#SuperBowl XLVII Predictions

Our Life Group will be having a Super Bowl party this year at our house. Once again I think I will be cheering for the refs. I could care less about these two teams. Because many of you relied on my regular season picks to look like a genius I thought I’d give you my Super Bowl Picks.

Sure Things:

• A Harbaugh will be the winning coach…and also the losing coach
• Randy Moss won’t do much
• The halftime show will be terrible
• The Doritos and Snickers commercials will be funny
• There will be annoying and perverted commercials/dances, etc.
• I’ll be thinking about baseball
• Tom Brady won’t throw a touchdown pass
• Colin Kaepernick kisses his bicep but also the dirt a couple times

Out on a Limb:

• 3 interceptions for Joe Flacco
• 15 tackles for Ray Lewis
• Under 75 yards for Ray Rice
• 1 pick for Ed Reed
• 2 TD’s for Frank Gore but only 50-ish yards
• Kick or Punt Return for a TD for Ginn Jr.
• 49ers Defense/ST wins the game
• First points of the game are a Ravens FG
• Half Time score is 49ers 17, Ravens 10

Final Score: 49ers 41 Ravens 10
Super Bowl MVP: Aldon Smith 8 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 FF, 1 INT

An Idiots Guide to Week 17 #NFL Predictions

It’s week 17. Only a couple of games matter. But I’m still dedicated to helping you look amazing in your bold NFL predictions. These are the teams to pick in week 17.

Falcons over Bucs
Jets over Bills
Bengals over Ravens
Lions over Bears
Titans over Jags
Colts over Texans
Saints over Panthers
Giants over Eagles
Steelers over Browns
Broncos over Chiefs (I want to pick an upset)
Packers over Vikings
Patriots over Dolphins
Raiders over Chargers
49ers over Cardinals (OT)
Rams over Seahawks (upset of the week)
Redskins over Cowboys

Other Crazy Picks:

No record for AP. In fact he’s almost 100 yards short.
The Browns only manage 125 total yards and get blown out
Big day for Eli and Victor Cruz
Poor day for Romo, key turnover leads to RGIII game winning TD
Megatron goes for 12/225/2
Mark Sanchez looks like he wants his job back
I want to pick a Cardinals upset (it will either be a blowout or OT).
4 turnovers for Russell Wilson
Chris Johnson scampers for 200 yards.
Tom Brady gets hurt.  (Or one of the big starting QB’s)

An Idiot’s Guide to Week 16 #NFL Predictions

Good week for my picks last week. Bad week for actual football. The Browns slim playoff hopes were dashed. My fantasy team lost (again). And to be honest I have very little to still care about in the NFL. But because I know several of you rely on my bold predictions to make you sound like a genius around your friends, I’ll humor you.

Falcons over Lions
Saints over Cowboys (blowout)
Packers over Titans (close though)
Chiefs over Colts
Dolphins over Bills
Chargers over Jets
Redskins over Eagles
Steelers over Bengals
Bucs over Rams
Panthers over Raiders
Patriots over Jags
Texans over Vikings
Browns over Broncos (upset of the week)
Cardinals over Bears
Giants over Ravens
49ers over Seahawks

Fantasy stud of the week: Jamaal Charles
Fantasy sleeper of the week: Lester Jean

Other Crazy Picks:
Browns haven’t won against Broncos since 1990 that ends this week
3 picks and only 1 TD and 175 yards for Peyton Manning
80 yards for AP
Cardinals D/ST scores thrice
Charles scampers for 200 yards and 2 TD’s
125/2 for Trent Richardson
Eli looks like Super Bowl Eli
Cowboys QB looks like Never-go-to-the-SuperBowl-with-Romo, Romo
McElroy is serviceable
Bengals get blown out by Big Ben

An Idiot’s Guide to Week 15 #NFL Predictions

Last week I had the flu. Really bad. I had no idea what I was picking. Turns out I did just about as well as normal. In my ESPN Pigskin Pick ‘Em I actually had 11 wins because I took a couple gambles I didn’t here (like the Panthers upset I was feeling). This week I have no flu…at least I don’t think…so let’s see how I do in my right state of mind.

