Roll Tide Roll 2009

Here is a breakdown of every regular season game for the Alabama Crimson Tide this upcoming 2009 season. I will provide initial thoughts on the game as well as a "best case" and "worst case" scenario for the outcome of each game.

GAME 1: Sept. 5th *vs. Virginia Tech (* In Atlanta) - 

This game will be very different than last years opening game in the same venue vs. Clemson. Tech will likely be ranked in the top 10 to start the season as will Alabama. This time around Alabama will not be overlooked and Tech will not be overrated. Tough defense and solid special teams have been a trademark of Tech in the Frank Beamer era. This is defiantly true of this years team, the reigning ACC Champs. Tyrod Taylor is the best QB to suit up for Tech since Michael Vick, and should be ready to play. 

Alabama's defense should be equally solid with "Mount. Cody," Rolando McCain, and an experienced secondary ready to build on last years success. The looming question is will Greg McElroy (or Star Jackson?) step up and take control of this team? Ingram and Richardson should be able to tear up the ground game behind an inexperienced yet talented line. Outside of Julio Jones, someone else needs to step up in the receiving corps. Maze, McCoy, Hanks? Javier Arenas will help Bama keep up with Tech on special teams.

Best case scenario outcome: W 23-20

Worst case scenario outcome: L 23-20

This should be a low-mid scoring game with the outcome very close either way.

GAME 2: Sept. 12th vs. FIU

This should be a relatively easy home opener for the Tide. The offense could still be trying to find an identity and the team could be worn out after the Va Tech game, but the tide should roll.

Best case scenario outcome: W 48-0

The tide roll with confidence

Worst case scenario outcome: W 28-3

   The tide win even though the offense is trying to find a rhythm

GAME 3: vs. North Texas

This game should be similar to the Western Kentucky game last year. With two games under their belt and a lighter game the previous week, the Tide should start to dominate.

Best case scenario outcome: W 45-0

Worst case scenario outcome: 27-7

GAME 4-12 will be posted later! check back soon!

Direct Objects and Adjectives

Hey guys. So, I am an English Writing major, but for all you guys who don't want to read a blog about grammar, you HAVE come to the right spot. In spite of the title of this blog, and the diction use that posses certain implications, I will not talk about predicate nominatives, direct or indirect objects, or any of that English structural nonsense! (Just kidding, Mom and Dr. Sommers)

No, this post is about a very serious subject indeed and, it must not be taken lightly. This is a post for you men out there. When i say men, i don't mean male, but i mean a man, a man who is not perfect, but seeks after the heart of God and who's best friend in the world is the Savior of all, Christ Jesus the LORD! This is a post about being RESPECTFUL to women. We make women direct objects when we lust; look where we shouldn't, and think what we shouldn't. This has to stop. THIS HAS TO STOP. So, magazines, they have objects in them that guys love: sports cars, cool suits, sporting equipment. Go ahead, objectify that all you want, for even when that is used in a God glorifying way, all of those things will pass and fade. The Sports Illustrated Swim Suit Edition is simply WRONG. It makes OBJECTS out of women. Women, who are made in God's image, equal, human, sisters in Christ, living, with eternal souls. They are not an Aston Martin DB9, or a Calvin Klien 3 Button Vested Suit, these are our precious sisters. 

So, I'm a guy. Believe me I am not immune to lust, I fail all the time. BY God's grace I am forgiven, am Granted repentance, and am picked back up to fight ceaselessly once more. My point is I know this is tough to battle lust. I want us MEN to stand up for God. Not that God needs anyone to stand up for Him, that is not what i meant. I want us to stand up for what He calls holy to this sick and twisted world. Stop making direct objects out of women, don't even make them indirect objects, just run to Christ. Fall in His loving arms, and see the beauty of women...purely, without lust, seeing them as wonderful people, loving them as God does.

So, this is where the adjectives come in. We need to not be known as selfish, lazy, lustful, arrogant, perverted boys. rather we must strive to become Godly, righteous, pure, loving, God-fearing men of Christ, who love women and see them with pure eyes as people not objects.

Thanks guys, for listening, I know this is tough to read. Welcome to the mirror that nobody wants to look at. Just pray, invest time in the Word, and seek Him. 

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire(and Brimstone??)

Countless movies and books in this world makes take a step back. For a while, we as Christians can get caught up in media and become lazy when it comes to our decision-making. Everything that is of this world needs careful examination if we are to put our minds and focus on it. Things we watch or read or hear need to be glorifying to God, and produce fruit within us from the Holy Spirit. Philippians 4:8 gives us and explicit guidline for our thought and activitiy consumption. "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." What a great, straight-foward guide the Lord has given us!

Over the last few years, the Harry Potter series has come out in the form of books, and is in the process of the completion of all 7 movies. This series has been the center of great conflict among Christians and is still debated today. The main area of conflict centers around the use of "magic" and the Bible's strict forbidance of association with any form of witchcraft. I am strongly against any form of witchcraft or anything that supports it. The Bible has a clear stance, which explicitly states God's own feelings reguarding witchcraft. It is straight from hell. Leviticus 20:6-7 states, "As for the person who turns to mediums and to spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will also set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people." Also in Galatians 5:19-20, Paul warns against "deeds of the flesh" which includes sorcery. So, it is very clear that sorcery or ANY form of magic is from satan and must not be practiced in any way by Christians.

