of-year staff reviews; budget closeout for 2010; etc.) as well as Christmas events (a five-day visit to Knoxville by my brother and his family was a highlight) and well as other planned holiday activities.
But for the past week or so, my "sabbatical" from blogging has been fairly purposeful. Over the past 7-10 days, I've spent very little time online. I've worked my phone only as necessary. Done limited texting. Barely any Facebook. Tweeted only once and that was from a UT Basketball game I was attending with my son.
Why? Because I knew I needed to make the most of my days off work at the end of the year and devote it to family. To take time to shop with my wife; for time to play board games with our sons; for time to play with trains with our youngest son and more time to read with our oldest. It's been time well spent. If you haven't taken a break and focused on your family (or your marriage) lately, might I suggest it's been a great week and a half.
But with the new year, much of my regular schedule begins to crank back up. And with it, I'll begin blogging again. I'll have some thoughts to share about change; some notes from some great talks I've heard; some book reviews to post; and the Great Quotes and Fun on Friday will return.
I'm looking forward to 2011 and I hope you are as well. God bless.
I've taken the last few weeks off from blogging. Initially, it was out of necessity due to time constraints at work (adjusting to a new position on our church staff; end-of-year staff reviews; budget closeout for 2010; etc.) as well as Christmas events (a five-day visit to Knoxville by my brother and his family was a highlight) and well as other planned holiday activities.
But for the past week or so, my "sabbatical" from blogging has been fairly purposeful. Over the past 7-10 days, I've spent very little time online. I've worked my phone only as necessary. Done limited texting. Barely any Facebook. Tweeted only once and that was from a UT Basketball game I was attending with my son.
Why? Because I knew I needed to make the most of my days off work at the end of the year and devote it to family. To take time to shop with my wife; for time to play board games with our sons; for time to play with trains with our youngest son and more time to read with our oldest. It's been time well spent. If you haven't taken a break and focused on your family (or your marriage) lately, might I suggest it's been a great week and a half.
But with the new year, much of my regular schedule begins to crank back up. And with it, I'll begin blogging again. I'll have some thoughts to share about change; some notes from some great talks I've heard; some book reviews to post; and the Great Quotes and Fun on Friday will return.
I'm looking forward to 2011 and I hope you are as well. God bless.
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