Sidewalk Prophets Cover Johnny Cash's "Ring Of Fire"

I like these guys alot and we have become friends over the last few years. You know I love the great Johnny Cash, so I like what Sidewalk Prophets did here! Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Big Brother!

Mom, James, Me & Dad

I have the best brother ever who turns another year older today. October 29, 1959 (almost 4 years before my appearance on this terrestrial ball) a dark headed, widow peaked little boy was born. I have seen pictures and know that this kid looks much like his dad (my father).

James and I have had some incredibly great times together. We grew up playing ball in the back yard (any kind of ball, it really didn't matter); he frequently beat on his little brother (I have the scars to prove it); and we shared a bedroom as little kids where he would say scary things to me and pretty much freak me out. He taught me how to throw a ball; hit a golf ball; kick a soccer ball and how to mow a yard. We shucked much corn together; broke many a green bean; traipsed through all kinds of woods hunting squirrel and rabbit; and fished every little creek, pond, lake, and puddle in Cass County. Oh, so many good times and memories.

We grew, he moved out of the house, and I did not see him as often, but I continued to look up to him. There were times that we went months without seeing or talking to one another, but I knew we were still close. We got together and took my dad on a baseball trip to Chicago and St. Louis and out ran rain storms, drug dealers and saw some good baseball and tried to break dad's ankle. We got together when we could and it was always good to catch up.

A few years back, mom got sick and we just knew that we needed to be together more. It was one of the toughest times because mom was so sick, but it was an incredibly sweet time because I got to spend a lot more time with James. In a time that I needed a big brother the most, James was there and he carried me a couple of times when I really did not know how to move forward on my own. It is what he does. He steps in and helps many when they need his strength.

He turns 54 today. I am incredibly proud and thankful to be his little brother. He has taught me much. Two

and half years ago, James and I made a trip up to Alaska to just hang out together. We watched alot of NCAA basketball; saw a lot of snow; but most importantly, I just got to hang out with my big brother.

I love you James. You are an incredible picture of a man loving Christ and loving others. You are incredibly giving and forgiving. You continue to model for me what it means to "love well, because you have been loved well."

Don't look to hard for that birthday card. I forgot to send it. See you at Thanksgiving. I'll hug your neck then.

Hero Worship - Do We Need Another Hero?

I am a little hesitant to even write this post because it could be perceived that I am "calling out" some folks or possibly setting myself up as being better than others. I will have to trust that those of you who really know me will understand that I am writing from a a perspective that is not mean or vindictive. If you do not know me and just happen on this blog, give me the benefit of a doubt. Or, totally disagree. Either way is really okay.

Hero Worship is really nothing new. By definition is foolish or excessive adulation for an individual (Merriam-Webster) There are different levels of hero worship from mild to all out lunacy. Some synonyms would be: adore, adulate, canonize, deify, dote (on), hero-worship,worship and to be honest, I get that we are wired to worship, make a hero out someone or something. I live in SEC country and it is fair to say that during this time of year (football season) all kinds of Hero Worship rears its' head. And . . .  I am guilty of this as well. I mean, MIZZOU is undefeated and ranked #5 right now, the KC Chiefs (the bane of the NFL last season) are currently undefeated at 7-0 and the only remaining undefeated NFL team.

In religious circles, there are many heroes that are being lifted up and others who are falling by the wayside. There are people who are convinced that their guy (rarely any ladies get much airplay in evangelical circles) is the one that God has his hand on. I am thankful God uses people. . . People who are in the public limelight, and people who are in the smaller, remote areas of the world just serving Him and very few, if any, people know that they even exist. I believe there is truth that must be defended. I believe that there are many who show up in sheep's clothing who are very potentially, well . . . wolves. 

Leaders can be guilty of jockeying for position and feigning humility. Others try to attach themselves to leaders hoping some of it will "rub off" on them or they can ride some coat tails. Posturing and positioning happens on little league teams to religious institutions/denominations. Governments run on this sort of principle and strategy as well. And . . . it is nothing new and is really not a jab at our current US government mess. We have been posturing for this position as a nation for years and have been okay with it. We can get so focused on "getting ahead" that we take our attention and focus of the end game.

