Peter Zefo

Tough Mudder

2010-10-21T07:06:00.000-05:00

Check out my Tough Mudder training blog at www.mytoughmudderjourney.blogspot.com

Is April the best month for sports fans?

2009-04-13T13:18:00.002-05:00

I heard this idea proposed on an ESPN extra point last year and I absolutely agree. April is the best month of the year for sports fans.

The month kicks off with the final round of the March Madness tournament and the NCAA National Championship game (of course, followed by the Women's National Championship game). The same week is typically opening day for Major League Baseball (discounting the random trip to Japan!).

The second weekend of April features The Masters at Augusta. What better way to kick off the spring than this historic golf tournament!

The NBA and NHL seasons come to a close and playoffs begin. Then, there is the year round sport of football.

NCAA teams kick off spring practice and their intrasquad games. The NFL releases the upcoming schedule (which happens to be tomorrow!) and ends the month with the most exciting draft in sports!

Throw in a Nascar Race, UFC fight, and other random event, and April is the #1 month for sports!

Trust

2009-03-12T23:14:00.002-05:00

(There is always a danger of writing when you are tired. Right now, I am tired...so, here is my disclaimer: we've all had these thoughts, I am just expressing them in an open format.)

One of my New Year's Resolutions this year was to "learn to be content." I have been accused of having a short attention span and always looking outward for fulfillment. I am beginning to wonder if it is a trust issue. Do I really trust God?

I know all of the verses..."Trust in the Lord with all of your heart..." "Do not worry about tomorrow..." "Take my yoke..." etc. I fully recognize that at both a cognitive and spiritual/emotional level I believe these promises. As a dear friend so eloquently told me while sharing a Big Mac, "God is not my enemy."

But, does He have my best interest in mind or His greater purposes? In the big picture, do my self-interests even matter in light of God's redemptive plan for humanity? (See...I knew I shouldn't be writing this late, because I am really making sense!) So, I trust that God has a plan and is working to see that plan accomplished. But, sometimes I don't trust that my personal contentment is as high a priority to God as it is for me. NOTE: I said "sometimes"!

This brings another verse to mind. "He will give you the desires of your heart." This is such a "chicken and the egg" verse! Which is it? Will he give me what my heart desires or will He place certain desires in my heart? Either way, whose interests are being served. One professor of mine would answer those questions "YES" and "BOTH"! Thanks a lot...

I want to be content. But right now, it's pretty easy. I have a good life. Perhaps the lack of trust is the fear (agh...there's a loaded word...what's up with this "free association" style of writing...it's very annoying) that God is ready to upset the apple cart. The one thing I have lacked in my life is stability. There have been consistent, enormous changes since I was 15 years old. So there I have it...I want to learn to be content...but I don't want anything to change.

Let's Make A Deal

2009-03-05T12:39:00.002-05:00

"Pete! Pete Zefo! Wake up! You set your alarm for this time for a reason. Don't hit snooze. Don't go back to bed. You cannot lead others unless you can lead yourself. Wake up!"

The above is what I wake up to every day. I have recorded that message on my cell phone, which I use as my daily alarm. Pretty sad, eh?

The problem is I get into the habit of making deals with myself. "5 more minutes...I'll get up at six...I don't need a shower today...my clothes are already set out...I'll just shave my face today(as opposed to my entire head)..."

In all honesty, I can be pretty convincing with myself. However, the truth is, I am a 'Cretan'! If I could harnass the negotiating ability that I possess at 5:00am I could make millions.

I am reading a biography of Theodore Roosevelt. (see right siderbar --->) It is fascinating how much he accomplished in his life, including becoming President of the United States by the age of 42. He is described as a man with an iron-willed self-disipline. The truth is TR was such a great leader because he was able to lead himself. It has always been this one thing for me...why has "sleep" become such a powerful distractor of my own self-discipline.

One poet suggests...

Some people think that they live for something material

Some people think that they live for someone special

The are all wrong In fact all they live for is some sleep

So sleep

Peoples work all day long to get some sleep

Peoples spend their life looking for the opportunity to sleep

So sleep

Sleep is a gift from god which is withdrawn from sinners

So sleep

But there will be one day when sleep will be granted forever

And the fight will be over ~ Salmaan Sheriff

Len Sweet once "tweeted" that sleep is like "death without the long-term commitment."

Proverbs 20 might have the most clear statement on sleep..."Don't love sleep or you will become poor!"

So, it's time that I stop the deal making and prove Sheriff wrong. There is more to live for...perhaps it requires being awake to discover what it is!

Into the fog...

