"Why?"

It's often the first question on our lips in the aftermath of personal, national or international tragedy. Before the shock even wears off, we often raise our gaze toward the heavens in wonder.

"Why?"

Psalm 62.11-12 says, "You, O God, are strong; you, O God, are loving." But when a hurricane destroys an entire gulf coast region, people naturally question: If God is so strong and God is so loving, then why did this happen? Why didn't God intervene? Perhaps, some often conclude, God is not as strong and loving as the Bible makes God out to be.

"Why?"

For 40 chapters, Job and his friends tried their best to answer that question. And for 40 chapters, their best theorizing was empty.

"Why?"

Jesus was asked that once during his earthly ministry. In Luke 13.1-5, in the aftermath of a tragedy at Siloam when 18 people were killed by a falling tower, Jesus was asked, "Why?" But notice how he moves the discussion, away from the question of "Why?" to the question "What?"

"What?"

What do we do in light of the tragedy? Our penchant in our scientific, Western culture is to have an answer for every dilemma. But for some dilemmas, there are no answers as to "why?" But there is always an answer to "What should we do?"

"What?"

Tell you what I'm going to do: I'm going to make contact with David Hicks, former missionary and current preacher at the Carrollton Avenue Church of Christ in the heart of New Orleans, who was so kind and gracious in receiving Mandy and I back in February. As soon as possible, I want to know from David what I can do to help.

It's natural to ask "Why?" It's ultimately best to ask "What will I do?"

What will you do to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a region in dire need?

Back in February, Mandy and I were blessed with a wonderful Caribbean cruise to celebrate our 10th anniversary. Cancun, Cozumel, Belize City and Roatan Bay were our ports of call. The cruise, on Norwegian Cruise Lines, was outstanding -- the food, the entertainment, the weather -- provided for my bride and me a wonderful treasure of memories.

Before leaving out on our cruise on a Sunday afternoon, Mandy and I worshipped with the Carrollton Avenue Church of Christ in the heart of New Orleans. It is an inter-racial congregation that blessed us with their worship and ministry vision.

I can't help but think of what those people are experiencing this morning?

The images and scenes coming from New Orleans are heart-wrenching. My emotions were held at bay last night as Jeanne Meserve (reporter from CNN) shared through tears her experience that evening. By boat, she and cameraman joined rescuers on their search for folks stranded in their attics or on their rooftops. When darkness began to overtake the rescue efforts and the rescuers were forced to make their way back to safety, Meserve told of hearing the cries for help from children and feeling utterly helpless to aid.

Why didn't everyone get out of the path of the storm? I was struck by Larry James's blog yesterday as he relayed how the realities of poverty impact the ability (or inability) of people to do the most rational thing -- escape -- in the midst of the storm.

Mayor Ray Nagin reported on Sunday evening that approximately 1 million residents of metropolitan New Orleans had evacuated in preparation for landfall of hurricane Katrina.

Experts predict that Katrina will blast across the coastline of Louisiana as a category 5 storm of enormous proportions and then, by early Monday morning, bury the city of New Orleans with a predicted 28-foot storm surge.

This storm has been anticipated for decades. I know when we lived in New Orleans, everyone talked about "the big storm" that was sure to come eventually.

Katrina could be that storm. I pray that it is not.

New Orleans is a curious, wonderful, exotic city with unique strengths and major weaknesses. The geography is not favorable when it comes to managing hurricanes. Situated below sea level and surrounded by water, including a very large and very shallow lake to the north, the city sits in a topographical saucer that could fill up quickly, overwhelming everything and everyone.

Amazingly, a full 1 million citizens evacuated the city in fairly short order.

Still, over 200,000 stayed behind. . .primarily because they had no choice. The poorest of the community, as usual, found no option but to stay put.

The Superdome has been converted quickly into the world's largest homeless shelter.

Well-to-do travelers, trapped in the city, have gone up. That is, they have secured hotel rooms in the high-rise developments downtown and in other parts of the city. The symbolism is telling.
As I watched the reports by CNN, I saw thousands of the city's poor and weak and young and ill lined up waiting to get into the Superdome for what could be an extended stay.

Nothing new here.

The poor always suffer most.