Bengals over Eagles
Falcons over Giants
Packers over Bears (in OT)
Redskins over Browns
Vikings over Rams
Dolphins over Jags
Saints over Bucs
Ravens over Broncos
Texans over Colts (blowout)
Seahawks over Bills
Lions over Cardinals
Chargers over Panthers
Cowboys over Steelers
Chiefs over Raiders
49ers over Patriots
Titans over Jets

Fantasy Stud of the Week: Alfred Morris
Fantasy Sleeper of the Week: Kendall Wright

Other Crazy Picks:

Browns slim playoff hopes are dashed (this one isn’t crazy, is it?)
Brady Quinn actually throws for over 300 yards
Alex Smith plays more than Kaepernick
2 scores for Kendall Wright
Alfred Morris 3 scores 150 yards
Matthew Stafford threatens 500 yards passing but only 1 TD
Turbin rushes for more yards than Lynch
Giants look really flat. Poor game for Eli and their D.
3 Turnovers for Tom Brady
3 Turnovers and under 100 yards for Mark Sanchez

An Idiot’s Guide to Week 14 #NFL Predictions

I normally post these right before the Thursday Night Football match up. A fierce battle with the flu, which I mostly lost, kept me from doing that. I did pick the Broncos to win, I promise. I would have picked Peyton Manning for a bigger game though. I lost my fantasy football game last week knocking me out of the playoffs. So I’m bitter and not interested in football that much. But I’ll give my predictions for the silly people that are still following my advice. By the way last week I was terrible in picks. Hopefully this week is better…

Broncos over Raiders
Bills over Rams
Cowboys over Bengals
Browns over Chiefs (blowout)
Titans over Colts
Vikings over Bears
Chargers over Steelers
Bucs over Eagles
Ravens over Redskins
Falcons over Panthers (close though)
Jets over Jags
Saints over Giants
Seahawks over Cardinals
Lions over Packers (upset of the week)
Patriots over Texans

Fantasy Stud of the Week: Trent Richardson
Fantasy Sleeper of the Week: Tony Scheffler

With depleted receiving corps Scheffler scores twice
200 total yards for Doug Martin
RG3 and Andrew Luck look like rookies
Brandon Weeden looks like a veteran
Peyton Hillis fumbles twice
Lions surprisingly rout the Packers
Brees throws for 400 and 4 TD’s
Richardson scampers for 3 total TD’s and 125 yards
Cutler sacked 12 times
Last second FG beats the Texans

An Idiots Guide to Week 13 #NFL Predictions

9-7 last week. I should have gotten that Lions upset over the Texans. I did pick the Browns win over the Steelers but it was more of a faux-Steelers team with no Big Ben. Not so hot on my other picks either. Lance Dunbar was only 92 yards away from 100. This is week 13 which is the last week for many fantasy football leagues. Our 20 team league has 8 teams vying for 4 open slots. I could squeak in after an abysmal start but I don’t think it is going to happen. Here are my week 13 picks:

Saints over Falcons
Jags over Bills
Seahawks over Bears
Lions over Colts
Packers over Vikings
Texans over Titans
Chiefs over Panthers
49ers over Rams
Dolphins over Pats (upset of the week)
Jets over Cards
Bucs over Broncos
Browns over Raiders (actually I think the Raiders will win but can’t pick it)
Chargers over Bengals
Ravens over Steelers
Cowboys over Eagles
Giants over Redskins

Fantasy Stud of the Week: Arian Foster
Fantasy Sleeper of the Week: Ryan Tannehill

Other crazy picks:

Tannehill throws for 400 and 4 TD’s
Stafford has a big day against the Colts
Chiefs D gets 5 turnovers on Panthers
Browns/Raiders combine for under 20 points
Big Ben doesn’t play
Victor Cruz is shutdown on MNF
Foster rushes for 220 with 3 TD’s
RG3 looks like a rookie
Henne stays hot
Cutler barely reaches 100 yards

An Idiot’s Guide to Week 12 #NFL Predictions

Happy Turkey Day!

Not too bad last week at 10-4. Almost got that Browns upset. Not so good on my other crazy picks. Mendenhall wasn’t a sleeper but he helped my fantasy team squeak by with a narrow victory keeping my slim playoff hopes alive for one more week. It’s turkey day so I’ll cut straight to the chase so we can get to consuming our tryptophan.

