9 Years of "Grampy-ing" and Sports Records

Nine years ago today, my identity was changed forever.  I became "Grampy."  I will never forget how special that day was.  And my nine-year old granddaughter is blossoming into a beautiful person -- physically, but also in heart.  She is SO kind and loving, and I am proud to be her "Grampy."  

In the intervening years, I have become Grampy three more times -- with another one on the way.  These are rewarding days.

Happy birthday, Malaya!  I hope you have a fun day.

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When I was a late-teen to young man, Jack Nicklaus was setting the bar for major wins.  When he reached 18, it seemed he had set a goal that would never be broken.  After all, the closest to him in the modern era had been Gary Player with 9.

But who would have predicted Tiger Woods?  At age 33, he is entering a golfer's prime -- and already has 14.  I still don't think it is a given that he will break Jack's record.  There are finally some young guys coming up that I believe will rival him.  Due to his knee injury, he missed a great window of opportunity last year -- with both the British Open and PGA at two courses to his liking.  But chances are, Jack's record will fall.

So what sports records are untouchable?  Well, I would say Cy Young's 511 wins and Joe DiMaggio's 56 game hitting streak would be there.  Maybe Wilt Chamberlain's 100 points in one game.  Byron Nelson's 11 game win streak seems pretty safe to me.  Jerry Rice's career touchdowns?   

Any others?

I Just Don't Get Facebook

I read this morning that "Facebook" now has 200 million accounts.  I tried it several months back, but sorry -- I just don't get it.  On my Facebook page, I would read that "So-and-so just brushed his teeth."  Or someone is watching Oprah.  Someone else just took a shower and is late for work.  Do we really need these kinds of details?  It seems almost like a strange form of voyeurism.  So I quit it.

Different strokes for different folks.  Some people like to hunt.  Some people like to fish.  Some people like to play golf.  Some people like to spend their time on Facebook.  I'm just saying that I don't get it.

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My childhood hero, Arnold Palmer, hit the ceremonial tee-shot to begin the 2009 Masters about an hour and a half ago.  I confess:  This is not a good week to be Easter weekend.  I am VERY distracted this week.  A couple of my buddies told me that I looked sick, and need to just stay home Thursday and Friday.  I wish I could.  But the sermon still has to be preached Sunday.  

Needless to say:  I am very thankful for DVR.  

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Late addition to this blog:  Why do barbers hate sideburns so much?  Since I go so rarely to the barber (once a month), I forget to ask each time.  But as the barber trims my hair, I will inevitably hear that sound as my sideburns are hacked off.  And it is not a single occurrence or a single barber.  And they always get them slanted at about a 45 degree angle. 

Any ideas?

Pirates? and the Last Supper

I see this morning that pirates have seized a ship with 20 Americans on board.  Pirates?  What is the deal with this all of a sudden.  In the last year, it has suddenly become dangerous for international ships to sail.  Something about that seems archaic.

I know it's not the reality of the situation, but I picture Johnny Depp or some peg-legged guy with a parrot on his shoulder stepping off a boat with a skull-and-crossbones flag -- boarding a ship with a black-powder pistol.   

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The Last Supper:  Nearly two thousand years ago today (or tomorrow, depending on your understanding of Scripture), Jesus sat down with His disciples in the upper room for that meal.  He washed their feet and told them about the betrayer.  He was in anguish as He considered what lay before Him.  It must have been a heavy night.  I want to live with that for the next couple of days.  What were those days like for His followers?  Of course, we know the story has a perfect ending.  But they didn't.   

One of My Favorite Weeks

It has become one of my top 5 weeks of the year.  This year, two of my tops get combined into one.  

An obvious one is Easter.  While in our tradition, we partake of communion each week in remembrance of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus -- there is something special about Easter.  THE day.  The day that the tomb was found empty.  The day of beginning anew.  The day that sets us apart from ALL other world religions.

As I have mentioned last night, a few years back what was believed to be a finger bone of Buddha was found.  The bone "went on tour," with people standing in line for hours to see it.  And it made me think, "If ever ONE of Jesus' bones was discovered, we would be DONE as a movement."  But we don't have to worry about that.  Because the tomb is empty.  And Jesus lives!

But the 2nd special thing about this week is that it is Master's week.  Augusta.  It has to be one of the most beautiful pieces of property anywhere.  Every blade of grass perfect.  I have watched this tournament since it was on TV in black and white.  The history.  The pageantry.  The "we will do it our way" attitude.  Five minutes of commercials per hour max.  The crowd must be referred to as patrons, not gallery.  No off-color comments by the TV guys.  

A few years back, a woman protested before the Masters over Augusta's refusal to allow women to join.  Now, I don't agree with that position.  But you have to admire their moxey.  She was trying to get all sponsors to remove their commercials.  So as not to put any companies in a position of having to take sides, the Augusta membership said, "This year, WE will cover all the expenses.  There will be NO commercials."

Anyway, I digress.  Even if you don't like golf, you need to watch the Masters just for the beauty of the dogwoods and azaleas, etc.

I can't wait!  Empty tomb.  Dogwoods and azaleas.  And Tiger winning his 5th green jacket.  

What a Tragedy

My heart goes out to the family of slain Bridgeport Police Sgt. Randy White. Senseless! A man known to local police was involved in a hit-and-run accident on HWY 287, fled the scene, abandoned his pickup and stole an SUV. The officer was pulling people over to get them out of the way of the chase, when the criminal rear-ended him -- ramming his squad car into a tractor-trailer and killing him.

White, 32, leaves a wife and 5 year old.

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Beverly and I are not keeping up with American Idol like we have in the past.  We usually fast-forward through "elimination night" on Wednesday after church.  But my favorites are (sentimental favorite) Danny and Kris.  Adam is a weird dude!  But I think he might win it.

I think the best reality show on TV right now might be "The Haney Project."  It is on the Golf Channel.  Hank Haney (Tiger Woods' instructor) has taken on the challenge of changing Charles Barkley's swing.  If you have never seen this guy swing a golf club, go to Youtube and enter his name and have a laugh.  This show is FUNNY!  And much of it is filmed at Vaquero in Westlake.  

Long Tenure for Preachers

An old adage about tenure of ministers goes something like this:

The first two years, you can do nothing wrong.
The second two years, you can do nothing right.
The third two years, something gives.
The seventh year, your best ministry begins.

I will soon be beginning my 5th year of serving the Decatur Church of Christ, and I still feel like I am in the 1st stage.  All studies suggest that the adage is especially true when it comes to long tenures of preachers (hint, hint).

Why?  According to Lynn Anderson, several factors contribute to this.  But to name a few:
- Rapport: Time gives an observant minister rapport with the community.
- Credibility: Credibility enhances as people see their minister love and care for them over the long haul.
- Bonding: Powerful feelings flow between church and minister that only time can generate.
- Access: Long-term ministry opens enormous access into people’s lives.

(This ad is paid for by the Rick Ross for long tenure campaign.  I endorse this message)

What is Your Vocation?

Do you have a vocation?  In a general sense, vocation is what all Christians do as we live out the life of Jesus.  But in a more specific way, vocation is the special assignment that only you can do.

Dorothy Sayers writes:  

"Our vocation is not, primarily, a thing one does to live, but the thing one lives to do . . . the thing in which he finds spiritual, mental, and bodily satisfaction, and the medium in which he offers himself to God.

It is the business of the Church to recognize that the secular vocation, as such, is sacred.

Let the Church remember this:  that every maker and worker is called to serve God in his profession or trade -- not outside it.  Whatever we are called to "do" is not a "job" but a sacred vocation."

  

Parker Palmer adds, "Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what it intends to do with you."  What he is suggesting we learn is this:  God will not ask us, "Were you like Mother Teresa or the prophet Daniel or Peter or you father or  mother?"  Instead, God will ask us, "Were you the 'you' I made you to be?"

And I love this from Os Guinness (I love that name):  "The truth is not that God is finding us a place for our gifts, but that God has created us and our gifts for a place of his choosing -- and we will only be ourselves when we are finally there." 

Decatur: The WIndy City

I'm thinking about going into wind turbine generator sales.  My goodness, the wind has been blowing here in recent months!  Kite flyers would love it in Wise County.  Today:  Gusts over 40.

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I have been humored by folks who have been saying that Tiger Woods is not the same since his knee surgery.  After all, he lost in the 2nd match of his return in the World Match Play championship.  And he could only make the top ten in his 2nd tournament at Doral.  Well, yesterday, he started the day 5 back of Sean O'Hair.  Guess who won?  Yeah, buddy.  It took him three whole tournaments to return to the winner's circle.  

Next stop:  Augusta and the Masters.

I would agree with the critics that Tiger is not the same.  He looks like he has been pumping iron.  And his swing looks as if it is much more controlled (less stress on the reconstructed knee).

