25 Will Stretch You

So, I have noticed over the past couple of weeks/months that there have been a lot of posts on my friends blogs about things that they are thankful for. It is probably a sad thing to say, but I am too busy to notice those things. I don't just happen to notice how thankful I am for random things throughout the day. So, this morning, I decided to spend some time thinking about things that I am thankful for. As you can imagine, there are some things that are on my list that will not make sense to anyone else, but I don't care, because it's my list.

25 Noticeable things that I am thankful for right now. (not in any order besides how I think of them.)

1. I am thankful that the NBA Playoffs are on right now. I love them.
2. I am thankful that things are calming down in the Bosses household.
3. I am thankful that summer is almost here.
4. I am thankful that softball is finally here.
5. I am thankful for friends that have been there for me and Kimber in this interesting part of our lives.
6. I am thankful that in this economy, I still have a job.
7. I am thankful for Lenny Farlee and the entire ERC group.
8. I am thankful for people that choose to serve on the church board and are willing to serve.
9. I am thankful for people that are giving much of their time to the youth program at the church.
10. I am thankful that we have a Senior Pastor. This past week without him reminded me of what it was like the year before Troy arrived, and I am happy he is here.
11. I am thankful that God has blessed us with nice things to entertain people.
12. I am thankful that I found a wife that is her own person and she is willing to stand up to me if she disagrees.
13. I am thankful for a family that is awesome.
14. I am thankful for the teens that are here at LFCN
15. I am thankful for some very cool people that have started coming to church here since I started coming here.
16. I am thankful for the experiences that I have had since I have been in charge of the youth.
17. I am thankful for the people in my life that challenge me to think about what I really believe on some major Xian issues.
18. I am thankful that my wife is amazing with kids. It should make things easy for me.
19. I am thankful that when my time was done at Olivet, that I did not stick around there and stay living inside the bubble.
20. I am thankful for the heritage that my parents raised me in. I don't always represent it well, but I know that it formed who I am.
21. I am thankful that God has came and visited us on Sundays.
22. I am thankful that there are people here in Lafayette that keep my theological mind going.
23. I am thankful that I was able to get my car going again. I will never, ever want to buy a different car.
24. I am thankful that Kimber has a job that is awesome and is doing what she wants to be doing.
25. I am thankful that the Chicago Bears have a legit QB. Now lets play some games.

Finding 25 is hard for me:)

Top 5

This is not in any order...

Dave Matthews Band Songs
Crush
Gravedigger
Jimi Thing (Central Park)
Dancing Nancies
Cortez, the Killer



NFL Teams
Arizona Cardinals
Indianapolis Colts
San Diego Chargers
NY Giants
Chicago Bears



TV Shows
24
House
Hells Kitchen
American Idol
Hogan's Heroes




NBA Teams
Cleveland Cavaliers
Boston Celtics
LA Lakers
Golden State Warriors
Miami Heat



Nascar Drivers
Jimmie Johnson
Jeff Gordon
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Mark Martin
Carl Edwards



Movies
Enemy at the Gates
Billy Madison
Braveheart
Lord of the Rings
Hannibal Series



XBOX 360 Games
CoD 4
Forza 2
GRAW2
Madden
Rockband 2

Winter Retreat '09

God is Amazing.



For the first time in several months I really feel like I am where I need to be. I feel like God has placed me in a position that I am loving more and more each week. I love the teens that I am working with. The volunteers that are helping me out are phenomenal. Thank you God for affirming what I am doing.



Now to this past weekend.



We had a wonderful trip to Gull Lake Retreat Center . We took 22 teens (15 guys and 7 girls) with us to Hickory Corners, MI. You can look at the accommodations that we had by going to "retreats" and then to "accommodations." The guys were in the "Galatians" condo, and the girls were in the "Ben Gordon" condo. They were nice.

This year they had several things available for us. They had sledding which I hear was awesome, they had movies, board games, a game room with foosball, ping pong, pool, air hockey,and many other fun things. Friday night they had a trip to the YMCA (which we didn't go to because we ran out of gas on the way there.)

I had a really good time this past weekend but I am super excited about the trip next year. They are adding an on-site gym, bowling alley,etc... it is going to be awesome.

Thanks again Tina and Steve for going with us. We couldn't do it without you.

It's Really a Bathroom Break

Ok, I know that this may get me in trouble but I am going to say it anyways. I have been extremely dissapointed with the recent trend at the Superbowl halftime shows. In the past 5 years there has been nothing but "old fart" male performers. First off, I want you to realize that I just called; Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band old farts. I called them that because they are. I understand that at one time they were all very relevant and very entertaining.
The obvious reason for this testosterone party is the exposure that JJ received 6 years ago at the expense of JT. I totally agree that what happened on stage was inappropriate, but was it bad enough to torture all viewers under the age of 40?
Look at the list of performers the 5 years previous to the malfunction.

1999 - Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Savion Glover

2000 - Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton, 80-person choir, Edward James Olmos

2001 - Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Aerosmith, 'N Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, Nelly

2002 - U2 (Tribute to 9/11 victims)

2003 - Shania Twain, No Doubt, Sting

Notice every year besides 2002 contained at least one female. 4/5 pre-pasty, 0/5 post-pasty. Even more importantly they contained artists that were relevant to the time. I feel like instead of making the halftime show entertaining they have turned it into History 101.

