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!

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!