top ten

John Isner had an unbelievable tennis match that ended 70-68 in the fifth set!! Wimbledon is one of the tournaments that doesn't have a tiebreaker in the fifth set so you have to win by two games. A score like this will never happen again.

Here is the pretty funny top ten list he debuted on Dave after he got back to the states.

world cup fever..........why I don't have it

I've gotten some flack recently regarding my inability to get too excited about world cup soccer. I understand that this is a global event, but I still can't bring myself to buy into much of the hype. I'm probably sounding like a snobby American sports fan who has no true understanding of "futball," but I'm here to present my case anyway.

Top Ten Reasons I can't bring myself to watch the World Cup.

1. It's too Boring. GOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL is screamed so loudly and demonstratively because it happens (hopefully) like once a game. I don't mind watching the highlights, but it's not good when you can cover the highlights of a three hour game in 9 seconds on sportscenter



2. TIES. I understand their is a point system in the early rounds and eventually teams will have to win, but I can't stomach a sporting event that ends in a 0-0 tie. Ties are for Dad's on Fathers day, not sports


3. David Beckham-----Maybe I'm just jealous of his perfect hair and accent, but no one should get paid that much money at his age to play soccer when your hurt every other game. Stick to modeling underwear.


4. USA kinda stinks----- If soccer really mattered in the states, we would be dominating these little countries like we did w the dream team in the olympics!!! How can we be underdogs to a country the size of connecticut?


5. There aren't any cheerleaders------- why? Because the chant would have to go something like ....."1-2-3-4, hope its not a zero zero score" and that's just not very catchy.


6. There isn't enough of this----------- groin kick then face kick combo's. We should all be practicing this.




7. Wimbledon is on so soccer is dead to me.


8. It will lose all hype as soon as world cup is over----Unlike other countries, we don't get into soccer here. Every single person on the U.S world cup team will go back to being completely nameless and faceless and you will have to subscribe to ESPN Deportes 47 to ever see another game. I relate it to Michael Phelps, Everyone was crazy for him during the olympics, how often have you watched swimming since?


9. This doesn't happen at least once a game-----If it did, I would be a huge fan. Who says headbutting is only for professional wrestling?



10. last but not least, soccer is irrelevant because it doesn't somehow tie in with where Lebron James is going to play next season. Honestly, if this is supposed to be a worldwide event, they need to find some way at halftime to bring lebron out wearing a crown, air jordans, and a robe covering the jersey of his next team. He should ride into the stadium on a South African Lion named Izzo that can also ice skate and roar classical music. That would bring some huge ratings, especially if Izzo was paid by the knicks to bite Lebron, who then grabs Izzo by the beard like David the shepherd boy, and socks him in the face. Lebron breaks his shooting hand on the lions jaw, and ends up staying in cleveland, but as a veterinarian and animal rights activist instead of a basket ball player. That would put soccer on the map, I'm just saying.

There you have it, feel free to disagree if you'd like, this is America after all, and you have the right to be wrong.

in the moment

Not a lakers or kobe or Ron artest fan AT ALL, but this post game interview is too classic to not highlight. This is the same Ron artest who admitted to drinking hennessy at halftime of games earlier in his career, and who can forget the insane brawl at the palace when he went into the stands to punch a fan.

In this inteview he shouts out to everyone in his hood, then he thanks his psychiatrist, then he plugs his rap single, then he references the three pointer he hit, then he gives her a hug, then he never answers a single question that was asked.

Dude is nuttier than a payday, but he did kinda hit some big shots and shut down pierce. With Gasol and Kobe both signed thru 2014, I imagine the lakers will be in the mix for years to come.

Graduation

Tuesday was Ava's last day of kindergarten. Unbelievable how much she learned in ten short months. She has made so many friends and has grown in so many ways it's almost scary. The ceremony was soooo cute. First all three classes met in the gym and put on a cute performance with singing different songs they had learned. Then we went back to Ava's room and each child was called individually to receive their diploma (which was a super cute big book of all the events of that year complete with action pictures of each individual child) and get their picture taken with Mrs. Pfau and Mrs. Chapman.

The picture of Mrs. Pfau is with her 93 year old mother who came down to see her for the first time. Her dad passed away at 96 years old in may and it was so sweet to see her hugging her mom=)

We love you Ava, and know that God has incredible things planned for your life!!!!!!

Love mom and dad.

There's no eye in team, but a spider has 8 of them

Kobe Bryant is the best basketball player on the planet, (pause while I gargle bleach to get the taste out of my mouth having said that) but his team is on the brink of losing the nba championship. Lebron James was the mvp of the league and he went out early. He was the mvp last year too when Kobe and the lakers won. Before that, Kobe was the mvp and the Celtics won. Before that, Dirk Nowitski took mvp honors and the spurs won.

