Lunch Break

One guess as to where I ate lunch today. The lone star is a hint.

I have been to this majestic building several times in my life, but I leave impressed after each visit. It is a beautiful place. I love to walk the halls and view the artwork and historic notices. Today's visit had to be rather quick . . . just long enough for a quick stroll, a few pictures, and a bite to eat.

You know, I am a New Mexican by necessity of my employment . . . but I am a Texan by birth and heart. I have a shirt that I wear often that says it all . . . Texas is a state of mind.

Audie Murphy . . . now that was a great American. For the uninformed, he was the most decorated American soldier in World War II . . . and a Texan. The portrait hangs in the House Chamber of the Texas Capitol.

On the Road Again

My layover in Lubbock has drawn to a close, and I am back on the road in the morning.

I worship with the Dunn, Texas Church of Christ tomorrow morning. They are a small country church south of Snyder and a very generous bunch who care deeply about the welfare of children in need. They support a number of children's homes, including Manuelito Navajo Children's Home. I will be sharing with them a report on the work they sponsor at MNCH. I'm looking forward to being with them.

Tomorrow night, I will visit with the church in Lamesa, Texas and then travel on to Abilene for the night. On Monday, I will drive to Houston. I will spend several days there visiting churches. Then, its on to the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. I speak at Bowie, Tex. on Dec. 7 and at Farmersville, Tex. on Dec. 14. I will be making other contacts and visits, as well.

I return to Lubbock on Dec. 15 and then to Gallup with my girls!!! on the 19th.

I love sharing the news about the Manuelito Home and the children of the Navajo Nation. Please pray for my safe travels and effectiveness in raising much needed support for an important ministry.

BCS Hopes

Texas vs. Oklahoma for the National Championship. That would be perfect. It can happen.

Oklahoma needs to take care of business tomorrow night and bury OSU.

Bobby Bowden and his Seminoles need to humble Florida tomorrow afternoon.

Florida needs to then beat Alabama in the SEC Championship next weekend.

OU/Texas (whichever) needs to dispatch Missouri in the Big 12 Championship.

Then . . . Texas and Oklahoma (ranked 1 and 2/2 and 1 in the BCS) are scheduled to meet in Miami in January. Think Red River Shootout times 100! This one would be for all the marbles.

And, sorry to all the disillusioned Tech fans here in Lubbock . . . you don't get second chances when you get beat by 44 points! Get over it!

Curiosity Killed the Cat

I bought the new album from the "reunited" rock band Asia today. The original line-up (discounting a couple of other "hybrids") came back together for the first time in 25 years to record an album. I was curious what these guys would sound like after 25 years apart . . . they should have stayed apart! The album is horrible.

What a disappointment!

I first heard Asia when I was in the 8th grade, on a youth mission trip to Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Up until that point in time, I was a big country music geek (since that was all my family listened to) . . . I didn't quite think that rock-n-roll was devil's music, but it wasn't for me. That is until that fateful day I heard "Don't Cry," from Asia's second album, "Alpha." I was hooked.

To this day, Asia's first two albums remain among my favorites. Their newest offering, "Phoenix," is a pale imitation.

Asia is not the first music band to try to recapture the magic of eons ago. It seems that every rock band of the past has put themselves onto the nostalgic trip (and some--the Rolling Stones!--have been been pursuing nostalgia non-stop for, what, the past 3 centuries!). Why do they bother? Why rest on the creativity and artistry of decades past? Why not push themselves to evolve, to discover new chords and rhythms, to create original music?

Think Johnny Cash. The music he produced in the years prior to his death was different in many ways from the music he created when he was in his 30s and before. There was a certain progression in his music. He experimented. He wasn't afraid to do something new. After all, in his later years, he recorded with the likes of Bono and U2 . . . this singer who came from the Mississippi Delta land of Arkansas!

Or, consider Ricky Skaggs. In the 80's he was the Brad Paisley and Garth Brooks of the day. But, now 20 years later, he is a bluegrass trailblazer . . . and even blending his bluegrass sound with the eclectic "jazz" of Bruce Hornsby.

And, Eric Clapton . . . from rock "god" to a prince of the blues (there is only one King . . . B. B., that is!) . . . and master of the acoustical set.

These men and other pushed themselves into different facets and genres of music and are still creating new and satisfying sounds. So, why, are Asia, Styx, Journey, Rush, and the like dressing up in leather pants at age 50 and 60 and putting out the same old stuff?

Now, don't get me wrong, I like the old stuff . . . the original old stuff . . . and I throw those tunes into my CD player all the time . . . but the tracks are (c) 1983 and not (c) 2008!

Three Precious Gifts

Ignore the ugly guy in back. The three beautiful jewels in front remain the primary focus of my Thanksgiving.

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Terry Rush has penned another probing and challenging blog post, entitled The Restoration Movement and Its Demise. Read it.

Quips from the Gipper

He's the greatest president of my lifetime (and, in my thinking, the past century). Here are some great comments by Ronald Reagan.


"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so."

"Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong."

"I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress."

"Freedom is not something to be secured in any one moment of time. We must struggle to preserve it everyday. And freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction."

"The taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination."

"Government is like a baby: An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other."

"How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin."

"We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions."

"The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program."

"It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first."

"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."

"America is too great for small dreams."

"Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed, there are many rewards; if you disgrace yourself, you can always write a book."

"No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women."

"America needs God more than God needs America. If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under."

"Let us resolve that young Americans will always find there is a city of hope in a country that is free. . . and let us resolve they will say of our day and our generation, we did keep the faith with our God, that we did act worthy of ourselves, that we did protect and pass on lovingly that shining city on a hill."

"All great change in America begins at the dinner table."

"When the liberals say 'family,' they mean, 'Big Brother in Washington.' When we say 'family,' we mean, 'honor thy father and mother.'"

Turkey Day Toons

This Bond Doesn't Stick

I watched the latest Bond flick tonight, Quantum of Solace. Not quite a waste of $8.50 and two hours of my time, but close. It isn't a dissatisfaction with the producers "rethinking" Bond, because I liked what they tried in Casino Royale, nor a displeasure with Daniel Craig, because I think he's nearly as good as Connery in the role (yes, I mean that), but this episode lacks a coherent or compelling story.

I did like the trailer for the newest Star Trek, however (that may have been worth the cost of admission tonight). But, I've got to wait until May 2009 to see the actual movie. Argh!

Lubbock Now 218Large!

