tis the (bowl) season

Tonight begins the college bowl season. The bowl is the San Diego Country Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. Let's call it the Poinsettia bowl for short. Utah plays Navy at 8:00 pm CST.
Like ESPN I’ve also created a college football tournament. Mine is a little different. It is 32 teams instead of 16. ESPN probably has the right amount of teams if a tournament was to happen, but I think 32 teams makes for a much more fun tournament. Even if it wouldn't be possible. I also added a second tournament. I gave the tournament simple names 'Big 32' and 'Small 32'. I felt that if there were two tournaments that teams that played well, but did not make the top 32 could also play. It like the college basketball tournament allows for a wide variety of teams, plus a second tournament like basketball for teams that had a good season, but were not good enough for the top 32. Plus the 64 team 2 tournament format is the same amount as the current 32 bowl game 64 teams format. I think this is important to note because if college football does ever go to a tournament it would have to appeal to sponsors and such. Also to note is that there is a conference champion in each tournament. This idea is also taken from college ball. The teams our ranked based on the AP poll and my own understanding of the game.

"Because of this..." Hosea 4:1-3

Is the earth our responsibility? Are we to care for the earth? In Hosea 4:1-3 there seems to be a connection. Our sinfulness is connected with the dying and suffering of the earth and its creatures. “Because of this the land mourns…the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying.” As people we don’t like to take responsibility for the earth and living creatures. Our actions however do have consequences. I encourage you to read through book of Hosea and reflect on its words.

"The earth is defiled by its people” Isaiah 24: 4-6

Isaiah is one of the great prophets of the Old Testament. In chapter 24 of Isaiah, in the midst of a chapter of destruction, is the statement “The earth is defiled by its people…” In what ways were the people of Israel treating the earth? What kind of destruction and defiling was going on? I wonder what God would say to the people of the earth today. There is so much destruction, defiling, and killing. Trees have been savagely wiped away. Lakes have been polluted. Air has been made unbreathable. Land has been destroyed, polluted, trashed, and laid waste to. Water is taken as waste in some places and gold in others. Oil is bursting forth, creating wealth and waste. We only wait for what all this means to the earth and to God who has created it. Why all this destruction? Why all this apathy? The earth is the Lord’s. I no longer want to squander the earth and wither its resources. I want to care and sustain the earth as the creation and wonder God made it.

reflections on depression and fame

In lieu of the mall shooting yesterday in Omaha, NE, I can’t help but wonder why. Reports claim that the shooter was depressed and that he had some problems. A quote from the family that had taken him in stated that nobody wanted him. In a note he left, he stated that he wouldn’t have to be a burden to his family anymore. In the second part of the note it stated ‘now I’ll be famous.’
This second part of the note is what is most striking to me. The shooter wanted to be famous – to be important. There are a lot of theories that come to mind when I see this depression and fame combination. What kind of fame? Did he just want to be loved? Did he want to be loved by the people that were around him? The Times article states that he had just recently broken up with his girlfriend. He had also just lost his job and was estranged from his family. In the States there is so much emphasis on the rich and famous. There are hundreds of tabloids, websites, and television shows devoted to the junk in Hollywood. No one wants to be a doctor anymore. It is too much work. No one wants to be a factory worker anymore. It is too much work- and no pay. No one wants to be a teacher anymore- it’s just not important enough. On my way home from work yesterday I heard a commercial on the radio that wanted all the parents to call them if their kids were good at acting. “You can be famous in ONE phone call.” They could be in such garbage shows as Hannah Montana, and other not-so-important manifestations of life. The only thing people want to be today are rock stars, movie stars, or just stars that sit around and be famous just because. It’s a sad day when no one wants to save lives or teach the next generation. It isn’t enough to be important to family, friends, and a surrounding community. Today, those things are not important. They are not relevant enough. Everything has to be about the ‘i’ the ‘my’ and ‘you’.
When did shooting people with intent to kill become something to be famous for? Is this world so desperate to be noticed that death is the only way? Obviously, not everyone thinks like this kid. But these random shooting have gotten more “popular” over the years. And though none of the shooters are put in a good light, the shooters do seem to become famous in the world – even if it is for fifteen minutes. In reality it is probably the only way they were ever going to make the news. Only a small percentage of people can be famous. And a famous quote: ‘if it bleeds it reads’ has become the way to fame.
For me I would gladly like to forget all the stars in Hollywood. (And you can claim that some of them are ‘doing good’. Which is true.) I would like to put the fame into people who really deserve it. Ordinary people with ordinary lives. People who love and care for the people and the world around them. It’s kind of cheesy, yes. But in reality these are the people that are important to me- and will be forever. My family and friends are the famous people to me.

