Thoughts on the Master and The Masters

Last week my thoughts were on the original resurrection week a lot. Each day I found myself asking, "What was Jesus doing right now?" "What were Jesus' apostles thinking right now?"

Well, it still hasn't stopped. This morning one of my 1st thoughts was, "What was it like for the apostles the day after resurrection day?" After seeing Jesus in the Upper Room on Sunday night, what was it like for them as they awoke Monday morning? Were they excited? Confused? Did they wonder if they they were just waking up from a dream?
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I enjoyed watching The Masters this year. However, I think they have made the course too difficult. Part of the thrill of watching it is hearing those roars go up when someone sinks a birdie or eagle. There was a little of that yesterday, but it was absent Saturday. The Masters played like a U. S. Open. But I don't think that's what most people want from Augusta. It will be interesting to see if they correct that.

And the winner? Zach Johnson. A 31-year old fresh face. It was really neat to see the way he handled himself in the victory. Very gracious. Obviously a man of deep conviction and faith.

"Good Friday"

At this very moment 1,973 years ago today -- Jesus was approaching Golgotha.

I'm saying that with some poetic license. Of course, He was in a different time zone. And there are good arguments made that "Good Friday" should be "Good Thursday" -- that Jesus was actually crucified on Thursday -- and spent three FULL days in the tomb. Could be. But I'm just offering the daily reminders as points of reflection.

So, having said that -- the transaction which paid for my sin was only hours away.
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Here's some thoughts from Tozer:

But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him. --Habakkuk 2:20

I think we are the busiest bunch of eager beavers ever seen in the religious world. The idea seems to be that if we are not running in a circle, breathing down the back of our own neck, we are not pleasing God!

When Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15 KJV), Peter probably leaped to his feet and, no doubt, scooped up his hat on the way out. He was going to go right then!

But the Lord said, "Peter, come back, and 'stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high' (Luke 24:49)."

Sometimes I think the Church would be better off if we would call a moratorium on activity for about six weeks and just wait on God to see what He is waiting to do for us. That's what they did before Pentecost. The Counselor, 95.
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Looks like we might get a freeze tonight or tomorrow night! Wow. I hope our marigolds make it. We'll be at LTC.

In Another Place and Time

Winter has refused to retreat. The last two days have been really cool, and it is supposed to get cooler. Not a freeze -- but temperatures in the 30s this weekend. I had just put up all of my winter clothes last Saturday.
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I have now entered the 21st century. Yes, I have TiVo -- and just in time! My first TiVo-ed show? The Masters. Yes, Beverly works late tonight. So, after I mow my in-laws yard this afternoon, I will settle in with TiVo and Augusta. Life gets better only in heaven:).
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What a wonderful surprise to hear that Iran had released the British soldiers they were holding captive. I can't figure out what would have motivated them to do that -- but I am glad. Maybe that lunatic leader of theirs is trying to make some points globally.
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Again, assuming the crucifixion year of 30 AD, 1,977 years ago tonight -- Jesus washed the feet of His apostles in the upper room. He instituted the Lord's Supper. He prayed in anguish in the Garden.

I wonder what He was doing at this time in the morning on that fateful day?

W.A.R.M.

I am working on my Wednesday night class and Sunday morning class from the house this morning. We are making the switch from DISH to DirectTV. This was prompted by my kids telling me that I am still living in the stone age since I don't have Tivo (sp?). DirectTV is scheduled to be here at 10. I am hopeful that I have made the right decision. I have been with Dish for 6-1/2 years, but they just were not willing to give me any kind of deal. To get from them what I am getting from DirectTV would cost about $30 a month more.
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I have written about W.A.R.M. (Wise Area Relief Mission) before. Since I have just left my prayer group where we talked for a long time about W.A.R.M., it is still on my heart. We are in need of a new facility. We operate on a tight budget, and the current building (used to be the Church of Christ building) is ours to use for free. But it is falling down around us. It is in need of a lot of repairs, and has a mold issue as well. Please pray that the Lord will provide for this need.

Also, we could use some volunteers. This would be perfect for someone who is retired. One could volunteer for a couple of hours a week or a month. But we really need help! It is gratifying work. Mostly just stocking groceries and things of that sort. But to see how the poor are being helped gives you a good feeling.

TV Commercials

Congratulatons to the Florida Gators. They are the only NCAA team in history to hold both the national football and basketball championship at the same time.
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I know I am probably overreacting, but am I seeing an Achille's heel in the Mavs? Was Dwyane Wade right in saying that Dirk is not a leader? In the two head-to-head matches with the Suns in the last month, Dirk has been mediocre at best -- while Nash looks like Superman. This does not bode well for getting to the finals. I know that championships are not won in April, but is anyone else concerned?
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Geico appears to have hit on an advertising stroke of genius. I got pretty tired of the gecko thing. But their caveman ads are interesting. And now there is talk of making this into a prime time television show.

Speaking of commercials, have you seen the one with the guy who is standing outside the company conference room dressed in loud golf clothes with a golf glove on his hand. He asks his boss if he can leave work to take care of his daughter. It's cute.

I also like the one for a hotel chain ( I can't remember for sure who). The boss tells an employee that he wants him to go to represent them at a conference because everyone likes him. He acts surprised. So the boss says, "OK, watch." He picks up a potted cactus and throws it at a fellow employee who is sitting at his computer. The guy jumps up angrily and yells, "Who did that?" Seeing that it is this "likeable" guy, he just says, "Oh, it's just ________. He's so funny." He then goes back to his computer -- with the cactus stuck to his back. It cracks me up.

Any favorites?

What a Week!

This is a busy week. First of all, it is Master's week. I ate lunch with a guy yesterday who got to spend 2 days there a couple of years ago. He said it is one of those places that you go to with high expectations -- and it still exceeds your expectations. And he's not really a golfer!

2nd, this is LTC weekend. Our kids from church have been studying the book of Acts since September in preparation for events this weekend. Many have also been involved in crafts, radio and any number of activities. Beverly and I will spend Friday night at the Hyatt-Airport, which is where LTC is bein held. We will be watching and encouraging our kids in their individual competitions. We will stay until after lunch on Saturday.

3rd, and greatest of all: Sunday is Easter. We will commemorate THE day of the greatest event in history -- the empty tomb. Let the skeptics continue with their chatter. They only make themselves look silly.

I was thinking yesterday about something. If I live to be 73, I will celebrate the 2,000th Easter (assuming the dating is accurate). It was once believed that Jesus was crucified in 33 AD. Then the dating was changed to 30 AD. Some are now saying it may have been 28 AD. In my calculations, I am going with 30 AD.

JESUS IS RISEN!

My Obsession with Rain

The rains this week have been so nice! Two inches Monday. Nearly an inch last night. More on the way.

Some of you who read my blog might wonder why rain is so important to me. Well, in the part of Texas in which we live -- we have been in a drought that is entering its third year. The lake from which we get our drinking water is 20 feet low. That's right -- 20 feet! The stock tanks (normally full this time of year as we head into summer) are near empty. And summer is not even here yet!

So, while flash floods are in the forecast (and I'm surely not hoping for anyone to be flooded out), I'm praying, "Lord, bring us a gulley-washer -- especially up in the watershed region for Lake Bridgeport."
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Two years ago this week, I accepted the position of preaching minister for the Decatur church. I feel like I'm still on my honeymoon. I love you, Decatur church!

Messiah

I love when I am studying and come across those "wow" moments. Verses I have read before, but maybe I was at a different time in my life when they didn't impact me quite the same.

So yesterday I was studying for my Sunday morning Bible class. We are studying some of the names of Jesus -- and this week is "Messiah." I was reading from the prophet Daniel. I must confess: I am fairly skeptical as I read men's interpretations of prophecy, because it seems that the majority are biased toward premillinialism.

Anyway, Daniel has a couple of prophecies that are so clear. The first is his interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream about a statue. Daniel explains that the different parts of the statue represent coming kingdoms -- historically accurate. During the last kingdom, the feet of iron and clay, Daniel says (2: 44) "In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed." This points to the time of the Roman Empire.

Later, in chapter 9, Daniel prophesies that from the issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem until "the Anointed One" will be "seventy sevens" (that's 490 years). The decree to rebuild Jerusalem was given by King Artexerxes in 444 BC. No wonder the Jewish people were so anxious for the coming of Messiah in the 1st century! They knew what the prophet had said. Even the Magi had figured it out. The High Priest under Herod the Great had proclaimed the imminent arrival of Messiah -- so Herod had him put to death. Herod killed his three sons -- in fear that one of them might be Messiah.

Yes, Jesus came right on schedule -- fulfilling the prophecy of Daniel made over 500 years earlier. The Jews were anticipating His coming. They asked John the Baptist, "Are you the Messiah?" Yet, when God's Chosen One walked among them -- they missed Him. They wanted to hold out for what they thought would be better.

Isn't God incredible!

Thoughts on Prayer

This morning in my prayer group, we were talking (of all things) about prayer. Isn't it incredible that we have so often dwelt upon the "right way" to pray? Would two friends discuss the "right way" to have a conversation?

I have, in the past, gotten hung up and felt guilty because I don't pray as long as some people. I read these studies where it says that the average preacher prays for 30 minutes, or some such thing. Well, I don't regularly pray in 30 minute blocks. But I don't talk on the phone for long periods of time, either. It's just not my personality.

And here's another thing. Now, hang with me on this one. I am not in any way opposed to getting a lot of people praying for a specific thing. But what is our motive? Do we think that we will sway God's decision about something because we overwhelm Him? Couldn't one person's prayer accomplish as much as a thousand?

