Jenny's Run for Hope

Jenny's Run for Hope on Saturday was incredible! I was pleasantly surprised at the turnout, considering the weather was very questionable. It had rained before the race, but it held off long enough for us to get all the activities in. Then the rain began, and lasted through much of Sunday.

I want to thank all those who put this event together. It was perfect! Jenny would be so pleased. Also, a huge thanks to all the volunteers and the booth sponsors. And of course, to those who participated in the race or walk, or donated to the event. Each of you continue to be God's ministers to our family.

Broken Things

I am reading Terry Rush's book, God Will Make a Way. It has been very helpful to me. I want to share a quote:

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the LORD delivers him out of them all." Psalm 34: 18-19

In Heart Held High, by Martha Snell Nicholson, we read these words:

We are now His broken things. But remember how He has used broken things; the broken pitchers of Gideon's little arm, the broken roof through which the paralyzed man was lowered to be healed, the broken alabaster box which shed its fragrance abroad and the broken body of our Savior"

Another quote, this from Paula D'Archy: "I know this, you can't die from crying . . . or I'd be dead."

And finally, Augustine: "Everywhere a greater joy is preceded by a greater suffering."

10 Years -- Wow!

Saturday our precious Malaya turned 10. That's as in 10 on 10, '10. It was a bitter-sweet day, to say the least. She had a wonderful time -- especially when she found out that she had a brand-new trampoline in her back yard.

But there was a heaviness because of an absence. Malaya was the pride of her momma's heart. I can remember so vividly as we shared in Malaya's birth in Abilene. Our lives (Beverly's and mine) were changed that day as we assumed new roles as grandparents. But the joy on our daughter's face! Oh, to be able to see it again.

Actually, I am betting the bank on the fact that I will.

Family Fun Run/Walk

The following post is borrowed from Jenny's Carepage. We would love to see you all there!

Hello, everyone, and thank you SO MUCH for all your interest in our upcoming 5k race and 1 mile Family Fun Run/Walk. Jenny's Run for Hope IS happening and we are excited to announce it will be Saturday morning, April 17th, at Timber Creek High School in Keller, Texas. The 5k race will start at 9:00 am (checkin begins at 7:30 am) and the Family Fun Run/Walk will start at 9:15 am plus live entertainment, vendor booths and jump houses until 11:00 am. The cost is $25 per runner in the 5k (includes an official Team Biz t-shirt) and $15 per FAMILY for the 1-mile run/walk (includes "Hope" bracelets for up to 6 participants). All contributions are tax deductible and proceeds from the event will benefit the Bizaillion Fund, in honor of our beloved Jenny Biz. Registration opens this weekend and will run through Race Day...simply visit www.jennybizaillion.org. Please join us if you can!

For those of you who are interested in SERVING that day rather than running, we have several needs for volunteers and donors/sponsors as well. This includes helping in the KidStand Fun Zone, parking area, water/food stations, registration tables, etc. Of course, we need a TON of "cheerleaders" as well to make each runner feel special, just as Jenny would have done herself. If you would like to volunteer or sponsor a portion of the event, please email jennysrunforhope@yahoo.com and let us know where/how you'd like to help. If you've ALREADY sent a message to Jessie or the family offering to help, it wouldn't hurt to send us another note because there are so many wonderful people out there and we don't want to miss a single one!

Blessings to everyone. We love you!

Understanding Grief

Last night Beverly and I traveled with two of our shepherds and their wives to North Dallas to hear Alan D. Wolfelt, an expert in the field of grief, on the topic "Understanding Grief: Helping Yourself Heal When Someone Dies." I want to explore his information more. But in this blog I am going to just share some random quotes:

"We do not "overcome" grief; we "surrender."

John Donne: "He who has no time to mourn has no time to heal."

"Pain becomes bearable when we are able to trust it will not last forever; not when we pretend it doesn't exist."

"'Whys?' precede 'Hows?'"

"Someone saying, 'You can't be mad at God' doesn't change you being mad at God. You just can't be mad at God in their presence."

"Funerals are not just celebrations (as is becoming "in" in our culture); they are memorials."

"Before counseling, remind yourself: 1. There is no reward for speed, 2. There is no desired outcome, and 3. Look for the divine moment."

"Death may not be the greatest loss of life. It could be what dies in you while you live."

"You must listen to the music of the past so you can sing in the present and dance into the future."

"When we admit our vulnerability, we include others. If we deny it, we shut them out."

"When you are sorrowful, look again into your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that in which was your delight." Kahlil Gibran

Content in the Mystery

This is traditionally one of my favorite weeks of the year. Masters Week.

I watched parts of Tiger Woods' interview from yesterday. Either he is an excellent actor, or he has truly been humbled. I was encouraged by what I saw. I don't think he has much chance to win this week, however. Even he will be overwhelmed by making this his 1st tournament in 5 months. But I will be watching.

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"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." A. W. Tozer, The Counselor, 95.

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Right now I am living with a quote that my minister friend John Scott gave me. I may have shared it before, but I am finding it helpful as I search for sense in all of this. "Learn to be content in the mystery." That is going to become my motto.

Words from My Precious Granddaughter

My policy for a number of years has been to not post "anonymous" responses on this blog. Since I have picked up some new readers in recent weeks, I have bent my own rule. I really want to encourage responses. So I am asking that if you choose to reply to my blog under the "anonymous" option, please put your name at the end of your comment. Thank you.

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Last night Beverly and I went to Malaya's school open house. On the wall the teacher had put students' writing assignments. Seeing Malaya's, along with her art work illustrating it, reminded me to post this. We had seen it a couple of weeks ago when her teacher shared it with us.

The assignment was to complete the statement, "If . . ." Here is Malaya's response (remember, she is 9 years old):

If Imagination Were Real in Different Ways

By Malaya Bizaillion

If angels and spirits could talk . . .

If Mom were here . . .

If clouds were windows and the sun was the entrance to heaven . . .

If no one could leave this earth . . .

If hearts weren't broken . . .

If there were no color . . .

If there were no sin in the world today . . .

If death were defeated . . .

If heaven was earth . . .

If my heart was still full of pride and not broken . . .

If people could keep promises . . .

Quotable Quotes

I started reading Randy Alcorn's If God is Good on Friday. Let me share a few jewels I have uncovered so far:

"After his wife wife died, in great pain C. S. Lewis realized, If I had really cared as I though I did about the sorrows of the world, I should not have been so overwhelmed when my own sorrow came."

Auschwitz survivor Viktor Frankl wrote, "Just as a small fire is extinguished by the storm whereas a large fire is enhanced by it, likewise a weak faith is weakened by predicaments and catastrophes whereas a strong faith is strengthened by them."

"The faith that can't be shaken is the faith that has been shaken."

Thursday Blues

As days of the week go, Thursday is not my favorite. It used to rank fairly high. But in the last month+, it has fallen drastically.

Five weeks ago today, my precious princess spoke her last words to me. It was the day after her surgery on her legs, and I still don't know for sure if she asked me, "My legs?" or "Malaya?" So I assured her Malaya was OK, and spoke to her as she drifted back to sleep. I am convinced that the next day, the brain lesion had taken her from us, although her body passed on Monday.

One month ago today, we buried Jenny. It was the most beautiful memorial service I have ever been at. The outpouring of love carried us through that day. But, oh, the grief!

One day at a time. One step at a time.

The Gospel of Beck

I don't know much about Glenn Beck. He strikes me as a Rush Limbaugh clone -- someone who knows how to say outrageous things in order to get ratings. After all, that is what talk radio is all about -- getting ratings.

Recently, Beck made the comment that if your church preaches a gospel of social justice, to "run as fast as you can." He said that social and economic justice are "code words" for communism and Nazism.

I agree with the newspaper columnist Leonard Pitts who wrote that "the gospel according to Beck is missing the red words." I personally don't want anyone running away from our church. But I would be an unfaithful minister of the Word if I was to fail to call us to social justice. It is one of the main themes of Scripture, maybe best summed up with these words from Matthew 23: 23: "but you have neglected the more important matters of the law -- justice, mercy and faithfulness." Scripture even tells us that justice is more important than the offering of ritual worship!

When the Israelite (and Scripture) spoke of justice, it was not in the legal sense that we might think of -- administering a right judgment in court. Rather, it was about caring for the marginalized.

