24

Is 24 the best show ever or what? We've been cathcing up on the seasons through Netflix.
Just about to wrap-up Season Three. But we made the mistake of watching the first few episodes of the new season (Five).

Lunch with A Legend

My friend Ron Otto invited several preachers to a luncheon with Wayne B. Smith today. Wayne ministered for 40 years with the Southland Christian Church in Lexington, KY. He has a heart for ministers. It was a real treat to hang with him for awhile, listening to war stories, and being encouraged by an old soldier of the cross. Wayne is one of a kind.

Superbowl XL

The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks! Who woulda thunk it?
Hard to pick a winner. Both teams are playing great. But I think I'll go with the Steelers.
Did anyone catch the John Madden spoof during halftime of the NFC Championship? It was hilarious!

The Barbarian Way

I spoke to the Men's Group at my church this morning. Shared several thoughts from Erwin McManus' The Barbarian Way. Basically this was "part two" of the talk I gave last month, which could have been called, "You don't have to be a girlie man to be a godly man."

I posted on this subject several months ago (click here to read).

I also shared several lines from the Internet Monk's post on "prissy Christianity."

It seemed to resonate with the guys.

Martina's Review

The concert was excellent. During the first part, she did several of the songs off of her new album (which are timeless country classics). I wasn't quite so excited about that, mainly because I wasn't familiar with too many of them. But during the second part, she did all of her hits. Closed with my two favorites:
Fave #1: Broken Wing
Fave # 2: Independence Day
(I like these primarily because they showcase her fabulous voice.)

Encored with an acapella version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Internet Monk

I just discoved this guy. Don't know much about him, but I have read a few of his posts that have really challenged my thinking. Especially this one.

Going to Hear Martina

Taking Mrs. Soren to the Martina McBride concert tomorrow night (a late Christmas present).
That gal has some golden pipes on her. Looking forward to it.

You Tell 'Em John!

With apologies to all my Virginia Tech friends, I thought John Feinstein's article about Marcus Vick (and other spoiled-brat athletes) was right on target.

That'll Preach!

Mark Beeson over at Granger Community Church recently did a message called The Five Most Irritating Things About Christians (don't ask me why there are seven listed). I think ol' Mark has been around a few irritating brethren in his time.

• Christians who think everyone else should be just like them.
• Christians who are lousy tippers.
• Christians who don't move their faith one measly foot.
• Christians who major on the minors.
• Christians who think everything can be explained with a trite phrase or a simple slogan.
• Christians who use "God told me" as a silver bullet.
• Christians who explain God by saying of God what God never said of Himself.

You Say You Want a Revolution

I haven't read Barna's new book yet, but some of my friends have given it less-than-stellar reviews. Keith Drury and his colleagues leave no doubt about what they think of Barna's "heresy." Interesting.

Netflix? Huh?

You know how sometimes it's funny listening to one side of a telephone conversation? Listening to my nearly 70 year old father-in-law trying to explain Netflix to his 86 year old mother-in-law was a hoot.

Learning from Some Seasoned Vets

Last week I went to the Blueprint Tour with my staff and a couple of elders. Rick Atchley and Dick Alexander were the featured speakers.

Some memorable lines:

"If the ground opened up and swallowed your church, would the community even realize that you were gone?"

"The primacy of mercy is the interpretive key to understanding God and Scripture."

"Our world will be changed more by 'go' than by 'come'."

"The church is like Noah's Ark. If it weren't for the storm on the outside, you couldn't stand the stench on the inside." (Tony Evans)

"Almost every day God reminds us that He is alive and well, but almost every day Satan reminds us that he has not retired."

"Short-term missions is one of the best ways to combat short-sighted legalism."

"The Pharisees majored in Bible, but failed the exam."

Atchley is a "preacher's preacher." He combines stellar exegesis with relevant application. He's the kind of preacher I want to be when I grow up.

