Eastern Conference
(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers
Injuries to Derrick Rose may hurt the Bulls at some point, but not against the Sixers. Philadelphia has struggled down the stretch while the Bulls have been strong all season, including solid play from its bench.
The pick: Chicago
(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) New York Knicks
The Knicks may surprise in a game or two if Carmelo Anthony erupts on offense and if New York's outside shots are falling. Anything short of an NBA title will be a disappointment in South Beach.
The pick: Miami
(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Orlando Magic
The Pacers have surprised this season after a strong playoffs last year. Dwight Howard is out with a back injury and the Magic season can't end soon enough.
The pick: Indiana
(4) Atlanta Hawks vs. (5) Boston Celtics
The Celtics have been super since the All-Star break. Not breaking up this team has paid off so far. Al Horford won't be back for at least the first round of the playoffs. The areas where the Celtics are strong are the areas where the Hawks are weak.
The pick: Boston
Western Conference
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Utah Jazz
The Jazz fought impressively just to make the playoffs. If they can keep this team together for a couple of seasons, Utah could be a force to be reckoned with. The Spurs already are.
The pick: San Antonio
(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks
Dallas caught fire in last year's playoffs en route to a championship. This is not that team as the Mavericks are hoping to make the best of it this time around, hoping to sign Deron Williams in the offseason and then make a play for Dwight Howard later. The Thunder are an exciting, young team that is just beginning to reach its potential.
The pick: Oklahoma City
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Denver Nuggets
Kobe Bryant hates to lose and combined with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum they form a solid unit with lots of experience. The Nuggets have surprised this season.
The pick: Los Angeles Lakers
(4) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers
The Grizzlies play great team ball with lots of size. The Clippers have the star power. This could be the tightest first-round series with Memphis holding home-court advantage.
The pick: Memphis
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Great Quote Thursday
Big goals can seem impossible and get in the way of accomplishing little goals- Bryan Clay (2008 Olympic Gold Medalist, Decathlon)
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Finding Contentment in Marriage
From "How to Build a Lasting Marriage" by Elmer and Ruth Towns, here are some thoughts on finding contentment in marriage (page 41):
Discontentment turns love into disillusionment.
Discontentment turns love into resentment.
Discontentment turns love into hatred and rejection.
And this (page 46, 47):
Is discontentment poisoning your marriage?
Is your discontentment keeping you from enjoying life?
Does your discontentment keep you from relating to people?
Discontentment leads to loneliness.
Your first and greatest contentment is found in God.
Discontentment turns love into disillusionment.
Discontentment turns love into resentment.
Discontentment turns love into hatred and rejection.
And this (page 46, 47):
Is discontentment poisoning your marriage?
Is your discontentment keeping you from enjoying life?
Does your discontentment keep you from relating to people?
Discontentment leads to loneliness.
Your first and greatest contentment is found in God.
Connect Series: Contentment
In our relationship series, Connect, we are looking at the lives of Bible couples and the issues they dealt with in their marriages. This week, we looked at the marriage of Jacob and Rachel. Their issue: contentment.
Whenever you meet someone, you usually want to know something about them. Here's some background on Jacob and Rachel:
How they met? Jacob had been on the run from his brother Esau. His mother, Rebekah, had encouraged him to go visit her brother Laban. Upon finding Laban's shepherds with their sheep, he is introduced to Rachel (Genesis 29: 1-6).
What was she like? We learn that Rachel worked as a shepherdess (Gen. 29: 9); was beautiful (Gen. 29:17); but was also jealous (Gen. 30:1A) and immature (Gen. 30:1B).
What we he like? Jacob was a bit of a show-off (Gen. 29:10); was passionate (Gen. 29:11) and was impetuous (Gen. 29:18).
What was their issue? They struggled with infertility and impatience with God and each other (Gen. 30:1-5).
But the ultimate problem in the marriage of Jacob and Rachel was one of never finding contentment. Though they eventually had a son of their own, Rachel was not satisfied and wanted another child (Gen. 30:22-24). When they fled from Laban, rather than trusting God to provide, Rachel took some of her father's possessions (Gen. 31:17-21). And in the end, they were unable to find long-lasting happiness. Rachel died in childbirth while giving birth to their second son, Benjamin, and Jacob buried her along the way to Bethlehem while he journeyed farther along (Gen. 35: 16-21). At his passing, Jacob was buried not with Rachel whom he dearly loved, but rather with Leah, his first wife and the sister of Rachel (Gen. 49:29-31).
