Happy Holidays! See You Next Year

Wayoutwise is going on a holiday hiatus. I'll be on the road the next few days and hope to take a day off next week to go sit at my favorite holiday basketball tournament. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

I hope each of you have a great Christmas and your New Year starts off on the right note. My New Year's wish for me and for you is that we will all come to know God better and grow closer to Him.

I'll be back next year.

What Is Your Eye Doing Today?

Yesterday at lunch, I was talking with a friend and we were discussing how to get everyone who is willing more involved at church. In my mind, it comes down to the leadership leading. The leaders must know what the strengths are of those they lead and be willing to use those strengths.

I was at a basketball game last night featuring Sports Illustrated's #1 and #13 ranked high school basketball teams in the nation. One team seemed to work together as a team, 4 players scoring relatively equal amounts and helping each other succeed. The other team had a dynamic player, the best on the court, who became frustrated because his teammates didn't play to his level. Instead of using them in their strengths, he attempted to use them as if they could do what he could. Apparently, the coach helped him with a mental adjustment at halftime. The team leader did what he did (scoring a lot of points) and got his teammates involved where they could use their strength. It was a tale of two halves and the second half belonged to the leader who started using his teammates in ways they could be effective.

For any organization to work effectively, everyone must learn what they can do to help the organization and the leaders must use those people in ways they can succeed. To do that, the leaders have to know the people, talk to them, learn about their dreams, their fears, their desires. It applies to me in what I do each day and it applies to you in whatever you are doing. Whether you are the head, the eye, a hand, a finger...whatever you and I may be, we have a role to fill to be successful personally and to help others be successful.

I'm Stunned

Our ladies basketball team from church won 1st place in the women's division. As I understand it, there was a 3 way tie and the tie-breaker went on points and our ladies won by 1 point.

Our mens team took 3rd place in their division. Last night was a closer game than it should have been but we ended up with a win for our final game. I think if we played for 4 more weeks, I'd be close to being in playing shape. It's too bad it had to end last night.

One of the nice things about the league we played in was not dealing with cursing or anyone abusing the refs too badly. Our team certainly had to win the award for best commentary during a game but it was nice that everyone played hard but fair. I've been in other church leagues that seemed to check Jesus at the door. This league was fun and uplifting to play in.

Thanks to Brad Davis for being the church intramural director. It's not an official title but he's taken on the role.

One Week

We're one week away from the big day when Santa comes to town. The excitement is growing for my two children as they started discussing last night where they would be in a week and what they would be doing.

I don't really want to know the day and time I will see heaven but I want to have the same excitement about that time that my kids have about Santa coming. I don't know when to anticipate Jesus coming but I do want to start being more focused in my excitement for what that day will be like. Imagine the gifts we will receive on that day. Imagine the joy and happiness, the sounds and sights. It will not be gift that rusts or will be outgrown or broken but a gift we have everyday. Imagine the excitement in the eyes of those who are there. Imagine being with the one who has given us the greatest gift of all...

Say It Ain't So Tony

The Cowboys lost. I missed the majority of the game thank goodness. I had one friend who Tivo'd it and went home to watch it after church. He would have done well to listen to my warning to avoid it. Does a near loss against Detroit and a loss to the Eagles represent a coming crash or just a rough stretch?
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One of my favorite events is rapidly approaching. The Whataburger basketball tournament starts in a little over a week with another group of powerhouse teams from around the Metroplex and from out of state will meet in Ft. Worth. I'll probably take one day off from work to watch and catch the championship games on Saturday night. Yippee!
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My 6th graders lost a game Saturday that they should have won. It was a heartbreaker because they played a great game but couldn't get the ball to fall through the hoop. We were playing one of those teams you really want to beat just because the coach was a loudmouth, hot-head. If my son was on his team, I'd pull him off. Anyway, I was just so very proud of my guys because they played as good as I could hope. We just need to improve our scoring percentage and keep playing like they did Saturday and they will be tough to beat.

Baseball Scandal

The Mitchell Report was released yesterday and several big name players were mentioned as steroids users. The one I was most disappointed to hear was Roger Clemens. I hope it is inaccurate but the steroid saga has reached a point where I think it would be quicker to name the players not accused of using.

I have mixed emotions. On the one hand, I don't know how credible the accuser is. I also see pictures of players who have gotten bigger over the years but I have lots of friends who I'm pretty sure don't use steroids that are thicker today than they were 10-15 years ago. On the other hand, it is discouraging that elite players may not have been as elite without some advantage gained through medicine.

I know this; it's a mess and I'm glad I don't have to sort it out. In the end, people will keep showing up at the ballparks (I'm included) and the games will go on. The arguments will continue over whether someone should be in the Hall of Fame, owners will keep spending millions for players and life will just keep going.
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I got to witness a new birth last night. One of the young men in our youth group was baptized with family and friends looking on. I noticed right afterwards that his dad was shedding a few tears and all I could think of was the joy of that father and how much more the joy of The Father. I know angels were singing and rejoicing with Hal Ray's family and friends last night.

A Challenge

Decaturites awoke today to find a little ice on the ground. Brrr....

I was visiting with someone from the Tulsa area last night and she was telling me about the storm there and all the damage it has caused. She was talking about how dark it was at night with no lights on anywhere. I listened thinking how bad it must be but as tears came to her eyes, I realized how painful it was for the people who live in that area.
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I was issued a challenge in class last night. The teacher issued a challenge to each of us to determine how closely we want to know God. What are we willing to give up to be close to God? What do we fear will happen if we really get close to God? How will our lives and earthly relationships change if we get intimately close with God?

It's much easier to try to bring God into my sphere instead of me stepping out of what I want and know into God's realm. I thought last Sunday how often I pray for what I want God to do for me instead of asking God to use me however He wants to.

I need to change my thinking. I need to go where God leads me. I need to surrender to Him.

Defeat

We got beat again last night but played a much game than the 1st go-round with these guys. We lost by 4 and were in it the whole game. They had one guy get on a short streak and we didn't. If Mark Taylor would have got up of the sofa and played like MJ did back in the day, we would have won I'm sure. I hope you get to feeling better, Mark.
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I was listening to Dale Hansen the other night and got a kick out of his comment that Cowboys fans are picking apart the defense and a few other things and that they seem to have already forgot the past 10 years. His advice is to enjoy what we've got and let the coaches worry about what needs to happen to win the next game.
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The Rangers are signing Milton Bradley, a perennial bad boy of baseball. Gagne signed for $10m to play with Milwaukee and it looks like a Asian pitcher is about all we'll get. Hmmm.
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Excuse the ramblings today. I'll blame my lack of thoughts today on my lack of sleep last night.

Flat

I came home last night to find one the tires completely flat on my wife's car. She impressed me with her restraint in saying it was time for a new car (inside joke between she and I). I took it to the uber-store, WalMart, to get fixed and headed to basketball practice. Guess what she found this morning when she went to the garage? Yep, the tire was flat again. So, it was off to Wally World again this morning for a second attempt. It looks like Santa may have to bring a new set of tires this year.
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I was listening to the news this morning while they gave more details about the church shooting in Colorado on Sunday. It's a sad, sickening story. A blog I read yesterday (www.rross.blogspot.com) pointed out the hurting world we live in. While we so often seek justice afterwards, maybe we need to be more aware of offering compassion earlier. I don't know what would have helped the young man who did this but I do know that justice today won't bring anyone back and that's sad too.
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In our Bible class Sunday, I was thinking about this idea of closure for victims of crime. I am fortunate in that I've never been victim of a serious crime. I hear people talk about closure through justice (whether a prison sentence or harsher) but I wonder if that really brings closure. Last night, I listened to a story about Warrick Dunn, a football player for the Atlanta Falcons, who sat across the table from a man who had killed Dunn's mother. As the story went, not one time did Dunn feel the urge to reach across the table and hurt the man. When asked how he could exercise that control, he replied it came from God and counseling he received. It makes me think closure comes from the heart, not from an action.

I just hope I never have to find out the hard way.
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There are a lot of people walking among us that hurt today. Offer a pray for them, that they may find peace and offer a prayer for you and me, that we may be God's instruments of peace.

Step Up

I was privileged to attend the youth group Christmas party Sunday night. It's been incredible getting to know some of our youth and they have been an inspiration to me. The last few Wednesday nights, we have had nearly 50 kids show up for class. Many of the kids who come don't have family that attend our church but have been invited and encouraged to come by "our kids." We have such an evangelistic youth group - it is just incredible.

The theme for 2008 is "Step Up." It is a challenge to step up and be a leader regardless of age. I find it an appropriate theme for our group of kids because so many of them are already stepping up. I can only imagine what they may accomplish in the future. Even though they are only teenagers, they are already examples to me and many other older Christians in their service to others and openness to bringing people to God.

