The Madness of March

It is mid March. Therefore the NCAA men's basketball tournament brackets have been released and now begins the greatest guessing game that millions of Americans will  participate in.

Now I'm not going to share with you my entire bracket because, well, that would take too long. But I will give you a few key games that I find interesting.

First of all, let me just say, the South region is absolutely loaded. Florida, VCU, UCLA, Ohio State, Syracuse, New Mexico, and Kansas. There definitely looks to be some outstanding games here.

Whereas the south looks amazing, the west not so much. Arizona could have it pretty easy unless Marcus Smart and Oklahoma State decide to make a run. I could be and probably am totally wrong, but I really don't buy Wisconsin as a contender.

The Baylor/Nebraska game really intrigues me though. Baylor is legit, And Nebraska's hot - should be a fun one.

I really don't see Iowa doing anything. Tennessee gave Florida a nice game last week and the Hawks have totally crashed. They had great expectations and completely blew it. The only way to redeem themselves is to make it to the Sweet 16, at least. It'll be very difficult though and I don't see it happening.

I like Steven F Austin and either Iowa or Tennessee over UMass for a couple of upsets, but I really wouldn't be surprised to see Wofford knock off Michigan. Probably not likely, but not impossible.

However this thing shakes out though, it will, as always, be fun to watch the madness. Even if my bracket gets busted.

The Super Bowl Hangover Day

"Holding! Holding! Holding!" Screamed Jim Harbaugh and half of America.


That was great Super Bowl last night. Well, at least the second half of it was...but regardless, I enjoyed it. All over sports radio today I heard people talking about the "no-call" of defensive holding last night. While I do believe that there was a little extra grabbing there, I don't believe that the refs should have had to throw the flag. They could have, but they didn't.

Besides, even though we all tend to look at the ending of a game, one play doesn't always determine the final outcome. The 49ers gave up a fumble and an interception that lead to points for Baltimore, as well as letting Jacoby Jones run a kick-off 108 yards for a TD.

I give all props to San Fran. They are one heck of a team and deserved to win that game just as much as the Ravens did...and the Pats...and the Broncos, and Falcons. But as I have heard several times - "It's not necessarily the best team in the league that wins the Big One, just the team that's on a roll." Take the Giants, Packers and Giants from the past few Super Bowls for example.

But Baltimore played when it counted. Down to the wire, backs against the wall. They showed their pride. A lot of people probably think that John Harbaugh is happy that he won, but still being nice to his bro. Ha! Yeah right...I know what it's like to be a big brother. Somewhere inside John is laughing and just having a good 'ole time knowing that he beat his little brother!

All the while Jim is yelling "Holding! Holding! Holding!"

And Ray Lewis? Well, he's probably giving emotional pep talks to his dog now. While trying a new brand of deer antler spray.

Twas a Week Before the Super Bowl

"

"HarBowl"

"Harbaugh Bowl"

"The Brother Bowl"

Whatever you want to call it's still the Super Bowl. The most watched television event of the entire year.

Now, just giving a little kudos to myself - I totally called this match up before last Sunday's AFC and NFC Championships.

However, picking the winner of this game seems to be proving tougher than an over-cooked steak. Although I am leaning towards one team right now, that could change. As to which team it is shall remain confidential though. Whoa, that sounded cool...

Anyways, on to "Super Week" we go. On to TV ads and food. And football.

However pretty this story of the two brothers banging heads again (which I'm sure happened a lot as kids, that's just what brothers do!), I'm just looking forward to a great game!

So from one fan to to many others - enjoy the the final full week of football!

Happiness for Life and Eternity

Many things grieve me.

A loss of a loved one, though I've never actually had that happen to me yet.

The degrading of our nation.

The loss of innocent, unborn lives.

And the fact that many people are wandering through life not knowing what truth is.

I was listening to a radio program in my car this morning. It was the usual early morning talk about random subjects, and the topic of "what I want in life" came up.  Each personality gave their comments about what material things they would like to have and such. But then another broadcaster, deep voice and all, spoke up.

"All I want - is just to be happy for life and eternity...I just don't know how."

That saddened my heart greatly!

This man is wandering through life trying to find happiness. But he doesn't know how to attain it! Many people in this world are wandering through life trying to find joy, peace, meaning.

But why?

Is it because there is no absolute truth out there? Well, that can't be true. Because if that statement were true, then it would be contradicting itself.

Manti Te'o. Sigh...Nobody knows what's what and who's who, or, not who. Who knows?! But I can guarantee you that something about this story is true. Because there is such a thing as absolute truth!

I believe there is Truth, true Truth. But how can lost people know about it if somebody doesn't tell them?

We as Christians are called to be witnesses of Christ. Jesus told his disciples that He would make them 'Fishers of Men'. Meaning that He would train and grow them to reach out to people after He would leave this world.