2009-03-03T14:35:00.002-05:00

I used to think that I would eventually figure out God's will for my life. For a little while I had everything well planned. I was in the right place at the right time and getting to know the right people. When the carpet was pulled out from under me, I entered the fog. The fog is that place where we go...

"through certain half-deserted streets,
The muttering retreats
Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels
And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells:
Streets that follow like a tedious argument
Of insidious intent
To lead you to an overwhelming question …
Oh, do not ask, “What is it?”
Let us go and make our visit."

When we are in the fog we beg the questions, "What is this place?" and "Will it ever dissipate?" What if we are intended for this place? Are we prepared for a long visit?

Here is what I have learned about living in the fog. The journey is best taken with company. So, in the words of the immortal Shel Silverstein,

"If you're a dreamer, come in,
If you're a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,
A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer...
If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire.
For we have some flax-golden tales to spin.
Come in!Come in!"

Maybe...just maybe!

2009-02-24T14:06:00.000-05:00

Considering a return to the blogosphere...

Why do you seek the living among the dead?

2008-05-01T13:56:00.003-05:00

Nothing to see here!

Don't Play Poker with Roger Clemens

2008-02-13T08:37:00.003-05:00

In middle school I lived across the street from a reception hall that mostly catered weddings and events on the weekends. This left the large parking lot mostly empty during the week. My bestfriend and I would play homerun derby behind the building. The game was fairly simple: toss the ball up in the air and hit as far as you can. It was just Chad and me. One batter...one fielder.

When I would toss the ball in the air I would imagine one of two guys pitching, Dwight "Doc" Gooden or Rocket Roger Clemens. They were the best two pitchers in baseball. Both potential Hall of Famers who placed fear in hearts of the batters they faced.

Gooden derailed his Hall of Fame chances with illegal drug use. It wasn't long before he just lost his stuff. But Rocket continued to go strong. He had what seemed to be a rebirth when he left Boston for Toronto and eventually the Yankees. Now, we are faced with the question, was this rebirth real?

I want to believe that Clemens did not use performance-enhancing drugs. I didn't really care about Bonds, Canseco, Palmeiro, McGwire, et al...but not Rocket! Today is the show down before Congress. Clemens is either innocent, going to jail for perjury, or he's the best poker player ever. It's reminiscient of Demi Moore telling Tom Cruise, "If you don't think you have it, don't go after Jessup, you could get in big trouble."

Rocket, it's your move: hold 'em or fold 'em.

Re-entry

2008-02-08T13:29:00.001-05:00

re:turned

re:lieved

re:formed

re:dedicated

re:covered

re:created

Relaunch in 3 days!

2008-02-05T14:09:00.000-05:00

Expect something on Friday, February 8th!

Coming Soon...

2007-12-14T09:51:00.001-05:00

As the phoenix rises from its ashes...

This Blog Will Re-Launch at a Later Date

2007-10-03T09:47:00.000-05:00

Farewell, for now!

Cleveland Indians Magic Number is 5

2007-09-19T08:15:00.001-05:00

Any combination of 5 Cleveland wins and Detroit losses puts us back in the playoffs. It's been 10 years since our last visit to the World Series when those dirty Fish from Florida BOUGHT the title. It was the first time Greta saw me cry. I'm hoping for tears of joy in 2007!

Is This Bad?

2007-09-06T10:48:00.000-05:00

I just began reading the Harry Potter series. (I know, I'm really on top of things!) Harry is currently on the train to Hogwarts. I've only been introduced to a handful of characters. Besides, "you-know-who" I don't know the other "bad guys" of the Harry Potter series. So, I took a little quiz and I scored what you see below. Without giving away anything, is this good or bad?

Severus Snape

80%

Hermione Granger

75%

Remus Lupin

75%

Harry Potter

70%

Ron Weasley

65%

Albus Dumbledore

65%

Draco Malfoy

60%

Ginny Weasley

45%

Sirius Black

30%

Lord Voldemort

15%

Your Harry Potter Alter Ego Is...?
created with QuizFarm.com

I'm Ready for Some Football!!!

2007-09-06T09:55:00.000-05:00

The long wait is finally over. The NFL season is here! Tonight marks the beginning to four months of hope, joy, frustration, and excitement. I love new beginnings. The New Orleans Saints proved last season that the previous season means nothing. Hope springs forth as us Browns fans ask once again, "Could this be our year?" Is Brady Quinn the savior we've been hoping for? Or, will we spend another season in football purgatory?

On the fantasy front, will a change in team name be the thing that puts me over the top in our keeper league? How badly will I dominate the new church league I just joined? Will it be a Gatorade bath and a trophy or another monumental waste of time?

