Deut. 12:32

"See that you do all I command you; do not add to it, or take away from it."

I heard a sermon just last Wednesday that the speaker used this verse in his sermon. He used it to express the idea of how we as Christians should contend for the faith. And when he quoted that verse from Deuteronomy, I thought, its funny how he uses this one verse for that purpose, yet neglects its teaching on matters such as gluttony. Anyways, so when I stumbled across this blog post, I found it to be very much in line with what I was thinking. How can we, particularly as Southern Baptist, condemn drinking alcohol, yet not even mention in sermons the need for moderation when consuming food as well? Anyways just some sporadic thoughts I had. Read the blog linked, its really good. Perry Noble is an amazing guy that God is using in a big way!

My SEC Predictions

I know I'm 3 months in advance, but just so everyone knows how I think the SEC football season will turn out, I'm listing my picks here. Here's how I think the season will turn out minus the SEC championship game and bowl games:

Alabama - (9-3, 6-2)

Sept. 1 Western Carolina W
Sept. 8 at Vanderbilt W
Sept. 15 Arkansas L
Sept. 22 Georgia W
Sept. 29 vs. Florida State L
Oct. 6 Houston W
Oct. 13 at Mississippi W
Oct. 20 Tennessee W
Nov. 3 LSU L
Nov. 10 at Mississippi State W
Nov. 17 Louisiana-Monroe W
Nov. 24 at Auburn W


Arkansas - (11-1, 6-1)

Sept. 1 Troy W
Sept. 15 at Alabama W
Sept. 22 Kentucky W
Sept. 29 North Texas W
Oct. 6 Tennessee-Chattanooga W
Oct. 13 Auburn W
Oct. 20 at Mississippi W
Oct. 27 Florida International W
Nov. 3 South Carolina W
Nov. 10 at Tennessee L
Nov. 17 Mississippi State W
Nov. 24 at LSU W

Auburn - (8-4, 4-4)

Sept. 1 Kansas State W
Sept. 8 South Florida W
Sept. 15 Mississippi State W
Sept. 22 New Mexico State W
Sept. 29 at Florida L
Oct. 6 Vanderbilt W
Oct. 13 at Arkansas L
Oct. 20 at LSU L
Oct. 27 Mississippi W
Nov. 3 Tennessee Tech W
Nov. 10 at Georgia W
Nov. 24 Alabama L

Florida - (11-1, 7-1)

Sept. 1 Western Kentucky W
Sept. 8 Troy W
Sept. 15 Tennessee W
Sept. 22 at Mississippi W
Sept. 29 Auburn W
Oct. 6 at LSU W
Oct. 20 at Kentucky W
Oct. 27 vs. Georgia W
Nov. 3 Vanderbilt W
Nov. 10 at South Carolina L
Nov. 17 Florida Atlantic W
Nov. 24 Florida State W

Georgia - (7-5, 4-4)

Sept. 1 Oklahoma State L
Sept. 8 South Carolina W
Sept. 15 Western Carolina W
Sept. 22 at Alabama L
Sept. 29 Mississippi W
Oct. 6 at Tennessee L
Oct. 13 at Vanderbilt W
Oct. 27 at Florida L
Nov. 3 Troy W
Nov. 10 Auburn L
Nov. 17 Kentucky W
Nov. 23 at Georgia Tech W

Kentucky - (6-6, 3-5)

Sept. 1 Eastern Kentucky W
Sept. 8 Kent State W
Sept. 15 Louisville L
Sept. 22 at Arkansas L
Sept. 29 Florida Atlantic W
Oct. 4 at South Carolina L
Oct. 13 LSU L
Oct. 20 Florida L
Oct. 27 Mississippi State W
Nov. 10 at Vanderbilt W
Nov. 17 at Georgia L
Nov. 24 Tennessee W

LSU - (9-3, 5-3)

Aug. 30 at Mississippi State W
Sept. 8 Virginia Tech W
Sept. 15 Middle Tennessee W
Sept. 22 South Carolina L
Sept. 29 at Tulane W
Oct. 6 Florida L
Oct. 13 at Kentucky W
Oct. 20 Auburn W
Nov. 3 at Alabama W
Nov. 10 Louisiana Tech W
Nov. 17 at Mississippi W
Nov. 23 Arkansas L

Ole Miss - (4-8, 1-7)

Sept. 1 at Memphis W
Sept. 8 Missouri L
Sept. 15 at Vanderbilt L
Sept. 22 Florida L
Sept. 29 at Georgia L
Oct. 6 Louisiana Tech W
Oct. 13 Alabama L
Oct. 20 Arkansas L
Oct. 27 at Auburn L
Nov. 3 Northwestern State W
Nov. 17 LSU L
Nov. 23 at Mississippi State W

Miss. St. - (2-10, 0-8)