I know I am just throwing out a lot of stuff here, but I have been thinking (maybe rethinking) a lot about my own theology of prayer. I am coming to see it more as an ongoing conversation with my Father. Not as a wish-list for Him to sit and listen to. But as a way in which I can grow into oneness with Him. I see prayer as a tool for changing me, not God.

I Want My Baby Back, Baby Back, Baby Back

As I write this Beverly is hopefully over the Atlantic. She left from the east coast of Kenya at about 4:30 our time yesterday morning. They flew to Niarobi, where they had a 7 hour layover. So about 1:30 our time yesterday afternoon, they left Niarobi -- headed for London. They should have arrived in London about 12:30 our time this morning (6:30 AM London time). They were to have another 7 hour layover. Hopefully they took a bus tour of London or something similar to that. They should arrive in Chicago around 4:30 this afternoon before the final leg -- arriving at DFW around 8:15. So, it's down to less than 12 hours!

This has been difficult being apart so long. I can only imagine how our service men and women feel being apart for months at a time. But my Sunshine will reenter my life tonight after dark.
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I watched some of the PGA tournament yesterday, and was once again amazed by Tiger. He didn't play very well, yet still won by three. His next stop is the Masters. I can't wait! Boy, would I love to go there some day. Did you know that it is the hardest ticket to get in all of sports?
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Can the Mavs win 70 games? It would be a great accomplishment, and it is within the realm of possible since they have gone 5-5 on their current 6 game road trip. But none of that means anything if they don't win the championship this year.

Weeds

I have a spot in my flower bed along the walk from the front door to the street that keeps growing mushrooms. Not two or three. Hundreds! I have tried Roundup. I have dug the dirt out and replaced it. I have dug the dirt out, put undeluted weed poison in the hole and replaced the dirt. It half-killed the shrub that sits right next to this spot. I thought maybe it had worked.

This morning as I went out to get the paper, guess what I saw? Yep. The mushrooms are peeking through the dirt again.

How is it that weeds and unwanted stuff is so much easier to grow than what you really want? After all, St. Augustine is actually a type of weed. Did you know that? But because it is a weed that I want, it is harder to grow than the weeds I don't want.

I like having a nice yard, and since I tend to be obsessive about certain interests -- THIS DRIVES ME NUTS!

I am looking forward to heaven. I can't wait to see Jesus. I can't wait to see people I love who have gone before me. I want to sit down with Paul and ask him about a few things he wrote that I don't totally understand.

But one of the 1st things on my agenda is to find Adam. And when I do, I'm going to punch him in the nose. For sins? No, through Jesus I have been forgiven of my sin. No, he's going to get a knuckle sandwich because of WEEDS!

It's a Sad, Sad Story

WARNING: This post is going to be very sad, so you might want to grab a Kleenex.

I am missing my Baby (This is where you are probably tearing up). Nine nights down. Four to go (This is where you begin to sob). Actually, she is doing really well. We have talked on a couple of occasions, and she emails me nearly every day. I can't wait to see pictures and hear more about her trip.

She did tell me that the missionary ladies are carrying a lot of raw emotional pain. I would ask that you be praying for these ladies, and for Beverly as she ministers to them.

Meanwhile, my in-laws got moved in to their Decatur house yesterday. We are glad that they will be close by where we can take care of them.

Lordship

In Sunday morning Bible class this quarter, we are studying some of the many names of Jesus. This week we will be examining the word "Lord."

Jesus being Lord is a concept that we who call on Him often take far too flippantly. The whole implication of "Lord" means the right to rule. Yet we have a hard time rectifying the discrepancy between our words and our actions, our name and our lifestyles.

I came across some exerpts from a book by Robert Boyd Munger entitled My Heart -- Christ's Home. In it, he describes letting Jesus move into the home of our hearts, and what would happen as He enters each room AS LORD. How would that affect our Study, our Den, our Bedroom, our Gameroom, our Closet?

Munger concludes:
Dropping to my knees, I said, "Lord, You have been a guest and I have been the host. From now on I am going to be the servant. You are going to be the owner and Master."
Running as fast as I could to the strongbox, I took out the title deed to the house describing its assets and liabilities, location and situation. I eagerly signed the house over to Him alone for time and eternity. "Here," I said, "here it is, all that I am and have, forever. Now You run the house. I'll just remain with You as a servant and friend."
Things are different since Jesus Christ has settled down and has made His home in my heart. This is the difference made when one truly yields his or her life to Jesus as Lord and Master.

Parenting

My son Josh sent me an interesting article. It's funny how we get certain ideas in our head, and reality is actually quite different. The article is entitled "Despite 'mommy guilt,' time with kids rising."

The article say "In 1965, mothers spent 10.2 hours a week tending primarily to their children -- feeding them, reading with them or playing games, for example -- according to the study's analysis of detailed time diaries kept by thousands of Americans. That number dipped in the 1970s and 1980s, rose in the 1990s and now is higher than ever, at nearly 14.1 hours a week.

This is especially striking because it is at odds with how today's mothers view their own lives: Roughly half of those interviewed said they did not have enough time with their children.

"This is part of the burden of this generation of parents: enormously high expectations for how children develop, how they feel about themselves, how they achieve and how successful they are in the world," said William Doherty, a family studies professor at the University of Minnesota. (I had to throw this quote in because Doherty is one of Beverly's favorites).

For married mothers, hours with children rose from 47 a week in 1975 to 51 a week in 2000. For married fathers, the increase was greater: from 21 to 33 hours a week. Time spent by single mothers slipped from 50 hours a week to 44.

What the researchers could not capture was what they think of as "accessibility": when a parent might be uninvolved but is around to be called on -- inside the house, for example, when the children are in the back yard.

This may help explain why some mothers still feel their time with children is not enough, Doherty said. "You may get home from work at 4:30 and spend hours interacting with your child, but you may feel bad that you weren't around all day."

Sociologist Kathleen Gerson of New York University points out that parents of the 1960s worried about mothers smothering their children with attention.

Now, she said, "the concern is: Are children getting as much face time as they need, as much quality time?"
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If you want to read this in its entirety, go to www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17696109. I must say that I am impressed by what I am seeing from the current generation of 20s and 30s when it comes to parenting. They seem to have a better priority toward family than the Boomers did.

Wacky Weather -- Global Warming?

I am praying that the weatherpeople are right this week. They are calling for rain beginning Tuesday all the way through Saturday. And last night they said the rain would be heaviest WEST of I-35! I can't remember the last time I heard that.

We need to be praying for rain every day. This morning it was announced that Dallas is already putting watering restrictions into effect. No watering between 10AM and 6 PM. And it's March!

We have two couples who are stranded in Europe today because they cannot fly back to New York. Right now reports are that it may be Tuesday before they can make it back. I guess being in Paris or London for two days wouldn't be all bad. I just hope this is all over with before next weekend! I sure don't want Beverly getting stranded over there!

I am beginning to wonder if the environmentalists are not more right than I have previously thought. This global warming thing could be a serious issue to reckon with.

Are You Smarter Than A Fifth-Grader

I have watched with amusement the new show on Fox, "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth-Grader." I realize that there must be tremendous stress being on camera answering questions before millions of people. But I am also amazed at simple questions that people with college degrees cannot answer.

Last night, for instance.
"What country borders the United States to the north?" The lady didn't know the answer!
And there was a man on there who was in real estate. His question: "What is half the area of a 12 X 12 square?" He dropped out rather than answer the question. When the host, Jeff Foxworthy, asked him what he would have said, he answered, "24." Yessir, that's the guy I want listing my house on the market.

And to think that these people will be voting in the next election! (Please realize that this is written half-tongue-in-cheek).
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I finally got to go play golf again late yesterday afternoon. What a gorgeous day it was! I played pretty well. And I found about 2 dozen golf balls (seven Titleist Pro-V1s). My favorite golfball is the Pro-V1. They are very expensive -- about $45 a dozen. But I have never bought one. I have received two dozen as gifts. I love hunting golf balls, and love giving them away to others. But I do keep all the Pro-V1s.

So thanks to all you golfers out there who buy Pro-V1s and then lose them. I am especially grateful to those of you who lose them when they are fresh out of the sleeve:-).

Evangelism

I think Randy's comment on my blog yesterday may be the answer to why I don't keep up with sports as much as I used to. I am not saying this is true for anyone else, OK. But it just feels to me like a waste of time. I watched the Mavs last night. They have a safe lead with about a minute left, and then just hand the game to the Suns. So, I have spent several hours watching this game for what? And even if they win the championship, studies show that a person experiences about 30 minutes of satisfaction. Again, this is not to indict anyone else. Just me. I'm sure I do things (like play golf) that others would consider a waste of time as well.
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I have been thinking lately about the "lack of evangelistic zeal" in the church. For my whole life, I have gotten (and probably contributed to) regular doses of guilt over not being evangelistic enough. In the church it is almost like we have come to expect a periodic guilt-laden sermon about how we need to be sharing wtih others, yet I have seen no visible effect from all of that. What is the deal?

Here are my personal observations:
1st, I think that guilt is probably the poorest motivator there is. There has to be another way.
2nd, perhaps the fields where we are are not ripe to harvest right now. There are times and places in history when that is the case. There are many placed in the world that are ripe today. But there are many that are not. In Scripture we have examples of both. Was Noah a failure at evangelism? Not one convert in 100 years. Was Jonah the greatest evangelist ever? A whole town (Nineveh) repented. But I would take Noah over Jonah any day of the week. Perhaps America has been evangelized as much as it is willing. That doesn't mean we don't keep sharing Jesus. But it could explain the lack of conversions. And don't think the growth of the megachurches is a sign of people coming to Jesus. Their growth is coming by stealing members from
other churches.
3rd, we have been conditioned to think that evangelism is a "program" that has to follow a certain procedure (asking people if they want to "study", etc.) It is not that clinical. It can be messy and time-consuming. It means getting involved in the lives of hurting people who have made messes of their lives.
4th, maybe we are just lazy and apathetic. Maybe we are so caught up in our own lives that we forget the eternal consequences awaiting the unsaved.
5th, what is our motivation? This has been heavy on my mind lately. Is our motivation so we can have large numbers on Sunday? Or is our motivation to bring salvation, healing, hope and transformation?

