Today I got to see them in action. It was disturbing and pathetic. Apparently a pastor at another church said something gracious or kind about homosexuals because surrounding this church were people with inspiring signs like… “God Hates Gays”, “God Hates Obama”, “Your Pastor Is Going To Hell.” I’m serious…that was one of the signs. Is it pathetic or disturbing that they use 5 to 9 year olds to hold their signs? Isn’t there some kind of law against that? What’s up with that?

I can honestly say that a cardboard sign has never changed my life or my mind. I was watching football before I read a Bible. The rainbow afro wig guy with the John 3:16 sign was humorous but it never moved me closer to Jesus. Same with political yard signs. I don’t get the point…if you have wonderful landscaping, I might vote for the same candidate you are voting for because it will help my lawn. Right?

Anyway, as I went to lunch…I prayed for that church, that pastor that is going to a place hotter than Topeka, and for those sign holders.

McDaniels as coach — I still don’t get it, honestly. I’m hopeful, just like the next fan but he’s got a lot to prove and he shortened his window to prove it in when the Cutler debacle went down. His draft wasn’t awesome either, neither was the offseason signings. Heck, one of the RB’s he signed didn’t even pass his physical. Trading a next year’s first for a this year’s second on an undersized CB…the list goes on but I also know that if Moreno turns out to be the next TD, everyone will forget the rest.

I’ll dance in the streets if the Broncos break .500 this year.

The Favre Chronicles
It could be argued that this is the number 1 story. I wouldn’t argue a whole lot. It’s just…it’s tiring. Just retire, 4. Look at how 7 did it and just quit. The Jet Experiment left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth, going to the Vikings is just going to get worse. It would have been like Elway going to the Raiders. Unthinkable. Plus, the more he sticks around, the more he looks like a prima donna, the exact opposite of his legacy at Green Bay.

Brady Returns
I don’t fully understand the love affair with Tom Brady. He’s a great quarterback, don’t get me wrong. I’d love to see him in Blue and Orange given the options we’ve got. But Cassell took the team to 11-5. Not shabby. To be fair, Brady takes advantage of every mismatch ever on the field…due to coaching or talent or smarts - on one hand it doesn’t matter. He gets it done. On the other hand, I don’t think he’s the greatest ever, I don’t think the Patsies would be done if he got hurt or wasn’t there. Just saying…

Todd Haley at KC
Living in Topeka, I’m flooded with the Chefs info. It’s mildly irritating as they have little to no talent on this team. Their past drafts make Denver and Oakland look like geniuses…and that’s saying something. The biggest problem KC had was addressed this year - their GM and they got a great one. So over the next few years, I expect the Chefs to reach the level of annoyance that they traditionally have - having the ability to show up in your house and just hand it to you for 60 minutes. Making both the fans and the players that they’ve been in a car wreck when the game is over.

(As an aside - one of the most wicked hits I’ve ever seen was Dale Carter lighting up Elway on a roll out pass. It was a late hit, it got a yellow flag…but the entire stadium went silent waiting to see if 7 was getting up.)

But they’re not there yet. Most of the stories around here focus on Todd Haley - the fired up coach from Arizona. It’s been interesting to see the progression of him being a jerk, to just a tough guy, to a good guy who demands a lot from his players over the last few weeks on sports radio. Who knows what he’s really like, he’s in the same boat as McDaniels is in on one hand…but less pressure at this point, I think. Fans here are giving him the benefit of the doubt so far.

What’s been your favorite/least favorite moment of the offseason so far?

Just had a kid complain about having to make 9 pretend milkshakes. What do you do with that? Amy told the child that since it’s pretend, it shouldn’t take as long. You just can’t argue with that logic.

NFL Films listed Elway as the #2 all time clutch QB. He’s got the most come from behind QB of all time. How does that translate into #2? Joe Montana was #1. That’s a travesty. Montana was only behind in one game of his life…when he played for the Chiefs.

I thought Denver fans were delusional - imagining an above .500 season for the Broncos this year. That make Chief fans downright insane. Some pundits are talking the same thing for them…I’m not seeing it for either team.

Alabama had to forfeit wins because players got free textbooks. The NCAA kills me. They make millions, billions off the sports and then act like some holy protectors of college athletics. Athletes kill me as well but that’s a longer subject that just a random thought.

I think I’m going to get me some Keens with my birthday money.

I’m trying to be patient with the SC crew, I really am. When the first Splinter Cell game came out - it was my favorite game until the second one came out until SC:Chaos Theory came out. Since then…while the graphics have improved, the story has gotten…dull.

One of the cool things about SC was you couldn’t just go around shooting things….you had to figure it out. Stealth was more valuable than just shooting stuff. These last two offerings - Double Agent and it appears Conviction will be the same - have stunned me with their graphics and artistry…frustrated me with an increased leaning to being just another shooter game.

Plus…the language has gotten worse from game to game. Why exactly bad guys have to use bad language is beyond me. But I will hold off on any official endorsement or condemnation until I play it.

Busy? Yeah, but who isn’t, right? It’s not really busyness that’s kept my blog quiet as of lately. Actually, pace has gotten better in the last few weeks. I’m getting my feet underneath me learning this new culture, new role, new town, new friends, new everything. And everything is new.

I’m not sure why the dry season in my writing right now. It just is. Been here before…doesn’t make it any less frustrating but at least I know in the back of mind it’s not going to last forever. Or will it?

That’s the real fear of dry spots - both in writing, in our marriages, in our work, in our walk with Jesus. The real fear and anxiousness isn’t that it’s dry in this moment. The real fear is ‘how long will this last?’ Is this it? Is this as good as it is ever going to get? Have I hit the wall?

I’ve responded in two different ways in that spot. Go backwards or go forwards. Remember the good old days? They really weren’t that good when I was there and I’m not that old. Let’s go back to what we know. Or - slam it forward. Do something to trigger this funk on up out of here. (Insert bass line here.)

Is this the point where a spiritual sage says - “Stay in the moment.” “Be still and know…” Maybe. I think there are times we’re still, I think there are times to spring forward through the dry times. Going backwards? No. And I don’t see backwards as repentance. Repentance is a course correction as we go forward.

Odd thing…not dry in my walk with Jesus…just dry in writing, putting thoughts on paper…or in HTML as it were. To steal a line from C.S. Lewis - time to go ‘further up and further in.’