March Madness thoughts

Because I have not blogged in a long time...what better casual thing to blog about other than March Madness. So...here are my thoughts. I do not know how many I will have but I will just start and end when I am done!

1. No Stephen Curry this year. This is sad but leaves room for someone else to drop 45 a night and will their team to the elite 8.

2. No South Carolina. Listen I am not a faithful South Carolina grad on most days. Our sports programs (minus Baseball, track, and I think we are pretty good at soccer) are not the best. In fact we have a saying and it is "maybe next year". I have actually learned to say it quite well...BUT this year the men's basketball team did a great job knocking off key people like Baylor (almost won the Big 12), Florida, and Kentucky (twice). We finished with a similar record in and out of conference as Tennessee and completely turned the program around from last year.

3. Top 15 seed (BINGHAMTON): It hurts me to say this but watch out Duke. I say that because we (I am a huge Duke fan, and have been ever since I was born) always have trouble in the first round and Binghamton is pretty good. They could role over and fall to Duke BUT given the right conditions...this could happen.

If this does not happen, watch out Michigan State only because Mich. St. is a very inconsistent team.

4. Top 14 seed (American University): American over Villanova. I got see American play the other day and they look tough.

5. Top 13 seed: This is a tough one and here is why...3 out of the 4 13's look good. Mississippi St. just won the SEC so I might actually pick them over Washington so I do not know if I consider this an 'upset' just because MSU should not be a 13 seed, BUT the other two that are appealing to me are Portland State and Cleveland State.

Cleveland State almost beat West Virginia and did beat Syracuse.

Portland State lost by 1 point to Udub and did beat Gonzaga pretty easily.

I am just saying...looks like the most upset action could come from #13 this year.

6. Top 12 seed (this is the last 'top seed' anything, anything over #12 is not an upset in the first round): I think Western Kentucky looks good for this spot. They DID be Louisville this year which makes 5 people who did that all year...and they beat them by 14...I am just saying.

I think Wisc. might be ok as well but in relation to an 'upset' pick...W. Kentucky might be a good pick to make some noise.

7. UCONN owes someone some money. Louisville was the number 1 seed of the whole tourney yet UCONN COULD have the easiest ride to the Elite 8...and then there is Memphis who has been scrimmaging all year in their division, saving all of their energy, to go really far this year.

8. Who might be in trouble: Oklahoma. They need to figure out how to play together again with their big man back. Also, Pitt could have a tough game with Ok. State in the second round...that is a tough second round and Pitt is hurt a little at the guard spot.

9. Who got the shaft: Baylor, South Carolina, Davidson, maybe Virginia Tech, Boston College, and did I say Baylor...?

10. Who paid the most to get in the tourney: CLEMSON! REALLY....REALLY....8-7 for their last 15 games including loosing to Virginia. I guess that is better than last year when they went 6-9. So...I guess they ended a lot better than last year...good job.

11. Final Four picks: Louisville (they are playing soooo well and have a killer press and even the water boy is all conference; that is how deep they are). UNC. Memphis. Pitt.

12. Final Four for fun: Louisville. Duke (Pitt is hurting and I do not see anyone else in the region that can win it). Syracuse (if they have any more energy). Memphis.

Cannot wait to fill out my bracket. Happy March Madness.

My destiny on Sat. at 10:30am (PST)

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He (Elias) better love me forever!

I am looking forward to when it will be E., maybe Glory, Maybe Jess (if she can bring her 'twilight' books), and me at the Sox games. If this is the case..I could probably do Thomas live at least two times...(maybe).

In Boston: Day #4

Sorry about day #3...it was a world-wind. I was out way too late and I was going all day. There...that is a sufficient recap.

I am about to leave Boston, MA in three hours (assuming everything at Logan Airport is nice and tight in regards to time). Man...what a great trip this has been.

For all who do not know...just assuming that some know and some do not know, several months ago, I felt God moving my heart to plant a church. I thought I was not going to plant a church, but take over a smaller church and pastor it. Of course this would happen after we lived in Seattle for 5-7 years (our plan). This was the dream of our life. We LOVE Seattle. We LOVE the people of Seattle...even the gentlemen who make up the 'Tour de Nude' and ride their bikes naked in Fremont (downtown Seattle).

While being there and in this mind-set, God really stirred up my heart through some great pastors teaching me (whether they realized it or not) and great friends...I knew this was what we were supposed to do. I kind of held onto that dream for a while...I kept it in and did not want to tell the wifey just yet. She is amazing and would go anywhere with me, but she LOVES Seattle probably more than me and some has amazing friends.

