Cole's Poll (Week 4)

1. Florida – Uh-oh Tebow got hurt.
2. Texas – Making a case for #1
3. Alabama – Many thought they would get upset, but they dominated the hogs.
4. LSU – Great goal line stand to win the game, but they need that against MSST?
5. OU – Have you heard… Bradford is trying to get cleared for Miami next week!
6. Michigan – Forcier is fun to watch.
7. Va Tech – Bama loss + Nebraska miracle + Miami domination = Top 10
8. Cincinnati – Watch out… nasty nati might just go undefeated, because they don’t play ANYONE all year!
9. Houston – A great win thanks to bonehead coach (Mike Leach)
10. Boise State – Maybe the Oregon game was worthy of respect

• The 4, 5, 6, 9, 18, 22, 24 all lose… rankings are worthless… outside of this poll!
• It is unbelievable to think that Penn State lost to Iowa again after Iowa knocked them out of the championship game last year.
• Mike Leach cannot help himself. He cost his team a likely victory by going for it when he could have put his team up by 8 in the 4th quarter with a field goal. To top it off, he had horrendous play calling on the final drive to seal the deal. Congrats to Houston.

A NINES Review

9/9/9 there was an online conference put on by the Leadership Network. They had several quality speakers, and although I was unable to listen to each of them, there were many great things to glean from those I did listen to. Here are some of the highlights:

Ed Stetzer – God’s mission is the opposite of self 1. Pastor’s on mission seek God’s glory and God’s mission, not our own
a. When we worry about stuff, it’s typically our stuff instead of God’s
b. We need to encounter God so we can be on mission for God
2. Those on mission reflect being with God
3. Those on mission no longer live for themselves

Scott Wilson – Raising the Leadership Bar• Leadership sets the bar for where the church can grow, you church cannot grow beyond your own leadership
• Ephesians 4:11-ff, equip the saints for ministry
• Pastor’s are the anointed few… people in the pews need to move from spectators to being players, pastors need to move from being players to coaches
• Pastors are not here to do the job, they are here to equip members to do the work
1. As leaders we grow– we should all read 35 leadership book and listen to 120 leadership CD’s - $500 bonus if you do it, if you don’t grow you gotta go.
2. As leaders we need to mentor leadership – mentoring leaders
3. As leaders we need to multiply leadership – leaders building leaders

Bryan Carter – How to be a succession pastor1. Learn to live with a shadow: honor the person you follow
2. Learn to lead yourself: be your own self… be who you are
3. Learn to be patient: it takes 5-7 years to be their pastor, don’t get in a hurry

David Foster – Importance of Preparation• In communicating the Gospel, you must prepare to deliver God’s message to His people
• To stay fresh you must take hours to prepare God’s message (prayer, think and write)
• Preparation is the key to longevity and effectiveness
• Speak out of the overflow of what you are experiencing yourself

Rick Rusaw – How can we be the best church FOR the community?

Leonard Sweet – How do you deal with a big head?• How do you deal with pride and success…
• Create in me a clean heart oh God and give me a right spirit
• Humble confidence, confident humility is found in God (Phil 4:13)

Dallas Cowboys Staduim Grand Opening

Every once in a while you get to do something truly special. For me I had just an experience on September 20, 2009. My brother was able to obtain tickets to the opening game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, aka: Jerry’s World, the 8th Wonder of the World, or Heaven on Earth!


While the game and Tony Romo’s performance were disappointing, the experience lived up to expectations. The coolest part of the whole day though was who all got to go: my grandfather, father, brother, & brother-in-law. It was a great day and I am eager to return and watch them win!

Here are some pictures of the game:

Cole's Poll (Week 3)

1. Florida – where was the beating they were to give Tennessee?
2. Texas – waiting for OU 10/17
3. Alabama – Ole Miss in 2 weeks
4. Ole Miss – Bama in 2 weeks
5. California – USC in 2 weeks
6. Penn State – cupcakes until 10/24
7. Miami – has the game of the week, the next two weeks (@ Va. Tech, v. OU)
8. LSU – Georgia in 2 weeks, Florida the following week = goodbye top 10!
9. Oklahoma = @ Miami in 2 weeks… will Bradford make the trip?
10. Michigan – They are probably not this good...

