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Saturday, December 19, 2009

Bowl Picks

Here are our bowl picks!!!

Bowl Game Date Team 1/Conference/Record Team 2/Conference Amy Jacob

New Mexico 12/19/09 Fresno St/WAC W8-L4 Wyoming/MWC W6-L6 WY Fresno St

St Petersburg 12/19/09 UCF/C-USA W8-L4 Rutgers W8-L4 UCF Rutgers

R+L 12/20/09 So Miss/C-USA W7-L5 M Tenn St W9-L3 M Tenn So Miss

MAACO 12/22/09 Oregon State/Pac-10 W8-L4 BYU/MWC W10-L2 BYU BYU

Poinsettia 12/23/09 Utah/MWC W9-L3 California/Pac-10 W8-L4 Cal Cal

Sheraton 12/24/09 Nevada/WAC W8-L4 SMU/C-USA W7-L5 Nevada Nevada

Little Caesars 12/26/09 Marshall/C-USA W6-L6 Ohio/MAC W9-L4 Marshall Ohio

Meineke 12/26/09 Pitt/Big East W9-L3 UNC/ACC W8-L4 Pitt Pitt

Emerald Bowl 12/26/09 BC/ACC W8-L4 USC/Pac-10 W8-L4 BC USC

Music City 12/27/09 Kentucky/SEC W7-L5 Clemson/ACC W8-L5 Kentucky Kentucky

Independence 12/28/09 Texas A&M/Big 12 W6-L6 Georgia/SEC W7-L5 Georgia A&M

Eagle Bank 12/29/09 UCLA/Pac-10 W6-L6 Temple/MAC W9-L3 UCLA UCLA

Champs Sports 12/29/09 Miami/ACC W9-L3 Wisconsin/Big 10 W9-L3 Miami Miami

Humanitarian 12/30/09 BGU/MAC W7-L5 Idaho/WAC W7-L5 BGU Idaho

Holiday 12/30/09 Arizona/Pac-10 W8-L4 Nebraska/Big 12 W9-L4 Nebraska Nebraska

Armed Forces 12/31/09 Houston/C-USA W10-L3 Air Force/MWC W7-L5 Houston Houston

Brat Sun 12/31/09 Oklahoma/Big 12 W7-L5 Stanford/Pac-10W8-L4 OK OK

Texas 12/31/09 Navy W8-L4 Missouri/Big 12 W8-L4 Mizz Mizz

Insight 12/31/09 Minnesota/Big 10 W6-L6 Iowa St/Big 12 W6-L6 Minn ISU

Chick-Fil-A 12/31/09 Va Tech/ACC W9-L3 Tennessee/SEC W7-L5 Tennessee Va Tech

Outback 01/01/10 N-Western/Big 10 W8-L4 Auburn/SEC W7-L5 Auburn N-Western

Capital 1 01/01/10 Penn St/Big 10 W10-L2 LSU/SEC W9-L3 PSU PSU

Gator 01/01/10 W Virginia/Big East W9-L3 FSU/ACC W6-L6 FSU W Virginia

Rose 01/01/10 Ohio St/Big 10 W10-L2 Oregon/Pac-10W10-L2 Oregon Ohio State

Sugar 01/01/10 Florida/SEC W12-L1 Cincy/Big East W12-L0 Cincy Florida

International 01/02/10 S Florida/Big East W7-L5 N Illinois/Mac W7-L5 S Florida S Florida

Papa Johns 01/02/10 S Carolina/SEC W7-L5 Uconn/Big East W7-L5 Uconn Uconn

Cotton 01/02/10 Oklahoma St/Big 12 W9-L3 Ole Miss/SEC W8-L4 Oklahoma St OK St

Liberty 01/02/10 Arkansas/SEC W7-L5 E Carolina/C-USA W9-L4 E Carolina Arkansas

Alamo 01/02/10 MSU/Big 10 W6-L6 Texas Tech/Big 12 W8-L4 T. Tech T. Tech

Tostitos Fiesta 01/04/10 Boise St/WAC W13-L0 TCU/MWC W12-L0 Boise St TCU

Orange 01/05/10 Iowa/Big 10 W10-L2 Ga Tech/ACC W11-L2 G-Tech G-Tech

GMAC 01/06/10 CMU/MAC W11-L2 Troy/Sun Belt W9-L3 CMU CMU

BCS NC 01/07/10 Texas/Big 12 W13-L0 Alabama/SEC W13-L0 Alabama Alabama

Sunday, December 13, 2009

The small human mind

Psalm 8:3-4
"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?"

Who are we to judge God? He who made all things, who before time ordered the light into existence. Unbelief and doubt, two weapons of the devil, are constantly used to press down upon the faith of the saved. Two different objections have been raised in conversation lately to suppress the Truth of God as creator and LORD of all.

