What a fabulous week at the Tahoe Family Encampment! This was my fourth year to be on the program and, as I shared with Paul Methvin, I thought it was the best spiritual experience of the four.
The theme -- "In Times Like These, Jesus Says, 'Come To Me'" -- was addressed marvelously through the various keynote speakers. I was grateful to give the keynote speech on Sunday morning, the foundation message for the week.
My message centered on the missional dream of Jesus and the call that His people would be counduits who call others to His saving grace. That evangelistic theme would permeate the remainder of the camp, culminating in Tex Williams's keynote on Thursday night. Tex, speaking on being sacrificial givers in a time of coveteousness, shared of a need that existed in Africa. By Friday morning, over $15,000 had been spontanouesly contributed to address the need.
For me personally, it was a great joy to spend time and reconnect with Jimmie & Thelma Jones, the members of the Vallejo church, John Wiegand (editor of the songbook published by 21st century Christian), Eddie & Jessica Pollard, and all the Williams clan, especially my new neighbors, Kerry and family.
It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to forge some new friendships. Dr. Gary Bradley, minister of the Mayfair church in Huntsville, Alabama was outstanding. Gary and I shared lunch together on Thursday -- a real highlight for my week. John Price is the minister of the First Century church in Sun Valley, Nevada. He and his wife, Gayla, are enthusiastic beacons of the mission of Jesus in the world.
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The best part of the entire week, though, was the memories Trae and I shared together. An entire "Daddy/Daughter" week for the two of us. In our free time, we rode amusement park rides together, swam together, watched Disney together, played Putt-Putt golf together, attended assemblies together, colored pictures together. Well, you get the picture, we did a lot together.
I would be remiss if I didn't thank Skylee, Emma, Ann, Heather, ReAnn, Regan and especially, Joelle (who took Trae and Emma horseback riding on Friday morning) for sharing some of the memories of our week. These gals were great fun and great friends for Trae this week.
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Prentice Meador, the outstanding Preaching Minister for the Prestoncrest church in Dallas, gave the Monday evening keynote. During his introduction, he shared with the assembly the battle his granddaughter, Palmer, is fighting against leukemia. He made a clarion call for the people of God to pray for his granddaughter. You can learn more about Palmer and her fight against leukemia here.
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Tahoe is the ultimate site for a "mountain top" experience. The pristine blue waters of the lake. The soaring mountain peaks still dotted with snow. The cool mornings and comfortably warm afternoons. The outdoor meals on decks overlooking the beach.
Each glance in every direction screams of the majesty and creativity of Almighty God. I can't wait till 2006 to be back. In the meantime, like Jesus and His disciples, I've gotta get off the mountain, roll up my sleeves, and get back to work with the people down in the valley.
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Friday, July 22, 2005
Vision Tension
This will be my last blog for a week. Tomorrow morning, Trae and I will leave out of Little Rock for Tahoe and a week of spiritual feasting and memory-making. It's going to be awesome spending a week with my oldest daughter!
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I always get a kick out of your response to my blogs. Some like my blog for the Rangers information. Others see the Rangers information as wasted space and hurry right past to get to the Biblical commentary. Either way, I appreciate each of you who stop by and offer feedback on what you find here.
(By the way, if you don't like to read my Ranger stuff, today you must. The commentary that follows is a melding together of baseball and church).
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The Rangers are done. Finite. Finished.
Last night, Oakland came from behind to take a 6-4 win. The Angels, behind Vlad Guerrero's 7th inning grand slam, knocked off the Yankees in come from behind fashion, 6-5. The Rangers are now a full game-and-a-half behind the A's for second place in the AL West.
The distressing thing is this: Mark Teixeira and Michael Young have been clamoring for the front office to get them some help, i.e. another bat and some bullpen aid. The front office seems to be turning a deaf ear to the pleas of their players.
Watching the Ranger season unravel -- especially in the week since play resumed following the All-Star break -- has reminded me of the tension inherent in vision. The vision of the Rangers front office seems fixed on what is best for 2007, 2008 and beyond. The vision of the young corps of Ranger stars is focused on winning right now. Once can sense the rising tension through statements aired out in the media.
How best does leadership resolve vision tension? The Ranger story this year is a microcosm of what exists in any organization, including churches. It is always encumbant upon leadership to communicate vision, insuring everyone within the organization is on-board with that vision. Where there is confusion or conflict, it must be resolved through communication.
Too many leaders see their role as power, thus inflating rather than deflating the potential vision tension. In the church most especially, the genuine leader serves in the way of Jesus by guiding and nurturing the vision of God for the body.
---------------
I always get a kick out of your response to my blogs. Some like my blog for the Rangers information. Others see the Rangers information as wasted space and hurry right past to get to the Biblical commentary. Either way, I appreciate each of you who stop by and offer feedback on what you find here.
(By the way, if you don't like to read my Ranger stuff, today you must. The commentary that follows is a melding together of baseball and church).
---------------
The Rangers are done. Finite. Finished.
Last night, Oakland came from behind to take a 6-4 win. The Angels, behind Vlad Guerrero's 7th inning grand slam, knocked off the Yankees in come from behind fashion, 6-5. The Rangers are now a full game-and-a-half behind the A's for second place in the AL West.
The distressing thing is this: Mark Teixeira and Michael Young have been clamoring for the front office to get them some help, i.e. another bat and some bullpen aid. The front office seems to be turning a deaf ear to the pleas of their players.
Watching the Ranger season unravel -- especially in the week since play resumed following the All-Star break -- has reminded me of the tension inherent in vision. The vision of the Rangers front office seems fixed on what is best for 2007, 2008 and beyond. The vision of the young corps of Ranger stars is focused on winning right now. Once can sense the rising tension through statements aired out in the media.
How best does leadership resolve vision tension? The Ranger story this year is a microcosm of what exists in any organization, including churches. It is always encumbant upon leadership to communicate vision, insuring everyone within the organization is on-board with that vision. Where there is confusion or conflict, it must be resolved through communication.
Too many leaders see their role as power, thus inflating rather than deflating the potential vision tension. In the church most especially, the genuine leader serves in the way of Jesus by guiding and nurturing the vision of God for the body.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
There's a Great Day Coming
So much was made of the fact that back in May when the Rangers moved into first place, the secretary's answering the phone in the Rangers office said, "You have reached the home of the first place Texas Rangers."
Wonder if they are answering the phone this morning: "You have reached the home of the third place Texas Rangers?"
With Oakland's shutout win over the Angels last night, coupled with the Rangers loss to the Yankees, the A's bypassed the Rangers and moved into second place. Here's hoping Dave, my Bay Area buddy who I will get to spend some time with at Tahoe, errs on the side of grace and mercy when he sees me.
