Conversation #8: Football

This post almost wasn't written.

I had the idea to write this post shortly after the Big XII Championship game this weekend.  Oklahoma beat Nebraska 23-20, and a lot of different thoughts went through my head. 

How come we can’t win the big game? 

Why doesn’t Martinez just calm down when there is pressure? 

Why can’t we hold on to the football? 

I wonder what bowl we’ll play in.

Then my thoughts shifted to things outside of the game. 

Why am I getting so upset after my team loses a football game.

Then a good friend of mine reacted very dramatically.  He cursed (the first time I’ve ever heard him do so), and he was pacing, obviously upset.

Why is he so upset?

What’s gotten into him?

So I had the idea write a post about this.  Not about how officiating or bad calls or poor performances cost us games this year, and not about how Husker fans are the best (or worst) fans ever.  You can find all of those topics everywhere.  I was simply going to write about my experience as a football (specifically Husker) fan.

Then I thought that that wouldn’t go with my blog.  What does football have to do with God or Christianity or anything spiritual?  Then I remembered why I started this blog.  It was “small talk with God.”  I don’t make small talk on any one subject more often than football.  So it actually fits perfect.

I went to my first Husker game with my grandpa in 1997 when I was 8.  We were going up against Central Florida.  I had been doing my research and I was concerned about a stud quarterback (Daunte Culpepper).  I didn’t know if the Huskers would be able to stop him.  I heard he was really good, and I really didn’t want us to lose the first game I ever went to.

Well we didn’t lose.  It was closer than some people wanted (38-24), and we were losing much of the first half, but honestly I don’t remember anything about the game.  I only remember the atmosphere.

I come from a town of less than 700 people.  At school my class had 24 students in it (a large class).  Then I found myself in a stadium with 75,000 other people all wearing red and screaming for our beloved Huskers.  I was incredible!

I was hooked.  It didn’t hurt that I was an impressionable child, and the Huskers went on to share the National Championship that year, and had moments as memorable as the kicked ball against Missouri to send the game to overtime.

Now here’s the tie-in to the blog.  I wanted to focus on the verse from 1 Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the Glory of God.”  I believe you can be a fan of football, and still do that for the Glory of God.

I was told stories by my grandfather and mother, and many other people who introduced me to football, about how being a Husker fan was a privilege.  We were the greatest fans in the world, not because we were the loudest, or because we won the most games for our team, but we were respectful of our players, coaches, officials, and even our opponents.  We knew the game well, and appreciated a great performance by an opposing team just as much as a huge win.

Now I am not so naïve to believe that all Husker fans are this way (or that I even am at all times), but that was the goal.  That is the type of fan I strived to be.  I believe that this is a viable way to show God’s Glory even through football, and I thank all of those who introduced me to such a wonderful game and such a classy way of being a fan.

So, until next time.

All for the Glory of God.

Conversation #7: Sleep

This week I have been a little affected by sleep.  You see there was this little project we had in my web structure class.  It was a large customer analysis document, and for it we had to conduct an actual focus group.

I still love web design, but I can tell you right now that performing focus groups is not going to be the part of the design process that I work in.  I don’t like bothering people, and I’m not very good at asking questions.  I can talk fine, but questions just aren’t my strong point (odd since I believe my favorite word throughout my childhood was “why?”).

Anyway, we had to do this, and I wasn’t looking forward to it.  Well my group didn’t put together a focus group until Friday, and we didn’t have a transcript to write the document off of until Sunday night.

Now to the point.

I started working on my portion of the document Sunday close to 10 pm, and I went over to our group leader’s house, because he and I were working on the same section.

I left his house at 2:15 am.

Then I finished one last section at 3:30 am.

Needless to say I wasn’t quite refreshed for piano practice at 7 am.

Surprisingly enough I made it through the day fine.  I was good through all of my classes, and band and choir went fine.  Then that night I hit the couch, and that was it.  I was absolutely out.  I didn’t fall asleep, but I had no desire to move whatsoever.  In fact I felt quite ill.  I went to bed at midnight, and I didn’t wake up to my alarm.  I didn’t wake up until 11:30.  I missed my first class, and morning work, but I still wasn’t feeling well at all.  I ended up missing (yes I counted) 10.5 hours worth of stuff Tuesday.

I wasn’t happy about it.

I have only had two sick days in almost 3.5 years of college, and I just don’t like missing things that I should be at.  It’s one of the (very) few work ethics traits I got from my father. (Very few that I received, not very few that he has.  He has an amazing work ethic.)

So I spent the whole day feeling sick, and mad at myself for not going to class or work or band or choir.

