Post Vote - Racism?

Within the Christian arena - mostly Evangelical sector, this election was a pretty tough one. Now when I say that - many evangelical Christians will say to me "it wasn't tough on my part!" Here at the church I minister and pastor in I found our diversity amazing. We are a middle of Texas-Southern Baptist roots-mostly white family of faith and yet though the majority of those that call this their church family were obviously McCain-Palin supporters (I add Palin because she was/is loved by many) the number of those that would come up to me and express their appreciation of my defense of Obama's Christian Faith - was significant.

I never came out, publicly in support or against either of our candidates. I believe this to be a personal and private decision on my part and though ridiculed by several for this position I stand by it and say, "you just need to get past this."

Where I find myself now is in an analytical mode especially when it comes to the post election of Obama. Though I never and I mean never heard the "race" issue come up among friends those inside and outside our church, I am concerned about this now. There have been several articles written about the large gains within the young evangelical community supporting Obama and the appreciation they had for our new president and what attributes and perspectives he brings to the office. We tend to be allowing a bit of smugness and irritation to manifest itself in the way of racism. Not racism of the "burning cross" or segregated bathrooms, water fountains, etc...... But, racism of the jokes-lifestyles-choices. I hear people quoting conservative commentaries on President-elect Obama and how they are enraged to be challenged on a comment they made and its perceived racism.

I will not go into the scriptures that speak to the encouragement of human equality and the role that plays in the Christian's life. I'll let you head over to Crosswalk.com and do a little study. You can easily tell that I am not a "hot-button issue" guy that believes the defining attribute of a "true" Christian is their stance on abortion and homosexuality. There is a big picture to the life of Jesus Christ and what the Bible is communicating from God to us on this earth that needs to be discerned and observed. I would pray that our emotions and "upbringing" do not rule our spirit and desire to be a Christ-follower.

I still have a great deal to learn.

Ranting Again

I will admit that it took me a bit to get to the original author here - but I did. John Henson's bloged this on October 22nd and which led me to Todd Rhoades and then finally to Gabe Lyons who co-authored the book "unChristian." The survey was of non-Christians aged 16-29 years old that were asked, “What is your current perception of Christianity?”
91% said anti homosexual
87% said judgmental
85% said hypocritical
78% said old-fashioned
75% said too involved in politics
72% said out of touch with reality
70% said insensitive to others
68% said boring
64% said not accepting of other faiths
61% said confusing

Here is Gabe Lyons in an interview.

What are your thoughts?

Politics-Worry-Spirituality

10+ years ago I remember my response to the election of Bill Clinton. I was devastated - seriously my stomach was hurting and I had a painful headache. I remember it very clearly, I even remember talking with Jill about the horror of the coming years and all of the evil that would be coming our way. Now, I jump ahead to the 21st century and my reflection on politics-its place in our spiritual walk and thinking in my own personal life. It's different - profoundly.



I will say that I have grown weary of "the news." I am tired of hearing about polls - their validity vs. distortion. The on-going rationalization from people as to why we should be looking at a particular candidate from a particular perspective. Oh, and one of my particular favorites "he's lying!"



Well - now that I am a ripe 45 year-old husband, father and U.S. citizen that has a mind of his own and desires spiritual "stuff" in my life and for people to discover spiritual "stuff" in their own lives my perspective has a different slant. I honestly believe that we Christians can not let whomever our fearless leader of the United States may be dictate our faith, beliefs and relationship with God. As a point of historical reference - we see (at least in the printed records) Christians much stronger in their walk with God during periods of trials and struggles. Scriptures speak of how our faith is manifested through our response to "hard times" whatever they may be.


Talking this morning with a co-minister we pondered many a thought on this issue. In John 19 and the first part of verse 11 Jesus is speaking to Pilot, after being arrested and taking to him - Jesus says: "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above..." Matthew Henry comments on this verse in this way: "As reminding him that his power in general, as a magistrate, was a limited power, and he could do no more than God would suffer him to do. God is the fountain of power; and the powers that are, as they are ordained by him and derived from him, so they are subject to him. They ought to go no further than his law directs them; they can go no further than his providence permits them."


Now most will view Matthew Henry as a conservative theologian and thus my reason for using his quote. God is in control - irregardless of the head poobaaa of the United States' views on issues and society. Our ability to have an authentic personal relationship with God should not be determined by anyone else.


