Archive for December, 2007
G English, Broncos GM
Haven’t blogged in a week and this one is going to be about sports. I’ll post some pics later today – after I upgrade my WP.
BUT…the Denver Broncos stumble into the off-season just like they stumbled into the regular season – relying on Elam to bail their underperforming offense and defense out for a win against a team they should have blown out.
Then again, maybe they shouldn’t have blown them out. All in all, this Bronco team was just….bad.
Bad karma, bad talent, bad coaching, bad chemistry….just bad.
Our local beatwriters will point to the deaths of Williams and Nash, the rash of injuries (name me an NFL team that didn’t have injuries), and a ‘new defensive system.’
But let’s face it…this is a bad team with guys of questionable character. And when things go bad with guys of questionable character – it only gets worse.
Javon Walker says he wants out of Denver because he doesn’t fit. Ironically, the team he says he fits best with is Green Bay. He didn’t feel that way 2 years ago. My hunch is he doesn’t like being the number 2 WR. Which is too bad.
So, package him and Travis Henry to the Atlanta Falcons or Baltimore Ravens. Heck, call the Dolphins while we are at it. We’ll take anything – draft picks, timeshares, free gift cards to Home Depot. We’re just looking for places where these guys can fit…and be close to their families…however large and as many moms as they may have.
Second, on draft day…don’t get cute. Don’t try to outwit, outlast, or outplay the media. Pick the best player available with your highest pick…probably number 12. I don’t care what position he plays (other than QB). Pick him. Don’t get cute and try to hit a home run with THE sleeper pick of the year. Pick the most talented guy on the board. Period. My hunch says it’ll be a safety or an OL. Now if some idiots in front of the Broncs don’t happen to pickup the lineman from Michigan or the linebacker from Ohio State – draft him.
But with the number 12 pick…I don’t want to have to Google his name to figure out what he played where. Draft a guy that performed on the field…not has impressive numbers.
Third…special teams coach. Find a new one.
I’d say fire the Defensive Coordinator but that’s probably not going to happen. Would be too embarrassing for the team to fire the guy less than 9 months after he was tagged the guru we needed. Bates has a track record of excellence so giving him the benefit of the doubt may be prudent but his first impression has been terrible. As a coach, you’re supposed to take what you have and make it better…not worse. And that’s exactly what he did. On paper, he’s had more talent than Collier ever did and managed to take the Denver D from fourth in the league to 30th.
That kind of fall makes for a great postcard image and is one that even the Dolphins can’t compete with.
Instead, try these changes on for size. Make the move official for John Lynch to outside linebacker in a 3-4 set-up. Keep Moss and Dumerville on the line, return DJ Williams to his native outside backer position. I want Lynch’s toughness and leadership on the field. He can still pop but he can’t cover wideouts. That was made painfully obvious this year. The good news is with Bailey, Bly, Foxworth and company – we shouldn’t need him in coverage anyway.
In the second and third round of the draft – draft defensive players who produced on the field. I don’t care what the watches and weights said.
Finally, strength and conditioning coach. Go to Indianapolis and figure out what they are doing. They play on turf and have traditionally been one of the healthiest teams in the league. Whatever we are doing isn’t working and hasn’t worked for the last few years.
That will do for now. Call me when you’re finished.
My Evil Stepmother and a White Christmas
The damage is done.
The wrapping paper is picked up.
The snow is falling.
My stepmother sent enough Auburn gear for me to open my own John Deere Dealership.
Guitar Hero 3, the Princess tent and horse necklaces, the books, and the candy….room makeovers…
The list is impressive.
But Merry Christmas to all…and some photos for the family to enjoy.
Cooper’s Bronco Room
Cayden’s New Spread
The Girl Power and Toys
And our backyard….
The Fantasy Conundrum
It’s coming close to the end of Fantasy Football (I’m 11-2 in one league contending for the championship, 6-8 in the other with a chance to get to 5th place) and there are major decisions to make…like who to keep for next year.
