NFL Week 2 Picks

This is a difficult week for making picks. Largely because there was several week 1 surprises and we just don't have a real clear picture at who some of these teams are this year.
For instances Oakland is at Kansas City this week. Generally I want to select the home team in this rivalry if there isn't any clear dominate team. But Oakland did play well this past week against San Diego, despite their loss. But was that just a week 1 fluke?
Anyways. Below are my week 2 picks.
Please feel free to comment and share yours.

Houston at Tennessee = Tennessee
New Orleans at Philadelphia = New Orleans
Arizona at Jacksonville = Arizona
Oakland at Kansas City = Oakland
Cincinnati at Green Bay =Green Bay
Minnesota at Detroit = Minnesota
St. Louis at Washington = Washington
New England at New York Jets = NY Jets
Carolina at Atlanta = Atlanta
Tampa Bay at Buffalo = Buffalo
Seattle at San Francisco = San Francisco
Baltimore at San Diego = San Diego
Pittsburgh at Chicago = Pittsburgh
Cleveland at Denver = Denver
New York Giants at Dallas = Dallas
Indianapolis at Miami = Indianapolis

NFL Week 1 Picks - Wrap Up

Below were my picks from Week 1.  I got 12 out of the 16; that’s not bad. 

Here are some thoughts from week 1:

-          I had wanted to pick the 49ers because that’s my team.  But on paper they shouldn’t have won that game.  So while I wrongly predicted, I’m okay with it.   I like the look of the Singletary Niners and expect them to break .500 this year.

-          The wild cat offense was the “it” formation of last year, but in week one it was overall defended against rather well.  Especially by the Falcons in their win over the Dolphins.

-          Mark Sanchez looked crisp in his first NFL game against the Texans, I was expecting him to do well, but not that well.  There was a lot of hype about the Texans in the preseason, even some talk about them winning their division (owned by the Colts for the past several years), but with their performance on Sunday I don’t see that happening.

-          And let’s be honest.  With all the chaos in Denver this off-season, and as bad of a teams as the Bengals are, that game was a tossup. 

-          The MVP talk will revolve around Adrian Peterson, Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Philip Rivers.  (Oh wait.  It already has been).

-          The Rams are an awful team.  I expect the Lions to win more games than them this year.  And while the Lions obviously had the worst record last year, they were probably still a better team than St. Louis last year. 

-          Rumors are that the Eagles and Panthers may be going after Jeff Garcia.  McNabb is supposed to be out at least one game, Vick should be eligible soon, so I see the Panthers getting him.  And the Panthers need him.  Delhomme looked awful.

-          Six touchdowns by Drew Brees.  It was like I was watching a John Madden video game.

-          Urlacher is done for the season, and the Bears were anticipating a big year from him.  Cutler played bad.  And Matt Forte did nothing to help my fantasy team.  I know we shouldn’t make week 1 predictions, but is this still a playoff team?

-          Terrell Owens only had two catches for 46 yards, but I think his presence on the field makes the Bills a better team.  He needs to understand that.  I like that the Bills are acknowledging that. 

 

Titans @ Steelers = Steelers

Cowboys @ Buccaneers = Cowboys

Chiefs @ Ravens = Ravens

Vikings @ Browns = Vikings

Jets @ Texans = Texans

Broncos @ Bengals = Bengals

Jaguars @ Colts = Colts

Lions @ Saints = Saints

Dolphins @ Falcons = Dolphins

Eagles @ Panthers = Eagles

Redskins @ Giants = Giants

49ers @ Cardinals = Cardinals

Rams @ Seahawks = Seahawks

Bears @ Packers = Packers

Bill @ Patriots = Patriots

Chargers @ Raiders = Chargers

 

Week One Record: 12-4

Season Record: 12-4

Sermons I've Recently Listened To...