My faith tells me that God sees.

Pray for the welfare of this important city and its people, especially those who had no choice but to stay "at home."

Yesterday morning, for the first time during our brief sojourn in Texas, it rained. A downright frog-strangler for several minutes. After two weeks of cloudless days, brilliant sunshine and oppressive heat, I never thought it would rain.

The folks sheltered in the New Orleans Superdome are probably thinking the exact opposite right now: When will the rain and wind ever end?

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This week's American Profile, the newspaper magazine inserted into the weekend edition of the local newspaper, had a feature article entitled "Why Grandparents are Grand." One story particularly touched my heart.

The story was from Teddi Bevan of Toole, Utah, granddaughter of Thurman Shields. The following is the story as told by Teddi.

When I was 17 years old, I was anxiously awaiting my senior prom. One week before the dance, my boyfriend broke up with me. I soon received a call from my grandfather. He asked me if he could take me to the prom. Tears rolled down my face as I gladly accepted. My grandpa personally escorted me to the dance, and in his own gentle way, helped me heal the pain of my broken heart.

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Finally, college football season begins this week. Mandy and I are getting close to settling in on our "adopted" college teams. I think Mandy has her mind made up and, as usual, it has nothing to do with athletic skill, ability or potential. In her typical way, Mandy has made her choice based on the color of the team's uniforms.

I'm still weighing with a strong lean. I'll keep you hanging until Friday. Again, I'll still take your recommendations and suggestions until I make my final call on Friday.

This morning, I feel a great void in my prep time for worship. For the last two years, I've been blessed to pray at this time every Sunday morning with Jimmy Mitchell and Rick Northen. Jimmy is the Youth and Family Minister at the Village; Rick serves (at least until early October when he and Gail leave for full-time ministry in Cambodia) as one of the Shepherds.

I'm sure this morning they are praying together back in the Village. And I'm sure it's only a matter of time until God blesses my life and ministry with a person of devotion and prayer with whom I can share some time on Sunday mornings. It's just, I'm missing the familiar, passionate pleas of two godly men this morning.

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I remember before I began my ministry thinking that preaching had everything to do with study. Research. Plowing through commentaries, lexicons, Bible dictionaries, etc.

What I've come to realize in the last ten years is that preaching has more to do with prayer than preparation. You see, I can prepare the finest outline known to man, have it polished technically and present it flawlessly; yet, if God is absent from my preparation, I've failed God and those who come to hear God's message.

It is in prayer that God shapes and molds the heart of the messenger to speak the word of God to men. It is through prayer that God prepares, not the technical aspect of the sermon, but the spiritual receptivity of those who hear to receive God's message.

Last night, the girls and I went into Austin for an evening of fun and games at Chuck E. Cheeses (or as Tori calls it, "Yucky"). It's always a blast going to Yucky's -- and the pizza ain't too bad, either. Mandy's uncle, Kenny, has always called Chuck E.'s a "honky tonk for kids." All I know is my kids love it and I, as their daddy, love seeing the excitement in their eyes!

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Tonight is the beginning of high school football season in Texas. Marble Falls travels to Gatesville tonight in the season opener. Since Mandy and I married, we've yet to live in a town for one fall that didn't make the state playoffs. That streak might be challenged this fall. The Mustangs of Marble Falls High School have only won one game in the last three years.

But, just as happens every spring in baseball cities like Pittsburgh and Kansas City, optimism and hope rule the day leading up to the season opener. My hunch is the Mustangs get out of the gate strong and win their opener tonight.

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Since we've moved to central Texas, it's only been 100 degrees (give or take a degree) every day. No sign of rain or cool weather. I can't imagine how difficult football practice for the kids must be in this stifling heat.

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Finally, this Sunday is an Open House at MFCOC -- an opportunity for former members to return to meet the new preaching minister and to share a fellowship meal with the elders and deacons following worship. I'm gearing my thoughts for Sunday around the "Holy Hide and Seek" we play with God (see Luke 15). Try as we might to hide from the hand of God, like the "hound of heaven" he pursues us for a relationship with Him. That's why we were created -- for relationship with the Almighty. And in this game of hide and seek, where the stakes are eternal, it is our God who relentlessly pursues us.