Aug. 30 LSU L
Sept. 8 at Tulane L
Sept. 15 at Auburn L
Sept. 22 Gardner-Webb W
Sept. 29 at South Carolina L
Oct. 6 Alabama-Birmingham W
Oct. 13 Tennessee L
Oct. 20 at West Virginia L
Oct. 27 at Kentucky L
Nov. 10 Alabama L
Nov. 17 at Arkansas L
Nov. 23 Mississippi L

South Carolina - (10-2, 6-2)

Sept. 1 Louisiana-Lafayette W
Sept. 8 at Georgia W
Sept. 15 South Carolina State W
Sept. 22 at LSU W
Sept. 29 Mississippi State W
Oct. 4 Kentucky W
Oct. 13 at North Carolina W
Oct. 20 Vanderbilt W
Oct. 27 at Tennessee L
Nov. 3 at Arkansas L
Nov. 10 Florida W
Nov. 24 Clemson W

Tennessee - (9-3, 5-3)

Sept. 1 at California W
Sept. 8 Southern Mississippi W
Sept. 15 at Florida L
Sept. 22 Arkansas State W
Oct. 6 Georgia W
Oct. 13 at Mississippi State W
Oct. 20 at Alabama L
Oct. 27 South Carolina W
Nov. 3 Louisiana-Lafayette W
Nov. 10 Arkansas W
Nov. 17 Vanderbilt W
Nov. 23 at Kentucky L

Vanderbilt - (4-8, 1-7)

Sept. 1 Richmond W
Sept. 8 Alabama L
Sept. 15 Mississippi W
Sept. 29 Eastern Michigan W
Oct. 6 at Auburn L
Oct. 13 Georgia L
Oct. 20 at South Carolina L
Oct. 27 Miami (Ohio) W
Nov. 3 at Florida L
Nov. 10 Kentucky L
Nov. 17 at Tennessee L
Nov. 24 Wake Forest L



So from the look of it, if these hold up, it will be a rematch of last year's SEC Championship Game. Can't Wait!!!


Oh, and just for any people who happen to like, for some strange reason, the Seminoles, here's my pick for them:

Florida St. - (9-3, 6-2)

Sept. 3 at Clemson W
Sept. 8 UAB W
Sept. 15 at Colorado W
Sept. 29 Alabama W
Oct. 6 NC State W
Oct. 11 at Wake Forest L
Oct. 20 Miami (Fla.) W
Oct. 27 Duke W
Nov. 3 at BC W
Nov. 10 at Virgina Tech L
Nov. 17 Maryland W
Nov. 24 at Florida L

I'm Shawn Alderman, and I should be dead!

So as most of you all know, I had a pretty serious car accident back in January. I wasn't wearing my seat belt, and so as a result I broke my femur. Then a few months later the Governor of New Jersey suffered a similar accident and for the same reason, not wearing his seatbelt. So in honor of the "Click it or Ticket it" campaign, here's his words on the subject. I reflect his same views.

Great Post by Bob Hyatt

I would just post the video here, but I cant seem to get youTube to set it up right. So ill just link to the post from Bobblog here. Amazing video from the mind of a recovering alcoholic. Its long (11 min.) but worth it. dont be afraid, go ahead and click on it.

I LOVE PAM!!!

I have a little school-boy crush on Pam (Jenna Fischer) of NBC show "The Office." And last night made me fall in love with her twice as much. The Office had its season finale last night, and in the end scene (no I wont give it away), Jenna puts on a good act. I have only cried (and I am not afraid to admit it) in two movies ever (What Dreams May Come & Jacob the Liar) and never over a TV show, but I about lost it over the end scene last night. Pure Unadulterated Happiness is the best that I can explain it. You must watch it if you do nothing else in your lifetime, no joke. Amazing! YouTube might have it later, and iTunes should have it in a few days also. I will buy it, it's only $1.99. Worth every shiny penny too! Check it out and let me know what you think. Am I the only one with such a crush. And come on guys, don't be afraid to admit that you were at the breaking point of crying too.
You can see the video here

Thompson vs. Moore

This is for all my Republican friends out there. This video is about a feud going on between Michael Moore and (probable) presidential candidate Fred Thompson. I love brazenness like this. I wonder if that is a real Cuban? Read the text below the video for more explanation.

Joy comes in the morning?

Yesterday, my devotion included reading the 30th Psalm. In this Psalm, there is a verse (5) that says "weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning" As you can read in my post about my grandfather, I was in a darker mood last night. Although I still am battling those same questions and conflicts, this morning my devotion had a verse that does ease the mind a bit. In 1 Thes. 4:17, it talks about how those who are alive on the Day of the Lord, will be "caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." The last part of the verse is amazing, "and so we will always be with the Lord." I have read this passage many times before, but in particular, this morning, it helps out a lot. It's amazing how God works. He also pointed out to me how we are to "stand in faith." He said that maybe, just maybe, part of my problem is that I am not standing in faith in God. Very challenging devotion today. There is a great sermon by Matt Chandler on this idea of standing. I am listening to it now for about the 5th time. Good stuff. You can download it here.

