When I visited DC, Jonny, Johnny, and I were talking about our favorite and most hated college football programs, so I decided to compile a list. Some of the schools that I like might seem sacri-michig-ious, but keep in mind that for the most part, I grew up in New Jersey, and that I don't have friends that go to MSU and that I wasn't schooled into hating any schools by my parents or friends. I watched football, and I liked the teams I liked and just disliked teams that I disliked. After the years, I've grown really proud that I'm a Big Ten man through and through, even if my preferences aren't the same as a typical Michigan fan.
MY FAVORITE TEAMS
1. Michigan
Tradition, passion, physical play. This video sums it up.
2. Penn State
My dad actually went to Penn State for his Masters degree before going to Michigan for his PhD, so I grew up liking Penn State almost as much as Michigan. Penn State's classiness is seen in the simplicity of their uniforms, which points to selfless play and team effort (they are my favorite football uniform). Penn State is led by the lovable Joe Paterno, whose longevity really is a testament to his greatness. JoePa has been through many different ages of evolution of college football, and to be able to maintain excellence in the program by evolving his own football philosophy really cannot be understated. JoePa did what Lloyd Carr (bless his heart) couldn't do and what Rich Rod won't do, and that is to evolve his philosophy as the game evolves. JoePa also has a knack for winning big games, as he is the all-time leader in bowl wins, with a record of 24-11-1. What's great about liking Penn State is that it never really interfered with my loyalty to Michigan because they never beat us anyway!
3. Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan State (and most other Big Ten schools)
I love the Big Ten. What makes these three schools special is stifling defense and hard-hitting run offense, which is the trademark of the Big Ten. I don't have any real, deep personal connection to these schools, but I pull for them against almost any opponent because I believe deeply in the Big Ten football philosophy, and I want to see it succeed.
On Michigan State- It may seem puzzling to many Michigan fans that I favor Michigan State. I never hated Michigan State simply because they never seemed like a threat to Michigan, but after experiencing more of the Michigan culture, it's easy for me to see why Michigan fans hate it when State beats us, as rare as it is. Losing to Michigan State hurts more than any losing to any other school other than OSU, but beating them, to me, isn't all that special. I don't wish them ill will, but actually often pull for them against other schools that aren't in this top 5.
I will always root for a Big Ten team (except Ohio State) when playing non-conference games. Always. Even for Ohio State, I pull for them sometimes. Don't yell at me now. We can talk about it later.
4. Rutgers
I really wish I could make Rutgers higher, but I always root for them when I get a chance to watch their games, which is quite rare because their games are rarely televised in the Midwest. I don't know many of the players anymore, but the year when they went 11-2? EPIC. Jersey Pride!
5. Notre Dame
I would never call myself a Notre Dame fan, but there's a connection between the Notre Dame program and the Michigan program, and Notre Dame fans are among the few that can understand the pain of the mediocrity of the Michigan football program. I believe that great programs are meant to be great, and that historically powerful schools will always be better than the new up-and-coming schools. History means a lot, and tradition means everything, and Notre Dame realizes these same beliefs.
Honorable Mention - Pitt
This is simply because I love LeSean McCoy, sympathize with Big East football, and Maggie and Darren go there!
TEAMS I HATE
1. Florida
My hatred of Florida really is for the players and for the coaching staff, not so much for the fans, simply because I don't know that many Florida fans. Urban Meyer is the least classy figure there is in college football, and is basically a dirtbag. The following is a short list of Florida's transgressions.
Brandon Spikes Eye Gouge
In a game against Georgia, Brandon Spikes eye gouged a defenseless player. "Eye gouge" really doesn't describe the atrocity that happens. Watch the video. It's sickening. What's even more sickening is that Urban Meyer only suspended Brandon Spikes for half a game. HALF A GAME! If this crap happened in the NFL, Roger Goodell would slap on a suspension of at least 4 games without pay. Pat Forde correctly points out in his column that "nothing, not even thuggish behavior, will be allowed to substantively interfere with our pursuit of a repeat national title." Anyone who has watched any sports movie of the last century will know that high school and collegiate athletics are just as much about maturing men and strengthening character as it is about the game itself. Urban Meyer should be ashamed of his weak half-game suspension of an intentional cheap shot that could have ended a career. Watch the video below. It's sickening.
Recruiting Scandals
The SEC is known for cutthroat recruiting which often results in programs breaking unspoken rules to obtain the players they want. These scandals are well-documented, but I want to point out the little-known story of Patrick Johnson, a highly recruited cornerback. Patrick Johnson had a suspicious qualifying ACT score, as he scored 16 his first two times and 22 his third time, but no one questioned it or made an issue of it as he was deciding between Florida, Florida State, and LSU. Finally, when he decided LSU, Florida decides to rat out the kid and the NCAA needed to make sure that his exam score was genuine. The issue isn't so much with Florida telling officials, as it was probably the right thing to do, but that Florida didn't mention it in the recruitment process. Why did Florida wait for Johnson to commit to LSU before ratting him out? Would Florida have told the NCAA if Johnson committed to Florida? This really is a small matter, but Florida's bad track record when it comes to recruiting speaks for itself (again, visit the link above).
Running up the score
Urban Meyer loves running up the score. In his 2008 match against Georgie, up 49-10, he called two timeouts in the last minute just to rub it in the face of his opponents. He kicked a late field goal against Miami when he could have just ran the clock out with a 23-3 win. Urban Meyer is a douchebag. Running up the score is classless, and now that the Tim Tebow era is over, Meyer should expect teams to punch him in the mouth for it.