There are lots of things to consider – how does your league do scoring, roster limits/requirements, age of players, and of course what does your keeper cost you. In one of my leagues, an owner only kept 1 keeper instead of 2 and got the first pick of the draft. He thought he could get a better player than anyone else he had on his roster. He was right. His team sucked.
But that’s not what is important right now.
What is important is figuring out who the heck to keep and why.
Here’s a sample roster, you have to pick 1.
Peyton Manning, QB
Derek Anderson, QB
Brian Westbrook, RB
Adrian Peterson, RB
Marshawn Lynch, RB
Greg Jennings, WR
Brandon Marshall, WR
I think there are three key questions to answer when selecting a keeper.
1. League Scoring – if you are in a league with a point per reception – Brandon Marshall and Greg Jennings stock just went up huge. If not – then the WR position doesn’t produce as many points as the QB or RB. Both players are young – 1st and 2nd year players – and on teams that throw the ball well.
2. Roster requirements – If you are required to play 2 RB’s but only 1 QB and 1 WR – obviously the RB becomes the most valuable position because of the demand is greater than the supply. If you are required to play 2 RBs, 1 QB, and 2 WR – that changes the scenario a bit but not much. Every NFL team in the league starts at least 2 WR’s and more often than not plays 3. The wildcard in all of this is the “flex” position that some leagues have. If your flex is any position, then you might want to think about keeping a QB and draft RBs in your first two or three rounds of draft.
3. Age of Player – I love Brian Westbrook. Anyone who has played fantasy football over the last 8 years will tell you how golden he is on a team. But he’s also had the injury bug and he’s getting older. Do you take him over Adrian Peterson – a rookie phenom who could be the next Westbrook on steroids? (Figuratively speaking…not really.) Do you lock up a rookie/younger player and sacrifice points on the front end for long term security?
3b. Uniforms – I have no Bengals on team for this reason. Although given the events of the past year, stripes are appropriate for that team.
My Situation
We must start 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB/WR, 1 ALL FLEX. The All Flex can be either a QB, RB, WR, or TE. I played 2 QBs – Anderson and Manning – and went 11-2 in the regular season. So you can see the advantage of keeping a QB. Manning is always a good pick. Anderson had a phenomenal year – will it continue?
The 2 RB, 2 WR, and 1 RB/WR Flex position eats up a lot of players but since there isn’t a point per reception, WRs still aren’t as valuable as RBs…generally speaking.
So honestly the wrestling match with me is Manning or Peterson. Westbrook gets bumped out only because of his age and durability.
Who would you pick?
On Turning 10
One day, I’m told, that he’ll ask to be dropped off a block away so his friends can’t see us….you know, the ‘uncool parents.’
I’m told that one day he’ll quit hugging and kissing us before bed. He’ll quit asking so many questions and see a day hanging out with his dad as punishment.
I’m told he’ll grow up too fast, get more sarcastic, move away, and quit calling. One day he’ll know more than anyone else in the universe…then he’ll graduate from high school.
I’ve been told all of that will happen. Maybe.
Then again, maybe not.
Either way – that’s not today. Today, he turns 10. My Cooper.
Today he still thinks I’m much smarter than what I really am, will gladly give up a day of school to hang out with me, and still wants hugs and kisses before bed.
Today he thinks I’m awesome because I’m teaching him how to beat Halo 3 on legendary and he’s teaching me how to play Guitar Hero on hard. Today we’ll catch him playing with his sisters and laughing. It won’t embarrass him. Today he’ll help Cayden with something, tease Camber about something else and share some brilliant insight with Mom.
Today he’ll think I’m the most awesomest dad in the world because we’re skiing while everyone else is in school.
Today, I’m a vital part of his journey to manhood, his glimpse of God, his framework of how to best handle this thing called life.
So today I enjoy the journey…embrace the turning of 10. A decade of experiences.
And I’ll marvel at what He’s taught me through him.
Happy Birthday, Cooper.
