Two reasons why Ohio State will win on Jan. 7...

Christmas Giving

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I know I did. And while I'm excited about the holiday that just past, I'm also excited about the event that's coming up: New Years. It's always been one of my favorite holidays, probably because of the long history of college football on that day.

It's kind of weird, though. When I was kid, all I cared about was what I got for Christmas. Don't get me wrong, I still love to "get," but more and more I find myself enjoying watching others open gifts. Most of my family knows that I have an odd fear of opening gifts in front of poeple. I've never been a fan of being the center of attention and more so when gift givers are waiting for a reaction. But I don't know when it happened, but I'm becoming the one looking for the reaction.

I really wish I could spend loads of money buying great gifts, and people love those expensive gifts. But what I've found is it doesn't generally matter the amount of money but rather what the gift means or that you showed a genuine effort in trying to buy a gift that suits the person perfectly. It's also the little things, like how it's wrapped or small extras that add to it. More than having a lot of money spent on them, I think most would rather just know that the person spent time and effort.

Spending money is easy, any one can just swipe a credit card or surf the web. But making a little bit of effort, putting a little elbow grease and creativity into gift giving is what gets the reaction.

On a side note, my only dissapointment this year was that I did not get to watch "The Grinch," "Charlie Brown Christmas," or "Muppet Christmas Carol" this year. All three are Christmas classics and I may have to watch one or all of them in the coming week at some point.

Enjoy what's left of 2007!

Ho Ho Ho

Merry Christmas Eve to all!

I've always loved Christmas Eve. As we all know from experience, anticipation for the event is often times better than the actual event. Now that I'm 24, the excitment of Santa Claus sneaking in and putting out all the loot isn't there, but Christmas Eve is still special.

My family has always gone to my Romick grandparents on Christmas Eve since I was born and we exchange gifts there. But we also eat dinner (usually pizza made by Uncle Loren), play some games and my favorite, sing some carols together around the piano that is played by my Aunt Colleen. It's always a good time and always something to look forward to.

It's also exciting that through six years of being my girlfriend that Trista has become part of that family tradition, as well. She and I also exchange gifts on Christmas Eve. She usually has something up her sleeve to try to fool me or she'll make me dig through four boxes for a pair of tickets. I'm not nearly as imaginative when it comes to aggitating people over gifts, but maybe someday I'll be able to get her back. It's always fun, though, and that's what's most important.

It kind of bothers me that a lot of movies and television shows portray family holiday gatherings as annoying and cumbersome. What's to complain about? There's no work and no worries. For an eve and a day, we get to relax and enjoy the company.

I hope everyone's holiday gatherings go off with out a hitch. Enjoy!

Trade?

I really liked Josh Hamilton. There's no need to sugar coat it. He was a good guy that played like he didn't deserve to be there (unlike Adam Dunn). His talent is exceptional. Do I wish the Reds would have kept him? Absolutely.

But they didn't. I'm a believer in Wayne Krivsky and always will be. I know people still shout about that Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez deal, but look at their numbers with Washington and remember that they were due big money in free agency (get something or lose them to free agency), and I still believe it was the right move at the time. Bill Bray will be really good this year. Still, Krivsky brought in Phillips, Arroyo, locked up Harang and gave Hamilton a chance. He's got an eye for talent so I'm not questioning him on this deal. Besides, it was almost necessary.

The Reds have offense. There's no doubt about that. Even without Hamilton, the team can score runs. Heading into the season, there are two legit major league pitchers on the roster. Edinson Volquez gives us three. He's a young, highly-touted pitcher with a ton of promise and showed solid results in six big league starts last year. I'm also excited about the throw-in player in Danny Ray Herrera. This guy is a diminutive lefty that is a great ground ball pitcher (exactly what you need in GABP) and has posted good numbers in the numbers.

