Out Of My Mind

New Look!

2010-07-07T10:39:00.000-04:00

I recently decided that I wanted a new look for my blog....
I like new things...

New toothbrush
New music
New news
New professors
New friends
New underwear
New picture of Jesus
New football seasons
New movies
New babies (as opposed to old babies - - - Thank you Brian Regan)

You get the point....Unlike other people I know, I enjoy change. I don't like the same old same old. I get really excited when new things come out and when old things get updated. *cough*iPad*cough*

With that being said, I will officially be blogging under the http://www.ryanshaughnessy.wordpress.com page.

I am excited about the new look and added features with Wordpress! I will also keep this blog available for all previous posts so you guys can hold things against me when I get famous. Make sure you add the new URL to your list!

Your Love Never Fails

2010-07-06T18:05:00.004-04:00

There has been a sweet song on my heart for a while now and I couldn't keep it to myself anymore. I'm sure a lot of you have heard it before but if you haven't, you need to check it out! It is such a great promise and an encouraging picture of God's love for us. Just reading through these lyrics again makes my heart smile....I think you should do the same and check out the video at the bottom.

Jesus Culture - Your Love Never Fails

Nothing can separate
Even if I ran away
Your love never fails

I know I still make mistakes
But You have new mercies for me everyday
Your love never fails

You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There maybe pain in the night but joy comes in the morning

And when the oceans rage
I don't have to be afraid
Because I know that You love me
Your love never fails

The wind is strong and the water's deep
But I'm not alone in these open seas
Cause Your love never fails

The chasm is far too wide
I never thought I'd reach the other side
But Your love never fails

You make all things work together for my good

Bring it on Back!

2010-06-08T02:05:00.001-04:00

I've graduated. And now I'm looking to continue on in life by finding a full-time job. Through most of my college years I always felt like I was going to be a teacher until this past year. As a substitute teacher I realized how much work being a teacher actually is and how prepared one must be when entering a classroom. I'm not saying I didn't want to work hard to be a teacher, but I had many doubts about how prepared I was to be in control of my own classroom. I haven't completely eliminated the possibility of teaching, but it doesn't look like it will be happening here any time soon.

My days are usually filled with reading, work around the house, and looking for jobs. As a History major with a double minor in Political Science and U.S. National Security Studies I have been focusing on government positions and a few other non-profits. It is sloooooooow when applying and starting government jobs to say the least.

Anyway, I guess my point of this post is just a huge favor from you all. I've been getting discouraged lately with the search and it seems so easy to just give up for now. I've been blessed to have an awesome family, encouraging girlfriend, and wisdom from older men through this transition period. I know the Lord is completely sovereign and that He knows what is going to happen with me.

I'm feeling like I'm completely out of control (which is a GREAT feeling because I never was in control) and I was encouraged to hear from a good friend today that the Lord is going to use this time to shape me and increase my faith.

Prayers are much appreciated from all of you!

And if you have a nice job you want to offer me, I'll take that too :)

Idol Gives Back

2010-04-20T22:01:00.001-04:00

Sir Elton John will perform on Idol Gives Back, airing Wednesday, April 21 at 8/7c on FOX, on behalf of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood, The Black Eyed Peas, Annie Lennox, Jeff Beck & Joss Stone and Mary J. Blige & the All-Star Band will also perform.

http://www.americanidol.com/news/view/pid/2973/

Warwick Update

2010-02-15T15:51:00.000-05:00

Hey guys, hope your Valentine's Day weekend was fun and you got to eat a lot of chocolate and not feel bad about it. Just wanted to give you a heads up about some things that are going on at Warwick this week.

-Manpaigners Tuesday night @7 meeting at KRISPY KREME on Mercury....Free donuts (or doughnuts in Krispy Kremese)
-CLUB Thursday night @7:33 at Samm Bricker's house...This club will be 10x better than last week so bring your friends with you!
-Rockbridge!! It is an awesome place and you are guaranteed to have the best week of your life. Make sure you pick up info about it and get your deposit in!
-My hands hurt from carrying that change jar around but keep bringing in your change for camp!!
-Pray for my talk Thursday at club...its going to be a great picture of the power and love of Jesus.
-Continuing to pray for anguish in your hearts like Paul had for the people he was with (Rom. 9:1-4)

Have an awesome week! You guys are the best hands down

Loveeeee!!

2010-02-14T09:47:00.000-05:00

I used to be very anti-Valentine's Day and still am to a certain extent. I hate the original flowers, chocolate, and dinner dates but I realize some people feel special when they receive those things. I would love to see a little more creativity on V-day but I realize men are somewhat limited in that area.

I have a pretty solid girl to spend the day with today and I am actually excited for once!! Shannon has always asked me when I am going to write about her on my blog so here it is :)

Shannon and I met...well...hard to explain. Let's just say we had an interesting beginning with huge crushes on each other. I have always valued her awesome friendship and there are way too many things to list about her that won me over.

She has growing relationship with Jesus who is her #1

She loves people in a way I wish I could

She's asian :)

She has weird little quirks that make me smile

She is the best at encouraging people

She gets bothered by the important things in life

She speaks Spanish very well!

