Thursday, November 20, 2008

leaving for Philly!

Well, tomorrow is the day! I'm setting off for Philly bright and early tomorrow morning. I'm excited for sure--I love to travel but the nervousness of the upcoming marathon (yes, I'm sure that no matter how many marathons I run, I'll always be slightly nervous!) adds a different dimension. At any rate, I'm quire sure I'll have a blast! I'll be sure to update with lots of fun pictures and info when I get back...

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

observations from late night bball

Yes, I went to the [insanely] late University of Memphis basketball game. Last night's 11pm Tigers game kick started ESPN's 23 hours of college basketball (not quite sure what happened to the 24th hour???). Here are a few brief observations from the night/morning...
  • I've never been to a basketball game that started on one day (Nov. 17) and ended on another (Nov. 18).
  • Over 18,000 people were just as crazy as me last night. (As a note: this is more people at a Monday night, 11pm Tiger game than last Wednesday night's 7pm Grizzlies game!!! )
  • 12th ranked Memphis is now 2-0 and it will be a LONG road until March... and though this year's team is in many ways very different from last year's, I'm just as excited! They might need a few more games to 'gel' but they are good!!
  • Calipari became a legend in Memphis last night. With last night's win, the 221st, Calipari officially became the winningest coach in Memphis basketball history.
  • He achieved this win against (1) UMass, where he spent many years coaching and (2) Derek Kellogg, his former assistant.
  • It's still hard to get used to watching a Tiger game without CDR and Joey Dorsey.
  • Antonio Anderson did a great job of leading the team, picking up a double double last night.
  • Pierre Henderson-Niles did ok! He actually ran up and down the court for minutes at a time (get that? because it's big for him... "minutes at a time").
  • By the way, does anyone have a clue WHY we are supposed to call him Pierre Henderson-Niles this year?!?!? Is he trying to be like CDR??? I'm a bit baffled by this.
  • Tyreke Evans put on a nice late night show.
  • The two really drunk guys in the section where my season tickets are located provided [interesting] alternative entertainment. Yeah, I seriously thought that one of them was going to fall over the edge in the midst of his dancing.
  • Xavier Henry just announced this morning that he is committing to the University of Memphis for the 2009 season... the fun just keeps coming! And he picked Memphis over Kansas!
  • Go Tigers!

Friday, November 14, 2008

thankfulness - 11/14

Here are the "thankfulness" posts for the weekend.... Have a great, thankful weekend! :)

November 14: Godly Church Leaders
"Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God." -Hebrews 13:7

November 15: God's Provision
"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" -Matthew 6:26

November 16: Being Counted Worthy to Suffer
"For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully, For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." -1 Peter 2:19, 21

Thursday, November 13, 2008

thankfulness - 11/13

November 13: The Care of God
"We your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever, from generation to generation we will recount your praise." -Psalm 79:13

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

taper time!

It is hard for me to believe that the Philadelphia Marathon is about a week and a half away. Crazy! At any rate, I'm ready and am officially "tapering."

I've also prepared for my time in the "City of Brotherly Love" by watching Rocky. I assure you if I get anywhere close to those steps, I will take the time for a fun photo op! Since I will be arriving in Philly a day and a half before the marathon the plan is to sqeeze in a bit of sightseeing... maybe Constitution Hall, Betsy Ross' house, and the Liberty Bell. I can't wait!!!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

thankfulness - 11/12

November 12: Meaningful Work
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." -Colossians 3:17

thankfulness - 11/11

Last year my mom found this great prayer guide, 30 Days of Gratitude, to be used during the month of November to intentionally orient this month with a view towards thankfulness. I think throughout the remainder of the month I will post selections from this guide. May we all be intentionally thankful for all we have in Christ.

November 11: The Peace of Christ
"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." -Colossians 3:15

and since I missed yesterday...
November 10: The Favor of God
"Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." -Psalm 30:4-5

Friday, November 7, 2008

after the election

“We are people that know politics is important, but not ultimate. We know that politics has its place, an urgent and important place where, in the City of Man, decisions are made that can make the difference between life and death, injustice and justice, mercy and no mercy, commonweal or common disaster.

But we also know that there is in this world at its very best only a hint of the kingdom that is to come, where God’s reign is supreme.

No government will ever be able to say, ‘Every tear has been wiped away.’ No government will ever be able to say, ‘The blind have received sight and the deaf have received hearing and the lame now walk.’…That power is God’s alone.”

—Albert Mohler, “After the Election”

Redemption

So, I have become a recent fan of 24. It is indeed a fabulous show! I am also excited that in approximately two weeks the prequel to Season/Day 7 will air. Check it out...

Monday, November 3, 2008

a prayer for election day

John Piper had an excellent post today in preparation for tomorrow. Keep reading...

November 3, 2008 By: John Piper
Father in heaven, as we approach this election on Tuesday, I pray:

1) that your people will vote,

2) and that they will vote with a sense of thankfulness for a democratic system that at least partially holds in check the folly and evil in all our hearts so that power which corrupts so readily is not given to one group or person too easily;

3) that we would know and live the meaning of
-being in the world, but not of it,
-doing politics as though not doing them,
-being on the earth, yet having our lives hidden with Christ in God,
-rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are God’s;

4) that we would discern what truths and values should advance by being made law and which should advance only by the leavening of honest influence;

5) that your people would see what love and justice and far-seeing wisdom demand in regard to the issues of education, business and industry, health care, marriage and family, abortion, welfare, energy, government and taxes, military, terrorism, international relations, and every challenge that we will face in the years to come;

6) and above all, that we will treasure Jesus Christ, and tell everyone of his sovereignty and supremacy over all nations, and that long after America is a footnote to the future world, he will reign with his people from every tribe and tongue and nation.

Keep us faithful to Christ’s all important Word, and may we turn to it every day for light in these dark times.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

october

October was quite a crazy month with respect to the markets... Since I've been in the field, I've never seen a crazier month. Let's hope November does not provide us with a repeat performance!

DJIA for October 2008