Florida fans cannot deny the sketchiness of their recruiting and the douchery of Urban Meyer. Tim Tebow may have been a Christian, but the way that team played was anything but Christian, which is why I have little respect for Tim Tebow. Whether or not people see it, he compromised his sportsmanship for wins, which is the primary crime of the Florida football program.
2. Ohio State
I hate Ohio State, I really do. But I must say that I hate Ohio State fans much, much more than the team itself. I don't care for their players, but there's no denying that they are pretty darn good and often very fun to watch. Jim Tressel is a n00b, but he isn't lowlife scum like some of the other coaches that I'll talk about. Who I hate are Ohio State fans, who despite having double digit IQs and crappy lives insist that they are better than us. This hatred of OSU fans is multiplied because of our recent losing streak against them, leaving Michigan fans with no real comeback. The thing about Ohio State is that when Michigan is good, the better OSU is, the better Michigan looks. I am convinced that the greatness of the legacies of the Michigan and Ohio State football programs are dependent on each other, that without our rivalry, the greatness diminishes (especially when you keep winning the Big Ten easily and losing in the National Championship game).
3. USC
USC, like Florida, does anything they can to win. They pay players with cars and money, giving them an obvious unfair advantage in recruiting. Their NFL talent comes from their NFL salaries. What's even more maddening though is that Pete Carroll was incredibly difficult to beat. Watching the Big Ten lose game after game to USC in the Rose Bowl was absolutely humiliating, and knowing that they had sketchy recruiting just made us want to beat them even more...which we didn't. But I need to give credit where it's due - Pete Carroll was a great coach. The more talented team doesn't always win the game. The more well-coached team does, and in most of Carroll's games, his team was the better coached. [Random rant: does it bother anyone else that Pete Carroll's teams always had tons of penalties but no one could ever stop them?!]
This is USC football's "do anything to win" mentality summed up in a play:
4. Boise State
Nobody likes whiners. Nobody likes kids who play crappy competition and then call themselves the best (like Ping Pong Playa). Most of all, nobody likes people with blue turf that makes games freaking unwatchable. Boise State has been consistently beating the teams in their division, and is starting to schedule more difficult non-conference games. This is all a feign. Their non-conference games, while seemingly difficult, are at the beginning of the season, before real chemistry is developed and when they are at their worst. Don't give me crap about them beating Oregon last year, because a performance in the opener is rarely a good sign of how good the team actually is. I would like to see Boise play some difficult opponents at the end of the season, which unfortunately won't happen because of their pathetically weak conference. We only get to see Boise State play quality opponents at their best in bowl games, where they have a 6-4 record and 2-4 since 2004, a surprisingly poor record considering their regular season dominance. Anybody can win a single bowl game, but a championship team should be one that has played a season of playoff football against playoff caliber teams.
Also, I hate their gimmicky offense.
5. West Virginia
I hate West Virginia because I like Rutgers, but more importantly, I hate West Virginia because I hated Rich Rodriguez and his gimmicky offense. Yes, I know that we have that offense now, but I would give anything to have an offense like Penn State, Iowa, or Wisconsin...basically have things the way they used to be. At West Virginia, Rich Rod had once-in-a-lifetime players for his system in Pat White and Steve Slaton, and I'm convinced that the coach didn't make the players, but that the players made the coach. In my opinion, this run-first spread offense wouldn't stand up against any Big Ten defense, which has also proven true these last few years at Michigan. Needless to say, I will still be rooting hard for the team this year, as my desire for Michigan football to succeed is much greater than my desire to see Rich Rod fail.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Penguin Webisode 4 - News with Michael
In this webisode, we learn more about the cameraman who won't show his face, discovering some of his darkest secrets. Also, the evil star pays Penguin another unpleasant visit. This webisode features a few beautifully written songs performed by the characters. If you wish to purchase the music sung by Michael and Penguin, a Penguin soundtrack will be sold after the airing of the final webisode, with a special must-have track featuring Taylor Swift Kanye West called "Imma let you finish."
Next episode will feature the Grape Penguin, so stay tuned.
Next episode will feature the Grape Penguin, so stay tuned.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
NFL Watchability Rankings #32-17
Football season is baaaaaack! To kick it off, I've decided to create a ranking of all the teams in the NFL. I was going to do my power rankings for the NFL, but ESPN came out with their own, which are pretty damn good, so I decided to rank the teams in the NFL based on how entertaining their games will be, how "watchable" their games are. Below are the most boring teams to watch that you should probably avoid (unless they are playing teams from the better half, I guess). If your favorite team is on here, I'm sorry, but it's not my fault you like a boring team. If you have any comments or disagreements with where I put teams, feel free to insult my intelligence below in the comments. The next half should be posted sometime next week.