Signs Your Church Has Sold Out to Corporate Sponsors

15 Signs Your Church Has Sold Out To Corporate Sponsors
Props to Ian's Messy Desk for this one!
1. Nike "swoosh" on the cross
2. Communion now sponsored by Welch's Grape Juice
3. In Christmas play, Joseph seen with a pack of Marlboros
4. Statue of Mary seen holding keys to a Jeep
5. The 12 disciples replaced by Disney characters
6. Greeters all dressed like Mr. Goodwrench
7. Scripture verses brought to you by Microsoft
8. The baptistery is filled with Perrier
9. Offering envelopes say, "Weekly expenses, $6,200, projection unit for Sunday School, $1,400, Basketball hoop for the gym, $250, regular tithing, priceless.
10. Handicap parking sponsored by the Family Medical Group, LLC
11. Bulletin has coupon section
12. Wednesday night suppers sponsored by KFC
13. Church bell chimes to the tune of the NBC chimes
14. Choir robes with the Lands' End logo on the front
15. Church flag football team sponsored by the NFL

Improving Church Attendance in 2006

Okay, I've heard your whining and complaining about not having your Sorensblog fix. So I'll give you something I got from someone else.

TOP TEN WAYS TO IMPROVE CHURCH ATTENDANCE IN 2006
by Dave Tippett
10. Watch Aslan the Lion take down a gazelle, live on the platform
9. More "open mic" opportunities during worship service
8. One of those fake shark fins in baptismal
7. Floating sermon points dance in front of your eyes via cool 3-D PowerPoint slides
6. Spiritual tech support guys will tell you not to just "re-boot your soul" every time you call
5. Sermon series: "Thomas Kincaid; the soft lighting Disciple"
4. Wi-Fi access for wireless hearing aides
3. Tazer the Sleeping Sound Booth Guy Day
2. Will start accepting coupons from non-tithing churches
1. Ability to TiVo the sermon
Copyright 2005 Dave Tippett (djtippHA@yahoo.com). Permission is granted to send this to others, with attribution, but not for commercial purposes.

Yep, I'm Still Here

Sorry I haven't posted for awhile. I've been kinda busy (including a quick trip to Iowa).

Will blog again soon.

Hockey Night in Fort Wayne

Went to see the local hockey team last night. They lost 2-0, ending a six-game winning streak, but it was still fun and exciting. Sitting near us was a grandmotherly-type hockey fan. All through the game she kept hollering, "C'mon! Hit someone!"
Ya gotta love hockey.

Merry Christmas!

More Songs

Today one of the local radio stations had a call-in poll about the worst songs. They narrowed it down to three:

Yelling at the Christmas Tree by Billy Idol
Saving Up Christmas by Captain & Tennille
When Santa Claus Met Jesus by Sara Warne

I had not heard them before, but they were all horrendous.

Now For The Good Ones

It wouldn't be Christmas without these Yuletide tunes:

White Christmas by Bing Crosby

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on An Open Fire) by Nat King Cole

Pretty Paper by Willie Nelson (probably doesn't belong on this list, but I like it)

O Holy Night by Martina McBride

Anything by Manheim Steamroller

The Most Annoying Christmas Songs

These songs really get on my nerves. And have you noticed how the radio stations play them constantly?

In no particular order:

Do They Know It's Christmas? by Band Aid
No there won't be snow in Africa, Bob. It's AFRICA! And do we need to be reminded of the 1984 famine, every year?

Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt
Ewwww!

Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime Paul McCartney
Shadduppppp!

Last Christmas by George Michael

Little Saint Nick by the Beach Boys

I Like the Sleigh Ride (I don't know who wrote or performs this, but it must be McCartney inspired because it just repeats the same five words over & over)

So This is Christmas (War is Over) by John Lennon
Ugh. No wonder someone shot you

Step Into Christmas by Elton John

Hey Santa by Carnie & Wendy Wilson

Is Santa a Woman?

I don't know who wrote this, but I thought some of you might enjoy it:

I THINK SANTA CLAUS IS A WOMAN...

I hate to be the one to defy sacred myth, but I believe he's a she.

Think about it. Christmas is a big, organized, warm, fuzzy, nurturing social deal, and I have a tough time believing a guy could possibly pull it all off!

