One year later

One year ago today, my dad passed away. After the funeral, I took some time to write it out. This morning, I took some time to read this, and thought that you might like to also.

http://knight4today.blogspot.com/2011/02/two-weeks-and-worst-day.html

NFL 11 Championship week

Want to hear something cool? Ok, last week you saw my predictions.

Next week's predictions: if the Ravens can get their offense going, their defense can get them the win. However, if they play like they did last week, the Chump will make another Super Bowl appearance (won't somebody run that guy over with a bus already?). The Niners are quietly unpredictable, so it will all depend if a bunch of New Yorkers play with a chip on their shoulder or not.

Yeah, well, I was right. What makes better, was I told a guy at church that the Ravens would have to score at least 24 points to win. The Pats? scored 23. That's right, I'm a freaking genius.

Now, I do have to say, I hate to see a championship decided by a questionable play. Did the Ravens received have control over the ball before it was knocked out? Hard to say. It went so fast. But, it was either a TD, or seemingly, an amazing defensive play by a Pats defender.

Also, I feel bad for the kicker. At least you didn't miss as bad as Vander-shank did years ago for the Colts, after mouthing "Money" to the opposing bench. Then missing worse than any kick I can remember. Good news is, you can play for the Cowboys, who always seem to pick up the worst kicker on the market.

Giants-Niners. Go big blue! Ok, I didn't actually predict an outcome of this game, on the conditions. I just did not know how these two teams would fair. Baby brother did good. I also did not get to watch this game, as I went to bed early with strep (yay me).

So we have a rematch of the most entertaining Super Bowl I have ever seen. So, the question is, do we bELIeve in Eli? Can baby brother beat the chump? I'll say this, Tom Brady better not win a Super Bowl in Indy, or else they better take him out in an armored car. I already know of many Colt's fans who are planning on going in with Peyton Manning jerseys, or looking for Giants' jerseys to borrow.

Go Giants!

NFL 11 Wild Card weekend.

Called it! Well, mostly. Let me also say this, the difference in most of these games was turnovers. That said...

Niners-Saints. I said I hadn't watched the Niner much this year. They flew under the radar to second place (first time I recall them doing anything playoff wise since Steve Young). They made me neverous, and the Saints have been on one week, off the next. I made no actually prediction for this game, but my explanations of what could happen did. The Saints turned the ball over, a lot. And the Saints cruised pass them to the championship.

Pats-Broncos. Called it again, just as I did regular season. The reason Tebow Time has been so effective is because their defense has kept them in games to the end. But just like in the regular season, they could not keep up. The Pats have Denver d's number for some reason, and the game just gets out of reach too fast. Offensive turnovers by the Broncos sure didn't help. But that's ok. We still love you anyway Tebow.

Ravens-Texans. The only thing I didn't predict was how long the Texans would stay in it. But again, turnovers were an issue. Yates also admitted before the game to being intimidated by Baltimore's defensive legends, and it showed. I will say this, Baltimore stuggled on offense, and if they don't find a way to get something going Sunday, the Pats will make another Super Bowl.

Giants-Packers. I told you! I can give you a list of names of people that I told. The Packers were good, but their defense struggled all season, and the Giants had a defense that could hold them down. And on offense, well, Eli Manning and the Giants have a knack for winning the big games that they shouldn't win, at least on paper. It's kinda their thing. So when their defense created take-aways and kept the Packer's score down, we saw why we bELIeve in Eli.

Next week's predictions: if the Ravens can get their offense going, their defense can get them the win. However, if they play like they did last week, the Chump will make another Super Bowl appearance (won't somebody run that guy over with a bus already?). The Niners are quietly unpredictable, so it will all depend if a bunch of New Yorkers play with a chip on their shoulder or not.

Debt explained practically

Not a Fan

I've been reading a great book by a man that I've come to highly respect over the years. The book is Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman.

What I like about the book is that is looks at the passages that we ignore, and ask the questions we are too afraid to ask. Like, "What if Jesus was serious?" What I mean is we glance over the passages that make us uncomfortable in favor of those that make us happy. We like to pick and chose our own happy, soft version of Jesus. We like "let the little children come to me" better than "Woe to you, unbelieving and perverse generation." We like "Love your enemy" better than "Narrow is the gate, and few find it" or "if you want to follow me, you must give up everything." We like "blessed are the poor" better than "Sell all your possessions, give them to the poor, and then follow me."

