They’ll Break You

I didn’t really want to go. I was gone from my family all of last weekend, and the thought of driving to Detroit and chaperoning a bunch of teens wasn’t high on my take-it-easy-this-weekend playbook. But my buddy Derek needed some help, so I said yes.

Thank God.

Derek and I took a group of 20 teens to Acquire the Fire in Detroit on Friday and Saturday. My expectations were small—to be extremely worn out and stressed by Sunday. While I did experience some fatigue, what I did not expect was to see God working through these teens. I didn’t expect to know what true joy and fun really was. I didn’t expect to get the closest glimpse of heaven I’d ever seen when Bold Right Life Community Choir came on stage. I didn’t expect to have teens crying and praying with me. I didn’t expect to have them crying and praying with each other. I didn’t expect them to be sold out in their worship to God. And I didn’t expect to overhear conversations about how they are going to change their lives, and the lives of their friends.

It’s probably not an accident that God says unless you become like a child you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. I’ll leave you with some words of wisdom—don’t get involved with a youth group unless you want to break down all of your preconceived notions about what God is.

Filed under: Acquire The Fire, Bold Right Life, Detroit, God, Unhindered, Youth

Game Over

Filed under: Baseball, Detroit, Tigers

Free Fall

On August 2nd, I posted on how cool it was that my three favorite baseball teams were all in first place. I failed to mention that Tonia’s team, the Mets, were also in first.

Now, a month and a half later, all four teams are backsliding to the point of free fall. Such a sad, sad day. There’s practically no way Boston doesn’t make it to the playoffs, but the other three are in serious doubt.

Filed under: Baseball, Boston Red Sox, Cubs, Detroit, Detroit Tigers, Fall Classic, First Place, New York Mets, October

Timo Perez?

We’re smack dab in the middle of a pennant race and Jim Leyland decides to bat Timo Perez third in the lineup. We also got the pleasure of having Ramon Santiago at Short.

Personally, I think Jim has been hanging around Tony LaRussa too long. He’s trying to over-think things. So to make things easier on you, Mr. Leyland, here’s the lineup you need to be using EVERY SINGLE DAY!

1. Curtis Granderson – CF
2. Placido Polanco – 2B
3. Carlos Guillen – SS
4. Magglio Ordonez – RF
5. Marcus Thames – DH
6. Pudge Rodriquez – C
7. Ryan Rayburn – LF
8. Sean Casey – 1B
9. Brandon Inge – 3B

• No more days off! This is a playoff push here!
• Brandon Inge isn’t hitting well, but he’s a Gold Glove Third Basemen.
• Maybin, Santiago, Perez are all available for pinch running.
• When Sheffield returns, here’s your lineup:

1. Curtis Granderson – CF
2. Placido Polanco – 2B
3. Gary Sheffield – DH
4. Magglio Ordonez – RF
5. Carlos Guillen – SS
6. Marcus Thames – LF
7. Pudge Rodriquez – C
8. Sean Casey – 1B
9. Brandon Inge – 3B

Let’s get some consistency already!!

Filed under: Baseball, Detroit, Detroit Tigers, Jim Leyland

Trifecta

I woke up this morning to see my three favorite baseball teams (Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox) sitting in first place in their respective divisions. I’m not sure how often that has happened with these three, or how long that will last, but boy is it sweet.

BRING ON OCTOBER BABY!!

Filed under: Baseball, Boston Red Sox, Cubs, Detroit, Detroit Tigers, Fall Classic, First Place, October

Verlander Vernacular

Filthy. Cheese. Smoke. Heat. Hook. Nasty. Sick. Masterpiece. No-No.

Filed under: Baseball, Detroit, Justin Verlander, Tigers

Mud & Steel: Webisode 010

Filed under: Baseball, Detroit, Tigers, YouTube

Friday Five

Detroit Sports Edition

1. Will the Pistons go to the Finals?

2. Will the Tigers keep up their winning ways?

3. Will the Lions make the playoffs?

4. What is your favorite Detroit sports moment?

5. Who is your favorite Detroit sports personality?

Filed under: Detroit, Friday Five, Questions, Sports