Lions over Texans (upset of the week)
Cowboys over Redskins
Patriots over Jets
Vikings over Bears
Raiders over Bengals
Browns over Steelers
Colts over Bills
Broncos over Chiefs
Dolphins over Seahawks
Falcons over Bucs
Jags over Titans
Chargers over Ravens
Saints over 49ers
Rams over Cardinals
Packers over Giants
Panthers over Eagles

Fantasy Stud of the Week: Trent Richardson
Fantasy Sleeper of the Week: Tony Scheffler

Other Crazy Picks:

Scheffler scores twice and goes for 100 yards
Pats beat Jets on last second FG
Lynch fumbles twice
Huge day for Philip Rivers
Fair showing for Eli but Giants ST gives up the game
Browns beat the Steelers by double digits
Lance Dunbar goes for 100 yards
Henne leads the Jags to a solid victory
3 turnovers for Flacco

An Idiots Guide to Week 11 #NFL Predictions

I am back to idiot status after a 7 win week. I did, however, do a stellar job on my crazy picks. Doug Martin had 68 yards. It wasn’t quite a last second FG but it was a close one that the Saints squeaked out. Steelers did keep KC in the game. The Chiefs almost pulled off the upset. AP did go for 175 but only 1 TD. Cutler had 2 turnover but only played the first half. And the Browns surprisingly found a way to not lose on their bye week. I’m hoping to get back on track and pull off double digit wins:

Bills over Dolphins
Falcons over Cardinals (close)
Browns over Cowboys (not just wishful thinking)
Lions over Packers (this one is wishful thinking)
Chiefs over Bengals
Jets over Rams
Redskins over Eagles
Panthers over Bucs
Texans over Jaguars
Saints over Raiders
Broncos over Chargers
Patriots over Colts (wouldn’t be shocked by upset)
Ravens over Steelers
49ers over Bears

Fantasy Stud of the Week: Drew Brees
Fantasy Sleeper of the Week: Rashard Mendenhall

Other Crazy Picks:

Browns can’t stop TE’s, Witten goes off 10/114/2 TD’s
Drew Brees threatens to break records
Chiefs D scores 2 TD’s
Tebow plays because of Sanchez injury, leads comeback
Leftwich is servicable, Foles is not
Romo throws 3 picks
250 all purpose yards for LeSean McCoy
2 TD’s for Mendenhall
40 yards for Alfred Morris

An Slightly Less Than Idiots Guide to Week 10 #NFL Predictions

I changed the title after my stellar 12-2 performance last week.  I missed the Browns upset (almost happened though).  And I was totally off on the Titans surprising the Bears.  Every other game I picked correctly.  I was not so accurate on my other crazy picks—but they are called crazy for a reason.  This week I’m a little less confident in my picks:

Jaguars over Colts
Giants over Bengals
Titans over Dolphins
Lions over Vikings
Patriots over Bills
Saints over Falcons
Chargers over Bucs
Broncos over Panthers
Baltimore over Oakland (last second FG)
Jets over Seahawks (surprising blowout)
Cowboys over Eagles
49ers over Rams (close though)
Texans over Bears (blowout)
Chiefs over Steelers (upset of the week)

Fantasy Stud of the Week: Jamaal Charles
Fantasy Sleeper of the Week: Taiwan Jones

Other Crazy Picks:

Blaine Gabbert has a solid line with 300 passing yards and 3 TD’s
Saints beat Falcons after a last second missed FG
Doug Martin is held to under 60 yards
Jets D/ST scores 2 TD’s
Steelers commit enough dumb turnovers to keep KC in the game
Texans offense is shut down but helped by 3 bad Cutler turnovers
175 and 2TD’s for Adrian Peterson
200 and 2TD’s for Jamaal Charles
The Browns don’t lose
If I am wrong and the Chiefs lose, Romeo Crennel loses his job