See Jesus made a few things clear. First, not everyone goes to heaven. We don't like that. We want everyone to go to heaven. Well, maybe not Hilter, but I want to go without actually having to obey God. But in fact, with that whole narrow gate thing, Jesus was saying that very few people get to heaven. Second, we must obey Him. We want to say "I believe in God," but God wants us to obey him too. People throughout the gospels ask "What must I do to be saved?" In other words, what's the bare minimum I have to do to be saved? Jesus answered like "Love God with everything that you are, and love your neighbor as yourself." He answered like "Obey everything I commanded." (we like to change this to "I'm a good person. I never killed anybody.") Third, Jesus said we have to give up everything to follow him. Just read Luke 14. Jesus makes it clear that there are NO EXCUSES. It's all or nothing. Jesus will not share us.

See, we want to draw a line. It's ok if I sleep with this person. We're in love. Jesus told me to forgive, but he doesn't know what I've been through. We're supposed to not be greedy or materialistic, but this is America. That's just how things are. Our definition of sin is that we don't hurt anybody. Steal from a corporation, not a person. Have all the one-night stands we want. Who cares? But see, when we do those things that aren't any big deal, we pick those things over God. Even if their good things, like work or family. If they take priority, they are sin.

So if very few are going to make it to heaven, how do we ensure that we are one of the few? Reading this book is a good place to start. Also visit http://www.notafan.com. And chances are, if you're offended by all this talk, then you're a fan. You need to check this out more than anyone.

NFL 11 Wild Card Weekend

Let's do this.

Texans-Bengals. These two teams at face value may be the most evenly matched of any playoff matchup. I was thinking that even with it being their first plaoff game, the Texans would win, because of homefield advantage. I was right.

Saints-Lions. As much as I like Matthew Stafford, the Saints are just too good of an offense for the Lions to stop. This game went as I predicted.

Giants-Falcons. Though I did predict the G-men to win, I did not expect it to be this much of a blowout. The only two points the Falcons scored were off of a questionable penalty (it sure looked like he was outside the tackle to me). Brandon Jacobs came back after being MIA all season, and made his presence felt (literally). And little brother, well, we bELIeve in Eli. They have a tough game against the Packers, but they have a knack for winning games they shouldn't. If the recievers, Jacobs, and especially the Giant's D plays like that, they can beat the Packers. Will they? We'll see this weekend.

Broncos-Steelers. This is the only game that I did not predict the winner of, and boy was I happy. The Broncos busted out to an early lead, but the Steelers trudged their way back on them (since the Broncos have earned the rep of only playing 1-2 quarters. In this game, it was the 2nd). They forced the game to OT. Now there are new playoff rules. First kick in OT does not win it, to keep there from being a coin-flip victory. First TD, or defensive score, ends the game. Also, if each team has touched the ball, it turns into sudden death. This game was supposed to be the first to test the new rules. Instead, it was the shortest period of Overtime in NFL history. The Steelers had 9 up in the box, with a single safety set and one corner. The safety choked up to fake the blitz, but when they snapped the ball he was well out of position. As soon as the receiver (I believe his name was Taylor) started running, he was behind the safety. Tebow Time magic took over. He rifled the ball to the receiver, who promptly stiff-armed the cornerback. Because of the safety being so far up, there was no one else between him and the endzone. It was perhaps the most talked about play of the season.

Will Tebow Time be enough to stop Tom "the chump" Brady and the Pats? It wasn't earlier this year. But if it isn't, it sure was fun to watch so far. And that is why we love our football.

Too political

I just have to do a quick rant on Ron Paul. He's a lunatic. He's stuck in the 1960s-70s. He actually thinks that mutually assured destruction that kept the United States and the Solviet Union from firing nukes is enough to keep Iran in check. Mutually assured destruction does not mean much to a people whose philosophy of war is the suicide bomber.

Also, he wants to take an isolationist view of America, meaning that we pull our military and everything else home, then let the rest of the world do whatever they want. He thinks this is a new concept, based upon the founding fathers (the same founding fathers that had a hand in helping the French Revolution. What sounds isolationist about that?). Historically, this is not a new concept, or even a modern concept. In the 1920s and 30s, America also had the same philosophy. What were the results? Japan and Germany conquering then butchering our allies and innocent people, only to reward our passivity with an attack on Pearl Harbor. yes, we stuck our noses in a few places where it did not belong since then (none moreso than Vietnam), but it does not have to be either or. "With great power, comes great responsibility." We have a responsibility to do the right thing, and in doing so, we protect ourselves for the long-term.

So Ron Paul, stop thinking only of the growing debt. The present is built upon the past. If we do not learn the lesson of the past, we are doomed. If we take one particular and apply it universally, we are also doomed. Wisdom is the best course. You would think a man of your years would know that.

2011

This has been one crazy year. And I’m not talking football. I’m not talking politics. I’m talking about life. This year we saw Japan hit by a record quake (just a memorable one of many), and a record-breaking outbreak of tornadoes. Congressional approval ratings has reached an all-time low, as unemployment reached highs. Our president gave up on doing anything, as did congress and virtually everyone else.

