Burning Couches: When will it be Saturday?

All week, I have felt like a little child at Christmas. For a month you have expectation of the toys, the presents wrapped under the tree, and visions of Santa and his reindeer dancing from roof top to roof top. My expectations have been centered around waiting all week, for 60 minutes of WVU football, that could be the biggest game in the program’s history.

It’s kind of ironic, when you think about it. In a season where West Virginia has played the biggest game in school history for South Florida, Cincinnati, and Connecticut, here comes probably the biggest game in school’s history. And it comes with arch rival Pittsburgh as its host.

This game would’ve been big, anyways. It’s the Backyard Brawl, one of the closest rivalries in college sports as far as miles distance. It’s also one of the oldest, No. 21 in the nation, and this Saturday it would have been the 100th renewal of this rivalry. Pitt holds the all-time lead, however since the two teams joined the Big East, it’s West Virginia that has had the upper hand.

The Mountaineers are favored by more than three touchdowns against the Panthers, Saturday.

But there is something different to this game, even with all the build-up. West Virginia, certainly, has been in the position before - one game away from a shot at a national title. In 1988, the Major Harris-led Mountaineers went undefeated in the regular season, with its closest game a 12-point decision over Virginia Tech. The Mountaineers were invited to go to the Fiesta Bowl to take on Lou Holtz and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish only to lose by 13 when Harris was injured in the game.

This is different. It’s been 20 years since West Virginia last realistically had a shot at the national title (it could have caused a split had it defeated Florida in the Sugar Bowl in 1994). In that time frame, West Virginia has carried the conference, carried a state, and perhaps now will carry the national trophy.

But those pesky Panthers from the north stand in the way of West Virginia traveling to Bourbon Street for the BCS National Championship Game. The Panthers are 4-7 this season and this is their bowl game, their chance to turn their program around. However, Pittsburgh has to do something that really no team has been able to do this season and stop the Mountaineer’s from scoring big plays. In the one game West Virginia has lost this season, it was turnovers - six of them - that proved to be the difference in the game. The Mountaineers seemingly have worked that out, however that is still an unknown aspect to the game.

Pittsburgh will come in ready to play. West Virginia must come in lose and ready to do what it needs to do for 60 minutes.

It’s the fans who can be nervous, anxious, and relentlessly giddy about this game. Let them, they are fans and alumni - it’s what we do best. As a fan and an alum, I’ve been a walking dreamer thinking about this game and what could occur in a few short weeks.

It certainly is a great day to be a Mountaineer. Probably not a great day to be a Panther.

Am I Really Prepared for This?

Throughout my adult life, I’ve worked in either a newspaper or in a public policy organization doing at least one thing - writing. Now there were several other responsibilities tucked in at each of my stops, but primarily my job was centered around writing and communicating, whether it be a recap of the big high school wrestling meet, a discussion at city hall, or how higher education policy was being implemented in the state of North Carolina.

This has been my professional life for about the past seven years, however longer if you stretch back to my days of writing for the local newspaper while in high school. However, on Sunday, my professional career steps into this new reality that God is leading me down.

Sunday I begin my job as a youth pastor at a church outside of Wilmore. Let me back track for a moment. I really don’t consider this like a job, but more like a challenge that God has laid before me. It’s pretty exciting. The church has all of about three youth. Shannon, you’re a youth pastor for three kids. I know, I like my chances to build relationships with these kids. However, I really feel like there is an opportunity here to do some great ministries and take the principles that I’ve learned in how to do youth ministry and apply them in a small, rural church.

Some things will be different. Some things will be the same. But the primary principle will be providing a fun and safe environment for youth to come and learn about Christ and worship the Lord in their own unique ways. When you get down to it, the challenge is a little intimidating, but I’m up for it, I hope. I think.

Since I’m starting in December, my plan is not to go heavy on introducing new ideas, programs, or events right now. It would get left behind the hustle of the Advent season. But more than that I want to build a foundation before bringing in the fixtures. In building the foundations, I want to look at what is already there - how are we doing Sunday School for youth, how are the youth involved in the worship service, who are these youth, what are there stories. Also, there is a little about me that will go into this - who am I and why am I here seems to be the dominant questions.

Once this foundation is established, then you implement the programs or whatever it is you want to do with the kids.

I’m a little nervous going into Sunday. My first day on the job has always been spent learning a new writing system and learning the areas. Sure, there will be some learning the area, but now there is a new element of serving God and sharing the love of Christ to the youth of this area. That excites me, but it overwhelms the mind.

