Sunday, August 10, 2008

Home . . . Almost

Home. If all goes as planned, I will be there on Wednesday. I can't wait!

Since the last week of April, I have spent all of 15 days at home in Gallup. Since then, I have driven 20,000 miles spanning from the beaches of Malibu to the Texas Gulf coast, from the Colorado Rockies and Utah canyon lands to the plains of Kansas an Oklahoma. Since then, I have spoken before 17 churches and visited dozens more. I've attended six lectureships/seminars. I've stayed in over 20 different hotels/motels. And, I'm currently in San Antonio for the third time in the past 8 weeks.

I'm ready for Home. It is only 998 miles away!

Thursday, August 7, 2008

A Change of Jerseys

So, its a new shade of green for Brett Favre? This will certainly take some getting used to. But, as a Cowboys fanatic, I can't sy I'm torn up by all the angst this soap opera has caused the folks in Green Bay.


I did have a thought today, however. What if . . . a few months after announcing his retirement (way back in 1980), Roger Staubach changed his mind and came back as quarerback of the Kansas City Chiefs? So, in some small way, I can understand the feelings of the fans up north.


This "trade" of Favre reminds me of the drama in San Francisco a few years ago, when Joe Montana ended up as a Chief. The team management in both instances seemed to decide that their star, future Hall of Fame QB was well-passed their prime and that it was time for the "next generation." One important difference, however, Aaron Rodgers is no Steve Young.

Just a question: what happens when the Packers open the season 0 and 3?

Are you ready for some football? I am! Lombardi is headed back to Big D!!!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

A Vote for Swing Vote

Some more movie reviews:

Step Brothers - F! I do not know what possessed me to watch this movie. Considering the cast of characters, I should have known better. What troubled me even more than the vulgarity and filth projected on screen was the demographic makeup of the audience that watched with me in the theater in Abilene, Texas. Besides myself, there were probably 4 or 5 other people over the age of 20. Everyone else (at least 50 others) were much younger; most in high school.

X-Files - B+. The ending seemed hurried and needed some more development, but the movie reminded me how much I liked the TV series. This was a solid movie. Hopefully, there will be more Mulder and Scully tales to be told on the big screen.

Swing Vote - A+. The best "political" movie I've seen (with the exception of perhaps "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," but that was a long time ago). This movie makes a great point about the powerful right and responsibility we have to vote and offers some great commentary on the electoral process (and the abuses that dishearten so many of us), without pandering to the right or left and without demonizing those who commit themselves to running for office. Both candidates are put forward as basically decent and moral men who (deep down) care about their country. The movie does cast political advisers as a somewhat sorry lot, however.

Every voter needs to see Swing Vote. There is a lot of offensive language, though, but a great line by Molly (the daughter of Kevin Costner's character) offers a great comeback!

Sunday, August 3, 2008

A Return Home

I was blessed with the opportunity to speak to the Green Lawn church tonight. It was good being home.

Green Lawn Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas is my home in many respects. I came to my own faith in Christ while growing up at Green Lawn and had my first opportunities in ministry there, serving stints as youth minister and campus minister. My parents are still a part of the Green Lawn congregation as are so many of my close friends and my "closest" relatives in Christ.

It had been over 13 years since I last spoke to the Green Lawn congregation. My first sermon was preached in that auditorium . . . I was a nervous 13 year old boy! And, for a few years I had some fairly regular opportunities to preach there. I hope tonight was not my final opportunity.

Green Lawn has had a great heritage of promoting youth ministry (it is in many ways the hallmark of the congregation) and missions. Much of who I am as a Christian man and much of my philosophy of ministry has been shaped by my experiences and associations as a part of the Green Lawn family.