I am truly thankful I have been invited to be a part of teaching and participating with this incredible group of people. I know they will push me forward in my service to God. As always, it's hard to talk about our great youth group without mentioning an incredible couple who lead our kids, Jacob and Heather. Jacob and Heather lead with abounding love, a servant spirit and humbleness that is evident in everything they do.

Our kids and our youth leaders are a mixture that could be explosive in glorifying God and putting Satan in his place. Our pray our church will take the challenge Jacob has given the kids and that we all "Step Up" to be Christian leaders and servants in our community and beyond.

Foggy Friday

Rumor has it we might get some "wintery mix" next week. I'm ready for the weather to go one way or the other.

I didn't get to hear Mitt Romney's speech yesterday about his faith and his desire to run for President but the excerpts I heard made it sound like he wasn't afraid to say he believes that Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior. That seems pretty bold in today's watered down, politically correct political world.

The crazy killing in Omaha at the mall just sickens me. It's definitely one of those "why God?" moments.

I'm stilling thinking about Jacob's lesson Wednesday night. I don't want any more storms in my life. The people who lost a loved one in Omaha are certainly in the midst of one. So many other people around us are in them too, some more severe than others, but all a storm to the one who is dealing with it. I like my life without storms yet I know that God allows them because they can and will draw us near to him. The other night when I was coming home from a basketball game and got the call that my mother-in-law was at the hospital with symptoms that were scary, all I could think to do was say a prayer and then turn on a song I listen to often, "I Will Praise You In This Storm" by Casting Crowns. One thing I know, the storms will come. I just hope I will learn to seek God in them so I can come out the other side of it closer to Him.

The Hope of Youth

My nephew, Drew, was baptized last night. I pray that he has many, many years of service to God and that he will lead people to God through his life and his walk.

Last night, I sat in our youth group class as our youth minister talked about the storms of life. I thought about Drew's decision and one of the storms he's been through and will continue to deal with - Type 1 diabetes. I have some appreciation for what he will face but I can't understand it through the eyes of a young boy. As we talked about what the storms do to us and for us, I thought about the storms I have gone through. Some have strengthened me and some have given me the ability to understand other's pain. I believe Drew's storm will do that, it will give him the ability to help others, both to deal with the storm they are in and to look to a merciful Savior who offers so much. Tie that with his desire to serve God and he has the opportunity to do some great things for God's kingdom.

I believe he will.

I Don't Enjoy Losing

We were winning the whole game and lost it in the 4th quarter. I'm not a real expressive person but I go home and think about what I did that I need to correct and what I could have done that would have helped us win - and it's just a church league game.

Next week we get to play the team that beat us in the first round when we had an off night shooting. I'm ready for a rematch and hope we can get back on top. I don't enjoy losing.
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It's Casa Torres night. We've developed the tradition/habit of eating at Casa Torres every Wednesday night with friends of ours. The food is good and it's great to visit with friends and build relationships. I like Wednesday nights.
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Does anyone else open a Christmas present early? Our family has a tradition of letting the kids open one present early, usuallly before we go to my folks house. I always get a kick of watching kids faces as they tear through the wrapping paper. It may be the best part of Christmas for me, the excitement and anticipation. The gift can be anti-climatic compared with the excitement of getting to it. I'm ready!

Going to Battle

We have another game tonight against a team we have beaten previously but they've got new players this go-round. One of our big guys will be out tonight so I don't get as much rest time as I've grown accustomed to the last two games.
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Maybe it's just me but it seems like there aren't as many lights up this year as in the past. I wonder if the warm weather or the early Thanksgiving have anything to do with it. I hope it's not a lull in Christmas spirit.
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Today is my wife's last day as a student-teacher in the classroom. I think she is having mixed emotions. Relief from completing the requirements of the program while leaving the kids will be harder than I think she first thought. I think my son has really enjoyed having her around too.
She told me this morning that this time had been a blessing to her and I am confident it was a blessing to many of the kids she helped. I know she will be a great teacher if she decides to pursue that course in the future. In the meantime, she already has some substitute teaching jobs lined up for teachers she has been working with.

One more day of training after today and she will be certified. I don't know what will come next for her but I do know this; I'm very proud of her for achieving this accomplishment.

Take It Back

I remember when I was a kid, when someone said something that was hurtful to another kid, the offended party might say "take it back" and if the one who said the words did, it was over and done with.

For some reason, the "take it back" thought struck me yesterday. I wish there were so many things I've said or done I could take back and it would be gone. Unfortunately, as we grow up, we don't use the "take it back" theory. Thankfully, there is someone who takes it back for us, someone who we can offend and He is the one to take it back for us.

I hurt for the times I have hurt someone and wish I could take it back and it would be erased from memory but I am so thankful for Jesus. I cannot comprehend what He has given me through His sacrifice on the cross but I feel like I keep growing closer to Him and His beautiful love for me.

Wowzy

I missed the 1st quarter of last night's big game but the last 3 were pretty entertaining. I hated to see Favre go out since that has been billed as the big matchup but Rodgers did a good job filling in after playing as Tony Romo in practice all week for the Packers. Romo looks so cool out there. I've lost interest in pro sports to some degree but last night was fun to watch.
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Another thing I've lost interest in is politics. I used to be an avid follower of the political landscape but like so many others, I have become disillusioned by it all. Politicians attempt to demonize one another when they have their own skeletons dangling behind them and very little is said to lift this country up. I was hearing bits and pieces of an interview on TV yesterday with one of the leading Republicans who wants to invest a lot of dollars in alternative fuels (sounds like a good idea) but couldn't offer one concrete way to raise the money (sounds a bit scary). Maybe it's because he has to spend so much time defending himself from the attacks of others. There lies the problem, at least for me. I don't trust a single one of them. Not a Republican nor a Democrat. I have no faith in the people elected to govern our country (I certainly don't feel I can use the word "leadership" for what they offer) and find myself more and more repulsed at listening to their babbling.
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I am thankful today simply that I am a child of God. I am so weak and the Devil is ever after me. While dealing with a labor issue yesterday, all I could think of was how much I wanted to beat down (figuratively) the person causing the problem. Today I will pray for that person and pray that God intervenes, changes hearts and helps us all find a reasonable resolution.

Yes, today I am thankful that I am a child of God.

Thank You

I want to thank you for your prayers yesterday. Judy is better and supposed to be heading home today. As I understand it, the doctors think it was a TIA (I think it's like a mini-stroke) but are still analyzing everything and will meet with her in a few days. For now, she's much better and I'm sure ready to get out of the hospital. Keep her in your prayers as she gets back to full speed ahead.
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Our church is blessed to have two ministers of the high caliber that our church now enjoys. I was able to spend time with both last night and they are great guys with a great passion for sharing Christ. They are both matched with wonderful wives who are also a great blessings to our family.
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Tonight is THE game, Cowboys and Packers. I've got basketball practice for my 6th grade team and will miss the first quarter or so of the game. I tried to move my practice time so I could see the game but couldn't find a spot. Our first scrimmage is Saturday and we certainly need the practice time so I'll just hope the 'boys are rolling good by the time I get home.

Please Pray

I ask for your prayers for my mother-in-law today. She went to the hospital late last night not feeling well and her blood pressure was elevated. They ran some tests last night but didn't find anything conclusive and kept her overnight in ICU to monitor her and run more tests this morning. I know God will hear your prayers offered up on her behalf.
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Nothing else I write seems too significant right now but I know some of you also sit on the edge of your seats waiting for information on the "fighting Christians" basketball team. We won last night pretty handily. Our "big-3" had a good game and we got some good play from Chris Lowery (yes, that Chris Lowery) and Steve Fry, a new guy to our church. Steve is one of those quiet guys that just shows up where the rebounds go. I finally got a ball to drop but have sustained a hurting rumpus and nose after taking a charge. Since I outweighed the guy by 200 pounds they gave me the foul but it was a charge. That puts us at 2-1 for the season as we start the second round of games.
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Thanks for your prayers today.

Now That That's Out Of The Way...

We've passed our time of giving thanks and have now entered into the time of "stuff." The shoppers were out this weekend and today is referred to as Cyber Monday, the day people will shop online. Here's hoping that the idea of thanksgiving stays with us a bit longer and that the season of gift giving isn't about what we get but that someone cares enough about us to give.
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It was a good weekend at my parents house with plenty of food, some shopping, football and basketball watching and more food. At church on Sunday morning, I reflected on growing up and the many people at that church that had a hand in raising me. They are older now but the smiles we share when we see each other hasn't changed and the memories are as vivid as ever. One of my close friends I grew up with was there with his children and it borders on overwhelming to think he has a daughter that will be driving soon and I have one that isn't too much further behind. I see him and still think we are kids roaming the streets of Tyler but I look at our children and realize how fast life is flying by.
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The worst part of the weekend was Texas losing to Texas A&M. I wonder if the fire Mack Brown crowd is going to be back on the rampage soon. There were a lot of other coaches that got the ax quickly over the weekend. It's a tough business.