Discussion of College Football Playoff Hypocritical?

This week commentators on the “ABC Family of Networks” and columnists for newspapers and Web sites will discuss the merits of a potential West Virginia-Missouri BCS National Championship game. That has already been the case since Missouri knocked off previous No. 2 Kansas and West Virginia knocked off UConn to win the Big East title this weekend.

However, most of the discussion has been on the lack of a playoff in Division I-A to determine a national championship. The argument has been that the “weakness” of a one-loss West Virginia or a one-loss Missouri should give cause to a national playoff system.  While a playoff may be better than the system that is currently in place now, those who are mostly discussing a playoff position do so with their own biases. Those who are discussing a potential playoff are those whom would benefit the most from the introduction of a playoff system.

Television - In 1999, CBS signed an 11-year, $6 billion deal with the NCAA to be the exclusive home to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.  FOX currently holds an $80 million contract to host the BCS. Should a playoff system be implement one would have to assume that it would benefit, financially, the network that hosts the playoffs and ultimately the National Championship Game. Certainly advertising for 30-second spots would require a large financial investment from companies, which means increase revenues for the networks airing the games. Also increased ratings in December and January would help networks set their ad rates for the upcoming quarter, so there would be an additional profit potential to ESPN, ABC, CBS, or FOX in a playoff scenario.

Internet - Same as with television, Internet sites would profit from increased traffic to see who is in or who is out. The increased hits would allow for increased ad rates, which ultimately benefits the sites.

In regards to television and Internet, when commentators discuss the value a playoff would add to college football you have to take it with a grain of salt. These commentators realize the financial windfall that would exist in a playoff scenario.

But here is the piece of information that the commentators do not want to tell the public. There is little if any support not just among the chancellors and the presidents for a playoff system, but also among the coaching ranks. What coach wants to go on the recruiting trail after finishing in the top 25 in the AP poll but failing to advance to a bowl game/postseason. The bowl games, as a friend of mine reminded me earlier this week, allows for teams to finish with a win and bring home a trophy. That win helps in securing interest in recruits, but also in the other important aspect of college athletics - donations from alums and others. Sitting 17th and sitting out of the playoffs wouldn’t help say a Hawaii in that regard.

Therefore it makes little since for a school to promote a playoff system. Furthermore, the bowls are part of American tradition in sports, why eliminate the bowl structure? Sure, there are more bowl games today than what there probably should be, but a subtraction of bowls and a limit on the number of games would help.

Tweak the bowl system that is in place and add a plus one or plus two scenario, but as for the pipe dream of a playoff system, let’s be honest here: It’s not going to happen, at least not anytime soon.

What Saturday Means for West Virginia

On Saturday, it’s more than just West Virginia versus Pitt, the 100th renewal of one of the classic rivalries in college football. On Saturday, it’s more than just the last game at the end of a long regular season. On Saturday, it’s more than just a game to determine what two teams will play for the national title.

No, West Virginia’s game with Pitt on Saturday evening is important for reasons beyond the playing fields of Mountaineer Field.

A win Saturday by Patrick White and the Mountaineers would certainly send West Virginia to the national championship. More than that, though, it would give the residents of the state something to hang their hats on and say, “Yes, good things can happen in West Virginia.”

Break’s Over … Time to Get Back to Work

I have a question.

Why is it every time you take some time off, you need a vacation from that time off? For the past eight days, I’ve been in West Virginia visiting family. The first few days were spent dealing with the loss of my aunt - whom I’ve realized lately how proud she was of me (something I wish I realized more when she was alive) - and some other family emergencies. The remaining days was spent bouncing from homework, and other stresses in the family that kept creeping up.

In other words, I’m more exhausted after eight-days in West Virginia than I was before I left. Is that even possible?

But even through the lack of sleep, there were some positives.

Such as Black Friday. Millions of people get up early, stretch, and get ready to bust the walls down at the local malls. Not my family. No, we got up early, and drove three hours to stand in line for an hour for tickets to Saturday’s WVU-UConn game. The tickets that went on sale were student tickets that students, who were away for Thanksgiving Break, did not claim. Being that I doubt I can go to a bowl game, this was my one chance to see the Mountaineers to play this season.

It was well worth the $45 ticket, the long climb to the top of the stadium, and the lack of sleep the last two days. I’m on Cloud 9 thinking about West Virginia playing for the national title for the first time since the 1988-89 season when the Mountaineers lost to Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. There was the 1993-94 season where some believed that had West Virginia defeated Florida in the Sugar Bowl that it could have won a claim of the national title, but the Mountaineers were never in that game.