Despite Hamilton's production last year, brass had to question how well his body would hold up. Their willinginess to move a guy that had .320, 35 HR, 95 RBI potential leads me to believe they already knew he couldn't. Remember Eric Davis? He was as good as there was when he was healthy, but that was rare. If this trade turns out to be Eric Davis for a possible Jose Rijo-type pitcher, I'd take that in a heartbeat.

The other reason this trade makes sense is you are exchanging an area of wealth for an area of need. Sure, Griffey is getting up there and is entering the final year of his contract. But there's a good chance that Jeff Keppinger moves to the outfield this year anyway. Plus, Adam Dunn is locked up in left for the long haul, Norris Hopper showed potential in center (and more importantly in the leadoff spot) and there needs to be an opening for Jay Bruce very soon. Keeping Jay Bruce off the field would be foolish,regardless of who was already there.

Josh had a great story and I'm upset to see him go. I've heard that Reds' fans were talking about boycotting because they moved Hamilton. Look, the kid was insipirational and possibly very good, but the city of Cincinnati didn't throw a fit when Reds' ownership cast off Barry Larkin a few years ago. Barry even won an MVP and a World Series.

We'll Be Fine

Well, I finally got to see my Celtics play a big game. The hated Detroit Pistons rolled into Boston for a prime time ESPN match-up between the two best teams in the Eastern Division. It certainly lived up to its billing. It's only 23 games into the year, but I waited all week for this game.

That stinkin' Chauncey Billups (former Celtic) got fouled with 0.1 seconds left and made both free throws to win. But even though the C's lost, I saw something that I really liked: a bit of attitude. No one knew how this season would go for the Celtics considering that there are nine new players on the roster and a second-year player running the point. It's going to take a while and some experience in big games to work out the kinks. They got into a big game tonight against a team that's been to five-straight conference finals and nearly pulled it off.

I know all that commentators will say that everything that happened (lack of bench scoring mostly) was exactly what they questioned about this Celtics team at the start of the year. But like I said before, it's only 23 games in. The Celtics are 20-3. I'll take a couple losses if that's what it takes to iron things out. It takes years to build chemistry, not 23 games.

With that said, the Celtics still looked REALLY good for most of the game. Rajon Rondo is going to be a stud in the league. Basketball folks questioned his shot and he responded by scoring 10 in the first quarter of the biggest game of the year to date. I love that kid.

But the attitude I mentioned earlier displayed itself in the form of Ray Allen. Wow, what a shooter. He's got a ridiculously quick trick and he hit two impossible 3-pointers that kept the team in it. Also, with the team down and seemingly dead in the water, he went hard to the hole and threw down a reverse jam that sparked the comeback. Understandably, the team likes to go to Paul Pierce at the end of the game, but from here on out, I want the ball in Ray's hands each and every trip in the final two minutes.

The only concern I came away with was the struggle against defensive pressure. When the Pistons cranked up the defense, the Celtics struggled to find shots. Not many teams play "D" like the Pistons, but experiencing that playoff intensity now will only benefit this team in the long run, which is what it's all about.

Remember. Nine new players. 20-3. 59 games left. It's a long road.

What Happened?

Last Monday, I was flipping through channels and saw that the 15th Anniversary of WWE "RAW" was just beginning. I'm not ashamed to say that when I was growing up, I was a big professional wrestling fan or maybe I would have been better described as a "smark" (smart mark). That means I was a BIG fan, but I also knew all the behind-the-scenes story lines and all the history that went with the organization.

Back when I stopped watching wrestling, it was still the WWF, so all this WWE business was new to me. Honestly, I hadn't seen an episode of Raw in probably seven or eight years, so really, I had no idea what was going during about half of those 15. But for the first part of that 15, I was on the couch, every Monday night from 9-11 (now it's 8-11). It was always the hot topic of Tuesday at school, discussing what had happened and what we thought would happen next. It was like a soap opera for adolescents or instead of a "water cooler" show, it was a blackboard show. It was huge. Me, my friends, and most kids my age were a big reason that not only the WWF, but the WCW and ECW thrived in the mid to late 90's, posting huge TV rating numbers every Monday night. It was the "Attitude" era of Stone Cold Steve Austin, Degeneration X and The Rock (and NWO vs. Sting in WCW) when wrestling really boomed.

