On the Road: Middle school football players execute life-changing play

http://www.youtube.com/v/0Ejh_hb15Fc?autohide=1&version=3&attribution_tag=DtCDDDL3Jp27lN3VRTnt1g&autoplay=1&showinfo=1&feature=share&autohide=1

Having went to Washington DC this Summer I was drawn to the leadership of Abraham Lincoln. He shouldn't of been president but he was. He dealt with constant personal and political attacks on his leadership. Yet, he continued to lead the nation through our darkest hours. This is a trait of all the good people who have been at the right place at the right time according to God's design. Then this stuff about Chick-Fila came up. We love to eat there, in fact we ate at the one in Crystal City while on our trip. The food is good, service is great and the place just makes you feel at home. So I see the leader of Chick-fila stand up for the same values that make me feel good eating there. He of course gets attacked because the liberals who want tolerance don't tolerate views that go against them. In fact much like Lincoln's enemies they spend most of there time in personal attacks because they can't logically argue there point. I have always respected Mr. S. Truett Cathy for standing for his (and my) values. So I wondered "Who is this man that they think is so evil?" Well according to Wikipedia let me share with you some facts about this man. (Quoted from Wikipedia)

Cathy was born in Eatonton, Georgia in 1921. He attended Boys High School, now Grady High School, in Atlanta, Ga. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Cathy began the chain in the Atlanta suburb of Hapeville, Georgia, in 1946 with a restaurant called the Dwarf Grill, named for its small size. It was there that he, along with his brother and partner, Ben, created the chicken sandwich that later became the signature menu item for Chick-fil-A... Cathy is a member of the First Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Georgia, and also has taught Sunday School there for more than 50 years. He has testified that the Bible is his guide-book for life.[2] As an extension of his convictions, all of the company's locations, whether company-owned or franchised, are closed on Sundays — a rare policy within the food-service industry — to allow its employees to attend church and spend time with their families.[3] This is a policy that began when Cathy was working 6 days a week, multiple shifts. He decided to close on Sundays to relax and recharge,[4] as well as to honor God. The policy remains intact today as the restaurants are closed on Sunday. He is also a philanthropist, having given to numerous charitable causes, many with evangelical ties.... Cathy has written five books: the autobiography Eat Mor Chikin: Inspire More People, a motivational book entitled It's Easier to Succeed Than to Fail, the parenting book It's Better to Build Boys Than Mend Men, an explanation of his business success in How Did You Do It, Truett?, and a final novel on the significance of money in today's society titled Wealth, Is It Worth It?. ... Cathy has dedicated his time and resources to many philanthropic causes, focusing on those related to the welfare of needy children. In 1984, Cathy established the WinShape Foundation, named for its mission to shape winners. WinShape Foundation consists of WinShape Homes, WinShape RetreatSM, WinShape MarriageSM, WinShape Camps, WinShape, College Program, WinShape Wilderness and WinShape International. In 2010, the foundation provided roughly $18 million to fund the development of foster homes and summer camp. Past donations from the WinShape Foundation include the funding of several college scholarships and marriage counseling programs. The foundation has awarded nearly 820 students of Berry College with scholarships of up to $32,000.[7][8] WinShape has also donated an estimated $5 million to anti-gay groups since 2003. Approximately $2 million was given in 2009[9][10] [11] and almost the same amount in 2010.[12][13]This has caused consternation for advocates that have denounced the chain over its support of groups opposed to gay and lesbian rights, and has led to instances of movements to refuse or remove Chick-fil-A restaurants and products from college and university campuses; Northeastern University's Student Senate voted on February 28, 2012 to cancel plans for an on-campus Chick-Fil-A restaurant[14]. In 2008, Cathy's WinShape foundation became the winner of the William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic leadership which awarded it $250,000 towards future philanthropy, as a result of its contributions to society. The prize was created to further ideals such as personal responsibility, resourcefulness, volunteerism, scholarship, individual freedom, faith in God, and helping people who help themselves. It honors living philanthropists who have shown exemplary leadership through their charitable giving, highlights the power of philanthropy to achieve positive change, and seeks to inspire others to support charities that achieve genuine results.[7][8] Additionally, Cathy has dedicated his time and resources towards welcoming homeless children into his home and has taught in Sunday school sessions. He has fostered children for over 30 years, and has since taken in nearly 200 foster children through WinShape Homes. WinShape Homes is a long-term foster care program that includes 11 foster homes throughout Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.[7][8] Cathy also has a Leadership Scholarship program for Chick-fil-A restaurant employees, which has awarded more than $23 million in $1,000 scholarships in the past 35 years.[8] In recognition of his philanthropic efforts through WinShape, Cathy received the Children's Champion Award for Family and Community from the charitable organization Children's Hunger Fund in 2011.[15] [edit] Honors and memberships President George W. Bush (awarded) Truett Cathy after he received the Lifetime President's Volunteer Service Award at the White House Cathy has received numerous honors, including membership in Omicron Delta Kappa (OΔK), the National Leadership Honor Society. He received OΔK's highest award, the Laurel Crowned Circle Award in 2009. He also received the Norman Vincent and Ruth Stafford Peale Humanitarian Award, the Horatio Alger Award, the William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership, and the Boy Scouts of America Silver Buffalo Award. Cathy was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 2003.[16][17] He is a member of Pi Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Pi Fraternities.[18] In 2007, Forbes magazine ranked Cathy as the 380th richest man in America and the 799th richest man in the world, with an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion.[19][20] Various quotations from him are to be read on Chick-fil-A's individually wrapped restaurant mints. President George W. Bush bestowed the President's Call to Service Award on Cathy in 2008.[21] Cathy was inducted into the Indiana Wesleyan University Society of World Changers on April 3, 2011. In addition to being inducted into the Society, the university also conferred upon Cathy an honorary doctorate of business. In May 2012, Cathy received an honorary doctorate along with presidential candidate Mitt Romney at the Liberty University's spring commencement ceremony. In his remarks, Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee at the time, said, "The Romney campaign comes to a sudden stop when we spot a Chick-fil-A. Your chicken sandwiches were our comfort food through the primary season, and heaven knows there were days that we needed a lot of comfort." Romney congratulated Cathy on his "well-deserved honor today".[22] Sounds like a real Bad man to me.....NOT! Support our values by supporting Chick-Fila!

