30
let today be the day
Yesterday afternoon Brett Favre faxed a reinstatement letter to the NFL league office. So, its official, Brett Favre will play football this year.
This means it is time for the fog in the Green Bay Packer front office to clear. Let today be the day the clouds break and the sun shines in. (Hopefully, a majority of that light enters Ted Thompson’s thick head!)
He’s coming back, guys. Say you’re sorry. Give him his #4 jersey. Let him ‘try out’ for his job and try to act surprised when he beats out Aaron Rodgers for the job.
Its really not a tough situation.
25
the need at home
As we have been preparing to move to Africa, we have been asked several times (directly or indirectly): ‘Why not just stay here and help minister to the need at home?’
I think it is a very fair question, an honest question and a question asked in love. I wanted to take a second to explain a few of the reasons we are leaving in spite of ‘the need at home’.
- Disproportionate need to resources. Some Americans do have basic physical needs that are not being adequately met. However, it is incorrect to assume that the physical needs of Americans are comparable (in scope or severity) to the physical needs in East Africa (particularly Sudan). Diseases such as malaria, polio, TB and cholera have been eliminated from our country (almost completely) thanks to good health/water systems and mass immunizations. Successful deliveries (where mother and child live) are assumed for pregnant Americans. Our life expectancy is very high. Americans infected with HIV/AIDS have affordable, effective options.
Regarding spiritual needs: A large percentage of American churches are led by leaders who have formal training (even Masters and Ph.D level) in the Bible, theology and counseling. Most churches have a staff of several ministers with unique specialties and roles. Lay people have access to their own copy of the Bible (in hundreds of formats and paraphrases), good Bible studies, classes and materials that help them know what it is to live like Christ did. The unchurched have access to an environment where the Gospel can be shared with them openly, without fear of persecution or death.
The situation in many parts of Sudan is opposite on every account. read more
18
’summer’ is here
Switchfoot frontman, Jon Foreman has put out four short EP’s named after each season. They are all pretty solid and have some powerful songs. (My fav’s are ‘The cure for pain’ on Fall-EP, ‘Learning how to die’ on Winter-EP and ‘Baptize my mind’ on Spring-EP). Summer-EP has been out for a month now and is a solid finish to this great series. The lyrics are solid and the music is inventive. ‘Resurrect me’ is my early fav. on Summer-EP. Check it out if you get a chance.
17
open letter to Ted Thompson
(by Jason Whitlock at FoxSports.com)
Dear Ted Thompson:
Hi, my name is Jason Whitlock. I’m sure you’ve heard of me. My reputation in football circles is well established.
I’m the guy who told Bill Belichick to stick with Tom Brady over Drew Bledsoe years ago. When Bill Polian was debating Peyton Manning vs. Ryan Leaf, I was the voice on the phone at 2 a.m. the morning of the draft assuring Polian that Manning was the right choice. I told Parcells to take a long look at an undrafted quarterback from Eastern Illinois.
You’re in a jam in Green Bay with Brett Favre. You need me. You need my guidance, my expertise. If you’re not careful, you’re going to continue to mismanage this situation and go down in history as the dumbest general manager in the history of professional sports.
Yeah, the stakes are that high.
