Mike Lindstedt

Last Post

2007-09-23T18:54:00.000-05:00

Alas, this will be my last post on this blog. Why, you may ask? Because wordpress.com is better, that's why. All my past posts have been moved to http://mlindstedt.wordpress.com

Mars Hill Bible Church "Theology"

2007-09-22T22:50:00.000-05:00

I am struggling to find any value in Mars Hill Bible Church's statement of "theology." The main reason is because it does not say anything. I also noticed this when I read Velvet Elvis, a book by Mars Hill's pastor Rob Bell. There is so much flowery language in the statement that I feel nauseous after reading it:

When we begin to describe what we believe about God, we discover that he's been
writing a story of hope and redemption for all the world, and we have a role to play in this story.
We believe the Bible to be the voices of many who have
come before us, inspired by God to pass along their poems, stories, accounts,
and letters of response and relationship with each other and the living God. These words have been used to describe God and his character for
thousands of years, and we call this theology. Theology is one of the
best ways we can come to know and love God; it is also how we understand who God
calls us to be and what he calls us to do. Theology comes from the Greek words
"theos" and "logos." Theos means God, and logos means word. Words about God.

Theology is "words about God?" Wow, it does not get much more shallow than that. I cringe when I see people diminishing God so much. It is painful.

Suing God?

2007-09-20T21:56:00.000-05:00

I am not sure whether to laugh or cry at this story from CNN.com

"LINCOLN, Nebraska (AP) -- A legislator who filed a lawsuit against God has gotten something he might not have expected: a response.

State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha said he sued God last week to make a point about frivolous lawsuits.

One of two court filings from "God" came Wednesday under otherworldly circumstances, according to John Friend, clerk of the Douglas County District Court in Omaha.
"This one miraculously appeared on the counter. It just all of a sudden was here -- poof!" Friend said.
State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha sued God last week, seeking a permanent injunction against the Almighty for making terroristic threats, inspiring fear and causing "widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants."
Chambers, a self-proclaimed agnostic who often criticizes Christians, said his filing was triggered by a federal lawsuit he considers frivolous. He said he's trying to make the point that anybody can sue anybody.
Not so, says "God." His response argues that the defendant is immune from some earthly laws and the court lacks jurisdiction.
It adds that blaming God for human oppression and suffering misses an important point.
"I created man and woman with free will and next to the promise of immortal life, free will is my greatest gift to you," according to the response, as read by Friend.
There was no contact information on the filing, although St. Michael the Archangel is listed as a witness, Friend said.
A second response from "God" disputing Chambers' allegations lists a phone number for a Corpus Christi law office. A message left for that office was not immediately returned Thursday.
Attempts to reach Chambers by phone and at his Capitol office Thursday were unsuccessful."

Twisted Perspective

2007-09-18T17:19:00.000-05:00

I came across a disturbing quote today while reading the sports section of the Daily Herald. Columnist Mike Imren, writing about O.J. Simpson's "fall," wrote:

Most troubling about all this is

how one man could go from being so beloved nationally

to being this horrifying human being.
Was Simpson fooling us back in the day

by pretending to be a good guy?

Were we celebrity-gawking gullible?

Or was he good back then before becoming evil?
The wider question is,

do all of us have some dark place deep inside that,

if lucky,

we successfully suppress?

Mr. Imren's words represent a major flaw in American thinking. We see stories of people like O.J. Simpson and are appalled that a human being cold be capable of such evil. But should we be? No way! We don't just have a "dark place inside;" we are thoroughly evil by nature without Christ. And living a life free from evil has nothing to do with luck, but it has everything to do with grace from an Almighty God. No one can "successfully suppress" evil by their own power. It takes acceptance of Christ's sacrifice in order to set us free from our bondage. That is the heart of the gospel. It is sad to me that this sort of thinking is so rampant in our culture. There is much work to be done brothers and sisters.

Sons of Korah

2007-09-18T10:05:00.000-05:00

I had the privilege of hearing the music group "Sons of Korah" play twice this week. I heard them on Sunday at First Baptist Church of Wheaton and on Monday in chapel at Wheaton College. They really are a unique group, one of the few Christian groups that actually gets it right. They write music to the Psalms, so their music is literally straight out of the Bible. you can follow along in your Bible instead of staring with eyes glazed at a screen.

The group has a website: http://www.sonsofkorah.com/. It is worth checking out.

Remembering 9/11

2007-09-11T10:46:00.000-05:00

As I walked from breakfast to my Geology lab this morning, I was greeted by probably thousands of miniature United States flags that had been stuck in the ground overnight. The flags represent each life that was taken in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, six years ago today. It was a powerful reminder of that horrific day, one that has left me thinking about how precious life is.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was on my way to school when the first plane flew into the World Trade Center. We were waiting to turn from East Loop onto Naperville Rd in Wheaton, with Klove playing in the car. They said that a plane had crashed into the WTC, but the information was sketchy at that point. As we got closer to school in St. Charles, we learned of another plane crashing into the other WTC tower, but the info was still not very clear as to the size of the planes. It was with this knowledge that I went through the school day. It was a weird day, it seemed as though my teacher was in and out of the classroom more than usual, but i did not really give it a second thought.

It was not until after school on the car ride home that I learned about the Pentagon had also been hit, and that another plane had crashed in Pennsylvania. The news reports were now very clear that the events had been acts of terrorism. When I we got back to our spacious (notice the sarcasm here) apartment in Wheaton, I turned on the TV and saw the devastation replayed over and over and over again. Those images will be burned in my mind forever. I remember thinking 'What on earth would cause someone to do something like this?" As the death toll rose and we learned who was behind the attack, the range of emotions that I was feeling was quite remarkable. In one moment I would feel deep sadness for the families of those who died, and in the next would feel anger towards the evil men behind the attacks.

9/11 is a day that causes an interesting paradox. In one sense, I will never forget what I saw and felt on that day, but then again I need to be reminded of those feelings every year on the anniversary. What 9/11 has taught me, more than anything else, is that we live in a fallen, broken world that needs Jesus. Jesus came to restore all things to God's original intent. As a Christian, I feel a weight of responsibility to fulfill the Great Commission and "make disciples of all nations." 9/11 is a reminder of just how far short we fall, because it is not just Islamic militants who perform evil in this world. It is everybody. Everybody needs to hear and experience the love of Christ. So we better get started , eh?

