President Ford meeting with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (left) and White House Chief of Staff Dick Cheney, April 1975.
thanks for answering donna. sorry that you missed it. you can see rumsfeld still looks the same, with the exception of his hair color. i sure didn't recognize cheney, though.
who can tell me who these men are?
hints:
one of them just resigned his post.
one just passed away yesterday.
one is still in office. (oops! the following is wrong!) even after being shot on a hunting trip. (it should read this) even after shooting his fellow hunter on hunting trip.
as they appear in the photo: President ??? meeting with his Secretary of Defense (left) and his chief of staff (right), April 1975. (click on the photo to enlarge it)
i am sure most of you know that i am a sports nut/freak/whatever. my favorite sport rolls around for the world to participate in every 4 years. no it is not the olympics, although the sport is an olympic sport.
my favorite sport is futbol. aka, soccer. this year the world cup was held in germany. the u.s. team was ranked high, and got slaughtered by their bracket ... again.
what made start this post was not to talk about how poorly the yanks played in germany, but to talk about a man who will sadly be remembered by what he did as his last act on the professionaly pitch. below is an excerpt from espn's page 2 article. it about a great man. a great soccer player. no matter what you think of france.
ZINEDINE ZIDANE
"Zizou" ranks among soccer's all-time greats. He led France to its only World Cup win in 1998, and was named FIFA World Player of the Year three times while starring as the sport's premier midfielder with Juventus and Real Madrid from 1996 until 2006.That's what European fans and American soccerheads will remember him for. But most Americans will forever remember him as the guy who delivered that awesome head-butt in the 2006 World Cup final. The instant his head slammed into Marco Materazzi's chest, his status went from obscure European athlete to household name in the United States. He also helped changed the "wussy" image many people have of soccer -- and maybe even of French people in general.
And while that may seem wrong or unfair, it's actually great for the growth of soccer in the United States. In a World Cup that saw Team USA bounced in pool play, Zidane had casual American sports fans talking about soccer.
Think of the two most iconic soccer images in recent memory: Brandi Chastain showing her bra and Zidane head-butting Materazzi. Sex and violence -- two of America's greatest loves. Perhaps we need more of both in soccer if it is ever truly going to become a major sport here. I, for one, hope it does, and that we soon see Zidane participating in ribbon-butting ceremonies at new soccer stadiums all across our great land.
-- DJ Gallo
btw, dj i second you on the comment that i hope soccer does become a major sport here in the u.s. it really is a great sport ... just ask someone who plays. what a way to be remembered. i even talked to my wife about him. she saw me typing this, and i described him to her. she didn't know who i was talking about until i mentioned the head butting incident. what a way to be remembered by.
guess who we had stop by and talk to our youth group last night? he is the neighbor of one our members. still no clue?
this guy:
jake peavy. ace of the san diego padres.
he came and spoke to our youth, but i think i was the most excited one to see him. eventhough he set a franchise record 17 k's in one game against my braves.
he talked about the night he "got the call" to come up to the bigs. he had played in jackson, ms, and then the manager called him to his room and told him to pack his bags. 'mind you this was about midnight, and he was getting on a plane to fly to san dog to pitch against the new york yankees HAWK!! PUH!! (that's me clearing my throat and spitting out that wretched team's name)
not to mention he was pitching against future hall of famer roger "the rocket" clemens on his mlb debut.
he spoke about pitching to mike piazza and his first mlb strike out, which was derek jeter. he spoke about striking out barry "no i didn't take steroids" bonds. yeah right, and if i pumped weights for three months in the off season i would look like that, too.
it was neat to hear his experiences and how he shared that with our youth. he is not an eloquent speaker, but he is a real guy, and it was neat to hear him share those things.
have you ever met some one famous? how did you feel shaking their hand, and such?
i was surfing this morning and while i was at a new site by one of my favorite band's site i learned that one of my favorite songs by them was derived from psalm 104. i'm sure that you have heard it if you listen to power 88 here in the mobile area, or on another christian radio station. here is the inspiration that they used:
here is video that someone made with the song in the background:Psalm 104
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul.
