Fancy Feet

I'm not admitting that I watched Dancing With The Stars but Warren Sapp is amazingly quick and light on his feet. If he can let his personality come through a little more I think another football player will win it.
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I went to another middle school FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) breakfast this morning and continue to be surprised how many kids show up. I'm guessing there were 60 or more kids there this morning. That's cool.
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What's up with the bailout package that may never come? The stock market took a bit hit yesterday which tells me the big investors are expecting Congress to act - not hide in fear. I'm not a fan of the bailout but the alternative will be pretty painful. One thing is for sure, if Congress doesn't make fundamental changes in how they do business, this will never end. They can put band-aids on it for awhile but not for long.
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I can't help but laugh to myself when I question God and then hear the answer. I have a problem being patient with God at times...OK, most of the time... and have been questioning whether He is hearing me. I got my answer over the weekend that He hears me and that I still need to wait on Him. I guess I laugh because the answer comes when I don't expect it and it's something I already know and just need to get set straight on.

I'm thankful He is faithful, that He knows my hurts and concerns and that He will answer in His good time. I'm thankful He loves me when I'm unlovable and pours His mercy on me when I fall. I'm thankful He is always there with arms open and I am thankful He has prepared a way for me to be with Him.

Love and Football

It's another day where the thoughts in my head come up with a lot of words and a long blog so I'm going to mash on them a bit more. I'm wrestling with the concept of unconditional love - what it is and what it means in the way I live and treat people. I'm coming to the conclusion that if I want to follow God's way, I need to change my concept of who and how I give love and trust and respect. I have treated those things as something somebody can earn but I'm coming to see that God freely gives love and trust and respect. I can never earn it from Him which begs the question of why I try to make people earn it from me.
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The Cowboys lost. I think I saw 2 plays of the game because I was sleeping right through it but can't wait to hear DFW talk radio today about how the team is falling apart. I did catch TO's comments last night about how he needs more touches and I heard the NFL analysts on last night's game explaining that 20% of the plays were directed towards him. You think that will generate some talk among fans?
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The Rangers lost the last game of the year. I'm ready for the playoffs and am pulling for the Cubs, Brewers, Red Sox and Dodgers in that order. The Brewers might go to #1 on my list simply because of the joy of CC Sabathia and the way he plays the game.
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It was a wacky college football weekend. Zero U. moved into the #1 spot and Texas is now #5. That makes October 11 look like a great day for a rivalry showdown in Big D. Missouri is #4 and Texas Tech is #7. That's pretty impressive when 4 of the top 10 are from the Big 12.

Politics on the Blog

Yesterday I derided politics from the pulpit but this being my blog...now that's different. I used to enjoy the political process but today I am simply cynical about people's motives and real ability to make any difference.

McCain is suspending his campaign and possibly skipping tonight's debate (what goofball plans a debate during Friday night football?) because of the economic crisis and negotiating. Obama and may others are blasting him for the decision. HEY MR. OBAMA, last time I checked you were still a Senator and have a job to do for your constituents. I think McCain should be thanked for being willing to do the job he has instead of focusing on the one he wants.

That said, HEY MCCAIN, say something. Make a stand and quit riding the fence. That goes for you too Obama. Say what you think and let the American people know what their future leaders think is the best option. Be a leader.
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I want to vote for Bono for President. He was on CNN this morning and his honesty is refreshing. Today, his stated agenda was to thank the American public for the work and aid they have given to end malaria by 2015. Bono is a social activist and is, again, very honest that his celebrity gives him access other people don't have. As he describes it, he works like a dog for better living conditions while he lives a very spoiled lifestyle at times. I appreciate him just saying that. Anyway, the interviewer tried to lead him down some roads of things that haven't worked and Bono just kept saying "today, I'm here to punch the air for joy because of the good things that have been accomplished. I'm a fan of America and want to thank Americans for their help. I'll talk to you another day about what hasn't worked and how we can fix it." I'm impressed by his manner and his honesty.

Oh, if you don't know Bono, he's the lead singer for U2. I've been listening to them since the very early 80's and still enjoy their music.
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I changed my header to use my "wordle". You can type in stuff or enter the name of your blog at wordle.net and it will give you one of these. It was fun but I doubt I'll use it very long.
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My children run again tomorrow (at different places naturally). I hope they have good runs, improve their times and help their teams. I have heard the Decatur girls team is ranked either 1st or 3rd in the state but don't know where to find that information. Cool stuff.