In light of Mr. Obama's evolution let me post a note my friend "Paul" wrote to a church who was facing the choice if they should agree with Homosexuality or not. Romans 1 18 For God's wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, 19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. 24 Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen. 26 This is why God delivered them over to degrading passions. For even their females exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 The males in the same way also left natural relations with females and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Males committed shameless acts with males and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error. 28 And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a worthless mind to do what is morally wrong. 29 They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful. 32 Although they know full well God's just sentence-that those who practice such things deserve to die-they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them. Now I realize he may not be as "evolved" as some people but I think he has a good point or two. The problem is that we Christians think we have a right to disagree with God's Scripture based on our 'feelings". Remember, God will hold his church accountable for what they read, believed and practiced. It's not about rights, Constitution, or opinion polls. The Bible says what it says. If it's radical to believe that truth then call me a radical.

Poor Pitiful Men: The Martyr Complex of the American Husband | The Current Conscience

Poor Pitiful Men: The Martyr Complex of the American Husband | The Current Conscience

March 2012 Bloggie: It's Patrick's Island

Well, me lads and lades it’s that time of year again; March brings to mind the admiration I have for Saint Patrick, himself I do. I am still trying to read through my copy of the Celtic (not Seltic, its Keltic) way of Evangelism by George Hunter. It is a wonderful book that I am slowly digesting. Hunter states that in a post Christian world like we live in today that Celtic Christianity is the way to win the souls of today’s people. I tend to agree with him. I think we have seen the day of big revivals. People will be won today in a one on one experience. Each of us must hear the same call Patrick did to win the world by winning individuals to Christ.

