For you Non-Football fans...

There have been a few people who've asked me to explain football to them recently, so I've decided to go ahead and post the different types of players in a football game, to help a little bit. Obviously, there is more to it than what I am writing here, but this should give you a good basic understanding of all the postions (I have left the kickers and punters off of this list)

Offense:

There are 5 guys whose job it is to protect the other players. They line up in front on the line where the ball is placed. Collectively they are called
Offensive Lineman - They are: (from left to right):
the Left Tackle, Left Guard, Center, Right Guard, Right Tackle. To begin an offensive play, the center snaps (gives) the ball to the quarterback - When the center moves the ball, that is when the defenders can cross the line.

Quarterback (Takes the ball from the center and is in charge of making everything work. He gets the ball to the "skill position players" - on running plays, he gives the ball to the running back and on passing plays, he passes it to the receivers)

Running back (runs the ball on running plays and either protects the quarterback or becomes a receiver on passing plays)

Fullback ( a second running back that is mostly used to block for the running back on running plays and protect the quarterback on passing plays, he can also be a receiver)

Wide Receivers AKA Flankers or Ends (They block on running plays and run specific patterns on passing plays that allows the quarterback to get them the ball. Their job is to run the route in a manner that allows them to be "open" meaning no defender can keep them from getting the ball and to catch it if it is thrown to them.)

Tight Ends (they are a cross between Wide Receivers and the linemen. They block on running plays like a lineman and they line up next to one of the tackles (either one). This is why they are called Tight Ends. Because they are "Ends" who are "Tight" or close to the linemen. On passing plays, they can stay next to the linemen to block or they can run patterns like the Wide Receivers

Defense:

There are only 4 different types of positions on defense, but they can line up A LOT of different ways. Here are the basics:

Facing the Offensive Line there are Defensive Linemen. These are really huge guys (like 270 lbs or more) that start the play bent over with at least one of their hands on the ground. Their job is to tackle whoever has the ball while keeping the offensive line from blocking the linebackers. Defensive Linemen are called one of two things:

Defensive Ends are lineman that start the play across from either an offensive tackle or a tight end

Defensive Tackles are linemen that start the play across from either an offensive guard or the center (sometimes they are called a Nose Tackle if they are across from the center)

The 2nd type of position on defense is Linebackers. They line up behind the defensive linemen and they try to tackle whoever has the ball on a running play and they cover (try to keep them from catching the ball) the running backs and tight ends on passing plays (normally from 240-270lbs). There are three types of linebackers:

Strongside Linebacker (or "Sam" Linebacker) Lines up on the side that the tight end is on and covers him on passing plays. This is normally the biggest of the linebackers.

Middle Linebacker (or "Mike" Linebacker) Lines up in the middle of the defensive line (but normally about 5 yards back) so that he can cover both sides of the field equally well. He is known as the quarterback of the defense because it is his job to communicate the plays (which are signaled in via special sign language from the coaches on the sideline) and make sure everyone is in the right position and knows their job. On passing plays, he normally covers one of the running backs

Weakside Linebacker (or "Will" Linebacker) Lines up on the side of the formation that does not have a tight end. This allows him to have to worry about one fewer blocker. He is normally the fastest of the three linebackers

The third type of position on defense is Cornerback. A cornerback is a small guy who runs really fast (like 190-220lbs) they mirror the Wide Receivers on passing plays and they try to tackle the runner on running plays

The fourth and final position on defense is Safety. Safeties are a cross between a cornerback and a linebacker. (like 220-240lbs) They line up in the middle of the field behind the linebackers. They try to tackle runners on running plays and cover Tight Ends, Receivers and Running Backs on passing plays. There are two types of safeties:

The Strong Safety lines up on the side that the tight end is on and is closer to the linebackers because he is more focused on the Tight End and helping to tackle runners.

The Free Safety lines up further back and is more concerned with being the "last line of defense" He does not attack runners as aggressively. If all of the other defenders miss the runner, it is his job to keep the runner from scoring. On passing plays, he tries to prevent long throws and assist the other defenders in covering the receivers.

tired doesn't BEGIN to cover it.....