For starters, the vast majority of men don't even think about selecting gifts until Christmas Eve. It's as if they are all frozen in some kind of Ebenezerian Time Warp until 3 p.m. on Dec. 24th, when they--with amazing calm--call other errant men and plan for a last-minute shopping spree. Once at the mall, they always seem surprised to find only Ronco products, socket wrench sets, and mood rings left on the shelves. (You might think this would send them into a fit of panic and guilt, but my husband tells me it's an enormous relief because it lessens the 11th hour decision-making burden.) On this count alone, I'm convinced Santa is a woman.

Surely, if he were a man, everyone in the universe would wake up Christmas morning to find a rotating musical Chia Pet under the tree, still in the bag. Another problem for a he-Santa would be getting there. First of all, there would be no reindeer because they would all be dead, gutted, and strapped on to the rear bumper of the sleigh, amid wide-eyed, desperate claims that buck season had been extended. Blitzen's rack would already be on the way to the taxidermist.Even if the male Santa DID have reindeer, he'd still have transportation problems because he would inevitably get lost up there in the snow and clouds and then refuse to stop and ask for directions.

Add to this the fact that there would be unavoidable delays in the chimney, where the Bob Vila-like Santa would stop to inspect and repoint bricks in the flue. He would also need to check for carbon monoxide fumes in every gas fireplace, and get under every Christmas tree that is crooked to straighten it to a perfectly upright 90-degree angle.

Other reasons why Santa can't possibly be a man:
~ Men can't pack a bag.
~ Men would rather be dead than caught wearing red velvet.
~ Men would feel their masculinity is threatened, having to be seen with all those elves.~ Men don't answer their mail.
~ Men would refuse to allow their physique to be described even in jest as anything remotely resembling a "bowlful of jelly."
~ Men aren't interested in stockings unless somebody's wearing them.
~ Finally, being responsible for Christmas would require a commitment.

I can buy the fact that other mythical holiday characters are men. Father Time shows up once a year unshaven and looking ominous. Definite guy. Cupid flies around carrying weapons. Uncle Sam is a politician who likes to point fingers. Any one of these individuals could pass the testosterone-screening test. But not St. Nick. Not a chance.

Freezing Friday

Somehow we managed to avoid the 8 inches of snow that was predicted yesterday (can you think of any other job where you can get it wrong as much as the weathermen do, and still stay employed?). But the temps have dropped (low 20's today), so everything is icy now.

Trying to get all my stuff done early so I can help Mrs. Soren today. She's up to her eyeballs baking stuff for tomorrow's Kjergaard Open House. I won't be much help tomorrow morning because I'm speaking at our Men's Prayer Breakfast, then I have to go to the theater to schmooze and propagandize our Narnia guests. Oh, and my folks called and said they were coming over today. I tried the Clark Griswold line, "Honey, they're family. It's not like they're strangers off the street. It'll be fine." Somehow she thinks it's poor form to hand my Dad a dustcloth and show him where the vacuum is. So she's a little stressed. It's what happens when you decide to invite the ENTIRE CHURCH over.

Oh, and the kids are starting to spazz a little because it's the last day of school and the Countdown to Christmas has begun.

We haven't sent any Christmas cards yet. And our out-of-town gifts still need to be sent. And I have no idea what I'm getting her for Christmas (-- and I'm pretty sure that wrapping myself up in a bow isn't gonna do it this year...or any year, come to think of it).

Christmas Cancellations Revisited

Today I listened to Jon Weece (minister of Southland Christian Church) address his congregation regarding the firestorm of controversy surrounding the decision to have no services on Dec 25 (sermon can be heard here).

I appreciated hearing his side of the story. I still question the wisdom of the decision. But the decision was made, and since I believe strongly in the autonomy of the local church, I believe that it's their decision to make. But I'm still stunned that apparently these guys couldn't predict that there would be an extreme adverse reaction to the decision. However, his message demonstrated the way a good leader handles controversy. The church needed to hear from him. And they heard a humble, reasoned response. I also appreciated the manner in which the church supported its minister with sustained applause, encouragement, and signs of support.

Narnia Mania

The Narnia Movie opened this past weekend. My family is looking forward to seeing it sometime soon.

I just had a mental image of Harry Carey saying, "Narnia? You know Steve, Narnia spelled backwards is Ainran." Weird, huh?