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This morning, Jimmy and other chaperones left with about 23 teens for Dallas for tonight's A's/Rangers game. Tomorrow, they will spend the day at Six Flags before returning home on Saturday. Here's hoping for a great time for all the kids (and a Rangers win tonight to boot).
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When we arrived home yesterday, I was delighted to see an Amazon delivery awaiting me. Before leaving for Texas, I ordered Phil Kenneson's book Life on the Vine: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit in Christian Community. Kenneson's book is a major player in a year-long project developed by Salt and Light Resources. I got through the introduction and first chapter last night. Kenneson's work is deep and though-provoking as he lays out the implications of developing the fruit of the Spirit in a culture that is anti-Spirit.
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I wonder what the implications of Zechariah 3.1-5 are for our understanding of judgment? In that story, Satan is presented as the accuser of the high priest, Joshua. I've always thought of judgment day as the day God questions me about my failures in this life. In my preconceived picture, I am the focal point of judgment.
Could it be that judgment is really Satan's last ditch effort to overthrow the sovereignty of God? Could it be that Jesus -- the One who covers the stains brought on by sin -- will be the focal point of judgment day?
Wonder if they are answering the phone this morning: "You have reached the home of the third place Texas Rangers?"
With Oakland's shutout win over the Angels last night, coupled with the Rangers loss to the Yankees, the A's bypassed the Rangers and moved into second place. Here's hoping Dave, my Bay Area buddy who I will get to spend some time with at Tahoe, errs on the side of grace and mercy when he sees me.
--------------------
This morning, Jimmy and other chaperones left with about 23 teens for Dallas for tonight's A's/Rangers game. Tomorrow, they will spend the day at Six Flags before returning home on Saturday. Here's hoping for a great time for all the kids (and a Rangers win tonight to boot).
--------------------
When we arrived home yesterday, I was delighted to see an Amazon delivery awaiting me. Before leaving for Texas, I ordered Phil Kenneson's book Life on the Vine: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit in Christian Community. Kenneson's book is a major player in a year-long project developed by Salt and Light Resources. I got through the introduction and first chapter last night. Kenneson's work is deep and though-provoking as he lays out the implications of developing the fruit of the Spirit in a culture that is anti-Spirit.
---------------------
I wonder what the implications of Zechariah 3.1-5 are for our understanding of judgment? In that story, Satan is presented as the accuser of the high priest, Joshua. I've always thought of judgment day as the day God questions me about my failures in this life. In my preconceived picture, I am the focal point of judgment.
Could it be that judgment is really Satan's last ditch effort to overthrow the sovereignty of God? Could it be that Jesus -- the One who covers the stains brought on by sin -- will be the focal point of judgment day?
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Kingdom Work
Sorry for slacking off on my blogging the last few days. Mandy, Trae and I made a whirlwind trip through Texas and just returned home in time for Bible study this evening.
On Monday, we watched the Rangers/Yankees 11-10 marathon. It was the longest nine inning game I have ever sat through (I actually caught Mandy dozing off a time or two). The Ranger bullpen was up-to-par, blowing a one run lead in the 8th.
On Tuesday, we drove down to Marble Falls to secure some temporary quarters during the construction of our new home. We enjoyed dinner on Tuesday evening with the Stanglins and Burdetts -- two great Christian families with a slew of girls in tow. Something tells me my two girls are going to have plenty of girlfriends to pal around with in our new church family.
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This trip was originally planned as a two-day working sabbatical -- the upcoming move changed the original purpose of the trip -- to prepare for the Tahoe Family Encampment.
I have been blessed with the opportunity to deliver the Sunday morning keynote message to kickoff the encampment. Evidently, Paul Methvin was hurting for speakers this year!
The theme this year is "In Times Like These...Jesus Says, 'Come Unto Me.'" I am excited about sharing a message that will encapsulate the theme and provide a framework for the balance of the encampment.
It is always a blast and a blessing to be with so many dear Christian friends on the West Coast. Over the last three years, Tahoe has become one of my favorite appointments during the year because of the warmth and encouragement of so many dear, godly people who love Jesus. Trae will be joining me on the trip this year and we can't wait to get on that big bird Saturday morning and fly west.
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Sometimes, it's so easy to get tunnel vision because of the events and activities of our local congregations. I just want to encourage you to keep in mind that the kingdom is bigger than the individual outposts of the kingdom, i.e. local congregations. God's agenda in this world is so much larger than my dreams and my ambitions on a local level. Sure, I do all I can to be the hands and feet of Jesus where I live, but the right now Jesus is doing so many great things in so many places that are worthy of my honor and attention.
For example, tonight an Army soldier on leave from his duties in Iraq was baptized into Jesus. It was such a moving moment to witness the joy of his parents. It was touching to see his eyes moisten as he shared of the forthcoming challenges to keep the faith in the face of war and temptation. Surely God has been moving in his heart for a long time, in a far-away place.
My prayer is that God will give us eyes sensitive enough to see His kingdom work around us. That He will give us feet ready to run and join Him in His kingdom work in this world -- whether it is in my comfortable locale or not.
On Monday, we watched the Rangers/Yankees 11-10 marathon. It was the longest nine inning game I have ever sat through (I actually caught Mandy dozing off a time or two). The Ranger bullpen was up-to-par, blowing a one run lead in the 8th.
On Tuesday, we drove down to Marble Falls to secure some temporary quarters during the construction of our new home. We enjoyed dinner on Tuesday evening with the Stanglins and Burdetts -- two great Christian families with a slew of girls in tow. Something tells me my two girls are going to have plenty of girlfriends to pal around with in our new church family.
-----------------
This trip was originally planned as a two-day working sabbatical -- the upcoming move changed the original purpose of the trip -- to prepare for the Tahoe Family Encampment.
I have been blessed with the opportunity to deliver the Sunday morning keynote message to kickoff the encampment. Evidently, Paul Methvin was hurting for speakers this year!
The theme this year is "In Times Like These...Jesus Says, 'Come Unto Me.'" I am excited about sharing a message that will encapsulate the theme and provide a framework for the balance of the encampment.
It is always a blast and a blessing to be with so many dear Christian friends on the West Coast. Over the last three years, Tahoe has become one of my favorite appointments during the year because of the warmth and encouragement of so many dear, godly people who love Jesus. Trae will be joining me on the trip this year and we can't wait to get on that big bird Saturday morning and fly west.