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I felt sad for the Dallas Police Department, as they made national news this morning because one officer with "Barney Fife syndrome" decided to throw his weight around.  You have probably heard the story.  A Houston Texan football player was on the way to the hospital with his wife.  Her mother was about to die.  The officer pulled them over in the hospital parking lot and detained them for over 30 minutes.  The football player was pleading with him to let them go.  He told him to write a ticket, but please allow them to go to her mother.   Finally, the wife left -- and the officer pulled a gun on her.  Other officers were telling him to let them go. Hospital staff came out and pled for him to release them.  Meanwhile, the mother died.

By the way, this is not one of those "he said, she said" things.  The whole incident was captured on the officer's camera.  It is heartbreaking as you can hear this couple pleading with him to allow them to go to her mother.  

This morning I read in the paper that a current Dallas Cowboy said this same officer had pulled his wife over, handcuffed her and taken her in for a traffic violation.

It's a shame that the whole Dallas Police Department receives a black eye because of someone like this.  He has been put on leave for a while.  I think he might need to find another line of work -- hopefully away from the public.          

Stories on the Internet

I received an email this morning regarding a petition to stop a hearing before the Federal Communications Commission to outlaw all reading of Scripture on television.  Petitions like this have been circulating since the days of Madilyn Murray O'Hair.  Yet, there are no such hearings or pending legislations.

In the most recent one, it mentioned that this would remove Charles Stanley, Joyce Meyers and Joel Olsteen from television.  If the reading of Scripture would remove people from TV, Stanley and Meyers would certainly be out.  But Olsteen would be safe (just kidding, kind of).

With the internet comes constant stories meant to instill fear in people.  Anyone can make up anything, and send it round the world on the internet.  Last week, it was the gang initiation in which 3 people would be killed at Walmart.  There are constant political emails spreading rumors and lies.

PLEASE:  I encourage you to check out stories.  Most anything you receive of this nature can be checked for voracity at www.snopes.com.  As Christians who are not to take part in rumor-mongering and the spreading of gossip, we are obligated to be people of TRUTH.  Our truthfulness is put into question when we take part in rumors.     

What Is The Right Answer?

I heard an interesting story this morning.  Occasionally a story like this comes along, and I don't know for sure what the right thing to do is.  Easy answers are not always the best answers.

It seems that a preacher and father of 5 children has taken into his house a man who served many years for killing a 12 year old boy.  The man has been a Christ-follower now for 16 years, and his record has been unblemished.  He was recently released from prison.  The preacher felt like it was the Christlike thing to do to give this man a second chance.  I admire that.  And yet, I wonder about bringing the man into his home with his 5 children.

But the neighbors are outraged.  They are holding demonstrations in front of the preacher's house.  They are afraid to let their children play outside.  One mother said her daughter cannot go to sleep at night until the mother checks every room and closet.  The people are living in fear.  And to some degree, I can understand that.

One lady said, "There are other people who are more deserving of 2nd chances."  Huh?

Another woman said, "People don't change."  So much for the gospel.

Still another said that people with criminal minds just don't become Christians.

So, what would YOU do? 

The Jesus Creed

I'm reading a book right now entitled The Jesus Creed, by Scot McKnight.  It is a really good read.  He shows how Jesus took the Shema (Jewish creed found in Deut. 6: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind") and reshaped it into His own creed.  While keeping the emphasis upon the Shema, Jesus showed how loving God necessitates loving people as well ("and love your neighbor as yourself").  His life was the living out of this creed -- which He calls His followers to join Him in.

The book moves through passages and New Testament characters -- showing how this "creed" played out.  In one chapter, McKnight shows how Joseph put his reputation on the line by being faithful to God.  As a follower of Torah, it would have been proper for him to put Mary away -- or even have her punished.  But what would become "the Jesus Creed" called him to a higher way.

Here is a quote:  

"Sometimes the implication of listening to the voice of God is that we ruin our reputation in the public square. Loving God, as the Jesus Creed teaches, involves surrendering ourselves to God in heart, soul, mind, strength -- and reputation.  The minute we turn exclusively to the Lord to find our true identity is the day reputation dies.  We learn, as Thomas a Kempis puts it, that when you surrender your reputation, "you won't care a fig for the wagglings of ten thousand tongues."        

Good stuff!

The Dreamer

Beverly and I spent the last few days in Memphis with our "East of the Mississippi" kids and grandson.  We had a great visit, and enjoyed being able to worship with the church where they serve.

Sunday afternoon, my son and I went to the National Civil Rights Museum, which occupies the Lorraine Hotel in which Martin Luther King, Jr. was murdered.  It was interesting getting to relive some of the history I remember from childhood.  Much of the activity of the "movement" took place not far from where I was raised from 1960-1968 -- Jackson, Mississippi.  I still am amazed that people ever lived in such ignorance as to treat other human beings in such ways as we did (and continue to do).

I was reminded all over again of what a great man Dr. King was.  Hanging over his head through the years was my accepting as fact that he had been a philanderer.  Yet the ONLY evidence for that was a supposed tape from a supposed bug that had been planted where he was staying on one occasion.  This tape supposedly offered proof that Dr. King was having an affair.  No names were ever mentioned.  No other evidence ever produced.  With the level of hatred J. Edgar Hoover harbored for Dr. King, why was the planting of evidence never considered?

He was a modern-day prophet.  Listen to the speech he delivered the night before he was murdered in Memphis -- his "I've been to the mountaintop" speech.  It will give you goose bumps.  Dr. King told his friends that he would never live to see 40, and he was gunned down at age 39.

Or read his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail."  Wow!  Incredible.      

On the site, just a few feet from the balcony where Dr. King was murdered, is a plaque.  It reads from the book of Genesis, and says, "And they said one to another, behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him... and we shall see what will become of his dreams."

May his dream live on!

T. O. and the Bail-out

I guess my recent words about being an EX-Cowboy fan have gotten Jerry Jones' attention (yeah, right).  He did take one step back toward legitimacy by getting rid of T. O.  Last year's tantrum during a crucial stretch in the season may have proven to be fatal to the team.

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I truly hope the bail-out package works.  Rooting for its failure seems to be like the old saying, "Cutting off your nose to spite your face."  America (and the world) is hurting right now, and hoping for the bail-out's failure so that one party can gain later just seems sick.  That party had a chance to do a lot over the last 8 years, and squandered it.  So, lick your wounds and come back stronger and with an attitude that will help America, and not just the party.

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Sure, there are things in the bail-out that I don't particularly like.  I have a lot of trouble with this idea of helping people stay in houses that they couldn't afford to begin with.  So they got loans for much more house than they could afford -- loans that allowed them to pay only the interest.  Now the housing market has dropped -- and they are upside down in their house.  A house that they NEVER should have bought to begin with!      

A Tribute to Paul Harvey

Paul Harvey passed away on Saturday.  I have such fond memories of this man.  No news person could do radio like him.

My earliest memory of Harvey was one summer day (I may have been 10) when I accompanied my dad as we drove a through Mississippi on a couple of calls he had to make.  I had brought along a book to read while I waited in the car.  As we were driving along, "Paul Harvey News" came on.  And I was hooked! 

In 5th grade, my teacher would have us listen every day to Paul Harvey, and she would then give us a pop test.  Many of the kids hated that 15 minutes.  But I loved it.  One day, the teacher said she had to go to the lounge for a few minutes, but we were to be quiet and listen to the news.  Well, no one did.  She had actually tricked us.  She went to the office, listened to the radio there -- and came back and gave us a test.

Harvey could tell a story that would make you feel like you were there.  His "Rest of the Story" was broadcasting brilliance.  His faith and patriotism inspired.

"Hello, America.  This is Paul Harvey . . . Stand by for news!"  "Now page two."  Paaaaaul Harvey -- good day."  I can hear his voice in those lines.  He will be missed.          

"Helping Hands"

On Monday, March 9, we will officially begin our "Helping Hands" ministry.  We will be opening our clothing closet to the community.  We have people who have / do serve in the clothes retail business that have taken this project on.  I am so proud of the work they have done!

We are, to my knowledge, the only church in Decatur that will have such a ministry.

Our hours will be Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 AM to 2 PM.  People need to come to the office building, as "Helping Hands" is located adjacent to it.

If you know of anyone in need, send them our way.  Or if you have some clothes you are wanting to get rid of, we will take them!   

Marriage Retreat

Tonight and tomorrow Beverly and I will be leading a marriage retreat for our church.  These are such sweet, precious times spent together.  Tonight we will watch the movie "Fireproof" -- so I am going to go home and make about 15 poppers of popcorn for everyone.

Please pray for good marriages to be made better and for struggling marriages to be shored up.

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Yesterday afternoon, Jacob (my fellow minister) and I went and played golf.  I hadn't played in a month because of my back.  I played better than I expected, but I could not keep pace with Jacob.  My mind must have been playing games with me, because it seemed that he took more strokes than he actually did.  After each hole, he would tell me his score.  He carded 16 birdies, one eagle and one par.  This guy shot a 54!  I can't wait for the day to say, "I knew Jacob when."    

The U. N.

Tiger played his first round of competitive golf in over nine months yesterday.  I was concerned as he got off to a slow start -- making birdie the par 4 1st hole, and EAGLING the 2nd hole.  His swing looks like it is much more controlled, which means he will hit more fairways.  Which means he will score better.  Which means everyone else will be playing for 2nd.

