Following the Canes disappointing loss the Criminoles on Saturday, I have downgraded my expectation for the Canes the rest of the year.  Starters Colin McCarthy LB and Eric Moncour DE will miss the rest of the season with injuries.  Does it really matter?  There isn’t a team left on the schedule that we cannot beat, and there aren’t very many teams on schedule that we cannot lose to either.  Recruiting cannot afford another finish the season without a trip to the post season.  The locals would forgive it once with the coaching transition, but twice??  Also, do you honestly think we would have lost to UNC or FSU this year in the OB?  I am sick about it.

At least the Dolphins did something right.  Ronnie is once again showing that he is the real dead.  They ran the single wing (or wildcat formation) yesterday 11 more times.  While it had more success against the Patriots, it was still very successful yesterday.  Ronnie is now leading the league in TD’s and the Dolphins are at .500 with wins over both teams in last years AFC finals.  Why is the wildcat so successful?  When a QB hands the ball to a RB, you lose a blocker, so it’s basically 10 vs 11.  When Ronnie is taking the snap directly, you have an extra blocker so it’s now 11 on 11, so that makes up any defensive perception that every play will be a run.  If I was a D Coordinator, and I saw Ronnie lined up at QB, I would send a run blitz every time.  Ronnie is also making great decisions at the helm, running powerfully, smoothly, and with great agility.  He is the real deal at RB.  Can he throw?  YUP.  This is going to be the surprise in the future of the wildcat formation, Ronnie is going to throw a few more passes.  The defense looked great with Porter and Roth constantly up in Rivers face.  The way these guys are playing, you could see them with a solid record at the end of the season.  Check out this article where the Chargers are saying that they were screwing up, and it wasn’t actually the Dolphins beating them as much as them beating themselves.

I had a great day in the LPC fantasy football, more on that tomorrow.  Not doing so great in the second chance LPC pickem, but I am leading in the pro football vegas style pickem.

Today is a beautiful day. The sun is out, the breeze is great and I feel well rested after a very long weekend.  So it’s a good case of the Monday’s. Last night we helped a friend launch his church in Miami lakes, it’s an exciting time for them. Afterwards we hung out with this amazing couple, it is awesome to see and hear what God is doing their lives. We look forward to a great friendship and working together at LPC. We just hope they don’t relocate. Great friends usually do that in South Florida.

I am counting down the days to see my Mom and Dad again. I miss them tons. We may have a full house this Thanksgiving. It is really exciting to see what is going on here at LPC, we’d talk about momments like this from time to time, and it always felt they’d never arrive but sure enough they are finally here. I can’t even imagine what is next. We’re preparing for greatness and that is scary…in a good way.

-fuser

Here’s a Monday farside for you.

• Today was a good day at LPC.  Chris, Phil, and Jesse can tell you about it.
• I didn’t like my message in the 8:30 service.  Tweaked it up a bit and came back in the 9:45 and 11 with the quickness.  Mucho bueno.
• Kelly shared in all three services about what she went through this week.  She did a great job and really connected with a lot of people.
• As a result, we got to pray with a lot of people in all three services.
• While we were rocking the 8:30, 9:45, and 11 in Homestead, my dad and Paul were in Plantation Key launching the Habakkuk series.
• We had a couple first-time guests who were thrown into the mix right away as volunteers.
• I can’t wait for the launch coming soon.
• This Saturday @ 9 AM, we’ve got a work day rockin’.  Watch your inbox for more info.
• The band in Homestead seriously rocked today…really good stuff.
• After service, we went to Pam King’s going away party.  She’s one of our teachers in Kids Life who will be missed.
• While I was there, we got to watch the Dolphins take it to the Charges…holding LT to 35 yards was exceptional.  Ronnie Brown is a beast.
• We closed out the day in Islamorada celebrating Marcela’s (my sister-in-law) birthday.  Great sunset.  Great Grouper Reuben.

This will be a quick report today.

This morning, Sun Tzu’s Art of War provided the context of the message.  The intro video was so well produced.  The little secret is that Ritz Crackah provided the voice over.  Excellet work, Ritz.

The music was killer this morning.  Alex was on the drums, Zech’s brother on the lead guitar, I played bass, Jesse led from the accoustic guitar.  It was a rock and roll Sunday morning!  We started with Switchfoot’s Dare You to Move, then Friend of God totally rock/grunge style.  Next, Salvation is Here, then for communion Mike led Everything.  It was incredible.  Other than a couple of hiccups in the first service, everything went very smoothly.

The message spoke about alliances and Trav gave a nice little story about our childhood, even though he embellished a bit.  It was still funny.  The alliances you make determine your direction.  We are not to be unequally yoked.

For another perspective on this morning, be sure to visit:

Chris Day’s Sunday Tossed Salad

Jesse From The Stage

Now Showing At Life Pointe Church

We began a fresh new 5-week message series on this glorious Sunday morning at Life Pointe Church. Entitled ‘The Art Of War’ it’s all about living a ‘no prisoners’ life. It’s all about moving forward in Life. But it’s not going to happen overnight. You’ve got to plan ahead for this. You need ’strategery’.

