Day: March 13, 2012

Ways of Grace

/ Dennis Griffith / 2 Comments

We will never find God unless he first seeks us, but we should remember that he can do so in very different ways.  Sometimes, God jumps on us dramatically, as he does with the younger son, and we have a sharp sense of his love.  Sometimes he quietly and patiently argues with us even though we continue to turn away, as in the case of the older son.

How can you tell if he is working on you now? If you begin to sense your lostness and finding yourself wanting to escape it, you should realize that that desire is not something you could have generated on your own.  Such a process requires Help, and if it is happening it is a good indication that he is even now on your side.

~ Tim Keller, from The Prodigal God

2012 NCAA Tournament Bracket Predictions

/ Dennis Griffith / Leave a comment

You gotta love this time of year: March Madness.  The NCAA Basketball Tournament kicks off this week, with the play-in games tipping off this evening (Tuesday March 13).  Below is my initial bracket predictions, all the way through the Final Four.  I will post updates after each round with predictions reflecting those who actually play. (Yes, this mean I expect to be wrong sometimes.)

A printable bracket can be downloaded by clicking: 2012 NCAA Tourney

Play-in Games

  • Western Kentucky > Mississippi Valley State
  • Iona > BYU
  • Vermont > Lamar
  • Californina > South Florida

Round One

East Region

  • 1 Syracuse > 16 UNC-Asheville
  • 2 Ohio State > 15 Loyola-MD
  • 3 Florida State > 14 St Bonaventure
  • 4 Wisconsin > 13 Montana
  • 5 Vanderbilt > 12 Harvard
  • 6 Cincinnati > 11 Texas
  • 10 West Virginia > 7 Gonzaga
  • 9 Southern Mississippi > 8 Kansas State

South Region

  • 1 Kentucky > 16 Western Kentucky
  • 2 Duke > 15 Lehigh
  • 3 Baylor > 14 San Diego State
  • 4 Indiana > 13 New Mexico State
  • 12 Virginia Commonwealth > 5 Wichita State
  • 11 Colorado > 6 UNLV
  • 7 Notre Dame > 10 Xavier
  • 9 Connecticut > 8 Iowa State

Midwest Region

  • 1 North Carolina > 16 Vermont
  • 2 Kansas > 15 Detroit
  • 14 Belmont > 3 Georgetown
  • 13 Ohio > 4 Michigan
  • 5 Temple > 12 California
  • 11 North Carolina State > 6 San Diego State
  • 10 Purdue > 7 St Mary’s
  • 9 Alabama > 8 Creighton

West Region

  • 1 Michigan State > 16 Long Island Univ.
  • 2 Missouri > 15 Norfolk State
  • 3 Marquette > 14 Iona
  • 4 Louisville > 13 Davidson
  • 5 New Mexico > 12 Long Beach State
  • 6 Murray State > 11 Colorado State
  • 7 Florida > 10 Virginia
  • 8 Memphis > 9 St Louis

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