Californication???

The two fueling stations whose signs are shown below are seperated by a mere 19 mile stretch of Interstate 40 . . . and, more significantly, the Colorado River. One station is in California. One is in Arizona. Can you tell which is where? (By the way, I took both photos on Monday.)

A View Worth $30.75?

I took some photos at Redondo Beach, California today. They cost me $30.75.

Actually, the photos were free for the taking. Parking my car cost $30.75. The parking spot cost 75 cents; the parking ticket cost 30 dollars!

I had parked my car and inserted three quarters into the parking meter. I walked down to the beach and took some photos and spent a few moments enjoying the surf. I came back to my car and discovered a parking ticket on my windshield. After a couple of moments of bewilderment, I figured it out: I had paid the wrong meter. I looked for the meter-maid, but to no avail. It seems I am stuck with a $30 parking ticket.

The photos, while good in my estimation, are not worth $30.75, but perhaps the lesson learned will be.

Full Moon

Full moon over Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

The photo is grainy, but I like it.

London Bridge

London Bridge, Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Lake Havasu at Sunset

Las Vegas, from the Car

Old Dogs Learn New Tricks

I love maps. I always have. One of the favorite things I had as a child was a Rand McNally world atlas. I spent hours upon hours flipping through the pages. I studied each mach intently. I found the lists and reference materials fascinating. When other kids would spend art class drawing pictures of cars or scenes of family life, I would draw maps.

I drive a lot, and I've got a thick stack of laminated Rand McNally state maps to guide me on my way. I've often been asked, "Why don't you get a GPS locator for your car?" Until a few days ago, my standard response was, "I'm old fashioned. I like my maps." But, last week, my dad gave me his old Garmin. I used it for the first time today as I drove from Gallup to Kingman, Arizona. For much of the drive, the monotone and monotonous voice of the Garmin guide was unneeded (and slightly annoying . . . especially when I wouldn't follow "her" instructions to a tee). But, once I got to Kingman and had to find the Desert Church of Christ building, I discovered the real value of a GPS locator. My Garmin guide drove me right to the building. And, I'm looking forward to tomorrow, when "she" will guide me through the streets of Las Vegas.

Another Kindergarten Graduate

Autumn is my third daughter to graduate from Kindergarten. They grow up way too fast.

Lessons Learned this Week

1. No matter how many lemons you dig out of your iced tea and pile on the table, the waitress at Denny's is still going to bring you a filled glass with a lemon perched on top.


2. I've crossed the entire width of New Mexico 5 times in the past 8 days (with a 6th trip tomorrow) . . . I discover something new each trip . . . and the beauty of New Mexico is reaffirmed each trip.


3. While fuel prices have been steadily climbing, the situation is MUCH better than it was a year ago ($2.50 vs. $4.10).


4. I ADORE my three daughters and absolutely LOVE spending time with them (a reinforcement of an earlier lesson).


5. Nothing much beats a plate of spaghetti and a slice of pepperoni pizza at Fazoli's.


6. I miss preaching for a small church (another reinforcement).
7. Try on the shoes before you bring them home from the store.


8. My music tastes keep evolving.


9. God is really good! (Yet another reinforced lesson!)
10. Finally, think before acting. And, acting on emotion (rage) rarely turns out positively. Thank you for the small voice that said "Stop!"

(Note: the photo above is not mine. Not sure who took it, but I love it!)

Wolf Creek Pass

Some people work behind a desk, or on the seat of a tractor . . . I, on the other hand, have the blessing of "working" in places like this. As I have traveled around the country on behalf of Manuelito Navajo Children's Home, I have seen so many beautiful places. Wolf Creek Pass is one of the prettiest . . . and has been on my favorite's list for many years.

Enjoy these pictures I took on Monday. I especially like the "heart-shaped" rock.

My View Today

Driving north toward Blanca Peak, south-central Colorado.

Cimarron River, east of Eagle Nest, New Mexico

Have You Seen This Bird?

I'm curious. Can anyone tell me what kind of bird this is? I saw it yesterday. It was perched in this tree on the shore of Luna Lake in far-eastern Arizona. It made a rather unusual shrill cry, much louder than its size would suggest.

Geronimo's Land

The Apache Chieftan Geronimo was born on the far side of this mountain in 1820. This is a view of Mogollon Baldy Peak (looking east) in the Gila National Wilderness, southwestern New Mexico.

A Divine-Human Venture

All scripture is God-breathed . . . .

Did you know that 8 billion Bibles have been printed since 1816? Over 100 million Bibles are being printed each year. Over 90% of the world's written languages now have at least a portion of the Bible in print. There are an average of 4 Bibles in every house in America.

I'll admit it, my view is biased. I believe without hesitation in the divine nature of the Bible. I believe the apostle Paul when he declared, "All Scripture is God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3.16). I am convinced in the voracity of Peter's words, when he said, "prophecy never had its origin in the will of men, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1.21). The words of the Psalmist are true: God's Word is "more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb" (Psalm 19.10).

What amazes me about the Bible is that it is the product of the joint labor of God and man.