I LOVE FOOTBALL:
| 32 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Average sports fans, or even NFL fans for that matter, may not be able to name one player on the Bucs. Actually, go ahead and try and name one. Antonio Bryant? Nope he's on the Bengals now. Derrick Brooks? He's retired. Try naming the coach on their team. Yeap, I can't either. If you named Cadillac Williams, congratulations. For everyone else who named no one it's okay. The team is just depleted of talent. Except for Arrelious Benn from Illinois. That kid is a stud at least in college he was, so it's too bad he's going to have Josh Freeman throwing to him. But hey, at least they have the always-reliable Ted Ginn now. I guess the good news is that we're probably not going to have to see many of the Bucs games on TV. |
| 31 | San Francisco 49ers | Have they not given up on Alex Smith yet? Sure, Michael Crabtree and Frank Gore are there, but this is just a boring team to watch. Because the 49ers can't effectively pass the ball, Frank Gore is going to have another high-workload season, and Frank Gore is a workhorse but he doesn't make anyone jump out of his seat. It's also really hard to root for the selfish divas of Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis. I wish the best for Gore and sympathize with Smith, but get no enjoyment watching Davis or Crabtree catch receptions, so watching 49ers games are futile. You don't want them to get destroyed too bad because you pity them, but you don't want them to do well either. Don't watch 49ers games. They will suck, guaranteed. |
| 30 | Denver Broncos | The Denver Broncos are a solid and improving team, but those improvements are mainly defensive, with Brandon Marshall now on the Dolphins. Elvis Dumervil, Brian Dawkins, and Champ Bailey are fun to watch, but until the Broncos show some sort of defensive consistency, the defense won't get much credit. Knowshon Moreno is still far from being an elite running back, and Kyle Orton, though improving, doesn't have anyone to throw to. How they use Tim Tebow will definitely be a draw, but I really don't see them using him very extensively. Basically, the Broncos are going to have another tough year, and there aren't many crowd-pleasing players left to keep me watching. |
| 29 | New York Giants | Eli Manning to Steve Smith. That's the New York Giants offense. Sure, Bradshaw is a decent back and sure, Justin Tuck can make defensive plays, but few other players have proved their tv-rating grabbing abilities. Michael Strahan is gone, Osi Umenyiora is old, and Brandon Jacobs has disappeared. The Giants historically have never been a very fun team to watch, but this year is going to be painful. If Hixon and Manningham can up their game, they have a chance at being exciting. Until then, let's just be glad that Jeremy Shockey isn't there anymore. |
| 28 | St. Louis Rams | The Rams suck. Again. Sam Bradford couldn't have asked for a worse situation. With the stud receivers he has in Donnie Avery and Laurent Robinson, the Rams won't suck any less. A lot of people like Steven Jackson, but all he does is put up meaningless numbers. There's nothing new under the sun - the Rams still suck. And it's not worth watching them suck again. |
| 27 | Oakland Raiders | If Jason Campbell is considered a big improvement at the quarterback position, there's something wrong with your team. That said, the Raiders, especially when Gradkowski was leading the team, have shown a big amount of heart. They play physically and with heart. Michael Bush and Darren McFadden are solid running backs that can make big plays. The Raiders have cut a lot of dead weight, literally (Jamarcus Russell), and I really believe that the Raiders will have one of the best seasons they've had recently. |
| 26 | Kansas City Chiefs | I like the Chiefs, I really do. But I don't think that everyone else does. The Chiefs may be a much better football team this year, but they won't be much more fun to watch. Like all the other boring teams, the Chiefs have a mediocre quarterback (Matt Cassell hasn't proved his worth since he left the Patriots) with no one to throw to. Jamaal Charles might break a few big ones, but he is probably the only big-play threats on the team. Remember when Tyler Thigpen caught that touchdown pass two years ago? That was probably the most exciting thing that's happened on the Chiefs in the last decade. |
| 25 | Jacksonville Jaguars | The problem with the Jaguars is that they have no fan base, so every game they play really doesn't matter. We all sympathize for Mojo, but the truth is no one really cares whether the Jaguars win or lose, making it difficult to want to watch Jaguars games, especially as they play the other very likable, very exciting teams of the AFC South. Watching the Jaguars is just like watching movies or television without any emotional connection to the characters...crappy. (Anyone watch the new show Persons Unknown? It sucks.) |
| 24 | Buffalo Bills | Yes, this spot is quite high for a team as bad as the Bills. This high ranking is 100% attributed to their new speed demon, CJ Spiller, who's the second coming of Chris Johnson. If the Bills play their cards right and find a good split between Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller (notice I didn't even mention Marshawn Lynch), Spiller will light it up for the Bills. Watch his highlights here and here and here. Believe the hype. Great things will happen. |
| 23 | Cleveland Browns | Joshua Cribbs and Jerome Harrison bring the only taste of elite talent on this talent-depleted squad. While I think that the Browns will do better with Delhomme leading the offense, the Browns suck and will probably continue sucking. But does anyone get tired of watching teams from Cleveland lose? I guess in that sense, they'll be very enjoyable to watch. Let's just hope Cribbs doesn't decide to take his talents down to South Beach... |
| 22 | Pittsburg Steelers | Stifling defense and ground-and-pound offense may win championship, but it doesn't win viewers. Big Ben is the one reason to watch the Steelers, with his great mobility and innovation once forced out of the pocket and the amazing comebacks that he puts together. The four weeks that the Steelers go without Ben could either be extremely painful or, in the less likely case, exciting because of the speed of Dennis Dixon. The Steelers have always been fun to watch because they were good, but I just don't think they'll be that great this year. |
| 21 | Carolina Panthers | Believe it or not, I think the Carolina Panthers should have kept Jake Delhomme despite his dismal last season. The learning curve is going to be hard on Matt Moore (or Jimmy Clausen), but DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart should be able to provide the spark the team needs for a solid season. Let's not forget about Steve Smith, too. Even though he hasn't played like a superstar, he is still extremely talented and fun to watch. |
| 20 | Washington Redskins | The worst team in the NFC East...will remain the worst team in the NFC East. The acquisition of Donovan Mcnabb will certainly help the offense, but the defense isn't going to be any better, Albert Haynesworth is making sure of that. The Redskins have a lot of potential, but unless the team actually believes it can win, it never will. But it's nice to see that Santana Moss might play up to his potential and that Clinton Portis doesn't have to do all the work on the team. Will Donovan be able to turn the Redskins around? I'll be watching to see. |
