This morning's fishwrap has some exciting news from Nolan Ryan. Ryan, the Hall of Famer who lives in Georgetown (just an hour from Marble Falls) and whose statue graces the gathering area just beyond the centerfield wall at Ameriquest Field, has conjectured that Roger Clemens will pitch in 2006. Ryan reasons that Clemens is in excellent shape and has too much competitive drive left in him to walk away from the game.

As I've shared before, the consensus among National pundits and local beat writers is that Clemens will sign on with the Rangers if he does indeed decide to pitch in '06.

If that happens, look for the Rangers to come out of the gate in '06 as the favorites in the AL West.

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When does Cedar Fever Season end? My sinuses can't take anymore!

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The Business section of the fishwrap reveals this morning that "Americans are saving cash at a paltry pace." The National Savings Rate, according to the article, has dipped to its lowest point since the Great Depression.

On Monday, the Commerce Department released findings showing the savings rate for '05 was minus 0.5 percent, meaning the average American family spent more than they made.

Reading the article reminded me of something my dad always said about the danger of credit cards: "Son, you can't spend money you don't have."

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Think the advertising boom might play just a small role in the way Americans view money and consumer goods? Cadillac is paying $5 Million for a One Minute ad during this Sunday's Super Bowl.

Advertisers thrive on communicating to Americans that there is a life out there just waiting to be lived if...

This morning, I'm wondering if we Christians have overcome the lure of the world or are we just as caught up in the swirl of consumerism? Do we live today thinking, "If only I could get...then I would be happy"? And do the decisions we make with regard to money reveal that our ultimate investment is in advancing the heavenly reign of God's kingdom or the temporary building of our own kingdom?

What a blessing to add our fifteenth and sixteenth families in the last eight weeks to our church family at Marble Falls! It has been a truly amazing beginning to 2006 with additions at the rate of two families each Sunday to our membership. I am thankful for the vote of confidence God has given us by continuing to send quality people our way who can be equipped and assimilated into the family at Marble Falls.

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I got my first taste of the Spirit of Aggieland on Saturday, thanks to Texas A&M alum and friend, Lance Wenmohs. Lance took me to College Station to see the campus, tour the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum and take in the A&M/Baylor basketball game.

Throughout my travels, I've been blessed to attend sporting events at some great college venues. Marshall, West Virginia, Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina and Texas, to name a few, but no place, no where compares to Texas A&M. The support of the "12th Man" is truly unique in college sports.

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As I write this blog on Sunday evening at the close of a blessed Lord's Day, my heart is anxious with the arrival later this evening of Jimmy and Elizabeth Mitchell who are coming to fill the Youth and Family Ministry staff position at Marble Falls.

When we were searching for a Youth & Family Minister at the Village, the elders, after a prolonged search, took my recommendation and extended an offer to Jimmy. We worked together at the Village for three years. There were times in that first year when I had my doubts about Jimmy. He was so full of life and energy that I wondered if he'd ever harness it in an organized fashion.

In the last two years, he dispelled every doubt.

What Jimmy's leadership did at the Village, especially among middle school youth, was nothing short of amazing. In a gated, retirement community, the Village church quickly became known throughout the Village and Jessieville communities as a church with a place for kids, all thanks to Jimmy's superb leadership.

When Mandy and I decided God was leading our ministry to Marble Falls, Texas, Jimmy expressed an immediate interest in coming. The camaraderie and mentor-relationship we share is unique.

After an initial search yielded no solid candidates, the elders at Marble Falls agreed to pursue Jimmy for the position. In December, Jimmy and Elizabeth came down for a visit and felt as though the opportunity to move, both for the sake of Jimmy's ministry and future and for Elizabeth's nursing career and schooling was better served by relocating to Marble Falls.

And tonight they arrive, following an emotional day of "good-byes" to all our dear friends in Hot Springs Village.

Tonight, I thank God for Jimmy -- for his friendship, his dedication, his vision for Youth & Family Ministry, and for his growth and development as a solid minister of the gospel.

In his seminal book, The Church of Irresistible Influence, Robert Lewis argues that there is a chasm between the evangelical church and the world outside of our church doors. The message of grace that we preach oftentimes goes unheard by hurting people who most need to hear and experience God's love and forgiveness.

The bridge? Lewis says we need to share a gospel message that not only preaches, but also lives out the changing power of a relationship with Jesus Christ.

'Incarnation of the Word,' he writes, 'must precede and empower the proclamation of the Word'" (Willow, Volume 13, Issue 1).