The first objection is that God is too small.
You've heard it before (or perhaps you have said it), "God cannot be all-powerful if he allowed sin into the world". This same sort of objection was thrown at Christ even as he hung suffering on the cross (Luke 23:35-37). We who are created dare hurl insults and challenges back at our creator. Consider this for one moment, we who cannot even comprehend or explain or fathom all of creation, raise objection to the creator. Try for a few moment to imagine the size of Jupiter's great red spot, it is large enough to contain two to three planets the size of earth...just trying to imagine something that big is hard enough let alone trying to understand the ways of Almighty God who created the entire universe. God is certainly not too small.

The second objection is that God is too distant.
You've heard it before (or perhaps you have said it) "God cannot possibly care about me or have an intimate close personal relationship with me, he is creator of the universe! how could be concerned with someone so insignificant as me?" Scripture has a response for this objection as well. Matthew 10:29-31
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows".
God cares for his creation, indeed he does more than care for it, he sustains it daily! not just by taking care of big things like the planets and stars, but also by providing for the very simplest of needs like food, clothing, and shelter. Look no further than Psalm 139 to sing with the Psalmist the many provisions the LORD provides.

God is not too small to have power to save us, nor is he too distant to care. Our God is an awesome God who has created Jupiter, it's great red spot, the earth, and each and every one of us. Our caring God has ordained a plan of salvation that redeems each and every one of his chosen children.
The next time you are confronted by the Devil's weapons of unbelief and doubt, remember God has promised to remain faithful to his people. Call upon His name and you shall be delivered.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Gobble Gobble Day!

We are extremely excited for today! The opportunity to have fellowship with friends and family is always something to look forward to. This year the feast will be a little bit different since not only do we get to celebrate with friends and family, we get to celebrate it together in our new home!

There certainly have been some ups and downs during these first months of marriage, jobs, internship, family, cars, insurance, and even the weather. Yet through it all both of us continue to lean heavily upon Him who saved us. While emotions sometimes seem to dictate who we are in a particular moment, we have both tried to learn that our joy is not dependent on circumstances, rather on the saving work of our Lord. Praise God from whom all blessing flow :)

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Watch Out!

Sitting in worship on Sunday I heard about how Christ was foretold of old by Old Testament prophets. For centuries God's prophets and Kings proclaimed the coming of the Messiah, for years the people of Israel were told to watch out for the coming Messiah. Yet when Christ came many did not recognize the long awaited Son of God. The priests and religious leaders of Israel had the Old Testament memorized yet would not submit themselves to Christ's merciful call. Christ came, and to those religious individuals who had been supposedly watching and waiting he was nothing more than a thorn in their side. The people and religious leaders had been told through the scriptures over and over again, He is coming! yet they cast aside his arrival. The prophesied Prince of Peace came to save, and was sacrificed to save sinners.
Now we live in a time where it has been told, from the mouth of Jesus Christ, He is coming again! Shall you and I be found in such a state as those proud fools who dismissed his first coming? His arrival date is unknown, you and I are not to waste time seeking knowledge of his return. Rather Christ himself has called us to use our time seeking knowledge of him!

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Wedding Pictures!

Here are a few Pictures that friends took from our wedding! Hope you enjoy! Let us know if you would like to see more, or are interested in particular ones.




Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Winds of Change

Throughout history great individuals, peoples, and events are often defined by specific moments. Most of us won't be remembered by authors of biographies or scholars interested in our specific trials. Yet there are some specific events that are common amongst many of us. At the moment we are going through some very specific events that countless have gone through before: birthdays, moving to a new home, and marriage.

These life experiences have caused a great amount of change within our lives. Yet God remains the same amongst all of our ups and downs. He has provided all that we need within the last year (and he has throughout the entirety of our lives) including: jobs (both of us are working jobs we can evangelize and share our faith), housing, transportation, graduation, and a winsome church family.

The change we are involved in seem to be ongoing and continuous. Yet amongst all the change we are going through, our God remains the same. Our understanding of God has certainly changed over the past months yet He is unchanging regardless of our understanding.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

The concept of "Can't"

Often the word "can't" is used. For some this word is a comfort, it is a way to explain away a lack of desire, effort, or ambition. We squish our own chances of becoming influential by allowing this fearful word to rule life. The power given to this word makes little to no sense. "Can't" expresses a self-imposed barrier between oneself and a goal.

What exactly is "can't" or "cannot"? It is the opposite of "can", meaning that if someone said they can do something this indicates an ability to do and if someone said they can't do something then this indicates an inability to do. Physical limitations are often appealed when the word "can't" is used. "Can't" appeals to the old human practice of passing the blame to someone else, it is as though when we say "can't" the words are silently accompanied by "I can't and it is not my fault!"

I challenge anyone to think of an instance in which "can't" actually applies. When someone is actually unable to do something. Most of the time, "can't" is used improperly. "Can't" can only be used in situations when it is actually impossible to accomplish the task. Of course this is a perfect opportunity to say two things:
1. All things are possible with God
2. Unless all avenues of possible completion have been attempted, "can't"

Hundreds of thousands of examples can be thought of demonstrating individuals who refused to believe in "can't".
Two quick examples to think about:
I physically cannot fly...or can I?
Prior to the Wright Brother's innovation, flight was out of the question for humanity. To soar like the birds seemed like a wishful daydream.
Thomas Edison has been made famous due to his hundreds of failures prior to his great success.
The Wright Brother's faced physical limitations, but overcame "can't" by recognizing that "can't" really was "won't".
Thomas Edison faced continual failure, but overcame "can't" by recognizing that "can't" really was "won't".

