SPORTS GUY & TIGER

Bill Simmons offers Tiger Woods 10 tips to keep fans interested in him here.

DIVORCE = MORE CAR SALES?

Dr. Albert Mohler explains Ford's creepy new commercial here.

READING GOOD BOOKS

Here is a great quote by Puritan pastor Richard Baxter on the importance of reading good books.

Every congregation cannot hear the most judicious or powerful preachers: but every single person may read the books of the most powerful and judicious; preachers may be silenced or banished, when books may be at hand: books may be kept at a smaller charge than preachers: we may choose books which treat of that, very subject which we desire to hear of; but we cannot choose what subject the preacher shall treat of. Books we may have at hand every day. and hour; when we can have sermons but seldom, and at set times. If sermons be forgotten, they are gone; but a book we may read over and over, till we remember it: and if we forget it, may again peruse it at our pleasure, or at our leisure. So that good books are a very great mercy to the world: the Holy Ghost chose the way of writing, to preserve His doctrine and laws to the Church, as knowing how easy and sure a way it is of keeping it safe to all generations, in comparison of mere verbal traditions.

While reading ask oneself:
1. Could I spend this time no better?

2. Are there better books that would edify me more?

3. Are the lovers of such a book as this the greatest lovers of the Book of God and of a holy life?

4. Does this book increase my love to the Word of God, kill my sin, and prepare me for the life to come?

(HT: Bob Kauflin)

MORE KORNHEISER

OK, Tony is back on my "good" list after kissing a little Notre Dame butt here.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Nothing is more important... than that we should be delivered from a condition which gives other people looking at us, the impression that to be a Christian means to be unhappy, to be sad, to be morbid, and that the Christian is one who 'scorns delights and lives laborious days'... Christian people too often seem to be perpetually in the doldrums and too often give this appearance of unhappiness,, and lack of freedom and of absence of joy. There is no question at all but that this is the main reason why large numbers of people have ceased to be interested in Christianity.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones Spiritual Depression

KORNHEISER CURSE?

I am torn. I love Tony Kornheiser but it sounds like he may be responsible for the pre-season crumbling of my beloved Minnesota Vikings. Read here.

RECOMMENDED BOOK

If you enjoy the subject of economics like I do, the book The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else looks very fascinating.

Here is the back cover.

WHERE AM I?

For the 3 of you who check this blog reguarly and wonder where I am, let me tell you. This Friday night I have a HUGE fantasy football draft. It's the same bunch of guys I have done a league with for a couple of years and this year will be Year 1 of a Keeper League. Each team will carry over 5 players to next years team. I drew the rather unlucky pick #4 so I don't get any of the Big 3 RB's this year and Portis separated his shoulder which makes my pick even more difficult. As of right now, it looks like Reggie Bush is my man. Am I nuts? Let me know. Remember, it's a keeper league and I'll have Reggie for the next 10 years. Anyway, in case you are wondering why I haven't posted anything this week it is because I am preparing for Friday night. Fantasy Football is a wonderful thing.

CHURCHMART

What do Wal-Mart Supercenters and church have to do with each other? My mentor Andy Perry discusses here.

TONY KORNHEISER

Being the huge Tony Kornheiser fan that I am, I truly enjoy reading about what people think about him being in the Monday Night Football both. I don't know how I missed all of this, this week.

Any thoughts to how Tony did last week?

ABORTION

This is one of the most appalling stories I have ever read.

Maranatha!

RAGBRAI

Each year in Iowa, Ragbrai is a huge event. The Des Moines Register tries to cover every angle and fills the paper each day with pictures of the riders. Even at work, I get daily e-mail updates of the status of the "company team". It almost becomes too much. Here is a story I am glad I did not miss.

CHRISTIANS & SEX

The Bob Kauflin of the southwest, Vitamin Z, asks some intriguing questions about the topic of sex here.

SPORTS HEROES

In case you have lost all hope for professional athletes being good role models, I hope this will restore a little hope.

GREAT BLOG

Here is a blog that my friend Josh recently discovered that I too really enjoy. Sports, Christianity, Culture and Parenting. Good stuff. I've added a link to it from my blog.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Not ready for college football to start? This should help get you ready.

Wake up the echoes!!!!!!

ALBERT MOHLER

I believe several months ago I called Paul Schaefer the master of lists or something along those lines. Here is further proof. You can never get too much Dr. Mohler.

