It's hard to believe that I have not written anything on here since October 16. You may say, "Wow, Bradley, your life must be boring - you have nothing to write about." Well, that is far from the reality of my life. The last couple of months have been hectic but good: Kids playing football and cheerleading. Seminary going strong. Traveling to Tennessee (The Holy Land - let us all pause and pay tribute!) to spend time with family. Working in a fast paced church environment. Facebook. Going to Houston for two days. St. Louis for two days. Missions Conference at church. Mowing my grass. Watching reruns of the West Wing on TiVo. Helping my daughter with her 5th grade math and realizing how dumb I am. Phillip Fulmer. Team Impact and Trunkfest event at our church. Writing several papers. Lane Kiffin. Clogging an artery by eating at a great new place here in DFW called Hard Eight Pit BBQ. Did I mention Pee Wee Football?
Well, you get the idea. The good news is that my absolute favorite time of the year is now here - Christmas. For those of you who do not know... Christmas officially begins with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and ends at 12:01am January 2nd. Typically, I am somewhat depressed on January 2nd and 3rd, BUT... this year - not so! I will be smack dab in the middle of Rock Chalk Jayhawk country (Kansas Univeristy) watching my Tennesee Volunteer Men's Basketball Team whoop up on some Kansas Jayhawks! Oh yes - I will be wearing my Volunteer Orange and singing Rocky Top right in the middle of Fog Allen Fieldhouse on January 3rd.
Thanks for checking in with me. Life is getting back to some normal behavior, so I will be writing on a regular basis again. Have a great weekend - and just think - only 19 more shopping days till Christmas!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Texas Pee Wee Football
I am a native Tennessean. If you know me well, you know that I bleed Tennessee Orange for my Volunteers. Here lately, with the performance of our Football team, I have been bleeding A LOT!! But that is not the purpose of this blog. My son, Brody, is 8 years old. Wait, he would remind me that he is 8 and a HALF years old - a fact that he will no doubt eliminate when he gets in his 30's.
Brody is currently playing pee wee tackle football in the local association called Mid-Cities Pee Wee Football and Cheerleading Association! (Say that 5 times fast...) The MCPWFCA (yes, they actually use this exact acranem) has an abundace of teams ranging from 4 year olds who play flag football
(or should I say 4 year olds who run around in huge groups of 6 and 7 with one kid holding the ball) all the way to 6th grade boys in helmets and pads. Brody plays on the mighty Bengals who are currently 5-0 (That is Brody wearing number 30 in the picture). He loves it and we enjoy watching him play. I espeically enjoy watching him hit people - a fact of tackle football. My mom likes to remind me that I put her grandson in harms way. Thanks mom!
Before we moved to Texas, I used to hear legendary stories about Texas high school and little league football. In fact, there have been movies made about both. I used to think, "Aw, that's just made up. We know that REAL high school and little league football is in Tennessee, grrrr (insert Tim the Toolman grunt here)." Well, I am here to testify with my hands raised in the air that I was WRONG. Holy cow was I ever wrong. I know this now because I have seen it first hand. It's official. When it comes to high school and little league football, Texas people are absolutely NUTS. Brody plays on a team that has a play book with over 25 plays. I watch their practice and see 8 year olds in pads get down in 3 point stance while the little quarterback yells, "34 BLAST RIGHT, 34 BLAST RIGHT, SET.... HUT...."
The most amazing thing is on game days. We play every Saturday, and people come out early and set up the large party tents and tailgate all day! Yes, you heard me - tailgate! It's pee wee football for crying out loud! The only shame is that Mack Brown can't win any more big games than he does with all of this talent in state. (Ha - take that Texas fans...)
So, in closing, I completely understand why every college football coach in the coutnry comes to Texas to look for talent. No wonder, they put a helmet on them and a mouth piece in them the minute they come out of the womb.
Let's go Bengals!
Brody is currently playing pee wee tackle football in the local association called Mid-Cities Pee Wee Football and Cheerleading Association! (Say that 5 times fast...) The MCPWFCA (yes, they actually use this exact acranem) has an abundace of teams ranging from 4 year olds who play flag football
(or should I say 4 year olds who run around in huge groups of 6 and 7 with one kid holding the ball) all the way to 6th grade boys in helmets and pads. Brody plays on the mighty Bengals who are currently 5-0 (That is Brody wearing number 30 in the picture). He loves it and we enjoy watching him play. I espeically enjoy watching him hit people - a fact of tackle football. My mom likes to remind me that I put her grandson in harms way. Thanks mom! Before we moved to Texas, I used to hear legendary stories about Texas high school and little league football. In fact, there have been movies made about both. I used to think, "Aw, that's just made up. We know that REAL high school and little league football is in Tennessee, grrrr (insert Tim the Toolman grunt here)." Well, I am here to testify with my hands raised in the air that I was WRONG. Holy cow was I ever wrong. I know this now because I have seen it first hand. It's official. When it comes to high school and little league football, Texas people are absolutely NUTS. Brody plays on a team that has a play book with over 25 plays. I watch their practice and see 8 year olds in pads get down in 3 point stance while the little quarterback yells, "34 BLAST RIGHT, 34 BLAST RIGHT, SET.... HUT...."
The most amazing thing is on game days. We play every Saturday, and people come out early and set up the large party tents and tailgate all day! Yes, you heard me - tailgate! It's pee wee football for crying out loud! The only shame is that Mack Brown can't win any more big games than he does with all of this talent in state. (Ha - take that Texas fans...)
So, in closing, I completely understand why every college football coach in the coutnry comes to Texas to look for talent. No wonder, they put a helmet on them and a mouth piece in them the minute they come out of the womb.
Let's go Bengals!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Your Vote is Important!
Okay, I have refrained from adding my political viewpoints on this blog site. For starters, it can be a "sticky" situation being that I am a full time minister. I am fully aware of the fact that not every Southern Baptist church member is a Republican or a Democrat. There are ample numbers of both. Furthermore, my political views are just that - my political views. I believe that everyone is entitled to develop their own political views.
I would only have two suggestions - one, always vote. If you don't vote, then you either don't appreciate the fact that thousands of Americans have given their life for you to have the privilege to vote, or your just plain lazy. Two - vote according to your Christian principles. People who say, "Well, the Constitution says that church and government should be seperate!" don't understand why the founding fathers put that clause in the Constitution. (Okay - My undergrad degree was in Political Science - so get ready). The founding fathers came to the New World primarily because the King of England forced his religion on the people. The religious oppression was the "straw" that drove most of them to America. (I know - it wasn't the only thing, but it was a MAJOR thing)
When the Constitution was written, the idea was to keep government out of the church, not the church out of government. They didn't want the government telling people how they should worship, who they should worship, and where they should worship. The idea that religious people should not bring their Biblical principles into politics is absolutely absurd. Anyone who checks the facts, would realize that the majority of the founding fathers were actively involved in their specific denominations - it was a way of life. Have you ever wandered why "In God We Trust" is stamped everywhere? (Sorry Bill Maher - if you don't like it - move to France)
In closing, look at the political platforms of each major party. Cross examine those platforms with your own Biblical beliefs (notice I didn't say Baptist belief?) and see how it matches up. Then, go vote for the candidate who represents the political party and platform that you support. Please don't vote for Obama because he talks well and looks good on camera, or McCain because he says he's a maverick, or Palin because she is cool. Don't vote for someone because Oprah told you to or Dave Leterman likes them. If you are a Christ-follower, vote for the candidate that best exemplifies what the Bible teaches. So, do your homework, pray hard, and go to the polls on November 4th!
I would only have two suggestions - one, always vote. If you don't vote, then you either don't appreciate the fact that thousands of Americans have given their life for you to have the privilege to vote, or your just plain lazy. Two - vote according to your Christian principles. People who say, "Well, the Constitution says that church and government should be seperate!" don't understand why the founding fathers put that clause in the Constitution. (Okay - My undergrad degree was in Political Science - so get ready). The founding fathers came to the New World primarily because the King of England forced his religion on the people. The religious oppression was the "straw" that drove most of them to America. (I know - it wasn't the only thing, but it was a MAJOR thing)
When the Constitution was written, the idea was to keep government out of the church, not the church out of government. They didn't want the government telling people how they should worship, who they should worship, and where they should worship. The idea that religious people should not bring their Biblical principles into politics is absolutely absurd. Anyone who checks the facts, would realize that the majority of the founding fathers were actively involved in their specific denominations - it was a way of life. Have you ever wandered why "In God We Trust" is stamped everywhere? (Sorry Bill Maher - if you don't like it - move to France)
In closing, look at the political platforms of each major party. Cross examine those platforms with your own Biblical beliefs (notice I didn't say Baptist belief?) and see how it matches up. Then, go vote for the candidate who represents the political party and platform that you support. Please don't vote for Obama because he talks well and looks good on camera, or McCain because he says he's a maverick, or Palin because she is cool. Don't vote for someone because Oprah told you to or Dave Leterman likes them. If you are a Christ-follower, vote for the candidate that best exemplifies what the Bible teaches. So, do your homework, pray hard, and go to the polls on November 4th!
Friday, September 12, 2008
First Impression is the First Step
One major aspect of the Assimilation ministry of any church is the first impression that people receive when they immediately drive into your church parking lot. At that moment, customer service is in high gear. Now some people would say, "This is church, this ain't Wal-Mart, they should want to be here." Well, grumpy old man, keep saying that and then wonder why your church doesn't attract new people.
Why can't we be better than Wal-Mart, Best Buy, or any other "secular" place when it comes to customer care? We are doing something much greater than any of those businesses - kingdom work! We should do our absolute best for the cause of Christ. People are searching for answers, and when they actually get the nerve up to visit a place where they don't know anyone, we should make every effort to make them feel welcome, wanted, and perfectly at home within our walls. The isolationist "me-first" attitude of many church-goers needs to out the window when it comes to having open arms and open doors to the lost world.
So, the very first thing that needs to be established when it comes to first impressions is the attitude of your people. Jesus came to heal the hurting and the sick, not the healthy and "got-it-all-together" crowd. We should have the same attitude. What should that attitude look like? Great question.... here are just a few answers:
1. EVERYONE is welcome and treated equally. It doesn't matter what they look like, what they are wearing, how they smell, how well their hair is combed, what color of skin they have, what kind of clothes they wear, or even where they have been the night before. God made them, he died for them which means he loves them, and we should welcome them.
