A Good Read

I just finished a book called "Under the Overpass" by Mike Yankoski. It was recommended to me by one of my students and I thought that it was challenging and very insightful. I know that I am another person that, even as a part of the church, I am still spending a great deal of time not caring about the poor, broken, addicted and hurting.

The book follows Mike and his friend Sam through the streets of several major American cities as they learn about God, themselves, addicts, survival and hope. I am considering bringing this guy to South Florida to challenge our people.

brad

Hurting Already

Season 5 of American Idol and I am already embarrassed. Some of these floks are really horrible.

I am one of those guys that feels things and when they are singing horribly in front of the judges, I feel like I am there...and I am hurting.

The only thing better than this is the national spelling bee.

brad

Sightings

Last night, Mandi and I went to dinner with some friends. We went to a Greek restaurant and it was VERY Greek. Beyond the authentic food, there was dancing on the tables, napkins being thrown by the dozens and music that was so loud, I thought my ears were bleeding.

After it was over, the night was young, so we wanted to go find a quieter place. You know, one of those with soft music where we could just chill and talk. As we set out to find a place, Mandi looked over and said, "hey, that place looks good." It was a random restaurant that was located in a store front. We pulled over to check it out and went in.

About 3 minutes after we got there, my buddy Scott said, "hey, Steve Tyler is sitting over there." I am NOT an Aerosmith fan, but...that's pretty cool...random, but cool.

So after a little while, he came through and was about to leave, so we went out to meet him. We got the handshake. It isn't as great as meeting President G Dubya, but good times anyway.

You never know who you might run into here. Living in a normal part of the world, the closest I ever came to seeing someone famous was when I saw Tom Green in an airport (oh yeah...and seeing Coolio in the ski rental shop in Park City Utah...which, come to think of it, should have been mentioned before Tom Green).

brad

A Vick-tim

From the AP:
"Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick was dismissed from the team Friday, the result of numerous legal transgressions and his unsportsmanlike conduct in the Gator Bowl. "

Now he says that he will "take his game to the next level." I am sure that he will sue the school for defamation and there is no doubt that he will play the part of the victim.

Good for Virginia Tech. When leadership takes charge, it might mean more athletes not demanding their entitlements.

brad

High and Lifted Up

I have something that I am a little bothered about so hang with me. I think that somehow we got Isaiah 6 wrong. It seems that our tendency is to take the things that are meant for God (such as exaltation and praise) and actually begin to reflect those things onto people...and even do it while claiming that it is praise. When someone does something really great and they are a follower of Jesus we "give glory to God" by giving huge "pats on the back" and "good jobs" to the point that the line really gets drawn as to whether we really give much credit to God at all.

I am sure that you have seen things like this too, probably on things that do not matter.

But what about this scenario:

A couple who has been married for years begins to have marital problems. They actually go through a painful divorce. At some point, one actually asks the other to go with them to a church...as a friend, nothing more. They join a "Bible study" and begin to develop friendships. Along the way they rediscover each other and the church encourages them as they decide to re-marry. The church even goes to the point of having them on stage in front of 500 people telling their story and inviting the church to come as they renew their vows.

Sounds great doesn't it...

But what happens when, after all the applause and friendly handshakes (and smugness that we did our job in getting 2 people back together), their marriage falls on hard times again? What happens when they can't seem to do it alone and we not only aren't there for them, but they have the memories of sitting on stage staring into the eyes of people with expectations? How do they make it when they can't tell any of these "perfect people" that their life is a wreck? Where are we then?

We are probably somewhere else, praising another of the elite among us.

I hate when we screw these things up.

Brad

PENN STATE vs FSU

I just finished watching one of the best football games I have ever seen between Penn State and FSU. A matchup between two coaches with a combined age of 155 years. They were brilliant as coaches and I have to say, as much as I was pulling for Penn State (sorry Scott), I gained a lot of respect for Coach Bowden. He was a pretty classy guy as he came and shook hands with Joe Pa.

After Coach Paterno's past couple of seasons, I am glad that he got this one. It was ugly at the end, but exciting and things ended as they should have. Should see this one on ESPN classic sometime.

And Penn State pulls it off in triple OT.

By the way, I am sticking with my prediction that USC is going down tomorrow night.

brad

It's Still Real To Me....

This is a clip that my brother showed me a few nights ago. Just imagine that you are in a small town high school gymnasium at a press conference for "professional wrestling". That is what this is and we are sure that these old timers had at least one fan.

Here it is...

Hat tip to justin for this one...