FSM Blogger

Ok, I am going to be making my predictions for major sports events this year (including the Super Bowl). Some of my predictions will be shocking so please keep that in mind. I am not a professional sports writer so I can say what I think without having to worry about ratings and network sponsorship. So here goes:
NBA Finals: Spurs vs. Pistons -- winner: Spurs in 6
PGA Open: Vijah Singh
US Open: Chirs DiMarco
British Open: Jusin Leonard
US Open (tennis): Andy Rodick
World Series: Marlins vs. Twins -- Marlins in 5
World Cup Qualifying: America will NOT qualify
MLS : DC United repeat
Super Bowl (2006): Colts vs. Eagles -- Eagles will triumph
NHL: Will play a limited schedule and make a strong comeback but I can't make a prediction at this time

(I do not know enough about women's sports to make any predictions. Nor do I know anything about auto racing or biking..I guess Armstrong is a strong favorite for the Tour de France since this is his last year and all.)

Let the debating begin.

Man am I tired of hearing about every little thing the Yankees do or don't do. And I am doubly tired of hearing it on ESPN's award wining Sportcenter, Baseball Tonight, Outside the Lines, Cold Pizza, etc. It seems as though ESPN is secretly owned by George Steinbrener. Oh, maybe the Red Sox own the controling interest in the network...or maybe its both. Its like the whole world cares about every single thing that is said, unsaid, not said or done by or to either of these teams. There are many more compelling stories out there. Like, say, LA Dodgers starting out so hot when all the folks there at the 'Station' said that the Giants were still the team to beat (even without Barry--which they no longer talk about b/c they are scared of him and his reaction to 'steriod conversations'). What about the Florida Marlins. Willis throws almost 3 complete game shut outs but all they do is mention it at the top of the hour then spend 5 hours talking about a mock draft put together by Mel Kiper Jr. and John Clayton (that is a yawner). I know there is no hockey but surely there are other things to talk about other than if the Yankees can bounce back after starting so slowly their first 10 games...come on there are 152 more to go...let's talk about it in September not April.

I love ESPN, but I don't love hearing about the Sox and Yanks every single show. Its old and not everyone cares. Get on to something else...like Bass Fishing!!

While at sea, the crews face nearly 24-hour shifts for days at a time, in less-than-optimal conditions: 40-foot waves, 80-mph winds, subfreezing weather and 700-pound crab pots slamming against the deck — not to mention a nearly 100 percent injury rate. More than 80 percent of the fatalities Alaskan fishermen suffer on the job are due to drowning — either from falling overboard or as a result of a boat accident.

Have you seen this new show on the Discovery Channel? It is called The Deadliest Catch. It comes on kind of late, but the new season started last week. It is really very interesting. Basically it is about fishing boats and their crews. These guys go out into the Bering Sea for a 5 day King Crab fishing fest. Its cold, wet, and you never know what the weather will be. It's basically one of the toughest jobs I have ever seen. The season can last either 5 or 12 days depending on the decision made by the Alaskan Wildlife Board. These guys basically don't sleep or eat for 24-72 hours. They dump 'pots' or cages over board and haul them up--hopefully loaded with Alaskan King Crab. I will never look at crab in a restaurant the same again. You should check this show out.

My question is basically what drives these guys? Is it just the money? Is it the thrill of the catch? Maybe a bit of both? What drives us in our jobs? What drives us in our relationships? What drives us to go through incredibly hard times or events? What keeps us getting up each morning?

(I know, not a grammatically correct title...but keep reading)
Everyone has heard the saying, “It is better to give than to receive”. I usually agree with this phrase, but maybe there are some exceptions to this ‘rule’. Let me explain. Let’s say that I know of a secret place that contains a magical power. This power is given off by a stone that, when touched, unlocks the key to every one of your dreams and desires. The catch is that only those that are honorable can be unlocked. The kicker is when you come in contact with the stone the only dreams and desires that you care about ARE the honorable ones…follow me. Now, let’s say that I know where this place is and I am want to bring you to it. Who is more blessed by this situation…the bringer or the one that is brought to the stone? Sure, sure both are equally blessed, but are they. If you are someone that has never been blessed enough to see any dream come true, I would say you were pretty blessed by being ‘brought’ to the stone. But if I had never ever helped anyone before in my life because I was too stuck on myself until I came in contact with the stone, I would say the experience of bringing you to the stone would be a blessing. (Ok at this point, please don’t get so caught up in the fact that I am using a fantasy magical stone).
There is a great story in the Bible about such a situation. Mark Chapter 2 finds Jesus teaching a lesson to people in a packed house. There was no room for anyone to get in the house. There were 4 friends that had a friend that was paralytic. They knew if they could get to Jesus, he could heal their friend. So after careful thought and multiple tries to get close to Christ, they came up with a brilliant idea. They would climb on the roof, dig through the roof, then lower their friend down!!! So they did and low and behold they climbed, dug, lowered and their friend ended up at the feet of the great Healer. He looked to the friends (impressed by their bold faith) and said, “You’re sins are forgiven”. Which is more blessed, the one healed or the one that brought one to be healed? Which ones faith is more important the one that was healed or the ones that dug through the roof for their friend to be healed? Was it better to give or to receive? I say both. I say both are necessary. Our church needs both. It needs those that will bring people to the feet of Christ (even if a little digging and hard work is involved) and it needs people willing to be brought to the feet of the Savior.