I got this Top Ten list today from Mikey's Funnies. I hope you enjoy it.
TOP TEN SURPRISES IN THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA MOVIE
By Dave Tippett
10. Narnia City Council votes to remove all images of Aslan, replace them with generic alley cat that represents all felines of world
9. Mega Aslan den draws animal followers from smaller dens with better praise and worship band
8. Metaphors go crazy as Aslan assigns kingdom duties to second in command, a talking rock
7. Sequel set up when, after the victory, Charismatic Aslans clash with Southern Narnia Council Aslans.
6. The movie's original title: "Jesus, Satan, and a Closet"
5. The White Witch wins battle after her ACLU lawyers get injunction against 'lion roaring' in public places
4. Long-haired "Lion King" cast ostracized from Narnia for singing and dancing...and the long hair thing
3. Endless winter in Narnia originally blamed on George Bush
2. Aslan bobbing head dolls wearing little "Pepsi" t-shirts seen in back window of Narnia's mayor's Ford Ranger
1. WWAD? bracelets being sold in town stores
Copyright 2005 Dave Tippett (djtippHA@yahoo.com).
Permission is granted to send this to others, with attribution, but not for commercial purposes.

Sign of the Week

Taking Christ Out of Christmas

No, it's not the ACLU or the People for the American Way, or any of the usual suspects this time. I am still stunned by the news reports that a number of churches are going to cancel worship services on December 25. These aren't liberal churches, they are conservative evangelical churches -- including some Christian churches (click here for an ongoing discussion about this). If Wayne Smith were dead, he would be rolling over in his grave.

I agree with my friend David Willis who says that this is the inevitable consequence of abandoning the emphasis on “the first day of the week.” The fact that secular news agencies have picked up on this story demonstrates just how whacked-out it is. Even the world recognizes that canceling is rather strange. Christmas isn’t even the issue with me – it’s the idea of blowing off worship on the Lord’s Day – although the fact that it’s Christmas makes it even more ironic. Can canceling on Mothers’ Day, Father’s Day, or even Easter be far behind?

My father-in-law had a classic response to one of his church members who inquired about worship on Dec. 25. He said, “Well I would hope that at least the CHRISTIANS will be here.”
Please, this isn’t about inconveniencing people in order to test their orthodoxy or their allegiance to Christ. It’s about the fact that many believers actually WANT to worship on that day, EVERY WEEK, and especially on Christmas.

Ben Witherington has a good post about this. And the Get Religion blog weighs in as well.

Truth is stranger than fiction. Granted, I have no idea what it is like to lead a church of thousands, but still... I have to wonder if whatever they think they have "gained" by not having Christmas service (family time, a break for volunteers, etc.) is not going to be far outweighed by the negative press, etc.

They Don't Make Them Like They Used To

Last night I watched Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town with my kids. I don't know what is is about the old shows, but I think they are simply better than the new ones (even with the cheesy graphics and such). It's probably because these shows remind me of my childhood.

I still love The Year Without a Santa Claus (Snow Miser and Heat Miser seemed really scary when I was little, yet somehow they were still really cool).

I read in this morning's paper that A Charlie Brown Christmas turns 40 this year. So this show has literally been a part of every Christmas of my life.

Although it is much newer than the films listed above, Prancer has become a family favorite. It was filmed in my hometown (Three Oaks, MI), so it's fun to see the local landmarks. Even though I've seen in a dozen times, I still get verklempt when Sam Elliott reads "Yes, Virginia..." to his daughter.

But the perennial favorite is still Christmas Vacation.

Without Limits

I enjoyed Prefontaine so much, I ordered Without Limits from Netflix. It basically told the same story. I liked the first one better, but this one was pretty good too. I wish I could have seen that guy run.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Chip Off the Old Block

Somehow my son and I got on the subject of life insurance tonight. One of his schoolmates lost his father a few years ago. He must have told Luke about how the gov't takes care of them (I'm guessing he was talking about Social Security), and that his dad had good life insurance (they live in a beautiful home, and the Mom doesn't work).