Personal selfishness and misguided desires kept Jacob and Rachel from experiencing a joyful, happy marriage.
Tomorrow, I'll post some for couples to improve the level of contentment in their marriage.
Whenever you meet someone, you usually want to know something about them. Here's some background on Jacob and Rachel:
How they met? Jacob had been on the run from his brother Esau. His mother, Rebekah, had encouraged him to go visit her brother Laban. Upon finding Laban's shepherds with their sheep, he is introduced to Rachel (Genesis 29: 1-6).
What was she like? We learn that Rachel worked as a shepherdess (Gen. 29: 9); was beautiful (Gen. 29:17); but was also jealous (Gen. 30:1A) and immature (Gen. 30:1B).
What we he like? Jacob was a bit of a show-off (Gen. 29:10); was passionate (Gen. 29:11) and was impetuous (Gen. 29:18).
What was their issue? They struggled with infertility and impatience with God and each other (Gen. 30:1-5).
But the ultimate problem in the marriage of Jacob and Rachel was one of never finding contentment. Though they eventually had a son of their own, Rachel was not satisfied and wanted another child (Gen. 30:22-24). When they fled from Laban, rather than trusting God to provide, Rachel took some of her father's possessions (Gen. 31:17-21). And in the end, they were unable to find long-lasting happiness. Rachel died in childbirth while giving birth to their second son, Benjamin, and Jacob buried her along the way to Bethlehem while he journeyed farther along (Gen. 35: 16-21). At his passing, Jacob was buried not with Rachel whom he dearly loved, but rather with Leah, his first wife and the sister of Rachel (Gen. 49:29-31).
Personal selfishness and misguided desires kept Jacob and Rachel from experiencing a joyful, happy marriage.
Tomorrow, I'll post some for couples to improve the level of contentment in their marriage.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
2012 Orange and White Game
I attended the University of Tennessee spring football game today with Parker. Here is some of what stood out about today's game:
Free parking and game admission was great but the fan day experience was inefficient and not fan friendly.
The Vols running game is still a work in progress. Marlin Lane looked strong, but against a 2nd team defense.
The UT kicking game is an adventure.
A little bit of 3-4, a little bit of 4-3 defense. Brian Randolph looks like a standout defensive back.
Any game I attend with Parker is a great time.
Free parking and game admission was great but the fan day experience was inefficient and not fan friendly.
The Vols running game is still a work in progress. Marlin Lane looked strong, but against a 2nd team defense.
The UT kicking game is an adventure.
A little bit of 3-4, a little bit of 4-3 defense. Brian Randolph looks like a standout defensive back.
Any game I attend with Parker is a great time.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Out Into the Big World
Today as I returned to my office from lunch I witnessed my 4 year old son's Pre-K class outside in the front yard of the church as they were releasing the class' recently hatched butterflies out into the big world. And the irony of the moment struck me.
My son is only days away from his Pre-K graduation. Kindergarten begins in mere months. And he will then be out in the big world. Big school. Big kids. Big changes ahead.
But isn't that the way it should be? Buffered in a cocoon for awhile. Some time spent in the safety netting to develop. And then, freedom. Released out into the big world. Because it's time. Because there are lots of great things to experience outside the cocoon, outside the net.
And just like the butterflies today who excitedly fluttered off in the beautiful blue sky, exciting change is coming for my son. Out into the big world.
My son is only days away from his Pre-K graduation. Kindergarten begins in mere months. And he will then be out in the big world. Big school. Big kids. Big changes ahead.
But isn't that the way it should be? Buffered in a cocoon for awhile. Some time spent in the safety netting to develop. And then, freedom. Released out into the big world. Because it's time. Because there are lots of great things to experience outside the cocoon, outside the net.
And just like the butterflies today who excitedly fluttered off in the beautiful blue sky, exciting change is coming for my son. Out into the big world.
Great Quote Thursday
Great leaders don't build platforms to escape from people; they build platforms to serve people- Jon Acuff
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