On Sunday, we'll focus in on the Biblical portrayal of the pursuit of God for relationship with us.

Waking up before sunrise on any morning other than Sunday or a pristine turkey hunting morning is wrong.

Unless...it is to share breakfast and the Word with some teenagers.

This morning, Allan has invited me to share with our teens at their weekly breakfast devotional. In such a short time, I've grown to have a great deal of appreciation for the teens in our church family at Marble Falls. During the preaching of my first sermon last Sunday, they were locked in. I was impressed with how they sat in the front, sang to the LORD, and reflected on the Word as it was shared. Last night, they jammed 42 in the youth house for a "Peak of the Week" experience. Beautiful, heart-felt singing. Inspirational Bible Study. It was good to be with them.

In an effort to motivate the kids for our Friends Day in September, Allan and I have made a little wager with them. If they can bring 100 (a little more than double last night's crowd) on Friends Day, Allan and I will cue ball it (get our head shaved) and the one who brings the most gets to do the hair cutting.

That look in their eye last night tells me we might just have a couple of bald-headed preachers running around Marble Falls come October. Lest you jest, though, I invite you first to read 2 Kings 2.23-25.

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Out of the mouths of babes. Last night, Mandy helped Trudy with the First Grade class. The first graders have 14 kids in class. During the class, Trudy asked the kids, "Who did Isaac and Rebekeh bring with them?" The answer, of course, was their sons, Jacob and Esau but one of the fellas in the class answered, "I think they brought two mailmen."

Don't you just love kids?!

Now that I am in Texas and still have many folks from Arkansas and other parts of the country on my blog daily, I have decided to turn the "comments" section on.

If you would like to interact on any of my blogs, you may leave a comment by clicking on the comment line at the bottom of the entry. I'll look forward to hearing and sharing insights with you and interacting with you via this medium.

"God takes the wind out of Babel's pretense, He shoots down the world's power-schemes. God's plan for the world stands up, all His designs are made to last. Blessed is the country with GOD for God; blessed are the people he's put in His will" (Psalm 33.10-12).

Well, well, well...

Wasn't it Ghandi who said, "Perhaps we would all be Christians, if it wasn't for the Christians?"

On Monday, Evangelical and Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson, used his popular 700 Club television show to call for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Calling Chavez a "strong-arm dictator" who needed to be removed without "another $200 Billion war," Robertson opined "the time has come that we exercise the ability to take him out."

Since when did every American cause become God's cause? Why do prominent voices in Christendom feel compelled to bless every national cause as a spiritual cause?

Throughout the Old Testament, God called His people into war, into battle. In fact, to put a spin on the seventh commandment, God commands us "Do not kill" (unless He says so). But God directed Israel, His own people, His chosen nation. He directed them through His own voice and His prophets.

To equate modern-day America to ancient Israel in anyway is a giant stretch. Frankly, I wish guys like Robertson would just keep their mouths shut, unless it is to speak clearly and truthfully that which we unequivocally know as truth from God's Word. Otherwise, opinions and comments on political strategy, military maneuvering and international relations under the guise of Christendom is unwelcome.

As the Psalm admonishes, let's let God be God; let's let God rule His world and trust His sovereignty. Today, let trust temper your terror and faith allay your fears.

So we move to Texas -- nearer to my beloved Rangers -- and are welcomed to our new home with 12 losses in the last 13 games.

Is there any room on the Astros bandwagon?

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From the files of straining a gnat and swallowing a camel:

"Canceled by Georgia football fans, a campaign to pay for the father of a Boise State football player to travel from Iraq to Athens, Georgia to watch the two teams play on September 3. Several members of an Internet messge board for Georgia fans took up a collection to raise $2,700 for Dan Miller, the father of Boise State offensive guard Tad Miller, after reading about him in a newspaper. (Dan is a retired police lieutenant who's training police officers in Baghdad.) But NCAA compliance officers at both schools quashed the idea because the payment would violate the NCAA rules that bar athletes and their families from receiving special benefits from fans or boosters. 'Makes no sense to me,' said Sam Hendrix, the Georgia fan who launched the campaign. 'It just hits me that...(the NCAA has) lost touch with reality'" (Sports Illustrated, Vol. 103, No. 7, P. 20).