• Washington went winless last year (0-12), then beats USC this year? This speaks more to how pathetic Pete Carroll is after big games than it does to how good Washington already is in year one of Sarkisian. Pathetic Pete!
• Michigan and Kansas look really good as of now, but it is hard to believe they will keep winning once they play real competition.
• Nebraska won’t be sleeping for a few days… tough loss.

Cowboys Could Break Attendance Mark... and I'll Be There!

Thanks to my brother, I will be at the opening of Cowboys Stadium as the Cowboys take on the NY Giants. He told me about the tickets July 6, 2009, 1:27 PM and I have been excited ever since. The game and whole Cowboys experience will be something to remember. Just to make it better, my brother, father, & grandfather will be there too. GO COWBOYS!!!


The new Cowboys Stadium may have a record-setting full house this Sunday night.

Dallas Cowboys spokesman Brett Daniels says the team's standing-room "Party Pass" tickets, at $29 apiece, have sold out. The Cowboys will say only that the standing-room total exceeds 20,000 fans.

Combined with regular ticket sales in the 80,000-seat stadium, Dallas could challenge the NFL attendance record of 103,467 when they take on the New York Giants.

The record was set Oct. 2, 2005, when San Francisco and Arizona played a regular-season game at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.


Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

Cole's Poll (week 2)

1. Florida
2. USC
3. Texas
4. Alabama
5. Ole Miss
6. Penn State
7. California
8. North Carolina – Probably too high after last week
9. LSU – Here by default, not because they’ve earned it
10. Utah

Boise State, BYU, & TCU get no love from me in my poll and will most likely not appear this season. Boise State plays no one all year. BYU beat OU, but would have lost big if Bradford would not have gotten hurt. TCU needs to beat someone before they get respect. Utah… maybe they have a case after last year’s dismantling of Alabama.

The NINES Leadership Broadcast

The NINES broadcast from Leadership Network and Catalyst.

I'm excited about the opportunity to see the presentations and themes. The desire behind those involved in the leadership is, "that this program might birth a robust discussion around theology, mission, and ministry." There will be some things with which you will agree and some things with which you won't. Hopefully, this will be beneficial to all.

Here is an outline of some of the speakers. This does not include everyone, but should give you an idea of when to watch. (All times are Central.)

9AM -- Troy Gramling, Mark Beeson, Anne Jackson, Dave Ferguson, Scott Hodge

10AM -- Perry Noble, Stacy Spencer

11AM -- Dino Rizzo, Nancy Beach, Steven Furtick, Reggie McNeal

12PM -- Craig Groeschel, Leonard Sweet, Greg Surratt, Jon Tyson

1PM -- Margaret Feinberg, Larry Osborne, Matt Carter, Pete Wilson

2PM -- Neil Cole, Reggie Joiner, JD Greear

3PM -- Mark Batterson, Dan Kimball, Mark DeYmaz

4PM -- Jud Wilhite, Brian McLaren, Bob Roberts, Rick McKinley, John Ortberg

5PM -- Alan Hirsch, John Bishop, Toby Slough, Ed Stetzer

6PM -- Mark Driscoll, Darrin Patrick, Brad Powell

7PM -- Darrin Whitehead, Brian Bloye

8PM -- Eric Bryant, Nancy Ortberg, Rick Warren

Cole’s Poll (Week 1)

1. Florida – Undisputed top team in the country.
2. USC – Only Ohio State should be able to beat them, but they usually choke, will it happen again this year?
3. Texas – The Red River Shootout is all they care about, and for good reason.
4. Alabama – Will they fare better in their conference championship game with Florida… doubtful!
5. Oklahoma State – Could the hype be real… doubtful!
6. Penn State – Can a team with a cupcake schedule make the title game… I hope not!
7. Ole Miss – I thought Snead was suppose to be awesome?!?
8. Ohio State – Navy… seriously?
9. California – Looked good, but they usually do in September.
10. North Carolina – Granted they are an ACC team, but they are the ACC team to beat.

It was good to see Notre Dame, Michigan, Tennessee, Miami, and Arkansas win their openers, because when they are good college football is better. Most of these teams will face gigantic beatings in the coming weeks, but for one week they did good and get recognition. Also, congratulation to SMU and North Texas for matching their win totals last year in week one… hopefully they can win more than last year!