| 19 | Chicago Bears | Jay Cutler is a baby and a diva, and no one likes seeing baby divas win (unless it's a real baby diva, which would make him adorable). Matt Forte was a fantasy football (and real life) bust, turning a lot of fans against him. The only guys worth watching are Devin Hester (who still has no hands), Johnny Knox (who I think is better than Hester), and Chestor Taylor (who has to back up the incompetent Forte). The best part about watching Bears games is watching Jay Cutler throw red zone interceptions. Man, are those exciting! |
| 18 | Houston Texans | Anyone who knows me knows that I have a man-crush on Matt Schaub, and it kills me to have to have the Texans in the bottom half. Take away Andre, and the Texans offense is very pedestrian. The loss of Steve Slaton to suckiness really takes away much of the explosiveness of the offense, leaving an average passing attack. Even still, the Texans will manage to put together a solid season. I'm sure of it. |
| 17 | Detroit Lions | The Detroit Lions look almost like a complete team. A franchise quarterback, an elite receiver, an explosive running back, and a dominant defensive player. The Lions probably won't make the playoffs this year, but they will certainly win more games than they have in the last few years. I personally like watching the Lions because they play like they have nothing to lose, which they don't, which makes their wins mean so much more and their losses hurt less (unless you're a true Lions fan, I guess). |
I LOVE FOOTBALL:
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
1 Samuel 12 - Samuel's humility
This passage describes Samuel's last speech to the people of Israel as their leader, as he steps down from his place of highest authority for Saul. Samuel's extreme humility really surprises me in this passage. When the people asked for a king, they were rejecting both God and Samuel (which is why God tells Samuel that they weren't just rejecting Samuel, but God as well). Even so, there must be some sort of hurt that Samuel experienced. Despite this hurt, Samuel displays a genuine love for God's people, pleading with them to turn back to God.
Samuel puts the will of God and the good of the people above his own will and desires, putting aside his pride and allowing another to be raised up above him, even if it wasn't what God had wanted. Samuel doesn't show any bitterness, but exhorts the people one last time to follow God and obey his commands. The following are things that Samuel does that is a reflection of his humility.
Samuel examines himself for sin and wrongdoings.
While it may seem that Samuel is being self-righteous in the beginning of the passage, Samuel is affirming that God has been working through him as the leader of the nation, it wasn't because of his sin that the people wanted a king. It's a super ballsy offer for anyone in the entire nation of Israel to accuse him of a wrongdoing, an offer that he can only make if he's spend time in the past examining himself. A posture of humility comes from a conviction of our own sinfulness, which comes from a lifestyle of reflection, confession, and repentance. While we might not be able to relate to Samuel's blamelessness, we can be convicted by Christ's blamelessness, that Christ never led us astray or oppressed us in any way, but that it is our own sin that has ruined things. Humility comes with a deep understanding of the sinfulness of our own hearts.
Samuel maintains an attitude of gratitude and praise.
Samuel remembers all of God's past deliverances of his people, as he recounts "all the righteous acts performed by the LORD for you and your fathers." God has rescued his people whenever they called out to him, and God provided secure lives for his people. Samuel, while admonishing the people, describes the holiness, power, and mercy of God. Humility comes with a deep understanding of the person of God.
Samuel continues loving.
It would have been so easy for Samuel to be bitter about having to step down from leadership when he didn't do anything wrong. It would have been so easy for him to curse at the people under his breath and to give up and walk away. Samuel was wronged in his situation, but he maintains his love for God's people, warning them and teaching them the will of God. He even called upon God to give them rain for their harvest! Most importantly, Samuel continued to pray for the people who sinned against him.
Samuel shows a lot of humility as he steps down from a place of authority because of others' sin, and we can learn a lot from his humility.
Samuel puts the will of God and the good of the people above his own will and desires, putting aside his pride and allowing another to be raised up above him, even if it wasn't what God had wanted. Samuel doesn't show any bitterness, but exhorts the people one last time to follow God and obey his commands. The following are things that Samuel does that is a reflection of his humility.
Samuel examines himself for sin and wrongdoings.
While it may seem that Samuel is being self-righteous in the beginning of the passage, Samuel is affirming that God has been working through him as the leader of the nation, it wasn't because of his sin that the people wanted a king. It's a super ballsy offer for anyone in the entire nation of Israel to accuse him of a wrongdoing, an offer that he can only make if he's spend time in the past examining himself. A posture of humility comes from a conviction of our own sinfulness, which comes from a lifestyle of reflection, confession, and repentance. While we might not be able to relate to Samuel's blamelessness, we can be convicted by Christ's blamelessness, that Christ never led us astray or oppressed us in any way, but that it is our own sin that has ruined things. Humility comes with a deep understanding of the sinfulness of our own hearts.
Samuel maintains an attitude of gratitude and praise.
Samuel remembers all of God's past deliverances of his people, as he recounts "all the righteous acts performed by the LORD for you and your fathers." God has rescued his people whenever they called out to him, and God provided secure lives for his people. Samuel, while admonishing the people, describes the holiness, power, and mercy of God. Humility comes with a deep understanding of the person of God.
Samuel continues loving.
It would have been so easy for Samuel to be bitter about having to step down from leadership when he didn't do anything wrong. It would have been so easy for him to curse at the people under his breath and to give up and walk away. Samuel was wronged in his situation, but he maintains his love for God's people, warning them and teaching them the will of God. He even called upon God to give them rain for their harvest! Most importantly, Samuel continued to pray for the people who sinned against him.
Samuel shows a lot of humility as he steps down from a place of authority because of others' sin, and we can learn a lot from his humility.
