Season End

The Patriots missed the playoffs because of one more loss to an AFC opponent than our rival, the Dolphins. That's the only thing that separated the Patriots from their sixth consecutive playoff birth. As painful as missing the playoffs are, you can't be disappointed with the season. Going 11-5 is very impressive for the conditions we were under; injuries, improved division, lack of experience. These things all would usually drag a team down under, and not even be in contention for the playoffs. That just goes to show how good the Patriots are, under Belichick, and the players that surround the franchise.
The Pats are now surrounded with many questions. How fast will Brady recover from his injury? What is Matt Cassel's future with Patriots? Who will retire, and who will stay? Who will be traded, and how will the Pats approach the draft? A lot of these questions will be answered in the coming months, but until then, Patriot fans will have to watch the playoffs without their home team in the mix. An unusual feeling to say the least.
But in all the confusion that is the off season, there are some definite things I think will happen that I would like to point out.
1-Randy Moss has at least another year left on his contract.
2-Wes Welker is signed with the Pats through 2011.
3-The Patriots will not allow snowmen to be built on the field next year, while in mid-game.
4.-The Patriots have a game in London next year against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, thus suggesting we play that whole division. (Tampa, New Orleans, Carolina, and Atlanta)
5-Brady will not be traded to another team for draft picks, as many fans have suggested.
6-The Patriot's coaching staff may look a bit different with Josh McDaniel's and Scott Pioli's contracts being up.

That said, I think the Patriots will be ready to storm back, and win the division crown next year. For now, we must all watch the playoffs Patriotless. But I find the off season a fun thing to watch and to be able to see how the team will look for next season.

Perfectly Jealous

Recently in youth group, the fact that God, is a jealous God, came up. It really struck me, because I 'knew' He was a jealous God, after all, I read it a thousand thousand times. But, I really got hit with it the other day. A common question, is that how can God be a jealous God, if He commands us to avoid jealousy, and it is cast into a negative light. I was confused about this, personally, for a while, until the other night.
If someone were to take away something from another dude, when it was rightfully the dude's to begin with, would it be right for the person who was robbed of to be jealous and concerned? Even angry at the person that stole from him? Of course it would, and that anger would be justified and granted.
However, it IS wrong for a person to covet, and become jealous of something that is rightfully another's. That is were the sin lies, and what God commands against. Jealousy over other people's possessions is evil, and sinful.
Now when you look back at how God is a jealous God, it all becomes slightly clearer. God is jealous for us, when we fall in to sin. He desires that wicked awesome relationship with us, and that is slashed when we sin. That is when God becomes jealous. But the best thing is, if ya look further into it, it shows just how much God loves us. He wants a relationship with us so badly, he wants to know us and help us. Praise God for His jealousy! Makes me wonder if that's why He is so merciful to forgive us as much as He does. Just think how pitiful we as sinful creatures are, and the ruler and creator of this entire gianormous universe and all the little atoms that make it up, forgives beings like us, for ruining it all time and time again. And He perfectly restores us, making us white as snow. How awesome is He? Man, it just blows my mind.

Week 14-Squeezing Out Of Seattle

The Patriots played a game that should have been an easy swipe-through victory. Instead, they had to play a hard-fought, pad-breaking battle to barely pull out a victory, 24-21.
The Seattle Seahawks, who are out of the playoff race, has nothing really to play for, except to ruin other teams' playoff hopes. They gave the Pats are run, leading the game until the last two minutes. The Patriots struggled defensively, with older linebackers filling in, including newly signed Junior Seau, and Rosevelt Colvin. Both played without a full week of practice, which just shows how low the Pats are for depth in the linebacker field. The Pats also had to start a rookie at cornerback.
Quarterback, Matt Cassel continued to show more improvement, completing twelve passes to Wes Welker.
As far as the playoff outlook goes, the Patriots chances got a hair better. With the divisional leading Jets taking a second straight loss, the Patriots and Jets are tied at 8-5. But, however, the Dolphins have won four straight away games and have also tied with the Pats and Jets. What has resulted is a three way tie for the division, with the Bills barely alive at 6-7. Statistically, the Dolphins can take the division no matter what, if they win all their remaining games. Hopefully that does not happen and the Patriots sweep through instead. The Patriots look to have the easiest remaining schedule, but have had problems winning more than two games in a row this season.
Wildcard hopes are slim with Indianapolis and Baltimore winning, but it is still possible. Right now, the Patriots just need to focus on winning games, and see how they squeeze out in the end.

Week 13-Steel Defense

The Patriots got utterly wiped out last Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Patriots started out strong, in the first quarter, but then floundered miserably the rest of the game. It was rainy, it was wet, and slippery, and just plain bad weather. Not to use that as an excuse, as the Steelers had to play in the exact same thing, but I do think our chances may have been slightly better in good weather. But hey, we can say that in any case and it doesn't matter. What matters is it did rain, and we lost real bad. The Patriots headed into the half tied at ten. What was bad, was that the Pats missed three chances in the endzone and a field goal right before the end of the half. Once they returned at the half, the Patriots never score again. They committed five total turnovers and allowed the Steelers to rack up twenty-three unanswered points.
Though the loss was painful, the Patriots lucked out with the New York Jets losing to the Broncos at the same time. This keeps the Patriots only one game behind with four games left in the season. The Patriots need to get their act together, because their playoff chances are getting dimmer, and they can't allow another loss. They play three losing teams out of their last four, so they should easily be able to fly through and take four wins...hopefully. We still have a chance of going 11-5 as a final record, and playoffs or not, that isn't bad without Tom Brady as our quarterback. Go Pats!

Exist, I Do

Ah, the warmth is gone and the snow has fallen. Because of this, my internet usage abilities have faded fast. I used to be able to venture outside my house for a bit of wifi for me laptop, but those days have long gone since snow decided to invade, so many apologies for the lack of posting lately. I still exist and am planning on at least updating weeklyish.
Currently I am finishing up my first semester of college, cranking out research papers, giant bio exams, and pointless power-points. Fun stuff. Hopefully gonna get a car someday soon here. Ummm..... oh, I'm 19 now, woot woot! :)
Just got off an awesome Thanksgiving, where I managed to eat quite a few slices of pie, at least two of each. Gotta have lotsa pie. We only had three people over for thanksgiving this here which is unusual, but it was nice to have a smaller crow. More food for me anyway. :D
God is doing wonderful things in my life right now. He's helping me get through my school, take everything day to day, and blessing me with awesome friends and family. This month has been a month of true thanksgiving. Praise God for His blessings and mercy! His love is so incredible. I've been really digesting the fact of how much he cares about everything about us. Each tiny facet of our lives is known to Him, even the cruddy stuff, and He STILL loves us all the same. That is just so awesome. \m/
Oh and I've been able to get some nice new pics with my camera, mostly of friends and what-not. Enjoy.