So Luke started asking whether I had life insurance, what is was for, etc. I told him that I did, and that it would pay for the house, car, college for him and his sister, etc. And that Mom wouldn't have to worry about anything. After pondering that for a moment, he said, in all innocence, "I bet if you died we could afford to get expanded cable."

Is that a classic male response, or what?

A Sad Story

And I Should Care Because...?

J.J. is on the rampage again. Why does this guy continue to get major press coverage? If you are ever unsure about any given issue, just find out where Jesse stands, then go the other way.

I did get to meet him once. My friend Dave Willis and I heard him speak at the Hampton Coliseum. Somehow we ended up in the "shake & howdy" line.

Happy 81st Birthday Professor!

Stay on Target! Stay on Target!

Tonight I watched a DVD of John Ortberg teaching. One of the many good points he made was about drifting from our God-given mission. Picture a bullseye (concentric circles): in the center are the core people in the church, the next ring consists of the fringe people, after that are the seekers, then the lost/unchurched (this is similar to Rick Warren's illustration in the Purpose Driven Church). Who are the people most likely to complain? Those in the center -- the core. "I'm not being fed." or "The music is too loud." or "You're not doing enough for my kids." ad nauseum

Killer quote: The church over time drifts from mission to complaint management. The default mode becomes "placate the critic."

Ouch! You said a mouthful John-Boy!

Scholars of Today

While looking for some other stuff today, I came across this oldie. Thought y'all might enjoy it.

A teacher compiled this list of comments from test papers, essays, etc., submitted to science and health teachers by elementary, junior high, high school, and college students. As she noted, "It's truly astonishing what weird science our young scholars can create under the pressure of time and grades."

H2O is hot water, and CO2 is cold water.
To collect fumes of sulfur, hold a deacon over a flame in a test tube.
When you smell an odorless gas, it is probably carbon monoxide.
Water is composed of two gins, Oxygin and Hydrogin. Oxygin is pure gin. Hydrogin is gin and water.
Three kinds of blood vessels are arteries, vanes and caterpillars.
Blood flows down one leg and up the other.
Respiration is composed of two acts, first inspiration, and then expectoration.
The moon is a planet, just like the earth, only it is even deader.
Dew is formed on leaves when the sun shines down on them and makes them perspire.
Mushrooms always grow in damp places so they look like umbrellas.
The pistol of a flower is its only protection against insects.
The skeleton is what is left after the insides have been taken out and the outsides have been taken off. The purpose of the skeleton is something to hitch meat to.
A permanent set of teeth consists of eight canines, eight cuspids, two molars, and eight cuspidors.
The tides are a fight between the Earth and moon. All water tends towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon and nature abhors a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in this fight.
A fossil is an extinct animal. The older it is, the more extinct it is.
Equator: A managerie lion running around the Earth through Africa.
Germinate: To become a naturalized German.
Liter: a nest of young puppies.
Magnet: something you find crawling all over a dead cat.
Momentum: what you give a person when they are going away.
Planet: A body of Earth surrounded by sky.
Rhubarb: A kind of celery gone bloodshot.
Vacuum: A large, empty space where the Pope lives.
Before giving a blood transfusion, find out if the blood is affirmative or negative.
To remove dust from the eye, pull the eye down over the nose.
For a nosebleed: Put the nose much lower than the body until the heart stops.
For dog bite: put the dog away for several days. If he has not recovered, then kill it.
For head cold: use an agonizer to spray the nose until it drops in your throat.
To keep milk from turning sour: Keep it in the cow.

E.P.I.C. Preaching

Leonard Sweet has a good article in the current issue of Rev. Magazine. I'm not sure that I buy his assertion that preaching as we have known it ("old-school", 20th-century style) is on life-support. But I did appreciate these words:

C.S. Lewis once said that writers should have blood in their veins, not ink. The same is true of the 21st-century preacher. Preachers should preach from the blood in the veins, not from the ink of words on a manuscript. Preaching has become too inky, too watery, and too bloodless. And the Christian preacher should bleed the shed blood of Christ, as preaching is ultimately God's act through the power of the Holy Spirit. A preacher sets a table before the people in which there is laid out the body and blood of Christ in bread and wine and in word and flesh . If, when you're finished preaching, you're not finished, spent, wiped out -- if you haven't died a little -- you haven't really preached. I once heard Howard Edington say that if you're truly preaching, you will shorten your life a little, because every time you preach you die a little.