What a challenging, reinforcing reminder of the need for missional living in our world today. More and more prominent voices throughout American Christianity are speaking the same theme: in order to impact our world and culture today, the confession of our lives must echo the confession of our lips!

Just think how evangelism at-large has traditionally worked. It has often been assumed, "If I can just get my friend in the church building to hear my preacher..." Today, more and more voices are saying, "No! Your life -- the living out of the mission of Jesus in your corner of the world -- is the greatest sermon your friend will ever hear."

Is the testimony of your life Monday through Saturday echoing the testimony of your lips on Sunday?

Rules and exceptions and relationship with God.

Thinking through it historically, one overarching story has been repeatedly told. It is the story of Numbers 3.2-4 and the story of Nadab and Abihu, the priestly sons of Aaron. In the story, Nadab and Abihu are stricken dead before the LORD because they made an offering with "unauthorized fire."

The message? There are no exceptions!

But yesterday, we noticed a contrasting passage to the Nadab and Abihu story -- the story of Hezekiah's intervention in 2 Chronicles 30 on behalf of four tribes of Insraelites who partook in the Passover celebration while not ceremonially clean.

Perhaps you thought yesterday of other examples. For instance, why did God strike Ananias and Sapphira dead on the spot for keeping back a portion of the proceeds on their land transaction while David breaks half of the 10 Commandments in one fell swoop and yet, his life is spared and he is recognized after his death as a "man after God's own heart"?

Does God ever make exceptions to the rule? Obviously, the answer is yes. But the critical question is: Is it safe to build a theology upon the exceptions? No!

Take baptism for example. The rule of New Testament scripture is clear that those who confessed the Lordship of Jesus Christ were immersed in order to make contact with the saving blood of Jesus Christ.

Will God make an exception to that "rule"? I don't know. We cannot know the mind of God in that regard. But we do know His will for the means of justification of the lost: to be placed into Christ and His saving act at Calvary through immersion in water.

When it comes to the means of justification, I am grateful to be part of a heritage with an unashamed commitment to teach the rule of Scripture.

And what if God makes exceptions to the rule? What if God chooses to save the "pious unimmersed," honoring their motive even if their method was found lacking? Then I will no haggle, argue or object to the will of God; I will praise Him for His grace and mercy, without which even the most pious immersed could not be saved.

Weird story out of Birmingham, Alabama from the Saturday evening Conference USA basketball game between the University of Houston and the University of Alabama - Birmingham. It seems at a critical point in the first half of the game, Tom Penders, coach of Houston, collapsed on the sideline immediately following a call by an official. When Penders collapsed, the officials thought he was objecting to their call and issued a technical foul on Penders. Seconds later, everyone in the gym recognized Penders was not objecting to a call but was in a distressed circumstance. He was eventually taken off the court on a stretcher while oxygen was administered by the emergency medical staff.

When order was restored and the game resumed, what did the officials do? They upheld the technical foul on Penders.

Yesterday, the Conference USA office issued a statement saying the officials "exercised poor judgment" in upholding the technical foul call against Penders.

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Is there ever a case to be made for exceptions to the rule? For example, the basketball rule book clearly states that unruly objections to the call of officials should result in a technical foul.

But in Penders's case, wouldn't it be reasonable to make an exception, following the spirit of the rule rather than the letter of the law?

There is an interesting, if not obscure, passage of scripture in 2 Chronicles 30.15-20 where God seems to have made an exception to a long-standing rule.

"They slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed and consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the temple of the LORD. They they took up their regular positions as prescribed in the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood handed to them by the Levites. Since many in the crowd had not consecrated themselves, the Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for all those who were not ceremonially clean and could not consecrate their lambs to the LORD. Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, 'May the LORD, who is good, pardon everyone who sets his heart on seeking God -- the LORD, the God of his fathers -- even if he is not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.' And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people."

Clearly, some of the people assembled for the Passover did not follow the prescribed method for partaking of the Passover meal. But their motive was pure and sincere and God made an exception, through the intercession of Hezekiah.

Does God ever do that today? And is it safe to build a theology for life based on exceptions God makes in Scripture?

I'm going to leave it at that today. Chew on it a bit and I'll be back tomorrow to talk about the contemporary implications of rules and exceptions in our walk of faith.

Sorry to be tardy this morning on posting. I just got back into my office following a wonderful breakfast at the Horsehoe Bay Marriot with Terry Johnson, Jim Dobbs and Mladen Jovanovic. Mladen was with us last night, sharing about the work of God among His people in Zagreb, Croatia.

