Underdogs

I love Underdogs. No not Underdog.....though I kind of like him too.

Ever since I was a little kid I've rooted secretly for underdog teams. If we were watching a game (and it doesn't matter what sport)...and one team was losing, I'd be hoping they'd come back. There are even times that if the underdog comes back and really starts beating up on the other team....I'll switch sides and root for the other team!

Lately I've been excited by checking the college football scores. It seems that underdog teams this year are doing some damage. Every week there's been some upsets. Yesterday was some MAJOR upsets. HALF of the Top 10 teams lost this week! How great is that! And the #1 team USC barely got past Washington.

[I think it's important to point out that I don't ALWAYS root for the underdog team. I have favorite teams and even teams that I will always root for even if I don't keep track of how they're doing......I also have teams that for whatever reason I will ALWAYS root against for some unknown reason.]

So why underdog teams? My wife believes it's because I feel like I'm always the underdog. Maybe.

Maybe it has to do with my belief that the little guys should always get a chance.

Jesus always seemed to champion the underdog though. I've been thinking lately how crazy church and Jesus are. Follow me here.

If we were going to create a company to do something....we'd find the brightest and best minds out there.....people like us that can get the job done because they have all the right stuff and then we'd do whatever our company is suppose to do.

Jesus and the church (supposedly) is completely the opposite of this. We're suppose to be about going and getting all the people who are messed up. Who need help. Who are lost. Who don't have the answers. Who aren't necessarily anything like us. Then we are suppose to make them part of our body and nurture them, and watch them fall down....because we keep falling down too....and collectively we're better for it? What kind of dumb corporate plan is that? EXACTLY!

Wow

I'm not big on plugging books or music. I figure that if you're reading through blogs you also have a good enough mind that you can pick your own books and music without my input. Occasionally I have plugged stuff. I will now do so again.

You MUST get your hands on the new David Crowder album. It's called Remedy.

It was just released the other day (Sept. 25). It's available pretty much everywhere. Rumor has it that Best Buy has it at a really cheap price. If you want to go digital iTunes has it as well. In fact, their album is currently #6 in the world of downloads of iTunes!

Ok now why should you get this. Admittedly I am a Crowder fan. I've liked his style since I first heard him. However....I honestly believe that even if I wasn't, or hadn't ever heard him before this album would rock my world.

I call Remedy a "life changing album". There is music in your life that you look back on and realize that it has affected you in dramatic ways......I believe this will be one of those albums. I literally cried the first time I listened the whole way through.

It is INCREDIBLY well written. Again, I've always been a huge fan of Crowders' style and musicality. Behind his stadium rock guitar, and turntables there is some well thought-out lyrics and structure that are the real reason they're one of the premier Christian bands today. This album takes things to a new level. The music and lyrics are very intentional. They are a call to action. The band says on one of their websites....."We are not simple enough to believe that a few songs can change a planet, but we are simple enough to believe that you can."

This album is a call to action to live out our faith. Not just say we're doing it, but doing it.

If you'd like to order direct from the band go HERE.

RUN don't walk and pick this up. You won't regret it.

Switching Gears

It's been awhile. Here's why.....I've been freaking out internally.

At church we decided we needed to do something differently this fall. We talked about maybe doing a children's outreach type thing but realized that quite frankly we just didn't have the volunteers to make it happen. So we settled on a weekly dinner, with a multi-generational "thing".....the thing would be music, drama, video, art, etc etc....

So two weeks ago was the first one. We had sent flyers to this lower income house development across the forelane. We even told them we'd come with some mini-vans to pick up anyone that wanted to come. The result? 26 kids show up and no adults.

We instantly have a children's outreach ministry.

Now here's the thing. For those keeping track at home.....I did children's ministry at N. Warren for close to 7 years. I know that I can do it. Oddly enough though last summer when they agreed to just let me be the youth pastor part time and lose the children's ministry part of that job....there was something inside of me that breathed a sigh of relief.

So now here I am standing in front of 26 kids and a handful of adults literally in a state of shock. I was totally unprepared. I had these expectations of leading music for this multi-generational group....I had included some songs with "big words" that some of the kids (who can't read) would get lost in....but some easier ones for the kids too. I just didn't know what to do. I thought I was done with kids.

God is always amazing me with his humor.