You many not know this but Patrick was a real person not just some green suited little person. He was born in England, captured by slave traders when a boy, and sold into bonds in Ancient Ireland. He spent his time watching sheep there (what is it about sheep and God experiences?) where he truly had a spiritual transformation. God directed him home and he gave his life to God and the Ministry. Strangely he couldn’t shake the call of God to go back to his former land of slavery and witness the message of salvation his former masters. He organized missions that included someone to proclaim the gospel, others to live out the gospel and relate to the local population, and artisans who would help the music and art loving heathen Irish accept the love of God. This was different than anyone else had done it before which accounts for why the Irish were still without the hope of Christ. The Roman Catholic missionaries worked on the rulers, got them to convert to Catholicism and then proclaim that all their people had made the same decision. So you had a lot of people who didn’t have any type of personal relationship with Christ. Patrick saw his call to win the common people and work his way up to the rulers after the kingdom had converted. Generations after Patrick his missionaries were doing the same thing, moving into an area, loving people, working along side people and through the process of spiritual osmosis winning those people to a personal faith in Christ Jesus.

Of course the Adversary doesn’t like such things. He had the Church in Rome come into conflict with the Celtic Church. Eventually through working in the politics of Earthly kingdoms they put the Kee-bosh on the missionary efforts of Celts. Such an effort has born fruit in the empty cathedrals of Europe today. People will turn away from just ritual if it doesn’t create relationship.

However, Celtic Christianity didn’t die out. It just went back home to places like Iona and Irish Monasteries who continued to copy bibles and other books. This work of Celtic priest keeps ancient knowledge from passing away. It also helped give birth to the Reformation a few hundred years later that helped take the gospel around the globe.

So when we go to our neighbor, Dallas life, NYC, or anywhere with the good news of Jesus we are helping complete Patrick’s mission. God has called all of us to “Go ye therefore”

I grew up in a weird home, no this isn’t a blog about one of my brothers strange exploits, its all about the construction crew I call my Mom and Dad. You see they were real weird people.

Mom loved Daddy and Dad loved Mom. They would hug each other from time to time. They would support each other on decisions. No “go ask your mother” from Dad when we asked to go to a friends. He’d say, “Let me ask your mother”. He treats her like a queen. She would look at something at a store and he would say “why don’t you go ahead and get it?” because he knew she would want it later and he’d have to get out in the car and get it. She always cooked his favorite foods, ironed his clothes just the way he liked them, and stood by him through several heart “procedures”

What’s even weirder is they like each other. They traveled to Hawaii, the Caribbean and all over the Branson together. He made sure she had a good birthday last year with his boys help. She made sure he made it through his first few weeks of life shaking retirement.

What’s an even weirder thing? They love and like their 3 boys. I didn’t grow up in a home with abuse; I grew up in a home of love. I didn’t have parents who lived one way at church and another at home. They set the example. We were a fun, relaxed, loving, Christ honoring family. Don’t read that being stuffy or legalistic. Our friends wanted to come to our home because it was safe, secure, limit setting, caring. Jesus was seen and experienced in our home.

The more I work in the ministry the more I realize that isn’t the standard these days. I don’t know that it ever was the standard. Mom and Dad both grew up in families that were less than perfect. They both have all kinds of people to blame if they want to be nut bars. However, they chose to go against the trend of their youth. Love was a verb in our home. The Love that they still have for each other is because they love Jesus and honor him. Thank you Mom and Dad, you built more than a house, a home, you built me.

One Step at A Time

Ok, it’s been since August since I blogged. Where does the time go? I dunno. Does anyone really read blogs? I think it’s an old thing like e-mail. I was talking to my Jr. High Bible Study group the other day and asked them about e-mail. They said only “old” people do those, I am old. We are doing a unit on Social Media, talking with them about Txt and Face book. Can you express your Christianity on such changing media? I think so. I will have to old man blog about that soon.

The purpose of this blog is to encourage anyone who read it from NIBC to keep the faith this year. What a great church we have. The Testimonies on Sundays continue to support that fact that God has put us on this Hill for a reason. The many ministries local, citywide, national and international continue to show God that we have a mind to work in his kingdom.

The offering plates are going to struggle in an economy that just isn’t going to rebound no matter who gets the nod this November. However, friends, if we are faithful - God will provide. The key is our faithfulness to his call for NIBC. We have a Church that is built for this economy. I wouldn’t be able to get as much done with out our faithful volunteer ministry leadership and workers. It seems each time we hear God’s call he broadcast that call to many of us. This isn’t a church run by a group; it’s a church working together to row the boat in the right direction. Thank you so much for your love for this church.