Any thoughts?

Is It a Sign of Aging?

I used to be a huge sports fan. I could tell you the lineups of many major league baseball teams and who was leading in what. I knew many of the NFL team's rosters, as well as the NBA's. Today, I feel like I am so disconnected. So many people are involved in fantasy leagues, and it sounds like a lot of fun. But I would be at a total loss.

Currently everyone's attention is focused on March Madness, and I really feel clueless. The news said that something like 45% of the American public has filled out a bracket (I might have mis-stated that statistic). Count me among those who have not. I wish I had more of an interest -- but I just don't.

The same has happened to me with music. I once could tell you who was singing just about everything that came on the radio -- pop, rock or country. Today? Unless it is an oldie, I probably haven't even heard of the artist. I guess it may just be a generational thing.

But all is not lost. The Masters is coming up next month.

Beverly's Trip

In just a few minutes I will be taking Beverly to the airport. Her flight leaves DFW at 1 PM. She will fly to Chicago for a connecting flight to London. She arrives in London at 6:30 AM on Wednesday (midnight here). From London she will fly to Nairobi -- arriving at 9:30 PM on Wednesday (11:30 AM here).

For those who read my blog and don't already know, she is going with a group of ladies to minister to missionary women from all over Africa. They are brought together in one place in Kenya for a week of intense prayer, Bible study, downloading and being encouraged. Beverly gets about 4 hours sleep a night, as she ends up counseling long after the planned activities are done.

She is leaving two days early -- at my insistance -- to go on a safari with some others in her group. It is a two day, one night trip. They stay in tents. Can you picture that? Beverly in a tent? If you saw pictures of these tents, you could imagine it. They look like 4-star motels! "Tent" almost seems like false advertising. I am so excited for her!

So please join me in prayer for the next couple of weeks for Beverly and these ladies -- as well as the missionary women they will be ministering to.

Let It Rain!

I was so hoping that we would get some of the rain the weatherpeople had promised. We might have gotten enough to wet the sidewalk. It is interesting the way the weather pattern has been in recent months. The Metroplex has gotten a considerable amount of rain. In fact, I think all the lakes east of I-35 are full. Yet, we are in a drought. Pray for about an eight-inch gully-washer!

Well, there is still a chance for more rain today and tomorrow.
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Yesterday afternoon, after working in the yard, I came in to look over my sermon for last night. There must have been a mockingbird sitting on our chimney. It began to sing, and the sound was amplified through the chimney right into the den. I could have listened to that for hours. It was so pretty.
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I loved watching the Mavs play in LA last night. They are looking incredible right now! They beat the despised Lakers (boo, hiss) 108-72! Excuse my fulfilling of my fleshly nature, but watching Kobe pout made my day.
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I am down to about 24 hours before Beverly leaves for Africa. She is spending some time today with Jenny and Malaya. So, we will make the most of an evening together tonight. How better to spend it than watching Jack Bauer blow away a few bad guys (Oops. There's the fleshly nature again).

Places to Go

I was reading a friend's blog this morning, and today I have blogger-block. So, I will borrow his idea for my blog today.

Beverly and I love to travel. I can't say we are world-travelers, but we have seen a number of places together. However, there are still many I would like to see. Here is my list (not necessarily in order of priority):

Domestic:
San Francisco and drive HWY 1
Alaska
Yosemite National Park
New York City (again)
Yellowstone National Park (again)
Niagara Falls

International:
England and Scotland
France
Paul's missionary tour (Greece and Rome mainly)
Palestine
African safari
Australia (again, but for sightseeing)
New Zealand

That about covers it for me. My favorite domestic places I have been are: Yellowstone and New York City. Internationally would be Cabo San Lucas and Australia.

Someone Turns the Big 5-0 Today

Today is a really special day for me. My precious wife celebrates her 50th today! She is such an incredible woman -- the most Christlike person I have ever known. Yet somehow, she keeps getting better.

Happy Birthday, my Precious.
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Speaking of Beverly, next Tuesday she leaves for Kenya. She will be gone for two weeks! In our 30 years of marriage, we have never been apart for that long. To make matters worse, she gives me these updates every day about al quida activity in Kenya.
Please keep her in your prayers as she goes to minister to missionary women from all over Africa.
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Tomorrow afternoon, I will be taking Beverly away for a couple of days to celebrate. She doesn't know where (at least I haven't told her). I am really looking forward to some time away with her. To show you how much I am looking forward to it, I even skipped golf this week (there were a couple of gorgeous days for it) so I could get all my work done for the week.
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Many, many people from our church will be leaving for different places this weekend -- being that it is spring break. A large number of our people are heading to Colorado for a ski trip. I pray God's blessings on each of you as you travel.

Visit Beverly's Website

I would invite you to visit Beverly's new website for her counseling service. It is www.wiseccc.org. I think it looks great (especially the picture of the woman). It has been incredible watching how God has blessed this ministry. Funding will be an ongoing issue, but clients won't. She is filled to the gills!
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So there is a guy in South Texas who claims to be Messiah. He says he is Jesus returned to earth. And he has a pretty good gathering of people who believe him. Of course, ABC is going to do a special on him tonight. What else will Satan come up with? Boy, he is on the attack against the faith right now. It must mean that he is feeling threatened.

Confession Time

There are certain issues that I confess my faith is weak in. I am so engrained with the American ideal of "I have to be in charge and do it all on my own."

I got a late start in my retirement planning -- after raising three kids, putting them all in braces, paying car insurance, then college and weddings, etc. So now, I am doing what I can to prepare for that. I sometimes think I am on target to retire at age 70, perhaps. Then, something like last week strikes. The stock market is taking a nose dive, which is expected to continue today. I'm thinking of how much I have lost. Beverly reminds me that I didn't lose it, because it was never really mine. But I saw the amount on my daily report, and it sure seemed like mine:).

In my moments when I am being led by the Lord, I realize that there are some things I cannot control. I am doing what I can, and just like millions of others -- am subject to things outside of my control. The Lord is wanting me to surrender that to Him anyway. He has always proven to be faithful to me. Why should I doubt Him now?

But it is an ongoing battle between my fleshly nature and my Spirit nature. May the best man win. And He will!

TV Westerns

This Mavs team is incredible! They have had three win streaks of 12 games or more this season. Starting 0-4, they now stand at 49-9! They seem to have great team chemistry. However, I think the most credit belongs to Avery Johnson. He just seems to know exactly what to say and do to motivate his team.
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As I work out each day, I have been watching old westerns on TV. Yes, the story lines are pretty hokie by today's standards. But you know what? There is usually a good feeling by the time you get to the end. It takes me back to some of the good memories from my childhood. Every night was westerns. The Rifleman. Have Gun Will Travel. Rawhide. Bonanza. Gunsmoke. Wagon Train. Maverick. The Big Valley.

My favorite? Gunsmoke. Matt Dillon was the Jack Bauer of his day. And Festus. Ken Curtis, who played Festus, was one of the best actors on TV -- a delightful character (I would vote for him and Don Knotts as all-time best). Then there's Doc -- another character who you couldn't help but love. Now Kitty? I don't know. Her relationship with Matt always seemed to be inconsistent with the moral level of the show. A US Marshall "dating" a saloon owner who hired "escort women." Oh, well. You just have to overlook that part.

But consider this: The show ran for nearly 20 years!

Bonanza ran a fairly close 2nd for me. Loved Hoss! And I always liked The Rifleman, too -- although Lucas could be a little self-righteous at times. I don't remember Rawhide much from my childhood, but have liked it when I see it in reruns. Clint Eastwood as Rowdy Yates was another great TV character.

Tozier Moment

Heres'a great thought from Tozer:

To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. --Ephesians 3:19

Pentecost means that the Deity came to mankind to give Himself to man, that man might breathe Him in as he breathes in the air, that He might fill men. Dr. A. B. Simpson used an illustration which was about as good as any I ever heard. He said, "Being filled with the fullness of God is like a bottle in the ocean. You take the cork out of the bottle and sink it in the ocean, and you have the bottle completely full of ocean. The bottle is in the ocean, and the ocean is in the bottle. The ocean contains the bottle, but the bottle contains only a little bit of the ocean. So it is with the Christian."

We are filled unto the fullness of God, but, of course, we cannot contain all of God because God contains us; but we can have all of God that we can contain. If we only knew it, we could enlarge our vessel. The vessel gets bigger as we go on with God. The Counselor, 68.

The Tomb of Jesus?

There has been a lot of media attention given to The Discovery Channel's announcement of a TV special to air in March. It is called, "The Lost Tomb of Jesus." The show exploits the discovery in 1980 of 10 "ossuaries" at a construction site in southern Jerusalem. It is believed that they are from a 1st-century burial plot. On the ossuaries are inscribed the names, "Mary", "Matthew", "Jesus, son of Joseph" and "Judas son of Jesus." Because these names were so common in 1st century Palestine, the discovery was passed over by scholars and archaeologists.

Now however, with the sensation of "The DiVinci Code" and other skeptic efforts, a Hollywood producer has decided to break this sensation news. They will claim that these tombs are those of Jesus of Nazareth, Mary Magdalene (his wife), and his children. They will, thus, try to discredit the Christian claim that Jesus arose from the dead.