We intentionally said we weren't going to do children's ministry. God sends us children. I was pretty content with the fact that I was ONLY doing youth ministry. God sends us children.

So honestly I've internally been freaking out. What am I going to do? We're so unprepared. We need to change our plans. We need more people. How can we do this?

Problem: Not believing God is going to do most of the job too.

So this past Wenesday we had a few less kids but not many. And we had more volunteers. And we were ready. And it was amazing to jump up and down with my guitar with 24 kids.....(who were amazed that an old guy could still jump up and down.)

I think what happened mentally for me is that I needed to shift into another gear. A gear that I'd forgotten about for a year. And now I'm slowly getting into 5th.

ICE BOWL

So this past week the NHL had a big announcement. They announced an OUTDOOR game on New Years Day 2008. Not only that....but it's in Buffalo which is 2 hours from here. Beyond that, it'll be the Sabres against the Penguins!!!! So my two favorite teams are going to play a once in a lifetime game 2 hours from my house.

The NHL announced this game on Monday. Tickets went on sale Tuesday morning at 10am......and sold out in 11 minutes. I do not have tickets.

Here's the thing. The NHL in all it's wisdom (this is me being sarcastic) decided that it would not put a limit on the number of tickets that any one person or group could by. This would ensure that they could sell all the tickets. On one hand this got some great publicity for the NHL after a lot of bad press in the past couple years.

The down side is that companies or individuals from all over the country could buy tickets with no intention of actually going and try to make profit off of the uniqueness of the game. Within an hour of the game being sold out, tickets were already up on e-bay and stubpub.

I just checked on e-bay for tickets. There are 4 tickets right now going for 4 GRAND! These are tickets that cost less 200 bucks a piece. So for tickets that were around 800 bucks they're trying to back 3200 in profit. Pretty tidy.......and ridiculous.

Instead of not selling out right away....but selling out in say a week or two...or a month....the NHL has once again made VERY POOR JUDGEMENT. Instead of those selling out over a longer period of time to hockey fans who will appreciate the game and what it stands for, the NHL was looking for media attention. In selling out in 11 minutes the sports world took notice.....for a day. In doing so once again Gary Bettman made a mockery of hockey.

Just a not on commissioner Bettman. He came from basketball. He was a crappy counselor to the NBA...and when the NHL job came up.....guess who gets it? He has no respect for the game. He has no knowledge of the history or tradition of hockey. The day Gary Bettman resigns I will be having a party and you're all invited.

The end result.....I'm hoping that good hockey fans won't buy these outrageously priced tickets. My guess is that in a month or two some people that're trying to turn a HUGE profit will settle for a small profit or breaking even and long bearded hockey fans from Warren PA can find a ticket so he can freeze his butt off on New Years day.

In other news.....hockey season's almost here!

This is Gary Bettman's warm reception at this summers NHL entry draft.

FIGHT!!!!!!!!

These are awesome! This guy has so much control it looks like he's wooping up on his kids. If I did this to C-rock no doubt I'd break his leg. Watch and laugh.

Things that Rock

It seems I should make a list that counteracts the one from early this morning.

-Freezie Pops

-Hockey. Even when I have a bad night I realize how much I love playing hockey. It's such a great sport.

-The way my wife both challenges my thinking and also knows what I mean when I can't get it to come out of my mouth.

-I know this is weird but...... a comfortable pair of pants.

-The sound of a guitar after you put new strings on it

-A good bargain. My mom taught me to watch my pennies. I love a good bargain. Getting something for way less than it's worth. Finding something that's on sale or getting it before it becomes popular. I love a good bargain.

-Corban's smile when he knows you're going to tickle him or when he's up to something.

-Opening up a geocaching to find that no one else has signed the log before you. You're the first.

-Mac. I saw an ad today for Virus protection software and how you better protect yourself or you'll get a virus. I thought, "man I haven't thought about that nonsense for awhile!"

-Taking a hot shower after a couple days of backpacking.

-Ska music. I know it's not even close to popular anymore. I remembered the other day that I like it. I like the horn lines. I like the rhythms. I like it......still.

-Having a student ask a really hard question, because they just want to understand Jesus Christ better.

-a good friend

Things that are annoying

In no particular order.....

-If you're standing in a long line, there's no use complaining about it. Either just stand their. Or go home. We're all in the same line and it won't go faster by you flapping your gums.