Sam and Jonathan Sinclair, having a moment

Thomas Sinclair and Sam, again

Joel Being Joel

Kirstie, Sam, and me dad
Beth, in 'Hide' mode
Me and m'lady
Cool picture of the Joel
Da sky
Cool tree I found down the road from my house

Oh Spirit Send A Revival To This Nation

As hard as it is to comprehend Obama as the new president of the United States. With as little inexperience as he has, being pro-choice, and pushing to pull out of Iraq, one wonders where our once great country is headed.
But in all the suckiness I am filled with currently, I must realize that God IS in control. Wherever this nation is headed, and whatever God has planned for the future, it is the right thing. He runs the show behind the curtains, and He works His perfect plan at all times. We don't truly know what is going to happen, or how it will happen, and probably why it happens. But, nothing exceeds his reign. Nothing at all. Praise God for the people in this country that still believe in Him, and follow Him.
I am reminded of a worship song that has to be one of my favorites. It is called Breathe on Us Again. It goes as follows:

Breathe On Us Again

O Lord hear, O Lord forgive us.
We have lost the awe of You.
Have mercy, have mercy.

O Lord, cleanse
Our hearts which are divided.
Stir the faith that we once knew
We're thirsty, we're thirsty.

O Lord restore
The church that bears Your name.
O Spirit send
A revival to this nation.

Breathe on us again,
Breathe on us again.

Our country needs a revival so painfully bad. We have far from slipped over the edge, and I wonder how much God will allow the country to last as it is. Maybe this election is a turning point in some shape or form? For good or bad? Who knows, but God's people need to rise, and be the true leaders of the earth. Not those of the world. We need a revival, and we need it now.

Week 8-Meeting of Momentum

The pumped Rams, fueled by two consecutive victories, including a thrashing of the Dallas Cowboys, brought them to Gillette Stadium to face a Patriot team fuming over the loss of All-Pro Safety, Rodney Harrison, and a decent blowout of the Denver Broncos only six days before. What came to pass was a close, and momentum clashing brawl. Thankfully, the Patriots won.
After coming off a game were the Patriots set a record setting amount of rushing yards against Denver, the running game was a bit lessened due to injuries to Lamont Jordan, and Sammy Morris. But Kevin Faulk and BenJarvis Green-Ellis, however, kept the running game to reasonable standards. With the running game established, the passing game opened up. Moss, Faulk, and Welker all played good rolls in the passing game, minus a couple drops that should have been caught. Cassel had a decent game, throwing a career high 257 yards on the day, and setting up his first fourth quarter winning drive. He did throw two interceptions, but they were tipped balls and not his fault at all. Probably his best moment was a game winning touchdown to Kevin Faulk. Kevin, actually had the best day, both on the ground, and in the air. He was the biggest weapon all day and helped the Patriots get their first consecutive win under Cassel's direction.

The defense looked alright up front, only letting a couple long gains on the ground all day, and recording several sacks. It was nice to see an actual pass rush from the Pats. The Secondary showed it still has some big holes to fill. They allowed Rams Quarterback, Marc Bulger, to throw the longest pass of his career, a 69 yard bomb for a touchdown. He nailed our secondary several times for big gains, and that's what kept the game close. Thankfully, to seal the win from the Rams, Patriot Cornerback, Deltha O'Neil intercepted a pass in the final minutes to close the game out.

It was a promising game, showing the Patriots have what it takes to win games. They are now 5-2, and tie for the divisional lead thanks to a Buffalo loss to the Miami Dolphins. We play the Indianapolis Colts, who are in a slump lately, and have a short week due to that they play tonight against the Titans. Hopefully that will carry over and we do a blow to their sagging record. If we can climb to 6-2 and play Buffalo the following week, confidence in the team, without Tom Brady I might add, will be restored.
Kudos to the Pats for an exciting game this week against the Rams.

The Chilly Tree

Finally got a new camera (Lost my old one, and the LCD screen broke). Ended up getting a Canon. Not totally sure on the model make and all that stuff, too lazy to check. It's nice though. And now I can get back to my favorite hobby. Here are the first few pictures I like. They all were taken next to , or of a tree that I have been eyeing as the autumn effects have settled in. Enjoy. :D

Week 7-Monday Night Massacre

After coming off a game that saw the Patriots lose to the Chargers, 30-10, the Patriots were in need of a morale boost. Not to mention a boost in the standings in the AFC East.
The Patriots hosted there only Monday night game this season, against the Denver Broncos. The past three games, the Broncos have taken it to us, and have crushed us in the playoffs in the recent past. However, evident from the previous week, records like that mean nothing. The Patriots looked as dangerous and effective as they did last year. Only, more balanced. The defense actually was a factor, the receivers stepped up and Matt Cassel looked great even after being sacked six times.
But the most potent and surprisingly effective form of attack was the ground game. It started with Sammy Morris gashing the Broncos for over 130 yards. He took an injury at the half and left the rest to Kevin Faulk and Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis.(Yes, thats his whole name) The Pats mustered over 260 rushing yards against the Broncs. They haven't attained that many rushing yards in a single game since 1985. Pretty dang impressive.
The Broncos looked anemic on offense, barely getting a touchdown late in the game, and that was from ex-Patriot, Daniel Graham. Their defense appeared bold in the first quarter, with All-pro corner, Champ Bailey, knocking a couple passes from Randy Moss and Jabar Gaffney. But he went down with a groin injury and never came back in the game. After that, the defense of the Broncos shattered and the Patriots ran freely against them. Randy Moss looked sharp with two touchdowns, one on a screen that normally would be passed to Wes Welker. He sprinted upfield and waltzed into the endzone effortlessly.
The Patriot defense looked a thousand times better than last week. Recording two interceptions by the end of the game, a forcing three fumbles. They allowed only one touchdown and kept the dangerous air attack of the Broncos to a minimum.
The Broncos, of course, left a painful scar on our team, injuring safety Rodney Harrison for the season. A team leader in many aspects of the game, it will be a painful loss for the team. With Brady already gone, others will have to step in and fill their rolls.
If the Pats can play like they did on Monday consistently, the Patriots could be headed deep into the playoffs. It was definitely an inspiring win, minus the injuries, but they need to continue performing at that level to win more games. They now stand at 4-2, and are one game behind the Buffalo Bills. We play the St. Louis Rams this weekend, and will hopefully pick up a decent win. The Rams are coming off two consecutive wins, a rare thing in recent Ram history, and will probably come out fired up. But I think the Patriots will have just the medicine to put them back in their place on Sunday.