Israeli archaeologist Amos Kloner says that of 900 1st-centry tombs uncovered around Jerusalem, 71 have included someone named Jesus -- and at least one other "Jesus son of Joseph." Further, one of every 5 women in the 1st century was named Mary. This does not even consider that Jesus Christ was from Galilee, and it seems very unlikely that, if he had survived the cross -- he would have made his home in Jerusalem.

Further, if that had been his body, don't you imagine that the Romans and Jews would have put it on display to squelch the claims of the apostles and early Christians.

Yet, because we live in such skeptical times, with Christianity being the target of most of the skeptics, we will have to endure yet another media shot at the very core of our faith. Times are difficult. We must draw together and face the onslaught of the Evil One with a united front.

Jim Walker

Last night at about 9:30, I received a call I have been dreading for some time. My dear brother in Christ and elder, Jim Walker, had passed away.

Jim was just a good man. Down to earth. A lover of people. A unifier. A peaceMAKER. His presence in the Decatur Church is evident, and will continue to be for years to come.

I first met Jim nearly two years ago. I was being considered for the pulpit job here in Decatur. Beverly and I had met on a Thursday night with the search committee, and been very impressed with them. The next night, I met alone with the elders. At that point, it just did not seem like things were going to work.

I was also interviewing with a church in East Texas. On Sunday night, we were eating with a couple of their elders when I received a phone call. I didn't take it at that time, and so the caller left a message. It was Jim.

The next morning, I was playing golf when I again received a call. It was Jim. He said, "Rick, we've just got to get together again and work this out. We've just got to." So, we met again that night. And I left Decatur with an offer.

To think that I might not be here if not for Jim. I didn't get to know him long, and he has been sick for a while. But I learned a lot from this man about what is really important.

My prayers are with Jim's precious wife, Velda as well as his children, Steve and Sara and their families. The Decatur church joins them in mourning.

Trivia

I was saddened to hear about the junior Grapevine baseball player who was killed in the batting cage last week. My heart goes out to his parents, and his teammates. Also, sad news from the Denver Broncos. One of their players was participating in a benefit basketball game (benefitting his brother who just had a heart transplant.) Suddenly, he fell over dead. That is the 2nd Bronco player who has died since the end of the season.
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I know this Monday morning, you are wanting to learn some vitally new information. So, here it is:

Mosquito repellents don't repel. They hide you. The spray blocks the mosquito's sensors so they don't know you're there.

Dentists have recommended that a toothbrush be kept at least 6 feet away from a toilet to avoid contamination from airborne particles resulting from the flush.

No piece of paper can be folded in half more than 7 times.

Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes.

You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.

The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley's gum.

The king of hearts is the only king without a mustache.

A Boeing 747s wingspan is longer than the Wright brother's first flight.

American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating 1 olive from each salad served in first-class.

Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise.

Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning.

Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin.

The first owner of the Marlboro Company died of lung cancer.

Michael Jordan makes more money from Nike annually than all of the Nike factory workers in Malaysia combined.

Marilyn Monroe had six toes.

All US Presidents have worn glasses. Some just didn't like being seen wearing them in public.

Walt Disney was afraid of mice.

Thirty-five percent of the people who use personal ads for dating are already married.

The three most valuable brand names on earth: Marlboro,Coca-Cola and Budweiser, in that order.

The reason firehouses have circular stairways is from the days when the engines were pulled by horses. The horses were stabled on the ground floorand figured out how to walk up straight staircases.

Richard Millhouse Nixon was the first US president whose name contains all the letters from the word "criminal." The second was William Jefferson Clinton.

Butterflies taste with their feet.

In 10 minutes, a hurricane releases more energy than all of the world's nuclear weapons combined.

Elephants are the only animals that can't jump.

Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older.

Women blink nearly twice as much as men.

It's physically impossible for you to lick your elbow.

The Main Library at Indiana University sinks over an inch every year because when it was built, engineers failed to take into account the weight of all the books that would occupy the building.

A snail can sleep for three years.

Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing. SCARY!!!

The electric chair was invented by a dentist.

All polar bears are left-handed.

In ancient Egypt, priests plucked EVERY hair from their bodies, including their eyebrows and eyelashes.

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using only the letters on one row of the keyboard.

"Go," is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.

A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.

The cigarette lighter was invented before the match.

Americans on average eat 18 acres of pizza every day.

Almost everyone who reads this email will try to lick their elbow.
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I bet you feel smarter already, don't you?

A Stick in the Mud

I want to be a person who is open-minded. I fear being an old man who is so set in my ways that I am stuck. Yet, there are some things that just appear to be no-brainers -- I guess I will never understand the other view on.

Two of them came up last night. Beverly and I went to a gala benefitting Wise Choices -- the local pregnancy clinic (obviously pro-life). The whole issue of abortion reminds me of just how barbaric we humans still are. Since 1973's Roe v. Wade, there have been approximately 75 million abortions in America. How, as a nation, we could justify this is beyond me. I might be talked into making exceptions in the event of the mother's life being in danger (or rape). But how many abortions would that be?

Interesting: When these pro-life pregnancy centers can get the women to see an ultrasound of their babies, over 90% choose to carry their babies to term (compared to about 25% who do not have an ultrasound).

But last night, as they were presenting the information about their clinic, they mentioned how many young women had been led to a prayer decision for Jesus. I find it interesting that we in Churches of Christ receive so much criticism for our teaching on baptism. As I am reading and studying through Acts again, I am struck by the centrality of the baptism theme. And yet, we are marginalized by the religious community for pointing out what the Word says. Where is the verse about praying Jesus into your heart?

I realize that part of the problem is that we have have a few "squeeky wheels" who teach baptism as if it is a meritorious work. I realize that some people's approach to the subject has been legalistic. But none of that changes how cental it is to the life of the early church.

So, I guess on those two issues, I'm just an ol' stick in the mud (I wonder where that expression came from?)

Hungering and Thirsting

In our Wednesday men's class, we are talking through the Beatitudes. Last night was "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." I was really encouraged as I listened to so many of our men share what that means to them in their daily walk.

Major points I came away with were:
1. Jesus knows that we all hunger and thirst to fill the emptiness that God has placed within us. It is an emptiness that only HE can fill, though.
2. When we are famished, we sometimes grab whatever is close to us and gorge ourselves -- but if it's junk, it never satisfies. In fact, it might be bad for us.
3. I can hunger and thirst for righteousness, and be filled today. But I will still be hungry and thirsty again tomorrow.
4. Even though we KNOW that the food and drink that Jesus offers us is what is best, we still find ourselves eating and drinking from the false fountains that are all around us. They never satisfy, but we find ourselves returning again and again.

If I think of other major points, I will update later. Or, if you were in the class you might want to add to my list.

Spring is Sneaking In

After the cold spell we had here (10 days -- imagine what they must feel like in Buffalo, NY), the weather this week has been nice. However, it has reminded me that spring is nearly here. The clover and weeds in my yard are coming out. I have yet to find a pre-emerge or weed killer that will take care of them.

So, it won't be long before I'll be fertilizing, weeding, mowing and edging again. I have always loved yard work. However, it seems like I don't have as much free time to "putter" in the yard as I used to. I don't really understand that. I used to coach the kids' teams, was involved in Boy Scouts, etc. -- and still had plenty of time to keep a nice yard. Now that my kids are gone, it seems like I have less time. I need a time expert to explain that one to me.
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Being that we just celebrated Presidents' Day, I have been thinking about presidents this week. I love history -- and especially enjoy The History Channel's series on them. Who, in your opinion, were the best and the worst presidents?

For me: Abraham Lincoln would be the best. No president has had to hold together a fractured nation like he did.

The worst? Probably one of the presidents in the mid-1800s: Filmore, Pierce.

Golf and "24"

Yesterday turned out to be a beautiful day out on the golf course. It was windy -- but not unbearable. I tied my best nine-hole record ever on the front nine (-3), but then the wind affected me more on the back nine (yeah, right!). Still overall, it was a good day.
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Beverly just knew Jack Bauer was going to be killed last night. His dad is one bad dude! I'm disappointed, as the previews for next week show them bringing back that weasel of a president from last year. I wonder if Wayne Palmer is going to be assassinated? I hope not. I really liked his brother, David. In fact, if the actor who played him really ran for president, I think I would vote for him.

I don't know what made me think of this yesterday as I was playing golf: I wonder what Jack Bauer would be like on the golf course. PUT THE FLAGSTICK DOWN! NOW!
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Tonight I give a final for Gospel of John. No more drives over to Garland for a while. I love teaching John. But I don't like the drive -- especially over there. The traffic is terrible! Coming home, it's not so bad. Some of you readers do it every day. There has to be a special reward in heaven for that.

Monday Musings

Beverly and Malaya and I went to see Beverly's parents this weekend. We had a wonderful visit. Jennifer (our daughter-in-law) came up and brought Jed, so we got to spend time with our two grandkids. It was special.

Beverly's parents are hopeful that they will have a contract on their house any day. They have a serious prospect. If so, they will be moving here to Decatur within a few weeks. That would be such a blessing to us -- having them closer so that we can see after them. Please join us in praying for that.
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I'm not sure how my blog has suddenly become the ESPN of NASCAR. I feel like I have been infiltrated by gremlins. Hey, guys, blogging space is free.:) Rumor is that they had a race yesterday and burned up who knows how many thousands of wasteful gallons of fuel. I wonder if that's why the prices at the pump went up about a nickel yesterday.
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Last Monday I passed on golf because it was raining -- but then to my surprise it became a beautiful day. I was thinking about passing today because the wind is supposed to be gusting to 40 mph, but I haven't played in two weeks. So, I think I will go visit the greens this afternoon.
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Good Morning America is obsessed right now with the Oscars. Does anyone really care (kind of like NASCAR)? I can't remember the last time I watched even a minute of the Oscars.