This is my last year to coach my son and his friends in basketball. I hope I have given them so tools they can build off of as they go forward and I hope this season is a good one for our team. I'm going to miss these days of working with these kids but look forward to what the future brings them as I get to "relax" in the bleachers and cheer them on.

The Day After

People are crazy to be out shopping this early. Is there any reason sales couldn't start at 10AM instead of 4AM?

I survived Turkey Day in pretty good shape. I got up and went for a walk and the north wind reminded me it would be a cold day. We had a great lunch followed by a great Cowboys game and the kids played outside in the snow. Yes, I said snow. First little flakes and then the big, pretty ones. It was short lived but exciting all the same.

We're leaving early to head east and visit my folks in Tyler for the weekend. I'm sure it will include plenty of food and shopping. I'm looking forward to the sofa the most as I usually get a decent nap in on Saturday afternoons while the women are hitting the stores.

I hope everyone had a really good day yesterday wherever you were and gave thanks for what you have. My thoughts have been on people I know in Brazil who likely didn't have a huge meal and are not planning to go shopping because all they have is what they have on, but I know they are thankful for what God has given them and know it is all they need. I'm thankful for their example and their love and hope I can show more of that to those around me.

Planning For An Assualt

We got beat up on last night in basketball. Our big-3 (Jacob, Brad, Mark T) had trouble getting the ball to go in and the other team got on a hot streak we couldn't recover from. Hopefully we'll get back on track next week.
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It's time to start mentally preparing for how I will mount my assault on lunch tomorrow. Do I eat lighter today? Do I focus on one food area tomorrow? Important decisions as Thanksgiving approaches. Know what I mean?
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I'm still pondering the many things I have to be thankful for. I considered listing some but there are so many...so many people God has placed on my journey through life, so many experiences that have helped me see more clearly, so many opportunities...I know I would forget to write some down and take 3 days to finish writing all that I can remember.

I will write one. I am so thankful for a God who loves me like no one else, a God who showers me with people and experiences and opportunities, a God who surrounds me with mercy that is unworldly, a God who has given me the greatest gift, much greater than anything I would ever ask for. I am truly thankful to know and be a child of God.

Roundball Part 2

Our church team takes the court again tonight. Here's hoping the 2nd week goes as well as the 1st. Our ladies team has a bye tonight so they get to rest their bruises and bumps one more week.
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TO is all the rage again. While the preacher at the church has gone from...hmmm, shall I say not enjoying TO to now being a fan, Terry Bradshaw is slamming TO saying the new look will be short lived. I can't help but wonder what will happen the 2nd game TO doesn't have a touchdown. On the other hand, I hope the Cowboys don't have to find out.

I did hear one funny comment from Terrell last night. Bradshaw made the comment on Sunday that he "wasn't buying it" referring to TO's new attitude. Last night on the news, they played a sound bite of TO telling Bradshaw "it wasn't for sale" and flashing that grin he has. Good stuff.
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I'm internally incensed at the number of retailers who are now opening on Thanksgiving Day to sale their stuff. I realize they only open because people will show up and that is saddening too. It's Thanksgiving Day and people still can't stop themselves from shopping and getting the "deals." It's maddening, at least in my own mind.

Now you have to show up for doorbusters at 5 in the morning. It's crazy. Personally, I think it's a sad indictment on what is important to our culture. Admittedly, I'm caught up in it wanting to know what my wife and kids want so I can hopefully find great gifts for them and I've already started my list to give people who are asking me what I want. All the while, I wonder why I'm so materialistic. I like stuff, especially electronic stuff, but I hope one day I can kick the stuff habit.

Cowboys and Ramblings

How 'bout them Cowboys? Tony Romo is certainly on track to be the golden child this year and TO is catching balls, scoring touchdowns and keeping his mouth shut. Wow.

I don't get very excited about pro sports - I'm just so tired of the money and drama that emanates from it all - but I do listen to sports radio almost all the time and it is interesting to hear the comments this year compared with what I remember from last year. I think people are moving from being happy if the Cowboys would make the playoffs to analyzing what they need to do to beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl. There's nothing like expectations.
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I still haven't fully grasped that Thanksgiving is on Thursday (not Sunday as I originally wrote). It seems like it should be several weeks away still yet I look at the calendar and there it sits.

I want to spend this week reflecting on what I am thankful for. I heard another great sermon yesterday that is challenging me to be more thankful to the Lord for what I have. It's a long list and I need to spend time thanking Him who provides it all for me.

On The Road Again and Again and Again

I was out yesterday at one of our locations and leaving again this morning for another. I'm booking flights today for Denver and New York for January. My son and I are headed to Graham tonight to see the Decatur vs. Abilene Wylie game and up early tomorrow to get a few things done. Whew.
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My 6th grade team has started basketball practice. It's always tough this time of year because I try to start teaching some plays and then we get into the holidays and school programs and lose practice time in the gym to learn. Our first game is December 1 which doesn't give us much time. Most of the guys played for me last year so that will help and the new ones will add something to the team so I'm excited to see how we will do.
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The benefit of today's travel is getting to eat at one of my favorite bbq spots in Texas-the Hard 8 in Stephenville.

Have a great day.

Aliv

I'm aliv. We played our first church league basketball game and I ended up playing much more than I thought I would and survived pretty well. I got to sleep late and have a few sore muscles today so I think I'm about 80% (4/5 of the word "alive"). To top it off, we won! I'm looking for an undefeated season now. haha

Our ladies team played before us and lost by 1 point but played hard. I'd be scared to play them.
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I read an article on Joel Osteen this morning that has me thinking. While I don't agree with all of his philosophy, one thing he said is resonating with me this morning. He said something to the effect that his gift is to encourage people and lift them up. He stays away from doctrinal preaching, instead choosing to focus on what will help people today.

I thought it was interesting for him to say his gift was one of encouragement. What a great gift to share. Again, I don't know if I agree if being an encourager is a gift or an attitude but that doesn't really matter as long as I go out today and try to encourage people. Whether it's my gift or not, it's still a precious gift to give someone else.

Blog Blahs

Today is one of those days where there is nothing in my head to write about so it will be just wild ramblings of things that pop into my head.

Today is our monthly store manager meeting. We spend most of the day discussing what is happening in the stores and what our plans are for the coming months. The holiday selling season will be the main topic of conversation today.

I cannot believe Thanksgiving is next week. It doesn't seem possible.

Our church basketball teams play our first games tonight. I've signed up for one but don't know how I will hobble down the court on a hurt knee and out of shape. The last time I played, I tore my calf muscle so I hope paramedics are standing by. I remember when I was younger and expected to play all the time. That's certainly not the case for tonight.

The Decatur cross country teams both performed well at the state meet last weekend. The boys got 3rd place and the girls claimed 5th. Those kids spend HOURS preparing for something that lasts 15 minutes and my hat is off to them for their hard work.

Decatur football plays Abilene Wylie this Friday. Wylie has been our nemesis in football and baseball over the past few years but especially in football. They seem to be the team we just can't figure out.

That's all from me. I hope you are having a great day.

Love

I had the great fortune of attending church at Fortress yesterday, an inner-city mission in Fort Worth. We had a good time and got to meet some fun young kids but the lesson of the morning really struck a chord with me. Sometimes I read scripture over and over and out of the blue, something pops out to me in a way I hadn't thought of it before.

The topic was love and the question the teacher asked was "what does love look like?" We read the scripture in 1 Corinthians 13 about love but I read it in a way different than I usually do. I inserted "God" instead of "love" in the verses and got a better understanding of what love looks like.

God is patient, God is kind. God does not envy, He does not boast, He is not proud. He is not rude, He is not self-seeking, He is not easily angered, He keeps no record of wrongs. God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. God never fails.

Wow, that is love. I kept thinking about what love looks like right now, today, here in Decatur and I read the scripture again.

Jeff is patient, Jeff is kind. Jeff does not envy, he does not boast, he is not proud. Jeff is not rude, he is not self-seeking, he is not easily angered, Jeff keeps no records of wrongs. Jeff does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Jeff always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Jeff never fails.

If only that were true. If only. However, it is a great reminder to me what I should be, how I should act, what people should see. I'm not those things as much or as often as I am but I know what love should look like. It should look like me being patient and kind, not easily angered, not failing and the rest.

Oh God, help me to look like love.