2. Treat everyone they way you would want to be treated. Be friendly. Say hello with a smile. Offer a warm handshake.
3. Your building should scream "you are welcome". If you don't have guest parking sections - make some. You should have people in the parking lot greeting guests and offering to help if needed. Your ushers should smile when they hand them the bulletin and your greeters should walk up and talk to your guests and look to learn more about the guest rather than talk about themselves. If your church is big enough, have a guest welcome desk with information about your church and various ministries.
4. Pastors - you should zero in on guests in your church. Not only should you have a "welcome time" in your service, you should have some type of reception at the end of your service to say hello. Most churches actually give a gift to all of their guests who visit their church.
5. Look for ways to help those who are guests - I tell our volunteers at First Euless all of the time to be on the lookout for those who have that "lost" look. The "deer in the headlights" look. The people who keep looking up at the ceiling for answers on where to go and what to do. I want our volunteers to engage them. Ask them how they can be helped and then walk them to where they need to go - do not point. Think about the last time you were at a department store and could not find something. Your experience was much more pleasant if a worker walked up to you and said, "How can I help you?" and then actually stayed with you until you were completely satisfied. We try to do the same thing.
Those are just a few of the initial thoughts of proper attitude. Be looking for the next post on Assimilation very soon....
Why can't we be better than Wal-Mart, Best Buy, or any other "secular" place when it comes to customer care? We are doing something much greater than any of those businesses - kingdom work! We should do our absolute best for the cause of Christ. People are searching for answers, and when they actually get the nerve up to visit a place where they don't know anyone, we should make every effort to make them feel welcome, wanted, and perfectly at home within our walls. The isolationist "me-first" attitude of many church-goers needs to out the window when it comes to having open arms and open doors to the lost world.
So, the very first thing that needs to be established when it comes to first impressions is the attitude of your people. Jesus came to heal the hurting and the sick, not the healthy and "got-it-all-together" crowd. We should have the same attitude. What should that attitude look like? Great question.... here are just a few answers:
1. EVERYONE is welcome and treated equally. It doesn't matter what they look like, what they are wearing, how they smell, how well their hair is combed, what color of skin they have, what kind of clothes they wear, or even where they have been the night before. God made them, he died for them which means he loves them, and we should welcome them.
2. Treat everyone they way you would want to be treated. Be friendly. Say hello with a smile. Offer a warm handshake.
3. Your building should scream "you are welcome". If you don't have guest parking sections - make some. You should have people in the parking lot greeting guests and offering to help if needed. Your ushers should smile when they hand them the bulletin and your greeters should walk up and talk to your guests and look to learn more about the guest rather than talk about themselves. If your church is big enough, have a guest welcome desk with information about your church and various ministries.
4. Pastors - you should zero in on guests in your church. Not only should you have a "welcome time" in your service, you should have some type of reception at the end of your service to say hello. Most churches actually give a gift to all of their guests who visit their church.
5. Look for ways to help those who are guests - I tell our volunteers at First Euless all of the time to be on the lookout for those who have that "lost" look. The "deer in the headlights" look. The people who keep looking up at the ceiling for answers on where to go and what to do. I want our volunteers to engage them. Ask them how they can be helped and then walk them to where they need to go - do not point. Think about the last time you were at a department store and could not find something. Your experience was much more pleasant if a worker walked up to you and said, "How can I help you?" and then actually stayed with you until you were completely satisfied. We try to do the same thing.
Those are just a few of the initial thoughts of proper attitude. Be looking for the next post on Assimilation very soon....
Thursday, August 21, 2008
You scored a 9.2575!
Ok, I am not going to forget my promise on writing about Assimilation Ministry. I will tackle that when I get back from vacation. I am sticking to the age old rule that while on vacation, you can't think about work. Don't get me wrong, I love my work and what we do in ministry, but I need to "check out" every year and re-charge my batteries.
I am sitting here in Destin, Florida, looking out on the absolutely beautiful beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. We have been blessed this week due to the fact that Hurricane Fay went to the Atlantic side. We have had nothing but clear sunny days. Thank you Lord for that blessing!
This blog is about the absurdity of competition in the Olympics that utilize judges to determine a champion - i.e. gymnastics and diving. I watched with utter amazement as the USA gymnasts got "hosed" on their scores this past week. You know what I would do if we couldn't figure out a winner in gymnastics? Let them wrestle for it right in the middle of the floor exercise mat. Can you imagine it? Nastia Luikin body slamming that 13 (oh, excuse me - 16) year old Chinese gymnast! That would rock. I can hear Al Trautwig now on the NBC broadcast - "Luikin with the upper right hook! Xen Ho We is down! Luikin with the cross body elbow! That's it - Nastia wins the gold medal!"
Or, let them go immediately outside, mark off 100 yards and race for it. Shawn Johnson would dust anyone in the 100 yard dash. This is exactly the reason why I like swimming, track & field, volleyball, basketball, etc. If you are the best - then score more than me, or beat me to the finish line. I don't have to worry about whether I took a semi-small step or a medium size step on my landing after spinning in the air 5 different ways in less than 2 seconds. Plus, I wouldn't have to listen to Bella Karoly scream about the scores to Bob Costas for 10 minutes! (By the way, can ANYONE tell me what that man says?? Holy cow he is harder to understand that Sly Stallone in Rocky 6!)
I love the Olympics! I can't wait until the Winter Games in 2010 where we can see speed skating, down hill skiing, and oh yes, Figure Skating! Bring on Scott Hamilton and the "triple sow cow" with a 9.2575895 gold medalists score!
I am sitting here in Destin, Florida, looking out on the absolutely beautiful beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. We have been blessed this week due to the fact that Hurricane Fay went to the Atlantic side. We have had nothing but clear sunny days. Thank you Lord for that blessing!
This blog is about the absurdity of competition in the Olympics that utilize judges to determine a champion - i.e. gymnastics and diving. I watched with utter amazement as the USA gymnasts got "hosed" on their scores this past week. You know what I would do if we couldn't figure out a winner in gymnastics? Let them wrestle for it right in the middle of the floor exercise mat. Can you imagine it? Nastia Luikin body slamming that 13 (oh, excuse me - 16) year old Chinese gymnast! That would rock. I can hear Al Trautwig now on the NBC broadcast - "Luikin with the upper right hook! Xen Ho We is down! Luikin with the cross body elbow! That's it - Nastia wins the gold medal!"
Or, let them go immediately outside, mark off 100 yards and race for it. Shawn Johnson would dust anyone in the 100 yard dash. This is exactly the reason why I like swimming, track & field, volleyball, basketball, etc. If you are the best - then score more than me, or beat me to the finish line. I don't have to worry about whether I took a semi-small step or a medium size step on my landing after spinning in the air 5 different ways in less than 2 seconds. Plus, I wouldn't have to listen to Bella Karoly scream about the scores to Bob Costas for 10 minutes! (By the way, can ANYONE tell me what that man says?? Holy cow he is harder to understand that Sly Stallone in Rocky 6!)
I love the Olympics! I can't wait until the Winter Games in 2010 where we can see speed skating, down hill skiing, and oh yes, Figure Skating! Bring on Scott Hamilton and the "triple sow cow" with a 9.2575895 gold medalists score!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Great trip to Venezuela!
What an amazing experience we had in Carupano, Venezuela. 34 Americans from various churches partnered with an organization called E3 Missions for a five day ministry time. We worked with several churches in and around Carupano. By going door to door using a tool called the "evangicube", we saw a total of 1,339 professions of faith in Christ. The amazing thing about the week is the fact that it is one on one evangelism. I can also assure you that the follow up process is in place with the local churches and is conducted with each person who made a decision. E3 is an amazing organization. The trip was an overwhelming success and the staff of E3 did a terrific job with the logistics and planning of the entire trip. Thank you to all who prayed for us while we were gone - we definitely felt your prayers. Check out some highlight videos and pictures from the trip on my Facebook page. The link is below in the right hand column. I am now on a much awaited vacation trip to Destin, Florida, then back on the 25th ready to roll into the fall. God bless....
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Leaving for Venezuela
Tomorrow at 7:10pm I am flying to Caracas, Venezuela. On Friday morning, I fly from Caracas to a small town called Carupano. There will be about 35 of us on this trip as we set out to share the gospel door to door with the people of this city. Please pray for our team. We will be back home in DFW on Friday, August 8th. I hope to bring back a great report for you, so be sure to check back. In the meantime, no one better tell me who wins "So You Think You Can Dance" next Thursday. I will be upset if I am not allowed to watch it on TiVo.... Have a great week everyone! Blessings....
Monday, July 28, 2008
What in the World is Assimilation?
It's inevitable. The conversation usually goes like this: "Hello Joe, my name is Bradley Thomas." Joe then says, "Hi Bradley, great to meet you. Are you on staff here at First Euless?" Then I respond, "Why, yes Joe, I am!" (I don't really yell it, I just like to put exclamation points in sentences for emphasis!!). "What do you do here, Bradley?" I respond, "I am the assimilation minister." Then it happens. The blank look on the face, followed by the crooked eye brow and the slow response as if air is being slowly leaked out of a balloon: "Noooooowwwwww, (pause for dramatic effect).... what in the world is assimilation?"
It really is a good question. I don't get tired of answering it, because it does give me the opportunity to explain what I do for a living and how this particular ministry is a growing need among churches across the country. I give the response that I will now give you: Assimilation is the process by which we plug new members into the small group setting of the church. My job is to help people from get from the big room with 2500 people to the small room with 25 people. It also involves everything to do with our members & guests Sunday morning "experience". That would include parking lot attendants, shuttle buses, door greeters, ushers, guest services centers, pastor reception, security, and the little elves that put the offering envelopes in the backs of the seats at night. Okay, there are no little elves (although that would be really cool!) but you get the picture.
Over the next few weeks, I am going to dig a little deeper into this Assimilation Ministry thing and show you the overall need for this ministry. We will look at what is involved with the new member process. Why we do what we do, and the importance of getting new members started on the "right" foot. We will also look at some national statistics that show how churches are effectively growing and connecting with their new members through efficient Assimilation tracks. There are some churches who are doing some cutting edge innovative things with Assimilation.
It's an important process in effectively plugging people into your church. Getting from the big room to the small room can be an overwhelming task for many people. My job is to make that transition easy and smooth, but more importantly, help people find the RIGHT place to plug in. I firmly believe that if a new person to a church does not 1.) actively join a small group and 2.) find an area to serve within the church (even if it's just refilling the coffee machine each week) within 6 months of joining a church - they will slowly begin to fade away. When that happens, then we as a church have done a poor job of helping those people belong to the body.
I hope you enjoy these Assimilation blogs over the next few weeks. Please feel free to send any questions you may have. Until next time.....
