Here they are

2007 Baseball Predictions

AL EAST

1. Boston Red Sox
2. New York Yankees
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays

AL CENTRAL

1. Minnesota Twins
2. Cleveland Indians*
3. Detroit Tigets
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Kansas City Royals

AL WEST

1. L.A. Angels
2. Texas Rangers
3. Oakland Athletics
4. Seattle Mariners

DIVISIONALS

Cleveland over Boston

L.A. Angels over Minnesota

AL CHAMPIONSHIP

L.A. Angels over Cleveland

NL EAST

1. N.Y. Mets
2. Philadelphia Phillies*
3. Atlanta Braves
4. Florida Marlins
5. Washington Nationals

NL CENTRAL

1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. Houston Astros
3. Cincinnati Reds
4. Milwaukee Brewers
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
6. Chicago Cubs

NL WEST

1. L.A. Dodgers
2. San Fransisco Giants
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
4. San Diego Padres
5. Colorado Rockies

DIVISIONALS

L.A. Dodgers over Philadelphia

N.Y. Mets over St. Louis

NL CHAMPIONSHIP

N.Y. Mets over L.A. Dodgers

WORLD SERIES

L.A. Angels over New York Mets

Well, the summer movie season is over and, in my humble opinion, it was pretty sad. Here's what I saw:

(1) X-Men III: The Last Stand - Minus some language, a scene in which a female character loses her powers and, conequently, some decency, and a good bit of violence, this movie was a fun ride. Also, it presented some interesting questions about how humanity deals with power. This was the best movie I saw this summer, which is probably more of a criticism of the rest of the movies, than a compliment to this one. However, I was entertained.
Strangest Moment: Wolverine in a "Gone With the Wind" sequence at the end, looking out over the spacious ground. Um... ok.
Best Moment: A moment with Magneto at the end of the movie. He's playing chess. That's all I'm going to say.
Dumbest Moment: Hey, we've got the leading scientist who has spear-headed the movement to eliminate all mutants through a vaccine. How shall we kill him? Porcupine-man? Fire-man? A scalpel? I know, let's throw him off the roof! It's not like his son is a mutant with wings, or anything.
Coolest Moment: Shadowcat's battle with Juggernaut. Personally, I thought Shadowcat was the most powerful good mutant in the movie.
The Point: Once you start denying anyone's humanity based on their appearance or abilities, you endanger humanity as a whole.

(2) Lady in the Water - Brief language, a little bit of skin from Bryce Dallas Howard, but not much. I really like M. Night Shyamalan's movies, but this one seemed... rushed. Sloppy, in some spots. But, Paul Giamatti is amazing, and there are some laugh-out loud funny parts, as well as some characteristic surprises. My biggest disappointment was that the only villain in the movie is an evil grass-dog. I was hoping for something a little more...impressive.
Strangest Moment: How the Guardian is discovered. I mean, I liked the character, but why was he there, and why was he the Guardian? Meow?
Best Moment: Paul Giamatti's discovery of his true ability, and the emotion he gives the scene.
Dumbest Moment: M. Night's whole cameo was dumb, ok. Just dumb. His sister was fine, but he was dumb. Sorry.
Coolest Moment: Ok, I just really enjoyed Reggie's opening scene. "It's like some kind of science experiment."
The Point: Is it a possibility that each of us are given specific talents and abilites for a purpose that we can discover?

(3) Superman Returns - Some language, again, and, man, that scene with the little dogs was a little intense for younger viewers. One of those, so evil it's funny, things, but... SPOILERS: I understand why they went this direction with the movie, but they really did not need to make Superman, the Boy Scout, an illegitimate dad. END SPOILERS.
Strangest Moment: Um...Superman lifting the Kryptonite-laced Luthor-land. Kryptonite is bad for Supes, right?
Best Moment: The bullet flattening on Superman's eyeball. That's the kind of stuff we want from the Man of Steel.
Dumbest Moment: Anything with Lex Luthor. Could we get a decent movie Lex Luthor for once? No. And, why, why doesn't he ditch the airhead that has saved Superman under his nose in like three movies?
Coolest Moment: I didn't like the plot line, but seeing Lois's son do what he did in the submarine was cool.
The Point: Though I'm tempted to explore the Spoiler's point, I guess we could say that the point of the movie is that when you are confronted with the impossible, it's heart strength, not muscle strength, that will save the day.