--------------
Sometimes, it's so easy to get tunnel vision because of the events and activities of our local congregations. I just want to encourage you to keep in mind that the kingdom is bigger than the individual outposts of the kingdom, i.e. local congregations. God's agenda in this world is so much larger than my dreams and my ambitions on a local level. Sure, I do all I can to be the hands and feet of Jesus where I live, but the right now Jesus is doing so many great things in so many places that are worthy of my honor and attention.
For example, tonight an Army soldier on leave from his duties in Iraq was baptized into Jesus. It was such a moving moment to witness the joy of his parents. It was touching to see his eyes moisten as he shared of the forthcoming challenges to keep the faith in the face of war and temptation. Surely God has been moving in his heart for a long time, in a far-away place.
My prayer is that God will give us eyes sensitive enough to see His kingdom work around us. That He will give us feet ready to run and join Him in His kingdom work in this world -- whether it is in my comfortable locale or not.
Sunday, July 17, 2005
"This isn't your Grandma's Bible School"
I read an article this morning on the Austin American Statesman website entitled "This isn't your Grandma's Bible School" talking about innovative ways to reach children. The article noted that Kool-Aid and corkboard isn't in; Powerpoint and DVD (all things digital video)are the wave. The article noted George Barna's research, published in 2003, that rapidly growing churches do not compromise a premium on ministries to children and youth.
Right now, Jimmy and I feel as if the article could have been titled "This isn't your Grandma's Worship"! Sunday worship prep now always includes an hour-long review of the Powerpoint for the worship assembly. Who'd have thunk it fifty years ago?
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Tomorrow, Mandy and I will head to Texas for a quick two-day trip. Our plans include a whirlwind ride to Marble Falls on Tuesday to secure some temporary housing in advance of our move. On Monday and Tuesday nights, it the Rangers and Yankees at the Palace. This two-day break was originally intended for Tahoe Family Encampment prep work but our pending move (August 14th) is re-routing our plans.
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This morning, we'll look at the fifth commandment: God's call to honor our parents (Exodus 20.12). This commandment is the only one of the ten with an accompanying promise: "that you may live long in the land."
When I was younger, that promise always confused me. When someone left this earth too soon,I always assumed -- based on my understanding of Exodus 20.12 -- they must have been really ornery kids. When someone lived to be 90 or 100 years old, I assumed they never were spanked for unruly behavior.
But the promise of Exodus 20.12 isn't an individual promise or threat, it is a promise best understood in the context of community. When children are raised to honor their parents and released into the world as adults, honor and respect for their neighbor comes naturally. Society just works better when the Sovereign's will is fleshed out in the lives of His people.
Right now, Jimmy and I feel as if the article could have been titled "This isn't your Grandma's Worship"! Sunday worship prep now always includes an hour-long review of the Powerpoint for the worship assembly. Who'd have thunk it fifty years ago?
----------------
Tomorrow, Mandy and I will head to Texas for a quick two-day trip. Our plans include a whirlwind ride to Marble Falls on Tuesday to secure some temporary housing in advance of our move. On Monday and Tuesday nights, it the Rangers and Yankees at the Palace. This two-day break was originally intended for Tahoe Family Encampment prep work but our pending move (August 14th) is re-routing our plans.
----------------
This morning, we'll look at the fifth commandment: God's call to honor our parents (Exodus 20.12). This commandment is the only one of the ten with an accompanying promise: "that you may live long in the land."
When I was younger, that promise always confused me. When someone left this earth too soon,I always assumed -- based on my understanding of Exodus 20.12 -- they must have been really ornery kids. When someone lived to be 90 or 100 years old, I assumed they never were spanked for unruly behavior.
But the promise of Exodus 20.12 isn't an individual promise or threat, it is a promise best understood in the context of community. When children are raised to honor their parents and released into the world as adults, honor and respect for their neighbor comes naturally. Society just works better when the Sovereign's will is fleshed out in the lives of His people.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Happy Birthday, Sis
For the second night in a row, the Rangers were held hitless through the first seven innings. Fourteen innings the last two nights...no hits. Incredible.
John Wasdin reverted back to his "Wayback" Wasdin days, allowing three homeruns in the first two innings and for the second night in a row, the Rangers were scorched by the A's.
Man, I don't want to face the A's brethren at Tahoe next week.
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I'm really excited by the news that the elders at Marble Falls have asked Allan Stanglin to join the ministry staff.
Allan is the former sports director at KRLD (the flagship station of the Rangers) and Texas Talk Radio 990 AM. Allan is making a major career change, trading in his work sports broadcasting to attend Austin Graduate School of Theology to earn a Master's degree in Theology. His ambition is to preach and I hear he is outstanding in delivering God's Word.
Working with Allan should be great...if I can stay focused on ministry tasks and not get overwhelmed picking his brain on the Rangers.
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Today is my sister's birthday. I have been uniquely blessed in my life to have a sister as special as Melissa in my life. She and Ryan have been ultra successful in their careers and are wonderful Christians. They are fun to be around and great with our kids. And the best part? My sister learned on Wednesday that she is pregnant. After a devastating miscarriage last year, I'd ask that you keep my sister in your prayers, that all will go well with this pregnancy. Melissa and Ryan will be great parents.
Happy Birthday, Sis!
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My uncle's twelve day mission of mercy to raise funding for Arkansas Children's Hospital is now half-over. He is riding the perimeter of the state of Arkansas on his bicycle to raise funding for research. If you would like to contribute, send me an email (jgardner@hsnp.com) and I will let you know where to send your gift.
My uncle's ride is just another wonderful example of someone being missional -- of not being an end-user of the blessings of God but serving as a conduit to bless the lives of others.
John Wasdin reverted back to his "Wayback" Wasdin days, allowing three homeruns in the first two innings and for the second night in a row, the Rangers were scorched by the A's.
Man, I don't want to face the A's brethren at Tahoe next week.
----------------
I'm really excited by the news that the elders at Marble Falls have asked Allan Stanglin to join the ministry staff.
Allan is the former sports director at KRLD (the flagship station of the Rangers) and Texas Talk Radio 990 AM. Allan is making a major career change, trading in his work sports broadcasting to attend Austin Graduate School of Theology to earn a Master's degree in Theology. His ambition is to preach and I hear he is outstanding in delivering God's Word.
Working with Allan should be great...if I can stay focused on ministry tasks and not get overwhelmed picking his brain on the Rangers.
---------------
Today is my sister's birthday. I have been uniquely blessed in my life to have a sister as special as Melissa in my life. She and Ryan have been ultra successful in their careers and are wonderful Christians. They are fun to be around and great with our kids. And the best part? My sister learned on Wednesday that she is pregnant. After a devastating miscarriage last year, I'd ask that you keep my sister in your prayers, that all will go well with this pregnancy. Melissa and Ryan will be great parents.