Sounds like the frustration of Sam Hendrix echoes the often exasperated tone of Jesus at the misguided focus of the Pharisees. Remember their rules regarding the Sabbath? The Sabbath, meant to bless the people of God turned into the most awful day of burden by the time the Pharisees finished fencing their mandates around the Sabbath principle.

God bless you and me today to get His point...not to embark on an adventure in missing the point!

I've never been one to view faith as some sort of destination at which we arrive. Faith is not an intellectual finish line we reach where we can confidently say, "I have it all under control!"

Faith is an adventure, a journey that will ultimately culminate when I see my Savior face to face. Until that time, the journey will always continue!

Yesterday morning, our journey of faith brought us to a unique place -- our first Sunday of worship in Marble Falls. Wow! For the first time this year, Sunday morning attendance was over 400! The first step of our journey with Marble Falls was met with overwhelming enthusiasm and joy! God is good.

But the journey has just begun. As my dear friends in the Village know, I love to lean on this truth: What God has done in the past is just an indicator of what God has in store for the future. Our past in the gorgeous Texas Hill Country is only one Sunday old, but that one Sunday is to me a barometer that offers great encouragement about what God has up His sleeve for the future. God is so good.

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Mandy told me this morning that yesterday morning in Trae's class, they talked about the "old fashioned pounding" the church gave to the Stanglin's and us last night. Mrs. Whittle, Trae's teacher, told the kids that the pounding was for "the whole family." Trae, the inquisitive type that she is, raised her hand and asked, "Since the pounding is for our whole family, is it okay if I bring my puppy, Trevor?"

Out of the mouths of children, huh?

Mrs. Whittle told Mandy that question detoured her class for a while as each kido in the 2nd grade class had to share stories about their pet.

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Speaking of the pounding, were we so overwhelmed! This morning, I had to bring two filled boxes back to the church office to store -- our cupboards in our duplex are busting at the seams.

I cease to be amazed at the grace and generosity of God's people. No wonder Jesus was so emphatic that the truest test of our discipleship is our love for others. Having been on the "other" end for the past two weeks, I have seen first-hand how powerful the love of God's people truly can be.

I hope you have a blessed day on your journey of faith...

Last night was our first night of "normalcy" in a while. Mandy whipped up a wonderful dinner (pot roast, macaroni and cheese, green beans). It was a great meal enjoyed by all four of us and Trevor (who always cleans up Tori's messes beneath her high chair).

After dinner, the girls and I went down to Johnson Park for some fun and to give mommy a breather. We played. We ran. We chased ducks back into the water. And we made new friends...which was wonderful.

You see, last night at Johnson Park, Trae, Tori and I were the only Caucasian people in the park during our play stay. Everyone else that we saw -- from the picknickers to the playground players -- was notably hispanic.

I couldn't help but think what a great experience that was for my girls (and for their father). We have lived the past seven years in a place where everyone looked and spoke just like us. Last night, we heard the Spanish language as parents and children communicated with one another. We saw first-hand that, although our backgrounds might differ, our life experiences form a mutual bond in the vast family of humanity.

I'm thankful God allowed us such an experience last night. I hope more and more experiences like that will cause us all to see our missional calling across all artificial barriers. I hope my girls grow to see and to personally experience the available love of Jesus for every person; to know that whether "red or yellow, black or white" everyone is precious in Jesus's sight!

Today is a somewhat bittersweet today for me. You see, since last Friday, we haven't been near a working television set. Today, that all changes with the infusion of cable into our apartment.

Frankly, the last several days have been a blast. Without the trappings of the TV, we've made more quality time just to talk and visit and play and read with Trae and Tori.

It's sad, really, to stop and think about how absolutely dependent we have become on television. I've seen first-hand for the last week how that turning the TV off can prompt many wonderful, memory-making opportunities.

The conundrum is this: If turning off the TV for a week is so enriching, why can't I bring myself to turn it off for good?

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What a neat beginning to our new ministry in Marble Falls last night. Mandy and I made a tour of the youth classes, from Babyland all the way to the Teens. The Bible Lab, for kids grades 3 through 5, is very impressive, with children working at their own pace to gain Biblical truth. The teens filled the Youth House with 37 kids and the singing was inspiring.