There are obviously many strengths to American capitalism. But that is not to say it is perfect. And one of its weaknesses is that it dehumanizes those who are "lesser." The assumption is that their condition is their fault. Sometimes, that is true. But not always. And mercy would still call upon us to care for them all. Not to enable, but to empower. I believe that as a nation, this is not just an option. I believe God will hold us accountable to that.

I like the way Pitts ends his column. He writes: "(Beck) thinks we should flee the church that preaches social and economic justice? I think you should flee the one that does not."

Please Be Gentle

After we returned from our Disney cruise on Sunday, I could not decide whether to blog about it or put it on Carepages. I went with the second option -- because there were so many people I wanted to thank beyond those who read my blog. If you would like to read that, go to www.carepages.com/carepages/JennyBizaillionUpdates.

Through this painful season, I am finally learning the lesson of Job's friends. Their best ministry was done when they simply practiced presence. Once they started trying to explain human suffering and offer profound words, their ministry became misery to Job.

Someone either sent me the following piece or I read it somewhere. I am sorry, but so much of the last 6 weeks seems like a fog. If you sent it to me, thanks.

Please Be Gentle, by Jill B. Englar

Please be gentle with me, for I am grieving.

The sea I swim in is a lonely one, and the shore seems miles away.

Waves of despair numb my soul as I struggle through each day.

My heart is heavy with sorrow.

I want to shout and scream and repeatedly ask "why?"

At times, my grief overwhelms me and I weep bitterly, so great is my loss.

Please don't turn away or tell me to move on with my life.

I must embrace my pain before I can begin to heal.

Companion me through tears and sit with me in loving silence.

Honor where I am in my journey, not where you think I should be.

Listen patiently to my story, I may need to tell it over and over again.

It's how I begin to grasp the enormity of my loss.

Nurture me through the weeks and months ahead.

Forgive me when I seem distant and inconsolable.

I need your support and understanding.

There is no right or wrong way to grieve.

I must find my own path.

Please, will you walk beside me?

The Sting of Death

Yesterday morning David, my brother John and I went out to the cemetery to look at memorial stones. It made me stop and think: How many funerals have I conducted? As we walked around, I saw several graves of those whose services I have had a part in just since I have been in Decatur.

And then I thought of the grief. The grief those families experienced as they journeyed through the passing of a loved one. Grief that, too often, I have naively assumed passed after a couple of weeks. After all, I mourned when my dad died. And I mourned when Beverly's dad died. But I have never known grief. Not like this.

Since Jenny's death, I have heard about a teen who died in a ski accident. And a young woman who died in a car crash. Yesterday I stood at the grave of a 17-year old girl who died a couple of years ago in a car crash while on her way to school one morning. And there was the 32-year old man who ran a half-marathon Sunday, got to the finish line and high-fived his friend, and fell over. He died minuted later. He left a wife and two kids.

In the past, I would have thought for a moment about those young lives taken. While I did that in these situations, too -- immediately my thoughts went to the families. Oh, what grief!

Paul asked, "O death, where is your sting?" I can tell him. It is piercing the hearts of people who loose a loved one. Oh, I know that through Jesus, the sting has been ultimately removed. But it sure feels like a swarm of killer bees right now.

I've Gained Respect

Something keeps haunting me. Not too terribly long ago, I blogged about how I live this charmed life. I serve a great church. I have a great marriage. Three incredible kids who married three wonderful people. Five beautiful grandkids.

I don't want to take this too personally, but I wonder if Satan heard that as a challenge. My mind now goes to the opening pages of Job. Satan knew where he could strike me that would be the most painful. He won a battle. But he will not win the war.

Through this ordeal, I have gained some respect for Satan. I don't mean admiration. I mean respect in the same way that one should respect the Mafia if they were living next door. I think about ways we make fun of Satan. "If the devil doesn't like it, he can sit on a tack." That's like poking a lion with a stick.

I'm struck by the words of Jude (v. 9): "But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you!'" I don't know exactly what this means. But I do think it suggests that Satan is not to be trifled with.

And I am so glad that Jesus stands beside me.

A New Week

Yesterday was Beverly's birthday. It was a bitter-sweet day for a number of reasons:

For one, Jenny has been at the center of our birthday celebrations for so long. I am still in such denial of the fact that she is gone. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross was right when she defined the stages of grief. And she was right in saying that people experience those stages differently. I seem to be randomly going from one to another. I just don't seem to have a moment when I am not thinking about her. It was two weeks ago today that Jenny went to see Jesus. It seems like yesterday.

Second, it was my 1st week back in the pulpit since Jenny went in the hospital on February 4th. While it was difficult, it just seemed right. And it again affirmed to me that I am in the right place. Yesterday, the church I minister to ministered to me and Beverly. What an awesome group of Christians!

Today, I seek peace by resting in the God of mercy and Father of all comfort.

Spiritual Depression

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with any thoughts, and every day have sorrow in my heart? (Ps. 13: 1-2)

But if I go to the east, he is not there;

if I go to the west, I do not find him.

When he is at work in the north, I do not see him;

when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. (Job 20: 8-9)

O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. (Ps. 42: 10)

I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like parched land. (Ps. 143: 6)

These heart-wrenching cries are prayers -- addressed to a God who seems either deaf or completely absent. Perhaps more surprising, they are IN THE BIBLE! This leads me to conclude that perhaps a season of spiritual depression -- a state of God-forsakenness -- is normal. Perhaps it is even to be expected.

In some strange way, today I find some comfort in that.

Broken and Empty

I am back at the office this morning. It's not where I want to be -- but it is where I need to be.

We just finished the month of February, and I am glad it is the shortest month of the year because it has been brutal. As a family, we keep looking for explanations. We try to make some sense out of this whole thing. But we hear only silence. Still the silence is better than any attempts to explain at this point (That probably won't make sense unless you have been there).

Today I plan to open the Word and read from Yancey's Prayer, as well as Disappointment with God.

As a family we are empty today. We believe the Lord will again fill us. The other day, Josh said that we, a family of ministers, will be "playing wounded" for a while. He told about how Emmitt Smith played one of his greatest games with a separated shoulder. And while I totally understood and agree with Josh, I couldn't help but say, "I would rather play with a separated shoulder than with a broken heart."

Yet today I find myself hearing over and over again the words of my daughter, who said, "I want people to remember me as someone who, even when she didn't get her way, praised the Lord." That is what I choose to do.

Link to Check on Jenny

For updates on Jenny, you can go to the following link. The next 24-48 hours are critical. All her systems are shutting down right now. She has been given a 50-50 chance of survival.

Please continue to pray. But let me tell everyone: No matter what happens -- God is good and deserving of our praise.

Calling for Prayer

I am crying out today to YHWH-Rapha, and am begging you to join me in pleading with the God Who Heals. My daughter is in very critical condition this morning. Her body is racked with a staph infection, and is in sepsis. The doctors are being very guarded in their prognosis, and have told us that the next 48 hours are critical.

Please pray for Jenny, her husband David and my granddaughter Malaya. Also, Beverly and me and the family. This has really blindsided us.

Please Pray!

My daughter has been sick with the flu for about a week. As I write this, she is at the doctor's office with real severe chest pains. Please be praying for her body to fight off this virus, and for her to be well quickly. Thank you so much.

Crazy Love

What I am about to write is not to bash Michael Jackson, OK? As I have written before, he was one of the most talented showmen in my lifetime. Rather it is to question those who are trying to shape his legacy. I keep hearing it said that his body of work had one message: Love. And while admitting that I never had a recording of his, I am fairly familiar with many of his hits. So I am thinking which ones these people are alluding to? "Billie Jean"? Or "Thriller" or "Beat It"? Or maybe the weird ballad to a rat named "Ben"? Just wondering.

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Interesting lines from the book I am currently reading, Crazy Love:

Quoting Fredrick Buechner: "Intellectually we all know that we will die, but we do not really know it in the sense that the knowledge become a part of us. We do not really know it in the sense of living as though it were true. On the contrary, we tend to live as though our lives would go on forever."

From the author, Francis Chan: "When I am consumed by my problems -- stressed out about my life, my family, my job -- I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God's command to always rejoice. In other words, that I have a 'right' to disobey God because of the magnitude of my responsibilities."