These days, the ratings aren't as high. Part of that is because Vince McMahon bought out his only two competitors. As we know from economics class, monopolies aren't good for anyone except the person that owns it. But that's not the only reason. There will always be young teenagers to watch, like I was back in the day, but things have changed too much and gotten too adult for the young teens. When it started getting big, the WWE, thanks mostly to DX and Austin, started featuring some more racy storylines, but they were pretty harmless compared to what I saw on the most recent episode.

I fully excepted the anniversary episode to feature some classic footage or reunions of old stars. It did provide SOME of that, but the opening sequence had Vince in all his glory strut to the ring for a family photo to commemorate the evening. Once there, his nemesis HHH (or Triple H for you non-wrestling fans) proceeded to the ring to announce that not all of Vince's family was there. He then, one by one, called women...and men...to the ring that Vince had supposedly had "relations" with. He also called down Vince's illegitimate son, which happens to be a "little person" from Ireland. Needless to say, I was a bit taken aback. I remember when Undertaker having casket matches was over-the-top. But this was downright disturbing.

Amazingly, I don't sound like a kid any more. I used to be the one saying, oh it's not that bad. But now I'm saying, it IS that bad. At some point the line has to be drawn, and it's not even about the racy story lines and gratuitous sexual content. Wrestling was almost goofy 10 years ago, and it was good for a laugh and fun to jump on board with a guy and enjoy his ups and downs. It's not fun and games anymore, though. Since I stopped watching, Davey Boy Smith, Rick Rude, Curt Hennig, Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Crash Holley, Big Boss Man, and Brian Adams just to name a few have all died (most of the cause of the deaths say heart attack) and they were all in there 30's and 40's. I just read an article that said wrestlers have a death rate seven times higher than the regular population and are 12 times more likely to die of heart disease. It's unbelievable what these men did to their bodies and the price that it cost them. All in the name of entertainment, I suppose.

While watching, I started to wonder why I quit watching wrestling. Suddenly, thanks to Vince, I remembered.

Couldn't Be Happier

Really? That’s the best you could do? Michigan, I understand your thinking at this point, but really. That’s all you could come up with at this point? I can here the conversation right now…

Michigan athletic director Bill Martin: Well, now that we didn’t have to fire Lloyd, we’ve got to figure out a way to beat that darn team from down south. Apparently Les doesn’t was too stupid to figure out his alma mater wanted him as the head coach.
Michigan president Mary Sue Coleman: Well, Ohio State has only lost twice in the last two years.
Martin: Yeah, Florida and Illinois. Hey, wait a sec. Didn’t both those teams run a spread offense?
Coleman: What’s a spread offense?
Martin: Don’t worry about it. But that must be the key. The spread offense. Who runs it the best. That guy down at WVU. Rich. Yeah, those guys run the spread offense real good. Let’s hire him!

You KNOW that’s what they were thinking (or not thinking). What did Ohio State do when it was looking for a replacement for Cooper. Glen Mason was qualified, but they had to find a guy that won some big games (what Cooper didn’t do). So they got a guy that won championships.

The last time I checked, it wasn’t offense that ailed Michigan. In fact, they were pretty good the last couple years with the likes of Henne and Hart (except against Ohio State, HAHAHAHA!). As I remember, Michigan had to big problems: defensive meltdowns and a failure to win big games (0-4 against the Buckeyes and 0-4 in its last four bowls). What’s two things that Rich Rodriguez has never produced as a major college football coach (NAIA does not apply, eh hem, Glenville State)? A quality defense and a wins in big games.