What a chaotic whirlwind of a week. Finally, an opportunity to take a breather and blog out some thoughts and impressions.

First, to all my Village friends and family, thank you from the deepest part of our hearts for the send-off on Sunday. We were overwhelmed, to say the least, by the expressions of love and care. The cards, the plaques, and the genuine words of thanksgiving will be lifelong treasures for me and my family. Thank you!

Now, on to Marble Falls. Trae loves school and so do I. I thought Jessieville and its conservative values was a dying breed. Marble Falls ISD is cut from the same cloth. The school cafeteria is decorated with Veggie Tales characters. The dress code is old fashioned (what should we do with all Trae's flip flops since she can't wear them to school?). A moment of silence is honored each day and prayer is specifically mentioned in the School Handbook.

Only one problem: I didn't know that, in addition to the Pledge of Allegiance, there is a Texas pledge of allegiance. That might be stretching our comfort zone just a tad.

All in all, we are excited and thrilled to be in Marble Falls for a new adventure. That excitement is not an indictment on the old adventure -- our life and ministry in Hot Springs Village -- but a recognition that God has a great future charted for His people in this part of the Hill Country. Mandy, Trae, Tori and I are excited about traveling into that future, waiting and watching for the hand of God to move in a mighty way.

Yesterday, an independent arbitrator reduced Kenny Rogers 20-game suspension to 13 games, effectively ending today his suspension for going postal on a Fox affiliate cameraman.

Bud Selig, commish of MLB, led the charge in crying out against the decision. While I love the Rangers and appreciate the efforts of the Gambler on the mound, I fully concur with Selig (for one of the few times in his tenure as commish). What Rogers did was horrible and a reduced suspension sends a bad message.

Incidentally, think part of Rogers's appeal had something to do with his suspension being twice as long as Rafael Palmeiro's suspension for steroid use?

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For the past seven years, I have been blessed to call the Village Church of Christ home for my ministry. What an absolute blessing these seven years have been. Because none of our adult members are native to the Village, it has made for a unique challenge. Couple that reality with the fact that the Village church has two very distinct generation groups -- those who are retired and those who are under age 40 -- and you have a unique church family.

I will miss the way that the love of Christ has bonded people from various ages and life experiences. Our Connection Group ministry has truly connected people to one another in unity. For seven years, we have lived in peace and unity and the far-reaching grace of God has been on display before our very eyes.

I will miss working with Jimmy and Jeanne. Never have I experienced such harmony and mutual appreciation within a staff.

I will miss meeting on Monday nights with the Elders. Those prayer times are special, not to mention the visits with members afterward. I will miss being with you guys.

I will miss our Welcome circles following baptisms. I can remember the circle seven years ago straining to make it half-way around the Auditorium. Now, even on Wednesdays, the circle encompasses the full expanse of the Auditorium. What a visible testimony to growth!

I will certainly miss day-to-day friendships, which are too numerous to mention, because I consider every one of the 300 members dear to me and my family. Thank heaven for e-mail and nationwide cell phone service -- all those technological advances that will allow us to maintain instant contact across the miles.

I will miss First Principles Day Camp with the kids. I will miss tailgate parties before Jessieville football games. I will miss potlucks (could there be a better collection of cooks in this world?). I will miss praying with Jimmy and Rick each Sunday morning.

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Who is writing the script for your life? For a long time, I wanted to write the script for my life -- where I would live and what I would do. But in the last eighteen months, I have come more and more to a place where I recognize that God must write the script for my life and family. Leaving the Village after only seven years was never a part of the script I was writing for my life, but He obviously has other dreams in mind.

The question for all of us is: Will I dare to follow His lead in living out His dream in this world? I have come to realize that singing "Where He Leads Me, I will Follow" must be actualized in living.

And so, God leads us to Marble Falls, Texas and a new ministry opportunity and challenge. There are many things I could script about our new life and ministry in Central Texas but I think I will "wait on the LORD" and allow Him to write the script!