Penguin Webisode 3 - Penguin Harassment Training
Here at Ping Pong Playa Productions, we try very hard to create a comfortable work environment for our employees. Teasing, swearing, and harassment aren't tolerated, and we make all of our employees take the Penguin Harassment Training to better understand what constitutes harassment. In addition, we also have also posted around the office large posters with inappropriate words, gestures, and actions, my favorite of which displays an employee cowering in the fecal position while his boss beats him with a large suitcase of money shouting "You will never get this, you will never get this!". I myself have experienced this flavor of harassment (it hurts), and it's good having these to remind us what not to do in a work environment.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Penguin Webisode 2 - Jersey Penguin
Dancing, drama, and more Penguin! This webisode is the combination of Step Up, Desperate Housewives, and March of the Penguins. Be prepared to have your socks blown off. Some parts of this webisode may be disturbing and not suitable for children, so if there happens to be any two or three year-olds in the vicinity, be sure to blindfold and earplug them before watching the video.
Enjoy.
Ping Pong Playa Productions is not responsible for any sickness, nausea, vomiting, or mental instability caused by this video.
Stay tuned, Penguin Webisode 3 will be coming out next week. (Also, check out the awesome Bible study posts that also happen to be on this amazing website)
Enjoy.
Ping Pong Playa Productions is not responsible for any sickness, nausea, vomiting, or mental instability caused by this video.
Stay tuned, Penguin Webisode 3 will be coming out next week. (Also, check out the awesome Bible study posts that also happen to be on this amazing website)
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Penguin Webisode Premiere
My friends Michael and Justin decided to explore the mysterious, exciting world of penguins in a web series, and I have agreed to produce this new venture. Join us as we discover shocking, enlightening things about Penguin, the subject of our research. The cinematography in this new look at penguins is exceptional, with the entire series filmed in one shooting, being split up into webisodes for your viewing pleasure (and to appease the YouTube upload limit). These webisodes will make you laugh, they'll make you cry, and they even may make you stumble (some webisodes aren't for the kids). We really hope that this series will leave you with a new fascination with penguins and a new perspective on life.
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
1 Samuel 11 - God's Deliverance
In this passage, we see the deliverance of a sinful city by Saul. From this passage, we can learn about our own lives and how Jesus has delivered us.
THE DELIVERED
The city of Jabesh was under attack by the Ammonites, and they tried to cut a deal with them, offering themselves as subjects to the Ammonites in return for peace. The Israelites were fine with being under the rule of pagans, as long as they didn't have to suffer too much. They were fine with being help captive by a rival kingdom, when God had just gave the them a new king to oppose all other kingdoms. However, Nahash the Ammonite wanted more than the taxes and the servitude of the people; he wanted to humiliate the Israelites. The elders at Jabesh didn't cry out to God for deliverance. They didn't even call out to their new king (the one they asked for, remember?!) because they didn't believe in Saul's power to do anything about the situation. Instead, they sent out a general cry for help, a cry for a deliverer.
Like the Israelites throughout the Old Testament, we tolerate being help captive by sin way too much. As long as the sin doesn't seem to get in the way of our everyday lives, we allow ourselves to be enslaved by it. However, when our own sin gets us in trouble, we don't even turn to God, but turn to other things, feeling hopeless without recognizing the hope that God gives us.
THE DELIVERER
The good news is that a deliverer has come! Although in most of his reign Saul was a bad king, in this passage, Saul foreshadows how Jesus will deliver his people.
Humility and Obedience
It's unclear how much time passed between the anointing of Saul and this first mission of his, but either way, Saul went back to working his field after he was anointed! He didn't exercise his right as the king of Israel until God gave him the circumstances and the authority to do so. Saul didn't start making new laws, taxing citizens, or deporting illegal immigrants once he was in power. In fact, the people of Israel didn't even really recognize him as king yet because he needed to be reaffirmed as king after the battle! Instead, Saul waited until his calling as king became more clear (Israel never had a king before so he probably didn't know what he was supposed to do anyway).
Similarly, Jesus, though all-powerful and totally capable, did not start his ministry on earth as a child. He didn't start it as a teenager or even a young adult. Jesus waited for his time to come. Jesus lived as a regular guy, a common man, although he knew that he was the creator of all things, the king of all creation. In all things, Jesus was humble and only acted when the Father called him, doing nothing out of pride or arrogance.
Passion and Love for His People
When Saul heard about what Nahash threatened to do to his people, he went berserk, consumed by a righteous anger against those oppressing and humiliating God's people, the people the God had given him to protect. In his Super-Saiyan rage, Saul straight up butchered two oxen, gave it to his messengers, and told them to go to throughout Israel to "make 'em an offer they can't refuse." (An aside: How scary must it have been to be around Saul when he was going crazy?! Imagine a tall, handsome, usually reserved and humble individual going crazy and slaughtering two animals and tearing them up to shreds. Can you imagine if Jeffrey (for my NJers) or Bryan (for my UMers) was filled with righteous anger and took out a knife and started slicing up live oxen? Freakin scary.)
Jesus too cared about his people, and his love far surpasses that of Saul's. Instead of tearing apart the body of an ox, Jesus himself, the sacrificial lamb, had his body torn apart for us, the ultimate act of love. Jesus' anger was directed at sin and death itself, while towards people, even those who opposed and eventually crucified him, he showed compassion and forgiveness.
THE OUTCOME
Unification
Israel had previously been divided, with each tribe and city basically watching out for itself. God unites the country both militarily and in spirit through the adversity that they face. The passage says that the people "turned out as one man", which is a contrast to the description of the defeated Ammonites, who were "scattered, so that no two of them were left together." It is through unity that the church can battle the dark side, the Nahashes that attack the church.