Nephron Loops, Epic Battles, and Two English Muffins

Woke up today, feeling stuffed up, runny, and not wanting to go to school. A couple days ago, the day was going along fine until late in the night. You ever get that sense that you are going to be sick before you actually get sick? Something just isn't right. Like, you can feel that biological barrier shut down, and you know some nasty pathogen from hell, that would just love to take you down, sees the open door into your body.
And you ever have one of those days where, mentally, your just kinda off? You're not quite yourself and you don't think correctly? Well apparently, God thought it would be a wonderful idea for me to be sick, feel weird, and take a rather important lab exam for college all in the same day. Oh yes, perfect timing. I frankly can't argue with Him about it, but ya just gotta love how life works, the good and the bad.
So anyway, I dragged myself into class, told my friends that there was absolutely no way I would be able to go and play football with them today, and started the exam. The exam consisted of several 'stations' with models of different organs in the human body, all of which had parts that you needed to identify. I don't know how off I was, but I went brain dead when I stared at those
models. I couldn't believe it, but I actually forgot most of the parts of the heart. I usually am pretty good with heart parts. Vena-Cava, Aorta, Ventricles, and all that stuff. Easy. It all faded away though as I took the exam. I only hope there was a small portion of the intelligent Dave there to write down the right answers. My teacher looked over at me as i took the exam and sympathetically asked, 'David, are you doing alright? You don't look that great at all.' I quickly shook my head, no, and continued on, trying to figure out if it was the kidney or the spleen that contains the loop of nephron. (It's the kidney)
I did nail the 'Microscope usage' part of the exam however, my teacher told me that much, so there is some hope that I passed.
After I finished the exam, I ran down to the cafeteria and grabbed some juice. Vitamin C kicks a colds butt, so I wanted to tank up on it. Then I went home, put the trash out, and headed up to my wonderful, and warm room. Minus the fact, of course, that there is a fine line between my room and my brothers. It's kinda like God and stuff. How He is three persons in one and all, well me and my brother's room as like two rooms on one. On my side, you have a floor with maybe a small pile of clothes, and a bit of junk. It's not immaculate, but it's livable. On the other side, there is no floor, no carpet, just a thick layer of clothes, and empty soda cans. Oh yeah, and a bed that sorta meshes its way with that whole side of the room. That's my brother's side.
So, I crashed down on my friendly bean bag, turned on the X-box, and duked it out on Madden 08. It was me, an epic coach of the Buffalo Bills boasting an undefeated 7-0 record, against the charged and loaded 5-2 Philadelphia Eagles. A battle for the ages for sure. But there was one problem. That epic Buffalo Bill coach had the sniffles. He could not play with the optimum reaction time that he normally would have on any old day. So he had a simple solution. He just selected the same plays, offensively, and defensively. The same exact play, every down, every quarter, all game. He didn't care, he just wanted to get his mind off the sniffles he had and veg on his bean bag. And he won! He won the game cause the Eagles just lost it and got sick of playing a against a dull coach who doesn't understand the word, 'complex'.
After the game, I considered watching tv or have some tea, but decided against it. Instead a I flopped onto bed and slept away.
After a good hour or so, I woke up to my phone a'buzzing next to me. It was my lady, Dot, informing me about something related to pumpkins and pies. It sounded good, and right then I got real hungry. Pie sounded good, but I lacked the energy to actually go and create something of such goodness. My brother and my dad are very inapt at cooking and things related to the kitchen, and my mum was at work. So, instead, I had a couple english muffins, with warm peanut butter lathered on top. It wasn't pumpkin pie, but hey, peanut butter and pumpkin sorta have the same color right? Sorta. :p
Well after that I got real bored. I didn't wanna go back to sleep, tv sounded real boring, and I didn't have the patience to read or listen to music. So I went out online. I had to bundle up and head out to some nearby steps where I can get wifi. I should be getting wifi in my own house rather soon I hope so I don't have to run outside with my laptop. Especially because I look like a homeless bum who managed to steal a decent computer. Kinda freaky.
Oh well, there was no real point to me writing all this, other than to update my blog, and do something that would kill off my boredom. It worked too, and if you read it all, then give yourself a pat on the back and have some tea, cause that's what I am about to do. :p

Week 6-Painful Payback

After beating them twice in two years in the playoffs, and pummeling them in the regular season last year, the Chargers got their payback on Sunday. Their first play of the game was a deep bomb to Charger wide receiver, Vincent Jackson. That set the tone for the rest of the game, as the Chargers caught us horribly off guard with a slashing passing game. Our defensive backs played poorly against receivers who were taller, and a lot more aggressive. It felt like the Patriots were rag dolls all night, barely stopping the Chargers only to get the ball back for, what felt like, 2 minute possessions.
No doubt, the Chargers came in with a better game plan, were it seemed Bill Belichick came in with the same usual plan of stopping running back, LaDainian Tomlinson, and tight end, Antonio Gates. Instead, the Chargers unleashed a deep and powerful passing attack built around attacking the small and speedy cornerback, Deltha O'Neil. They matched him up against taller receivers, who could easily reach over Deltha's head and go deep down field.
The Patriots offense struggled all night finding consistency. They had few promising drives, one of which, may have changed the outcome of the game. Matt Cassel and the offense made it's way down field with a passing frenzy early in the 3rd quarter, and brought it all the way to the 2 yard line. The Chargers, however, stepped up and stopped us on all four downs, and responded by marching 98 yards back down field for a score of their own. After that, the game quickly got out of hand, and the Patriots continued to hurt themselves on penalties and turnovers.
The Charger defense played great, sacking Cassel multiple times and preventing him from efficiently moving the ball down field.Randy Moss was almost completely cut off all game, with the Chargers cornerbacks knocking the ball out of his hands on more than one occasion. The running game seemed feeble, and Matt Cassel appeared flustered most of the game.
The Patriots defense, in one small bright spot, did do a decent job of stopping L.T. mostly. He did break for a couple of gains, but overall, he was not a major factor. Kudos to the Patriot linebackers for staying on tap there. But overall, the unit played poorly as well. The Chargers were free to pass to who they pleased, and when they wanted.
The Bills still lead the division at 4-1, and are set to play the Chargers this weekend. Hopefully they can suffer the same fate we did to them. If they do, and we can beat the Broncos this Monday night, we are back in a position to tie for the division. The Patriots need to start getting their act together though, because the division is beginning to improve. Hopefully Belichick will have the Pats ready and prepared to pull out a win against the Broncos this Monday. They have had our number for the past three games, and an upset would be real nice right now.

