The National Football League has been overly strict this season. This is ironic for me to stand up for a non-disciplinary attitude in an industry of sports that has had some problems in recent months. For example, the NBA had a referee gambling on games he officiated and everyone is aware of the drug use in baseball.

It started this season with the New England Patriots and what is now known as spygate. You may find the article here, where the Patriots videotaped the N.Y. Jets defensive signals. While the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged that it had no effect on the end result of the game, he still gave an heavy handed fine to the organization and coach in addition to taking away a first round draft pick. Now the Patriots are out to prove themselves and are getting criticized for running up the score on opponents.

Secondly, the NFL sent a letter to all 32 teams telling them not to let their cheerleaders warm-up in front of the visiting team before the game (article). Is it that big of problem that football players are not able to control themselves? What about the mental toughness that all of the sports media pundits talk about?

Lastly, is something more recent. The Green Bay Packers are being investigated about violating the bounty rule. Supposedly the defensive backs have offered the defensive linemen $500 each for accomplishing defensive goals. My response “WHO CARES?!!!”. Honestly these players make millions and we are worried that other teammates trying to motivate them financially with an extra few hundred bucks.

Every commentator that has NFL experience said all of these are common in the NFL. Everyone is looking for any edge they can get. I understand videotaping compared to just using memory, but the punishment was excessive. The cheerleader rule is just stupid and what the Packers are doing is working. The organization is not paying them additional money and they are not trying to intentionally hurt another player. If anything this shows team unity. The last thing fans want is an overregulated sport.

I grew up in Michigan, but for a few years lived in Virginia. One of the hardest changes I faced was finding a new church, especially when I was familiar to a formal and stoic style. My experience in Virginia was completely different. People were more friendly and by far more enthusiastic and passionate.

The southern hospitality is something I cherished and try to emulate, but I could never get use to the vibrant worship style. I think this was purely a cultural issue and do not see one better than the other. However, I think that no one will be able to be stoic or enthusiastic when they encounter God’s holiness.

Here are a few examples:

Isaiah 6:5
“So I said:
‘Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.’”

Job 42:6
“Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.”

Luke 5:8
“Depart from me, for I am a sinful man O Lord!”

And we know at one point everyone will give proper reverence to God.

Philippians 2:10-11
“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

There is an attempt to change Santa's famous "ho ho ho" to "ha ha ha" (article). This was brought on in fear that children would think of prostitution. I think this is a sign of not only radical political correctness and feminism, but a perverse society the world is in.

I singled out feminism because they stated the phrase could "be derogatory to women". I can guarantee children are not thinking of slang terms if they are believing Santa is bringing them toys. The only thing is on their minds are toys.

UPDATE: Lloyd Carr Retires Monday November 19th 10AM

This Saturday has some interesting games, at least for Big Ten fans. There are some old rivalries and just important games to make it to a bowl game.

1) MSU vs Penn St.
This is a good game because MSU really needs this win to make it 7 for the season and secure a bowl bid. It is always a good game when your going against Joe Paterno, who by the way is 80 years old and has no desire to retire yet. I predict that MSU wins this one 21 to 17. A close game, but the home field advantage helps MSU win.

2) UofM vs Ohio State
This is a good game and would have been better if they both didn't lose last week. The Buckeyes will travel to the Big House, but I don't think Michigan can pull it off. Jim Tressel has owned Michigan the last several years. In addition, I think UofM is distracted with all of the rumors that Lloyd Carr is going to retire at the end of the season. My prediction is UofM 21 OSU 27

What are your predictions and feel free to give your input on the new look.

It has been brought to my attention that billionaire and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban financially supported a movie titled 'Redacted'. This movie is about American soldiers raping a 14 year old girl. Why would anyone want to be associated with this? Regardless of your view of the war. Here is an article if interested.

A Marine who has become famous from a poem/rap that he made to explain why he defends America has been offered a record deal, but turned it down and plans on reenlisting. Here is the article

Happy Veterans Day

I came across this article that gave the viewpoint of non-Christians on Christians. At first I thought "who cares" they are blinded and don't understand. Isn't this how it is suppose to be? Yet as I read, I realized that these were views that were legit arguments. For instance, the author mentioned this question "what if they are reacting – not to our righteous lifestyles – but to our self-righteousness?".

The results were a very negative view. There was no favoritism according to styles either. "They conclude that Christianity is old-fashioned, boring and unintelligent, and that Christians are insincere and too focused on getting converts.".

Most non-Christian people have had interaction with church or at least Christians. They claimed that Christians turned them off, in some cases because Christians tend to focus more on one sin than another (i.e. homosexuality). I like the list of characteristics it gives because I can relate an encounter with people that match them.

I think the problem for the most part is not that we are self-righteous, but that we try to balance upholding God's commandments and laws and we still sin. From my experience, proclaiming to be a Christian puts me under a microscope and promptly notified from nonbelievers when I make mistakes.

Disclaimer: The material cited does not reflect that of my Christian principles.

In a class I am taking we are reading a book titled “Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals” by Immanuel Kant. One of the claims he makes is that morals are not a result of actions, but rather the intent of the action. For example, if someone does a good deed with a motive of being recognized, that is not considered moral.

“for we like to flatter ourselves by falsely attributing to ourselves a nobler motive, whereas in fact we can never, even by the most strenuous self-examination, get entirely behind our covert incentives, since, when moral worth is at issue, what counts is not actions, which one sees, but those inner principles of actions that one does not see.”

He later says that most of our actions come from a duty. “From love of humankind I am willing to admit that even most of our actions are in conformity with duty.”

I found the next part extremely interesting. “pure sincerity in friendship can be no less required of everyone even if up to now there may never have been a sincere friend, because this duty – as duty in general – lies, prior to all experience, in the idea of a reason determining the will by means of a priori grounds.”

As we know, friendship requires a duty on both sides. Are certain actions required or expected? As we get older friends change. Do you think that self greed is a result of actions in a friendship? How do we measure friendship if we cannot ultimately know ones motive or soul to determine whether their action was genuine? These are a few questions I pondered, as I thought of my few friends of many I consider to be sincere friendships.

What are your thoughts about this bumper sticker?