For most of my life, I have been fascinated with the Lubbock city limits signs, particularly the ever growing population numbers posted thereon. Every few years the signs are updated with a new number. I heard today that the new number will be in excess of 218,000. I can remember the many years of eagerly awaiting the day when Lubbock officially eclipsed the 200,000 milestone . . . that happened several years ago. My hometown just keeps growing and changing.

Here are a few things I like about Lubbock (in no particular order):

• (for the most part) nice, down-to-earth people
• wide streets
• a "clean" look
• all those "W" bumper stickers, even though his last election was in '04
• Lubbock Christian University
• (for the South Pains) lots of trees
• its in Texas, after all
• football is king
• most of my family is here, and many, many friends
• the Christ-centered culture
• great weather (w/ exception of occasional dust storm)
• it's not Amarillo!
• it's not anything like San Francisco
• faith, family and country still matter . . . big time!
• the drive on 19th Street between Frankford and Quaker
• you can be anywhere in the city in, at most, 15 minutes
• hard work and integrity are valued . . . and expected
• and, of course, Rosa's

Off the Bandwagon

65-21. Can't say I was surprised. I had rooted for the losing team . . . the first time I can ever remember rooting against the Oklahoma Sooners. But, as I stated a couple of weeks ago, I was overriding my support of O.U. to root for the hometeam Texas Tech Red Raiders (something I have also rarely down in life). I was caught up in the euphoric silliness that believed a Tech football team actually had a shot at the national championship. Last night, the silliness was buried in one big reality check.

Now that all is right with the world, and my senses have come back to me, I'm riding the Sooner train all the way to Miami. The Sooners will defeat the Alabama Crimson Tide for their 7th National Championship. Although, there may be some difficulty in telling the uniforms apart.

Mac Davis Had It All Wrong

Lubbock. Home. It's that simple.

My official residence is Gallup, New Mexico, but Lubbock, Texas is and always will be home. This is where I was raised. This is where my parents (and many extended family) remain. So much of my identity and values find their roots here.

I'm back in Lubbock for the next 10 days. The visit is partly business, but mostly about family. I will continue on from here to spend two weeks in North Texas (all about business there) and then come back to Lubbock for a few days before returning to Gallup for Christmas WITH MY KIDS!

And, a trip to Lubbock is never complete without a pilgrimage to the mecca of semi-fast, casual-chic, Mexican dining . . . Rosa's Cafe. I was there at 11:25 this morning ready to indulge in beef fajitas and possibly the best guacamole and salsa around. Let's see: 10 days in Lubbock, 10 trips to Rosa's? It's possible, perhaps likely . . . better stock up on the Zantac, just in case!

Back to Texas

Two weeks at home: it's time to hit the road again. Tomorrow, I'm off to Texas, with a stop in Carlsbad, New Mexico tomorrow night. This trip will be a mere 31 days and take me primarily to Lubbock and Dallas/Ft. Worth. As of today, I know I will be speaking to congregations in Dunn, Tex. on Nov. 30; Bowie, Tex. on Dec. 7; and Farmersville, Tex. on Dec. 14. I'm still working out some other visits.

The highlight of the trip, of course, is time spent with my daughters and mom and dad. Because of my need to be on the left coast last month, it has been a few weeks since I was able to travel to Texas to see my girls. Speaking regularly on the telephone is not an adequate substitute. I MISS THEM greatly. Separation from your children (and they from you) never grows easier. You know, divorce really is an act of the evil one. I pray and pray that others would realize this!

In the News

Did you know that an egg costs 35 billion dollars in Zimbabwe? Of course, their dollar is the least valued currency in the world (by far). One U. S. Dollar is worth 642,371,437,695,221,000 Zimbabwean dollars (that's 642 quadrillion to one!). And, we thought we were having money problems.

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The feel good news story of the day . . .

Twenty-three year old Ulysses Milana of Maine just joined the Marines. To be eligible for enlistment, he had lost 140 pounds in 11 months. Now, that is a young man who is devoted to serving his country. I'm very proud that men like him have my back.

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I resisted the Vista upgrade for a long time, but the Home presented me with a new office computer this week, and it has Vista. So far, I'm impressed (actually, relieved, is more like it . . . everything is working). I do especially like one feature: the stock photos (a sample shot of Monument Valley is above).

Great Post on Elders & Churches

As usual, Terry Rush has an awesome post on his blog, Morning Rush. As a recovering preacher who has served 6 congregations and 5 sets of elders, Terry's analysis is right on the mark.

The Root Cause? Excess!

So, the leaders of the world's 20 largest economies met in Washington D.C. over the weekend for a Global Economic Summit. They met to address the growing worldwide recession. On the menu for the State dinner: $300 bottles of wine! Now, I'm just a poor guy out in western New Mexico, but in these economically troubled times couldn't they have served 5 cent pitchers of Lipton Iced Tea, instead?

Guess who picked up the tab? Take a good look at your withholding on your next paycheck!

I'm a recovering preacher not an economist, but it seems like many of the recent financial problems besetting our country and world can be traced back to excess. Prospective home owners getting mortgages that were more than they could handle. Consumers maxing out a dozen credit cards. Union workers demanding and getting huge benefits packages that the companies had no hope of paying. CEO's and other executives seeking huge salaries and stock options. The Federal government spending and spending, promising and promising, without any hope of ever balancing the books . . . just quick to print an ever-increasing supply of cash.

Now, this recovering preacher is one of the guilty. I have never been disciplined with money and gotten into my share of debt (those student loans are pesky little things, aren't they?). It seems to be that excess and an acceptance of debt are part and parcel of our society . . . BUT, as Dave Ramsey is so keen to say, "The debtor is slave to the lender." Our way of living is unsustainable!

The words of the apostle Paul are instructive. Philippians 4.11-13: "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed of hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (NIV). Notice, he doesn't say the secret of contentment is maxing out a Wal-Mart credit card or purchasing the latest Prius!

Can You Donate a Bible?

We have a great need at Manuelito Navajo Children's Home and at Gallup Christian School. We need several NIV Study Bibles for our children and students to use. Most of our kids come to us without ever having touched a Bible, much less read one. We have several old and tattered Bibles for them to have and use, but many of these are older versions (lots of KJV). But, our kids need Bibles that are easier to read, and they would certainly profit from having a Bible with some study helps.