Mavs See-Saw

We went to dinner last night at the home of some folks from church. After dinner, we caught the half-time score of the Mavs' game -- and they were down by 7. We watched a few minutes of the 3rd quarter, which looked more like the 3 stooges than an NBA game.

A few minutes later we got in the car to leave, and I turned on the radio. Mavs up by 3! I listened for a couple of minutes, and they lost the lead and even fell behind.

Fifteen minutes later, I got home and turned on the TV. Mavs were ahead. I watched for a few minutes and they fell behind (do you see a trend developing here?) Beverly told me to stop watching. But I hung with them, and they pulled another game out.

This team is so deep I think they know that if they can stay close into the 4th quarter, no one can stay with them because they are worn down.
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After lunch today, Beverly and I are going to pick up our granddaughter from school and head for east Texas. We will spend tonight and tomorrow with Beverly's parents. Please continue to keep her dad in your prayers. Also, pray that their house will sell soon.

Have a good weekend!

Losing Weight

Some of you are aware of my recent discovery that I have high blood pressure. I had gone in to have my teeth cleaned about 6 weeks ago, and my dentist (Kyle Reeves) wanted to get a baseline b/p. It was 160/110. He thought it might simply be white coat syndrome. I said that had never happened before.

Well, I was due for a physical anyway, so I scheduled one for the next week. At the doctor's office, my b/p was again 160/110. My cholesterol was a bit elevated as well. The doctor advised that I exercise every day and lose a few pounds. He also put me on some b/p medication.

This is the first time in my life I have gotten serious about dieting. It is really hard! In the first week, I dropped 10 pounds. I thought, "What's so hard about this?" Over the marriage retreat weekend, I gained back 3. I lost one more this week. So I have now lost a total of 8 pounds (not the direction I want to be headed). It's like after the first 10 pounds, I have hit a wall.

I really miss eating a lot of chips and hot sauce. I miss ordering fried foods. I'm getting tired of grilled or baked chicken and salads. I hate going to bed hungry (not really hungry, but compared to past experience it seems that way).

But I am determined to lose another 10. Hopefully, that will lower both my b/p and cholesterol.

When I get to heaven, I do have a question for God: Why does everything that tastes good have to be bad for you?

Valentine's Day

Today is Valentine's Day. It is a day that people either seem to love or hate. No doubt, it is a very commercialized day. And yes, if we loved people like we should, it would not be necessary. Both of these views of Valentine's Day are views I have shared at one time or another. I kind of went along with V-Day because is was expected.

Maybe it is because I am getting a little more sentimental in my not-so-older age, but it seems to me that there are too few opportunities to show our love in special ways. Can't we still love people as we should -- and yet show them that love in a more special way one day a year? And the commercialism thing: What event that is special to us Americans has not been commercialized?

Listen: Life is short. As Beverly is fond of saying, "Make sure your people have no doubt that you love them." Enjoy special occasions rather than resisting them and making oneself (and others) miserable.

So here is a shout to all my homeys: Happy Valentine's Day! (My kids are hiding their faces in embarrassment, I'm sure).

Cuban on Gays In Basketball

Yesterday I had made up my mind that I had to decide by 1 PM whether to go play golf or not. It was still cloudy and rainy at 1, so I started on my taxes. At 1:30 the sun came out. Oh, well. At least I got my taxes done.
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I read with interest Mark Cuban's comments in yesterday's Star-Telegram. Cuban is the owner of the Dallas Mavericks. He said that if an active NBA player would come out of the closet and admit he was "gay," he would be instantly flooded with indorsement offers and would be a national hero. If what he says is true, my, how our culture has changed!

I wonder why the homosexual community chose the perfectly legitimate word "gay" to describe their lifestyle? They appear to be anything but gay (This word used to be a common word for "happy," for those of you under 40).

But here is something that, if I were an African-American, would tick me off. Cuban used the old argument that this athlete who "comes out" would be like Jackie Robinson back in the late 40s -- breaking the color barrier in baseball.

First of all, there are no rules in any sport today saying you cannot play them if you are "gay." That was not the case when Jackie came along. "Coloreds" were not allowed. Period.

Secondly, there is a huge difference here. A person who is discriminated against because he or she was born with a certain color of skin does not compare to a person who has made his or her own lifestyle choice. I know that we have pretty much bought into the "scientific evidence" that there is a gay gene. Sorry, but this has yet to be proved. To make the comparison with racial discrimination mocks the struggles that the African-American community faced for hundreds of years.

Personally, I love what Mark Cuban has done for the Mavericks for the most part. I do think the guy needs to shut his mouth. It probably cost them a championship last year. Dwyne Wade going to the foul line as much as the whole Mavs team could very well have been paybacks by the refs for Cuban's constant public criticism. Further, on this issue I think he is wrong. Even with the erosion of morals in our country, I don't think a gay basketball player is going to be flooded with endorsements. And I hardly think he would be a "hero" -- except to gays.

Great Retreat

We had a rewarding time together at the couples' retreat. I love hanging out with God's people. We laughed and joked and cried and shared. Good stuff.

My bride never ceases to amaze me. She is so spiritually discerning -- and so smart! I could have easily sat back and listened to her all weekend. Mark me down as an admiring fan.

Other than hearing her share, I think the most powerful part of the weekend for me may have been the movie clip from the end of "The Story of Us." I have seen it so many times, but I think I get more emotional each time.

Thanks again to Shelly and Kyle Reeves for pulling the weekend off. And thanks to my partner in ministry and friend, Jacob Baker, for leading us in worship.
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It's a little after 9, and I am sitting here wondering if I want to go play golf in the drizzle this afternoon. It looks like the only day this week that might work. If I don't do that, I will probably go home and work on income tax. Hmmmm. Golf or income tax. That makes for a tough decision.

What Are We Committed To?

Tonight we will be going to our church's marriage retreat. This event has been on the church calendar for a long time, so I am somewhat disappointed that more couples have not made this a priority. We had so envisioned couples in our church coming together to commit themselves to helping each other battle Satan. I'm sure that the Lord will still use those who do come, and we will have a great weekend. But it is discouraging.

We live in a difficult time for churches. One of the great challenges as a church leader is trying to get "continuity" with any theme or goal. After all, today priority to church is way down people's priority list. Imagine the challenge of a youth minister trying to plan a retreat so that the youth group can share a common goal. When would you plan it? Fall? No way! How dare you consider interfering with football? OK. Let's try spring. Are you kidding? There's baseball and track. Winter? No, there are the holidays. Summer? Well, no. We have to work. And then, there are the family vacations (Anytime you mention "family" -- that trumps church commitment today).

It used to be that at least Sunday was set aside for "church." Not anymore. Now, youth sports and activities has even trumped the Lord's Day.

And we wonder why our churches aren't growing.

That's my vent for the week.

Passion

Last week my oldest son, Josh, sent me a quote from Jim Cymbala. He said:

"One day I told the Lord that I would rather die than merely tread water throughout my career in the ministry...always preaching about the power of the Word and the Spirit, but never seeing it. I abhorred the thought of just having more church services. I hungered for God to break through in our lives and ministry."

I have thought a lot about that over the last week. One of my New Year's resolutions was to have more passion about life and my ministry. And has the Lord ever answered my heart-cry. Anyone who was in the men's class last night will know what I am referring to. Wow! Is the Lord ever giving me incredible opportunities to minister! And I am loving it!

Beverly and I thank Him every day for directing us to Decatur, Texas. It don't get no better than this.

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Cowboy nation: Are you excited to learn that Wade Phillips will be the next coach? Wow. Looks like more of the same. As long as we have Jerry Jones as an owner and the stadium is full, we Cowboy fans are destined to mediocrity.

The "Aroma" of Christ?

I don't know how you feel about Michael Irvin making the Hall of Fame. Personally, I think he belongs there. Some might think I am being inconsistent -- considering the way I feel about T. O. Irvin has had well-reported off-the-field problems. But he was the consumate team mate. Hard-working. Supportive.

On the way home from Amberton last night, I was listening to ESPN radio. The late-night guy said some things that I at first found offensive. But the more I think about it, the more I realize he was somewhat right. He had received a lot of flack for saying that Irvin ought to be in the Hall. The emailers objected because of his poor character.

The talk-show host said that Irvin is a guy who wears his emotions on his sleeve. What you see is what you get. He said he preferred that over religious folks who presented a good public image, but who lived secret lives of immorality. He brought up Ted Haggard. A man who was publicly vocal against homosexuality, and who ended up being a "closet" homosexual. He also made the statement that for every two people who have become pediophyles because of pornography, he could name a thousand "Christians" in history. Of course, he was referring to the many Catholic priests, etc.

What he said broke my heart. This is what a person outside of our "Christian" bubble thinks about us. And quite frankly, he has a good argument. I have been thinking a lot lately about how poorly we have been salt, light and leaven in our communities. When our marriages fail at the same rate as non-believers. When we have as many men caught up in pornography (including ministers). When we are known in the community for dishonest dealings. When waitresses dread to see "church folks" coming because we are difficult.

It breaks my heart. But to whatever degree my heart is broken, imagine how Jesus must feel. It sure doesn't make Him look good. How unfair to Him! Because He is sooooooo good.

Stepping Into a Different Culture

This morning as we were getting ready for work, Beverly told me that at her pretreat for her trip to Africa she learned that in that culture it is taboo to point with your finger. You point with your lips. I tried to envision that -- but it seemed difficult. I even caught myself -- as I was shaving -- looking in the mirror and trying to point with my lips!

