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.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
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.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
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$U, Mich, MSU, PSU, Indiana, MD, Rutgers
- West: Neb, Wis, Iowa, Minn, Pur, NW, Ill
This is my prefered choice,
Option 3 is a bit complicated. It is the Inner/Outer model.
- Inner Division: OSU, Mich, MSU, Pur, Ind, Ill, NW
- Outer Division: Wis, Neb, Iowa, Minn, Rutgers, MD, PSU
This model makes the most sense of the Big Ten expands to 16 (which I think will happen), and then these divisions can be broken down into four, four team pods.
Late last year on their site, the Big Ten polled fans on which one of three options they would like.
Option 1 keeps the existing divisions and adds Rutgers to one and Maryland to the other.
Option 2 divides the divisions based on East and West.
- East: O$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.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Final election 2012 Predictions (Presidential)
I could wait till tommorow morning to do this, but based on the polling and analysis that I have read this weekend I am going to do my projections now.
It says here that President Obama will be re-elected 50-48% in the national popular vote. I also belive that Libretarian candidate Gary Johnson will get 1% of the national popular vote.
A few of these states are extremley close and are "best guesses" based on the polling numbers and statisitcal models. My final predictions in the electoral college are Obama 290 ev's and Romney 248 ev's. President Obama will win re-election by a margin similar to President Bush in 2004.
States Obama will carry: WA, OR, CA, NV, CO, NM, HI, MN, IA, WI, MI, IL, OH, PA, ME, NH, VT, MA, MD, RI, DE, CT, NJ, DC, NY.
States Romney will carry: AK, ID, WY, UT, AZ, ND, SD, NE, OK, TX, MO, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, SC, KY, TN, IN, WV, FL, NC, VA, MT, KS.
The closest states will be CO, NH, VA. possiblyy FL although Romney maintains a slim edge there. NH goes to Obama based on a small but steady lead of 2 pts. CO and VA are coin flips. I could see Obama winning both, but based on the polling in CO which has trended Obama I give that state to him. VA is the toughest to call. Obama has been ahead in late polling but short of 50% so I am going with the state's slight reddish lean and call it for Romney. New Hampshire very tight, but based on the states voting history and slight Democratc lean I will call that for Obama.
http://www.270towin.com/. Here is a link to how I think the electoral map will shape up come Nov 6th.
Obama is going to win he could get as many as 332 ev's and as few as 277, I split the difference.
Not matter what your political leaning get out and vote tommorow!
It says here that President Obama will be re-elected 50-48% in the national popular vote. I also belive that Libretarian candidate Gary Johnson will get 1% of the national popular vote.
A few of these states are extremley close and are "best guesses" based on the polling numbers and statisitcal models. My final predictions in the electoral college are Obama 290 ev's and Romney 248 ev's. President Obama will win re-election by a margin similar to President Bush in 2004.
States Obama will carry: WA, OR, CA, NV, CO, NM, HI, MN, IA, WI, MI, IL, OH, PA, ME, NH, VT, MA, MD, RI, DE, CT, NJ, DC, NY.
States Romney will carry: AK, ID, WY, UT, AZ, ND, SD, NE, OK, TX, MO, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, SC, KY, TN, IN, WV, FL, NC, VA, MT, KS.
The closest states will be CO, NH, VA. possiblyy FL although Romney maintains a slim edge there. NH goes to Obama based on a small but steady lead of 2 pts. CO and VA are coin flips. I could see Obama winning both, but based on the polling in CO which has trended Obama I give that state to him. VA is the toughest to call. Obama has been ahead in late polling but short of 50% so I am going with the state's slight reddish lean and call it for Romney. New Hampshire very tight, but based on the states voting history and slight Democratc lean I will call that for Obama.
http://www.270towin.com/. Here is a link to how I think the electoral map will shape up come Nov 6th.
Obama is going to win he could get as many as 332 ev's and as few as 277, I split the difference.
Not matter what your political leaning get out and vote tommorow!
Friday, October 26, 2012
Big Ten Game Predictions 10/27/12
Northwestern 31 Iowa 21
Indiana 30 Illinois 27
Minnesota 27 Purdue 20
Wisconsin 20 Michigan State 10
Penn State 31 Ohio State 17
Michigan 24 Nebraska 21
Indiana 30 Illinois 27
Minnesota 27 Purdue 20
Wisconsin 20 Michigan State 10
Penn State 31 Ohio State 17
Michigan 24 Nebraska 21
Friday, October 19, 2012
Big Ten Game Predictions 10/20/12
Ohio State 41, Purdue 17
Wisconsin 38, Minnesota 20
Northwestern 35, Nebraska 32
Michigan 20, Michigan State 14
Indiana 45, Navy 30
Iowa 21, Penn State 20
Wisconsin 38, Minnesota 20
Northwestern 35, Nebraska 32
Michigan 20, Michigan State 14
Indiana 45, Navy 30
Iowa 21, Penn State 20
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