Football Picks - Week 5

• Baltimore vs. Detroit (-1.5)
• Chicago vs. Cleveland (-3)
• Miami vs. Buffalo (-3)
• New England vs. Atlanta (-2.5)
• New Orleans vs. Green Bay (-3)
• Seattle vs. St. Louis (-3)
• Tampa Bay (-3.5) vs. New York Jets
• Tennessee vs. Houston (-3)
• Indianapolis (-16) vs. San Francisco*
• Carolina (-3) vs. Arizona
• Philadelphia (-3.5) vs. Dallas
• Washington* vs. Denver (-6.5)
• Cincinnati vs. Jacksonville (-3)
• Pittsburgh vs. San Diego (-3)

I hesitate to do a parlay pick this week since I didn't do my rankings, but I'm going to take a shot in relative darkness here and take a 3 team parlay. I'm picking Tampa Bay, Carolina and Philadelphia. $50 bet for a possible $300 return.

Football Picks - Week 4 Results

My Results:
ATS: 5-9
SU : 9-5

I lost my parlay pick so that set me back $50, but I'm still up $400 on the season.

How I stack up against the "pro's"
Overall:
Me: ATS: 23-34-3; SU: 33-27
PFW: ATS: 28-29-3; SU: 37-23
BetUs: ATS: 28-29-3; SU: 36-24

Interesting Post from Vox Day

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Vox Day, he is "the Christian Libertarian commentator from WorldNetDaily."

Please click the link to read the post..
A clampdown cometh

Stock Updates

Here are my YTD returns from the beginning of the year:

January - 0.99% - S&P500: -2.53%
February - 1.45% - S&P500: -0.69%
March - -1.30% - S&P500: -2.59%
April - -1.17% - S&P500: -4.11%
May - 2.92% - S&P500: -1.68%
June - 8.53% - S&P500: -1.70%
July - 16.10% - S&P500: 1.93%
August - 14.54% - S&P500: 0.69%
September - 17.48% - S&P500: 1.39%

It's a boy!!

We have added another member to our family today. Bella is very happy to introduce her baby brother... Oliver James

Some perspective to Ministry

The following is quoted from a blog by Phillip Johnson called Pyromaniac :

..."There used to be a misguided youth on the Web who ran a website called "Backyard Wrestlers for Jesus." He was trying to tap into the backyard wresting culture as a mission field. So he set up a Web site showing kids how to build a backyard wrestling ring, how to do what The Rock and the Dudley Boys do without getting hurt, and how to talk smack without really talking dirty—so that kids who wrestle in their own backyards could improve their style. Along the way, he figured they would see that his Web site had something to do with Jesus, and they'd know Jesus is cool, and they'd like Jesus better because he's so cool.

I admire his desire to reach a troubled culture, but the methodology is all wrong and completely without any credible biblical warrant. I realize making Jesus seem cool is the dominant evangelistic strategy of this age, and everyone from Rick Warren to Brian McLaren is trying in whatever way they think best to make Christianity more hip and trendy.

But I still think it's a bad idea.

Incidentally, I grew up in the 1960s in a liberal church with a fairly sizable youth group where dances with live rock music were the bait used to draw us on a regular basis. So there's nothing particularly fresh or innovative about this philosophy. It didn't work in my generation, and it's not really working now. It's made the church more worldly; it hasn't made the world more spiritual.

In fact, I'd say that this strategy represents the wholesale abandonment of the church's responsibility to a sinful culture.

The most effective way to minister to any culture—and this goes for every culture, from highbrow society to white middle-class suburbia to the urban street gang—is to challenge and confront the culture instead of conforming to it. "Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean'" (2 Corinthians 6:17).

Yes, I know Jesus was a friend of sinners, and His enemies accused Him—wrongly—of participating in their excesses. The truth is that He became their friend without adopting their values. That's the example we should strive to follow, not the example of worldly culture itself."