An Idiot’s Guide to Week 9 #NFL Predictions

A 10 win week barely eluded me again last week.  I called the Packers and Jags being a close game but totally blew it on the Pats and Rams being close.  Picked the Brownies upsetting the Chargers and the Niners blowing out the Cards.  Got Titus Young right, CJ2K was somewhat shut down, Drew couldn’t hang with Peyton (missed that one), Jamaal Charles scampered for 196 yards less than 200, and Romo almost had the 4th quarter comeback.  Not bad for a football idiot.  My fantasy football team also improved to 3-5.  This week I’m going for 10 wins:

Chargers over Chiefs (want to pick the Chiefs though)
Broncos over Bengals
Browns over Ravens
Packers over Cards
Titans over Bears (upset of the week)
Colts over Dolphins
Panthers over Redskins
Lions over Jaguars (close though)
Texans over Bills (blowout)
Bucs over Raiders
Seahawks over Vikings
Steelers over Giants
Falcons over Cowboys
Saints over Eagles

Fantasy Stud of the Week: Cam Newton
Fantasy Sleeper of the Week: Jackie Battle

Other Crazy Picks:

3 TD’s for Jackie Battle after Chief turnovers
Trent Richardson goes for 200 total yards
Ray Rice is surprisingly shut down
Vincent Jackson has a big day 8/140/2 TD’s
Lions need another 4th quarter comeback to put away the Jags
Christian Ponder’s turnovers cost the Vikings
Giants are held to three field goals against Steelers
If not for Cam Newton’s 5 TD’s the fantasy stud would have been Arian Foster

An Idiots Guide to Week 8 #NFL Predictions

9-4 last week.  I almost got my 10 wins but the Lions didn’t show up to play on Monday Night.  I picked the close Cowboys and Panthers game.  Blew it on T.Y. Hilton.  I was correct about the 7 Viking sacks but wrong about the Cardinals win in spite of it.   No Tebow.  No Eli injury.  Nate Washington did have a 4th quarter TD for the win.  McFadden almost had 100 yards.  Arian Foster was a stud but not as studly as Chris Johnson.  This week I’m feeling some upsets:

Bucs over Vikings
Bears over Panthers
Browns over Chargers
Lions over Seahawks
Packers over Jaguars (somehow it’s close though)
Colts over Titans
Patriots over Rams (in OT)
Jets over Dolphins
Eagles over Falcons
Steelers over Redskins
Chiefs over Raiders
Cowboys over Giants
Saints over Broncos
49ers over Cardinals (blowout)

Fantasy stud of the week: Michael Vick
Fantasy sleeper of the week: Titus Young

Other crazy picks:

It’s going to happen eventually, Titus Young finally shows up
Chris Johnson surprisingly shutdown by the Colts D
Weeden leads a 4th quarter game winning drive after a Rivers pick
Vick rushes for 100 yards, throws for 300, and has 4 total TD’s
James Harrison knocks RG3 out of the game
Peyton can’t hang with Drew
Jamaal Charles scampers for 200 yards
Romo leads a 4th quarter comeback
After this week everyone on ESPN will be asking, “What is wrong with the Patriots?”

An Idiots Guide to Week 7 #NFL Predictions

A gain I posted a stellar 8-6 record last week.  I called the Raiders game being close.  Picked the Browns upset.  If not for recovering his own fumble Schaub would have turned the ball of 3 times.  Haden did a stellar job against AJ Green.  But I wasn’t totally right on my picks.  The only thing Trent Richardson did was hurt his flank.  Andrew Hawkins and Titus Young barely even showed up.  And Ryan Fitzpatrick was about as big of a stud as Steve Urkel.  This week I’m gunning for 10 wins.

49ers over Seahawks (blowout)
Bills over Titans
Browns over Colts (I think this is just wishful thinking)
Packers over Rams (I want to pick a Rams upset)
Cardinals over Vikings
Giants over Redskins
Saints over Bucs
Cowboys over Panthers (close though)
Texans over Ravens
Raiders over Jaguars
Patriots over Jets
Steelers over Bengals
Lions over Bears (upset of the week)

Fantasy Stud of the Week: Arian Foster
Fantasy Sleeper of the Week: T.Y. Hilton

Other Crazy Picks:

2 TD’s for Steven Jackson
Somehow the Cardinals win despite 7 Vikings sacks
Darren McFadden 2 TD’s and over 200 total yards
Pats dismantle the Jets (Tebow plays the 4th quarter)
T.Y. Hilton goes for 100 yards and a score
Matt Hasselbeck gives up 4 turnovers
The Lions DST puts up 30 fantasy points with 2 scores
Nate Washington has a big game (just b/c I’m playing him in my FFL)
Eli Manning leaves the game with a freak injury

An Idiots Guide to Week 6 #NFL Predictions

Last week I was 8-6.  Not a bad record for an NFL predicting moron.  For most of the first half I thought I had called the Browns upset over the Giants.  Then reality hit.  Weeden did decent not sure you could say fantasy sleeper.  Brees was okay but not the fantasy stud of the week.  Matt Hasselbeck looked more like Elizabeth.  I was right about the Tebow chants and almost right about Brady Quinn, Brandon Weeden, and Mendenhall’s stellar return.  Not horrible but also not very good.  Sounds like my fantasy football team.  Here is your idiot’s guide to week 6 picks.

Steelers over Titans
Falcons over Raiders (It’s going to be close though)
Browns over Bengals (They’ve got to win eventually, right?)
Rams over Dolphins
Jets over Colts
Lions over Eagles
Chiefs over Bucs
Cowboys over Ravens
Bills over Cardinals
Patriots over Seahawks (low scoring game)
Giants over 49ers
Vikings over Redskins
Packers over Texans (3 Schaub interceptions)
Broncos over Chargers

Fantasy Stud of the Week: Eli Manning
Fantasy Sleeper of the Week: Andrew Hawkins

Other Crazy Picks:

Trent Richardson goes off for 150 yards and 2 scores
Titus Young finally shows up for the Lions 8/120/1
Brady Quinn leads the Chiefs to a low scoring victory
Tony Romo looks like a Pro-Bowler and Joe Flacco looks inept
If not for Eli’s 5 TD performance Ryan Fitzpatrick would be fantasy stud of the week
Russell Wilson’s leash gets shorter with a crucial 4th quarter turnover
Joe Haden shuts down AJ Green

An Idiot’s Guide to Week 5 #NFL Predictions

Once again I proved myself an idiot.  I had the wrong MNF QB bathing in tears and needing a pacifier.  I only got 7 of the games correct.  Josh Gordon had a measly 16 yards.  The Titans did nothing close to upsetting the Texans and Jacquizz Rodgers showed why he’s still a backup.  I was correct about the Tebow chants beginning.  I nearly called the Browns upset.  I was right about Peyton’s bounceback game.  Sproles wasn’t horrible but wasn’t a stud.  But all in all I’m still an idiot and as one commenter pointed out I’m a false football prophet.  So here are your bad burrito picks for week 5.

Cardinals over Rams (missed FG in the 4th quarter)
Bengals over Dolphins
Packers over Colts
Ravens over Chiefs
Browns over Giants (upset of the week…it’s coming just you wait)
Steelers over Eagles
Falcons over Redskins
Seahawks over Panthers (4 turnovers for Cam Newton)
Jaguars over Bears (Cutler can’t put together two solid starts)
Titans over Vikings
Patriots over Broncos
49ers over Bills (but I want to pick a Bills upset)
Saints over Chargers
Texans over Jets

Fantasy Stud of the Week: Drew Brees (5 TD’s and over 400 yards)
Fantasy Sleeper of the Week: Brandon Weeden

Other Crazy Picks:

That missed FG for Greg Zuerlein is a 56 yarder
Matt Hasselbeck makes Tennessee fans ask “Jake, who?”
Peyton Manning throws a couple of really bad picks
The Tebow chants continue after Sanchez’s 4 turnovers
Brady Quinn throws at least 10 passes
Brandon Weeden throws for 350 yards and 3 TD’s
Mendenhall gets 2 TD’s in his return

An Idiots Guide to Week 4 NFL Predictions

Last week I only mustered 7 correct picks.  I did pick the Raiders over the Steelers.  Should have went all the way with my gut and picked the Vikings over the 49ers.  I was correct about MJD’s big week, got the Giants blowing out the Panthers as well as the Seahawks and Packers being close.  But other than I once again proved that these are an idiots guide to NFL predictions. 