Could you add a Bible to your Christmas shopping list and provide a child from the Navajo Nation the blessing of a good Bible? If so, purchase the Bible (hardcover NIV Study Bible would be the best) and mail it to Manuelito Navajo Children's Home; P.O. Box 58; Gallup, NM 87305. Mark the package to my attention: c/o Jeff Foster. We need a total of 30 Bibles. Bibles with thumb-indexing would be an ever greater blessing.

Asking a favor of those bloggers who happen by this site: Will you put a notice of this appeal on your blog? Many thanks.

Random Thoughts

I went a whole month without Cracker Barrel (the left coast doesn't have them!), so in the week I've been home in Gallup, I have made up for lost time. My days go so much better after I've had my two eggs, sausage, hash browns, wheat toast, and half-gallon of iced tea.

I've been in Cracker Barrel so much in the past week (8 visits) that I wouldn't be surprised if the manager handed me a "Rising Star" smock and puts me to work.

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It took me 35 years to discover Johnny Cash. Now his music is a staple in my CD player.

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I read another story in the USA Today this morning about the safe-haven law in Nebraska. Thirty-four teenagers and older youth have been abandoned by their parents in the months since this law came into effect. Some of the children have been reunited with their families, but many have been placed in foster care.

I'm not certain where I come down on the controversy this law has produced--whether the law should be left as is, or amended to allow only the abandonment of infants. I just know the situation has highlighted the desperation so many families find themselves in. Whether it be the heartlessness or irresponsibility of parents, the challenging economic fortunes of some, or the unruliness of some kids, it is obvious that families are in crisis.

I cannot help but think that too many families lack the great resource of community. From the article I read this morning, it seems that many of the children who have been abandoned by parents come from single-parent families or families where a parent is incarcerated, addicted to drugs, mentally unstable, and estranged from extended family members. Children need a support system that ranges far beyond the immediacy of father and mother and sibling. An aspect of ancient culture that is sorely missed today is life lived within the context of family, clan/tribe, community, nation . . . and, I must add, church (or, community of faith). I was blessed to have parents who kept me connected not merely within our house, but also our neighborhood, and church.

Perhaps the situation in Nebraska should waken all of us to the responsibilities each of us have to each other.

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I have rooted for the Oklahoma Sooners since I was a kid, but tomorrow I will be cheering on the Texas Tech Red Raiders to defeat O.U. and move one step closer to a #1 ranking and a shot at the national Championship. Call it a case of hometown loyalty.

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Any body up for a round of golf? It's been 13 months since I last walked a course.

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Six days and counting to Rosa's! It's been over 5 weeks since my last bite of beef fajitas! It's a shock that I'm still breathing.

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I absolutely love playing Santa Clause. I'll be travelling for the next 5 weeks, so Santa went shopping last night. Finding those special gifts (insofar as they can be found at Wally World) for my special little girls is a great joy. In route to that mecca of American commercialism, I even popped in the latest Christmas offering from Mannheim Steamroller . . . Christmasville. The only thing better, is watching my beautiful girls rip open their packages and seeing their smiles and hearing their laughter.

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Life is full up of ups and downs, but without a doubt, God is soooo good!

Life Is Worth the Effort

This photo was taken Saturday at the Open House we hosted on the campus of Manuelito Navajo Children's Home. As you can see, one of the attractions was a rock-climbing wall. Our kids at the Home absolutely loved it. One of our boys scaled the wall 38 times! I refrained from an attempt, however, out of the fear I would topple the thing over :-).

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You know, life is a lot like scaling a rock-climbing wall. Commitment/choice. Effort. Strategy/forward thinking. Concentration. Assistance. Exhaustion. Exhilaration. Failure. Success. All of these are involved in the rock-climbing experience and also with life.

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A lot of life is grounded around the choices and commitments we make and don't make. For some, even many, choices can be confounding, perhaps crippling. But, life cannot be taken for granted, we must place one foot in front of the other. Life isn't a conveyor belt. We can't sit around hoping life will come to us (in the form of a great paycheck, a hot date, a thrill of a lifetime, whatever our anticipation is centered on) . . . we have to take a step and go after it. When climbing a rock-wall, you must reach your arm up to a handhold and lift your foot up to a foothold and pull your body up; the apparatus isn't going to do the work for you. You must decide to go!

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Effort is certainly a component of life. Life is work. It doesn't come easy, even to those who seem to live on Easy Street. Life is a marathon (actually, a series of marathons); it is not a sprint; it is not a casual Sunday stroll. There will be some lulls along the way. Even moments where we can stop and smell the roses. But, there are gonna be some long, rough slugs as well. Moments (or, years!) when we're trudging up a 9% grade (on a good day!), with the wind howling around us and rain beating in our face. But, there is a summit, and then it is all down hill . . . that is, of course, until we hit the next hill! Yet, I'm told hat with age and maturity, life begins to level out to a more consistent plain. Hills and plateaus, even mountain ranges, remain, but or aptitude for life grows. Our efforts pay off.

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Life requires thought. Mindlessness leads nowhere (or, rather, to some serious pitfalls). Life doesn't come equipped with Autopilot, or cruise control, but with big signs, "Lots of Assembly Required," and "Proceed with Caution." Life is much easier and productive when we look ahead to the horizon (and beyond) and set out goal and then plot the course required to reach that goal. In scaling a rock-climbing wall proficiently, the climber looks above and finds the ideal handholds and footholds, she plots her course with a distinct strategy guiding her way.

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Pay attention! How many of life's travails could be avoided, or be made much-less destructive, if we simply paid attention to what we were doing, to our surroundings, to those around us, and to the course before us? Effort is not simply a matter of physical application and force, it is a lot of brain power, as well. Was it Lombardi that said, "Football is 90% mental"? Put "life" in the sentence, and it would be as true.

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Life is not lived in a vacuum, with merely ourselves and immediate surroundings. No, life is full myriad things, especially those people close and far. A rock climber rarely will set out on his own; to do so can often be suicidal. Someone is needed to hold the guide rope, to help plot the course, to share in the work of setting spikes and giving a helping hand. Life is best lived when in tandem or association with a partner or partners. After all, God Himself, our Creator, declared, "It is not good for man to be alone." Interconnectedness is a key to life.

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Life will be tiring, even exhausting at many points along the way, but there will also be ample exhilaration, when our weariness will drop away and newfound energy and excitement will rush over. Remember the exhilaration of scaling a high mountain--the course up filled with tightened muscles, thirst (and, in my case, heavy panting!)--and the moment of finally looking out from the peak onto the valley and plains far below. That's a lot like a new mother and father staring down at their beautiful new child in the moments following a very difficult pregnancy. Or, the proud parents applauding a son as he walks across the graduation stage following the many years of the awkwardness and challenges of raising a child.