There is a great diversity in the way in which the books of the Bible were written. Moses, as he presented a written copy of the Ten Commandments to the Israelites, declared that he had written the words God spoke, and the people declared in response, "We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey" (Exodus 24.7). Jeremiah, and other prophets, spoke of the word of the Lord coming to them, and the implication is that they then preserved those words in writing. Luke doesn't refer to dictation as he explained his writing technique to Theophilus, his intended audience; instead, he spoke of "having carefully investigated everything," so that he could "write an orderly account" (Luke 1.3). Paul interjected "opinion" (actually, discerning judgment) alongside instruction he had received from the Lord (1 Corinthians 7.10-12, 25-26, 40). The apostle John explained that the Lord told him, "Write on a scroll what you see" (Revelation 1.11), implying a certain amount of subjectivity in preserving in writing a description of the scenes witnessed in his ecstasy. And, then there's the examples of so many psalmists who cried out to God, not in rote ritual, but in honest, heartfelt expressions, such as the one who cried out in vindictiveness, "O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is he who repays you for what you have done to us--he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks" (Psalm 137.8-9).

What do these references show us? Could it be that the image of a Bible writer (like Moses, David, Paul, or John) huddled in a corner, entranced, and diligently writing down words as they are supplied by the Spirit is rather simplistic? There are instances of dictation, to be certain. Moses, as he was on top of Sinai, wasn't given much of a freehand, it would seem. And the prophets spoke as they were directed by God to speak. But, it would seem, many of the human writers of Scripture had a freehand, to some extent. Or, perhaps it would be better said, many authors were enlightened to write, blessed with certain opportunities and experiences, blessed with being in the right place at the right time, blessed with spiritual insight, and blessed with capacities of remembrance or understanding, but with the freedom to express themselves in words that were their own. But, before you think I'm saying more than I'm saying, these authors, freehand aside, were directed by God. God, in his infinite wisdom and ability molded together the divine and human, and the timeless Bible is the product.

God could have done things differently. He could have tossed down the completed Bible from heaven's presses above to the earth below. He could have stamped each copy with his own autograph. But, he didn't do this. He used men (and perhaps a few women; remember, Deborah, and her song?). Consider this: God spoke to mankind through the words of men. How intimate! And, not without precedent. John, one of those writers of Scripture, said, "And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. . . . No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known" (John 1.14, 18).

Arizona State Capitol

The Arizona State Capitol is a beautiful and impressive building, but there's not a good angle from which to photograph it. These pics are the best I could do.

The anchor from the U.S.S. Arizona

A view of the bronze dome of the Capitol, with the mast of the U.S.S. Arizona in the foreground.

Open Range, Indeed!

Mooove over! Welcome to Utah!

A Beautiful Drive

The drive through eastern Utah is one of my favorites. This is a view of the La Sal Mountains from the Colorado River northeast of Moab, Utah.

Lizard Head Pass

Snowfall on Lizard Head Pass. May 2, 2009.

On Turtles and a Changing Church

Humans are a lot like turtles: we have shells. Not a physical shell that protects us from the elements or predators, but a shell we create and modify as we crawl through life--an emotional sphere in which we can feel comfortable, secure and un-threatened.


Sometimes we call our sphere a comfort zone. We are careful to engage in activities that don't overly stress us, to accept those beliefs that do not overly challenge us, and to relate to people that do not overly intimidate us. New activities, beliefs and people often present us with a challenge.


Do you remember when a new student was introduced into your classroom at school? There was a nervousness in the air, wasn't there? "Is he going to be weird?" you asked yourself. "Will I fit in?" he wondered to himself. In time, however, those anxieties dissipated as the new kid gradually became incorporated into the life of the class. Fear was weakened through the expanse of knowledge and experience.


We live in a time when the culture about us is changing at an unprecedented rate. It is easy to become intimidated by the evolution of society. It is easy to want to shrink back into our shells and desire to live as if it were yesterday. But adaptability is an essential component of life.


If you were to take a snapshot of the church standing on the threshold of the 21st Century and compare it to one taken of the 1st Century church, would the pictures offer a mirror image? In certain respects, yes: we share in the fundamentals of Christian faith. In certain respects, no: we may differ in terms of methodology and practice. The passage of time results in the transformation of any organism or institution.


The Gospel of Jesus Christ is timeless and the faith we express and practice must not be affected by the transformation of society and culture. However, our methods of teaching and worship, service and fellowship are often affected by time. And, thus, when certain circumstances such as lessened effectiveness demand change, let us not fear new things, but approach them with a rationality founded on the Holy Spirit's direction, study of God's Word, and prayer.

Do you remember that the 1st Century church wrestled with the inclusion of Gentile converts within the boundary of Christian fellowship? The church was faced with a dilemma and the specter of newness. many sought to withdraw within their shells--within their established comfort zones--and not mature in their faith. But, many sought God's guidance, stepping out of their shells, and becoming transformed into a people ready to confront the next challenge.

Where do we stand today?

New Mexico Capitol

Make that 12 State Capitol buildings I have photographed in the past 7 months. The "Round House" in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Look to the left, and you will see a glimpse of Santa Fe Baldy.

Colorado Capitol

Yesterday, I made my eleventh visit to a state capitol building in the past 7 months. The Capitol in Denver is impressive, especially the golden dome . . . plated with 200 ounces of pure gold!

My Start in Ministry

My ministry "career" began in May 1990, with the church that meets in this building, the University Church of Christ in Denver, Colorado. I spent two of the most important, formative, and enjoyable summers of my life (1990 & 1992) working with the youth and families of this congregation.

I came to University as a 19-year-old kid at the invitation of Dale Hukle. In 1990, Dale was the youth minister for the University church. Four years earlier, he had been my youth minister at the Green Lawn Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas. In March 1990, Dale called me and asked if I would serve as his intern for the summer in Denver. At the time, I was an aspiring youth minister and in my sophomore year at Lubbock Christian University. At the time, I was also employed at the Brittany Restaurant in Lubbock flipping hamburgers. A month earlier, Vance Crowe had offered me an opportunity to spend the summer at Camp Blue Haven as a counselor (a dream job). After a lot of thought and prayer, I called Dale and accepted his offer to come to Denver for the summer and then called Vance and declined the opportunity to be a counselor at Blue Haven.