It was highly enlightening this morning listening to Mladen share about evangelism among the Croatians. He told us how the majority of new converts in Croatia were students recently graduated from college. One of the central elements of the Postmodern trend is the interest among younger generations toward spirituality. That trend is true throughout Eastern Europe. Mladen told us how recent university graduates were rejecting old arguments in their quest for solid truth on which to base their spiritual lives.

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Yesterday was a wonderful day at the Marble Falls church. In addition to the blessing of Mladen's presentation last evening, the elders and I presented to the church a 5-year growth strategy for the congregation. The vision, both evangelistic and financial, was enthusiastically received by the congregation. It is exciting to be perched on the threshold of dynamic growth!

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I am looking forward to this evening's basketball game between Texas and Oklahoma State. The Cowboys come to Austin to play the Longhorns led by their famed coach, Eddie Sutton.

Eddie Sutton was the coach at Arkansas throughout my childhood years. Some of my greatest basketball memories as a kid involve Sutton's Arkansas teams (especially that Sunday afternoon victory by the Hogs over then #1 ranked North Carolina in a nationally televised game played at the Pine Bluff Convention Center).

Watching Sutton last week in a game against Texas A&M was a true delight. But where did that incessant frown he wears come from? I don't remember him frowning so vehemently when he coached the Hogs. Funny how a frown can become a trademark, but he wears it well.

This afternoon, a group of 35 from the Marble Falls Youth Ministry will make the trek up I-35 to the Metroplex and the annual Winterfest Youth Rally at the Arlington Convention Center.

For some reason, with the kids trip in mind, I woke up this morning thinking back to all the great memories I have of my days as a teen in the Youth Ministry at the Northside church in Benton, Arkansas.

So, in descending order, here is my Top 5 list of favorite youth group activities from my teen years:

#5 - The lock-in we had when Dale was a Youth Minister when we watched the Texas Chainsaw Massacre and then had a devo in the cemetery.

#4 - The Bible Bowl trip to San Antonio, filled with stops at "Golden Arches" courtesy of R.L. Johnson.

#3 - Interning with Doug Yates.

#2 - Preaching at Johnson Street.

#1 - Being baptized by my grandfather on August 1, 1984.

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Check out Toney Stowers' NFL Championship game predictions. Toney has only missed on one prediction throughout the playoffs (last week's Indy/Pittsburgh game, but he did have a caveat attached to that prediction).

On any given day, I read a number of insightful blogs. I read the blogs of friends whose wisdom I know and respect (Rick Northen, Toney Stowers, Jimmy Mitchell, Jeff Garrett). I read blogs from others whom I do not personally know but whose reflections on the Word of God and the mission of Jesus challenge me (Mike Cope, Larry James, Wade Hodges, Greg Taylor, Larry Chounaird). I read blogs that inform me of trends in church growth and the emerging church (Scot McKnight, Fred Peatross, George Barna). I read blogs about the Texas Rangers (Adam Morris, Joe Seigler, Jamey Newberg). And I read blogs from scholars with unique wisdom of the Word (John Mark Hicks).

But one blog that provides for me as much meat to chew on as any is the blog of John Alan Turner.

This week, Turner has been blogging about Salvation: Individual or Communal? The discussion is wonderful and enlightening, considering how often in our Western paradigm of faith we tend to see faith through the lens of the individual implications and blessings. Turner is doing wonderful work in thinking through the implications of the blessing of faith in community; that God's primary blessing to us who are saved is the strength of faith gained in community.

"Hi, my name is Jim Gardner and I am addicted to my television."

If there existed a Television-aholics Anonymous group, I confess to you this morning my need to join. The last week has more than proven it to me.

The first symptoms of my addiction began a couple of years ago when a church bulletin from the College Avenue church in El Dorado, Arkansas crossed my desk. In the bulletin, Kent Jobe, the Youth and Family Minister, admonished families to "turn off your televisions for an entire week." At that moment, the thought crossed my mind, "That is insane!"

But today marks one week since our 52" LCD television went to the repair shop. The TV, mind you, is only three months old. During the course of the week, my addiction has shown itself by my incessant calling to the repair shop for updates on the repair status. I even called Zenith Customer Service to determine why, since the TV remains under warranty, they won't simply replace it with a new TV.

Watching the NFL playoffs last weekend on the old 20" in the bedroom just didn't cut it.

So, I confess my addiction.