Relevance

I am often confused by the term "relevant" because it so often seems what is relevant to one person is not at all relevant to another. I had a discussion the other day with a friend about what people are looking for from a church, what is relevant to them. It's a question that has been in my head for some time now. In the Churches of Christ, one of which I attend, we have long held the tradition of having church on Sunday night and Wednesday night and for as long as I can remember the attendance has been significantly lower than on Sunday morning. I can imagine several reasons for that over time but today's biggest complaint is usually that those services are not relevant and I have had trouble understanding what that meant until a recent conversation I had with another friend who attends a different church. To paraphrase, he said he didn't want to be sitting around with a bunch of people acting religious, he wanted to be out doing what Jesus would be doing. He is a guy who will be at church every Sunday morning and believes the worship time is a very special time and something he will always be active in but the rest of the week he wants to devote himself to study and to serving others. Service to him is more relevant than sitting in a class a couple of nights a week.

I know these ideas can open up a can of worms with people but the idea of service to others is not one that can be debated, not one that can be ignored and is certainly one of relevance. So is the fact that what is relevant to one person is not always relevant to another and our church leaders need to be aware and helping secure opportunities for all members to serve God.

There is much left for me to think through on this and I hope no one will take this as my definitive stance. This is my blog and my space to post my thoughts, many of which are half-baked at any given time. For me, writing my thoughts is my best and easiest way to start thinking through them so share this time and space with me. My challenge for me and for you today is to think about how you are serving God and how you are making yourself relevant in the pursuit of His glory.

Cellphonelessness

My cell phone quit on me yesterday. I was loading an upgrade to the software, followed all the rules, and when it was done there was no service. I called tech support to no avail. I've been with Sprint for several years and keep contemplating a change because Sprint has delivered the absolute worst customer service on a consistent basis that I can imagine. It's difficult to get anything done and I don't remember ever calling and having to speak to less than 3 people to find out they couldn't or wouldn't do what I was asking.

My only quandry at the moment is how long to go with the "broken cellphone" theme. It's a step back in time to a more peaceful era and I kind of like it.
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Basketball season is cranking up - my favorite time of the year. I have a draft for my 6th grade team tonight. I'm playing on a church team that starts games next Tuesday. The high school team has their first game next Tuesday, college basketball is getting rolling and the pros (not real basketball in my mind) have already started. I think I've already watched more pro games this year (3) than I did all of last year so I'm ready for the college season to get started in earnest. I can't wait for March Madness.

Who's your favorite team?

Consensus

I have been serving on a committee for the school district looking at the current facilities and preparing to make suggestions for what needs to be considered for the next 5, 10, 15 years. There have been 20-30 people at each meeting and it's been interesting to watch and listen to other people's perspectives when we went to a facility. Everyone can be looking at one thing and seeing many different things but there was one place we visited that people either seemed to see black or white - the football stadium. I missed the big powwow Monday night where the final recommendations were made but heard that when it came to proposing a new football stadium, there were definitely two different camps.

The hope for our group is that we would reach a consensus, not a majority rule but a consensus where we could make a recommendation that all might not agree with but there was some common ground. It sounds like that happened with the football stadium...down the list aways...with plenty of reservations. It will be interesting to see how it turns out someday down the road.

Yet what struck me was the idea of consensus. An idea of agreeing to find common ground. It might require compromises, adjustments, modifications but it's the idea of working together to get to a common point - not my point or your point but a common point - that struck me about this exercise and this group.

I enjoyed my time on the committee, saw things I hadn't seen before and met some people I didn't know. It was a good experience and I hope to see the recommedations come to fruition because most of them will certainly enhance the academic experience and opportunities for our children. Secretly, I hope we get a new stadium too.

Going Home

I head back home today and I'm ready. I miss being with my family and I'm ready to get back to them. It's really cold today. The high is going to be 42 and with the wind, it will feel more like 35.

I went to see American Gangster the other night, not realizing it was 3 days long. I had mixed feelings but in the end wasn't overly impressed. Both characters were flawed in opposite but similar ways but the storyline had a hard time of really exploring the characters. It was part action and part narrative, never really developing much traction on either side. On the other hand, it was interesting to see what both people went through and provoking some thought on how they got to where they were.

Speaking of movies, the keynote speaker at our conference with Chris Gardner who the movie Pursuit of Happyness was about. He was interesting and he told a good story, was funny and sobering. I can't imagine living the life he went through but it does show what hope can do for you. One of the interesting things I learned was that his son was only 14 months old when they were living on the street. The movie version has an older child because, as Gardner said, 14 months old don't carry much of a dialogue. There were a few other differences but nothing significant and Gardner says they are considering a sequel.

No others thoughts of interest (as if the above was) so I'm off for a shower, a very cold stroll and a haircut before getting the bags packed and heading out.

I Love The Big City

I really enjoy coming to Chicago. It's a great place to be...for 3-4 days anyway. I find it an interesting place compared with Decatur. All the people, the houses jammed together, the greenspace for the dogs that are couped up in apartments and condos and the people picking up the dogs mess in a bag, the shops on Michigan Avenue, the frenetic pace of people going here and there, the street performers...and the food...yummy. I feasted at Gino's East Pizza last night. Chicago pizza is my favorite and Gino's does it really, really well. I want to eat at Gibson's before I leave but don't know that I'll make it this trip but it's one of my favorite places to sink my teeth into an incredible steak.

I'm surrounded by this mass of humanity and I wonder how many know God. I wonder how many have the same hope that I have, the joy in a Savior that I have. I hope the number is much bigger than I think but I hear their conversations and get a sense of their direction and it makes me wonder. Maybe I'm walking a mission field, I don't know.

I do know this. The Republicans are not poised to win in Chicago. In the elevators, on the street, in the hotel lobby all I hear is Obama, Obama, Obama with some Hillary thrown in. Not one good word about Bush which seems to be the new synonym for Republicans.

I'm off to class...and then back into the mass of humanity.

I Thought Baseball Just Ended

I'm taking my baseball playing boy to Flower Mound tonight to try out for a team. It's getting harder and harder to put a competitive team together in our small town so we are hitting the road to see what options are out there. The deck is stacked against him. He's trying out for a team that has been playing fall ball while he's been taking it easy. They are in Flower Mound and the coach is already hesitant I'll make the haul on a regular basis.

I think he's ready though. I've asked several times if he really wants to do this and he affirms it each time. I just hope he will perform well and see improvements in his own abilities.
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We missed Halloween! It was a church night and by the time we got home, most trick-or-treating was done. The kids didn't seem to mind as both wanted to be at church anyway and I don't think the lack of all that candy will do us any harm. Still, it was odd not to be hauling them door to door to get their loot.
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I leave tomorrow for the Windy City. I ask for your prayers for safe travel and for my family while I'm gone.

Death Penalty

I heard on TV this morning that there may be a change on the Supreme Court's thinking on the death penalty. It's something I wrestle with a little because I've not been in the position of someone who has been a victim of one of the criminals that was subject to it. On the other hand, and I realize my position may knock me off the Republican Party Christmas card list, I am not a proponent of the death penalty. I just don't see where we have the right to choose if someone should live or die, that we have the right to take someone's life into our own hands. I can't reconcile Christ-likeness with the death penalty.

Do I think criminals should be punished? Definitely. I think there was probably some benefit to the chain gangs and hard, hard manual labor. Maybe some authorities didn't handle it properly but I think it's a much better alternative to the death penalty. When Clayton Williams ran for governor several years ago, one of his theme's was "busting rocks" which is what he wanted the criminals to do. I think he had a lot of support until he made a stupid comment about rape but his hard work for criminals seemed to strike a chord with many people.

I want feel bad to see the death penalty go away but I would like to see more stringent penalties for those offenders who might be in line for it.
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The Rockies-Red Sox series didn't go the way I wanted it to but it was a good example of momentum ruling the day. The Sox had it and the Rockies had been sitting still too long but it was still neat to see them make it that far. As for the Rangers...maybe next year.

A Late Start

I usually blog early in the morning but my day has been wacky so I'm running behind and to top it off, I really have nothing to say. I'm leaving Friday for a conference in Chicago. I enjoy going to Chicago and like to walk around and not need a car for a few days. I had hoped my wife was going to be able to join me but several things going on around here will prevent that so it makes the trip a little less exciting to look forward to. Even so, I'll probably still pop in to the original Pizzeria Uno, eat at ESPN Sportszone for my son and finish off my time there at Joe's Stone Crab. Things may change but it's good to have dreams of eating good!

The rest of the time I'll be at an accounting software conference. I'm not sure I can imagine anything sounding more boring but I'm sure there is. I'm considering trying to get tickets to a Bulls game but the luster of seeing them has diminished over the years. I've also thought of dropping in at Truefitt & Hill and getting an old-fashion shave and haircut. The Apple store will be a definite stop and maybe the Orvis store too. I think there is a theater near my hotel so I might catch the new Denzel Washington movie one night.

I'll be alone but I think I'll find a few things to keep me occupied. It's good to have plans.