The source he uses to provide financially is our faithful obedient stewardship/managing of the funds he gives us. Some my say “they’re always in my pocket up there at the church”. We’ll remember what I have told you, Jesus spoke of salvation/kingdom first and money second. I seem to recall him saying something about where your heart is there will your treasure be, but I could have just imagined that while I was asleep in one of my seminary classes. To fund the kingdom work takes managing our time, talent, treasure. I would be changing the message of the New Testament if I told you anything different. Those of you who know me from these last 93/4 years know that I don’t change the word of God to suit anyone. Remember, Beloved, that we are in this together. Our first call is to the kingdom work and that involves funding it with all we have not just 10%. I have seen your heart so far these last few months. Like those who rebuilt Jerusalem with Nehemiah “you have a heart for the work”. Let’s continue to be a place of strong and true Bible teaching/learning/living. God has so much in store for us in the years to come. My focus verse for this year is Revelation 3:8, where Jesus writes to the Church at Philadelphia,” I know your works. Because you have limited strength, have kept my word, and have not denied my name, look, I have placed before you an open door that no one is able to close.” The door is open because he is keeping it open, may he continue to find us faithful.

can you tell me how to get.....

So today I read on the ole’ face book that there is a petition circulated to have Burt and Ernie come out of the closet since they are to some obviously homosexual partners. They need to have a wedding on Sesame Street to show kids that being gay is an acceptable lifestyle. Well I consulted none other than TMZ, that great bastion of Entertainment Knowledge and they state on their website the following.

Sesame Street has finally responded to age-old rumors that Bert and Ernie are gay -- claiming the infamous room-sharing man-puppet odd couple are JUST FRIENDS ... and have no sexual orientation whatsoever.

A petition emerged online this week, urging the creators of Sesame Street to marry the two puppets -- but the Sesame Workshop just posted a message on its Facebook account, writing, "Bert and Ernie are best friends."

The statement continues, "They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves."

"Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics ... they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation."

In my opinion, while I can still say this in an ultimate tolerant society, this is completely stupid, and no I don’t regret using the word stupid. I also want you to know that I am not the least big politically correct, big surprise eh? The leftist are always trying to push their socialist political agenda and their perverse moral agenda on us. They work hard at pushing this agenda on kids. I also recently read an article stating that several Disney channel stars were obviously gay. The attack has been moved from the courts to kid’s television. To pervert a generation is to make that generation accept the alteration when they get older. The same thing happens on shows like Degrasi where main characters are homosexual. Many of the youth I have spoken too over the last few years see no problem with Homosexuality. Their ethic base is formed by media not by scripture. Also, these are Christian Church going kids who give me these reactions. Where have we gone wrong?

The GLBT crowd has done their work well. Where they are leading us is obviously of satanic origin. The issue has been at work from ancient times among the Greeks, Romans, and others. Down through time the problem is that for these people, sex is not only an urge it is the goal of life. Like most addictions you need a new kick of perversion for the next hit to have any power. They have opened themselves to the perversion and it spirals them downward. They cannot see any innocence, no real friendship, nothing that does not bare the stain of their perversion, and yes according to the Bible it is a perversion and a sin see Romans 2. Many would see something showing up in the relationship of even Jesus and John the Apostle. There is no room for love only love that involves sexual relationship.

We live in a day of darkness. Men today deal with the fear of how they will be perceived and have locked themselves behind unfeeling walls. Wives suffer and Children suffer because the male in their family dare not express his feelings lest he be considered effeminate. I see a real need for our church and for other churches to work to develop in Men the ability to express themselves and grow into the men God wants them to be.

Is Jesus coming back on May 21?