I also admit that with me (and perhaps with you), the real problem isn't with the TV, the real problem is within me. Mandy said to me yesterday, "You know, I've enjoyed not having the TV on constantly the last few days." She's right!

In the absence of the TV, it has allowed more time for playing and reading and sharing with the kids. And isn't that really what life is all about?

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Monday afternoon, with school dismissed in honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, Mandy and Trae took in The Chronicles of Narnia at the Driftwood Theater. The movie is based on the famed writing of C.S. Lewis.

It was great listening to Trae recount the movements within the movie when she and Mandy returned home. I loved hearing my daughter tell how the Lion (representative of Jesus) died on the stone table in place of the little boy. It was pure delight to listen as my daughter caught the point: the Lion, as a representation of Jesus, dies to take our place.

For all the media's faults, and for my silly penchant to become addicted to the media's programming, I am grateful for a movie like Narnia that helps my daughter process the meaning of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

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Finally this morning, let me share a link with you. Yesterday in my inbox, I received an alert from the Editor of the Christian Chronicle regarding a series of articles detailing the unity emphasis this year within churches of Christ and Christian churches. You can read it for yourself here. There are some wonderful insights from both sides regarding efforts this year to recognize the common heritage we share and to seek a more brotherly fellowship.

Two great NFL Playoff games yesterday! I am firmly ensconsced on the Pittsburgh Steelers bandwagon in deference to my great friend Toney Stowers. In fact, I expect Toney's blog to lose the Marshall green theme in favor of the black and gold sometime today.

Yesterday's Steelers/Colts game was yet another reminder in the long history of NFL playoff reminders that physical beats finesse just about everytime.

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I grew up in a segregated town. Benton, Arkansas during my youth was a city with a clear line of demarcation: the "coloreds" lived across the railroad tracks in the Southside community.

The movie theatre in my hometown was a clever two-level, two-screened cinema. I say "clever" because the two-level, two-screen setup of my youth masked the fact that when my parents were young, it was two distinct theatres, the bottom level for the white folk and the upper level for the black folk.

The Civil Rights Movement, led by Martin Luther King among others, helped to rectify some of the sad heritage of racial discrimination. Still, though, some of that heritage remains, even if unspoken in the way the races still remain relatively segregated according to communities in my hometown.

When I was a youth, along with a couple of other guys in the Northside church, we determined to befriend and include the youth of the Johnson Street Church of Christ--the church located in the Southside community in my hometown. And what a blessing that has been in my life!

W.K. Hannah, Charles Cunningham and Onterria Richardson, the three fine elders of the Johnson Street church, have been wonderful mentors to me. At a time when my home church was reticent to allow us young guys to preach on Sunday, the Johnson Street church always welcomed us with open arms. Willie Ray Hill and Cedric Finley were the two preachers at Johnson Street during my youth and college years and they always welcomed me to their pulpit. It was a wonderful experience for me many times to preach in the same place where Marshall Keeble once preached. I still have fond memories of preaching a gospel meeting at Johnson Street back in 1996.

Today, as our nation pauses to honor the memory and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, I pause to thank God for the brothers and sisters at the Johnson Street Church of Christ.

Need one reason why it is easy to root for a guy like Mack Brown. Check out this comment that was made in the post-Rose Bowl locker room.

"Finally, this is the most important thing I want you to hear tonight. Remember that we love you. Be proud of what you have accomplished, and enjoy this moment. Let this be a great thing in life, but don’t let it be the best thing that ever happens in your life. Go on from here, be great husbands and great dads, and make a difference."

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What a great retreat yesterday at the Horseshoe Bay Yacht Club. I am impressed and encouraged with the spirit of our Shepherds and their desire to envision a bright, blessed future for the Marble Falls church.

Next Sunday, I will be sharing with the entire church the outcome of our dream planning for the future of the Marble Falls church. I think all of you will be motivated to live out the mission of Jesus.

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It's a big kids weekend for us. Tonight, Trae is having three girls over for a sleepover. It should be a fun night of silly girls and scary ghost stories that is sure to be memorable.

Tomorrow, Trae is involved in tryouts for Little Dribblers basketball. She's never played organized basketball before so it will be a fun experience. All of her competitive sports thus far has been in softball, but she is ready to try her hand at a new sport.

I only hope God blessed her with greater basketball skills than He blessed her mom and dad!

This morning, our 9 elders, Allan, Jim Dobbs and myself will be meeting at the Horseshoe Bay Yacht Club for a full day of praying and gazing into the future. I am grateful to be serving alongside these men whose aim is to grow a dynamic church in Marble Falls. Pray for us today.