It really is a good question. I don't get tired of answering it, because it does give me the opportunity to explain what I do for a living and how this particular ministry is a growing need among churches across the country. I give the response that I will now give you: Assimilation is the process by which we plug new members into the small group setting of the church. My job is to help people from get from the big room with 2500 people to the small room with 25 people. It also involves everything to do with our members & guests Sunday morning "experience". That would include parking lot attendants, shuttle buses, door greeters, ushers, guest services centers, pastor reception, security, and the little elves that put the offering envelopes in the backs of the seats at night. Okay, there are no little elves (although that would be really cool!) but you get the picture.
Over the next few weeks, I am going to dig a little deeper into this Assimilation Ministry thing and show you the overall need for this ministry. We will look at what is involved with the new member process. Why we do what we do, and the importance of getting new members started on the "right" foot. We will also look at some national statistics that show how churches are effectively growing and connecting with their new members through efficient Assimilation tracks. There are some churches who are doing some cutting edge innovative things with Assimilation.
It's an important process in effectively plugging people into your church. Getting from the big room to the small room can be an overwhelming task for many people. My job is to make that transition easy and smooth, but more importantly, help people find the RIGHT place to plug in. I firmly believe that if a new person to a church does not 1.) actively join a small group and 2.) find an area to serve within the church (even if it's just refilling the coffee machine each week) within 6 months of joining a church - they will slowly begin to fade away. When that happens, then we as a church have done a poor job of helping those people belong to the body.
I hope you enjoy these Assimilation blogs over the next few weeks. Please feel free to send any questions you may have. Until next time.....
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Ted the Barber
On July 2, my uncle, Ted Watts, did what all of us will do one day if our Lord does not come back. Ted took his last breath and passed into eternity. The good news, excuse me, the GREAT news is that Ted was a believer in Jesus Christ. Right now, my uncle does not labor for breath anymore. He does not struggle to walk. He does not need help getting out of his chair. He is completely whole and walking the streets of heaven.
I knew my uncle mostly from a family perspective. For years, we would have Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas Eve dinner, Easter, birthday parties, etc. at his and my Aunt Sue's house in a small town in East Tennessee called Loudon. Loudon is picture perfect small town America. When you drive through the town, you literally drive back 50 years. It is Mayberry USA - and I mean that as a compliment. Today, I don't know my neighbor's names. I get my hair cut from a different girl every time I go to a "salon". When I drop off my mail (on the rare occassion that I actually mail something), they don't know my name or where I live. My post man drove up to the box the other day, and I went out to say hello. He drove off in a hurry as if I was going to mug him. When I go to get groceries (okay, when my WIFE goes to get groceries and I tag along!), I get them at a Supercenter and one person throws my stuff in a plastic bag while I carry it to my car. When I take my kids to get Ice Cream, I don't know the owner and I am just another customer.
There is something about small town America. In Loudon, you can still go to a grocery store where they bag your groceries and a young man carries them to your car. The post man that delivers your mail, waves at you, and yells across the drive way "How about them Braves?" You can go to the local ice cream shop and the owner knows your name and remember's your kids favorite flavors. In this town, for decades, people didn't go to a "salon" to get a haircut, they went to Ted's Barber Shop. There, Ted the Barber knew your name and your kid's names. He would look at you with a great smile and say "Howdy, come on in... how you been doing? How the kids? Work going okay?" - and you felt at home. The barber shop was a place where you talked about last night's baseball game or the home town football team's big win on Friday night. It was a great place - not because of the hair cut - but because of the atmosphere. Everyone in Loudon knew Ted Watts and loved Ted Watts.
On July 2, Loudon, Tennessee lost a favorite son, but heaven gained a great saint. I miss you Ted. Thank you for many great years of loving us. You set the example of how to live a Christ-centered life. Kick some gold dust for me, eat some dumplings.... we'll see you soon! And for the rest of you, well... let me just tell you, there was no one like Ted the Barber.
I knew my uncle mostly from a family perspective. For years, we would have Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas Eve dinner, Easter, birthday parties, etc. at his and my Aunt Sue's house in a small town in East Tennessee called Loudon. Loudon is picture perfect small town America. When you drive through the town, you literally drive back 50 years. It is Mayberry USA - and I mean that as a compliment. Today, I don't know my neighbor's names. I get my hair cut from a different girl every time I go to a "salon". When I drop off my mail (on the rare occassion that I actually mail something), they don't know my name or where I live. My post man drove up to the box the other day, and I went out to say hello. He drove off in a hurry as if I was going to mug him. When I go to get groceries (okay, when my WIFE goes to get groceries and I tag along!), I get them at a Supercenter and one person throws my stuff in a plastic bag while I carry it to my car. When I take my kids to get Ice Cream, I don't know the owner and I am just another customer.
There is something about small town America. In Loudon, you can still go to a grocery store where they bag your groceries and a young man carries them to your car. The post man that delivers your mail, waves at you, and yells across the drive way "How about them Braves?" You can go to the local ice cream shop and the owner knows your name and remember's your kids favorite flavors. In this town, for decades, people didn't go to a "salon" to get a haircut, they went to Ted's Barber Shop. There, Ted the Barber knew your name and your kid's names. He would look at you with a great smile and say "Howdy, come on in... how you been doing? How the kids? Work going okay?" - and you felt at home. The barber shop was a place where you talked about last night's baseball game or the home town football team's big win on Friday night. It was a great place - not because of the hair cut - but because of the atmosphere. Everyone in Loudon knew Ted Watts and loved Ted Watts.
On July 2, Loudon, Tennessee lost a favorite son, but heaven gained a great saint. I miss you Ted. Thank you for many great years of loving us. You set the example of how to live a Christ-centered life. Kick some gold dust for me, eat some dumplings.... we'll see you soon! And for the rest of you, well... let me just tell you, there was no one like Ted the Barber.
Monday, June 30, 2008
This ain't your Grandma's VBS!
I have heard among some churches that VBS (Vacation Bible School) is out of date, it no longer works, or is not effective. I do agree with these statements on one account only: if you do VBS in your church like your grandma did VBS in 1968, then YES, it is absolutely not effective. My kids listen to ipods, play with XBOX and PSPs. They know how to work the TiVo remote control on my television, and play with their stuffed animals called Webkinz on the computer. VBS is still enormously effective as long as you bring your VBS into the 21st century.
This past week our church had its annual VBS. This year was called POWER WEEK. We saw over 700 kids attend the week, and over 50 professions of faith in Christ! It was high impact, high energy, modern, entertaining, and - hold on, here it comes - EFFECTIVE! On top of all that, our Children's Minister has only been at our church for 4 months! I can't wait to see what he will do next year when he has a whole year under his belt.
Not only where we able to reach kids for Christ, we are counseling about 21 different families who either made a decision to follow Christ or are interested in joining our church. The next few weeks will be exciting as we see kid after kid go through the baptismal waters. My kids (who I happen to think are a pretty good barometer of what is "cool" and "not cool") absolutely loved it!
Kudos to Chris Norman (Children's Minister), his wife Tami, his kid's ministry staff, and the countless number of volunteers who put hours into making it a great week. Thanks for setting the example that VBS is alive and well!
This past week our church had its annual VBS. This year was called POWER WEEK. We saw over 700 kids attend the week, and over 50 professions of faith in Christ! It was high impact, high energy, modern, entertaining, and - hold on, here it comes - EFFECTIVE! On top of all that, our Children's Minister has only been at our church for 4 months! I can't wait to see what he will do next year when he has a whole year under his belt.
Not only where we able to reach kids for Christ, we are counseling about 21 different families who either made a decision to follow Christ or are interested in joining our church. The next few weeks will be exciting as we see kid after kid go through the baptismal waters. My kids (who I happen to think are a pretty good barometer of what is "cool" and "not cool") absolutely loved it!
Kudos to Chris Norman (Children's Minister), his wife Tami, his kid's ministry staff, and the countless number of volunteers who put hours into making it a great week. Thanks for setting the example that VBS is alive and well!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Give Me My Space Bro!
I enjoy watching Seinfeld. It was a creative show that made you laugh about the simple every day habits of 4 Americans living in New York. If you are familiar with the show, you know that Jerry (the main character) always found something wrong with his dates/girlfriends. One girl had "man hands". One girl was a "low talker". One girl kept using silly nicknames like "Shmoopy".
Well, in one particular episode that I remember, Jerry met a friend
that became known as the "close talker". You know what I mean - the individual that has absolutely no stinking clue how CLOSE they are when they are talking to you. You get very uncomfortable and back away, and they just move in. It is very uncomfortable when you encounter a "close talker" of the opposite gender, as was the case with me this past Sunday.
The whole time this woman is talking to me, I literally am thinking, "Is she going to kiss me!? Holy COW! BACK OFF!!" But of course, I just smile and do the polite thing - end the conversation as quickly as possible. It seems I have been having trouble lately with the whole personal space issue. During the last Texas Rangers game that we attended, a very LARGE man sat down next to me. Now please hear me out. I have nothing against large people - I myself am not Matthew McConaughey (I know that will come as a shock!). However, this individual did not care that his shoulder, elbow, and forearm were all sitting in my rib cage while he was eating his 2 foot hot dog loaded with cheese, chili, relish, and onions. No "excuse me", or "pardon me" - Just giant elbow to the face!
Of course I gave the customary "Hello" with a forced smile.
Then, made a huge deal out of the fact that I literally was leaning over the other side of my chair (see picture to the right). That didn't work. Finally, I did what anyone would do in that sitaution... I made my nine year old daughter switch seats with me! (Had to buy her a $5.00 Lemon chill for that one!).
What is it with certain people. Do they not know the rule about standing 5 feet behind you when you are at the ATM machine? Do they not understand that it is not nice to go to an amusement park without bathing, sweat like a mule, ride the water ride, then rub up against you while you are waiting to ride the swings? Why can't people realize they are almost touching your nose with their nose when they are talking to you in a noraml conversation? My thought: we change the culture. To me, there is only one man who can do it.....
Barack Obama! Might as well, everyone else thinks he walks on water. Surely he can fix this problem too!
Well, in one particular episode that I remember, Jerry met a friend
that became known as the "close talker". You know what I mean - the individual that has absolutely no stinking clue how CLOSE they are when they are talking to you. You get very uncomfortable and back away, and they just move in. It is very uncomfortable when you encounter a "close talker" of the opposite gender, as was the case with me this past Sunday.