Happy Birthday, Sis!
--------------
My uncle's twelve day mission of mercy to raise funding for Arkansas Children's Hospital is now half-over. He is riding the perimeter of the state of Arkansas on his bicycle to raise funding for research. If you would like to contribute, send me an email (jgardner@hsnp.com) and I will let you know where to send your gift.
My uncle's ride is just another wonderful example of someone being missional -- of not being an end-user of the blessings of God but serving as a conduit to bless the lives of others.
Friday, July 15, 2005
The Real Waffle
I don't want to sound like Steve Physioc and Rex Hudler when I make the following statement: Rich Harden threw the best baseball game I have ever seen last night. I realize he lost his perfect game in the top of the 8th on a bloop single to Alfonso Soriano, but good grief, a complete game on just 81 pitches. That is amazing.
Give credit where credit is due -- Rich Harden was amazing last night.
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My good friend, Dave Rawding, who lives in the Bay Area, sent me an e-mail on Wednesday. The amazing A's run to end the first half has Dave, who was waving the white towel on Memorial Day, talking smack again. Here's hoping the Rangers get back on track during the next three days or they could leave the Bay Area in third place in the West.
That cannot happen since Trae and I leave a week for tomorrow for a week in California. Dave, if the A's leapfrog the Rangers, please be kind!
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Alright, I officially don't get it. I was reading a blog that shall remain nameless this morning and was confused when the blogger admonished his readers "to get out of the church habit" in order to swim with the fish. One blogger responded, claiming the idea to be so good, he would "skip church next Sunday and go hang out at the Waffle House."
Huh?
Here's the real waffle: when our antenna is so tuned to read culture that we sacrifice church. In the battle for conversion, who is converting who? Is culture converting church, robbing the kingdom of God of its intended uniqueness? Or is church still converting culture? Is church impacting the culture around it via the administration of mercy, justice and grace?
I fear that the lasting legacy of the Emergent/Postmodern movement will be an attention to culture that becomes an immersion into culture that leaves church looking no different from the dominant culture. Isn't that an affront to God's call to be "holy" (read: unique, different) in contrast to the culture?
Sacrificing holiness is the real waffle.
Give credit where credit is due -- Rich Harden was amazing last night.
------------------
My good friend, Dave Rawding, who lives in the Bay Area, sent me an e-mail on Wednesday. The amazing A's run to end the first half has Dave, who was waving the white towel on Memorial Day, talking smack again. Here's hoping the Rangers get back on track during the next three days or they could leave the Bay Area in third place in the West.
That cannot happen since Trae and I leave a week for tomorrow for a week in California. Dave, if the A's leapfrog the Rangers, please be kind!
------------------
Alright, I officially don't get it. I was reading a blog that shall remain nameless this morning and was confused when the blogger admonished his readers "to get out of the church habit" in order to swim with the fish. One blogger responded, claiming the idea to be so good, he would "skip church next Sunday and go hang out at the Waffle House."
Huh?
Here's the real waffle: when our antenna is so tuned to read culture that we sacrifice church. In the battle for conversion, who is converting who? Is culture converting church, robbing the kingdom of God of its intended uniqueness? Or is church still converting culture? Is church impacting the culture around it via the administration of mercy, justice and grace?
I fear that the lasting legacy of the Emergent/Postmodern movement will be an attention to culture that becomes an immersion into culture that leaves church looking no different from the dominant culture. Isn't that an affront to God's call to be "holy" (read: unique, different) in contrast to the culture?
Sacrificing holiness is the real waffle.
Thursday, July 14, 2005
So You Got Your Eye on My Daughters, Huh?
Application for Permission to Date My Daughter . . .
1. Name:_______________________
2. Home address:________________________________
3. Date of birth:________ 4. Height:______ 5. Weight:______
6. IQ:______ 7. GPA:______ 8. Boy Scout rank:______
9. Do you own a van?______
10. Do you own a truck with oversize tires and Astroturf in the bed? ______
11. Do you wear an earring, nose ring or belly button ring? Have you pierced your tongue?_____
12. Do you have any tatoos? If so, on what part of your anatomy? _____ (If you answer yes to any part of questions 9 - 12, you may stop filling out this application and leave the premises.)
13. In 50 words or less, what does the word LATE mean to you? _______________
14. In 50 words or less, what does the phrase KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY DAUGHTER mean to you? _______________
15. Answer the following questions by filling in the blanks:
A. When I first meet a girl, the first thing I notice is her ________. (If your answer begins with an "a," "b" or "t," you may stop filling out this application.)
B. If I were beaten, the last bone I would want broken would be my __________.
C. If I were shot, the last place on my body I would want to be shot would be ____________.
I SWEAR THAT THE ABOVE INFORMATION SUPPLIED IS TRUE AND CORRECT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE UNDER PENALTY OF DEATH, DISMEMBERMENT, RED HOT POKERS, OR THE INFAMOUS MOJAVE DESERT ANT TORTURE.
Signature: _______________________
Thank you for your interest in our daughter. Please allow four to six years for processing. Please do not contact our home regarding the progress of this application.
1. Name:_______________________
2. Home address:________________________________
3. Date of birth:________ 4. Height:______ 5. Weight:______
6. IQ:______ 7. GPA:______ 8. Boy Scout rank:______
9. Do you own a van?______
10. Do you own a truck with oversize tires and Astroturf in the bed? ______
11. Do you wear an earring, nose ring or belly button ring? Have you pierced your tongue?_____
12. Do you have any tatoos? If so, on what part of your anatomy? _____ (If you answer yes to any part of questions 9 - 12, you may stop filling out this application and leave the premises.)
13. In 50 words or less, what does the word LATE mean to you? _______________
14. In 50 words or less, what does the phrase KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY DAUGHTER mean to you? _______________
15. Answer the following questions by filling in the blanks:
A. When I first meet a girl, the first thing I notice is her ________. (If your answer begins with an "a," "b" or "t," you may stop filling out this application.)
B. If I were beaten, the last bone I would want broken would be my __________.
C. If I were shot, the last place on my body I would want to be shot would be ____________.
I SWEAR THAT THE ABOVE INFORMATION SUPPLIED IS TRUE AND CORRECT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE UNDER PENALTY OF DEATH, DISMEMBERMENT, RED HOT POKERS, OR THE INFAMOUS MOJAVE DESERT ANT TORTURE.