Then today something else occurred to me.

This is a blessing.

I am at a point that I can miss a day and be alright.  I had finished my one taxing project due this week, and I am comfortable with my parts in the music ensembles (not that that is reason for missing in-and-of itself) and I could get others to cover for me at work.

Instead of feeling miserable I should feel grateful.  That day of rest was so good to me.  I have felt way better today, and gotten more accomplished than I would have if I would have tried to push myself until break.

I feel like I’ve rambled this post, but I wanted to say that all to say this…

If you are one of those people who has no trouble sleeping count your blessing.

If you are one of those people who has a lot of trouble sleeping (I can think of 3-4 offhand) then I’ll be praying for you this week.

If you are running yourself ragged trying to get everything done (Mom!) give yourself a break.

and if you are about to have a break over Thanksgiving weekend allow yourself rest.

God gave us that rest.  In fact he called us to take it in the Ten Commandments.  It often gets overlooked, but a day of rest isn’t a bad idea.  So don’t worry about waking up and stressing about the meal you have to prepare for Thanksgiving.  Your family and loved ones will be happy to just spend time with you.

If you have more than just a day, then don’t waste that Friday doing everything you think you have to do before Christmas gets here.  Allow yourself to relax.

So, until next time.

All for the Glory of God.

Conversation #6: Communication (Prayer and the Word)

Most of you who read this blog have similar beliefs to me, and you may take this for granted, but I know there are a few readers out there who believe much different things, and this post is geared specifically toward you.

Let’s say that there is a creator of all things.  There’s no need to go into the grand details, but this Creator made all things on this planet, and in this solar system, and in the universe.  Let’s say this Creator is all-powerful (not bound by physical restraints or time) and all-knowing.  He (let’s say this creator is male so I can use a pronoun) can do anything, and He decides to create humanity.

Now the purpose of human life is something that has been debated for years and years by people far more intelligent than me, so I won’t go into why this was all done, but just imagine that it is even possible.

If you can even believe that as a possibility, here’s the kicker.  This Creator is on such a higher level than any human can possibly imagine.  He has more important things to worry about than how we are “feeling” each and every day, or what new desire we have that we ask for, and yet…

He listens to us.

We have a direct line to speak with him.  It doesn’t take a fancy new phone, or a password.  All we have to do is speak, and he is listening.

This is amazing!  The creator of all things, who knows every nook and cranny of the universe, cares enough to listen to everything you have to say.

But that’s not it.

Listening is great, but only listening makes for a one-sided conversation.  Try it. (on second thought, please don’t)  If someone bares their soul to you day after day, and you listen attentively, but never say anything, it will stop.   You need to offer help, encouragement, or maybe a story of your own, so they know they can relate.

Well He does that too!

He gave us the Bible, which is His word. In it there are all of those things.  There is advice on how to live and encouragement.  There are helpful passages and a large story about how He came to Earth and lived as a man.  His side of the conversation is all right there in writing for us.

Now it is probably obvious that I don’t believe this is hypothetical, but I don’t mean it as a joke.  If you have trouble believing what you hear about God or Christianity, just really think about if you believe it even could be possible.

I can’t prove to you scientifically (it’s impossible to scientifically prove anything) that God exists, or that my opinion of God (yes it is opinion) is correct, but you also can’t disprove Him.  Don’t take my word for anything that is said on this blog.  I am human, and everything I say is fallible.  I am often wrong or at least slightly off, but I do believe that an infallible word exists, and that is where you should go looking for answers from.

So, until next time.

All for the Glory of God.

Conversation #5: Salvation

Wow! This is so incredibly late.  I hope to get more regular at this, but I’m writing this at midnight on the evening that I should have the most time.

Pity party out of the way I wanted to talk about a topic that was brought to my attention weeks ago, that I just haven’t gotten around to.

Salvation

Granted this is not a topic that would typically qualify for small talk, but it is one of the most amazing things in the world.  A family friend (and wonderful woman of faith) passed away last month, and wanted her funeral to have a focus on salvation.

What a wonderful idea.  It is a difficult time for family and friends, but there is no better place to speak of salvation than at a funeral.  It reminds family of the wonder-that-is, and helps give perspective.

Believe me, for anyone who specifically asks to have their funeral be about salvation; you do not need to worry about where they are currently.

Salvation is such a wonderful thing, and it’s so undeserved.  We are given some simple instructions on how to live.  These are instructions that would do nothing but improve life.  If we obey them it will lead to eternity in fellowship with our creator, and eternal joy.  If we don’t follow them we are unclean, and have no place in Heaven with the Father.