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Another sample of the interview with Hugh Gainey of Austin Grad and Dr. Marva Dawn.

What do you think the main challenges are for preachers today?

A visual society has made it seem like somebody talking is irrelevant. People demand all kinds of gimmicks.

It's really hard to compete with the media.

It really is, but not if we bring the life giving Word. We need to trust the Word more. The Word will bear fruit, we have a promise. And we don't need to set it forth with gimmicks and clever devices. We just need to set it forth and let the Word do its work because it will. It might not bear immediate fruit but it will bear its fruit when it's preached in faithfulness and sincerity.

Give than competing with the media is one of the biggest challenges ministers face, how do we prepare them for the new reality that is out there?

I think we really need to understand the hardness of our culture. We need to know why the battles we have to fight, which are so subtle, are really crucial. I still hope...that these battles aren't that tough. But we are hard hearted people, I think, and the times are very much clouded by our multiple idolatries in this culture. They invade the church just right and left.

What sort of trends do you see (regarding the future of the church)?

I think one of the most interesting things is that young people in their twenties, thirties maybe are wanting old things. They are wanting tradition. They are wanting stuff that lasts because they are sick of everything changing right and left. They are turning back to churches that have held on to things.

Last week, I referred to the upcoming dialogue between leaders among churches of Christ and Christian churches regarding unity. Sure to dominate the discussion at several lectureships and forums throughout this year, the aim of the discussion seems to be an effort to repair the breach of 1906 that recognized the independent Christian churches and churches of Christ as separate religious groups.

The fact of the matter is only one thing separates the two groups and that is the instrument.

During my ministry in Lake City, Florida, I was blessed to know Bob Ritchie and the good people at First Christian Church in Lake City. Bob, the preaching minister at First Christian, and I became friends and shared meals and insight together on a regular basis. The one thing, I discovered, that distinguished First Christian from Central Church of Christ (where I was the preaching minister) was the piano. They used the same Bible class material with their children that we did. That used the same hymnals we did. Their order of worship looked strikingly familiar to ours. Their organizational structure of leadership was identical. Their call to conversion and salvation echoed the same call we were offering at Central. They didn't have a full-scale band; the only instrument they used was piano.

But the issue that divided the two churches at-large 100 years ago still separates First Christian from Central Church of Christ today.

Can that breach be repaired? Not without compromise on the part of both groups. Compromise that is sure to be advocated throughout various lectureships and conferences this year.

Which leads me to this: Marva Dawn, of whose book I spoke of yesterday, was interviewed by Hugh Gainey in the Austin Graduate School of Theology Update that arrived in the mail yesterday (Volume 86). Three insightful exchanges in that interview for you this morning:

What are some of your impressions (of churches of Christ)?
I love the way you sing. That says a lot.

What do you think about our a capella tradition?
It's just very impressive. You sing with great gusto...You memorize a lot and know a lot of hymns and resonate with them deeply.

What would you say if churches of Christ abandoned that practice?That is a shame. It really is a shame because I hear all the harmonies, and people nowadays don't know how to sing that way. I love it. I experienced that in the Mennonites, singing a capella, and I thought it was brilliant. I like accompaniments too, but an accompaniment should only support the singing, not cover it up, which is what a lot of contemporary stuff does. I grew up singing with my brothers. We always sang a capella. My dad's choir has always been. We didn't sing in the congregation that way, because there was always an organ, but we always sang in four part. The advantages of the parts is that it teaches us fellowship; it teaches us to listen to one another; it teaches us to be in harmony in our lives even as we are in our music. And I think a lot of people today don't think that way.

Insightful, huh? In all my years in the a capella tradition of the churches of Christ, I've never thought of a capella singing as illustrative of the harmony of fellowship. Dawn's insights are point-on and remind me of some of the ancillary reasons why I love our heritage of a capella singing.

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The old slogan "Hope springs eternal" rings true every year for fans of every Major League Baseball team. And while not quite spring yet, the Ranger fan in me is getting juiced. The inbox this morning had the following the tidbits from Jamey Newberg and they are enough to give any long-suffering Ranger fan...hope!

Longshot on Clemens? Sure. But Peter Gammons, asked in a Boston Globe chat session last week what the chances were of Clemens returning to the Red Sox, replied: "Not good. Larry Lucchino has been in contact with the Hendricks brothers as recently as yesterday. Rangers owner Tom Hicks was also at the Rose Bowl seeing his alma mater. Texas has been working very hard on bringing him to the Rangers. I wouldn't bet against it."