She has the best family ever (well, 2nd to mine)

She analyzes life through a marketing viewpoint

She gives some pretty legit back scratches

She knows how much I love Dr. Pepper and candy!

She challenges me to be a better leader

I could go on and on but I don't want to bore you all. In short, she is the best. I can't wait to see where the Lord takes us in this relationship! Happy Valentines day boo boo. You rock!

New Heart, New Purpose

2010-02-10T09:50:00.001-05:00

It wasn't until I actually shared this Scripture at campaigners last night that it really hit my heart. Sometimes I can easily spit out Scripture without it really changing me, but sometimes it isn't until I teach about something that my mind is transformed.

"I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." -Ezekiel 11: 19-20

Why should our lives look different as followers of Christ? We have been given a NEW heart. We no longer have a heart of stone but our new heart is the foundation for actions. Here are a couple thoughts that some Warwick guys shared last night about our new hearts.

Our new heart causes us to no longer be slaves to sin.

Our new heart causes us to live for something bigger than ourselves.

Our new heart leads us to become more like Christ every day.

Thank God for the new heart He has given you! We no longer have a heart of stone that is hard towards Him.

Warwick Update

2010-02-08T22:47:00.000-05:00

FIRST WEEK OF YL THIS SEMESTER!

-Manpaigners on Tuesday night at 7PM @ Jackson Powell's house
-Girls, talk to Anne Taylor or Steph about when campaigners (or babe zone?) is.
-CLUB this Thursday at 7:33PM @ Samm Bricker's house! Bring a friend with you, it's going to be nuts. We will go the the Yoder Barn Chick fil A after club to hang out.
-Don't forget your camp deposits! You can bring them to club, give them to a leader at school, or mail them in.
-Bring your spare change to campaigners and club to fill up our jar for camp!
-Pray for Steph as she gives the talk this week. Intro to YL and Jesus!

Saints v. Colts

2010-02-07T16:17:00.001-05:00

Supposedly there is a big game on TV tonight that has turned into another excuse to eat a lot of junk food. Chip and soda sales are cranked up today (Shannon could probably give a great marketing answer here) and men yell at TVs, punch things, and talk about how they could do a much better job than those playing.

I'm going to be watching the big game at 320 for the 4th and final time in my life and I might shed a tear! I have worn my Vikings jersey every year and I was hoping (which is about all I can do now) that they would actually be playing! Shannon even said she would wear a Vikings jersey if they made it...I'm still a little bitter about that. Unfortunately they aren't playing but I will share with you who I think will be going to Disney World tomorrow.

The pastor at church shared a convicting thought this morning at church. Even though the people in black and gold may be Saints, Jesus still rode in on a Colt! Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?! PEYTON MANNING say he gonna beat dem Saints! Congrats Indianapolis!

By Grace

2010-02-04T14:21:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I find that I just need to be reminded of the gift of God.

I like to compare it to Christmas morning. Your parents....I mean, Santa gives you gifts on Christmas with no intentions of ever being paid back for those gifts. They are FREE gifts and all we can do is accept those gifts.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not be works, so that no one can boast." -Ephesians 2:8-9

We didn't do anything to merit this gift of God and there is nothing we could ever do to earn His salvation. Accept it and rejoice in His love!

DUKE!

2010-02-02T15:30:00.001-05:00

This past weekend I had a sweet experience.

Shannon's mom got her Duke/Georgetown tickets for Christmas and somehow I was lucky enough to end up with one! It was a rough game for us Duke fans but it was still a great game and we finally got to see Duke in real life instead of boring TV! Here are some pics from the game compliments of Shannon.

This is what we drove in to the game....Not the safest thing in the world but we made it!

We had some quality seats!! Well done Mrs. Hopper!

Both teams started an effort to help the people of Darfur. Not sure why the coaches wore these shoes but it had something to do with that! (Actually I was just informed it was for cancer awareness)

Jon Scheyer is the man...I think I have a crush on him.

Don't I look so good in a Duke shirt?!? Shannon got me this shirt for the game so now I am officially a DUKE fan! Thanks Shan!

I had a great time with two hardcore Duke fans who definitely showed it during the game! Next up...Duke/UNC at Cameron Indoor!

Would You?

2010-01-31T00:41:00.000-05:00

Would you draft Tim Tebow?

Why or why not?

How high in the draft?

I know this past week has been monumental for him and especially for how he is viewed by NFL teams. Word on the street is he has been struggling quite a bit but I would DEFINITELY draft Tim Tebow. I can't quite put behind me all the numbers and titles he has put up. Tebow doesn't seem like the guy who would give you many off the field (or on the field cough...85...cough) issues.

He also loves Jesus :)

WHITEBOARD 2010

2010-01-26T13:12:00.003-05:00

This is an amazing conference being hosted right here in VIRGINIA BEACH this year! I was able to help out a little last time and the line-up of speakers really can't be better. You can check out the website [here]

Super Bowl!

2010-01-24T17:42:00.000-05:00

Well since this Colts/Jets game is winding down I'd like to make a prediction for the other game.

It's easy.

Skol Vikings!

Your Posts are TOO LONG!

2010-01-21T20:48:00.000-05:00

I don't like reading blogs that have super long posts that take 20 minutes to read.