(4) Pirates of the Caribbean II: Dead Men's Chest - The movie was disappointing, in my opinion. I didn't really follow the development of the Elizabeth-Jack-Will love triangle. I was excited by Captain Norrington's return, but disappointed in how it ended in the movie. I was intrigued by the introduction of Will's father, but disappointed in its predictable outcome. Overall, the movie felt too long to me. Oh, well, there's always hope for the next one.
Strangest Moment: What's with the wasted time on the islands? Watching two hamsters in a wheel, and seeing Elizabeth take out vicious pirate after vicious pirate (meow?) is not my idea of good moviemaking.
Best Moment: "Look, an undead monkey" BAM!
Dumbest Moment: The compass continually pointing Elizabeth to Jack.
Coolest Moment: The heart, baby. It was so realistic looking.
The Point: It's hard to truly know what you want, so do what is right for others instead of pursuing your own gain.

Currently Reading Acts (The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) By I. Howard Marshall see related

Being a sports fan is so frustrating. Why do I bother?

I was watching a great movie the other day... the Incredibles. I absolutely love that movie, more every time I watch it. The characterizations are great... the mom can bend everywhere, become anything she needs to be... the dad is super strong, invincible... the boy is hyperactive, unrestrained... the teenage girl is constantly walling herself up or becoming invisible.. and Jack-Jack is full of endless possibilities. And all the little details just work together so perfectly... Buddy into Syndrome, lawsuits because Mr. Incredible saves someone, the kid on the tryke, the "Inconceivable" guy-from-Princess-Bride-boss, Edna...

One of the most important messages in the movie is that we should take time to celebrate the special talents we glimpse in others, and make steps to allow those talents to develop and display themselves. The alternative is... "if everyone's special, no one will be." I believe this message relates to sports. It is incredible to watch someone excel in the physical feats required to compete in a sport. Their muscles have to be stronger, their mental stamina has to be tougher, their competitive drives have to be all-surpassing. The hope of seeing an athlete from my team triumph draws me to follow sports, and it's about as close as I can get to seeing a real superhero save my town.

However, I think the movie helps us understand that these amazing talents must be used for the greater good. Just as the athlete who leaves your team is no longer your hero, you can't expect to use your talent for your own gain and ignore others. You return the honors you get to your team, your city, your school, your country, your family, and most importantly, to God and His glory. There are many athletes who do this, and they are especially worthy of attention. But, in the end, what's more important is that each of us focus on Jesus, and let His Holy Spirit take what we have and use it to continue the work He has begun (Acts 1:1) in each of us.

Incidentally, just in case Lebron James surfs the Internet and happens to come across my blog  : Lebron, your talent is amazing. Now, do the right thing and marry the woman who lives in your house and has given birth to your child. Despite your mistaken understanding of reality, she is not your wife until you have a public document proclaiming that fact. Set an example of responsible parenthood for the next generation of males. After all, there's no school like the old school.

So...

So, I was thinking... have you seen those Lebron James commercials? They show Cleveland, rotting, poor, depressed. Then, people getting excited about Lebron and the talent and hope he brings to Cleveland Sports

It's cool. But, then I realized... Nike got this ad idea from Christianity. I think that's kind of cool, but how many people realize that Christianity made "Can I get a witness" and the idea of "witnessing" into a cool catchphrase?

Actually the Person who coined the phrase was actually Jesus. In Acts 1:8, He says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my WITNESSES in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Jesus says that your entire existence will be focused on testifying, showing, displaying, participating, WITNESSING who He is and what He does. Do our lives reflect anywhere close to the kind of excitement for Jesus that Lebron finds among his fans? When's the last time you just stopped and looked at your life and said, "Whooeeee! Yeah Jesus! You're the Man! You're Unstoppable! Your love just won't quit!"

We are all witnesses. I want to be His witness. How about you?

Currently Reading Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold By C.S. Lewis see related

I'm done! College is finally behind me, and I'm looking forward to being a youth pastor at a church near you! Thank you, Jesus, for getting me through!