Then, speaking of worry and stress, he says: "Basically, these two behaviors communicate that it's okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional. Both worry and stress reek of arrogance."

Church, Football and Golf

Yesterday was a great day for our church. I am so appreciative of our shepherds who are taking such a proactive position in encouraging strong marriages. And then as Mike shared highlights from 2009, and things to look forward to in 2010 -- it was just exciting. I am currently serving with an eldership and staff that most ministers only dream about. Unbelievable! And I'm coming up on 5 years here!

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So who wins the Super Bowl? I feel like the Colts will win, but I'm pulling for the Saints.

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Golf isn't experiencing its best days right now -- with the Tiger fiasco, and now Phil Mickelson has been accused of cheating by using wedges that are outside of the rule change.

Deep Life Questions

Occasionally I have dealt with some deep questions on this blog. Today I really want to go deep.

1. Why do cracker companies wrap their crackers in that ridiculous wax paper that cannot be opened without ripping? There is no smoothness to the way it opens, nor is there any seam that it actually follows as it is further opened. Do you know what this is like for someone who is borderline OC?

2. Why does my car think that when I unlock it, if I don't get in it within about 30 seconds -- that it needs to lock the doors again? Is the manufacturer trying to protect us from the many times we are mugged as we walk to our cars -- and have unlocked them? And if so, in that case, wouldn't the mugger be able to get the keys anyway? What is the possible purpose this feature serves?

3. Why, when you go to a store like Sam's and walk straight from the checker to the door, do you have to undergo a screening not unlike boarding a plane in order to get out of the store? The only purpose I can see that this serves is providing a job for someone. So on that count, thanks for your contribution to the economy, WalMart!

Maybe you have some deep life question that we could ponder together.

The Marriage Agenda

I am so proud of my shepherds here at the Decatur Church of Christ, who have gone public with a statement that they want to be proactive in saving marriages -- thus defeating Satan's desire to weaken and destroy us.

As a part of their strategy, I will begin a series of lessons this Sunday about marriage. This is going to be different than the typical series that talks about communication, romance, etc. Although I may touch on such topics, I want us to approach marriage from the assumption that we are disciples of Jesus -- and so how should that affect our marriages?

I have been struck this past couple of weeks as I have begun to try to put together my thoughts. What has struck me as a real "aha" is how much Scripture has to say about relationships, but since those verses are not in the context of marriage, we think them odd when applied there. Yet my relationship with Beverly, next to my relationship with God, is the ULTIMATE place in which the words of Scripture are played out. Ideas like forgiveness, not holding grudges, kindness, patience, being a servant, etc. Concepts like "If someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice at the altar and go and be reconciled. Then come back to offer your sacrifice." We usually make application of that to the Lord's Supper. How many spouses would have to abstain from partaking of the Supper until they reconcile?

Colts vs. Saints!

It's the matchup I had hoped for: Colts vs. Saints. I like Bret Favre, but really am glad that the historical underdogs (Saints) are going to be in the big game. I didn't want the Jets because their coach (Ryan) rubs me the wrong way.

So for the Super Bowl, I am pulling for the Saints. Will they win? I don't know. I haven't seen the line yet, but I would guess that they are going to be the underdogs.

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Will Favre retire now? Probably. I guess the real question is will he remain retired after he retires?

Good Reads

I just finished an excellent read that had been recommended to me by my son, Josh. It's called Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus (I can't remember the co-authors' names), and I don't think I will ever read the Gospels quite the same again. I especially liked the section on Jesus teaching in the tradition of the rabbis, and how that shaped the Sermon on the Mount.

Next on my list is a book that Jeff Jones has mentioned in his blog a few times. Beverly is now reading it, and loves it. It's called Crazy Love, by Francis Chan.

I am such a slow reader. I am afraid to ever miss a word. So if I read a paragraph and realize I was a bit distracted -- I go back and read it again. However, I know of few things I enjoy more than reading. During the day, I limit all my reading to news and things of a scriptural basis. At night, I read for relaxation. From Grisham to Clancy to L'amour to Grey.

So what have you been reading lately that might be of benefit?

Cell Phones and Driving

Lots of talk in both print and broadcast media right now about texting / talking on the phone while driving. According to studies, talking on the phone while driving ups one's chance for an accident 4 times. Driving while texting ups one's chances 8 times. I'm wondering about that word "accident." Would it really be an "accident" if one is doing something dangerous while driving?

We are a country where a person's "rights" are always strongly considered in any issue -- and that is good so long as common sense and the public good prevails. One could say, "It is my 'right' to drive drunk. It is my 'right' to drive with a blindfold on." And I would reply that is fine if a person is driving in their own pasture -- with no chance of harming anyone else. But not when the welfare of another is at stake.

I admit: I have texted when driving. But I will never do it again. And I admit, even though I did it when no other cars were close by -- I had trouble staying in my lane. And I still talk occasionally on my cell phone while driving. But I am aware that it is a distraction, too.

I would be supportive of a ban on all phone activity for the driver of a vehicle. In fact, I hope it happens. One life lost to the selfish irresponsibility of one who thinks THIS call or THIS message is so vitally important is one life too many. I for one do not know how I could live with the guilt of that.

It's Monday!

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr Day! A true American hero!

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"24" began a new season last night with Jack wanting to fly with his daughter, her husband, and her grand daughter to LA to live. Of course, as he is preparing to go to the airport, a crisis develops that draws him out of retirement. The 1st hour consisted of him calling his daughter numerous times to tell her he might be late to the airport, etc. I couldn't help but think, "Quit agonizing over not being able to go with them to LA, Jack. You'll save the world in 24 hours! You can go to LA tomorrow."

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I got my electricity bill for the period ending 1-14. This included three weeks of Christmas lights, my family being here for 8 days, and the coldest spell of weather we have had in over 10 years. Whew! Next year, everyone is wearing thermals in the house. We will heat it only to the point that you can't see your breath when you talk.

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Speaking of our house, Beverly and I refinanced on Friday. For a short time right out of college, I was a loan officer. At that time, mortgages were running as high as 13%. The historical average is probably between 7 and 8%. We got a 4.35% rate for a 15 year note! I couldn't believe it.

God, Have Mercy!

"He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of You? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6: 8)

". . . judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!" (James 2: 13)

Pat Robertson has again spoken for God. He has said that the devastating earthquake in Haiti is from God because hundreds of years ago some Haitians made a pact with the devil to serve him if he would help them overthrow the French.

This led one minister to response, "He loves to twist the knife in the back of those who are suffering."

Who does this man think he is to always claim to speak for God? From Katrina to 9-11 to the prime minister of Israel having a stroke, etc -- all God's punishment according to Robertson. So I'm wondering why God has not struck the greed of Wall Street with a natural disaster. And why doesn't He cause an earthquake to swallow up al-Qaeda? And back when Robertson's arch-enemy Russia was so powerful, why didn't God send a devastating plague to wipe them out?

Why would God pick on the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere?

I do not understand how God's sovereignty works in a fallen world, and will not pretend to know. But I can only imagine the outcry in America if, for instance after Katrina, some Moslem cleric had come out claiming it was a punishment from Allah against the US. How is Robertson's rhetoric any different?

I DO know this to be true: "Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful."

I wish the man would retire his position as self-appointed press secretary for God.

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On a more positive note, the greatest help and aid taking place in Haiti will be from people serving in the name of Jesus. And that is where we can help, too. If you would be interested in sending aid to the Haitian people, you can learn more at www.ChristianReliefFund.org. The president of this organization is Dr. Milton Jones -- long-time minister in the Seattle, Washington area.

Pray for Haiti

I was saddened to hear this morning about the devastating earthquake in Haiti. How sad that the poorest nation in our hemisphere has been struck with such a tragedy. I pray that avenues will be quickly opened for the people there to receive clean water and food.

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I almost feel guilty going from that to this. Yesterday I joined the 21st century and got a Blackberry. I feel like a kindergardener opening a calculus textbook. But I am sure I will pick up on it in a few days.

Shocking Revelations and TV

So Mark McGwire used steroids? I'm shocked! The next thing you know, O. J. Simpson is going to admit to murdering his wife and Ronald Goldman. But McGwire adamantly denies that the steroids aided him in hitting home runs. Right.

