The Word

Don't you love those moments when your heart and mind stumble upon a remarkable piece of truth or begin to understand a previously confusing thought or idea? I just had one of those moments.

One of the many things I learned from listening to Dale Bruner teach is the idea of Jesus being The Word. John 1 says: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Here we learn that Jesus is God's Word. For most us (excluding those who believe they can "read" people), we have no idea what someone is actually thinking until they start talking. The person of Jesus Christ is God talking to us, and because of His resurrection, He is still talking. As soon as the Word became flesh, we could know what God thinks through His Word.

Later, in verse 4, John writes: "In him was life, and that life was the light of men." Putting 1 + 1 together, I end up with Jesus = Word = light.

John's decision to use of "In the beginning" to begin his gospel naturally points readers back to Genesis 1, which begins in the same manner: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Then, in verse 3, God begins speaking Creation. What follows the first "God said" phrase? "Let there be light...."

I'm not sure how, but this transforms my understanding of "In him was life, and that life was the light of men." I know it does.

Okay back to my paper. I'd share more thoughts, but I need to get serious about this paper. Also, I'm not sure that I have any more thoughts, at least any that make enough sense to include in this blog.

What do you think?

White-Out

It's 2:48 PM and I'm wearing two tickets to tonight's game around my neck. You know, the kind of ticket that is 3 times bigger than normal tickets. The kind that come in a plastic holder strung on a lanyard that hangs around your neck. The kind that people in their 50's have framed with their other big-game tickets in their basement next to the pool table. Yeah, that kind.

MSU is asking for everyone to participate in a "white-out" of Ford Field. Appropriate because of the snow, and it's just an MSU tradition for big games. Awesome.

I'm kind of happy it snowed. Obviously it sucks driving, shoveling, and looking for your hat and gloves that you (confidently) put away three weeks ago. But I like the setting it creates for tonight's game. THIS is what the state of Michigan is like right now. THIS is what it's like in the city of Detroit. Yes, the Detroit Public School system is over $300 million in deficit, and yes, they may have to close 50 schools because of that. It's cold and wet and dreary and unpleasant here in Detroit.

If I knew how to convey my excitement for tonight here, I would. I'm excited for the game. I'm excited to be back down there again to cheer for MSU with over 50,000 others. To give our boys a standing ovation whether they win or don't win tonight. To walk the streets before and after the game, proud of what the city did to get ready for this and for Michigan State University and what they did to get there.

So I say bring on the snow. Bring on the Tar Heels. Welcome to Detroit.

And Go Green.

Fight, fight, rah team fight!

Never thought I'd ever have a blog post title include the word 'rah' but after yesterday, why not.

My day, by the numbers:

5:35 AM - time my alarm went off

85 - number of apple pies myself and several high schoolers and leaders made for our camp fundraiser!

106 - approximate number of times I thought to myself: "I really don't like Digger Phelps."

2:30 PM - time of departure for Downtown Detroit!

7 - approximate number of miles we walked through downtown checking out Riverwalk, soaking in the sights of Detroit pre-game, and celebrating in the streets after the win!

6 - number of times someone said "do you smell that?" or "what is that smell?"

146 - estimated number of times I said "go green" or "go white."

1 - number of former Spartan standout wide receivers turned pro bowler turned Super Bowl hero turned future jailbird I saw in a hotel lobby and walked right past.

245 - estimated number of high fives given/received.

7 - estimated number of botched high fives with Dilyn Duffey.

2 - large deep dish pizzas ordered at Pizza Papalis after the game.

1 - MSU flags being run through the street.

3 - times the fight song was sang while we ate dinner.

8 - number of UConn fans I actually saw.

67 - total text messages sent and received that were about the game in some fashion.

2 - number of sophomore boys from Grosse Pointe that I saw in Greektown at 10 PM. They're crazy!

1 - number of phone calls I received from friends heading back to East Lansing saying they might have car trouble. Another adventure to add onto the night!

2:35 AM - arrival back home and immediate bedtime.

10.5 - total hours spent in Detroit. It was a great day to be a Detroiter and a Spartan.

People have spent a lot of time talking about what the Spartans' run means to the state of Michigan, and more specifically, to the city of Detroit. I don't think any comments about how uplifting this has been for the city or the temporary relief from so many troubles are a stretch. It was awesome to be down in the city last night, watching thousands of people who would never be there on any other night walk around with friends and be united in purpose. The only worry discussed last night by thousands of people wearing green and white was about how to stop North Carolina on Monday. All the pain and heartache that city has endured was nowhere to be found.

I think the same can be said for me. I've been living and dying with every jumper, every loose ball, and every final buzzer. MSU's run to Detroit has been nothing short of incredible, and I've been hanging on for every moment. It's like I've been living in this little oasis, away from the pain and hurt in my heart, since March Madness started, and I'm almost afraid for Monday to come and go because that means on Tuesday, it's over; back to "normal" life for me again.

