The Cowboys lost. I missed the majority of the game thank goodness. I had one friend who Tivo’d it and went home to watch it after church. He would have done well to listen to my warning to avoid it. Does a near loss against Detroit and a loss to the Eagles represent a coming crash or just a rough stretch?
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One of my favorite events is rapidly approaching. The Whataburger basketball tournament starts in a little over a week with another group of powerhouse teams from around the Metroplex and from out of state will meet in Ft. Worth. I’ll probably take one day off from work to watch and catch the championship games on Saturday night. Yippee!
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My 6th graders lost a game Saturday that they should have won. It was a heartbreaker because they played a great game but couldn’t get the ball to fall through the hoop. We were playing one of those teams you really want to beat just because the coach was a loudmouth, hot-head. If my son was on his team, I’d pull him off. Anyway, I was just so very proud of my guys because they played as good as I could hope. We just need to improve our scoring percentage and keep playing like they did Saturday and they will be tough to beat.

The Mitchell Report was released yesterday and several big name players were mentioned as steroids users. The one I was most disappointed to hear was Roger Clemens. I hope it is inaccurate but the steroid saga has reached a point where I think it would be quicker to name the players not accused of using.

I have mixed emotions. On the one hand, I don’t know how credible the accuser is. I also see pictures of players who have gotten bigger over the years but I have lots of friends who I’m pretty sure don’t use steroids that are thicker today than they were 10-15 years ago. On the other hand, it is discouraging that elite players may not have been as elite without some advantage gained through medicine.

I know this; it’s a mess and I’m glad I don’t have to sort it out. In the end, people will keep showing up at the ballparks (I’m included) and the games will go on. The arguments will continue over whether someone should be in the Hall of Fame, owners will keep spending millions for players and life will just keep going.
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I got to witness a new birth last night. One of the young men in our youth group was baptized with family and friends looking on. I noticed right afterwards that his dad was shedding a few tears and all I could think of was the joy of that father and how much more the joy of The Father. I know angels were singing and rejoicing with Hal Ray’s family and friends last night.

Decaturites awoke today to find a little ice on the ground. Brrr….

I was visiting with someone from the Tulsa area last night and she was telling me about the storm there and all the damage it has caused. She was talking about how dark it was at night with no lights on anywhere. I listened thinking how bad it must be but as tears came to her eyes, I realized how painful it was for the people who live in that area.
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I was issued a challenge in class last night. The teacher issued a challenge to each of us to determine how closely we want to know God. What are we willing to give up to be close to God? What do we fear will happen if we really get close to God? How will our lives and earthly relationships change if we get intimately close with God?

It’s much easier to try to bring God into my sphere instead of me stepping out of what I want and know into God’s realm. I thought last Sunday how often I pray for what I want God to do for me instead of asking God to use me however He wants to.

I need to change my thinking. I need to go where God leads me. I need to surrender to Him.

We got beat again last night but played a much game than the 1st go-round with these guys. We lost by 4 and were in it the whole game. They had one guy get on a short streak and we didn’t. If Mark Taylor would have got up of the sofa and played like MJ did back in the day, we would have won I’m sure. I hope you get to feeling better, Mark.
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I was listening to Dale Hansen the other night and got a kick out of his comment that Cowboys fans are picking apart the defense and a few other things and that they seem to have already forgot the past 10 years. His advice is to enjoy what we’ve got and let the coaches worry about what needs to happen to win the next game.
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The Rangers are signing Milton Bradley, a perennial bad boy of baseball. Gagne signed for $10m to play with Milwaukee and it looks like a Asian pitcher is about all we’ll get. Hmmm.
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Excuse the ramblings today. I’ll blame my lack of thoughts today on my lack of sleep last night.

I came home last night to find one the tires completely flat on my wife’s car. She impressed me with her restraint in saying it was time for a new car (inside joke between she and I). I took it to the uber-store, WalMart, to get fixed and headed to basketball practice. Guess what she found this morning when she went to the garage? Yep, the tire was flat again. So, it was off to Wally World again this morning for a second attempt. It looks like Santa may have to bring a new set of tires this year.
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I was listening to the news this morning while they gave more details about the church shooting in Colorado on Sunday. It’s a sad, sickening story. A blog I read yesterday (www.rross.blogspot.com) pointed out the hurting world we live in. While we so often seek justice afterwards, maybe we need to be more aware of offering compassion earlier. I don’t know what would have helped the young man who did this but I do know that justice today won’t bring anyone back and that’s sad too.
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In our Bible class Sunday, I was thinking about this idea of closure for victims of crime. I am fortunate in that I’ve never been victim of a serious crime. I hear people talk about closure through justice (whether a prison sentence or harsher) but I wonder if that really brings closure. Last night, I listened to a story about Warrick Dunn, a football player for the Atlanta Falcons, who sat across the table from a man who had killed Dunn’s mother. As the story went, not one time did Dunn feel the urge to reach across the table and hurt the man. When asked how he could exercise that control, he replied it came from God and counseling he received. It makes me think closure comes from the heart, not from an action.