Just to let those who have been watching to much Royal Wedding coverage or the Mavs stomping the Lakers (Lackers), I wanted to let you know that Jesus isn't coming to Earth on May 21st. For one thing we have a church work day on that day and really need to get some things done. Another issue is that Harold Camping says that is the day. You may remember Harold Camping for his prediction that Jesus was coming in 1994.I guess Jesus broke down somewhere between here and Heaven and couldn't get a ride. Or maybe he just didn't want to come to earth during the Clinton Administration. Harold Camping preachers that all churches are wrong because the Holy Spirit has left the modern day church. I guess he and the Holy Spirit have coffee at Starbucks on Monday mornings or something. Maybe he gets secret messages via his Dish Satellite size ears, I dunno. All I know is what the book says Jesus Himself in Mark 13:32, look it up for yourself beloved. Jesus (you know the guy coming back) also says alot about dudes trying to say when he is coming in Mark 13:21-22. Of course that stuff is in the Bible and you have to believe the Bible to belive that stuff. Seems like we all want Ear itchers these days instead of the book itself. I heard one guy asking about all the money Harold is getting from those who follow him. The caller into Camping's radio show asked if he was going to give it all back. I guess he was on a cell phone in a tunnel cause they cut him off. Oh well, whenever Jesus does come back the Hale Hacienda is ready to go, this $5 gas is killing us. Smile Beloved God has great plans for you.

Katy Perry and the Decline of Western Christianity

So, the other day I am delving into Youth culture. I watch a video by Lady Ga Ga, kind of like Marylyn Manson meets Madonna – unique but strange. Then I view Katy Perry’s Firework video. She is a great singer, I like her energy in interviews, but I know that she has made some really bad choices. For one the guy she is married to is …. Well let me say unique. The song that propelled her to stardom was “I kissed a girl” which talks about a young lady’s exploration of lesbianism. Katy is still exploring her world and its complex realities. Then upon reading her bio I find that she is the daughter of not one minister but two ministers. I also discover that she had a Christian music career under her real name Katy Hudson. I listen to some of the cuts, same voice different message. Her music label went under and she became Katy Perry who kissed a girl and now has fireworks exploding out of her chest. So, Pb, where are you going with this? Let me ask a question. How does a girl who grew up in a Christian home and church now spend her young adult life promoting choices that are completely against everything she was brought up to believe? More importantly, why do we see this trend, although not as dramatically, repeat it in our churches today? I am not looking for someone to blame I am looking for some way to get around this trend.

It isn’t something new. Colonial and early America saw the same trends. One generation was Biblically sound and then the next fell out of church. Since the Church was the government they put rules on the populous making them attend church. This filled up the pews but did nothing for the hearts. People were willing to go through the ritual but had no relationship with Christ. Society’s morality plummeted as church became an empty exercise. How did they change it? They didn’t. God brought a revival called the “Great Awakening” that changed churches through changing people. So what do we who live in this century need to be doing with an increasing lost generation? Do we need to look for a great awakening to end the apathy of our churches and re-salt our society? What can we be doing?

It seems to me to be a waste of time, teaching and resources to spend so much time in our kids lives from the Nursery through High School, just to see them run away from the church when the reach college level. This is going to have to be a joint effort of God instructing and us doing. We have to evaluate not only the church but the home as well. If we say one thing and they see another in the home what good is it to teach them. Permissiveness and the desire of Christian parents to be “friends” instead of mentors is a large part of the problem. I don’t think this idea can be solved in one blog; I just want to put the question out there and see if it evokes any responses. Let me know what you think.

Happy Holidays Huff

OK, some people are not going to like this post. That said, let me dive in. I saw the other day that a local church has a website that “rats” on business that dare to say Happy Holidays and not “Merry Christmas”. The whole idea is to encourage Christians to boycott business and complain about governments who dare to be on their naughty list.

Frankly, I think this is sad. It portrays Christians to the world as nit picky people who make non issues big issues. Frankly, we don’t need any more bad press. The same church has taken funds away from the local homeless shelter it started under another group of leaders because it just can’t afford it anymore. I guess the website was costing them too much. “To bad baby Jesus, we don’t have a warm room for you because we are trying to make sure everyone warms you with birthday greetings, doesn’t that feel good?”

I remember a few years ago that people were all up in arms because some people dared to call it X-mas instead of Christmas. Did we realize that the X is an ancient church symbol for Christ? So called Christian Governments didn’t like Christmas Holidays for some stupid reason. Believers would say and write x-mas in times of persecution because they wanted to celebrate without being persecuted. Of course we don’t waist time trying to understand and instead of knowing our own history we just ignorantly attack those who would dare to challenge us.