Series – IT … (Southland Christian Church)

Jon Weece – IT Happened once…IT will happen again

Jon Weece – IT is Love and Love is IT

Jon Weece – Whatever IT takes

Jon Weece – You’re IT

Lee Strobel – Share IT

 

Series – Jonah: A Roundabout Journey … (Real Life Church)

Rusty George – On the Run

Rusty George – In Too Deep

Rusty George – Never Too Late

Rusty George – Offended by Grace

 

Series – The Kingdom is Surprisingly … (Ozark Christian College)

Kenny Boles – The Kingdom is Surprisingly Productive

Matt Proctor – The Kingdom is Surprisingly Big

Mark Scott – The Kingdom is Surprisingly Valuable

Dave Smith – The Kingdom is Surprisingly Gracious

Chad Ragsdale – The Kingdom is Surprisingly Messy

 

Series – Q3 … (Northpointe Church)

Andy Stanley – Ask Big

Andy Stanley – Doing Life

Andy Stanley – Going Long

 

Series – Bigger Than You … (Oak Hills Church)

Max Lucado – Week 1: Tri-focal Vision (Acts 1)

Max Lucado – Week 2: Get in the Middle of Something and Pray (Acts 2:1-21)

Max Lucado – Week 3: Don’t Forget the Bread (Acts 2:22-41)

 

Series – Still Amazaed … (2009 North American Christian Convention)

Jeff Stone – Grace that Amazes

Rick Rusaw, Chuck Booher, Dr, David Holmes – Grace that Feels

David Clark – Grace that Heals

Dudley Rutherford, Dave Bycroft, Rick Stedman – Grace that Shares

Matt Proctor – Grace that Empowers

Max Lucado – Grace that Transforms The 3:16ed Life

 

Series – Crying for the Lost … (Shepherd of the Hills Church)

Matt Proctor – Yield Vessels

Aaron Brocket – Intentional

Rick Kyle – No Excuses

Dudley Rutherford – Go! Into All the World

 

Matt Proctor - Patience

Various (MC- Mark Moore) – Gaining Wisdom

 

2009 NFL - Week 1 Picks

Are you ready for some football?!  I am.

I’ll be posting my weekly picks here on the old blog. 

Feel free to share you picks. 

 

Titans @ Steelers = Steelers

Cowboys @ Buccaneers = Cowboys

Chiefs @ Ravens = Ravens

Vikings @ Browns = Vikings

Jets @ Texans = Texans

Broncos @ Bengals = Bengals

Jaguars @ Colts = Colts

Lions @ Saints = Saints

Dolphins @ Falcons = Dolphins

Eagles @ Panthers = Eagles

Redskins @ Giants = Giants

49ers @ Cardinals = Cardinals

Rams @ Seahawks = Seahawks

Bears @ Packers = Packers

Bill @ Patriots = Patriots

Chargers @ Raiders = Chargers

Book Review: Fearless

I’ve been a long time Max Lucado fan.  I can remember the first time I read his book On The Anvil and being absolutely challenged and changed by Max’s written words.   (Wow! I think I was in middle school…has it been that long?)   It was helpful that Max puts out a dozen books a year, because we always had something to give my dad for Christmas or his birthday.  So much so that my dad would often say “I’m all ‘Max-ed’ out.”

The thing I have appreciated most about Max’s writings is how he puts muscle and flesh on what was previous just a skeleton of an idea, or thought, or belief, or story.  He has helped make my faith real.  He has a gift at drawing out the images I fail to see.  He would expose what I failed to picture.  If Jesus was drawing in the dirt, Max would point out the dirt in his fingernails, and I would go, “Oh yeah.  That’s right.  Fingernails get dirty.”  That’s what great communicators do.  That’s what great storytellers do.  And I think at the heart of Max is that: a storyteller.