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Today will be my last blog until next week. The movers come to load us on Friday so life will be hectic in the days ahead. There is much to be done and a lot of time to spend with dear people we love. I'll be back next Tuesday or Wednesday, coming at you for the first time from the beautiful Texas hill country.

Blessings to you all today in the days ahead...

In a major reminiscent mood, I was thinking this morning of all the things I will miss about living in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas...

*I will miss visiting with Dan ("Naw, you?") in the afternoon's before school's out.

*I will miss living 15 minutes from Howard Mountain Hunting Lease.

*I will miss saying the invocation before the start of Jessieville home football games.

*I will miss those awesome tailgate parties that built a unique bride between our church and the community.

*I will miss giving the annual "Back to School" motivational message to the faculty and staff of Jessieville School.

*I will miss serving the community on the School Board. Yes, I will even miss those long Monday night meetings.

*I will miss seeing my little girl in her Jessieville cheerleader outfit on football Fridays.

*I will miss the AAUW Book Sale that has been a major player in stocking my library.

*I will miss Magic Springs.

I'll reminisce more in the days ahead about my church family, but it is hard to bid farewell to a community we have grown to love. I (we) will miss it.

So last night as I am walking out of the building toward my truck, I notice a strange sticker affixed to the back window on the driver's side. As I come nearer my truck, I notice the color is burnt orange. Then, coming just a bit closer, I notice the white logo is the infamous Longhorn with the words "Texas" arching above the Longhorn logo.

Who did it? I got a kick out of it, but I'd really like to know who done it?

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The quest to find an adopted team to follow continues and the Aggies and Red Raiders are garnering the most attention. I even had a long-lost couple from Texas in the Village yesterday who put in their two cents for the Red Raiders.

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Trying to get a feel for our new state, I committed to read James Michener's classic novel Texas. What a trip! I admit I sped read through some sections, but the historical understanding that Michener provides is rich.

Today, a large group of our kids return home from a week at Camp Barton. Camp Barton holds so many special memories for me. Memories of camper/counselor softball games. Memories of Bible classes. Memories of week-long romances. And the greatest memory of all -- being baptized on August 1, 1984 in the waters of Lake Greeson by my grandfather.

As I grew into adulthood and made the shift from camper to counselor, I was always amazed at how church camp had the power to become a place of positive peer pressure. Kids wanted to do the right thing all week because, at church camp, doing the right thing is the "in thing."

For some, that means being baptized. I can't tell you how many kids have been baptized at camp, only to return a few years later wanting to be "rebaptized" because they believed they "didn't understand" what they were doing the first time around.

As a result, I developed a day camp to help head off that trend. The day camp runs for three days a couple of weeks prior to camp to intensively teach the children going to camp what becoming a Christian is all about. They have homework each evening -- to be done in concert with their parents -- to help cement in young minds the change that takes place in becoming a Christian.

Since instituting our day camp at the Village, we've never had to rebaptize a child.

If you'd like to read and see more about our day camp, you can check out Jimmy Mitchell's blog.

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Incidentally, several years ago, one of my college prof's, Jimmy Allen, wrote a book on rebaptism in which he pointed out that 36 different things occur at baptism. How many of those 36 realities did you realize when you were baptized? Which reality demands greater understanding than the rest?

One of my favorite stories of all-time is the one shared by Harmon Killebrew during his induction to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

Killebrew's father made a habit of playing pitch with his sons each night before dinner. The routine was frustrating to Killebrew's mother because of the toll it took on the grass around the house.

One evening, Killebrew's mother hollered out the back screen door, "Boys, time for dinner." She heard the popping of the leather and the laughter of a father and his sons playing pitch. The sounds incited her frustration -- "Your not playing pitch again, are you? Don't you know you are going to kill the grass."

Killebrew's father's response was classic: "I'm not raising grass, honey. I'm raising sons."

Perspective in parenting is huge, isn't it? What lens colors your parenting perspective?

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This time next Friday, the movers will be loading our home to relocate us to Texas. Yesterday, I gave a shout out to my new Marble Falls friends to pitch their favorite college. Who should Mandy and I adopt as our team once we move? The Horns? The Aggies? The Red Raiders? The Bears?