So, though I am tired of the news - I am going to try and not let it dictate my daily walk and desires within my spiritual life and what it brings to me and those that I come into contact with on a regular basis. Scriptures teach it's not healthy. I pray I can learn something today!

Impacts of People - Don Martin

Have you even had one of those people come in-and-out of your life that just seems to leave a significant impact but - you just can't seem to put a finger on "why" they are leaving that impact? Then - the light bulb comes on. Well, Don Martin is one of those people for me. Don was my Chemistry teacher in High School (class of '81), he was a coach in Football, Basketball, Golf and probably others. In educational circles Don completed his little 50+ year stint as the superintendent of schools here in Brownwood. He hired people and placed them into positions that would eventually lead to the Brownwood ISD being one of the most recognized districts, not only for sports but specifically in educational instruction in the State of Texas. After retiring from education he (and his wife Betty w/ other partners) proceeded to invest what was probably a sizable amount of money into our historic downtown district in the area of fine visual arts. Then after a period found out that he had cancer in the brain.

The impact for me (other than the obvious) clicked today as I attended his memorial service, read the scriptures he loved and taught, sang the music of the church he enjoyed and listened to stories and impacts that he was a part of and made. Don lived his faith in ways that were subtle but obviously very significant. One does not often get to meet genuineness in the form of people on this earth that have invested in one's life (and others) in those formative early adolescent years as well as transitional adult years in positive and productive ways. Don Martin was one of those people.

I left the service today inspired to be an honest, authentic man of faith that desires to let the Spirit use him. Now, there is a legacy. Thank you Don!

Cool Weather & Soup

It is October in Texas and that usually means you do not know what the weather will be from day to day. I know that last night we received 2.5 inches of rain and I did not even see rain in the forecast. I looked forward today (via my iPhone weather planner) and noticed that on Sunday the high temperature is to be 69 degrees. I am ready for soup! Thursday I am preparing our Women's Lunch meal that will include a potato soup with cheese, scallions and fresh veggies from a chicken broth base. Where has the year gone?

Jim Brickman and Weddings

I get the privilege of playing at my sister-in-law's wedding this weekend. She has given me freedom to select the music literature for the event. She also provided some selections she loves (at my request) by Jim Brickman. I must say I have a similar simplistic style of playing as Mr. Brickman though I obviously am not on the same "playing field" so-too-speak.

So, I got my iphone out (as close as I will probably get to a Mac) and downloaded a rump-full of selections from Mr. Brickman. As I was going through some old post - this music in the background, I found myself pictured in a soap opera, you know with the music playing upon every dramatic moment. Give this a try - find some of Brickman's music (I have provided a sample here) and look through some old photographs. You'll feel the love - I promise. Oops! Now I sound like a politician. What could you do with 700 BILLION? I just have to go now!!!!

Satan's Candy Bar

On my way home from this past Weekend in Dallas my plans included meeting up with my daughter Erica for a bite of dinner as she was traveling back to UNT and I on to Brownwood. I was up early (6:30) for the first session of the day and missed breakfast for obvious reasons. Then wanting to get away just a touch early from the TASB conference I skipped lunch, went to another session and headed out. I was STARVING - I found a bag of these mini-Heath bars, a candy from my teen years and I was hooked. I could not stop eating them, on and on and on and on!!!!! By the time I reached the restaurant for dinner I had consumed well over half of the bag. The chicken-taco-salad I was eating was not going to compensate for the 10,000 calories (my estimate) I had nibbled through.

I was engulfed by fear to get on the scales Sunday morning - I just knew I had allowed the Prince of Darkness to infiltrate me. Three (3) POUNDS!!! In a matter of three days and after being rather attentive to eating - 3 POUNDS! I am on a cleanse now. My sister-in-law's wedding is in four days and I am determined to lose the 3 + 4 more.

Why am I so vain???????????

Well this is something!

My good friend Paul Irby has a blog - though his post at times may be few and far between (he has a specific post about this dynamic) and he is on a delicate romp about this one and I must say that I agree with him. It is well worth a read and research. with a daughter that has talked of ministry within churches I have started seriously researching the issue of women in ministry from a Biblical-Historical view point. My extended family (on my wife's side) have so many women gifted and used of God I often wonder and find myself pondering how they might be used if more evangelical Christians viewed women in ministry a bit differently.