Now before anyone starts to reply let me say something about our current situation, to me you can’t call it a Holiday tree any more than you can call it a Holiday Menorah or a Holiday Kwanza Candle. All those events including my own have their own definitive celebrations, styles and traditions. It is just that in the public sector I don’t care if a business which operates in that sector says “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas”. Frankly I am more concerned with whether or not my Co-Co is hot or cold. Business leaders live in our DFW pluralistic society and have to act accordingly. Most are not trying to herd the Christians back to the Coliseum lions but are just trying to take care of all of their multicultural customers and not a select group of Christian legalistic Pharisees. Is it the spirit of Christ that leads us to demand special recognition or is it the spirit of self? In such a searching society can we present a better witness?

I think we can. We can act Christ-like to them. You know imitate the birthday boy who became a man and told us to let our light shine (Matthew 5). I don’t remember the early church having a government local or national that bent to their needs. That early church had great power because they made the main issue the evangelization and discipleship of their local and national world. They were interested in the Kingdom of God. We should follow their example. To do that we must rely on what we do conforming to what we say we believe. Maybe if we stopped worrying about greetings, buildings, and our kingdoms and returned to the expansion of God’s kingdom we would see the world demand to say “Merry Christmas” based on our testimony and not our cries of indignation. So guys shut down the website and give the money to the homeless. It’s a better way to celebrate that homeless family in the manger.

Shadow Warriors: The Faithful

Shadow Warriors

Life is filled with people who stand in the shadows and accomplish great deeds of courage. It has been my pleasure to benefit from so many of these people. These sons and daughters of encouragement who through their persistent acts of tear filled courage stand as examples to the rest of us about the need for commitment.

There is my secretary, Wanda. She is west Texas strong from the old pioneer stock. Her husband Jack struggles with reality as Alzheimer’s claims more and more of his memory. Through his fog he knows that Wanda will be there. She has stayed true to her commitment of “until death we do part” made many years ago. It cost her physically and emotionally and pushes her to lean on her spiritual strength to help her and Jack make it through this night. Through it all she stand firm in her faith, teaches it to her 3-5 grade Sunday school class, and gives her grandkids an example of faithfulness.

There is my good friend, Alecia. Although she uses a walker to get around I wouldn’t ask Walker Texas Ranger to mess with her. She is a prayer warrior, one who doesn’t just say she’ll pray about it, she writes it down and does it till you get an answer. In the middle of all this her son, Tony, has been in a struggle with his health for years. Many times we thought he was going to his true home in Heaven only to have God say “not yet, my boy”. He carries on the family tradition often to the detriment of his own health as he listens and prays for others. Alecia could have let go a long time ago but she has remained faithful to her calling as a mother and prayer warrior. Many barriers have been broken, many schemes have been stopped. Yet, her humility shine through as she gives glory to God for his goodness, mercy and grace.

Two unknowns, unseen, not touched by the world's spotlight, they give of themselves each day. Pray for them. Pray for the many that are like them. They don’t need our pity, they need our praise.

So I took my son to see the Rangers play on Sunday. There in lies the lesson.

After listening to the early week games in Tampa Bay we were both excited to see them play at home. Saturday’s game was less than spectacular. They could of won something in front of the home crowd but they chose to lay on the ground and loose, I guess it was all the Tropicana juice or maybe jet lag. Anyway, Saturday’s loss opened up to Sundays perceived day of Salvation, we could watch them go further than they had ever gone before along with 1 Billion other screaming slightly stinky fans sitting moist knee to moist knee above the clouds in the supposed “cheap seats”. We were going to see History we thought.

