The Way

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!

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...

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 Worshi...

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...

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...

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.