Quiet Time

Sometimes I have to be careful of this...

NFL...Everyone's Going To The Superbowl

I meant to do this early, but with only a few games started today I'll go ahead and give my picks for the week. I'm usually pretty bad and this and after a devasating gambling loss ($10) in 1990 I refuse to put money on anything.

My Picks:

Denver over Buffalo

Pittsburgh over Cleveland

Philadelphia over Green Bay

Kansas City over Houston

Jacksonville over Tennessee

Minnesota over Atlanta

New England over New York Jets

St. Louis over Carolina

Miami over Washington

Detroit over Oakland

San Diego over Chicago

Seattle over Tampa Bay

Dallas over New York Giants

Cincinnati over Baltimore

San Fransico over Arizona

White Out

I was at a stop light (facing north) on the way home from work today when I notice something rather odd.

There was about 15 cars lined up on my right (heading west). Of those 15 cars 12, I counted, were white. Vans, cars and trucks were all white. It was weird seeing so much white. Then I looked to my left and there was 3 or 4, I didn't count, more white vehicles. Then there was a couple behind me. There was about 80% white surrounding me.

Never have I felt so guilty for driving in red.

The Value of Community?

Lately I've been having a difficult time with community. I'm trying to organize some thoughts and hope to post on them soon, but here's some preview thoughts:
I am "a big fan" of community, or rather I understand and value, goal and purpose of community. However I'm concerned that we've boxed community up into a too comfortable package. Has community been worked into a theory or organized into a formula? Have we allowed community to become nothing more than an item on our religious, purpose-driven checklist? (Sorry about the purpose-driven jab, I've been reading Mark Buchanan and agree with him on the dangers of being 'anything'-driven...yet another post)
And what I'm most concerned about is that Jesus never spoke about "community". In fact the word "community" is only used once in the NT (at least the NIV) and in reference to the entire Jewish people. So why have we promoted community through small groups, backyard barbeque's and 11:00 services.
As best as I can recall Jesus never spoke of community, but he passionately prayed for unity [John 17:22]. What is the difference between the two?
Was community not spoken much about because if was already a cultural understanding? Community was expected in families, and in within your town/city, and by just being a Jew suggested a community.
And I suppose I also have some thoughts on how community should then be experienced. I'm not saying small groups are bad or wrong, in fact I'm in three. But what other means can the church use to help promote and participate in unity.

Cool Photos with Quotes

"It would make a good Halloween set, wouldn't it?" - FREDDIE GOWIN
a ranger at Lake Tawakoni State Park, Texas, where a 200-yard (183-m) stretch of nature trail has been blanketed in a web spun by millions of spiders

"This is an individual who has had a very significant role in the history of our nation and the world." - Navy Secretary DONALD WINTER
on Solomon Islander Aaron Kumana, who rescued John F. Kennedy, then a young U.S. naval officer, from Japanese capture during WII and was finally recognized by the U.S. Navy last week for his heroism 60 years ago

"I believe I have an unfair edge over most of my colleagues right now. My mind works faster than my mouth does." - Sen. TIM JOHNSON
who returned to South Dakota Tuesday for the first time since suffering a brain hemorrhage last December that impaired his speech

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I have a few thoughts about each:
1. What a cool set for a Harry Potter movie.
2. How long can I wait to recieve "recognition"?
3. Patience is hard to come by. If it was forced on me would I want it?