Unfailing Love

Sometimes a day will come along, seeming completely normal and regular, and then it hits me.
Almost three weeks ago now, I was laying in my hammock, on a Saturday night, around midnight, stuck in a spiritual pit. I felt dreadful, every corner was another obstacle to try and climb over. Ever have times like that? When you pray and ya feel God just is so far away, and no matter what ya do, you feel like your slugging along through mud?
That's how it can be sometimes, and I definitely think God puts us through times like that. One, for growth, because He instructs us to praise Him, and give Him all glory when we are going through a trial. And two, for amazing moments like I had that night on the hammock.
I had my trusty Zune on me, and I was listening to some Chris Tomlin and his worship music. I recently have gotten really into worship music, especially Chris Tomlin. I think because I was feeling so distant from God, listening to worship songs was one of the few things I could do to feel close again. My music tastes have taken an interesting lean towards worship music slowly over time. I'm finding an amazing connection with God listening to it, and just rocking for Him. Prayer is good. Church is good. Youth groups are good. But in the long run, are main purpose is to give our everything to God. Glorify Him.
Anyways, I was feeling dismal, and I stumbled on the song titled, 'Unfailing Love.' It is a great an inspiring song. The song just talks about how God cares about every little tiny facet of our lives. That over everything, He loves you and always will, no matter what. Like total, unending, unfailing love.
It really hit home to me that night, and I broke down in utter praise. It happens once in a while. I went from being totally lost and caught up in myself, to giving my cares to Him and just trusting Him. I was overwhelmed by His love. I wish I could have an experience like it everyday. My cares, my worries, myself, it all didn't matter anymore. I was with God, putting all my faith in Him.
So, slowly, but more and more, I'm learning to stop caring about myself and my issues. Those are far better left in His hands. My job is to just rock for him and do His will. Praise Him! :D

Week 5-Decisive Victory

The 49ers came out strong at the start of the game, forcing Matt Cassel to throw an interception on the Patriots third play of their opening drive. But, the Patriots responded by picking off 49ers quarterback, J. T. O'Sullivan on their first play.

It seemed equal in the early stretch, with the 49ers puting up the first touchdown, then a Patriots touchdown, and then another 49er touchdown. Both teams were playing fairly well, and it seemed like the defenses were playing rather loose and unagressive. But, with the Patriots trailing, 14-7, the defense and offensive came alive. They started quickly by marching downfield with wide reciever, Wes Welker, and using a rotation of 4 running backs. They nailed a field goal, cuting the lead to 4. Shortly after a defensive interception, they flew downfield again, this time Randy Moss, being the key component, catching several deep passes on the way, to set up a Kevin Faulk rushing touchdown. The defense continued to play strong, stopping the 49ers, and their star running back, Frank Gore(Who led the NFL in rushing yards before this game). Kevin Faulk continued to help the Pats, moving them downfield again, and recieving a direct snap on 4rth down to achieve a 2nd rushing touchdown for the game.

Watching the Patriots lately, without Tom Brady, I am seeing a similiar aproach that Belichick used in his earlier years with the Patriots. The running game is a bigger factor for us, as it takes more pressure of Matt Cassel, and our defense is the key component to winning our games. Last year, we were an offensive machine, leading in every catagory, while our defense, while good, was slugging behind. Part of which, is our playmakers on defense are getting older, and we didn't have much youth in the linebacking corps.

This year, however, our defense has showed a second wind, and with some new faces put in through the NFL draft, is looking strong again, as it did when we won our 3 Super Bowls.

Matt Cassel did get away with throwing 2 interceptions yesterday, but on one of them, he was hit when he threw the ball, resulting in an easy interception for the 49er defense, and the other on a deep ball down the field to Randy Moss. Otherwise, he looked poised and comfortable, especially after coming off that painfull loss a couple weeks ago against the Dolphins.

But,It was immensly refreshing to see Cassel throw an accurate and deep pass to Randy Moss early in the game yesterday. Hopefully, that can become a usual way of attack for the Pats as the season goes on.
With the Patriots improving to 3-1 and the Buffalo Bills taking their first loss this week, falling to 4-1, the division lead would seem to be up for grabs. The Bills enter their bye week this week, while the Patriots have a chance to tie for the division with a victory over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday. The Chargers just took a close loss to the Dolphins this week, and are more than likely going to come out strong against the Patriots in hopes of getting back to the playoff-bound team they were a year ago. But, the Pats have had the Chargers number the past couple of years, and after a comforting victory this week, may play farly well against them. This will be the first playoff team from last year that the Pats play this season, and I definitely hope they have what it takes to come home from the West Coast at a comfortable 4-1. Go Pats!

Week 4-So Long Troy

The Pats have officially come off their bye-week, and begin preparation for the San Fransisco 49ers this Sunday. The 49ers are coming off a painful loss to the New Orleans Saints, with their defense allowing over 350 passing yards, and not a single sack. The Patriots are coming off a bye week, rested, angry about losing to a team that won only one game last year, and ready to claim the division.
Currently, however, the Buffalo Bills are leading the division at 4-0, and have already beaten several playoff teams. They are the team to beat right now, as they and a handful of other teams remain undefeated. The Patriots are second in the division at 2-1, followed by the Jets at 2-2, and in last are the 1-2 Dolphins, who are coming off their bye-week as well.
I think the Patriots have a more than opportune chance of getting a win on a team like the 49ers, who haven't had a winning season in a very long time. Plus, the Patriots are not known for losing consecutive games too often under Belichick. Not to mention, that the Pats have only gone one year under Bill Belichick and not make the playoffs.

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Sadly, in other news, 15-year Patriot, Troy Brown, has retired as of Thursday. He never played for another team, and has always been known as a team player. When the Patriots told him he had played his last game as a Patriot, instead of accepting offers from rival teams like the Jets, he retired and called it a career.
One of the most versatile players for the Patriots, he has been able to score in all phases of the game. His primary position was at wide receiver, wearing number 80. But, if needed, he would and could play as a defensive back, and even a punt return specialist. He was certainly one of the biggest factors for the Patriots 3 Super Bowl titles. Before Wes Welker set the record for most receptions in a season for a Patriot last year with 112, Troy Brown held that honor at 101.
I wouldn't be surprised to see him still continue to help the Patriots in anyway possible, whether it's coaching, or in the front office. Belichick didn't seem too concerned when he said in a recent interview, "Troy Brown, haha, he's always going to be around." Frankly, I've learned, what little information you get from Bill, you take, and I wouldn't be surprised if someday, you'll see Troy Brown back helping in some way. But until then, he will be missed greatly by Patriot fans. He contributed in many ways to get to where the Patriots are now.