South Africa 'on track in AIDS fight'

2007-09-11T10:43:00.000-05:00

Click the link below for the BBC news story

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6988822.stm

Notes From Piper

2007-09-10T09:50:00.000-05:00

John Piper came to Wheaton College last week to speak at the Fall Special Services. Piper is an incredibly passionate speaker with vast knowledge of the Scriptures and appropriate reverence for the Lord Jesus. I have read two of Piper's books, Desiring God and Don't Waste Your Life (both published by Multnomah Books), but listening to him speak takes his teaching to a whole new level. Not only is he passionate and doctrinally sound, but he also is not afraid to take a stand on controversial issues, which unfortunately is something that many modern Church leaders are unwilling to do.

His series was entitled Treasuring Christ and the Call to Suffer and was delivered in four sessions over three days. I attended three of the four sessions, listened to the fourth online, and also attended the special Q&A session. Here are some of the highlights from the week from my notes.

-Suffering is essential to the Christian faith; it is not a question of if, but when.
-Our suffering, and everything we do, ought to make Christ look great.
-We should embrace suffering, contrary to what culture tells us.
-Everything must be less precious to us than Christ Jesus, so that if all is lost and we are left solely with Him, we can still rejoice and declare "It is well with my soul."
-Joy and suffering are inseparably linked in the Bible.
-When we suffer and display joy as a result, nonbelievers are intrigued; God gets the glory.

Obviously, I just tried to hit the major points of the week, but I would encourage anyone who reads this to listen to all four sessions by using the link below. Again, the series was entitled Treasuring Christ and the Call to Suffer.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/ConferenceMessages/ByDate/

Academy loses one of its finest

2007-09-07T09:57:00.000-05:00

"On Wednesday, September 5, 2007, Carol Riebock died during a liver transplant surgery and went to be with her Lord and Savior. Wheaton Academy mourns the loss of one of its truly great teachers. At the same time, we celebrate a life lived well in service of her King.

Mrs. Riebock truly exemplified the qualitites of a Living Curriculum Teacher. She loved God, she loved her subject, and there is no doubt she loved kids. Her love of God and passion to study His Word was unmistakable. She lived to teach and considered it her calling, but loving kids was truly her trademark. Students knew that Mrs. Riebock would meet them where they were. Her insightful personal comments will be remembered by many of the students who have been privileged to have her as a teacher and friend. Almost every student that has gone through Wheaton Academy over the past decade and a half has had Mrs. Riebock in a Bible class and has been influenced by her life.

Mrs. Riebock was currently serving as Bible teacher and Bible Department Head but had also filled a variety of roles with vigor and enthusiasm during her eighteen years at Wheaton Academy. For many years she used her music and theater background to lead our music and drama programs. She has also been heavily involved in the drama productions at Wheaton Christian Grammar School. She served as the Wheaton Academy Chaplain during the early 1990's. She was a frequent class sponsor and avid spectator at student events. Known for her eclectic fashion style and sense of humor, Mrs. Riebock was one of a kind. No one who ever sat in or visited her classroom will ever forget her creativity. Many a Wheaton Academy student has had their worldview shaped and spiritual maturity enhance by Mrs. Riebock's Christian Thought and Culture class.

Mrs. Riebock's legacy lives on through her children, Corbett, Josh, Quinn, son-in-law Josh Burick and daughter-in-law Kristen Riebock. Each knows, loves and serves the Lord with a passion that was modeled by their mom. Our prayers and support go out to the family during this difficult season.

The Wheaton Academy community's loss is Heaven's gain! We grieve for the fact we will miss Carol's presence but take great joy in knowing we will see her again. We thank God for a life lived to the fullest in service of our King!"

Taken from WheatonAcademy.org

Keeping Service in Perspective

2007-09-02T19:36:00.000-05:00

Ah, yes, the social gospel debate rages on with no end in sight. I was reading through the Wheaton magazine yesterday and I came across a great quote from the President of Wheaton College, Dr. Duane Litfin: "We view justice and compassion ministries as buttressing our gospel witness, not replacing it." What he is saying is that salvation must always remain at the forefront of any missions endeavor. We must always help people spiritually or else, are we really helping them. We also must tend to people's physical needs, but I do not want to save someone from starvation and neglect to save them from Hell. What good does that do? None at all. The gospel, the true gospel, must always be at the center. It cannot be replaced by "justice and compassion ministries."

Wheaton College

2007-08-30T16:12:00.000-05:00

Last week I moved into my new home: Wheaton College. Orientation was long and exhausting, but now that classes have started and I feel acclimated to my new surroundings, I felt it appropriate to update my three faithful readers on what I've been experiencing.

First of all, this is an incredible place. I feel so blessed to have come out of one great community (Wheaton Academy) and into another. This is a school that 1) puts God first in everything, 2) loves the people who attend it (like me), 3) has an exceptional academic reputation, and 4) has an OUTSTANDING cafeteria. I have no doubts that I will grow spiritually, relationally, intellectually, and physically (the food is really good).

There are two phrases that have become ingrained in my mind over the last week. The first is "community." One of the College's desires is to have a tight-knit on-campus community between faculty, staff, and students. The bottom line is that people love each other here. I have seen that firsthand from meeting people on my floor as well as up at HoneyRock and around campus. Just about everybody has "friend-potential".

The second phrase is the school motto "For Christ and His Kingdom." In has a nice ring to it (Jonathan Blanchard knew how to make a catchy slogan) and it truly is the vision of the school. It is too bad that WA abandoned this slogan and jumped on the Latin bandwagon with "Soli Deo Gloria" (even though, when translated, that is a great motto as well). Having the words "For Christ and His Kingdom" plastered all over campus provides a constant reminder of why I am here. I am not here to get a degree (though that is part of it), I'm not here to dominate intramurals (but I will), I'm not here to get fat (which I might), I am here to grow deeper in my love for God and to become equipped to serve His kingdom. That is the essence of Christian education. That is why I am here. I love it so far, I have met some great people and I'm in great classes. But, the longer I blog the later I'll be up studying so I had better go.