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Did you hear that the U.N. is wanting to make it a criminal act to defame any religion. I love the way it was reported by the following satirist (I don't know who to give credit to):

Fresh off of its wave of successes in stopping genocides in Rwanda and Sudan, the United Nations passed a measure banning the “defamation of religion.” Sponsored by bastions of democracy like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, it was approved by a vote of 86 in favor, 53 against and 42 abstentions.

How can those countries (Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan) suggest such a proposal with a straight face?  It is an absolute joke!  Hypocrisy at its worst.  And it just goes to show what the U.N. is about today.   

Bitter-Sweet

As I said yesterday morning before my sermon, life is bitter-sweet.  Sometimes the sweet outweighs the bitter.  Some seasons in life, the bitter outweighs the sweet.

We experienced a new birth yesterday in our church -- that's sweet.

Tomorrow I will officiate at the service of a man who is a hero to me.  He fought in the Pacific during World War II, and earned the silver star.  He raised four children in tough times working for the railroad.  He worked nights, but had a couple of nights a week off.  On those nights, he would turn off the TV, sit his family down -- and they would read from God's word together and then take turns praying.

He was a remarkable man.  And his passing in itself is bitter-sweet.  I am going to miss him.  But he has been struggling physically for many years.  He was ready to go be with the Lord.  And that is sweet.

On the bitter side, yesterday one of our church families suffered the loss of an infant son.  He was a triplet, and had many complications in his 7 short months of life.

Here is one of the real challenges of ministry.  What do you say?  We are full of theologically-crazy platitudes at times like this.  They do much more harm than good.  I sometimes think the best thing to do is be like Job's friends when they FIRST came to him.  Just sit in silence.

But Wednesday, I will need to speak a word for God into their lives, as well as those who gather for the memorial service.  I know the Lord will provide for me.

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On a lighter note:  TIGER IS BACK!  It will be interesting to see how he does in his 1st tournament back from knee surgery.  He was on a torrid streak before he was sidelined.  Those in the know say he has been playing in pain for years.  What might this guy be like if he is healthy?  It ought to be fun.         

 

Tony Campolo Quote

Tony Campolo has written some stimulating things through the years.  He certainly swims in a different stream than many popular Christian writers.  But so much of what he writes gets us to think outside of the box.  I love his name for a new political movement (I am not writing this to endorse any agenda):  "Red-letter Christians." 

I came across a humorous quote of his yesterday: 

"I've always been skeptical of those television healers who are bald. I mean, if I had that gift, that would be the first thing I'd fix."

Here is a picture of Tony:

Ranking the Presidents

Yesterday being "Presidents' Day", I read a ranking of the presidents.  The first three were:  1. Abraham Lincoln, 2.  George Washington, and 3.  FDR.

These polls come out about every year, and they change a little.  Harry Truman seems to keep moving up, while Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan have slipped a little.  And sometimes, time removed from the office seems to affect the person's position.  George W. currently ranks below Herbert Hoover.  While I certainly don't think W. was a great president, I have a feeling history will be a little kinder to him (maybe lower middle of the pack).  

Right after Nixon resigned, he was ranked extremely low.  Then through the years, he moved up some (he was a good foreign policy president).  Now he is slipping again.

I wonder how much current political bias plays into these historians' views?

I personally like the Teddy Roosevelt-Harry Truman-Lyndon Johnson type presidents -- who make decisions, and then let the chips fall as they might.  We saw some of that in Reagan, too.

So who is YOUR favorite?  

By the way:  I heard Michael Irvin talking about this on his radio show yesterday.  His all time favorite president?  Barrack Obama.  Yes, sir -- they guy has been in office for 1 month, and he already ranks as the greatest president ever?  I hope history proves that to be true -- but come on!      

TV Favs

I could not tell you what Boston Legal or Grey's Anatomy or any number of popular TV shows are even about.  And sit-coms?  I never even watched a Seinfeld episode until I saw one in reruns while I was cooking dinner recently.  So I would not make a very good TV critic.

There are two shows that Beverly and I follow.  We used to be big Monk fans, but the plots are beginning to get stale after 8 years or so.  But another show on USA Network that I would recommend it Psych.  It is a hilarious comedy-drama.  The premise is a young guy that has incredible recall and takes in all the details of a situation, but the local police department thinks he is a psychic.  So they call him in when their cases meet a dead end. His sidekick, Gus, is one of the funniest people on TV (to me).  It's on Friday nights at 9 (I think), but we just always DVR it.  Give it a try.

I don't know if it is because I am getting hard of hearing (I don't think that is the case, so Jeff -- keep your opinions to yourself), but I have trouble understanding the dialog in so many shows.  Psych is one of them.  So I am beginning to use closed caption.  That way, if Beverly and I miss something, I can rewind to find out what they said.

Of course, you know my other favorite by now:  24.  And I am glad to know that I have converted my son Josh, who recently wrote on his blog that it is the best show on TV.  Again, DVR is so cool.  On Monday nights, Beverly works until about 8.  So I have dinner ready, and we eat while we watch it -- usually beginning about 8:20.  It is on from 8 to 9, and as we fast-forward through the commercials, we usually end up catching up with it in real time about the time it is over.

And then there is the Golf Channel.  But I won't go there with you.             

Unfortunate Quotes

I came across a list of unfortunate quotes throughout the years.  One of them is from the editor of the Firm Foundation, Buster Dobbs.  I hope you find these as interesting, and at times as funny, as I did.  I had to delete some, because they were not appropriate:

1.  "Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country."  Mayor Marion Barry.

2. “The internet is a great way to get on the net.”  Bob Dole, Republican presidential candidate

3. “We don’t necessarily discriminate. We simply exclude certain types of people.”  Colonel Gerald Wellman

4. “China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese.”  Charles De Gaulle, former French President

5. “The world is more like it is now then it ever has before.”  Dwight Eisenhower

6. “Traditionally, most of Australia’s imports come from overseas.”  Former Australian cabinet minister Keppel Enderbery

7. “We’re going to move left and right at the same time.”  Jerry Brown, Governor of California

8. “Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.” Joe Theismann, former NFL football quarterback and sports analyst

9. “I always used to put my right boot on first, and then obviously my right sock.”  Barry Venison

10. “Sure there have been injuries and deaths in boxing - but none of them serious.”  Alan Minter, Boxer

11. “Men, I want you just thinking of one word all season. One word and one word only: Super Bowl.”  Bill Peterson, football coach

12. “Strangely, in slow motion replay, the ball seemed to hang in the air for even longer.”  David Acfield

13. It’s a humbling thing being humble.”  Former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett

14. “I have a God-given talent. I got it from my dad.”  Julian Wakefield, Missouri basketball player

15. “He’s a guy who gets up at six o’clock in the morning regardless of what time it is.”  Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the Spartan training regime of heavyweight Andrew Golota.

16. “Well, I used to look like this when I was young and now I still do.”  Yogi Berra

17. “Sometimes they write what I say and not what I mean.”  Pedro Guerrero, major leaguer

18. “The Bible commands that we hate.”  H. A. (Buster) Dobbs

19. “Smoking kills. If you’re killed, you’ve lost a very important part of your life.”  Brooke Shields

20. “I get to go to lots of overseas places, like Canada”.   Britney Spears

21. “Most cars on our roads have only one occupant, usually the driver.”  Carol Malia, BBC Anchorwoman

22. “I don’t diet. I just don’t eat as much as I’d like to.”  Linda Evangelista, Supermodel

23. “A bachelor’s life is no life for a single man.”  Samuel Goldwyn

24. “Are you going to ask that question with shades on?”  George Bush to blind reporter Peter Wallsten

25. “The gavel of the speaker of the House is in the hands of special interests, and now it will be in the hands of America’s children.”  Nancy Pelosi, on the prospect of Democrats winning back Congress

Being "Offensive"

I love what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 8 and Romans 14 about getting along in the midst of differing opinions. Through the years I have probably been harsher on not being offensive toward a "weaker brother" than I have been about the weaker brother not insisting on his opinion.

Edward Fudge has some interesting insights into this passage that has caused me to reconsider some things. Here it is:  

A gracEmail subscriber writes: "In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul urges us to avoid even innocent activities if our doing them 'offends' a weak brother or sister. My own relatives and friends include different people who object to using instrumental music in church, celebrating Christmas, playing cards, women wearing pants, wearing clothes with zippers, and drinking alcoholic beverages in moderation. Am I required to cease every activity to which anyone happens to object?"

Regarding this subject, people easily go to either of two opposite extremes. On the one hand, some selfish, immature and headstrong believers insist on exercising their personal freedom, even when they have reason to believe that their doing so will cause a fellow-believer to sin. On the other hand, some selfish, immature and headstrong believers use this chapter as a tool for tyranny, when they try to restrict the conduct of others based on their own personal scruples. Both groups would provoke apostolic frustration.