Let’s look at this objectively. As I’ve always said, the numbers never lie. Sure, WVU has put up some quality records in the last three years: 10-2, 11-2, 11-1. Yeah, that’s not bad. How ’bout them Buckeyes over the last three years: 11-1, 12-1, 10-2 (with two national championship game appearances). That’s not bad either. But let’s dig a little deeper. This is an easy thing to compare because our new punching bag Rich Rodriguez and the Vest became head coach of their respective schools in the same season of 2001. I never judge a coach by his first season, so let’s throw out 2001 (7-5 for the Vest, 3-8 for Red and Green Wrist Bands).

Since 2002, Ohio State is 66-10 overall with four bowl victories. WVU, on the other hand, is 57-16 with two bowl victories.

Wow, 57 wins is pretty good. But let’s go a little deeper still. Against the major rival, Ohio State is 5-1 while WVU is 3-2 against Pitt (and we all know Pitt isn’t exactly Michigan). Against ranked teams the Bucks are 21-5. WVU is 9-10. But even knowing that, this stat is the killer. Everyone has busted on the Buckeyes for picking up some piece-of-cake non-conference wins the the last couple of years, but examine the ‘Eers schedule, and you’ll find very much of the same (a win over East Carolina each year). And for all ya’ll who claim the Big East is a powerhouse conference, here’s something for your to chew on. In the last six years, WVU is 7-10 against non-conference BCS member schools. Ohio State, on the other hand, is 21-5 with three losses coming against a pair of No. 2-ranked teams (Texas and Florida, both of whom went on to win the national championship) and a No. 4-ranked team in Michigan. How freakin’ great is that stat!

That just goes to show how pitifully sad the Big East has been and how incredibly inflated West Virginia’s win totals have been during Rodriguez’s tenure.

OK, so maybe we’ll give Rich a few years to build up the Maize & Black and Blue. You know as well as I do that Michigan recruits lead footed quarterbacks exclusively and there isn’t an athlete on the roster like Pat White to run the offense. Much like at WVU, it will take him some time to recruit HIS type of player and coach up system. In his first four years at WVU, Rich won 27 games and dropped 21, losing three bowl games. Winning eight games a year ain’t cuttin’ it. And with his futility against rivals and in big games, a couple more losses in a row to the Buckeyes and the booster club will have his spread option on the first bus back to the Mountain State.

So, is Rich going to win at Michigan? Almost any one can win at Michigan. The question is how much can you win at Michigan? Like I said, eight wins isn’t ground breaking like it was at WVU. Not even 10 wins is ground breaking. It’s gotta be Big 10 titles, and beating the Buckeyes or bust. Let’s not forget that Michigan has never appeared in the BCS title game.

My gut tells me that Rich is in WAY over his head. Even back in his small college days of Salem and Glenville, he posted a record of 45-36-2. I know a guy by the name of Bob Eaton that had a record like that at West Liberty…and he got fired…from WEST LIBERTY.

Regardless, it’s going to take Rich a while to get things going. I heard that Terrelle Pryor was all of sudden thinking about heading up North. You go ahead and do that, son. Go ahead and run that spread option that won nothing of significance at West Virginia, got Pat White nothing but hurt and ruined his NFL potential. You go ahead and play for that Maize and Blue and end up like another top-rated QB in Chad Henne: 0-4 against the Buckeyes. You go ahead and play for the Wolverines and the Buckeyes will find someone, anyone, and get to another national championship game while you are sunning yourself in Orlando at the Capital One Bowl for four years in a row. Have a good time.

In summation, I say, Thanks, Michigan. And somewhere in Columbus, as he prepares for the BCS Championship, Jim Tressel is smiling.

Learn my lesson

Remember just a couple days ago when I wrote about Jesus remaining silent while His critics condemned Him? Why can't I lesson to myself. The entire reason I started this blog was to cut down my pride. For a while it worked, but I have reverted back to my defensive, know-it-all attitude. Something happened tonight, and I won't go into detail, but I got defensive and raised my voice to people and I shouldn't have. It doesn't matter if I believe that I was right or justified in my argument, it matters that--like the bracelets say--Do what Jesus would do. Just keep quiet.