This past week has been very encouraging, very tiring and very scary. Encouraging because God has already honored my faith in this season of my life. Tiring because I have driven about 1300 miles in the last 5 days. Scary because I am moving out in faith and God isn't telling me what is going to happen... He just said, "Go" so I'm going.

As most of ya'll know, I am now a resident of Marietta, GA (where, apparently, "everything is betta" - according to an advertising slogan I heard). Getting from last Sunday to this Sunday was pretty serious:

My brother Chris and I had been talking for a couple of weeks about how we really wanted to see each other before I moved. Last Sunday I was talking about it with him again and looking at the resources God has given me to steward. I said, "Bro, if I can make $700 by Wednesday, I will come up there. If I can't, then I just won't be able to spend that money (for the trip) in faith." Meaning of course that I was putting my faith out there that God would allow me to make that amount and I could "justify" spending $100 for a two day trip to New Jersey.

Well, in the afternoon on Sunday, a sister blessed me with $150. I was REALLY encouraged! Then, Monday, I got an email from a guy who had been in a couple of classes with me at VCU. He wanted to get massage lessons from me, so that he could bless his mother and friends with good massages. We made plans to get together on Tuesday for the first 3 hours of the 6 that it takes for me to teach the full-body routine. Then I went to a massage appointment I had for that night. It was a 90 minute massage (that actually ran closer to two hours) and the client almost tripled what she would have been charged, as a gift to me (she "owed" me $110 and she gave me $300). Long story short (kinda): God came through with more money than I'd asked for and that allowed me to go up to New Jersey on Wednesday night. I left to come back to Richmond on Friday night and got in on Saturday morning. Saturday, I had to teach the other three hours of lessons and I saw a few more friends and said good-bye. I said good-bye to my sister and I drove down to ATL. I got here about 8:45 AM and service at the Father's House begins at 10, so I just went straight there. Service went until about 2 and then they had a reception/birthday party for Bishop Boone (58 today). SO, I got to Marietta about 3:30PM and I shopped the prices for hotels for a little while until I decided on La Quinta.

SOOOOOO, by faith, I have travelled back and forth to New Jersey and I moved to Atlanta, knowing nothing except that God wants me to go to Chiropractic school at Life University. 5 days and 1300 miles later, I am sitting here exhausted, getting ready to go to bed. La Quinta is my home until next Sunday. I wonder what will happen this week? I'm going to get some stuff done tomorrow and start looking for a job and a place to live on a more permanent basis. :)

Agape,
Joe

"Save Gomer!"

Another survey

First Name: Joseph

Middle Name: Anthony

Birthday: 10/30/77

Eyes: Change colors (green most of the time)

Hair: Shaved 4-5 times a week

Fav color: Silver & Black (Go Raiders!!!)

Day/Night: Night

Fave Food: American, Mexican, Italian

FRIENDS AND LIFE

Do you ever wish you had another name? Not a big fan of Anthony, but I like Joseph and Capri

Do you like anyone? yes

Which one of your friends acts the most like you? that's a toss up between Butta and Chris

Who's the loudest? of my friends? I don't know they all can be at times, I guess

Who have you known the longest of your friends? Stuart, Grandpa, and then Adolph

Who's the shyest: probably Hyo Chin

Are you close to any family members? My brother Chris, Grandpa, Dad (Stuart), and my natural sister (Mary)

When you cried the most: in prayer

What's the best feeling in the world: freedom

Worst Feeling: guilt

FINISH EACH SENTENCE:

Let's walk on the: narrow path

Let's run through: the sprinklers :)

Let's look at the: sunset

What a nice: thing to say

Where did all the: beautiful AND Godly single women go?!

Why can't you: completely surrender to the LORD?