Rain, Rain, Rain

There are so many things that make fall awesome. Apple picking, pumpkin pie, leaves, football, music, memories, and rainy days. Ha, Thanksgiving is a wicked great holiday. Not to mention Halloween.
Currently, I'm sitting in my nook, listening to 'Oh Come All Ye Faithful' by Rush of Fools, enjoying the fall, and hiding from the rain.
Rainy days are particularly awesome to me. I don't know why, but I love 'em. Especialy during this time of year. They are just one of those days, where tea is the perfect drink, and sitting in a corner to watch tv, read, or listen to music is the activity of choice. The rain just amplifies it all, gives me a sense of enclosure, or relaxation. Which strangely enough is rare for me, where normally I don't want to relax, but instead, I usually want to get out and do something crazy or bum around spending money. Ya know, where you just want to go and get out of the house.
Fall is like the chunk of time, where I don't want to do that. Just to sit back and chill, and just soak it all in, that's what's awesome. I feel so free, and relaxed. Plus, my prayer time with God feels so much more real and focused. I don't know if the fact that it's fall is directly responsible for it. But, I think my appreciation for fall helps me see how great and awesome God is, and that, frankly, helps on all sides of the spiritual spectrum. I just see Him in more things than I usually do. I feel more aware. That's probably why it is my favorite time of year.
But then again, some might think that a wet rainy fall day is the best example of a boring and stir-crazy day. They could even call it a day wasted on things that they could be doing. Everyone is different. Others might feel closer to God under different situations. A gorgeous sunny day, filled with light and green trees could be a piece of heaven for someone. That can be true for me too, but fall is just an awesome time for me, and this is my blog, so that's what matters. :p
In ALL things give him your praise and thanks. Cause He rocks on any day, rain or shine, fall or spring, night or day, restless or content.

The Epic Battle

What I'm calling an "epic battle' between me against my allergies, is a very serious war.
Ever since, eh, about mid August hit, allergy season hit me. It won't go away till mid to late October.
Today, it hit me real hard, I woke up, eyes completely watery, and feeling like there was construction work going on inside my nasal passages. Not pleasant. So, I stumbled into the bathroom, and started digging through the cabinets looking for some form of medicine. Nothing. Then I rushed into the kitchen(sometimes there's a box of allergy medicine on the counter or something.) and scrambled around in hopes of finding some. Keep in mind, my eyes are like gushing waterfalls this whole time, so seeing, is a rather difficult task. After searching vainly, I realized I still had hope. A day ago, I had stuffed a packet of allergy pills in a pocket of one of my pants. Thankfully they still were there. I swallowed them quickly and waited.
Yes, my allergy attack ceased to exist, but I made one mistake. I had forgotten that these particular pills where not non-drowsy. So the relief of having dry and itch-free eyes, was traded for heavy and unfocused ones. Do I regret it? Kinda, I'm sure the allergies would have passes and I could of had a normal day. Drowsiness is an annoying thing to have, especially when you got lots and lots of sleep the night before, so you know you aren't actually tired, and it's just a stupid side effect from the medicine. But hey, the day was sunny and nice. Fall is the best time of year after all, regardless of pollen. :D

Allergies-1
Dave-0

Week 3-Dolphins Dominate, Ending Patriots Streak

In 2006 the patriots lost to the Miami Dolphins 21-0. That would be the Patriots last regular season loss for the next 21 games. Yesterday, the Dolphin yet again managed to handle the Patriots. The Fins only won one game between the victories they had over us. And honestly, the earned the victory the got yesterday.

The Patriots looked terrible, completely helpless against the Dolphins surprisingly complex offensive schemes. Many of their offensive plays had college-football designs. Where they would line up there running back, Ronnie Brown,(Who is one of the few stars the Dolphins actually have on their team) as a quarterback, and he could either hand off to yet another running back, take it out himself, or pass it even. And the Patriots...just couldn't stop it. They looked helpless and weak on almost every down. The defense made few plays, and the offense barely existed.

Cassel threw 19 complete passes of out 31, and scored a touchdown. He also threw one interception to a defensive linemen, and fumbled the ball late in the game. He didn't look quite as ready and prepared this week as he did last week against the Jets. Several of his passes were underthrown and a few were dropped. Which isn't his fault, but it just goes to show how badly the Patriots played. The running game was not a factor on the Patriots side, especially because Maroney was out with an injury, and Lamont Jordan was playing on a sore foot.

The defense was the worst factor all game. The Dolphins, who had one of the worst offenses this season so far, threw and ran all over the Patriots. Dolphin quarterback, Chad Pennington, only threw 3 incompletions out of his 20 passes. And Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams ran freely for 4 touchdowns. Ronnie Brown also threw one into the endzone for a late score.

The only promising thing the Pats showed all day, was there special team kick returns. Elis Hobbs set a record for most kick return yards for the day with over 200. That's a sad record however, due to the fact that it shows how often the Pats had to be kicked off to...

All in all, the Patriots and Dolphins looked like they traded rosters for this game, and The Dolphins earned the win for playing hard and sticking it to a rival team. However, they are only 1-2 and Pats remain above them at 2-1. Both teams now have a bye week and plan to rest up, and hopefully improve their game plans for the rest of the season.

I hope this loss is a wake up call to a Patriots team that needs to rally and overcome a humiliating loss. They have the ability to continue to be a great team. Belichick will not let this kind of play continue, and the Patriots are well known for not allowing consecutive losses in their team history.

In two weeks the Patriots go to San Francisco to play the 49ers in a game that should be a relatively easy win. Granted we play like the previous weeks, against the Chiefs and Jets. Improving to 3-1 would be a confidence booster to the Patriots who still seem to be ailing from the loss of Tom Brady.

Beige Twist

I had to write a 'personal experience' essay for school. So I came up with this. It happened five or six years ago, but it's one of those memories that's stuck for a while. Thought I would post it up. Haven't written anything for a long time now, so it probably still needs work. It's called Beige Twist.

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As I opened the door that led outdoors, the sunlight fanned onto the wood floor below. It was a sunny, breezy, and slightly chilly fall afternoon. Around 2 o’clock I would say.
Because of the rather dusty and bland building we were in, me and my friends, Thomas and Hannah, made our way outside. As soon as we hit the dusty ground outside, it seemed as if the wind knew it. A large gust swept through the pine trees above and flew down onto us. It felt very refreshing after coming out from the stuffy house.
It was then that Thomas pointed out towards a nearby cemetery and exclaimed, “Guys! Look!”
We all turned to the cemetery and saw what Thomas had gotten so excited about. A large dirt devil, composed of mostly dead leaves, was slowly sweeping its way down the grassy plains of the cemetery. It was picking more and more leaves up as it made its way through.
It was filled with beaming colors of brown, orange, and yellow, right as the sun glazed onto it. Under a pure blue sky, it stood out with amazing brilliance.
Me, Thomas, and Hannah all looked at each other, with the same thoughts all racing through our heads. We then simultaneously bolted towards the whirling funnel. The sound of the roaring whirlwind coated out ears with a rush of noise. We crossed from the dirt path and onto the grassy plain that the twister had been festering. Thankfully it was a slow moving dirt devil, giving us time to get closer to it. Although Thomas fell behind, tripping on a tomb stone hidden in the grass.
Me and Hannah neared the twister. The noise from the leaves clattering against each other combined with the unending gushes of wind, were enough to get us all pumped about the now close funnel. The only other thing you could hear in the background was Thomas’ classic gut laugh that he projected on too many occasions. You could hear it a mile away and know who it was. We entered the twister, breaking the barrier of blown up debris.
The leaves clashed against my face, and the wind reaped through my hair. After that, it all cleared, and we were in the center. It was epic. The noise, the leaves, the sky, it all added to the moment. And yes, Thomas was still laughing his head off.
The center of the funnel was devoid of any leaves, just a plain green grassy circle about two yards wide. But around us, it seemed like there was a wall, a barrier, of leaves spinning violently outside the grassy circle. It was like if you were to reach out and touch the slicing leaves, you would lose your finger due to its speed. Every so often you could see a glimpse of Thomas rushing to us, amidst the spinning leaves. He had a stupid grin on his face. He was probably recovering from his painful laughing episode. Me and Hannah began laughing in the sheer moment and sat down in the grass.
The twister finally began to settle and quiet down. Like confetti, the leaves started to slowly sprinkle down and rest quietly on the ground around us, and it all came to a calm hush.