Maybe there are times when we have to speak up, but it shouldn't be in the manner that I did. There's a way to defend yourself without be ill-mannered and ill-tempered. At first, I felt convinced in my stance, but as the Holy Spirit does, He convicted me as soon as I opened my Bible tonight.

I thought I had an idea for a blog, and as I was flipping through to find Timothy, James 3 caught my eye and there was a big header that said the Untamable Tongue. Ype, "the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity...With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men...My brethren, these things out not to be so."

Let me have it James. Every time I hear this verse I think of the Third Day song (off their self-titled first release) "Nothing At All." Actually, it was the first 3D song I ever heard. In the song, there's a little breakdown where Mac speaks piece of this verse. The lyrics are pretty self-explanatory; "If you can't say nothing good, don't say nothing at all." Despite the fact that the song is rife with double negatives ("ain't you got nothing better to do"), it's the truth.

As the song continues, "we've got to tame our tongues." It's not that I'm shouting expletives or vulgar language, but it's all about intent and attitude. There is no doubt I need to work on this and it's a big part of getting rid of my pride. Thank God for His forgiveness!

The Master & The Musician

As you know, Phil Keaggy is my favorite artist of all time. This year also happens to mark the 30th year since his first instrumental release titled The Master & The Musician. It's hard to believe that someone who released an album (not even his first) five years before I was born could be my favorite artist. Anyway, Phil has remastered that very album and it is on sale as we speak. It's a two disc set this time around with outtakes, demos and tunes that didn't make the final cut. He didn't win any awards for this album, but I personally feel it ranks right up there with The Wind & the Wheat and better than Beyond Nature, which both won Dove Awards and are considered his best work.

It's definitely an eclectic collection that has little jazz guitar, a little Celtic influence but worth every bit of the money spent. This is my shameless plug for you to go buy the album and support the greatest guitar player we've ever known.

While Phil's album is called the Master & the Musician, he is without a doubt the master musician. Here is an acoustic version of "Pilgrims Flight" combined with "Castle Call," which are both on this album.



I found a great Phil quote, and this sums up this album and his playing. "The gift of music is not only something that you share with other people, it's something that you give back to your creator. To me, it has to express love and the gratitude that's in your heart, because that's ultimately what we're created to do. As it says in the book of Isaiah, 'The people whom I have formed for myself shall declare my praise.' That's the foremost reason I am a Christian musician."

Go to philkeaggy.com for a great story on the making of the album, for song clips, and for information on buying the album.

Time Warner sabotaged me. OK, maybe it's not that dramatic, but I downgraded my Internet service to save a few bucks (every penny counts I'm told). For the next two days, my Internet wouldn't work. I called tech support and three times I got disconnected. Finally, I called at midnight tonight and got through after 25 minutes. Nothing like tech support. Well, that's the reason I didn't blog the last couple of days. I don't really have much to say today, it was an awfully boring day, but I would like to relay a couple things I heard in church on Sunday.

The speaker was talking about the messianic prophesies in Isaiah 53:6-12. First, let me say how amazing it is that Isaiah wrote these things hundreds of years before Jesus and he hit the nail on the head. For anyone wondering about the validity of the Bible, just look at that. Anyway, remember how Jesus kept quiet while the authorities questioned him? "Like a sheep before its shearers." While the authorities were challenging Him, He kept quiet. He let them smash His reputation. Yet Jesus wasn't always quiet. Remember when He cleaned house in the temple? When His reputation was on the line, it didn't matter, but when it was the Father's reputation, he spoke up and acted in a big way. We should definitely take a cue from that. I remember John Wooden writing in a book that "Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are." Jesus stood up for his character and made sure the reputation of His Father's was upheld, as well.