16:38

My daughter was able to run in the district cross country meet as it was moved up to Friday. She has struggled with the early morning practices and has appeared to waver at times on whether it is something she wanted to do. I have absolutely no idea if she will run again next year but Friday was a wonderful day. She ran the course in 16 minutes and 38 seconds! It was her best time ever and a great effort over any of her previous times. I am so proud of her because she showed up with a goal of a time to beat (even asked me to help her make sure she was under that time) and then just blew her goal away. It was a great day for a mom and a dad and I trust it was a great day for my little girl too.

Way to go KoKo. You make me so proud and bring me great joy.

Just When You Think You've Seen It All

Here's my friend David and his alligator friend. Someone on the boat said alligator's don't have brains which is probably why the alligator kept chasing the lure even after it got hooked once or twice before David got it to the boat. I commented that I wondered if some fishermen were like alligators in that they keep trying to catch something that could bite their leg off. Oh well...it makes for a great story for years to come.

On the way to Salado today, I saw a church advertising their 30 minute worship. Ain't that grand? All you have to do is carve out 30 minutes for worship. I went to their website and it said they have 8-10 minutes of singing, 12-15 minutes of preaching and about 5 minutes for response (listed as praying and giving). That's pretty tidy.

At the risk of walking too far out on a limb, I'm going to suggest the way we "do church" is ineffective in some ways and we need to learn from churches that are doing some innovative things to grow in numbers, but more importantly, in spirit. Yet I tend to go in the opposite direction of the 30 minute worship. I get frustrated that we have to be efficient and keep our worship service within a designated time limit. I realize there are certain groups of people that have trouble sitting in one place too long but I also know there are some who complain only because they are not being entertained enough or because they don't feel they are getting enough out of the service. The focus is inward when it should be upward. The focus in on them instead of on God, on what they get instead of what they are giving. I know because I have been guilty. I have complained the sermon was boring or too long, the songs were too old and too slow. I'm guilty of focusing on what I want from worship instead of what God wants from worship.

30 minutes to worship. Have mercy on me Lord when I try to stuff you in a small box of time so I can go about my life. Help me God to have a soft and open heart and a desire to worship you with disregard to the world around me.

Reeling Them In

Hopefully, I'll be able to load a couple of pictures from my recent trip to Venice, Louisiana. It's a place where the road literally ends. There were 16 in our group, 11 of those from our church here in Decatur and we did have a good, if not tiring, time. The bedroom we stayed in slept 4 and there wasn't an inch to spare. While the sleeping accomodations aren't going to get 4 stars, the scenery at times was incredible. Wildlife was abundant and it was exciting and interesting to watch it unfold.

The first picture is one of the smaller redfish I caught. I was on a boat that was more serious about fishing than picture-taking so it's the only fish I caught I have a picture of. There were several of the fish we caught that had multiple spots on them but this was one of the "normal" ones. That's Spider fishing on the front of the boat. No one knows his real name.

The other picture is sunset on Saturday night. We were fishing in "Red Pass" where everyone was catching the big reds. It was the first time it was really peaceful on the water while we were there and a beautiful night on the water. (You may be able to click on the pictures to get a better view.)

It was good to get away but always good to be home. I have another trip to make in a week and while it's tough to get away, it's also good for my mind to step out of the normal routine once in a while. Now I'm off to Salado to visit one of our stores.

Fire and Water

I've watched with amazement at the news reports of the fires in California, the 800,000+ people who have been displaced and the damage that has been done. It's always heartwarming to hear the stories of good deeds done by strangers but so many people have lost their home and possessions. While those things are temporal in the grand scheme, I can only imagine how frustrating it is to have to wait out the fires while thinking about starting over.

On the other side of the country towns have run out of water. The drought in the southeast has finally taken all the water some people have access to and others are just days away from losing theirs. I wouldn't want to be in that situation either.

Praying for physical needs seems so selfish at times but people in both these situations need help, comfort and an end to their respective situations. I pray both get what they need.

Vision

I'm serving on a committee for the school district to look at needs of the district today and in the coming years. We have toured all the facilities and now will spend some time talking through what the priorities need to be for the next 5, 10, 20 years. As I've toured the schools, I've seen plenty of quick fixes that need to be made - carpet that needs to be replaced, signage that needs to be fixed, driveways and parking that need repairs. Along with those things, we are considering what facilities need to be improved or added to provide the best academic opportunities for our kids.

As we've worked through this process, it has struck me how important vision and the ability to cast the vision for the future is. Casting a vision is more than a slick marketing theme though that can be a part of it. Casting a vision really requires someone who can weather storms because there will be plenty of naysayers but the vision cannot grow dim. It's rather easy to figure out what needs to be fixed today but to think about what needs to be done for the future is a bigger battle.

My life is so similar. It's easy for me to focus on what I need to do today instead of spending some time preparing myself for the future. Day to day, I can fix little mistakes and postpone decisions but preparing myself for the future takes more thought, more work, more effort and...and the kicker is the payoff doesn't come for many, many years. Eternity is a long time and something that I can easily postpone thinking about while I wrestle with the mundane tasks of today. Yet, I need to cast my vision and start working on my future because it is the most important decisions I can make today.

Brrrr...

It's cold and rainy in Wise County this morning and I LIKE IT.

We made it back from the edge of the world, also known as Venice, Louisiana. It was a good trip overall but a very long one. After an all night drive and a day of fishing with lots of rain and soaking wet clothes, I was beginning to wonder what I signed up for. The next two days were much better and I caught some big fish. Beautiful reds and big speckled trout. I saw some beauty on the Mississippi River and I saw some devastation that still remains from the hurricane.

One of my boat mates, (I won't mention your name David Fuller...oops, I just mentioned your name) caught an alligator and tried to load it in the boat. I've got a picture I'll try ot load sometime this week if I can figure it out. While he was doing that, I was trying to figure out how to get as far away from the alligator as possible. There's nothing like fishing with the Decatur version of Crocodile Dundee.

Have a great day and bundle up.

Off and Gone...

I'm leaving tonight for a whirlwind fishing trip. I'm way too busy to go but I'm going anyway. I knew I had a lot to do but somehow preparing to leave has made me keenly aware of all I need to be working on. I won't be blogging for the next few days but hopefully can post a great picture next week of me with a really, really big redfish.
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A friend made the comment to me the other day saying "religious people scare me." I haven't gotten that out of my head because I wasn't sure I understood what he meant but the more I think about it, the more I think I understand. My friend is a broken person, broken by addictions and pain that I don't know. He's been preached at and told what he needs to do but he's in a place where he needs love through actions right now. He's still hurting as he recovers, hurting because the Devil won a battle with him, hurting because he hurt people along the way, hurting because he failed God. His battle back is learning that God still loves him, still cares for him and has shed grace over him. My friend loves God but is at a point where he needs people who are real, who are open that they are just as fallible, that they struggle with the same struggles.

I think I scare him. I go through life sometimes like I've got it all together. I handle missions work, I handle work work, I somehow get stuff done but inside I feel like I'm hanging on by a thread. I think at times I look like one of those religious people that scare him. Yet I'm no different than my friend. I've lost battles to Satan, I've failed God and I've failed people I love. I've hurt them and I live with the pain of that hurt. The only thing, the one thing that can keep me going is knowing that God loves me. There's no doctrine, there's no right way or wrong way to do church, there's no work I can do that helps me...only God's love pulls me out of the sinking sand.

I don't want to be a religious person. Instead, I want to be a Christ-person. I want to live in Christ-likeness. I want to be the hands and feet of my Savior. I pray God will show me the way.

Living As Light

I was a part of an event recently that got me thinking about people who live outwardly (the appearance of a Christian) as Christians and people who live inwardly (having a Christ-like heart) as Christians. While I was being judgmental towards some people I saw that appeared to be living outwardly it got me to thinking that while I can easily look at them and make a determination of what I think or feel, it's not so easy to look inside Jeff and see what is going on. It reminded me I need to be focused on making judgment of my actions, I need to be focused on making judgment of my thoughts and feelings.

I live far too much living outwardly as a Christian but not living inwardly as I should. I do things I'm supposed to do most of the time but my heart and mind are not where they should be. I want to love God and live for God. I want to be a light and be Christ-like. To do so, I need to be sure I am walking in Christ's footsteps and not worrying about what someone else does. I need to be sure my heart and soul and strength are focused on Him, not someone else.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

A Great Day

Yesterday was Missions Sunday at church. Our missionary from Brazil is here and he along with some others made presentations about the missions work we support. The big part of the day for me was the special contribution. We have some specific needs we hoped to address for some of our missionaries and set a goal of $20,000 for the day. This was on top of our regular contribution and while I felt confident we would hit our goal, I felt it would be close.

I was standing next to one of the finance guys when he turned the adding machine towards me so I could see the total of $48,000+ and it took me a couple of seconds to make sure my eyes were adjusted properly. With a pledge of $1,000 to be paid in the coming year, we hit nearly $50,000 and I would guess a few more checks will roll in. Incredible.

God is amazing and He is good. He provides in abundance.