Week 2-Favre Versus Cassel

The Patriots have once again, for the millionth time, proved that they are a team, not a collection of good players. And as usual, all week, the media was pitting the Jets, (Who barely pulled out of a game against the Miami Dolphins who went 1-15 last year.) as a team worthy of beating the New England Patriots....riiiight. Where to begin?
Well,we can start with the quarterbacks. I am a Brett Favre fan, he is one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. He rocks, but he did not show his best game yesterday. He threw a lot of incomplete passes all game, and an interception. He did throw one touchdown, but he could have had a better game. He was crafty as usual, making deep passes on occasion, and doing things to keep a play alive. But he was far from great.
Cassel made his first start yesterday against a Jets team pumped(for some strange reason) over a close win against the Dolphins. Cassel started the game great. He was in control the whole time, and managed the game well. He threw no touchdowns, but also no interceptions and made good decisions in key parts of the game. He almost had a nice deep, downfield, pass to Randy Moss, but Moss dropped it. But, kudos to Cassel for showing a decent performance for his first start. Statistically, he played a better game than Tom Brady did on his first start. That pretty impressive.
Our running game showed great consistency, converting on a lot of key third downs. What is a great asset to our team this year, is that we have between 4-5 high caliber running backs to rotate with, giving us a fresh runner virtually every down of the game. Meaning the defense has a harder time of 'wearing' our offense out. Maroney was sidelined for most of the game with a very minor injury. But Sammy Morris and Lamont Jordon shined against the Jets. Not to mention Kevin Faulk's return. He made an outstanding catch, bouncing it into the air, for any of the defenders, and catching it and converting for a first down.
I must say, Bill Belichick had this game under his control from the very beginning. Him and Jets Coach, Eric Mangini, have had a smoldering rivalry since Mangini left the Patriot's coaching staff and moved into the Jets Head Coach position. But Bill had the Jets outplayed all game. On a fourth down play, following the Jets final time-out, Bill Belichick brought out the offense in an attempt to convert. This caused the Jet defense to swarm the line of scrimmage to stop the play, leaving the backfield completely empty. Then with few seconds left, Belichick quickly called the offense off and brought on the punting team. They punted, and the confused Jets were left with terrible field position for the following drive. Just an example of how the coaching job for the Patriots was impressive as usual.
Next week, the Patriots host those dreaded Miami Dolphins. The Jets beat 'em, that MUST mean something, right? I like our chances of going 3-0 before the bye.

Fall/Music

Ahhh, the air has that Fall feeling in it. Best time of year. Apple picking, Thanksgiving, Pumpkin Pies, Tea every bloody morning, and it never gets old. Football has arrived, the trees start to change, and work hours decrees. Its great! :D
However, something I've noticed. Over the past few years, I've noticed that I listen to different bands or artists during different seasons or months of the year. It's weird. And I don't even notice it until about midway through it's happening. For example, it's now September, and things are changing from Summer to Fall. My music tastes are migrating as well. I used to be playing bands like, Cartel, Newsboys, Birthday Massacre, and Kiros.
But now, it's sliding slowly in bands like, Dead Poetic, Coldplay, Future of Forestry, Rush of Fools, and Exit the Ordinary. I don't understand it. I originally thought it was a subconscious transition, like the album of a certain band that I am into came out the previous year around the current time. But it hasn't really happened like that at all. Maybe for a couple, but not enough to warrant it happening on an annual basis. Sure, I can understand anyone who listens to Christmas music...well around Christmas. But I almost have things like: "Summer music," "October Orchestras," and "Thanksgiving Themes." It's weird.
Out of boredom, here's a list of bands I listen to during different time of the year. It could be interesting.

Fall-September through November:
1. Dead Poetic
2. Exit the ordinary
3. Coldplay
4. Future of Forestry
5. Blink 182
6. Rush of Fools
7. Oasis
8. Skillet
9. Stellar Kart
10. Edison Glass
11. Sum 41

Winter-December through March
1. Dean Martin
2. The Rat Pack
3. Blindside
4. Stepa
5. Emery
6. Chevelle
7. Dead Poetic
8. Mutemath
9. Our lady Peace

Spring-April/May
1. The Almost
2. Audio Adrenaline
3. All American Rejects
4. Five Iron Frenzy
5. Roper
6. DC Talk
7. Future of Forestry
8. Leeland
9. Taking Back Sunday

Summer-June-August
1. Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
2. Newsboys
3. Cartel
4. Blink 182
5. Something Corporate
6. Muse
7. Oasis
8. Sum 41
9. Kiros
10. Flyleaf
11. Birthday Massacre
12. Coldplay

Post Soulfest-August/September
1. Leeland
2. Skillet
3. Kiros
4. Stellar Kart
5. Dead Poetic
6. Newsboys
7. Downhere
8. Pointe Blank