I think the most joyful thing about watching the Spartans play is that it seems like they're fighting for more than just an NCAA Championship. They haven't played like this the entire year until now. It's like they're fighting for the state of Michigan, for the city of Detroit...it even feels like they're fighting for me.

Oh, and just for fun - enjoy this :)

Encouraging Words

I got home from Young Life on Sunday night around 9:45 and caught the last hour and a half of the Oscars.  I usually don't want them, but that night I felt like watching them was a good choice.  So I did, and I really enjoyed them.  I thought they were really entertaining (although I had to watch the funniest part on YouTube).  But my favorite part was watching and listening to former Oscar award winners speak to each nominee for the Supporting Actor/actress and Lead Actor/actress awards.  Since I work for Young Life and therefore am a not professional film or television actor, I don't really know what it's like to be one; however, I imagine that those personal words shared by their peers (and perhaps in many cases, heroes and role models) will be cherished as much as actually winning the award.  Okay probably not, but I could tell by each nominee's face that hearing those words meant A LOT.  Bravo to whoever thought of that idea.  They figured out how to send everyone home a winner that night.

Take a minute and tell someone why you love them today.  And if you can, take 10 minutes.  I guarantee it'll be among the highlights, if not THE highlight, of that person's day.

A Lesson from Bob Ross

If you've ever watched "The Joy of Painting" hosted by the late Bob Ross, you'll know what I'm talking about.  If you haven't, check him out here.  My sophomore year, my friends and I would always try to watch his show at 3 in the afternoon before class.  He'd spend 20 minutes creating a beautiful landscape, and then suddenly, and seemingly inexplicably, make some huge mark with his paintbrush in the middle of the canvas.  My friend Tom and I would always yell at the screen as if he could hear us, wondering what in the world he was doing to his painting.  But after a few more minutes, this ugly and unexplained stroke of his brush would turn into a tree, path in the woods, or cabin that made the painting that much better.

Some friends and I were talking about this idea yesterday.  We're aware that God is in control of our lives, and we're even okay with that after years of knowing that we have no idea what we want or need.  We see the picture of our lives that God has been creating and then suddenly...that ugly, pointless, out of left field mark is placed somewhere in our lives.  Then we wonder what in the world God is doing.  And now we're angry and upset, and once again question our trust for our Creator.

However...

The truth is that God knows what He's doing and we don't.  The truth is that He is in control and we are not, and that is actually the best thing that could ever happen.  And the reality is that I need to be reminded of this.  These marks that God makes in our lives shouldn't make us angry and cause us to doubt, but rather remind us that we are loved and in communion with the God of the universe.  How cool?  If we wait long enough, the events and circumstances of our lives that seem random and hurtful will begin to make sense as we view our lives from a bigger perspective.  Obviously this requires a lot of patience and trust, two things that I feel like aren't in my bag right now.  But I know that God is good.  And I know that He loves me.  And I know that those two truths are really all I need to know.

Thanks be to God that He is not done with me yet.  

Spring is just around the...window sill?

For the last week or so, I've woken up to a group of birds that sit outside my windows and chirp.  I don't really know what they're chirping about...maybe the fact that it's actually been sunny most days lately, or maybe that Lebron put up 52, 11, and 10 last night at Madison Square Garden.  All these chirps make me think that it's spring...that somehow, overnight, winter left and it's now June, which is when "spring" usually hits in Michigan.  But alas, it's currently -2 outside (wind chill).  But at least it's sunny!

10 random thoughts:

...while waiting at my gate to fly home:

1. Einstein's bagels are really good.
   
2. I think my two carry-ons weigh more than my 48 pound checked bag.
3. It's a small miracle that my checked bag made weight.
4. I like the Denver Airport
5. I like the Denver Airport a lot more when my friends are here.
6. I bet the nice old people that dress like cowboys and say hi to people have a good life.
7. Time is a funny concept: two weeks have never gone slower and faster at the same time.
8. My plane just pulled in.  I wonder if the people arriving in Denver are more excited than the people flying back to Detroit.
9. I think I've seen more sunshine in Colorado in the last two weeks than I will the rest of winter in Detroit.
10. Just checked the weather...it's cloudy back in Michigan. 

What did you do today?

I did a lot today, including climbing a mountain.  On the mountain behind camp, past the repelling send-off, up another 150-200 feet, is a bunch of crosses sitting on the very top of the mountain.  So me and a few others decided to go check it out.  What transpired and resulted from the next 50 minutes of our life, through all the snow, ice, dirt, crawling, spontaneous snow ball fights, and hoping we don't slide down a mountain to our death, was in a word: awesome.  I'm pretty sure it's best view possible around here (although I'm hoping Property Staff tells me otherwise) and it was lots of fun making the trek.  We had great conversation and challenged our bodies in ways that none of us lazy bums have done lately.  