Daniels told Scott Miller of CBS SportsLine.com: "With what [Clemens has] accomplished in the game, we wouldn't want to insult him by putting on a traditional free-agent recruiting pitch. We want to be respectful of his process. He certainly knows we're interested. We're going to let him dictate what he wants to do."

Jim Reeves of the Star-Telegram cites "rumors that Clemens has been carefully watching the Rangers' moves and likes what he's seen." Reeves adds that Hicks has assured Clemens that Texas "will tailor his workload however he likes," and that Clemens will have access to Hicks's personal jet to travel with his family to and from Houston when needed.

One factor that makes a Clemens signing more conceivable is that Kevin Millwood's $15 million signing bonus is fully deferred. His contract will expire after either the 2009 or 2010 season -- but his bonus won't be payable until 2011, and will be spread out over five years.

Is there anything more invigorating than being a daddy?

I couldn't wait to get home from work yesterday afternoon. The weather was perfect...75 degrees. Sunny. A gentle breeze. The smell of dinner cooking as I walked in the door. And two precious girls running to meet me with bear hugs.

The girls and I went outside and played while Mandy finished up dinner. We raced around the house. We played pitch. We watched Trae climb a tree in our yard. We visited with neighbors. We made memories!

Once dinner was ready -- and with the weather being so phenomenal outside -- we decided to eat outside. Baked chicken. Twice baked potatoes. Salad. Rolls. A dinner fit for a king. We talked. We laughed. We giggled. We sang. We watched Tori make a mess of our back porch.

I'll tell ya what, at this time in my life, I can think of little in life more fulfilling than the joy of being a father!

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John Schumacher and Todd Lewis have become two very dear comrades for me since our arrival in Marble Falls. Their love for the Lord, and for reading, has given us a common bond of friendship.

John is an ex-coach, having served on the strength and conditioning staff at the University of Wyoming before beginning his career in education. Currently, John serves as the Principal at Colt Elementary, where my 2nd grader, Trae, attends school. Todd is an accountant and has a passion for reading theologically challenging works, having received a Master's degree from Austin Graduate School of Theology.

Currently I am reading through two books given me by John and Todd. John's gift was Good to Great by Jim Collins. The book chronicles the ability of some organizations to make the leap from being "good" to becoming "great." It has been said "the enemy of the best is the good." Collins unearths the strategies of dynamic organizations to show how leaders can make a difference in leading people to greatness.

Todd's gift was a book by Marva J. Dawn called The Hilarity of Community: Romans 12 and How to Be the Church. (I believe the 2nd printing of the book has seen a title change to Truly the Community). Dawn's work is a massive unpacking of the implications of Romans 12 in the life of the contemporary church. Dawn calls the church out of the technological pull of modern society, which distances families, not to mention family members within the kingdom of God, to a true understanding of the depth of relationship and fellowship that God envisioned for His people.

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And, oh by the way, tonight Mandy and the ladies at church have a special evening of fun and fellowship planned. So, the girls and I are planning to take in tonight's rivalry grudge match between Marble Falls and Burnet. Another golden opportunity to be with my girls...and I can't wait!

On Jamey Newberg's message board, one of the Rangers' fans has posted some new artwork that is sensational. Here is a finished picture of Mark Teixeira that is sure to get your blood flowing if you're a Rangers fan like myself.

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What a blessed start to the New Year God has given to the Marble Falls church. Our attendance the first two Sundays have been 395 and 373. And, on the heels of last Sunday's sacrifical offering of over $63,000, it is exciting to see God doing great things among His people here.

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Larry Chounaird, serves as one of the elders for the Norway Avenue church in Huntington, West Virginia where my friend Jeff Garrett serves as the Preaching Minister.

Chounaird's blog entry last Friday on what is means for the church to be Jesus-centered is very insightful and encouraging. I share it with you this morning in the hopes it raises your gaze to the incredible possibilities for the church when the mission of Jesus is lived out among every member.

To be Jesus centered means that the church must take seriously the teachings and redemptive mission of Jesus as the primary model shaping our witness in the world. In Jesus we not only see God's redemptive mission fully disclosed, his life becomes paradigmatic for the life of the church. While today's church often operates with a thin Jesus veneer, it is a Jesus far removed from the one we read of in the Gospel stories. As noted by Stanley Grenz, many churches have fallen prey to a "wholesale cultural accommodation":

"Some churches are restructuring congregational life in a manner that,perhaps unbeknownst to them, takes its cue more from the nation's business schools than from the Bible. Others are blindly and unquestioningly catering to the contemporary consumerist mentality. Many evangelicals have substituted therapy for salvation, thereby 'exchanging the language of Scripture for the language of Psychology Today' . . ." (Renewing the Center, p.12).

