6-2 FSU!

Quote of the night, "6-2 FSU. I'm a poet". Chris Myrick.
Yes you are Chris and that's poetry to my ears. Actually the final score was 'Noles 6 - Gators 4.

Pride goes before being an idiot.

I needed to get into the youth boxes today to see if there were any registrations for a weekend event we are doing.  Nobody could find the key so I did the only thing I could…took the screws out and removed the lid off of the box.  Of course one of our more helpful assistants was sitting near by and said, “Todd, did you check to see if there was anything in the box before you took the screws out”.  I thought to myself, ‘of course what do you think I am some sort of idiot’.  Of course I said something much more polite than that.  Than I went over into the other building to check the box there.  Once again I didn’t have a key to the youth box.  So I began to take the screws out.  I had one and a half out before it dawned on me.  Check the box before you remove the screws.  It was empty.

Mike Martin's 1,400th - And U Was There!

Mike Martin is just the eighth coach in college baseball history to record 1,400 wins and only one of three to do so with over a .700 winning percentage.

Martin during Pre-Game Ceremonies with the guy from Minnesnowda

Guinn Takes A Curtain Call After His Grand Slam. The really funny part is listening to Ms. Hoake explain a grand slam to Drew. Drew now believes, "a grand slam is when the Seminoles hit a homerun". Who could disagree?

Martin gets a much deserved post-game round of appreciation.

And the game ball goes to...

But in spite of all that excitement my favorite part of the game was meeing U!




tags: Florida State baseball Seminoles Mike Martin

Me and U

Surfside HIgh Week 2

Everything I Learned at Church...

Everything I learned at church I learned on Monday - Saturday. Okay not everything. I just wonder when we came to embrace the idea that church is all about sitting and listening to a preacher talk and assuming that is where our growth comes from. The last three Wednesday nights have been amazing at Northwoods. First we baptize 12 kids, 2 students and an adult. The following week we hear amazing testimonies about what God did through the team in Peru, leading 100's of people to Himself. And we see the pictures from the team that went to Romania over Christmas. While we were opening presents and pigging out on ham that team was visiting orphanages and loving dying babies 'til their last breath. And than last night to hear person after person share with the body what God is doing in their lives was amazing. God never ceases to amaze me in the way He knows exactly what we need and when we need it. I listen to a man like Ernie Morrow talk about all the pain he and his family have been through and yet he can see God's purpose in it and I think...that kind of faith does not coming from sitting and listening...it comes from the personal encounters with God that extend way beyond an hour on Sunday morning. That kind of faith comes from a lifetime of trusting God and seeing God continue to be faithful in every circumstance. I need to be around people like that. I know I will go to camp this summer...and the music will be amazingly uplifting and God will bring my heart closer to His through it. The teaching will be moving and it will help me move to a new place in my spiritual walk. But nothing helps me grow more than rubbing shoulders with people who are also running the race. That's what the body of Christ is all about. Living life together and learning from one another. If we are looking for a powerful show...AMC is the place. If it's great concert we want...I'm sure the Civic Center has some on the schedule. But growth comes from living life with people who are learning to live their lives in obedience to Christ. It led me to think about all the things I have learned from just being with people at Northwoods and having the opportunity to see them loving God.

Here's a few. There are many more.

Karina Hansen - focus.
David Bearden - preparation matters.
Scott B. - doing something is always better than not.
Robbin K. - you can endure anything...when you are part of a team.
Dan Doll - just keep loving them. Eventually they'll get it.
Janelle Kuder - rules are not meant to be broken.
Cheri - sometimes you have to fight for what you want.
Reid S. - love must be tough...and soft sometimes.
Calyn - encourage someone and they'll be your friend for life.
Jeff Teague - life is funny.
Tamara - prayer is personal
Pastor John - forgiveness, pray for those who have hurt you.
James - pray on a hunch...not just a request.
Adam Elliott - God is passionate
Daniel - God is big
David - the refreshment of seeing a pure heart
Shannon - God is bigger than our current circumstances.
Doug Shoulders - think about it.
Diane - details matter.
Lori Jackson - Shape matters…but obedience rules.
Jenna Myrick - maturity is not an age.
John & Anji Ventry - courageous abandonment.
Lori Shoulders - people have to know you love them before you can lead them.
Kenley - generosity. Willingness to do 'whatever needs to be done.
Al – growth comes when we are challenged …not coddled.
Rusty Bailes - worship is a matter of the heart.
The Myricks - family life should be fun.
Hyatt - ministry is serving people.
Lauren - Black shoes - Black belt. Brown shoes - Brown belt.
Seth and Jesse - if there is still a need there is still work to do.
Alec Waller - ignorance is no excuse.
Ed Baldwin - being 6'something isn't everything. But it sure helps.
Bucky - just keep running. The pain will go away.
John Steigner - encourage twice as much as you discipline.
Josh Hollingsworth - quiet people can do really loud things.

There are many more. I wish I had time to write them all out. But for now I just want to say thanks...to everyone who is loving God with their lives. Thanks for letting me be a small part of your life. Each one of you is my teacher and as far as I have to go I am grateful to God for where I am because of the influence of each one of you.

Do We Know Where He is?

Osama Ben Laden said we would never take him alive. Is he right? Apparently we know where he is. Unfortunately he is hiding in a place that no U.S. Government Agency has ever been able to get into. The satellite images are posted here.

The Tree Classics - One of My All Time Favorites

Evaluation Day

Josh's baseball evalutaions were today. We're hoping for any team other than the Red Sox. We've let it be known if he's selected by the Red Sox we'll conider sitting the year out or playing at a different park.