All West Virginia has to do is beat arch rival Pittsburgh (4-7) at Mountaineer Field, Saturday, and its off to New Orleans to play either Missouri or Ohio State.  Here’s to a West Virginia-Ohio State National Title tilt, with a hope that the outcome is better than my first game as a college freshman when Ohio State ran all over the Mountaineers in Morgantown (in 1998).

*****

Another joy of being home is trying to get back into the swing of things. Usually, in my professional career, the day after a long break, was usually unproductive as I slowly got back into the swing of things. That can’t be the case this week.  With exams closing fast, it requires a fourth-quarter stamina push.

I wonder if they make IV bags of Diet Dr Pepper.

******

Speaking of Dr Pepper, I’m wondering if they would be interested in sponsoring my seminary career. As much as I drink it here, I’m sure they could afford the gift. I would even be willing to wear Dr Pepper attire on campus (think NASCAR advertising) to pay for my scholarship.

Think they’ll go for it?

We’ll that is it for now. It’s off to more rest and then the sprint to December.

Learning While On Vacation and Why the Wilmore Police Know Me By Name

I’ve learned a big lesson about seminary education thus far these past few days. Even though I’m out of Kentucky Mayberry, away from the classrooms, the lectures, the exegesis papers, there is still opportunity for learning what it means to be a minister and serve others in the name of our Lord. This became clear to me this weekend while in West Virginia for a funeral.

Now, before I write the story let me add this disclaimer that I have always known how valuable practical education has been to me. In my undergrad at West Virginia University, I learned more about being a writer from actually writing for a newspaper than I did in class. Doing has always been more productive for me than being told how to do something. I guess I’m a trial and error person.

That being said, let me now take you to the story of Saturday. Now to get to the funeral, I have to tell you this story. My family has a lot of love and care for me, as any family would for their children. However, I, on the other hand, have a history of doing idiotic things at the wrong time.

I give you Evidence A - The Cell Phone Caper. On Friday, I purchased a new cell phone to replace my Star Trek looking device that had served its purpose and needed to be sent into retirement. This, I thought, would be a simple process of buying a phone, waiting for activation, and proceed to use the new phone. I was wrong. Turns out, it took more than 24 hours to get the phone activated. In the meantime, I had no cell phone service and since cell phones are my only line of communication, the family had no way to get in touch with me.

Now, my plans on Friday was to go to work, come home and pack. I had talked to my grandfather and he assumed by going “home” I meant West Virginia, when in fact I meant my home in Kentucky. This is the crutch of what will later become “How Shannon Gave the Family a Heart Attack.” When I didn’t come home Friday, the family began to call me. When I didn’t answer the phone, they began to worry. Saturday morning and still no word, they began to get anxious. Anxiety got to the point where my brother was going to drive to Kentucky, and my mom … called the Wilmore Police Department.

All this time, I’m in the house getting ready to drive to West Virginia, frustrated that my cell phone - my new cell phone - was about as useful as a used diaper. Knowing my family was probably worried - though I didn’t know how much - I asked my roommate Saturday to call and let them know I’m on my way. To the cries of “Oh thank God,” I told my family I’m on my way. Only to hear a knock at the door. The Police arrived to check on me.

At least I know my family cares.

But then the funeral.

So, who do you love more than these

I love how God works.  Yesterday was one of those times when, for once, class and chapel seemed to go hand in hand and allowed for some chance for perspectives.

In class, we are discussing the spiritual nature of the New Testament - this after discussing its literary importance and historical implications. Among that was a discussion on the last scene in John where Jesus is reinstating Peter back into the flock with the line of “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” This later was the theme of the final chapel for the week.

Jesus doesn’t really tell Peter what is meant by these. We can gather that Peter understood what Jesus meant. Here they are sitting along the shore, they just caught 153 fish, and Jesus is asking Peter if he loved him. Now, remember just a few short days ago Peter had denied Jesus three times, so the question of if Peter loved the Lord seemed, perhaps, appropriate. But, Peter doesn’t hesitate with a response and clearly states three times - indicative of the number of times he betrayed Jesus - that yes, Peter loved the Lord.

For Peter, these might have meant his love for a great catch. Perhaps it was his love for his family and the friends amongst the disciples. Or perhaps it was even his love for his ideas as a Jewish man living in these times. We may never know clearly what is meant by these as it relates to Peter.