Rearranging My Life
Part of Jesus’ Birth series in our weekly evos. This week is from Matthew 2:1-12
Ever wanted something so bad that it rearranged your life? It totally consumed you? Like standing in line for a Wii? An iPhone? What about wasting two days online for World Series tickets or maybe to see the Police in concert? While we are confessing such obsessions, I’ve seen every Star Wars movie on opening day – even as a child. As an adult – I went to every “new” Star Wars movie at midnight. I even called my buddy Wayne at 2 am to talk about it – I was in Nashville and he was in Little Rock. Sundays are church in the morning, football in the afternoon. It’s just the way we roll. I don’t even think about it.
Isn’t it a hassle – rearranging your life like that? Not if you love the Broncos and going to church. I look at families who spend every Saturday morning on a soccer field from age 5 to 18 and think – “My God, what did they do to deserve that kind of punishment?” But when you talk to those parents – they love it. It consumes them. It’s not a “rearrangement of their life,” it rather gives their life direction. (I will refrain from commenting on what I think the quality of that kind of life is…)
So back to the original question – ever been that obsessed with something? Something that mattered? Something that really mattered…that generations of your family had been waiting for? Ever been that focused on something that you and some friends would travel thousands of miles to go after?
That’s the Magi. Almost 500 years before this, their ancestors first heard about the One from exiled Jews – the latest prize of their Babylonian king. Then one of “them Jews” got famous. He was a dream interpreter. He stared into the faces of kings and lions without flinching. Daniel became a city ruler, a sage that 4 different kings would call on in times of trouble. Could these Magi been both astrologers and scholars? Could these men be the result of over 500 years of waiting?
Were their lives that boring or were they that consumed? Did they not have anything else better to do or was this worth a lifetime of pursuit? Were they shocked to learn that the scholars who knew best were the One would come couldn’t make a day trip down to Bethlehem to check him out? It’s obvious that the Magi knew what they were doing. Their gifts tell all of their insight. Gold for the King of Kings. Frankincense for the Priest that will connect us to God. Myrrh for the sacrifice. For them the trip across the world wasn’t an inconvenience.
It’s shameful what I call ‘rearranging’ at times. It’s embarrassing really to think of what I call ‘inconveniences’ in light of the Magi. The rearranging of my life is only that when I don’t get Jesus. It’s only when I underestimate or insult Jesus that I’ll use terms like this. When my understanding is right – it’s no longer rearranging…it’s consuming…it’s purpose…it’s worship.
Denver Geldings
If you don’t know what a gelding is…there you are.
And that’s what the Broncos are.
I’m not sure what was worse last night – the game or the announcers or those hideously loud red unis the Texans were sporting. Actually that’s not quite true. I do know what was worse – any coach on the Denver sideline.
The Game
How many plays did the Texans run did I say – seen that one before? I quit counting after 30. The bootlegs, the fullback handoff inside the 1, the quick WR screen, the stretch run play. The Broncos are now the answer to the question what happens when you hire sesame street characters to coach your defense and special teams? I actually think Grover would be better. I’d vote for Snuffalufagus. Do they make headsets that big?
The Announcers
Cris Collinsworth…in a word…quit. Go back to the studio and get out of the booth. 75% of the country ought to be thankful they can’t watch NFL Network games. I thought having Gumble out of the booth would help. I was wrong. I was very wrong. Remember that one game FOX did with Jimmy Johnson and someone else just watching the game with mics on? It was weird but that would have been better.
Some gems of the night…”Watch our Cutler really steps into his throws and delivers that fast ball.” First, I can’t remember the last time Cutler stepped into a throw. He’s spent most of this season throwing off his back foot. Bad mechanics? Sure. Also trying to keep his head on because of the ole’ offensive line.
“Mario Williams is justifying his number 1 pick over Reggie Bush and Vince Young.” Somebody should tell them how bad the Broncos O-line is.
I also got completely tired of the “both teams are in the playoff hunt” angle. No they are not. Houston has the Colts and the Jags on their schedule. The Broncs have the Chargers and the Vikings. Neither team has a prayer of making the playoffs. Neither team will finish above .500. One team looks young and hungry, another looks old and tired. Both are severely outmatched when compared to the AFC elite teams.