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Success and failure. Failure and success. Life is filled with both. A rock climber is not always going to find the best hold. He may slip a time or two. H may even have to descent before a successful ascent can be mounted. Keep going. That's the key. Learn from mistakes. Observe the success of others. Try, and try again. Life is worth the effort.

Older Even than Dine'tah

Today, Trey Morgan has a moving post about a great need in the country of Honduras and the efforts of some compassionate young men and women to help. Visit the post here and contribute what you can to this good work.

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I was blessed with the opportunity to teach the high school Bible class at Gallup Christian School this morning. I will do so again on Friday and Wednesday of the coming week. These opportunities are some of the highlights of my all-too-short homecomings to Gallup. I enjoy going out on the road and talking to churches about MNCH, but I absolutely love to get back to my roots as a preacher and youth minister and teach and peach God's Word. Especially to our kids at the Home and School.

These kids, for the most part, have had no experience with Jesus and the Bile before coming to MNCH. Many are still very stepped in the traditional beliefs and practices of the Navajo people. It can be a challenge to talk about the Gospel in a way that makes sense and is not overtly threatening or unsettling. The love of God for humanity (especially the person of Jesus) communicates very easily, but the particulars of "Bible-speak" can be hard to convey. But, I enjoy the challenge . . . rather, opportunity . . . to share what I hold dear and what I know is meant to be a blessing for all humanity.

My task in these three classes I've been asked to teach is to give a general introduction to the Bible. Not a subject that is easily reduced to three class periods. But, I'm focusing primarily on the specialness of Scripture.

To this end, I related one of my favorite stories this morning. It is of a man, an archaeologist, who discovered a fragment of Numbers 6 (the Priestly Blessing, vv. 24-26) in an amulet/locket in the ruin of a house outside of Jerusalem. Once dated, this fragment was determined to have been from at least the 8th Century B.C. That is the time of Isaiah! I used this story to speak about the ancient nature and genuineness of the Bible. Here is the case of a person living 2,800 years ago who cherished a portion of God's Word by keeping it close to their person (in a locket hanging from their neck). Wow!

I then compared the ancientness of that portion of Scripture with the ancientness of many of the Native American ruins that are close to Gallup. We have Canyon de Chelly to our northwest, first inhabited in the 5th Century A.D.; and Mesa Verde to our north, first inhabited in the 7th C. A.D.; ad Chaco Canyon to our northeast, regarded by some of the Dine' (Navajo) as the birthplace of their people), first inhabited in the 8th-9th C. A.D.

Th Navajo treasure what is long-standing and preserved (a trait I deeply admire of this beautiful people), and so the comparison I drew of the ancientness of Scripture (as represented in the Priestly Blessing fragment), and how it even outdated the cherished sites of Navajo and Pueblobean (or, Anasazi) history and culture, made an impact of the kids I was teaching. And, I must say, on me as well.

I love the words of the Psalmist:
The instruction of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.
The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad;
the commandment of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up.
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous.
They are more desirable than gold--than an abundance of pure gold;
and sweeter than honey--than honey dripping from the comb.

(The words of Psalm 19.7-10 in the Holman Christian Standard Bible)

To Whom We Owe Our Freedom!

It is my estimation that when historians look back to my generation (graduated 1988) they will conclude that a lesser percentage of us served in the U. S. Armed Forces than in any other generation previous and perhaps following.

You see, my generation came of age at the ending of the Cold War when it seemed that armed conflicts were largely a thing of the past. Yes, the first Gulf War happened just three years following my class's graduation from high school, and that did result in the enlistment of some my age, but that war came about when many my age had already set themselves on a career path, and many had already married and started families. So, few of my generation served in the military. Indeed, of all the many friends and classmates I had in school, I know of only one or two who served in the military.

As I reflect on this Veteran's Day this contrast of generations came to mind. I am afraid that so many my age have taken for granted the great sacrifices of those who went before us, those men who dedicated themselves to serving the country in very trying and dangerous times and circumstances. Men who put themselves in harm's way, so that their children could have the prospect of living in a free and safe country. These men are the one's to whom we owe the freedom we now enjoy.

I am reminded of the third stanza of America the Beautiful, our sentimental national anthem. The words of Katherine Lee Bates: "O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine, till all success be nobleness, and ev'ry gain divine."

As I reflect on this Veteran's Day, I am deeply proud to be the son of a veteran of the U.S. Navy, who served in the Vietnam War, and who served for 20 years, and the grandson of a veteran of the U. S. Army, who served and was wounded in World War II (Philippines).

Home? Yes, finally!

Eleven states. 9,996 miles. 50 days. Three time zones. (What seemed like) four seasons. 83 visits to churches. 12 opportunities to speak to congregations. 2 Christian college lectureships. A whole month without seeing a Cracker Barrel, Rosa's, or Chick-fil-A. One broken down vehicle, subsequently repaired. Countless new friends.

That's a quick summary of my latest trip. It was productive for the Home. It was personally enjoyable, but also exhausting. I have enjoyed the past 3 days and counting being home in Gallup. Home? Sometimes it seems that the asphalt of some Interstate highway or the spartan interior of a Days Inn room is my home, but whenever I return to Gallup, I realize that this is my home. I am blessed to be here. I am blessed to represent Manuelito Navajo Children's Home. I am blessed to be a part of the Gallup Church of Christ. I am blessed to live on the border of the vast and beautiful Navajo Nation. It is good to be home . . . for another 9 days! Then, it's off to Texas, again.

The photos are among the last I took on my trip. They are of the Colorado River in Moab, Utah.

Utah State Capitol . . . in the Snow

Gingrich in 2012!!!

Well, the election is over, and the outcome is not what I had wanted. BUT, I pray that our nation can come together and support our new president. May he lead with wisdom and humility. I pray that he and our other leaders will seek God's council. I pray that our nation will be kept safe and prosper and honor God in our morality and concern for one another, especially for those who are less fortunate and in need.

Despite what has happened today, I know that our God reigns, and that He will effect His way despite the challenges that are put before Him.

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I am now in Salt Lake City, Utah, my first visit to this beautiful place. I will be here until Thursday making visits for the Manuelito Navajo Children's Home. And, then, I make the final leg of my trip home. I am so ready to sleep in my own bed!!!