The past couple years Max Lucado has been my pastor, and having been subject to the leadership and teaching of Max I would say that Max believes in what he’s selling.  And that is the key to Max’s storytelling, that’s the key to Max’s writing.  How does Max catch what we can miss?  Max has been spending a lot of time in that world.  Why does Max catch the dirt in Jesus’ fingernails?  Because Max is hanging out with Jesus and watching him play in the dirt, getting in the dirt with him, and then having to wash his hands and clean those fingernails.  (Have I taken that illustration too far yet?)

I guess what I’m saying is this: Max writes what he knows, and Max knows Jesus.

 

However.  I haven’t read any of Max’s book in some time.  Because the truth is one could get “Max-ed” out.   With all the books, and booklets, and student edition books, and Bibles, and greeting cards, and etc…well…there may be something to the adage “everything in moderation”.  Also Max has a style of writing that can…um…that can…this is hard to write about your pastor, but…well his writing can get old.  I remember reading In the Grip of Grace and coming to a point in the book and thinking, “This is all really good, but I’m bored.”  Now it didn’t help that at the time I was attending Bible college; a place where yuppity, arrogant scholarly students referred to Max as “light”. 

 

So does that give you an idea as to how I approached reading and reviewing Max Lucado’s new book entitled Fearless?  I’m a huge fan of Max Lucado, as a pastor, as a writer, as a person and would recommend anything of his to anyone, but I had grown bored. 

 

So what did I find when I opened up Fearless?

 

I found Max Lucado all over again.  Seriously have you read this guy’s stuff.  He’s a good writer. 

 

In Fearless, Max traces over the passages where Jesus speaks into the fear of his disciples and encourages them to fear less.  In these encounters the disciples had much to fear; two thousand years later many of us find much to fear as well.  We live in a world where there is enough evil and uncertainty that can shake our bones and rattle our nerves, but Max gently and pastorally guides his readers through encounters with a Christ who conquers fears. 

 

This stuff will preach.  And while I’m not sure which came first the rough drafts of the book or the sermons, it is true that Max has preached some of this material.  Which reminds me of a chaplain at an Air Force base in Germany who was reading a chapter from one of Max’s books each week.  People were coming out of church really impressed with this chaplain’s wordsmithing and oratory skills.  My dad and I came out of church saying, “Those stories were really familiar, he’s got a Lucado-ish way about his preaching.”  The following week I brought the book in with me and read along as he preached.

 

Like I said Max has been my pastor for the past couple of years.  This fall Max is teaching thru the book of Acts and as a church we are asking how do we, like the early church, passionately live out the truths, passion, teaching and mission of Jesus.  As we attempt to radically engage the city of San Antonio, I’m thankful for a pastor who is willing to fear less.

 

Get the book.

T.O.O.B.

Have you heard about TOOB? It's a dome like structure in which you can watch movies or play video games given them a 3D like appearance. They have a small version and a larger group version that you can purchase and rent. This would be great for some youth activities.
Here check it out in the video below and then visit the website: thinkoutofbox.com

This definitely gives new meaning to the term boob toob.

Top Ten: Favorite Books

He may be a complete stranger, but he’s my blogging friend.

Pete D recently posted a top ten list of topics to make a top ten list about.  Which makes me laugh….brilliant.

Julie, Pete’s daughter, and a fellow lover of The Game posted her top ten favorite books; we shared one.

So I thought I’d take a minute and make a list myself. 

Here is my top ten, in no particular order, and just off the top of my head (meaning it may be different tomorrow):

 

1.       The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

2.       Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster

3.       Your God is Too Safe or The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan

4.       A Time to Kill by John Grisham

5.       To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

6.       A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

7.       Harry Potter and ____________ (all 7 books) by J.K. Rowling

8.       The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning

9.       In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

10.   The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

 

What’s yours?

Welcome to Guyland

Great article HERE from the Fuller Youth Institute which asks the question, “What’s the deal with guys?”

 

The article quotes sociologist and gender studies expert Michael Kimmel:

 

Guyland is the world in which young men live.  It is both a stage of life, a liminal undefined time span between adolescence and adulthood that can often stretch for a decade or more, and a place, or rather, a bunch of places where guys gather to be guys with each other, unhassled by the demands of parents, girlfriends, jobs, kids, and the other nuisances of adult life.