Football Picks - Week 4

• Buffalo vs. New Orleans (0)
  Buffalo has a great defense, but an offense that is too one-dimensional. I'll admit I'm worried Willis could have a huge game against a subpar Saints defense, but I think the many weapons on the Saints offense will cause matchup problems on the Buffalo D.
  
• Denver vs. Jacksonville (-4)
  I like Denver this year, but Jacksonville's defense is way too impressive to bet against in this matchup.
  
• Detroit vs. Tampa Bay (-7)
  Detroit has an anemic offense, and TB has a top notch defense. I don't believe Detroit will see their offense come to life in this one.
  
• Houston vs. Cincinnati (-10)
  Cincy is rolling and I'm going to bet on momentum and a combination of a multi-threat Bengal offense against a terrible Houston defense.
  
• Indianapolis (-7.5) vs. Tennessee
  My gut feeling tells me to pick Tennessee to cover, but Indy has a break out offense that has yet to be seen. I think Manning is going to take it out on the Titans
  
• Philadelphia vs. Kansas City (-1.5)
  With McNabb ailing and the Eagles traveling to Arrow Head, I'm going to go with Kansas City here.
  
• San Diego vs. New England (-5)
  I think New England has lost a little on defense and San Diego has a high powered offense, but New England is magical at home.
  
• Seattle vs. Washington (-1.5)
  This should be a good matchup and if Seattle can get a passing game going then Alexander should have a big game. I don't believe in Washington's offense yet, so I'll take Seattle in this one.
  
• St. Louis vs. New York Giants (-3.5)
  The Giants looked ugly last game and have something to prove. I think getting St. Louis on grass gives them the upper hand and I look for them to take advantage of it.
  
• New York Jets* vs. Baltimore (-7.5)
  Baltimore's defense and Indianapolis' offense seem to be having parallel seasons. I expect the Ravens D will show up this week, but because of the Jet's good D, I don't think they have the offensive fire power to win by more than 7.
  
• Dallas vs. Oakland (-3.5)
  I expect this to be a shootout with Moss taking advantage of the Dallas secondary. If Dallas can get Jones to run well and control the clock (keeping the Raiders offense off the field), they could pull this one off. I think the Raiders Offense is more than Dallas can handle in this one however.
  
• Minnesota* vs. Atlanta (-6)
  I like this matchup for Atlanta, but they don't have that killer instinct that would lead me to give them 6 points in this one.
  
• San Francisco vs. Arizona (-2)
  Arizona has an offense similar to Detroit's and they should be able to exploit a weak 49ers defense, but the 49ers offense has shown minor signs of life and Ariona has an equally disasterous defense.
  
• Green Bay* vs. Carolina (-7.5)
  If Favre's receivers decide to run their routes in this one it could be a great game. I still think the Carolina is the better team, but not enough to give 7.5 points.

My real money bet this week is a doozy! A 6-team parlay consisting of: New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Kansas City and New England. This is a monster bet that pays out 40 to 1.

Updated Power Rankings

1. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1)
2. Cincinnati Bengals (3-0)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1)
4. Seattle Seahawks (2-1)
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-0)
6. Miami Dolphins (2-1)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1)
8. New England Patriots (2-1)
9. Dallas Cowboys (2-1)
10. Denver Broncos (2-1)
11. Indianapolis Colts (3-0)
12. Washington Redskins (2-0)
13. Chicago Bears (1-2)
14. San Diego Chargers (1-2)
15. St. Louis Rams (2-1)
16. Carolina Panthers (1-2)
17. Atlanta Falcons (2-1)
18. New York Giants (2-1)
19. Kansas City Chiefs (2-1)
20. Buffalo Bills (1-2)
21. New York Jets (1-2)
22. Cleveland Browns (1-2)
23. Oakland Raiders (0-3)
24. Tennessee Titans (1-2)
25. Detroit Lions (1-1)
26. Green Bay Packers (0-3)
27. New Orleans Saints (1-2)
28. Minnesota Vikings (1-2)
29. San Francisco 49ers (1-2)
30. Baltimore Ravens (0-2)
31. Arizona Cardinals (0-3)
32. Houston Texans (0-2)

Biggest movers this week are Denver moving up to 10th from 28th, Seattle moving up to 4th from 15th, NY Giants moving down 12 spots to 18th and KC moving down 12 spots to 19th.