The mvp of the league hasn't hoisted a title in the NBA in seven straight years and in twenty years it has only happened eight times with four of those coming via Micheal Jordan who had arguably the best team in the history of the game.

Here's the point.......You can be a superstar, but the odds say you still need a good team around you to win it all.

The same is true in the Church world. Pastor Lee is one of the most annointed, talented, gifted leaders and communicators to ever grace the pulpit, (enter request for raise here=), but even more important, is the incredible team he has built around him. I look around the office and we literally have the most talented and faithful people I have ever had the privilege of working with. (Kristin Porter may actually be the best christian I personally know=) (She HATES when I say that!!) This translates directly to our volunteers as well. Every Sunday morning I am literally amazed at the amount of people who willingly pour their time, talent, and treasure into Radiant church because they believe in the mission. You guys all make up the DREAM TEAM and you're making an eternal impact for the Kingdom!!!!!!!!!

Pastor Lee is our superstar, but I know that he would rather win a championship (see those far from God coming to know Jesus), then just be the mvp.

Thanks for you amazing leadership and heart Pastor, I am honored to be a part of what God is doing thru Radiant Church and it's entire church wide "team".

child hood memory scarred

Rumor has it that quite possibly the greatest cartoon ever (I say that only because Voltron may have the slight edge) is being brought back by Warner Brothers. Lion-o and his gang of feline friends will once again be warring against the forces of evil..........except for one little twist. Here are a few of the new cartoons highlights......


WB animation is remaking the Thundercats as an animated TV series.
The setting is modern-day Earth, in a major city (possibly LA)
The Thundercats are all teenagers.
Their leader is Snarf who is now a mystic with a "third" eye.
Each of the Thundercats has a weapon with an "Eye of Thunderra" and transformative powers (not just Lion-O)
When they aren't fighting evil, the Thundercats play together as a rock band.

That last one is not a typo, or a joke.

Maybe I'm getting worked up over nothing here, but did that just say the cats are gonna be in a boy band? Is this what super hero's of my childhood have been reduced too? Backstreet boys meets Cheetara?

What's next, the transformers are going to start workin as a waitress at a cocktail bar during the day? Maybe He-man could moonlight as a Rent A Center repo man or something.

I can just hear the thundercats theme song being turned into a rap.....Thundercats, Thundercats, Thundercats, YO YO YO!!!!!!

They already got rid of the Smurfs, Gummi Bears, and Duck tales. Can't they leave one of my childhood cartoon memories alone?

wedding bells are ringing

As a Pastor, I've officiated and attended many weddings, but none with quite the dynamic of last saturday. At the tender age of 72 years young, my incredible mother started a new chapter in her life by getting remarried. My dad passed away from cancer six years ago and obviously there are mixed emotions when your mom marries someone that isn't your dad, but I love her very much and wish her and Al nothing but peace and happiness.

Congratulations Mom, you looked so beautiful, and Congratulations Al, you married one of the sharpest women alive=)

God bless you guys on this new chapter of life=)

Focus

Say what you want about Kobe Bryant, but there is no doubt that he is the most focused and dedicated basketball player in the game today. No dancing, no rapping, no movies on the side, this guy is focused on one thing.............winning championships and becoming the greatest basketball player in history. He knows he has to at least tie Jordan's six rings if he wants to be in that conversation, thats why his concentration is unmatched.

Maybe he's too vocal with teammates, maybe he's too arrogant, but look up laser focus or desire to win in the dictionary, and there should be a picture of this guy.

With all that said, I ALWAYS root against him and I hope Boston kicks LA'S butt!!!!!!!

shortcuts

"Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life---to God!---is vigorous and requires total attention" Matthew 7:13-14 the message bible

I love this verse. I think it embodies so much of what is happening in our "christian" American culture. Walk into any bookstore and you are immediately flooded with how to have "your best life" "the good life" and basically "the easy, care free, fit God in their somewhere" life of your dreams. Is that really what it's all about?

There is always the temptation to compartmentalize your life. Everything put neatly into little boxes. A home box, work box, family box, and church "God" box. We want God in the boxes where and when we need His help, but pass when we think we can handle it just fine on our own. God doesn't want to be first in your life, He want to be the center. God is not a task on a list that you check off after you've had devotions, He is to be the reason for EVERY thought, decision, and action that you do in life. God annoints lives, not boxes.

There is no shortcut to that kind of relationship with God, and you will never truly be satisfied with less. Your walk with HIm will eventually become frustrating and leave you feeling like something must be missing. Don't look for a shortcut to intimacy. Any lasting, authentic relationship must be developed, and God is no different. In Poker, the term "all in" represents when you put it all on the line. Every last chip goes in the middle and you realize this is a make or break moment. I want an all in relationship with God and I'm convinced that total surrender is the only way. Remember, intimacy with Jesus is not a destination you finally arrive at, but a direction you continuously travel.

"There is a God that we want, and a God that is--very rarely are they the same"---Patrick Morely