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What will American Idol be like without Simon Cowell? I personally don't care. The show has run its course for me.

Speaking of my viewing interests -- Sunday begins a new "24"!

Well, let's just stay on the TV theme for today. Beverly and I have been watching the old "Cosby Show" when we are home for lunch. That show is really good. Cosby is a genius. Clean and funny. Too few shows seem to understand that combination.

So it got me to thinking: What, in your opinion, are the best sitcoms in history? Mine will probably differ from yours, because I go back to earlier days. Here's mine:

1. Andy Griffith Show (black and white with Barney. After that, it falls out of my top 20)

2. Coach

3. Home Improvement

4. Everybody Loves Raymond

5. Leave It To Beaver

6. I Love Lucy

7. The Bob Newhart Show

8. Cheers

9. All in the Family

10. Sanford and Son

I would probably change some of these if I thought about it longer. And I admit that I don't watch hardly any sitcoms any more. I've seen only a couple of episodes of Seinfeld (ranked #1 all time by many critics), and never seen Friends or The Simpsons. My list is largely based on if I see one of these shows is on in reruns, will I watch it.

Concession to Romo Fans

OK, to you Tony Romo fans who think I was wrong by questioning "Romomania" a couple of years ago -- I am ready to make a concession. The guy is looking like a keeper. The last month or so I have seen a different player -- more efficient, more mature, more under control. And I like what I see.

The Dallas defense is playing as well as any in my memory. I have long said that there is no doubt Wade Phillips must be a defensive genius. I'm still not sold on his head coaching qualifications. But nobody asked me.

I love so many of the guys on this team: Ware, Austin, James, Witten, FELIX Jones

Unfortunately, there is still the JERRY Jones factor. 13 years of mediocrity -- by far the longest in Cowboy history. His stubbornness that he is a football man. His arrogant brow-beating he gave to the previous owners, general manager and coach for their 5 years of struggling. And now, with one playoff win, he claims total vindication.

It was P. T. Barnum that said, "There is a sucker born every minute." Jerry Jones has definitely learned how to market himself to them.

Cold Weather, Lord's Supper and Football

It is 8:25 AM, and the temperature is still dropping. When I got up, it was a balmy 21 degrees. Now it is 19. The roads look like a glazed doughnut from the little bit of rain we got during the night.

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This week my sermon will come from Luke's account of the Last Supper. I will be emphasizing the function of the Supper much more than the form. There is no way for Gentiles to have a true appreciation for this event without having at least a basic understanding of Passover. So I will be going back in time today as I put my thoughts together.

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Tonight is the big night! Texas-Alabama. After watching Texas' last two games against A&M and Nebraska, I don't give them much of a chance. But I will be pulling for them. I'd like to see Colt go out with a national championship added to his incredible resume.

Brit Hume's Comments

I was blown away by comments I heard on GMA this morning. They showed a snippet of Fox News' Brit Hume discussing Tiger Woods. Hume said (I am paraphrasing) that in Tiger's current religion of Buddhism, he can not find forgiveness. What he needs is to find forgiveness, and that is only found in Christianity through Jesus Christ. Wow! I'm hoping Tiger was listening.

Almost as amazing as Hume's remarks was that he received no criticism or apology from anyone on GMA, either. I just found the whole thing interesting.

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Congratulations to TCU on a great year. They couldn't quite get the job done last night against a tough Boise State team. It looked like Boise was getting each TCU offensive play sent in to their huddle. I thought it was unfortunate that, due to the outcome, TCU's defense got little if any credit (at least that I heard) from the announcers for holding the number 1 offense in the nation to only 10 points.

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The world is in desperate need of inner peace and a sense of security. Let all of us who are Christ followers exhibit that today.

A Little Football with a Dash of Tozer

This has been one of the coldest winters on record for our area of the country. I'm going to go into withdrawals if I don't get to play golf soon! There was a time I might have played in mid-30s temperatures -- but not now. And the forecast is calling for the most bitter weather yet by late in the week.

This has led to a more sedentary lifestyle. The last several days have been spent sitting around the fire reading or watching football. I'm afraid to get on the scale.

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The Cowboys beat the Eagles in impressive fashion yesterday. Can they beat them three times in a season? I wish the seeding in the playoffs didn't result in playing a divisional team in round 1. This seems to happen to the NFC East quite a bit.

I wonder what happens to Wade if the Cowboys don't win next week?

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Tonight TCU has an opportunity to prove if they belong in the discussion of being a national championship contender. Their bowl opponent is unfortunate. I can't help but wonder if the "big boys" are afraid to find out if this team can hang with them or not.

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Here's a little Tozer to begin your New Year with:

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. --James 2:23

After all, what higher privilege and experience is granted to mankind on earth than to be admitted into the circle of the friends of God?...

It is well for us to remember that Divine-human friendship originated with God. Had God not first said "You are My friends," it would be inexcusably brash for any man to say, "I am a friend of God." But since God claims us for His friends, it is an act of unbelief to deny the offer of such a relationship....

The spiritual giants of old were those who at some time became acutely conscious of the presence of God. They maintained that consciousness for the rest of their lives....

A Tribute to Woody Woodson

As I write this blog, one of the most important people in my life is being buried. Woody Woodson, who served as an elder in Crockett during my first full-time ministry, passed away this week. He was 89. When I saw him in November, he was still chiseled -- with muscles hard from working on his farm. He was really a country boy at heart, even though he had worked in Houston for most of his life.

Due to it being the holiday season as well as some other activities going on this week in Crockett, I only found out last night that he had passed away. The service was this morning at 10. I SO regret not being there.

Woody was a perfect elder for someone with no experience in preaching. I think back to my preaching of over 20 years ago and wonder why he and others even hired me. But he did.

He was one of the most consistent and steady men of faith I have ever known. I buried his daughter, who lost her life to breast cancer, and observed his steadfastness through that ordeal. I saw the way he loved people. I learned from the way he based his core beliefs around Jesus -- rather than human reasoning. I tear up even now as I think back to hearing this godly man pray. Whenever he spoke of Jesus in his prayers, he would begin to break up.

I remember not long after I had begun preaching in Crockett (1988), I asked him one day if I should keep a log as to my use of time. He looked at me, and said, "If we need you to do that, we have the wrong man." Believe it or not, that actually made me MORE aware of how I used my time.

We made many visits together, and I got to watch shepherding in action. Many lessons learned. But for me, most of all I will always be grateful that he offered me an opportunity to become a full-time minister.

His precious wife, Louise, is in my prayers. I love her and her family SO much, and wish I could be there today with them. Maybe next time I'm in Crockett, I will give her a heads-up. This woman can fix dumplings like nobody's business!

Thank you, God, for letting me know Woody and Louise Woodson. And thank you that this man who loved you so much is now at home.

Presence Living

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." These words were written by Moses, and recorded in the 90th psalm. I want these verses to be my daily partner in the coming year. I want to be more aware of the gift and value of each day. I want to be more intentional about living in the present -- and living in the presence of God.

Here's wishing you and yours a great 2010! Let's live with kingdom awareness. Let's be available each day to be a part of His activity.

White Christmas!

No longer do I have to dream about a white Christmas. Contrary to the weather forecasts, we got a blizzard-like snowstorm last Thursday. About 4 inches -- and drifts up to 2 feet deep! And 4 days later, my yard still has enough snow to build a snowman. In fact, the backyard is still totally blanketed. I love it!

It looks like this won't even totally melt away before we get more, too. Forecasts call for up to 3 more inches tomorrow!

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Lots of good college football this week. On behalf of my oldest son, I will watch Nebraska on Wednesday night. And I look forward to TCU's and Texas' games next week.

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I have been quiet on the Cowboy front in this blog during the current football season. I will say at this point that even though it will probably secure him another year as Cowboys' coach, I hope Wade Phillips can win a playoff game. I am not a fan of his, but I hate to see anyone carry a monkey on his / her back. Strange, too, in that he has a pretty good regular season record for his career.

Merry Christmas

Here's wishing everyone of you the best during this Christmas season. May we all be reminded of the greatest gift of all -- God's gift of His Son.

Blessings!

It Must Be Tough Being an Historical Skeptic

It must be frustrating being a skeptical historian. For years, assumptions have been made by them as to the inaccuracy of biblical history -- only to be proven wrong.