-Don't talk about your minor ailments.....particularly in public. First, I don't think this is a topic for discussion normally unless it's your immediate family and in the privacy of your own home. Secondly, I don't mean to over hear things....but it happens....don't make THAT be what I overhear. Finally, I have friends fighting cancer.....your foot fungus is kind of not worth complaining about.

-Walmart

-hidden agendas

-paperwork

-the day after I play hockey.......I'm not 21 anymore

-fruit flies.......what's the point?

-The fact that I actually have to be awake to drive to people's houses. With GPS technology and computers you would think that they would technologically be able to just punch in your digits and the car would go. If they can get a car to park itself, they can't get it to drive on interstates?

-allergies

-I don't care who you are, you shouldn't wear socks and sandals. It's just not right. If your feet are cold, then you should be wearing shoes. The only way that I find socks and sandals even remotely acceptable is when you've just come from the soccer field and you can't walk around in your cleats.

-Along those lines.....if you're a guy and dressed up.....get yourself some dark colored socks to go with those dark shoes. White socks aren't cutting it.

that's all for now.

Ego

Did Adam and Eve have egos? or did Sin bring our egos into being?

If it's the former, I would wonder why God would create such a thing. It rarely serves a positive purpose. For the most part it just hangs around getting in the way. How many ministries have fallen because someone's ego got a little too big?

I have to believe that it was the later option....that ego was part of sin.

I had a student ask me recently how they could tell if they were hearing God speak to them or if they were just thinking stuff themselves and attributing it to God. That's a tough one. I mean, theologians have been going at that one for awhile. Add in the fact that we have these silly egos and that we have desires that might not be Godly desires and it's pretty tough.

We think we're superstars in our little worlds.

God would you knock me down a peg if I become to proud of what YOU gave to me and think it's my own. Would you keep me humble when things go well. Would you let me deflect praise back to you instead of hoarding it for myself. Would you let me get out of Your way and remind me of who I am and what you've called me to.

Two articles from friends

My friend Pastor Bill Beatty had a great post on his blog recently about what makes a church innovative. I really loved the post and wanted you to read it too.

INNOVATIVE CHURCHES

The second article that I really liked recently was by a friend from Geneva, Jason Sica who was the youth pastor at Chapel PCA in Beaver when I was working there, and is now a Pastor in Wilmington Delaware.

Fear of Being Known

A Complete Addict

It's true. I'm an addict.

It happened this summer. Some family members turned me on to it and now I'm hooked.

I'm a Freeze Pop junkie. I'm pretty sure that there is some illicit drugs in them. Crack maybe? Not sure.

It all started when we went away to visit Marjorie's brother and family at the cottage they were renting in NY. For the week they bought a box of Freeze Pops. Veronica kept saying, "when they're gone, they're gone." I didn't understand what the big deal was. And then I had one. Can you say hooked?

I believe that it is a physical impossibility to have just one. So I started in on the Freeze Pops. At the end of our time there, I stopped at a grocery store in town and bought them another box of 100 pops. Look here's proof of the beginnings of my addiction.

So then I got a box when we were home. Then another. We just found out that Dollar General has a box of 100 for only 3 bucks! PLUS there's a 1 dollar rebate per box from the company. That means that each Freeze Pop is only 2 cents. It seems a shame to only eat 2 cents worth! I am thoroughly addicted. I love them.

It can't be healthy to have all that dye and sugar running through me. Ok all this typing has taken me away from my Freeze Pops.....gotta go.

Prayer Requests

I promise to be blogging more starting this week. This couldn't wait though.
Behind my son in this picture is my good friend Wheeze and her nephew Brady. This was at the Erie Zoo a couple weeks ago. Yesterday Brady was diagnosed with Leukemia. He and his parents rushed down to Childrens Hospital in Pittsburgh last night. Needless to say everyone is in a state of shock and dismay. The plans as of now are to start chemo as early as Thursday. PLEASE be in prayer for Brady and his mommy and daddy (Renee and Daniel). They are just great people who love God.

And while you're praying for my close friends....
(It's not a great picture) The gentlemen in the center of this picture is Jerry Nelson. He is an amazing man. He is quiet and humble. He's a lover of God with all of himself. He has a daughter in high school and a son in college. He's going through his second round of chemo this week for a weird cancer of the blood. I love this man. Please keep him and his wife (as she's driving back and forth to Pittsburgh) in your prayers this week.