Eschatology and Baseball

You may want to know what Eschatology and Baseball have in common...well if the Cubs ever won the World Series we would know the end is near....hahahaha!!

For real though I just finished my Doctrine on Eschatology (The End Times).

For the record:
I'm Premillianniumist: I believe that Israel and the Church are two separate entities and the Church has not taken over Israel. Christ will come to earth for a earthly ministry that will last 1000 years. I do take Biblical prophecy literally.

Amillionniumist believe that the Church has taken over for Israel and that Satan is bound right now (as I would say if Satan is bound he has a pretty long chain)...also they believe that the millennium is happening right now spiritually and that Christ will not serve a true 1000 years on earth. They also do not take Biblical prophecy literally. All this is not to say that they aren't believers, Eschatology is not a salvation aspect but it does tell us about their way of thinking about theology.

I am also a Pretribulation believer. The church will not see God's wrath (1 Thess. 5:9) during the tribulation, during the Tribulation the nation of Israel will be set-up for the Messiah again and as well set earth up for Christ millennium kingdom. Christ taking us up into the clouds can happen at any moment, we all need to be prepared. I struggled at times with Post or midtribulation and at one time thought about going Posttrib. But after studying the Scriptures and deciding that the Bible really focues on Premillennium I stand as a Pretribulationist.

Need more info from me on Scripture, let me know and I can e-mail you my Doctrinal Statement (it's about 15 pages long).

BASEBALL IS BACK!!!
Here are my predictions for the year (I'm not a prophet so these aren't biblically based!) hahaha

National League
East champ: Mets
Central champ: Cardinal
West champ: Dodgers
Wild card: Cubs
NL Champion: Homer Pick: Cardinals: What will actually happen: Dodgers


AWARDS
MVP: Albert Pujols (will give him 4)
Cy Young: Chris Carpenter

American League
East champ: Yankees
Central champ: White Sox (last game of the year again to win it)
West: Angels
Wild card: Red Sox
Champion: Yankees

AWARDS
MVP: Mark Teixeira
Cy Young: Roy Halladay

WORLD SERIES:
Homer Pick: Cardinals over Yankees
What will happen Pick: Dodgers over Yankees

Many of you are thinking - the Cardinals? Every 2 to 3 years the Cardinals make an awesome run under LaRussa. This is the year again. The Cubs have more holes than people think and the Cardinals are stronger than many people think. Watch out!!!

Quick My Final Four

A quick blog on my Final Four teams:

Louisville
Memphis
Villanova
North Carolina

Championship
Memphis vs. Villanova

2009 NCAA Champion
Memphis (how this happened I still don't know - I do the bracket in about 2 minutes and 30 sec).

My dark horse in the final four besides Memphis is Missouri, but I have them getting beat by Memphis.

Cardinals!!

I know it's only Spring Training but the Cardinals are looking good, especially in pitching. Carpenter is pitching great and so is Wainwright. It's still a couple of weeks out before I make my predictions but the Cards are looking like my favorite for the Central. Yes, I think they can beat the Cubs for the Division this year. Call me crazy or a homer but I think it could happen.

Enjoy!

Cards in Camp!

Baseball.
Well Spring Training has started and I guess I'm actually looking forward to baseball again. If Chris Carpenter can stay healthy and pitch well the Cards can be contenders. With the Cubs being the Cubs (Bradley just went down) we could have a shot at the Division. Either way I'm ready for 162 games and living on the edge on each one. I'm not sure Anne is though.

I can't believe A-Rod did roids. That means that Pujols is the best player in the game now that is clean (fingers crossed). Here is a good article about him taking on that weight and giving it back to God.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/columnists.nsf/bryanburwell/story/F28585C2606C48748625756A00144F8A?OpenDocument

School
School is crazy right now, taking 2 classes actually hasn't been that bad. I'm really enjoying my Systematic Theology II class. I just finished by paper on my doctrine of the Church (Ecclesiology). Life of Christ is the other class I'm taking.

Watch is last second shot in the NBA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKcFZvqEXjM&feature=related


Weight Loss
I've lost 18 pounds so far. 3 more to go and down to my "dating weight" when I first meet Anne.

It's Been Awhile & Links

Well, it's been awhile. I'm super busy right now with school, 2 classes this semester; Systematic Theology II and Life of Christ. I'm in the middle of my "Doctrine of the Church" and I just wrote 2 sermons on "The Hypocritical Heart - Overcoming the Pharisee inside you" for Life of Christ. It's been fun; I'm also teaching a long lesson to the church on Marriage in the month of February.

Weight Update:
I've lost 10 pounds since starting my diet and workouts. 10 more to go! Thanks!

SUPER BOWL!
So I'm really torn for the Super Bowl. I love Kurt Warner and I love the Steelers. Whoever wins I will be happy. But a little part of me wants Warner to win. 1st, he will give all the glory to God and Christ. 2nd, I think that puts him in the Hall of Fame, no matter what anyone says. I will have a prediction next week.

Spring Training!
Less than a month away for Pitchers and Catchers to report. To be honest, I could care less. The Cardinals are going to be worse than last year, 3rd in the division. They didn't pick anyone up that matters. Everyone under the sun knew going into the offseason they needed a closer and a starting pitcher, they have yet to whiff at anyone. Oh well.

Obama!
Well it's finally over, Barack Obama is President. I'm glad the country is moving forward.
Barack Obama needs our prayer for strength to maintain the convictions he holds which are in keeping with God’s will for our nation, wisdom to realize where his beliefs are not according to God’s plan and then the courage to change.

Romans 13:1, Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

Enough about me, on to the links!

Now this is funny, we've been watching 90210 season 5 and Ray is in full effect. The thing is Chicago Heights was on before he appeared on 90210. Ray's about to throw Donna down the stairs soon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5HIarf0CFM

If you're a guy and you don't cry at this, then you have no heart!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XS2UtAlmX4&feature=related

If you haven't seen the new "Star Trek" movie then here it is. It looks awesome!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puXPozd-kuc

In case you missed it! Obama Inauguration: Rick Warren Prayer!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-8R1OXWJz8

Welcome 2009 & Friday Rants & Links

Well 2009 is here and as I sit here I wonder where 2008 went. A lot happened; our first black President was elected; the Illinois Governor is a laughing stock across the country and gets crazier and crazier each day; the economic times in America and the world continues to become more and more unsettling; however, God is still in control.

Some quick goals for 2009 (thought this would keep me accountable)
1. Continue to work hard at Moody and get as many classes as I can done.
2. Lose 15 pounds. Yes, at 32 my metabolism has slowed down and I weigh more than I ever have. Working out and eating more fruits and vegetables are the early goals. Eating better food overall is the long term goal. I'd like to give updates on this.

Happy New Year, on to the rant & links...

People are really scared about Rick Warren's prayer for Obama and the name "Jesus"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081231/ap_on_go_pr_wh/rel_inauguration_prayer

Cardinal update: Aaron Miles went to the Cubs. We tried to get Fuentes and he went to the Angels. Right now the Cardinals are worst than last years Cardinals...one more year of the 3 year grace period and I can complain all I want.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3MU7iFbkXc

Just think this is a funny picture, wonder how I could get one.
http://brianwurzell.wordpress.com/2008/12/12/very-true/

Youtube clip: More from Back to the Future.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwY5o2fsG7Y

What happened to college football on New Years day? It used to be all day and tons of good games, now it consists of one good game (Go Penn State) and the rest of them scattered out through a week.

This on makes my brain hurt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY

A great ending to an even better movies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TjyR_3mUsM

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.