The whole time this woman is talking to me, I literally am thinking, "Is she going to kiss me!? Holy COW! BACK OFF!!" But of course, I just smile and do the polite thing - end the conversation as quickly as possible. It seems I have been having trouble lately with the whole personal space issue. During the last Texas Rangers game that we attended, a very LARGE man sat down next to me. Now please hear me out. I have nothing against large people - I myself am not Matthew McConaughey (I know that will come as a shock!). However, this individual did not care that his shoulder, elbow, and forearm were all sitting in my rib cage while he was eating his 2 foot hot dog loaded with cheese, chili, relish, and onions. No "excuse me", or "pardon me" - Just giant elbow to the face!
Of course I gave the customary "Hello" with a forced smile.
Then, made a huge deal out of the fact that I literally was leaning over the other side of my chair (see picture to the right). That didn't work. Finally, I did what anyone would do in that sitaution... I made my nine year old daughter switch seats with me! (Had to buy her a $5.00 Lemon chill for that one!).
What is it with certain people. Do they not know the rule about standing 5 feet behind you when you are at the ATM machine? Do they not understand that it is not nice to go to an amusement park without bathing, sweat like a mule, ride the water ride, then rub up against you while you are waiting to ride the swings? Why can't people realize they are almost touching your nose with their nose when they are talking to you in a noraml conversation? My thought: we change the culture. To me, there is only one man who can do it.....
Barack Obama! Might as well, everyone else thinks he walks on water. Surely he can fix this problem too!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Why didn't I think of that?!
Have you ever seen something and thought, "Why didn't I think of that?!" It could be something small or unique, but usually not too difficult. It can be something life changing and pretty cool, but it could also be something stupid. For example, here is my list of things I wish I had thought of.....
1. Facebook - unreal. I have been on it now for 4 days and have talked to more people from my past than ever before. It's like a constant online reunion. It can be addictive though....
2. Thumb drives - simple yet so functional
3. TIVO/DVR - I honestly don't know what my life was like before it. You know we live in a tech world when my kids look at me and say, "TIVO it daddy!" I can remember as a kid getting excited when my dad bought this thing called a VCR!
4. The car clicker thingy bob - I never lock my car doors the normal way anymore - I always click and listen for the horn to confirm that it is locked.
5. Webkinz - somewhere in the world there is some dude making millions all because he thought, "Why don't I sell a bunch of small stuffed animals and let kids create lives for them on the internet!" Unreal.... My kids have 10 of these things. I think the Beardens have like 47!
6. Starbucks - I guarantee you somebody somewhere once said, "It will never work. People won't go to a place that sells only coffee and pay $4.00 a cup for it....forget it!"
7. Cordless home phones - does anyone have a phone in your home with a cord attached to it that is NOT in your kitchen?
8. The little cat doors that go into your garage or utility room. I wish we had one. I am tired of my cat whining to go into the garage!!
9. Fanny packs - make fun of them all you want, but they are very efficient when you are in a foreign country. I have yet to lose my wallet or passport!
10. Glow light necklaces - they sell them at amusement parks and 4th of July firework shows. I bet they cost 5 cents to make, yet they sell them for $5.00. Again, someone somewhere is laughing their head off all the way to the bank.
What's on your list? Post a comment and let me know....maybe we can collect a bunch of them, write a book on it and make millions - wait! Someone already did that....
1. Facebook - unreal. I have been on it now for 4 days and have talked to more people from my past than ever before. It's like a constant online reunion. It can be addictive though....
2. Thumb drives - simple yet so functional
3. TIVO/DVR - I honestly don't know what my life was like before it. You know we live in a tech world when my kids look at me and say, "TIVO it daddy!" I can remember as a kid getting excited when my dad bought this thing called a VCR!
4. The car clicker thingy bob - I never lock my car doors the normal way anymore - I always click and listen for the horn to confirm that it is locked.
5. Webkinz - somewhere in the world there is some dude making millions all because he thought, "Why don't I sell a bunch of small stuffed animals and let kids create lives for them on the internet!" Unreal.... My kids have 10 of these things. I think the Beardens have like 47!
6. Starbucks - I guarantee you somebody somewhere once said, "It will never work. People won't go to a place that sells only coffee and pay $4.00 a cup for it....forget it!"
7. Cordless home phones - does anyone have a phone in your home with a cord attached to it that is NOT in your kitchen?
8. The little cat doors that go into your garage or utility room. I wish we had one. I am tired of my cat whining to go into the garage!!
9. Fanny packs - make fun of them all you want, but they are very efficient when you are in a foreign country. I have yet to lose my wallet or passport!
10. Glow light necklaces - they sell them at amusement parks and 4th of July firework shows. I bet they cost 5 cents to make, yet they sell them for $5.00. Again, someone somewhere is laughing their head off all the way to the bank.
What's on your list? Post a comment and let me know....maybe we can collect a bunch of them, write a book on it and make millions - wait! Someone already did that....
Friday, May 30, 2008
The Little House of Sin
Last week my sister-in-law and her husband (and their three beautiful children) were in town visiting with us for the weekend. We had an absolute great time with them. Even though my wife's brother-in-law is a HUGE Alabama Crimson Tide fan, we had a truly fun weekend. By the way Brian, we are praying for your salvation every day. God bless you brother! And, by they way, those 12 National Championships that you all claim to have won - you can't count the Rotary Club Shriner's Ball National Championship from 1927.
One of the fun things that we did together last weekend was to stop by a little snow cone place in Euless called the The Little House of Snow. It is a wonderful little establishment that makes GREAT Snow Cones. If you live in Euless, check it out. Located at the corner of Euless Main Street and Midway in a small little strip mall directly across from the Diamond Shamrock gas station. They literally have over 50 different flavors that you can make as a snow cone and they give you a huge portion for a very small price. Great way to beat the Texas heat!
Anyway, on Tuesday I was going through my receipts and checking them with my bank account (you know, the fun stuff of balancing the checking account) when I noticed on my receipt it read "The Little House of Sn". At first glance, it looked like it said "The Little House of Sin". I laughed but then I thought, WOW - what if someone got that receipt out of my wallet - it wouldn't look good. Of course, the charge on the receipt was $7.12 - not sure what you would be able to get for that in other establishments that might go by that name.
I took the receipt to my wife and we both laughed and got a good kick out of it. The moral of the story is this: If you want a good snow cone, don't go to the Little House of SIN - make sure it says SNOW on the exterior sign.
One of the fun things that we did together last weekend was to stop by a little snow cone place in Euless called the The Little House of Snow. It is a wonderful little establishment that makes GREAT Snow Cones. If you live in Euless, check it out. Located at the corner of Euless Main Street and Midway in a small little strip mall directly across from the Diamond Shamrock gas station. They literally have over 50 different flavors that you can make as a snow cone and they give you a huge portion for a very small price. Great way to beat the Texas heat!
Anyway, on Tuesday I was going through my receipts and checking them with my bank account (you know, the fun stuff of balancing the checking account) when I noticed on my receipt it read "The Little House of Sn". At first glance, it looked like it said "The Little House of Sin". I laughed but then I thought, WOW - what if someone got that receipt out of my wallet - it wouldn't look good. Of course, the charge on the receipt was $7.12 - not sure what you would be able to get for that in other establishments that might go by that name.
I took the receipt to my wife and we both laughed and got a good kick out of it. The moral of the story is this: If you want a good snow cone, don't go to the Little House of SIN - make sure it says SNOW on the exterior sign.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Walk off Grand Slam Home Run!
One of the most enjoyable experiences of my life just ended this past Friday night. The City of Euless 8 and under Coach Pitch Red Sox played their last game of the 2008 season. Me and my friend Robert Elkins (our worship pastor here at First Euless) decided to coach our sons this year in baseball. His son, Jack, and my son, Brody, are truly best friends. (that is Jack in the picture with Brody) 
This is my first time coaching little league baseball. I have coached high school boys & girls, middle school boys & girls, and college in basketball, baseball, and softball. Each team has been an enjoyable experience over the years, but these little guys will always hold a special place in my heart. We were not the best team in the league, but we were not the worst. The thing I am most proud of these boys is how they improved. I was always taught that if you work hard, listen to your coaches, and do your best, you will improve. I got to see that first hand this spring.
When our season began, we didn't know where to throw the ball let alone attempt to catch it. Just about all of our boys struggled hitting the ball at the plate (many come up from T-ball and have a hard time with the ball being thrown at them - even by a coach). We finished the season 3-7, but our last game was the most exciting.
We only had 8 players because one of our boys contracting mono (get well Ryan!), and two of our other boys had previous events with their families. That meant every time the 9th batter's position came up - it was an automatic out. Our boys played a great game. It all came down to the bottom half of the last inning. We were behind by one run, and we had the bases loaded. Our number 5 hitter (Chase Apple - great name!) hit a line-drive shot down the left field line that one-hopped to the fence (baseball-speak). The bases cleared and I sent the batter home (not where he lives but to the plate)for a close play. SAFE! - as he slid under the tag. Ballgame! - called the umpire. Jubilation erupted and our boys were jumping around like they all were just given brand new XBOX 360's.....
The whole reason I decided to coach this team was to be with Brody.
That was a great joy for me to watch him play and be a major part of his experience. Not only am I extremely proud of him, but I feel in some small way as if I gained 10 other sons for about 2 months. Great job Red Sox! See you next Spring...
This is my first time coaching little league baseball. I have coached high school boys & girls, middle school boys & girls, and college in basketball, baseball, and softball. Each team has been an enjoyable experience over the years, but these little guys will always hold a special place in my heart. We were not the best team in the league, but we were not the worst. The thing I am most proud of these boys is how they improved. I was always taught that if you work hard, listen to your coaches, and do your best, you will improve. I got to see that first hand this spring.
When our season began, we didn't know where to throw the ball let alone attempt to catch it. Just about all of our boys struggled hitting the ball at the plate (many come up from T-ball and have a hard time with the ball being thrown at them - even by a coach). We finished the season 3-7, but our last game was the most exciting.
We only had 8 players because one of our boys contracting mono (get well Ryan!), and two of our other boys had previous events with their families. That meant every time the 9th batter's position came up - it was an automatic out. Our boys played a great game. It all came down to the bottom half of the last inning. We were behind by one run, and we had the bases loaded. Our number 5 hitter (Chase Apple - great name!) hit a line-drive shot down the left field line that one-hopped to the fence (baseball-speak). The bases cleared and I sent the batter home (not where he lives but to the plate)for a close play. SAFE! - as he slid under the tag. Ballgame! - called the umpire. Jubilation erupted and our boys were jumping around like they all were just given brand new XBOX 360's.....
The whole reason I decided to coach this team was to be with Brody.
That was a great joy for me to watch him play and be a major part of his experience. Not only am I extremely proud of him, but I feel in some small way as if I gained 10 other sons for about 2 months. Great job Red Sox! See you next Spring...