John Piper in Wheaton

2007-08-27T12:51:00.000-05:00

John Piper will be speaking at Wheaton College September 5-7, 2007. For more information visit http://www.wheaton.edu

Just because I have not blogged for a while....

2007-08-14T11:55:00.000-05:00

I apologize to my three faithful readers for the long delay between posts. I simply have not had anything to say for the last week or so. But today is different. Today I leave for college, sort of. I am heading up to HoneyRock Camp in Wisconsin with about 100 or so of my future classmates to participate in the "Wheaton Passage." I honestly have no idea what I will be doing for the next nine days, except for spending time with a bunch of people I have never met before, but will be living with for the next four years of my life. Talk about pressure, I better make a good impression or I could end up at COD in a heartbeat. Just kidding. I'll let you three know how things go once I am settled into my dorm at the end of next week.

Embracing the Love of God

2007-08-05T16:08:00.000-05:00

A couple of days ago, I posted a passage from the book Embracing the Love of God: The Path & Promise of Christian Life by James Bryan Smith. Today, I am writing my "review" of sorts for Smith's book.

If I had to sum the book up in one word, I would choose refreshing. Smith writes with a respect for the authority of God's word, hard to find amidst the explosion of the Emergent church, and a proper view of the doctrine of salvation.

The book is about God's love, as one could probably guess from the title, and is divided into three sections: "Knowing God's Acceptance," "Receiving God's Forgiveness," and "Experiencing God's Care." Within these sections are chapters that talk about how God accepts/forgives/and cares for us, how we ought to accept/forgive/care for ourselves, and finally how we ought to accept/forgive/care for others. I will provide a "teaser" from each chapter that I not only feel sums up the chapter itself, but also that sums up the love of Almighty God.

Chapter 1 "God's Acceptance": The first thing that it is important to note about God's love is that he loves us in spite of our shortcomings. He accepts us as we are. Smith puts it like this: "God loves me just as I am, not as I should be." Here's the thing about God, he knows who we ought to be, and we fall far short of that. The amazing thing is that he loves us anyway, and gave his son to bring us back into a right relationship with him. Smith hits the nail on the head.

Chapter 2 "Accepting Ourselves": For this chapter, I return to what I posted the other day: "Today, we live the lie that we are 'pretty good people' who occasionally 'make mistakes.'" The fact is that without Christ we are rotten people, living in rebellion against the living God, our Creator. Until we see ourselves in this way, we fail to see how deep the Father's love is for us and how much Jesus sacrificed on the cross.

Chapter 3 "Accepting One Another": Smith reminds us that "if we have been comprehensively accepted, than we must accept others comprehensively. No one is unacceptable in God's eyes. We are called to have the same vision." Smith talks about the following "lines of exclusion" that we draw: race, status, religion, and gender. He then reminds us that Jesus erased these lines, he came to save everyone, and we as Christians must accept everyone in order that they may choose to follow Christ as well.

Chapter 4 "God's Forgiveness": "Too many of us have lived with the misconception that God would rather condemn than forgive, and as a result we have lost the joy of living honestly and freely before a loving heavenly Father." Here is the amazing thing about God: he WANTS to forgive us. It is not something that he does begrudgingly. If he did not want to forgive, he would not have sent his only Son to die in our place. This reality should bring joy to our hearts, and make us treasure the Lord above all things.

Chapter 5 "Forgiving Ourselves": "God's love, manifest in forgiving us, is the foundation upon which we can begin the process of forgiving ourselves." Once our sins have been forgiven by God, we must be able to forgive ourselves. Otherwise, what message do we send to God? "I know that you forgive me, but I can't forgive myself" is an unacceptable position. Are we higher than God? No! God's forgiveness allows us to let go of our sin and the guilt we feel. " My sin, not in part, but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord!"

Chapter 6 "Forgiving One Another": "Forgiveness is not about justice, it is about healing. It is not logical, and it is not fair. But it is the way to real freedom, and if we can navigate through the turbulent waters of our pain and ask God's help in forgiving those we need to forgive, we will experience an inner peace that this world does not understand." People will hurt us, that is a given. But what should our response be, as those whose grievous sins against God have been wiped away? If you said forgiveness, you are correct. How dare we not forgive others when we have been forgiven for our sins. To not forgive is to devalue the forgiveness we have been given. Trust me. it is not easy to forgive, and that's why Smith says that we needs God's help. Without God, we cannot forgive. It is not in our nature.

Chapter 7 "God's Care": "God looks in our heart and sees what we really need. The answer may not come as we anticipate, but I have learned that it will come." Sometimes God is confusing; he does things that we do not understand and then we think for some reason that he does not care about us. Hear this: God always has our best interests in mind. He has a love for us that we will never fully comprehend, and even when it seems that he is hurting us, the outcome is always for our benefit.

Chapter 8 "Caring for Ourselves": "If we are to become aware of God's presence, we must search. This searching, this intentional openness to God's presence, is the primary way we care for ourselves." The best way for you and me to care for ourselves is to seek after God in all that we do. Where the Lord is, there is no evil. By seeking Him, we care for ourselves.

Chapter 9 "Caring for one Another": "God provides for us the example of how to care for one another. How does God care for us? God cares for our spiritual life, God cares for the health of our soul, and God provides for our physical needs. God is available, God listens, and God never abandons us. This is how we are to care for one another." Christ gave us the example of how to care for those in need. He was always concerned about their physical needs, but he was equally concerned about their spiritual needs. You cannot separate the two. Because of the Emergent church, there has been too much emphasis on the physical realm, including the environment. Jesus did not some to save the ozone layer, he came to save people. And we accomplish that by meeting people's physical needs, but always with the intention of exposing them to the salvation that comes through Christ. After all, what good does it do to save some one's earthly life, but do nothing to save their eternal life? If you said "nothing" than you're correct.

