Author: Allan (Page 442 of 492)

I wish.

It’s just two hours. The time difference is only two hours between Texas and California. And I’ve already been here two nights, plenty of time to get acclimated, but my body is waking up at 5am. And that’s not good when we’re not getting to bed until midnight. California time. I can do six or seven hours of sleep. I’m not that good on five.

We’re well into Day Two now of the Spiritual Growth Workshop out here in Fresno. I’m being blessed by meeting and getting to know brothers and sisters from all over the Central Valley. I’m encouraged by the young and talented preachers proclaiming the Word out here and inspired by the older guys who are sharing their faith and wisdom. I’m excited to be speaking on my favorite gospel, Mark, to a hungry group of men and women. And I’m enjoying some of the local cuisine. Armenian schwarma Wednesday afternoon. Some kind of spicy steak sandwich thing at Piazza del Pane last night. And then tri-tip later today (anybody ever heard of tri-tip? I think it’s a California thing. BBQ brisket by a different name). I’m not leaving until I get an In-And-Out burger. Hopefully sometime tomorrow. The very first Chick-Fil-A just opened up here in Fresno two weeks ago, about a mile from the church building here. So we’ve been there twice already, dinner Wednesday and lunch yesterday. It’s a Woodward Park cult thing right now. And Gardner’s leading the charge. The way he promotes it—EVEN FROM THE PULPIT!—I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s getting some kind of under-the-table cut from that place.

It’s great getting caught up with Jim & Mandy Gardner and their sweet girls. And Jimmy Mitchell. I can’t imagine being in charge of organizing and orchestrating a huge workshop like this. But Jim seems to thrive on it. Being out here is a true blessing for me. And I’m grateful for the opportunity.

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There are a few things that would drive me crazy if I lived out here. None more than the fact that prime time football games kick of at 5pm. How would anybody ever handle that? We got out to the car at 8:20 last night and USC was just then atttempting that desperation on-side kick with 71-seconds left in the Trojans upset loss to the Beavers in Corvalis. We were home by 8:30 but had missed the entire game. DVR is one thing. But on a consistent basis, that would just be too much.

It is wide open now with USC going down. Texas has an outside shot now. ‘Bama and LSU are in prime position to take advantage. But OU has the best opportunity to make a case for top billing tomorrow. The Sooners will be out to “hang half a hunnerd,” as Barry Switzer used to say, on TCU. Life would be pretty lousy if Oklahoma’s ranked #1. Go Horned Frogs.

Peace,

Allan

“Made up my mind to make a new start;
Going to California with an aching in my heart.”
                                                  ~Led Zeppelin (Correct me, Keith!)

My plane leaves DFW at 10:35 Texas time this morning and lands at high noon Pacific time in Fresno. And there’s no aching in my heart. I’m actually pretty excited about this trip. I’ve never been to California before. And although I may see nothing but the road between Jim Gardner’s house and his church and the inside of the Woodward Park building the whole time I’m there, I’m looking forward to it. I’ll be speaking five times in four days at their annual workshop there in central California. And I can’t wait to experience the multi-cultural flavor of that body of believers. I’ll write more either tonight or Thursday morning. Right now I’m running late. I can’t afford to not be ready just in case Lance actually shows up on time to pick me up for the airport run. (Cheap shot, I know.)

Here’s the poll. Have fun.

The Trojans of Southern Cal retain 14 first place votes and the top five remain unchanged. Georgia takes two first place votes while LSU takes the other. Richard still refuses to name a #1, keeping USC and OU tied at #2. Auburn slips this week from #9 to 14. BYU moved way up from 16 to 12. Oregon and East Carolina fell out completely. And Alabama leaps over Wisconsin into the top ten.

Congratulations to Mark Hooper who sent in his poll this week from Cambodia! What dedication. Aaron & Jenn, that trumps your Hawaii submission from last week. Who can top Hooper? Who’s going to Lubbock?

Despite overwhelming and indisputable physical evidence, Aaron keeps holding out hope for his Vols. Larry this week has officially disowned his Mississippi State Bulldogs, calling them “a disgrace to the SEC!” That’s big news! The poll is off just a little because Charlie forgot to give us a #9 team in his list (He’s probably busy writing a small groups discussion guide). Enjoy.