 

Working with students I have seen this world, and yet despite the fact that I’m a card carrying member of Guyland I often have little clue how to engage it or even understand it.  Then article is helpful and brushing away the fog.

 

"awkward side hug"

Types of Exclusion

Michael DeFazio was a former high school student at a church I served in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Thankfully I was the middle school minister, because even back then Michael was much smarter than me.  Currently Michael is on staff at Real Life Church in Valencia, CA, serving as their Life Groups Area Pastor.  Needless to say I’m proud of this young man.  God has took hold of his life, and Michael grabbed hold of God’s mission, and both have been faithful.

 

Last week Michael posted some thoughts from a book he’s reading on his blog that I thought I’d share.

 

Michael is reading a book entitled Exclusion and Embrace by Miroslav Volf.   Michael wrote that the book is slightly over his head for his first reading of it, so I know it’s probably not a book for me.  It probably doesn’t even have pictures.

 

In the book Miroslav Volf describes several reasons why exclude others. Michael summaries that we refuse to even accept some human beings as human beings, because we see them precisely as others.  Here are a few ways by which we exclude:

 

Exclusion as elimination – because you are different from us/me I will not allow you to survive; as in actual cases of ethnic cleansing, or, on a smaller scale, murder.

Exclusion as assimilation – you can survive and even thrive so long as you become like us/me; you can keep your life if you give up your identity.

Exclusion as domination – you can remain, but only as long as you stay in your place, which is beneath us/me; we see this in classism.

Exclusion as abandonment – you can remain but I will act like you are not there; this is the case in much of the two-thirds world, which we rarely really see.

 

Outside of the first exclusion we often see these in the high school expereince.  If adults were more honest we would possibly admit to feeling these exlusions in our own environments, or that we participate in excluded others in these manners. 

 

I suppose the thoughts that need to be wrestled with in light of this would be why do I exclude and how can better process my interaction with others on an individual level so that I more accurately demonstrate the love of God.

 

Thoughts?

Youth: The Mindset of Today's College Freshman

The Beloit College Mindset List for the Class of 2013

Each year since 1998 professors at Beloit College have created a list of cultural touchstones to help serve as a reminder to the college staff about the mindset of the students they will engage with. 

Each year since 1998 youth pastors have been paying attention to this list.

Most students entering college for the first time this fall were born in 1991.

Below are some highlights that I found interesting.

Click HERE for more information and the rest of this year’s list.

 

4.       They have never used a card catalog to find a book.

9.        They have been preparing for the arrival of HDTV all their lives.

20.     American students have always lived anxiously with high-stakes educational testing.

24.     McDonald's has always been serving Happy Meals in China.

25.     Condoms have always been advertised on television.

29.     Bobby Cox has always managed the Atlanta Braves.

34.     They have always been able to read books on an electronic screen.

35. Women have always outnumbered men in college.
36. We have always watched wars, coups, and police arrests unfold on television in real time.

50.     Everyone has always known what the evening news was before the Evening News came on.

53.     Someone has always been asking: “Was Iraq worth a war?”

54. Most communities have always had a mega-church.

72.     Migration of once independent media like radio, TV, videos and compact discs to the computer has never amazed them.

73. Nobody has ever responded to “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.”

 

Sports: Wild Card Race 2009-08-20

This tends to happen a lot to me.  Once I make some kind of public declaration for my sports team they will begin to lose.

It is for this reason I refuse to bet.  In 1990 I bet a neighborhood friend $5 that the Oakland A’s would sweep the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series.  Not only did the Reds win, but they swept the A’s in four games.  Seriously, Chris Sabo hit two round-trippers in Game 3.  That doesn’t happen to the A’s unless I curse them by betting on them. 