Farewell Falwell

Jerry Falwell, the controversial pastor and founder of Thomas Road Baptist Church and Liberty University, is dead at the age of 73. Here's a link to the report of his passing.
I have been in the past, someone who was against many of the things that he had said publicly (along with Pat Robertson.) But I have learned to have respect for those that I disagree with. So condolences to his family. Also, check out Bob Franquiz's take on his passing.

No Faith?

My grandfather is a decorated WWII Navy veteran, a husband of 60 + years, the father of 3, and grandfather of 3. He had never claimed to have an active faith in God, and seemed to be banking on the fact that he is good enough to acquire an everlasting relationship with God after he dies. And so one of his sons, my dad, had occasionally talked to him over the past few years about finding that relationship with God, to no avail. Then two saturdays ago, my grandfather apparently finally turned to God. It was a great day for our family.

But here's the kicker, I found it hard to believe. I have prayed and thought over my grandfather, and I prayed for God to open my grandfather's heart to Him. For about 5 years, I had went to Jesus for him. But looking back on it now, I never really thought he would turn to God, I never really expected God to save him. I have no idea why. I have racked my mind in the past few days, in search of a reason, only to find no explanation why. This is shaking me to my core. It is bringing great doubts into my mind and more so to my heart. I am breaking before God in asking why; why did I doubt, why did I question? Is my faith so shallow, so weak, more grounded in intellect than in my soul? Adam and I have had discussions on some of these very questions.

Needless to say, I'm not giving up. I will press on, I will press into Him. You know its funny, the other day I was doing a devotion, and it was talking about how David and his mighty men fought Philistine warriors who were descendents of giants (2 Sam. 21-23.) I labeled my journal that day "Land of Giants," and I wrote that we will have giants who come against us, and how we must remain in God and take refuge in Him. The funny thing is, sometimes those "giants" are ourselves. In this case, the giant I am facing is myself. How do you combat your own soul without killing it? How do you wage a war against an enemy so fierce as your own mind and soul? So I guess I will take my own advice on this one, and cling to God, knowing that He is the only way I will be able to face this giant. Through these times of doubt, through this purging of my soul. I wrote a prayer in that journal entry, and the last line particularly pierces my heart today.

"I will rest in You, though Giants come against me."

May God slay the giant that lives in me. And may the angels still sing over another soul coming home.

Lawmakers at their best!

Here's an article that I found that is almost pointless. The idea its self is not bad, but is there nothing else better for them to do with there time than that? Surly they could at least draft up a resolution to impeach the President (like Vermont did) or something. Just kidding! Don't throw rocks at me!

Oh well, what do you expect from Tennessee anyways? Not much more I guess.

Alan Hirsch at NNCC

So I know I'm a little late on posting this, but I was busy doing other things like sitting around my house, downloading new music, and spending way too much money on lunch. So here it is finally, my notes on Alan Hirsch at the NNCC from a few weeks ago. Just to say my part, he was in my humble opinion, the best speaker there, and alone well worth the price of admission. He also has two amazing books out, The Forgotten Ways and The Shaping of Things to Come. Also Chris has already posted on this, you just have to go back to the start of may in the archives to find it.

So here are my notes;

“The heart of discipleship is becoming like Jesus.”

Simplex idea – “Jesus is Lord” - this means that the concept is easy to understand and we all know how to live by it (simple), yet we all find it hard to do so, to flesh it out (complex). Neat little word I think.


The Gospel, if left alone in its simplicity, becomes easy to pass on - It spreads like a virus.
Alan showed how that worked in the early church, and how it has worked in places like China.

Christianity - Christ = Religion

“Jesus is the doorway. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t a whole realm of richness in God, just that Jesus is the way to get to that richness.” - amazing quote I think.

Perceived Set – You will only remember 3 brands in a product line. Test it out- try toothpaste!

“I believe that Christology is the heart of restoring the church to where it should be.”

“Down the gurgler” (toilet)

We have to get back to the basics per say, of Jesus. Not just his teachings, but also his actions. We have to "Re-calibrate to Jesus."

Christology → Methodology → Ecclesiology

Ask “where can u find Jesus?” Most people would say “in a church”

“It is not so much that the church has a mission, but that the mission has a church.”
Amazing quote, one of the many that he had. Think about that one for a little while.


Also, I will fess up before anyone else accuses me of a mistake I made during on of his sessions. I gave Alan a permanent marker instead of a dry erase. It was embarrassing. Alan, if you happen to come across this, I'm sorry again.

Obama Faux Pas

First off I want to say that I love Barack Obama. I have followed him since he first ran for the Illinois state senate a few years back, and I am constantly amazed by his willingness to face the issues facing not just America but the world today.

So anyways, when I came across this article, I had to post it. When you first read it, its sounds very dumb, but after reading it, you can understand the mistake. Everyone messes up with their facts every now and then. You can read the article here

Feel free to blast him if you wish, he kinda deserves it.