Here's a photo of the Idaho State Capitol in Boise. It is a replica of the U. S. Capitol, albeit a significantly smaller version. I have also attached some photos of the Columbia River east of Portland, Oregon and the countryside of southern Idaho. Yes, that is snow!

Ate a Tater in Idaho

I've added a new state to my travels: Idaho. This is my first visit. I'm in Boise for the night before I continue toward home. I will be in Salt Lake City tomorrow.

FALLing for Oregon

My first visit to Oregon is drawing to a close. I will begin my journey home tomorrow morning, a trip that will take me through Idaho and Utah. My six days in Oregon (and 45 days on the road) have been profitable for Manuelito Navajo Children's Home. I had some good visits with churches and especially enjoyed my time with the Gladstone Church of Christ this morning and the Oregon City Church of Christ tonight. These are two wonderful congregations; their love for Jesus and for one another is so encouraging.

My travels take me to many places, and it is hard to be away from my family and friends for long periods of time. But, it is so heartwarming to walk into a church building and know that there I will be surrounded by family. As we share in faith, as Christ's blood washes us clean, we belong together, we are family . . . even when we have never previously met!

Fill 'er Up, Please!

A couple of observations about Oregon:

1. I like the "NO" sales tax
2. I do NOT like that I am NOT allowed to fill my own gas tank . . . it's an odd thing to drive up to a fuel pump and have a 70-something-year-old female station attendant come up to my window and ask, "Can I fill 'er up?" (That really happened yesterday.) Oregon is one of two states that do not allow drivers to operate a fuel pump at a filling station (New Jersey is the other)

. . . the harder they fall!

Following Lewis & Clark . . . 200 Years Later

I visited Fort Clatsop yesterday. Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Expedition spent the winter of 1805-1806 here. It represented the westernmost terminus of their historic journey to explore the Louisiana Purchase and to find a route to the Pacific Ocean. The fort that stands today is a replica, of course; the original is lost to history (but built anew through the drawings and notations found in Lewis's journal).

I have been fascinated with the story for the Corps of Discovery for a long time. It was truly neat to stand on the ground upon which they stood, and worked, and lived two centuries ago. Here are some pictures.

Shipwreck

This is what's left of the Peter Iredale, a British sailing ship that ran aground on the Oregon coast on October 25, 1906 . . . 102 years ago!
Today was fairly overcast, but the view of the Pacific was spectacular, nonetheless. I will post more photos later, including some I took of Fort Clatsop, where Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery spent the winter of 1805-06.

Oregon

My travels for Manuelito Navajo Children's Home have brought me to Portland, Oregon. I will be here until Monday and speaking to the Gladstone Church of Christ on Sunday morning and the Oregon City Church of Christ on Sunday night.

This is my first trip to the Northwest, and I am greatly impressed by the beauty. The drive from the California-Oregon state line to Portland is spectacular. Every inch of real estate is beautiful. Here are some photos I took along the way.

This last photo is of the Oregon Sate Capitol in Salem. Its a rather impressive building, but it does look a lot like a mausoleum. And, from a distance the gold statue on top reminded me of Moroni!

Awesome Weed, Man!

This is the view from the parking lot of McDonald's in Weed, California. Is there another McDonald's in America with a better view?That's Mt. Shasta in the background. The photo does not give this mountain justice . . . Mt. Shasta stands 14,162 feet (the second tallest mountain in California). The town of Weed sits at about 3,000 feet . . . that's 11,000 feet of prominence! To compare: Pikes Peak stands at 14,110 feet, while Colorado Springs is at 6,000 feet, leaving only 8,000 feet of prominence--and there's no Cheyenne Mt. to crowd a photo of Shasta. To put it simply, Mt. Shasta is a massive mountain (and a non-dormant volcano, at that . . . it last erupted in the 1700s).

A deer visiting the cemetery? I'd like to think she stopped to pose for the picture.Another view of Mt. Shasta. I'm gonna have to return when the sky is clear and when the peak is clothed in snow. The view of the glacier fields is impressive, though (upper left).
Here's a view of the Klameth River in far northern California (6 miles short of the Oregon border). I looked for salmon (they're supposed to be running upstream), but I didn't spot any. But, I loved seeing the changing colors of the foliage.

The lady at the visitor center said they're expecting the first snowfall of the season in a few days. It's hard to believe the year has almost drawn to a close.

Too Much of a Good Thing?

Superman III. A Return to Snowy River. After Mash. And . . .

I'm in a motel room in Chico, California watching Godfather III. I saw it once before, many years ago. I had forgotten how inferior it is to the first two movies of the franchise. The first two, of course, are masterpieces of the cinema. This last film is second-rate, at best. It really is much more like a TV movie than the follow-up to two of the greatest movies of all time. Maybe I can catch another running of SportsCenter instead of wading through the last hour-and-a-half of this dribble.

Better yet, I will read another chapter or two in The Afghan Campaign, by Steven Pressfield. It is a wonderful fictionalized account of Alexander the Great's campaign to conquer the tribes of Afghanistan in the 4th Century B.C. Though fiction, it is founded on a thorough command of Macedonian culture and warfare. If you like this kind of literature, head over to amazon.com and get you a copy. I found my copy at Barnes & Noble for $5.99--on their discount rack! Not bad for a hardback.

Where Will I Wake Up?

I've heard airline pilots joke that at times they forget where they are. This, because of their near-constant travel, and the different places they visit all blending together. I can relate.

Since January, I have spent at least one night in these places (and, in many of these places, more than one night):

California
Fresno
Rancho Cordova
Pinole
Salinas
Turlock
San Bernardino
Camarillo

Arizona
Flagstaff
Phoenix
Scottsdale
Chandler

Utah
Blanding

Colorado
Grand Junction
Durango
Silverton (Cascade Lodge)
Dolores (Four Corners Camp)

Kansas
Liberal
Great Bend
Wichita

Arkansas
Searcy
Arkadelphia

Tennessee
Jackson

Oklahoma
Tulsa
Edmond
Shawnee
McAlister
Elk City
Yukon
Duncan

Texas
Lubbock
Amarillo
Clarendon
Childress
Wichita Falls
Midland
Pecos
El Paso
Alpine
Sweetwater
Abilene
San Angelo
Junction
San Antonio
Corpus Christi
Houston
Temple
Austin
Plano
Arlington
Lewisville
Flower Mound

New Mexico
Santa Fe
Albuquerque
Gallup

Yes, I have actually spent a night at home in Gallup! Although, it seems like many years since I've been there. Actually, its been 39 days since I've been home (and counting . . . I've got 9 more days to go on this trip, and another 5 overnight stops!). However, to be honest, I was home for 45 minutes on October 10! A pit stop on a drive from Lubbock, Texas to Flagstaff, Arizona, and then on the next day to Turlock, California.