Signature: _______________________
Thank you for your interest in our daughter. Please allow four to six years for processing. Please do not contact our home regarding the progress of this application.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
First Principles Day Camp
Some pictures of the youth that attended our day camp. The first day we had 19, followed by 20 the second day and 23 the final day. Awesome!!
Proverbs 14.4 in Living Color
Way to go Tex! Mark Teixeira, after a less than stellar effort in the Home Run Derby on Monday night, hit a tremendous homer last night off Dontrelle Willis to help the American League to their ninth consecutive All-Star Game victory.
Yesterday's Dallas Morning-News had a wonderful feature story on Tex. He has a great perspective on life and the game. His values -- in contrast to some of the black eye events that have marred the Rangers in the last year -- are impeccable and he, along with Michael Young and Hank Blalock, provide the face of the future of the organization.
In his report today, Jamey Newberg suggests making a long-term commitment to Tex would be the most significant movement the Rangers could make this coming offseason. I couldn't agree more!
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"Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest" (Proverbs 14.4).
That proverb has a lot to say to me right now. You see, we're in the process of selling our home. Last Friday evening, we had our carpet cleaned. I talked with Mandy and the girls about the absolute necessity of keeping the carpet clean so that our house would show well.
Well, guess what? Saturday morning, as I'm rolling out of bed, I notice Tori walking the down the hall toward her bedroom, with a bottle of chocolate milk turned upside down. Her unmistakable trail was impossible to miss.
Then, on Sunday night after church, Trae dropped a glass of tea just outside of the kitchen, spilling it all over the carpet in the entryway of our home.
(I guess we should have waited till Monday to get the carpet cleaned, huh?)
The point is this: Proverbs 14.4 makes clear that in the absence of the ox, the barn is perfectly clean. It doesn't stink. There are no messes to clean up. There is no intense labor in caring for the ox and cleaning up the mess.
But what is lost when the barn is pristine perfect? There is no abundant harvest! It is through the presence of the ox, mess and all, that the blessing comes. That's true in agriculture. It's true in a home. It's true in a church family.
Just think how often we focus on the mess and miss the blessing! When we focus on the a stain on the carpet and overlook the blessing to have a stain. Carpet is replaceable (and that might be inevitable if we are to sell our home) but the heart of the peson who created the stain (be it in a marriage, a home or a church) isn't.
I'm grateful to serve a God who sent His Son to deal with the stains in my life. I'm grateful to worship a God who looked past the mess and sent His Son with a message -- a message of hope and healing, of recovery and renewal.
"You can't have a message without a mess" someone has said. How true!
Yesterday's Dallas Morning-News had a wonderful feature story on Tex. He has a great perspective on life and the game. His values -- in contrast to some of the black eye events that have marred the Rangers in the last year -- are impeccable and he, along with Michael Young and Hank Blalock, provide the face of the future of the organization.
In his report today, Jamey Newberg suggests making a long-term commitment to Tex would be the most significant movement the Rangers could make this coming offseason. I couldn't agree more!
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"Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest" (Proverbs 14.4).
That proverb has a lot to say to me right now. You see, we're in the process of selling our home. Last Friday evening, we had our carpet cleaned. I talked with Mandy and the girls about the absolute necessity of keeping the carpet clean so that our house would show well.
Well, guess what? Saturday morning, as I'm rolling out of bed, I notice Tori walking the down the hall toward her bedroom, with a bottle of chocolate milk turned upside down. Her unmistakable trail was impossible to miss.
Then, on Sunday night after church, Trae dropped a glass of tea just outside of the kitchen, spilling it all over the carpet in the entryway of our home.
(I guess we should have waited till Monday to get the carpet cleaned, huh?)
The point is this: Proverbs 14.4 makes clear that in the absence of the ox, the barn is perfectly clean. It doesn't stink. There are no messes to clean up. There is no intense labor in caring for the ox and cleaning up the mess.
But what is lost when the barn is pristine perfect? There is no abundant harvest! It is through the presence of the ox, mess and all, that the blessing comes. That's true in agriculture. It's true in a home. It's true in a church family.
Just think how often we focus on the mess and miss the blessing! When we focus on the a stain on the carpet and overlook the blessing to have a stain. Carpet is replaceable (and that might be inevitable if we are to sell our home) but the heart of the peson who created the stain (be it in a marriage, a home or a church) isn't.
I'm grateful to serve a God who sent His Son to deal with the stains in my life. I'm grateful to worship a God who looked past the mess and sent His Son with a message -- a message of hope and healing, of recovery and renewal.
"You can't have a message without a mess" someone has said. How true!
Monday, July 11, 2005
A Band-Aid for the Soul
I just got home from taking Trae down to Lake DeGray to spend the night with her Grammy. Turned on the tube to ESPN in time to catch the final round of this year's All-Star Game Home Run Derby.
Wow! Bobby Abreu, with over 40 homeruns, has been incredible tonight. What an exhibition.
Did anybody get a count on the number of "Back, back, back" calls by Chris Berman?
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Our day camp got off to a great start today with 19 kids. The really neat part is this: of those 19, 16 are kids whose parents do not attend church. The fields really are white to harvest! Join me in praying that God will continue to bless these kidos over the next two days of intense, interactive Bible study.
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It was bound to happen eventually and tonight, it finally did. Trae had her first major bike accident. She lost control on a hill in the Caddo Drive camp section of Lake DeGray, crashing to the pavement. She skinned her knee really good.
Grammy and I didn't see the crash, but we could hear her sniffling as she made her way toward the camper, where Grammy and I were visiting. In her own strong-willed way, she called me to come over and care for her. She didn't want her Grammy to see her hurting, crying and bleeding.
As much as my heart ached for my little girl, it was also touched by the tender way in which she asked for my help. I was honored to be there to help Trae through her tears and to bandage her wound.
Could it be that our Heavenly Father feels the same way when we, wounded and hurting from the pains of life, crawl near to Him and ask for His aid? Could it be that God's heart is touched by our tender pleas for assistance? Is it possible that one of the deepest longings of our Heavenly Father is to be needed when we are hurting? When was the last time you sought your Heavenly Father to salve your wounded soul?
Wow! Bobby Abreu, with over 40 homeruns, has been incredible tonight. What an exhibition.
Did anybody get a count on the number of "Back, back, back" calls by Chris Berman?
---------------
Our day camp got off to a great start today with 19 kids. The really neat part is this: of those 19, 16 are kids whose parents do not attend church. The fields really are white to harvest! Join me in praying that God will continue to bless these kidos over the next two days of intense, interactive Bible study.