What do we do?

Well we blow it.  We sin and mess up so often.  I can only speak for myself, but I am quite sure everyone sins (Rom. 3:23).  We don’t hold up our side of the bargain, so what does God do?  Does he turn his back on us, and start over? (He totally could)

No!

He sends his Son to die for us.  His Son who he loves is sent to Earth where he is mistreated, beaten, and hung on a tree.  There, he bears the full burden of every sin you, me, and anyone else who has ever lived, or ever will live.  It is one of the worst pains I can imagine (and I doubt my imagination can do it any real justice).

This is all done for wicked creatures that will continue to mess up over and over again.

That’s Love.

That’s Salvation.

So, until next time.

All for the Glory of God.

Conversation #4: Memory

(A little long due to skipping a week)

A common form of small talk is remembering “the good ol’ days.”

I don’t know that I’ve been alive long enough to refer to any point in my life as “the good ol’ days,” but I know I do it nonetheless.  I make small talk with my high school friends remembering sports, and other things about high school.

I’ve hear it explained once, and apparently people who aren’t in contact consistently dwell on the past so often because that’s what they have in common.  They share common past memories, because those are the only common memories.

I thought about this topic this week because it is something I am terrible with.  I don’t dwell on the past a lot.  I am very happy with my present situation, and I look forward to a future as blessed and fulfilling as my past has been, but…

With that mentality, I am also terrible at keeping contact with friends that I don’t see as often.  I go on (as we must) without bothering to keep in contact.  Case in point: One of my best friends from high school is currently living about 20 minutes from my apartment, and tonight I called him for the first time in months.  I still haven’t bothered to see him. 

Additionally, I have kept terrible contact with the friends I made this summer.  These were people that I made a very strong connection with, and formed solid friendships with.  Since this summer I have texted one person about football a couple of times, and had a phone conversation with another (he called me).  No contact with anyone else outside of a couple of Facebook comments.

I’m not just getting down on myself though.  I am aware that as people go to different places they don’t always keep in contact with everyone they’ve ever met, but I make absolutely no effort.  If someone else doesn’t go out of their way to keep in contact with me, I’m content to just move on.

On that note, I want to get to the bright side of this all…

Memories.

God gave us these wonderful things called memories.  I don’t just move on and forget about important people.  I have complex memories about them, and their personalities.  This is amazing! 

I can have stayed out of contact with someone for an extended time, and when I do see, or talk to them again, memories come flooding back. 

I remember the activities we were in, and the jokes we shared. 

I remember staying up at a friend’s house late playing games, watching a movie, breaking a light fixture, or a ping pong table. 

I remember running from a tiny puppy, and instead of receiving help my friend rolled on the ground laughing. 

I remember screaming happy birthday as loud as 10 year old children can.

I remember crying after my final football game not because I took losing that hard, but because it was the last time I would play the best game in the world, along the best classmates/teammates/friends a guy could ask for .

I remember the first girlfriend I ever had, and her smile. 

I remember the first girlfriend that I didn’t have because I had the social maturity of 12-year-old (this was when I was 17). 

I remember helping a friend through depression, and seeing their smile when they spoke of meeting “The One.” 

I remember the first person I saw receive Christ.  I remember laying on a trampoline in Medford talking openly with people I had known for a month as if we had been friends for years.

I remember when I realized that Christianity wasn’t just “my parents religion,” but the greatest truth I had ever realized.

I remember all of these things, and I can’t help but praise God for it.  He made it so that through electrical impulses in our brains (that some of the best minds in the world still can’t completely figure out).  If that isn’t awesome to you, then I believe you are truly missing out on something wonderful.So, until next week.

All for the Glory of God.

Conversation #3: Prayer and Opportunity

Thank God for answered prayers!

In the last week I have had quite the experience.  But for it to truly make sense I have to fill you in on part of my prayer life from last year.

In the fall I took my first web design class, New Media Fundamentals.  I loved it immediately.  I had been a media minor for 1 ½ years, but this was something way better than my other media classes. 

At the same time I was taking this I was also realizing that I didn’t want to go to grad school.  I realized that I didn’t want to put in another three years of schooling to be a physical therapist, and I really wanted to produce web sites.

The problem is I was 2 ½ years into my degree and it was too late to change.  I spent a lot of time praying about it, and after talking with my professors decided that I would finish my psychobiology degree, and pursue career in web design.

Much of my prayer was concern about my future.  I knew physical therapy was safe.  (I like safe.)  Now I was switching into a field that changes as fast as any other, and I wouldn’t have a degree in it, and I would only be able to take 3-4 classes in it.

