Why I love Jesus

We have a Bible class at my church that I have been participating in since October.  One of the questions that is often asked is who is Jesus?  We often think about why God loves us.  But do we ever stop to ask the question why do we love God?  It was something in the past that I couldn't have put my finger on.  However, this past week we completed our study of the Old Testament and moved onto the Gospel of Mark.  In one of the passages Jesus says that he didn't come here to rule, but he came to serve people and die for us.

In my heart I knew this to be true, but then this fact opened up to me.  The most powerful and awesome force in the universe, the Lord God of Israel loves me an all of us so much, that he humbled himself.  He came to us as a human, and made the essence of his Messiaship suffering and sacrifice.  He came as Jesus Christ.  He came and got down in the dirt with us.  He washed feet, and served people.  How many kings or rulers would be so humble as to serve the people that they rule?  Jesus knew that he would have to give His life if God's plan was to proceed.  The Lord loves us all so much, his own flesh and blood died on the Cross for me and for everyone.  That is how desperatley the Lord loves us.

Honestly, I cannot wrap my mind around this concept.  But it warms my heart and gives me hope.  What is Jesus about?  He is about, love, sacrifice and humbiling ourselves so that we can serve other people.  That includes suffering as well.  It is the idea of sacrificial love.  This just doesn't go for our relationship with Jesus, but in our marriages, friendships, as parents.  God gave us this model to love people in our lives.  Look at the happy and successful marriages that last for years.  I bet you see two partners who have made a concious choice to swallow their own egos and to do what is best for them as a whole and not just themselves. 

I have been blessed to have a great role model in my life.  My mom and step-dad Gordon.  This year they will celebrate their tenth anniversary.  They have provided me with an example of what selfless love is, even before I knew what the term meant.  In the day to day of my marriage, I put my wife Charlie's needs ahead of my own.  Or I should say our needs.  She does the same thing, always thinking in terms of we and not me.  It is a concept that I have had to learn but feel that I am practicing more and more each day.  Sacrificial love.  It was a model that Jesus held up as a way to live in this world and to do his work.  It is also a model to a long and happy marriage, the only way in my mind to raise children, and the only way to live.  truly giving ourselves to and serving others.  This is who Jesus is, and as I want to become more like him everyday, is who I want to become like.  This is why I love Jesus. 

He has changed my heart and my life.  He helped give me the courage to open up my heart and life to the woman who became my wife.  I love Charlene with all my heart soul, mind and strength, because I also love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Just as I know Charlie loves me, and God loves me as well.  Love is a two way street.

GFS long range model (1/9/13)

The latest forecast guidance from the GFS long range model.  Above average temps between today and Saturday, then a sharp cool down through the middle of next week.  Looks to be a short warm up Jan 20th/21st, then average temps.  Something to keep an eye on.  A fairly sizable storm which might clip us around Jan 23rd, looks to be more snow then rain at this point.

The latest on Big Ten divisions

As a college football and Big Ten fan, I am avidly following Big Ten expansion and division re-alignment.  I came across a piece on the ESPN Big Ten Blog that talks about the divisions and 2014 football schedule being done by the end of spring.  Big Ten Comissioner Jim Delany hinted that this time around the divisions would be based more on geography.  So thankfully I think we can scrap Legends and Leaders after 2013.

Late last year on their site, the Big Ten polled fans on which one of three options they would like.

Option 1 keeps the existing divisions and adds Rutgers to one and Maryland to the other.
Option 2 divides the divisions based on East and West.

- East: O$U, Mich, MSU, PSU, Indiana, MD, Rutgers
- West: Neb, Wis, Iowa, Minn, Pur, NW, Ill
This is my prefered choice,

Option 3 is a bit complicated.  It is the Inner/Outer model. 

- Inner Division: OSU, Mich, MSU, Pur, Ind, Ill, NW
- Outer Division: Wis, Neb, Iowa, Minn, Rutgers, MD, PSU

This model makes the most sense of the Big Ten expands to 16 (which I think will happen), and then these divisions can be broken down into four, four team pods.

GFS Long Range Model

The long range GFS model is indicating a warm up around January 7th, with a potential major storm January 9th, which looks more white then wet at this point.  Another brief warm up Jan 10th/11th hi temps in the 40's?  Also looking at a potential storm around January 16th, then a major trip into the deep freeze Jan 17th/18th.