Browns over Ravens (upset of the week)
Falcons over Panthers
Patriots over Bills
Lions over Vikings
Chiefs over Chargers (Chiefs D finally shows up)
Rams over Seahawks (MNF letdown)
49ers over Jets
Titans over Texans
Broncos over Raiders
Dolphins over Cardinals
Bengals over Jaguars
Saints over Packers (shocking blowout)
Redskins over Bucs
Giants over Eagles
Cowboys over Bears (blowout)

Fantasy Stud of the Week: Darren Sproles
Fantasy Sleepers of the Week: Josh Gordon

Other crazy picks:

Joe Flacco with 2 really bad fumbles
After Sanchez’s atrocious performance the Tebow chants will begin
Titans upset turnover prone Texans
More points for Defense and ST’s than for the offenses in ‘Fins/Cards game
The Jaguars only score 3 more points than the Colts and Steelers
Peyton Manning throws for 400 yards but only 2 TDs
Jacquizz Rodgers doubles the rushing yards of Michael Turner
4 Monday Night INT’s for Jay Cutler and a bucket full of tears

Replacement Refs and Pastoral Authority

There was something really painful about watching the Monday Night Football debacle.  As I watched the final play and what appeared to be two woefully insecure refs make two different signals, I couldn’t help but think about pastoral ministry and loss of authority and respect. 

They kept showing the highlights where the back judge came running in, clearly seeing that Jennings had secured possession, then offering a quick glance to the other ref, who seemed like a little boy at his first day of Kindergarten, begin raising his hands.  So the back judge does the same—all the while thinking his in unison with the other dude—and raises his hands to signal touchback.  But the other dude wasn’t saying touchback he was saying touchdown. 

I do not envy these replacement refs.  Only three weeks of a young NFL season have passed and these cats have already lost every ounce of respect and authority that they had.  And respect and authority is huge when you are trying to pretend like you have control over an NFL game.  When authority is lost what you see is what happened on Monday Night Football.  And that’s what got me thinking about pastoral ministry.

My Story

My first ministry position was a disaster.  I was a young punk kid still in college that barely new Jesus much less how to do ministry.  I had good teachers but I was learning on my feet.  Add to this that I was somehow tricked into being a Baptist youth pastor (beginning to struggle with the issue of Calvinism) thrown into a pretty liberal Methodist church. 

I had a much different philosophy of ministry (and a pretty different theology) than the church that I was serving.  It was difficult.  Please do not misunderstand, there were some really great people there putting up with a really young and self-sure youth pastor.  I made things more difficult for myself than probably need be, but it was very painful. 

It did not take long for me to have less authority and respect than these NFL replacement refs.  So, I knew that feeling of insecurity and fear as these two guys ran up to the play to try to make a call.  “Oh, please Jesus let me get this right”. 

That’s no way to live and it’s no way to minister.  When you are questioning every decision you make every word you proclaim your heart is in the wrong place.  You feel the red-hot glares of a host of people that probably will not give you the benefit of the doubt.  You start trying to please them.  Or you go the other route, buck up, and do everything you can to show them that you are right and they are idiots.  Either way you aren’t doing ministry anymore.  That’s the problem with ministering with vested authority instead of borrowed ambassador-type authority.

Vested Authority vs. Borrowed Ambassador-Type Authority

If, as a pastor, my authority is pending on that which is vested to me then it is going to be shifty.  With every decision that goes against the status quo, with every word that cuts across the grain of the norm, I’ll be taking chunks out of my authority.  I’ll have to constantly monitor where I stand with the people.  Because if I don’t one of these business meetings we’re going to have a Monday Night Football debacle that makes those replacement refs feel pretty good. 

Borrowed Ambassador-Type Authority is different.  It’s an authority that is given not because I could park in a place that says “pastor” but because I am standing behind the unchanging word of God.  In as much as I am able to rightly say, “thus saith the Lord” I have all of the authority of the One that makes mountains move.  It may not be received, it may be rebelled against, and it might be rejoiced in.  But it’s a borrowed authority that nobody can take away and really one that I can’t even conjure up on my own.  Pastors need this type of authority. 

Stand behind the Word and that authority will always be yours.  People may gripe and complain (just as they did with the regular refs) but you’ll at least know that you made the right call and their chaffing is against the Book and they need to take it up with the author.  But when I move away from the Book and try to have authority on my own it’s deadly.  I might make a few calls here and there and make people happy.  But inevitably I will be exposed and on that day I’ll have nothing to stand on but my own blown call. 