That being said, where does Harry Potter fit in? the book is about a wizard boy, who goes to the school of "Hogwrats of witchcraft and wizardry." Should Christians stay away from this book? Obviously if one feels that they are stumbling with anything they should not do it for whatever is NOT done by faith is sin! My personal view is that the Harry Potter books and movies are NOT evil, and actually support many Christian ideals including every element found in Phil. 4:8. Before i go on, i would like to say as an exclaimer: I am by no means trying to turn anyone away from Christ, rather i am trying to turn ALL people to Christ, for God desires ALL people to be saved! If Harry Potter was supporting wiccan activity I would most certainly throw it away imediately, however i do not believe it is and in this post i will explain why. Also, i am not writing this as a Harry Potter supporter-meaning, yes i do like the books and movies, but my loyalty is to Christ and to Christ alone!!! If Harry Potter was not glorifying to God, which i believe it actually is, then i would have nothing to do with it. That being said, I will now continue.

So, first of all, i will admit, i am on spring break and do not feel like doing proper MLA citation of sources. However, as a disclaimer, all of my quotes come from: www.christianitytoday.com/movies/commentaries/2005/redeemingharrypotter.html - It was an article titled: Redeeming Harry Potter by Russ Breimeier.
First, how is magic used?

"If Rowling intended Harry potter as wiccan propoganda, I'd be the first to jump ship," says Breimeier. He goes on to say that rowling does not believe in magic herself. now as an exclaimer: while Harry Potter is not intended to be wiccan propaganda, it is being used as such by people trying to bring kids into the occult. So, is Harry Potter something bad that is disguised as something good, or is it something good that is being used in a very bad way?
Breimeier goes onto talk about C.S. Lewis's explaination of magic in The Chronicles of Narnia. "Invocational magic is the dangerous kind that's warned about in the Bible, calling upon dark forces and ancient spirits to serve our selfish desires. Incantational magic, by contrast, is about harmonizing with the will of our creator." That sort of magic is what is found in Narnia and Lord of the Rings. Now, another disclaimer, Rowling does attend church, but is not a devout Christian and has been quoted that she is unsure of life after death, so she is really not a Christian at all. Tolkien and Lewis were. So, Harry Potter is NOT a Christian series, but Christian values ARE taught, and the magic used is not meant to lead people to the occult and is similar to magic found in Christian books.

Breimeier states that "magic is used as a vehicle to drive the plot." It is not promoting any religion. the only references to religion are holidays such as Haloween, Christmas, and Easter. (Likely because these are simply popular holidays celebreated in America and England.)
Also, the world of Harry Potter is COMPLETELY fake. it is a fantasy world, where Magic is used more of an ability one is born with. It is much like X-men says Breimeier. Or any other super hero such as Superman or Spiderman. One could argue that "magical abilities" are symbolic of one's gifts and talents. Though that is my opinion.
Also, what kind of "spells" are these guys casting. When one casts a spell in Harry Potter, it is simply done by waving a wand and reciting some latin phrase. the exception is the Patronus charm says Breimeier. It is used to fight of Dementors, evil creatures that cause despair. One simply thinks of happy thoughts and says "expecto patronum" - this literally means "to throw foward a guardian." "ohn Granger states in his book, Looking for God in Harry Potter that it can also be interpreted as, 'I look/long for my savior.'" Ultimately the source of the magic power isnt adressed in the books and that is fine for the story says Breimeier.

Good vs. Evil is an overbearing theme in the novels. This can be seen in animal symbolism exclaims Breimeier. "The good guys live in the Gryffindor house...Symbolized by the griffin, considered a symbol of Christ [in medeval times]" contrastingly the bad guys live in Slytherin, which is symbolized by snakes, which was the serpent from the garden, aka, the devil. Now for another disclaimer, in the novels harry is called a "parselmouth" meaning that he can talk to snakes. Some might view this as "demonic" and "talking to the devil" however it is used to drive the plot. harry can talk to snakes because the bad guy, Voldemort can as well. the novel shows these two characters with similar abilities (because of a connection that is found in the novel, one must read to find out) however how they are used shows their character. So, here the use of snakes is not used to characterize evil, but is simply an elemnt of the plot.
Also,with animal symbolism is the use of unicorns. "In medieval literature, the unicorn was considered a symbol of Christ, and the Potterian explaination of the life-giving properties of unicorn blood and its consequnses of those who drink it selfishly bears strong resemblance to Paul's explaination of Holy Communion in 1 Corinthians 11:23-29."