That was one of the hardest decisions in my life, and one of the most important. I've often wondered how different my life would have been had I taken the position at Camp Blue Haven. I know I would have enjoyed it there (I had already spent three glorious summers there as a pot-washer, and had the time of my life). But, the opportunity to work alongside Dale Hukle, one of the most important men in my life, and the chief mentor I've had in ministry, was an opportunity I could not pass up. Although, in taking the University job, I was biting off a lot more than I expected (but I found the chewing to be quite satisfying).

I remember arriving in Denver (actually, Aurora) late one evening in early May (I think it was the 12th). I came to Dale and Carla's house where I was supposed to be staying for the summer. I had a great reunion with Dale and his family and was enjoying a wonderful meal (I still remember the homemade strawberry shortcake!), when Dale said, "I've got some news for you. I just accepted a position with the Broadway Church of Christ (in Lubbock), and we will be moving there in 5 weeks." Then after the shock wore off, he continued, "And, YOU are going to finish the summer here at University as the youth minister (not, youth intern). The elders have already signed off on it."

Here I was, a 19-year-old kid, without a day's experience in leading a youth ministry, being told I was already hired as a youth minister for what was at the time the largest Church of Christ in the state of Colorado. And for a congregation I had yet to visit. And for a youth group I had yet to meet. Talk about baptism under fire. Half-a-lifetime later (literally), I look back at that moment as one of the single greatest gut-checks I've ever experienced . . . and as one of the most important moments of my life.

I relished those next 5 weeks as I sought to soak up all of the wisdom and instruction that I could from Dale. The first 3 weeks were spent in Denver meeting youth and families and the other members of the congregation, and receiving a crash course in big city, big church youth ministry. The final 2 weeks of that orientation were spent directing a Vacation Bible School in Kearney, Nebraska and teaching a class at Soul Quest, the camp York College hosts every summer. Then, as we came back to Denver from York, Dale gave me the reigns, and I did my best over the next 2-and-a-half months.

Those next 11 weeks were amazing. I didn't always make the wisest decisions, but my good ones somehow outnumbered the numb-headed ones. I developed some really close relationships with some fantastic teens and their parents. I saw a lot of growth (in the kids, but especially in myself). I baptized three of the teens that summer (the first time I had ever done that!). I began that summer as a teen ministering to teens (although, I made it to 20 eight days after I arrived in Denver), and left a changed man who knew without a doubt what I wanted to do for the rest of my life . . . ministry.

Little did I know, however, that 4 months after I left Denver, I found myself in the frying pan again. In January 1991, the Green Lawn Church of Christ (my home church) hired me to be its interim youth minister, a position I would hold for the next 8 months. God had prepared me for an even larger responsibility.

An Editorial Cartoon from 2009? Try 1934!

From the Hell's Angels to a Classroom

A former Hell's Angel as a teacher? Yes, and he was one of the best teachers I ever had.

Coach Bruce Dean was my teacher in the 7th grade at Lubbock Christian School. He was unlike any teacher I have had in the years before and since. Coach Dean was not well-schooled in the art of teaching, and he was not well-versed in the subject area he was responsible for teaching us: science. Coach Dean was unorthodox in his methods, yet he taught us with an effectiveness that was exceptional.

Coach Dean had led an interesting life. He had made his share of poor choices. He had even spent time as a Hell's Angel. But at a certain point in life, Coach found Christ, and his life changed profoundly.

Coach Dean's effectiveness as a teacher was founded on his transformation as a person. My classmates and I knew Coach's story; he told chapters of it to us often. He did so to make a point (actually several): he was exhorting us to avoid the mistakes that he had made. He was using his life to steer us along a better path and to discover LIFE a lot sooner than he had.

I don't remember learning much science in the seventh grade, but I do remember learning a lot about life. I believe that Coach Dean's influence kept me away from many wrong turns and dangerous things in life. He equipped me to make the right choices.

Those are the best kind of teachers: those individuals who teach using their example and those individuals who can speak from the great reservoir of "I've been there, I know what I'm talking about." Do you listen and learn from those individuals? Are you using your life experiences to teach others? I hope that you (and me) can answer in the affirmative to both questions (especially with regards to our own children!).

Tragically, Coach Dean was killed in a motorcycle accident about two weeks after the completion of my 7th grade year. Hearing the news of his death stands as one of the clearest memories of my childhood. It remains one of the saddest moments of my life. Yet, I know that he was victorious, because he was a changed man. He is Hell's angel no more.

Go, and Sin No More

Go, and sin no more.

I'm not sure how many times Jesus said those words to people he met. I remember a few times in the Gospels where he spoke them, or words similar to them. But I consider them to be some of the most beautiful words in Scripture.

We all have our pasts and particularly those moments which are regrettable. As the apostle Paul puts it, "We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." But how beautiful it is that God, rich in mercy, has, through the blood of his Son, washed us clean and made us whole. He has given us a new day, a renewed lease on life, the opportunity to reach new horizons.

Go, and sin no more is not a statement of judgment, but one of encouragement. One of the recorded moments Jesus spoke those words was in John 8 (in a passage with questioned textual authenticity, but likely historical in some measure). You remember the story of the woman caught in adultery and brought to Jesus. Those who brought her condemned her and sought Jesus' sanction of her stoning. As you know, Jesus ended up turning the situation around to reflect on the character and behavior of the condemners, and the woman was spared. As the scene closes, Jesus tells her to go, and sin no more. I'm sure he had her past in view as he spoke to her, but his main interest was on her present and future. Unlike those who sought only to condemn, Jesus was much more interested in how the woman might progress from that day forward.

