Georgia's Rankings

So after this weekend the Georgia Bulldogs drop from 3 to 10 or 11, respectively. Right...Penn State, BYU and Texas Tech are better teams than USC, Florida or Georgia. Georgia State can go undefeated also, maybe they should be ranked up there?

I realize that the beginning of the game looked really, really bad, but they did come back to rally with 11 (41-30). If the game would have been 30-27 and then Bama scored 2 TD's, would the Georgia ranking be higher? I mean, Alabama looked like #1 Overall good, but Georgia didn't become a slouch all of a sudden.

Georgia is not #1 material this year, I was hoping they would be but they are not. They are too young and have too many injuries. 3 freshman on the O-line, that's bad news in the SEC no matter how good they are. Injuries-Knowshon is hopefully only out of the next week, Stafford got hurt, killer LB Ellerbe got hurt, TE Trip Chandler, who isn't that great but is our best TE, is out. Before the game our stud FB Southerland is still not playing FB yet and I believe our best offensive lineman, a junior, is out for the season.

Georgia may surprise, but they are still a good team with tons of talent maturing. I hope Knowshon and Stafford stay because next season would be ridiculous.

History

I love history. Recently I've been reading about early American history in The People's History of the United States, great book. Then I got to the section around the time of the first Presidency and George Washington. Then I got to hear about a slave of his, Oney Judge. Then I thought, wouldn't it be cool to hear her story from someone whose drunk? Then luckily I found it online, phew.

I had tickets to the Super Bowl Jesus!

Simple Weekend

This weekend Christy and I went camping before it gets too cold. It was cold at night still, but less than it would be in a few weeks. The leaves have begun falling and it was very beautiful at William O'Brien Park on the St Croix river. We did some bike riding which was very nice, but one hill particularly wiped us out. While coasting down the hill, my mind and my legs were in a shouting match, one saying "this is so fun" and the other "you idiot." It was a tough go getting up the hill but we're here today, so must have been alright.

We then got up early Sunday morning and went to the Vikings game. It was Christy's first NFL game, as well as Olaf and Amy's (who went with us). It was pretty fun, top row and all (remember those days Jer?). I didn't see high-five guy or short-shorts guy though. I'd love to have a picture of them or a recording of their political arguments with those who came to see the game, but I don't. Until later

In Wedding Reception dance planning...

I thought I'd check out the latest dances. Besides being able to do the African Anteater Ritual, I can also do the following if given enough beer:

Welcome Lucknow!

You thought LuckNow was what I desire in poker when I flop I flop a set and someone stays until the river with the 4-2 of diamonds and hits the flush. Bad joke. But really LuckNow is a city in India that is my first overseas visitor to my blog. I have no idea who it is or why, but welcome! In your honor, I will show everyone where you are from and link to information about LuckNow.

Knowshon

Knowshon Moreno is the running back for the Georgia Bulldogs. He's amazing and so fun to watch. I know Georgia is number 2 overall and has maybe the toughest schedule in the country this year, so going undefeated will be insanely difficult. But this is the truth: any team with Knowshon on the field has a chance. He's that good.

Nice little Vince Carter action...you don't take the chance of hurting your goodies if you know you're not going to make it...

Weddings

This last week I was able to go see my friend Michael and my brother Lan get married in Alabama and Georgia. Both were special in their own way. Michael was able to add his little touch to his wedding (asking the pastor to repeat the first vow because it was too long). And Lan, well, it's Lan, talking about Heather's "sexy eyes" during his vows. Both very good. I can't believe that both are married now, especially Lan.

May God bless them both.

My uncle put me on to this wedding...very different from theirs...

You thought your work environment was bad...

The market is actually located right on the train line. Apparently, market vendors remove their wares and stalls to make way for each passing train and then rapidly re-establish themselves after it has passed. The area is so cramped and packed with goods and equipment that the train carriages actually pass over the top of produce left on the outside of the tracks. Bangkok.

Christian the Lion

These two guys reared this lion from a baby in England but the authorities would not allow them to keep it once it reached maturity so they were forced to give it up, they took it back to Africa and placed it in a wildlife sanctuary, a year later they went to see it and were told it would not remember them...

Him Too

He's Good

MotorWorks

The new 2008 MotorWorks commercial, starring Jake Ladd

Rare Ferrell shows

So I've been looking for some more rare Will Ferrell clips, and I've found some amazing ones. Below is him crashing a live show called Power Lunch, enjoy.