Isn't it interesting how different cultures view things so differently. A gesture that is considered in a positive way in American might be an insult in another. It almost makes going to another country scary.

Well, I've been thinking a lot lately about how uncomfortable it must be for a person of the world -- or even a new Christian -- to come into our church buildings. It's like entering an unknown culture. When do I sit? When do I stand? What can I say (or not say), and when? Do I keep my hands in my lap the whole time? It would not be unlike someone who grew up "in church" going to a bar or a men's club.

I pray that the Lord will give me more sensitivity to such people. How sad that a building -- intended for convenience and comfort -- could become such a daunting place.

A SUPER Bowl!

The Colts are the champs! The monkey is off of Payton Manning's back! Good for him.

I was so proud of what I saw in the post-game comments. No crowing or strutting. Tony Dungy was asked how it felt to be the 1st black head coach to win the Super Bowl. He said he was glad for what it meant for African-American people. But he then said that he is more proud that he and the Bear's head coach, Lovie Smith, showed that you can be a Christian -- and win the big game while living like Christ.

I loved the story that was told about Dungy during the game. He tells his players on the 1st day of practice -- in a normal-level speaking voice -- that he is speaking as loud as he ever will, so they need to listen. The announcers then said that he NEVER cusses, except for one time. He was discussing his calendar, and told someone he was scheduled to appear on "The Best D___ Sports Show." The person said, "Tony, did you just hear what you did? You just said d___." Dungy said, "Yes I did. But it will be the last time."

Between Dungy and Smith, I would say the score after this Super Bowl is Christ-followers -- 2, Satan -- 0.

What's With The Weather?

Once again, I woke up to a surprise this morning. A couple of inches of snow. As I was praying earlier, I thanked God for its beauty. I'm waiting for our youth minister to get in so we can have a snowball fight. Right now, I just keep glancing out my office window -- enjoying the scene.
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The reserves for the NBA all-star game were announced yesterday. Dirk Nowitzki was named (how could he not have been voted on?) But Josh Howard was overlooked. Three Phoenix Suns were named to the reserves. I personally think the league is punishing the Mavericks for their owner's past brashness. He has toned down the rhetoric this year. Oh, well -- the all-star games are ridiculous anyway. Fans should be allowed one vote -- period. How can you judge who is an all-star when people can stuff the ballot? (I feel the same about American Idol). What reallly matters is that the Mavs maintain their NBA-best record.
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I think I'll go build a snowman.

Marriage Retreat

Next weekend Beverly and I will be sharing some new material at our church's marriage retreat. We are convinced that one of the most effective ways in which Satan is currently attacking the church is by breaking down marriages. There are so many fronts he is attacking us from.

He is confusing us in the defining of roles. I don't mean by that the old "tradition" of the man being "boss" and the woman being subserviant. I mean the whole demasculization of males in our culture and the radical feminist movement.

He is breaking down the family by keeping us so busy. Both husband and wife working. Kids have something going every night of the week. No time for the building of relationships.

He is doing it through pornography. God intended for us to have eyes only for our spouses. But today, a person can rent a movie, or have movies piped right into their living rooms. And of course, there is the internet. All done in the privacy of one's own home. More addictive than crack cocaine.

Beverly and I have committed ourselves to taking Satan on in this area. We can't wait to spend time with the couples who have signed up to be a part of this special weekend. Together, working in community, we can establish a beachhead to take on the Evil One.

God wants to bless us so much through our marriages. But, like anything of value in this life, it takes being intentional.

WWJD?

I got home from Amberton last night in time to watch Nightline for a few minutes. They had a couple on there who are strident atheists. In fact, they have made it their mission to destroy all "superstitious" religions. They are convinced that they can outreason us into atheism. The guy conducting the interview asked them a final question: "When will you be satisfied?" They answered, "When Christianity has disappeared from the planet."

During the part I saw, they showed the reaction of "Christians" to this couple. Maybe I'm getting soft in my old age, but I was thinking, "How sad." Here are two people who obviously have had something bad happen in their lives to make them feel such disgust for people of faith. And then to have that reinforced by people who act so godless -- in the name of God! Telling them that they are going to hell. "You're gonna burn!" Yes, sir. That's the way to share the love of Jesus with them.

Unfortunately, a few years ago that would have been me. But my first thought last night night was, "What experiences have they had to make them feel so much pain?" "What is their story?"

Here's a good one: What would Jesus do?

The Divine Conspiracy

I tend to be way behind the "hot" TV shows, movies, books, etc. I usually find out about a good TV series after it is in reruns. Movies? The ones I watch are usually in the "old release" section of Blockbuster. And books? I usually read something several years after everyone else was talking about how good it was.

Such is the case with a book I am currently reading: The Divine Conspiracy, by Dallas Willard. In the book, he is calling Christians -- who too often reflect our culture -- to "fly upside down" from the world. As I read this in bed last night, I began to laugh (and cry):

"Commericals, catch words, political slogans, and high-flying intellectual rumors clutter our mental and spiritual space. Our minds and bodies pick them up like a dark suit picks up lint . . . Must one not wonder about people willing to wear a commercial trademark on the outside of their shirts or caps or shoes to let others know who they are? And just think of a world in which little children sing, "I wish I were a [certain kid of] weiner. That is what I really want to be. For if I were [that certain kind of} weiner, everyone would be in love with me."

"Think of what it would mean to be a weenie, or for someone to love you as they "love" a hot dog. Think of a world in which adults would pay millions of dollars to have children perform this song in "commercials" and in which hundreds of millions, even billions, of adults find no problem in it. You are thinking of our world. If you are willing to be a weenie to be loved, what else would you be willing to do? Is it any wonder that depression and other mental and emotional dysfunctions are epidemic? Who is it, exactly, that is flying upside down now?"

Miscellaneous Monday

Today I have blogger's block. So, I will mention a couple of things and be out of here.

TIger Woods (wow!). Won his 7th straight PGA Tour event. That is the 2nd longest streak in history -- behind Byron Nelson's 11.

He and Roger Federer (tennis star) are good friends, and text message each other constantly -- raising the bar for each other. They are both on very similar winning streaks, and have won about the same number of majors. I heard Tiger in an interview about this, and he said one advantage he has is the longevity of a career in golf. He may be right.

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It's looking like Norv Turner may be the new Cowboys' head coach. I like him. I think he got a bum rap for his work in Oakland (an impossible assignment). I hope he gets the job.

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So who is your favorite for the Super Bowl? I like both coaches. The Bears have a rookie defensive back from ACU. I'd like to see Manning win the big one. So I will barely be pulling for the Colts. I'll mainly be pulling for a good game.

Friday Stuff

I went and played golf yesterday afternoon. Wow! What a gorgeous January day! Today looks like more of the same. It was so nice after two straight weeks of overcast cold days. Looks like next week will be a return to more cold, though. Oh well. That's what it is supposed to be like in late January and early February.

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I heard on Good Morning America this morning that Hillary Clinton is by far the front-runner for the Democratic nomination next year (over 40% to Obama's 20%). I realize it is still very early in the process, so things are likely to change a lot. Interestingly, she also has the highest percentage of disapproval. I was surprised last week to hear that John McCain led all candidates in polling.

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Here's one to try on your wife/husband/boyfriend/girlfriend. I think that I read it came from Winnie the Pooh. "If you live to be 100, I hope I die one day before -- because I never want to live a day without you."

An Incredible Conversion

I love our Wednesday night men's class at the Decatur Church of Christ. Each week, I am built up as we open up and share our lives with each other. It really causes me to look forward to "hump day" each week.

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This Sunday I will be preaching from Acts 9 -- the conversion of Saul (Paul). We've heard it so many times, I fear that we don't grasp the significance of it. Two Jewish lawyers several years ago set out to discredit Christianity. They felt that the two things they must disprove (what they considered to be the two greatest "proofs" of our faith) were the resurrection of Jesus and the conversion of Saul. They examined them from every legal angle, and came away affirming the veracity of these events.

Has there ever been a conversion to rival that of Saul/Paul? He was a 1st century terrorist -- as far as Christians were concerned. What changed him? Well, obviously seeing and hearing Jesus on the road to Damascus. But I think seeing the innocence in the faces of those he arrested must have had an effect, too. Remember: He saw Stephen killed. Luke says that Stephen's face "shown like the face of an angel." Where did Luke get that information? Probably Paul.

We ask today if such a conversion could still occur. Could Osama Bin Laden become a Christian? I certainly believe that Jesus has the power to change such a heart. But I wonder how much we hurt the process? What kinds of reactions has Bin Laden seen from "Christians" today? I understand that in many ways, I am comparing apples to oranges. But it does make me wonder.

Spiritual Mountain Climbers

I did not get to hear the State of the Union address last night. It will be interesting to see what happens politically in the next couple of years. President Bush is definitely the scapegoat for anything that is not going well right now. It seems that both Democrats and Republicans are doing their best to position themselves away from him. I feel badly for him. I don't agree with every decision he has made, but I don't think he is deserving of the current treatment he is receiving.

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I really appreciated Tozer's remarks in yesterday's daily devotional:

But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. --1 Corinthians 9:27

What must our Lord think of us if His work and His witness depend upon the convenience of His people? The truth is that every advance that we make for God and for His cause must be made at our inconvenience. If it does not inconvenience us at all, there is no cross in it! If we have been able to reduce spirituality to a smooth pattern and it costs us nothing--no disturbance, no bother and no element of sacrifice in it--we are not getting anywhere with God. We have stopped and pitched our unworthy tent halfway between the swamp and the peak.

We are mediocre Christians!