Well after her and I having constructive discussions (sometimes at a higher volume than normal), we decided to pray for a week and then reconvene. After those seven days, though scared out of our mind...we knew this is what we were supposed to do..so where do we go from here..Boston.

In a couple weeks (March 8-10th) I will be assessed and prodded by some fine gentlemen at Mars Hill and Acts29. This will include numerous questions and personality tests etc. after a lengthy application and phone interview. They just want to make sure that I have at least a good foundation to begin a church.

After that (if I pass, if I do not...please disregard this blog...)...we will focus on getting to Boston. This will include a lot of leg work. That is why I am here this week...scouting out the land that God has given Jess and I to minister (Numbers 13-14). We know that God has called us here and being here this week has really affirmed that calling.

So what have I learned after talking to several Bostonians and some Boston Pastors:

1. There are not very many churches here. I really have not seen anything like it before. Even the Catholic churches are closing one by one due to various reasons. This means that the generation after me with be without the existence of some sort of religion if something does not change here.

2. South Boston is probably the least churched area in the city of Boston. I do not have numbers...but when asking all of my pastor friends, they cannot recall any church in the South other than Heaven's Gate Catholic church (beautiful church by the way...I hear the priest is very nice there...I cannot wait to meet him).

3. This is where my wife and I have to go.

4. They said this area will be VERY hard because we are not Bostonians...and we will be new to the area. It is one of the very few neighborhoods in all of Boston where people have stayed to live. The average stay of a person in Boston is 2 years. This is enough to finish some sort of schooling or get a city fix and move elsewhere.

5. The people here LOVE their city. This excites me the most.

6. According to my wife's good friend Sirk...in order to teach people...I am going to have to start at the very base level of what it means to be a Jesus follower. The idea of discipleship, worship music, reading the bible, pretty much everything I take for granted...I would need to repent of taking for granted these simply yet profound truths of salvation and teach other people these simple truths. I never thought about this reality...Thank you Sirk for your wisdom of your people. Also...she did add that my name of our church is really funny and plain.

The church will be called Gospel Community which will be seen as a type of Music...I cannot wait. Maybe I can have Kirk Franklin at my first service?? J/k. If I do my job right and teach and preach correctly...and love people correctly...people will soon come to understand the term 'Gospel' in light of Jesus...and 'Gospel' in light of Community.

7. It is a very slow process of seeing any return in your laboring. Everyone has told me to plan for 5 years of HARD ministry.

Wow...I mean these truths floored me. I love learning about new places (to me, the city has been here forever).

A new friend of mine Pastor Ralph Kee has been here for 37 years and was very gracious to meet with me on Weds. even after he JUST found out that he has lymphoma (on TUESDAY!) gave me a copy of a book he has been working on and I am very excited to start it on the way home.

"Church Planting in Boston Rediscovered"

It is people like Ralph Kee that are true apostles of the Gospel before it was cool and I am very grateful for new friends like him and his lovely wife.

What an amazing trip. I cannot wait to get back. There is a lot of work to be done: prayer, fund-raising ($250,000 plus), visiting again, finding a 'de-leaded' apartment (don't ask), and gathering people and teaching them the bible and raising those people up as our first members of Gospel Community church.

Ok that is why I am here if you did not know (according to my wife some people did not know...no big deal).

These next months are big months. I am going to work hard and pray harder. Please pray for us and the city of Boston if you think about it.

-nick

In Boston: Day #2b

Ok, so I know I said no more blogging for today...and then I found Mikes Pastry (Thanks to a good buddy, thanks David)....

I had the Chocolate Chip one...unreal. They have an online store...

In Boston: Day #2a (Scratch tickets and the Gospel)

Yes that is right...scratch tickets and the Gospel can coexist.

I never expected my observations in the 7-eleven last night to nail one key element of Boston on the head...scratch tickets. Apparently is a way of life here?

I would play too if I lived in the 2 most expensive city in the US. As a church planter/pastor I am thinking about being missional about the Gospel and scratch tickets. Unless you play the scratch, how else is the church going to get by? We are going to do budget campaigns and tell people to go buy a ticket and give us a portion.

I love it. At least there is a thrill in the scratch ticket as opposed to the lottery numbers/powerball crap.

Today was a great day. I had my first 'T' experience. I even almost went outside of the city to the Oak Grove area in Malden and Melrose. It is great. I am going to LOVE not driving. I am not a nice person sometimes when I drive...SOMETIMES.

Also, I met to great guys/pastors who love Jesus and love the city of Boston (Pastor Matt Kruse and Pastor Jonathan Kerhoulas. I cannot wait to be partners in ministry in an amazing city.