Third Day

The new Third Day CD was released today. These guys rock! I've been listening to them ever since their first release back in '96 (the one with the giant peach reflecting in the window of the old bus). Praise Song is still being sung in worship all over the country, and Consuming Fire still gets to me (and it is awesome when performed live). Still, they've come a long way since then.

The new album is pretty good. My friend Donny Goff told me about the sneak preview he got while attending a Youth Leader's conference. He mentioned the song Communion. Wow!

This is the body
This is the blood
Broken and poured out
For all of us
In this communion
We share in His love
This is the body
This is the blood

I will remember everything, Lord
That you've done for me
I won't take for granted
The sacrifice that set me free
I hunger and thirst for Your love
Come fill me today

We hunger and thirst for Your love
And Your righteousness
We long for Your presence here, Lord
Be with us again

Even though it's a bit "rock-ish" for the older crowd, I've got to figure out how to use this in a worship service sometime.

Happy Halloween

This bit from Bill Maher made me chuckle.

Halloween is child abuse. One day every year we lose our minds and send our children into the night to talk to strangers. And then when they get home, we throw away the one health food item -- the apple -- because it might have a razor blade and keep the big sack of processed poison.

The Sub-Standard

Faithful readers of this blog (and you know who you are -- yes, all three of you) probably know that few things frost my buns more than people trying to pull a fast one on God's people. A century ago, the Disciples of Christ/Open Membership fiasco was very public and the issues/differences were clear to everyone involved. This time around, the liberal shift is much more subtle. More info here. Follow the links to the articles to learn more.

What a bunch of weak-kneed, limp-wristed, pusilanimous, spineless capitulators. I used to say that straddling the fence can get mighty uncomfortable after awhile. But that's not true if you don't have any...er, um...nevermind.

Duh!

Air Force football coach Eddie DeBerry was reprimanded for saying out saying out loud what every sports fan knows: You need some blacks guys in the backfield if you want to win. The story is here. Another case of political correctness run amuck. A few nights ago, I watched the updated version of The Longest Yard. Chris Rock told Adam Sandler that there was no way that the team would win without some brothers. The line was humorous because it's true. For whatever reason, God seems to have gifted African Americans with the ability to run faster. Have you ever watched the Track & Field competition at the Olympics? Not many white boys in the sprints. It's not racism, it's fact. Ironically, across the page from this story, our local paper listed the NFL Fantasy Football Running Back ratings. Guess what? All of them are black! What a surprise!

Air Force's Athletic Director Hans Mueh, in an attempt to cover his butt and kiss-up to the PC crowd, said, “Fisher’s already apologized for that statement. What we’re talking about is speed. There’s speed that cuts across black, white, gray, blue, whatever.” Yeah, right Hans. You're an idiot. And that's why you are the A.D. at AIR FORCE.

God Bless America?

What's with the World Series seventh-inning stretch freakshow? Are they trying to find the most washed-up, horribly voiced, has-been that will take the gig?
Last night, Aaron Neville (moley, moley, moley...Mole!) butchered God Bless America. Tonight, Lyle Lovett took a shot at it and was almost equally as horrific (that whirring sound you hear is Kate Smith rolling over in her grave). Was Julia Roberts actually married to this goober?

David Crowder Band

I picked up a little CD by the David Crowder Band today. It has some oldies (by that, I mean late 90's stuff) like I Will Not Be Silent and Every Move I Make. Some of the songs are cast-offs that didn't make it on his other albums. Good stuff. And I am enjoying it. Kind of reminds me of my old friends Chris McCarthy and Dave McCants.

I Find This Man Annoying

I love post-season baseball, except for one thing: It means that I will be forced to listen to Tim McCarver. This guy annoys me to no end. He's like a combination of John Madden, Brent Musberger, and that know-it-all WNBA amazon announcer chick. He has a gift for stating the obvious. And he talks down to the viewers, like we don't know anything about the game. And then when a guy makes a boneheaded baserunning error, or the manager makes a decision with which Timmy disagrees, he just won't let it go. He goes on and on and on and on about it. Just shut up already!