I get enough reading in my classes.

I feel overwhelmed when I open a page and see lines upon lines of 10 pt. font ahead of me.

I still love you, but keep your posts to 1 page double spaced....not a term paper.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T00:56:00.002-05:00

Yes, with such intelligence and wit....Happy New Year!

Hope 2010 is awesome!

Speak

2009-11-21T00:31:00.000-05:00

I always hear people say "Preach the gospel always, and if necessary use words."

This quote from St. Francis of Assisi is repeated over and over again, written on t-shirts, and has become the "mission statement" for numerous groups.

Honestly, this quote is an excuse for not evangelizing. I know Scripture says people will see our good works and praise our God in heaven but check out Romans 10:17 "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."

If you haven't figured this out by now, I am a huge fan of Jimmy Needham. One of my favorite songs from his first album is "Speak." Here are the lyrics for the chorus which I think puts us in our place!

"Oh, so open your mouth, open it wide
Quit singing songs for a minute tonight
You can love with your hands, you can love with your deeds
How will they know if we don't even speak?"

Keep on loving people and showing them the gospel through your actions but don't forget to SPEAK!

M-I-N-N-E-S-O-T-A!

2009-10-19T23:46:00.000-04:00

I had an awesome opportunity this past weekend to travel to State College, PA for the Minnesota/Penn State game with my family, grandparents, and Shannon. I am so blessed that my grandparents were willing to get us tickets and it was Shannon's first football game EVER!!! Very exciting for her I'm sure even though it was freezing there! I'm glad I got to see one of my friends from HS (Evan Royster) play too....He owned the Gophers unfortunately! These are some pictures from the tailgate and game. Enjoy!

Me and Shannon hanging out under the back gate away from the snow!

Yes, there was snow in October! This is a sweet snowman my cousin, Jordan, and his friend made

Shannon's first game! What a great place in Happy Valley to see your first legit football game ever!

Unfortunately the Gophers lost but it was still a great time!! Shannon is learning all the players too :)

They were calling for rain the entire time but it never really decided to show up! We had to try on our ponchos just for Shannon's roommate, Rachel. We look good though!

We had lots of laughs (most of them directed towards my grandparents) and a great time being with family this past weekend. I'm excited for many more games with Shannon, although she might not feel the same way. At least Evan had his best game of the season against the Gophers!

Week 7 Predictions

2009-10-16T18:04:00.001-04:00

YES!! I am driving up to State College, PA for the Minnesota/Penn State game Saturday morning. My grandparents are coming in from Minnesota tomorrow and it is also Shannon's first football game ever! THAT is exciting. Here are just a few other games that I would love to watch if I were in front of a TV with nothing to do on a Saturday.

12:00PM. Oklahoma at Texas. Prediction: Texas
This is a tough Red River Shootout game but should be a fun one! I truly believe this game could go either way tomorrow but Texas' defense is going to prove why they are the #4 defense in the nation. It will be great to see Sam Bradford out there fighting for the Big 12 title but Colt McCoy and the Longhorns will pull this one out in a 28-24 game!

3:30PM. Minnesota at Penn State. Prediction: Minnesota

Bring on the doubters! No disrespect to Iowa but after watching Penn State play them I knew Minnesota would at least stand a chance. Ready to see an awesome game even though it is supposed to be cold and rainy. GO GOPHERS!

6:00PM. Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech. Prediction: Virginia Tech
Have to stay faithful to VA! Beamer ball gets the win for the Hokies this week.

7:45PM. South Carolina at Alabama. Prediction: Alabama
Sorry Jackson...USC has been on a roll so far this year but it is time they faced an even more dominant team than Georgia and Mississippi. Should be a quality SEC game like always but Alabama's #2 defense in the nation will shut down Garcia and the Gamecocks Saturday night.

Hope you all have a blessed weekend and enjoy the amazing fall weather! Happy Valley is going to be a blast so look forward to pictures next week!

Boston!

2009-10-15T19:47:00.002-04:00

I went to Boston for Fall Break this year! My brother, TJ, was running in the Boston Half-Marathon so we took the whole gang up there for a nice vacation. Here are a few pictures (compliments of my grammy Jo and Shannon) that captured the trip.

We went on a tour of Fenway Park...It was pretty cold and windy but still great to see one of America's best ball parks!

View of Boston from the Chawls Rivah (Great Boston accent) on our Duck Boat Tour!

View outside Quincy Market....It was crazy inside there and probably the most stressful dinner I've had. Great chicken though!

The main reason we went to Boston was so I could see the campus of where I will be attending graduate school next year. Harvard Medical School!

For all you old people out there. We ate at Cheers, the inspiration for the hit TV show that I have never seen before!

We took a trip up to Nashua New Hampshire for a couple days too and we spent most of our time at Kimball Farm eating apple crisp and pumpkin ice cream...sooo good!

Great weekend with the family and this beautiful girl....Looking forward to many other trips in the future!!

Week 6 Predictions

2009-10-09T22:40:00.000-04:00

Hey all...I am leaving early in the morning for Boston and don't have much time to go through too many games so I'll just fill you in on one pretty important game!