O LORD my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with splendor and majesty.2 He wraps himself in light as with a garment;
he stretches out the heavens like a tent3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot
and rides on the wings of the wind.4 He makes winds his messengers,
flames of fire his servants.5 He set the earth on its foundations;
it can never be moved.6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.7 But at your rebuke the waters fled,
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;8 they flowed over the mountains,
they went down into the valleys,
to the place you assigned for them.9 You set a boundary they cannot cross;
never again will they cover the earth.10 He makes springs pour water into the ravines;
it flows between the mountains.11 They give water to all the beasts of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.12 The birds of the air nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches.13 He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work.14 He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for man to cultivate—
bringing forth food from the earth:15 wine that gladdens the heart of man,
oil to make his face shine,
and bread that sustains his heart.16 The trees of the LORD are well watered,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.17 There the birds make their nests;
the stork has its home in the pine trees.18 The high mountains belong to the wild goats;
the crags are a refuge for the coneys.19 The moon marks off the seasons,
and the sun knows when to go down.20 You bring darkness, it becomes night,
and all the beasts of the forest prowl.21 The lions roar for their prey
and seek their food from God.22 The sun rises, and they steal away;
they return and lie down in their dens.23 Then man goes out to his work,
to his labor until evening.24 How many are your works, O LORD!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.25 There is the sea, vast and spacious,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.26 There the ships go to and fro,
and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.27 These all look to you
to give them their food at the proper time.28 When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.29 When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.30 When you send your Spirit,
they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in his works-32 he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.33 I will sing to the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the LORD.35 But may sinners vanish from the earth
and the wicked be no more.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.
Praise the LORD.
How Great Is Our Godhave you ever heard this song before? do you like it? what do you think of chris tomlim? i have written some posts in the past featuring him, so you know i like him. did you know that the is coming in concert on march 14th? do you have your tickets yet? I'M GOING TO BE GOING!!
VERSE(1)
The splendor of the King,
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice,
All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in light,
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at his voice,
And trembles at his voice
CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God
VERSE(2):
Age to age he stands
And time is in His Hands
Beginning and the End,
Beginning and the End
The Godhead, Three in one
Father, Spirit, Son
The Lion and the Lamb,
The Lion and the Lamb
CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God
CHORUS(2)
Name above all names
Worthy of our praise
My heart will sing how great
Is our God
(x2)
CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God
Then sings my soul,
my savior,God to Thee
How great Thy art
How great Thy art
(x2)
CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God
at least to me it is ... well ... not really news, but i have never really read/heard it so concisely put.
well enough blathering, here it is:
"In essentials, unity; in opinions, liberty; in all things, love."
"opinions are like armpits. everyone has them and they all stink."
here is a short article to a song that i'm sure you have had to have heard sometime in the past, or maybe even this year, around this time of year. i'm also not too proud to say that it has caused a tear or two ... oh who am i kidding! this song has made me cry about how sweet it is. i also think of the gift that i was given, in the form of my daughter, and the first time i held her.
here are the lyrics.
a lot of blogs that i read have their lists of their favorite christmas songs, and i just wanted to share two of my faves ... or maybe one more for good measure. ok, so three songs:Christmastime
Michael W. Smith
Chorus:
Ring Christmas bells
Ring them loud with the message bringing
Peace on the earth
Tidings of good cheer
Come carolers
Come and join with the angels singing
Joy to the world
Christmastime is here again
Children gather around and listen
You'll hear the sound
Of angels filling the sky
Telling everyone
Christmas time is here
Chorus
Loved ones close to our hearts
and strangers in lands afar
Together share in the joy
Emmanuel
He has come to dwell
With one voice
Let the world rejoiceWelcome To Our World
Chris Rice
Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You’ve been promised, we’ve been waiting
Welcome Holy Child
Welcome Holy Child
Hope that you don’t mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long-awaited Holy Stranger
Make yourself at home
Please make yourself at home
Bring your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking Heaven’s silence
Welcome to our world
Welcome to our world
Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born
Unto us is born
So wrap our injured flesh around you
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy
Perfect Son of God
Perfect Son of God
Welcome to our world
Clumsy Fly Music (ASCAP)O come, O come, Emmanuel,
let me know what some of your favorites are in the comments section.
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Refrain
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Refrain
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.
Refrain
O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Refrain
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Refrain
O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Refrain
O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.
