IllumiNations!

Remembering The Day Our Nation Was Shaken

As I sit in my bedroom watching the San Diego Chargers school the Oakland Raiders, I cannot help but think of that infamous day 5 years ago when our great nation was shaken by the worst single terrorist attack in world history.  As I'm sure most of you have noticed, the last couple of weeks have seen a saturation of media programming that is memorializing 9/11.  It seems everybody has an opinion from every side of the political perspective with some slant that will ultimately have an effect upon some state or national race for office.  The single point that is most amazing to me is the simple fact that 5 years later, we have not had another attack upon American soil!

When the towers fell, the Pentagon was struck, and some very brave men rushed the cockpit of Flight 93 to keep it from hitting the Capital, I was dumbfounded and quite sure that we were in for ongoing strikes and a huge loss of life.  I thank God that is not the case so far.  I can sit quite secure within my home and enjoy a football game without fear, while men and women who love life as much as I do protect our nation in places like Afghanistan and Iraq.  Though I have had misgivings about the war in Iraq from the beginning, I am convinced that our brave men and women fighting the terrorists need to finish what they started with our prayers and support. 

September 11th, 2001 was a surreal day that has forever changed the way this generation of Americans think about the world, Islam, religion, security and what a true hero is.  On that day, we once again came to see that police officers, firefighters and emergency workers were everyday hero's who modeled the ultimate example of sacrifice and love for their fellow man.  In the day and age of  American Idol, baby Suri and Brangelina, it is so good to be reminded that the most important things in life have very little to do with what the tabloids have to say.  I'll take a soldier, sailor, airman, marine, police officer or firefighter over the pop icons of our time any day!

Sadly, it seems the short-term revival of Christian fervor in response to the attacks has passed, and that our slide into moral filth and complacency has continued.  As we remember that day, may those of us who consider ourselves followers of Jesus Christ, awaken to our duty to be salt and light and do all we can to lead our neighbors to the knowledge of the truth that is in Jesus Christ.  Furthermore, may we remember that it is the Lord who watches and protects a city and a nation and not the strength of a military.  He is the One who is shaking nations and testing the hearts of men.  In this time of great sifting, let us turn to Jesus, repent of our sin and lukewarmness, and stand in the gap for the protection, preservation and awakening of this great nation.

Psalm 127:1b -  If the LORD does not build the house, the work of the builders is useless; if the LORD does not protect the city, it does no good for the sentries to stand guard. GNB

Hebrews 12:26-27 -  At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."  This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of things that are shaken--that is, things that have been made--in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. ESV

Tags: 9/11, Iraq, war in Iraq, terrorism, Twin Towers, WTC, World Trade Centers, soldiers, security, prayer, God, Jesus, memorial

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I'M BACK AND JUST GLAD TO BE HERE!

I'm back!  I have been in a truly backslidden state when it comes to my identity as a BLOGGER!  I don't know what to say, but I got kind of burned out and a little tired of spending time blogging.  After a few days, then weeks and eventually more than a month passed as water under a bridge, I developed a new non-blogging habit.  Now, finally, I am breaking that habit.

Much has happened in our small world since I last posted an article way back on July 7th.  A war in the Middle East has been fought, a terrorist plot foiled, the biggest sporting event in the world concluded with a head butt and the one year anniversary of the worst natural disaster in American history has passed.  Through it all I have been grateful for the restraining Hand of the Almighty as He seems to hold us back from destroying ourselves!

I know for the many people suffering around this world with the fallout of the aforementioned events it probably doesn't seem like God is restraining much of anything.  But, when I consider history and all of its twists and turns, I am amazed that we haven't turned this beautiful blue planet into a blood-red or burned-out black orb of death by now.  Just over 60 years ago, the whole planet seemed on the verge of annihilation as we fought for civilization and our survival as beings made in God's image.

Truly, it is the guiding Hand of Providence moving us onward toward a great climax in God's mind. This great climax will ultimately result in all nations and peoples bowing their knees in humble and loving adoration to the King whose scars tell us the story of love.  This God-man named Jesus is upholding all things by the Word of His power and is the very Presence keeping creation from flying apart.  In this time of great upheaval, terrorism and power hungry dictators with nuclear ambitions, it does us good to remember that Jesus Christ is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! 

I'M BACK AND JUST GLAD TO BE HERE!

Boxing Redemption for Oscar De La Hoya

I admit it!  I am a boxing fan!  I never really liked watching or getting into street fights growing up.  In fact, I once got my nose broke trying to break one up!  Nevertheless, I have always enjoyed watching a skillful boxer or a powerful brawler deliver blows to the body and head of their opponent.  I don't like watching fights get bloody or out of control, but I love to see multi-punch combinations and one punch knockouts. 