So I prayed that I would get experience somehow.  That was when I decided to go on the Boston Summer Project with Campus Crusade.  (check my summer blog out for details)

It was amazing, but I still didn’t get experience with web sites, because I was on the video team (which I wouldn’t have traded for anything).  So I was still a little concerned about my future.

Flash forward a month, and we’re in my web structure class, and God goes a step further.  This year the class will be working on two sites for actual clients.  By the end of the year I will have helped my team make a full specifications document, run customer analysis and focus groups, and will work with the client and the team to implement those plans into a fully functioning site.

I am very excited for this opportunity, and it is just amazing considering how much this was on my mind and in my prayers last year.  It goes to show that God works in incredible ways.  So, until next week.

All for the Glory of God.

Conversation #2: Rain

Ahh (sound of relief), it finally happened…that moment that I anxiously wait for every school year…one of the most “awesome” things in the world.  The first night I get to walk home in the rain.  

Now I really mean awesome in the true sense of the word.

Awesome: To inspire awe.

Awe: A mixed emotion of reverence, respect, dread, and wonder inspired by authority, genius, great beauty, sublimity, or might

Rain inspires a strong emotion for me.

I love rain!

If you’re like my mother you maybe don’t like rain as much as I do, but the next time it’s a rainy day and you are feeling bad about it think of it this way:  God gave us water.  It is one of the most important substances on Earth.  It is polar, it has a high specific heat capacity, it is a solvent needed for many chemical reactions, and it expands when it freezes (unlike most liquids).

The polar molecules are important in helping in the expansion while freezing as well as other things.  The high heat capacity prevents large bodies of water from rapidly changing temperatures and messing with ecosystems and in a more convenience oriented way it is one of the greatest coolants there is, and we use it to keep many modern conveniences from overheating. 

Then, if it acted like other liquids, and contracted as it cooled we would have serious problems.  Ice would be denser than water, and the layer that forms on top of water would sink to the bottom and the new top layer would freeze.  This process would repeat until there was a solid block of ice, and as you can probably guess not a lot of things can live in a solid block of ice.

If any of these things weren’t the case life as we know it could not exist.  So think about that.  We have a creator who took absolutely everything into account.  He gave us this substance that can be used for so much, and then what did He do?

He made it fall from the sky!

If that isn’t showing off ultimate power, then I don’t know what is.  It is just a truly awesome display from a truly awesome God. So, until next week.

All for the Glory of God.

Story #1: The Face of the Earth

This is a bonus post for this week.  It is in response to two of my concerned friends I made this summer in Boston.  See their video for more.  Also you may want to check out the Max the Cat Music Video for a reference to the last part.  It is (mostly) a work of fiction, and I just wanted to have some fun.

I know this isn’t in perfect keeping with the plan of this blog, but I am very confident that God appreciates me using my (incredibly limited) talents, and responding to my friends (something I have not done a good job with).

Now on with the tale…

This is my story.  To those who read it, please share my story.  As with my recent luck I don’t know that I will be able to spread it.  Tragedy could strike at any moment, and these words must be spread.  It is a story of intrigue and adventure, happiness and sorrow, terror and joy.  I recently almost fell off of the face of the Earth.

To those who don’t know I had a fantastic recent summer check out my former blog for full details.  I met a wonderful group of people, and it was bittersweet when I had to leave them (happy to come home, sad they wouldn’t be coming with).

Everyone made plans to keep in touch.  Numbers and addresses were exchanged.  A
Facebook thread was even made, and everyone joined, so you could just post things to it, and everyone would receive it.  I returned home safely, and spent a few weeks at home before school started.

This is when tragedy almost struck.  I was driving along highway 30 and listening to Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.  As I typically do when this particular piece comes on I began to conduct to it (not proper conducting, but the kind that a 10 year old, who has watched other people conduct, would do).

In the climax of the song I got a little carried away, and I may have veered off the road.  I jerked the steering wheel to correct myself, and get back on the road, but simultaneously my steering wheel locked, and my brakes went out (I love my Bonneville, but at 165,000 here day was coming).

Being the amazing person I am, I kept my cool, and just let my car coast.  I was out in the country, and no houses or people were nearby that I could harm, and I had my phone on me.  As soon as the car slowed down enough I would shift to park, get out and call for help.

This was a brilliant plan, but as I slowed to my stop I realized that I was driving towards a cliff.  I didn’t know of any big drops in Nebraska.  Mostly it’s just flat.  I flung off my seat belt as fast as I could (of course I was wearing it), and flung the door open to dive out, but it was too late.