college football (week 14)

Top 25
1. Ohio State +2
2. LSU +3
3. Oklahoma +6
4. Georgia -0
5. Virginia Tech +1
6. USC +2
7. Missouri -6
8. Kansas -1
9. Florida +1
10. Hawaii +1
11. West Virginia -10
12. Arizona State +1
13. Illinois +2
14. Boston Co -2
15. Clemson +1
16. Tennessee -2
17. Texas -0
18. Wisconsin +1
19. BYU +2
20. Cincinnati -0
21. Virginia +1
22. Auburn +1
23. So Florida +2
24. Boise St -0
25. Arkansas -NR

Conference Standings (according to AP standing unless noted)
Conference, Top 25 Teams, Points, +/- week previous, add or drop
SEC – 6 (78) +4 add: Arkansas
Big 12 – 4 (69) -1
ACC – 4 (49) +1
Big Ten – 3 (46) +5
Pac 10 – 2 (34) -5 drop: Oregon
Big East – 3 (24) -7
WAC – 2 (18) +1
Mountain – 1 (7) +2
Conf USA – 0 (0)
MAC – 0 (0)
Sun Belt – 0 (0)

“…speak to the earth…” - Job 12: 7-10

Job is replying to his friend Zophar (Zophar is not in the top 1,000 names in the baby name wizard.) in chapter 12. Job does not seem to be very happy with his friends or with God. And when reading the surrounding chapters Chapter 12 verses 7-10 stand out quite distinctively. For in verses 7-10 we are to learn from nature. The animals and the earth are to teach us. It is a strange concept. I am sure I do not quite understand it. When I look at the earth I can learn about God. I look out my window and see a tree. It is dependent on the earth around it. The tree depends upon the sun which is 93 million miles away. The tree also depends upon water. The life of the tree is dependent upon these things, and without them will die. The tree cannot create better and alterative soils, it can’t create a better sun, or make a pond around itself so it always has water. God has to provide those things. The tree is at the grace and mercy of God. As humans we’ve created vitamins, and enriched foods to help our bodies. We’ve created fertilizer to help with farming. As humans we even move and create bodies of water for the sake of life. Even though we have the capability to do this, just like every creature we are still dependent upon God. God gives us breath everyday to live. Job, a man of honor and righteousness, had everything taken from him. His life depended upon God. His blessings depended upon God. I often forget the blessings that I receive each day. They are often small or ordinary. As I look out at the tree I find dependence on the grace and mercy of God.

"The earth is the Lord's..." Psalm 24: 1-2

Manifest destiny. It is a simple term that began in the 19th century when people in the U.S. believed it their ‘destiny’ and an ‘obvious’ destiny to expand the U.S. (land, politics, culture, and all) to the further reaches of the world. This was also said to be the providence of God. Two questions arise in my head. The first: were they claiming all that land to be God’s land? Secondly, if it is God’s land then why are they taking it for themselves away from someone else? These questions don’t need to be answered however easy or difficult they may be.
If the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it why are Christians no different than non-Christians in caring and keeping the earth? Global warming is denied. Corporations are covering up spills and damages. People litter without giving a second thought. And the world’s resources are reluctantly being used without consideration of exhausting them.
I know I would want to take good care of something that is Gods. I wouldn’t want to destroy it or harm it. I want to love the earth and everything in it just as God does.

A dialogue from the Micah's Call.

“from what has been made…” romans 1:20

There is much to be taken from this verse. Indeed the verse cannot stand on its own, much like any sentence in a book. I’m not excluding the other verses to ignore the context or meaning of what Paul was talking about in Romans. I focus on verse 20 to reflect on a small point in a big context in the beginning of Romans. (I also admit that I am keeping to verse 20 because I am trying to keep to an environmental theme.)
God has made Himself known to the world through what He has created. What exactly did Paul mean when he wrote “…from what has been made…”? Did he mean mountains or forests? What about the weather? Can we see God in rain or a snow storm? Was Paul referring to the life of a river or the dirt of the ground? God has created it all. I know I am thankful for food and water. I am thankful for the beauty of the earth. I am also thankful for the seasons and the rain which provides the land with much needed life. Romans 1:20 helps me understand to be thankful and grateful for what God has provided. It reminds me everyday that God is the creator of all. It reminds me that everything in life is given by the grace of God.