Call me sadistic, macho or twisted if you like, but I believe God put something of His warrior nature within us and it is seen at times in sport and warfare (No, I do not believe God wants us to enjoy war or hurting people, but it is sometimes necessary in this current age).  Anyway, this past Saturday night Oscar De La Hoya put on a display of boxing skill and art as he knocked out Ricardo Mayorga in the 6th round of their championship bout.  This was boxing redemption for De La Hoya after a string of very disappointing losses these last few years.  I did not get to see the fight, but I have the 6th round knockout here for your enjoyment. To the ladies that read my blog, I simply say, "BOYS WILL BE BOYS!"

THE RESURRECTION OF A GOLF GAME

Here's a great feel good story about 25 year old Australian golfer Aaron Baddeley who won his first PGA Tournament on Easter Sunday just 10 hours after he stood at a Lectern just off the 18th green to talk about his relationship with Jesus Christ.  Aaron was speaking at an Easter Sunrise Service at the very site where he would eventually sink a putt to give him the win.  "At the 18th hole this morning, he was giving amazing testimony," said Baddeley's wife, Richelle. "Ten hours later, he's holding the trophy. So, it was great." This is a story of pride, humility, disappointment, failed expectations and redemption.  I thought it was a wonderful irony that Aaron would resurrect his career and win his first tournament on Easter Sunday after almost leaving the game of golf altogether back in late 2000 due to perceived failure.  Enjoy.

READ AARON BADDELEY'S STORY BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK

WRONG AGAIN! FLORIDA 73 UCLA 57

I WAS WRONG AGAIN!!  ONE SURE WAY TO WIN A BET IS TO GO FOR THE TEAM I PICK TO LOSE!  FLORIDA WINS THEIR FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BY BEATING THE UCLA BRUINS 73-57.  Way to go Gators!

PS - I DON'T BELIEVE IN BETTING - 0;

OF RAHMAN, ROUND BALL AND RETREATS

ABDUL RAHMAN IS FREE AND ALIVE IN ITALY! 

Our "Insane" friend has been set free and given safe haven in Italy where he can now read his Bible, pray and speak openly of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  For those of you who think martyrdom is cool, I am very sorry, but it seems that God wants Abdul to live a little longer on this side of Paradise.  Though the great church Father and Theologian Tertullian said that, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church”, I do not think he meant we should romanticize, glorify or seek to be martyrs.  We can rejoice that God has given Mr. Rahman an opportunity to grow as a disciple and get the help he needs if he is truly "mentally unstable" as German officials are now stating.

65 HAVE BECOME 2!

THE NCAA MARCH MADNESS TOURNAMENT has been whittled down to 2 teams as the FLORIDA GATORS face the UCLA BRUINS tonight at 6:21 pm Pacific Time.  I have to go with UCLA, though they are the team that broke my heart a couple of weeks ago as they came back to beat GONZAGA in a game the Zags should have won.  I started the tournament with the following teams in descending order as my favorites: GONZAGA, ARIZONA, WASHINGTON, UCLA AND CALIFORNIA.  UCLA plays some of the stingiest defense I have ever seen, but Florida is loaded with talent.  I see UCLA pulling out a squeaker with the score being in the high 60's to low 70's.  GO UCLA?!

NEXT GENERATION RETREAT

This past weekend, Peggy and I traveled to the beautiful Olympic Rain forest of Washington State and did a COLLEGE AGE RETREAT for OVERLAKE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.  I was asked to speak on WORSHIP, INTERCESSION and SPIRITUAL WARFARE to a hungry and passionate group of movers and shakers for Jesus.  Pastor Josh Julian and his wife Ashley served as our gracious hosts as they led the weekend with humor, confidence and obvious love for the flock they are leading.  I felt it went pretty well, though I was not as sharp or spiritually sensitive as I would have liked to be.  To all of you who prayed for Peggy and I this weekend, I want to say a big hearty THANK YOU!  I know I was carried on the wings of prayer before the throne of God.  Thanks Josh, Ashley and the NEXT-GEN group for being instruments of God's grace to us.  Thank you Peggy, my bride of almost 19 years for supporting me in prayer and the ministry of presence!

WEARY OF GETTING MY HEART BROKE!

Is God trying to deal with some terrible evil within my heart?  Is the horrible American Idol of Sports being dismantled?  Have I lifted up the teams of my choice into some high place that God wants only to be inhabited by Him? NO, I HAVEN'T, BUT I KNOW SOME OF YOU THINK SO!  (; 

In the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel chapter 5, one of the dark seasons in Israel's history is recorded as the writer narrates the tragedy of the Ark of the Covenant being taken by the Philistines in battle.  After the Philistines capture the ark they take it to the Temple of their god Dagon and set it up next to the idol.  When the people awakened the next morning, the idol had fallen down face first in front of the ark.  The people set him up again, and once more, they returned to find Dagon fallen, but this time with his head and hands broken off!  The head represents authority and the hands, power and provision.  It was as if Yahweh was saying, "In my Presence, all of your false gods have no authority or power!"