The Red Unis
It took me three quarters before I finally garnished up half an opinion. It’s got more red than a Quentin Tarantino film. It almost looks like a Pro Bowl uni with a lot less stars. To be fair – I’m not a huge fan of the “all blue” look of the Broncs when they are home. I’m not sure what the solution is – white pants? blue pants? – but the all red was a bit much.
Where From Here
Shanahan is in a tough spot. He’s made two horrible hires – defense and special teams – and that has killed him this year. His offense woes are directly tied to the health of his offensive line – which is old. The lone bright spot was Shanny going for it so much on 4th down. None of them worked out but I love the mentality of “I’m sick of kicking field goals. I want touchdowns and we’re not in the playoff hunt, so let’s go for it.”
The Bolts are Christmas Eve…that’s going to be a massacre. Then the Vikings…where Adrian Peterson will set the single season rushing record for a rookie, the single game rushing record, and most yards in a season record all in one game. And it will happen at Mile High…so get your tickets now.
Arthur Blank’s Solution
I feel sorta bad for Arthur Blank…and really bad for Arkansas. Petrino is twice the liar that Saban was and that’s saying something!! 
After Petrino shook Blank’s hand on Monday and told him that he was his head coach, he went right out the next day to Arkansas.
[Sidenote: Arkansas got a good head coach. But don't get all lovey-dovey with Petrino. In the 5 years he's been a head coach, he's looked for a head coaching job in all 5 of them. Even at Louisville.]
Back to Blank. He’s the owner. He’s the one that tied up a ton of money and confidence in Vick. He hired Petrino. So some of this is his fault. But there’s an easy solution…well, simple, not easy.
Go after Bill Cowher, Marty Schottenheimer, or Mike Singletary. All are men of high integrity. All are hard-driven men that won’t take crap off anybody – see DeAngelo Hall. All will be more concerned about getting the right guys on the team first, then winning championships. All are available fairly quickly.
Then stay the heck out of the way, Arthur. Don’t show up on draft day saying you HAVE to have a certain player. Don’t protect a player from the head coach’s discipline or doghouse.
I’m Pregnant And It’s Not Yours
Part of our weekly evo series on the birth of Jesus. Matthew 1:18-25.
Lots of people make a big deal out of Mary and that’s understandable on one hand. The only woman ever to have God inside her womb…God’s mom…I mean, that’s a pretty exclusive club. A membership of one.
But I think about Joseph…mainly because I’m a guy. Mainly because one of the happiest days of my life was when Amy told me we were going to have Cooper. In fact, I can remember each of the days I found out we were having another child. It’s crazy…you start crying at the drop of a hat and start watching chick flicks. (Okay – not so much true about the chick flicks.)
But Joseph on THAT day. He wasn’t married to her yet, hadn’t BEEN with her yet and she tells him she’s pregnant. He KNOWS it’s not his child. The hurt, confusion, anger. I admire that Joseph didn’t want a public spectacle. Just let her go on her way…maybe the real father will take care of her.
And I’m impressed that Joseph decided to change his mind after the visit by the angel. Wonder what scared the bejeezus out of him more – the fact that he was visited by an angel or the fact that he’d been pick to be the dad of God?
“I’m a freakin’ carpenter.” Honestly, that’s all I can imagine him repeating over and over and over again.
Can you imagine the next morning when he seeks out Mary? Think that conversation was odd? Grandparents? The rest of the town? It’s just one great big hassle under this enormous cloud of scandal.
The easy thing would have been to walk away. No one would have thought less of Joseph for it. No traveling to Bethlehem and leaving family. No sleeping in a stinky barn or delivering a baby in a feed trough. No running for their lives to Egypt when that nut case Herod came into power.
I’m not sure what tipped the scales for Joseph to take the risk. To trust the angel and Mary. I’m sure there were nights when he looked at Jesus and went – “This is the son of God. What the heck am I doing here? What do I bring to the table? Teach him how to work wood? Clean a fish? Annoy his mom?”