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Assimilation Metro 2008
Proof that I am not the only Assimilation Minister in the country - I am currently in Marco Island, Florida, attending the 2008 Assimilation Ministers Metro Conference. It is a great time to visit with other ministers around the country to see what is working in their churches, trends, success reports, and good old fashioned fellowship. I will be here until Thursday - then flying back to DFW. Assimilation is a new word around Southern Baptist Churches. About 7 years ago churches realized they were attracting a lot of new people but their "back doors" were huge. In other words, they were not successfully connecting the new people to the body. So, the position of Assimilation Minister is ushered in (ha... inside joke!) and plans are put in place to help new people get truly connected to churches. In some churches, these positions are referred to as Membership Pastors or Development Pastors... It really is all the same. The exciting thing is that these positions are fairly new and are evolving. Who knows what this position will become over the next two to three years. The realization has been that it is going to continue to be a vital part of church growth and individual discipleship within church life.
One sad note to bring. One of my counterparts here at the conference had to fly home early to her church. Their pastor was killed in a plane crash early Monday morning. Please pray for Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, Florida and for the family of Dr. Forrest Pollack, pastor of that great church. Have a blessed week everyone....I will post again once we are back in DFW.
One sad note to bring. One of my counterparts here at the conference had to fly home early to her church. Their pastor was killed in a plane crash early Monday morning. Please pray for Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, Florida and for the family of Dr. Forrest Pollack, pastor of that great church. Have a blessed week everyone....I will post again once we are back in DFW.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
A World of Trouble
Recently, I as watching the evening news. I don't do that much anymore because I can't stomach the liberal tint the media portrays on everything and the constant "Bush-bashing" that takes place. (Side bar: I don't think George W. Bush is perfect nor has he handled everything well, but he is still our PRESIDENT and we should respect him and the office). Stories came across the television that had me sitting and wondering - what is going on with our country? For example:
1.) Take this article from USA Today: "Presbyterian Minister cleared in Gay Marriage Case." Well Praise the Lord! I am thankful for that (hint of sarcasm)... Click on the article above and read it. The main thing I can't understand is that the Presbyterian Church keeps talking about their "constitution" and how they should follow it - hey guys, how about following - oh, I don't know - the WORD OF GOD? It's amazing to see what all God has to say on this subject when you actually read his word.
2.) Miley Cyrus - aka Hannah Montana. Well, unless you have been under a cave, you are aware of the "buzz" she has created with her Vanity Fair pictorial. Through it all, the funniest thing to me is the reaction of Disney - the company that owns her Hannah Montana character.
Disney is all upset over the "raciness" of the pictures (I don't like them either, by the way), but isn't that a little hypocritical on their part? I mean, they will have Gay pride day in their parks but get upset with Cyrus' pictures exposing her back? What it tells you is that they are concerned with one thing - the almighty dollar. They know that the majority of Cyrus' fan base is in the conservative south and they will be upset with this pictorial which could result in loss of sales of the Hannah Montana product.
3.) Professional Athletes getting second and third chances. Do you think for one second that you and I could do half of what Pacman Jones has done and still get a chance to come back to work for MILLIONS of dollars?
Once again, it is about money. Jerry Jones, the owner of the Cowboys, knows he has a big huge stadium that will be completed in 2009. He needs to create a buzz among the fan base in order to sell very expensive tickets to this very expensive stadium. The best way to sell tickets, merchandise, and concessions, is to put a winning product on the field. Bring in Pacman Jones (a very good NFL cornerback) and it increases your chances of winning big. Who cares if he is an habitual criminal? Who cares if he shows no real remorse for his actions? He runs a 4.4 40 yard dash and leads the NFL in interceptions - sign him up! Pay him millions!
In all of this, what do you think we are teaching the younger generations? It's simple. We are teaching them selfishness - and that my friends can lead to a world of trouble....
1.) Take this article from USA Today: "Presbyterian Minister cleared in Gay Marriage Case." Well Praise the Lord! I am thankful for that (hint of sarcasm)... Click on the article above and read it. The main thing I can't understand is that the Presbyterian Church keeps talking about their "constitution" and how they should follow it - hey guys, how about following - oh, I don't know - the WORD OF GOD? It's amazing to see what all God has to say on this subject when you actually read his word.
2.) Miley Cyrus - aka Hannah Montana. Well, unless you have been under a cave, you are aware of the "buzz" she has created with her Vanity Fair pictorial. Through it all, the funniest thing to me is the reaction of Disney - the company that owns her Hannah Montana character.
Disney is all upset over the "raciness" of the pictures (I don't like them either, by the way), but isn't that a little hypocritical on their part? I mean, they will have Gay pride day in their parks but get upset with Cyrus' pictures exposing her back? What it tells you is that they are concerned with one thing - the almighty dollar. They know that the majority of Cyrus' fan base is in the conservative south and they will be upset with this pictorial which could result in loss of sales of the Hannah Montana product.
3.) Professional Athletes getting second and third chances. Do you think for one second that you and I could do half of what Pacman Jones has done and still get a chance to come back to work for MILLIONS of dollars?
Once again, it is about money. Jerry Jones, the owner of the Cowboys, knows he has a big huge stadium that will be completed in 2009. He needs to create a buzz among the fan base in order to sell very expensive tickets to this very expensive stadium. The best way to sell tickets, merchandise, and concessions, is to put a winning product on the field. Bring in Pacman Jones (a very good NFL cornerback) and it increases your chances of winning big. Who cares if he is an habitual criminal? Who cares if he shows no real remorse for his actions? He runs a 4.4 40 yard dash and leads the NFL in interceptions - sign him up! Pay him millions!
In all of this, what do you think we are teaching the younger generations? It's simple. We are teaching them selfishness - and that my friends can lead to a world of trouble....
Friday, April 25, 2008
Get the Church a cup of Coffee
For some reason two months ago, we started getting issues of the Rolling Stone magazine. Evidently, after further investigation, we are getting these issues complimentary for awhile due to our joining Rhapsody.com. After one issue, I realized that this magazine is a liberal, anti-Christian, awful rag. The first few issues that were delivered went directly from my mail box to the trash can. But recently, it hit me... this is our "pop culture". This is where our young people live. This magazine is a representation of what our college and high school students are listening, reading, watching, and discussing. Who am I kidding - this magazine is a representation of our 30's and 40's.
One of the latest "hot topics" among Southern Baptist Churches is centered around the constant tug of war in regards to the "style" of church. It's often referred to as "traditional vs. contemporary" or "the worship wars".
While it may be taking place in different forms, rest assured, every church is dealing with it in some degree. The whole issue centers around effective ministry. In other words, are we (the church of the 21st century) effective in how we are reaching lost people with the gospel. After all, is that not our main focus? The salvation of the lost? It should be. Jesus commanded it to be our main focus. Jesus didn't sit back in a building and wait for people to come to him.
Our pastor, John Meador, is going to be preaching a series starting May 11 entitled "Generation X, Y, Z'. The series will be based out of Deuteronomy and will deal with how our past generations can effectively reach and teach our new generations Biblical principles of salvation, following Scripture, living for Christ, and how we can effectively (there's that word again) establish these important principles for future generations - my kids and grand kids. It will be a great series that will look at how Scripture is cross-generational and how we as parents and community leaders have the responsibility to take Biblical truth and teach it in a relevant style.
One of the failures of Christians in the past 20 years is that we have not changed our practices with the changing culture. Now hear me loud and clear: I am not saying that we should have changed our principles and convictions. Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. He was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, was fully God and fully man, died on a cross for our sins, rose again three days afterwards, and ascended to heaven where he now sits at the right hand of God the father. I also believe that Scripture is "God-breathed", without error, and that every word is true. This is the foundational truths or our beliefs and they should NEVER waiver. Pastor Mark Driscoll in Seattle calls them the "cornerstones of our faith".
But, we (the church of Jesus Christ as a whole) have lost touch with society. Disagree with me? Look around... why are churches all over this country who ran thousands in the 70s and 80s now glorious empty cathedrals?
A recent article that I read in Church Solutions magazine reports that baptisms are down for the 3rd consecutive year across the board among protestant religions. Read magazines like Rolling Stone and an article in their latest edition about a reporter who went undercover at a "mega-church" in San Antonio to learn more about Christianity. This poor guy got it all wrong in his article, and the majority of the reason is the ridiculous nature in which that church preached, worshiped, acted, and misrepresented Scripture. Now the reporter was wrong to lump in all Christians into this one category, but the point still remains - we are not "getting it".
We have the greatest news in the world! You need hope? We have the answer. You need to break free from the bondage of addiction? We have the answer. You need help in your marriage? We have the answer. You need to find someone who will love you no matter what you have done? We have the answer. You need to find help in dealing and connecting with your kids? We have the answer. NO other religion can offer what Jesus Christ gives freely to those who seek it.
So why is it that we as the body of Christ - the church - spend the majority of our time bickering like spoiled little children about the volume of the music in our worship service, whether we get to sit in our predetermined church pew, our self-assigned parking space, whether the pastor should wear a suit or jeans on Sunday, the music leader's hair style, or whether or not our Sunday School/Bible Fellowship/Small Group/Connection Class/Care Group/or whatever you want to call it has brown painted walls or red painted walls??? Do you think Jesus is pleased or really cares about that garbage? Do you think when He was dying on the cross He was worried about whether the decibel level was going to be too loud in the worship service?
People all over the world are drinking in the false religions of Islam, Mormonism, and Oprah-ism and the one group of people that have the greatest news is too worried about their own petty and selfish desires rather than those outside the walls of the church who are literally dying without Christ. Congregations all over the country are spending too much time and effort crying about ridiculous things. They wonder why our churches are not growing in numbers and then blame the pastor and staff when the baptism waters are not stirring. Maybe the church should drink some Biblical coffee, wake up, and get back to being obedient to Christ's command to "GO make disciples"....
The good news is that there are churches who have "gotten it". They understand that we need to stay focused on reaching the lost. They understand that bickering over small things that have no importance, is merely a way that allows Satan into the door of the church. These are great churches and typically are the fastest growing congregations.
My high school coach was (and is) a pretty smart dude.
He once told me, "Bradley, if you want to be a good coach, then find the people who are winning and learn from them. Read about Dean Smith, Vince Lombardi, Joe Paterno, and John Wooden." That was good advice. I think it holds true in most circumstances. Maybe we should be listening to those places that are baptizing thousands instead of ridiculing them for their loud music, jean wearing, weird hair pastors and worship leaders. I don't know about you - but fire up that coffee pot and let's get to work!