As far as College FB is concerned, will the Tide roll? Is Saban the Messiah? Will my second favorite team go undefeated? (be sure to check that link!)

Man, it is good to be alive!

Vick Found Jesus

2007-08-30T13:11:00.001-05:00

I was on a retreat during the Vick plea hearing and following press conference. I was able to watch this video for the first time today. Having lived in Atlanta throghout the entire Vick Era, I have to say that I think he did a great job with the apology. It was tiring to hear nearly every other NFL quarterback be able to articulate himself well and then listen to Vick in a post-game conference, radio interview, or other sound byte.

I like that he addresses this from the beginning. He appeared to speak from the heart. I'm glad that he "found Jesus." (that expression always makes me want to ask, "was Jesus lost?") As a fantasy football player, my frustrations with Vick have lasted for years. As an Atlanta resident, I found it difficult to cheer for the Falcons with him as the face of the franchise. However, he is entertaining to watch. I hope that he was as sincere as comes across in this video. I hope that he can resume his NFL career once he serves his sentence. Finally, I hope this reminds people that money does not solve problems, it only reveals problems.

Two Chucks Don't Make A Right

2007-08-21T13:04:00.001-05:00

I have chosen to use Charles Sheldon's In His Steps as a part of the eighth grade Bible curriculum where I teach. I have been familiar with the book for years, first encountering the book during the What Would Jesus Do? movement of the mid-nineties. In His Steps is a decent story of a utopian Christian worldview in which a person asks what would Jesus do? before making a particular decision. As I began reading this book to prepare for classes, I picked up on something from my Pentecostal heritage.

The Pentecostal movement typically traces its beginnings to the Azusa St. revival (Los Angeles, CA) of 1906. Those who are familiar with Pentecostalism likely know that the leader of the Azusa St. revival was a student of Charles Fox Parham. It was at Parham's Bible school in Topeka, KS where a woman named Agnes Ozman began speaking in tongues in 1901 after a New Year's Eve prayer vigil.

Charles Sheldon was also from Topeka and to my surprise was a contemporary of Parham's (In His Steps was written in 1896). I've done a little research (by "little" I mean a brief Google search) and could not find an explicit connection between the two men. However, there are some phrases that Sheldon uses in his novel that make me very curious of the spiritual climate of Topeka in the late 1800's.

Sheldon uses "Spirit language" that would be easily understood by 21st century Pentecostals. For example, he describes a prayer meeting where "the Spirit made Himself visibly manifest." In a Pentecostal service we would describe that as "having church." I wonder how that phrase would have been interpreted pre-Azusa street. A Pentecostal reads that and probably thinks of tongue speech or other demonstrative displays of affection. But what did this mean to the original readers? What did it mean for Sheldon who was a part of the Congregational Churches? Did these phrases or this book have any influence on Parham?

In my research of Sheldon and Parham, the only connection I seem to be able to uncover is the fact that Topeka, KS itself did not experience a significant revival during this time. One article suggested issues of racism (likely in Parham's case; not so sure about Sheldon) which may have effected the early Pentecostal movement from spreading throughout the region. This is another instance of God's timing. L.A. probably needed to be the place where the Pentecostal movement really got moving.

Well, I'm back!

2007-08-18T22:32:00.000-05:00

I really did not mean to completely ignore the blogosphere for so long. There have been several things that I have wanted to say but I never took the time to say them. I was going to give some meaning to my last post ("Stirring Up The Muck") but that would open quite a can of worms. Some cans are best left sealed. So, I thought I would offer a brief summer recap to get the blogging juices flowing again:

- Having 9 weeks off of work is really cool, especially when it's paid!

- I was ready to get back to work after week 5. I got a little bored!

- There are some really cool people in A.A.

- There are some really freaky people in A.A.

- 12 hours is a long time in a car with three kids.

- No air conditioning is not fun! No, not at all.

- There's not a bad seat in the house at the Jake. Go tribe!

- I was surprisingly filled with joy at #756.

- Do you know that I now know what you thought I never knew? It's okay, it wasn't your fault!

- Jamaicans are really pushy. Sorry Oral, I didn't think we'd make it out of that market.

- Is it really snorkeling if there are no fish to be seen?

- I've been to Hell. It was a little overrated, but we did send a postcard.

- The difference in the regular show on a cruise and the late show on a cruise is a few "f" bombs and the comedian is even less funny then he was before.

- Stay away from the escargot! Seriously!

- I miss Ohio in the summer.

- Isaac is the freaking man! I can't believe he did it! Twice!

- I don't think they saw me, but I'm really not sure. There was definitely a reflection.

