Refresh

I just got an e-newsletter that had this classic opening line:

"We should have a "refresh" button for everything: a bitter coworker, a lame bar scene, the National Hockey League. Just a click or two would give us instant improvement."

How awesome would that be? It'd be like those great Staples "Easy Button" commercials. Only any time we need to refresh, just click the button and your good.

But the more I thought about it, I believe we have something better. In Jesus, we have someone that knows all about our past, but loves us anyway. What's even more mind blowing to me is that he knows all about the ways we will fail him in the future, and he loves us anyway. His disciple, and close friend, Peter, looked him in the eye three times and promised he'd never let him down. Jesus knew better. Within 24 hours Peter would deny Jesus three times and skip town in an attempt to forget it ever happened. Yet, Jesus never gave up on Peter. How refreshing is it to know that our limits are no limit to God?

Our failures and frailties are nothing to the one who created the Universe. All he asks is that we love him and those he created with all we've got. Do that, and we naturally start becoming the type of person he created us to be.

Which is like having access to the ultimate "refresh" button.

Grace Amid the Vices

As one who has struggled with seven out of the seven vices (if this were baseball, I'd be batting 1000%!) I really enjoyed this interview with author Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung. She's written a book called Glittering Vices which takes "a new look at the seven deadly sins." Haven't read it yet, but from the interview she gives, it sounds like it's worth checking out. Anyone else read it?

Also, on another note, I really enjoyed a couple of recent posts from the always entertaining and enlightening Rob Bell. (follow him on Twitter @realrobbell). Some good thoughts on thinking about the Sabbath...in 140 characters or less.


Sabbath reminds us that we are human beings not human doings.

Sabbath reminds us that our worth does not come from how hard we work or how good we are or how much we produce or what people think of us.

Same Kind of Different As Me

I'm kind of late to the game on this one, but just got finished reading Same Kind of Different As Me. Truly outstanding. The story of a drifter, an art dealer, a devoted woman, and how they all came together to experience things so incredible, no novelist could make it up. Because it all really happened. A must read for your list.

Stay Classy, MJ

As a die hard Detroit Pistons fan, I have never cheered for Michael Jordan. But I always respected him. How could you not? To me, there is no reason for people to put "arguably" in front of "the greatest basketball player of all time." The man was simply the most gifted, determined, dominant force ever to lace them up. Kobe's great, but it kills me when people want to say he's the "next MJ." I've seen stretches of games where Kobe isn't even the best player on his team. That NEVER and I mean NEVER happened with MJ. Think of all the Hall of Fame players who's only sin for not getting a ring was being born around the same time as MJ. (Most of the '92 Dream Team)

But all that dominance comes at a high price. There has been a lot said about MJ's "acceptance" speech into the hall of fame. There wasn't much "acceptance" in it. MJ came off as bitter and petty. Blowing up fools and airing grievances that go back decades. The high school coach that cut him. Byron Russel for saying he could guard him. Isiah Thomas for ignoring him. Even Jeff Van Gundy for, I dunno, being Jeff Van Gundy.

But was all this really necessary?

I mean, MJ, my man...you just got introduced as THE GREATEST PLAYER OF ALL TIME. Do you get bonus points for then blowing up Jeff Van Gundy? You made the guy go ringless and then hairless. What more do you want?

One camp says, like the superb Michael Wilbon, say it was a glimpse at the ultimate competitor doing what he does. Another camp, says it was petty and vindicitve.

One thing I noticed was the contrast between the speeches of MJ and David Robinson. The Admiral spent the first part of his speech thanking each of his 3 sons, telling them how much he loved them and how proud he was of THEM. He then told his wife how much he loved her and how she "made him want to be a better man."



MJ on the other hand told his family "I wouldn't want to be you" because they have to live in his enormous shadow.



You win, Mike. You're the greatest of all time. But, in the end, is that really gonna be worth it?

The Personal Side of Pearl

My man crush on Bruce Pearl (or as he dubs himself: "The second best basketball coach at UT behind Pat Summitt") continues to grow. Check out this tremendous article that shows a glimpse at the private side of the guy that has been known to go to Lady Vols games dressed like this.

Colbert!

Stephen Colbert is a funny, funny man. He's also now a Rolling Stone cover boy and was just named by the esteemed mag as "The #1 Reason to Watch TV." And here all along I thought that was re-runs of Saved By The Bell. My bad.

The feature interview by Nil Strauss, "The Subversive Joy of Stephen Colbert" talks about what makes Colbert's show so insanely funny. It also touches on Colbert's "controversial" faith. Controversial, I guess, because he openly admits to be a believer and practicing Christian. The byline to the article sums it up best: "How a God-Loving Square Became TV's Most Dangerous Man."

Hey, whatever sells a few magazines.

The article does have some great nuggets on what makes Colbert tick. Sure, it says that he's like "Ned Flanders" because he teaches Sunday School class, doesn't swear, and dresses like, well, Ned Flanders. But here's a guy who's gone through some incredibly painful experiences — including his father and brother all dying in a plane crash. Yet, he remains on openly positive believer, in an industry dripping with cynics. He says that is only possible because of a deep faith in a loving God. In my favorite moment of the interview, Colbert shares something his mother taught him that helps him maintain perspective amidst his crushing schedule and Hollywood lifestyle:

"I think all the time about something my mother said to me many times as a child: "In the line of eternity, what does this matter?"

That, as the great Stephen Colbert is some tremendous truthyness.

It's Time!!!!!

Boys and girls, it's time!!! Oh yes it most certainly is....

GO VOLS!