How beautiful it is that our Lord is much more interested in our recovery than in our missteps. The whole story of the cross and opened tomb bear testimony to this message of hope. Death leads to life, in Christ. What should result in loss and despair (our sin), is washed away, taken away, remembered no more . . . from the perspective of our loving Father.

But we allow it to linger, don't we? Or, at least we allow the guilt and shame (and the despair created by these) to linger. And these feelings often co-opt our ability to move forward. We get stuck in a rut, because we can't seem to forget our past.

Go, and sin no more.

I am mindful of the words of the writer of Hebrews, who tells us to "run the race with perseverance, laying aside every weight and the sin that so easily encumbers, and keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" (Heb. 12.1-2). Among the encumbering weights that must be listed are our guilt, shame, and despair. Throw them aside, we are told, and look not to the past (to yesterday), but to the present (today) and the future (tomorrow) . . . down the road, that is, and toward the one who makes our journey possible and successful, our Lord Jesus.

Go, and sin no more.

Those are words directed not merely to self (and in our self-interests), but to those who surround us they are an appeal for mercy and patience. In other words, we are not merely to consider the new possibilities that are within us because of the mercies of God, but the new promise that rests in every one who is a child of God. Go, and sin no more were words meant as much for the condemners of the woman brought to Jesus, than they were for the woman, herself. The condemners sought Jesus' approval of the stoning of the woman. Instead, Jesus had mercy, and afforded the woman a new day. We must do the same.

The new covenant we find in Christ is all about renewal! It is about burying the past and opening oneself up to a new reality, a new opportunity. Go, and sin no more is an appeal to live a new life and an appeal to encourage a new life being lived.

Ask a marathon runner (which I am certainly NOT), and I imagine he (or she) will tell you that to run a successful race you must keep your eyes forward, toward the goal to be reached, and not backwards on the road already crossed. Chances are good that if you run with your eyes looking backwards you're gonna run into a tree!

No $5.00 Debt!

It was no $5.00 debt.

Do you remember the parable Jesus told about forgiveness? It was the story (Matthew 18.23-35) of a man who owed an enormous sum of money to the king--his debt was 10,000 talents. He pleaded for the king to have mercy, and his plea was answered: the king had the debt erased from the books. But, going out from the king, the man met a neighbor who owed him a sum of money--the neighbor's debt was 100 denarii. The neighbor pleaded for mercy, just as the man had done before the king, but the plea was not answered: the man had his neighbor thrown into prison.

Often this story is told with the attached moral: "If you cannot forgive a little, you will not be forgiven a lot (or much)." A good thought, but it misses the point of the story. The true import of the story comes with lessons in mathematics and in the currency of Jesus' day in mind.

The first man's debt was enormous--he owed the king 10,000 talents. One talent of Roman gold was roughly equivalent to the wages of a common laborer amassed over a period of 15 years. Do the math--this man owed the king the equivalent of 150,000 years of wages! No man could repay the debt, not even Bill Gates or the Saudi king. Yet, the king in Jesus' story forgave the debt; it was erased from the books!

The second man's debt, though often characterized as mere pennies, was also significant--this man owed his neighbor 100 denarii. One denarius was the standard daily wage for a common laborer. Do the math--this man owed his neighbor the equivalent of over 3 months of wages. This was no $5.00 debt.

Perhaps the moral of the story should be, "If you cannot forgive a little or much, you will not be forgive a lot (or much)." There is no forgiveness quotient. When Peter asked, "How many times should I forgive . . . seven times?" Jesus answered, "Not seven times, but seventy times seven" (Matt. 18.21-22). So forgive!

All God's Creation

According to a popular book a person learns everything he or she really needs to know in kindergarten. I had to wait until the first grade to learn one of the most important lessons of all.

Three weeks into my first grade school year, my family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana. My dad, who was in the U. S. Navy had been transferred to the south shore of the Mississippi River. I was enrolled in the Adolf Meyer elementary school. It was a big inner city school with hundreds of students. In that school, I was the minority. I don't remember there being another white student in my class.

What did I learn during that school year? Other than the color of my skin, I was not that different from the hundreds of other kids in that school. We all ate the same food in the cafeteria. We all studied the same subjects. We all played the same games at recess. We all laughed at the same jokes. We all cried when we fell and scraped our knees. We all had families who loved us.

I remember some awkward moments, especially at the first of the year as I was trying to fit in. But my final memory of Adolf Meyer reinforces the great lesson I learned. On the final day of the school year an awards ceremony was held. I was presented with a small trophy; for what, I do not remember. But I still remember walking up to the principal and accepting my trophy amidst the applause of my classmates. They were cheering for me . . . the white boy. And I cheered for them, as well, when they were called to the stage.

What lesson did I learn in New Orleans? I learned that truth that we must all know: color is only skin deep. Our planet is filled with a rich diversity of peoples, heritages, cultures, and races. Deep down, though, we are all human beings with a soul. We are all creatures shaped and loved by God?

Pie in Pietown

I ate a piece of pie in Pietown, New Mexico today. Let me wholeheartedly recommend the Daily Pie Cafe in Pietown. Great food (hamburger, real french fries, and pie). Extraordinary service. Beautiful setting . . . a couple of miles off the Continental Divide and in the shadow of the Sawtooth Mountains.