In my life, I baptized more people this year than in my life so far. I prayed with a lot of people in hospitals. I started looking for a house. I knew a dozen women pregnant at the same time, including my sister who gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Kate, a.k.a. the Wiggle Worm. I also knew more people who passed away this year. My mother’s work was plagued by women losing their husbands. I took part in organizing and speaking at my Dad’s funeral last January.

Those were the most significant events of the year. I had one date (big whoop). I worked a lot, which was mostly enjoyable. My vacations all took me to the same place, my childhood home. Christmas morning was classified by these significant events. The first thing my sister and I opened were called “Memory Bears,” a teddy bear made from Dad’s sweatshirts. We cried. We remembered. Last Christmas time was the last time I saw Dad. A snowy flight home, lack of sleep, the most difficult moment of my life. Doing his funeral helped me move on. Just a few weeks later, my niece was conceived. God was involved directly. Kate gave us something to look forward to and helped us have a future to look to. Though she cannot replace Dad, we love her so much, and this joy helped our hearts not to dwell on the pain.

This year was also classified by a lesson. In February, I heard a sermon on John 15. Jesus said, “I am the vine. You are the branches. He who abides in my will bear much fruit.” What I have been learning this year is that it is not my job to produce fruit. It is not my job to help my church produce fruit. It is not my job to help other people produce fruit. It is my job to stay connected to the vine. Ephesians 2:10 says that if we are created new in Christ Jesus, this will result in good works. Galatians 5 says that if we are filled with the Holy Spirit, He will change us. That’s what God spent a year teaching me. My job is not to do for Him. My job is to build a relationship with Him. The doing will result from my closeness to Him. That's a lesson I continue to learn, to stay close to Him.

NFL 11 week 17 synopsis

Happy new year. The Colts ended their season 2-14, losing to the worst team in the division after beating the better two. But, we could not stop Jones-Drew (congrats for his first rushing title and for a new franchise record). I would have rather had the W than the first round pick, but what are you going to do. Our offense, well, Orlovsky didn't have a very good game, but I can't really blame him as his wife had tripletts this week, so he wasn't in Indy, didn't practice, and got very little sleep. But hey, at least he's not as bad as Curtis Painter.

Side note: Good job to Dwight Freeney for making another pro-bowl, and Robert Mathis for another sack-strip-recovery. I do have to say, Pat Angerer DESERVED to go to the pro-bowl. He lead the league most of the season in tackles. Jeff Saturday also deserved to go, if for no other reason he was the only o-lineman to play all season.

By the way, there is speculation that Jim Caldwell might lose his job. I hope not. It's not his fault we were down to the practice squad in many positions other than just QB.

Rest of the League:
Giants-Cowboys. Congrats to the Giants for embarrassing their arch-rival on national TV and making the playoffs. We bELIeve, little brother.

Pats-Bills. In the first quarter, the Bills ran up 21-0 due to chaining the doors to the pats locker room shut. After that, Tom "the chump" Brady and co scored 49 unanswered, one of five teams to score 40+ points on the same sunday. That's just crazy.

Fins-Jets. I've got to say it. All season the Jets played without passion, without heart, starting with Rex Ryan. They just didn't play like they had any drive that had endeared them to the rest of the NFL the last two seasons. Before you can win the big game, you have to do with week to week stuff first.

Titans-Texans. The Texans have really gone down hill due to a couple of key injuries, but still won the division (as I said they would). I can't see them going much further in the playoffs, however.

Bears-Vikings. Congrats to Jared Allen for a new franchise single-season sack record and being #2 on the all time list, just .5 behind Strahan. Now if the Vikings could get 21 more decent players, and some coaches to lead them, they could maybe do something.

Eagles-Redskins. The "dream team" finally played like one, in the last quarter of the season.

Saints-Panthers. Not the way Cam Newton hoped to end the season, but Drew Brees put up some new career-high numbers for the season, and was the second team that put up 40+ points this week.

Ravens-Bengals. The Ravens secured their division championship and the Bengals made it to the playoffs.

Cards-Hawks. The Cards put up a new record for most OT wins in a season, 6.

Steelers-Browns. Yet another close loss for the Browns.

Chiefs-Broncos. No Tebow Time today, but they still made the playoffs.

Falcons-Buccs. No one cares, except the Falcons also put up 40+.

Packers-Lions. Both of these teams round-out those scoring 40+. Even more impressive, the Pack started their back-up QB, who still threw 6 TDs, which was just too much for Stafford and the Lions to overcome. However, both teams still made it to the next level. The lions have been in a severe dought, so a playoff birth is a big deal for them.