I didn't bring my camera cord, so you'll have to wait 10 or so more days to see them.  But it was incredible.

I hope you did something extraordinary today.  If you didn't, do it tomorrow

Second Impressions

I walk past the same view of the mountains at least 3 times a day, and every time, the look different.  I'm looking at the same view of the same mountains, yet God causes my eyes to see something new and spectacular concerning His creation.  (I'll spare you having to look at these *similar* pictures, I think it's one of those "you gotta be here" type things).

One of the things I appreciate about being here for New Staff Training is reevaluating and re-thinking several aspects of Jesus and ministry that I have previously considered "mastered" or "no longer worth long periods of thought."  God has so much out here for me and the rest of staff - that has been so abundantly obvious over these few days we've been here.

God has so much out there for us all, all the time, in every place.  That's cool.

Frontier Ranch

To the few, the proud, the...readers of my blog,

Not sure how many of you are out there still (if you are, leave a comment and say hi!).  I've been doggin' it on the blogging front as of late.  Life has been happening a lot lately and blogging about it hasn't really been the priority.  Anyways.

Right now I'm sitting in the designated computer lab at Frontier Ranch, imo the most beautiful Young Life camp there is.  There isn't a cloud in the sky and the sun really illuminates the snow-peaked mountains in the distance.  Kind of like this (going left to right):

I'm here for New Staff Training.  There's over 240 people here for a week training for new staff (thus the name).  It's great.  I'm going to try and update my blog with random stuff and pictures while I'm here.  Thus far, it's been awesome being right in the middle of such beauty, as well as awesome fellowship with 240+ like-minded people.  

Here are the top 3 (slightly) embarassing activities that resulted in me short of breath:

3. Walking up a 20 foot hill

2. Playing a game of ping-pong (though it was very competitive)

1. eating breakfast this morning (I was really hungry)

Snowed in

In my current living arrangement, I have to park in the street.  Not a good thing when it snows 8 inches.

  

Old Man Oakland

During my 4+ years as a Young Life leader, I've met a few people that have thought I was younger or older than I was at the time.  My freshman year in college, some high school kids thought I was the father of small child I was walking around with (who happened to be Luke Granger).  I've also been mistaken as either a junior or senior in high school several times.  And then just this past year, a sophomore in high school.  And now, just this past Sunday, this conversation happened with a Red Barons coach of one of our younger teams as we watched the 8th grade team play:

Coach: So do you have a boy out there playing right now?

Me: Umm no...I just graduated from Michigan State.

Old enough to be the father of a 13 year old?  I've never been more honored.

Wow

The new MacBook

What Teachers Make

First things first: Shan and I tried this pumpkin seed recipe this weekend and they turned out GREAT.  Highly recommended.  

During pre-game at our football game Sunday, I was asking one of our players about his weekend.  In typical  8th grade fashion, most of his answers were pretty vague, so I kept asking more questions to really figure out what was going on.  He then said, "Dude, you're just like Tom Brokaw."

What caught me off guard was not his attempt at mocking me, but that he even knows who Tom Brokaw is.  So I asked how he knows about him.  His reply:

"You ever watch South Park?"

Me: "That's how you know about him?"

TV loving 8th grade boy: "Yeah, South Park's taught me most of the stuff I know."

Uh oh.

It was surprising to hear this, but I suppose I shouldn't be all that shocked.  TV offers a lot of information, which is awesome as long as its true.  Which I also suppose is not always the case.  So for all my friends that are teachers or will be teachers, you've got your hands full.  Thank you fighting the every day battle to teach kids.  You make a difference every day.  

The Good Ole Days

I filled up my gas tank yesterday and paid $3.47/gallon. I don't think I've paid that "low" of a price in a LONG time. So naturally, I was excited, which is also the first time I've been excited about the result of my latest trip to the gas station since, well, I'm not sure.

The second thought that immediately came to mind is that I yearn for those "good ole days" when $20 was all it took for a full tank of gas, and maybe a pop to go with it.

I've spent a lot of time over the past few months wishing for a second-coming of those "good ole days." Things that were true in my good ole days (note: these span a LARGE number of days)

• my girlfriend and I lived in the same zip code
• Gas was cheap
• I didn't have to buy my own groceries
• I didn't have to buy my own anything
• the Atlanta Braves were winning pennants every year

There are several others, but for sake of your time and mine, I'll end there.

So what if my Good Ole Days span approximately 11 years of my life. They all represent something, serious or not, that I don't like as much about my present life.

However, I've been learning something lately. And by something, I mean:

Past = past. Present is what's important. Be present in where you are, all the time. Future is worth hoping and praying for. Where we are going defines us more than where we've been.