I once helped a church decide to use unfermented grape juice in the Lord's Supper in consideration of a brother who was a struggling alcoholic. However, while preaching for a different church and having grown a beard, I was approached one Sunday by a sister who said: "Brother Fudge, your beard offends me." To which I replied, as kindly as I knew how, "Really, sister? What sin does it make you want to commit?" She read the word "offend" in her King James Version of 1 Corinthians 8:13 and confused it with provoking a negative reaction. In fact, the verb translated "to offend" in the KJV, in today's English really means "to stumble" (ESV, NASB) or "to fall into sin" (NIV).

We can summarize Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 8 in one sentence: When I am with another believer, who I know considers some innocent activity to be sinful, if I have reason to suppose that my doing that activity might cause that believer to do it also, then I should momentarily set aside my personal rights in order to avoid causing that believer to sin by doing something that he or she considers to be wrong.

My Back and Other Stuff

Yesterday was an interesting experience for me, as I preached from a stool. I have had lower back issues for several days, and standing (actually very stooped) for more than a couple of minutes was extremely painful. I had a number of people tell me that they thought it was easier to stay engaged with me as I sat and preached. I found that interesting.

I am going to give it one more day of total rest today. I will stay home and work on our upcoming marriage retreat. Hopefully, tomorrow will be back to normal.
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So the list continues to grow. Will we now change his name to A-Roid? You would think these guys would learn from what has come before: Confess your steroid usage, and people will forgive and forget. Deny it and you are DONE!
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Someone wrote in this morning's Star-Telegram that they were saddened because Terry Glenn's Cowboy career s now over. "To go into the huddle would be a violation of his probation of not associating with other criminals."
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Report is out that Tiger has had a cub -- this one a boy. Tiger, take my advice. You need to get back out on tour as quickly as possible. You have a girl (which means WEDDING) and a boy (car insurance). Get back out there and start saving your money, my friend!

Actually, he is practicing full-throttle on his new knee, and reports are that he is feeling great. Translation: the rest of the tour is toast. Come on, Tiger. Weekends aren't the same without you.

An Atheist with a Message We Need to Hear

I would encourage you to paste this link and watch as Penn Fraser Jillette of Penn and Teller (comedian magician team) tells an interesting story. He is an avowed atheist, but he has a message for us that we need to hear. I could not get it to come up as a link you could just click on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JHS8adO3hM .

Breaking Down Barriers

I am getting SO much out of my study of the Gospel of Luke.  This Sunday's passage will zero in on the story of the paralytic who was lowered by four friends through the roof to be healed by Jesus. 

But just prior to that story is the story of a man who had leprosy.  He violated the Law of Moses by not keeping his distance and not crying out, "Unclean."  Jesus never corrected him for this, by the way.  He falls at Jesus' feet.  He doesn't question Jesus' ability to heal him.  What he questions is Jesus' willingness:  "If you are WILLING, you CAN make me clean."

Jesus could have spoken the word, "Be healed" -- and he would have been.  But Jesus "reached out his hand and touched the man.  "I AM WILLING," he said.  "Be clean!"

The touch of Jesus.  It was TOTALLY not essential to the miracle.  But it WAS so important.  There are many things that would keep us from touching people today.  BARRIERS.  In whatever form they take, those barriers prevent us from being Jesus to the world.

I have too many barriers in my life.  I am a daily work in progress.  But I want to become more like Jesus, and that means not being satisfied to leave those barriers in place.     

Deep Questions

Questions I have been pondering: 

I'm just wondering:  If I don't pay what I owe in taxes, will the IRS accept "it was an honest oversight" as an excuse?  An honest oversight of $128,000?  

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Nancy Pelosi, our Speaker of the House, said that "500 million Americans" lose their jobs every month.  Wouldn't that mean that EVERY American would be out of work in the next two weeks?

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There is something about Vice President Joe Biden that I like.  I think it's that he just seems like (no pun intended) an "average Joe."   But I didn't like the way he made fun of John Roberts' mess-up of the oath of office.  Is it proof of the truth of the old adage "what goes around, comes around" that he botched up the oath given to one of the new cabinet members?  Be careful what you say.         

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Just wondering:  Do the Super Bowl MVPs really go to Disneyworld?  I find it hard to picture Ben R. (a single guy) getting all excited about going there.  Maybe if they have a motorcycle track.

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So the Cowboys are the #2 pick to make it to the Super Bowl next year.  What are the oddsmakers smoking?  Have they been watching this circus led by the head clowns of Wade and Jerry?  They must have gotten ahold of the same bong that Michael Phelps was pictured with. 

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Does anyone really watch the Pro Bowl?

These questions keep me awake at night. 

What Would You Do?

So much for Michael Phelps' "hero" status.

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There is a show on ABC entitled "What Would You Do?"  I've only seen it once, but it is very interesting.  They were showing a clip from it this morning on GMA.

Here was the scenario:  What would you do if you saw a baby alone inside a car at in retail parking lot?  They found that 90% of those who actually heard the baby crying walked on by (it was a model of a baby, but it looked and sounded like the real thing).  

There was a day I would have tried to find the parent-in-charge and given him or her a self-righteous sermon.  But now?  Well, I wouldn't ignore the situation.  I really think I would report it to the store manager.  And if that didn't get the desired results, I would call the police -- and stay close by until help arrived.

The guy who does the show suggested that you find the window furthest from the baby and break it out with a brick or a rock.  I'm thinking:  No, not in today's world.  I would be setting myself up for being beat up or sued.  I was really surprised at his advice.

What would YOU do?     

Defending Rush?

I can't believe I am doing this today.  I am defending Rush Limbaugh.  Well, actually I'm really not.  I think he is a mean-spirited, slanderous, self-righteous baffoon who tries to hide behind love for God and country.  Yet there is no semblance of God in his words.  

But he is an entertainer! (I am using the term loosely)  He is not a voting politician.  He cannot do anything to actually affect public policy.

But I digress.  Here is where one might think I am defending him.  He is being vilified in the press right now for saying that he hopes Obama fails as president.  I mean, people are coming out of the woodwork to roast him over this.

Just wondering.  Why is it that Nancy Pelosi (Speaker of the House) and Harry Reid (Senate Majority Leader) have been able to say the same things about George Bush for years with NO public outcry?  And they CAN vote and affect public policy.

And why can Sean Penn act in ways that would have found him guilty of treason a generation or two ago, and be considered a hero by many?  And how can Alec Baldwin and Barbara Streisand and The Dixie Chicks and Bruce Springsteen and Tom Hanks (do I need to go on?) say the same kinds of things, and get a pass?    Because they are entertainers?  (see comments on Limbaugh above)  I have heard Bush compared to Hitler! His intelligence has been questioned. He has been called EVIL. 

If this country doesn't begin to pull together in the midst of our diversity, we are in big trouble.  And the hatred for individuals is SO ugly.  I don't ever remember anything like it in my lifetime.  Why does being able to pretend you are someone else by reading lines (an actor) give one perfect clarity in all things political?

I used to listen to Rush some.  I agreed with a lot he said.  But his mean-spiritedness and blindness to anything other than his own opinion TOTALLY turned me off.  But come on, people!  Let's be even-handed here.  I'm not even opposed to some form of reprimand for Limbaugh.  But let the same reprimand be issued to the Bush-haters, too.             

Playing Champions

I'm still at home this morning. It's 18 degrees, and the streets are covered in ice. I hear a car go by every once in a while -- but very slowly. THE NEWSPAPER DIDN'T EVEN COME THIS MORNING! I will venture out in a little bit, because I HAVE to get my preps done today for Sunday. Tomorrow after lunch, Beverly and I are going to Houston to see two of our grandkids. Our son (their dad) won't even be there until Friday night, so that's just extra spoiling time.

The other day, Jonathan (above-mentioned son) called and said one of his friends from church wanted to take him and me golfing Friday. He said that he would not be there, but the friend still wanted to take me. I said, "Great." (I never turn down an invitation to play golf) Then I asked, "What is the name of the course?" Jonathan said, "It's out on 1960. I think it's called Champions?" I said, "Are you kidding? Champions is where they played the U.S. Open back in the late 60s. And they played the Ryder Cup there. And for several years, the Tour Championship was there!"

So, I will be playing Champions on Friday. They do have two courses now, so I don't know if I will be playing the above-mentioned course or the newer one. But who cares?

Weird Weather Reporting

We are in the middle of an "ice event" today.  I have come in to the office, but will probably go home late morning and study there.  The weather people are saying conditions will only get worse as the day goes on.

The coverage of weather events like this crack me up.  The local stations (DFW) will have reporters all over the place -- standing out in the cold at intersections and overpasses all over the Metroplex to tell us how cold and dangerous it is.  I would believe them without them having to endanger a crew driving out to some distant location to tell me.

And the cameras will zoom in on an icicle hanging from a guardrail.  Or a car loosing traction.  Or show shots of sleet pelting a windshield.  

And this will go on for HOURS!

PLEASE!  Just tell me the temperature, and what you expect the conditions to be.  Tell me about schools and businesses closing.  But spare me the phony theatrics.

The same thing happens in hurricanes.  "You should not be out in these conditions!  Even though we are out here -- waiting for a piece of sheet metal to come flying into our heads."  If they are out there, don't you think it puts in the minds of some people that they can be, too?