Refrain
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
Refrain
well, this is late getting out, but we had a great time at the concert saturday night. wow, i know you wish you were there, too, but hey, you were invited.
they did this song that is a favorite of my family's, and i wanted to share it with you. they did 'come together' for one of their encore songs, and that is one of my favorite favorite's of theirs. it was awesome. words do not compare. i hope you enjoy this video of 'show me Your glory.'
have you seen the movie that this trailer is for:
i saw it when i was little when it came out, but i saw it again, about 5 years ago, and it seemed so much better. what do you think?
i just got back from getting my tickets to see these guys. if this concert is going to be anything like the one i saw them in when i was living in texas ... this is going to be great! wait a minute ... it will be better than great, it will be awesome!!
i can't wait! would you like to go? what is the best concert you have ever been to? what is the first concert you remember going to?
i remember when i went to see acapella for the first time. i was attending gateway coc in pensacola, and the group said that they were going to these guys and i had never heard of them. see i grew up in a conservative atmosphere, and we never heard of such stuff. boy am i glad i got to go! does anybdy remember randy singing bass? after i heard them there i wanted to sing like him.
i was sitting here listening to music, and posting to my blog, and then i went to look for some more videos. i came across a video if a song from a group that i went to see in concert with chris tomlin, and steven curtis chapman. casting crowns was in the concert with them. the song that gets me is "if we are the body." i once read the words to that song at a small group that i was leading, and asked if anyone ever felt like those talked about in the song ... if they ever felt like the girl, or the man that wandered in to the church service. it lead a great discussion.
i really like casting crowns, and i hope you do too. however, i like their first album better than the last one they came out with. why is that? do you y'all ever feel that way?
any way here's the video
i took jd's advise and got chris tomlin's new cd. not that i needed jd's advise, no offense to jd, but i was going to get it anyway.
here is a video of his single that is out now "made to worship" that was recorded at passion '06 (wish i was there), but i wish there was video for "everlasting God" i think i would put that one on here, too. i hope you enjoy this as much as i do! GO GET THE CD, Y'ALL!! let me know what you think of chris, and his music.
some of you may know, but some may not. i really like chris tomlin, and this song is one of my favorites. my wife really likes it, too.
have you ever had a pity party? i will have to answer to the affirmative on that one.
have you ever signed up to work in a ministry, and then become the leader of that ministry, and then have some of the members of that ministry not live up to your expectations, and then think poorly of them? wow, that was a loaded question. i will have to answer to the affirmative on that one, too.
i need to get off my soap box and put what i was actually thinking about when i started this. sorry, i got thought hi-jacked. so to go along with the title of this post "something i read" i will show you it:
this post was taken from charles stanley's "in touch daily devotional", so don't think that i was able to come up with all this great stuff, but i wanted to share it with you. it reminded me of this sunday.
this sunday i had the great privilege to lead communion. along with that great honor, my wife told me that i did such a great job that it made her cry. some people might find that upsetting, but to me that was another great honor. "why?" do you ask. well ... it touched her, and it made her think of the sacrifice that God gave us through the giving of His Son.
i started it off by having a song played, and then i talked about what the song meant to me and why i used it. i didn't have the praise team sing it or song leader know this, because the intent was for the congregation to listen to it, and not think of anything else. i also had it played because i can never get through it without my eyes leaking. i can't read it, or sing it without that happening. the same goes for the song "come share the Lord", but that's another story. the song i am talking about is "how deep the Father's love for us". that song is just so appropriate for the situation to me:
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts no power no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
being a father myself, and no not to say i am like God, but for God to do this for me ... its beyond comprehension. this line says it well:
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
God's love for us was/is so great that He could not bear to watch His Son die. that line gets me every time. this line finishes it well:
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
for God to redeem me with the giving of His Son, its just amazing that He would do that for me.
well, anyway, that probably shoulda been another post, but here we go.
read this quoted article and please mention in the comments your thoughts.
one more thing that i thought of as i was finishing this post, did you know that there was not even a word to describe the pain that the person went through on the cross while being crucified? can you think of the word? the word is ... excruciating. so if/when you here that word you can think of the kind of pain Jesus went through on the cross. just thought you might like to know.Rome used the cross as a brutal method for executing criminals. Through Jesus'sacrificial act, its message became one of hope and life for those who believe in Him.
The cross meant various things to different people in the gospel account. To Pilate, Judea's governor, it was the place where an innocent man had died. The Pharisees and Sadducees, on the other hand, saw the cross as the way to eliminate a problem—it meant that the radical rabbi was finished, and their position and authority were no longer threatened.
When Judas Iscariot heard that Jesus was condemned to die, he became greatly distressed. I believe the betrayer thought his actions would force Jesus to declare His kingdom, with Judas taking a high position in the new government. Instead, his error in judgment crushed any personal ambition.
To Mary, who knew the perfection of her son's life and His identity as the Son of God, the cross represented shameful crime. It also meant the fulfillment of prophecy. When Jesus was eight days old, Simeon had prophesied that a sword would one day pierce Mary's soul. (Luke 2:34-35) The cross brought that about.
To Jesus' disciples, the Crucifixion was the time when their beloved friend and Messiah died. Their intimate friendship with Jesus seemed to end, as did their dream of being freed from Roman jurisdiction.