One of the latest "hot topics" among Southern Baptist Churches is centered around the constant tug of war in regards to the "style" of church. It's often referred to as "traditional vs. contemporary" or "the worship wars".
While it may be taking place in different forms, rest assured, every church is dealing with it in some degree. The whole issue centers around effective ministry. In other words, are we (the church of the 21st century) effective in how we are reaching lost people with the gospel. After all, is that not our main focus? The salvation of the lost? It should be. Jesus commanded it to be our main focus. Jesus didn't sit back in a building and wait for people to come to him. Our pastor, John Meador, is going to be preaching a series starting May 11 entitled "Generation X, Y, Z'. The series will be based out of Deuteronomy and will deal with how our past generations can effectively reach and teach our new generations Biblical principles of salvation, following Scripture, living for Christ, and how we can effectively (there's that word again) establish these important principles for future generations - my kids and grand kids. It will be a great series that will look at how Scripture is cross-generational and how we as parents and community leaders have the responsibility to take Biblical truth and teach it in a relevant style.
One of the failures of Christians in the past 20 years is that we have not changed our practices with the changing culture. Now hear me loud and clear: I am not saying that we should have changed our principles and convictions. Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. He was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, was fully God and fully man, died on a cross for our sins, rose again three days afterwards, and ascended to heaven where he now sits at the right hand of God the father. I also believe that Scripture is "God-breathed", without error, and that every word is true. This is the foundational truths or our beliefs and they should NEVER waiver. Pastor Mark Driscoll in Seattle calls them the "cornerstones of our faith".
But, we (the church of Jesus Christ as a whole) have lost touch with society. Disagree with me? Look around... why are churches all over this country who ran thousands in the 70s and 80s now glorious empty cathedrals?
A recent article that I read in Church Solutions magazine reports that baptisms are down for the 3rd consecutive year across the board among protestant religions. Read magazines like Rolling Stone and an article in their latest edition about a reporter who went undercover at a "mega-church" in San Antonio to learn more about Christianity. This poor guy got it all wrong in his article, and the majority of the reason is the ridiculous nature in which that church preached, worshiped, acted, and misrepresented Scripture. Now the reporter was wrong to lump in all Christians into this one category, but the point still remains - we are not "getting it".
We have the greatest news in the world! You need hope? We have the answer. You need to break free from the bondage of addiction? We have the answer. You need help in your marriage? We have the answer. You need to find someone who will love you no matter what you have done? We have the answer. You need to find help in dealing and connecting with your kids? We have the answer. NO other religion can offer what Jesus Christ gives freely to those who seek it.
So why is it that we as the body of Christ - the church - spend the majority of our time bickering like spoiled little children about the volume of the music in our worship service, whether we get to sit in our predetermined church pew, our self-assigned parking space, whether the pastor should wear a suit or jeans on Sunday, the music leader's hair style, or whether or not our Sunday School/Bible Fellowship/Small Group/Connection Class/Care Group/or whatever you want to call it has brown painted walls or red painted walls??? Do you think Jesus is pleased or really cares about that garbage? Do you think when He was dying on the cross He was worried about whether the decibel level was going to be too loud in the worship service?
People all over the world are drinking in the false religions of Islam, Mormonism, and Oprah-ism and the one group of people that have the greatest news is too worried about their own petty and selfish desires rather than those outside the walls of the church who are literally dying without Christ. Congregations all over the country are spending too much time and effort crying about ridiculous things. They wonder why our churches are not growing in numbers and then blame the pastor and staff when the baptism waters are not stirring. Maybe the church should drink some Biblical coffee, wake up, and get back to being obedient to Christ's command to "GO make disciples"....
The good news is that there are churches who have "gotten it". They understand that we need to stay focused on reaching the lost. They understand that bickering over small things that have no importance, is merely a way that allows Satan into the door of the church. These are great churches and typically are the fastest growing congregations.
My high school coach was (and is) a pretty smart dude.
He once told me, "Bradley, if you want to be a good coach, then find the people who are winning and learn from them. Read about Dean Smith, Vince Lombardi, Joe Paterno, and John Wooden." That was good advice. I think it holds true in most circumstances. Maybe we should be listening to those places that are baptizing thousands instead of ridiculing them for their loud music, jean wearing, weird hair pastors and worship leaders. I don't know about you - but fire up that coffee pot and let's get to work!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
I am no Bobby Flay
I love to grill out. Let me re-phrase that: my family loves to grill out. On average, we probably grill out at least three times a week. We grill everything. Steak, hot dogs, chicken, sausage, vegetables, potatoes - you name it. My wife's love for grilling probably started with her dad, Andy. Andy is a world-class griller (is that a word?) - and I am not just saying that because he is my father-in-law or the fact that I want his famous grilled ribs for 4th of July. He really is very good at grilling. In fact, I refuse to eat ribs at any restaurant because I'll be disappointed and upset that I wasted my money. Trust me, if you're ever in Southaven, Mississippi (not sure why you would be...ha!), you need to stop by Andy Gore's (no relation to Al - praise God!) for some wet ribs! Tell him Bradley sent you! I am sure he wouldn't mind....
This past Saturday we decided to go to a local store in Southlake, TX, called Central Market. While I would not shop there for my weekly groceries (my wife is laughing now because everyone knows that I don't shop for groceries), it is a GREAT place to go buy fresh steaks, fish, chicken, vegetables, etc. for the purposes of grilling out.
We had a great time just being home and eating some great food. Granted, we could have gone to a restaurant and had a nice meal. But every now and then, it is fun to just stay at home and make our "gourmet" meal ourselves. It's spring time, so fire up those grills (insert big loud Tim "the Tool Man" Taylor grunt here)!
This past Saturday we decided to go to a local store in Southlake, TX, called Central Market. While I would not shop there for my weekly groceries (my wife is laughing now because everyone knows that I don't shop for groceries), it is a GREAT place to go buy fresh steaks, fish, chicken, vegetables, etc. for the purposes of grilling out.
We had a great time just being home and eating some great food. Granted, we could have gone to a restaurant and had a nice meal. But every now and then, it is fun to just stay at home and make our "gourmet" meal ourselves. It's spring time, so fire up those grills (insert big loud Tim "the Tool Man" Taylor grunt here)!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
My Bride
Many of you know my wife, Elaine - oh excuse me - she likes to be called Lainie... It's not that I don't like the name Lainie - it truly fits her personality - but I fell in love with ELAINE. Those of you who know her realize quickly that I "out-punted my coverage!" That is a football term meaning that she is way out of my league. 
My wife is a brilliant (seriously) and creative woman who loves God and loves to serve Him and others. She has a servant-heart. For those of you who do not know her, well, you are missing out on a blessing. She can brighten up any room that she walks into with her contagious smile and sparkling eyes.
This Friday (18th) is her birthday. She will turn 37. I am sure that right now she is loving the fact that I am telling her age. April 18 is a great day in our home and a day we celebrate Lainie's life! Thank you Andy and Becky for having her in 1971. Thank you God for bringing her into my life, and thank you honey for 12 great years of marriage. You are a wonderful wife, mother, co-worker, and you are my best friend. Happy Birthday! For those of you who would like to email Lainie birthday wishes click ethomas@firsteuless.com
My wife is a brilliant (seriously) and creative woman who loves God and loves to serve Him and others. She has a servant-heart. For those of you who do not know her, well, you are missing out on a blessing. She can brighten up any room that she walks into with her contagious smile and sparkling eyes. This Friday (18th) is her birthday. She will turn 37. I am sure that right now she is loving the fact that I am telling her age. April 18 is a great day in our home and a day we celebrate Lainie's life! Thank you Andy and Becky for having her in 1971. Thank you God for bringing her into my life, and thank you honey for 12 great years of marriage. You are a wonderful wife, mother, co-worker, and you are my best friend. Happy Birthday! For those of you who would like to email Lainie birthday wishes click ethomas@firsteuless.com
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
First 3 letters of Diet are D-I-E
When I was in high school, food was a huge necessity. My metabolism was literally off the charts. I was 6'"3 and 175 lbs. soaking wet. I could eat an x-large meat lovers stuff crust pizza from Pizza Hut at one time. Quarter pound with cheese? HA! I would eat two of them before I blinked. I wouldn't eat bowls of cereal - it was more like buckets of cereal...the best kind of cereal - none of this whole wheat junk. I am talking about Frosted Flakes, Captain Crunch, or Rice Krispies with a gallon of sugar poured into them! And oh yes, 2% milk all the way baby. I would stick my nose in the air and laugh in the face of skim milk. When my family would go to a nice restaurant, I would order a 20 ounce Prime Rib, eat the whole thing, and want another. Krispy Kreme was my Gatorade! Through it all, I never gained any fat or weight. I would hate to know what my parent's grocery bill was like when I was in high school, and I'm an only child.
So what in the name of lard and sugar happens from the time you graduate high school to adulthood? Everything that was good to me then is bad for me now. Skim milk beats me on the head with a big cheesy grin on its face. Cereal? Ha....that word is not even in my vocabulary. I now ask for water with lemon at a restaurant instead of sweet tea. Those 20 once Prime Rib steaks have been replaced with lemon chicken. And my snacks are no longer Krispy Kreme doughnuts but apples and wheat thin crackers.
It's funny how life can throw you a curve ball every now and then. Of course, I am sure all of this has nothing to do with the fact that I played three sports in high school, played college basketball, and probably ran the equivalent of 4-5 miles a day. The good news of late is that with these changes - I have called them my "lifestyle changes" - I have lost 32 lbs. since January 1. I am wearing clothes that are so old that they used to be in style, fell out of style, and are now back in style. By working out daily again, I have more energy, and hopefully am taking care of my body long term so that I can see my grand kids grow up.
Yes, life can and will throw you a curve ball, but that curve can be a good thing. I have seen a lot of curve balls get jacked into the bleachers for a home run. Like a batter, you just have to know how to see the pitch, adjust to it, and let her rip.
So what in the name of lard and sugar happens from the time you graduate high school to adulthood? Everything that was good to me then is bad for me now. Skim milk beats me on the head with a big cheesy grin on its face. Cereal? Ha....that word is not even in my vocabulary. I now ask for water with lemon at a restaurant instead of sweet tea. Those 20 once Prime Rib steaks have been replaced with lemon chicken. And my snacks are no longer Krispy Kreme doughnuts but apples and wheat thin crackers.