The reality of "can't" is the reality of "won't". Most of the time we won't do something, it is not an issue of can't. We should not hide behind can't. Confront your own "won't"s and who knows what amazing thing you will be inspired to accomplish.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

To Lansing We Go!!!

Things are finally coming together. Jacob and I have been praying that we would be able to find jobs in Lansing so we could move there and help with Providence as well as gain great learning experiences. We also said that it would be hardest for Amy to find a job since she is so picky about her jobs and really wants to work with kids. Well our prayers have been answered!! Amy has received a nanny position in Holt Michigan for a family with two children. We are so happy and excited to know that we are suppose to be in Lansing and for one of us to have a job. Please continue to pray for a job for Jacob so we can save Amy's salary.

Another big event has happened this past week, which was moving all of amy's things as well as our furniture into a storage unit in Lansing! The next step is to find an apartment and sign a lease and hopefully move our belongings in by August 15th. Please continue to pray for us as we find jobs and move into our new home in the future.

Monday, July 6, 2009

There was a topic discussed in Sunday School that has peeked my interest and is what I will be focusing on. During Sunday School we were reading John 4 which is the story of the Samaritan women at the well. While this story was being read by Pastor H. the rest of us were packing mints into bags with business cards. We were focusing on how Jesus evangelized to the women and at the same time were packing bags to hand out to people to evangelize ourselves. There were many topics that came up during this lesson, such as how do we evangelize to individuals? What if someone is depressed then what do we do?
These questions lead to Matthew 7:6 which states "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw you
r pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces." (Biblegateway.com NIV) You could look at this verse and say why should I spend my time evangelizing, why should I spend a minute with people that I don't think will listen to me anyways. But in order to get the entire context of the message you need to look at verse 1-5 which state "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." (Biblegateway.com)
Taking the entire passage we can see that we are not meant to judge individuals, and therefore we are not meant to chose we evangilize too. The verse about the swine empathizes that not everyone is meant to be in Heaven and become believers, and that there will come a point when we see that an individual isn't going to hear our message and we must leave and find someone else. But just because that individual isn't hearing the message of Salvation from us does not mean that is it not suppose to be heard, it just means that our time should not be spent throwing our pearls to the pig because now is not the right time.

Reading Matthew 7 lead me to think about judgement and how judgmental people are. I have always heard that I am a stuck up Chrisitian and "perfect" and because of that no one wants to listen to me. They felt judged based on the way I was acting toward them. This is one area that I have been working on and must say I have improved greatly in since high school. Although I have done better, I still tend to judge individuals based on their clothes, hair, and overall looks. Judgment is one of the worst sins that Christians commit. Because we judge, people look at us and say why should I listen to them they aren't like me they are "perfect" (even though in reality we are not).
Christians have acquired a bad reputation in our society today because we act like we are better then everyone else and judge everybody. We tend to think that we know who we want in our church and want to be friends with, we don't want that stinky man with unshaven face in our church. We want the nice clean shaven polite man that wears a suite to church every Sunday. Whether we admit it or not the church you belong to is a huge click, and within that click are smaller clicks, and unbelievers coming into your church SEE that. Believers in your church that are considered outsiders see that. Although I attended my childhood church for ten years, I did not belong in the click and because of that had resentment and hate towards my church and God. As Christians we need to be aware of our judgmental attitudes and clicks and end them.
We need to realize that it is not up to us to choose who comes to God or choose who we want in our church based on looks and personality. We are not called to preach to the people who we schedule in our daily planners or evangelize to the person who comes knocking on our door, rather we ARE called to share the gospel with everyone, including those who we schedule and those who God schedules for us. In order for Christians to evangelize more fully according to our comission from Christ, we need to overcome the stereotype that we are "perfect" individuals that only want the "perfect" person in our church. We need to stop judging others and start sharing God's word.

While thinking about judgment, I came across a song from Casting Crowns called "If we are the Body". Here is the you tube link that you should listen to before continuing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4wojcSO9Ww

This song is a great song and one that Christians need to listen to and take action. The entire song is about how judgmental Christians are and the feelings that unbelievers have when they enter a church. This song creates a "perfect" picture of how judgmental and uppity Christians can be.


"If we are the body"

It's crowded in worship today
As she slips in
Trying to fade into the faces
The girls' teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know

CHORUS
But if we are the Body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the Body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way
There is a way

A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat
And quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances tells him that his chances
Are better out on the road

CHORUS
But if we are the Body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the Body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way

Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the Body of Christ

Chorus (2x)
If we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way

Jesus is the way

For some of you reading, you are members in the body, let us begin and continue to reach out with our arms, run swiftly with our feet, and speak lovingly to those whom God schedules us to evangelize to. We are the body, let us use our body parts to do the work of Christ.

Amy

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Happy 4th!

Happy Independence Day! We hope everyone is enjoying their celebrations with family and friends.