Very Large, Indeed

I visited the Very Large Array radio astronomy observatory, today, west of Socorro, New Mexico. The array is one of 10 National Radio Astronomy Observatories in the United States (and its Territories). The VLA consists of 27 antennas, each 25 feet in diameter and 82 feet in height, each working together to produce the effect of one large and powerful antenna. The component pieces are placed on three 13 miles tracks that radiate from the center compound. The antennas can be positioned in several arrangements along these tracks. The VLA studies a variety of astronomical features including quasars, pulsars, black holes, gamma ray bursts, supernova remnants, radio galaxies, and the dark matter that fills much of the universe.

Show Your Kids the World

My girls and I enjoyed the wonders of Carlsbad Cavern today. It had been 15 years since my last visit and the first visit for my daughters, ages 10, 8 and 6. I enjoyed every moment of watching them take in this place similar to but unlike any other place on earth. Hearing their laughter, gasps, "Wow's", and "Cool's" was well worth the price of admission (which, actually, is a dirt cheap $6 for 1 adult and 3 kids! . . . not counting the $107 for sweatshirts!) and the cost to my out-of-shape and near-middle-aged body.

As I walked through the Cavern today, I thought of all the places my girls have visited. The list of amazing places includes Niagara Falls (my oldest two), the top of the St. Louis Arch (oldest two), the Gulf of Mexico on a fishing boat (my middle daughter), South Padre Island, the Alamo, Six Flags, Palo Duro Canyon, Lubbock (you know I had to thrown that in), Pikes Peak, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Great Sand Dunes, White Sands, Mesa Verde, Zion National Park, the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, the Pacific Coast, Disneyland, Coronado Island, the Pro Football Hall of Fame (oldest two), the top of Mt. Scott (you Okies will know), Monument Valley, Telluride (most beautiful town in America), La Plata Canyon, Organ Stop Pizza, the North Pole (okay, the one in Colorado) . . . and the list goes on. My goal, perhaps ambitious, is that by the time my youngest is in college, all three of my daughters will have visited all 50 states and at least a few other countries. My youngest is now 6, and we've got over a third of the states crossed off the list.

I am not able to provide my daughters with a lot of material things, but I strongly believe that one of the blessings I am able to give them is a love for travel and the opportunities to see much of this beautiful land we are blessed to call home. It is a blessing I received from my parents.

Children can learn so much from travel, from leaving home behind and discovering new things, sights, and people. Sadly, I've known some children who never left the confines of their home city during their childhood--their parents never took them anywhere. I don't mean to be harsh, but a family vacation to the amusement park across town isn't much of an excursion. Live a little, at least drive to the next county!

I've heard the excuses about the costs of travel, but it is amazing how affordable (and memorable) a trip can cost with a tent and some cast iron cookware! And, those excuses about the unbearable time spent in a car doesn't fly with me, either. Call me a glutton for punishment, but I find those long stretches on the road some of the most enjoyable times I spend with my girls. When else are we together in such close (and private) confines for as long a period of time? Those times make for great conversation platforms.

Plan a road trip for your family!

Oversimplification?

Christ lives! Live Christ. Why do we insist on complicating it?

Fork In the Road

Each of us comes to a fork in the road. Likely, our lives are peppered with such moments, those occasions where we must make a choice. Do I go the left? Or, to the right? What course do I set my life on? Which path do I tread?

We stand at the divide wandering to ourselves which way to go. If we have our faculties about us, we take the time to analyze the situation and fully consider the options, taking into account the consequences, for the good or bad, of the options before us. If we are in a hurry and more focused on the moving than the direction, we might just barrel through and pay little attention to the path chosen.

Often times, the choice before us offers a stark contrast. One road is obviously the high ground, well-trod, easy to navigate, with the goal clearly in view. The other path is riddled with obstacles, dangerous, and clearly the wrong way to go. It is easy in such situations to take the good road, enjoy our sojourn without many concerns, without regrets, and filled with the satisfaction of a choice well made.

But there are those moments when the choice is not easy and the options are not laid out before us in stark detail. Both roads are inviting. The further distances of the roadways pass out of view. The circumstances of the paths ahead, for the good or bad, cannot be seen. Yet, a choice must be made, the journey must be continued, life must go on.

On the left hand path we go. The way, at first, is good. Progress is made. There is optimism, joy, good times. But then the path begins to wind. There are dips. Unexpected hazards. The way forward becomes unattainable. It becomes obvious that this was not the way to go.

And there are those times when even the good road turns bad. A once good and sturdy path is washed away in a once-in-a-million flash flood. The ground suddenly gives way in a freak earthquake. Outside forces move in and make the continued journey difficult if not impossible. Someone hijacks the road before us and progress cannot be made.

Oh to go back to the fork in the road and once again consider the way to go. To be able to make the other choice is so desirable. Yet time does not retreat, and our choices once made are made, and the consequences are set in motion. I suppose the wisest course of action is to be diligent and make a quick assessment as to the frailty (and ultimate failure) of the road ahead, or at the very least to be strong enough to say enough is enough and to give up the folly of fighting one's way forward on an impassable road and try to find a way to the other path.

Wish I'd Said That

In my nearly 20 years of preaching and teaching for churches, I've told my share of preacher's stories, many borrowed from other preacher's I've heard or read. A favorite resource I've used over the years is a little book edited by Cleon Lyles entitled Wish I'd Said That. Here are some sample anecdotes and sayings from this book.

__________

The story is told of a young man who, while preaching his first sermon, emphasized over and over that "The commentators did not agree with me?" on this or that. The next Sunday, a kindly old lady came in the auditorium lugging a heavy bag. She took it down to the front and deposited in ear the pulpit, and explained to the minister: "Young man, I heard you complainin' last Sunday that common taters don't agree with you; so I brought you some sweet taters to try."