I will not rail on Lifeway Stores here - I'll let Paul do that for me. I will say this that Paul is a very well-educated West Texas Baptist Boy (his entire life) that lives in Abilene. Check Paul Irby out here.

Variety!!!!

This week is going to be one of the most variety-oriented weeks of the year for me. A bit like my television viewing. I will readily admit that unless I am watching an episode of "Seinfeld" for the 40th time or "I Love Lucy"- either would not be uncommon for me, I have to really "watch" or do the Tivo pause thing when necessary to really get the gist of what is taking place. Tonight's TV viewing included the ending of a Hepburn movie (Jill's favorite time in front of the TV) then "Dancing With the Stars," "Prison Break" and "Boston Legal." None of these final four have excessive redeeming qualities but they do get my mind off of the day to day thoughts that will engulf my thinking process.

The "variety" I referenced in my title this week includes; my paid gig (church work) topped with a 50's variety kick-off party (complete with sock-hop dancing, hot-rod cars, watermelon seed-spitting and Dr. Pepper drinking contest) for our churches' campaign - 40 Days of Community event. This event is simply defined as a time for us as a church community to see/experience how we as a family of faith can accomplish our spiritual lives better together. I will also attend a state-wide school board convention in Dallas, help cast 50 in our community musical production of The Sound of Music, pray for my daughter who collapsed in a 5k run in Dallas this past weekend (and ended up at Baylor Medical Center's emergency room) and seriously review the needs of our historic downtown district here in Brownwood. And to top it off I have been taking a rather humorous trip down memory lane looking through old high school pictures of plays and school friends then posting them to a class web site while having a spirited email conversation with a great friend from my teen year's job at Burger King. All in a week!?! There is a great deal going on - but at least I am not in a funk today. Go figure!

Growing-Spiritually

Donna Posey has a most interesting post from last Thursday (that I just now read.) Over the past couple of weeks it seems as though I have just been in a "funk" in regards to spiritual stuff happening in my life. I certainly have a desire for something spiritual and actually even long for it but, there is just something that I can not put my finger on. I guess Donna's post has got me thinking along with another friend of mine John Henson. John seems to be in a place that really deals with the "living our life" indulging in spiritual actions stuff. Rick Davis also has an approach that I often find my self looking at and (though it almost always takes me multiple reads) getting some good stuff. But all of that to say this: Yesterday during our worship we sang a song entitled "You Are" by Mark Roach.
I had a comment from one in the service that "Morning Star" (referenced in the song) was a common name for Satan (found in Isaiah.) I giggled, then looked up the Revelation reference 22:16 - and had a little text-message conversation with him about the song and the "morning star" lyrics. WOW finally challenging myself on something spiritual and it is this?
Growing Spiritually - I just don't believe that we can simply give a common phrase or saying to bring some one out of this state of being or lack there of. Moving forward in our spiritual life has to be a choice-process-intentional to see growth and significance.

Lacking Motivation-Still

This is a bit odd to be to be posting and experiencing the subject at hand. But I will just admit it!!! I am really lacking motivation here lately. Last night as I had just completed preparing some Cheesy Crusted Potato Casserole, Buttery Corn-on-the-cob, tossed-salad, fresh-cut watermelon and home-made banana puddin' (and I do enjoy meal preparation) for the 100+ people to eat I noticed I had not even secured servers, clean-up help etc.... Some people jumped right in (thanks Audrey & Jennifer) but still - this is a problem. I had made all my preparations for worship band rehearsal - but it was still the same-ole, same-ole. My desk is full but my motivation is weak. I don't dislike anything I am doing - I just don't want to do it right now. Maybe it's the rain - hurricane, oh well! Hope this is an encouraging blog for you as surely (I know - don't call me "surely") your day can not be more frustrating than this!

Small Towns

This is kind of hard to articulate but Brownwood (pop 20,000) is consider a small town and especially so when you think that the nearest "large" town-Abilene is 70+ miles away and their population is just over 100,000. We are definitely very rural. I sometimes think what it would be like to have remained in the large cities in which we use to live; Denver, Wichita, Birmingham, Ft. Lauderdale, Toledo and of course Sweetwater (to be exempted from the large city threshold.) This morning after getting up at 5:30 AM to prepared and take my son to marching band rehearsal - I scooted off to have our vehicle (pictured) put into the vehicle hospital. As it approaches 170,000 miles this is to be expected but-as we are only one or two payments away from a debt free vehicle I don't mind the occasional several-hundred-dollar repairs that are needed to keep it in good working order.

