Time Travel Tuesday #28
Snow! As I post this (about 5:30am) there is already at least 2-3 inches on the ground at my house, and it's still falling! If you go out today, be sure to bundle up...just like Tricia in this picture from her early days. Who knew she was Amish?  

TEAMS	WINS	LOSSES

 
Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints who defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV last night. It was the Saints' first trip to the Super Bowl in the team's 43-year history, and I'd say it ended well for them! Of course, the worst thing about the Super Bowl is that now we don't have anymore football until August..

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-13) Season Completed 

The Louisville Cardinals racked up 23 commitments on National Signing Day for new head coach Charlie Strong, including Brandon Dunn, a DT from PRP! The 2010 class wasn't ranked nationally, but the goal is not to get a bunch of talented individuals as much as it is to get athletes who can fit your system and work together as a unit. I'm hoping the Cards can get things going and add a couple more wins to the total this fall. (4-8) Season Completed

PRP Panthers (3-8) Season Completed

Here are the final overall 2009 standings for football:

	WINS	LOSSES

TEAMS	WINS	LOSSES

The Louisville Cardinals put together two wins last week, improving to 6-4 in the Big East. They rolled past UConn 82-69 on Monday night, then followed it up with a 76-60 win over Rutgers on Saturday. Louisville is still very much a 'bubble' team, meaning they are going to need to win some more games (especially against ranked opponents) in order to secure a place in the NCAA tournament. Their record isn't bad, but early season losses to Western Carolina and Charlotte, combined with the inability to finish out games with big leads, leaves the Cards in need of some key wins for their tournament resume. Fortunately, they will get the chance to play some top 10 teams, starting this week. Unfortunately, the Ville is 1-5 on the road this year and the next two games are away. 
Games This Week: @ St. John's (2/11), @ #3 Syracuse (2/14)

The PRP Panthers notched another win, beating long-time rival Valley 75-60 on the road. The Ridge only has four regular season games left, so they need to keep playing strong in order to make some noise in the District and Regional levels.  
Games This Week: @ Central (2/9), Butler (2/12)

Here are the current overall 2009-2010 standings for basketball:

	WINS	LOSSES

TEAMS	WINS	LOSSES

New York Mets Season Begins April 5 vs. Marlins
Louisville Cardinals Season Begins February 19 vs. Bowling Green
PRP Panthers Season Begins in March

Here are the current overall 2010 standings for baseball:

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What does the Bible mean when it talks about a 'new birth' and, if I profess to be reborn, how can I be sure that this new birth has genuinely happened to me? A. W. Pink (The Sovereignty of God, 79) digs into that very question in this week's quote:   

The new birth is very much more than simply shedding a few tears due to a temporary remorse over sin. It is far more than changing our course of life, the leaving off or bad habits and the substituting of good ones. It is something different from the mere cherishing and practicing of noble ideals. It goes infinitely deeper than coming forward to take some popular evangelist by the hand, singing a pledge-card, or “joining the church.”   The new birth is no mere turning over a new leaf, but it is the inception and reception of a new life. It is no mere reformation but a complete transformation. In short, the new birth is a miracle, the result of the supernatural operation of God. It is radical, revolutionary, lasting.

So we see that being 'born again' isn't just thinking or acting in a new way. It's not just agreeing with what your church teaches and trying to stay out of any big trouble. Instead, it is a complete and total transformation of your desires, character, and hope. The evidence of this new life is only seen over the course of time--not as perfection, but as consistent growth in the "grace of knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" [2 Peter 3:18] as we increasingly submit to His will and rest in His promises.

In other words, look back to the moment when you claim that you were reborn. From that time until now (whether it be two weeks or twenty years) is there evidence of change in your life? Not just any change, for all people experience changes in taste and goals and viewpoints, but Christ-like change. Do you believe the Gospel more fully than you once did? Do you love and forgive others the way God has loved and forgiven you? Is the fruit of the Spirit on display in your life? Are you serving God in the ministry of reconciliation? Have you turned away from habitual, heart-hardening sin? These are the marks of genuine rebirth. [see Luke 6:35-36; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Galatians 5:22-24; Ephesians 4:32; 1 John 3:4-10]

Keep in mind, of course, that your salvation isn't based primarily on these changes. They exist to give us assurance that God is at work in our lives, but as Titus 3:5 says, "He saved us." All of this evidence in our lives is there not in order to be saved, but because we already have been saved by the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ on the cross. When Nicodemus asks Jesus what he must do to be reborn, Jesus tells him "the wind blows where it wishes...so it is with the Spirit of God" [John 3:8], clearly telling him that no amount of human works--no matter how righteous they seem to us--can ever make us right with God. Only God can make us right with God, and He has mercifully done so through the atoning blood of His Son.

Time Travel Tuesday #27
Happy Groundhog Day! (I'm betting there's more winter.) This week's picture is one from the engagement pictures that Tricia and I had done down at Waterfront Park back in 2006. Every day I consider myself very blessed to be married to Tricia, who is an amazing wife, mother, and friend. She may not be perfect, but she's perfect for me! I love you, sweetie!   



Also, just to update everyone on a situation I mentioned last month, I have the car I wrecked back from the body shop and it looks like new! I picked it up last Friday (which means I had to give the rental truck back to Enterprise...ssssh! Don't tell Ethan!) and everything on the Focus is back in working order. The plan now is not to run into the back of any more cars. 

TEAMS	WINS	LOSSES

 
The Super Bowl is this Sunday! I'm pulling for the Colts all the way. I don't hate the Saints, but they are a division rival of Tampa Bay, and I really admire the Colts franchise, so I'm hoping Indy wins Super Bowl XLIV and gets their second title in four years!

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-13) Season Completed 
Louisville Cardinals (4-8) Season Completed
PRP Panthers (3-8) Season Completed

Here are the final overall 2009 standings for football:

	WINS	LOSSES

TEAMS	WINS	LOSSES

The Louisville Cardinals lost to Seton Hall, beat Cincinnati, but then lost to #9 West Virginia, going 1-2 in the last 3 games. So not only are the Cards unable to play consistently throughout an entire game (down 13-0 at West Virginia, they rallied and led by 12 in the second half, then lost by 3) they are unable to have any consistency in the season. They are now 4-4 in the Big East, and things don't get any easier from here.
Games This Week: Connecticut (2/1), Rutgers (2/6)

The PRP Panthers followed up their loss to Ballard in the LIT with three straight wins: 76-50 at Southern, 65-45 at Doss, and 90-43 hosting Western. Unfortunately, the streak ended at three when #8 Seneca came in and beat the Panthers 71-65 on homecoming night. But the Panthers played solid against a top-tier team and as the season hits the home stretch, even a close loss like this could be something good to build on. 
Games This Week: @ Valley (2/5)

Here are the current overall 2009-2010 standings for basketball:

	WINS	LOSSES

TEAMS	WINS	LOSSES

New York Mets Season Begins April 5 vs. Marlins

The Louisville Cardinals made some news by being ranked #13 in the Baseball America preseason poll and #20 in the preseason Coaches' Poll. That's a good start for the Cards, and we'll see if they can live up to expectations in just a couple of weeks!
Season Begins February 19 vs. Bowling Green

PRP Panthers Season Begins in March

Here are the current overall 2010 standings for baseball:

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