What response would you give to the question, "What does the cross mean to you?" Is it the place where a good man lost his life, a troublemaker was eliminated, or the Son of God died to save you?
why does it hurt the worst when someone in your own blood family questions you on things that you do?
i'm sitting here at my desk while at work, and i can't shake this feeling from something that is controversial to a member of my family that i grew up in. a member of my family will not attend church with me when they come to visit because when they visited in the past they heard women singing into microphones. (i may be opening a can of worms here that will just keep overflowing, but it hurts me really bad.) we talked about this, and my question was why did they not have a problem with it before when they came to visit us in texas. their answer was the we were already members, and they did not want to stir up anything. TOO LATE!!
so when we moved to l.a., they came to visit while we were still looking for a church home, and there was this one church that we liked. so we went to visit with them. when we told them that we placed membership, they basically said that they will never attend church with us when they come to visit. sad. very sad. it really upsets me.
then when we went and visited with them, their preacher preached three sermons (mind you we had visited three times since we had moved to l.a.) and they all were based on "if your church does not believe the way we do, you are going to hell." (coincidence? i don't think so.) needless to say we have not returned to visit that church. however, it is a moot point as he has moved on, and so have the members of my family.
sorry to unload like that, but it all resurfaced when the member attended a sermon/meeting and the subject was spoken on. they proceeded to write and say how "the truth" was preached, and how women should not sing into mics, and the next thing will be her getting up and leading a sermon. that is sad to me. we had come to an agreement that we would "agree to disagree" on the subject of mics. in my response i wanted to say that the recordings of the singings that they attend had women are singing ... into microphones, eventhough they were in the congregation, and were being recorded with mics there, too. that line of thinking and revelation would not have worked, because their way of thinking would be that the women were not holding the mics, ya' know? ... i'm so ... i dunno how to express it in words ...
pray for me to let this go, please.
i got this from ben overby's blog. its really, really good. it talks about the way i view the church should be. we never, ever, ever get things right the first time (except for beginner's luck) and yet we are afraid to try because we may fail. i can say this to you because i am the world's worst at this. i feel that if i can't do it right then i best not even try. read this quote from ben:
A big part of what our churches ought to be about is forming Christ-followers into God-glorifying humans. Unfortunately our method has to do primarily with talking, giving instruction, assigning a few passages, or passing out a book. Whereas Aristotle had a school out of which he shared his philosophy, Jesus called men to follow Him, to become His disciples, to be with Him in order to become like Him. The school of Jesus was dynamic, interactive; it involved instruction, modeling, questions and answers, hands-on demonstrations, critiques, an expectation that the students would miss the point and make mistakes, correctives in the form of tough rebukes or encouraging words and forgiveness.
We visited Tennessee over the weekend. Our youngest son bought a tie that he intends to wear to church as soon as possible (it's a University of Tennessee tie--it's a good week to be a UT fan). Not knowing how to tie the thing, he asked me for a bit of coaching yesterday. I happened to be busy at the time and mumbled a few instructions. Tying a tie is really a simple feat. However, like tying shoes, it's not the sort of thing you learn by hearing instructions. Finally, I quit what I was doing, hung the tie around his neck, and showed him what I meant. He did what I did, making all sorts of mistakes, getting more instruction and modeling, until he understood the process. Then he went to a mirror and practiced over and over again until he'd tied the perfect knot.
It's much easier for any of us to learn anything if we're given a hands-on example. When I was in business, the best salesman I ever had needed to be trained, he needed to be shown how to sell the product. I began his training (like everyone else) by talking but progressed quickly to showing/modeling. I wanted him to have confidence when he actually stood before a customer and represented the business. The final phase of his training came when he actually engaged with his first few customers, trying out what we'd talked about, using some of the things I'd shown him, made plenty of mistakes, made necessary adjustments, and developed his own particular style.
Tying ties and selling products may not be as complicated as brain surgery, but both are learned the same way. We act as listening, learning apprentices, then under careful guidance we slowly take over, making mistakes, correcting our errors, until finally we are masters.