There is a distinct difference between good an devil in Harry Potter, unlike in Star Wars, where it is all relative to the force, this duality is explicit like in Lord of the Rings. One quote from the novels is when Dumbledore gives harry advice saying that he will have to choose between what is right and what is easy. harry rescues people countless times, even when it puts his own life in danger. SACRIFICIAL LOVE is and overarching theme in the novels as well. Harry is alive and famous because he survived an attack from voldemort as a baby. he survived because of His mothers sacrificial love. Harry shows this character trait throughout the novels as well. "Rowling uses her heroes to champion the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control...evil is characterized by common sins like pride, wrath, and selfishness." Harry faces all of theses and wins.

So, there you have it. This is a positive view of Harry Potter. Mnay strong Christians believe equally as strong against it. I strongly encourage you to research it yourself. Also, as far as kids go, the magic used in this book is strictly fictional, however, kids should not be running around saying spells. This is where danger comes in, where one can be decieved by wiccans using Harry Potter in a negative way. make sure kids understand that using magic in the real world, even as paly, is bad. So, perhaps young children should not read harry potter for this reason.
So, i nconclusion, i like the Harry Potter books but i LOVE my God so much more, than anything, I am simply throwing my view out here, you can take it or leave it, but in all things, grow closer to Christ in whatever you do!

HOW TO DESTROY SEX

Ok, good, my title got your attention. You are probably wondering what this post is going to be about. If I told you to raise your hand if you wanted to utterly destroy sex, i'd bet a million dollars at least that you would not raise your hand. Sex is a wonderful gift created by God for His glory that a married couple may worship Him!

Anyway, that said, there is something that is destroying sex. Upsetting? Yes! If i told you that someone was bashing your new Mustang GT with a bat, you would not only be mad, but you would do all you could to stop it from happening. 

There is a multi-billion dollar industry that is essentially walking around with a bat trying to destroy a gift you hold dear. Whether you are married or single, sex is something all people want to enjoy while married, or purely and patiently wait and protect while single. Pornography is destroying sex. I understand to many this does not come as a surprise. Yet this is such a stumbling block for many people, especially you men!

It is time to MAN UP! 

So what are we to do? We desperately need to understand why pornography is so dangerous, why it is so destructive, and why the devil uses it so much to DESTROY, yes i said destroy the lives of so many people. 

Porn is dangerous. It is an addiction of the mind. It distorts our view of reality. It gives us men a worldview that women are disposable objects for our pleasure. That is dangerous!! We need to be servants of our sisters in Christ. We need to act purely towards them for they are children of God as we are. 

Porn is destructive. It separates us from God. It feeds our lust in our mind, setting up even more temptation later. It can consume you if you let it. 

satan uses porn to destroy our lives. Sex is a wonderful gift that glorifies God. It brings a husband and wife together to give glory to God, and worship Him. Of course the devil wants that to never happen. So, satan distorts sex. he removes the commitment of marriage, making it selfish. satan removes the intimacy because it is FAKE and IDOLIZING. Marriage is a picture of Christ's relationship with the church. satan wants to desperately destroy as many elements of marriage so this picture is distorted. When we look at porn, we objectify women, remove commitment and intimacy, remove the opportunity to give glory to God, and commit adultery. Just as Jesus says in Matthew that if you even look lustfully at a women, you commit adultery with her.

So, it is time to fight back. this is alot easier said than done. Through Christ this is possible though, for all things are possible in Him.

We need to:pray, read scripture, get accountability from wise council, and deliberately avoid "set-ups" that can cause us to stumble. Did joseph make a deliberate decision when he ran from Potiphar's wife? You bet! He knew if he hesitated, he could easily fall into sin. We need to follow this example. We need to RUN! Don't set yourself up for failure. It is written in scripture, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." FIGHT back men for a precious gift we all hold dear, and for the women we all desperately want to treat with a pure, loving respect! 

Here are some verses to help guide you in this battle. I will be praying for you. Read scripture, for it will set your mind on the LORD, who REIGNS and will help you if you call on HIM!

-1 Corinthians 6:18

-Psalm 119:11

-Job 31:1

-Luke 18:1

-Titus 2:11-12

-Proverbs 4:14-15

-Proverbs 4:23

-1 Corinthians 6:19-20

-1 Thessalonians 4:3-8

Our New President

So, I voted for Mccain. I just thought i would get that out there to begin with. i have to be completely honest though: I was not thrilled about any candidate this time around. Congratulations to Barrak Obama for becoming our 44th president. in spite of disagreement on my part regarding many of his policies, the breakthrough for African-Americans is monumental and something to acknowledge. Race should never be an issue when determining anything, and i am more than thrilled to see the world as a whole grow out of a prejudiced mindset and focus on equality, for we are all created in God's image. 

That being said, i do disagree with him on many political issues. As a Christian, I understand it to be my responsibility as well as the responsibility of all Christians to pray that God's will will be done, and that He will guide our new president and give him wisdom and discernment. It is Yahweh who appoints the rulers and kings, and Yahweh who removes them from their position of power. May we accept this comforting truth by knowing that our God reigns, and is all good, all the time. i invite everyone to pray earnestly for President Obama and his time in office.