__________

There are too many people like the men who went 'coon hunting on Wednesday night. One said: "We are liable to go to the devil for hunting while there is a worship service at the church." The other replied: "I couldn't have gone anyway; my wife's sick at home."

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A hangover is something that happens to heads that weren't used the night before.

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The Sunday school teacher was describing how Lot's wife looked back and suddenly turned into a pillar of salt. Little Johnny raised his hand, "My mother looked back once while she was driving and she turned into a telephone pole."

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In his birthday gift to his girl, the young man penned this note: "You're a sweet girl. May the Lord bless you and keep you. I wish I could afford to."

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A man came home and saw his children and others on the front steps and asked what they were doing." We are playing church," they answered. The father was puzzled, and on inquiring further, he was told, "Well, we've already sung, and prayed, and preached, and now we're outside on the steps smoking."

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A boy came home and reported to his father that he had been given a part in a school play. His father asked him what part. "A man married for 25 years," the son answered. The father looked sad. When the boy asked why, he replied, "I was in hopes you would get a speaking part."

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Some people are so pessimistic when they smell flowers they look around for a funeral.

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When tempted to gossip, breathe through your nose.

Uncommon Quotes

One of the bonuses found in Tony Dungy's book Uncommon is the quotes found at the beginning of every chapter. Here are some of my favorites.

Mark Twain: When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.

Old English Proverb: One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.

Helen Keller: Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.

Ralph Waldo Emerson: Men are respectable only as they respect. (As a side note, Emerson is my great-great-great-great-great uncle. Too bad, I didn't inherit his literary skill.)

Doug Larson: If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage f fishing poles.

Robert Fulghum: Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.

Will Rogers: We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.

Francois Mauriac: No love, no friendship, can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever.

Booker T. Washington: Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.

March 30

March 30, 1981. I remember the day. I was a 5th grader, sitting in Mrs. Logan's classroom at Lubbock Christian School. The announcement came over the loud speaker, "The President has been shot."

The attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan was a shocking moment for a 10-year-old kid. It was one of those moments that has stood out in my life as particularly noteworthy--one of those moments where I can say, 28 years later, "I remember where I was when . . . ." Other events that have a place on that list of noteworthy moments include June 1, 1983, the day I was told Coach Dean had died in a motorcycle accident (I was at the LC.U. baseball field, watching the Chaps play in the World Series); Jan. 28, 1986, the day of the Shuttle Challenger explosion (I was in the L.C.H.S. band hall); Oct. 11, 2003, the night I was told that my grandfather had suufered a major stroke (I was hanging pictures at my house in Idalou); and Aug. 1, 2007, the day I heard the awful words, "I'm not coming home, I want a divorce" (I was in a hotel room in Albuquerque).

I'm just wondering: why is it that these memorable occasions seem to always include circumstances of great tragedy and hardship?

Be a Giver, Not Just a Taker

I have enjoyed reading Tony Dungy's new book, Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance. It is a great book. In it Dungy comments on a variety of topics related to life and offers some tips on how to excel by not necessarily following the crowd, but by being a man of character. I especially liked his chapter entitled, Platforms, where he discusses how each of us has unique opportunities to make a difference in the world about us.

Dungy offers this statement: We all have opportunities to be either "takers" or "givers." Takers receive value from the lives of others around them. We all do that, and we should, to some extent. It helps us to become all we can be. Thank God for the people I've been around who have added value to my life. But we can't just take! We also must give or add value to the lives of those around us.

Ballplayers I Miss

As Opening Day 2009 quickly approaches, I find myself waxing nostalgic about ballplayers I loved to watch play way back when. Here's a list of the Big Leaguers I wish were still playing. Who makes your list?

1. Nolan Ryan
2. Dave Winfield
3. Tony Gwinn
4. Ozzy Smith (just think, #'s 2-3-4 were once Padres; two escaped!)
5. Greg Maddux
6. Mark McGwire (yes, I'm serious)
7. Bernie Williams
8. Cal Ripken, Jr. (even as an Oriole)
9. Willie McGee
10. Jim Abbott
11. Fernando Valenzuela
12. Andre Dawson (even as a Cub)
13. Roger Clemens (pre-1998, pre-steroid insanity)

And, there are players who took to the diamond before my lifetime (at least in their primes) that I would have loved to see play. They are:

1. Babe Ruth
2. Dizzy Dean
3. Stan Musial
4. Hank Aaron
5. Lou Gehrig
6. Satchel Paige
7. Sandy Koufax
8. Ted Williams
9. Roberte Clemente
10. Jackie Robinson
11. Walter Johnson
12. Ducky Medwick
13. Ty Cobb

A Dozen Oddities About Me

1. I actually like these Facebook character profiles. Perhaps that says something about my exciting life!

2. I spend 2-3 full days each week in my car (usually alone) travelling to various places around the country, and I actually usually enjoy that time. Except, of course, that stretch of highway from Santa Rosa to Clovis, New Mexico. But, Leal's makes that jaunt worthwhile!

3. I've purchased over a 100 books in the past 6 months, but I've read 4. I suppose this suggests a lack of self-discipline in two respects.

4. I drink iced tea, and usually only iced tea during the course of each day. Never sweetened. Never through a straw (unless I'm in my car driving 70mph).

5. I don't like to swim, never have, but I love being by the water, whether it be ocean, lake, river, or creek.

6. I remain a fan of the Dallas Cowboys. I guess I am a glutton for punishment.

7. I can get past the steroids, the thing that upsets me most about Clemens, Bonds, A-Rod, et.al. is the pathetic attitude and condescension shown by the guilty.