Was there ever a cross that was convenient? Was there ever a convenient way to die? I have never heard of any, and judgment is not going to be a matter of convenience, either! Yet we look around for convenience, thinking we can reach the mountain peak conveniently and without trouble or danger to ourselves.

Actually, mountain climbers are always in peril and they are always advancing at their inconvenience. I Talk Back to the Devil, 48.

Bye, Bye to Big Bill

So, Big BIll is gone. I don't think his heart was ever here. He's a northeasterner at heart. This "hall of fame" coach ( I question whether he belongs there. Nothing really against him, but I just don't think he ranks with Landry, Shula, etc.) was unable to work his magic in Dallas. Barely over .500 winning percentage. Backed into the playoffs twice, and lost both games. Hardly the resume of a "legend."

I don't know about you, but Parcells reminds me of an old grandfather that no one wants to be around because he is so grumpy. He was always snippy with the media here. Just didn't seem happy.

And now, even as he leaves -- it seems he is taking a parting shot. No press conference. Simply an email announcing his retirement.

But the BIGGEST shot may have been taken at Jerry Jones. Parcells was never on board with bringing T. O. in. Remember him? The self-proclaimed greatest receiver ever -- if only he could catch. Unfortunately, catching the ball is a prerequisite -- as unfair as it might seem -- to being considered "great", T. O. So, Parcells has delayed announcing his retirement until most of the "hire-able" coaches have already been snatched by other teams. Could this have been "pay-backs" to Jones for bringing in "The Headache" (reference to "the greatest receiver ever").

So, who is out there? Maybe some college coaches. But other than Jimmy Johnson, it doesn't seem that college coaches transition very well to the NFL. I was having trouble naming any yesterday.

So how about Wade Phillips? Norv Turner? Good coordinators, but haven't faired all that well as head coaches. Why not bring them both in, and let them share the duties? You would have one of the best defensive coordinators and one of the best offensive coordinators in today's NFL. I don't know if egos would prevent that or not.

Thoughts?

Super Bowl and Baptisms

I entered Sunday hopeful that it would end with Mavericks, Saints and Colts victories. The Mavs had me biting my nails -- but came through at the end. The Saints had a meltdown. And the Colts? Wow! Largest comeback in Conference championship history.

So, it will be the Colts and the Bears in the Super Bowl. I will be pulling for the Colts becasue Tony Dungy is a Christian (deacon in the Church of Christ) and Payton Manning needs to have a chance to get rid of the ridiculous monkey the media has placed on him. I think he will.

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I received a call at about 11 PM on Saturday night. Two of our teenagers were going to be baptized at 11:30. Now, I turn in pretty early on Saturdays. But I got up and came to the church building to witness these new births.

I guess we, in churches of Christ, are fairly unique when it comes to such events. I have dropped what I was doing to witness baptisms in hot tubs, stock tanks (on a cold November day), swimming pools -- and, of course, the church baptistry. Something about the urgency to "just do it" makes for a really special occasion.

How 'Bout Them Mavs?

It's Friday! We have made it to the end of a really wierd weather week here. Usually after one day under 50, Beverly is longing for summer. After this week, I'm ready to join her. It's been a couple of weeks since I have played golf. I think I'm going into withdrawal.

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I didn't just sit and watch the Mavs' game last night, but I had it on as I was doing other things. They made my day! It's always good to see Kobe and the Lakers get beat. And not just beat. They whupped the Lakers -- and made them like it. 114-95. And that was after letting up a little in the last few minutes.

I love watching a pouty premodonna getting beat. In the NBA, that would include Kobe, Shaq and Tim Duncan.

The Mavs are playing as well as I can ever remember a team playing. They are awesome! There's lots of talk in the Metroplex about Dirk deserving MVP. I would have no problem jumping on that bandwagon. I wonder if he really is, though. As much as I don't like Kobe, I would think if you took him away from the Lakers -- they are toast. Steve Nash is improving on his MVP numbers, but maybe the voters are ready for someone else after two straight years of Nash. So why not Dirk?

American Idol

I have lived in the south most of my life (six months in Lexington, Kentucky being my furthest venture north). I don't remember a winter weather system like this one. Freezing rain on Sunday and Monday, snow and sleet yesterday, and more in the forecast for tonight, Friday night, Saturday morning, and into Sunday. Brrrrrrrr.

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I like watching the first few episodes of "American Idol" each season, as the masses try out to be selected for the group that goes to Hollywood. Simon cracks me up much of the time. It does not bother me when he makes fun of the contestants' singing. I feel like they have opened themselves up to his criticism and ridicule by becoming contestants. I find it very hard to believe that some of them really think they are good.

But here's where I part company with Simon: When he makes fun of the way a person looks. I'm not talking about when someone has dressed goofy, etc. But a person can't help his/her size (to some degree), or the way their eyes look, etc. I think Simon has been cruel at times -- and it really makes him look bad.

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And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. --Matthew 14:23

Modern civilization is so complex as to make the devotional life all but impossible. It wears us out by multiplying distractions and beats us down by destroying our solitude, where otherwise we might drink and renew our strength before going out to face the world again.

"The thoughtful soul to solitude retires," said the poet of other and quieter times; but where is the solitude to which we can retire today? Science, which has provided men with certain material comforts, has robbed them of their souls by surrounding them with a world hostile to their existence. "Commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still" is a wise and healing counsel, but how can it be followed in this day of the newspaper, the telephone, the radio and the television? These modern playthings, like pet tiger cubs, have grown so large and dangerous that they threaten to devour us all. What was intended to be a blessing has become a positive curse. No spot is now safe from the world's intrusion. Of God and Men, 125.

Tozer was wrestling with this several years ago (his writings are from years past). How much more are we bombarded today! We have all the influences of which he speaks -- plus the internet, cell phones, blackberries,and a host of other 'playthings' seeking to devour us. May the Lord help us somehow to escape today and retire to solitude.

Weather: Round 2

Last night I taught class in Garland, and didn't get home until 10:30, so I missed the weather. This morning I got up to go to my small prayer group. It was still dark as I went to let out the dog. SURPRISE!!!!!! I was not expecting to see the ground covered in sleet and snow. Schools are closed. Cars are traveling down our street, so I will brave the elements (wow, I feel like Daniel Boone) to make my 3 mile trek to work here in a little bit.

My precious wife is speaking at the Christian Educators' Workshop in Fort Worth this morning. She speaks at three sessions, and will be finished about noon. I am hopeful that she will be able to come home today. So, please pray for my sweetie.

Don't take anything for granted in this weather! We have had two church members that I am aware of who have fallen and broken bones.

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I listened to the second half of the Mavs game on the radio on my way home last night. They were playing the Houston Rockets. Down by 13 midway through the 3rd period. They ended up winning by 13! These guys are good!

Playoff Predictions

I'm off to a bit of a slow start this morning. Had a bout with vertigo last night, and woke up with a mild migraine this morning. So, I nearly stayed in bed. But I am now sitting at the keyboard ready for a good day.

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I have not even looked at the odds for the NFL Championship games this weekend. But here's hoping that the Saints beat the Bears and the Colts beat the Patriots. Then in the Super Bowl, I don't care. For sentimental reasons, I would like to see the Saints win. But I would also like to see Payton Manning get the monkey off his back.

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W.A.R.M. (Wise Area Relief Mission) is looking for someone to replace one of the two paid employees. The work involves, among other things, interviewing people to determine their needs, dispensing groceries, stocking the shelves, etc If you are interested in the work or know someone who is, either contact WARM at 940-626-4676 or contact me.

Also, WARM is in desperate need of volunteer workers. If you could give two hours a couple of times a month, please consider this good work. Again contact them directly or call me.

Martin Luther King

This morning, I am still at home. It is cold (20 degrees) and icy. I will probably wait until after lunch to go into the office.

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As I mentioned last week, my family celebrated Christmas last Friday night. That's right -- January 12th! It was pouring down rain. We ate our family Christmas dinner (Mexican food), and were headed to the den to open gifts -- when the doorbell rang.

I went to the door -- and could hear caroling! On January 12th! A group of dear friends knew about our late Christmas -- and had come to help us celebrate! Dennis and Sonya Lee, Jacob and Heather Baker, Edwards' and Jones' families and Craig Jordan. It was one of those special memories that Beverly and I will cherish for the rest of our lives.

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Today our nation honors the memory of one of America's greatest leaders -- Martin Luther King, Jr. I can vividly remember as a child growing up in Jackson, Mississippi during the Civil Rights era. I recall how people in our neighborhood would freak out when Dr. King was coming to town. Even at the age of 7 or so, I wondered what it what that they feared about this man. You could see the kindness and love in his eyes -- even as he was being arrested. For what? For peacefully demonstrating against segregation.

I'm glad Dr. King had a dream.

Ho-Ho-Ho, Merry Christmas

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas . . ." That's right. At the Ross' house, we observe the 19 days of Christmas (Boy, does that ever make the song last forever.) "On the 19th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me . . ." But the kids are all here, and tonight we will do Christmas. Can't wait!

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Wow! Did the baseball hall of fame voters send a message this week or what? Mark McGwire got less than 30% of the vote! I imagine Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Raphael Palmeiro heard the message loud and clear.

What are your thoughts? Do you think steroid use should keep them out? My opinion: Yes. In fact, any current records that have been set by those who have used steroids ought to be at least asterisked. It's not fair to Roger Maris, Hank Aaron and others who played the game fairly to be written out of the record books by those who cheated.

That's my opinion. And that and $4 will get you a small cup of coffee at Starbucks.

The War in Iraq

I would not be president of the United States for $1 billion a year! I cannot imagine what it must be like to awaken every morning to the multitude of things -- both foreign and domestic -- that would fill a president's plate. And the schedule! It seems that from early morning to late in the evening -- it is go, go, go.