Life, and life to the full
After the battle, Saul announced, "No one shall be put to death today, for this day the LORD rescued Israel." Saul's victory over the Ammonites and the grace he showed towards his opposition saved the lives of countless of God's people. However, Jesus not only delivers us from death and gives us life, he goes beyond it - "I have come so that they have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10)." The life that Jesus gives isn't just the lack of death, but it is an abundance of joy, love, and peace, and sugar, spice and everything nice. Saul delivered Israel from humiliation and captivity to freedom and life. Jesus did all that and more - he delivered us from death so we can enjoy everlasting life, and that life to the full.
THE DELIVERED
The city of Jabesh was under attack by the Ammonites, and they tried to cut a deal with them, offering themselves as subjects to the Ammonites in return for peace. The Israelites were fine with being under the rule of pagans, as long as they didn't have to suffer too much. They were fine with being help captive by a rival kingdom, when God had just gave the them a new king to oppose all other kingdoms. However, Nahash the Ammonite wanted more than the taxes and the servitude of the people; he wanted to humiliate the Israelites. The elders at Jabesh didn't cry out to God for deliverance. They didn't even call out to their new king (the one they asked for, remember?!) because they didn't believe in Saul's power to do anything about the situation. Instead, they sent out a general cry for help, a cry for a deliverer.
Like the Israelites throughout the Old Testament, we tolerate being help captive by sin way too much. As long as the sin doesn't seem to get in the way of our everyday lives, we allow ourselves to be enslaved by it. However, when our own sin gets us in trouble, we don't even turn to God, but turn to other things, feeling hopeless without recognizing the hope that God gives us.
“Instead of humbling themselves before God and confessing the sins that had brought them into trouble, they put God altogether aside, and basely offered to become the servants of the Ammonites . . . We see here the sad effect of sin and careless living in lowering men’s spirits, sapping courage, and discouraging noble effort. Oh, it is pitiable to see men tamely submitting to a vile master! Yet how often is the sight repeated! How often to men virtually say to the devil, ‘Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee’!” (Balike)
THE DELIVERER
The good news is that a deliverer has come! Although in most of his reign Saul was a bad king, in this passage, Saul foreshadows how Jesus will deliver his people.
Humility and Obedience
It's unclear how much time passed between the anointing of Saul and this first mission of his, but either way, Saul went back to working his field after he was anointed! He didn't exercise his right as the king of Israel until God gave him the circumstances and the authority to do so. Saul didn't start making new laws, taxing citizens, or deporting illegal immigrants once he was in power. In fact, the people of Israel didn't even really recognize him as king yet because he needed to be reaffirmed as king after the battle! Instead, Saul waited until his calling as king became more clear (Israel never had a king before so he probably didn't know what he was supposed to do anyway).
Similarly, Jesus, though all-powerful and totally capable, did not start his ministry on earth as a child. He didn't start it as a teenager or even a young adult. Jesus waited for his time to come. Jesus lived as a regular guy, a common man, although he knew that he was the creator of all things, the king of all creation. In all things, Jesus was humble and only acted when the Father called him, doing nothing out of pride or arrogance.
Passion and Love for His People
When Saul heard about what Nahash threatened to do to his people, he went berserk, consumed by a righteous anger against those oppressing and humiliating God's people, the people the God had given him to protect. In his Super-Saiyan rage, Saul straight up butchered two oxen, gave it to his messengers, and told them to go to throughout Israel to "make 'em an offer they can't refuse." (An aside: How scary must it have been to be around Saul when he was going crazy?! Imagine a tall, handsome, usually reserved and humble individual going crazy and slaughtering two animals and tearing them up to shreds. Can you imagine if Jeffrey (for my NJers) or Bryan (for my UMers) was filled with righteous anger and took out a knife and started slicing up live oxen? Freakin scary.)
Jesus too cared about his people, and his love far surpasses that of Saul's. Instead of tearing apart the body of an ox, Jesus himself, the sacrificial lamb, had his body torn apart for us, the ultimate act of love. Jesus' anger was directed at sin and death itself, while towards people, even those who opposed and eventually crucified him, he showed compassion and forgiveness.
THE OUTCOME
Unification
Israel had previously been divided, with each tribe and city basically watching out for itself. God unites the country both militarily and in spirit through the adversity that they face. The passage says that the people "turned out as one man", which is a contrast to the description of the defeated Ammonites, who were "scattered, so that no two of them were left together." It is through unity that the church can battle the dark side, the Nahashes that attack the church.
Life, and life to the full
After the battle, Saul announced, "No one shall be put to death today, for this day the LORD rescued Israel." Saul's victory over the Ammonites and the grace he showed towards his opposition saved the lives of countless of God's people. However, Jesus not only delivers us from death and gives us life, he goes beyond it - "I have come so that they have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10)." The life that Jesus gives isn't just the lack of death, but it is an abundance of joy, love, and peace, and sugar, spice and everything nice. Saul delivered Israel from humiliation and captivity to freedom and life. Jesus did all that and more - he delivered us from death so we can enjoy everlasting life, and that life to the full.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
My First MLS Match
Jonny, Iris, and I went to the new Red Bulls Arena for the Thierry Henry debut against Tottenham. Even though the Red Bulls lost, they played better and had more and better chances against Tottenham and lost the game 2-1 on stupid defensive mistakes. Even though Thierry Henry is on the downside of his career, his control of the ball and extremely fast mental pace created an electric atmosphere whenever he touched the ball. It became clear that most of his Red Bulls teammates could not keep up with his game. He was awesome. The impressive crowd of 20,000 was engaged and loud for most of the game, which added to the experience. Here are some thoughts on the match:
1) Singing Rocks
There's something about hearing a melody rather than a chant or cheer that is freaking awesome. I realize that constantly singing songs isn't really possible at football games, where the flow of the game is much more choppy, but singing really is much more pleasant to the years than shouting. Singing also displays greater unison than shouting cheers, as cheers are often only a few words while songs are much lengthier, so the unision heard is much more apparent and much more powerful.