reflections on the environment

I will be doing a reflection on seven verses over a period of seven days. The verses are Romans 1:20, Psalm 24: 1-2, Job 12:7-10, Isaiah 24: 4-6, Hosea 4: 1-3, Ezekiel 34: 17-18, and Luke 22: 25-27. All the verses have an environmental theme. I wanted to reflect on the verses because I care and love the earth (or try to) as God does. I hope the reflections bring thoughts and conversations with God and others.

college football top 25 (week 13)

Top 25
1. Missouri - +2
2. West Virginia +2
3. Ohio State +2
4. Georgia +2
5. LSU -4
6. Virginia Tech +2
7. Kansas -5
8. USC +3
9. Oklahoma +1
10. Florida +2
11. Hawaii -3
12. Boston Col +3
13. Arizona State -6
14. Tennessee +5
15. Illinois +3
16. Clemson +5
17. Texas -4
18. Oregon -9
19. Wisconsin +3
20. Cincinnati +4
21. BYU +2
22. Virginia -6
23. Auburn +2
24. Boise St -7
25. So Florida -NR

Conference Standings (according to AP standing unless noted)
Conference, Top 25 Teams, Points, +/- week previous, add or drop
SEC – 5 (74) +7
Big 12 – 4 (70) -6
ACC – 4 (48) +4
Big Ten – 3 (41) +8
Pac 10 – 3 (39) -12
Big East – 3 (31) +1 add: South FL drop: UConn
WAC – 2 (17) -4
Mountain – 1 (5) +2
Conf USA – 0 (0)
MAC – 0 (0)
Sun Belt – 0 (0)

college football around the country (week 12)

Top 25

1. LSU - 0
2. Kansas +2
3. Missouri +3
4. West Virginia +1
5. Ohio State +2
6. Georgia +2
7. Arizona State +2
8. Virginia Tech +2
9. Oregon -7
10. Oklahoma -7
11. USC -0
12. Florida +2
13. Texas -1
14. Hawaii -1
15. Boston Col +3
16. Virginia -0
17. Boise State -0
18. Illinois +2
19. Tennessee -0
20. Connecticut +5
21. Clemson -6
22. Wisconsin +2
23. BYU -NR
24. Cincinnati -3
25. Auburn -NR

Conference Standings (according to AP standing unless noted)
Conference, Top 25 Teams, (Points), +/- week previous, add or drop
Big 12 – 4 (76) -3
SEC – 5 (67) +1 add: Auburn, drop: Kentucky
Pac 10 – 3 (51) -5
ACC – 4 (44) -1
Big Ten – 3 (33) +3 drop: Michigan
Big East – 3 (30) +3
WAC – 2 (21) -1
Mountain – 1 (3) +3
Conf USA – 0 (0)
MAC – 0 (0)
Sun Belt – 0 (0)

too cool for politics

I’ve recently been pondering on all this Stephen Colbert hype to be president. Now that countless people in the United States feel that the war on Iraq is not going well, Bush’s approval ratings have gone down. This notion has really boosted popularity in a democrat being elected for president in 2008. This can be seen in the sudden jump in democrats being voted for in the 2006 senate and election voting. I began to think that people were really interested in politics and the influence it has in the Unites States and around the world. Popularity for such candidates as Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama are evidence of this. Then Stephen Colbert decided that he was going to try and run for president and wanted to be on the South Carolina primary. Colbert ‘seriously’ wanted to run in the primary. He was later turned down by South Carolina because they only wanted serious candidates. Colbert received incredible support from young people. All of a sudden people were talking about this craze and in conversation saying they would vote for Colbert. What strikes me about this is ‘would people really vote for Colbert?’ Would people really vote for someone whose job it is to make jokes about politics, but has never actually been involved in politics in Washington? It’s a scary thought. It has made me really think about how people care about politics, and that perhaps fads and trends are more important than actual issues and politics.

another day of football

My favorite sporting event of the year is tomorrow. The Michigan – Ohio State game. Living most of my life ten minutes from the Big House I know how huge this game is every year. It’s ranked among one of the best rivalries in all of sports and some actually consider it the best rivalry. As the last game of the year for Michigan, reflecting on the season it can only be seen as a disappointment. What was to be thought a run for the national championship is now just a run for a decent bowl game. I think ESPN has talked enough about the rivalry this past week for me to not go into it. College football this year has been one of those rare years when up is down and down is up. Kansas, a basketball powerhouse, sits at 10-0. With #2 Oregon losing to Arizona last night, Kansas controls its own destiny for the national championship. Illinois, a featured bottom-dweller of the Big Ten, is third in the conference and knocked off #1 Ohio State last week. Football powerhouses Notre Dame has only won one game all year and Nebraska (5-6) had a humiliating loss to Kansas 39-76. As someone who does not like Notre Dame football it makes me smile to see them lose. (By the way, Michigan beat them 38-0.)