One other thing that stood out to me was something that speaker says separates Christianity from all other man-made religions. It's very simple. In 53:6, it says that all we like sheep have gone astray (that's also a line in a great Phil Keaggy song) and the Bible also tells us that we all try to suppress the truth and that "no, not one" is righteous. We have all turned aside. In other words, people stink. It's the truth. We know because of this that we need a perfect atonement for our sin, which was Jesus. But what a difference that is from man-made religions that tell us that you and I are all OK and that we are empowered individuals. If you were trying to develop your own religion, how could you attract people if you got together and said, "OK, folks. We are getting together here because we are all sinners, totally depraved and there is nothing we can do for ourselves." When I look at it like that, it's quite depressing. But when I know the truth, that Jesus has rescued me, it's not depressing, but overwhelmingly joyous.

A bit of everything

It's been an exciting last couple of days and the reason I haven't blogged is because I was in Morgantown with no access to the Internet. I was there to make a big purchase. I can't say I made the purchase on my own because it's a joint effort and it's that kind of cooperation that makes me and Trista's relationship work so well. But stay tuned for more information.

I have a few other things on my mind though, and I'll just list them in stream of consciousness style.

I'm watching the DII semifinals right now and this Xaiver Omon for Northwest Missouri State is a really nice player. He just went 98 yards for his fourth TD of the game. I'm happy to say that I called this upset. I'm cheering hard against Grand Valley, which doesn't make much sense considering the Lakers play in the same conference as my current employer, Mercyhurst. But in our conference, Grand Valley wins everything and I'm sick of it. Time for someone new. I really wish that someone new would have been California (Pa.). It's an old PSAC West rival of Shippensburg (where I spent the last two years) and I am friendly with their sports information director. Mercyhurst is moving into the PSAC next year, so it would have been nice to have the defending national champ not only in our conference but in the division. Unfortunately, Cal was bumped out by a Valdosta State rally. I love college football playoffs. Hint, hint.

The Celtics are 17-2 and I'm absolutely giddy about it. I knew this team would be good but I was thinking like 50-32 good. But if they stay on pace, the C's could possibly be 73-9 at season's end. Now, they aren't going to do that. But 60 wins would be amazing to me after winning all of 23 games a year ago. Kevin Garnett's stats aren't what they used to be but he's such a great leader. Just his presence on the team has made this team what it is. Also, Paul Pierce has been under appreciated for a long time. Without any help, he's gone to the conference finals and to several playoffs. Now, with some help, he looks like an MVP. The great thing, though, about this team is that Pierce, like tonight, can have an off night and they can still win easily. Rondo is really coming on as a player. He just needs the confidence to keep shooting.

I love the baseball hot stove league. I'm on mlbtraderumors.com all the time to see if my Reds are going to make any moves. So far, it's been pretty quiet other than a huge closer signing. I'm not a huge fan of four years to Mr. Cordero but if he improves the team by 10-12 wins for the next four years, which I think he can, it'll be worth it. I heard the Reds were in the running for Dontrelle Willis. I'm really glad they didn't land him. He's really overrated as a pitcher and isn't nearly as effective as he was his first couple of years in the league. I also like that the Reds are getting involved in talks for Erik Bedard. He's 28 years old, entering his prime and has had an ERA down around 3.00 for the last couple of years. With Bedard, Harang and Arroyo at the top, look out. I've also heard the names of Brett Tomko, David Wells and Jon Leiber tossed about. David Wells? This isn't 1995. Tomko and Leiber I can deal with ONLY if the team lands Bedard.

What really disturbs me about the Reds' offseason is the talk of moving Josh Hamilton. He's really been shopped around. This is a guy, while being very injury plagued, showed tremendous ability at the plate and was easily the team's best outfielder. Not only that, but he was a great story and great PR for the Reds when they really needed great PR. I'm afraid trading him, unless it was in a package for Bedard, would cause fans to riot. The ONLY way I would consider trading Hamilton is if I knew that he was not going to ever put together a full season because of injury problems, or if Jay Bruce was going to be the opening day starter in right field. That's it. The only way. As for moving Homer Bailey and Joey Votto...I'm not crazy about it. It's been so long since Cincinnati has had legit prospects come up through the minors, you'd like to see a lineup of Norris Hopper, Jeff Keppinger, Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto, Edwin Encarnacion, Josh Hamilton and then fill in the blanks. It would be rewarding for the organization to see all the homegrown talent.