8. I'm a person of strong beliefs and preferences, but I believe compromise is often a wise course of action and a key to success.

9. I think faithfulness is much more about sincerity and attitude and compassion than it is about crossing off a checklist. And, I am beyond tired of the sectarian, bunker-mentality so many in my tradition of faith have espoused. I'm not sure that makes me odd (at least, I hope it doesn't), but I've born my share of criticism for believing it.

10. In the same vein . . . I spent over 15 years pursuing degrees in theology (at great personal debt), but have learned more about theology working with those in the cotton fields of SW Oklahoma and bean fields of SW Colorado than I ever did in a stuffy classroom or library. Again, not necessarily odd, but I am bewildered why so many churches are more interested in the degrees than they are in genuineness and character (and the same with preachers!).

11. On a lighter note . . . I'll spend a week at a Christian camp instead of a week on some beach in Hawaii any day.

12. I have over 440 friends in Facebook, and thousands more who are FB-uninitiates, many of whom I have known for 20 years, 30 years, and even close to 40 years! . . . and I still genuinely like most of you :-). Seriously, I love each of you; God has blessed me richly with countless friends . . . no, brothers and sisters. The real oddity, it seems . . . I don't understand why so many shun the richness of fellowship that comes from a church family. I just hope that is NOT because of the ugly way we treat each other sometimes.

Sports Thoughts

Curt Schilling has been a favorite player of mine since his days with the Philadelphia Phillies. I wish him the best in his retirement and fully expect him to be a 1st-ballot Hall of Famer in 5 years. There's only a handful of pitchers from the past generation that were as good as Schilling. My list of best pitchers in the past 20 years is:

Greg Maddux
Roger Clemens (yes, he remains on my list, despite his recent pathetic behavior)
Randy Johnson
Pedro Martinez
Tom Glavine
Curt Schilling
Mike Mussina
John Smoltz

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The Denver Broncos are out of their minds to be contemplating trading Jay Cutler. The new coach needs to eat some humble pie and make up with his star quarterback.

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I've tried, but I just can't get MAD about March Madness. I'll watch the Final Four (just as I'll watch the NBA Finals), but basketball has never lit my fire. Bring on the St. Louis Cardinals opener and the NFL Draft.

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This will be my third season in a row without Fantasy Baseball . . . I miss it! Anybody need another team in their league?

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So, T. O. isn't showing up for the Buffalo Bills voluntary workout this week. And people are surprised? But he's always been a team player ;-).

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Roger Bannister celebrates his 80th Birthday today. He is one of history's greatest athletes. Congratulations!

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Anybody for a round of golf? I'm worse than the Round Man of Rebound, but love to play. Its been over a year-and-a-half since I've hit the links.

Thinking About Churches

I spent time with three churches today. The visits were very enjoyable and a great blessing. Two were to smaller, rural churchs (or, rather churches in small towns), and the other was a large, urban church. One was somewhat progressive, the other two quite conservative (and which was which might surprise you). One sermon was given somewhat unorthodoxically by a youth minister (who did a spectacular job), another was given by a seasoned preacher (who delivered a rather traditional, by the book, but effective sermon), and the third was a rather routine mission report given by someone named Jeff Foster. All three churches, however, were vibrant, friendly, and certainly settings where God was proclaimed and praised and the worshippers encouraged.

I've said it before, but among the great blessings I have in life are the opportunities to visit so many congregations. On most Sundays (those on which I am away from Gallup), I worship with at least two churches, and occasionally, with three! The churches I have visited cover the spectrum (at least, the spectrum within the fellowship of Churches of Christ) of size, theology, vibrancy, etc. My visits in the past 18 months total over 100 during times of general assembly (worship), and I've been blessed to personally speak to approximately 70 churches (in 14 different states) during this time. During these visits, I've made some observations.

Chiefly, the key to church growth is NOT found in mechanics (or, how we "do" or "don't do" worship). Growth, in my humble opinion, is MUCH more about attitude and passion.

• Cheerfulness means so much more than whether or not a church sings contemporary or traditional, and supercedes any of the other debatable issues of our time. (And, by the way, a soulful "Amazing Grace" is just as stirring as a soul-pounding "Days of Elijah," and vice-versa.) Cheerfulness is communicated in the smiles that fill an auditorium, and in the eagerness to welcome visitors, and in the full-throated singing of those gathered (among other ways).
• Genuineness can be communicated as effervescently by a "stuffed vest" church as it can be a shorts and t-shirt clad group of worshippers. Genuineness is not rooted in arrogant condescension, but in a humble faith that yearns for the well-being of others and the earnest desire to share God's great love with all. Genuineness is seen clearly in the fruit produced in the lives of believers and NOT in methodology.

Oh, and one more observation . . . about church architecture. I am tired of performance halls (where the attendees look straight forward toward the stage). I long for a "theater in the round" setting, where worshipper and leader alike are together and the eyes of all are on all and the voices of all blend as offering raised to God.

Favorite Major Leaguers

Are you ready for some baseball? Not WBC, but the Major leagues? I am. I'm anticipating another phenomenal managerial job by Tony LaRussa and a better-than-expected season by the St. Louis Cardinals. But, at the end of the season, it will be the L. A. Dodgers and Boston Red Sox in the Word Series.

Here's a list of my favorite current big-leaguers. Who makes your list?

