Check this out

http://www.dpiministries.org/2009/09/carrots-and-eggs-god-working-in-our-hearts/

Auburn Church

I had lunch today with the leadership team from Auburn Church, a church plant in Auburn, AL.  What a great bunch of guys who are doing some very exciting work.

I don’t know that there is much that is more exciting, anxiety producing, glorious or terrifying than a start up; whether a start up business or a start up church.  You are putting not just your time and effort, but also your dreams, reputation and self-esteem on the line.  There is much more to lose than just a job, but of course there is also much more to gain.

From what I saw today these guys are going to do great.

Forced out of my home

My daughter is having a wedding shower at our home today, so I’ve been told in no uncertain terms to leave for about four hours.

Thank the good Lord I wasn’t invited.  The new thing of men coming to bridal and baby showers is an insidious plot of the enemy.

Random Thoughts on the Super Bowl

Everything on TV that surrounds the Super Bowl except the game stinks.

Anyone who says, “I watch the game for the commercials” or any variation thereof should be immediately kicked out of any Super Bowl party.

Fox had a list of NFL greats read the Declaration of Independence before the game.  It was brilliant and another step towards Super Bowl Sunday being a national holiday.

Pre game prediction – New England 38 New York 14

I wonder how much pregame help Payton gave Eli.

I hate when they lip sync the National Anthem.  Just find someone who can sing it live.

Tedy Bruschi had a stroke and now he’s playing in the Super Bowl.

I want Junior Seau to get a ring, but I wouldn’t mind if Rodney Harrison didn’t.

I’m surprised Tom Coughlin still has a face after the game in Green Bay.

Troy Aikman always looks like he has pillow head when wearing headphones.

How bummed is Jeremy Shockey today?

The Giants are doing a great job picking up the blitz.

I’ve never seen a better red zone defense than the Patriots.

Can you imagine anyone caring who the halftime performer is going to be?

Can you imagine being excited about seeing Tom Petty?

The Giants d line beating the Patriot’s o line was the story of the first half.

Over half time the Patriots have to adjust their blocking schemes and the Giants need to continue to run the ball.

Half time prediction – New England 28 Giants 17

Fourth quarter prediction – Who knows?

My daughter just asked me, “I thought you said this wasn’t going to be a good game?”  Who knew?

With six minutes to go, if the Patriots win the MVP is Wess Welker.  If the Giants win it is their defensive line.

I swear Eli Manning sometimes throws the ball with his eyes closed, yet the flings are often caught.

The refs should have called the game with a second to go instead of running out the clock.

Who would’ve thought?

This win shows that Tom Coughlin is a great coach.

What a great game!

Random Thoughts from January

Are ya’ sick of the writer’s strike?  I’m going to miss the return of Heroes, Life, The Office, and Pushing Daisy’s.  I don’t miss it yet because they keep surprising me with new shows.

Friday Night Lights is a must see; best dialogue on television.

I hate it when there is a list of quotes in magazines or blogs and they put the person who said the quote at the end.  I want to know who said it as I read it so I either end up hunting for it at the end or reading it twice.

I want to do my job like Brett Favre does his, with enthusiasm, passion, fun and excellence.

When my computer freezes or crashes I take it personally.

 My favorite line in Martin Luther King’s I Had a Dream Speech is Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California! 

Flight of the Conchords is hilarious.

Reruns of The Office are better than most first run shows.

Goodnight Emily

 

I’m bummed to hear Susan Pleshette died at the too soon age of 70.  If you’ve never seen The Bob Newhart Show in which she played Bob’s wife Emily find it and check it out.  It’s one of the best of all time and holds up well over time.

In the Middle of the River

Photo Credit

Louis de Cazenave passed away yesterday at the age of 110.  Other than to his family, that’s news because it leaves only one more living veteran of the French army that fought in World War I.

More than 8 million soldiers were mobilized by the French during the war.  One and a half million were killed and four and a half million were wounded.  That doesn’t count the millions in Germany, the UK and Russia that were also wounded or killed.

