Rock. Chalk. Jayhawks

Wow! What a Championship Game last night! I was pulling for Kansas to win because I had them winning it all in the NMC tournament challenge. With 2 minutes to play and the Jayhawks down 9, it looked like the Memphis Tigers were on their way to winning their first ever NCAA Championship. Hold on however, as the Jayhawks came roaring back, finishing off regulation on a tying three-pointer by Super Mario (Mario Chalmers)!

The overtime was all Jayhawks as they came storming back to give Bill Self his first championship. I am now a Kansas fan!

Spring Break '08

Finally: Spring Break is here! I am so looking forward to these things in the next week:

• Sleeping in
• Working out
• Relaxing
• Spending time with girlfriend, friends, and family
• Having no schedule
• Playing some ball

A Big GOD

I am going on DCGO this summer with our youth group and we are reading and journaling from a book called "Max Q" by Andy Stanley and Stuart Hall. For those of you who don't know what DCGO stands for, it stands for Washington, D.C. GO. This summer we will be doing outreach in Washington, D.C. I am very excited about this opportunity to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost of D.C.

Last year I had the opportunity to do NYGO (New York City GO) and it was amazing! It was such a wonderful time of fellowship, worship, growing closer as a youth group, and sharing the gospel to unsaved people.

Max Q is a daily devotional that dives in to the areas of How to be an influence without being influenced. Each day is divided into a scripture reading, a few questions about the passage, a short story, and then a question to think about and reflect on.

Today's devotional ask a great question: "How big is your God?" Wow, the more I thought and reflected on this, the more I began to realize that I often put God in a tiny little box. I seem to get in a routine of going through the motions of the same prayers, same routine, and I really never ask God to do the big things in my life. I feel like I'm not worthy to ask him to do the unexpected. I often get comfortable where I'm at and stay in that rut for awhile. Anyone else out there know what I'm talking about? I realize that I need to ask God for the big things in my life and not be ashamed to ask for more in my life.

Two Years Late, IU Finally Gets It Right

The Indiana University Administration finally got it right. The bad thing is that it took them two years longer than it should have to name a good basketball coach. Tom Crean, the Marquette coach, will be the new boss in Bloomington.

With Crean comes class, no phone issues, a well respected coach, and a coach who has posted a 190-96 record. Crean comes from the Midwest (Michigan), has coached under Tom Izzo, and has produced some good players. Ever heard of Dwayne Wade?

Crean won't have much to work with as the Hoosiers are set to have a completely new look next year. It sounds like Eric Gordon is going pro, which would leave IU with no returning starters next year.

I am excited to see where Crean takes the Hoosiers in the next few weeks. One thing is for sure Hoosier Nation has to be patient. It is going to take awhile to get out of the Kelvin Sampson mess.

Your Best Life Now

My buddy Marty and I are currently reading the book "Your Best Life Now" by Joel Osteen. This book centers on 7 Steps To Living At Your Full Potential. This book has really challenged me and it is a book I am looking forward to diggin in to.

This week we read the chapter God Has More in Store. Here are some points I took from it:

• What you will receive is directly connected to how you believe and what you expect. If you want God to do the extraordinary, then you must start believing Him for bigger things.


• When God puts a dream in your heart, when He brings opportunities across the path, do you step out boldly in faith, expecting the best, moving forward with confidence, knowing that you are well able to do what God wants you to do? Or do you shrink back in fear, and say, "That's too big for me. I'm not not qualified. I'm not able. I could never do that." God wants to do a new thing in your life. But you've got to do your part and get outside that little box. We need to start thinking big!


• Too often, we get comfortable with where we are and we use that as an excuse to remain in mediocrity.


• We can affect future generations by the decisions you make today.


• God is not limited by environment, family background, or present circumstances. God is limited only by our lack of faith.


• We can't get satisfied at where we are at in our lives.

This chapter really made me stop and think how often I put God in a tiny box. God is so much bigger than I give him credit for. I need to start dreaming big dreams because we serve such a BIG GOD!

Quick Exits

Last Sunday Night was an exciting one for four Indiana schools as they found out where they would be playing in this years NCAA Tournament. Butler, Indiana, Purdue and Notre Dame each made the field and looked forward to making some noise once they got there. Let's just say that it was more of a "quick splash" for all four. Here is a rundown of what happened.

BUTLER: Out of the four, I picked the Bulldogs to go the farthest. They opened with an 81-61 win over South Alabama, then lost today in overtime to a good Tennessee team. The Bulldogs are the best team in Indiana.

NOTRE DAME: Had an impressive season behind big Luke. They won their opening game 68-50 over George Mason and then got hammered yesterday, losing to Washington State by twenty.

INDIANA: Well, let's just say this team was ranked in the Top 10 for most of the year, then all the garbage with Kelvin Sampson. Dan Dakich goes 3-4 as head coach and they get knocked out by Arkansas 86-72 in Round One. Who do you think really wants this job? No more D.J. White, or Gordon, and I hear others are packing up to get out of Bloomington.

PURDUE: Very young team who finished second in the Big Ten. The Boilers beat Baylor 90-79 and then lost to a good Xavier team last night.

March Madness

One of my favorite things is finally here....March Madness! Last night I watched the Big East Tournament with my buddy Dan as the Irish took on Marquette. Notre Dame, which was seeding #3, was playing a very good Marquette team. The teams split in the regular season. Both Dan and I knew this would be a tough game for the Irish because of the athletic ability of Marquette. The first half was kind of shaky for both teams. ND'S Luke Harangody, the Big East Player of the Year, only played seven minutes because of foul trouble. Somehow, the Irish took a five point lead into the locker room.

Then came the second half. I think Marquette had to shoot at least 70 percent from the floor as they were hitting everything they threw up! The Golden Eagle s won 89-79 and sent the Irish home after only one day in New York. As I was thinking this morning, it may not be a bad thing Notre Dame lost. Here are a few reasons why:

• They already have an NCAA tourney bid locked up


• They will have a few extra days to rest for the tourney

The real fun begins next Thursday. I think the Irish can go far in the tourney, especially with the ability to score a ton of points.