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I went to the doctor yesterday for a checkup and because my blood pressure has occasionally been elevated lately.  At the doctor's office, it was 135/82!  That is the best reading I can ever remember having!  And I have dropped 15 pounds since last year's checkup ('scuse me while I brag.)  He did change my blood pressure medicine from one that has been used by the medical profession for years to a new medicine that not only treats the symptoms, but also works on the cause.  I will be interested to see how that goes.

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"24" -- Wow!  I only have one question.  Why doesn't the President commission Jack Bauer to go get Bin Laden?  He could take out him and his whole terrorist network in a day (24 hours).     

     

Preaching a Favorite Text

This week in my preaching, I come to Luke 4 -- and one of my favorite passages.  It is the story of Jesus returning to Nazareth and the synagogue of His youth.  He reads from the prophet Isaiah (ch. 61), and uses that passage to define His ministry.

I find it interesting when I look forward to preaching favorite texts, that once I get there -- I feel more inadequate to the task than I normally do.  This week, I am praying more than usual to let the text tell the story -- and not get in the way.       

Reason to Root for the Cards

I mentioned in a previous blog that I would be rooting for Arizona in the Super Bowl.  Following is a story that is one of the reasons (I did check this story on snopes.  It is legit.  Thanks to Jeff Jones for sending it to me).   

KURTIS THE STOCK BOY AND BRENDA THE CHECKOUT GIRL

   In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy, was busily working when a new voice came over the loud speaker asking for a carry out at register 4. Kurtis was almost finished, and wanted to get some fresh air, and decided to answer the call. As he approached the check-out stand a distant
smile caught his eye, the new check-out girl was beautiful. She was an older woman (maybe 26, and he was only 22) and he fell in love.
   Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the punch clock to find out her name. She came into the break room, smiled softly at him, took her card and punched out, then left. He looked at her card, BRENDA. He walked out only to see her start walking up the road. Next day, he waited outside as she left the supermarket, and offered her a ride home. He looked harmless enough, and she accepted. When he dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again, outside of work. She simply said it wasn't possible.
   He pressed and she explained she had two children and she couldn't afford a baby-sitter, so he offered to pay for the baby-sitter. Reluctantly she accepted his offer for a date for the following Saturday.  That Saturday night he arrived at her door only to have her tell him that she was
unable to go with him. The baby-sitter had called and canceled. To which Kurtis simply said, "Well, let's take the kids with us."
   She tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but again not taking no for an answer, he pressed. Finally Brenda, brought him inside to meet her children. She had an older daughter who was just as cute as a bug, Kurtis thought, then Brenda brought out her son, in a
wheelchair. He was born a paraplegic with Down Syndrome.
   Kurtis asked Brenda, "I still don't understand why the kids can't come with us?" Brenda was amazed. Most men would run away from a woman with two kids, especially if one had disabilities just like her first husband and father of her children had done. Kurtis was not ordinary -- he had a different mindset.
   That evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids, went to dinner and the movies. When her son needed anything Kurtis would take care of him. When he needed to use the restroom, he picked him up out of his wheelchair, took him and brought him back. The kids loved Kurtis. At
the end of the evening, Brenda knew this was the man she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life with.
   A year later, they were married and Kurtis adopted both of her children.  Since then they have added two more kids.  So what happened to Kurtis the stock boy and Brenda the check-out girl? Well, Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Warner now live in Arizona , where he is currently employed as the quarterback of the National Football League Arizona Cardinals and has his Cardinals in the Super Bowl. Is this a surprise ending or could you have guessed that he
was not an ordinary person.
   It should be noted that he also quarterbacked the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. He has also been the NLF's Most Valuable Player twice and the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player.

Yesterday's Inauguration

My views on politics (as a Christian leader) have dramatically changed in recent years. I do not mean this to be patronizing or spiritually superior to anyone else -- but I hope it is because I am more interested in advancing Jesus' agenda and Kingdom than I am a worldly one. Having said that, I enjoyed a lot of the inauguration yesterday.

I really liked Edward Fudge's observations. He speaks my heart in many of his comments, having myself grown up in segregated Mississippi:

INAUGURATION 2009

Following are my personal reflections after today's inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States. I did not vote for Mr. Obama, but as a Christian who grew up in segregated Alabama, it feels profoundly right to me to witness a Black family moving into the White House. I was pleased that Rick Warren, a Bible-preaching Southern Baptist minister whose view of God's agenda extends to helping the poorest, weakest and most despised of the world's population, was asked to offer the invocation, that he did so, and the way he did (Col. 4:2, 5-6).

I strongly disagree with some of President Obama's platform -- particularly his support of abortion and the "gay" agenda -- but I strongly agree with his concern for the helpless at home and his desire to bring an end to our wars abroad. Whatever we Americans think about Mr. Obama's politics and his policies, he is now our President, and we need to pray for God's protection and guidance on his behalf. Our country faces many challenges -- a situation that calls for national unity so far as possible -- and there is much on which we may all unite.

I am not among those who can see only the bad and say only the negative. I deny that America is going to hell in a handbasket and there is nothing we can do to prevent it. Despite secularist victories here and there, our culture retains more of its biblically-based heritage than the culture of any other country in the so-called "Christian" world. Percentage-wise, more Americans regularly attend church services today than did so in 1776. There are millions of committed Christians who are Democrats and millions who are Republicans, as difficult as that might be for some in both parties to believe.

So I will pray for President Obama, and for all others in positions of power (Eph. 6:18). I will pray that God will overrule all their decisions for good, that God's name will be hallowed, his kingdom realized and his will done (Matt. 6:9-10). I will pray that we Americans, and people throughout the world, may live godly and dignified lives in peace and quietness (1 Tim. 2: 1-4). As a Christian living in the United States of America, that is the least that I can do. As a matter of fact, it is also the most powerful (James 5:16).

MLK, Super Bowl and the White House

Today is MLK Day.  He inspired America with a dream.  Regardless of your or my political bends, tomorrow we get to see a part of that dream fulfilled.  Let us pray that it will help us to get past one of the most immoral issues in America's history -- racism.

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Steelers and Cardinals in the Super Bowl.  That has to make the "Phony Cowboy GM" (aka Jerry Jones) sick.  The Steelers are early 7 point favorites.  I can't decide who I am going to root for.  Unless it is my favorite team in a competition, I usually go for the underdog.  So I should be for Arizona (I made this correction after it was pointed out to me that they moved from St. Louis years ago.  Old habits are hard to break.  I still have to stop and think:  It's not the Baltimore Colts.)  But since I am now the anti-Jones fan, if Pittsburgh were to win, that would give them 6 Super Bowls -- thus taking some of Phony Cowboy GM's thunder.  By the way, have I reminded you that "Mr. 13 years without a playoff win" trashed the previous owner for going 5 years without a playoff win?  Oh, yeah -- I think I have.

I think I will be rooting for the Cards.  I really appreciate Kurt Warner.

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I saw a piece this morning on GMA about the moving process at the White House tomorrow.  While the inauguration is taking place, 95 movers are transitioning the living quarters.  In 4 to 5 hours, they move the Bushes totally out, strip the paint in the Oval Office and repaint, and move the Obama's in.  EVERYTHING will be in place.  Girls' toys where they want them.  Clothes hung in the closets.  Food in the refrigerator.

I was a bit surprised at this:  Both the Bushes and the Obamas must pay for their own moving expenses.

   

  

 

Downed Plane, Inauguration, and Baseball

What a bargain!  Buy an airplane ticket, and get a cruise down the Hudson River for free!

I would not be joking about this if anyone had been seriously injured or killed.  What an incredible story!

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I love presidential inaugurations.  There are certain things dealing with pomp and pageantry that make me proud to be an American.  Like the way we honor a veteran at a military service.  The changing of the guard at Arlington Cemetery.  And the peaceful exchange of power in the White House.

So whether I vote for a candidate or not (I even watched and enjoyed Bill Clinton's 1st inauguration), I enjoy the inauguration ceremony.  I will take my day off next Tuesday just to see it.

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Update to yesterday's blog:  Kudos to Michael Young for reversing his decision and agreeing to the change of position.  He IS one of the good guys in sports, and once again he proved it.  

The Michael Young Controversy

The big talk here in the DFW area right now is about Texas Ranger Michael Young being asked to move from shortstop to 3rd base.  His response was to ask to be traded.

On one side are those who are saying that he has been loyal to the organization -- as lousy as it is.  Coming to the organization as a 2nd baseman, he has already made one position change.  And this is the thanks he gets for his loyalty.  My immediate response was to take this side.  

On the other side, some are asking,  "How removed from reality is this guy?"  People are being laid off all over the country.  People are being reassigned -- often at lower salaries.  Here is a guy making multi-millions.  He is still going to make his money.  He will STILL be a starter in the Rangers' infield.  And truth be known, while he is an adequate shortstop -- his limited range would be better suited to 3rd base.

I think those are legitimate points.  As the economy gets tougher, I have a feeling that prima donna athletes are going to have a hard time garnering public sympathy for things like this.       