---------------
It was bound to happen eventually and tonight, it finally did. Trae had her first major bike accident. She lost control on a hill in the Caddo Drive camp section of Lake DeGray, crashing to the pavement. She skinned her knee really good.
Grammy and I didn't see the crash, but we could hear her sniffling as she made her way toward the camper, where Grammy and I were visiting. In her own strong-willed way, she called me to come over and care for her. She didn't want her Grammy to see her hurting, crying and bleeding.
As much as my heart ached for my little girl, it was also touched by the tender way in which she asked for my help. I was honored to be there to help Trae through her tears and to bandage her wound.
Could it be that our Heavenly Father feels the same way when we, wounded and hurting from the pains of life, crawl near to Him and ask for His aid? Could it be that God's heart is touched by our tender pleas for assistance? Is it possible that one of the deepest longings of our Heavenly Father is to be needed when we are hurting? When was the last time you sought your Heavenly Father to salve your wounded soul?
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Day Camp Kickoff
What an awesome last four days for my beloved Rangers. The Rangers broomed the Jays over the weekend in dramatic fashion while the Mariners swept four games from the Angels. The dark clouds of last week have dissipated, leaving the Rangers only 5 games back at the All-Star break.
Mark Teixeira has been on a tear, hitting his league leading 25th home run today.
Heading into the break feels almost like the end of Spring Training. Hope is restored!
--------------
Tomorrow marks the beginning of Day Camp at the Village church. Our First Principles Day Camp is an annual event two weeks before church camp.
During the day camp, for children ages 9 and up, we do two hours a day of intense Bible study on salvation. We talk in-depth about what it means to be a Christian and how to become a Christian. Each evening, the kids have homework to do with their parents, engaging the parents in a discussion with their own children about salvation.
God has richly blessed our day camp through the years. Rather than having a bunch of kids baptized at camp without a knowledge base, we seek to educate them on the many implications of their salvation. It is great to witness the involvement of the parents; to see the vital role parents can play in the salvation decision of their children.
Each day, following the Bible discussion and lunch, the kids get to enjoy some fun time. Monday, the get to go bowling. On Tuesday, it's swimming. On Wednesday, it's movie time on the big screen in the auditorium.
I'm praying that God will bless our day camp this year as He has in the past, with a child (or children) making the important decision to be immersed into Christ.
Mark Teixeira has been on a tear, hitting his league leading 25th home run today.
Heading into the break feels almost like the end of Spring Training. Hope is restored!
--------------
Tomorrow marks the beginning of Day Camp at the Village church. Our First Principles Day Camp is an annual event two weeks before church camp.
During the day camp, for children ages 9 and up, we do two hours a day of intense Bible study on salvation. We talk in-depth about what it means to be a Christian and how to become a Christian. Each evening, the kids have homework to do with their parents, engaging the parents in a discussion with their own children about salvation.
God has richly blessed our day camp through the years. Rather than having a bunch of kids baptized at camp without a knowledge base, we seek to educate them on the many implications of their salvation. It is great to witness the involvement of the parents; to see the vital role parents can play in the salvation decision of their children.
Each day, following the Bible discussion and lunch, the kids get to enjoy some fun time. Monday, the get to go bowling. On Tuesday, it's swimming. On Wednesday, it's movie time on the big screen in the auditorium.
I'm praying that God will bless our day camp this year as He has in the past, with a child (or children) making the important decision to be immersed into Christ.
Saturday, July 09, 2005
An Altar in Beersheba
What a great comeback win last night for the Rangers! Down 6-5 going into the bottom of the 9th, the Rangers plated two runs to earn their third walk-off win in the last ten days.
Michael Young was the hero, going 4-for-5 and missing the cycle by a double. John Wasdin was spotty, allowing 6 runs on 5 hits in the 2nd but the bullpen was sterling. The corps of Rangers relievers allowed only one hit through 7.1 innings.
With Seattle's win over Anaheim, the Rangers moved back within 7 games of the Angels, who've been pounded by the Mariners in their first two games of the series.
The remaining two games before the All-Star break match-up well for the Rangers, with The Gambler and Chris Young toeing the rubber.
What a feat it would be to get within 6, maybe 5, games heading into the break. The dark clouds of last week are beginning to dissipate.
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With our pending relocation to Marble Falls, Texas, I have decided I need to take a crash course in Texas history. So, last night, I picked up James A. Michener's epic novel Texas. I hope to have it read before our move, which would be a major accomplishment considering the book has 1,069 pages.
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I love Jacob's approach of his relocation to Egypt. Once his favored son, Joseph, who'd risen to second in command in Egypt, revealed himself to his brothers, he called on them to return home and bring his father to him.
Jacob obliged. But before entering Egypt, on the southernmost border of Canaan, Jacob built an altar at Beersheba to worship the LORD (Genesis 46.1-5). The text implies Jacob wasn't about to set foot in Egypt for a reunion with his son without the blessing of God.
I understand Jacob's motivation. Mandy and I followed a similar path in seeking God's will for our ministry and our family regarding our relocation to Marble Falls. Had I (or Mandy) not been absolutely convinced of God's will, we would have stayed put. But God convinced us in our heart that is His will for our ministry and for both churches and we are following His mission for our lives.
Michael Young was the hero, going 4-for-5 and missing the cycle by a double. John Wasdin was spotty, allowing 6 runs on 5 hits in the 2nd but the bullpen was sterling. The corps of Rangers relievers allowed only one hit through 7.1 innings.
With Seattle's win over Anaheim, the Rangers moved back within 7 games of the Angels, who've been pounded by the Mariners in their first two games of the series.
The remaining two games before the All-Star break match-up well for the Rangers, with The Gambler and Chris Young toeing the rubber.
What a feat it would be to get within 6, maybe 5, games heading into the break. The dark clouds of last week are beginning to dissipate.
-------------
With our pending relocation to Marble Falls, Texas, I have decided I need to take a crash course in Texas history. So, last night, I picked up James A. Michener's epic novel Texas. I hope to have it read before our move, which would be a major accomplishment considering the book has 1,069 pages.
-------------
I love Jacob's approach of his relocation to Egypt. Once his favored son, Joseph, who'd risen to second in command in Egypt, revealed himself to his brothers, he called on them to return home and bring his father to him.
Jacob obliged. But before entering Egypt, on the southernmost border of Canaan, Jacob built an altar at Beersheba to worship the LORD (Genesis 46.1-5). The text implies Jacob wasn't about to set foot in Egypt for a reunion with his son without the blessing of God.