Who Ya Gonna Call?

Watched Ghostbusters with the family tonight. The kids enjoyed it, but Tracy said, "Now I remember why I didn't like that movie. It was stupid." I liked it. It's hard to believe that it's been 21 years since that movie was first released.

The Perfect Day Off

Yesterday was awesome. It was like "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." Began with a Preachers' Breakfast (hosted by the local Christian bookstore -- they gave us each over $100 dollars worth of books). Then nine holes of golf with my good friend John. After that we went for a run (just like the old days in Virginia). Tracy fixed a yummy lasagna supper which was followed by a great game of Euchre.

And the weather was as good as it gets this time of year. Perfect.

The Big 4-0

I hit the big 4-0 yesterday. Man, it still seems like I should be in my late 20's or early 30's.

Had a few friends over for a bonfire (roasted hot dogs and made s'mores).
About 8:30 I got a big surprise when our good friends (one of my Timothies) from Florida arrived. They took off from Tampa after services this morning and flew up here to spend a few days.

Earl Weaver, Where Art Thou?

Watched the end of Game Two of the ALCS. White Sox won courtesy of a terrible call. I'm a Cubs fan, which means that I have to be anti-Sox. But I would have been just as honked off if that call would have been made with the teams reversed (the Angels winning over the Sox). I don't understand why Mike Scioscia didn't argue more vehemently. Can you imagine what Earl Weaver or Tommy Lasorda would have done with that call? They would still be out on the field throwing a hissy fit and inventing curse words.

And People Wonder Why Disco Is Dead

A couple of weeks ago I started a new series: Retro...All the Way Back

Came on stage with Play That Funky Music White Boy playing. I think I was born a decade or two too late. Ya think?

Almost every guy over 50 said, "I used to have a suit like that."

Prefontaine

We watched Prefontaine last night. It had been in our Netflix que for a long time. This is a "must-see" film for any runner. Pre was a little before my time, but I have heard about him for years. The movie documents his life as a University of Oregon track star and Olympic runner. It also portrays legendary coach (and co-founder of Nike) Bill Bowerman. It showed him developing the Nike Waffle Trainer (which was one of my first running shoes). It also portrayed a couple of my early running heroes, Jeff Galloway and Frank Shorter. I have followed Galloway's training plans for many years, and I once ran in a race with Frank Shorter (and later got my picture taken with him).

I knew how the movie would end (he died in his prime in a car crash), but I underestimated the "verklemptness factor." When the hearse did the last lap around the UofO track and the crowd began to chant, "Pre! Pre! Pre! Pre!"....Gulp!

March of the Penguins

Took the family to see the March of the Penguins movie. It's hard to imagine anyone watching it and not believing in God. What incredible creatures these little tux-wearing birds are. Morgan Freeman's commentary kept it interesting. I couldn't help but wonder what the cameramen endured to film this. It's 58 below zero on the sunny days. Amazing creatures of an amazing God.

In Praise of Preaching

I have been a “full-time” preacher for over 18 years. Yet I never cease to be amazed by the power of proclamation. I suppose that there have been pundits in nearly every generation who have predicted the decline of preaching, claiming that it would fall out of vogue. The naysayers pass on, but preaching continues to not only live, but thrive! How? Because it is the plan of God. “For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21).

Every herald of the Good News knows the look on the face of the hearer who finally “gets it.” It is an “aha” moment, a holy event, as the Spirit of God uses His double-edged sword to penetrate the heart and soul of person, whether he be a saint or sinner.

And God has a sense of humor. The times when I think that I really “knocked it out of the park”, the congregation has a lukewarm response. But when I think that I have preached the worst sermon ever, someone walks by with tears in her eyes and says, “That was just the Word from the Lord that I needed.” Huh?!

I have been reminded recently that people are hungry for solid preaching from the Bible. And the “harder” I preach, the more they seem to embrace it. The words of the old evangelist are true, “Preacher, if you set yourself on fire, people will come to watch you burn.”