We have a responsibility to share with others what Christ gave to us. People are lost and spiritually dying. They're seeking truth, but instead of finding it they fill their lives with worldly things. They wander and wonder...

Just today I have started to carry my Bible with me around school, and I have already gotten a comment! Maybe it starts with just a simple thing as that. Find a way to start a conversation, bring it to spiritual things and let God do the rest. It is amazing to see what happens when we step aside and let God and His Word do the talking.

Truth.

People are looking. Looking for something to fill that void. Christ can do just that. But people have to be told about it, we can't just hope that the lost will find out on their own.

It starts with you and I. What are you doing to further God's Kingdom?

The woes of a Lion

Play makers! You have the quarterback, you have the monster receiver, and you have a decent running game. But alas, something just isn't working. You look great on TV, and whenever your talked about people always picture the names and faces of the a fore mentioned positions. But before I try to butter this up any further I'll just be blunt with you...your defense needs help. And not just any kind of help, you need the kind of help a double amputee needs. You have no legs, or, talent. What you need is new legs, or, new players, and/or perhaps new coaches too.

But one thing we all can agree on is that you had a chance. You had a dream. You just didn't deliver...Oh, the woes of being a Detroit Lion.

Not much can be said for the success of the Lions this season, or a lot of teams for that matter. But people had them held high. They were Super Bowl picks for some, and division winners for many. But something didn't pan out.

The thrower to catcher duo of Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson made Detroit fans feel swell about things. These were two young emerging all-stars. Top fantasy picks by many. But the old saying comes ringing about - football is a team game. Three realms of this game must be played as well as the other for a consistent successful team. You hurt yourself on Special Teams by giving the opponent good field position. You hurt yourself on Offense by not scoring. But ultimately you hurt yourself on Defense by giving up points. By not defending your end-zone.

Now, if I can, I'll see if I can turn this into and understandable concept.

We as Christians ought to be proclaiming the name of Christ. But what happens when I can't defend what I have just told a person? What happens when I tell a person that they need to be saved, but can't tell them why?

Sure, I may sound pretty. Detroit looks pretty on Offense. But if I can't defend what I have just proclaimed then I'm just like a Lion's team that can't defend their own goal. We need to be ready to defend what we say, with the Word of God!

We need to be properly trained and have knowledge of what we say. We need to spend time in the Bible. We need to be what we preach. To be as Christ, the ultimate goal.

Now, we as humans have faults, we're not perfect. But that doesn't mean that we should try to hide behind the eloquence of a good Offense or think that if we use extreme vocabulary in a perfect grammatical way that people will believe what we say.

Defense...it's key. Be ready to back up what you say. Don't wait until game day, start now! Get into God's Word! Don't be like Detroit. Don't hide behind the looks of fancy players on Offense. Get some defense and be prepared.

Are you ready?

No, Really?

And now, a new article called No, Really?. Where the actions and results explain the very meaning of, DUH!

Action - Indianapolis Colts (Go Indy!) appear to have found a great quarterback.

Result - Indy wins games.



Action - NFL player kills girl friend and self.

Result - NBC/Liberal media call for gun control.



Action - Different NFL player drives drunk, crashes, kills passenger and teammate.

Result - No guns were involved. No out-cry.



Action - Arizona Cardinals on losing skid.

Result - Coach appears to be losing job in near future.



Action - Baseball trades and…

Result - Nobody cares, it's football season.



Action - Notre Dame goes 12-0 by the skin of their teeth.

Result - Gets you into the national championship in the BCS. Unless, of course, you're Ohio State, and you broke the rules.



Action - Iowa Hawkeye football has no talent.

Result - Wins only four games. Coaches get hated on. Hope for better next season. And repeat. (I still love you though.)

I cannot hide from You.

I cannot hide from You.

That's the name of a certain song that has recently been stuck in my mind. The song, sung by Greg Long, has really been an encouragement and yet a challenge to me.

God sees and knows everything we do, say, or think. In a way, that statement can be convicting. Being a sinful human being there are some things that I don't want God to know about. But He does, and I have to my best to remember that.

On the other hand, to know that God is always there, always, is such an awesome feeling! There's no place I can go, where God can't be to pick me up. To guide me. To love me.

And really, that's what it's all about. His love for us.

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

He wants to be there for us. He is there for us. He always will be there for us.

I cannot hide from You,
You know me all too well,
There's no story of my life that Your memory could not tell,
 I can ride the morning wings till I'm completely out of view,
But whether in dark or light,
I cannot hide from You.

God loves us. It's evident. Just as a parent that loves their child and makes sure to know where and what they are doing, so our Father keeps track of us.

We can't hide from Him. No matter what. He created you, and He loves you.

Are you trying to hide from God?

It's my prayer that we all remain aware that God is omniscient (all knowing). He knows about everything.

Be thankful for that.