Elite Offenses:
Cincinnati, Philadelphia, NY Giants, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Seattle and Dallas

Worst Offenses:
Buffalo, Detroit, Baltimore, and Houston

Elite Defenses:
Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington and Jacksonville

Worst Defenses:
NY Giants, Oakland, Arizona, Minnesota and San Francisco

Football Picks - Week 3 Results

Another disappointing week last week...

My Results:
ATS: 4-8-2
SU : 8-6

I lost my parlay pick so that set me back $50, but I'm still up $450 on the season.

How I stack up against the "pro's"
Overall:
Me: ATS: 18-25-3; SU: 24-22
PFW: ATS: 20-23-3; SU: 27-19
BetUs: ATS: 21-22-3; SU: 26-20

Church

For the first time in my life I have become an official member of a church. I joined Christ our Savior Lutheran Church today and will be officially admitted during tomorrow mornings service. I definitely feel at home in this church and can't wait to get involved in their ministries.

Football Picks - Week 3

• Atlanta vs. Buffalo (-2.5)
• Carolina (-3) vs. Miami
• Cincinnati (-3) vs. Chicago
• Cleveland vs. Indianapolis (-13.5)
• Jacksonville vs. New York Jets (-2.5)
• New Orleans vs. Minnesota (-3.5)
• Oakland vs. Philadelphia (-8)
• Tampa Bay (-3.5) vs. Green Bay
• Tennessee* vs. St. Louis (-6.5)
• Arizona vs. Seattle (-6)
• Dallas (-6.5) vs. San Francisco
• New England vs. Pittsburgh (-3)
• New York Giants vs. San Diego (-5.5)
• Kansas City vs. Denver (-3)

My real money bet this week is a 4 team parlay (remember parlays use spreads) consisting of Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Tampa Bay & Kansas City (11 to 1 payout)

The Purpose of Pain

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is giong to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

-- Matthew 16:24-27

God, if You love me, why must I endure pain?

This question preoccupies many believers in their darkest hours of need. While pain comes in different forms and has different durations, suffering always comes with an objective greater than our comfort, pleasure, or personal goals. If we seek God's purpose for grief, we will find both His peace and His deep love for us.

Pain instructs
Christ's sufficiency is more apparent during times of suffering than in the midst of blessing. Discovering God's faithful provision strengthens our resolve to endure.

Pain purifies
Counterfeit faith cannot withstand harship's flames. Like gold in a refiner's fire, suffering believers experience the burning away of impurities until only things of value remain. Trials bring into focus the truth about the world we live in, the nature of the people we meet, and the incomparable worth of the Lord.

Pain motivates
Pain drives us to God. How often do we hear testimony from people who discovered Him during their worst trial? In His wisdom, our Father knows whether we require motivation from blessing or from distress.

Pain opens us to intimacy with God
At the end of our own resources is the Lord's boundless strength. Running into His arms guarantees us the comfort and energy that is available only through an intimate relationship with the Father.
Living an easy life doesn't earn rewards. Though our instinct is to sidestep pain, suffering helps us find intimacy with God and the great purpose He sets for our life.

This was one of the daily devotionals taken from Charles Stanely's InTouch publication that I thought could help those experiencing pain.

Yours in Christ

Updated Power Rankings

1. Pittsburgh
2. Philadelphia
3. Tampa Bay
4. Cincinnati
5. Chicago
6. NY Giants
7. Kansas City
8. Miami
9. Carolina
10. New England
11. Jacksonville
12. Dallas
13. Washington
14. Indianapolis
15. Seattle
16. Buffalo
17. St. Louis
18. New Orleans
19. Tennessee
20. NY Jets
21. Cleveland
22. San Diego
23. Oakland
24. Atlanta
25. Detroit
26. Arizona
27. Green Bay
28. Denver
29. Baltimore
30. San Francisco
31. Minnesota
32. Houston