I would like to be in a cabin in Colorado today.

I have mixed emotions about the people who received tickets for not speaking English in Dallas. If someone is going to drive and be subject to our laws, doesn’t it seem important to speak the language of the laws in the event of an accident? On the other hand, I think I understood the ticket they received is not a law so I don’t see how they can get a ticket for it.

I wonder what will happen with the Rangers next year. I wonder if Jim Zorn will stick it out all year in Washington. I wonder what it’s like to make a lot of money but have little free time to enjoy it. I wonder what it’s like to make a lot of money.

I wonder what it’s like to live in poverty, to have spent a life with little or no support and little or no opportunity. I wonder why I was born in a land of opportunity while someone not so different from me was born in Darfur. I wonder what my responsibility at a kingdom level is to that guy.

Grace and peace to you.

I’m suggesting a new song title to Willie. I got plenty of driving in last week and I don’t want anymore right now…especially in a pouring rain through road construction on I-35.

All the driving gave me time to pray and think. I did enjoy that time. It got my mind started on my 3rd book idea. Too many ideas, too little time. I might bang through some of the thoughts here in a few days but I’m weighing the comments I think it might illicit with my propensity to respond and then think about what I want to say.

My dad had some surgery last week. It’s amazing what technology affords us these days but having surgery at 7:30 and being home at 12:30 still doesn’t seem right. He’s doing well and I cannot begin to express my thanksgiving for all the prayers lifted up for him and my family during this time. I had some people tell me they had friends in different towns who don’t know us praying for dad. That is special.

Keep praying. Dad will get the pathology report back this week to find out what the next step is.

I watched a quarter of the Cowboys game yesterday and saw Romo’s elusive move to get away from 4 defenders and still make a great play. The guy is a good QB but I think he’s still rushing things. It looks like he is often throwing off his front foot. (Did I mention I’m a football analyst for the ACQBTV network – that’s Armchair Quarterback for those of you not familiar with the station.)

I like Miles Austin so far. His expressions give me the impression he loves to play football just for the fun of it.

That’s all for today.

Grace and peace to you.

I posted a blog a few days ago about the Israelites wandering around for 40 years often questioning or forgetting who God is and what he had done for them. I get it. I wander around wondering what is going on and forget that God is sovereign, forgetting that he will lead me if I will let him, forgetting what he has done for me in the past because I’m thinking about what I want right now, forgetting about the promise that is ahead of me and losing focus on what is most important because I get focused on me.

It’s so easy to get distracted. The Israelites didn’t have easy access to TV, movies, sports, computers, cars, food and a million other things that might distract us today but they still got distracted. Maybe it was the lack of anything like that leaving too much time to think about themselves where I just dive into something that will take my mind off in a different direction from where it needs to be set.

Jeremy Camp sings a song that goes something like this – give me Jesus, give me Jesus. In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus. In the day when I’m all alone, give me Jesus. In the end, when I die, give me Jesus.

Grace and peace to you.

I woke up to hear it raining and immediately my mood went south. I had a day planned with things to do this morning that required the rain to come in later like the weather guy told me it would yesterday morning. On top of that, I’m just kind of tired of the rain and would like a little more sunshine. My mood changed completely while taking my son to school. “I love the rain” was his comment so I asked why. “It just makes all the bad stuff in the world seem not so bad and makes me feel peaceful.”

You know, this rain really makes me feel peaceful too.

Grace and peace to you.

The Longhorns won but not convincingly. I’m thinking national title hopes are shaky at best. I hated to see Sam Bradford go down and think Texas won based on that event alone. I hope he recovers and this injury doesn’t affect his opportunity to play in the NFL one day.
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Reports today are that the balloon boy incident was all a hoax; a story crafted by his parents to get attention and publicity for them, both trained actors. How crazy is it to put your kids in that situation?

Then again, how crazy is it that many of us do a lot of things we do? I’ve heard the term “me addiction” recently and realize that is how I have often lived my life. What do I want? How do I feel? It seems our society is filled with thoughts of making ourselves happy in what we have/do/want. I’m certainly guilty of falling in the trap.

I appreciate the organizations that are springing up trying to put our focus back where it should be. I Am Second (www.iamsecond.com) and What’s In It For Him (www.whatsinitforhim.com) or just a couple and I know more exist. It’s encouraging to see an effort to remind people that there is a higher power and a higher calling we need to focus on.

God is so good.

Grace and peace to you.

I want to see a Dodger/Yankee match-up in the World Series. Torre against the Yankees. Manny back in New York. Philadelphia seems to have some thoughts on preventing that. No one called me to ask what I wanted either. Surprise, surprise.

The only, really, truly important sporting event of the year occurs tomorrow. Texas vs. Zero U. Hook ’em Horns! That said, I can be a fan of Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy because of where their hearts seem to be. Check it out: http://www.whoissecond.com

I got a letter from the Republican Party yesterday asking me a series of questions and I really hope they read my responses. While their questions had check boxes for yes or no responses, I used what space I could to give them my whole response. I could sum up all the questions like this: Do you think the Obama/Pelosi administration is going to run this country into the ground? It cracks me up. Personally, I think both political parties are doing a great job running this country into the ground as a nation. I think they are both corrupt and full of evil, self-serving, self-righteousness.