Politics in the Pulpit

I read a Wall Street Journal article yesterday regarding several pastors who are planning to endorse a particular Presidential candidate from the pulpit. Currently, it is an illegal practice as governed by the IRS whereby a church can lose it's non-taxable status if it or it's representatives actively engage in political discussion within the scope of their role with the church.

One line from the article gave me the impression of just how arrogant some pastors/preachers can be after they have spent too many days preaching. One of the pastors said (paraphrasing) "if I can tell them who they can and can't have sex with, I should be able to tell them who they need to vote for." Wow. Here I was thinking our instructions from holy living came from God, not the preacher/pastor. Does this guy tell his church what to eat, what movies to see, what cars to drive?

I am thankful the preacher at our church has respect for where instructions for our lives comes from and I'm thankful that members at our church can vote for the candidate of their choice and come together loving each other all the same. I hope these other churches will put an end to the person in the pulpit thinking they have the right to tell people how to vote. I find it hard if not impossible to endorse either candidate/party based on Christian teaching.

This is one case where I hope the government stands it's ground and upholds the law against churches becoming political.

The Kid You Might Want In Class

Here's a link to a YouTube video that is great. It's a kid who is in the DISD addressing the teachers. I don't know his name but it may one day start with "President".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrfqzUD1t_A

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I'm almost over the allergy hump. I'm still having trouble sleeping with the pressure in my head but I'm feeling better every day. For those of you who have always suffered from allergies - my apologies for ignoring your pain. I've only been affected over the past couple of years and this has been the worst.
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I'm ready for the baseball playoffs. I've shifted my allegiance for the end of the year from the Rangers to the Cubs. My son is pulling for the Mets.

The Cowboys put a whooping on the Packers. I'm tempted to offer a wager of a Diet Dr. Pepper that the Cowboys fold in the playoffs again but then I heard the sports radio guys talking about TO yesterday and it made me question my wager. I didn't see all the game but they said he only had 2 catches for 17 yards or something but the thing that stood out was TO chasing a guy down the field after a turnover. If TO is buying in to "team", I may have to also.

I struggle to be the person God wants me to be. I believe. I have faith. I trust that God is there and yet I struggle that He hears me at times. I struggle when I don't see my prayers being answered in my timing. I struggle because my faith is weak at times and because my desires try to trump God's desire for me. I don't know His plan yet I want to. I want to know the answers to my questions and I want to know them know. I'm impatient.

The following lyrics are the opening lines from Mercy In Me by Todd Agnew. The speak to me vibrantly because I always want a little more for myself thinking if I just had more, I would do more for God. What I need is to be rich in God, in His love and grace and mercy and be content with that. I'm praying that I will.

A poor man on the corner
I could give to you by buying him lunch,
But I rarely think about it
'Cause I got a little but it's not that much.
And I say? Lord won't you help me
Give me a little bit more for myself?
And you say? Child won't you let me
Take all that you got and give you a little real wealth?

I want God's real wealth but I have to continue fighting a spiritual battle for my heart to get it. The battle is tiring and at times, I simply lose. I give up even. Today the battle starts anew. Most Holy Lord, give me strength and courage and wisdom to defeat the demons that attack me today. Let me live in your wealth, Lord.

A Better Election Email

As you know, I get worn down by all the election email making Obama appear incompetent at best and the devil at worst. Based on the emails I get, I don't think I have any friends who are voting Democrat. Anyway, I got an email this weekend in reference to the upcoming election that I enjoyed reading. I've copied it below.

Subject: TOP 10 PREDICTIONS NO MATTER WHO WINS THE ELECTION
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed teaching
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost.
ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS REALLY IN CONTROL?!!!!

Joe Duty is Awesome

Joe Duty, the photographer for the local paper, takes some incredible pictures. Below is just one example that I really like! Some of you have seen the picture below in the local paper. For a dad, this is a great moment and I'm thankful Joe Duty of the Wise County Messenger was there to catch it. I don't know if I'm giving proper credit but can't pass it up. I've got to get to the paper and see if I can buy a copy of the picture. My dear child was really tired and really sweaty after completing her second cross country meet of the season. She continues to encourage me with her dedication, as early as it has to be each morning, to doing her best. I love my girl.