So a couple days ago I had a brief post bragging on my Texas Rangers being one game ahead of the Boston Red Sox for the wild card lead.  The Ranger immediately follow my post with two losses.  They now trail the Nation by a game. 

Hopefully the effect of my curse won’t last for very long and I will continue to display a nonchalant attitude. 

 

Sermons I've Recently Listened To:

Here is a list of sermons that I have recently listened to.

What preachers do you enjoy listening to and do they post their sermons online?

I listen to at least three a day at work, where do you listen to sermons?

 

Series – Disciple: A Real Follower of Jesus (Sunnybrook Christian Church)

Jim Johnson – one who follows Jesus wherever he goes

Paul Weece – one who reorders his life

Jim Johnson – one who actively listens

Jim Johnson – one who accepts the mission of Jesus

Jim Johnson – one who gives more than lip service

Drew Moss – one who submits to Jesus’ agenda

Jim Johnson – one who is willing to give up whatever

Jim Johnson – one who trust God

Jim Johnson – one who gives foolishly to Jesus

Jim Johnson – one who leads differently by serving sacrificially

Jim Johnson – one who confronts

Jim Johnson – one who renews his vow

Jim Johnson – one who embraces the humiliation

Jim Johnson – one who stays amazed

Jim Johnson – Q & A

 

Series – The Star, the Cross, and the Crescent (Northpoint Church)

Andy Stanley – Judaism: The Journey Begins

Andy Stanley – The Roots of Islam

Judy Reamer – Judy Reamer: A Life Story

Afshin Ziafat – The Cost to Follow Christ

 

Series – Galatians (Christ Church of Oronogo)

Mark Moore – Chapter 1

Mark Moore – Chapter 2

Mark Moore – Chapter 3

Adam Scutti – Chapter 4

Adam Scutti – Chapter 5

Mark Moore – Chapter 6

 

Series – Jonah (Southland Christian Church)

Mike Breaux – Jonah: On The Run

Mike Breaux – Jonah: In Too Deep

Mike Breaux – Jonah: Never Too Late

 

Series – Stuff Jesus Made Up (True North Church)

Jon McClarnon – Hidden Treasure

Jon McClarnon – Workers in the Vineyard

Jon McClarnon – Friend at Midnight

Jon McClarnon – Prodigal Father

Jon McClarnon – Two Debtors

 

Series – Jesus Walks… (Traders Point Christian Church)

Mark Moore – Towards the Uncertain

Aaron Brockett – Towards the Uncomfortable

Aaron Brockett – Towards the Unaware

 

Series – Jesus is… (Boulder Valley Christian Church)

Mark Scott – Jesus is….The Best of the Good News

Mark Scott – Jesus is….The Risk Taker

Mark Scott – Jesus is….Delegator of Ministry

Mark Scott – Jesus is….The Servant

 

Andy Stanley – How Good is Good Enough (Northpoint Church)

Andy Stanley – Baptism: What’s the Big Deal (Northpoint Church)

Andy Stanley -  Everyone is Invited (Northpoint Church)

Matt Proctor – The Messiah Complex (Grand Avenue Christian Church)

Matt Proctor – God’s Great Power (Taylorville Christian Church)

Dr. Craig Blomberg – 1^st Message (Dallas Christian College) 2007-09-18

Dr. Craig Blomberg – 2^nd Message (Dallas Christian College) 2007-09-19

Andy Hansen – Message (Dallas Christian College)2007-11-08

Andy Hansen – Message (Dallas Christian College)2006-03-28

Lori Murillo - Message (Dallas Christian College)  2007-01-26

Rocky Hernandez – Message (Dallas Christian College) 2006-08-25

Doug Marks – Message (Dallas Christian College) 2006-01-24

Jeff Snell – Message (Dallas Christian College) 2006-10-24

Jeff Snell – Forming Integrity Under Attack (Lincoln Christian College) 2005-11-15

Jeff Snell – Moving from Knowledge to Wisdom (Lincoln Christian College) 2009-01-21

Sports: The Wild Card Race 2009-Aug-18

Sports: This Was Fast

I'm not really surprised by this, but boy did it happen really quick or what?