A Good Night at Dick Howser

Two errors. What's Going on?


No worries...3 homeruns...10 runs and 9 shut out innings by the defense spells a good night at Dick Howser.

Sweet Sounds Heard in Tampa Today

Pitches and Catcher Report Today. Will U?

Joe Torre:Randy Johnson
Randy: Here. Hey get those &*#$@ photographers out of here.
Joe Torre:Mike Mussina
Mike: here. Ouch. Pass the icey hot would you Randy.
Joe Torre:Shawn Chacon
Shawn Chacon: Here coach. Can someone turn down the heat.
Joe Torre:Chien-Ming Wang
Chien-Ming Wang: 禮物
Joe Torre:Carl Pavano
Carl: Yo
Joe Torre:Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera: Aquí
Joe Torre:Kyle Farnsworth
Kyle Farnsworth: Here coach and glad to have a job.
Joe Torre:Mike Myers
Mike Myers: Here coach...and no Halloween jokes this year guys. Or Bevis & Butthead Randy.

Joe Torre:Ron Villone
Ron Villone: Here
Joe Torre:Tanyon Sturtze
Tanyon Sturtze: Here. Coach...tell Giambi not to call me Tonya would you?
Joe Torre: I don't thinking Jason will be as moody this year. They're testing now you know.
Joe Torre:Aaron Small
Aaron Small: I'm here. Don't even say is Ron.
Joe Torre:Jaret Wright
Jaret Wright: Mr. Wright is in the house.
Joe Torre:Jorge Posada
Jorge Posada: Presente
Joe Torre:Kelly Stinnett
Kelly Stinnett: Here
Joe Torre: And tell me again who you are.
Kelly: Back up catcher coach. Oh, Okay. Thanks. You're doing a great job.

Surfside High Week 1

Jenna... A Woman of Faith

Jenna's Iced Over Windows

Sunday night was interesting...We had a leaders meeting which was...a leaders meeting. When the meeting was over we walked out and found all the windows on our cars were completely iced over. So as I'm walking back to go inside and get some water to de-ice the windows Jenna hops in and drives away. I'm thinking...wow...now that is blind faith. Faith is being sure of what of what we hope for and confident of what we do not see. She was confident that she would be able to stay on the road. Although there is no way she could see it. So we de-ice our windows and leave. We found Jenna at the bottom of the parking lot scraping the ice off. At least she came to her senses before she went out into traffic.

P.S. to update the 'Josh Faces the Judge' - the judges setence was, 'Superior'. Way to go Josh!

The Second Best Question Ever

WWUD?

Thinking of U

Days like today make me think of U. Although I don't know U that well...if at all...I do care about U. I hope U has learned to come in out of the rain. I hope U has friends who will help U in out of the rain if U hasn't learned. I hope the barriers between U and others isn't too great to communicate the needs U has. I hope U's parents aren't too worried about U though U is far from home. I hope U calls home often to reassure U's parents. Be careful out there, U, it's a dangerous world.


I hope this isn't U

Josh Faces the Judge

No, he wasn't being charged with anything. He was playing his drum at district solo and ensemble contest at FSU. He did great. It's amazing how much you can learn in 5 short months.

Light & Lively Attempt #2

I was asked on Tuesday night to tell a joke at a girl's Bible study (this light & lively stuff is getting out of control). After I told the joke they all just stared at me like...'what?' So, here is what I was trying to say...



Saturday night we'll try Light & Lively Attempt #3.

My Intern

I just wanted to publicly say how much I appreciate my intern. My intern works very hard...mainly behind the scenes...okay Exclusively behind the scenes...okay so far behind the scenes that I didn't even know I had an intern until last week. I don't know how long I've had an intern but how ever long it has been I am grateful for every minute. It's awesome having an intern. My intern has never complained...never been late...always worked way more hours than I've ever asked for and always with a great attitude. My intern has never caused me any problems. No parent has ever complained about my intern. My intern has never even asked for a raise even though a raise would be well deserved. My intern loves youth ministry so much the students have never suspect that my intern is on the payroll. If you've ever had a troublesome intern I feel sorry for you. It's as if my intern is not even there. My intern could write the book on how to be a good intern without anyone ever knowing it.

Light and Lively

I've been given an assignment and need your help. I was asked to speak at a Valentines Banquet...and to keep it 'light and lively'. One encouraging friend said, 'don't sweat it. Everything you do is light and lively'. Say it isn't so... I don't want to be light and lively. I want to be INTENSE and not like the circus...but like Mike Ditka or Bill Cowher. Light and lively doesn't get anything done. Yea, people may have a good time...but does anybody change? But if you talk firmly and seriously and really really loud than people change right? Isn't that how life change takes place...by listening to people talk with INTENSITY?

Okay, I'll just be me. Maybe that will be 'light and lively'. Maybe it will be a good night and I will be INTENSE. Or maybe I'll just skip the whole thing and go to the circus.

First Pitch Tomorrow @ 4:00

Godby Cougars Class of '06

Congratulations to the Godby class of 2006. Today was national signing day so they all officially sign their scholarship offers to their various schools. Godby had a great class with seven players signing scholarships to major universities. Following are the players and their shools.

Standing (left to right)
Kareem Crowell - University of Louisville
Emanuel Francis - University of Louisville
Frank Grimes - University of Louisville
Seated (left to right)
Kevin McKaskil - University of South Florida
Marcus Udell - University of Alabama
Deandre McDaniel - Clemson University
Rod Murry - Army

This is a great class not just athletically but it is a class group of guys. I am sure they will make Godby proud.