New Year's Resolutions

I am writing these today, because tomorrow looks awfully busy. I was never big on writing them down, but last year I wrote them downd and it is kind of fun to go back and see what you did.
Last year some of the goals I met were:

1. To get my weight to 180 or less and keep it there (Accomplished)
2. Go to Wrigley Field and Yankee Stadium (Accomplished)
3. Read through the Bible (still in Isaiah, but that is not a bad thing)
4. Write Letters (I did this once, and the recipients were very appreciative)
5. Be less analytical and more relational (I will need to add that to this years list)

My goals for 2009 shall be as follows:

1. Go on a mission trip. I need to do this to determine if that tug in my heart I feel is a calling of just something that I am interested in, it is well past time that I made this decision. Whatever i decide, I am going to make that decision and have no regrets about it either way.

2. Run 1,000 miles for the year (I will need to average about 19.23 per week)

3. Complete the Bible Reading, but complete it in a meaningful way and not just to say I have completed it.

4. Avoid Isolation (This might be big for me, because it is very possible that I am going to live alone soon, and I tend toward this, and I know it is not a good thing, so I need to work on avoiding it. Spending time alone is not bad, doing a lot of it is.)

5. Again, I have to work on being relational with people, not analytical. Perhaps, one day I will figure this out.

6. Read many good books, I am most excited about Heaven by Randy Alcorn.

7. There are others but they are for me to know and you will have to ask if you want to know.

Dallas Cowboys

I HATE the DALLAS COWBOYS. Well, not really but they sure are frustrating. They are the Yankees of football, sign a bunch of superstar primadonna's and have nothing to show for it. That being said, I don't think things are as bleak as they are being made out to be. I am reminded of the old saying: "It is always darkest just before the Day dawneth". So before everybody loses their football mind let me lay out the plan of sucess for the 2009 Dallas Cowboys.

1. Good Bye T.O. I don't care about his antics or anything, I care that he drops the football as much or more than anyone in the NFL. Also, he is the team leader and that is a big part of the problem. Attitude reflects leadership is a quote from Remember the Titans and it seems pertinent here.

2. We must upgrade the defensive backfield. This will not be proposed anywhere but here, but I think T. Newman needs to be moved to safety and let the young guys start playing CB. I mean Jenkins and Scandrick, I am not sure Pac Man Jones will not be locked up or suspended, so just like T.O. you dont need a guy you can count on, doesnt matter if it is on or off the field, you don't need guys who are not dependable.

3. The left side of the offensive line must be upgraded. This should be taken care of by the healthy return of Kyle Kosier and Montrae Holland. I know the offense and the offensive coaches took a lot of heat, but it sure is easier to play offense if you have guys who can block. Cory Procter should be demoted to the Arena Football League, no team would win with him at left guard. Also, remember we should have the return of Felix Jones an Marion Barber III at full strength.

4. This is the most important, these boys need an attitude adjustment. They have no concept of how a team works. Every single one of them needs to shut up and go play football. It doesnt matter who gets the football or how often anyone gets the football, it only matters that the team you are on wins. This is one of the most talented group of indiviudals, but they have no concept of team. Unfortunately, this is a team sport, and the teams that accept that no individual is greater than the sum parts are the teams that win.

5. Leave all of the coaches in place for one more season. If you change the coaches that will just cause more disarray.

Anyway, it is baseball season now........don't get me started on the Rangers.

Uprising

Pardon my writing, but I will probably have 3 blogs for the evening.

I just finished reading a book, it is called "Uprising" by Erwin McManus. Honestly, the 1st part of the book was kind of dragging along, but the last part of the book pierced me as no other book has before. *Obviously, this does not include the word of the living God, which is sharper than any two edged sword, and pierces me over and over again.

He said, "God's goal is not that we become affluent, but that we become generous" amen to that.
That is very contrary to what a lot of christian TV teaches and/or preaches.

This was the most moving part of the book to me, the one that caused the deepest reflection and some sincere introspection:
"Love requires trust and trust always requires risk. He knows we will never fully experience love unless we give all of ourselves away"

This was very difficult for me to read, because I have a very difficult time trusiting anyone. The reasons for this are many, and some may be considered valid....if I were not a Christian. It seems to me that I have a tendency to trust people until they let me down 1 time, and then that is all I can trust them. Of course, this seems extradonarily arrogant. That might be okay, if I didn't let people down, but I do, as we all do, turns out there is only one perfect person and he happened to be God incarnate. I am glad I read the book until the end even though I was not enjoying the 1st part, for it has convicted me and hopefully it will help me grow into a more trusting relationship with God and all of the people I know.

Vacation

In less than 1 week I will be on the beach!!!!
I have obtained my reading list for the week and it as follows:
1. Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell
2. Sex God by Rob Bell
3. Edge of Eternity by Randy Alcorn
4. Heaven by Randy Alcorn

It is my goal to complete the 1st 3 and really begin the 4th, I am very excited about that book.

Christmas

It is the holiday season and I would like to share my thoughts on Christmas. I am not really a big fan of Christmas. Well, the way it is celebrated in America. This is the celebration of the most important day in history, and that is often overlooked because we are busy asking Kids what they want from Santa Claus. Please read to the end of this entry and you will find what I believe is the most appropriate question on December 25th, and possibly any day of any year.
I do want to share the following,

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this."

The above is what Christmas is all about. It is about God becoming a man. God became a man, lived a sinless life, yet died a sinners death. In fact, the penalty for all sin for all time was poured out on him on a cross. This fact has never escaped me, or made sense to me. He who did no wrong, paid the penalty for all wrong ever done!!!!!!

So, instead of thinking of the gifts you are giving and receiving, be reminded of the greatest gift ever given. It was a baby in a manger, a creator among the created, a savior among the sinners.
There has never been one like him, nor will there ever be. If you think no one cares about you, there is one who cares so much, that he came to earth and died on a cross, just for you. He would have done that just for you or just for me. For me, I say so long Santa Claus, you are over rated, and hello Immanuel or God with us, the one who will bring peace on earth and to all men!!!!!!

This Christmas, I would encourage you to thoughtfully consider the following. It is the season of gift giving, ask yourself the following: What will you bring as a gift to the Lord Jesus? He wants your life. Will you give it to Him? All of it, it is really and truly the only thing on earth that is worth living for.....One of my favorite people to read about said something along these lines......"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose"

Merry CHRISTmas

This is a test

of the emergency blogging system......