What's true of doctors and salesmen, a 13-year-old learning to tie a knot and an auto mechanic in training, a dog trainer or a florists, is true of Christianity. Christianity (which ought to mean authentic humanness) requires learning to be like Christ. A big part of what our churches ought to be about is forming Christ-followers into God-glorifying humans. Unfortunately our method has to do primarily with talking, giving instruction, assigning a few passages, or passing out a book. Whereas Aristotle had a school out of which he shared his philosophy, Jesus called men to follow Him, to become His disciples, to be with Him in order to become like Him. The school of Jesus was dynamic, interactive; it involved instruction, modeling, questions and answers, hands-on demonstrations, critiques, an expectation that the students would miss the point and make mistakes, correctives in the form of tough rebukes or encouraging words and forgiveness. Christ was reshaping humanity into His own image, and He did so not by merely sending a book, or opening up a three-year institution of higher learning, but by being the Master to a handful of unimpressive and unlikely apprentices.
Alex sought my advice on his tie because he knew I could tie a tie. We desperately need to be living Christ-centered, Christ-shaped lives so that as light we are sought by those who are in need. When the world sees true humanity, some will approach and say, "Can you show me how to deal with worry the way you do?" or "I'm confused and hurting and want to know how it is that you're so much at peace and full of joy regardless of the situation," or "I'm losing my wife--can you help?" The questions might come from the person in the office next door or the pew in front of us. When the question comes we are given a window of opportunity to enter into a relationship with someone who needs discipleship (whether they know it or not). At some point we have to just quit some of the other stuff in our lives so that we can respond, hang the tie around the neck of the one with the questions, and say, "Here's what I mean. Let me show you step by step." We all need instruction, but instruction must include not only the exchange of facts in a auditorium but more practical, hands-on modeling. If we're going to be effective in a world with too few master teachers, it is a must that we follow Jesus in scripture, continuing in His word so that we can become his disciples; that is, doing the things He says, trying His teaching out, making mistakes, being limber enough to receive correction from His Spirit, all as we grow into His likeness slowly but surely.
As an example, hear Jesus' instruction regarding anger, or lust, or retaliation as given in Matthew 5. Prayerfully listen to what He has to say. Memorize some of His words. Get your system soaked in His instruction. Next, watch how He handles Himself in those situations that might typically manifest broken humanness in the form of contempt, using the opposite sex for personal gratification, or resisting any form of vulnerability--e.g., always getting the last punch in. Finally, after hearing Him, prayerfully watching Him through scripture, go out and try what He says; that is, train to be like Him. We will make mistakes along the way. Don't hate your mistakes to the point that they cause you to come undone. Going the wrong way often becomes the catalyst, the experience we need to finally go the right way (remember Peter?). Jesus' school is still dynamic, interactive, inviting our toughest questions, and producing authentic humans. All that remains for us is to decide whether or not we are going to take Him seriously.
Ben
this is how the article about byron nelson ended at pga.com:To put it in match play parlance, Byron Nelson believed his sin put him 1-down, the blood of Christ made him all square, and that someday, because of the Resurrection, he would even 1-up death. Game over. Nelson wins again.
did you know that byron attended richland hills c.o.c.? i didn't. i visited rhcoc many times while i lived in arlington, but didn't know that he went there.
i am starting to like grant's articles. a few weeks ago he wrote a nice piece about d. clarke, and the passing of his wife. he is a gracious writer.
a very dear friend added this to her e-mail:
Ryan mentioned how he wished we could all stand in a circle and share our favorite lines from our favorite hymns.. I know mine!here is what i wrote back:
My sin...
oh! the bliss of this glorious thought..
My sin, not in part, but the whole is nailed to the cross
and I bear it no more!
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, oh my soul!
If you'd like to share yours.. I'd be glad to pass it along. It could be fun to do a kind of email circle and put together everyone's favorite lines.
this one immediately came to mind:greg is another dear friend, and he is related to elvis somewhere down the line, and he does a great job on some songs that elvis is known for doing.
Love one another, for love is of God
He who loves is born of God and knows God.
He who does not love does not know God,
For God is love, God is love.
or this, greg could do it justice:
It is no secret what God can do.
What He's done for others, He'll do for you.
With arms wide open, He'll pardon you,
It is no secret what God can do.
or there is this one that i have never been able to get through without my eyes leaking:
He joins us here, He breaks the bread.
The Lord who pours the cup is risen from the dead.
The One we love the most is now our gracious host.
Come take the bread, come drink the wine, come share the Lord.
From Sid Bream to Andres Galarraga to Adam LaRoche, from Lonnie Smith to Gary Sheffield to Jeff Francoeur, from Steve Avery to Greg Maddux to Tim Hudson, the Braves always found a way to finish on top at the end of the regular season. They were the team that had the dash beside its name when the final standings were posted. Leave the numbers -- as in games behind -- to the other guys.the preceding is excerpt from yahoo sports. this is a sad time for me. the braves are out of the post season, and i lost last week in the opening weekend of fantasy football by 1 point. now i have to play jd this week. can it get any worse?