However, we can know what these means for us as the church and as individuals in our faith. It’s a question we should ask ourselves continually - what are these things that we love more than the Lord? What is it that we place before our love and devotion to the Lord?

And that’s a wrap folks … things I’ve learned in three months

With the conclusion of an Inductive Bible Study course on the Gospel of Matthew this afternoon a little after the scheduled end time, the start of Thanksgiving Break has begun here at seminary. Well, we’re not really allowed to call it Thanksgiving Break, even though that is what it really is. You see, the Administration here is smart to realize that few if any of the student body (myself included) have finished all our assigned readings for the semester. Hence, a one-week stoppage in courses known as “Reading Week” has come upon us - featuring a day of turkey and football (we’ll call it our Reading Sabbath).

It has been a very difficult semester, both academically and personally. On the academic side, I’ve been challenged to look inside what I believe, what I understand, and what I know about the Christian faith. It has forced me to ask serious questions to challenge what I’ve been taught for the past 27 years of my existence. The end result is several books read (more than, I must say, I have read in some years combined recently), several papers written, and I believe my first gray hair.

Personally, my life has perhaps been more challenging. There have been some great moments here at school - helping to raise nearly $1,000 in less than a month for relief efforts in the Sudan, meeting new people, and experiencing some news aspects of life. But for as many great moments their have been just as many challenging moments. I’ve questioned myself here. I’ve questioned my ability to be in ministry. Questioned my motives for serving. Felt loved, felt abandoned, felt indifferent, sometimes all in the same week.

The end result has led me to this understanding of who I am in the Christian faith:

Registration Blues

One of the joys that I forgot about regarding my undergraduate education was registering for courses. About the start of the fourth quarter of a given semester, course catalogs would become as heavily read as the textbooks, and students began to ask more questions about perspective professors than the materials in their current classes.

Such is my current position. Tonight is registration night and I’ve spent at least the last few hours - while watching Philip Rivers blow my Fantasy Football team’s hopes of moving into the top two of one of my leagues - analyzing what courses I want to take and when. Of course, a perspective schedule has to fit into my desired rules for classes: I like to have at least one day off without classes (Friday), breaks during the day to do homework, and nice blocks of classes so there are no lags.

There are also the other requirements of quality professors, if fellow classmates will be enrolled in the classes, and if I’ve met the required courses to take the needed class.  Currently, my course load of 12 hours is a neat package of New Testament, an inductive Bible study on Matthew, an orientation course on kingdom values, and church history. The incoming session is looking as if it will be Greek in January, Method and Praxis (like I know what that means), Vocation in Ministry, Intro to Old Testament, and Church History 2 in the spring.

Now, registration opens in a few minutes and guaranteed registration will last no longer than 20 minutes. It’s almost too easy to register for classes with online registration. At WVU, everything was registered by the phone where you would fight to get a phone line and the most popular locations on campus were the pay phones. For some reasons, cell phones wouldn’t tap into the system very well.

One thing I did notice as I was organizing my classes, to finish in three years, I have to take at least 12 hours in the fall and spring here on out, and take one class in every short semester. That would allow me to graduate in the spring of 2010 where a nice vacation will likely be in order.

Can someone say Scotland?

One week until rest

There is something that I enjoy about being back in school. The week off for Thanksgiving.

What a great concept? In West Virginia, we got the full week off for Thanksgiving primarily because the school systems knew that with deer season opening hardly any students would be in attendance. So, instead of losing average daily attendance formula funding, we received the entire week off.

Here in Seminary, it’s the same principle, I believe. No, not many of us will go deer hunting the week of Thanksgiving. However, without a good, long, week off, I believe some of us - myself included - would go a little bonkers. Rest is something that is really needed here, and rest will come in a few days. Though, I’ve noticed that it’s not really a rest. This concept of a reading week requires me to actually get caught up on reading in some of my classes in which the reading has been less of a priority. Most of the time between Monday and Wednesday will be spent in a library reading, studying, and doing work.

At least there are no classes.

Outside of reading, I can’t wait for some relaxation. This has been a difficult semester and rest is certainly needed. There may be a trip to visit some old friends, some time with family, and oh yes the turkey, stuffing, ham, oh my. After three or four months of cafeteria food, my body won’t know how to react to quality home cooking.

So, let the countdown begin to Thursday and the end of classes, the end of the long stretch, and the start of the fourth quarter for the semester.