Shootout in Big D

My plan was to be asleep before halftime was over but leg cramps kept me up into the early morning hours so I was thankful the big football game was an exciting one. The Dallas D wasn't too impressive until the final minutes when they really stepped it up. Romo looked like he had a case of the jessica voodoo in the first half but came back and played a pretty good second half. And while I can go days without much interest in the Cowboys, it's always good to beat Philly.
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The Rangers have finally worn me down. I haven't caught much of a game in the last week. It could be partially due to scheduling but when the season is out of reach, it's easier to flip over to something else. I'm pulling for the Cubs now. They came close to pitching 2 no-hitters in 2 nights. I'd like to see the White Sox make it too for Ken Griffey Jr.'s sake but I don't see anyone getting past the Angels. Go Cubs.
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I'm loving the weather right now. Crisp mornings and cool afternoons. I think I could live OK if this was the daily weather pattern.
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Faith

I get an email each week from a Christian leadership journal and this week's topic is faith. Faith is something I wrestle with constantly and quite frankly, I just get tired at times. It's not that I ever lose all faith; I don't because I firmly believe in God and His sovereignty but my faith wavers. I wonder if He hears my pleas and if He is working where I feel like I need so much help. It's also those times that I wonder if He has something completely different planned for me than what I'm thinking and that is where the wavering comes in. At times it is hard for me to accept that my desires and ideas (or as our preacher said it yesterday, "my instructions") are not what God wants for me.

My battle with faith comes down to my way or God's way and what I am willing to accept. Will I accept what He provides me with joy or will I cling to what I think is best? Will I continue to question whether He hears my pleas or trust that He is working in me in ways I do not understand? Will I continue to praise Him in the storms or just in the sunshine of life?

I waver at times but even in these times, I am working on increasing my faith, giving God more glory because He is sovereign. My hope is that my faith will increase and my wavering will die and that I will learn to lean on God and wait on God - to stop giving him my instructions and begin to listen for His voice.

Wordy

This is the second edit of my blog today. The first went on and on and I decided not to post it until I could be a little less wordy. So, until I can better think through it I'll just make some rambling comments for today.

Hurricane Ike. It doesn't sound like it's going to be a big deal here but I hope my parents have their umbrellas out.

Sarah Palin. Is she really the key to McCain winning the Presidency? I heard snippets of her first interview last night and it was a little rough. Maybe she is like us.

9/11. I remember David walking in and telling me a plane had flown into one of the towers. It didn't really hit me how serious it was going to be until I turned on the TV and saw the second plane fly into the other tower.

Decatur Eagles. My wonder-girl runs again tomorrow and my son has his first meet tomorrow. Go kiddos! Naturally, they run in different places so we are criss-crossing the Metroplex.

Cowboys vs. Eagles. It's the big-time Monday night game. TO and McNabb are babbling about each other so it should be a fun game. I'll be amazed if I make it through halftime though.

That's it for today. Oh, the Decatur Eagles football team has their first home game tonight. Go Eagles!

I hope your weekend is filled with peace from God.

In the Middle

Last night our class discussion was about why we are too often stuck in the middle - stuck between hot and cold finding ourselves just lukewarm. The middle of what you ask? In the middle between good and evil, Heaven and hell, God and satan. What would lead us to the middle, committing to neither but bouncing back and forth?

I've been there and I don't want to go there again. There are times I feel like I have glimpsed the edges of hell and I don't want to experience that again but I still find myself at times sliding to the middle - thinking things I shouldn't think, saying things I should say - stepping away from the love and grace and care of a God who loves me unconditionally. Why does He allow me to slip to the middle? Why doesn't he jerk me back to safety? Why doesn't He just eliminate the evil around me?

The beauty of our God is seen in his willingness to let us decide for ourselves what we want but to always have his arms extended and open; whether we seek Him first or whether we are returning from our turn in the pig sty.

I thank God for His love and His mercy, for His constant desire to be in my presence and allow me to be in His. I am the prodigal son, I have squandered so much of my time and riches He has given me but He welcomes me back, gives me a robe and sandals and a ring and prepares a feast for me. He is loving and compassionate, caring and giving. He is the Lord.

Quiet Leaders

Yesterday I wrote about a leader that is out front and in public. That's how we typically see leadership - people who are seen - yet so often leaders are working in the background exemplifying servant-likeness quietly.

We hosted our youth group over the weekend and my wife did a great job of preparing everything needed to have them at our house. Yesterday I saw it again in the people behind the scenes preparing for the young men and women at the FCA breakfast.

Servant leaders aren't always vocal, aren't always out front but they provide example and leadership in their service. Where would we be without them?
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Sarah Palin sure seems to have shaken up the political machinery and Obama seems to be spending a lot of time focusing on her. Isn't she the VP candidate? I don't know what all the VP does as long as the President is alive but they don't seem to have much impact on the direction of our country. I wonder if Obama's strategy of going after her will help him.

I am still getting crazy emails about Obama and other things politics. I love email and I hate email.