Silly, little: squirrel

Tell me: the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow

HAVE YOU:

Ran away from home: no

Pictured your crush naked: no

Skipped school: yes

Broken someone's heart: unfortunately

Been in love: yes

Cried when someone died: yes

Wanted someone you knew you couldn't have: yes

Done something embarrassing: yes

Done a drug: Alcohol, Tobacco & Caffeine

Cried in school: yes

RANDOM

Your Good Luck Charm: N/A

Person You Hate Most: N/A

Best Thing That Has Happened: Jesus dying for me

Ice Cream: Cookies & Cream (the kind with the Oreos)

WHO Makes you laugh the most: Butta

Makes you smile: Chris & Hyo Chin

Has A Crush On You: no one that I know of

Do You Have A Crush On Someone: not really

HAVE YOU EVER

Fallen for your best friend?: no

Made out with JUST a friend?: no

Kissed two people in the same day?: no

Had sex with two different people in the same day?: no

Been rejected: . yes

Been in love?: yes

Been used?: yes

Done something you regret?: yes, but I have been set free from the shame of my past

Cheated on someone?: no

Been called a tease: no

WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON...

You touched?: I gave a massage to one of my students on Wednesday

You talked to on the phone?: Chris - Hyo Chin just gave birth to their 2nd child!!! Welcome to the world, Maelinn!!!!!!

You hugged?: my sister

You instant messaged?: Matthew

You kissed?: My neice Elizabeth when it was time for bed

You yelled at?: I can't remember, it's been that long

Who text messaged you?: Julie

Who broke your heart?: no comment

Who told you they loved you?: my brother, Chris

Number of things in my Past I Regret: I've been set free from the shame of my past, so NOW I don't regret anything. I wouldn't do a few things again, but I don't regret them. I am who I am because of what I have gone through.

Deep Thoughts, by Jack Handey

Hey,
I don't know if ya'll remember these, but they used to show two or three of these "Deep thoughts" every episode of Saturday Night Live. I saw that my natural sister had a book of them. Here are some of the funnier ones.

DISCLAIMER: some of these are VERY stupid, some of them are EXTREMELY random and the rest are just WRONG! But, hopefully, you'll find some of them a bit funny

******* The face of a child can say it all... especially the mouth part of the face

******* It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man

******* If you ever fall off of the Sears Tower, just go really limp. Maybe you'll look like a dummy and someone will try to catch you because, "Hey, free dummy"

******* To me, boxing is like ballet, except there's not really any dancing... and there's no choreography... and the dancers hit each other

******* If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all of the time for no good reason

******* Better not take your dog on the space shuttle. If he sticks his head out the window on the way back home, his face might burn up

******* To me, clowns aren't funny. If fact they're kinda scary. I've wondered where this started, and I think it goes back to the time I went to the circus and a clown killed my dad.

******* I'd like to see a nude opera, because when they hit those high notes, I bet you can really see it in those genitals

******* If you ever teach a yodeling class, probably the hardest part is keeping the students from trying to yodel right off. You see we BUILD to that.

******* Is there anything more beautiful than a beautiful flamingo flying across in front of a beautiful sunset? And he's carrying a rose in his beak... and he's carrying a beautiful painting with his feet... and you're drunk.

******* Of all my uncles, I think I liked Uncle Caveman the best. We called him Uncle Caveman because he lived in a cave and because sometimes, he'd eat one of us. Later on we found out he was a bear.

******* Anytime I see something screech across the room and latch on to someone's neck and the guy screams and tries to get it off, I have to laugh, because what IS that thing?!

******* In weightlifting, I don't think sudden, uncontrolled urination should automatically disqualify you.

******* The memories of my family outings are still a source of strength to me. I remember we'd all pile into the car - I forget what kind it was - and drive and drive. I'm not sure where we'd go, but I think there were some trees there. The smell of something was strong in the air as we played whatever sport we played. I remember a bigger, older guy we called "Dad." We'd eat some stuff, or not, and then I think we went home. I guess some things never leave you.

******* Blow ye winds, like the trumpet blows, but without all that noise.

******* I wish a robot would get elected President. That way, when he came to town, everyone could take a shot at him and not feel too bad.

******* If you go parachuting and your parachute doesn't open, and all your friends are watching you fall, I think a funny gag would be to pretend you're swimming.

******* I think when the age of the Vikings came to a close, they must have sensed it. Probably, they gathered together one evening and slapped each other on the back and said, "Hey, good job."

******* Sometimes, when I feel like killing someone, I do this little trick to calm myself down. I'll go over to the person's house and ring the doorbell. When the person comes to the door, I'm gone, but you know what I've left on the porch? A Jack-O-Lantern with a knife in the side of its head with a note that says, "You." After that I usually feel a lot better and no harm done.