There are a few good games on tomorrow. The first being Michigan vs. Ohio State. Also in the Big Ten Northwestern plays #19 Illinois. A great inter-state rivalry game. Penn State also plays Michigan State. Every year this game is entertaining. Another couple of games to watch are #6 West Virginia at #22 Cincinnati and #17 Boston College at #15 Clemson. Cincinnati has already had quality wins against #18 South Florida and #13 UConn. West Virginia sits at #6 with one loss against #18 South Florida. # 17 Boston College who is 8-2 could prove themselves as a legitimate team if they beat Clemson. Boston College was ranked as high as #2 in the nation. The Eagles have two quality wins against #15 Georgia Tech and #8 Virginia Tech. Sadly, they have lost their last two games to mediocre teams: Florida State (6-4) and Maryland (5-5.) Clemson has lost to Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, but won against Florida State and Maryland. Whoever wins this game will most likely move on to the ACC championship game.

in honor of the big game

costs & losses in the war in Iraq

I heard on the news this morning that the war in Iraq so far has cost 1.7 trillion dollars. Whether that number is correct or not (as pointed out that it may not be by the same broadcast) is not important. I did however find a website with a continual cost of what the war is. It had the cost of the war as of today at about $468 billion dollars. The website has nice links that show very well what the war is really costing the United States.

I remember when this war first began and Iraq was threatening that the U.S. was going to lose the war. I am not exactly sure what was meant by ‘lose,’ but has the U.S. lost the war? For months now there has been serious talk in Washington D.C. about taking U.S. troops out. Although no bill has passed, just the mere fact that there is serious discussion and a close vote to do it says that this war in Iraq is not going as planned. Another indication of how seriously this war has failed is how many people are ready for George Bush to be out of office. There are bumper stickers and all types of propaganda promoting the day when G.W.B. leaves the White House permanently. (I can proudly say that I did not want him in the office before he was voted in, in 2004.) Although the war has been called ‘another Vietnam’ and people are calling for a national holiday when Bush is out of office these are not the real costs or losses of the war.

The real costs as I alluded to in the first paragraph are how much the U.S. has spent on this war. The U.S. may not have lost the war in a military defeat, but has certainly lost in its budget and spending. Children are not getting adequate education, but money continues to pour into the war in Iraq. People do not have adequate housing, but money continues to pour into the war in Iraq. People do not have adequate health care, but money continues to pour into the war in Iraq. People are losing loved ones, but money continues to pour into the war in Iraq. All these losses can not be merely blamed on the war or defense spending. However, $468 billion dollars, or whatever the cost, could be turned into a better life for the people of this country.


The BBC has a good website on the war.

presence in the woods

I enjoy hiking and the outdoors immensely. It isn't just because there is a lot of beauty in the outdoors. There is beauty in many things that are not outdoors. I don't just enjoy the outdoors to get away from work or the city either. (Although that is an added bonus.) I do enjoy hiking because of the exercise. That is not why I go though. I go to see the majesty of God's creation. Seeing creation for me is an opportunity to be in God's presence. I know that God is always near. Although I believe God is always near, it is much like the presence of a church for many Christians. Many Christians feel God's presence closer when they are in church. As I think about this, I find that nature is God's true sanctuary not a constructed building made to put God in a box. Nature emphasizes God's vastness, beauty, wonder, creation, and much more. Nature reminds me that God is taking care of the world and what He has created. I know when I walk through the woods I am walking through something that God has called 'good'.

Michigan at Wisconsin

Michigan plays Wisconsin tomorrow. It should be a good game. Although Wisconsin is only .500 (3-3) in the conference they still have a decent record at 7-3. Wisconsin began the season 5-0, but has lost the last three of five. Two of the losses came from a slaughter from Ohio State and Penn State. The other loss was a much closer defeat to Illinois. Michigan at 8-2 had two embarrassing losses at the beginning of the season. They have won eight straight with impressive wins against Penn State, Purdue, and a comeback win against in-state rival Michigan State. The Michigan State win is still an impressive win. Although Michigan State’s record, a mere 5-5 and 1-5 in the Big Ten, is nothing to brag about a rivalry game at Michigan State is always going to be a good win. Michigan has two unimpressive wins against Northwestern and MAC opponent Eastern Michigan.