I approached the edge, and I realized two things: First that I wasn’t going to be able to get out in time, and more importantly that I wasn’t approaching a cliff, I was approaching the cliff.  It was the edge of the Earth.  I dove out of my car as it went over the edge, but I was already falling.  As I kicked myself away from the door I was just able to grab a piece of Earth with my left hand (I know, I am pretty impressive).

I made the slow climb back to Earth.  I had fallen about a mile and a half, so the climb took me longer than I would have liked (about 32 minutes).  I finally got back and called for my sister to come pick me up.  She arrived and I told her about my whole ordeal.

Now I know you’re thinking to yourself, “Michael you fool, if your sister knows the story, why do you have to tell us all to ensure that it is told?  The story has already been told.

That’s the crazy part.  As we started to drive off, an alien ship abducted us.  They were going to perform experiments on us, and the first thing they did was wipe my sisters memory.  Fortunately we escaped, but that’s a story for a different day.

All I wanted to do today was put to rest all of the rumors.

1.  Yes I am busy, but no more than the average college student.

2.  No I have not become an alcoholic.  I am proud to say that in my 21 years, 3 months, and 11 days, I have still never had an alcoholic drink.

3.  I am not married.  I haven’t seen the last girl who proposed to me in some time, and I just haven’t been able to get in a serious relationship since then.

4 and 5.  I have not been turned into a small bird or child.  Trust me, small is not the word used to describe me.

End of Story.

And with that I want to thank you all for putting up with this terribly long post.  I love you all, and hope to do a better job of keeping up with my good friends. Check back Thursday for the next conversation post.  Until next time.

All for the Glory of God.

Conversation #1: Music

It occurs to me that I will probably bring up music a lot, because it is a big thing in my life.

Today I spent three hours practicing music, and another two listening to it this evening.  That’s nothing compared to a music major, but I’m not competing, I’m just saying that it is a part of my life.

My complaint comes from earlier this week.  I had my first piano lessons here at the school, and I was ready to make beautiful music.  Instead it didn’t go very well.

I realized just how poor of a sight reader I am, and was informed that I should sign up and come in for at least an hour every day.  (This was not being rude, I actually really like my instructor, he just said that that is what all of the students who take lessons with him do.)

Well the only time that worked for me that wasn’t taken was 7 o’clock in the morning.  This is the first semester that I don’t have any class before 9, and I was really enjoying that, so I wasn’t too happy.

All of that said I wasn’t having a great time that evening.  Why would God give me a passion for music, but not give me the natural abilities to play?  Why didn’t He at least give me the gumption to work hard for the last 10 years, so that I would be playing intricate songs by now?  Why would He even give us something as beautiful as music, and make it so hard?

That’s when it hit me.  That last question was the entire beauty of the situation.  He gave us something as beautiful as music.  There are many ways to communicate already.  He gave us language, and the ability to interpret non-verbal communication.  Music was just a bonus.  It is something that can express happiness, sadness, joy, fear, excitement, love, and give praise to Him!  It’s amazing!  The fact that it’s not easy makes it better.  You have to work at it (most people anyway), and after struggling with something for hours and hours you have the finished piece, and there is a pride that goes with knowing how hard you worked for it. 

That is beautiful so long as the pride never takes the place of knowing that God is the one all of the credit goes to.  He gave us music in the first place, and he gave you the ability to perform it.  Until next week.

All for the Glory of God.

The Plan (Small talk with God)

So here's my plan.

This blog is going to be based off of an idea I had this summer (with help).  I was walking with two friends in Boston at UMASS Boston, and we were sharing with students around campus.  During a break from sharing we were standing by the water, and I mentioned how God is the either the best at listening to small talk, or it's impossible.

That's to say that you can't really small talk with Him.  There are two major reasons for this.

The first being that small talk is generally made to avoid talking about anything real (what's actually on your mind, anything unpleasant, rude, socially unacceptable, or just too personal).  Since God already knows what is on your mind, and heart you can't hide it by making small talk.

The second (and the premise for this blog) is that even trivial things that typically serve as small talk are pretty amazing if you look at them from the perspective of "you're talking with the creator."

Now I will admit that the point of this is going to be to find the things that can bring glory to the Lord, and sometimes those things are not what we typically think of being glorious.  ex. The entire book of Job

That said, I do not think I'm any better than anyone else at giving praise when bad things (or good things) happen, but by having this blog I hope it will help me to get better at it.  If anyone else reading this gets anything out of it, well that's just an added bonus.

All for the glory of God.

Updates Coming

If you were directed here from my other blog check back for updates in the Fall.