What I appreciated more than anything this morning was that I took my car in - was greeted by name, and proceeded to have a seat (waiting for Jill to pick me up) then have some great conversation with people that knew me from early childhood and just loved my parents. We talked about the amazing 6" rain during the span of an hour that we received at the lake last night and how good it was for the lake to get those kinds of downpours. Brad walked in and another conversation took place as he wanted to help us get a kid-jumpy-thing for a big event we are having at church later this month - and he doesn't even go to our church. After Jill arrived we headed out to get some breakfast (a very rare occasion for us) at a local non-national-chain restaurant and had additional varying conversations just as above with more people.

There is something really fulfilling today about getting to minister in a small town, knowing people and loving just where God has placed you for His purpose.

Thinking about Labor Day

I often wonder how my parents "did it!" You know - working, raising kids, working, going to church, working, fixin' the car, working, cleaning the house, working, loving their kids, working, visiting family, working, having a life!! I think you get my drift. After lamenting not being with our oldest on his birthday - Jill and I decided that we would like to take a quick trip to Denton, see their new home and treat them to lunch with us. Being that I work on Sunday and we determined to do this two-days prior to the Sunday, we left after the morning worship services. Stayed at a great hotel, Hyatt Regency, north of the Metroplex that has all those little bells and whistles that you just don't find at the LaQuinta. You know - a great big fluffy bed with HD wide-screen TV - a breakfast buffet to die for and a nice little workout room (that I actually utilized.) Now, between the drivin' and the eaten' and the visitin' I am exhausted. I even attempted to take a nap on the journey home as Jill and Dylon wanted to shop a bit at a mall. It was hotter than blazes in the parking lot and the kid-yelling-filled conversion van that pulled along side of me in the parking lot did not help my disposition any. I went in the mall - got myself one of those fabulous hot cookies and a Diet Coke and shopped with the family.

Oh well - I am picking myself up today, eating a breakfast burrito (thus the reason for the picture) and getin' er done! When was Labor Day?

A Slower Day - Emerging

Donna Posey has written a super little brief on the broo-ha of the Emerging Church debate. I will admit that my "in" box has slowed on the "emerging" thing and been replaced by someone begging for money for John McCain and for the Republicans to seize the moral ground.

I did watch with great interest Barack Obama's speech last night and as intently this morning listen to Governor Palin. I believe the presidential race has gotten interesting in new ways.

For the first day in six weeks I do not have anything pressing in an unhealthy way. I am sure that some of you that may read this will differ on my need to give something attention, either way - I have had a moment to think.

My Oldest Turns 22

Well, time marches on! How is that for a cliche? I am proud of all my kids Jill and I have been blessed with great kids that pay attention to their spiritual life and know that their relationship to God is a top priority. Dexter, our oldest turns 22 tomorrow, August 27 (the one in pink in the pic). We are not going to get to see him (which will be a first I believe in 22 years)and I am finding that a bit tough. I did have an extended discussion with him today via facebook and we finally found a way to get a present to him in a 24 hour period and 180 miles distance but it is just not the same. He continues to invest his life in to ministry work at Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas and by his own words "loves" what he does. What more can a parent ask of God for their kids. I am blessed!

Inspirational Youth

As I look over the years and review "stuff" from time to time I am noticing a distinct trend. That I am getting older and I find it often energizing (within a certain context) to be around younger more mature youth. A good example of this is this past Sunday at church. Howard Payne is back in session and that always finds us with between 30-40 college students in our services in addition to our normal crowd. Now we are consider a demographically young church with the vast majority of people in attendance on a Sunday below the 30 year-old age group. So, this dynamic with the addition of Tim Stary (the one on the left in the photo)being the Teaching Pastor this Sunday really added a different youthful dynamic. To watch and worship by students willing to worship and praise however they are comfortable, listening and hearing the snickers at remarks by a youthful speaker of the Word is just inspirational. I pray as I get older that I do not get too out-of-touch with what this up-and-coming generation love and bring to the church community.