******* I wish I had a Kryptonite cross because then you could keep Dracula AND Superman away

******* Too bad you can't grab a tree by its tiptop and bend it over to the ground and then let her fly, because I bet you'd be amazed at all the stuff that comes flying out.

******* If you saw two guys named Hambone and Flippy, which one do you think liked dolphins more? I'd say Flippy wouldn't you? You'd be wrong though. It's Hambone.

******* Laurie got offended that I used the word "puke." But to me, that's what her dinner tasted like.

******* If you're in a boxing match, try not to let the other guy's glove touch your lips, because you don't know where his glove has been.

******* It's too bad whole families have to be torn apart by something as simple as wild dogs.

******* My wife, Marta, says that the interesting thing about fly fishing is that it's two lives connected by one thin strand. Come on Marta, grow up!

******* The old pool shooter had won many a game in his time, but now it was time to hang up his cue. When he did, all the other cues came crashing down. "Sorry," he said with a smile.

******* Even though he was an enemy of mine, I had to admit that what he had accomplished was a brilliant piece of strategy. First, he punched me. Then he kicked me, then he punched me again.

******* The sound of fresh rain run-off splashing from the roof reminded me of the sound of urine splashing into a filthy Texaco latrine

******* When you go on a job interview, I think a good thing to ask is if they ever press charges

******* You know what would make a good story? Something about a clown who makes people happy, but is really sad on the inside. Also, he has severe diarrhea.

******* As the evening faded from a salmon color to a sort of flint gray, I thought back to the salmon I caught this morning, and how gray he was, and how I named him Flint

******* If the vikings were around today, I think they would probably be amazed at how much glow-in-the-dark stuff we have, and how we take so much of it for granted

******* Sometimes I think the whole world has gone mad. Then I think, "Aww, who cares?" Then I think, "Hey, what's for dinner?"

******* I can see why it would be prohibited to throw most things off the top of the Empire State Building, but what's wrong with little bits of cheese? They probably break down into their various gases before they even hit.

*******It makes me mad when people say I turned and ran like a scared rabbit. Maybe it was like an angry rabbit, who was running to go fight in another fight, away from the first fight.

******* I hope, if dogs ever take over the world and they choose a king, they don't just go by size. I bet there are some Chihuahuas with some good ideas.

******* Instead of having "answers" on math tests, I think they should have "impressions," and if you got a different "impression," so what? Can't we all be brothers?

******* Probably to a shark, about the funniest thing there is is a wounded seal, trying to swim to shore, because "Where does he think he's going?!"

******* If God dwells inside of us, like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting!

(Stay tuned for a blog talking about that last one....)

The Wunderlic test

OK,
the Wunderlic test is a pre-employment screening that is designed to test how quickly and accurately you can think under stress.

Vince Young scored a 7 (out of 50) and he was just signed to a 6-year, $58 million contract with $26 million in guaranteed money

Here's my question:

I scored a 35 on that test... where is the love? :)

Israel and the End of Days

OK, by "End of Days" I'm not talking about the movie where California's Governor is taking on the devil!

The world is going to come to an end. Do we know when? NO! The "signs of the times" we are seeing, were said to be just the "beginning of birth pains." (Matthew 24 & Mark 13) You never know, but we do know that it will come when people don't expect it - even with the "signs." What is the point? BE READY!!!!!!!!

This is an excerpt from Newsweek:

Are These the End Times?

The coauthor of the popular Left Behind series explains why he believes Christ will return in our lifetimes.

By Brian Braiker

Newsweek

Updated: 8:37 p.m. MT July 28, 2006

.. language=JavaScript> function UpdateTimeStamp(pdt) { var n = document.getElementById("udtD"); if(pdt != '' && n && window.DateTime) { var dt = new DateTime(); pdt = dt.T2D(pdt); if(dt.GetTZ(pdt)) {n... = dt.D2S(pdt,((''.toLowerCase()=='false')?false:true));} } } UpdateTimeStamp('632897374664670000'); ..> July 28, 2006 - When Tim LaHaye talks, the faithful listenby the millions. The conservative Protestant minister is the coauthor of the wildly popular apocalyptic Left Behind novels. The controversial books, which have sold more than 60 million copies, depict the biblical end of the world: the Christian eschatology of the upheaval that precedes the second coming of Jesus Christ, known also as end times. LaHaye recently spoke with NEWSWEEKs Brian Braiker about why he believes the events currently unfolding in the Middle East reflect biblical prophesy. Excerpts:

NEWSWEEK: How do you interpret whats happening in the Middle East? Are you seeing signs that these are the end of days?

