Thursday/Saturday/Sunday/Monday Night Lights

the NFL regular season kicks off tonight in Indianapolis, with the Colts hosting the Saints. i love football, and i especially love the NFL. this is the most wide open and competitive league in professional sports. teams go from worst to first, and the play is faster, bigger, smarter, and hits harder than any other sport. i really like the Colts. Tony Dungy is a great guy, the Manning/Harrison/Wayne/Clark/Addai connection is amazing, and that D made the Super Bowl run possible in the playoffs. however, we will see a new Super Bowl Champion this year. the league is too good. the competition is too good. i think the Dolphins will surprise some people this year. Tampa Bay will also be in the mix in the NFC. the Cowboys will be in the playoffs, the Eagles will be in the hunt. New England was a play away from the Super Bowl last year and they've improved, at least on paper, over the off season. the Cowboys, the Saints, the Bears, the 49ers, the Bucs, and the Eagles will represent the NFC in the playoffs. the Patriots, the Bengals, the Colts, the Chargers, the Dolphins, and the Jags will represent the AFC in the playoffs. i'm so undecided this year i'm going to make two Super Bowl predictions: 1. Cowboys vs. Patriots 2. Bucs vs. Dolphins. a lot of other teams have a shot and every team in the league could play spoiler and keep a very good team out of the playoffs.

Messy Spirituality

Messy Spirituality was written by the late Michael Yaconelli. he was in ministry for forty-two years as a pastor and minister to students. Yaconelli asks the question: what if genuine faith begins with admitting we will never have our act completely together? Mike knew this to be true, and so do i. there are days when, like Mike, i have to admit that my life is a mess. i try to follow Jesus, but i trip, stumble, pause, or get off track. Messy Spirituality is a must read for all Christians, and anyone on a spiritual journey. my favourite quote from the book reads: "According to his critics, Jesus 'did God' all wrong. He went to the wrong places, said the wrong things, and worst of all, let just anyone into the kingdom. Jesus scandalized an intimidating, elitist, country-club religion by opening membership in the spiritual life to those who had been denied it. What made people furious was Jesus' 'irresponsible' habit of throwing open the doors of his love to the whosoevers, the just-anyones, and the not-a-chancers like you and me." (Messy Spirituality, Michael Yaconelli, 65). you'll laugh, smile, and cry. sometimes from the same page. a new edition includes discussion questions that could make for a great group study or book club. read this book.