Now, the thoughts that God presents to me in my head are presented much more eloquently than I've just typed to you, but I think you get the point.

I just realized that elaborating on these thoughts to the point that you'd actually understand them would take more time than I'm willing to give to my blog, and probably more time than you're willing to read (which I know is a lot :) So for brevity's sake, here's my point:

Rejoice in what God has done in your life and where He's taken you and led you to/through. Be fully present in the situation and life and with the people you're currently surrounded by. Let the direction you are heading in be more defining of your character than everything that's behind you.

(sorry if you think any of that has nothing to do with previous words in the post)

And my sincere apologies for giving you the most random, poorly thought/laid out post of my brief blogging life. Thanks for tuning in :)

As soon as I start feeling old...

I was at pizza lunch for Grosse Pointe North last Tuesday and was hanging out with some guys.  I asked what grade they are in and found out they are freshman.  One guy responded back to me by asking, "are you a sophomore?"

As in, a sophomore in high school.

Do I really look that young?

When is the day that being asked if you are younger than you really are becomes a compliment?

New alarm

For the longest time I've relied on my cell phone to wake me up each morning.  I haven't used a traditional alarm clock since high school.  But these days, I'm waking up to something new each morning.  I've waken up at the same time each morning, give or take about 10 minutes or so, for the past week or so to a much more "natural" noise, if you will. 

What is it you might ask?

"If you guessed "a squirrel jumping onto the a/c unit" then you're absolutely correct.

(p.s. if you do a Google image search for "squirrel" some pretty funny pictures show up)

Right around 8 every morning, a squirrel leaps onto the a/c unit that sticks out of the window.  The particular squirrels that live around my house don't really practice quiet landings, so their arrival wakes me up every morning.  It kind of sounds like someone pounding on my bedroom walls.

I might have to put up a "No Parking" sign today.  Or line the a/c unit with tacks.  

I'm only sort of kidding :)

Beautiful weekend for football

This weekend I was part of two fantastic football games.  Saturday afternoon Shan and I, along with some of our friends, spent the first half of our afternoon sitting in good ole Spartan Stadium.  It had been way too long since I was there for a game, and this past weekend was probably my best opportunity this season.  

I don't think I've ever seen it rain so hard for so long, and but I can't imagine having as much fun in a rainstorm as I did.  We gathered all the rain gear we could find, picked up some free tickets from a friend, and found our seats perfectly located in row 3 of the upper deck.  And it was great.  The pageantry of college football is unlike anything else, and "Thunderstruck" will always bring about an adrenaline rush.

So we sat and stood and yelled and cheered and sang the fight song over and over for 3 and a half hours.  Not surprisingly, we left a little soaked, but I don't think all the rain gear in the world had a chance that day.  And after 43 carries and 282 yards from Javon Ringer, we left satisfied with a 17-0 shutout of FAU.

Last night was the opening game for the Grosse Pointe South Red Barons.  I've been helping out with coaching this 8th grade team for the past month and I've absolutely loved it.  We had a bye the first week, so the anticipation of a season opener has been on my mind for a while.  We opened away against Macomb, one of the better teams in the league.  With about a two dozen loyal and loving parents watching both teams, we kicked off under a relentless blanket of rain.  After 3 quarters of sloppy but hard-nosed football, we held onto 13-0 lead.  Unfortunately I had to leave early to get to a YL meeting, but I'm excited to hear a full report at practice tomorrow!

Hopefully after reading this you'll get a taste of how great these games were.  I really don't think there are any words to describe how much rain fell on my head and how much joy was in my heart.  

9/11

Today it's been 7 years since the events of September 11.  I still remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I first heard.

I was sitting on the left side of the classroom in my normal seat for Schu's math class.  Right in front of his desk.  The bell to start class had just ring and our teacher was just getting ready to get up and begin class.  Suddenly one of our assistant football coaches briskly walked in the room and whispered something in our teacher's ear, then walked out just as quickly.  The room was silent at this point because we all thought class was about start.  Our teacher walked over the t.v. in the in the corner and turned it on, I think to NBC.  He walked quietly back to his desk and we all sat their in silence for the rest of class.  Not one person said a word for about 86 minutes.  

The rest of the day was weird.  We talked at lunch about whether they would attack us, in Northville.  No one really knew what was going on and how serious this actually was.  It was hard to really focus on anything that day, and especially the rest of the week.

Where were you?  What were you doing when you first heard?

Other events that I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I first heard about it: OJ's bronco chase, OJ's trial verdict, Princess Diana's death, MSU beating ND in overtime in 2005...I'm sure there's more, but I need to get some work done!

Putting the Giant in Little Giants

UPDATE:  our new guy is actually 205 lbs, not 165 as originally reported.  Yikes.  Welcome to the team!