Oh Manny

Thanks for my friend Jer for pointing out this Manny video. It is a remake of the Barry Manilow song "Oh Mandy"

Lil' Brudder

My lil' brudder Lan is getting married in 25 days, wow. He's getting married before me. Of course our entire family almost got married before us...anyway, he's doing well. Has to be stressful (I of course have no stress), so pray for him. Also, here is another lil' brudder clip. The first minute or so explains the rest of it. Enjoy!

Friend of God

So I was thinking about what it takes to be a friend of God. I do not think that once you believe in Christ you are all of a sudden "a friend of God," since that phrase is not thrown around in the Bible and personally I have many acquaintances but good friends are always tough to come by and to keep.

So my first thought directed me to the idea that most people are friends with those that are similar to them. Similar ideas, similar backgrounds, similar approaches to the world, someone who doesn't cause a lot of conflict simply because of their different worldview. Sure, sometimes we have friends who are not a lot like us but I would think the majority are similar to us. Then I applied that to God. A friend of God is someone who is like God and actually wants God to be his/her friend. Why would I want God to be my friend if God is so way different than me? Why would I seek that out, especially if God views poverty, the human condition, politics, homosexuality, the need for urgency, etc differently than I do? (just examples) I would be the one, then, who is not putting forth the effort in the relationship as I am choosing who I want to be.

But then I thought about Jesus. Jesus was labeled "a friend of sinners." Hmm...how can a friend of sinners be a friend of God? Maybe it isn't fully about human personality traits and opinions that make someone a friend of God or not. I think Jesus was a friend of sinners because he honestly cared for them. How can he, being so holy and so different? I think he valued and cared for each person (maybe minus those who refused to stop being hypocrites - Pharisees, for example), and maybe he saw God's image in each of them (take a second to think about that). This gives me hope, as I can be a friend of God one day and not have to be exactly like God (yes!, I don't think I'm going to acheive that). Boy, there are a million thoughts on where to go on from here.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

And we made Him in our image...

I think one of the reasons why we have a hard time "spending time" with God is that we have made God to look like us and let's be honest, sometimes who wants to spend time with us? For example, let's say that you aren't the best friend. When a friend of yours is in need, you know that sometimes you're there for them and sometimes, well, something just comes up or you just feel weak and choose not to help them out. This may be from a ton of psychological or sociological reasons (or genetical if you're into genetics), your mom bathed you too long or didn't hug you enough, etc. No matter the reason, it seems that we cannot picture Someone who is not like us. Someone who has the ability to be faithful. Someone who has the ability to love you no matter what. Someone who doesn't judge you for your appearance or background. Someone who is very encouraging and thinks your idea is good.

I tell you what, I want to be around that person! Problem is, I have trouble not picturing God like myself as well. How many times have we said "Well, if I was God I would have..." when we saw that flood or typhoon on TV. In other words, in all of your wisdom God should be like...such and such...

Here's our problem, God is not like such and such. We have an inner voice I believe that tells us what God is like (made in the image of God, Holy Spirit, conscience) and we have the Bible. I have a tough time with some things the Bible is absolute on, but I have to allow it to speak about who its God is and allow that to transform my imagined God. This isn't so easy. Man, it would be sweet to not have a God like me!

Private Eyes

Per request, I have found a clip of a Don Knotts and Tim Conway classic "Private Eyes." It is a family classic. Maybe you will be able to enjoy some of the random and dry humor, hey, that's my style. The movie was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC which I visited around 6th grade and got to see the secret passages a little bit first hand. The killer wrote a bunch of mystery notes that are great when read, examples:

I said when I died, that I'd come back. If you believe in ghosts, you're on the right track. I'm out of the grave, and roaming the moores. If you want to be safe, you better lock all the windows and screens. Also, In this house, it's hard to survive. Some'll be dead, who are now alive. Mr. Uwatsum is gone, 'cause he knew too much. Bye for now, but rest assured we'll keep in constant contact with each other. Also, If Jock could talk, he'd give you a clue. But now that he's dead, what can you do? He deserved what he got, I don't regret it a bit. By the way, you're standing in bull ca-ca.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0tpAcItmdSo Someone was able to put together a few highlights, you'll want to starting at about 1:10 in.

There is a time to cry...

A son asked his father, 'Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?' The father, who despite having a heart condition, says 'Yes'.
They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'Yes' to his son's request of going through the race together.
One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's join the Ironman together.'
To which, his father said 'Yes'.
For those who didn't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island .
Father and son went on to complete the race together.