I just hope I never have to find out the hard way.
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There are a lot of people walking among us that hurt today. Offer a pray for them, that they may find peace and offer a prayer for you and me, that we may be God’s instruments of peace.

I was privileged to attend the youth group Christmas party Sunday night. It’s been incredible getting to know some of our youth and they have been an inspiration to me. The last few Wednesday nights, we have had nearly 50 kids show up for class. Many of the kids who come don’t have family that attend our church but have been invited and encouraged to come by “our kids.” We have such an evangelistic youth group – it is just incredible.

The theme for 2008 is “Step Up.” It is a challenge to step up and be a leader regardless of age. I find it an appropriate theme for our group of kids because so many of them are already stepping up. I can only imagine what they may accomplish in the future. Even though they are only teenagers, they are already examples to me and many other older Christians in their service to others and openness to bringing people to God.

I am truly thankful I have been invited to be a part of teaching and participating with this incredible group of people. I know they will push me forward in my service to God. As always, it’s hard to talk about our great youth group without mentioning an incredible couple who lead our kids, Jacob and Heather. Jacob and Heather lead with abounding love, a servant spirit and humbleness that is evident in everything they do.

Our kids and our youth leaders are a mixture that could be explosive in glorifying God and putting Satan in his place. Our pray our church will take the challenge Jacob has given the kids and that we all “Step Up” to be Christian leaders and servants in our community and beyond.

Rumor has it we might get some “wintery mix” next week. I’m ready for the weather to go one way or the other.

I didn’t get to hear Mitt Romney’s speech yesterday about his faith and his desire to run for President but the excerpts I heard made it sound like he wasn’t afraid to say he believes that Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior. That seems pretty bold in today’s watered down, politically correct political world.

The crazy killing in Omaha at the mall just sickens me. It’s definitely one of those “why God?” moments.

I’m stilling thinking about Jacob’s lesson Wednesday night. I don’t want any more storms in my life. The people who lost a loved one in Omaha are certainly in the midst of one. So many other people around us are in them too, some more severe than others, but all a storm to the one who is dealing with it. I like my life without storms yet I know that God allows them because they can and will draw us near to him. The other night when I was coming home from a basketball game and got the call that my mother-in-law was at the hospital with symptoms that were scary, all I could think to do was say a prayer and then turn on a song I listen to often, “I Will Praise You In This Storm” by Casting Crowns. One thing I know, the storms will come. I just hope I will learn to seek God in them so I can come out the other side of it closer to Him.

My nephew, Drew, was baptized last night. I pray that he has many, many years of service to God and that he will lead people to God through his life and his walk.

Last night, I sat in our youth group class as our youth minister talked about the storms of life. I thought about Drew’s decision and one of the storms he’s been through and will continue to deal with – Type 1 diabetes. I have some appreciation for what he will face but I can’t understand it through the eyes of a young boy. As we talked about what the storms do to us and for us, I thought about the storms I have gone through. Some have strengthened me and some have given me the ability to understand other’s pain. I believe Drew’s storm will do that, it will give him the ability to help others, both to deal with the storm they are in and to look to a merciful Savior who offers so much. Tie that with his desire to serve God and he has the opportunity to do some great things for God’s kingdom.

I believe he will.

We were winning the whole game and lost it in the 4th quarter. I’m not a real expressive person but I go home and think about what I did that I need to correct and what I could have done that would have helped us win – and it’s just a church league game.

Next week we get to play the team that beat us in the first round when we had an off night shooting. I’m ready for a rematch and hope we can get back on top. I don’t enjoy losing.
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It’s Casa Torres night. We’ve developed the tradition/habit of eating at Casa Torres every Wednesday night with friends of ours. The food is good and it’s great to visit with friends and build relationships. I like Wednesday nights.
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Does anyone else open a Christmas present early? Our family has a tradition of letting the kids open one present early, usuallly before we go to my folks house. I always get a kick of watching kids faces as they tear through the wrapping paper. It may be the best part of Christmas for me, the excitement and anticipation. The gift can be anti-climatic compared with the excitement of getting to it. I’m ready!

We have another game tonight against a team we have beaten previously but they’ve got new players this go-round. One of our big guys will be out tonight so I don’t get as much rest time as I’ve grown accustomed to the last two games.
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Maybe it’s just me but it seems like there aren’t as many lights up this year as in the past. I wonder if the warm weather or the early Thanksgiving have anything to do with it. I hope it’s not a lull in Christmas spirit.
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Today is my wife’s last day as a student-teacher in the classroom. I think she is having mixed emotions. Relief from completing the requirements of the program while leaving the kids will be harder than I think she first thought. I think my son has really enjoyed having her around too.
She told me this morning that this time had been a blessing to her and I am confident it was a blessing to many of the kids she helped. I know she will be a great teacher if she decides to pursue that course in the future. In the meantime, she already has some substitute teaching jobs lined up for teachers she has been working with.

One more day of training after today and she will be certified. I don’t know what will come next for her but I do know this; I’m very proud of her for achieving this accomplishment.