The package I heard for Bedard was Bailey, Votto and Johnny Cueto. There's no chance I move both pitchers. After watching Bailey last year, I think Cueto has a shot to be better. At his best, Bailey can probably be as good as Bedard and Votto probably won't be an all-star but he'll be very good. Two can go, but not all three.

Really, though. Hamilton has to stay. A 2009 outfield of Dunn, Hamilton and Bruce (can I dream of not having Dunn?) would make me giggle like a school girl.

Waiting or waiting to work?

Ever since I mentioned yesterday in the blog about waiting on the Lord, that little phrase has been really stewing in my mind. It seems easy to understand. It should mean simply that I have to be patient and not try to work on my own clock but on God's. It should mean simply that God has a plan and a timetable and as long as I'm willing to wait and then act when He calls me, it will work out.

But I wondered if there is more to it, with me at least. The first thing I usually do when faced with this kind of question is look up the word in the dictionary.

By nature, I'm a pretty impatient person. I hate being late and I don't tolerate it from others. Supposedly, it's a family trait, but with me it's almost an obsession to be early to everything and it may even be a fear of being late. So when I think of waiting, I think of being told I can't do something or that I can't go somewhere. Or maybe I'm ready to go somewhere and the person that's going with me isn't ready to go. I'm waiting. One of the definitions, actually the first one that appears on dictionary.com is "to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens."

After I read that, it hit me. I had read several verses from the Bible and didn't fully get it until I read that definition. One word popped out at me. Inactive. That's usually what we relate to waiting and that's what didn't sit well with me when ever I read "wait on the Lord."

Being inactive and waiting should not go hand in hand. I kept quoting Psalms 130:5, you know the verse from the Jeremy Camp song. But I forgot to keep reading to verse six. "6 My soul waits for the Lord
More than those who watch for the morning—
Yes, more than those who watch for the morning. "

Those who are watching for the morning are like the the virgins and their lamps from Matthew. This whole time I've been waiting for a new place to go to church and some way to get involved with something and that was the wrong way to go about it. I'm not saying that God can't speak to me and tell me what to do or where to go, but what I'm saying is that He won't unless I'm ready to act. I'm pretty sure I'm not ready to act.

The definition I like for the word "wait" is "to be available or in readiness." It's like an army lying in wait, ready to strike at the general's command. In other words, waiting is not sitting on my butt and wondering when the flashing sign will appear, but it's being diligent and continuing to do God's work--the things I know I can do--while waiting for a direction from Him.

The Proverbs tell us that "The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied." But it also says "The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty." Maybe what Solomon was saying is that you have to be self-motivated and work hard but don't work hard for the wrong reasons or push ahead quickly for personal gain. If I'm truly waiting on the Lord, I'm going to be in that state of readiness, ready to spring into action whenever He calls me. It's just like working out on the treadmill. It's best to stretch out, walk a bit and then work your way up to a sprint when you're ready. God knows when I'll be ready to sprint, but I've got to start walking first.

Today's thoughts

I'm sitting at my desk right now with no idea what to blog about. It's pouring down snow outside and that's totally fine with me. I love snow, always have and I love cold weather. It's invigorating. I guess I moved to the right place.

Most of what I've been doing today has been lounging, but I did break out my acoustic and since it is Christmas time, I started strumming some Christmas songs. I've said before that one of my favorite things to do is play old hymns on my guitar, and some of my favorite hymns have been dubbed Christmas songs.

There's "Angels from the Realms of Glory," "Silent Night," "Good Christian Men, Rejoice," "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," "What Child Is this," "O Come, All Ye Faithful," and of course, "O Holy Night."