In summary, I was impacted greatly by this 163 page masterpiece. I feel as though James Bryan Smith did a fantastic job of summarizing the love of God, and how we ought to live in response to that love. I leave you with the words of one of the most powerful hymns out there:

How deep the Father's love for us,

how vast beyond all measure.

That he would give his only son,

to make a wretch his treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss,

the father turns his face away.

As wounds which mar the chosen one,

bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon the cross,

my guilt upon his shoulders.

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,

call out among the scoffers.

It was my sin that held him there,

until it was accomplished.

His dying breath has brought me life,

I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,

no gifts, no power, no wisdom.

But I will boast in Jesus Christ,

his death and resurrection.

Why should I gain from his reward?

I cannot give an answer.

But this I know with all my heart,

his wounds have paid my ransom.

God bless

Crisis Response

2007-08-04T23:42:00.000-05:00

For a fantastic sermon on how Christians ought to respond to the various crises in our world today, visit http://www.wheatonbible.org/?p=519. The sermon was given on July 30 by Rob Rienow, Family Pastor at Wheaton Bible Church. I just finished listening to it and I was blown away.

I am not a Good Person

2007-08-03T20:21:00.000-05:00

I am in the process of reading Embracing the Love of God by James Bryan Smith as part of the "Wheaton Passage" program that I will be participating in August 14-23. On page 31 of this book, Smith brings to light a huge error in thinking that Christians have made:

"Today, we live the lie that we are 'pretty good' people who occasionally 'make mistakes.' The Christian doctrines of original sin and of human depravity have been replaced by a philosophy of original goodness and human potential. G.K. Chesterton noted, 'Certain theologians dispute original sin, which is the only part of Christian theology which can really be proved.'

We want to excuse our behavior and pretend that we are basically good and decent. I have noticed how shocked and horrified people are at their own sinfulness. In the midst of a confession I will often hear people say, 'How could I have done such a thing?' Understanding our nature, 'How could I not?' is the better question.

In his poem, 'As the Ruin Falls,' C.S. Lewis wrote, 'I have never had a self-less thought since I was born.' Even at our best, Lewis believed, we are selfish. Our most noble acts, our highest virtues, are still tainted with self-interest."

This passage is loaded with truth. In the society that we live in, how we see oursleves is of great importance. As a result, even in the Church, we like to sweep our depravity under the rug and consider oursleves to be "good people." The reality is that we are sick, sinful people from birth and we are in desperate need of a savior. We may not like to think of ourselves as dependent on somebody else, but that does not change the reality that we are completely lost outside of Christ. Until we embrace the fact that are evil beings in need of the love of Jesus Christ, we are riding a fast-track to destruction.

"The Bog"

2007-08-01T18:07:00.000-05:00

I am spending this week with my family at the Jellystone Resort in Warrens, WI. After some morning mini-golf today, which was a disaster for me, we began driving in search for a place to eat lunch.

the first place we came across was called "The Bog." That should have been our first clue, but since the sign also said "Casual Fine Dining,"we thought we should give it a try. As we pulled into the parking lot, it became apparent that the place was under construction. Several large pieces of machinery were scattered around the premises and there was dirt everywhere.

I walked in ahead of everybody else in order to use the restroom. I was overcome by the sound of an electric saw and the smell of sawdust as soon as I walked through the door. As I approached the bathroom door, I heard one employee say to another, "Tell him not to flush the toilet." I stopped dead in my tracks, unsure if I was the "him" she was referring to. I was not prepared for what happened next.

An older gentleman, probably the owner of the restaurant, then turned to me and said, "Oh yeah, don't flush the toilet 'cause the pipes are open outside and the poor guys out there will get a face-full if you do." I was not sure how to handle this, so I just said "Ok" and walked into the restroom.

I thought about flushing just because they told me not to. I mean let's be honest, has anyone ever told you NOT to flush? No. In fact, most parents have to stress flushing to their children. It was just downright hilarious. To make a long story short, we ended up not eating at "The Bog" because of the saw that was being used in a corner of he restaurant (yes, there was a saw INSIDE the place!). Instead we enjoyed a nice, quiet meal at Perkins in a nearby town.

"Don't flush," haha.

FBCG Sermons Available Online

2007-07-31T22:29:00.000-05:00

To listen to weekly sermons from First Baptist Church of Geneva, visit http://www.fbcg.com/weekend.

What Exactly is the Bible?

2007-07-31T22:17:00.000-05:00

I write this from my Wi-Fi equipped room at the Jellystone Resort in Warrens, WI. It's a nice place, highly recommended.

Anyway, I want to know what the Bible is. Some people like to say that it is a roadmap, others say that it is a story that we must find our place in. And then there is James Bryan Smith, who says in his book Embracing the Love of God that the Bible is "a divine love letter" from God. So what is it? I am not sure if I like any of these analogies.

Legendary 49ers Coach Bill Walsh Loses Battle With Leukemia

2007-07-30T17:59:00.000-05:00

Bill Walsh, the Hall of Fame football coach and visionary who guided the San Francisco 49ers to three Super Bowl titles and impacted hundreds of student-athletes during his tenure as head coach at Stanford, has died of leukemia at his Woodside home with his family by his side. He was 75.

Walsh, one of only 21 coaches enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the only one nicknamed "The Genius," disclosed in late 2006 that he was battling the disease. He was known for his revolutionary offense, cerebral practice regimens and keen eye for talent, among many other things.

"Bill was blessed with one of the greatest gifts you can have which is the ability to see the future potential of another human being. It just so happened that football was his expertise,” Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young said. “He saw in me much more than I ever saw in myself well before I ever had a chance to understand it. That is the ultimate compliment to the word coach. There's nothing more a coach should be than to see the full potential of a player unfolded. I am eternally grateful to Bill Walsh.”

At Stanford, three generations of student athletes called Walsh "coach." He served as an assistant coach in the in the mid-1960s, and as head coach in the late 1970s and again in the early 1990s. Former Stanford running back Darrin Nelson laughed when he was asked about his first practice with Walsh, whom he met in 1977, the first year Walsh served as head coach.

"He was installing the offense, which was pretty complicated-the same offense the 49ers ran, we did," said Nelson, who still holds several Cardinal records.

