So close and yet...

Everyone is talking today about Bill Belichick, so allow me to join the conversation.  (It is my blog, so I can do what I want.)

First, if you have missed the discourse, here is a nice summary from people who think they know.

(Actually first, first: if you missed the discourse - HOW?)

So, he is gutsy or he's an idiot.  He is dissing his defense or showing confidence in his Brady-led offense.  He is one hoodie short of a full closet.  And so on and so on.  You can listen to former Patriot defender Tedy Bruschi claim it is a rip on the current Patriot defense.  You can watch Merrill Hoge defend coach Belichick (in a nice little chat with a rather annoyed ESPN acnhor).  You can read what former Patriot Rodney Harrison says about it.  This is just a taste, but you get the idea.

I am kind of shocked this is so shocking.  As a Colts fan, I can attest that going for it on 4th down is pretty standard operating procedure for the Patriots when playing the Colts (and, on an unrelated note, for the Jeff Fisher Titans when they play the Colts too).  Why it is so shocking now and such a slam on the D is beyond me.  Was it a slam on Tedy, et al, when the Coach went for it when they were on the team?

They cruised up and down the field all night with the hallowed Tom Brady at the helm.  Why WOULDN'T they assume they could get two more yards on top of the hundreds they had already amassed??

Here it is:  it isn't a rip on the Patriots' D.  It is a rip on the Colts D.  He (Belichick) was convinced the Colts couldn't stop his team/prevent them from gaining two little yards, so he went for it.  It isn't about his precious little D.  It is about them continuing to disrespect the Colts and being convinced in their minds that they are and continue to be the much better team/personnel/coach etc.  Disrespect for the Colts and uber-confidence in his peeps.

Bottom line: it was arrogance.  The concept that Peyton was "in Belichick's head" is totally laughable.

And now you have my two-cents to add to this ridiculously loud discourse.  Can we move on now?

None But Jesus

A couple weeks ago I was blessed with an opportunity I never thought I would have: to participate in an interpretive dance of this beautiful song. 

Was psyched to also find a video from Hillsong with Darlene Zschech singing and some groovy dancers dancing.  Different choreography, same concept.  Way cool.  Wish they showed more of the dance, but still awesome.

(Sorry I am not tech-y enough to put the video here for you to see, but take 4 seconds and go to the link.  Good stuff.)

London Calling...

I love the newsboys – a rock group made up of some cool Christian dudes. The ringtone on my cell phone is from their song, “Something Beautiful”. Perhaps you have heard it (if not, catch a glimpse and a listen here or on www.newsboys.com). I thought this would be great, as I like the song and would get a burst of happiness every time my cell phone rings.

A good idea in theory.

Except, every time my cell phone rings, this is what one hears, “it’s the voice that whispers my name, it’s a kiss without any shame – something beautiful…” It's cool in the context of the whole song, but out of context it is … hmmmm, I'm not sure.

Should I change it? I am starting to feel self-conscious when I am out and about and it rings. I am not a loud-cell phone-talker-in-public kind of chick anyway - so there will always be some awkwardness when my phone rings in the middle of a conversation - but I am starting to frantically dig for my phone to shush it ASAP when it rings for fear of what someone might think. Whaddya think? How would you respond if someone's pocket started singing that?

Jesus - No Greater Love

The Jesus Movie for

the Next Generation

www.NewJesusMovie.com

Guest post by Bruce Marchiano, producer of Jesus...No Greater Love

The truth of the gospel never changes. But Christianity has many faces. They reflect the customs and cultures and the beautiful diversity of the global church. They are lined with the wisdom of age and vibrant with the passion of youth. One gospel for all the world…but how will we deliver it in a way that reaches the whole world? How will we reach the next generation?







Young Christians today are more like St. Francis of Assisi than a circuit riding preacher. “Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary, use words.” This is a generation focused on being the hands and feet of Christ and meeting the physical needs of those in both the local and global community. They are building houses, planting gardens, taking food and clothes to the poor and helping the widows and orphans… and then they are sharing the gospel. And they are using technology like never before. They communicate the message through audio, film, video and the internet, and they strive for excellence within those mediums. They must. This is how they will reach their generation for Christ.







I share their passion. In the film, The Gospel According to Matthew, we were able to capture the heart of Christ that is so often missing in Christian films, but the quality of the film making was constrained by an $800,000 budget. Now we are inspiring a movement that will bring Jesus to film in a version that literally leaps off the screen and into the hearts of viewers.

Jesus…No Greater Love, the new Jesus movie, (http://www.newjesusmovie.com/) will be a word for word, verse by verse film adaption of the Gospel according to John. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. That’s really our concept, that the gospel would go out in the power of the film medium, unaltered by any human script writer.







The budget for a typical Hollywood production is $100-110 million. Actors’ salaries account for much of that cost. Because the new Jesus movie will be not be paying big name actors, our team believes we can produce a world class, state-of-the-art film incorporating the latest cutting-edge technology for just $45 million. The production will be shot on location in Jerusalem and shot digitally using CGI backgrounds and a green screen stage, providing unlimited potential for sharing the gospel for generations to come.







We are inviting people from all nations and all generations to join this movement to bring the gospel to all people. A movement made of 4.5 million people contributing a tax deductible donation of $10 each would fund the cost of the film. The Gospel belongs to everyone, and the new Jesus movie will be produced expressly so it can be accessed by everyone, no matter their financial situation. Our team's vision is to see the film translated into as many languages as possible and supplied to mission organizations and churches all over the world.