The Decatur Eagles 7th grade team won their first game yesterday. Props to my nephew. He was playing linebacker and spent some time at QB too. Another of our good friends played QB and blazed his way to a touchdown too. (Sorry for not giving glowing accolades but I typically don't use names of children on my blog - but you know who you are...I hope.)

Isn't the rain wonderful?

Leadership

This morning I went to the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) breakfast for 7th & 8th graders and heard Kyle Story, the DISD Athletic Director and football head coach, speak to the group of young men and women. Wow! Kyle spoke a message to these kids about hard work and doing their best - first in the relationship with God, second in their relationship with family and third was everything else. He used Paul as an example of someone who gave his best and encouraged the kids to learn about Paul and follow his example.

As a parent, it's exciting for me to know that my children are being led by men and women who live and teach these values to our kids and that work and live themselves with these values. I am so thankful for Kyle Story and his dedication to God, to his family and to the people he leads on a daily basis. Decatur is blessed to have Kyle and his family as part of our community and our school.

Kids Aplenty

We hosted our youth group after church last night. Some 40 or so kids showed up to have a devo, eat and fellowship. It's amazing to see our group of kids together and see them bringing friends to their activities. My wife did a great job putting on a feast for them. It was heart-lifting for me to be a part of last night.
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It's amazing how God takes care of us when we turn to Him. I have been calling on God to help me in a situation and wondering if He is hearing my pleas because I have not seen the result "I" wanted. While I was preparing for class over the weekend, part of the lesson plan included the scripture about having faith the size of a mustard seed and what God can do with that faith. It was a timely reminder that I just need to keep trusting God - that His timing may not be the same as mine but faith in Him will be rewarded.

I was teaching our middle school kids Sunday morning and surprised by their willingness to answer questions and some of the questions they asked. They asked some things that made me think about God's purpose for me and a reminder for me to trust in Him.

It's amazing how God uses so many people around us - of all ages, faiths and beliefs - to help us know Him better.

Looking at the Rockies

At the moment, I am sitting in the Denver airport waiting on my delayed flight and looking at the Rocky Mountains. They are beautiful and I appreciate the time I have to sit and just take in their magnificence. I'm caught with the thoughts of mountains and valleys and how there are times we are on top of those mountains and other times when we are at the lowest point, looking up and wondering how we will ever get back to the top.

In the past, I have experienced those highs and lows and when I was at my lowest, I spent a lot of time and energy figuring out what I would do to start crawling back to the top. As I worked my way up and slid back down again, I learned the futility of not ascending the mountain with a guide - someone who knew the way and knew how to get me to the top. Over the past few years, I have learned to turn my journey over to a guide, to be led towards the top of the mountain. It doesn't may the path hasn't been steep or rocky or hard to climb. At times, I've lost sight of the guide and found myself sliding back down the mountain as I tried to navigate my own path.

Today I am more focused than ever on relying on my guide, God, to lead me. I am convinced my way will only lead to a long and painful tumble down the mountain but that God will help direct me, even pull me at times, up the mountain. Even better, letting God guide me will get me to the top of the mountain with the most majestic view - not always the mountain I was climbing.

I know I am still going to encounter some rough patches getting up the mountain. There will be pain in the climbing but I am ready to endure what I need to endure to get to the place that God wants to show me.

Laboring Day

I'm laboring on Labor Day because retail never sleeps. I'll make sure and sneak out a little early today though - I hope.

Gustav is coming ashore. I feel so bad for the people who are affected by this weather. I'm praying today that God will take care of them with what they need.

I'm tired of all the Barack-bashing email. Folks, he's not my candidate but John McCain ain't Superman either. I disagree with most of Obama's stances but respect the fact that he has the guts to run for President. I get the feeling most Americans would rather complain than step up. The latest bashing email says Obama only has 143 days of experience but it's coming from people who plan to vote with absolutely NO experience. What qualifies them to vote? McCain has been in government for years and how has that improved my life? I enjoy politics for the psychology of it all but have no faith in our government to do much for us.

Speaking of the psychology of politics, how about McCain's VP pick? This will be really interesting (especially with all of her national experience!) to see how people respond to this choice.

My daughter ran her first high school cross country race on Saturday and set a PR (that's personal record in high-school speak) for herself. It was a warm, humid day running a pretty hilly course. I chased her around as much as I could and it is amazing to see the difference in her running and her will to compete since last year. I am so proud of her because she is accomplishing something that is hard and requires a lot out of her. It speaks volumes about the girl she is and the woman she will become. I love her and am thankful she encourages me.