"Bill put all the freshman in and said, 'OK, for comic relief, let's see if the freshmen can do it.' He wanted to see if we were paying attention."

Nelson, a senior associate athletic director at Stanford, said Walsh had a rule against hazing freshmen. But they were allowed to tease and laugh at them. It was OK for Walsh too.

"Bill met with the entire freshman class of football players to talk about coming to college and being a college person," Nelson recalled. "One of the things he said was: 'don't worry about your high school girlfriend. She's probably out with your best friend right now.'"

Walsh will be remembered as one of the greatest offensive minds in football history, particularly when it came to tutoring quarterbacks. He coached three Hall of Famers, Dan Fouts, Joe Montana and Steve Young as well as former Cincinnati All Pro Ken Anderson.

"Walsh made me," Anderson said.

"Bill Walsh made all the difference in the world," said Fouts, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame, along with Walsh, in 1993.

At Stanford, the novel offensive strategies that would later come to be known as the "West Coast" offense, originated as the "dink and dunk" offense, said former Cardinal quarterback Steve Dils, '78, who played for Walsh in 1977 and 1978.

Dils said Walsh emphasized the positive-what players could do to get better-instead of dwelling on what they were doing wrong. Still, Walsh was an exacting coach.

He said many coaches cared only if a quarterback completed a pass during practice-not how they did it. That wasn't good enough for Walsh, who scrutinized every aspect of a throw-timing, body mechanics, footwork, trajectory-and made Dils run the pass pattern five or six times until it was perfect, then said, 'OK, that's right, now do it again.'"

Dils, who later played professional football in Minnesota, Los Angeles and Atlanta, said he played for some very good coaches. But none compared to Walsh.

"I learned more in two years from Bill about being a quarterback than I did in the rest of my 10 years in the NFL," said Dils, who now works in Atlanta for Grubb & Ellis, a commercial real estate advisory firm. "He taught me so much about the game."

In 1978, in a column in the San Francisco Examiner about the Stanford team, Frank Blackman described Walsh as the "life of the party" on the football field.

"His Stanford team, and the teams he directed as offensive coordinator in the pros at Cincinnati and San Diego, all have one thing in common," he wrote. "They're fun to watch."

It was a winning strategy for Walsh, who led Stanford to two bowl victories-the Sun Bowl in 1977 and the Bluebonnet Bowl in 1978.

The following year he left Stanford for an opportunity he had long coveted-head coach of an NFL team. In this case, he took over the then-woeful San Francisco 49ers and orchestrated one of the greatest success stories in the history of professional sports. In 1979, he took over a team that went 2-14 the previous season and transformed it into a Super Bowl champion in just three seasons. Under Walsh's direction, the 49ers won three Super Bowl titles (1981, '84 and '88), made seven NFC postseason appearances and claimed six NFC West Division Championships. He was twice named NFL Coach-of-the-Year (1981, 1984) and was later named NFL Coach-of-the-Decade for the 1980s. He resigned as head coach in 1989.

"When I came here (in 1979), I just wanted to build a team that would win more than it would lose," Walsh told the late Boston Globe columnist Will McDonough. "I never envisioned the 49ers of the past three decades would become one of the greatest franchises in the history of sports. I'm proud that I played a part in it. I walk away knowing I orchestrated it, but also having a special feeling for everyone who worked and played here. We bonded together. It was like Camelot." In a March 2007 article in Sports Illustrated columnist Michael Silver described Walsh as the "most influential football man of his era" and a "transcendent ringmaster.''

"With his meticulously crafted organization and cerebral practice regimens, to his daring personnel decisions and his visionary offensive schemes, he created an enduring model," Silver wrote. "Today, the West Coast, with its reliance on short passes, precisely timed routes and intricately planned progressions, is the NFL's preeminent scheme. But in the early 1980s it merely drove opposing coaches nuts."

"What really made Bill special is that he understood that the game was bigger than him,” Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott said. “His genius was not centered around Xs and Os, it was centered around his ability to create a platform that made the game inclusive to others. He will forever be cemented with the likes of George Halas, Paul Brown and Vince Lombardi as the best ever."

Aside from transforming the 49ers into one of the NFL's most dominant teams, Walsh was equally influential and innovative off the field. In 1987, Walsh launched the first minority coaching fellowship program to create more opportunities for minority coaches. The first two participants were Jerry Brown and Tyrone Willingham, now the head coach at the University of Washington. Marvin Lewis, head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, was selected by Walsh as a coaching fellow the following year in 1988. The league later implemented the program with all of its teams.

"I don't know if people realize the innovation he has brought to this game on so many levels," Steve Young said to Sports Illustrated. "From a business perspective, I'd compare it to Silicon Valley, where Andy Grove, Steve Jobs and some of the other pioneers really changed business. Bill Walsh, around that same time, brought the same kind of mentality to football. In terms of how you deal with people and the kind of environment you create, his was a very enlightened approach."

For a time, Walsh worked as a football analyst for NBC. But he couldn't stay off the field for long. In 1992, he returned to Stanford as head football coach. Lowell Cohn, author of the 1994 book Rough Magic: Bill Walsh's Return to Stanford Football, compared the press conference in Burnham Pavilion to a coronation of the blue-eyed, white-haired Walsh, who was cheered by 600 people-fans, alumni and staff-and more than six dozen reporters from around the country.

"Walsh walked past them, got up to speak on a makeshift platform, and, quoting Joseph Campbell, said, 'This is my bliss,'" Cohn wrote. "His face glowed. He was in his element. He had come home."

Former Stanford Athletics Director Ted Leland, who hired Walsh in 1992, said Walsh was known for his dry sense of humor. He cited the time Walsh got into hot water after making disparaging comments about the University of Washington football team-comments that were published in the Sacramento Bee and picked up by newspapers across the country. Walsh apologized publicly and privately to UW officials, but the next time the Cardinal football team flew to Seattle for a game, the media was there to greet Walsh.

"When Bill got off the plane he was wearing fake glasses with a fake nose and mustache-as if to say 'Here I am,'" Leland said, laughing at the memory. "He had the ability to appreciate the seriousness of the situation and still joke about the human condition."