I understand Jacob's motivation. Mandy and I followed a similar path in seeking God's will for our ministry and our family regarding our relocation to Marble Falls. Had I (or Mandy) not been absolutely convinced of God's will, we would have stayed put. But God convinced us in our heart that is His will for our ministry and for both churches and we are following His mission for our lives.
Friday, July 08, 2005
Blessings
Just two days till Sunday and I am out-of-whack. This week has been unlike any other in my life, with the overwhelming blessing of friends with whom we will soon be separated. I have been stunned by the outpouring of love and support for Tori, Trae, Mandy and me. The Village church is a unique place of encouragement and I will sorely miss you all. Thanks millions for loving us as you have this week.
I'm so out-of-whack that sermon prep this week has been put on the back burner. If anyone has a couple of good sermon outlines to share, send them my way ASAP!
----------------
Trae has been at horse camp this week. On Wednesday, she got to ride a Clydesdale named "Pixie." Yesterday, she got to pick out her own horse to ride and work with for the entire day. I could tell she bonded with her horse yesterday when she came home last night and colored picture after picture of her horse, which she named "Thick." When it comes to horses, I see a sparkle in her eye I see at no other time -- a passion she obviously inherited from her farm girl mommy.
----------------
Wednesday evening, Trae and I went to Little Rock after horse camp to speak at the Chenal church as part of their summer series. The theme for the summer is "A Stable Faith in a Changing World." I shared on the need to impart a stable faith to our children. The pace of change in the world is sure to increase, making a solid foundation of faith an absolute necessity for our kids. When it comes to faith, I don't want to raise driftwood kids; I want to raise redwood kids!
-----------------
Tomorrow, the crazy guy on a bike ride kicks off! My uncle George (my mom's younger brother) begins his trek around the perimeter of the state of Arkansas to raise money for the Arkansas Children's Hospital. His feat is already garnering a lot of press throughout the state. For more information about the ride and how you can help, please see my blog on June 14th.
I'm so out-of-whack that sermon prep this week has been put on the back burner. If anyone has a couple of good sermon outlines to share, send them my way ASAP!
----------------
Trae has been at horse camp this week. On Wednesday, she got to ride a Clydesdale named "Pixie." Yesterday, she got to pick out her own horse to ride and work with for the entire day. I could tell she bonded with her horse yesterday when she came home last night and colored picture after picture of her horse, which she named "Thick." When it comes to horses, I see a sparkle in her eye I see at no other time -- a passion she obviously inherited from her farm girl mommy.
----------------
Wednesday evening, Trae and I went to Little Rock after horse camp to speak at the Chenal church as part of their summer series. The theme for the summer is "A Stable Faith in a Changing World." I shared on the need to impart a stable faith to our children. The pace of change in the world is sure to increase, making a solid foundation of faith an absolute necessity for our kids. When it comes to faith, I don't want to raise driftwood kids; I want to raise redwood kids!
-----------------
Tomorrow, the crazy guy on a bike ride kicks off! My uncle George (my mom's younger brother) begins his trek around the perimeter of the state of Arkansas to raise money for the Arkansas Children's Hospital. His feat is already garnering a lot of press throughout the state. For more information about the ride and how you can help, please see my blog on June 14th.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
A Hymn a Day
How central a role does music play in your daily life? How influential is music in the development of your discipleship?
One of the most precious memories of my life is of Tori's birth-day. Just minutes after her birth -- after the nurses had cared for Tori and allowed Mandy and I some moments with her -- we brought Trae into the room to meet her newborn baby sister. As Trae sat down, we placed baby Tori into her arms. It was a tender moment for Mandy and me but somehow, the tenderness was lost on Tori who began crying in that shrill, piercing cry so common to infants.
Trae, somewhat perplexed by his sister's wailing cry, instinctively began to sing: "Jesus Loves Me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so..." And in a matter of moments, the softly sung tones of Jesus Loves Me had restored baby Tori's spirit from a cry to contentment (thankfully, the above episode was all caught on video and is one treasured possession).
I learned on that day, in a lesson taught to me by my girls, the incredible power of music. I don't know if a "hymn a day" will keep the doctor away but I have discovered how choosing a hymn a day (a specific song to hum, to sing, to reflect and to meditate on throughout the day) can keep bitterness, anger and discontentment at bay.
What is your hymn today? What song has God put in your heart to sing throughout this day to quiet your soul?
One of the most precious memories of my life is of Tori's birth-day. Just minutes after her birth -- after the nurses had cared for Tori and allowed Mandy and I some moments with her -- we brought Trae into the room to meet her newborn baby sister. As Trae sat down, we placed baby Tori into her arms. It was a tender moment for Mandy and me but somehow, the tenderness was lost on Tori who began crying in that shrill, piercing cry so common to infants.
Trae, somewhat perplexed by his sister's wailing cry, instinctively began to sing: "Jesus Loves Me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so..." And in a matter of moments, the softly sung tones of Jesus Loves Me had restored baby Tori's spirit from a cry to contentment (thankfully, the above episode was all caught on video and is one treasured possession).
I learned on that day, in a lesson taught to me by my girls, the incredible power of music. I don't know if a "hymn a day" will keep the doctor away but I have discovered how choosing a hymn a day (a specific song to hum, to sing, to reflect and to meditate on throughout the day) can keep bitterness, anger and discontentment at bay.
What is your hymn today? What song has God put in your heart to sing throughout this day to quiet your soul?
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Deep in the Heart
Sorry for the sporadic blogging the last few days. Life has been hectic and the pace has been break-neck.
Last Friday afternoon, Mandy and I agreed in principle to accept the Preaching Ministry position with the Marble Falls church of Christ. I visited with the elders at the Village on Sunday afternoon and received their blessing to relocate my family and my ministry to Marble Falls. They asked that I make a statement to the church on Sunday afternoon, which I did amid an avalanche of crocodile tears.
Marble Falls is located in central Texas, in the heart of the beautiful Texas hill country. It is a community about 45 miles west of Austin and 70 miles north of San Antonio. The church membership numbers 400 and the growth opportunities are through the roof.
Mandy and I, after much prayer and reflection, believe God has gifted us for the opportunities that abound at Marble Falls. The vision of the Marble Falls elders, coupled with what we believe to be our ministry strengths, is an ideal match.
So, we will be moving soon deep into the heart of Texas for a new adventure in our ministry to the Lord.
I hope all of you who faithfully read my blog (and now I know who and where you are, thanks to my new and improved sitemeter) will be diligent in prayer for Tori, Trae, Mandy and me. We covet your prayers in the weeks ahead -- that the transition will be smooth on both ends and that the kingdom of God will advance in both locations as a result of what we clearly perceive to be His will.