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

My good friend Noah shares some thoughts on why he feels church membership is biblical here.

GRATEFUL ATHEISTS?

Just whom does an atheist thank? Dr. Albert Mohler with some thoughts on this question here.

SHEPHERDING A CHILD'S HEART

Tim Challies reviews Shepherding A Child's Heart here. This is by far the best book on parenting I have ever read.

SURVEILLANCE

There is an interesting debate going on over government surveillance at my friend Justin's blog Between Two Worlds. Click here to read the differing opinions.

TRUMP UNIVERSITY

Want to be the next Donald Trump? Click here.

MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN

Paul Schafer shares some articles from Family Life on marriage and children here.

MAURICE CLARETT PART 2

Paul Daugherty of The Cincinnati Enquirer apparently doesn't agree with my assessment that the whole Maurice Clarett ordeal is sad. Read why here.

MARK MCGWIRE

"McGwire, as a living, breathing sports entity, is done. He will never get into Cooperstown. He is just one of us now, a mortal, and he is probably alone."

This is the main point in a sad but probably accurate article about Big Mc by Tim Kawakami.

POKER

Is Poker a sport? The Baltimore Sun's Rick Maese says no and explains why here.

MAURICE CLARETT

All kidding aside about Ohio State University, the whole Maurice Clarett sage is incredibly sad. Here is a well done article by Michael Wilbon on Clarett.

BELIEVE IT... OR NOT

ESPN Page 2's Jim Caple shares some bizarre beliefs stubbornly clung to in sports.

Some of my favorites...

We believe we could beat Diana Taurasi one-on-one.

We believe 5.9 billion people watched the World Cup even though the world population is 6.6 billion. We also believe that 1 billion people watched the Super Bowl even though the U.S. audience for this year's game was less than 90 million.

We believe other people are interested in how our fantasy teams are faring

We believe Muhammad Ali is the most recognizable athlete in the world. And that Michael Jordan is the most recognizable athlete in the world. And that Ronaldo is the most recognizable athlete in the world. And that David Beckham is the most recognizable athlete in the world. And that Tiger Woods is the most recognizable athlete in the world. And that Anna Kournikova is the most recognizable athlete in the world …

You can read the entire list here.

THE CASE FOR KIDS

Dr. Albert Mohler highlights an interesting article in Christianity Today regarding the recent phenomenon of having to build a case for having children here.

JOHN PIPER'S FRESH WORDS

Here is John Piper's latest Fresh Words. Brace yourself for conviction.

OHIO STATE

I can't pass up an opportunity to take a shot at the Buckeyes on a day when two stories makes ESPN's front page.

Here and here.

Meanwhile, life is good in South Bend!

CARSON PALMER

Here is an interesting story about Cincinnati Bengals starting QB Carson Palmer that most people probably don't know.

He just dropped 3 spots on my fantasy football cheat sheet :)

ATHLETES & DRUGS

Tuesday's Dr. Albert Mohler Radio Program was on the topic of athletes and drugs. His special guest was my hero C.J. Mahaney. You can listen here.

THE ATONEMENT

My friend Noah posts a very helpful list of Resources on Atonement

THE SPORTS GUY

Bill Simmons offers 33 ways to make sports better for everyone.

I love this guy. He is the best.

ACCOUNTABILITY GROUPS

Here is a very insightful and practical article on Accountability Groups by Jonathan Dodsen writing in the Journal for Biblical Counseling.

(HT: JT)

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

The symbol of an authentically Christian leadership is not the purple robe of an emperor, but the coarse apron of a slave; not a throne of ivory and gold, but a basin of water for the washing of feet.
John Stott

OPRAH

Thank you Josh for sharing this very frightening piece on Oprah.

GRACE MOTIVATED PARENTING

The marriedlife blog discusses the question of, "How do you know if your parenting is grace motivated?" here.

GOOD BOOKS

Looking for a good book to read? Look no further. These should keep you busy for a little bit.

VITAMIN Z

My boy Vitamin Z blew up my google reader today with two great posts.

The first is a fine commentary on Mel Gibson's arrest.

The second is a great quote by John Piper.

THE NEXT TIGER WOODS?

Or the next Todd Marinovich? Read here.

MORE DES MOINES REGISTER

I realize my blog has reached an all-time low with my focus on The Des Moines Register but here is another example of their garbage.

BAD PARENTS

How far will some parents go to be the "cool" parents? You will be
amazed. This is scary.