An entire generation of young men was wiped out, opening a century in which more people were killed in war than all the other centuries combined.  It was a pivotal point in history.  In a single battle more than one million people were killed. Britain’s 100-year-old effort to enforce peace in the world ended, it enabled Marxists to take over Russia setting the stage for the Cold War, and the way the war ended directly led to World War II.  The war was the birth pangs of the world we live in today. 

Now there is only one person still living, among the French anyway, who participated.  And, other than an occasional show on the History Channel or an anecdote about Veteran’s Day few of us think of World War I very often.

It reminds me of the river of time that we are a part of.  All of history led us to this point.  The actions and reactions of those who came before decided for us what our lives were to be.  Yet for most of us, very understandably, there is rarely is any time more important than our own.

We need to remember and understand the past so we can understand our world.  We also need to remember the down stream.  As we make decisions about the world of the future we need to very clearly keep in mind those who will be alive when there is only one of us left.

And not just on a national level. This isn’t just a question for presidents.  What is directly downstream from you?  The lives of children you touch, the others you influence, the creations you leave behind will all help set the course of the river.  To live a life worthy of the calling you’ve received it is important to remember the down stream.

From Here to Eternity

 

 I just finished watching this classic, rated the 52nd all time best movie by AFI.  This is the movie that made Burt Lancaster a huge star and he’s at his physical peak here.  Donna Reed is luscious as always and Deborah Kerr is spectacular as well.

A couple of thoughts about classic movies: 

To watch a movie like this and get the same enjoyment you would out of a  modern movie you have to put yourself in an historical context.  That’s one reason why it is good to watch movies like this.

For the people who originally saw this film, Pearl Harbor was the seminal event in their lives; their own 9/11.  This film put it into a personal, human context.  Also, you have to look at the actors as people living in a time and place.  Burt Lancaster was 40 at the time the movie debuted, but he looks strong and dynamic.  Donna Reed was 32 and had been married to Tony Owen for eight years.  This was Frank Sinatra’s big comeback.  After years of singing his career floundered until this film.  You look at the skinny kid he appeared to be, then picture the Rat Pack singer he would be 10 years later. 

 A movie like this gives you omniscience over people’s lives. These are people who are no longer alive, but speak to us through their creativity across history.  We know their future not only personally, but the world they live in.  And still we get a glimpse of their lives at a special time and place.

By understanding a little bit about the people and the times you learn a little more about your own life.   For me it takes me to a time and place outside my own and touches my heart in an amazing way.

To live a life worthy one must have a perspective of the place he or she holds in history and a respect for the lives that came before.

Worst Thing in the World

There is nothing worse than being 15-years-old and wanting to go over to your girlfriend’s house but no one will drive you. Just ask my son.

Random Thoughts

If other award shows were like the Golden Globes last night I might watch.  No red carpet, stupid jokes by presenters, obscure speeches by winners or dance performances.  Just a list of winners, which is all I care about to begin with.

Great football over the weekend.  I think Jacksonville played the best of all the losing teams. 

Who would have thought the Manning in the championship game would be Eli?  Way to go Chargers!

If LT plays for the Chargers next week they may have a chance against New England who has shown a vulnerability to the run.

No one is going to beat New England this year.  Give ‘em the trophy now.

Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters is really funny and really talented.

I’m jealous of anyone who went to the Led Zeppelin concert in London.  If I were rich I definitely would have sprung for that.

One of my favorite shows on television is Q & A with the Prime Minister straight from Parliament.  Tony Blair was sharper on his feet, but that makes the current segments with Gordon Brown even more raucous.

I saw Terminator: The Sara Conner Chronicles last night.  It was interesting but not great, though it is hard for a first episode to be great.  They’re going to benefit from the writers strike as I’ll probably give it another shot since there is little else new out there.  I’m sure I’m not the only one.

Why does Summer seem like a good name for a girl but Winter is odd?