Dora To Play For 4A State Championship

Dora wins again!  I just returned from witnessing a great come from behind victory by the Dora Bulldogs.  Coach Burns and the Dogs will play for the 4A State Championship on Friday night at 8:00 p.m.  I can’t believe I’m pulling for Dora!  Congrats once again Heath!  Check out highlight videos from this game on al.com.  

Journaling

I’ve recently become intentional about journaling.  I hope and pray I can keep it up.  It has really revitalized the time I spend with God.  The idea of journaling was the original purpose of this blog.  However, a blog was not an effective place for me to be truly intimate with God.  

My time alone with God (aka as a “quiet time) consists of prayer, Bible readings (guided by the Scripture reading plan in D.A. Carson’s “For the Love of God“),

 

and now journaling.  When I was in New Orleans a few weeks ago, I picked up a copy of “The Journals of Jim Elliot“.

Reading this Christian martyr’s journals has been a great companion to my own journal writings.  I am not going to pretend that my entries come anywhere close to the depth and beauty of Elliot’s writings.  However, it has helped me become more effective as I seek to master this discipline in my life.

Congrats Heath

My brother-in-law, Heath Burns, has taken his Dora Bulldogs to the Final Four at the BJCC.  Dora plays Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. against Ramsay in the state semifinal.  Here’s a good article about Heath from the Daily Mountain Eagle:

Burns Being Burns

Good luck Heath!

This Would Make Me Happy…

Alabama enters the chase for Joe Montana’s quarterbacking son

Joe Montana was my favorite football player when I was a kid.  I would love to see his son Nick, wearing the Crimson and White in 2010.  

True Sportsmanship

I referenced this story a few weeks ago on my blog…

Breakaway

Breakaway Registration forms have been mailed and are due by Sunday, March 1st.  You can also download a registration form from the Dawson website.

Are You Obsessed?

Last night atwe talked about the profiles of people who are “Obsessed” with Jesus.  A lot of the information that we discussed was from a book I’m reading called Crazy Love   by Francis Chan.  I had to speak to the 6th grade Acteens during the first half of  eXtreme so I felt the message was a little rushed.  

Chan profiles people who are obsessed as:

• People who are obsessed with Jesus give freely and openly.  Obsessed people love those who hate them and who can never love them back. 
• People who are obsessed with Jesus aren’t consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else.  Obsessed people care more about God’s kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress.
• People who are obsessed with Jesus live lives that connect them with the poor in some way or another.  Obsessed people believe that Jesus talked about money and the poor so often because it was really important to Him.
• Obsessed people are more concerned with obeying God than doing what is expected.  A person who is obsessed with Jesus will do things that don’t always make sense in terms of popularity or wealth on this earth. 
• A Person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the sin of pride is always a battle.  Obsessed people know that you can never be “humble enough”, and so they seek to make themselves less known and Christ more known.
• People who are obsessed with Jesus do not consider service a burden.  Obsessed People take joy in loving God by loving His People.
• People who are obsessed are raw with God; they do not attempt to mask the ugliness of their sins or their failures.  obsessed people don’t put on a show for God; He is their safe place, where they can be at peace.
• People who are obsessed with God have an intimate relationship with Him.  They are nourished by God’s Word throughout the day because they know that an hour on Sunday is not enough to sustain them for a whole week. 
• A Person who is Obsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort.  Obsessed People know that True Joy only comes from God.
• A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the best thing he can do is be faithful to his Savior in every aspect of his life, continually saying “Thank You!” to God.  An Obsessed person knows that there can never be intimacy if he is always trying to pay God back or work hard enough to be worthy.  He is a Friend of God!

Are You Obsessed?

A Few Pics…

Avery’s Photo-Shoot

 

Avery had first professional pictures made on January 27th by Heather Swanner photography.  Needless to say, we were very pleased with the finished product.  Check ’em out here!