It's funny how life can throw you a curve ball every now and then. Of course, I am sure all of this has nothing to do with the fact that I played three sports in high school, played college basketball, and probably ran the equivalent of 4-5 miles a day. The good news of late is that with these changes - I have called them my "lifestyle changes" - I have lost 32 lbs. since January 1. I am wearing clothes that are so old that they used to be in style, fell out of style, and are now back in style. By working out daily again, I have more energy, and hopefully am taking care of my body long term so that I can see my grand kids grow up.
Yes, life can and will throw you a curve ball, but that curve can be a good thing. I have seen a lot of curve balls get jacked into the bleachers for a home run. Like a batter, you just have to know how to see the pitch, adjust to it, and let her rip.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
March Madness and the Brackets
I know it is officially April, but March Madness is one of my favorite "events" of the year. If you don't know what March Madness is, ask anyone how they are doing with their "brackets" and you will learn quickly. It's funny how big the brackets have become. People who never watch college basketball will join in an office pool, or friend pool, and fill out the brackets. 
They may choose teams that wear their favorite color. They may choose teams based upon the mascots or if one mascot could beat another (for example: a Bruins would easily defeat a Duck in a battle of nature).
I am a college basketball fan. I played college basketball (Don't get excited - it was Division III), and I enjoy the passion and purity of the college game. Each year, I listen to the experts on ESPN. I analyze the point gaurd play of each of the top 16 teams. I study season stats on rebouding and field goal percentage. Then, I fill out my brackets only to be annilaiated by the stay at home mom who thought North Carolina baby blue was prettier than Louisville red.
So, in conclusion what have I learned? March Madness is called madness because it is so unpredictable.
It is a tremendous amount of fun, and next March I once again will be studying the stat sheets and listening to the "experts" on ESPN to predict who will make it to the FINAL FOUR only to eventually lose in the bracket pool. (BTW - I REALLY need UCLA to win it all for me to win my at home pool - so go BRUINS!)
They may choose teams that wear their favorite color. They may choose teams based upon the mascots or if one mascot could beat another (for example: a Bruins would easily defeat a Duck in a battle of nature).I am a college basketball fan. I played college basketball (Don't get excited - it was Division III), and I enjoy the passion and purity of the college game. Each year, I listen to the experts on ESPN. I analyze the point gaurd play of each of the top 16 teams. I study season stats on rebouding and field goal percentage. Then, I fill out my brackets only to be annilaiated by the stay at home mom who thought North Carolina baby blue was prettier than Louisville red.
So, in conclusion what have I learned? March Madness is called madness because it is so unpredictable.
It is a tremendous amount of fun, and next March I once again will be studying the stat sheets and listening to the "experts" on ESPN to predict who will make it to the FINAL FOUR only to eventually lose in the bracket pool. (BTW - I REALLY need UCLA to win it all for me to win my at home pool - so go BRUINS!)
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Remember the Alamo!
No doubt this is a familiar cry that you have heard before. It was the rallying cry of the Texans as they fought for their independence from Mexico. It served as a reminder of what the brave men did at the Battle of the Alamo in San Antonio. This past week, my family went to San Antonio for Spring Break. Don't get me wrong, we did the fun stuff (I will talk about that in a moment), but we did take time to tour the Alamo and learn a little Texas history. 
One of the things that the Thomas family is proud of - being from the GREAT state of Tennessee! After walking through the Alamo and learning a little more about one of our native sons, Davey Crockett, we are even prouder. I will admit, that the Alamo museum workers didn't like it when I gave a stirring rendition of Rocky Top while overlooking Davey Crockett's shot gun.
One of the things that my wife and I are enjoying at this stage in our lives is the age of our kids. Bailey is almost 10 and Brody just turned 8. They are at a great age to travel and do things they have never done before. With that said, this was our first true "Spring Break" trip as a family. Now I am no Clark W. Griswald, but I do try to turn into Super Dad. I must admit, for our first Spring Break trip, this was a great time! After our tour of the Alamo, we stayed overnight in downtown San Antonio and took a boat tour of the Riverwalk (a beautiful place!). We ate dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe, bought some souvenirs, and spent all day Monday at Sea World San Antonio.
Sea World was amazing! I think I went to Sea World when I was very little, but I don't remember it. Elaine had never been, so this really was a "first" for all of us.
From the STEEL EEL (big honkin roller coaster) to Shamu (killer whale) to petting the dolphins, we had a blast. I would highly recommend Sea World and San Antonio as a great vacation spot.
Spring Break 2008 is in the books. It is time for March Madness and for my Tennessee Volunteers to make Davey and all of us proud by getting BACK to San Antonio to the Final Four! Of course, we would hope that the Tennessee Volunteers trip to San Antonio this time would turn out much better.
One of the things that the Thomas family is proud of - being from the GREAT state of Tennessee! After walking through the Alamo and learning a little more about one of our native sons, Davey Crockett, we are even prouder. I will admit, that the Alamo museum workers didn't like it when I gave a stirring rendition of Rocky Top while overlooking Davey Crockett's shot gun.
One of the things that my wife and I are enjoying at this stage in our lives is the age of our kids. Bailey is almost 10 and Brody just turned 8. They are at a great age to travel and do things they have never done before. With that said, this was our first true "Spring Break" trip as a family. Now I am no Clark W. Griswald, but I do try to turn into Super Dad. I must admit, for our first Spring Break trip, this was a great time! After our tour of the Alamo, we stayed overnight in downtown San Antonio and took a boat tour of the Riverwalk (a beautiful place!). We ate dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe, bought some souvenirs, and spent all day Monday at Sea World San Antonio.
Sea World was amazing! I think I went to Sea World when I was very little, but I don't remember it. Elaine had never been, so this really was a "first" for all of us.
From the STEEL EEL (big honkin roller coaster) to Shamu (killer whale) to petting the dolphins, we had a blast. I would highly recommend Sea World and San Antonio as a great vacation spot.
Spring Break 2008 is in the books. It is time for March Madness and for my Tennessee Volunteers to make Davey and all of us proud by getting BACK to San Antonio to the Final Four! Of course, we would hope that the Tennessee Volunteers trip to San Antonio this time would turn out much better.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Years are flying
Why is it that the older you get, time goes faster? I have pondered that thought quite a bit this week because my youngest child is turning 8 years old! It honestly just seems like yesterday that our son, Brody, was still sucking on his "passie" and jumping up and down in his crib. That is Brody in the picture. (BTW - my wife Lainie made that cake! She is amazing!) My daughter will be 10 in August, and I began to think - wow - I am going to be 35 this year! What is up with that?
So, the real question is - why does time get faster? Is it because we are doing more things and are busier? I remember thinking when I was a kid - "man, I can't wait until _____ "(fill in the blank here). It was a summer vacation trip. Sometimes a birthday...always Christmas, my driver's license, flying an airplane, going to college, etc., etc., etc. Of course, I also remember my dad telling me when I would spout off one these "I can't wait...." lines the famous saying all parents say to their kids: "You are going to wish your life away!".
I actually said that line to my son the other day when he lamented that he could not wait until his birthday on Thursday. I watch him sit in the floor and play with his match box cars like I used to do, or play on his Nintendo DS (I had an Atari baby!), or catch a baseball with me. As I watch him and my daughter grow it is a reminder of how precious time and moments are here on earth. Start living! Have fun with your kids! Go on trips! Spend that money! Time is flying by....
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Barack, the devil juice, and Duff
Have you ever had "one of those weeks'? Well, I just had one starting last Tuesday, Feb. 19. I had my first scheduled colonoscopy and endoscopy on Feb. 20th, so on Tuesday I had to drink probably the worst substance known to humanity in prep for the scopes. I call it the "the Devil Juice" but my doctor calls it something else with medical terminology. It was awful and with my quick gag reflex - well, you can imagine. However, if you had told me that would be the easiest thing I would do that week, I would have been a little worried. As it turned out, that was a walk in the park compared to what happened to me on Friday, Feb. 22nd (insert dramatic beat from Law & Order series).
It began on my way home from seminary class (maybe that was the cause). I began having horrible stomach pains and cramps - the kind of pain and cramps where you actually think the alien will pop out at any moment. Eventually, I listened to my wife and went to the emergency room only to find out that I had appendicitis. Ha! I have never had surgery, and until my scopes had never been "put under". But within an hour after being diagnosed, I am being wheeled into an operating room where I have to keep telling everyone my name and birthday (I guess that is to make sure they don't get me confused with the guy who is having his gallbladder removed). Next thing I know I am groggy and really having to go to the bathroom in some dark hospital room with people poking and prodding on me. Funny thing is that this hospital was so busy they had to put me on the floor with the labor and delivery unit! One of our sweet friends, Pam Hill, suggested that I name my newly "removed body part" so that I would not feel left out among all of other "birthing" people in the hall. So, my wife and I proudly named my appendix Obama (we chose not to take it home).
The tough part now is being patient. I am home and resting per doctor's orders. I do feel better at times, so I get up and start doing stuff - then pow - I am tired (funny how your body doesn't like to be operated on). I have been able to catch up on some needed rest, fight off an awful upper respitory cold (still working on that), and watch some of my favorite shows like Ace of Cakes on the Food Network - Duff is the man! Hopefully, with another day of good solid rest and continued meds, I will be back to my routine soon. Thanks to all of you who have prayed, sent emails, cards, food, etc. - you all have blessed our lives! I hope you have a great week - who knows what can happen in seven days!
It began on my way home from seminary class (maybe that was the cause). I began having horrible stomach pains and cramps - the kind of pain and cramps where you actually think the alien will pop out at any moment. Eventually, I listened to my wife and went to the emergency room only to find out that I had appendicitis. Ha! I have never had surgery, and until my scopes had never been "put under". But within an hour after being diagnosed, I am being wheeled into an operating room where I have to keep telling everyone my name and birthday (I guess that is to make sure they don't get me confused with the guy who is having his gallbladder removed). Next thing I know I am groggy and really having to go to the bathroom in some dark hospital room with people poking and prodding on me. Funny thing is that this hospital was so busy they had to put me on the floor with the labor and delivery unit! One of our sweet friends, Pam Hill, suggested that I name my newly "removed body part" so that I would not feel left out among all of other "birthing" people in the hall. So, my wife and I proudly named my appendix Obama (we chose not to take it home).
The tough part now is being patient. I am home and resting per doctor's orders. I do feel better at times, so I get up and start doing stuff - then pow - I am tired (funny how your body doesn't like to be operated on). I have been able to catch up on some needed rest, fight off an awful upper respitory cold (still working on that), and watch some of my favorite shows like Ace of Cakes on the Food Network - Duff is the man! Hopefully, with another day of good solid rest and continued meds, I will be back to my routine soon. Thanks to all of you who have prayed, sent emails, cards, food, etc. - you all have blessed our lives! I hope you have a great week - who knows what can happen in seven days!