The latest example is the discovery of a house dating from the times of Jesus in the city of Nazareth. The skeptics have questioned for years whether Nazareth even existed in the times when Jesus would have been a young boy. The new findings suggest that it was perhaps a hamlet of 50 houses or so covering a 4 acre area. The buildings appear to have been camouflaged to blend into their background so that the Romans would be unaware of their presence. Having been there and remembering how I could see Nazareth from far away against its backdrop, this makes perfect sense. And it being no more than a small village simply concurs with the biblical account. All the more reason for the Jerusalem big shots to look down on Jesus: "How could anything good come from Nazareth?"

So, Merry CHRISTmas, historical skeptics. You might want to go wash the egg off your faces before you hit the eggnog.

Peace and Longfellow

I have been watching with interest the story of the Utah missing mother of two. Her husband claims that on the night she came up missing, he had taken his two sons (5 and 2, I think) camping -- leaving the house at 12:30 AM. Officials can find no evidence of a camp where he claims he was.

But it got me to thinking: Utah is one of the least-populated states in the US. It is also considered to be one of the most "moral" states -- due in large part to the high percentage of Mormons living there. Is it just my imagination, or does Utah seem to have more than its share of bizarre events like this?

I would like to see results of a study on people who are involved in legalistic religion. My opinion is that such people are taught to cover up and mask for so long that it leads to serious emotional problems.

Last night our men's group was studying Romans 8. Because of the season I am in on my spiritual journey, I am really struck by how often in that chapter (actually throughout Scripture), the concept of peace is a major theme. How often are we told that a characteristic of one who has been born again and has the Spirit residing within is this: PEACE. Unfortunately, I know too few people (I include myself for much of my journey) whose lives are characterized by peace.

Along that line, I came across this story:

One of America’s greatest poets is Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The year 1860 found Longfellow happy in his life, enjoying a widening recognition, and elated over the election of Abraham Lincoln which he believed signaled the triumph of freedom and redemption for the nation. The following year the Civil War began.

On July 9, 1861 Longfellow’s wife, Fanny, was near an open window sealing locks of her daughter’s hair, using hot sealing wax. Suddenly her dress caught fire and engulfed her with flames. Her husband, sleeping in the next room, was awaked by her screams. As he desperately tried to put out the fire and save his wife, he was severely burned on his face and hands. Fanny died the next day. Longfellow’s severe burns would not even allow him to attend Fanny’s funeral. His white beard, which so identified with him, was one of the results of the tragedy – the burn scars on his face made shaving almost impossible. In his diary for Christmas day 1861 he wrote, “How inexpressibly sad are the holidays.”

In 1862 the toll of war dead began to mount and in his diary for that year Longfellow wrote of Christmas, “A merry Christmas say the children, but that is no more for me.” In 1863 his son who had run away to join the Union army was severely wounded and returned home in December. There is no entry in Longfellow’s diary for that Christmas.

But on Christmas Day 1864 – at age 57 – Longfellow sat down to try to capture, if possible, the joy of the season. He began: I heard the bells on Christmas day. Their old familiar carols play, And wild and sweet the words repeat Of peace on earth, good will to men. As he came to the third stanza, he was stopped by the thought of the condition of his beloved country. The Battle of Gettysburg was not long past. Days looked dark, and he probably asked himself the question, “How can I write about peace on earth, good will to men in this war-torn country, where brother fights against brother and father against son?” But he kept writing – and what did he write? And in despair I bowed my head: “There is no peace on earth”, I said, For hate is strong, and mocks the song Of peace on earth, good will to men. It seems as if he could have been writing for our kind of day. Then, as all of us should do, he turned his thoughts to the One who gives true and perfect peace, and continued writing: Then peeled the bells more loud and deep; “God is not dead, nor doth he sleep! The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men.” And so there came into being that marvelous Christmas carol, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”

Bits and Pieces

I go through seasons where I know today what I will blog on the next couple of days. Right now, I am not there.

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I got to play golf yesterday afternoon. The wind started picking up as I neared the end. I finished about 4 PM, comfortable in short sleeves. By the time I got home, the temperature was dropping. This morning, it's in the upper 20s. Fireplace tonight!

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I feel like a child at Christmas as it approaches. It used to be that I looked forward to opening presents. I am anxiously awaiting it right now because my grandkids will begin arriving within a week! I can't wait!

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I know there is no way that an NFL head coach can be lacking in intelligence. So I have to assume that Wade Phillips does a good job of acting clueless.

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Although the Heisman turned out the way I had figured, it seems somewhat unfair the way it was presented Saturday night that by having two candidates from the same conference hurts those candidates. This happened to McCoy and Suh. In fact, one could argue that Suh singlehandedly cost McCoy the Heisman in two ways: 1. By totally dominating him in Texas' game against Nebraska, and 2. By taking Big 12 votes away from him.

I look forward to watching Suh on Sundays.

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I know most of you don't care, but I am wondering what is going to happen to pro golf without Tiger. Love him or hate him, his fellow competitors are going to find out how much his presence added money to their pockets. I heard a pro golfer interviewed yesterday, and he admitted that Tiger's presence had put his kids through college.

As much as I enjoy the game, I will probably drop my extended package on Directv -- which is the only way to get the Golf Channel. There just aren't that many guys I am drawn to watch on Thursday's and Friday' rounds, which is what the Golf Channel covers.

Of Such is the Kingdom of Heaven

Today is National Grandparent Brag Day (Just kidding. Actually, that is every day.) There have been several incidents lately involving my oldest three grandkids that I want to brag about. I'll go from oldest to youngest.

Malaya was with her mom and dad in San Antonio this summer. They had gone to eat at La Marguerita in the Market Square, and when they finished, they had boxed up what was left to take back to the hotel with them. As they walked back to their hotel, they had passed some street people. So when they got to the hotel room, they decided to go back out and find someone to give their food to. As they were about to leave, Malaya remembered that they had brought some homemade cookies for the family to enjoy on the trip. She put them in with the food. I LOVE that!

Next is Jed. Yesterday I talked to him on the phone. I had heard that he (3 years old) had decided what he wants to be when he grows up. So I asked him. He said, "A builder." His daddy said, "Tell Grampy why you want to be a builder." Jed said (this was not prompted by his parents), "So people without houses can have one." I LOVE that, too!

Finally, Truitt. Truitt is my 2-year old Memphis grandson. This was on his daddy's Twitter a week or so ago:

Truitt's prayer tonight at dinner, "God, thank you for day...Memphis...the poor...and food. Amen." This world can't hold prayers like that."

Josh, I agree! As Jesus said, "Of such is the kingdom of heaven."

"Fascinating" People? and GMA

Last night Beverly and I watched Barbara Walters' "Top 10 Most Fascinating People." Fascinating? I question Walters' definition when it came to several of her picks. Lewd perhaps. Defiantly immoral for sure (Adam Lambert: "I'm homosexual. Deal with it.") But what a sad statement of our culture if THAT has become "fascinating."

I did enjoy the interviews with Tyler Perry and Jenny Sanford.

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Beverly and I have gotten ready for work in the mornings enjoying the company of Good Morning America for at least a dozen years. All of a sudden, they are shaking up our world. A couple of months ago, they announced that Diane Sawyer was leaving to replace Charles Gibson as anchor of ABC News. I can deal with that, although Diane and Robin Roberts have a really cool working relationship.

But the real bombshell was dropped today. Chris Cuomo is being reassigned! Come on, folks! He absolutely makes the show! He has a great sense of humor, and a warm and compassionate side as well. He is an incredible example of a man who loves his wife and kids. What's with this?

Poor Robin. She is kind of left stranded. I'm already speculating as to who they will bring in. Perhaps George Stephanopoulos? Bill Weir? I like George, but I sure can't see him bringing the energy that Chris did. And no women come to mind. They will probably get someone from The View -- at which point I will either beg Beverly to change to The Today Show, or I will have to move to another bathroom.

UPDATE at 1 PM: I was reading the paper at lunch and it DID say that George Stephanopoulos would be Chris Cuomo's replacement. It also said that Juju Chang would join them at the news desk.