Wrestling with God

Do you ever struggle with theological issues like why God demanded genocide in the Old Testament?  Do the old answers settle the issue for you ("God's ways are not our ways", "keeping Israel pure", etc)?  

Well, they don' t for me.  And it seems that I am coming across more and more people are struggling with their faith over such issues.

What really struck me is that I have cited the Koran's commanding "death to the infidel" on a number of occasions, while not recognizing the Old Testament's similar words.

I have some theories as to what was at work there, but will probably keep them to myself.  And I find myself saying more and more to God:  "I believe.  Help me in my unbelief."  It seems that things were a lot "safer," and easier, when I used to have all the pat answers.  But also shallower -- and that's not where I want to be.   

A MUST Article for Parents of Teens

I have been waiting for about 45 minutes for a video of my grandson playing the drums to upload.  I finally gave up.  If I can get it to upload, I will post it later today.

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Maybe you saw the report a couple of weeks ago that said virginity pledges among teens were ineffective.  The following article, sent to me by SmartMarriages, suggests otherwise.  While fairly lengthy, I found it encouraging.  It is a must-read for parents of teens. 

Like a Virgin: The Press Take On Teenage Sex
Yes, attitudes do make a difference in behavior.
The Wall Street Journal
January 6, 2009
By WILLIAM MCGURN

The chain reaction was something out of central casting. A medical journal starts it off by announcing a study comparing teens who take a pledge of virginity until marriage with those who don't. Lo and behold, when they crunch the numbers, they find not much difference between pledgers and nonpledgers: most do not make it to the marriage bed as virgins.

Like a pack of randy 15-year-old boys, the press dives right in.

"Virginity Pledges Don't Stop Teen Sex," screams CBS News. "Virginity pledges don't mean much," adds CNN. "Study questions virginity pledges," says the Chicago Tribune. "Premarital Abstinence Pledges Ineffective, Study Finds," heralds the Washington Post. "Virginity Pledges Fail to Trump Teen Lust in Look at Older Data," reports Bloomberg. And on it goes.

In other words, teens will be teens, and moms or dads who believe that concepts such as restraint or morality have any application today are living in a dream world. Typical was the lead for the CBS News story: "Teenagers who take virginity pledges are no less sexually active than other teens, according to a new study."

Here's the rub: It just isn't true.

In fact, the only way the study's author, Janet Elise Rosenbaum of Johns Hopkins University, could reach such results was by comparing teens who take a virginity pledge with a very small subset of other teens: those who are just as religious and conservative as the pledge-takers. The study is called "Patient Teenagers? A Comparison of the Sexual Behavior of Virginity Pledgers and Matched Nonpledgers," and it was published in the Jan. 1 edition of Pediatrics.

The first to notice something lost in the translation was Dr. Bernadine Healy, the former head of both the Red Cross and the National Institutes of Health. Today she serves as health editor for U.S. News & World Report. And in her dispatch on this study, Dr. Healy pointed out that "virginity pledging teens were considerably more conservative in their overall sexual
behaviors than teens in general -- a fact that many media reports have missed cold."

What Dr. Healy was getting at is that the pledge itself is not what distinguishes these kids from most other teenagers. The real difference is their more conservative and religious home and social environment. As she notes, when you compare both groups in this study with teens at large, the behavioral differences are striking. Here are just a few:

- These teens generally have less risky sex, i.e., fewer sexual partners.

- These teens are less likely to have a teenage pregnancy, or to have friends who use drugs.

- These teens have less premarital vaginal sex.

- When these teens lose their virginity they tend to do so at age 21 -- compared to 17 for the typical American teen.

- And very much overlooked, one out of four of these teens do in fact keep the pledge to remain chaste -- amid much cheap ridicule and just about zero support outside their homes or churches.

Let's put this another way. The real headline from this study is this:
"Religious Teens Differ Little in Sexual Behavior Whether or Not They Take a Pledge."

Now, whatever the shock that might occasion at CBS or the Washington Post, it comes as no surprise to parents. Most parents appreciate that a pledge of virginity -- a one-time event that might be made at an emotional moment in a teen's life -- is not some talisman that will magically shield their sons and daughters from the strong and normal desires that grow as they discover their sexuality. What these parents hope to do is direct these desires in a
way that recognizes sex as a great gift, which in the right circumstances fosters genuine intimacy between a man and a woman and at its freest offers
the possibility of new life.

This is not the prevailing view, of course. And these parents know it. Far from conformists living in a comfortable world where their beliefs are never challenged, these families live in an environment where most everything that is popular -- television, the movies, the Internet -- encourages children to grow up as quickly as possible while adults remain locked in perpetual adolescence.

Nor do these families believe their children are better than other kids. Unlike the majority of health experts and their supporters in the press, however, they don't believe that the proper use of the condom is the be all and end all. For these parents, the good news here is that the striking behavioral differences between the average American teen and the two teen
groups in this study show that homes and families still exert a powerful influence.

That, alas, is not something you're likely to read in the headlines. For when it comes to challenging the conventional wisdom on issues of sexuality, the American media suddenly become as coy as a cloistered virgin.

It's for the Birds

Poor Atlanta (Falcons) and Seattle (Seahawks).  Poetic justice should have included them with the Ravens, Cardinals and Eagles in the NFL championship game.  They could have promoted it as the "Birds of a Feather" championship.

A sportswriter this morning noted that preseason predictions said all roads to the Super Bowl led through Dallas.  And the four teams going to the conference championships all played the Cowboys this year -- and beat them.

At least there is hope for the Texas Rangers.  I figured they had about as much luck making the World Series as the Arizona Cardinals had making the Super Bowl.  Well, the Cards are one game away.  I never thought I would see it.

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"24" began a new season last night.  I'm not sure what it is about that show that captures my attention like it does.  Beverly and I don't follow much TV.  We couldn't tell you anything about many of the shows that are deemed to be great dramas.  But somehow, we got hooked on "24"-- and it keeps us riveted.  Jack Bauer is, perhaps along with Clint Eastwood, the best anti-hero ever.           

Gators Chomp Sooners

Congratulations to the Florida Gators!  Who would have dreamed a team could hold OU to only 14 points?  Two goal-line stands and a fluky interception helped.

But what can you say about Tim Tebow?  My goodness!  I'm not taking anything away from Heisman winner Sam Bradford, but if I'm going into battle -- put Tebow or Colt McCoy in front of me.  The guy is one of the gutsiest athletes I've ever seen.

His speech after that early loss to Ole Miss should go down in sports history.  He put himself on the line -- and he did what he said he would do.  What a dream season!  

And what a fine young man he is, too.  I couldn't help but laugh when he got the Unsportsmanlike Conduct call late in the game for "gator chopping" at one of the OU players who was obviously trash-talking him.

That brings me to another subject.  If I were a coach, I would hold a school for all my players -- with the title of the class being "Don't say anything stupid to the media."  For the OU player to come out last week saying Tebow would be the 4th best quarterback in the Big 12 has to go under the heading of "STUPID."  Even if Tebow's skill-set would rank him in that way, his intangibles take him to SUPER level.  And those intangibles were stoked last night!

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I find it humorous that some people are being so critical of Mack Brown.  He's posturing, just like any coach in his position would.  To hear people say he is whining is silly.  I haven't heard him act whiny.  Just a bit indignant about the process. 

    

Weird News

I read with interest yesterday that a group of atheists in Britain have taken out advertisements on 800 buses.  The ads say:  "There's probably no God.  Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

At first glance, I became a bit angry -- because I got defensive.  

But then I read that what inspired them was an advertisement on a bus from a Christian group, inviting people to a website where they were told they would "spend all eternity in torment."

Freedom of speech can be a double-edged sword, can't it?  We like it when it benefits our side.  We scorn it when it benefits the other.

In these STRANGE times, we Christians need to consider Jesus' words seriously when He said we need to be "as shrewd as snakes, and as innocent as doves."  We MUST put aside the militant evangelism of the past, and live out the gospel in ways people can see.  I mean really, isn't it sad that those atheists in Britain could even suggest that the pursuit of God takes away from enjoying life?  Where are they getting such ideas?  From watching "religious" people.

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How about this strange piece of news?  A doctor is suing his ex-wife, who had an affair.  He had donated a kidney to her, and now wants to be compensated.  Price?  $1.5 million!

Revenge?     

Who Is Really Hurting Marriage?

The following article was written by Edward Fudge. Since I have been pretty vocal against homosexuality, I thought this article puts things in true perspective. Why aren't we as outraged at those who have made a mockery of marriage by breaking their marriage covenants through adultery (affecting 50% of marriages) as we are about "homosexual marriage" (affecting 2-3%)?

All sin is sinful and all of us are sinners. Those truths are easily forgotten today, as many "righteous" people seem to limit "sin" to sexual wickedness, of which they are quite sure that God considers homosexual misbehavior to be the very worst sort. Seeking some biblical perspective, I looked up nine major "sin lists" found in the New Testament (Matt. 15:18-19; Rom. 1:28-31; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 4:25-31; Col. 3:5-9; 1 Tim. 1:8-10; 2 Tim. 3:1-5 and Titus 3:3). Taken together, these nine passages identify at least 37 specific sins, which encompass wrong attitudes (14), improper speech (4) and forbidden conduct (19).