Somehow the church has been shaped more by the expectations and imagery of contemporary culture than the way of Christ. Yet, it is a radical allegiance to Christ as Lord and King that enables us to participate in what God is doing in the world. A new social order has dawned in Jesus and we are invited to participate as citizens of a new reality (Phil. 3:20). As the character of the King in the OT determined the character of the people, so the church must look to Jesus to define and embody what life in the Kingdom of God is all about. The radical Jesus of the Gospel narratives is not about the pursuit of personal happiness, financial success, or meeting every self defined need. Jesus came to challenge our superficial self interests and to abolish the artificial boundaries and standards we have erected. Jesus' invitation is to "come to me . . . and learn from me . . . and you will find rest for your souls" (Mt 11:28-30). Jesus thus becomes our ultimate "reference point for all genuine knowing, all true loving, and all authentic following of God" (Frost and Hirsch, The Shaping of Things to Come, p. 37). We are called to a way of life, not the mere endorsement of a few propositional truths. The implications are staggering for the contemporary church.

This evening following the dismissal of school, Mandy, the girls and I are joining up with Allan, Carrie Ann and their girls for a trip to Austin to take in some of the atmosphere surrounding the Longhorns National Championship.

In these parts, it's customary following every Texas win to "Light the Tower." Typically, that means lighting only the apex where the clock sits. But following National Championship games, when the Horns win, the entire tower is lit with window lights forming the #1. The tower will be lit through the weekend and tonight, we are going down for some pictures and some Chuck E. Cheese pizza afterward.

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Yesterday, I received in the mail the 56-page ACU Lectureship Guide. The lectureship's theme is "Messages from the Gospel of John." The lectureship schedule looks great and I am really excited about attending my first ACU Lectureship.

In conjunction with the lectureship, the annual Restoration Unity Forum will be held four times daily. The Restoration Unity Forum is an effort to spark conversation across the chasm that formed 100 years ago with the identified separation of churches of Christ and Christian churches.

Regarding the Restoration Unity Forum, the ACU Lectureship Guide reads:

"Each year, the ACU Lectureship features conversations designed to promote greater understanding and unity where there has been strife and division. This year not only marks ACU's Centennial, but also the centennial of the religious census that recognized the split between the Church of Christ and Christian Churches. We cannot celebrate our heritage without also seeking to heal old wounds and renew friendships in the Gospel. With that spirit in mind, this year's Lectureship will also host the annual Restoration Forum. The Restoration Forum is an annual meeting that, since 1984, has brought together Christians from the churches of the Stone-Campbell Movement and others concerned with answering Christ's prayer for the visible unity of His followers for discussion, dialogue, worship and fellowship. The Forums have been an important factor in the increased desire for and realization of reconciliation between estranged sisters and brothers as we enter the 21st century."

The Restoration Forum is but the first of many concerted efforts in 2006 -- the centennial of the recognized division between churches of Christ and Christian churches -- to build bridges and foster unity. Other "big events" like the Tulsa Workshop have committed serious time to repairing the breach between churches of Christ and Christian churches.

Can the two become one again, as they were recognized prior to 1906? That remains to be seen. But the quest for unity through a commitment to conversation is an admirable, worthy effort.

Yesterday I hopped aboard my blogger and announced with me head that USC would win by a score of 38-35. That's what my head said; my heart thought otherwise.

The point spread was correct (3) and the USC score was correct (38) but Texas reached the end zone one time more than I expected. Even after watching Vince Young for the entire football season (every Texas football game this season was televised and I attended two in person at DKR-Memorial Stadium), I underestimated him.

Last New Year's Day, from the comfort of my living room in the Village, I sat amazed as Vince Young led Texas from behind to Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Last night, I again sat amazed as Vince and the Horns made a rerun, this time claiming the National Championship in the process.

I have to admit I've become a bit smitten with Texas football. I know that's near sacrilege for a red-blooded Arkansan to admit, but once you get past the prejudicial bias, there is a great deal to admire about Texas football. Start with Mack Brown. Once we moved here, I read his book One Heartbeat (incidentally, the book highlights Mack's upbringing in central Tennessee in a "church of Christ" family). Mack is a PR wiz and its hard to dislike him.