During the 1992 season, the Cardinal team achieved its first 10-win season since 1940, earned its first top-10 ranking in more than 20 years, and won the Blockbuster Bowl. The next two years Stanford stumbled, with a 4-7 record in 1993 and a 3-7-1 record in 1994.

Leland said the losses took a toll on Walsh, a proud man who wanted to win more for the students than for himself. By then, Walsh had been coaching football for 30 years.

"When you're young, the euphoria of winning balances out the heartache of losing," Leland said. "When you get older, the euphoria isn't as high, but the heartache is just as big, so the euphoria is tempered. Bill wasn't having fun winning and he was really struggling with the losses. So he stepped down."

In 2002, Walsh began teaching a course on sports business management with Professor George Foster at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. In 2003, Walsh, Foster and former Stanford wide receiver Gene Washington combined to create the annual NFL-Stanford Executive Education Program, designed to develop and deepen the core business skills of league executives. Later, with a Harvard professor, Walsh and Foster wrote "The Business of Sports: Cases and Text on Strategy and Management," published in 2005.

Walsh rejoined the Stanford Athletic Department in early 2004, as special assistant to the athletics director, a position he held until his death-first under Leland, then Robert Bowlsby. He helped with fund-raising, gave coaching seminars and helped recruit athletes.

His reach in college athletics has extended beyond Stanford in recent years. In 2004 Walsh helped restore strength to the San Jose State athletic department and football program, leading the committee to hire Thomas Bowen as Director of Athletics. Less than a month later he recruited Dick Tomey to become head football coach. All Tomey has done is turn the moribund program into a winner, posting a 9-4 record and New Mexico Bowl crown in 2006. It was the university’s first bowl game appearance in 17 years.

Walsh shared the secrets of his coaching philosophy and winning strategies in books. In 1990, he teamed up with sportswriter Glenn Dickey to write "Building a Champion: On Football and the Making of the 49ers." Seven years later came "Bill Walsh: Finding the Winning Edge."

He also took a lead role in expanding the sport globally. In 1994, Walsh was instrumental in the establishment and management of the World League of American Football, which later became known as NFL Europe.

Walsh's impact on the coaching industry is apparent by the rise of former assistants, players and people who have come under his influence, including Dennis Green, Mike Holmgren, Mike Shanahan, Ray Rhodes, Jeff Fisher, Sam Wyche, Rod Dowhower, Bruce Coslet, Sherman Lewis, Brian Billick, Gary Kubiak, George Seifert, Jon Gruden, Paul Hackett, Tom Holmoe, Dwaine Board, Bobb McKittrick, Bill McPherson, Steve Mariucci, Tom Rathman, Jim Mora, Greg Knapp, Harry Sydney and Tom Lovat.

Walsh, who was born in Los Angeles, played wide receiver at San Jose State University, where he received a bachelor's degree in 1955 and a master's degree in 1959-both in education.

He was preceded in death by his son Steve, an ABC News reporter who died of AIDS at age 46. Walsh is survived by his wife Geri, of Woodside, son Craig, of Redwood City, daughter Elizabeth, of San Francisco, sister Maureen of Mission Viejo, CA and two grandchildren, Samantha and Nathan.

Wake Forest Basketball Coach Dies

2007-07-30T12:28:00.001-05:00

When things weren't going well for his Wake Forest University basketball team, Skip Prosser was known to quote Thomas Paine: "These are the times that try men's souls."

At heart, Prosser considered himself a high school history teacher who happened to coach basketball.

And when he died at 56 Thursday of an apparent heart attack after a lunchtime jog, the reverberations were felt nationwide - particularly in Cincinnati, where he was either an assistant coach or head coach at Xavier University for 15 seasons.

"We always stressed family," said Byron Larkin, who played at Xavier from 1984-88 and is the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,696 points.

"He would come back to attend the graduations of kids he recruited. He was just a good person like that, but a mentor, and humble. He used to tell me he was just a high school history teacher coaching college basketball.

"For him, it was always about doing the right thing, with character No. 1. And No. 2, be a good basketball player. I admired that about him. I remember thinking, he isn't getting paid to make me a better person. He's getting paid to make me a better basketball player. But Skip wanted you to be a good player and a good person."

Prosser, head coach at Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C., the past seven seasons, was found slumped on his office couch and unresponsive by director of basketball operations Mike Muse shortly after returning from his noon jog, athletics director Ron Wellman said Thursday night.

Medical personnel performed CPR and used a defibrillator on Prosser, who was taken to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and pronounced dead at 1:41 p.m.

Wellman said he was unaware of any previous health issues for Prosser, calling his death "a devastating loss" during a news conference.

"Because of his strength, we'll be able to go on and we'll be just fine eventually," Wellman said. "We're not right now. We're all suffering right now."

Dr. William Applegate, the dean of the university medical school, said the events were "typical of a sudden massive heart attack."

"This kind of attack, when it's not witnessed by someone next to the person and CPR is not started within seconds, then the outcome is often not good," Applegate said.

Confirmation of Prosser's death was delayed until Thursday night because his wife, Nancy, was traveling to Cincinnati - where the couple still kept a home in Mount Lookout - and could not be reached, Wellman said.

Wellman said team officials gathered several players in the afternoon and took them to an off-campus location without their cell phones for about four hours in an attempt to temporarily shield them from news reports of Prosser's death.

Former University of Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins, who had known Prosser since Prosser was a high school coach and coached against him in the Crosstown Shootout seven times, said the news of Prosser's death was "just terrible."

"We were very close. He's a great guy," said Huggins, who was ousted from UC in 2005, coached at Kansas State last season and is now the coach at West Virginia. In 2002, Huggins had a heart attack in Pittsburgh and was hospitalized there.

"I wasn't supposed to have any visitors, but then Skip came in," he said. "That was during a contact (recruiting) period when all of us were really busy.

"The year I was out (after his ouster at UC), Skip called me once a week, just to check on me, make sure I was all right."

Mick Cronin, the current UC coach, called Prosser's death "a tragic loss for college basketball."