1. Ken Griffey, Jr. (a class act, just sad he'll never make a World Series)
2. Albert Pujols (simply, the best!)
3. Rick Ankiel (I've rooted for him since he was a pitcher)
4. Ryan Howard (great attitude and personality)
5. Josh Hamilton (great story . . . wishing he'll inspire the Rangers to great things)
6. Lance Berkman (fun to watch)
7. John Smoltz (it took me almost 20 years to appreciate him)
8. Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez (makes every team he plays with better)
9. Trevor Hoffman (one cool dude)
10. Randy Johnson (one tall dude!)

Resurrection Power

Three years of hope lay shattered. In its place gloom and despair had crept in, rather stormed in. The exaltation of the promised king entering the capital was now a distant memory, even thought the crowds were shouting, "Hosanna! Hosanna!," just a few days before. The future looked to be so bright, but now confusion reigned. What would happen now? Would the authorities come in search of the followers of this so-called pariah? Would they come to erase every hint of the euphoria that had been on display for the past three years?

These thoughts must have entered the minds of those huddled in the small room. These men and women who had left homes and businesses to follow Jesus of Nazareth were dismayed, frightened, and confused. Had their hopes been misplaced? Was this all a frightening nightmare? How could things go so wrong, when so much had been promised?

Then it happened! Jesus, the one they thought to be lost, appeared, standing in their midst! "Peace be with you," he says. "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have" (Luke 24). Seeing the doubt that lingers in the hearts of those present, Jesus takes a piece of fish and eats, showing them he is truly alive.

Doubts and fears give way to joy and exaltation. The hope, once shattered, is renewed. Jesus is alive!

A remarkable transformation took place within that group of disciples on that day. What had hours earlier been a group of frightened and distraught men and women, was now a gathering of excited and joyous people. Their Lord, the one they thought to be dead, was alive--Jesus had arisen! All of the energy and resource that they had devoted to this man had not been in vain--Jesus was alive! Their hope in him as the Messiah, thought to be destroyed by the Cross, was renewed--Jesus was alive!

The power of the Resurrection transformed fearful and dejected disciples into joyous men and women who went on to change their world for Christ. Has the power of the Resurrection affected you? Has the reality of Jesus' life changed your life?

Nashville

Some photos I have taken during my stay in Nashville, an exceptionally beautiful city. I'm quite impressed! The first photo is of the downtown skyline looking west across the Cumberland River (the Titans stadium is just behind me). The second photo is of the Tennessee State Capitol. Beautiful building . . . from the outside (the doors were closed on Saturday!). The final three photos are of Andrew Jackson's Hermitage (the first two of the mansion, and the last of Jackson's first residence on the acreage). I spent several hours touring the Hermitage. I enjoyed my time there immensely.

Where Will I Have My Funeral?

Several years ago, I served a church that was dying. It was a slow death and had been in process for 20 years before I came as preacher. Several factors contributed to the dying, most notably: (1) the town was losing its population, particularly its younger people; (2) a large city was nearby, and the bigger churches there had much more to offer, and so many younger families were attending there; and (3) the building where the church met was, for all practical purposes, hidden from the community and much too large for the small congregation using it (it is hard to attract new members when their first sight of a church is of 40 members spread out in an auditorium that seats 300!).

I offered a suggestion: build a new building on the main highway through town, preferably on the end of town closest to the large city, and in the direct path of the many families who were now going there to worship; and to build a new building that was small enough to comfortably accommodate the existing membership, but inviting to newcomers and with room to grow.

Now, I am not usually a proponent of church building projects. Churches tend to spend too much money on facilities, sacrificing funds that should be spent on reaching the lost and serving the needy. But, when a church gets to the point where its facility hampers growth, something needs to be done. Whether we like or not, a building is often the first impression people from the outside have of the church. And, in the case of the church of which I speak, the utility payments to keep the large and outmoded facility running ate up half of the monthly budget. A building project, it seemed to me, would give this church a new lease on life. A new building would not be an end-all-be-all to the church's problems, but it would be a great asset and something to build upon.

I still remember the response from one man in particular. He was a good and faithful man; one of my favorite brothers that I have had the privilege of knowing. But, his statement caught me off guard. He asked simply, "But where will I have my funeral?"

Perhaps I read too much into his words, but it seemed to me this brother was much more interested in the legacy of the church building and in his own self-interest than he was in the need for the church to grow. And, sadly, I don't think he is alone.

Where will I have my funeral? Didn't Jesus once say, "Let the dead bury their own dead"? He spoke in response to the man who answered Jesus' invitation to follow by saying, "But, I must first go bury my father" (Luke 9). Jesus' response to the man could be taken as cold-hearted, but our Lord was simply saying that there are matters of more importance than our self-interests and the mundane things of life. Jesus' response was a call to action, to figuratively put down the plow and get about the serious tasks of advancing the Kingdom in this world.

Now, I am not suggesting my request for a new church building was the wisest course of action. Maybe there was another solution. But, let's not paralyze ourselves into non-action because of our self-interests and refusals to step beyond what is known and comfortable. Let us be bold. A world filled with the lost is before us. And, our Lord has called us to action.

The Saturn V

I visited the U. S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama today on my trip from Montgomery to Nashville. Impressive! If you're ever in the area stop by; you will not be disappointed.

Montgomery, Alabama

I'm standing on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol. This is a grand old building with a significant history. It was in this building that the Confederacy was formed and Jefferson Davis appointed its first president. Montgomery served as the first capital of the Confederacy, before giving way to Richmond, Virginia. The second photo below is of the first White House of the Confederacy, serving as the Montgomery home for Jefferson Davis and his family.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Montgomery. It is a beautiful city.