Yesterday was a great reminder to me of what can happen when we trust God to give us what we need.

Rivalries

Tonight is the Battle of Big Sandy, the annual football showdown between Decatur and Bridgeport. Decatur has been dominant the last several years but most are expecting a close game tonight. I grew up with the Robert E. Lee/John Tyler rivalry, one that was bitter at times and ended up in physical violence more than once. The stories I could tell...but my mom reads this sometimes so I'll just move along...

I forget what year of high school I was in when the John Tyler building was seriously damaged by a fire. Most of the classrooms were lost and there no place could be found that would house their students except-----the Robert E. Lee campus, the home of the enemy. The two schools shared the campus with Lee students coming early and leaving earlier (class periods were cut a little shorter) and John Tyler students coming around noon or a little later and going through the afternoon. Ribbons were tied around trees and banners were hung to welcome the John Tyler students to the Lee campus.

It was a time where people from two places came together and shared what they had. It was a community taking care of it's members who needed something. It was people working together the way God intends for us to work together.

Our church has a special focus on giving of our time right now. Give 60 is the theme and people are encouraged to give 60 minutes of their week to helping others. I remember that time in high school where we came together and it felt good to know we were part of making a positive difference. It still feels good today to help others. Whether it be our rivals, people we don't know or someone we do know, it feels good to help. I think God wired us so that when we did good things we would feel good.

I don't know where I'm going with all of this other than to say two things. First, I encourage you to find ways to give and help others. In doing so, you help them, you help yourself and you encourage others. The second thing is GO EAGLES!

Running for Starbucks

My daughter did well at cross country yesterday with what appeared to me to be her best finish yet. She cut her time down in the first mile by 47 seconds over her previous best. It earned her a Starbucks Frappa-whatever. She did great.
Her district meet is the same weekend as the youth group retreat at Camp Deer Run. She's planning on going to the retreat. Her decision process surprised me a little. I've grown up being ingrained with doing what is best for the team. She plans to go to the retreat. I assume some of her reasoning revolves around the idea that she won't have to run at the retreat but her spiritual growth trip over athletic event decision tells me something about her...something I am proud of.
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My son is taking band at school and playing the clarinet. It's not what I would have envisioned for him but today he was practicing before we left for school and playing the theme from Jaws, the movie from the 70's. It was pretty cool to hear him putting it together and then talking about learning all the different notes. I think he will be a child who blazes his own trail and I look forward to seeing where it takes him. He's a good boy.

How 'bout them Cowboys?

My remote was smoking last night from the continuous flipping between the Cowboys-Bills game and the Indians-Yankees game. It was good to see the over-hyped, over-priced Yankees go down in flames to a team most people can't name more than 1 or 2 players that are on it. Then, to see a rookie kicker boot a 53 yard field goal (he had to kick it twice because of a last milli-second timeout by the Bills coach) was just plain fun. Romo had an awful game and I'm still not sure how the Cowboys hung around and won. I know this, if they don't play better next week, they will get slaughtered. But for today, it's all about Nick Folk and his great leg. He's the hero today.
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Happy Birthday to Rick Ross today. I'm guessing he will celebrate by trying to recover from his State Fair eating tour yesterday.
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My daughter ran in the Decatur cross country meet last Saturday. It was a very, very, very tough course and I don't remember seeing as many kids walking during the race as I did Saturday. It was brutal and while she didn't finish high, she did finish the most grueling course I've seen. I'm proud of her for her effort and the heart she continues to show when finishing the race.
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Where's the caffeine?

This muggy Monday morning has me feeling like I need a double dose of coffee through an IV. The idea of laying my head down and dozing off sounds very enticing this morning.

My wife and kiddos are headed to the State Fair of Texas. I'm battling mixed emotions - glad to avoid the crowds but wishing I was going to see the sights and eat some corn dogs. I'm looking forward to the report from my wife who has fried guacamole bits on her mind. My son wants to ride the ferris wheel and see the Cooperstown exhibit (the biggest reason I wish I was going) and my daughter...I just hope she will get out of the car and go in. I pray they have a safe and very, very fun trip today.

My 7th/8th grade Bible class yesterday discussed the parable of the lost coin. I hid a quarter in a Bible and asked them if they would look for lost money the way the widow did in the story. They rummaged about the room and one or two even looked at the Bible the quarter was in but they were not invested enough in the lost coin to look hard for it. To me, God's investment in us is the beauty of that story. He loves us so much that He gave His son for us. The lesson I walked away with is that I need to have a much greater passion for finding His lost coins, the people who need a relationship with God but have been lost. I can't casually glance around for them, I must be keenly aware of finding them. I pray today my eyes are opened to the lost coins that God so strongly wants to find.

Leadership

Good leadership is something that is easy to appreciate and hard to find. Leadership takes intention and practice. It takes perseverance and patience. It requires building relationships and building people.

I have taught a leadership development course and through it realized how much I need to do to scratch the surface of decent leadership. I have watched people be willing to lead but fail because they didn't know how or didn't commit to what is required. I have watched people become leaders without intending to but the way they conduct themselves made people want to follow.

I'm reading some books on leadership now. By virtue of my position at work, I need to become a better leader and studying how to do so is important to me. Studying it opens my eyes to some people through history who have been leaders and it is fascinating to learn more. Last night, I was reading a brief passage on Theodore Roosevelt and now I want to know more about him. He worked hard to achieve certain things in his life and in doing so, led and inspired many, many others.

I do appreciate leadership in it's many forms. In the class I taught, the earliest premise was "wherever two or more people are gathered, someone will be the leader." I wanted to make everyone aware that in our company, whether someone worked in the executive office or the shipping department, there was an opportunity for leadership and someone would take it...for better or for worse.

I don't know where I'm going with my thoughts today other than writing what has been on my mind this morning. I hope today I will become a better leader than I was yesterday.

Roast Beef

I love the roast beef story. It goes something like this; new bride cooks roast and new husband asks why she cut the ends off before she cooked it. "That's the way mom always did it" comes the response. New husband gets new wife to call mom who tells new wife that Grandma did it that way. New wife calls Grandma and asks why and Grandma tells her the oven was too small for the big roasts she bought so she had to cut the ends off.

I get in a habit of doing things the same way because that's the way they were always done. I have two meetings today that are about looking for ways to do things better, not just the way it's always worked. My hope is that we will find better ways that bring improvement but even if we don't, maybe a paradigm shift will bring new enthusiasm for a better tomorrow.

Surprise...NOT

My honey passed her big test. Hooray!!!!! I knew she would do it and I think she knew she would do it but she was still nervous. It's a big deal to get that behind her and all that is left should be smooth sailing.

I don't know what she will end up doing once the student-teaching is over but she has done an amazing job in each step of this endeavor. She's been a great example for the kids of dedication to accomplishing an achievement.

You go girl! You've done great.
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Roger Egle is a friend that I've coached baseball with. His dad had heart transplant surgery Monday night. I ask you to say a pray for the Egle family and I will post an update when I hear one.
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Speaking of prayers, add Jerry and Anna Nicholas to your prayer. Jerry is battling cancer again and it's been been tough the last few weeks. Jerry has been such an incredible example of faith and courage to so many as he has dealt with cancer. His outlook on life and what awaits him after this life speak volumes about the heart of this man. I'm praying that God will take away this cancer because I need the encouragement I get from him. Pray for Anna too as she fights the battles right next to him. They are a beautiful couple and I am glad I know them.
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I spent a good part of Monday beginning to plan for our trip to Brazil in 2008. I'm excited to go back and wish I could go before next June. I love the people and even though it's 90 degrees in the dead of winter, I am so uplifted by the love and friendliness of our Brazilian friends.

Ciao.

A Day Away

I'm headed to Dallas today (pain and misery) to take part in a seminar as a panelist. The actual seminar is tomorrow but we have rehearsal this afternoon. It will be webcast to CPA's around the country. A good friend is the moderator and I agreed to help many, many months ago. Today, I wish I could find a way out because the content has changed and I feel like I'm lost in the topic but they still want the "small business" perspective.

I'll be taking a keyboarding vacation tomorrow in lieu of the seminar unless I can get out of it. One of the panelists had to back out yesterday because of an emergency who was going to be my counterpart - he being from big business. Maybe they'll drop the business guys and I can stay in Decatur.
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I sat in on our auditorium class last night and heard a discussion of the Holy Spirit. We ended on the passage (Romans 8 I think) that says the Holy Spirit intercedes in our prayers with groans and the discussion ended with what groaning by the Holy Spirit means.

I'm sure there is a better answer than mine but I told the class leader that I was confident my prayers are often so confused on what I really need to say that the Holy Spirit groans thinking "what is this boy saying? I'll take over for him." I'm thankful God gives me help to live and help to talk to Him. I know He understands me even when I'm not understandable. I want to know how to pray better, to talk to God in meaningful ways. I'm thankful that even in my inability to do that, He really hears what I want to say, He knows what is on my heart, He sees through my sin to my desire to serve Him.