Week 1-Man Down

Week 1, Patriot nation took probably one of the heftiest blows possible. Tom Brady, after going 7-11 in passes, and throwing for 76 yards, took a serious blow to his knee and he is done for the season. He will undergo some sort of surgery on his knee to fix the problem, and should be able to play by training camp next year.
Now, some players don't play the same after surgeries like this. Daunte Culpepper had surgery on his knee and never was up to caliber as he was before. Actually, Culpepper used to throw to Randy Moss, back when he really was an amazing quarterback. His days are done at this point though. And frankly, I don't want to talk about that aspect...and possibility. He could very well come back like Phillip Rivers of the Chargers. Rivers started yesterday and after having surgery on his knee, played strong against the Panthers even though they eventually lost. Tom Brady is a very durable quarterback, and he tends to bounce back fast. I def. hope that his situation turns as well as Phillip Rivers.
What a lot of people are forgetting though is...we are still a team with or without Tom Brady. Thank goodness backup Matt Cassel decided to finally play well when needed. I was thankfully surprised to see him bullet a touchdown to Randy Moss. And I plan to see a lot more of that with the outlook of coming season. Also our running game stepped it up with 50 yard games from both Laurence Maroney, and Sammy Morris. I'm sure there will be a lot more of a running game this season with our franchise quarterback out of commission. And honestly, against the Chiefs, our defense not only played a better game than most last season, but had a huge goal line stand in the end! Granted, it was the Chiefs. But, we were down and without Brady and our team made a stand.
We won and I still believe, with all the other captains on offense and defense, we still, at least will make a serious playoff run. Week 1 is in the books, and what a painful week it was. But, we are 1-0 without Tom Brady. I think that should mean something. Heck, It's not like Bill Belichick got injured.
And like I said earlier, our defense was amazing. Limiting NFL icon Larry Johnson to little more than 70 yards was incredible. Kudos to the Pats, who always find a way to win, and are veterans when it comes to overcoming immense adversity.

Oh Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ the Lord

I recently have been listening to the band, Rush of Fools. My friend, Mike, got me into them, and they really have great, inspiring music. Really encouraging music, particularly in the areas of pushing on in Christ, forgiveness, and giving praise. I love their music.
What is really odd, is that they came out with a Christmas album featuring the song 'Oh come all ye faithful.' And I've been blasting it for a couple weeks now...in August, and September. But what I've noticed, is that the song really doesn't need to be limited to Christmas. The lyrics are wonderful, anytime of the year. So yes, I have been blasting 'Oh come all Ye Faithful' day in and day out with pride. :p
Another song by them, called, 'Undo' really is awesome too. It actually has become there biggest hit so far. It focuses on forgiveness and God's mercy. Great song.
I hope they come to Soulfest. There music really has been a great uplifter for me.

Freedom

I am finding immense freedom when I am dealing with an issue or struggling with sin, to just turn, and give it to God. No matter how big or small, and how much the issue means to me. Taking the issue and putting it in His hands, rather than struggling with it myself is absolute freedom. And as soon as I give it to God, the burden is lifted. It is awesome, knowing that it is in His hands and he can deal with things so much better than anyone else can.
Whether it is dealing with a co-worker, struggling with a sin myself, or needing motivation to do something, whatever it is, as soon as it is turned over to Him, the help arrives. And when you compare how awesome God's love is for you, with the issue or struggle you're having, the issue becomes so small and easy to surpass. Ya just need to get past yourself, and what you want or how things should be for you. Cause if you stop trusting in yourself, and start trusting in God, you can't screw up. Everything you do is for Him, and in His will. I'm seeing how God truly IS our strength for everything we do. As long as we rock for God, and only and fully for Him, then we are free from everything that tries to tear us down. Praise Him!

Even After Super Bowl Loss, Many Still Consider Pats 'The Team To Beat'

After the Pats went 18-0 last year, and then lost bitterly to a team like the Giants, you can imagine it still may sting to this day. But, thank goodness the new season is about to start. With what the NFL calls 'the easiest schedule' and with most of our deadly offensive players back this year, that Pats look like they have enough firepower to storm back to the super bowl...hopefully.
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Defensively, the Pats took a severe blow to the secondary, in losing Asante Samuel, and losing Tank Williams(a safety attained earlier this year) to injury. But Bill Belichick has stocked up on defensive players in hopes to add some depth to our shaky secondary.
As for our linebackers, Bruschi, Vrabel, and Thomas all return from last year. As well as up-and-coming Pierre Woods, and specialist Larry Izzo. Not to mention the huge boost in speed and youth with the addition of rookie linebacker Jerod Mayo. The man is a beast.
And as usual, or three linemen, Warren, Seymour, and Wilfork, will continue to barrage the opposing offenses this year. With added depth in backups, Jarvis Green, and Mike Wright, we should be fine in case of injury.

Offensively, the Pats look virtually the same as last year. With Moss, Welker, Gaffney, Faulk, Maroney, and of course Brady, the Pats seem to have that high scoring offense back. The only significant loss offensively was probably Donte Stallworth, who went to the Cleveland Browns. But in addition, Chad Jackson, who has been injured the past 2 years, looks to finally step up this year and contribute.
The running game hopefully will be more involved this year, as Maroney, Morris, and Faulk plan on increasing the ground attack. I'm hoping Maroney will show more improvement this year, and less injuries. And Morris should help especially in goal-line situations. Kevin Faulk will continue his roll of getting our offense out of tight spots and making plays.
The Quarterback situation is set with Brady as the starter. But after that, the backup quarterbacks will have to fight it out to stand behind Tom Brady. Matt Cassel is likely to be released, and rookie Kevin O'connel, and Matt Gutierez will battle for the backup spot.
The offensive line is exactly the same group from last year, with Matt light and Dan Koppen being the biggest of contributers. They need to play better than last year in the Super Bowl in order to regain some confidence, but that shouldn't be an issue.

All in all, it should be a great year. :)

Week 1-Chiefs-1 pm
Week2-@ Jets-4:15 pm
Week3-Dolphins-1 pm
Week4-Bye
Week5-@ 49ers-4:15 pm
Week6-@ Chargers-8:15 pm
Week7-Broncos-8:30 pm
Week8-Rams-1 pm
Week9-@ Colts-8:15 pm
Week 10-Bills-1 pm
Week 11-Jets-8:15 pm
Week 12-@ Dolphins-1 pm
Week 13-Steelers-4:15 pm
Week 14-@ Seahawks-8:30 pm
Week 15-@ Raiders-4:15 pm
Week 16-Cardinals-1 pm
Week 17-@ Bills-1 pm

Pizza, Trunks, and Feds

Well, last night was more interesting than expected.
Got a call around 11pm from my brother, asking if I was hungry and wanted pizza. Apparently he and my friend, James, had been out, driving around N.H. and were getting pizza on the way home. Naturally, I agreed for some, and I hung up da phone. After around 20 min. of waiting on my front steps, they finally showed up with the cheesy goodness. While eating some, I was told of a video that him and my brother had made on there journey and how amazing it is and that I must see it. But, James, being the crazy, obsessed dude that he is, declared that, "We must go and watch it online, and not just off of my laptop! For the effect of it being online." So, because we don't get wi-fi at our house, we went over to the catholic church up the road, where there usually is a good wi-fi signal. We got there, finished the pizza, and started to get his laptop out.
But then, it hit James...he can turn his car into a bed if he needs too! So, therefore, we had to do it! It actually was very interesting how all the seats bend and curve until you get the finished product.