Little Drummer Boy (Reprise)

I wrote the following blog 4 years ago, and SOME PEOPLE (named Jeff) will not let me forget it. I decided it was about time to recycle it. Anything I have added is in bold. Here it is:

Christmas season is in full swing now. Everywhere you go, you here Christmas Carols (why do we call them "carols" instead of songs? Is it the alliteration thing?)

My favorite Christmas song is "O Holy Night." I also love "O Come All Ye Faithful." But I also like some of the lighter songs like "Let It Snow," "Winter Wonderland" and "It's Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas."

Now for my least favorite: "Little Drummer Boy." Now remember: I AM an ex-drummer. But the whole premise for this song just grates on me (please understand: most of my comments here are tongue in cheek You'll have to figure out which ones).

So here's this little Jewish boy in the 1st century -- walking around WITH A DRUM? And these wise men come up and say, "Come, see the newborn King." Right away, I am questioning whether they are wise men if they are inviting a little boy WITH A DRUM to come see a newborn baby. Imagine that, ladies. You've just given birth. "You have a visitor." "Who is it?" "It's a little boy WITH A DRUM. He wants to see you."

So, this little boy WITH A DRUM says, "I don't have anything to give. How 'bout I just lay a few paradiddles on you?" AND MARY NODS "YES"! Tell me any mother with a newborn who is going to let a little boy WITH A DRUM start jamming for her baby! What did he play? "Wipe out"?

And the sound of this drum drives me up a wall. "Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum." It sounds more like a plastic garbage can that's just been hit by a car at about 40 mph -- as it goes end over end down the street.

And get this: The ox and lamb kept time. Yeah, buddy. Those two incredible examples of rhythm from the animal kingdom. "Moo-moo-moo-moo-moo" and "Baa-baa-baa-baa-baa."

If this had really happened, I think it may have been enough to cause Jesus to reconsider. Oh, well -- I guess it could have been worse. Whoever came up with the idea for this song (written in the 60's, I think. That might explain a lot) could have called it "The Little Moog Synthesizer Boy." 'Come, they told me -- woo-WOO-woo-WOO-woo."

So, what's your favorite Christmas carol (song)?

College Football Recap

I cannot remember when I have ever watched three football games in one day, but I did Saturday. I nearly went 0-3. I was pulling for Pitt to upset Cincinnati, which would have helped TCU's standing. Pitt should have won the game. Cincinnati barely squeaked by because of a Pitt bobbled snap on an extra point. As a result, Cincinnati moved from 5th to 3rd in the national rankings (How does this happen?) -- leapfrogging TCU.

In the second game, Alabama embarrassed Florida. They looked really good, and their running back moved, Mark Ingram, probably moved to the forefront in the Heisman Trophy race. It was a sad way for Tim Tebow to finish his career.

Then Saturday night, Nebraska beat Texas in every way except the final score. I don't think Texas scored a point that was not aided by a Nebraska penalty. Even though I was hoping Texas would win, one of the penalties was a really poor call. But that's football. My Heisman favorite, Colt McCoy, did not do much to help his cause against one of the most dominating defensive performances I have ever seen.

In fact, in my humble opinion, the guy who deserves the Heisman this year is Ndamukong Suh, defensive lineman for Nebraska. This guy is an animal! Whoever gets him in this year's NFL draft is going to be blessed.

So, the national championship game will be Alabama-Texas. I will be pulling for the Longhorns, but from what I saw Saturday -- Alabama looks like the dominant team.

More from Rabbi Jesus

More excerpts from At the Feet of Rabbi Jesus (This is a GREAT book, definitely could preach) -- the chapter entitled "Following the Rabbi":

A rabbi was to model how to live by using examples from his own life . . . Speaking of our tendency to imitate . . . I find that my own mind seems remarkably malleable, impressed by whatever I read or see modeled around me. A steady diet of cynical political commentary always makes me more negative. Being with friends who gossip can make me more careless about how I speak. None of us is so mature that we cannot be influenced. The question is: Who or what do we want to shape our lives? Even the culture around us will try to "disciple" us if we have not placed ourselves under the transforming influence of Jesus Christ.

I used to think . . . that Jesus' command to make disciples simply meant teaching people certain beliefs about God, helping them to accept Christ as Lord, and then educating them in doctrinal truth later on. Though all these are important, this way of defining discipleship showed that I, like many Westerners, approached the gospel primarily as information. Unfortunately, such an approach tends to produce efforts at evangelism that are thinly disguised power grabs. We try hard to foist our belief system onto others, debating with people until they declare our way the best.

An Eastern view of discipleship seems far more in keeping with the gospel . . . This approach involves not just information, but transformation. God's goal isn't simply to fill the world with people who believe the right things. It is to fill the world with people who shine with the brilliance of Christ.

Snow!

What a surprise to wake up this morning to about 3" of snow! The weather people had said we might have snow showers mixed with rain -- but basically guaranteed no accumulation. I LOVE snow. I might feel different if I lived up north. It makes even the common scenery take on a new beauty.

I better enjoy it. It will probably be gone by 10 AM.

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Poor Tiger. Seems that things are going from bad to worse for him. He hasn't called me yet for advice, but here's what I would tell him. I am a big believer (much more so today than I have been in the past) of bringing everything out into the light. Covering up and living in denial only compounds whatever problem one is in. Once things are out in the light, a person can move forward.

Discipleship

I was encouraged yesterday as I read an excerpt from Spangler and Tverberg in their book Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus. Writing about discipleship, speaking of Jesus, they said:

. . . the changes he worked in his disciples' lives did not come instantly or even easily. Our culture is fascinated with instant fixes and extreme makeovers . . . we chafe at the years it takes to train as an apprentice. But discipleship has always been about process.

While the Gospels record many instances of Jesus instantly healing people's illnesses, we know of not even one instance in which he simply waved his hand to immediately fix an ugly habit for one of his disciples. Instead, he simply kept teaching and correcting them, giving them time to grow.

God seems to work like this much of the time in our own lives. He lets our weaknesses and difficulties drive us to himself, keeping us close. Miracles happen, but he inner transformation we so desperately desire can only be achieve over time. God seems to prefer it this way, perhaps because he knows we can only become like him by maintaining a constant close connection.

I need that! I especially like the statement: "Discipleship has always been about process."

What's Up, Tiger? And Good Football

It has been an interesting sports weekend -- and we have a big one coming up, too.

What's with the Tiger Woods' story? It sounded far-fetched to me from the beginning. He is involved in a wreck in which the airbags did not even go off, and yet his wife has to break out the back window of his SUV to "rescue" him? Hey, I am as big a Tiger Woods fan as anybody, but come on!

Beverly keeps telling me we don't need the details. I wouldn't care so much if there was a more believable explanation.

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The college football season is coming down to an exciting conclusion. However, it is leading to some waffling on my part. Here is my dilemma: I really like Colt McCoy, and would love to see Texas play for a national championship. But my oldest son is a HUGE Nebraska fan. And Texas and Nebraska play Saturday for the Big 12 championship. Who do I root for? Sorry, Josh -- but I will have to go with Texas in this one.

Then there is another really big game -- Florida and Alabama. I also really like Tim Tebow. But I don't like Florida. Is there any way he could quickly transfer to Nebraska? That might pull me over to them.

But the other factor involved here is that our area is suddenly TCU-fanatical. This has been a team that, for the last couple of years, has been building momentum. They are looking REALLY good, and they are a fun team to watch. So, as they sit at number 4, I am trying to figure out what it would take to get THEM into the national title game. My guess is that it would take a Texas loss to Nebraska, #5 Cincinnati losing this week, and Alabama losing (I don't know if Florida would drop far enough if they lost). It's a stretch -- but wouldn't that be exciting?

A lot will be decided this coming Saturday.

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Finally, the most exciting game in the NFL yesterday played like a repeat of the national title game from several years ago. Matt Leinart got the start for the Arizona Cardinals as they played the Tennessee Titans. The Titans started 0-6 before putting Vince Young in at quarterback. They have since gone 5-0. Matt Leinart. Vince Young. Deja vu.

Leinart's team had the lead coming down to the closing minute. Young proceeded to take his team 90 yards for a winning touchdown. I'm wondering if Leinart was suffering from flashbacks during that time?

Fun stuff.

Happy Thanksgiving!

"No one is perfect -- not even me." This was California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's reaction to photos of his car illegally parked in Beverly Hills. It's good to see that humility is alive and well.