We knew it was going to be chaos because dad works for a boss that doesn’t let him off early on Lord’s Supper Sunday so Dad is tied up past the Star Spangled Banner. We get over there OK but there is no parking anywhere because some Evil imp from Hades has scheduled Jerry’s boys on the same day as the Ranger’s playoff game. For some unknown reason Arlington actually thought Jerry would live up to his word about funneling money for traffic issues. We had to dodge our way around soused up Yee Haw boys and girls who were stumbling down the roads to watch Deputy Dog and his boys try again to beat someone. Finally we get a parking place behind a warehouse that reminded me to lock my door and look out for Tony Soprano and his boys. We get to the game in the 5th inning, the 5th! I am Ok, Caleb is Ok. We think that the last part of the game will prove the Rangers want to win it for Nolan who spent everything to own them this year.

What we found from the 5th inning on is a team that just gave up. They should have been singing “Take me back to Tampa, I’m to messed up to win this thing”. Poor Ranger fans with our white swinging towels. Come on guys, Pop Fly’s in the majors…at a playoff game….I paid how much to watch this? Well we at least had a good nacho experience and Rangers Ball park had the good sense to stock Coke Zero.

Speaking of Zero, that is what their performance was like. My opinion is that they should have been outside the ball park crying on their knees asking us to forgive them. I know that some of you guys who color coordinate with the “jersey of the day” are going to think I am nuts and that is fine. It is for all of us I plead. The Ranger fan has waited eons for them to get to this point. We have endured seasons where all we had was Nolan’s style and a good Kenny Rogers brawl with a reporter. The fans have bought a bountiful supply of those t-shirts so that they can have a man’s fist in the middle of their chest and a deer on their back. Just a little clue guys, don’t go to SE Texas with those on unless you want to be stuffed and mounted. We have embraced them and can’t wait for them to win. I would settle for them just to wake up before they end up sitting home watching the Yankees win yet another world series….I dislike profusely the Yankees. Mom said we can only hate the Devil and since he owns the Cowboys and not the Yankees…we’ll you get the picture.

Then of course my preacher/pastor side kicks. I always know when that happens because organ music plays and I hear a choir slowly hum. A glow comes out of the sky and hits my face as I hear God’s voice tell me what I should take away from this experience. By the way, God sounds like Jimmy Stewart to me. God opened up something to me from this experience and since Ron Washington won’t be giving me a refund let me at least get some value for my bloggie. The Bible says….Heb 12:1 Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us,
I just wonder how many times that crowd of witnesses feels let down by the “game” I have played before them? How many times to they feel that I gave less than my all? How many times have I forgotten to hear their cheers and encouragement and dropped a ball or swung on a ball? Maybe I should think a little more about the home team, what they gave up for me, the hours they put into lessons that shaped my character. They taught me not to rely on myself and realize that to win this game I have to know that with his power I can do anything. I need to remember my “Fan Cloud” as they do a Holy Spirit wave and realize I have a better game in me and it’s time to give it my all for the home team.

Ok, so since I got that lesson to communicate to you I can now write off my game and snack cost as a business expense. Something tells me Ms. Wanda will say “NO!”

Is Facebook the Cause of Evil?

Is Face book the Devil? I read a brief headline about that the other day. It seems like Christians looking for notoriety and a fast buck are always looking to blame the evils of this would on something in it. Jazz, Back Seats, Rock-n-Roll, Dice, Video games, Disco, Television and many other things have all have been blamed for causing evil in the world. Let me just be plain in my line of thought. These things including Face book are not the cause of Evil. They are inanimate objects that can be used for good or evil based on the people who are involved with them. Evil is something we carry around with us. It is something we use to pervert that which is created good or at least without moral complexity into something we can use for our own evil purposes. It isn’t the Devil who forces us; it is our own evil desires that push us into sin. Face book can be used to create disunity, anger, fear, lust, and many other sins if the person posting wants it to be that way. We should approach Face book with the same questions we approach any “thing” with which we involve ourselves. We should ask “Is what I am about to say going to encourage and edify my friends and family or is it going to cause them shame, embarrassment, anger, or conflict?” I am convinced that if we applied that question to our post and pictures there would be a lot less post in Face book nation.

Fingerprints on the soul

This last week I attended the funeral of a friend. Kenny Hodgekiss was a man who affected many lives with his humor, friendship, and by just being the pleasant soul God created him to be. He will be missed by his family and our continued prayers go out to, Teri, Lori, Maw-Maw Elaine, and their families.