"Skip was a great coach and meant a lot to the Cincinnati community for many years," Cronin said. "He was a better person than he was a coach, and he was a great coach."

Current Xavier head coach Sean Miller said, "College basketball has lost such a great person, who prided himself on working hard and being a teacher. But he didn't think he was better than anybody else. He was a humble, very giving person. And he will be sorely missed by a lot of different people, especially in the Xavier community, where we have lost a great friend."

Tributes poured in from the Xavier community, typically saluting Prosser's off-court qualities as much as his coaching acumen.

"'Carpe diem' ('seize the day') was his favorite phrase," said Andy MacWilliams, former Xavier broadcaster. "And he sucked the marrow right out of life. He worked hard and he played hard. He loved his family. He enjoyed his Guinness beer, and his Irish music. He was an ordinary guy who achieved at a very high level. It's quite a story, and it's a very sad day to know he's not with us any more."

Said Tom Eiser, associate athletic director for media relations: "He genuinely loved Xavier, and he loved Cincinnati. We're going to miss him for a long list of reasons. I will miss him as a friend. I never heard anybody say a bad word about him, in great part because there is nothing phony about him. He's a great example of what college basketball and college athletics should be like."

George Edward "Skip" Prosser was born Nov. 3, 1950, in Pittsburgh. A 1972 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Prosser earned his master's degree in secondary education from West Virginia in 1980 while he was a high school coach. He joined the Xavier staff as an assistant before the 1985-86 season, spending eight years on the bench there.

After a season coaching at Loyola (Md.), he returned to Xavier as head coach in 1995 and stayed for seven seasons before taking the Wake Forest job in the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference.

Prosser averaged nearly 24 wins in his first four seasons at Wake Forest - including a school-record 27 in 2005 - with his up-tempo offense.

But his last two teams struggled to a combined 32-33 record, including 8-24 in the ACC, with youth-laden teams.

Prosser was excited about recent commitments from several highly regarded recruits, said Pete Gillen, who hired Prosser as an assistant at Xavier and coached against Prosser while at Virginia.

"He was a lot smarter than me at Xavier and he was twice as smart at Wake," said Gillen, who lost five of eight ACC meetings with Prosser. "I felt bad when he beat me. I felt bad when I beat him. It was a lose-lose."

Prosser is survived by his wife, Nancy, and sons, Scott and Mark.

Mark Prosser is an assistant coach at Bucknell.

Post staff reporter Victoria Sun, Post contributor Marc Hardin, the Associated Press and the Baltimore Sun contributed to this report.

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070727/NEWS01/707270375

Much Ado About Nothing?

2007-07-29T20:53:00.000-05:00

Over the past few weeks, the professional sports scene in America has become riddled with controversy. As Barry Bonds moves closer and closer to breaking Henry Aaron's career home run record, Major League Baseball has had to deal with questions regarding the legitimacy of the new record due to Bonds' alleged steroid use. The NBA recently received word from the FBI that one of its referees, Tom Donaghy, has allegedly been betting on NBA games (including games that he worked). The NFL is dealing with the recent indictment of one is its most prolific stars, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. Vick has allegedly been invloved in an illegal dogfighting ring.

The reaction in newspapers and on TV talk shows has largely been that of outrage. People feel as though the whole pro sports world is crashing down into a pile of ruins. My question is: Why do we even care? Don't get me wrong, I love sports. I have played sports for as long as I can remember and I have been a loyal fan (mostly to Bay Area teams). The fact of the matter is that the United States has become obsessed with sports to the point that we don't know what is important anymore. Instead of worrying about whether Bonds took steroids or not, why not worry about the thousands of people addicted to illegal drugs in our country? Why don't we reach out to help them? Why don't we reach out to those with gambling problems? Instead of dealing with real issues, we worry about the behavior of men who make millions and millions of dollars every year just so they can entertain us by playing games. Think about the lives that could be saved and the problems that could be eradicated with the combined salaries of all the athletes in the NBA, NFL, and Major League Baseball. If the numbers were calculated I guarantee you would be blown away.

I wish that Americans would realize that while millions of dollars are spent to compensate mostly immature men while they play games, millions of people are dying because they can't get food or the proper medication. These lives can be saved, but for now it seems as though we will choose to debate over whether so-and-so is guilty or not and the effects it will have on whatever game.

"If all of us did what was in front of us,

think of how many problems we would solve.

If each of us would take care of a neighbor,

sit and talk with someone who is lonely,

or feed someone who is hungry,

think of what a better world this would be."

Tony Hall, Changing the Face of Hunger

The Value of Wisdom: Proverbs 2:1-8

2007-07-25T18:43:00.000-05:00

My son, if you receive my words

and treasure up my commandments with you,

making your ear attentive to wisdom

and inclining your heart to understanding;

yes, if you call out for insight

and raise your voice for understanding,

if you seek it like silver

and search for it as for hidden treasures,

then you will understand the fear of the LORD

and find the knowledge of God.

For the LORD gives wisdom;

from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

guarding the paths of justice

and watching over the way of his saints.

The Clock is Ticking

2007-07-19T13:26:00.000-05:00

Tick, Tock.
One.
Tick, Tock.
Two.

Every Lost second is a Lost life;
another child is thrust into adulthood.
Every Lost life is a Lost dream;
There is no longer time to play.

With every Lost dream,
there is Lost hope.
The reality of death kills the soul;
With Lost hope
comes sorrow,
as children cry out.

Tick, Tock.
Three.
Tick, Tock.
Four.

Sorrow screams for hope,
but it is Lost;
gone, never to return.

Lost hope means Lost dreams,
Is there any reason to live?
Lost dreams mean Lost life.
No. There is not.

Tick, Tock.
Five.
Tick. Tock.
Six. . .

The reality is, that every day, while we live out our comfortable lives, tens of thousands of people live in suffering. They feel the effects of extreme poverty, hunger, and disease. And the worst part is that there really is nothing they can do about it. But there is hope in that we CAN do something...and not only that, we are called to do something. For those who call themselves Christians, there is no excuse not to serve the needy. It's what Jesus did, and it's what we are to do. But the clock is ticking...

