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

Today in Blogworld 9.8.12

Our Holey Holiness: A Conversation with Kevin DeYoung

Great questions from Matt Smethurst for Kevin DeYoung on his new book The Hole in Our Holiness.  Hopefully this will help me to review it a little better. 

Lecrae’s Gravity: An Album that Soars

Lecrae’s new album, Gravity, is now in stores and available on iTunes.  In facts it’s #1.  Owen Strachan provides an excellent review of the album.  I’ve been able to listen a little and I love it.

The More Wood, the Bigger the Fire

This is a really encouraging piece on the necessity and also the danger of vanity in reading. 

Fantasy Christian Men

Tim Kimberley reflects on watching 35 episodes of “24” in about 3 weeks.  It’s not wrong, per se, but when our fantasy world begins to impact our real world it is.  Convicting and helpful words here.

Do you like spoken word?  I’m still on the fence.  But I appreciate this:

7 Questions with Lee Eclov, Author of Pastoral Graces (1 of 2)

Last week I had the opportunity to read and review Lee Eclov’s book Pastoral Graces.  It really is a helpful book for pastors and would probably be beneficial to anyone that loves Jesus.  Pastor Eclov was kind enough to answer 7 questions about his book, ministry, and Mike Ditka.  Here is part 1 of the interview:

1. I have several books on pastoral ministry in my office. Why should I buy one more? 

I’m not sure you should. But I don’t think many books help pastors simply remember how good it is to be a pastor—what a privilege it is to be dispensers of God’s grace in a thousand simple ways. I have had many pastors tell me already how my stories (which are not much different than other pastors’ stories) and a certain way with words God that has given me have encouraged them significantly. It’s pretty amazing, to tell you the truth.

2. Your book has been out for a few months now. Anything that you'd change or add to a second edition?

Caught a couple typos, but other than that, no. A writer friend told me, “When it’s done, don’t look back. It’ll never be perfect.”

3. In your book you mention that when given some crazy ideas you now default to a "yes" rather than a "no". Can you give us an example of a really crazy idea that you might have instinctively said no to, but it actually was something God used in a significant way?

To be clear, some are ideas are crazy, and the best plan is benevolent neglect. In the book I tell about the idea of a car cruise as an evangelistic outreach. I thought that was a crazy idea that worked like gangbusters. I thought when some folks got the idea of bringing their dogs to a local nursing home it was kind of goofy, but it turned out to be a winner.

4. On page 125 you say, "This can be a bruising business, and if we keep tying pillows around us we don't fell people's punches. Of course, we can't feel touches of love very well either". What are some disciplines that you have put into your life to keep you from tying pillows around yourself?

I don’t know that it is a discipline, but I have to stay authentic. I don’t have to be equally available emotionally to everyone, but I can’t hide behind my pastor-face or go plastic on people who will tax me. I also have to talk to Jesus about relationships that are tough on me. When I wrote about “punches” I wasn’t thinking so much about criticism as people that are draining and difficult. I think with some critical people we do have keep a certain emotional distance. That doesn’t mean we’re not loving.

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Be sure to check out Part 2 tomorrow.  And don’t forget to purchase the book if you haven’t already.

James 2:1-7 and Social Media

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man.   (James 2:1-6 ESV)

I  imagine if James 2:1-6 were updated to reflect social media it would read something like this:

“My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.  For if a man with 10,000 Twitter followers and a couple of books published decides to follow you and Twitter, and a poor chap with only his mom and grandma following him also decides to follow, and if you pay attention to the chap with 10,000 followers and say, “Thanks for the follow.  You are amazing.  Check out all my stuff and be sure to retweet how awesome I am to your followers”, while you say to the lonely guy…well nothing really (why would you talk to this dude?)…have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?  Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?  But you have dishonored the poor man.”

The problem in James 2 (both then and today) is that when you start focusing on the rich man you change your message to suit the rich guy and let the poor guy starve.  You start trying to feed the ones that do not need it so that you can convince yourself that you’re more important than you actually are.  If you’re writing, tweeting, and doing the book Face for the glory of God then your aim is to feed hungry souls the life-giving truths of God. 

If God happens to expand your influence through a guy or gal with more influence than you retweeting your stuff, the goal is still the same—feeding the hungry.  For me this provides a test for my heart and to decide if I’m writing for the correct reasons. 

Am I just as excited when Roger the Shrubber (with all of his six followers) decides to subscribe as I am when Tim the Enchanter (with all 10000 of his followers) does?  If I am more excited about the Enchanter following me is that because it will feed more hungry people?  Or because it will feed my gluttonous ego? 

If your conscience convicts you and you’ve been showing partiality, the answer probably isn’t to quit writing.  It’s probably to repent and get back to working for the right reasons.

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This isn’t a one-to-one comparison because many of those that are “rich” in social media are that way because they are faithful to the gospel and the Lord extends their influence as a means of spreading His glory.  That is why I did not quote verse 7.  I’m trying here to get at the heart issue of the one that shows partiality and not make a comment on those that might be wrongly/rightly honored.

Today in Blogworld 9.7.12

Let Jesus Feel the Shame

Very helpful words here from Tim Challies.  We experience shame and guilt.  Sometimes because of sin.  Regardless of the reason for it’s presence when we repent we need to remember that Christ has already dealt with our shame and guilt.

Does God Love Everyone?

Kevin DeYoung says “Yes”.  And also “No”.  Find out why.

Stop Worrying About What Others Are Doing—Follow Him!

I’ve had to learn this one the hard way.  Maybe I should say I’m learning this one the hard way.  Aaron Armstrong shows us why what matters isn’t what God has planned for someone else.  What matters is what God has planned for us.

Majority of Churchgoers Unaware of Church Membership

Anecdotally I’ve found this to be true.  Now a new study backs up what many pastors and church leaders have known for quite some time.  So what does this mean for church discipline?

Interesting…