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Today many of you will be on the road. Drive safely. And have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving. My prayer is that as we journey together through life, we will come to the place in which our lives are lived out of a constant awareness of gratitude. I am becoming more aware in my own life that this is the only environment in which the fruit of the Spirit -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control -- can flourish.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Homecoming

Yesterday was a rich day for Beverly and me. We were able to return to our 1st full-time ministry in Crockett, Texas to be a part of their 40th anniversary. The worship was great! I taught during the Bible class hour, and my son Josh hit a grand slam during the worship hour.

We served in Crockett from 1988 to 1993. Only 5 years. But it is incredible how deeply that 5 years impacted us. I made deep friendships there. When we occasionally go back, there are 3 guys in particular that are such good friends that when we see each other, it's like we just pick up from the last time.

I wish I had mentioned to the church yesterday about an "ah-ha" I have had. When I was in Crockett as a young, wet-behind-the-ears preacher, there was another preacher in town who was mean, who did not mind slandering people in public -- but who claimed to be the protector of "the truth." He made all kinds of false accusations about me, and I must admit that it really bothered me then. His tag line was, "Do I make you mine enemy because I tell you the truth?"

At that time, I was also a legalist -- thinking that what was REALLY important was what we did during our hour of worship each week, church organization, etc. It's just that my legalism and his were a little different.

Here is my point: Many in Crockett still feel badly for the way he treated me. But I have come to see that it is one of the most important events in my spiritual journey. I was headed down a path in which I could have ended up being somewhat like him. I don't think I could have ever been as mean and dishonest as he was -- but I could have been as "zealous" in my misplaced gospel. But seeing him and how UNLIKE Christ he was brought me to a crossroads. It made me realize that what the gospel is about is not those things that I had made of primary importance. The gospel is about a loving God extending His unbelievable grace to me. It's about me being allowed to journey with Him through life -- allowing Him to complete His work of transformation in me. To what goal? To become like Jesus. To be filled with the fruit of the Spirit -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Qualities that are amazingly absent in the lives of people who pursue legalism.

God works in mysterious, unexpected ways to get our attention. And looking back on those times, I am SO glad He got mine.

Great American Smokeout.

Today is the "Great American Smokeout." I look back with interest at the ways in which our culture has changed throughout my life -- some things for the worse, and some for the better. When I was a kid, smoking was common. Between Bible class and worship on Sunday, the entrance into the church building would look like Indians sending up smoke signals. Many was the person that had that deadly combination of early-morning-coffee-cigarette-smoke-breath (Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about!).

As Beverly and I were cleaning the kitchen the other night, there was an old "Andy Griffith Show" on. Andy was relaxing and smoking, and Beverly went, "Wow." Seeing that now just seems strange. But that was once the norm.

I truly don't think smokers realize that their habit is so hard to hide. The smell lingers on them and anyone close to them. I used to not realize that. Having parents who smoked, everywhere I went I carried that smell. It seemed to especially cling to my clothes and my hair. Now my nose can pick up a smoker from a distance.

It's funny to me how different tobaccos smell so differently. Cigarettes stink to me -- but some more than others. I don't know if the difference is in whether they are menthol or if it is just differences in brands. But I like the smell of some cigars. And I enjoy the smell of a pipe. My granddad used to smoke a pipe -- cherry blend. The aroma still holds good memories for me. I'm sure the 2nd-hand smoke is no better for my lungs whether it is from good smelling cherry-blend tobacco or a stinky cigarette.

While I recognize people in our country have the right to smoke, there are times I wish they would be more considerate of those around them. There is an old saying: "Your rights end where my nose begins." Perhaps that is never so true as it is with cigarette smoking.

I wish every smoker who wants to quit the best of luck today. To give up cigarettes is to add years to your life -- more years to love your kids and grandkids. More years to give to living out the Christ-life. And it is also to live more healthily.

The Reality of War

I am watching the documentary series on World War II that is showing on the History Channel this week. As I watch it, I wonder what MY life would have been like had I been born 40 years earlier? How would I have dealt with the sacrifices that were made domestically? What kind of soldier would I have been? What would I have done if I had been on the 1st wave to hit Omaha beach -- or Okinawa?

I find myself becoming more and more of a pacifist as I grow older. I no longer argue in favor of the death penalty. It seems that life without parole is a better alternative. And I don't think that just because our country enters a conflict -- that makes it right or justified. But I just can't see any way around us getting involved in World War II. And as I watch this show and consider the MASSIVE casualties -- 5,000 young men killed in single battles -- I wonder how people today would react.

We owe a great debt to those men and women who sacrificed through the 40s to defeat the oppressors.

The Aroma of Messiah

I have started a new book: Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, by Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg. The book's goal is to take us back to our Jewish roots -- and the Jewishness of our Messiah.

One story, whether perfectly accurate or not I can't know, captured my imagination in a powerful way. As the authors relate the story of Mary anointing Jesus' feet only days before His crucifixion, they give us some interesting perspective:

By anointing him with expensive fragrances, Mary may well have been making a statement about who she believed Jesus was, proclaiming him as Messiah. In fact, the Hebrew word for Messiah is Mashaich, which literally means "the Anointed One." Hebrew kings were anointed with sacred oil perfumed with extremely expensive spices

. . . The marvelous scent that it left behind acted like an invisible "crown," conferring an aura of holiness on its recipients.

They then note the similarities between Solomon's "anointing" and entry into Jerusalem (1 Kings 1: 38-40) and Jesus' anointing by Mary and subsequent entry into Jerusalem.

But here is the part that captured me: Everywhere Jesus went during the final days of his life he had the fragrance of royalty. Jesus smelled like a king. Imagine, in the garden of Gethsemane, as Judas and the guards approached Jesus to arrest him, the guards must have sniffed the air and wondered who stood before them. When Jesus was on trial, mocked, whipped, and stripped naked, even then the aroma may have clung to him.

The authors then note how this gives a whole new slant to Paul's words about us being "the aroma of Christ (the ANOINTED One) in 2 Corinthians 2: 14-16. As Jesus' followers, we spread the fragrance of our anointed Messiah everywhere we go.

WIsh I Had Read It 30 Minutes Earlier

Today is Veterans' Day. In recent weeks as Beverly has been gone on retreats and "keeping the grandkids" gigs, I have rented dvds of the miniseries "Band of Brothers." It is the true story of a group of soldiers from one of the most honored units in American history. They fought at D-Day, through France, and held their line in the Battle of the Bulge. They secured Hitler's fortress mansion at the close of the war.

Something that really struck me was at the end, one of the soldiers became very depressed and despondent because he HAD survived. There was something within him that felt guilty because he was going home. It was very moving.

We owe these men and women so much!

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I wish I had read this exerpt yesterday BEFORE I had posted my blog. I struggle between a fleshly response to terrorism, etc -- and a Christlike response. This is from M. Scott Peck:

I cannot be any more specific about the methodology of love than to quote these words of an old priest who spent many years in the battle: "There are dozens of ways to deal with evil and several ways to conquer it. All of them are facets of the truth that the only ultimate way to conquer evil is to let it be smothered within a willing, living human being. When it is absorbed there like blood in a sponge or a spear into one's heart, it loses its power and goes no further."

The healing of evil -- scientifically or otherwise -- can be accomplished only by the love of individuals. A willing sacrifice is required . . . I do not know how this occurs. But I know that it does . . . Whenever this happens there is a slight shift in the balance of power in the world.

We ourselves in recent history have seen this truth embodied in Martin Luther King, Jr, Nelson Mandela, and Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

This from Philip Yancey: "The cross redefines God as One who was willing to relinquish power for the sake of love. Jesus became, in Dorothy Solle's phrase, "God's ultimate disarmament." Power, no matter how well-intentioned, tends to cause suffering. Love, being vulnerable, absorbs it. In a point of convergence on a hill called Calvary, God renounced the one for the sake of the other."

Unfortunate Information from Fort Hood

Well, my concerns about Nidal Malik Hasan are daily becoming more affirmed. This is definitely an issue that I wish I could not say, "I told you so." The tragedy is multiplied as we are discovering that the FBI has been onto him for quite some time. There HAS to be something that they can do in a preemptive way! I know their hands are tied until he actually does something. And I certainly don't want the United States to become a police state. Anyone have any answers?