Then, being privileged to meet Jordan Shipley and Colt McCoy who have attended church at Marble Falls on four occasions this fall was neat. Both of their fathers played together at ACU and to meet guys who will be the next wave of Longhorn stars on offense was truly neat.

Congratulations to the Longhorns, National Champions in 2006.

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Here is an inspirational thought for you today from John Homer Miller: "Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens. Circumstances and situations do color life but you have been given the mind to choose what the colors shall be."

I know you hopped aboard this morning fully expecting me to weigh in on tonight's "Grandaddy of 'em all." The Rose Bowl. #2 Texas versus #1 USC. But first, a couple of scattered thoughts and observations.

I wonder how much time two famous Texas Exes have spent together in Pasadena, namely Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks and free agent superman Roger Clemens? Why have the last two BCS games ended around 1:00 A.M. Eastern time? Was anyone other than me totally shocked at the egg Georgia laid on the Sugar Bowl field Monday night? Seriously, congratulations to all you Mountaineers who visit here (on a side note, I still remember the privilege I had several years back when I was youth minister at Hurricane to sit beside Rich Rodriguez at the Hurricane High football banquet, when he was then coaching Glenville State).

Now onto the Rose Bowl prediction.

USC has won 34 straight. Texas 19 straight. Both teams combined to beat their opponents by just over 750 points. Both teams have explosive offenses. Texas has a decided edge on defense and special teams.

But USC has a former NFL defensive coordinator and head coach in Pete Carroll who has had a month to scheme against the Texas offense. Mack Brown is only 2-13 versus Top 5 teams in his career.

38-35 USC.

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I've lived through tornado warnings and winter storm warnings but the weather people in central Texas today have issued a "Fire Storm Warning." Never lived through one of those, but with an approaching front slated to bring 20 MPH winds, the fire danger today is very high.

"A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the fave of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything -- or destroy it!

It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony into chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue -- it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women He made in His image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth.

My friends, this can't go on" (James 3.3-10).

James's "Fire Warning" reminds us today to use our words to build up those around us. To bless those we come with whom we interact.

The highlight of my New Year occurred yesterday afternoon right after halftime of the Tech-Bama game when my girls made it back from Arkansas! I thought when they left it would be great to have a little quiet, downtime to read and reflect. But once they were gone, I missed them terribly. One night was okay, but beyond that the silence truly was deafening.

I did get a lot of reading knocked out, though. I finished off N.T. Wright's fresh perspective on Paul. I also picked up at Barnes & Noble, thanks to a gift certificate from my sister and brother-in-law, Allen Barra's The Last Coach: A Life of Paul "Bear" Bryant. Barra's book is voluminous with over 500 pages but for college football fans, it is a great historical tour through the life and times of arguably, the greatest coach in the history of the game.

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Also while the girls were gone, I spent a lot of time thinking about the future and trying to dream some of the dreams God has for the Marble Falls church. I am indebted to two people when it comes to vision planning, George Barna and Clyde Berry. Barna's book, The Power of Vision, is a wonderful primer on the way vision motivates and energizes congregations for future growth. Clyde, as a former elder at Overland Park and current member of the Village church, taught me how vision is best communicated with word pictures that convey of an image of the future.

On Sunday, January 15th, the elders and I will be communicating this vision to the church in Marble Falls.

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Here's a little New Year's Resolution planning for you. I don't know if you're into making resolutions or not but it is a great idea for a fresh, new start in your life.

I love what is said of Jesus in Luke 2.52 at the close of that episode when he, as a 12-year old, was left behind in Jerusalem for four days. After he is found by his parents in the temple, amazing the priests with his knowledge of God and then scolded by his mother for bringing pain to her heart, the text says, "Jesus grew in wisdom (intellectual growth) and stature (physical growth) and in favor with God (spiritual growth) and man (social growth)."

The description of Jesus's four-fold growth provides an excellent framework for us to think through our new resolve in 2006. Think for a moment about your own life: in what way(s) would you like to grow intellectually? physically? spiritually? socially?

Why not carve out some time in your schedule today to make resolutions in each of these areas. For example, your intellectual resolution might be to read more or to learn a new skill. Your physical resolution might be to exercise more or to lose weight. Your spiritual resolution might be to read through the Bible in '06 or to be a better, more unashamed witness for Jesus. And your social resolution might be to offer hospitality or to join a civic group that would allow you to make new friends while you serve the needs of others.

I challenge you today to find some time to make a few resolutions that will reflect in your own life the growth and development of Jesus himself.