I believe that I have much to learn. I believe it is good to associate with others, invest in others and learn from others. I also believe it is a very dangerous thing to make people heroes. Our heroes have weaknesses. You know it and I know it, but still we long to fill our weaknesses with things/people hoping they will bring us freedom. And . . . we associate because we long for strength, power and control. We desire to be a part of the Inner Ring that C.S. Lewis talked about here. 

Great stories include a villain and hero. The greatest story includes a God who loves and takes His own Son, sends Him to die for a people who absolutely have no hope for life on their own. I really want to be guilty of worshiping that Hero and that Hero alone. It is that Inner Ring that matters most. Not so I can look down on others, but so that He may be glorified.

(For clarification - I believe there are legitimate examples of people who have done heroic things for their families, their country and for complete strangers to save lives, etc. I am not referring to those instances and people but to those who are seeking a position through posturing and for personal gain. I am grateful for those who have served, are serving their countries to preserve a free and healthy way of life.)

Happy Birthday Sondra!

There are all kinds of quotes when it comes to getting older:

You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old. George Burns 

Getting older is no problem. You just have to live long enough. Groucho Marx 
Age is a question of mind over matter.  If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.  Leroy "Satchel" Paige
and one of my favorites is this one - 
“A diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman's birthday but never remembers her age.”  Robert Frost

I will let you figure out what age Sondra turns today but here are some things you need to know about her - 

She loves Jesus.
She loves me with all of my faults and quirks.
She loves her girls and her son-in-law.
She loves people.
She loves rules/guidelines and plays by them.
She keeps a checkbook like no other.
She can find something in a stack of papers when I cannot even find the stack.
She loves details.
She loves students she gets to be around at McGavock.
She loves singing and leading in worship through music.
She is always supportive. Always.
She is my best friend. Ever.

Sondra, on this your birthday, know that I am totally mesmerized by you and your beauty. I am forever grateful that God in His wisdom/grace (heavy on the grace) allows me to walk this life with you. You are His greatest blessing to me. I love you!

Happy Birthday!

Arizona, Texas/Missouri & Other Stuff

Last week Sondra and I headed out to AZ for the week and had an incredible time. No work, email, little
phone stuff and lots of hiking and big fun with the best girl in the world! We hit Tombstone, hiked/climbed Camel Back and South Mountain in Phoenix, Bell Rock in Sedona, laughed alot, saw a couple of movies, and ate alot of oatmeal for breakfast. We enjoyed the pool, the dry air and just each others' company.

We both left on Sunday of this week, she for MO to hang with her mom, and me to Texas to the Youth Minister's Conclave. It was great to see so many youth ministry friends and lead a conference. The weather was not the best but they needed the rain. Sondra has enjoyed being with her mom and Bronwyn and I am looking forward to her being home again. She heads back to school on Monday which I am sure she is not totally excited about.


Today is LayLay's 21st birthday and I am asking you to continue to pray for the Hollister/Willams families along with Wacey Russell. God did a beautiful thing with her and her life and she is sorely missed. I wrote about her previously here.

The Turners are all doing well. I will try and blog a little more frequently but then again, I may not ;-).

The Government Shutdown

A rare political rant by me. Here are my thoughts on our current state of government.

1. If I operated my household the way our current administration and Congress is operating, I would be in jail.
2. The officials that you and I helped elect seem to be less competent than they presented themselves to be at election time. (I am including all parties.)
3. My grandfather would say when we were out of hand, horse playing in his house, "you boys straighten up; act like you got some sense; get up out the floor and get to work." Seems to be pertinent in our current governmental climate.
4. Please open the National Parks. We are going to AZ on vacation and really would like to spend the day
at the Grand Canyon (selfish on my part). It would also be very good to put government employees back to work.
5. Remember, just holding a position of leadership does not mean you are a leader. If you hold a political position, be a leader and lead. The whole bunch of ya.