Be the type of pastor whose authority comes from the risen Savior and not from a vest of merits. 

Joy Robbers and Shallow Presidential Standards

President Obama is a fan of the NFL and is a very passionate fan of college basketball.  During these seasons he (or at least the autobot that puts together his tweets) has been known to throw out a few tweets about the NFL.  Here recently he tweeted about the MNF debacle and the replacement refs. 

To this I saw several snarky responses that implied the President’s priorities are all jacked up.  How is he worrying about football when we have a 16 trillion dollar debt?  How can he fill out a college basketball bracket when we are fighting for peace in foreign countries?  Bring the troops home and then tell us how you picked North Carolina. 

Now I do not care to comment on the President’s policies or his priorities in specific.  You can find a political blog to talk those points to death.  Here I want to reflect on how such an attitude can rob us of joy.  Furthermore, I want to see how such a joy is really detrimental to the life of a leader. 

The assumption behind those snarky responses is that caring about the poor, our debt, and world peace is somehow mutually exclusive to watching and commenting on a blown call on Monday Night Football.  It’s also a ridiculous double standard that these peeps would find the time to a comment on Twitter while people are starving to death around the world.  Why, dear sir, are you not turning off your computer and grilling some burgers for the homeless in your neck of the woods?  Your priorities are all jacked up.

The Jesus Way

It seems to me that Jesus was on occasion a befuddlement to people in his day because of this very issue.  If He is who He says He is, then why in the world is he having a party at a tax collectors house?  Why is he allowing expensive nard to be poured out upon him when that could have been spent on the poor?  Your priorities are messed up, Jesus. 

In Jared Wilson’s new book, Gospel Deeps, he says, “if holiness makes you a sourpuss, you’re doing it wrong.”  Reflecting on the power of the gospel to transform our joy and C.S. Lewis’ use of the term quiddity Wilson says,

If steak or wine or coffee or chocolate or anything else other than God is the highlight of my day or the ultimate joy of my heart, my joy is temporary, hollow, thin.  But if I believe in the gospel, I can finally enjoy the chocolate-ness of chocolate and the coffee-ness of coffee.  Only the gospel frees me to enjoy things as they truly now are and as they someday will be.  (Gospel Deeps, 91)

Yes, we continue to mourn the fact that we are under the weight of 16 trilion in debt, that wars happen, that people starve, etc.  The Lord is grieved by these things just as He was grieved by many things when he walked on the sands of this broken earth.  Yet, there was something about Jesus that was able to enjoy nard-soaked worship even while people were hungry.  I don’t know how that’s possible at times but I do know that it’s commanded.  And I know that an inability to enjoy a sunset is probably a reflection of a deeper-seated inability to dance in the accomplishments of the gospel.

Now please don’t hear me say that I believe President Obama is somehow following the Jesus Way and that he is able to watch college basketball because He has greater joy in Jesus.  That’s not my point.  My point isn’t to say that President Obama is correct—after all he may very well be fiddling while Rome burns—but my point is to say that the snarky rebukes aren’t necessarily correct either, in fact they are deadly to leaders.

For Leaders

If you are a leader that cannot find yourself commenting on a blown call on Monday Night Football because the world’s problems are too pressing it might be possible that you aren’t more holy but less holy.  It might be that you are convinced that you are the solution to the 16 trillion dollar debt and therefore how can you sleep.  Pastors can be tempted into thinking that they are the solution to the marital problems within their church, the financial troubles, the numbers issues, the lack of discipleship, etc.  But you aren’t.  Jesus is. 

To think that you are too important to enjoy a Monday Night Football game is arrogant.  And to imply that a world leader is flitting away his time because at 11:30 at night he turned on the television and ponders a blown call probably reveals either a subtle idolatry or a deep seated bitterness. 