Now I understand the reason I don't like Oprah. I was working out today (no really) and her show came on the air. I was just reaching my target heart rate (I really am serious) and it hit me, "I now know why I don't like Oprah". Its not that I dislike her as a person. I don't know her at all. I just know how she is on her show and from articles and such. I even like some of the topics that she tackles. Not everyone is brave enough or confident enough to talk about things the way she does. I actually really admire that. Its not her money or fame that causes me to be uncomfortable with her. I used to think it was because she is the largest source of New Ageism in America--which I still think but not as strongly as I used to. No, it's none of those things that make me 'not like her'. But now I think I know. As I watched her come out after being introduced she slowly made her way to the stage--like she has done so many times before. She walked slowly, I mean slowly kind of like watching a king or queen or president walk. Shaking hands saying hello and greeting people with a smile. It is at this moment as my heart is working and I am thinking, "Now I know why I don't like her"--funny thing is it has nothing to do with her really. Its the people that watch her and the people that talk and write about her. The faces of the crowd are forever blazed on my mind because they were almost worshipful. There is no doubt she connects with her audience and her fans. That is what makes her great. She is great at 'being real'. But where is the line. Where is the line between really respecting and liking someone and worshipping them. Maybe that seems like a harsh statement but I mean it just like I said it. And I could say this about other famous folks. I just happened to be watching Oprah today. I know, I know some of you would say that the connection she has and the advice she gives and such is a great help to so many. I am not disagreeing with that (necessarily). All I am saying is I think that Oprah (much like Dr. Phil, Judge Judy, Donald Trump, James Dobson, etc.) is filling a niche in America that used be filled by God, the Bible and the Church. People are giving some solid answers to hard questions (or at least dealing with sold, hard issues). But not many people stop to wonder or think or compare these answers with God's Truths to 'test and see' if this advice is actually Godly or not. I think that is my problem… and hey, I am looking in the mirror on this one. It just made me think today as I was working out that maybe there is a reason why folks are searching for fulfillment so adamantly and not seeming to find it. As Moulder used to say, "the Truth is out there". I am just not sure Oprah has it all the time. But, hey, I could just be suffering from lack of oxygen to my brain..or maybe too much. (I really did work out today)

Man what a great golf tournament it was!! I have watched a number of Masters tournaments but few can compare to this past one. There was rain delays, great shots and great TV coverage. I was glued to the set for every shot on Sunday afternoon. My Pepa would have been so excited!!! And at the end of the day, Tiger Woods reclaimed the green jacket. But not without being taken to the wire by my new favorite player, Chris DiMarco.

I have a new found respect for the 2nd place finisher at Augusta. I knew that he was great at the Ryder cup (he actually had the best record among American players). He seems to have no problem on some of the grandest stages in golf. Most people would and have folded under the power of Tiger (Tiger is now 9-0 when leading after 54 holes). But not DiMarco. he hung in and even sent the match to a 73 hole. It took not only great shots from Chris, but also impossible shots on the final 3 holes of regulation. Tiger's shot on 16 will probably go down as one of the greatest ever. I am convinced that we could never know, by watching TV, the difficulty of the greens at Augusta. But the greens did not seem to bother the final pairing on Sunday. It was a battle to the end. I know that Tiger is one of the greatest to ever pick up a set of clubs (has already won 9 majors before the age of 30; Nicholaus was 31 before he did that). But I believe that I was most impressed by Chris DiMarco. He has lost tough ones in the past few majors (3 on the final hole). His day is coming and I look forward to more of the what I saw on Sunday.

What get's you all riled up? What makes you feel so uneasy that you just can't hardly stand it? Anything? If the answer is nothing, then I say you need to get out more. Me, I am feeling pretty riled up these days. So if you want a nice tame blog to read, stop reading this one right now. Now, for all those that stayed, let me just say a few things. Oh, and feel free to comment.
1. I think God is cool. I think Jesus rocks. I think the church can be a an amazing community of support and connection for so many. So why do we continually allow other things to get in the way of God? Why do we continually bow at the altar in them temple of Hollywood or Oprah or Dr. Phil or gaming systems or Texas hold 'em?
2. I think the Bible is God's inspired word. I don't understand all of it and struggle to get through certain parts of it. But I think there are probably different ways or methods of sharing it's truths with people that don't know it or don't believe it. I am wondering if our churches should rethink the way it is taught...not what is taught just the method used to teach it.
3. I want to be Clean. I want to be New. I want to be useful to God. I to be used by God. I want a revolution of the Spirit. I want revival to happen in our schools or homes and our churches. I want prayer to be taken seriously. I want the love of people to be more important than the love of things or rules.

But I am a fool. I am crazy. I am unbelievably lost. I am looking for shore on a calm spring day. I am circling the runway with not a cloud in the sky. I am searching for buried treasure right above an X. But I am hopeful, oh I am hopeful. I am faithful. I am foolish (as the world defines it). I am pushed but not broken. I am pulled but not torn. I am stretched but not broken. I am weak but so very strong. I am all riled up but as calm as I can be. I am confused but very clear headed. I am busy but focused. I think being a little fired up is good sometimes. But being fire up for God is life changing all the time. I think its time we get a little riled up.

Well gang we finally moved in to our new place this past weekend. It is great to be in a new home. We have more room, more living space, a bigger bathroom, a garage...and more boxes that any 20 people I know. It is amazing how much stuff you can accumulate over time. I can remember the days back in college when I could load all I own in my Mustang LX (we called it 'the Stang'). Those days are long gone my friend. I am not complaining mind you. I am just a little overwhelmed. I mean, where is it all going to go? How can we possibly fit everything in our house? Can any of it be burned? What if we "accidentially" dropped a few things? At this point I will settle for a path to and from the kitchen and bedroom. Oh, and getting my TiVO activated so I don't miss any episodes of the O.C.