Dr. James W. Taylor Jr.(1953 - 2007)

2007-07-17T12:35:00.000-05:00

Dr. James W. Taylor, Jr., M.D., 54, an 18 year resident of Wheaton; passed away Saturday, July 14, 2007 at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, IL. He was born April 27, 1953 in Elmhurst, IL and raised in Addison, IL.
He graduated from Addison Trail High School in 1971; went on to receive his Undergraduate degree from Trinity International and attended University of Illinois/Chicago for medical school.
Jim’s life reflected his passion for his family and sharing love for Jesus Christ. He lived his life with integrity and honesty. With a desire to be more Christlike everyday, Jim was constantly in the Bible. His heart of humility and service was exemplified through the numerous mission trips overseas. His desire for these trips was not only to share with those he came in contact with the love of Christ, but to open the hearts of his children and give them a new perspective of the world.
Survived by: Wife Judy (Koch), Children: Megan, Matt, B.B., Stephanie, Dog Wrigley, Sister Jan Taylor
Preceded in death by; Parents James Taylor, Sr. and Ruth Taylor (Bliss)
Visitation will take place Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at Wheaton Bible Church, 410 N. Cross St. Wheaton, IL (or Main Street at Franklin) from 1pm-5pm; Memorial service from 7pm-8pm, reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, please write checks to World Vision (The Zambia Project-Wheaton Academy) Wheaton Academy, 900 N. Prince Crossing Road, West Chicago, IL. 60185

Don't Forget to be Thankful

2007-07-10T22:25:00.000-05:00

Every now and then, it takes an out of the ordinary event or experience to snap us out of our daily routines and help us realize how much we have. These are often referred to as "reality-checks." They come in various forms; different people respond to different things. I am writing this because I experienced one of these reality-checks today, and I don't want anyone else to wait for their next one before they realize how blessed they truly are.
At around 4:00 today I was painting my parents bedroom (and doing a mighty fine job, if I do say so myself) when my dad called and said he had been in a car accident on the way home from work. He said he was ok, but the adrenaline was still pumping. I immediately stopped painting and left with my mom and brother to go pick my dad up.
To make a long story short, my dad wasn't seriously injured, but he could've been. He was t-boned by a car that was traveling around 50 mph. Had it been a truck or SUV, who knows what kind of shape he would be in. I have not had a whole lot of time to process things, but there are some lessons that come to mind right off the bat.
First, don't ever take anyone or anything for granted...you never know when it/they may be gone.
Second, as soon as you're done reading this, tell evryone close to you how much you love them...just in case you don't get another chance.
Third, drive carefully!I could keep going, but I think you get the idea.

Blessings to you all

First Lady Visits Zambia

2007-07-10T14:25:00.000-05:00

First Lady Laura Bush recently traveled to Zambia, where through World Vision she distributed Caregiver Kits that will help those suffering due to AIDS and Malaria. Follow the link below to read about her trip.

http://www.worldvision.org/worldvision/pr.nsf/stable/20070628_zambia?open&lid=172&lpos=sb1img_FirstLady

Wheaton College Unveils New Athletics Site

2007-07-09T18:49:00.000-05:00

Click below for a look:

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/index.asp

Pants Worth $54 Million?

2007-07-06T11:38:00.000-05:00

This tells you all you need to know about where our country is headed:

http://www.abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=3313923&page=1

The Insanity of Profanity

2007-07-03T10:48:00.001-05:00

I realized last night while playing at open gym that I really have a low tolerance for people who excessively spew profanity. I'm not talking about people who occasionally use an expletive when extremely frustrated (although, that is also uncalled for). I'm referring to those whom swearing is a part of everyday vocabulary. Those who cannot go more than a couple of sentences (or a trip up and down the basketball floor) without a thundering rendition of a foul four-letter word.

The thing that bothers me the most is that people who are constantly using profanity do not take the time to think about the words they are using. I mean, when someone says, for example, "What the F---" do they really understand what they are saying? I mean, it really doesn't even make sense, if you take them literally.

But that is just the surface of the issue here. What constant profanity really reveals is a lack of maturity, intelligence, and self-control. Let's look at maturity first:

Most of the guys I played open gym with last night are out of high school, quite a few are out of college. You would think that a "man" (I use that term loosely) around the ages of 18-24 would have grown out of the need to be "cool" by usng expletives. It really is a very juvenile thing to do. I mean, think about it, you really don't start hearing those types of words from kids until junior high. Maybe I've just been too "sheltered" or "bubbled" but it seems to me that by senior year of high school most kids have figured out that it just sounds downright stupid when one is constantly swearing.

Now, I also feel as though excessive expletive usage also points to a grave lack of intelligence. Now you may be thinking, "There are smart people who swear a lot." I would submit to you that those people are not as "smart" as you think they are. I'm not talking about the kind of intelligence that gives you a 36 on the ACT and gets you into Princeton. I'm talking about the kind of intelligence that causes a person to think before they speak. People who think about what they say before they say it are, to me, "advanced." However, the reality is that most people don't employ the simple method of thinking twice. (I guess in a way I could be referring to "book intelligence," because if one has spent twenty years of their life in school, including time in higher education, and still can't think of a better way to express oneself, then I suppose they really are stupid. Either that or they just didn't pay attention in class.)

But I'm still really only on the surface of my beef here. The heart of the issue is an immense lack of self-control. And this even applies to the use of "Christian-cursing" which I myself have been guilty of ("Christian-cursing"" is, on some level, even worse than using expletives, but I wont get into that here). The bottom line is that educated people should be able to control themselves and just use normal vocabulary. This is especially true on the basketball court (really in any sport). It really is not that hard to go through a came and not say anything to express frustration. Trust me, I do it all the time. What this issue comes down to is people being willing to control their emotions, and just keep their mouths shut. In regards to people who just use expletives as adjectives in everyday conversation, You just need to think about what you say before you say it. If there is not better way to express your idea other than using a handful of expletives, it would probably be best if you just didn't say anything at all.

Hello

2007-07-02T12:17:00.000-05:00

Hello to anyone who might read this. I'm not really sure why I created this, but I did.