8:00PM. Florida at LSU. Prediction: Florida
No matter who the QB is, Florida will win.

Sorry for not planning ahead of time but enjoy your weekend and enjoy fall break CNU people!

Warwick Update

2009-10-06T22:44:00.000-04:00

First of all....The Vikings and Twins won this week and I am STOKED! Love it. This week isn't too crazy but just wanted to let you know about what is going on up at Warwick.

-NO CLUB this week....There may have been some rumors floating around at school but we will not be having club on Thursday.

-BUT! Dudes will be showing off our skills at Cici's on Thursday night at 6:00PM. Come hungry and ready to have some fun (maybe a little friendly competition as well).

-Manpaigners was pretty sweet tonight...If you missed it we went over Philippians 3:7-11 and Galatians 2:20-21. Check it out!

-Next week we will be looking at John 3:16-21 and Romans 5:1-11 so read up and come with stuff to share!

Hope you all enjoy the rest of your week and I'm looking forward to seeing you at the school and at Cici's on Thursday!

Week 5 Predictions

2009-10-03T00:33:00.000-04:00

Can't believe it is already week 5!! NOOOO! This week I have a special NFL treat for you too. First thing is first...Have to get these NCAA picks out of the way.

12:00PM. Wisconsin at Minnesota. Prediction: Minnesota
Look at Wisconsin's schedule. Struggling with all of their opponents except the little sisters of the poor (Wofford). Minnesota's front 7 are going to be the key to this game tomorrow. If they can force Wisconsin into quite a few 3rd and longs I think they will be able to hold off the Badger offense. Decker will come up with some huge catches once again! Paul Bunyan's axe will be back in Minnesota tomorrow!

3:30PM. LSU at Georgia. Prediction: Georgia
Just a little love for you here Brian! First of all, the only reason LSU is ranked #4 is because so many teams lost that were ranked ahead of them. Excited to see the A.J. Green/Chad Jones match-up on the outside. Should be a great SEC game between the hedges!

8:00PM. Oklahoma at Miami. Prediction: Miami
Having Sam Bradford out for this game is going to cost them. Miami has also been challenged a whole heck of a lot this season playing three Top 25 teams and I think Jacory Harris is going to come back from last weeks loss to VA Tech and show us some serious skill! Should be a close game but, again, the loss of Bradford will be felt.

NOW...Here is the special treat for this week....MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL!

8:30PM. Green Bay at Minnesota. Prediction: Minnesota

The only thing better would be a win for Brett Favre at Lambeau. Depending on how the Twins do in baseball that might just happen! Can't wait to see Adrian Peterson run all over the Packer defense to give Minnesota a 4-0 start on the season.

Dirty...That's What I'm Wanting

2009-10-01T23:24:00.001-04:00

I was listening to Shane and Shane yesterday and the lyrics in one of their songs is always a great reminder of God's love for us.

Clean!
I've called you clean!
"I am dirty"
Clean!
"So unworthy"
Clean!
"Dirty"
That's what I'm wanting

I have heard it said so often that "I need to get my life together before I come to God." That is SUCH a lie. What a great thing to hear that God wants us as we are...dirty, beat up, unworthy people. I am a huge critic of myself and would refer to myself as a very dirty person. Not dirty like I have a messy room and don't take showers. But dirty with my sin and actions. Thank you Jesus for loving me despite my sin. Thank you for wanting a dirty and unworthy person like me. And THANK YOU for calling me CLEAN!

Warwick Update

2009-09-28T23:57:00.000-04:00

Welcome to another week of GREAT things that are going on at Warwick HS. Here are some sweet things to be looking forward to.

-Tuesday we have joint campaigners (guys and girls) at Jackson's house at 7PM. Try to be on time because we are going to be doing something pretty sweet!

-Thursday is our KICKBALL KICKOFF!!! Meet at 5:30 at the Mariner's Museum park across the street from Warwick for kickball, music, ice cream, and a ton of fun. We will head over to the football game right after!

-Dudes, keep the night of October 30th free. We are going to go camping. We are going to do manly things like cut down trees and kill bears with our bare hands.

-CLUB starts next week....Be praying for your friends and invite them to come along with you....They don't know what they're missing out on!

Look forward to seeing you guys this week! Make sure you bring your "A" game and bring some friends with you! Enjoy the week

Week 4 Predictions

2009-09-26T10:38:00.002-04:00

I'm spending the weekend up here in Caroline County with the girlfriend's parents (and her of course). We are going to the State Fair tomorrow which is awesome because that means I get a funnel cake. Just a couple predictions here before heading to bed!

12:00PM. Minnesota at Northwestern. Prediction: Minnesota
Let's just stick with the 3rd grade argument....Minnesota beat Syracuse....Syracuse beat Northwestern....Minnesota beats Northwestern. The Gophers played California extremely well last week and I see that transferring over into this week.

3:30PM. Miami at Virginia Tech. Prediction: Miami
Look for Sophomore Jacory Harris to have a big game against Tech's D. Miami has played a strong first two weeks and is going for a third top 25 victory again this week. I apologize ahead of time to all my VT fans who think they are unstoppable :)

8PM. Iowa at Penn State. Prediction: Penn State
I had a little debate here going on in my head but then Shannon said Penn State was going to win so I had to go with her. Iowa is going to play them strong but I think the Nittany Lions are going to come out on top. Royster for Heisman!!