Minister Brother, be encouraged. God still takes our feeble sermons and uses them to transforms lives. What an awesome God we serve. So in the words of one of my early mentors, “This is no time for pusillanimous pussyfooting. It’s time to get some sand in our craws and cement in our backbones and stand up on our hind legs and preach the Gospel – heaven-high, hell-deep, world-wide, and shotgun-barrel straight!”

Irish Eyes Aren't Smiling

What a game today! My Irish came back from a three touchdown deficit, only to get beat in overtime 44-41. Coach Weis is an offensive genius, but the D needs some work.

Random Blogations

Fantasy football? I don't get it. Get a life people.

I think Grant Boone is a hoot.

What must it be like to be most of the players in the major leagues right now? Their games are meaningless. How to get motivated to show up to work? Well, the $2.2 million paychecks probably ease the pain just a tad.

Netflix rocks! In one year we watched the first three seasons of Alias. Saw Season Four in "real time" (it got really lame, probably because the producer was busy making Lost). Now we are halfway through Season Two of 24. Even better than Alias (although Kiefer Sutherland is no Jennifer Garner). By the way, I think Keifer and Greg Stauffer were separated at birth.

People around here are complaining that we haven't had any rain and therefore the lawns are burning up. Hey, at least our lawns are not six feet underwater. And we have homes in which we can sit around and complain.

The Blame Game

I understand that Dubya is going to address the nation tonight. Yesterday he made his "the buck stops here" speech. I guess tonight he's going to accept the blame that the Dems & the media have heaped upon him.

I can't help but wonder what would have happened if he had done the very things that he is being criticized for not doing (i.e. flying immediately to New Orleans & Gulf Coast, sending in the national guard, cutting through the "red tape, protocol, and proper channels", and basically "taking over" the entire operation). I think those same critics would be accusing him of dissing the Mayor & Governor, political grandstanding, glory-hogging, and violating any number of state & federal laws.

"We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge and you did not mourn." The poor guy can't win.

But at least Judge Roberts is making Ted Kennedy look like an idiot (granted, it's not all that difficult).

Indiana Living

It seems that every little town in these parts has a fair, festival, or fun weekend of some sort.

The big deal in our town is the Grabill Country Fair, held the weekend after Labor Day. Now, when I say "big deal", you have to remember that we get excited when they install a new pop machine in front of the video store. Everything is relative. Just today there was a big traffic jam at the four-way stop (yes, the four-way stop). There must have been three cars and an Amish buggy backed up. I must have waited a full 45 seconds to get through. Yep, Mayberry is alive and well in 2005.

Anyway, back to the Fair...there is some serious eating to be done at this place. My favorite is the pork tenderloin sandwich. The meat is about four times as large as the bun. The trick is to do a tri-fold number on the tenderloin, then add pickles & mustard. Several of the local churches and civic groups have food booths. Our youth group sponsors the "Spud Hut" (baked potatoes & fixin's). I'm not much of a "stand alone" baked potato fan. But gimme a steak and a salad with that Spud and I'm all over it. Thanks to Dr. Atkins and the numerous other food choices, the Spud Hut hasn't done too well over the past couple of years, but it's still a good opportunity to get the church name out in the community. Plus, we get to meet a lot of people.

Another group does hot apple dumplings. Man, are they good. Of course, you have to get it a la mode. Yummy!

Diet starts next week, right?

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

Enjoyed watching our local minor league team with my son over the weekend. They won 7-0. Minor league games are great. Where else can you see:
Kids doing the crazy-spinning-bat game (we used to do this at church camp, cracking up laughing when kids would get dizzy and fall down --yep, it doesn't take much to humor me).
People dressed up as potato chip bags, racing around the field (and staffers dumping real potato chip bags onto the crowd from atop the pressbox).
Jake the Diamond Dog, retrieving bats and taking water to the umps.
Frisbees and t-shirts being tossed and rubber-band launched into the crowd.
Free fireworks.

Good stuff.

Three Months!

Well, I've been blogging officially for three months now. I don't know who reads this, except my wife (when I really make her sit down and do it), a couple of staff members (past & present), and a few friends. But I'm having fun with it anyway.