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)