Gotta go....Enjoy your weekend!

MANpaigners

2009-09-24T14:02:00.000-04:00

Tuesday night the dudes from Warwick got together for our weekly manpaigners (campaigners for men only) and our goal was to bring in the manliest thing we had. I will just say up front that I was the only person who did not get any votes for the manliest thing and no, I will not tell you what mine was.

Welp...Since everyone has been waiting....here is the order of manliest things!

1) Old, rusty two man saw they used back in the day
2) Good ole blow torch
3) Samurai/ninja sword sort of thing that would slice a man in two
4) Shovel
5) Austin Power's chest hair....it was nasty, but you can't deny the manliness
6)Deer antlers
7) Beef Jerky
8) A donut
9) Racquetball Racquet

I had a blast seeing how manly these guys were then digging into the Word to learn what a real man of God looks like. The fruit that is going to be produced through these guys is going to bring SO much glory to God this year at their school. It pumps me up to see how much they want to learn and how far they reach into the Word to really understand it.

Keep it up Warwick guys! The Lord is going to use you guys to do some truly amazing things at your school this year!

Warwick Update

2009-09-22T00:17:00.000-04:00

Hello there everyone! I don't know why I haven't done this already but I am going to start using this blog to post some prayer requests, updates, praises, you name it for Warwick High School. I want to let all of you in on the great things the Lord is doing on the Peninsula, specifically WHS. SO....Here ya go!

-We have split campaigners tomorrow night....Girls should have a great group coming out! Guys are bringing in the manliest thing they own (will post the winner later) and we are looking at Matthew 19:16-30. Pray for hearts and minds to be transformed!

-See You At The Pole! Wednesday morning! 7AM! Hoping there is a great turnout....the school is going to be smothered in prayer. You NEED to be there!!

-Preparing for Kickball Kickoff next THURSDAY at 5:30 at Riverside Elementary. Bring your "A" game....we will have an ice cream gutter too!! Riding to the Warwick vs Hampton game together afterwards.

Should be a great week up at WHS....Pray for your friends to be changed this year!

Week 3 Predictions

2009-09-19T00:41:00.001-04:00

So tomorrow is a special day. Zach Fauver is finally getting married to Lindsey (a girl) and it is going to be great!! Even though they planned their wedding during some great football games I think I can forgive them just this once (even though I'll be checking every 3.6 minutes on my BB). There are definitely some quality games tomorrow so here are a few that I would be watching if I were home tomorrow.

12:00PM. California at Minnesota. Prediction: California
The Gophers are finally playing a quality team and although their new stadium is probably one of my new favorites, they just won't have what it takes to hang with Cal. Jahvid Best is going to have a field day with the Gopher defense but Weber will connect with Decker for at least one TD! Go Gophers!!

3:30PM. Nebraska at Virginia Tech. Prediction: Virginia Tech
By far the game of the week this week and I have to stay loyal to VA. The Cornhuskers are finally going to be tested this season and will need to keep VT quarterback, Tyrod Taylor, in check. I am excited to see what Zac Lee will do for Nebraska but the home field advantage at Lane Stadium was the deciding factor for me. Virginia Tech doesn't lose too many non-conference openers at home and I don't see this one being any different.

8:00PM. Texas Tech at Texas. Prediction: Texas
Honestly, I thought about going with Texas Tech with the upset. That was until I realized Texas Tech is going to be playing without a few starters on defense. Look for Colt McCoy to pick apart the secondary of the Red Raiders for 3 TDs and for Taylor Potts to be held to just 1 passing TD.

Hope you all have a fun weekend! Keep me posted on the scores!

Random Thought for the Day

2009-09-16T23:47:00.000-04:00

I am so blessed with some of you guys on campus at Christopher Newport that I get to serve with. We have gone through some tough times, people have questioned our integrity at times, and have doubted our abilities even more.

I have to say I have seen the Lord truly working in the lives of a ton of Christian males on campus and the fruit that is being yielded is evidence of that. I am proud of the way the guys around me have stepped up as leaders and I admire every one of you. I love the community we have here at CNU and I absolutely love being able to serve the Lord with all of you.

Just wanted to send a little encouragement out your way especially after the flag football game tonight. The way everyone was focused on the Lord and bringing glory to HIM instead of themselves is not something you see very often in a competitive game like that. Keep diving into the Word, going to your Creator in prayer and seek to glorify HIM in everything you do. I love you guys and I am expecting the Lord to do some HUGE things through us this semester.

"If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ." - 1 Peter 4:11

Week 2 Predictions

2009-09-11T00:09:00.004-04:00

I have to catch a plane early in the morning for Minnesota so I have to get these up tonight! I don't think there are many great games this week unfortunately so it is a good thing I won't be watching anyway! Here are a couple games to check out that may be interesting.

12:00PM Syracuse at Penn State.

Prediction: Penn State. Evan Royster had an average game last week against Akron but expect many more carries this week as he leads the Nittany Lions to a win. Definite 100+ rushing game for him.