Maybe it was later that Joseph began thinking about all of this. Maybe the only reason Joseph stayed was because he was scared of the angel. Or because he loved Mary. Or maybe he just trusted that somehow, someway, someday God was going to make sense out of all of this and he just wanted to be obedient.
Whatever the motivation, Joseph didn’t give up on Mary…or God.
And God didn’t give up on him either.
Trust God and do the next thing.
Christmas Wreath
Had a member of our church come by the office today and drop off some Christmas gifts for the staff – Christmas Wreaths.
Except these wreaths are awesome.
They are more awesome than Chuck Norris.
They are wreaths packed with candy.
Mine is my favorite – Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
This woman either loves us or hates us.
Having Your Youth Ministry Observed
Dave Baumgartner is not only one of our elders, but he’s going back to school, finishing up a degree. One of the classes he is taking is a youth ministry class. One of his projects of the class was to observe and evaluate a youth ministry…so he picked ours. He observed, asked questions, poked at some of our soft spots, was inquisitive and incredibly insightful.
Here is the paper he wrote after it was all done. The cool thing about observations like this – it shows what you are doing and communicating, not what you THINK you are doing or communicating. Dave is not “in my head” nor can he read my mind or guess my intentions. He’s just watching what actually happens, asks some clarifying questions then processes it all from his perspective.
Do you know how valuable that kind of information is to a leader? It’s not all pretty. There are things we think we are communicating, we think we are accomplishing and sometimes we need someone to love us enough to say – “Great idea…it’s not working, let US try this.” I’m pretty pleased that over the past year we’ve developed that kind of culture in our student ministry.
This whole process was so helpful and good, I’m asking him to do it again next year.
Thanks to Dave for his honesty, integrity, time and insights.
Black Sunday
One of our policemen at the church grabbed me first thing this morning.
“There’s been a shooting in Arvada at YWAM.”
A few hours later we would hear about another shooting at New Life in Colorado Springs.
I’m about to go to bed and I’ve really got nowhere to file this. I live in America, not the Sudan or Pakistan. I’ve read and prayed for other churches in places I’ve never been who deal with this weekly. They don’t have a public place to meet, can’t publicize their whereabouts because they are constant targets of this kind of violence.
Now it’s in my backyard…and I’m stuck somewhere between despair and anger.
We pray for the families at YWAM and New Life.
How I Almost Went To Jail
So I’m running to a lunch appointment yesterday and I decide to go “the back way” because it’s shorter. Through Elbert County. That has a whole of 3 sheriffs. Elbert County is across the street from the church so it’s not a long drive. The longest school zone in the country is right there. I slow to 25, a couple of miles later I reach the blazing speed 33 mph and that’s when I notice the pretty blue lights.
Now for an aside to fill in some backstory…I’ve gone a couple times to get a Colorado drivers license. Both times, there have been people out the door, the wait over 4 hours long. A couple of our friends waited 4 hours to get a license only to be turned away because they were closing. It’s state government at its finest. It was an experience that even caused Amy to cry. Amy has only cried 3 times in her life. Never mind the fact that the last time I was in there, there was a 4 hour wait again and the lady said not to worry, I had a year to renew my license.
Back to the pretty blue lights. So the officer informs me that I was “flying through the school zone at 33 mph.” So he goes back to the truck and comes back with his partner. His partner is on the other side of the car, unsnapped his holster and he is “assuming the position.” I know the position because I was in the military and they train you to get in “the position” if you expect ‘action.’
“Mr. English, how long have you been in the state?”
He’s got my registration in his hands so he knows darn well how long I’ve been in the state. I resist the urge to state this and just answer his question.
“Here’s the problem, Mr. English. You’re speeding through a school zone with an expired out-of-state license. So option A is I arrest you, impound your car, and someone comes bail you out. Option B is I escort you back to your point of origin today and you call someone to take you immediately to go get a Colorado license.”
G: “I’m guessing there is no “C” option, huh?”
“You are correct.”
G: “Let’s take Option B then.”
“Where do you work, Mr. English.”