And now it's over.
The Braves won't finish first this season. That's been a given for several months now, ever since they went 6-21 in June while the Mets were pulling away in the NL East. It only took this long to officially bury The Streak. Atlanta was mathematically eliminated from the division race Tuesday night when New York beat Florida.
that is one of my favorite lines from one of my favorite comedies; stripes.
i am depressed because the braves have not even made it close in trying to win the nl east. they are 20.5 games back. that is sad.
i never thought that i would get over 5,000 hits/visits to this blog. does anybody remember what my first post was about, and what the name of my blog was then? well, here's a hint.
why did i change the name? i thought that the new name was cool and i had heard it in a sermon, and i thought it really worked for what i was trying to share.
God is love. i'm sure you have heard that. who will win in the end? God. so the name of my blog is a reaffirmation of what is going to being the end result. GOD WINS!
i have also shared some weird times, and hard times. there have been some really rough times. katrina comes to mind. heard of her? she really made a name for herself, huh?
thanks for stopping by. leave a comment if you don't mind.
great news!
joey and callie have accepted the offer that the shepherds gave them! joey will be the new youth minister here at port city! that is so cool!
can you tell i am excited? he is from new orleans, and callie is austin. another good one from texas!
jerre and i finished our class on tony evans' book 'free at last' this past week. i was tired, and i wish jerre actually did the last class, but his time has been taken by a more important job; supporting his wife during the health problems of her parents. i love jerre and his huge heart! jerre is one of the reasons that i am still at port city. he is such a supportive man! he has a way in his classes that makes you feel that you are the only reason for him to be there, and he is there to tell what he learned this past week and he wants to talk to you about it.
port city is an awesome church, but there are things, IMO, that could be done differently. the truth about God and His Son are always proclaimed there, and their need and importance are taught there. i think, IMO, that the congregation could be more ... i don't know ... enthusiastic?.?. (that's not really what i mean, but i can't think of a better adjective) i wish that our prayer for the Holy Spirit to just engulf and penetrate our lives and our worship has not been realized and we have not allowed Him to work in our lives totally. ya' know?
we are in a transitional period right now. we are interviewing and having prospective youth minister candidates come and try out for the spot on our team, since the departure of chris, when he left to take the pulpit of a church in hotlanta. this past weekend we had joey and callie come and see us.
the weekend started off with a dinner on friday night at a member of the search committee's house. we met joey and callie face to face after hearing about them through correspondence.
then they attended a get-together with the youth group and some parents at the house of another member of the search committee on saturday. their house is on the water, and there was skiing, swimming, and laughing and an all around good time. however, i was sweating some pounds off while running around and reffing five soccer matches in pace, fl.
after the those festivities, joey taught the teen class on sunday morning, of which i did not hear one bad comment. our teen class is usually between 6 and 20. nothing firm on any given sunday, mind you. however, this sunday there were 26! it was SRO in that room. i'm glad the fire marshal was not around!
then the whole congregation got to hear him preach. his sermon was very interesting. he talked about the comparison of superman to the original Superhero, Jesus. that was cool! i will share more about the sermon if you want. just ask about it in the comments. it was so good that, no offense is intended here, even some of the grey hairs said, "don't let him get away. we need to hire him. that was good!" i have been to places where the older members just do not care for the younger generation's views of culture and our walk.
then we happened to visit the same life group in the evening that he was visiting. i bet he thought we were following him. we visited the life group because our group was not meeting since the leaders were the ones who hosted the teens the day before. it was a great time sharing and learning.
well, that was the weekend. i will post later about the fun in pace and reffing.
i have seen and read of people being tagged out here in blognation, but let's go this way. i am going to create an interactive questionaire. listed below are questions to find out what or who is your favorite "?". answer the questions in the comments section please.
who or what is your favorite ...
... color?
... ice cream flavor, and topping?
... sport?
... bible verse? why (if you want to share)?
... season?
... day of the year?
... bible character?
... celebrity?
... vacation spot you have been to, or would like to go to?
... car?
... genre of music? ... group?
... childhood friend?
... childhood toy/game?
... mac or pc?
... website?
... soda?
this is just a few to get the ball rolling. please don't feel like you have to share family secrets, or personal info. thanks for stopping by.
i have been tagged by my good friend JD. i'm kinda glad he did, because i haven't updated my blog in awhile. this is a great excuse to do so:
1. One book that changed your life:
romans, paul
2. One book that you've read more than once:
the firm, john grisham
3. One book you'd want on a desert island:
a very, very thick one for more than one reason.
the hunt for red october, tom clancy
4. One book that made you laugh:
velvet elvis, rob bell
5. One book that made you cry:
i don't think that i have cried during a read. i may be wrong, but i can't remember.