So, anyway, after about another half hour of playing with his car, we finally thought about this awesome video that they had made. We got in the car, and James busted out his laptop. To our disappointment, the wi-fi did not work because his, 'better than pc' Mac could not pick up the signal. (Sorry James, it's true, Mac sucks. :p)
Right then, a cop car comes flying around the corner, pulls into the parking lot we are in, and points it's lights at us. Now, the way me and James were sitting, in his trunk with the trunk door shut, I can understand how suspicious it may have looked, us being in his trunk around 1 in the morning, handing each other pizza boxes and whipping the camera out blinding each other with the flash. Luckily, however, Sam, my brother, was outside the car because he had ventured down to the house to get drinks. So he got the fun responsibility of answering to the cop while me and James just kinda sat in his trunk smiling and waving.
He pretty much asked why we were there, and what the camera flashing was all about, and after Sam told him the cold hard truth, we wanted to watch the video online, had pizza, played with his car, had fun with a camera, and got stuck in his trunk. The amazing part was, the cop was totally cool with it! And he got in his car and drove off.
Needless to say, it left our good buddy James feeling uneasy about staying there and he put everything away. After that, I got to walk home and said goodnight to the rather toned down James at this point, but it was a fun venture. Even though we never actually got to see this amazing video. Finally watched it this morning, and it was kinda a waste of time, but at least I saw it. I think this pic might as well sum up the night pretty well though...

Reviewing the House Centipede

While hanging in 'my nook' (A cool little part of church structure that I chill in sometimes that has wi-fi.) with my brother and a couple friends, we found and awesome bug known as a house centipede.
It's a really weird looking thing. It is real slender and has 15 pairs of hair-like legs. Let me tell ya, they are super fast runners. They like damp/dark places, and as there name suggests, commonly dwell in houses. You don't see 'em too often, but the are there.
Unlike the common bronze-colored typical centipede, the house centipede doesn't have much of a painful bite. Although they do have venom, they rarely can even break human skin with their small jaws. But they are effective at what they can bite. As strange and weird as they look, they are great for controlling other unwanted insects. They even can take out spiders.
So, them being real hard to find, one will make an awesome addition to my collection. And thanks to my bro, I got one. :D

Reflecting on Soulfest-Part 2

One of the best things about Soulfest is the prayer tent. It is basically a place where you can go, alone or as a group, and ask for prayer for specific or general issues you are dealing with. One of the things that the prayer people do occasionally, is prophecy over you. And they are very humble about it, and honest. Seriously. A few of my friends have there doubts about the prophetic words that they tell, and it is understandable. But, I have really seen proof over the years, that God really has spoken through these people in this prayer tent. And many times, they have clarified that they are trusting in God in the things they prophecy about. They say that if nothing they say is true or of God, then they let it fall away, and pray for wisdom and guidance to continue. So, what I want to make clear, is these dudes are die-hard for Christ and they try to hear God if they can, while in prayer. And they are completely honest about it.
And this leads me to one of the biggest reasons this year was special at Soulfest.
My uncle, is an awesome dude. He is funny, awesome to be around, and strives to grow in Christ. He suffers from depression, however, and feels lonely a lot of the time, even though he has a lot of people that are there for him. It can be real rough for him sometimes. So, on the last day of Soulfest, he and me went into this prayer tent together. After they prayed with me, they asked my uncle what they could pray for, for him. And my uncle asked for prayer for his depression and loneliness. Once we went to prayer, the prayer dudes actually were having a hard time to figure my uncle out. They where trying to help him in prophecy and prayer and were coming up blank. The most they got was that there was a struggle in him, between the spiritual side of him, and the sinner in him. And that he had suffered a heavy loss in his past.
After we left, he was rather disappointed. He had kinda had hoped he would have gotten more help from the prayer dudes, and possibly more answers for his life. I encouraged him to examine himself and try to hack through his sinful self and just give it to God.
Later that day, Skillet was getting ready to play and my uncle went to go see them. He was off to the side in the crowd and was waiting for them to start. And a dude came up to him. He told my uncle that he was a real hardcore Third Day fan(They were playing in the opposite stage) and that he really felt compelled to come to see Skillet for some reason. And after a bit of chatting, they began to talk about there time at Soulfest and my uncle found out that this dude suffered from similar things like depression and loneliness. And I guess they were really able to help each other out and had a great time watching Skillet together. It was real enlightening for my uncle. And he left with a greater sense of awareness I think, and realization that God was indeed looking out for him. He seemed to be doing a whole lot better when we left Soulfest that night. And it was really encouraging to see him go from being wicked disappointed at the prayer tent, to being shocked at the amazing night he had, and how God had clearly used this dude that showed up at the Skillet concert to help him. I think none of it would of been possible if he had gotten the things he felt he needed at the prayer tent, but it was an important piece to the puzzle that he didn't hear what he thought he needed. God really does work in mysterious ways.Pretty sweet.

Reflecting on Soulfest-Part 1

Ahhh, Soulfest is over, and my body is still stiff and achy two days later. Gotta love it. :)
It was an awesome time this year. The question is, where do I begin?
Well, I got to see some awesome bands play, including: Kiros, Flyleaf, Stellar Kart, and Skillet.
Another big treat for me was meeting Reese Roper. He is the lead singer of former band Five Iron Frenzy. Definitely one of my favorite bands. I even got a picture with him!


As I mentioned before, the atmosphere there is amazing. You can really feel God's presence there. With so many fellow believers there, it really is incredible. Haha, it probably is the only place you can go and write "Free Hugs" across your chest without getting disturbing glances.
But, more than once I had random people come up to me and my friends and simply ask if we needed prayer. It was great! Praise God for a place to go, where that can be a regular thing to have and be a part of. It is inspiring, and I wonder how awesome it could be, if we brought that attitude from Soulfest, out into the world more often. How many people could be saved?
But, it isn't only the people at Soulfest that are truly awesome for God, the bands that play there, are die-hard for God as well. I've been to Soulfest and have been encouraged when bands have actually stopped there performance, and just simply have a time of prayer with the crowd. It's incredible. To see someone, or a group of people who we tend to regard as better or above us, come down and pray with you, and for the same reasons. It shows how much they need Christ just like us. Praise God.
There will be more to follow on my time at Soulfest as soon as I can post it. My laptop battery is just about out. :p

For my Soulfest slide-shows, visit http://www.youtube.com/NewEnglandPats

Bonfire and Pics

Bonfires are so much fun. I went to one last night, and after about an hour and a half trying to get it started, it rocked. Although my friend didn't have too much to burn and seemed rather unprepared to start it. We were literally out in the woods chopping down small trees and shrubs to throw on the fire and keep it alive for most of the night. But hey, it was fun, and something to do cause it helped to move the day along and get it done.
Trying to kill off the last day before Soulfest. So, I figured I'd post another entry before I go and rock out for Christ. :D So, enjoy a few random pictures from life of late. Peace out.