Friday's Links & Rants

I grew up watching WWF (now WWE); wrestling for those who don't know. Every Saturday morning they had a show and I just loved it. It moved into my college years and even a little when I first got married. Mickey Rourke's new movie "The Wrestler" looks really good. (It is Rated R)
Here is a link for a review and the trailer. ***Hint after clicking on link you need to hit the back button to return to blog***
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3773747
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGnO1oQk2_w

Speaking of movies; isn't it too early to have a movie about Notorius B.I.G.? I mean Puff Daddy is still alive.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDDv6pAbN_U

Did C.C. Sabithia get too much money? (Average of $23 million a year over 7 years) Will his arm fall off in 3 years? Did the Yankees just buy the best pitching staff in the baseball? What will happen if they don't win it all in the next 6 years with those big contracts in pitching? That will be funny. Here's to CC failing in the Bronx and to Burnett who once again said "I would love to play for the Cardinals" and once again went for the big money failing as well! (Burnett $82.5 for 5 years)
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3778204

We saw Jersey Boys this past weekend. What a great show. A was a little taken back by the cursing in the show but the music was awesome. Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons had a sound like no one else and for a brief time owned the airwaves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW1LkJNmWzg

If I had to pick 2 NFL teams to be in the Super Bowl right now I would pick the Steelers verses the Carolina Panthers. My dark horses would be Indianapolis Colts and the Tampa Bay Bucs (just call it a hunch).

Did you see who Barack Obama picked to speak at his augoranation? (Hint- Liberals are not happy).
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081217/pl_politico/16693

Speaking of politics what's going to happen if Blagojevich doesn't go to jail for anything and he still gets inpeached? Will Illinois look really bad?

Song of the week: I've been talking about this song for awhile - you need to hear it too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhVMRn31C_s

Funny Youtube clip of the week: **Warning** one curse word
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BytKSy8M4bk&feature=related

Merry Christmas!!!

Father, Son & ...?

I just finished up Systematic Theology I. This was a great class, The last topic I wrote on was the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is an interesting and intense topic to discuss. I believe the church today has three stances on the understanding of the Holy Spirit. The first one is known as the "charismatic movement" where the church embraces the Spirit as an alive being that enables the speaking of tongues, healing and many different styles of worship. The other extreme aspect is seen in many evangelical churches where the Spirit is downplayed to the point of being ignored nor taught or talked about. The third is where most churches fall in that the Spirit is acknowledged as part of the Trinity however it is seen as a grey area, the doctrine is weak and not taught well enough for members to stand firm in their faith. All these aspects shaped my view of the Holy Spirit until I was able to sit and really study the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. I believe the Holy Spirit grieves how he is being portrayed and downplayed in the minds and lives of Christians in the western evangelical church today.

Without going to much into my paper; I want to challenge you - What is your view of the Holy Spirit? Do you call him "it"? Do you think he has personality? A couple of things that stood out to me after the study of the Holy Spirit, I have downplayed him in my life. It is often stated, "Without Christ I would still be lost", how true of a statement. I would also put the Holy Spirit into the same realm. Without the Spirit I would not have been able to understand the Holy Scriptures to the point of salvation. I would not be able to work out my salvation through the process known as sanctification. I would not be free to evangelize knowing that he does the real work!! (all we do is present the gospel clearly) As well I would not be able to worship God through serving by the use of my gifts, music, or prayer. We live in the era of the Holy Spirit; thus he must be obeyed, loved, and adorned along with the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ.

Links I suggest - *Updated

Watch this sermon!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBhqrtMqrv8

I love this song!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZBPD-T20t0

For some laughs!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHM-hWYuVS4&feature=related

Cardinals go Greene

The Cardinals have made 2 moves for a better 2009 this week. First, they finalized a deal for lefty reliever Trevor Miller from the Tampa Bay Rays. Miller will be a nice pickup if it works out. However, recently they found out he has a tear in his pitching arm but should be okay for Spring Training. I've heard this story before from the Cardinals (i.e. Mark Mulder, Chris Carpenter) it doesn't go so well at times.

Second the Cardinals have traded for Khalil Greene (SS); the Cardinals needed to address the shortstop position and they have been rumored for the last 2 years to get this guy. Greene in 2007 had great numbers and excellent defense. However, in 2008 he hit .213, 10 homeruns and struck out 100 times in 105 games. In 2004-2007 he was 3rd in homeruns among active shortstops, so the potential is there. I'm not sure how I feel about this until I see what we gave up for him in the trade. There aren't that many shortstops out there and with a more friendly hitters park in Busch Stadium he could turn it around. Defensively he will be an upgrade and that is what killed us many times in 2008 with a poor pitching staff.


The Cardinals still need to go after one or two more pitchers, a second baseman, and one more outfielder. We are far away from having a playoff team, BUT with the fall of the Brewers (after they lose Sabathia and Sheets) and the Cubs being the Cubs we could win the division if all falls into place.

GNR - Chinese Democracy

I didn't buy Guns N' Roses new album Chinese Democracy but with the power of Youtube I was able to listen to the whole album. Let me just say this before I go into the review; I loved Guns N' Roses back in the day. When asked today who is my favorite band they always come up. Back in the day no one was better than Axl and with Slash they were amazing. In the late 90's they were "the band". Then they broke up; Axl went off the deep end; Slash went out on his own; and everyone else disappeared off the face of the earth. Then the rumors of Chinese Democracy came out, 10 years later we have Chinese Democracy.

This album is terrible. The only good song and if that is possible is "Street of Dreams" and the rest is unlistenable (if that is even a word). Axl never really could sing, but the raw voice with the amazing sound of Slash and the rest of the group made it great. Now it's not a good band and an even worse sounding Axl (who thinks he can sing these slow songs). I would not recommend buying it; or even going to Youtube to listen to.

One thing can be said though, nothing will ever compare to the first time I heard "Welcome to the Jungle" on Appetite for Destruction. That album was great; still today I can listen pretty much the whole album. Use Your Illusion I & II are epic in their own time as well. I remember seeing people stand inline fore 24 hours to get those albums. I hope no one stood in line for Chinese Democracy, the album shouldn't even have the name Guns N' Roses on it, it's a shame.