Do I think this will make Minnesota a better team? I'm going to say yes.

I have several Viking fans who are going to be really annoying for a few weeks. Or perhaps the whole season.

Movie: Julie & Julia

I went and saw Julie & Julia on my day off this Friday. An purely delightful film full of charm, wit and acting.

At one moment during the film I reminded myself that it was Meryl Streep on the screen and not the actual Julia Child. Stanley Tucci portrayed her husband in the film and he certainly held his own in the film, not only the actor but the character up against such a unique personality as Julia Child. But it's Amy Adams who makes me smile whenever she is on the screen. It doesn't matter if she is a fairy princess, a pregnant woman, a cleaning woman, a purse sales woman, or even a nun. I think she may be one of my favorite actresses right now; certainly in the conversation. I even like her Julia Roberts pixie fairy haircut.

I love the relationship connections that were in the film and how unexpected they seemed to be. Whether it was Julia Child and her husband. Julie and hers. Julia's sister and the man she falls for. And even Julie and Julia. It's amazing what can be found in other people when you're willing to open yourself up to them.
I will admit the film was just a little long, but the preformances of the actors made it easy to sit still and watch.

Twitter Lessons Learned

Tim Stevens, executive pastor at Granger Community Church in Indiana, has a great blog called LeadingSmart.  I would recommend it to church leaders and to leaders in general..

(Also I own Tim’s Tim Stevens Leading Smart limited edition Zune.  Just thought I’d share that tidbit.)

Today Tim posted Ten Random Things I’ve Learned About Twitter.

If you are active with Twitter you should pay some attention.

Here are a three of his ten:

-          I used to only follow a few people. I learned that makes me look self-centered...like I want you to care what I have to say but I don't give a rip about what you have to say. I recently changed my approach.

-          Twitter is personal. If I know someone is having one of their "people" tweet on their behalf--I stop following them.

-          Don't be a Twachine-gun tweeter (someone who spits out 14 in a row). If it was meant for 700 characters, it would be designed that way. Keep it short.

 

 

Under(Outer)shirt

This happens to me all the time.

My friend Rachel is quick to point out when this happens to me.
I like to think that I'm a pretty low key kinda guy, so when I get dressed in the morning I don't stand in front of the mirror very long. As long as my breath feels fresh, I smell decent to good and all the buttons on my shirt are lined up I'm generally good to go.

Interviewed and Interviewing

I’m prepping for an interview that I have with a church in a couple of weeks.
Rehearsing answers to common questions.
Creating answers in my head that communicate clarity and conciseness.
I expect they ask me about
…myself
…my past job experience.
…my successes and failures.
…my philosophy of ministry.
…my education.
…my work ethic.
…my ability to work with and for others.
…my leadership.
…my hobbies and interest.

However, just as important as answering interview questions is asking interview questions.

This is a little harder for me. I hate job interview a church. It feels like I’m saying, “Tell me why I should bless you with me.”
Now I understand that the process of interviewing can give the Holy Spirit some resources by which I (and the church) can make a wise decision.
So saying that here is a short list of questions I would ask:
- Why is currently a vacany?
- Share with me the history of this church?
- What is the current mission and direction of this church?
- What is the current vision for this church’s future?
- Can you describe the current health of the church?
- What is this jobs responsibilities?
- What are your expectations for the hired canidate and how to you evaluate that?


So. If you were interviewing a ministry canidate what questions would you ask him?
And if you were being interviewed by a church what questions would you ask them?

Song in My Head: "Where The Road Meets The Sun"

KATIE HERZIG & MATTHEW PERRYMAN JONES "WHERE THE ROAD MEETS THE SUN" (LIVE) from SITUATION OPERATION on Vimeo.