And there is no way to please everyone. Even those who are with you will bale out if the going gets tough. I am one of those people, I guess. I was so supportive of us going into Iraq. As I look back, I think I may have been operating out of a desire to extract revenge for 9-11 (God forgive me). Maybe we would have been better served by limiting our attacks to al-Qaida targets. The skeptic in me is even wondering if the whole reason we went into Iraq was so that our president could get revenge for Saddam's attempts to have his dad assassinated.

But now, I am wondering: Why are we going to escalate our involvement in Iraq? When will we learn from history? Korea and Viet Nam should be enough to remind us that we -- the most powerful nation on earth -- don't do too well when we go into a country and try to make it over in our image. And it certainly does not win us any friends. Why would any nation trust us when we want to come in and "help" them? We will stay only so long as American public opinion polls approve. When the polls flip-flop, we will leave those countries swaying in the wind.

That's my rant for today.

"24"

"24" begins a new season this Sunday night. Two hours Sunday and two hours Monday. A while back, I wrote about how good a show it is, and then wrote back after watching the 1st season in reruns to apologize because it was so sexually explicit. Well, I must confess: We continued to watch it -- and we are now caught up. And while the show is very violent, it has been rather tame sexually. But it is a riviting show! And Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) is THE MAN!

I saw an article yesterday previewing this season's show. It then talked about the whole premise of "24." It closed with these words:
"24" is a wildly idealized view of our nation's response to the threat of terrorism on our soil, yet -- even within the series' tidy 24-hour window -- it has thus far withheld easy answers and happy endings. Jack Bauer, the nation's point man for homeland security, is valiant but steadily unraveling.

So "24" triumphs as a series it surely never set out to be: an exceptional adventure about lowered expectations. Its message is clear: Prevailing is too much for a nation to hope for. At the end of the day, endurance will have to do."

Those last two sentences really caught my attention as a person of faith. As we battle Satan, we know that ultimately we will win. But prevailing in this life may be too much for us as Christians to hope for. So, at the end of the day, endurance will have to do. That so describes my day-in, day-out journey. How about you?

The Call to Preach

Who would have predicted what happened last night in the BCS National Championship game? I mean, we might have thought Florida had a chance to win -- but 41-14? Wow!

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I haven't shared any Tozer for a while, but I thought this one was interesting. I have heard wise men many times in my life say, "Don't preach unless you have to." And they are right. I resisted the calling for about 12 years myself. But I think I would have to be put in a straighjacket with duct tape over my mouth to keep me from preaching now. So, here's Tozer:

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!
--1 Corinthians 9:16

The true minister is one not by his own choice but by the sovereign commission of God. From a study of the Scriptures one might conclude that the man God calls seldom or never surrenders to the call without considerable reluctance. The young man who rushes too eagerly into the pulpit at first glance seems to be unusually spiritual, but he may in fact only be revealing his lack of understanding of the sacred nature of the ministry.

The old rule, "Don't preach if you can get out of it," if correctly understood, is still a good one. The call of God comes with an
insistence that will not be denied and can scarcely by resisted. Moses fought his call strenuously and lost to the compulsion of the Spirit within him; and the same may be said of many others in the Bible and since Bible times. Christian biography shows that many who later became great Christian leaders at first tried earnestly to avoid the burden of the ministry; but I cannot offhand recall one single instance of a prophet's having applied for the job. The true minister simply surrenders to the inward pressure and cries, "Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!"
God Tells the Man Who Cares, 87-88.

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I will begin teaching a new semester of The Gospel of John tonight at Amberton University. Please pray for me and my class. Many of them will not have a clue what the Gospel of John is.

I Feel For Romo

I watched the Cowboys bow out of the playoffs Saturday night. As I watched bits and pieces of "wildcard weekend," it made me wonder how most of those teams even made the playoffs. It sure seems to me that the talent level is watered down in the NFL right now.

I am also reminded, after the Cowboy loss, how fickle we are. Two months ago, Tony Romo could have been voted into the Cowboy's Ring of Honor after only playing 4 or 5 games. I felt like it was unfair for people to be passing on the Meridith-Staubach-Aikman mantle to him at that time, and some people took that to mean that I didn't care for him. I like Romo. I don't think he is a franchise quarterback, but I like him. I just don't think you can make such an evaluation over a month of games. It takes years.

So, Romo botched THE snap, and that is all that Cowboy fans remember. They have forgotten that Terry' Glenn's fumble into the endzone actually turned into 9 points. They didn't notice the disappearance of T. O. against a secondary made up of guys who couldn't play for many colleges -- much less pro. Oh, he did show up long enough to drop another pass that must have been too perfectly placed into his hands. No one has mentioned the usually-reliable Jason Whitten fumbling. And, in my humble opinion, Roy Williams has to be the most overrated player in the NFL.

No, it's all about Romo. From hero to goat. I wonder how he felt that night as he went home. I wonder if Carrie Underwood singing, "Jesus, Take the Snap" would have helped (I am digressing here).

We are just not fair to people who are out front: From politicians to athletes to coaches to preachers and elders. When things are good, they are given too much credit. When things go bad, we are unmerciful.

Just Ramblin'

This morning I am wishing it was June. Not so that we would have 100 degree weather instead of 40. No, what I am thinking about is the Dallas Mavericks. These guys are playing some great b-ball! I am just hopeful that they can keep it up for 6 more months.

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So, we now have a new Congress in session. It will be interesting to see what will happen with a Republican president and Democratic Congress for the next two years. The tables are reversed from Bill Clinton's 2nd term. I must confess: I had high hopes for things when we had a Republican majority in Congress and a Republican president. But other than getting a couple of more Conservative Supreme Court justices, I have been disappointed.

Here's hoping that the Democratic majority can shore up Social Security! Now that I have turned 50, I'm beginning to think more about such things.

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The Cowboys are in the playoffs! Saturday night against Seattle. Yet, I don't hear anyone talking about it. Due to their play over the last month, it seems as if people are holding out little hope that their season will last beyond Saturday night. However, Seattle shows some cracks of their own. In the NFC this year, anything could happen. GO, SAINTS!

Subway Superman

We as a nation are starving for heroes. So, a quarterback leads a team to a come-from-behind victory, and we call him a hero. Or someone hits a three-point shot at the final buzzer to win by 1, and we call him a hero.

By now you have probably heard about the man who has been dubbed "Subway Superman" or "the Subway Savior." His name is Wesly Autrey, a 50 year old construction worker who lives in New York City -- and he qualifies in my books as a REAL hero. Mr. Autrey and his two young daughters were waiting for their subway car Tuesday morning when he saw a young man have a seizure and fall down into the rails. Looking up, Autrey saw a train coming, so he jumped down into the rails and tried to get the man out. Realizing he had no time, he rolled the man into a small pit in between the rails, and then covered him with his own body -- holding down the man's arms and legs.

The conductor had seen them, and had applied the brakes. However, he was not able to stop until two of the cars had passed over the men. The clearance was just enough. In fact, Mr. Autrey had a grease spot on his wool cap where the train had grazed him as it passed over.

After such a heroic act, I was touched as I saw Autrey interviewed. He was so unassuming about the whole thing. According to him, he had done nothing heroic. He just did what had to be done.

But I am left wondering: If I had been in the same situation, what would I have done? Autrey had a built-in excuse: He had to take care of his two girls. But instead, he put his life on the line to save another man's life. THAT'S a real hero.

Capital Punishment?

The headline in the paper this morning is "Pressure Rises Over Executions." The accompanying article reminds us that Texas continues to head the list as "death-penalty leader."

I find it interesting that most of the world -- other than Muslim nations and the US -- no longer practice capital punishment. I used to be a proponent of it. And I could argue it from Scripture, too. Maybe I'm just getting soft in my older age, but I just don't see that it accomplishes much. It doesn't seem to be a deterent to crime. I'm beginning to wonder if its main purpose is to give us some kind of feeling of revenge: "He got what he deserved." If that is the best case we can offer, it certainly is not Christlike.

"What about the victims and their families?" someone might say. And I feel that same emotion. But taking the life of the murderer does not bring any satisfaction. Yes, put the murderer away for life. But I just don't feel so comfortable taking a life.

I'm not on a crusade here. I'm still not even sure I am opposed to capital punishment. But I am certainly leaning more away from it. And I am much more sympathetic to those opposed to it than I once was. Yes, I could still make a Scriptural argument for it. But as I am more and more being drawn to Christlikeness, I am also more inclined to extend mercy and grace.

Back at Work

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I am so praying that 2007 will be the most fulfilling year of your life -- and mine.

I am torn today. I have a lot of work to do to catch up after having been out of the office for a week. But I would love to be able to watch the funeral for Gerald Ford. My patriotism soars when I see the grace with which we as a nation commemorate such events.

Lots of football to be seen over the last few days! I can't say I watched a whole lot. I watched parts of the Cowboy meltdown. The Jones dynasty has become a greater embarrassment than any time the team was under the ownership of Clint Merchison. Yes, I know about the three Super Bowls (credit Jimmy Johnson for that), but that was 12 years ago. Since then, the Cowboys' best seasons have been mediocre. GO SAINTS!

So far, teams I have rooted for in the bowl games have not faired so well. Texas managed to squeak out a win. But Nebraska lost, as did Arkansas and Michigan. I did stay up last night to watch the end of the Oklahoma-Boise State game. WOW! I never thought I would see Bob Stoopes outcoached. But Boise State pulled out some plays that were absolutely incredible -- and perfectly executed.

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So, any New Year's resolutions? Mine are to be more passionate about life, and more surrendered each day to allow the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in me: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.