Last Friday afternoon, Mandy and I agreed in principle to accept the Preaching Ministry position with the Marble Falls church of Christ. I visited with the elders at the Village on Sunday afternoon and received their blessing to relocate my family and my ministry to Marble Falls. They asked that I make a statement to the church on Sunday afternoon, which I did amid an avalanche of crocodile tears.
Marble Falls is located in central Texas, in the heart of the beautiful Texas hill country. It is a community about 45 miles west of Austin and 70 miles north of San Antonio. The church membership numbers 400 and the growth opportunities are through the roof.
Mandy and I, after much prayer and reflection, believe God has gifted us for the opportunities that abound at Marble Falls. The vision of the Marble Falls elders, coupled with what we believe to be our ministry strengths, is an ideal match.
So, we will be moving soon deep into the heart of Texas for a new adventure in our ministry to the Lord.
I hope all of you who faithfully read my blog (and now I know who and where you are, thanks to my new and improved sitemeter) will be diligent in prayer for Tori, Trae, Mandy and me. We covet your prayers in the weeks ahead -- that the transition will be smooth on both ends and that the kingdom of God will advance in both locations as a result of what we clearly perceive to be His will.
Friday, July 01, 2005
Good News...Bad News
So much has happened this week and I have been unable to comment until now. It has definitely been a good news, bad news week.
First, the bad news. The Terminix Bug Killers dropped the championship game on Tuesday evening to His Way Construction 14-9. His Way jumped out to a 10-2 lead but the Bug Killers fought hard and competed valiantly.
The good news is the girls had a great year, finishing second in the league. The second place finish will result in a trophy for each of the girls. They deserve it.
Bad News #2: Kenny Rogers. The Gambler. I just have one question for Kenny: what in the name of sense are you thinking? The 41-year old veteran pitcher for the Rangers, who currently leads the American League in ERA, went postal on the cameramen surrounding the Ranger dugout Wednesday before the start of batting practice. Bud Selig has jurisdiction in the matter, since the incident occured on the playing field. His jurisdiction absolves Tom Hicks, John Hart and Buck Showalter of the need to step in and render the penalty. I hope the penalty is stiff. Rogers's actions were inexcusable.
The good news is the Rangers have responded to Rogers's tirade by winning two in a row, cutting the Angels lead in the West to 6.5 games.
Bad News #3: My sister called me this morning to tell me unless I divorce myself from the Rangers, my brother-in-law will never speak to me again. His rationale is this: several years back, I gave up on Houston Nutt's Razorback football program when senior leader Jermaine Brooks was arrested for a mountain of marijuana and other drug perephenalia in his apartment. Ryan reasons since the Rangers have become the Oakland Raiders of Major League Baseball (with the Frankie Francisco chair throwing incident in, of all places, Oakland last summer coupled with the aforementioned Rogers incident) I am morally compelled to dump my loyalty to the Rangers.
The good news is Ryan is wrong. My Ranger loyalty runs deep. Much deeper than my previous Razorback loyalty (by the way, does Houston Nutt keep his job with another 5-win season?).
Bad News #4: The Rangers now lead the American League with 128 home runs. The closest team to Texas in terms of home runs has 94. This team is fun but way, way too one-dimensional offensively.
The good news is the Rangers hit 8 home runs for the second time in five weeks yesterday, pasting the Angels 18-5. The recipient of both 8 homer games (which ironically each produced 18 runs)? Chris Young. Young must be living right in polar opposition to Rogers.
Yesterday, Kevin Mench did something that has only been done seven times in the history of Major League Baseball. He homered three times in three consecutive innings (the 5th, 6th and 7th). The home runs flew at such a pace that Mandy and I watched laughingly in the Love Field airport as the firework shooter at the Palace left after the 8th homerun, apparently out of ammunition.
-------------------
I'll be gone again for a few days. This time its off to Lake DeGray for a camping weekend with the family and several other young families from church. I'll be back on the 4th, reminiscing about living in a free land as a free servant of Jesus.
First, the bad news. The Terminix Bug Killers dropped the championship game on Tuesday evening to His Way Construction 14-9. His Way jumped out to a 10-2 lead but the Bug Killers fought hard and competed valiantly.
The good news is the girls had a great year, finishing second in the league. The second place finish will result in a trophy for each of the girls. They deserve it.
Bad News #2: Kenny Rogers. The Gambler. I just have one question for Kenny: what in the name of sense are you thinking? The 41-year old veteran pitcher for the Rangers, who currently leads the American League in ERA, went postal on the cameramen surrounding the Ranger dugout Wednesday before the start of batting practice. Bud Selig has jurisdiction in the matter, since the incident occured on the playing field. His jurisdiction absolves Tom Hicks, John Hart and Buck Showalter of the need to step in and render the penalty. I hope the penalty is stiff. Rogers's actions were inexcusable.
The good news is the Rangers have responded to Rogers's tirade by winning two in a row, cutting the Angels lead in the West to 6.5 games.
Bad News #3: My sister called me this morning to tell me unless I divorce myself from the Rangers, my brother-in-law will never speak to me again. His rationale is this: several years back, I gave up on Houston Nutt's Razorback football program when senior leader Jermaine Brooks was arrested for a mountain of marijuana and other drug perephenalia in his apartment. Ryan reasons since the Rangers have become the Oakland Raiders of Major League Baseball (with the Frankie Francisco chair throwing incident in, of all places, Oakland last summer coupled with the aforementioned Rogers incident) I am morally compelled to dump my loyalty to the Rangers.
The good news is Ryan is wrong. My Ranger loyalty runs deep. Much deeper than my previous Razorback loyalty (by the way, does Houston Nutt keep his job with another 5-win season?).
Bad News #4: The Rangers now lead the American League with 128 home runs. The closest team to Texas in terms of home runs has 94. This team is fun but way, way too one-dimensional offensively.
The good news is the Rangers hit 8 home runs for the second time in five weeks yesterday, pasting the Angels 18-5. The recipient of both 8 homer games (which ironically each produced 18 runs)? Chris Young. Young must be living right in polar opposition to Rogers.
Yesterday, Kevin Mench did something that has only been done seven times in the history of Major League Baseball. He homered three times in three consecutive innings (the 5th, 6th and 7th). The home runs flew at such a pace that Mandy and I watched laughingly in the Love Field airport as the firework shooter at the Palace left after the 8th homerun, apparently out of ammunition.
-------------------
I'll be gone again for a few days. This time its off to Lake DeGray for a camping weekend with the family and several other young families from church. I'll be back on the 4th, reminiscing about living in a free land as a free servant of Jesus.
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