I really do love the travel. This is a beautiful country! And, I've seen everything from the Mohave Desert, to the Pacific Ocean, to the Great Plains, to the Mississippi River, to the Grand Canyon, to the Colorado Rockies, to the Gulf Coast, to Monument Valley, to the Sierra Nevadas, to the Great Bend, and, for the past several days, to the San Joaquin Valley of California.

I spent today "pitching" another double header. I visited the church in Dinuba, Calif. this morning and the congregation at Farmersville, Calif. tonight. I enjoyed being with both families and sharing some news about the Manuelito Navajo Children's Home. These are two small churches with big hearts.

I have said it many times before, but the great blessing of my job (other than talking about the beautiful kids we have at MNCH) is spending time with so many different congregations. Big ones. Small ones. Churches in the city. Those in the country. Traditional churches. Churches trying some new things. Affluent churches Those in low income neighborhoods. Some common denominators: a love for Jesus, a love for each other, and a heart for those in need. May God be praised!

At Sutter's Mill

I visited a place I've been fascinated with for most of my life, Sutter's Mill. I remember reading a book while in the 3rd or 4th grades about John Marshall's discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848. It was a great book, and I've wanted to visit the mill site ever since. Today, the place is a California state park. The mill, destroyed by a flood in 1862, has been reconstructed.

Here Yesterday, Gone Today!

Proverbs 11.28 -- Those who trust in their riches will wither, but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.

Seven trillion dollars! That's a seven followed by twelve zeroes. An astronomical sum, particularly from the perspective of someone making a low five-digit salary, but that is the amount of wealth that has been lost in the U.S. stock markets during the past few weeks (and that is a conservative estimate!).

Seven trillion dollars . . . is there any clearer demonstration of the fleeting nature of wealth to be found? "Here one day and gone the next," isn't that the saying we hear from time to time? But, do we live our life with this philosophy in mind?

Modern society is built on the philosophy that happiness is a product of wealth and possessions. From birth, the idea that more is better is taught. And, so, we work and earn, work and earn. It's all about the money, isn't it?

Days and nights spent on the job. A family at home without a father. A church left without a sister. The health of the body, mind and soul all but forgotten. "Gotta pay the bills, gotta put food on the able, gotta buy this, gotta buy that, gotta save up for the future." It's all about the money, isn't it?

Money is a necessity--life in this world requires the green. But, wealth is simply a means to an end, it is a resource and nothing more. "Here today, gone tomorrow." These words are so true. Why can't we hear them over, "Gotta, gotta, gotta"?

Seven trillion dollars . . . here yesterday, but gone today!

At the End of the Rainbow?

I took this photo a few weeks ago while driving on I-40, west of Santa Rosa, New Mexico.

San Francisco

I left my heart in San Francisco . . . well, no! It is a beautiful city, and probably the most cosmopolitan place I have ever visited, and full of history and striking architecture, but I can't imagine living there. I am way to simple and traditional in my outlook and manner of life to ever be at home in San Francisco.

Here are some more photos from my visit to the city by the Bay.

Observations

1. I am a lifelong and committed Dallas Cowboy fan, so let me say . . . "Go Titans!" My great hopes for this season are quickly dissipating. The Cowboys are "playing" like a group of overpaid and cocky athletes who seem to think a Super Bowl is an entitlement and not something they must earn on the playing field. Jeff Fisher's Titans seem to be the antithesis of this.


2. The San Francisco Bay area is a beautiful place filled with a lot of strange people! I am enjoying my time here, but this is as far away from my "Texas roots" as I have ever been.


3. I have found good Mexican food in northern California . . . Chevys is a great place to eat.


4. I am tired of hotel beds!!!


5. I absolutely love The Cosby Show . . . even when watching an episode for the 15th time. Why can't the Networks make TV like that again?


6. I met someone who knows Willie Mays yesterday. Now, that was a baseball player!


7. The Democrats controlling the Presidency and both houses of Congress??? I'm afraid that the next two years will result in the raising of taxes (and, yes, even on those making far less than 250k), the cramping down on free speech and dissent (the "Fairness Doctrine"), the socialization of medical care, the government takeover of the oil companies and other "Big" industries, the radicalization of the courts (to a further degree), the weakening of the military and our national safety . . . and the list continues.


8. Whatever happens in the election, the KING still rules!

Pics from the Pacific Coast Highway

I remain partial to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, but the coast of California is one of the most beautiful places I have been blessed to visit. These photos come from my journey up the Pacific Coast Highway from Cambria to Monterey.

Why I'm Voting Democrat

(Borrowed from an e-mail I received today.)

I'm voting Democrat, because I believe the government will do a better job of spending the money I earn than I would.

I'm voting Democrat, because freedom of speech is fine as long as nobody is offended by it.

I'm voting Democrat, because when we pull out of Iraq I trust that the bad guys will stop what they're doing because they now think we're good people.

I'm voting Democrat because, I believe that people who can't tell us if it will rain on Friday CAN tell us that the polar ice caps will melt away in ten years if I don't start driving a Prius.

I'm voting Democrat, because I'm not concerned about the rights of victims of crimes so long as we keep all death row inmates alive.

I'm voting Democrat, because I believe that business should not be allowed to make profits for themselves. They need to break even and give the rest away to the government for redistribution to the freeloaders.

I'm voting Democrat, because I believe liberal judges need to rewrite the Constitution every few days to suit some fringe wackos who would NEVER get their agendas past the voters.

I'm voting Democrat, because I believe that open borders and government give-a-ways to foreigners is a great way to grow a nation.

I'm voting Democrat, because I'm way too irresponsible to own a gun, and I know that my local police are all I need to protect me from murderers and thieves.

I'm voting Democrat, because I don’t believe a marriage is just between a man and a woman.

I'm voting Democrat, because I believe oil companies' profits of 4% on a gallon of gas are obscene but the government taxing the same gallon of gas at 15% isn't.

Troubling Times

I'm certainly on the left coast! This news story confirms I'm far from home. And, it confirms that our nation is traveling down some dark roads. (The story below was found on the Fox News website. The reporter was not named.)