When I Can't Catch My Tail

I feel like I'm going in circles again, chasing my tail that I know I will never catch. It's days like these when the resounding thing I hear is "Be still and know that I am God."
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My girly-girl has another cross country meet today. They run through a pasture in Alvord. There's nothing like cross country in Wise County. The Alvord team is always good. They are 2A but run against 5A schools all the time and typically do well. I hope Decatur does good today but I'm really hoping my little girl runs her best.
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Randy Warzecha, our missionary in Brazil arrives in Decatur today. I am looking forward to seeing him because he is one of my heroes. A quiet, very humble man with a passion to share the Good News. He brings his new wife, Angela, a native of Brazil. I'm sure it will be a shock to her being in the U.S. She comes from a small village where the houses are about the size of our garage. She speaks very, very little English and will spend a little over a month in our country. It was odd spending a week in Brazil with 30 other English speakers but I can't imagine what it would be like spending 6 weeks in a country where I didn't speak the language.
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The Rangers wrap up the home schedule today. Here's hoping for a win to close out a season that has been less than glorious.
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It's Casa Torres night. I'm already hungry.

Have a great day! God bless.

A Love So Deep It Hurts

My heart is aching today. I acted badly with an angel today and it hurts. It's an ache that won't easily go away, won't easily be forgotten, won't easily be overcome. I am struggling with my child, struggling to know when to speak and when to shut up, struggling to know when to help and when to let go, struggling to know what to do and what not to do. It's frustrating and today was a breaking point. I lost my temper, a temper I have transferred to her unfortunately. I said things I wish I could un-say, acted out in ways I wish I could un-act. Yet it is done. It's forged in her memory and mine. It hurts.

I hope she sees it is simply the devil that got ahold of me. I hope she sees the hurt, the physical and mental pain that giving into evil causes me. I hope she sees the grace of God that is my only hope. I hope she will forgive me but yet I know it's a moment etched in her mind, a picture of her father I don't want her to see. It's not a picture she would see from her Father God.

I hope it will be her opportunity to get a glimpse of God, of forgiveness and grace. If she can learn that, it will simply be another victory of God over Satan on earth and it will take her farther than anything else I could teach her. I know my actions today may have shaken the foundation of our love but I hope she will know and see in future days that no matter what I do, God loves her completely. I do too, I love her with such depth but I don't always show it. Yet it is that love for her that causes me so much pain today - to know I have hurt her, to know I have shown her a glimpse of the devil at work.

I am suspending comments today because all I ask from you is a prayer. Pray that my family sees God in me and pray that His spirit of reconciliation and peace is quick.

Edit: I just finished reading a couple of blogs - one where a family lost their 13 year old son and one who has a son that has been near death with an illness but appears to be on the road to recovery. I thank God that I have the opportunity to be with my children another day and will do my very best to remember that each day I have them is a gift from above.

How 'Bout Them Cowboys

I thought the Cowboys had a chance to win the game last night but didn't expect them to take over the game the way they did. Chicago's offense stinks and there is no way the defense can play more than they are being asked to and hope for much better but I have to say the Cowboys have a potent offense. Romo is certainly over the Seattle fiasco and TO is being quiet and playing ball so far. As a psuedo-Cowboy fan, it was a fun game to watch. And going for it on 4th and 3? Wow.
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I wasn't too impressed with the race at Dover yesterday. I don't like short tracks and there were way too many wrecks and malfunctions to make it a race. It was more like a Survivor episode.
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I had a sizeable lead in my fantasy football game yesterday until the Cowboys played. I had the Bears defense. My opponent (Craig) had Marion Barber and Jason Witten. He's now 19 points behind me and has Drew Brees playing the mighty Tennessee Titans defense (ha-ha) tonight. It's going to be a nail-biter.
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Decatur lost their homecoming game last Friday but made it a good game. It seems they are improving every week but it's not going to be a picnic through district this year. Maybe some close games will be fun to watch too.

She Ran

The cross country meet went well and my little angel improved her performance over last year. My favorite part was the last 400 meters or so. As she came by, I shouted for her to pass the girl in front of her. She held up 3 fingers indicating she was going to pass 3 of the girls in front of her. I think it ended up being 5 or 6 and she definitely improved on her finish from the same meet last year. Way to go!
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The Texas Rangers season is coming to another painful end. Last night's loss insured a losing season. I remember going to the games in April and May with hope and have ended the season missing the last two games and not finding anyone who even wanted the tickets. I want to be a fan but it's hard to have to drive an hour and see one loss after another. They barely make the local news now that the Cowboys are 2-0. Sad. The manager and GM have both been given extensions but I have a feeling that if significant improvement isn't made next year, they will be gone.

I'm starting to feel the same way about remaining a ticket buyer.
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It's homecoming for Decatur tomorrow. Huge mums. Queens contest. Packed stadium. I hope the football team can raise their level of play. They have struggled this year compared with prior years and I'm hoping they are in the process of putting it all together for a great run through district. It will be a big Friday night.

Run Girl, Run

Today is the first cross country meet for my daughter. It's in Ponder and not her favorite course (just listening to her description can be a bit funny) but it's the first one so it's a good one in my book. She loaded up on cookies for all her friends so they should be on a sugar high when they take off.

It's amazing to watch her run. When she sprints the last several yards, it's the best because her long legs really get going and she covers some ground. It will be a 2+ mile run...something that would put me in the hospital. I'm excited to go watch her today.
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I got a message early this week that one of my friends from college was killed in an auto accident last weekend. It's too early for this to be happening. Mack leaves a wife and two kids and a lot of people who loved him. As the Sub-T (for those not familiar with Sub-T, it is a fraternity type organization at ACU where I attended college that was often credited with things not in keepng with the schools desires) email wire cranked up, I was struck that the one thing that kept flashing in my mind was the smile that was almost permanent on Mack's face. He brought happiness to many people.

Each year, Subberville is a reunion held in different locales - Abilene of late - and each year they play golf. Starting in 2008, the golf tournament will become the Mack Dennis Memorial Golf Tournament and proceeds will go to a scholarship fund for his kids.

May God grant them peace.

OK, I've Got To Brag A Little...

My wife had our first observed teaching day at school last week. A lady from the Region XI program she is going through came out to watch her work through a class period and grade her on how she did. IT WAS GREAT! She got positive marks across the board. I have to say it was no surprise to me that she did well but I think she was a little nervous going into the day and didn't expect the number of high marks she got. I'm so happy for her and so very proud of her.

I know she will be a wonderful teacher if that is what she chooses to do. She is already wonderful in many, many other ways.

The Beauty of Children

We hosted about 30 3rd-6th grade kids from church at our home last night to eat, play, sing and fellowship. It's fun to turn kids loose for about an hour and watch what they do. Several went and played a game with a football, others jumped on the trampoline, some went to see the llamas next door and others sat in a group and talked. Some were loud, some were quieter but they all seemed to find joy in what they chose to do. They weren't burdened with paying bills, juggling multiple projects and things that needed to be done. In fact, they seemed completely unburdened and 100% involved in the moment. It was a beautiful sight to watch and enjoy.
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I hear the Cowboys won again. I had to leave early for a meeting yesterday and they had just scored a go-ahead touchdown when I was walking out. I'm glad they are winning but I don't think they've played very good teams yet.

I watched some of New England and San Diego last night and NE was dominant. Cheating or not, they are winners.

TO and Randy Moss have been exemplary after two weeks. I wonder how long it will last?

Safety

How safe are you? How safe is your family? It's something I don't think about too often because I generally have a feeling of safety. Something happened yesterday that raised that question for one of my children and the feelings inside of me surprised me. Thoughts ran through my head of "if they hurt my child, I will..." and some of those ideas of what I would do were a little scary. I'm not surprised that I would rise up to defend my child but how quickly and how hostile I went from being a pretty laid-back guy to being ready to go on the offensive. If someone hurts one of my children, what will I do? How far will I go?

As I prayed about it last night, I also begin to think about how God feels when Satan tries to hurt us. How offended is He? How far will He go to defend us, to fight for us? I know God has a much better grip on defending and protecting me than I do on defending and protecting my children. I know God isn't thinking the same thoughts of "what will I do" if someone hurts me like I had if someone hurt my children. God sees so much more than me, understands so much more than me, cares for others so much more than me.

I pray in everything I am forced to deal with, I will look for God's will and design. Afterall, my safety isn't in anything I can do or control but only in what God has already done through Jesus. My safety isn't for here and today, it is for eternity.
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The funeral for our family friend I mentioned a few days ago is today. I won't be able to attend but the Ferguson family is on my mind. If you would, please say a little prayer for that family today and in the day's to come. Their loss is hard but their comfort will be in Molly's love for the Lord and her devotion to Him.