This morning Lead Pastor Travis walked us through Stage 1 of this war. It’s all about creating alliances. We are to conquer, subdue, and tame our world. But we can’t do it alone. We must carefully create alliances or covenant relationships with like people in order to successfully take dominion over our earth.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NLT, 2ND Ed.)
The Temple Of The Living God
14  Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness ?  How can light live with darkness ?
15  What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil ?  How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever ?
16  And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols ?  For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:
      “I will live in them
          and walk among them.
       I will be their God,
          and they will be my people.
17  Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.
18  And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.”

As of press time this afternoon Jesse and Alex had already posted their respective Sunday morning wrap-ups. Be sure to check back later on for more wrap-ups from T.J., P.J., K.J., and R.C. Yay fellow bloggers !

So the Santoyo’s had the usual fall BBQ in South Florida last night. It is way too hot to BBQ in the Summer, so we save our Partying to the Fall and Winter. We connected with some awesome friends, ate tons of food and argued over a game of Apples to Apples. Joe threw down with some shrimp-kabobs, Mari delighted us with some tasty burgers, Ana and Luis‘ flam’n Chicken Salad. We made our signature ribs and Reina’s homemade salsa. The food was endless, the drinks were flowing all night. Good times.

I woke up early this morning at 6am ready for another Sunday of good music, awesome people, and God’s word. I will admit I was a bit tired after a night of BBQ fun, but I was ready to rock the stage this morning. The band and crew were all there bright and early ready to take care of business. I am proud of our crew, everyone is stepping up as leaders and making a significant difference at LPC. We kicked off our set with Switchfoot’s “Dare you to move“. From there we went into the worship set which included friend of God, Salvation is here and Everything. During the first service the band Played “clocks” by Coldplay during our meet and greet time. It was pretty cool. Ritz did a great job getting the production crew together. He is the new Program Director in training…But look out he eats all the pizza.

I’m heading to Miami lakes this evening to help out my buddy launch his gatherings. After that I plan to go home and SLEEP!!! It has been a full weekend. This weekend Reina and I recorded some awesome video-footage for our weekend with the Santoyo’s, and somehow all of our footage vanished…We are sorry about that.  I guess that is that. Have a great Sunday evening.

-fuser

Well all I have to say today is Worship was great! I don’t know that did it for me this morning. I was feeling horrible, my stomach was killing me as well. It was awesome to see Kelly give her testimony about this past week. I mean you never know how many lives will be touched just by her standing up and just expressing her feelings, but also never losing faith. “by his stripes we are healed.” Kudos to you Kelly!!! We kicked off the Art Of War this week, I have to say this one is my favorite series this year. The first service was full of energy, we kicked off with a new song. It was booming!! I sat in the second service again this week. This is what its all about. Building our alliance and getting ready for our spiritual battle that we are heading for. The more we advance the kingdom the more we will be attacked by the enemy. The fact that it already started with Kelly means that the enemy will come and try to attack any one of us and steal our peace. I have decided to start my morning prayer. The 6 am wake up call. if you are up to it join The Cure from this week on as we rage war against our enemy. 3rd service was full! New faces exciting things happening in the Keys, And I just can’t help it God is moving right in front of our eyes and we just have to spread the kingdom asap! I can’t wait to see what is next. 

The Cure Is Working on its first play/film that will be the scariest thing these homestead students have ever seen! Thats all I have to say. The title is “A Dream Made Into Reality”

The year was 1973, and you were there (unless of course you weren’t born yet). I was a 6-year-old kid living with my Mom and Dad in the Washington D.C. suburb of Bowie Maryland on Peach Walker Drive. In September I began attending Catholic school 5 days a week as a first-grader at Saint Matthias The Apostle in Lanham Maryland near my grandparents’ house.

I had two dogs at the time - Brandy - a German Shepherd - and Girlie - a miniature sheepdog. Brandy barked a lot and dug holes out in the backyard. I didn’t really like him very much. In fact I was scared of him. We wouldn’t have him for very long. Girlie lasted a few years longer. She was lovable and squeezeable with an adorable personality. She had a tiny bony tail.

On Saturday nights America stayed home and watched this amazing lineup of TV shows on CBS - “All in the Family” (8 PM), “M*A*S*H” (8:30 PM), “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (9 PM), “The Bob Newhart Show” (9:30 PM), and “The Carol Burnett Show” (10 PM). It may just be the greatest primetime lineup on a single night - on a single network - in television history.

A few hours before that three-hour block of Emmy-award-winning laughs on Saturday nights this hot music and dance show was breaking new ground on the tube, and I was paying attention to it - even as a 6-year-old. It was seen locally at the time on WTTG Channel 5 out of Washington D.C. It lasted for an incredible 35 years in first-run syndication nationwide, but this was clearly its hey day.

Ladies and Gentlemen - I present to you for your ‘Saturday Night Retro’ review - some LOVE, PEACE, and SOUL !  GET DOWN & BOOGIE !

Did anyone spot their young parents (or even grandparents) in that vintage clip ?

When you’re a real fan, you pull for your team even when they have strung together a couple losing seasons.  And, when your team is trailing 32-34 with 8:30 in the fourth quarter, you’re all in, fully vested, and expecting a win…even after a disappointing loss in the previous week.  Commitment through the good times and the bad times.

The upside? Buying football jersey’s when things aren’t so hot is quite a bit more affordable.