Monday, February 18, 2008
Valentine's on the 15th
Okay, this year my wife and I did something we have often heard about but never actually done ourselves - celebrate Valentine's Day on the 15th instead of the 14th. Don't worry guys, we talked about this weeks in advance. This year it seemed to work out pretty good being that the 15th was on a Friday. I have to admit that when the 14th rolled around, it was very difficult not to pull out the flowers, balloons, candy, etc. On the night of the 14th, we actually baby sit for some friends of ours who went out to eat (they returned the favor on the 15th - saved some nice $ with that move!).
After it was all said and done, we had an amazing Valentines (15th) Day! And, I must admit, that we learned some great benefits by waiting until the 15th.
1. It is easier to get a reservation at a restaurant. (I started calling the second week of January!) We ate at the famous Del Frisco's in Fort Worth. WOW! Amazing place - highly recommend it.
2. It is easier to find a baby sitter. Although we did work out the free babysitting gig (see above notes).
3. You can get through the card aisle at the Hallmark store much easier than the day before - AND, you would be surprised how many cards are left over.
4. You never have to worry about flowers being delivered on time. The day after Valentine's may be the slowest day of the year for florists.
They key to the whole thing is simple. It really is not about a particular day, but the fact that you take time to celebrate the one you love and to show them how much you care. My wife is my best friend, and I love spending time with her. Even after almost 12 years of marriage, we still never run out of things to talk about. So, start now to make your plans for the new Valentine's Day - February 15th!
After it was all said and done, we had an amazing Valentines (15th) Day! And, I must admit, that we learned some great benefits by waiting until the 15th.
1. It is easier to get a reservation at a restaurant. (I started calling the second week of January!) We ate at the famous Del Frisco's in Fort Worth. WOW! Amazing place - highly recommend it.
2. It is easier to find a baby sitter. Although we did work out the free babysitting gig (see above notes).
3. You can get through the card aisle at the Hallmark store much easier than the day before - AND, you would be surprised how many cards are left over.
4. You never have to worry about flowers being delivered on time. The day after Valentine's may be the slowest day of the year for florists.
They key to the whole thing is simple. It really is not about a particular day, but the fact that you take time to celebrate the one you love and to show them how much you care. My wife is my best friend, and I love spending time with her. Even after almost 12 years of marriage, we still never run out of things to talk about. So, start now to make your plans for the new Valentine's Day - February 15th!
Monday, February 11, 2008
My Bucket List
Wow! It's been awhile since I put anything on here - my fault. Things have been very hectic lately. You may or may not know about a new movie that is in theaters right now starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. It is called "The Bucket List". It is the story of two older guys who are friends and they are both diagnosed with some type of life ending ailment. They begin thinking about their time on earth and all of the things they "wished they had done". So, they create a list of things they would like to do before they "kick the bucket" - hence the title of the movie.
That got me thinking about what I would like to do before I "kick the bucket". No, I don't have any terminal illness and I am only 34 years old - but, it is never to late to get started. Here it goes, my bucket list (in no particular order):
1. Go to one Super Bowl game - any one will do.
2. See a baseball game at Fenway Park.
3. Vacation in Hawaii with my wife.
4. Run a marathon (not a big one - maybe a 10k).
5. Meet and talk to a sitting President and walk through the Oval office.
6. Meet Michael Jordan.
7. Run through the "T" at a Tennessee football game (the last guy to do this donated one million dollars to the University).
8. Earn a million dollars.
9. Slap a bull on the backside (see the movie Wild Hogs).
10. Fly in a helicopter.
11. Write a book.
12. Ride the zamboni at a Hockey game.
13. Give someone a car.
14. Go to any summer Olympics opening ceremony.
15. Drive a race care around any NASCAR track.
Who knows, check back periodically and I'll let you know if I get to cross any off my list. The main thing is to enjoy life everyday! God has given us so many wonderful things, so start living!
That got me thinking about what I would like to do before I "kick the bucket". No, I don't have any terminal illness and I am only 34 years old - but, it is never to late to get started. Here it goes, my bucket list (in no particular order):
1. Go to one Super Bowl game - any one will do.
2. See a baseball game at Fenway Park.
3. Vacation in Hawaii with my wife.
4. Run a marathon (not a big one - maybe a 10k).
5. Meet and talk to a sitting President and walk through the Oval office.
6. Meet Michael Jordan.
7. Run through the "T" at a Tennessee football game (the last guy to do this donated one million dollars to the University).
8. Earn a million dollars.
9. Slap a bull on the backside (see the movie Wild Hogs).
10. Fly in a helicopter.
11. Write a book.
12. Ride the zamboni at a Hockey game.
13. Give someone a car.
14. Go to any summer Olympics opening ceremony.
15. Drive a race care around any NASCAR track.
Who knows, check back periodically and I'll let you know if I get to cross any off my list. The main thing is to enjoy life everyday! God has given us so many wonderful things, so start living!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Focus on Jesus
Life can be hard. For some in the metroplex, today is especially hard because the beloved Dallas Cowboys lost in their playoff game against the NY Giants. In the grand scheme of things (and by that I mean life) it really is not that big of a deal. However, many will wallow in their misery this week as if someone literally ripped out their heart.
There are people today who are dealing with much greater troubles. There is a sweet lady in my ministry who found out this past week that she has cancer and will need surgery in the next week to remove it - then chemo - then a lot of prayer. On our church prayer chain, I read about a family who lost their dad and husband at the age of 38 because he was serving his country in Iraq. When I think about these situations and the similar times of disappointment or grief that I have experienced, I am reminded that the "storms" of life are inevitable. Everyone experiences storms in his life. They are sometimes unpredictable, always devastating, and can come quickly or last a very long time. Regardless of who you are, you will experience storms.
How do you handle those storms? Who do you turn to for answers? Those are difficult but great questions. In Matthew chapter 14, we read about the apostle Peter stepping out in a great act of faith. Verses 22 through 32 document the story of Jesus walking on water. If you have grown up in church, you know what happens.... Peter asks to join Jesus on the water, Jesus says "come on out," Peter steps out of the boat, stands on the water and doesn't sink. If the story ended there you would say, "WOW!", "GREAT!", "That-a-boy, Peter!"....but something happens. Verse 30 of Matthew 14 tells us that "...he (Peter) saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink, cried out, Lord, save me!"....
Did you notice the first phrase? "....he SAW the wind..." Interesting, isn't it? Would you not say that he felt the wind? The point that is being made here is subtle but simple - Peter took his eyes of Jesus and put them on the wind around him. When you focus on the storm or your circumstances and problems that surround you, rest assured that you will begin to sink in the midst of those circumstances or problems. But when you keep your focus solely upon Jesus... you will find safety, peace, and comfort. It does not mean that the storm will go away. That storm may whistle and blow hard but the key is this: where will you put your focus? On the storm or on Jesus?
There are people today who are dealing with much greater troubles. There is a sweet lady in my ministry who found out this past week that she has cancer and will need surgery in the next week to remove it - then chemo - then a lot of prayer. On our church prayer chain, I read about a family who lost their dad and husband at the age of 38 because he was serving his country in Iraq. When I think about these situations and the similar times of disappointment or grief that I have experienced, I am reminded that the "storms" of life are inevitable. Everyone experiences storms in his life. They are sometimes unpredictable, always devastating, and can come quickly or last a very long time. Regardless of who you are, you will experience storms.
How do you handle those storms? Who do you turn to for answers? Those are difficult but great questions. In Matthew chapter 14, we read about the apostle Peter stepping out in a great act of faith. Verses 22 through 32 document the story of Jesus walking on water. If you have grown up in church, you know what happens.... Peter asks to join Jesus on the water, Jesus says "come on out," Peter steps out of the boat, stands on the water and doesn't sink. If the story ended there you would say, "WOW!", "GREAT!", "That-a-boy, Peter!"....but something happens. Verse 30 of Matthew 14 tells us that "...he (Peter) saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink, cried out, Lord, save me!"....
Did you notice the first phrase? "....he SAW the wind..." Interesting, isn't it? Would you not say that he felt the wind? The point that is being made here is subtle but simple - Peter took his eyes of Jesus and put them on the wind around him. When you focus on the storm or your circumstances and problems that surround you, rest assured that you will begin to sink in the midst of those circumstances or problems. But when you keep your focus solely upon Jesus... you will find safety, peace, and comfort. It does not mean that the storm will go away. That storm may whistle and blow hard but the key is this: where will you put your focus? On the storm or on Jesus?
Monday, January 7, 2008
American Gladiators
Oh yes, you know what I am talking about. If you went to high school in the 80's or early 90's, you know all about American Gladiators. The Joust, the Eliminator, the Rings, and much more crammed into one exciting hour of breathtaking television entertainment! Well, it's BACK and bigger than ever. Plus, for us "teens of the 80's", they have added Hulk Hogan as a host - how awesome is that, BROTHER!? (If you are a Hulk Hogan fan, then you understand the "BROTHER" reference). Last night, I watched the premier of American Gladiators on NBC - and I have to admit, it was very good. They have kept most of the old events and added some pretty cool new events. What's wild is the fact that I am sitting in my living room watching this show with MY KIDS! And they love it!
Now don't get me wrong, it is purely for entertainment purposes. There is no educational value (maybe healthy living - but that is a stretch, I know), or nothing that challenges your brain or makes you think. It is purely average American people (who happen to be in really great shape) getting a chance to put on head gear and beat the fool out of muscular models - with the chance to earn money doing it. In the words of boxing promoter Don King, "Only in America!"
It is important to understand that the people who apply and are able to go on this show are in amazing condition. Last night, a Marine lady and kick boxing lady were on the show and they were literally dusting the gladiators. I started thinking, who do I know that could go on this show? Obviously not me! There is a guy in the Bible Fellowship that I used to teach in Tennessee named Jack - he is in the FBI. He is a small guy who stays in great shape - probably knows about 31 ways to kill a man with his hands type of guy - he would be good on this show with his quickness, small but strong size, and his anger management issues.
My current pastor could go on this show - he is 6'5" and about 260 solid (That is him on the left - Hulk Hogan is above - didn't want you to get them mixed up). He could hold his own - and how cool is that - to have a pastor who could go on American Gladiators? That would be classic! I could see it now: "Now that I have beaten Wolverine (Gladiator man's nickname on the show) in the Joust - can I have one conversation with you if I could only have one?"
Ok, I am ranting, Happy New Year to everyone! I hope 2008 is the best yet. God bless...
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