DONALD MILLER

This past Friday evening Donald Miller came to Azusa Pacific during his 60-city speaking tour and, well, here’s my notes:

Story – a character that wants something and overcomes conflict to get “that something” … It’s a lot like music, noise that follows certain patterns. Music is story with filter.

A story worth telling has some of the following:
-people doing thing bigger than themselves
-an ultimate goal/fulfillment with a beautiful “back story” from that character that makes the fulfillment better. The character has to be bigger and more important than a person “just doing something”

Be sure the story your telling is the same story you the world (i.e. James 2:20 .. faith without works is dead …)

You should know your story so well that if you hit the pause button on your life everyone knows what is going on and the purpose for what you are doing. Every good story is a riddle that has an answer so be sure you know your goal/fulfillment so you don’t get lost in the riddle

When you set your goal(s) in life you will have fear! It may cost you everything which then, of course, brings conflict. Pain will grow your character while joy will give you little to no improvement (James 1:2-3).

Your story will not “climax” until God’s Kingdom returns. Pretty much your life on earth should be a build-up to then.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Guess who turned 60?

Bruce Springsteen ... The main in charge of the "The heart-stopping, pants-dropping, hard-rocking, booty-shaking, earth-quaking, nerve-breaking, Viagra-taking, history-making, legendary … E-STREET BAND"

BIG BEAR HALF MARATHON

I was so excited for this run as I tried to tap into my “inner Ryan Hall” for a few miles on a beautiful and bright southern California Saturday morning. My goal was to finish the 13.1 miles in 1:45 but I came across the finish line in 1:53. No complaints or real frustrations.


The morning got real fun somewhere right before mile eight I knew the last few miles were going to totally suck. And of course they did. Running at 6500+ feet is not just something the body can get used to quickly. I could literally feel my legs have this slight “tingle” to them because my blood was not pumping enough oxygen through the body. I never felt like I was faint, dizzy or like I was going to pass out but I was definitely feeling something I never felt before. Let’s just say it added to the “fun” of the last few miles.

In addition to the air being thinner, the air is drier and dehydration is much more prevalent. In the course of a “normal” 13.1 mile run for me I stop for water once (maybe twice) but I stopped for water four freakin times and still never felt totally hydrated. After crossing the finish line my heart rate was off the charts high for the next two (or so) hours. It was unreal to see my HR above 100 two hours after crossing the finish line!

The only mild frustration I had was that I started to fast. Instead of starting slower than the 8:00/mile pace I was hoping for, I started running that pace from the first mile instead of slowly getting faster and progressing to the 8:00/mile I was shooting for. Now, regardless of finishing eight minutes slower than I was hoping for I still managed to finish in second place in my age group. That has to be the slowest official time ever recorded for a second place finish in the 30-34 age group (there were 28 runners in my grouping). Of course, there is that whole elevation thing.

For a small event (about 1,000 runners total) the Big Bear Marathon was a quality event and hopefully I will get the opportunity to run the thing again next year. It’s a beautiful course in one of the most scenic rural areas in southern California.

(I had to mess around with the picture a little bit but if you are looking for the originals, please feel free here. This way you can really see both the pain and happiness on my face!)

2009 NFL PREDICTIONS

AFC EAST
1) Patriots, 12-4
2) Jets, 8-8
3) Dolphins, 7-9
4) Bills, 5-11

AFC NORTH
1) Steelers, 12-4
2) Ravens, 10-6 *
3) Browns, 6-10
4) Bengals, 5-11

AFC SOUTH
1) Colts, 11-5
2) Titans, 10-6 *
3) Texas, 9-7
4) Jags, 6-10

AFC WEST
1) Chargers, 12-4
2) Broncos, 7-9
3) Raiders, 6-10
4) Chiefs, 4-12

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP – Patriots over Steelers

NFC EAST
1) Eagles, 11-5
2) Giants, 11-5 *
3) Cowboys, 8-8
4) Redskins, 7-9

NFC NORTH
1) Bears, 10-6
2) Packers, 9-7
3) Vikings, 9-7
4) Lions, 3-13

NFC SOUTH
1) Saints, 10-6
2) Falcons, 10-6 *
3) Panthers, 8-8
4) Bucs, 5-11

NFC WEST
1) 49ers, 10-6
2) Seahawks, 9-7
3) Cardinals, 8-8
4) Rams, 2-14

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP – Giants over Eagles

SUPER BOWL – Patriots over Giants

Five Questions
- What team(s) will come out of “no where” and claim a playoff spot?
- Will the Cardinals be able to handle success?
- What week will Brett Favre go out with a torn shoulder muscle?
- Is Tom Brady healthy?
- When will Terrell Owens negatively affect the Bills play?

IT MIGHT GET LOUD

I like to go to the movies. I like good hard rockin' guitar riffs. Combine the two and you have one amazing film.

If you want to watch a film about three people who have a passion for the guitar (or just have a passion for something) then go see It Might Get Loud. Amazing!

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

When the calendar turns to September it means two very important things. The first is Labor Day. The second, and more importantly, is the start of college football season. That tried and true tradition with marching bands, freshman quarterback and ticket scalping among the tailgaters!

Anyone who knows anything about the upcoming season knows there is an obvious number 1 choice for preseason polls. However, the question is will they finish the year at the same position. It’s been years since a team that started No. 1 finished in the same position. Here’s my thoughts on what the Top 10 will look like come early January.

1) Florida
2) Texas
3) Ohio State
4) Oklahoma
5) USC
6) Virginia Tech
7) LSU
8) Penn State
9) Oklahoma State
10) Oregon

Just on the fringe (no particular order): Georgia Tech, Alabama, California, Iowa, Nebraska, Florida State, Mississippi, Boise State

I fear that either Penn State (extremely weak schedule) or Ohio State (not quite as weak schedule) could go undefeated which then puts one of them into the national title game against Florida. I think Texas will lose one game and face, at worst, a one-loss Florida team.

Five Questions
After the season will Tim Tebow be viewed as the best college football player – ever?
Can Lane Kiffin get Tennessee to a decent bowl game?
Will USC’s reign as the Pac-10 champion come to an end?Is Notre Dame a legit BCS bowl contender?
Will another non-BCS conference school crash the party?

Five Games to Watch
USC vs. Ohio State (Sept. 12)
Florida vs. LSU (Oct. 10)
Texas vs. Oklahoma (Oct. 17)
USC vs. Oregon (Oct. 31)
Penn State vs. Ohio State (Nov. 7)

Five for the Heisman
Tim Tebow
Colt McCoy
Sam Bradford
Jevan Snead
Jahvid Best