Tim LaHaye: Biblically speaking, the very nations that are mentioned in prophecyand have been mentioned for 2,500 years as occupying the focus of the tension of the last daysare the very nations that are involved in the conflict right now. That may be one of the reasons theres a sudden interest in bible prophecy because all of a sudden they realize end-time events could possibly take place and break forth right now.

But first-century Christians believed that the end of the world could come during their lifetime.

We call it the belief in the imminent return of Christ. Its a motivational factor to serve the Lord and not let the world be so much with us that we dont serve the Lord in the spiritual environment.

Couldn't almost anything then be taken as a clue that any point in history might be the end times?

Down through the years thats true. But never the accumulation of events as we have today. I have often said that no one knows the day nor the hour that Christ will come, but no generation has had so many signs of the times as our generation. We have more reason to believe that Christ could come in our lifetime than any generation before us.

You mentioned biblical prophecy. Im not the student nor the scholar that you are

Well, Im not the journalist that you are.

[Laughs.] But my understanding is that current biblical scholarship reads some of the apocalyptic scenes in the Bible as metaphorically addressing events that were taking place as the Bible was being written.

These are usually liberal theologians that dont believe the Bible literally.

So the Revelation should not be interpreted, for example, as a polemic against Rome?

Thats what they say. We believe that the Bible should be understood literally whenever possible. The next big event is the second coming of Christ. Thats preceded by a number of signs. And some of those signs could be stage-setting right now. Theyre not going to come out of nowhere. For example, the Bible predicts when the antichrist comes and sits at his kingdom after the Rapture, hes going to have one world economy and one world government and one world religion. Were already moving rapidly in the direction of those very things.

Really? It seems were a ways off from one world religion.

Thats the least developed, but there are many particularly liberal theologians that just think that "Oh, if we could just get everybody together of all beliefs ..." If you dont have a strong belief system, youre willing to compromise your beliefs with other religions.

Youve written about the threat of secular humanism.

Part of the opposition to our position is from the secular humanists, but part of it is from the liberal people of theology that reject the Bible. I dont see a great deal of difference between them. Their basic conclusions are often the same.

Youve also written that millions of unbelievers will be saved during the terrible time of the Tribulation'. What do you mean by that?

I take that from Revelation, chapter 7. One of the things thats going to happen after the Tribulation, after the church is gone, therell be no one here to witness the faith in Christ. So the Lord raises up 144,000 Jewish witnesses and he names the tribes that they come from. The result of those witnesses is they reach a multitude of souls that receive Christ.

Does this explain how living right with God, in a Christian sense, would entail supporting the Israeli state right now?

I think those two things are related. Christians who take the Bible literally are generally supportive of Israel because God promises to bless those nations that are a blessing to Israel and curse those nations that are not. And the history of America bears that out.

But is it accurate to equate the state of Israel, which is a geopolitical entity, with all Jewish people around the world, who far outnumber the people actually in Israel?

No, thats just a third of the number of Jews in the world.

So believers in the Rapture dont necessarily foresee a damnation of the Jews then?

No, we dont believe in the damnation of people in ethnic groups. We believe thats an individual decision. Now, it often follows in people groups. Take the Muslims that weve been talking about. Everybody knows that they do not accept Jesus Christ as a means of salvation from sin. Thats the only way you can be saved, is to call on the name of the Lord. Theyre not about to do that.

Neither are Jews.

Correct. But during the Tribulation period, therell be a sea change, and many Jews will accept Christ. Not all. Again, its an individual decision.

You recently donated a whole lot of money for a hockey rink at Liberty University. If these are the end times, why make an investment like that?