This could also be a result of football stadiums being much larger than soccer stadiums (Manchester United's stadium only seats 75,000), and the size of football stadiums make it very difficult to sing because of the time it takes for sound to travel. Even if everyone in the stadium is singing in unison, people on one end will hear the singing of the people on the other end around a second later, which screws with the head and makes it really hard to sing. Even at the Big House, it's rare that everyone is in sync when we sing the Victors. It's just very difficult with that size of a stadium. That's just my theory.
The insane fan section:
2) Red Bulls Arena is SWEET
This is the first season Red Bulls Arena is open, and for an MLS stadium, it's really, really nice. I don't what it's called, but I am always amazed at the electronic tickertape thing that goes around the stadium. The capacity of the stadium is a little over 25,000, which sounds shabby compared to the Big House, but is still big enough to look pretty awesome. My favorite thing about the stadium was probably the roof, which extended over the seats but was transparent so we can experience natural lighting. The sky was also absolutely beautiful the night we went, which only added to the magnificence of the stadium.
3) No Diving Allowed
One thing that I really like about the MLS is that there isn't really diving involved. Here in the United States, we like our men strong and manly, not wimpy like in the World Cup. During the course of the game, there must have been less than 10 fouls called. Sure, it was an international friendly, but it was refreshing watching a game where the players tried to stay and plays on their feet. From the MLS games that I have watched, diving isn't really an issue, so don't let the bad aftertaste of the World Cup keep you from watching the MLS!
4) Sitting down is nice.
At work earlier in the day, we had our company picnic, where I played two and a half hours of volleyball. My legs were exhausted. It was a relief to find out that it wasn't like on TV where everyone is standing and dancing around playing vuvuzelas, but that I could sit and enjoy the game. I love the college football atmosphere, and I like the passion of standing during games, but it's also nice to be able to relax and actually be able to see everything that's happening on the field. Even though our seats were kind of high up, I enjoyed being able to sit and really watch the game, jumping out of my seat whenever anything exciting happened (which was actually quite often).
A not-very-exciting video of when Thierry Henry was announced:
My First MLB Game
1) Singing Rocks
There's something about hearing a melody rather than a chant or cheer that is freaking awesome. I realize that constantly singing songs isn't really possible at football games, where the flow of the game is much more choppy, but singing really is much more pleasant to the years than shouting. Singing also displays greater unison than shouting cheers, as cheers are often only a few words while songs are much lengthier, so the unision heard is much more apparent and much more powerful.
This could also be a result of football stadiums being much larger than soccer stadiums (Manchester United's stadium only seats 75,000), and the size of football stadiums make it very difficult to sing because of the time it takes for sound to travel. Even if everyone in the stadium is singing in unison, people on one end will hear the singing of the people on the other end around a second later, which screws with the head and makes it really hard to sing. Even at the Big House, it's rare that everyone is in sync when we sing the Victors. It's just very difficult with that size of a stadium. That's just my theory.
The insane fan section:
2) Red Bulls Arena is SWEET
This is the first season Red Bulls Arena is open, and for an MLS stadium, it's really, really nice. I don't what it's called, but I am always amazed at the electronic tickertape thing that goes around the stadium. The capacity of the stadium is a little over 25,000, which sounds shabby compared to the Big House, but is still big enough to look pretty awesome. My favorite thing about the stadium was probably the roof, which extended over the seats but was transparent so we can experience natural lighting. The sky was also absolutely beautiful the night we went, which only added to the magnificence of the stadium.
3) No Diving Allowed
One thing that I really like about the MLS is that there isn't really diving involved. Here in the United States, we like our men strong and manly, not wimpy like in the World Cup. During the course of the game, there must have been less than 10 fouls called. Sure, it was an international friendly, but it was refreshing watching a game where the players tried to stay and plays on their feet. From the MLS games that I have watched, diving isn't really an issue, so don't let the bad aftertaste of the World Cup keep you from watching the MLS!
4) Sitting down is nice.
At work earlier in the day, we had our company picnic, where I played two and a half hours of volleyball. My legs were exhausted. It was a relief to find out that it wasn't like on TV where everyone is standing and dancing around playing vuvuzelas, but that I could sit and enjoy the game. I love the college football atmosphere, and I like the passion of standing during games, but it's also nice to be able to relax and actually be able to see everything that's happening on the field. Even though our seats were kind of high up, I enjoyed being able to sit and really watch the game, jumping out of my seat whenever anything exciting happened (which was actually quite often).
A not-very-exciting video of when Thierry Henry was announced:
My First MLB Game
Monday, July 26, 2010
1 Samuel 9, 10 - Sovereignty and Grace
God's sovereignty and God's grace are two themes that are often pointed to in the Old Testament. In 1 Samuel 9 and 10, God's grace is revealed through his sovereignty, as he works in the lives of Samuel and Saul and coming of Jesus is foreshadowed.
