Standin' Landon

So PK has been teaching an awesome series on "True Faith" that just got even better yesterday. He talked about being steadfast and patient in running our race. I thought I had a decent grasp on the importance of faith and patience in my life, but I saw yesterday just how important patience is.

It really hit me when he said that my faith level will never rise above my patience level. That was revelation to me, because we can think we are exercising our faith at 100% but how consistent with that are we? I like to think of myself as someone who when he has done all to stand, stands and stands............but there is always room for improvement and I believe that this was a word for me yesterday.

Pastors called it steady Eddy, steady Teddy, etc. But my name doesn't rhyme with steady so I'm "Standin' Landon." I don't care that there's no "g" on standing, this way it makes it rhyme. I've recommitted myself to stand and to be consistently constantly the same. I've heard it said like this, "faithfully exercising my faith." I know that all of God's promises are yes for me, so I am going to stand until they are manifest in my life. By God's grace, I will be patient and steadfast in my life of faith.

PK went to Romans 5:1-3 yesterday and verse 2 really stuck out to me. It says, "By whom (Jesus) also we have access BY FAITH into this GRACE wherein we STAND, and rejoice in hope of the GLORY of God." It is by faith that we access the grace to stand and rejoice in expecting to see God's Glory! This is an awesome verse. God is good and He is FAITHFUL. I will stand until I see His goodness in manifestation in every area of my life. Will you?

I'm Sorry Hammies

I can't believe how naive I was when I thought that 40 minute games with a short bench would be feasible in the Gary Oden Memorial Basketball Tournament. Four games, forty minutes long, with only one bench player equals running out of gas and being mean to your muscles.

Here are a few quotes from some of my teammates the next day:

"I've got muscles that hurt that I didn't even know existed."

"My ribs hurt."

"Why does my butt hurt?"
"Because your glutes are connected to your hammies."
"Oohhhh. Their fine when I don't clench."
"Then don't clench."
"You try it." (grimacing while clenching)

"My neck cramped last night."

From two guys: "Everything hurt from my neck down."

I am no longer 16. I'm 24 years old, and though still young by most standards, I realize I need to get my butt in a gym and apologize to my body. I'm sorry hammies and glutes. If I was in shape you wouldn't feel this way. At least I didn't have to feel like this and stave off a knee to the head in the first game..........way to take it like a man Nate. I was real glad to see your eyes again.

Regardless, the tournament was a lot of fun and a good success for the first year. Our team did really well and won its first three games against the best teams but lost in the finals to one of those same teams. It was really fun and I look forward to doing it again next year. I will be prepared then.......a finely tuned athletic machine.

March Madness is here! The Hogs are not :(

This is one of my favorite times of year. College basketball's post-season tournament is by far the most exciting of all the sports. I love filling out a bracket and watching underdog teams win. It would be much more exciting if the Hogs were in it, but we don't live in a dream world. Last year was really exciting for me because my bracket won in the small pool that we have each year. I picked Kansas and they won in dramatic fashion in overtime!

This year will very unpredictable, so I expect Cortney to do very well by picking the team with funniest name or the team with the best mascot. Her bracket bombed last year as she put all of her eggs in Gonzaga's basket. True to form, she seems poised to select the Zags again regardless of who they're playing or how good they are. She's funny! At least this way it makes it fun to watch the tourney and root for the teams you picked.

If my bracket bombs, then I plan on getting out and playing some golf in the nice spring weather that is coming our way. That last statement was not based on fact whatsoever, so it could be 20 degrees for the next few weeks for all I know. Regardless, I will be playing golf sooner rather later. March Madness and Golf - I love this month!

Who wants coffee when you can have milk?

What's the deal with coffee being so popular? I don't get it. I mean it's too hot so it can't be refreshing. It's loaded with caffeine (I think) so it will take you on a sugar high and then drop you at the highest point. You have to drink it in a mug or styrofoam cup because it's too ugly to be seen through a glass. And there is absolutely no way that it can wash down a Krispy Kreme donut.

I know I will get corrected on all of those points and catch a lot of flack from most of the coffee fanatic followers of this blog, but I don't care. As a child, your parents and grandparents won't let you drink it because they say that it will stunt your growth, turn your teeth yellow, and you will become addicted to it. Yet they continue to drink it like their skydiving with a ripped parachute and the only thing they can think of is landing on a Starbucks so the media will make a big story about it forcing Starbucks to name a coffee drink after them.

I'm taking a stand for milk, the drink of the Promised Land. I'm the guy who would look like he belonged on a "Got Milk" commercial. I look great with a milk stache'. Milk is the only real refreshing drink that can wash down a ring of sugar and leave your teeth and bones stronger. Cows are awesome!! How can two of the best things ever, milk and steak, come out of the same animal? Brilliant.

I know this was random and probably insulting to the few blog readers I have, but I needed to warn all of you coffee-a-holics that when coffee becomes a highlight of your morning then it's time to take a step back and remember that the best part of waking up isn't Folgers in your cup, but knowing that Chuck Norris didn't kill you in your sleep.

Why is that Dog Smoking?

I have been having very vivid and active dreams here lately. The problem is I can't remember them very well. I'm not sure why this has been happening lately, but I really wish I could remember more of this stuff.

Last night I dreamed I traveled on a jet ski to a Jerry Savelle service where I continually stood up and sat down in a different seat. The night before I dreamed that some guy I went to high school with (but barely know) stepped out of his car smoking a cig along with his 8 year old son. I mean my friend was actually holding this eight year old kid and the kid was smoking a cigarette. The dad stooped down and put down his cig on the ground and this dog came along and picked it up. The dog proceeded to come up on the porch where I was at and started puffing on the cigarette. I was like "What's going on here, dogs can't smoke."

These are just very small portions of my last two dreams, although by the way it sounds I'm a little relieved I can't remember the rest of them. I know this happens to everyone occasionally, but what's the cause for it happening so often? Really sleepy? Weird day? Subconscious with a sense of humor? What are your thoughts?

Gary Oden Memorial Tournament

So we're putting a basketball tournament together to raise money for the Alma Boys and Girls Club, and we are finally underway awaiting team entries. Cortney had the wonderful idea to do a golf tournament in honor of her daddy, and give all the proceeds to the BGC. She said the Club was always on his list to give to after he got his first million! So, with a possible golf tournament coming up in the next few months, we thought a basketball tournament would be a good idea too.

Having played in both golf and basketball tourney's, I have learned that a b-ball tourney will probably be a lot easier to run. I hope I'm right. There is a lot that goes into but I think it is because we are trying to make it a big deal and do it excellent, which is what we want so that we can make it an annual event. I can't believe I never thought of something like this to help raise money for organizations, it's such a good idea. So, props to Cort for having a great idea!

I know that most people who read this blog either already know about the tourney or are not going to play, but here is the link with all of the information just in case. www.almaboysgirlsclub.org

Much thanks to everyone who is sponsoring the tourney and thanks to Krush of N'Christ for printing off the flyers.