- We made it! I can't wait to see what the next 10 years will look like!

Stirring Up The Muck

2007-07-03T13:21:00.000-05:00

There is a beautiful retreat center in Mississippi that I used to take students to for our annual youth camps. The retreat center was built around a natural spring that pumped 40,000 gallons of crystal clear spring water every hour. If you were lucky enough to be the first person at the designated swim area you could see clear to the sandy lake bottom. But, then the swimming would begin and the muck would get stirred up.

It was amazing how cloudy the water became after 70+ kids began swimming, playing and generally goofing off in the swim area. What was once clear and pristine was now muddied and even somewhat dangerous. But, once the swim area was cleared that natural spring would do its job. The water returned to its crystal clear state.

Life is like this sometimes. We think we see clearly and have the proper perspective on something and all of a sudden the muck is stirred up. What was once clear becomes clouded by new questions and unforeseen conclusions. The good news is that as Christ-followers we can be confident that a fresh move of the Spirit will bring back the clarity that we once had.

Hey Now, He's an All-Star!

2007-06-01T10:19:00.000-05:00

Isaac's first baseball season was so much fun. There were a couple of times where I had to prevent myself from being "that dad." You know what I am talking about. However, at the end of the season, Isaac was rewarded with his first (of many to come!!!) all-star selection. He will play in two games this weekend. The retirement plan is working.

No More Blogging???...what was I thinking?

2007-05-31T13:22:00.000-05:00

Perhaps I jumped the gun on this whole "break from the blogosphere" thing! I have the next 9 weeks off of work...and, it's paid! I'm sure I will find something to write about.

Contentment (sigh!!!)

2007-05-28T01:11:00.000-05:00

I am content. Thus, there is a lack of inner angst driving me to blog. It's time to say farewell to the blogosphere...for now.

The Office Blogs

2007-05-18T12:25:00.000-05:00

The Office may be the best written show on Television. The tension that the show creates is par to none. Last night, we were introduced to "Creed Thoughts," a blog from one of the Duner-Mifflin employees. I was bored and thought I would do a Google search to see if it actually might be out there. JACKPOT! Not only did I find Creed's blog, but...yes...DWIGHT K. SCHRUTE!

Interesting comparison with Dwight K. Schrute and my cousin...both fascinated with the art of the ninja!

Have the Church Hoppers Found A Home?

2007-05-15T12:35:00.000-05:00

I have been following the adventures of two "church hoppers" over the course of the last several months. A young lady and her teenage brother have been visiting a different church in the Greater Cincinnati area every week for a year and blogging about their experiences. Erica is a self-proclaimed agnostic and the driving force behind ChurchHop. She's the "good kind" of agnostic, though. She seems to understand that she does not have all of the answers, yet is willing to search out the truth. (I would describe the "bad kind" of agnostic as those who are smart enough to not be atheist, yet don't care enough to seek any answers. They call themselves "agnostic" in an attempt to sound smart.)

It appears as though the Church Hoppers have finally connected to a "church." Much to my disappointment it is the Universalist Unitarian Church! Let me be clear that I am not disappointed in Erica and Bradley for not being overwhelmed by a Christian community of faith. I suppose that I am somewhat disappointed in the dozens of Christian churches who had the opportunity to introduce these church hoppers to the life-changing gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ.

Now, it would be easy to place the fault at the feet of the Erica and Bradley. We could question their intentions, call them cynics, and continue to stick our heads in the sand. Or, we could learn from them. After all, it is people like them for which the church exists, right? I hope that the church hoppers will continue their quest. Surely there is an authentic community of faith in the Greater Cincinnati area that can be an "answer of prayer" for Erica and Bradley. I hope that Erica, Bradley, and others like them discover The Way, The Truth and The Life. I hope that the church will be prepared to answer the honest questions of the skeptics, doubters, and searchers.

Kucinich got Dubya'd

2007-05-04T08:36:00.000-05:00

I just got back from Washington, D.C. I was a chaperone for our school's 8th grade class trip. What a fantastic week in our nation's capital. I will share some more pictures later, but I wanted to get this one up in honor of Travis Johnson.

We got to see Congressman Kucinich twice on our trip. the first time was at the grave site of Robert Kennedy. It was not an appropriate time or place to ask for a picture. However, I was rewarded the next day by running into him (almost literally) at the Library of Congress. I told him I was from his district in Ohio (which is true, I went to high school in Parma) and asked for a picture. I couldn't help but think of my friend Trav, flashing the "W" with Janet Reno, but chickening out with Hillary.

Kucinich, you've been Dubya'd!