If for no other reason, your vote on November 4 will determine what kind of judges are appointed to the federal bench. Judges in California "ordained" that same-sex marriage is "legal" in the state. Hopefully, the citizens of this state will vote for Prop 8, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman, affirming marriage as it has been recognized since God blessed Adam with Eve.

Fox News:

First-graders in San Francisco took a field trip to City Hall to celebrate the marriage of their lesbian teacher on Friday, but opponents of same-sex marriage in the state say the field trip was an attempt to “indoctrinate” the students, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The field trip was suggested by a parent at the Creative Arts Charter School, and the school said the trip, where students tossed rose petals on their teacher and her wife as they left City Hall, was academically relevant.

"It really is what we call a teachable moment," said Liz Jaroslow, the school’s interim director, according to the newspaper. She said same-sex marriage had historic significance. "I think I'm well within the parameters."

California will vote on Nov. 4 on Proposition 8 which seeks to ban same-sex marriage in the state, and supporters of the measure say the field trip shows that allowing same-sex marriage will mean it’s taught to school children, the newspaper said.

"It's just utterly unreasonable that a public school field trip would be to a same-sex wedding," said Chip White, press secretary for the Yes on 8 campaign, told the Chronicle. "This is overt indoctrination of children who are too young to have an understanding of its purpose."

Now, That's a Rock!

I spent the day at Yosemite. What a beautiful place. Here's a photo I took of El Capitan. Yesterday, two guys from San Francisco scaled the 2,900 foot face of El Capitan in 2 1/2 hours! A new record. Wow! I showed some restraint, though, and didn't even attempt to challenge the record :-),

Lessons Learned On the Road

I began Friday in Lubbock, Texas. I ended Saturday in Turlock, California . . . 1,340 miles later! I spent Sunday speaking to churches in Turlock (AM) and Stockton (East Main-PM). I head to the coast, beautiful Monterrey Peninsula on Tuesday. Pebble Beach! Too bad my clubs are in New Mexico.

In my travels this year for Manuelito Navajo Children's Home, I have learned some things.

1. Motel rooms can be the loneliest places.
2. This is a beautiful country, even that long stretch west of Clovis, New Mexico.
3. Most people are genuinely friendly and good natured.
4. I love wireless Internet (greatest invention since ESPN?).
5. Driving west in the hour before sunset? Argh!
6. The Charlie Daniels Band is becoming a favorite.
7. Days Inn in Midland, Texas? Awful!
8. Costas Now is the only program on HBO worth watching. I've seen Costas's joint interview with Willie Mays and Hank Aaron 8 times now. That is Must See TV!
9. There's too many Obama signs, but I see Palin signs in some surprising places.
10. McDonald's makes a great pit stop, especially since it is Monopoly time. BTW, have you noticed how sophisticated the remodeled McD's look? I'm impressed. Just wish they'd upgrade the food!
11. The Cowboys really are America's Team. Even in central California. Blocked punt? Argh!!!
12. Cracker Barrel, Chick Fil A, and Rosa's . . . in that order--breakfast, lunch, and supper. Throw in a Braum's nightcap, and you've got the perfect roadtrip day . . . foodwise! Unfortunately, California doesn't seem to have any of them.
13. Rush never grows old! But, there are too many long stretches without Medved and Ramsey.
14. I miss preaching for a small church . . . but, I love talking about MNCH.
15. I MISS MY KIDS!

Leaving the Land of Rosa's

Go west, young man!

Well, I'm headed to the left coast tomorrow, my second visit to California this year. This time, I'm headed to the central valley and northern California, places I have never been. I spent part of my first year of life in San Diego (where my dad was stationed in the Navy), and I have returned to southern California a couple of times for visits (most recently, in May, to Pepperdine), but I have never been north of Oxnard. So, I am about to cover some new territory . . . I'm excited. This development trip for Manuelito Navajo Children's Home will be taking me all the way to Seattle, Washington. I'll return to Gallup on November 7.

BUT, I am having to leave the land of Rosa's behind. I have spent the past three weeks in Texas (with the exception of a few days in Arkansas), and I have certainly had my share of fajitas from Rosa's. Perhaps I can make it until November, when I come this way again!

Heard About the Poor in Church?

I am reading a great little book, Preaching on the Sermon on the Mount: The World It Imagines, editted by David Fleer and Dave Bland. It is a volume in their wonderful series of books on preaching (I've loved reading all of them). Richard Hughes offers a challenging quotation in his chapter. The quote is from Jim Wallis, and his book, God's Politics. The context is a discussion on what the Bible teaches about poverty, particularly a Christian's responsibility to the poor.

Wallis says, "We all sat in a circle to discuss how the subject (responsibility to the poor) had been treated in the various churches in which we had grown up. Astoundingly, but also tellingly, not one of us could remember even one sermon on the poor from the pulpit of our home churches. In the Bible, the poor were everywhere; yet the subject was not to be found in our churches."

Joining in this conversation, I'm racking my brain trying to remember a sermon I've heard on the poor. I know I've heard a lot of sermons on the general subject of benevolence; and, I've personally preached a lot of those. But, I must say, I don't remember a sermon that spoke particularly of the poor and the obligations to them from Christians and the church.

Jump in the conversation: Have you?

Four Dark Years

I try to remain optimistic, but I am afraid that we are about to enter four dark years. I will vote for John McCain, but I am not an eager supporter. He is certainly no second-coming of Ronald Reagan, or even another Teddy Roosevelt (his "hero"). He is more like a Gerald Ford redux. I love Sarah Palin, but who exactly does McCain inspire? His ONLY conservative issue is the war on terror, but even there he cannot clearly and forcefully articulate his vision and the great threat against us. And, on the great financial issues of the day, he is treading water.

Can we survive four years of an Obama-Pelosi junta? I'm worried that we're about to find out. Our nation survived LBJ, Carter, and Clinton, but the threats there were mild compared to the danger of Obama-Pelosi.

Let me be one of the first to say, Gingrich/Palin 2012!!! Too bad a successful write-in campaign for 2008 is beyond the realm of possibility.

Restraint?

Restraint? Perhaps that has something to do with the inner discipline of avoiding driving into every Rosa's parking lot that is passed. If so, I haven't yet learned the mastery of restraint. Two days spent in Lubbock: two trips to Rosa's! Ahh! The power of fajitas! (Oh, and I refuse to tabulate the visits to Rosa's during the five days I spent in Abilene recently. Okay, it was seven!) Of course, in my defense, I'm headed to California next week (for a 4-week PR and fundraising tour for the Home), and Rosa's will be a long way off (fajita withdrawal is coming!).