The statistical observations that follow are neither scientific nor theological but they are interesting and stimulate thought. Outward sins begin in the heart, said Jesus, and sinful attitudes include envy, covetousness, jealousy, malice, enmity, bitterness, anger, faithlessness, heartlessness and ruthlessness. Most frequently named in these nine lists (three times each) are envy, anger, slander, theft and the general term "sexual immorality." Crusading against sexual immorality is popular among church folks, but where is the moral outrage over the first three sins in that set?

More than 80% of the 37 specific sins named are unrelated to sex. The seven sins that are sexual in character are adultery, sexual immorality, orgies, impurity, sensuality and homosexual conduct. Of these, the most often-named is "sexual immorality," which is also the most general by definition. Tying for second place in biblical attention are adultery (which ensnares 40-60% of married Americans at some time) and homosexual conduct (which probably involves 2-5% of the population, though pro-gay advocates claim 10%). Which of those two sins do you suppose poses the greater threat to marriage? Of all sinners, which one should concern us most? Surely it is that sinner whom we face each morning in the mirror (Luke 18:9-14).

It breaks my heart that homosexuals are able to say, "How can us marrying hurt the institution of marriage?  Heterosexuals have done that through their own breaking of the marriage vows."  But they are right. 

I Want to be a "Crazy" Dreamer

On Sunday nights, I am preaching through Nehemiah. Last night I closed with a story that I want to define my life more. Here it is:

In 1401, builders of the cathedral in Seville, Spain wrote, "Let us build here a church so great that those who come after us will think us mad ever to have dreamed of it."

Obviously, they were making reference to a structure -- a building. But I want this statement to define the faith community I serve. I want to be a part of a church that dreams BIG, God-sized dreams. I would love for people 50 years from now to say, "Wow. Those folks back in 2009 must have been crazy to have taken that on!"

I am praying for the Lord to lay on the hearts of His people big dreams. Dreams that, by their fulfillment, show HIM at work -- and bring Him glory.

I count myself blessed every day to be serving the church I do. We have shepherds that are interested in more than meeting the budget. They are dreaming. And next Sunday, they are going to share some of those dreams with the Body. I'm looking forward to it!

Influencing Our Culture

Last night I read a column on the editorial page of the Star-Telegram, written by a woman from Missouri (I think).  She was basically smearing Rick Warren for his views on homosexual marriage.  The whole tone of the article rankled me.  You would think I would learn (but I haven't) that those who preach the loudest about "tolerance" are the most intolerant of all.

She accused Warren of being barbaric and bigoted in his views.  Here is where a distinct line is drawn between people of faith and those who are not -- and neither side seems to get the other's.  People of faith base what they believe in a standard that is not theirs.  It comes from Scripture, which we believe to be from God Himself.  There are many things in Scripture that I would, in my fleshly nature, prefer to ignore.  But I can't.  My Father has called me to something different.  So, I have not arbitrarily decided what I am going to believe.  It is pretty objective.

People of the world, on the other hand, base their beliefs on a moving target.  Right now, Darwinism pretty much rules the day when it comes to believing why we are here.  This belief has led to our current devaluing of human life.  But that is what people of the world choose to believe.  They also base their beliefs on the moving target of Hollywood "experts on all issues because we can read a script" opinions.  So what is "in" this decade may be "out" next decade.

Finally, they base their beliefs on the media.  Again, a volatile moving target.  For the last 25 years or so, it has been extremely biased to the left -- perhaps as a reaction to the distrust established during Watergate.  There exists today an obvious bias against traditional morals, and Christianity in general.  This has had a profound effect on non-believers' belief systems.

So what are we of faith to do?  I do not think we are going to promote our cause by publicly lambasting folks.  That is what they expect, and they turn a deaf ear.  Plus, it usually is not within the context of love.  So are we to compromise?  Of course not!  But we can speak the truth IN LOVE.  How do we do that?  By offering friendship to the very people who oppose us.  By SHOWING them, though Christlike living, that we really do care (I am assuming that we do).

I know this is getting kind of long, but I want to say one more thing:  How serious is the homosexual marriage issue?  I am waffling right now.  Obviously I oppose it, but it seems inevitable, in today's political environment, that it will eventually happen.  So here is my take right now (I reserve the right to change my opinion).  There are many things that are legal in a free society -- even though they are not morally right.  We as Christians have never been called to be the morality police for a whole earthly society.  What we ARE called to be is different.  Light.  Salt. Leaven.  Working and influencing quietly.  Showing, through the peace in our lives, the way to the Prince of Peace.  Calling them into a DIFFERENT Kingdom.

Early Christians lived in a culture that was MUCH more vile than ours.  People who compare our current society to the Roman Empire (I have been guilty of doing that) need to read more about it.  But Christians didn't change that society by starting The Moral Majority or a voting bloc.  They did it by contacting people with the "aroma of Christ."  Eventually this lead to the conversion of Constantine, who then passed an edict declaring the Roman Empire to be "Christian."  Ever since, the Christian faith has moved away from being what it was originally intended to be.  We have come to think that we should "be in charge" -- even though Jesus said, "Not so with you" (Matthew 20: 25-28).   

Whew!  Here is wishing all of you a wonderful 2009.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!                  

Thanks Jerry

Another Cowboy season bites the dust.  Let's see -- that makes 12 seasons in a row without even a playoff victory.

Who is to blame for this mess?  Wade Phillips?  He certainly has to take his share of the blame.  Tony Romo?  Not really.  I think he will prove to be a good player who is not as good as touted -- but that's not his fault.  T. O. and the rest of the misfits?  They certainly didn't help team chemistry.  No, let the fault fall squarely where it should. 

19 years ago, Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys.  At that time, he was harshly critical of the previous owners and coaches because the Cowboys had not delivered a Super Bowl for 11 years, or a playoff win for 5.  His words suggested that such a record made them deserving of national humiliation.  Well, Mr. Jones, it has now been 12 years without a playoff win, and 14 years without a Super Bowl.  Are we to judge you by the same criteria you judged your predecessors?  At least they had an organization that was respected.

I think the fans of the Cowboys are partly to blame too.  Why?  For continuing to support this mess.  What motivation does Smiley have to change when he sells out every game?  Every year, like a snake-oil salesman, he sells the public a bill of goods -- but doesn't deliver.  And every year, the public buys it.  I get so tired of hearing "Cowsheep" (as Randy Galloway calls the Cowboy fandom) say, "Well no one wants to win more than Jerry."  I would agree with that -- to a point.  Jerry wants to win -- if it can be done Jerry's way.  He wants to win with HIM receiving all the credit for building the team.  We all think back to the 3 Super Bowl victories he delivered.  Let's be perfectly honest:  Those were teams built by Jimmy Johnson.  And maybe even Jimmy gets more credit than he is due.  Take away the Hershel Walker trade -- and would those teams have been so great?  I don't think so.  So if anyone deserves credit for the three Super Bowl victories -- maybe it is Minnesota.

So, Cowboy fans:  Accept the fact that this team is a sinking ship so long as Jerry Jones insists on running it.  He has turned a DIE-HARD life-long fan into a guy who watches with passing interest -- and sometimes even hopes they lose.  

Tom Landry and Tex Shramm:  We miss you!      

Good News

"Good Morning America" is showing some of the most heart-warming segments this week.  Yesterday it was about a man with 4 children -- one of whom has severe autism, and the man was going to be laid off from his job.  Another man stepped forward and asked them to lay him off instead.  So here he is -- at Christmas, looking for work and collecting his unemployment check. 

But he seemed to be SO at peace with himself.  When asked why he did it, he said that this man was his friend, and it was just the right thing to do.   And the family he helped -- oh, the gratitude!  One of the children, a girl about 10 years old, called him her hero and said it is the best Christmas present she will ever have.   

There are still so many examples of good people doing good things.  We just don't hear much about them.  It is to a large degree OUR fault.  We, as media consumers, would rather hear about economic doom-and-gloom forecasts and how many affairs some Hollywood diva has had.

But it makes us more cynical.  You ask the average person if conditions / morals are getting better or worse, and they will immediately say, "Oh, worse."  Really?  I can think of a couple of issues where it is getting worse (gay marriage seems to be more acceptable).  Abortion is still too common, but even more liberal people's views on it are changing.  And teens today are at least more aware of the need for abstinence than they were when I was growing up.  

And racism?  Maybe we are just blinded to how immoral that was / is.  And that from the "moral" 50s!  In a couple of weeks, we will swear in a black president.  I would say morally we have come a long way on this one.

So, let's get our chins up!  People as a whole are still good.  Life is still rich.  And we are blessed.  Let this be a joyous Christmas for you and your family.   

Such Faith!

I know some people think I am an alarmist when it comes to Islam.  I guess if I could read some good news about it -- for instance if the religious leaders would come out condemning terrorism -- I might change my mind.