The final song is my favorite. Not only is it a powerful and stirring song, but I also have many great memories of it. Every Christmas at church, my dad sings that song and he can really belt it out. Last year, though, was a really special version, and very impromptu at that. Dad was schedule to sing it on a Sunday morning when me, Uncle Loren and some of the guys generally play. Dad was going to sing it without music but we agreed that we could work up a quick version. Without rehearsing, we put together a very nice arrangement and Dad cruised right along through it. I've been playing guitar since I was 13 and it was without a doubt one of my favorite guitar-playing moments.

I guess it just goes to show that even though we aren't professionals, the best musicians or the best singers, when our heart is right in worship and use the talents God gave us, people will be touched and God will be glorified. I wish I could do that more often, but like I said a few weeks ago, it's time for me to expand my horizons as a Christian and develop some new talents and new skills. Step out of my comfort zone, I guess. I'm not entirely sure what that's going to be yet, but God has said to be patient.

As Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait on the LORD;Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!"

Dinosaurs: Biblically speaking...part deux

I know, I'm a couple days late on this, but some things came up. And I also know that you are expecting me to say something, anything about college football. But I'm not. I do not wish to add to the mess of opinion. There are people smarter than I that will make good arguments and people dumber than I (Les Miles) that will make stupid arguments. There is a point of saturation and I don't want to add to that.

So I'll get back to the dinosaurs. In the last blog I gave Biblical references describing dinosaurs and gave evidence that dinosaurs and man lived side-by-side. Today, I'll give a possible theory for why the dinosaurs became extinct. This is easily the best explanation I've heard and it's Biblically sound. Here it goes.

The place we need to start is in the beginning. Yes, God created the heavens and the earth. But let's dig a bit deeper. First, go to Genesis 1:6-8. "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. (7) Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. (8)"And God called the firmament Heaven...

What this tells me is that God created a firmament of water, and called it heaven, meaning there was a layer of water suspended in the atmosphere. The firmament, I'll call it, is much like an ozone layer. It surrounded the earth (waters divided from waters) and protected the earth from the suns radiation, provided a consistent temperature throughout the earth and most importantly, a consistent air pressure.

In Genesis 2, it clearly states that God had not caused it to rain. There was no need for rain, as the weather was perfect all the time, as God had wanted it to be. Also, in Genesis 1:20, God told the birds to fly above the earth and across the face of the firmament. If the firmament were not a solid thing (water) then why couldn't birds fly through the firmament or above the firmament. But no, the firmament had boundaries and it was solid.

But that firmament would eventually be broken, and that came in the great flood. Genesis 7 tells us about it. It reads in verse 11 that the windows of heaven were opened. Could this mean that the firmament was broken?

I'm not suggesting that dinosaurs died in the flood, because they would have been aboard the ark. Yes, really, they would have fit. There weren't that many "kinds" of animals then. Noah didn't need to take a collie, golden retriever, and a lab. He just need a dog. Most fossil records show that most dinosaurs were much smaller than we are led to believe. Instead, I'm suggesting that the collapse, or the depletion of the firmament, caused problems on earth with weather, temperature, and most importantly, pressure. I've read that many dinosaurs had minimal lung capacity and with the increase in air pressure, they would have a difficult time breathing, and thus, a difficult time living.

Something to think about anyway.

This doesn't have to do so much with extinction, but it gives more evidence that humans and dinosaurs could have lived together. Common sense would say that dinosaurs would have wiped out humans. But in Genesis 1:30, it says that God gave every green herb for food to the birds and the beasts. Not flesh, but herbs. Let's move to the post-flood, where everything changed. In Genesis 9:2-3, it is the first time God tells man that any animal, fish, bird, creeping thing, whatever, is given to man to eat, "even as the green herbs." Apparently, before this, man did not eat animals and likewise animals did not eat man.

I've always been intrigued by the history of mankind and the creation. Certainly, there are many questions that we will never be able to answer, but by reading the Bible and really studying it, we might be able to answer a few of those questions.