You can become a part of the movement to reach the next generation. Please help us spread the word to your friends and family. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at http://www.newjesusmovie.com./

Also, you can keep up with our progress by visiting any of these links:

www.facebook.com/newjesusmovie

www.twitter.com/brucejesusmovie



www.youtube.com/newjesusmovie



www.tangle.com/newjesusmovie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bruce Marchiano is an actor, author, international speaker, and the founder of Marchiano Ministries, a non-profit organization reaching out to people both spiritually and practically in the USA and across the world. He is best known for his joyful, passionate portrayal of Jesus in the film, The Gospel According to Matthew.

Dr. S

Haven’t done a shout-out to Dr. S. since last summer – which was last time I was hospitalized, so HURRAH! that I made it to (and well past!) one year!!



Anyway, saw Dr. S. Wednesday and just wanted to give him some props. Especially since I was in and out of the office in 30 minutes – the bulk of which I actually spent in conference with Dr. S. (I know – you just fell off your chair, didn’t you? Yes, there is a doctor who spends more than 30 seconds with you and actually treats you like a person and doesn’t have cheap signs posted all over the office about all the fees you will be charged if you look at the nurse funny or wear a weird hat on Friday and other such nonsense!) This is one of the many reasons why he's my fave.  Including that I always get quiet time to sit and read with no distractions when I go to his office.  (Wednesday was an anomaly; I usually plan about 2 hours for a visit - plenty of time to catch up on my latest book.) 

Hooray, hurrah, huroo!

A Modern Day Joseph

(Tricia here: I am a little behind on my to-be-read list, so this is another that so far all I have for you is the official word.  But I am looking forward to reading this one, so - more to come!!)

Watch Linda Weddle’s introduction to How to Raise a Modern-Day Joseph on the Awana website.

Awana has launched a national campaign to help parents and churches work together to grow spiritually strong kids.

The Modern-Day Joseph campaign is modeled after Joseph of the Old Testament, who maintained his faith in spite of challenging circumstances. It features insights for growing kids spiritually, plotting out critical milestones from the toddler years through adolescence to raising a modern-day Joseph while allowing for the uniqueness of each child.

Introducing the latest resource in the Modern Day Joseph series – How to Raise a Modern-Day Joseph: A Practical Guide for Growing Great Kids by Linda Massey Weddle:

As parents, we strive to help our kids grow into their full potential. We help them with their homework, enroll them in activities, and invest for their college education. But while we may plan for their success, we can overlook a vital part of their personal development: nurturing and encouraging a solid foundation of faith.


We can easily assume our children are growing spiritually in church youth groups and programs, but the Bible calls us to guide them in their relationship with Jesus.


The life of Joseph offers parents a biblical standard for building children of character. Drawing from his story, this book will help you do just that. Inside, you’ll find a unique guide for creating a personalized plan for your child’s spiritual growth, from preschool through high school. This practical guide will help your child:
· Respect the awesomeness of God
· Acquire wisdom from the Bible
· Understand God’s grace
· Gain a sense of destiny and purpose
· Develop a life-perspective based on God’s perfect plan

The result: Children and teenagers who know, love, and serve the Lord.

So invest in their spiritual development. And create a legacy of faith that will last a lifetime.


Author Bio: Awana Senior Designer of U.S. Programs, Linda Massey Weddle is a gifted teacher, speaker, and prolific writer. A children’s author and regular contributor to publications, she has published twelve books and more than 2,500 articles, stories, devotionals, and radio scripts. Linda also develops Bible-based curriculum for young people and has been involved in children’s and youth ministry for the past forty years. She has two grown children and six grandchildren and resides in suburban Chicago.

Let it out, PSA Edition

A series of public service announcements.  Because I care about you.  It’s how I roll.


• If you don’t show up for work until 10am and leave at 2:30pm, your work day will go much faster. Just don’t forget to check your inbox before you dash out, as there might be something important in there. (me: oops!)

• Quaker Oats Weight Management Instant Oatmeal is yucky. It has Splenda in it, so if you like Splenda, this may be nectar of the gods to you. But if you don’t like the little yellow magic sweetner, stay away from this nasty mush. (If you enjoy this divine dish: A) my apologies if I offended you and B) would you like 19 free packets?)

• Speaking of nutrition, if you have a latte for breakfast, cake for lunch and then cake again for dinner, sneak in some veggies somewhere, as there is always the chance your youngest will come up to you at 9pm and say “Mom, for my health report I need you to write down what you had for breakfast lunch and dinner today”. (At that point, do you set the bad example by lying, or by honestly admitting what you ate?  At least I had that glass of milk with cake slice #1!!)

• Dance leotards are very constricting. I don’t think I have worn one since I was 5. I have had this one on for an hour (with at least 3 more to go) and I am overheating. I, who am never hot, am suddenly having much better empathy for the hot flash ladies. (update: after 4.5 hours, I did figure out what I can now wear when I am freezing and just can’t get warm – my new leotard! This will nicely help justify the cost!)

• Don’t let your husband venture far from your sight if you are at church on a Wednesday he is not on tech duty. If you do, he will not be off duty much longer. (update: ha ha ha! Totally different ending than I expected. He found out he is coaching a basketball team of 3rd through 6th grade girls! If you know Jim, this is hilarious. First meeting: tonight. At church. At 6:30. He found out at 6:25.  Did I mention tee hee hee?)

• Burger King sells bags of ice. Not sure why or what the drive-thru demand for bagged ice is. But now, if you are desperate for ice, don’t want to get out of the car (and would love a jr whopper with cheese), your life is now bliss my friend.