6. One book you wish had been written:
things you wish you knew when you were a teen, A. Smart Alick
7. One book you wish had never been written:
the great gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
8. One book you're currently reading:
narnia, C. S. Lewis
9. One book you've been meaning to read:
Seeking a Lasting City: The Church's Journey in the Story of God, Doug Foster, Randy Harris, and Mark Love
10. Tag five others:
chris lockhart
greg foster
donna
danny sims
brandon scott thomas
to the right you will see the patch of a united states soccer federation referee. mine looks like it, but the only difference is that the year is on the bottom of the patch to signify the year of which my qualification expires. that year will be 2007.
i am very excited about getting to referee the soccer games here in the united states. i am qualified to ref in any state that the ussf refs in. i don't know of any that don't have refs, but i am only qualified to ref in the united states. make sense? weird, huh?
the class was two days long and very intense. there is more to reffing than just making a call and getting yelled at. you know refs always make a bad call, at least in the eye of the team the call is made against.
well, before i get to do the center ref job i will be doing the lines as an assistant referee for quite awhile until i get some experience under my belt, and wouldn't you know it. the week that i would get to start, i have to go out of town for a week on business! that bums! oh well! there will be games when i get back, but the other new refs will have a few games on me, but i will be there when i can.
what are the movies these lines are from:
1. "we'll take the lot."
2. "hello! my name is inigo montoya! you kill' my father! prepare to die!"
3. "yee-haw! jester's dead!"
4. "good sabbath, mottel."
5. "you know how to dance?" "i should. i took a lesson every day of my life until 2 days ago."(?)(maybe a paraphrased line, sorry. but a good movie.)
this is a good start. add some of your own memorable lines.
here is my list:
princess bride "i don't think that word means what you think it means.", "i am not left handed.", "stop rhyming. i mean it!" "anybody want a peanut?"
fiddler on the roof "you could die from such a man!", about wealth: "may You smite me with it, and may i never recover!"
a few good men "are we clear! ... are we clear!" "crystal."
the hunt for red october "submarines don't react well to bullets."
o brother, where art thou? "i'm for your's truly." "well i'm for your's truly" "well, i'm with you fellas."
tron "do you think we can merge with this memory bit?" "no."
shawshank redemption "i need a rock hammer.", "do you trust your wife?"
vision quest "i like men's hands."
the breakfast club "you mess with the bull. you get the horns.", "i'm not that prestine!"
ferris bueller's day off "hey, battah, battah ... suh-wing battah!"
top gun "i have a need." "a need for speed!", "i'm gonna take a shower. do you mind?" "yes! i mind! i'm hungry!", "goose, take me to bed or loose me forever!" "show me the way, honey!"
gone with the wind "you need kissing ... and real bad.", "it ain't fittin'! it just ain't fittin'! humph."
so what are some of your favorite movies, and lines from those movies?
i was reading a devo sent to me by my lovely bride, and it had a prayer of sorts in it. i want to share it with you, but i am going to give it to you in two parts, and not in the order that it came in the devo. i am going to give you what i think is the "real" part of the prayer first and then i will give the first part. let me know if this fits you, too:
And thank You for the things I don't want: the track marks on the carpet that remind me of loved ones who live here, the never-ending laundry that reminds me how you have provided for my family, the high power bill that reminds me I have a warm home, the taxes that need to be filed because it means we have income, and my exhaustion at the end of the day because it means I am alive and well. Please give me a contentment that is separate from my circumstances and my stuff. Please give me a want for what I have.here is the first part:
Lord, thank you for the gifts you have given me: my family, my friendships, my church, my ministry, my home, my health, my time. Thank you for the opportunity to serve with You; the honor of serving You. I am grateful for the favor of your grace, the freedom of your forgiveness, the unconditional love and acceptance that I long for and the promise of your presence. Give me a "want" for the things of God.does this sound like the real you, or does it sound like the you that you want to be, or is it not even in the ballpark?
i say that i must be crazy because i have signed up to be a willing subject of horrible name calling, and my faculties are going to be questioned, and i am doing this willingly. however, i am going to be paid for it, so that will bring some consulation.
do you go to sporting events? who gets yelled at most? who gets questioned all the time no matter what they say? the officiating person, right? well, i will be attending a class to become a certified soocer referee in a couple of weeks. what am i thinking? i must be nuts, right?
well, i love the game, and i have done my share of yelling and questioning of refs in the past while attending my daughter's games, and i have always said to myself, "i could do a much better job than what they are doing." so i will be going to learn how to become blind, and unsmart. i won't have to work very hard at that last one.
so, pray for me to absorb and put into use the knowledge that i will be gleening.
do you have a favorite sport that you like to watch? have you ever been a ref, ump, or someone who makes the call before? what was your experience, if you did?
