I know that 'true meaning of Christmas' posts are prevalent this time of year, but I don't care. It's my blog, and I'll get religious if I want to :)
I love Christmas. Almost everything about this season makes me happy. It was especially the case in California when I could go out in 75 degree whether on Christmas day. Unfortunately, here in Utah, I have suffered through awful traffic, poor gas mileage, and the eye-sore of dirty slush everywhere. While the snowy weather is not my idea of a winter wonderland, I have still found many things that put a smile on my face.
Perhaps seeing my little baby have his first Christmas has brought on my reflection on the significance of the season... perhaps it is anticipating my wife open up what I purchased for her this year... but whatever it is, I have really enjoyed the month of December leading up to the celebration of the birth of the most important man that ever lived.
I can only imagine what people thought when they discovered that new star the night he was born. Wise men of the east recognized its significance and travelled a great distance to find the King. Faithful in the west must have felt the mercy of the most high when the sign that they risked their lives to believe in appeared shortly before they were to have been killed... but while people afar recognized what this meant, the majority of people right in the land where Christ was born had no idea. Mary and Joseph were forced to find shelter with beasts of the earth when the King of Kings was delivered. No royal robes adorned the master, and his was not the crib of a monarch, but he was wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger.
In reflection, I would describe all of the good fortune I have enjoyed in my life as blessings from God. I have felt happiness in participating in his church, and pleasure when serving those in his kingdom. I would say that at times of need, God has been near to me. I would hope that I am more like those that risked their lives for the want of starlight in the pages of the Book of Mormon, or like the wise men that would go to any length to see the King of Kings, and not like the innkeeper that could find no room in the inn for the master.
With Jesus Christ in mind, who gave everything for the sons of men... I hope that each of you are met with his peace, happiness, and mercy especially in this Christmas season. Merry Christmas to all!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Looking forward to the Grandaddy of them All!
As a huge fan of the University of Southern California, I watched in pure bliss as the Trojans came into the Rose Bowl wearing their home cardinal and gold to take on the UCLA Bruins in the last regular season game.
Playing UCLA at the Rose Bowl has been challenging the past few years, even with Heisman Trophy winners like Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush on the roster. Two seasons ago, with the likelihood of facing Ohio State in the National Championship game, we were stunned by the Bruins 13-9. It was such a painful loss that only hours of playing The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess could ease. The big win over Michigan in the Rose Bowl seemed like something of a consolation prize at the time.
This season was different for me. Although we had a similar loss to Oregon State, and there was still some hope of Missouri pulling an upset and potentially creating an opening for the Men of Troy in the title game, I was happy with the end result. The Trojans are now set to play Big 10 champ Penn State in the Rose Bowl. Some might view this as a consolation prize, but with how many high quality teams in the Big 12 south division were denied a chance to play in the game, and with Penn State being in a similar situation, I believe that this is a great match up that will bring prestige to USC. We aren't playing some 3 loss Big 10 runner up, we're matched up against their champion. A win in the Rose Bowl cannot give USC the crystal BCS trophy, but it can establish that the Trojans are a great team that can compete with anyone in the country.
Seeing our offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian leave our offensive coordinator spot is bittersweet. He has been a great asset and helped our talent improve this season, but seeing him go to Washington will hopefully be planting the seeds of improving the conference. Winning a stronger conference is better for USC in the long run. I also hope that fresh offensive perspective will help our talent. Mark Sanchez is an extremely impressive quarterback. I look forward to seeing him play when our offensive line is a bit more experienced and can buy him a bit more time, as well as open better holes for the stable of running backs at USC.
Overall, this looks to be an exciting bowl season. I am hopeful that the conference does well. While I am certainly looking forward to the Florida-Oklahoma game, I anticipate raising my voice much more for the contest between Big 10 and Pac 10 in Pasadena on New Years Day.
Playing UCLA at the Rose Bowl has been challenging the past few years, even with Heisman Trophy winners like Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush on the roster. Two seasons ago, with the likelihood of facing Ohio State in the National Championship game, we were stunned by the Bruins 13-9. It was such a painful loss that only hours of playing The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess could ease. The big win over Michigan in the Rose Bowl seemed like something of a consolation prize at the time.
This season was different for me. Although we had a similar loss to Oregon State, and there was still some hope of Missouri pulling an upset and potentially creating an opening for the Men of Troy in the title game, I was happy with the end result. The Trojans are now set to play Big 10 champ Penn State in the Rose Bowl. Some might view this as a consolation prize, but with how many high quality teams in the Big 12 south division were denied a chance to play in the game, and with Penn State being in a similar situation, I believe that this is a great match up that will bring prestige to USC. We aren't playing some 3 loss Big 10 runner up, we're matched up against their champion. A win in the Rose Bowl cannot give USC the crystal BCS trophy, but it can establish that the Trojans are a great team that can compete with anyone in the country.
Seeing our offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian leave our offensive coordinator spot is bittersweet. He has been a great asset and helped our talent improve this season, but seeing him go to Washington will hopefully be planting the seeds of improving the conference. Winning a stronger conference is better for USC in the long run. I also hope that fresh offensive perspective will help our talent. Mark Sanchez is an extremely impressive quarterback. I look forward to seeing him play when our offensive line is a bit more experienced and can buy him a bit more time, as well as open better holes for the stable of running backs at USC.
Overall, this looks to be an exciting bowl season. I am hopeful that the conference does well. While I am certainly looking forward to the Florida-Oklahoma game, I anticipate raising my voice much more for the contest between Big 10 and Pac 10 in Pasadena on New Years Day.
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