I am making a concious decision to stop going on about this.

Here are my two questions.

1) If you could go back and watch any halftime show live from a seat on stage, who would it be?

2) Who would be a couple of people that you would like to see do the halftime show next year?

Water

Fantasies

***Quick note: Sometimes when I write out words they don't "look right." So, sometimes I use the convenient Google search bar located on the browser to search a word and see if it corrects my spelling of it. Don't ever search "Fantasies."***

Ok, now about my fantasies.

Every year near the end of August people around the country and world get together to compile a team that can beat their friends teams throughout a friendly season of fantasy football.

Well, that time has come to a close. I am feeling the loneliness that continues to set in year after year in December. (The loneliness would be deferred to February if the Bears could ever decide to show up and play.)

So after looking at my options...(Fantasy NASCAR, or Fantasy Baseball) I have decided to start a Fantasy NASCAR league.

Who's with me?

When I was a child, I thought as a child...

Growing up, my mother cooked breakfast for me every morning; toast, bacon, eggs usually. The only problem was, I was too lazy to get out of bed to eat it. I would hate to think how much food was wasted during my childhood. Mom could probably fed a small 3rd world country with the waste. Thinking back on this, it really frustrates me. I wish I would have gotten out of bed more often. 

Note: I am not complaining about the breakfast service I get now, I am just noticing my lack of understanding exactly how good my childhood was. 

When/If I get breakfast now, it is usually a wonderful bowl of soggy cereal from Kiddie Kollege. Cinnamon Toast Crunch is the best.  So this brings me to my question. 

What is your favorite breakfast food?

Ephesians 4:26 & Romans 3:23 And Sunday Was My Day

I am going to warn you, this is a rant dealing with football. If you like/liked football, please read on, otherwise feel free to stop reading at any time. Please do not comment on this post and say things like, "I'm so tired of hearing about football, and complaining about football" because frankly I don't care. This is my blog and I'll be bitter if I want.

To be honest, I have been wanting to write this for 3 days, but I promised myself that I was not going to talk about it with anyone for 3 days. It seemed biblical. I buried it and allowed it to rise 3 days later. For those of you who think I am acting like God, please feel free to stop reading at any time.


Final - Bears 14 - Vikings >14

Let it be known that I do not feel like I would make a good Offensive Coordinator or a good Defensive Coordinator. I am going to make observations as a football lover

Observation 1

- The Bears didn't run the ball once in the first series. I don't care if you have the best QB and the best WR corps in the league, which the Bears don't. You have to run the football. They are a running team. They have one of, if not the best, rookies in the game starting at RB. GIVE HIM THE BALL!

Here is how this series went: Pass (0 gain), Pass (0 gain), Pass (0gain), Offsides (Vikings), 3rd & 5 Pass (0 gain), punt.

I was very angry, and this was the first 5 plays of the game.

Observation 2

Bears 7 - Vikings 3

5:00 left in the 2nd quarter. Bears are on the 1 yrd line via a Viking penalty. Here is a quote from the sometimes loved Lovie Smith. "In that situation, it comes down to you against them. You have to be able to get it in." I'm not really sure what to say to that.

Here is how that series played out from the 1: Pass incomplete to G. Olsen, run (0gain), run (0gain), ok at this point its 4th and goal on the 1. The Bears can't run the ball when the Vikings clamp it down. I would have thought they knew this by now. So what do you do? You kick the FG and go up 10-3. NO! You go for it! I mean, you haven't been able to run very well against them, but surely you can get 1 yard! Nope. (Ok, I don't know if you followed that very clearly, but I am not going back and clearing it up.) So instead of being up 10-3 you are up 7- 3 and the Vikings have the ball. First play, the Vikings throw a 99yard TD pass to who? Bernard Berrian. The receiver that the Bears let go! RED FURY.

In an interview on Monday Lovie said, " Give them credit, they wanted it a little bit more than we did." Really? Are you sure that it is about desire and not the fact that Ron Turner is incapable of thinking. He can't remember that the Vikings have/had the best DT duo in the league. I mean if I am told to "Lather, Rinse, and Repeat" but I am not getting any results, I'm done. I'm not repeating.

Lovie says, "We have to improve in quite a few areas." - nice understatement.

Congrats to Jared Allen for having a phenomenal game and maybe becoming one of my favorite DE ever.

Quick Observation 3

I heard that the league did not want to suspend these 6 players that failed the drug test because they didn't want to have an effect on the playoffs. First of all that's bull. Second of all that is bull, and third of all, why would they play the political games like that. I thought Goodell was better than that. I am bitter mostly because the Williams Wall (the two DT which I refered to earlier) which plays for the Vikings were suspended along with 4 other players. So, if they hadn't been there (like they shouldn't have been) Matt Forte would have definately had a better day. I don't want to make excuses, so I will stop.

Super Quick Observation 4
If there is anyone still reading this I would be surprised, unless it would be Joe.