Road Trip with Jerry Adams

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to take a road trip with Jerry Adams. Unfortunately, the economy created a situation in which he had to take a new position in Raleigh, North Carolina. We drove for 2 days and had a really good time, despite his lack of personality and common decency… just kidding, I truly love and appreciate my friend.


He often spoke of how I challenged him, but it was he who challenged me. His devotion and example are remarkable. He and his wife Demie modeled grace, kindness and compassion in situations where pain permeated and created sorrow beyond belief. His passion for Jesus and God’s Word were a model for our church family to imitate… but more than all that, he was a great friend to me.


One of the highlights of the trip was getting to meet his father Grizz and brother Bill. It was obvious during dinner upon arriving that Jerry & Demie had made the right decision to move. The whole family enjoyed one another and resembled the type of bond I hope my family will posses as well. That being said, Jerry is still a jerk, especially for moving away!

unChristian... And we wonder why!

To start, let me just say that this “pastor” is not a Southern Baptist and in no identifies as such. He never attended a seminary (or college), and also claims that the King James Version of Scripture is the only Bible without error. Typically, I would not be so deliberate to separate myself from a person, but his teaching and practice leads me to want to clarify that I do not agree with his practice or theology.

A sermon from Steven Anderson:


Steven Anderson is an extreme example of what is wrong with the American church. Negative impressions of Christians doubled between 1996 and 2007. People see Christians as hypocritical, inauthentic, anti-homosexual, sheltered, too political, and judgmental. In short, we are known more for what we are against than what we are for instead of what Jesus told us to be about, “they will know us by our love.” The fact that this guy would say he hates Obama is heresy to the cross of Christ. The fact that Anderson added he hopes Obama goes to hell is an abomination to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Be sure that those of us who identify hold true to the Bible where it states, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

An Interview with Steven Anderson:


Below is an interview of Gabe Lyons co-author of UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity… and Why It Matters. Hopefully, this will speak to our hearts and the direction we need to move towards as followers of Christ Jesus.

An Interview with Gabe Lyons on CNN:

unChristian Book Review

Here are some highlights from the book UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity… and Why It Matters, written by David Kinnaman & Gabe Lyons:

• Christianity has an image problem
• Ages 18-29 have a negative view of Christianity
• Negative impressions of Christians doubled between 1996 and 2007. Not because of our convictions, but because of our attitudes
• Research shows that life habits--including gambling, sexual activity, drinking, drug use, and so on--are only barely different between those who claim to be Christians and those who do not.
• No wonder people outside the church aren't impressed with Christ!
• But Christ actually does make a difference among those who pursue him faithfully.
• About 3% of youth, and up to 9% of older generations, espouse a Biblical worldview (defined in my review on unChristian), and among that group a genuine, positive difference shows up clearly.
• According to Kinnaman and Lyons, young people see Christians as hypocritical, too much focused on "getting people saved" (and therefore inauthentic), anti-homosexual, sheltered, too political, and judgmental. According to Kinnaman and Lyons, young people see Christians as hypocritical, too much focused on "getting people saved" (and therefore inauthentic), anti-homosexual, sheltered, too political, and judgmental.
• Good missiology: to hold the truths of Scripture in one hand, and a thorough, respectful knowledge of the culture in the other hand; and to communicate the Gospel accordingly
• “For all of us, our only hope for the fracture in our soul is in the cross of Christ”
• 29% of Americans say they are highly committed to Jesus Christ, only 3% espouse a Biblical worldview, defined for research purposes as adhering to 8 basic doctrines of Christian religion (for example, that God is the Creator, that Jesus died and rose again for our sins, that there is objective morality based in the Bible).
• “Christians are supposed to represent Christ to the world. But according to the latest report card, something has gone terribly wrong. Using descriptions like “hypocritical,” “insensitive,” and “judgmental,” young Americans share an impression of Christians that’s nothing short of . . . unChristian.”
• Called to love, be the most compassionate service-oriented people, contributing to the good of humanity
• In regards to those outside the Christian faith: listen, be concerned about their real needs, don’t be numbers driven