1) God's sovereignty and grace in present circumstances
God's sovereignty in this passage is first most obviously seen in his leading of Saul to Samuel, leading Saul on a three-day donkey chase. God was always in complete control of the situation and Samuel knew this, trusting God so much that he didn't even travel to the land of Benjamin, knowing that God would bring the person promised to him.
God's grace is demonstrated in how he lead Saul to Samuel. While God spoke directly to Samuel and told him of Saul's coming, he chose not to reach out to Saul the same way, using a more roundabout method of leading Saul using everyday circumstances. Saul's relationship with God probably was not as great as Samuel's relationship with God, and he probably wasn't in the habit of regularly talking to and hearing from God. Despite this, could God have spoken audibly to Saul to tell him to go meet Samuel? Sure, he could. But God chooses to meet us where we are and to use our imperfections and weaknesses rather than avoid them.
So when life seems frustrating and when it seems like God is sending you on wild goose chases, be encouraged. God is and will always be in control. Even though you don't know where your life is going or where God is leading you, know that he is always there and is always working for your good (Romans 8:28). The three days you spend frustrated searching for your donkeys will be totally worth it after you end up meeting Jesus and are crowned along with him.
Also, God can use you even if you're an ass. [Sorry, I had to. =P]
2) God's sovereignty and grace in his ultimate plan for redemption
Saul seemed like the king the Israelites had been asking for, the perfect king. Socially, he came from a well-known, well-respected family. Morally, he was respectful, humble almost to a fault, and radically obedient to his father (if my dad sent me on a 3-day hide-and-go-seek game with donkeys, I would probably run away from home). Physically, he was tall and handsome. According to Jewish tradition, Saul was also the ultimate lady's man:
Despite these physical and character traits, Saul would be later be consumed with pride and jealousy and rejected by God.
Saul being a crappy king didn't catch God off guard. God knew Saul's heart, and he knew from the beginning that all human kings would be sinful and imperfect. Luckily for his people, God is always in control and has in store for us a king greater than Saul, whom he has prepared for us before the beginning of time.
Like what Pastor Heald said yesterday, when the Israelites were begging for a king, they were actually crying out, "Show me Jesus", as Jesus is the only truly perfect king. There's no indication in the Bible of Jesus being tall or handsome, and it seemed like the only women he drew to himself were prostitutes and "sinners". Unlike Saul, Jesus came from a humble family, one that had been disowned by the community because of pre-marital pregnancy. While Jesus was not the king that the Jews expected, he is the king that all people desire. Unlike Saul, Jesus remains obedient to his heavenly Father. While Jesus didn't bring military victories like Saul did, Jesus conquered the unconquerable, death. While Saul was the fallen first king of Israel, Jesus is the ultimate, eternal king that can never be dethroned.
Long live the King.
1) God's sovereignty and grace in present circumstances
God's sovereignty in this passage is first most obviously seen in his leading of Saul to Samuel, leading Saul on a three-day donkey chase. God was always in complete control of the situation and Samuel knew this, trusting God so much that he didn't even travel to the land of Benjamin, knowing that God would bring the person promised to him.
God's grace is demonstrated in how he lead Saul to Samuel. While God spoke directly to Samuel and told him of Saul's coming, he chose not to reach out to Saul the same way, using a more roundabout method of leading Saul using everyday circumstances. Saul's relationship with God probably was not as great as Samuel's relationship with God, and he probably wasn't in the habit of regularly talking to and hearing from God. Despite this, could God have spoken audibly to Saul to tell him to go meet Samuel? Sure, he could. But God chooses to meet us where we are and to use our imperfections and weaknesses rather than avoid them.
So when life seems frustrating and when it seems like God is sending you on wild goose chases, be encouraged. God is and will always be in control. Even though you don't know where your life is going or where God is leading you, know that he is always there and is always working for your good (Romans 8:28). The three days you spend frustrated searching for your donkeys will be totally worth it after you end up meeting Jesus and are crowned along with him.
Also, God can use you even if you're an ass. [Sorry, I had to. =P]
2) God's sovereignty and grace in his ultimate plan for redemption
Saul seemed like the king the Israelites had been asking for, the perfect king. Socially, he came from a well-known, well-respected family. Morally, he was respectful, humble almost to a fault, and radically obedient to his father (if my dad sent me on a 3-day hide-and-go-seek game with donkeys, I would probably run away from home). Physically, he was tall and handsome. According to Jewish tradition, Saul was also the ultimate lady's man:
He was marvelously handsome; and the maidens who told him concerning Samuel (comp. I Sam. ix. 11-13) talked so long with him that they might observe his beauty the more (Ber. 48b). [src]
Despite these physical and character traits, Saul would be later be consumed with pride and jealousy and rejected by God.
Saul being a crappy king didn't catch God off guard. God knew Saul's heart, and he knew from the beginning that all human kings would be sinful and imperfect. Luckily for his people, God is always in control and has in store for us a king greater than Saul, whom he has prepared for us before the beginning of time.
Like what Pastor Heald said yesterday, when the Israelites were begging for a king, they were actually crying out, "Show me Jesus", as Jesus is the only truly perfect king. There's no indication in the Bible of Jesus being tall or handsome, and it seemed like the only women he drew to himself were prostitutes and "sinners". Unlike Saul, Jesus came from a humble family, one that had been disowned by the community because of pre-marital pregnancy. While Jesus was not the king that the Jews expected, he is the king that all people desire. Unlike Saul, Jesus remains obedient to his heavenly Father. While Jesus didn't bring military victories like Saul did, Jesus conquered the unconquerable, death. While Saul was the fallen first king of Israel, Jesus is the ultimate, eternal king that can never be dethroned.
Long live the King.
Pop the turtle!
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