The college kids in the picture are from our Doer's Ministry to a city housing project. Every week a team of people prepare sack lunches for the residents that otherwise might go a couple of days with a solid meal. Once again, just inspirational to see their eagerness to invest their lives for others.

Warren Obama McCain

I watched (actually bounced - TiVo between this and the olympics, etc) Rick Warren interview Barrack Obama and John McCain this past week. I wanted to read some non-biased reviews of the event and found one via John Henson-Wondering Thoughts at Salon.com. I was fascinated at the entire process as well as the interviews themselves. In our Deep South island we tend to live on - Warren has taken quite-a-few jabs at even having someone like Obama in the church building. Personally I find this baffling. I wonder what we are so afraid of in our Christian circles. If our minds and beliefs can be "swayed" or "duped" by listening to anybody our walk has to be pretty shallow. I personally believe that our faith in Jesus Christ and what He brings to our lives is strengthened by diversity and opened minds. Let us all hold hands, kiss and bask in the love!! OK - maybe I just quoted a Coke commercial - but maybe you get my drift.

Lucille Ball and the Heimlich

I love my wife and one of the most enjoyable traits she possess is the "Lucille Ball Episode" dynamic. You need to know quickly that I really admired Lucille Ball her skills as an actress and the sheer sense of presence that she exuded. Jill loves our dogs (Amos and Grizzly) very much. Often when she gets home she will take them for a walk to the lake through the 200 acre woods, fish with them frolic around looking and pointing out all the deer etc. She loves to create and tell stories to them during the journey through the woods and these are stories that end up having a life of their own and get retold many times over. Grizzly, a mutt of a dog that is very attached to Jill (even though he is technically Dylon's dog) and will protect her or at least give the impression of wanting to protect her and upon her arrival in the drive will run up to her anxious to partake in the "treat" of the day. It has not been uncommon for Jill to purchase some McD's burgers specifically for him on her drive home. (To Jill's credit and Grizzly's waistline this particular trait has ceased.) Last Friday the above home arrival was taking place and Jill had a doggy bone ready for Griz and she swung open her car door and proceeded to toss a bone to Griz. He caught it (via the mouth not his hands) but quickly began to show signs of distress and Jill ran to him in order to help. She sensed that he was choking and began to attempt Heimlich via his throat. Now I don't know how many dogs you have heimliched - as for me the number would be "zero." But I don't know the place for the Heimlich to start would be the throat. She was a bit distressed that he would not let her continue the maneuver and to make an all ready too long story shorter - the bone came up and everyone is happy. I so wish that a camera would have been on the short moments of this interaction - to see Jill wrapping her hands around Grizzly's throat to dislodge the needed obstruction is a very humorous story for me and one of those beautiful - Lucille Ball moments.

Glad,Tired & Frustrated

Here I am in my office on a Sunday at 3:00 in the afternoon. Now, as a general rule this is not normal for me though "normal" over the past 6 weeks is certainly subjective. When you combine my church work (paid gig) in with my community service/involvement and then a little family stuff in between it has been very hectic. As I write this now I will complete a fairly intensive 6 weeks following our final performance of "The Jungle Book." I am GLAD that I have been able to invest time, energy and ability into the past weeks endeavors and many of those endeavors have been fruitful. I am TIRED as my body fights off a summer cold and allergies which tend to rear its head when my body is physically tired. I am FRUSTRATED at what I have not been able to accomplish over the summer months - with the fall just around the corner and so much potential setting in the wings several areas that really needed attention about 4 weeks ago are now in a "do what we can" mode. I was reading a blog from Donna Posey in which she quoted her husband, Andy: "there is no need to pole vault over mouse turds." Now, I don't know about you - but I needed that!!!!!

Levity for Tuesday

My current schedule (and I must admit is of my own doing) is absolutely crazy. Jungle Book is this week at church, University students begin arriving in town next week, our church is preparing for 40 Days of Community, we are remodeling a house for our youth/student ministry (to be completed in two weeks), Dylon has started Band and still working, our Senior Pastor is out of town and Jill and I desperately want to go on a cruise with our Sunday School class in January but I am too worried about my daughter's tuition bill (due in two weeks) to make the reservation.

So, I needed some levity and this was the result!