Today the execution is set for John Allen Muhammad, who went on a killing spree in 2002 that left 10 confirmed dead -- and maybe as many as 17.

I am disturbed about this. As a nation, we think that if we just ignore the problem, it will go away. We did the same thing in World War 2 with Hitler.

Yet, if you study the Eastern world view of Muslims, it's not going away. They are very patient -- realizing that their goals may not be reached in their lifetimes. It's about what is best for the community.

Americans want to believe that Islam is a religion of peace. And we are SO into beating ourselves up right now (especially Christians). Sure, we have done some things poorly in history. The Crusades were an ugly chapter, but even those were ugly on both sides. The sad thing is that "Christians" ever became involved in a "Holy (?) War" in the 1st place.

Yet I challenge anyone to just look around the world. Who is primarily providing clean water and food and medical help to the poor? Christians. And where are the large majority of trouble-spots in the world today? In Islamic nations.

When Islam becomes the majority in a country, religious freedoms are denied. People of other religions are persecuted, tortured and/or killed. Citizens are repressed. Peace? It only happens in an Islamic nation if people become slaves to the repressors. I know of no exceptions.

I know this seems to be a huge issue with me. It is . . . and it isn't. I don't obsess about it. But when things in the news pop up, I do THINK about it. And I do want us to get our heads out of the sand.

Tragedy at Fort Hood

What a tragedy yesterday at Fort Hood. 14 young, defenseless people massacred by a coward. Countless others wounded.

The bravery of people in these kinds of situations always amaze me. The ones who, in the midst of the barrage of bullets, made their way to block a door into an auditorium where a graduation ceremony was taking place. And the police officer who, only moments before had been directing traffic, but made her way into the carnage and shot the coward several times -- herself being wounded. Who knows how much worse the situation could have been?

Information is beginning to emerge about the shooter. A major in the US Army, he was a psychiatrist. He was getting ready to be deployed, and didn't want to go. Already, the media are attempting to explain what he did as a form of traumatic stress syndrome.

I will be interested to hear what his being a Muslim had to do with this event. Just before I left the house, a report said that his computer showed he had been discussing suicide bombings and other Islamic terrorist tactics. It did not say if his discussions were for or against. At this point, I am praying to God that I might withhold any judgment.

I am especially praying for the families and friends affected by this act.

I Just Don't Get It

"He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and prays the believer's prayer will be saved . . ." (Mark 16: 15-16)

"Go and make disciples of all nations, having them pray the believer's prayer in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit . . ." (Matthew 28: 19)

"When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?' Peter replied, 'Repent and pray the believer's prayer, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 2: 37-38)

"Or don't you know that all of us who prayed the believer's prayer prayed the believer's prayerinto his death? We were therefore buried with him through the believer's prayer into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the death through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (Romans 6: 3-4)

"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who prayed the believer's prayer into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." (Galatians 3: 26-27)

"He saved us through the believer's prayer and renewal by the Holy Spirit . . ." (Titus 3: 5)

". . . and this water symbolized the believer's prayer that now saves you also -- not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God." (1 Peter 3: 21)

I hope you recognize that the phrases I have italicized in these passages are actually substituting for "baptism." Yet this is what many in the evangelical Christian world teach today. Not only that, but anyone who dares to insist upon obedience to the verses cited above as they actually read is prone to being labeled as a legalist, narrow-minded, a cultist or even a heretic.

Yet for over 1500 years of church history, from its inception until the Reformation Movement, baptism was considered to be the means through which grace and salvation is mediated. While there was disagreement as to the mode of baptism (immersion, pouring, sprinkling), its purpose was never discounted. That is, not until Ulrich Zwingli, the lesser known of the big-3 reformers, decided that it was not necessary or essential.

So over the last 500 years, a "new way to Jesus" has become the norm: the believer's prayer. It is so much more convenient. People don't object to it as much. You can get whole crowds to do this simply by raising their hands.

I wonder why the disciples didn't know that? On the day of Pentecost, it would have been SO much easier to have just had those 3,000 people pray the believer's prayer. Of course, it hadn't been invented yet -- but that's beside the point. Instead, those narrow-minded disciples must have spent wasted hours baptizing all of those folks (I know, my sarcasm is leaking through).

To claim Jesus without baptism seems to me like a couple who shack up but never get married. They never experience the commitment that comes with making a covenant -- which ALWAYS includes a covenant symbol. It is so beautiful. It was Jesus' idea. The apostles taught it and practiced it. Not one person comes to Jesus in the book of Acts without being baptized. Why, oh why, is there such a rejection of it -- and anyone who teaches it -- today?

As a part of the Churches of Christ, I personally carry some baggage. There are verses we have used out of context to say things they were never intended to say. I repent of ever doing that. I repent of having been a sectarian. I repent of holding myself and my "church" up as the only lovers of truth. I repent of arrogance and self-righteousness. I have re-evaluated many of my preconceived assumptions and positions. But I've got to say, I still believe Scripture teaches a lofty view of baptism. Not as a work. Not as earning us anything. But rather, as a means through which grace and salvation can be mediated.

I would rather stand at the judgment and have to say, "God, I am sorry to discover that You didn't think baptism is necessary. But I was just preaching what You wrote in the Word" -- than to say, "God, baptism didn't make a whole lot of sense to me, so I just told people they could come to Jesus another way. So we came up with 'the believer's prayer.' It was all for You, You know. I'm sure You will understand."

Could I Get Used to It?

Last night Beverly and I went to a fundraiser at Vaquero Country Club. It was for an organization that my daughter volunteers for called "KidStand."

The food was INCREDIBLE! This is now the 3rd time I have been out to Vaquero, and each time I am blown away. I find it difficult to allow myself to be waited on the way they do.

A part of my flesh craves that -- even envies it. I try to imagine what it would be like to actually be a member there. Gorgeous golf course. Nicest staff ever. EVERYTHING is done for you -- short of actually swinging the golf club. And to be able, even on a cool night, to sit outside on the veranda with an open-pit fire warming you -- staring at an awesome full moon as it rises. Can life be any better?

It makes me almost wish in reincarnation. That way I could say to myself, "Maybe in another life." Don't get uptight. My spirit-filled side kicks in about here -- bringing me back to the reality of how good I have it in Jesus. But still . . .

Why Miracles?

I know this is a late blog, but I have been struck this morning by my devotional reading. It's in a chapter of Yancey's dealing with the subject of Jesus' miracles. He wraps it up like this:

Why, then, any miracles? Did they make any difference? I readily concede that Jesus, with a few dozen healings and a handful of resurrections from the dead, did little to solve the problem of pain on this planet. That is not why he came. Nevertheless, it was in Jesus' nature to counteract the effects of the fallen world during his time on earth. As he strode through life Jesus used supernatural power to set right what was wrong. Every physical healing pointed back to a time in Eden when physical bodied did not go blind, get crippled, or bleed nonstop for 12 years -- and also pointed forward to at time of re-creation to come . . . To put it mildly, God is no more satisfied with this earth than we are; Jesus' miracles offer a hint of what God intends to do about it.

Some see miracles as an implausible suspension of the laws of the physical universe. As signs, though, they serve just the opposite function. Death, decay, entropy, and destruction are the true suspensions of God's laws; miracles are the early glimpses of restoration. In the words of Jurgen Moltmann, "Jesus' healings are not supernatural miracles in a natural world. They are the only truly 'natural' things in a world that is unnatural, demonized and wounded."

Recapping Weekend Sports

Wasp-count update: We are now up to 62. I'm getting to be a dead-eye shot with the fly swatter. It was fun last night as I took down 2 while we had small group. I didn't want to be guilty of friendly-fire.

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Looks like the Yankees are on their way to another championship. BOO!

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While I didn't like the way Brett Favre handled himself in the last couple of off-seasons, who can deny that the man still has game? What he is doing in Minnesota is unbelievable!

Alert: Terrell Owens is missing. Hasn't been heard from since sticking it to the Bills. Any leads?

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Here's hoping for a Texas-Florida national championship. The battle of the good-guy quarterbacks. ACU is getting more free publicity from the broadcasters of Texas games than they could ever pay for. Each game, the broadcasters recount several times how Colt McCoy's dad and Jordon Shipley's dad were roommates at ACU.