His passing from this life to the greater life beyond made me think. We Christians like to make big shot pastors, creative writers, and the newest song singers our “poster” children examples of what it means to be a Christian. We put them on magazine covers and read their blogs. Many of these people are legitimate good people. However, I think we miss the reality testimony of real Christian servants many times, and then we miss the chance to say how much their examples mean to us. Few if any magazine articles are about those souls like Kenny who sit in the background and just do what God created them to do. They don’t blow their own trumpets; they just get the job that other people plan, done. They drive us places without complaint, they hold our hands when we are afraid, they make us laugh, the hold us up in their prayers, they listen when we don’t understand. Like a modern day Barnabas they encourage us.

I remember how Kenny would come by the office when my dad, another quiet lay soul, was going through his recent heart issues. Kenny would let me know he was praying for my dad and give me some time just to have a listening ear. Such people are a wonder; a special God given treasure. I really think when it comes time for the master to honor us in heaven with his “Well done” we will find that he holds something special for those people who served others and put them first beyond themselves. What has been done in the darkness will come to full light. I am thankful that I have had so many people like this in my life who have been appointed to be there just when I needed them most. I will have a lot of “Thank You” time when I get to Heaven.

I hope will all take a moment this week and tell someone who does this kind of ministry “Thank you, for letting God work through you”. I hope we all will live in the legacy of those who encouraged us by being an encouragement this week.

I love my Dog, Maggie. She is older. That means she is calmer. That means she doesn’t chew things up or pee on the carpet. She has been the quietest dog I have ever had. She loves to be petted and loved on by the kids. To us she is the perfect dog. Of course, I have always said if there were such a thing as reincarnation, I would want to ‘come back” as a dog in this house. They would be loved if they had three legs, one eye, and came with a color that gave their name as “Lucky”

As I said, she is getting older. That has some issues. She wakes Julie up a couple of times a night to go outside. She does this by flapping her ears or even barking if Julie doesn’t get up fast enough. Those of you who don’t know we found her abandoned. She came to us house broke and leash trained. This was after a couple of years without a dog. We had her predecessor, Ginger, since she was a puppy. She was our baby before we had the kids and she loved them like they were her puppies. Maggie does the same; in fact sometimes I think she is Ginger in a Black lab body.

One of the joys of her being older is she helps us as a family learn about treating something and even someone who is older with grace, dignity, and care. She isn’t always ready to run and play, although with her new meds she is friskier then she has been. She takes a pill and a liquid medicine which I am responsible for giving her. She and I pill pop together.

God often brings situations into our life to teach us. Sometimes they aren’t the things we want but they are sent by him so they deserve our correct response. Through obedience we grow, learn, adapt and eventually become happier as we adjust to challenging situations that stretch us beyond ourselves.

Lord, help me learn through the situations you allow into my life today, tomorrow and in the weeks ahead.

A Great Day

Sunday 1 August 2010: Today a lot of people got "right" with God. The Prayer service was a great way of focusing our attention on God. It made a good church a great church. God will continue to bless as we become obedient in our daily lives to him. Thank you, Master, for your work. Help us to be open to being broken, shaped, and molded in your hands.

More Movie Reivews for Summer 2010

I also saw

Toy Story 3 - Instant Classico. Love the Spanish Buzz. I went out that night and purchased the first 2 on DVD.

2012 (Netflix) - It had great illusionary special effects. The story line was a little lame. I would give it a B+.

The Ride (Netflix, Yute VBS) - saw it for the 5th time. It is good and still holds most everyone's attention.

Still Want to see: Russell Crowe's Robin Hood - any good?

Review: Movies of Summer 2010

I have seen the following movies this summer.

Iron Man 2 - Excellent. Perhaps even better than the first one. Best Charecter in the movie - hands down in has to be Black widow.

Despicable Me - Excellent. Steve Carrell channels his hilarity into the charecter of Gru. Best Line in the whole movie "It's sooooo Flufffffy".

GI Joe (DVD) - I loved GI Joe, I didn't care to much for the movie. Spent to much time trying to set up a franchise. Special effects were good not great.

Moma Mia (DVD) - 2 hours I will never get back again.

More reviews to come.