Back to the Gospel: This place is great and like everywhere else...they need the Gospel (you can never have too much Gospel). I am excited to bring scratch tickets and the gospel together...they def. go together for sure.

Ok I think this is good for now. I am excited about tomorrow. Tonight I am going to get some good pizza with a good buddy from Columbia, SC.

In Boston: Day #2

Today will probably be a multiple entry day. I am sitting at the Faneuil Hall Market place right now. I saw this Starbucks last night on the way to dinner so it was the only one that I knew how to get to. I think there are 2.1 tables in this starbucks and I just happen to get one. Not only that but I mapquest my next meeting from here...and by the grace of God I picked the right direction this morning. Beginners luck for sure. I could have ended up in Cambridge or something...and I need to be in the Financial District later. From what I understand...these are not near each other.

Thoughts for the day (so far):

1. It is still cold. I do not mind it...I am just making note. From what I can gather, everyone just keeps going. This is different from the South and the Northwest. Should there be snow or talks of snow, the grocery stores sell out and everything closes. I can imagine that if it snows here, you just leave a little earlier for work on some sort of snow vehicle or wearing special shoes?

2. This place is old, I like it.

3. Speaking of old...I am sitting at a starbucks that is in a building that is over 250 years old. I wonder if the 'founding fathers' saw ole' Howard Schultz coming....? (on a side note...this probably should be the last time I say or type 'ole' if I am going to live here).

4. This place is small, yet big. Everything is so dense and compact, yet this is the city. You can tell a lot of people live here and work here. Also, I walked I think a couple of blocks and I think I am in a whole other zip code, area, and neighborhood of Boston. I bet if I walked a few blocks further...I could have been in another state...who knows? Maybe I will try that tomorrow.

5. I hope our kids have a Boston accent. It is tough yet fun. I bet if we named our third kid Bruno and he talked with a THICK Boston accent...no one would touch our family. (This might be a good plan).

6. It is going to take a lot of time, prayer, and patience to do ministry here (people's hearts excluded). It will take a lot of time to get the city both geographically and spiritually. It will take a lot of time and prayer to find the right locations to meet. It is going to take a lot of patience because it is going to take a while. Additionally, this is going to be a whole different living style that my family is used to, BUT we are called and that settles it.

I think my wife will be ok no matter where we live as long as there are no pregnant women living with us (including her), at least for a season. I add the disclaimer just in case we might find/know a nice pregnant lady in our future and she needs a place to stay for a little while (I am just saying...you never know).

That is good for now. I have some school work to do. I will try and write something tonight.

In Boston: Day #1

It has been great so far. It is a different cold here. I do not know how to explain it. I am sure someone who lives here could explain it quite well...me...I kind of enjoy it. It is brisk and refreshing.

Tonight I had a great night with three great friends. You cannot go wrong with 3 friends and good food...the only thing that would have made it better would have been to have my sweet wife beside me to love on...and have her chime in the conversation from time to time.

The three friends were Pastor Dave of New Hope Church just south of Boston. I do not know if he likes to be called 'Pastor Dave' but he is a great brother and Pastor..so he has earned it and I will call him that. His wife Michelle was great as well. I enjoyed just talking and hearing their heart for the city and their people that they love so much. Lastly, but not least was Sirk. (Sorry Sirk, I know you are trying to drop the 'Sirk' title...I will do better). She really loves her city and I enjoy hearing her talk about it, as well as her love for her 4runner.

What a great night. I am very excited about my time here and what God is going to teach me. I know it will be short and it cannot do the city proper justice...but I am grateful for any time here.

Enough for tonight. Last night was a long night with sickness and sweet Glory girl. She was up late. Luckily, my wife was sweet and stayed up with her to give her a little mid-night snack (except at 2am).

Ok I will close with this...I am staying in a Holiday Inn Express right beside Boston Garden. Next to us is a 7-eleven. I walk in and you can tell this place has a lot of 'history'. A lot of interesting people were in there. I literally saw a guy buy $10 worth of lottery tickets, won $40...and bought $40 of lottery tickets. I do not know if he won again because he walked out with the new ones...anyway..right when you walk in they have this fruit display...and next to the fruit is the assortment of 40oz. drinks..you know your 'Colt 45' and 'King Cobra'. I thought to myself...if 7-eleven was going to jump on the 'value meal band-wagon'...a 40oz. and a piece of fruit might be the way to go?? A little fun with a little freshness?

I opted for the water...but you never know...just kidding..I will find some dirt to drink before I do that.