3:30PM Notre Dame at Michigan.

Prediction: Notre Dame. This is mainly to make Brendan happy again but I was impressed last week with the numbers put up by Jimmy Clausen. Granted, Nevada isn't the best team in the world so hopefully Michigan will put up a little bit more of a fight.

7:00PM South Carolina at Georgia.

Prediction: Georgia. Even though both teams were absolutely horrible in their opening games I have to go with the Dawgs. Brian, don't say I never did anything for you. The Georgia offense needs to step it up big time though and stop wishing they still had Stafford and Knowshon.

7:00PM Air Force at Minnesota.

Prediction: Air Force. I feel like I should be shunned from Gopher football after this prediction but I just have to be honest here. The worst part about this game is that it is the first game ever at the new TCF Bank stadium. Minnesota needs to utilize Decker much more than they did against Syracuse. Linebacker Lee Campbell is also going to get a lot of work in as I see Air Force running all over the Gopher defense. Hope my Gophers prove me wrong though!!

8:00PM USC at Ohio State.

Prediction: USC. I hate Ohio State. So that is one reason why they will lose. Plus, Matt Barkley basically took over and is probably the most loved guy on campus right now. Expect a nice repeat of last year's 35-3 whoop up. Plus, how do you only beat Navy by 4 points in week 1? That is sad my friends.

I hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend and I'll make sure I post some pictures when I get back. 6:00 will come VERY soon!

Week 1 Predictions

2009-09-05T01:05:00.002-04:00

It has been a long day and I haven't gotten much time to think about some of the games tomorrow. Here are a few that I will be watching with maybe a couple blurbs about them. Enjoy your weekend people!

12:00PM Minnesota at Syracuse Prediction: Minnesota of course. Excited to see Paulus play though! I have to say good luck to my boy Donte Davis but I have to go with my Gophers on this one. This will be a tough game for both teams and there will be a lot to learn from after this week. Adam Weber and Eric Decker will connect for a couple TDs and the defense will hold Syracuse to 7 points.

3:30PM Georgia at Oklahoma State Prediction: Oklahoma State. Dez Bryant. That's it.

6:00PM William and Mary at Virginia Prediction: William and Mary. This almost hurts me to say this. I don't think UVA has it in them though. Plus, David Miller is a beast :)

8:00PM Alabama vs Virginia Tech Prediction: Alabama. If this game were a couple weeks ago I would have taken VT. They are going to feel the loss of Evans in the backfield but hopefully Williams will prove me wrong. Good luck Cody and Beau! Thank you
Chick-fil-A for sponsoring this game.

Start of Something Great!

2009-09-03T14:38:00.001-04:00

I'll get the weekend predictions for this glorious college football season out tomorrow but I had to post some for the games tonight real quick! I am only going to talk about one game because I honestly don't care much about blue turf or the west coast.

7PM South Carolina at NC State

Two words...Mike Glennon. I hope he gets some playing time tonight (O'Brien says a series or two in the first half) behind Russell Wilson and if he does, he better throw for about 3 TDs. NC State's linebackers and secondary will have a lot to prove tonight especially after the loss of key linebacker, Nate Irving, who was injured in a car accident this summer.

South Carolina has shockingly said they are focusing more on the run game this year after finishing 112th in rushing last year (hopefully they make it back down to double digits). Garcia is the only QB on the roster with some experience so it should be interesting to see how/if he shows up for the first game this season. Enjoy the trip to Raleigh!

FINAL SCORE: South Carolina 28 NC State 21

10:15PM Oregon at Boise State
See Above....still watch the game though!

Ohhh Boy...

2009-08-31T14:19:00.000-04:00

I came across this video today and it brought back WAY too many memories. I had an awesome opportunity back in 2007 to go to Lake Champion (a Young Life camp in New York) to be on summer staff for the month of June. These guys were involved all month as part of the Assignment Team and pulled this off one night for all the kids! It was hilarious...especially if you know the people who did it. Major props to Pat, Sloop, Dave, and Scott for a great month and an entertaining rendition of OK GO! Check it out right hizzereee.

From Secret Shame to Saving Grace

2009-08-28T21:13:00.000-04:00

Here's the deal. There are ridiculous amounts of men (and women) out there who are addicted to pornography. The worst part is no one is talking about it. We like to think of this topic as "private" and "not appropriate to talk about" but we NEED to talk about it. I once heard that the best thing that could happen to you is have your sin be broadcasted on prime time news because then you have to deal with it.

Jimmy Needham is one of my favorite people right now. Not only because his lyrics and music are disgustingly good but because he is not afraid to talk about his addiction to pornography. His life was consumed with self-serving acts and disobedience but the Lord broke him and brought him to his knees! I pray for all of you that struggle with this issue and want to remind you that your God takes great delight in you.

Romans 8:1 tells us "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

Remember that you are forgiven and loved as a child of God :)

Check out Jimmy's interview on the 700 Club from the other day here!

5 Questions!

2009-08-25T23:57:00.002-04:00

I was sitting in class today. Shocker. It is also GOVT 100 which is kind of a shocker because I feel like it is a Freshman class and I'm officially a SENIOR (hopefully isn't a shocker).