Our Father, Who dwells in infinite light, above everything, we proclaim You as Holy, and we pray now that You will reign here in every human’s heart, even as You reign over the heavens.
We pray that You will give us what we need to survive today, and we’ll count on You to do that again tomorrow.
We pray that You will forgive us for all the ways that we fail to be Your children, even as we compassionately forgive those around us.
We pray that You will not lead us in over our head, but, by Your power, will deliver us from the one in control of this world.
So that in the fullness of time You should crush him, and every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess You, Who is now Lord, as Lord. In Whose name we pray.
Amen.
wouldn't it be nice if you were taught to pray like this?
i thought this was so good i wanted to share it with you.
Baptism: The Place Where God Acts
(Good News from Lipscomb University, Vol. 1, No. 2 October 1998, p. 2)
Few doctrines have elicited as much debate and emotion through the centuries as baptism. Ironically, baptism was meant to be a mark of unity among believers (Ephesians 4). How sad that what God intended to be a beautiful symbol of one's participation in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3,4) has often been neglected altogether or - at the other extreme - emphasized as a work that we do to merit salvation.
Let me point out two concepts which must be emphasized to have an adequate doctrine of baptism.
First, baptism is part of the faith response to God's saving work in Christ. Consider Ephesians 2: 8, 9: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.
When some brethren respond, “but faith is not enough," they miss the point and role of baptism. This response positions baptism as some kind of "work" and fuels the arguments of its critics. Baptism is not a work of righteousness which we do; it is the God-ordained faith response to His grace- Titus 3:5 makes this point very' clear: He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Baptism obviously is part of the faith response God mandates for accepting the mercy He offers on the cross of Jesus.
It is a mistake to let a human define faith and its response. Much of Christendom has defined “faith” as “belief.” While belief is the core of faith, God has defined the way that belief is culminated or enacted. Consider the faith response God demanded at the wall of Jericho (Joshua 6), or when the Israelites were being bitten by poisonous snakes (Numbers 21) or when Naaman approached Elisha about the cleansing of his leprosy (II Kings 5). In each case, God dictated the faith response to release His power. In each case, the response was simple and powerless in and of itself. In each case, God demonstrated great power.
Likewise, baptism is part of the faith response God desires for accepting salvation. It is critical enough to be tied to the forgiveness of sin (cf. Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16). Because it is God's decree, it is not optional.
As beautifully stated by one writer, “Baptism is the initial and immediate step of obedience by one who has declared his faith to others. So important was this step that, as far as we know, every single convert in the New Testament was baptized.”
Second - and most important - is that baptism is where God acts. Far too frequently the focus is on what the convert is doing rather than on what God is doing. Baptism is not portrayed in scripture as a work one does. Rather, baptism is something done to the subject, not by the subject. Thus, the focus of a baptismal scene is not what the subject does but what the passive subject has done to him or her by God. Baptism is not self-administered. The human being's role is to present himself or herself as available to God's action. Thus it might be more profitable to think of baptism as the place where something happens rather than as a work one does,
Baptism is so often thought of as a work that those who affirm its crucial role in God's saving work are accused of believing in "water salvation" or "works righteousness." Perhaps thinking of baptism as the place of God's action rather than focusing on the means would help. There is no question about the importance of the place of God's action throughout scripture.
The water of baptism no more washes away sin than the River Jordan cures leprosy or the pool cures lameness. God is always the active agent, and the human being merely places himself or herself at God's behest.
In summary, baptism is both the human being's response of faith and the place where God acts-where He cleanses our sin and gives us the Holy Spirit. To emphasize God's action without the response would lead to justifying infant baptism (in which there is no free response on the part of the one baptized). To emphasize the response without God's action in the present leads to seeing baptism as a mere sign of something that has happened in the past. Both miss the mark.
Baptism is the unique moment where humble, obedient faith yields itself to the cleansing and empowering grace of God. It is not meant to be a focal point of debate, but the focal point of celebration as one is "clothed with Christ" (Galatians 3:27).
--Randall J. Harris, Instructor in Bible (Harris is now on the Bible faculty of Abilene Christian University)