[Laughs.] My strategy is that Canada and Northern America produces the bulk of hockey players. We use the ice rink to get the hockey players to come to Liberty University where many of them are exposed to accept Christ. Many of them come because they are Christians. They are challenged to go into the ministry, and weve already had some of the guys in the earlier classes that graduated, and theyre going home to Canada to start churches.

Proselytism with a hockey puck?

Evangelism with a hockey puck would be better.

But if the end times are indeed near, why would there be any point in working toward fostering peace?

Right now the Church of Jesus Christ is busy in the spiritual vein of trying to win people to Christ. Were concerned about the salvation of individual souls. This whole thing has heightened the spirit of evangelism. Wars have always done that. But never have we had a war that is so specifically following the pattern of the scripture.

Michael Standaert is a critic of yours who has written recently in a blog that this belief in the end of the world in a big explosion of violence, reflects a spiritual malaise a hopelessness in humanity and that youre making money off of fear and hopelessness in your Left Behind series. How do you respond to that?

I would say that hes just betraying his poverty of faith. If he had faith in the Bible, faith in the future and Jesus Christ, hed recognize that our passion is just like the theme song in our books: we dont want anybody to be left behind.

© 2006 Newsweek, Inc.

After You Die...

OK,

I don't want to vent too much here, but to all who read this PLEASE, PLEASE prepare for your death BEFORE IT IS IMPENDING!!!!

I. Decide what you want done with your body after you die, then fill out and sign the paperwork that is necessary for that to be done. (To ensure that it will be done)

II. Decide who you want making decisions for you if you are unable to do so yourself and PUT IT IN WRITING!!!! (so that the state doesn't decide for you)

III. Decide whether you want to be brought back and or put on life support and PUT IT IN WRITING!!! (This will keep your "Next of kin" from being accused of murder and/or euthenasia)

IV. Decide what you want to happen to your pets and your property and put it in a will!!!

I am writing this because my natural father is going to die... it could be two weeks or it could be before I finish this blog entry. Either way, I am going through A LOT of drama to love (in the true definition of the word - because I'm not emotionally attached to the man) a man who never loved me. Because of his lack of planning ahead and putting things in writing, I am spending alot of time and money that could be put to better use. EVERYTHING I am doing is something that he could have done himself MONTHS ago! SHEESH!!! This stuff is stressful. Imagine if I was also torn up about him dying! GREAT DAY!!!

SO, moral of the story.... If you love those who are around you, prepare for your death - even if it is not in sight right now. It saves those around you alot of grief.

ALONG SIMILAR LINES...

Death is coming for you. You don't know when, and I hope it is a LONG way off for you, but it is coming. The Bible says that we live once and after that, we will be judged (Hebrews 9) and that God looks at your heart when He judges your actions (Jeremiah 17). Are you a good person? Do you think you've kept the 10 commandments?

1. Has God always been first in your life?

2. Have you made up your own god to follow? (either with your hands or in your mind)

3. Have you ever used God's name in vain?

4. Have you always honored the things of God?

5. Have you always honored your father and your mother?

6. Have you ever killed anyone? Wait... The Bible says that if you are angry without cause, you are in danger of judgement (Matthew 5) and if you hate someone then you are a murderer in your heart (I John 3)

7. Have you ever committed adultery? Jesus said that if you have looked at someone lustfully, you have committed adultery with them already in your heart (Matthew 5)

8. Have you ever stolen anything?

9. Have you ever told a lie? Even a "White Lie?"

10. Have you ever been envious of someone else or what they have?

Did you pass the good person test? It's hard isn't it? only one person has ever passed it. It was Jesus Christ. He came down from Heaven, was born to a virgin and lived a good life. Good by God's standard, which is moral perfection. He lived this perfect life and was killed in our place to take the punishment for us NOT living a perfect life. Three days after he was killed for us, God raised Him from the dead, so that we too can be rescued from the hold of sin (which is law-breaking) and death.

You broke the Law and Jesus paid your fine, it's that simple!

If you trust Him, the way you would trust in a parachute, and turn away from your selfish (and "not good") way of life and live the way God wants you to, God will forgive you and grant you Eternal Life. THAT is how you prepare spiritually and soulishly for your death.

PLEASE be prepared in all three parts of you!!!