September 23 , 2008

1. USC (14-1st place votes, 354 total votes) – “I’m bored with USC already.” TedS; “Put us out of our misery and move them to the NFC East where they’d still be #1.” MarkH; “This week’s practices has been their best competition.” BillyW

2. Oklahoma (316) – “Sooners are responsible for TCU not getting a vote from me this week.” JimG; “OU 30, TCU 17″ SteveF; “Will play Georgia in the national championship game.” LarryT; “He Hate Me.” TedS

3. Florida (310) – “Awful nice of Tennessee to Volunteer for a beating.” RichardA (Boo.); “Sorry, Steve, the Vols are not contenders.” PaulD; Urban Meyer gets on my nerves.” JimG; “Best team in Florida including the Bucs and Fins.” MarkH; “I want to see them play Georgia.” JennG

4. Georgia (2, 303) – “Barely gets by Arizona St. SEC is always overrated.” MarkH; “Mark Richt is the anti-Urban Meyer.” JimG; “Will still lose two games in the SEC.” CharlieJ; “A-J. A-J. Moreno. Moreno.” PaulD

5. Missouri (290) – “Wow.” LarryT; “Chase may be #1 in New York at the end of the season.” PaulD; “Defense is suspect. Anyone else see this?” CharlieJ

6. LSU (1, 285) – “It’s odd calling the national champions a ’sleeper.’” CharlieJ; “3rd best team in SEC.” MarkH

7. Texas (250) – “Don’t tell Carter I moved them up.” JerryK; “Lickin’ their chops.” CharlieJ; “Get a ‘name-your-score’ game against a woeful Arkansas team.” JimG; “Bring on the bacon!” RichardA; “Texas 34, Arkansas 17″ SteveF; “Will fall out of Top Ten once they play a ranked team.” LarryT; “Apparantly Colt McCoy has a new set of guns.” BillyW; “Note to Colt: aspire to be Major, not Vince.” TedS

8. Alabama (227) – “Top Ten after BBQing the Hogs.” MarkH; “Convinced they are a Top Ten team.” CharlieJ; “They’re back!” JimG; “Alabama 20, Georgia 18″ SteveF; “The Tide is on a roll!” LarryT (What are we doing?); “I guess Nick Saban should stay in college.” BillyW

9. Wisconsin (217) – “Badgers will beat Michigan.” SteveF; “The ‘W’ on the helmet stands for ‘winning’ the Big 10.” MarkH; “Not convinced they are a Top Ten team.” CharlieJ

10. Texas Tech (198) – “Just waiting for the slip up.” CharlieJ; “History says defense will be their undoing.” JimG; “If we don’t vote for Tech, Leach will go all ‘tough, smart attorney’ on us.” TedS; “Waiting to play a real opponent.” BillyW

11. Penn St. (164) – “Looked good against Temple. So, what?” MarkH; “We are!…going to lose soon!” CharlieJ; “Did you see Joe Pa’s postgame comments? Can you say ’senility’?” JimG; “Joe Pa in the booth…look out!” PaulD; “Fight on, Joe Pa.” RichardA

12. BYU (152) – “Are we sure Ty Detmer wasn’t playing?” BillyW

13. South Florida (124) – “Barely beat a team with ‘International’ in their name.” MarkH

14. Ohio St. (120) – “Just because.” JimG; “Still too high.” PaulD

15. Auburn (104) – “Surely Auburn can recruit a punter.” PaulD; “Will bounce back.” BillyW; “If Vols will score 24 points they will win.” SteveF (Bless his heart)

16. Wake Forest (86) – “…even if they are the Demon Deacons.” MarkH; “Jim Grobe grateful today he didn’t take the Arkansas job.” JimG;  ”Yawn…gratuitous ACC team.” CharlieJ; “Are there any Demon Deacons at Legacy?” RichardA

17. Utah (73) –

18. Kansas (70) – “Because I’m envious of Mark Mangino’s physique.” JimG; “Struggling.” BillyW

19. Clemson (28) – “Beginning to find the groove.” PaulD; “Clemson 29, Maryland 13″ SteveF

20. Boise St. (25) – “I believe they belong here.” PaulD

Also receiving votes: TCU (24) “I’m a believer in the power of purple” RichardA; Oregon (18); Vanderbilt (12) “A blue jeans company that’s 4-0!” TedS; West Virginia (5); UConn (3); Fresno St. (2) “Get by UCLA and they go to Boise 10-1 to end the year.” JimG; East Carolina (2) “Are there 51 states now?” DavidB; New York Yankees (2) “Because they’re not in the playoffs. Let’s all celebrate.” TedS; ACU (1); Oklahoma St. (1) “Games are won in the trenches and OSU has a tough experienced line.” CharlieJ; Tennessee (1) “Will be #20 by the end of the season.” AaronG; Miami Dolphins (1) “Brady or not, it’s great to see New England lose.” TedS