An Idiot’s Guide to Week 3 NFL Predictions

Last week I showed myself a little better than an idiot at 10-6.  If that were an NFL season I would have made the playoffs.  Not too shabby.  A.J. Green didn’t do too bad.  Lester Jean was the fantasy sleeper of the week…and by that of course I mean he slept his way to 0 points.  I was right in picking the Seahawks.  I was right that the Pats and Cards were close (but got the winner wrong).  Correct about Eli’s 4th quarter comeback, I was right about Trent Richardson and almost correct with Romo and Andrew Luck.  So without further bragging here are your week 3 picks:

Giants over Panthers (they win big too)
Bears over Rams (I’m really feeling a Rams upset but don’t have the guts to do it)
Browns over Bills
Cowboys over Bucs
Lions over Titans
Jaguars over Colts
Jets over Dolphins
49ers over Vikings (its going to be close though, Akers game winning FG)
Saints over Chiefs
Redskins over Bengals
Eagles over Cardinals
Falcons over Chargers
Broncos over Texans
Raiders over Steelers (upset of the week)
Patriots over Ravens
Packers over Seahawks (but closer than many are picking)

Fantasy Stud of the Week: Maurice Jones-Drew
Fantasy Sleeper of the Week: Michael Bush

Other crazy picks:

MJD rushes for over 150 yards and 2 TD’s
50 yards but 3 TD’s for Michael Bush
Tebow finds the end zone
Alex Smith looks shaky with Jared Allen in his face all day
Andy Dalton throws 4 INT’s
Raiders win in a very sloppy turnover filled game
Josh Cribbs returns a KO for a TD and almost get a PR TD

An Idiot’s Guide to Week 2 NFL Predictions

Last week I was a paltry 7-9.  Once again proving that this truly is an idiot’s guide to NFL predictions. 

I did call the low scoring Eagles and Browns game.  Wimbley got 1 sack and bloodied up Brady’s nose so that has to count for something.  I totally called the ineptness of Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams.  But blew about everything else.  So as typical you are probably best to pick the opposite of me. 

Packers over Bears
Chiefs over Bills
Bengals over Browns (this one is a blowout)
Colts over Vikings
Raiders over Dolphins
Patriots over Cardinals (actually a close one though)
Giants over Bucs
Eagles over Ravens (Flacco goes backwards)
Saints over Panthers
Texans over Jaguars
Redskins over Rams
Seahawks over Cowboys (upset of the week)
Steelers over Jets
Chargers over Titans
49ers over Lions
Broncos over Falcons

Fantasy Stud of the Week: A.J. Green
Fantasy Sleeper of the Week: Lester Jean

Other crazy picks:

It takes Eli a 4th quarter comeback to put away the Bucs
RG3 looks like a rookie against the Rams
Tony Romo throws for under 200 yards
Braylon Edwards looks like a first round pick (but still drops passes like he should have never been drafted)
Trent Richardson doubles his rushing total from last week to an impressive 80 yards
AJ Green threatens to make NFL single game records
Andrew Luck throws for 3 TD’s

An Idiot’s Guide to Week 1 NFL Predictions

Giants over Cowboys…

Yeah, I know the game is already over but I’m a huge fan of upsets. 

Actually, I had picked the Cowboys over the Giants.  (So +1 on the season, so far).  Here are my slightly less certain predictions for week 1 of the NFL.

Bears over Colts
Chiefs over Falcons
Eagles over Browns (but low scoring, something like 17-6)
Saints over Redskins
Lions over Rams (Rams actually keep up in this shootout)
Titans over Patriots (upset of the week)
Vikings over Jaguars
Bills over Jets
Texans over Dolphins
Seahawks over Cardinals
Packers over 49ers (in a blowout)
Panthers over Bucs
Steelers over Broncos (Big Ben wins by a neck)
Ravens over Bengals (but barely)
Raiders over Chargers (McFadden puts up over 150)

Fantasy Stud of the Week: Kevin Ogletree.  Just got a feeling.
Serious Fantasy Stud of the Week: Matthew Stafford
Fantasy Sleeper of the Week: Greg Olsen

Other crazy picks:

Kamerion Wimbley 3 sacks vs. the Pats
Robert Turbin 100 + yards on the ground
Michael Vick only plays one half due to injury
Jason Witten plays with a missing spleen
Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams combine for about 56 yards rushing
The Jets have 1 passing touchdown
Replacement refs do just as good as the regulars but look much less self-assured