All these Obama-bashers need to wake up and realize that A MAJORITY OF THE COUNTRY VOTED FOR OBAMA! Think about that for a second. The majority (yes, I know the President isn’t elected by popular vote – I’m just using majority as the easiest descriptor of what happened) of the country thinks it was not going well before Obama. That should tell the Republican party something but I don’t think they are listening. I think they are whining like a bunch of little kids who don’t get there way.

Here’s the other problem I see. Christians are to blame too! Anyone think I’ve hit my head yet? Christians who have acted without compassion and love (anyone notice how many churches treat people who are divorced, lived an “alternative lifestyle”, doesn’t dress like they do, etc?). Christians who have tried to abdicate their roles to government (if every home had prayer time on a daily basis it might create a better school environment – maybe?). Christians who are more concerned with getting ahead than building up the kingdom (seen some people who give more time to their jobs than family or the kingdom?). Christians who are more willing to spend their money than to step out of their cocoon and help someone (OUCH, I just stepped on my toes).

Here’s the solution. Christians being Christ-like. There are bunches of them in this country and I believe this country is in a spot where Christ-likeness will be recognized. Compassion. Forgiveness. Mercy. Love. This country and this world are screaming for those things and those who want to build the kingdom of God are in a great place at a great time. I think a side benefit of building the kingdom is creating a positive living environment in this country but the focus must be God, not the USA. I disagree with the notion that I am blessed to live in the country. I think God put me here for a purpose – I just have to ask myself if I am living up to His purpose for me.

I hope I see it more and more. Even more, I hope I live it every day.

Off the soapbox now.

Grace and peace to you.

You might have noticed I changed the main picture. I thought you all needed to see more of me! Ha. This picture was taken in South Fork on a day my son and I rented a Jeep and drove up into the mountains above Beaver Creek Reservoir. I used to stop at these “waterfalls” when I was a kid and drink what I believed then and now to be the clearest, coldest water I had ever tasted.

On this trip, I was having problems getting good footing as the little pebbles kept sliding out from under me. As I was trying to get my footing for the picture, I was thinking that is how my life works at times – trying to get on solid footing with people or with God but it seems the ground under my feet just slips out from under me and I never feel quite sure of where I stand.

My next book idea has a working title of “I Don’t Care What You Say, I Must Be Jewish” based on the idea that I can easily see myself as an Israelite traveling through the wilderness wanting to serve God but lost at times, forgetful at times, wondering if God forgot me and surely spending more time worrying about myself instead of what God wants me to be doing. At one point, the Israelites are complaining and Moses responds with what I need to hear today. From Exodus 14:

¹² Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” ¹³ Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. ¹⁴ The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

If only I will be still and let the LORD fight for me.

Grace and peace to you.

Do you ever hear someone say something and feel the pain that comes from their words but don’t know what to say? Or hear someone say something that you want to respond to but the words don’t come? I find myself there every now and again and tonight is one of those times. I was reading what someone was writing on a site I visit and I sense pain for decisions made and pain from the consequences and I know that feeling – maybe not the exact thing they are experiencing but something that is likely similar. I realize I’m in a different place in life but pain is pain whenever you experience it, be it as a teenager, a middle-ager or an old timer. We may process the pain differently at different stages of life but the pain is still pain.

Here’s the good news. God is still God. He is the God who loves us no matter what we have done. He is the God who waits for us with arms outstretched when those around us turn their backs and avoid us. He is the God who has mercy when others won’t let go and he is the God who shares his grace in abundance. He is the God who will let us make bad decisions and the God who will let us feel the repercussions and he is the God who will let us learn from our mistakes and the God who will fight for us. He is the God who has won the war by sacrificing his son and he is the God who calls us his child. He is the God who allows us to suffer and feel pain and he is the God who gives us peace in storms, who will heal our wounds and who offers us joy in all circumstances.

God is patient, he is kind, he bears all things, endures all things and hopes all things. His forgiveness is abundant. He is Lord and shepherd and through him I have all I need.

I hope if you are reading this and you are suffering, if you are battling guilt or sorrow of decisions made, if it seems like the world is closing in on you – that you will turn to see God and that you will be open to the complete and perfect love he has for you. I have experienced it in my life and I hope you will find the joy and peace I have come to know.

Grace and peace to you.

I’m back from Las Vegas (Henderson, NV actually) and the bright lights. I’m always amazed by how much electricity and water is used in that town for absolutely nothing. I would think that city would be a beacon to the terrorists.

I did eat really good at a place called Roy’s Hawaiian Steakhouse. A connection who lives out there took us to dinner and paid so that was extra nice. Great fish and the first time I ate sushi and wanted more.

I heard the Cowboys won yesterday. Yippee. Overtime with Kansas City though? C’mon.

I watched part of the Rockies/Phillies game last night. Nothing like baseball played with the fans bundled up in parkas. That ain’t right.

I’ve been reading a book that has me thinking more about a Christian perspective of government and politics. I might be writing on some of my thoughts from it later. It is only strengthening my resolve to separate my views of church and state and to put an end to the reference of America as a Christian nation. I think we as Christians as sorely misplacing our focus when we do that.

Grace and peace to you.