Wisconsin has much to gain from a win against Michigan. It will prove that they can beat a big team in the conference and prove that they can win in the second half of the season. Michigan has much more to benefit from a win on Saturday. Michigan is still battling being considered a legitimate top team after the first two losses against D1-AA Appalachian State (7-2) and a blow-out loss at home against #3 Oregon (8-1). Michigan can also win the Big Ten Conference if they beat Wisconsin and Ohio State next week. A win would also put Michigan closer to a BCS game. A loss would surely put them out of the running. Kickoff is 11:00 am CST in Wisconsin.

reflections on election 08

Over the summer I read An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy by Robert Dallek. It’s a great book about Kennedy’s life and presidency. If you have ever read the book or seen it you know that it is a monstrosity of a book, and no light read. What also is great about the book is that Dallek stays as close to the facts about Kennedy as he can. He doesn’t gossip about the what-ifs or the conspiracy of who assassinated Kennedy in 1963. Dallek, in fact does not write much on the actual assignation in the book. The fact that the author has decided to leave this out attributes the idea that what is important about the life of Kennedy is who he was and what he did as president not the conspiracy.
Kennedy won the 1960 presidential election. There is now less than a year before the presidential elections in 2008. There are many candidates running such as Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney, and many more. This election has received much more hype than most usual elections. I think much of that hype is because there are so many people that are ready for a new president. Some of these people are joining for good reasons others just because they like to be on the bandwagon. In the midst of all the election talk and reading this book on Kennedy I could not help but think that Barack Obama has more than a little in common with JFK.
The first thing that made me compare the two was a news broadcast claiming that Obama did not have enough tenure in politics to run for president. Experience is a valued virtue. (Although the way older generations are treated in the United States it would not seem as though experience is all that important.) Obama however has only been a U.S. senator since 2004. Before that he served in the Illinois State Senate for eight years. Before he was an Illinois Senator you may want to check a bio about him. Kennedy gained a Senate seat in 1953 before becoming president in the 1960 election. Although Kennedy has more years as a U.S. Senator, Kennedy was also younger when he became president. There are other comparisons to make as well, such as that both went to Harvard at some point in their life. And that both men are dynamic speakers.
The last comparison I want to make is that each man, Kennedy and Obama, had to battle against criticism because of a society-inflicted stigma that marked him as being “different”. Please bear with me as I compare apples and oranges. Obama is African American. Kennedy was Catholic. Although both are very different, they both were/are road blocks to their presidency. I hope you notice the importance of Kennedy being Catholic. He was the first Catholic president. To this day he still is the only Catholic president. The second thought here, and the real comparison I am trying to make, is that a majority of people during Kennedy’s campaigning had to be convinced that a Catholic was capable of being president. This same comparison can be made about Obama. First people must realize that an African-American can be elected and that an African-American is more than capable. I note this because it was a great battle for Kennedy to convince the public of this and once he was elected the rest is history.
This country is a place that likes to root for the underdog, the Cinderella story. Barack Obama certainly is an underdog running against such people as Hillary Clinton, Rudy Giuliani, and John McCain. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time someone overcame a giant to win.

finding peace in traffic

As I sat there in traffic, stopped on the highway, I found peace. It’s a usual occurrence (being stopped on the highway, not peace). The commute is a regular occurrence each day – twice in fact. I have gotten used to the drive now. If it is possible to get use to a commute… It is still frustrating to be going zero on the highway, though. I like to tell people, “Highways are meant for driving not sitting.” I then go into a justification for it being ok to be frustrated.

Back to finding peace on the highway. As I found myself on the Kennedy trying (like everyone else it seemed) to get back into Chicago, I was stopped by the toll-way near the airport. The Kennedy must happen to be a perfect line-up for Boeing Airplanes landing at O’Hare. Everyday as I sit in traffic - just like a kid at the airport watching airplanes land - I sit there and watch as a few airplanes descend on the tarmac of O’Hare. It was great just to watch the airplanes come out of nowhere. And for that section of the highway I barely noticed that I was crawling into Chicago.

Another blistering thought is that everyone around me has places to go just like myself. I’m not the only one on the highway as I sit in my bubble car. Some people are going home to their families. Some are going downtown, maybe for the first time. Others are passing by, just trying to get through what is – Chicago.

In the midst of frustration and stress I found peace. The trip home is not always pleasant. But sometimes I just look up into the sky and I find a big Boeing flying over me.