Right now, based on feedback, the Aggies are winning. If any non-Aggies have a pitch, bring it (jgardner@hsnp.com).

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My uncle, George, who traversed the perimeter on bicycle for fourteen days raising funds for Arkansas Children's Hospital has a new blog. Check it out at www.geocobb.blogspot.com.

Back in my youth ministry days, I had an opportunity to teach during UPLIFT at Harding. That summer was during the hey-day of Steven Curtis Chapman's wonderful album "The Great Adventure" (I realize that last statement just dated me -- yes, it was the pre-CD days).

I taught the children -- just a few years younger than me -- the value of faith and accepting, like Abraham, the call of God.

Lately, I've been thinking back to that very class and to Abraham's example. Who knew, then, that I would one day be in a position to decide whether to stay or go in my own homeland.

The last four years have brought some unique travel opportunities for Mandy and me. The one thing that I cannot get out of my mind is the scope of need throughout the kingdom. God needs men and women in so many places in our world (in our nation) who will go into spaces and places and minister for Him.

I have no doubt in my mind that God's will for my ministry and my family is to follow His lead in this Great Adventure of ministry -- wherever He leads, I will follow.

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It is terribly ironic, though, that God would uproot us from our homeland only to plant us west of the University of Texas. I was born and raised to do the "Upside Down" hookem sign. Now, I will be surrounded by those Hookem Horns.

Being the sports nut that I am, I do need to make a concession to the culture of the area where we'll live by "adopting" one of the native teams to support. Baseball is already taken by the Rangers. But what about college teams? Horns? Aggies? Red Raiders? Bears?

I'm taking suggestions on who to adopt and support during our time in Texas. Any of you Marble Falls folks reading this, shoot me an e-mail (jgardner@hsnp.com) and give a pitch for your favorite team. I've already pledged my allegiance to the purple and gold Mustangs of Marble Falls ISD. Who should my college team be?

When was the last time you moved? Relocated from one home to another? Were you amazed at how much "junk" you'd accumulated?

Our house is now a maze of boxes and "junk." I am stunned at how much absolute unnecessary junk we've accumulated over the course of our seven year stay in the home we are selling.

This move is highlighting for me the need to simplify by avoiding the advertising gimmicks of our culture that holler, "You cannot live without this." I can and we will!

Last Thursday evening at Tahoe, Tex Williams delivered a sterling message on the lure of coveteousness and how it disables godly people from giving to worthy causes. Reflecting on all the junk we've accumulated, I realize how we have sacrificed God's blessings to us for some of the trappings of this world.

In light of that reality, I repent. I need to divest myself and my family from the pull of this world in order to invest more of what God has blessed us with for the furtherance of His cause in this world.

Let me give all of you faithful blog readers a head's-up: My blogging will be sporadic for the next fifteen days. We are knee deep in packing in anticipation of our pending move to Marble Falls, Texas. I should be ready to get back at it full speed around August 17th. In the meantime, I beg your patience.

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I had an extended lunch break today to take care of Tori while Mandy and Trae visited the dentist. I was stunned to turn on ESPNews and discover Rafael Palmeiro had been suspended for ten days in violation of MLB's susbtance abuse policy. The early reports indicate Palmeiro failed a test for steroids.

I am stunned. Back in March during the Congressional hearings, Palmeiro was as firm and vocal about abstaining from using steroids as any panel member.

I have always admired Raffy. In fact, since 1989, he has been one of my favorite Rangers. His swing is as pretty as anyone who ever played the great game.

Today's events tarnish his image and no doubt, place his future enshrinement in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in question.

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Much has been made in the media today over whether or not Palmeiro lied in his Congressional testimony. Who knows the answer to that but I do know the answer to the issue raised.

Proverbs 6.6-9 speaks to the Lord's hatred of seven things. One discretion is so ghastly that it is mentioned twice -- lying. God hates "a lying tongue" and a "false witness that speaks lies."

Have you ever wondered why God so despises lying? I think the key to understanding the depth of God's hatred toward lying is to be found in John 8.44. That text shows that Satan -- the adversary of all that is godly -- is the "father of lies." To lie is to claim an alliance with the father of lies himself.

May today find you and me always committed to "speak the truth in love."