Nothing Today

I'm out of thoughts.
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Are the Rangers still playing? I haven't heard much about them since football season cranked up. It's the sad reality of a team playing below what they should be able to do. I have tickets to games that I can't give away. Sad.
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I heard ESPN ranked the Cowboys as the 5th best team after the first week of play. They are ranked right behind...Da' Bears...who lost their opener to San Diego. Go figure.
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I wasn't really aware of the hurricane that was supposed to hit the Texas coast this morning. I've seen graphics but haven't listened, instead only interested by seeing our temperatures go below 90.
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Another blog I read asked the question yesterday, "what song is stuck in your head?" Since the blogger is one of the very, very few who respond here (is anyone really out there?) I won't expect an answer from him but leave the question for the rest of you to ponder. I really ask only so you will start thinking about the song in your head even more than you already were.
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It's going to be a busy day so I'm off to the mill...

Unexplainable

Yesterday, we lost a close friend of our family. She was a woman as good as gold, a friend to everyone and a servant to all. She died tragically in a house fire created by an explosion of some sort. They are still trying to find out what caused the explosion but it is one of those times when I can't help but wonder why someone so good died in such a horrible way. It doesn't make sense.
Molly Ferguson was a good and virtous person. Her death makes no sense but the people who know her know she is with God today, living a new life that is certainly more beautiful, more peaceful, more glorious than anything we can imagine on earth. She was a good and faithful servant, she ran the race and today is receiving her reward.

Up Early and Running

I love to brag on my kids. They are something special to me and I am pretty sure they are angels God sent to make my earthly life more joyful.

My son is in the band this year and brought his "instrument" home last night and gave me a run down on the names of the different parts. He's excited to be learning notes and how to play and it's amazing to see his excitement for it. I'm so proud of him for trying new things with gusto.

My daughter is working out for cross country and we are getting up at 6:00AM on Tuesday and Thursday mornings plus her regular workouts the other days. This morning I pulled up next to her while she was finishing her run and she took off sprinting. It's a beautiful thing to see her long legs striding out when she kicks it in.

I am so proud of them and I hope they are proud of themselves.

Audacious

Yesterday, my 7th and 8th grade class discussed compassion. I believe the world has seen far too little compassion from Christians. I used to read a local blog and anytime something came up about a church, there were several comments running down Christians for their lack of concern for people. It seems many people hear us arguing over disagreements and don't see us taking care of those in need.

My class curriculum made 3 points. First, be ALERT to people in need - look for opportunities. Second, be ATTENTIVE to those people - do something to help them. Finally, be AUDACIOUS in what you do. I asked the class if they knew what audacious meant and one young lady responded "shamelessly bold." Wow! What would happen if we were shamelessly bold in helping others, in sharing compassion? What would the world see? Jesus. The world would see Jesus if we were shamelessly bold in our compassion for people. The world would see the body of Christ in action.

I believe doctrine is important. I believe teaching the message the Bible teaches for salvation is important. I believe that living as Jesus lived is important. I convict myself that I have spent too much time discussing things that matter without living the things that matter. I convict myself that I have stood on doctrine without reaching out with compassion. Oh, but how I want to be different in the days ahead. If we are the body, if I am the body, I need to be more Christ-like to people who are lost and hurting and need to know someone cares.

I challenged my class yesterday with some specific opportunities they brought up. I believe the younger generation today is much more open to being compassionate, to being audacious in their efforts to pick up the hurting than my generation. I challenged them because they encourage me and their actions will challenge me to be audacious, to be shamelessly bold in sharing compassion.

Go Ahead and Fall

Fall is hear. Texas plays TCU tomorrow. The NFL kicked off in earnest last night. High school footballers are getting ready to bang heads for the second week in a row tonight. The weatherman says cooler weather is coming our way. I really enjoy the fall and as much as I like football and so much of fall, the cooler weather is what really, really makes me a happier person this time of year. _______________________________________________________________

We are hosting the high school youth group Sunday night at our house. I've been privileged getting to know more of our church youth, first through our mission trip to Brazil and then through teaching, and I really enjoy being around them. As with any group, their personalities run the gamut from the loud and boisterous to the quiet and shy. What strikes me about so many of them is their heart. I have seen acts of kindness that surprise me but more than that, they encourage me. I look forward to spending more time with them on Sunday.
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Have a great weekend! Hook 'em Horns!

Leadership

We started a new class last night on leadership, specifically spiritual leadership. Leadership is easy to talk about but, in my own life at least, much harder to model. I enjoy studying it and learning how to be a better leader because I have been put in positions of leadership. Being the leader isnt' something I aspire to, in fact my personality easily allows others to take on a leadership role, but when I am needed to lead, I want to be prepared to do the best I can.

One of my favorite books is titled "The Servant" and is a study of leadership modeled by Jesus. It's a look at what the author terms servant-leadership and it exemplifies the type of leader I want to follow and I want to be.

I pray our churches will raise up strong servant-leaders, people who lead not because they want the power but because they want to serve. I believe we are blessed as a church in Decatur with leaders who do want to serve. As I listened to one of our Elders last night talk about his fear of doing a poor job, it was apparent his biggest concern was whether he was serving others. That is the type of leadership mentality that inspires me because his concern isn't about his position or status but his concern is about his service.

I look forward to the remainder of this class and hope I can learn and then model better leadership, leadership based on the good and perfect example God sent to earth, leadership based on a Savior who came to rescue me from the power of evil, leadership based on the Christ who loves me.

Too Old For Late Nights

I was part of a late night fantasy football draft last night. We have a group from church that plays each year and we got a late start. It ended up being a bit after midnight before we were done. Ouch. We thought we would be done an hour earlier but technology isn't all it's cracked up to be sometimes.

I remember the days where staying up to midnight or a couple of hours later was no big deal. I could get up the next morning and function at a normal level. Nowadays, it's brutal. So, if you see me moving slowly today, I just might be sleep-walking.
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God is so good. I'm trying to learn to trust in Him. I've said it before that I have a strong desire to figure out a way to take care of my own problems instead of sitting back and trying to see what God has in store. I've been working to be better at looking for God and little by little I think I'm getting better at it. It has not been easy for me to let go and seek God in my little storms. I struggle with it daily, minute-by-minute it seems at times. Yet, the more I think about it, I think - I hope - I see improvement. I am confident God is guiding me through some things I'm battling now and my prayer is that I continue to learn to step back and let Him lead me.

Junk

I hope my sick friend got a foot long coney from Sonic on Sunday. I'm sure it's all he needed to get well.

We're trying to have our fantasy football draft tonight. So far, nothing is working the way we want it to. It's going to be messy I'm afriad.

The Rangers were getting smoked by the Royals last night when I finally turned the TV off. It's ugly to get beat bad but even uglier to be losing like that to the Royals. I can't give away tickets to the Rangers right now. Sad.

My son went to the lake yesterday with some friends and had a blast riding the tube. He had the biggest jump of anyone and it was funny listening to the description of his eyes as he went airborne. He slept hard last night which makes me wonder if we should get a boat.

We ate with some friends last night and the kids went out to play football. It's amazing watching them tackle each other and trying to remember how I used to do that. All I could think about last night was how bad that would hurt.

I think I've mentioned that I've taken up walking again thanks to my wife. She's been a great example and encouragement to me. I tore my calf muscle playing basketball a few months ago and the muscle still gets tight when I walk but I can tell there is improvement. Now, my ankles and knees are aching a little bit. I'm realizing I'm not 25 anymore. It's hard to accept but the shooting pain at 3 in the morning make it real clear. Still, I'm thankful I can do what I am doing.

I hope you are having a great day.

The Joys of Retail

I like my job and the people I work with but days like today are a beat down for retailers. While everyone else is off for the holiday, we are still open like any other typical day. We are lucky in that we have 4 observed holidays - New Years Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Several retailers are starting to stay open most of those days as well. After doing this for 13 years, I'm thinking some holidays should be required to be observed. That way, I could sleep a little later every once in awhile. Then again, it only seems right to labor on Labor Day.

I hope you are enjoying your day off if you have one.

Friday Night Lights

The Decatur Eagles take to the football field tonight and the fall football season will be underway. I'm looking forward to being in the stands with family and friends, talking and laughing, and watching the Eagles. I'm ready for a fun night.
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Last night was an incredible night for Wise County Christian Counseling. A couple of people shared their personal stories that were incredibly touching. Good food and fellowship were just a side note to the powerful feeling in the air that lives were being touched. One of the most thought provoking comments to me was from Ty Lovell, the minister of Cornerstone Church. He said that WCCC isn't just helping people today but making a difference in the lives of generations to come. That was powerful stuff.
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It's a busy Friday and I'm quite sure I'll be putting in some hours over the weekend but I'm ready for the weekend. I hope you have a great one!