As our professor was giving an introduction to the class I actually paid attention to a brief part of his shindig. It was somewhere in between the animals and the relativism but he said there are 5 questions everyone will come across at some point in their life. SO! Here they are in the best form of notes I could possibly take in a class.

1)What is love? (baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me)

2)What is friendship?

3)What is justice?

4)Is there a God?

5)What happens to us when we die?

I sat there thinking for a while about crafty answers with big words that are out of a thesaurus but came up empty. These are questions that can only be answered if you have Scripture in front of you. The answers to these aren't relative (I feel like that is a bold claim for some reason). Grab a pen, paper, and a Bible! See you if you can answer these 5 questions.

"The Nines"

2009-08-23T15:33:00.002-04:00

Just registered for "The Nines."

Check it out here!! This is going to be a great day, hearing from some great people!

If you had 9 minutes to speak to thousands of people what would you say?

A Call to Die

2009-08-19T20:02:00.001-04:00

I am writing my Senior Seminar paper on a man named Dietrich Bonhoeffer. If you don't know who he is, that is where wikipedia comes in handy. This guy faced a lot of stuff in his life as he lived through WWII and the Nazi regime. There was a point in his life where Bonhoeffer no longer settled for being submissive to the government but actively sought to overthrow it.

SO! I have been asking myself and others the same question. As a follower of Christ, would you be submissive to the Nazi government? Or would you actively seek to overthrow it?

G-Force!!!

2009-08-14T00:15:00.005-04:00

Last weekend I finally had a great excuse to go see G-Force...IN 3-D!!!! Shannon and I met up with Emma, the crazy little girl in these pictures to see the movie. I loved it and was quoting lines the whole time but Emma started to get a little bored as time went on.

Favorite Line = "Get your butt outta my face!" "Get your face outta my butt!"

Anyway, check out these sweet pics of us hanging out before the movie started!

This picture makes me smile every time I look at it

Random Rants

2009-08-11T01:16:00.002-04:00

So my mind is always running....and sometimes there are weird/random/thoughtful things going through there. Here is a place where I will share some of the weird/random/thoughtful things that are going on! Look back every week to see how the week was!

Last week was pretty crazy with lots of meetings and fun stuff...definitely a change from my normal summer days
Thought about where I would get another tattoo if I ever had the guts to do so. Decided on the ribcage.
Caroline County has farms, trees, and AP Hill...other than that it is almost useless
I take that back....Shannon lives in Caroline County
Went to Pierce's BBQ tonight and I ate WAY too much...If you are ever in Williamsburg, you need to go there!
I put a desk together today and the last piece was messed up. Frustrating.
Praying over Galatians 5 this week....In desperate need of good fruit!
Speaking of fruit...fruit by the foot box was crushed in about 2 days
My back has been getting worse and worse the past couple of days and I'm not sure why
College football starts in less than a month!!! AMEN
Yes, the Minnesota Golden Gophers will win the national championship in case you were wondering
Check out "sermon jams" on Youtube.com
Trusting the Lord with your life is sometimes a scary thing for people but he is SOVEREIGN! Pounding that into my head in all aspects of life
Can't wait for classes to start
Can't wait for club to start
Can't wait to see lives changed again this year!!
Just looked at my clock and realized it is almost 2AM...Goodnight!

5 People I Would Love to Meet

2009-08-04T17:47:00.002-04:00

1) Perry Noble - He loves college football just as much as I do and his passion for lost people is evident in every sermon he preaches. I have been challenged so much by his heart for Jesus, his wife, and his daughter. I usually wouldn't admit this but his stories about his daughter have given me a new appreciation for little girls to the point where I don't want to just build a football team anymore!

2) Bear Grylls - I have watched his show "Man vs. Wild" for a while now but just recently found out about his faith in Jesus Christ. I'm sure that man has some ridiculous stories about things he has been through but I would want to first ask him to share his testimony and talk about Jesus.

3) Jimmy Needham - I first heard his music about 2 years ago and his lyrics are absolutely amazing and convicting. I have heard his story about some of the things he has struggled with in his past and would love to hang out with him and hear more about his life!

4) Tony Dungy - He loves Jesus. He is an amazing football coach. He played for Minnesota. There couldn't be a better person to meet and talk to! I love how he is focusing his energy on things that really matter, not just football. Talking to guys in the NFL about Jesus has to be an amazing thing!!

5) Michael W. Smith - He was one of the first concerts I went to and the dude is TALENTED! I love how his goal is not to produce CDs or make money on his concerts...His goal is to worship and glorify the Lord every night he plays. The man is involved in some awesome ministries and has an amazing heart!

College Football 2009!

2009-07-22T10:28:00.010-04:00

So I can't tell you how excited I am about this upcoming season. Aside from all the games I am going to this year, there are going to be some ridiculous ones on TV too that will take up some of my life. In this post I'll list my top 25 with a couple blurbs about the top 10, my Heisman watch, and a couple great games to check out this year. Let's get it going!!

2009 College Football Top 25

1. Florida: Looking at a possible 12-0 record leading to another national championship. Tebow leading the offense with everyone coming back on defense will make it tough for any team to challenge them.