Here is where I just start laughing. I point over my shoulder. “I’m one of the pastors at Pinecrest.”
He starts laughing and shaking his head.
“Good night. Mr. English, give me word you won’t drive today until you get your license.”
“Done.”
I now have a Colorado license. I went to the next county to a different office. It took 10 minutes.
Living on the edge.
Year Round School Mix Up
Amy went to an informational meeting last night at our local school. They are returning to a track schedule. For the last 3 years they’ve been on the ‘conventional’ schedule.
Amy said the meeting went fairly well. With track, they are able to get class sizes smaller, lower teacher to student ratio, and more opportunities for students to take elective classes. Conventional is more convenient in terms of schedule. All that really means is that conventional is what we are used to – it’s convenient for us.
I’m sure if I was a single parent who had to figure out child-care when the kids are out of school, I’d feel a bit more passionate about this. We’ve been told that if you have 3 or 4 kids in different schools, they will place you all on the same schedule. Let’s pray that happens.
It’s going to be a mix bag for me. I’ll love having the staggered times in the year to just go skiing with the kids or take off when everyone else is in school. But as a youth pastor, this could seriously jack up our schedule. Summer trips – most of my volunteers could have their kids in school and not be available to go on the trip. The traditional “calendar year” for student ministry will have to be re:thought (which is okay, really).
It further confirms my thoughts that the “summer camp” experience for teens is dying. Culture is demanding it which I honestly think that’s okay. We’re doing a mission trip this coming summer – in downtown Denver – plus a couple of retreats. Less money, more bang, more relational connection.
But it won’t be ‘convenient’ and easy.
Speaking Jesus 3 – Jesus and the Mormons
Here are the class notes from Session 3.
Due to popular demand, next week we will investigate the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The “notes” are NOT a script but rather talking points that help jog my memory when I teach.
New E-vo Series: Jesus’ Birth Stories
I have wrestled with what to do next for the last two weeks. So I’m tired of wrestling. I’m just going to enjoy the Christmas season by looking at all the different versions of Jesus’ birth.
Of course, I’m only delaying the inevitable. I’m still contemplating Wayne’s challenge of going through Leviticus.
So I start today with Matthew’s perspective of the birth of Jesus.
Matthew 1:1-17
A genealogy…what a completely uninspiring way to start off the story of Jesus. I’ve actually investigated the genealogy. No, I didn’t do it on my own accord…I was challenged by a buddy that said – “I bet you can’t preach a sermon on the genealogy.” Not the greatest of motivation to investigate a passage – but it worked.
Ever been around family and all of a sudden a bunch of old stories start pouring out? As the years go by, the stories get a little shorter because everyone already knows them and are laughing before the end of it comes. It finally gets so crazy that the mere mention of “Uncle I.U.” leaves the whole room in either grand laughter or over the top moans…it’s not just the name. It’s the stories with the name.
That’s Matthew 1 to a Jew. Uncle I. U. stories.
There are some names on the list we expect – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David.
There are some names that we had forgotten about – Boaz (married Ruth), Jesse (David’s dad), and Solomon (David’s son),
There are some names and descriptors that most of us would never include in a family tree…
Judah, the father or Perez and Zerah whose mother was Tamar. I’ll let you read the full story of that on your own (Genesis 38)
Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife…also known as Bathsheeba. David’s lover, the one that got pregnant by David while she was married to another man, the man that David had killed.
Rehoboam – his arrogance and harshness sent Israel into civil war, splitting the nation, never to be the same again.
The list goes one – a mixture of good kings and bad kings. Moments of glory, moments of failure, great wins, embarrassing losses.
Deeper in the stories are God-truths that can’t be ignored.
God keeps his promises regardless of our behavior.
God does his best work in the middle of darkness and scandal.
God only uses broken, messed up people.
God can redeem anything.
Whether it’s a twist of irony or His sense of humor, God continues the story with a man who will marry a woman who is pregnant with a child that isn’t his.
And Christmas begins in the darkness of scandal.
It’s where God does some of his best work.