Has It Been 20 Years?

I attended my 20th year high school reunion tonight. Has it really been 20 years? I must be getting old!

I graduated from Lubbock Christian High School in May 1988. It was the culmination of 12 years of education spent within the Lubbock Christian Schools system (all but 1st grade, which was spent, in of all places, New Orleans, Lou.!). I am very appreciative of those years, especially of the many, many relationships that came in that time. I remain in contact with many of the students who I befriended in those years (friendships that are worth more than all the riches of the world), and I still see many of my teachers from time to time. It is always special to worship with the Green Lawn church and see several of those teachers.

I've spent the day thinking back the 20 years that have come and now gone since I was a proud L.C.H. Eagle. More than half a lifetime has passed! Wow! As I looked back, I remembered . . .

• Ronald Reagan was president on the day I graduated, and within a few months I would cast a vote in the Presidential election for the first time . . . a proud vote (then and now) for George the Elder.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series in that year long ago, and they haven't been back to the Series since. Although, with the whupping they're giving to the Cubs, they might just make it there this season! I'm a loyal Cardinal fan, so I love the Cubs getting beat.
• 1988 was the last summer I spent working as a pot washer at Camp Blue Haven. Boy, do I sure miss that place.
• I was working at the Brittany Restaurant here in the South Plains Mall in Lubbock during 1988. I loved that job, too.
• I would enroll as a student at Oklahoma Christian "College" in the Fall of 1988. I only spent one semester there, before I returned to L. C. U. If they'd only have let freshmen take Greek! Of course, when I got to L. C. U. and jumped into Greek class, I quickly discovered I wasn't yet disciplined enough to excel at it. Maybe it had something to do with M-F 7:30 a.m.
• A highlight of 1988: "miniature" golf in the Green Lawn church building with Danny Holmes and Tim Byars. What a great way to waste a couple of hours . . . except when I tried to "tee" the ball up two flights of steps, careening it off two walls . . . err fiberglass windows.
• A regret from 1988: not going with my family on a 3-week road-trip/vacation to the Northwest. Alas, I spent the time working at the Brittany.
• And, who could forget the 3-13 Cowboys? Of course, had I know that would be Tom Landry's final season, my interest would have been piqued.
• That was also the year my Oklahoma Sooners began to unravel.

I'm wondering who will be at the 30th reunion?

From Abilene

It has been a good day in Abilene, Texas. I am here at Abilene Christian University attending the lectureship. It has been a day filled with good contacts made for the Manuelito Navajo Children's Home and a day filled with personal reunions with friends I have not seen for many, many years.

I also got to hear a challenging message from Brian McLaren. I have read many of his books; it was a blessing to finally hear him in person. I appreciate ACU for having the willingness to give him a forum. I do NOT share his endorsement of Obama, but I appreciate his thoughts on theology and Christianity. His presentation today did not disappoint.

Dealing with Mistakes

Ed Hochuli is having a bad week. That's an understatement!

For the uninitiated, Hochuli is a NFL referee (one of the best) who blew a call in Sunday's Chargers at Broncos game that was instrumental in the Chargers defeat. Hochuli blew his whistle as Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler lost his grasp on the football, meaning the play was dead and thwarting the Chargers recovery of what was a fumbled ball. Hochuli thought the dropped ball was an incomplete pass, and so he blew his whistle. By rule, Hochuli had to reward the ball to the Broncos, who went on to score a touchdown and make good on a 2-point conversion play, giving the Broncos a 39-38 victory over their division rival. Had Hochuli allowed the fumbled play to work itself out, the Chargers would have recovered the ball, run out the clock, and returned to San Diego as 38-31 victors in a very crucial game.

Hochuli is now the toast of Denver, and the target of derision and scorn in San Diego. Can you imagine blowing it on a bigger stage than an NFL game with millions upon millions of spectators and viewers? Yet, even though I am a Bronco fan (#2 after the Cowboys--yes, I'm one of those twisted few), I'm pulling for Hochuli to resuscitate his reputation as one of the finest, if not best, NFL referees. I hope he is able to deal with this mistake and move forward.

I hope NFL fans will allow him the opportunity to move past it. We (speaking of humanity in general) can be awfully hard on people when they make mistakes. In our self-interests and self-pride, we are quick to ridicule and castigate others who seem to ruin our day. But, we all make mistakes, don't we? I know I have made my share. You'd think, knowing our own frailties, we would be a lot on easier on others when they mess up. Or, as someone once said, If you want some slack, you've got to be prepared to give it in return.

A Refreshing Break

It has been more than a month since I made a posting here. Hopefully, in the next few days I can get back into the swing of things and begin to offer some semi-intelligent observations and commentary. We'll see . . .

I have the spent the past 5 weeks at home in Gallup. It has been the longest break I have had from travelling since early January. The break has been good. The five weeks have been filled with activity, though. I've especially enjoyed the opportunity to do some preaching and teaching for the Gallup church. I like going out on the road and speaking on behalf of the Manuelito Navajo Children's Home, describing our ministry to churches, but I love being able to get back to regular preaching from time to time. And, this time off the road has given me that chance. And, I've had the chance to get back to my youth ministry roots, having the opportunity to direct a lock-in and teach some teen Bible classes during my break from travelling.

But, today, I have set out on the road again. I will be travelling for much of the next seven weeks (with a short 3-day layover in Gallup in the middle of this span). I am in Santa Fe tonight, and will be going to Lubbock tomorrow. Then, its off to Abilene Christian University and Harding University for the lectureships at these schools. I'll also be speaking at churches in Mineral Wells, Texas and Childress, Texas, and be spending a couple of nights in Louisiana and making visits to some churches there. Following my 3-day respite at home, I will be setting out for the left coast, spending four weeks in northern California and Oregon.

I've never been north of Ventura, California on the Pacific coast, so I'm looking forward to this trip with a lot of excitement. In addition to speaking to churches in Sacramento, Oakland, Fresno, and Portland, Oregon, and making several other visits, I hope to see the spectacular sights at Yosemite, the Sequoias, the giant Redwoods, San Francisco Bay, and perhaps most interesting to me, Fort Clatsop, west of Portland. Fort Clatsop is where the Lewis and Clark Expedition spent the winter in 1806 and was the western-most terminus of their historic journey.

In the days to come, I hope to begin posting some things much more serious and meaningful than my travelogues. Stay tuned.