2. Texas: Very powerful offense that will put up numbers this year. Colt McCoy and 8 others on offense coming back.

3. USC: Biggest question they need to answer is the QB situation with the departure of Sanchez. Much to prove this year and could easily slip lower in the top 25.

4. Oklahoma: Could challenge for the national championship but lost a lot of starters from one of the best offenses in the nation last year. Bradford will still put up numbers though!

5. Alabama: Weak SEC schedule but still have a lot to prove this year.

6. Oklahoma State: Best skill player trio in the nation. I foresee losses to Texas and Oklahoma though.

7. Virginia Tech: Finally have one QB instead of flipping through two. This team will go as far as Tyrod Taylor can take them. Best punter in the nation too! (Brent Bowden)

8. Ohio State: Mainly because I hate them. Lost Wells and Hartline but still have Pryor who needs to show some development.

9. Penn State: With Heisman candidate Evan Royster carrying the offense they will be looking at a 10-2 season this year. 8 home games will help them a lot though!

10. Mississippi: 9 players on offense coming back plus they have Houston Nutt!!

11. LSU

12. Georgia Tech

13. Boise State

14. Georgia

15. Oregon

16. Utah

17. California

18. TCU

19. Kansas

20. Iowa

21. Florida State

22. Texas Tech

23. UNC

24. Notre Dame (for Brendan)

25. MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS!!! Had to get them in here somewhere but I feel like they honestly have a chance at the top 25! Big games this season with Cal, Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Iowa. That makes me frown.

Heisman Watch!!

1. Tim Tebow, Florida: If he leads his team to a 12-0 season and national championship it would make it hard not to give him the Heisman. In my opinion he is the best college football QB and leader ever. Threw for 2,746 yards and 30 TDs last season.

2. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma: Won it last year by putting up ridiculous numbers (4,720 yards and 50 TDs) and will probably do the same again this season but lost key players on offense.

3. Evan Royster: Royster will be getting many of the carries at Penn State this year and is one of the only solid RBs coming back in the NCAA. This will either take a toll on him or explode his numbers from last years 1,236 yards and 12 TDs. Plus, I was his fullback in high school :)

Big Games to Watch!!

September 12: USC @ Ohio State

September 19: Texas Tech @ Texas

October 10: Florida @ LSU

October 17: Minnesota @ Penn State (Shannon's first football game!)

Oklahoma vs. Texas

Thats it for now!! Hope you enjoyed my predictions...check back each Friday during the season for Saturday's big predictions. GO GOPHERS!

College Football Preview!

2009-07-20T21:46:00.004-04:00

Stay tuned later this week for the 2009-2010 college football preview!! I'll throw out my top 25 teams and talk about a few things/games I am looking forward to.

Who will be #1?

Will the Minnesota Gophers be in the top 25?

Will Tebow win the Heisman?

What are the big games to look out for this year?

How will Shannon Hopper enjoy her first football game on Oct 17 (Minnesota at Penn State)?

Can't WAIT till football season starts....every day I wake up is one day closer to kick-off!

Living Like We're Free

2009-07-16T09:34:00.003-04:00

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

This was the topic of conversation last night at our Bible study and a lot of great conversation was generated from it. Brad Brewer offered an excellent illustration which reminded me of a lot of people in the Christian community. He said he often gets the picture of standing in a square cell with bars all around him and seeing the door of the cell wide open. Even though we are technically free and the door is wide open, we stand there in the cell just staring at the open door, not moving.

I would love to try to explain this more but I think Garrett nails it in his post about living as one lost....check it out!

AH i am BACK

2009-07-15T12:19:00.002-04:00

I have been so bored this summer sitting in Newport News without a job just working out and reading. The random trips on the weekends to go see people aka Shannon have been the things that I look forward to every week!

It has been so good to have days where I can just sit in the presence of the Lord and reflect (or try to) on how GREAT He is. I have been brought out of my comfort zone with certain sins in my life and convicted like no other. The studying and reading has opened my eyes to things that I would never think I could understand. I am looking forward to more time like this but at the same time I need people to come back to Newport News!! Hurry!! I love you all

Just Listen

2009-05-23T23:12:00.003-04:00

For the past month or so I have been going through the book of Acts and have definitely had to take a step back on some stuff! Today I was going through Acts 8 and saw just how relevant this was to the ministry of Young Life.

As leaders, the one thing that we should always do is LISTEN to God. No one knows better than He does and when we listen to God we can't go wrong. Philip listened to the Lord and OBEYED what he heard. As Young Life leaders, or any leader for that matter, we need to LISTEN to the Lord so HIS will can be done.

Because Philip was obedient, he was placed in a situation where he was able to share the "good news about Jesus." We must, as leaders, be obedient to God and go where he wants us no matter what!

Round 2

2009-05-22T22:13:00.000-04:00

This is officially round TWO of internet blogging. The first try lasted about a month then I just had way too many websites to check and update (still do). Hopefully with some new people pouring into me and some new ideas I will be able to contribute a little bit more!

PLUS! College football is right around the corner so once high school sports are over and done with, I am going to be throwing out my weekly predictions of some big NCAA games.

Grace me with your presence por favor! PEACE