I am starting to feel like these poor Philistines when it comes to my love of sports.  Every team I have allowed my heart to find some kind of attachment to these last several months has been defeated in some of the most painful ways imaginable.  First, USC up by 12 points with only 6 minutes to go, lets Vince Young and Texas steal the National Championship.  Next, that abomination known as the STUPID BOWL took my already broken heart and stomped on it over and over again as my SEAHAWKS and the REFS choked away the World Championship.  Tonight after watching the Gonzaga Bulldogs outplay the UCLA BRUINS for all but the last 2 minutes of the game and then literally give the game away on a silver platter, I have concluded that God is out to bring my Dagon down!

Yes, that's right, I believe the entire sports universe is revolving around me and my addiction and that God is trying to rip the deep seated pleasure I derive from sports out like a rotten cavity of a tooth!  The problem is, I don't know if I want to be set free!  Seriously though, can you imagine what it must be like to be a Red Sox, White Sox or Cubs fan?  The first two finally got the monkey off their back.  Maybe this year will be the Cubs year?  Anyway, could someone please call Bill Clinton for me because I know he can "FEEL MY PAIN."  Oh, I am so weary of getting my heart broke! 

UCLA 73 - GONZAGA 71

THE HAWKS BLEW IT, WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM THE STRIPES!

It took me a couple of days to process the Seahawks' loss to the Steelers in SUPERBOWL 40, but I am now ready to make my statement.  The Seahawks lost to the boys from Pittsburgh for a number of reasons, but here is my general assessment.

Pittsburgh did what they had to do in the "Big Play" category and the Seahawks did not.  When a game is as badly officiated as this one was, you cannot leave any room for doubt.  You must seize every opportunity and dominate!  Seattle showed they had the weapons to do just that, but they did not.  Big Ben and company got it done on 3rd and 28, got the big run when they needed it and pulled a great trick play that faked our secondary out of their pants.  We, on the other hand, could do very little in the RED ZONE and when we did, the "Striped Shirts" took it away.

Mistakes, bad clock management and a lack of "want it bad enough" really hurt us at critical times in the game.  Jeremy Stevens was dropping passes like they were Asian poultry carrying Bird Flu, Mack Strong was "weak" after a key catch that would have given us a first down and momentum.  All he had to do was give a little second effort, but instead he fell limply to the ground as if a little girl slapped him.  We can whine all we want about the terrible officiating, but could someone please tell our Pro-Bowl Quarterback and SUPERBOWL genius coach how to tell time?  The time management at the end of both halves was the worst I have ever seen in the NFL, period!

Now, the officiating!  Well, what can I say that hasn't already been said in this article and others?  It was really bad and did have a profound effect upon the outcome of the game and the morale of the Hawks, but I cannot take anything away from the Steelers.  They took the opportunities presented to them and won the game when they needed to.  Congrats Steel Town!  Enjoy your ring and trophy while you can, because the Hawks will be back and they will be very hungry this time!

Now that I have given my two cents, here are two articles from opposing perspectives that I thought both had a ring of truth.

Seahawks won everything but the game - FOX SPORTS

Sorry conspiracy buffs, a loss sometimes is just a loss - ESPN

A GREAT TIME TO HAVE BEEN WRONG!

Right now is A GREAT TIME TO HAVE BEEN WRONG about my Seattle Seahawks and the Indianapolis Colts!  Back in November I wrote an article called "Some Good News and Some Bad News" and received more feedback than in any other previous post.  In that particular post I "predicted" that the Indianapolis Colts would march undefeated to the Super Bowl and embarrass any and all comers. 

Almost immediately after that article, the Colts began to unravel while the Steelers and Seahawks started to peak and play their best football of the season.  I am not too proud to admit my error, especially since I really believe that at that point in the season, the Colts were clearly the best team in football.  It is so good now to sit back and celebrate with all of the millions of Northwest folks who have suffered for many years with the heartbreak that is part of what it means to be a sports fan from Washington State. 

Now, the SUPER BOWL and redemption are staring right at us and we need only take them by the throat!  The Seahawks match up really well with the Steelers and have all of the tools necessary to win the big one.  If they can manage a balanced running and passing game, keep Hasselbeck from being "hassle-backed" (sacked!), hold on to the ball and play the defense they are capable of playing, I think they are the better team. 

GO SUPER-HAWKS! 

A burning Bush brands the Texas Longhorns!

I admit it!  I was wrong a number of weeks ago when I predicted that the Indianapolis Colts would go undefeated and beat the Seattle Seahawks on their way to an undefeated season and a Super Bowl win.  Now, I am totally on-board with the Seahawks!

Well, since I have already failed at one prediction, why not make another?  Tomorrow, the USC Trojans, led by a Burning Bush named Reggie will squeak by the Texas Longhorns in the most anticipated College Bowl Game in history!  Enough of the hype already, let's play the game!  Reggie Bush of USC and Vince Young of Texas are two of the most exciting players to ever lace up shoes at the college level, so expect fireworks.  USC 38 - TEXAS 35!