Saudi Arabia is supposedly one of our greatest allies in the Islamic world.  Yet they are totally intolerance of Christianity in that country.  Following are excerpts from a story I read in The Voice of the Martyrs magazine:  

Last August, a Muslim cleric in an eastern province of Saudi Arabia killed his sister, 26-year-old Fatima Al-Mutairi, after she proclaimed her faith to her family.  Before he killed her, Fatima's brother locked her in her room for four hours.  During that time she wrote a final letter and posted a poem on the Internet.  A portion of that poem is as follows:

AND WE FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST ALL THINGS BEAR  

. . . There are tears on my cheek, and Oh! the heart is sad

To those who become Christians, how you are so cruel!

And the Messiah says, "Blessed are the Persecuted"

And we for the sake of Christ all things bear

What is it to you that we are infidels?

You do not enter our graves, as if with us buried

Enough -- your swords do not concern me, not evil nor disgrace

Your threats do not trouble me, and we are not afraid

And by God, I am unto death a Christian -- Verily . . .

. . . As to my last words, I pray to the Lord of the worlds

Jesus the Messiah, the Light of Clear Guidance

That He change notions, and set the scales of justice aright

And that He spread Love among you, Oh Muslims

--Fatima 2008 

A faith like that makes me feel small.

An Incredible Thought

Last night in our men's class, we were talking about how God can only use us when we are broken and surrendered to Him.  We talked about John 15, where Jesus speaks of Himself as the Vine -- and us as the branches.  We bear HIS fruit -- as we allow Him to again live His life through us.

Sometimes we can talk about a concept so much that it becomes too common.  Maybe we have done that with the idea of Jesus "living in us."

Then we read another verse that I have read many times through the years.  But it struck me with renewed meaning last night.  Here it is:  

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promised, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.  2 Peter 1: 3-4

Participate in the divine nature?  That is an incredible thought!  That God would invite me to do that?  WOW! 

Tiger's Caddie and the NFL All-Pro Team

I really like to keep my blog geared toward more spiritual things.  It seems like lately I have written a lot about sports and news.  I really just deal with whatever is on my mind as I sit before my computer.  So, today?  More sports.

Have you heard about what Tiger Woods' caddie, Steve Williams, said about Phil Michelson in an interview in Australia (maybe it was New Zealand)?  I can't repeat some of what he said, but he spoke very disparagingly about him.  The one comment that I found especially interesting was when he said that Phil didn't show respect to him.  What does that mean?  Phil is a professional golfer!  Steve Williams is a caddie!  Did he mean Phil treats him rudely?  Or that he hasn't "buddied-up" to him?

This guy makes over a million dollars a year to get to walk next to the greatest golfer perhaps in history over beautiful landscapes.  He gets 1st-class treatment at every tour stop -- treated like a celebrity.  And he is going to publicly rip one of the premier golfers of our day?  I think either Tiger needs to fire him -- as good as he has been for Tiger, or the PGA needs to suspend him.

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The NFL All-Pro team was announced yesterday.  There is some sanity that has returned.  Half the Cowboy team did not make it this year.  Five Cowboys were named to the Pro Bowl. Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware, nose tackle Jay Ratliff, tight end Jason Witten, guard Leonard Davis and center Andre Gurode were selected.  The only other one who might should have made it is Brandon James.

News and Commentary

So Carolyn Kennedy is going to run for Hillary Clinton's senatorial spot in New York.  I have never known a time in my life when a Kennedy wasn't in office.  But that family has sure had its share of tragedy, too.  If I was her, I think I would stay away from the public.

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I don't claim to understand everything about the U.S. automakers.  And I don't mean my comments to be taking sides one way or another.  In fact, I hope they rally and once again are able to provide great cars that will knock the other world auto makers for a loop.

This is somewhat tongue-in-cheek:  I saw where the Arlington GM plant is going to shut down for a month -- but the workers will receive their wages.  They (the media) are acting like this is a bad thing?  I wish my elders would offer that to me:)

The plant does this every year, I think I read. And I am sure they have it figured out that in the slow season, they save money by not being open -- even as they pay the workers their wages. It just SEEMS odd at this particular time.

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I guess you have all seen the shoe-throwing incident at Bush's new conference in Iraq.  As a letter to the editor pointed out in today's paper, this is a sign of good things in Iraq.  Do you think anyone would have done that if Saddam Hussien were still in power?  It is a sign that democracy is changing that country -- and freedom of speech is catching on.   

Sports Recap

Last night as we left home for our evening worship service, the temperature was 75.  This morning, it is 23.  Welcome to Texas!

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We had our open house for the church yesterday afternoon.  I don't know how many people came, but it was a really nice event.  Beverly does such an incredible job preparing for that.  I am so proud of her.  She is a wonderful hostess.  I told her last night:  Everything she touches turns to gold.

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We watched the Heisman Trophy Presentation Saturday night.  All three candidates this year seem to be outstanding human beings.  I think Sam Bradford won because OU has simply timed everything well this year.  If I were voting, he would have been 3rd out of the three choices.  

Imagine:  Of the three candidates, there were two juniors and a sophomore!  Last year a sophomore won (Tebow) and this year another sophomore won.  That is the only times in Heisman history.   

I wonder if any of the three are going to jump into the draft?  McCoy has said he is coming back -- and to a Texas team that SHOULD be better than this year's.  Bradford's OU team is going to be hit hard by senior grads.  I wouldn't be surprised to see Tebow go pro.     

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Last night's Cowboy game was a defensive slugfest.  Both quarterbacks are probably wondering why they didn't pursue another line of work this morning.  Romo is still having trouble sailing passes, but he hung in like a champ last night.  But who were the "studs."  MY two "All-Pros" -- Jason Whitten and Demarcus Ware.  I told Beverly that Ware must weigh around 280 (I'm guessing), but the guy looks like there isn't an ounce of fat on him. 

Things don't get much easier for the Cowboys if they are to make the playoffs.  They face a TOUGH defense on Saturday night in Baltimore (9-5).  Then they finish up against the always-tough division rival Philadelphia Eagles.  They really cannot drop either game.  

Is it just me or does Jerry Jones look like a total doofus when they show him on the sidelines at the end of a game?  He just throws all dignity out the window.  (Sorry, JJ fans)   

Problems in Big D and Illinois

(Sniffle, sniffle)  "He's my quarterback, man."  (sniffle, sniffle)  

I'm feeling somewhat vindicated this morning.  When the pretend-general manager of the Dallas Cowboys (of Pac-Man Jones fame) signed T. O. a couple of years ago, I said he would wreck the team.  That's what he did in San Francisco and Philadelphia.  Many told me that T. O was a changed man.  Well, he's has been somewhat in remission for two years.  Oh, there have been occasional small hints of his past behavior, but nothing big. 

So now we hear that T. oW. (Team Wrecker) has gotten Roy Williams and Patrick Crayton worked up with this idea that Tony Romo and Jason Whitten have private meetings to draw up plans for themselves -- excluding the wide receivers.  They have gone to Jason Garrett (offensive coordinator) with their "complaint." 

Statistics prove differently.  The receiver who has the most passes thrown his way is (drum roll, please) -- T. O.  Of course since he drops so many, the actual number he catches are about half of what are thrown his way.  Whitten is next -- but he actually catches a much higher percentage.  I know, many of them are shorter routes -- but some of them are also in heavy traffic.

(sniffle, sniffle)  "He's my quarterback, man."  Another QB thrown under the bus.

Pretend-GM Jones needs to turn this team over to a real GM.  His circus act has caused me to totally lose interest in what was once the most envied professional sports team anywhere.  He has been selling us a bill of bad goods (no pun intended) for 10 years or more.  And people buy into it every year.

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The governor of Illinois sure makes Rick Perry look good, doesn't he.  That guy has some serious problems.  It is amazing to me how people want to automatically try to connect Obama with the scandal -- even though the Illinois governor called him all kinds of bleeped cuss words in a taped phone conversation -- and even ackowledged that Obama would be of no help to him in his "plan."

When is this vicious cycle going to stop?  It seems like it got really bad when Clinton was president and the Republicans went after his impeachment.  So the Democrats have been trying to get paybacks against Bush for 8 years.  And now the Republicans are going after Obama before he even gets in office.  I think talk radio fuels a lot of it.       

  

The Paradox of Death

I am conducting a graveside service today at 10.  The temperature MIGHT rise to 32 by then.  Pray that my mouth will still work.  I tend to sound like a drunk when it gets cold.

The man we will be remembering died at 97.  His story is interesting.  He was a long time member of the Decatur Church, and was a bachelor -- until he was 67!  He then married a widow -- and they were married for 20 years.  He was her caretaker when she became ill.

I remember thinking this when my granddad died at 99-1/2:  In a way it is sad when people live to such an age.  They outlive almost all of their friends and acquaintances.  With so many things they have lived through and so much to share, they are often left to die alone -- or, if lucky, with a handful of relatives to attend their memorials.

Life is full of such paradoxes.  But there is One who doesn't forget us.  "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."