Archive for September, 2006
First Day In Parker
I love the mountain time zone. Woke up at 7.45ish and felt great. So I didn’t feel like a complete hack for sleeping late!!
We unpacked and went to Beau Joe’s. The best pizza place in the world and Parker has one and it had a buffet today. Woo-hoo!!!
Oh, I almost forgot. This was the view from the top of our street.
And a couple of pics of the deck and hot tub of the house we are living in…
Then we went by my Graceland – the Denver Bronco Headquarters and practice fields…
We drove around, grabbed some groceries, stared at the mountains. Cooper probably said it best for us all.
“I feel like I’m in some sort of dream…we are really going to live here.”
On The Way
We head west…very west for a very long time today. KC to Parker – the I-70 nightmare drive.
That’s a good thing. Lot’s to think about.
Starting a student ministry over.
The excitement of new friends, new volunteers, new students, new laughs, new stories, new tears. The fun hard work of relationally investing to the point that you’ve earned the right to be heard and called friend. The voice of the vision but the hands of a pastor. Learning to balance the drive of accomplishment with the joy of waiting on God’s timing.
We’ve haven’t had our first Sunday yet and we feel so loved already. What’s up with that?
We’ll catch up with Ray and Marjie tonight. I love that man.
Off to pack.
New York Football Giants
Can anyone really legitamately be upset at Jeremy Shockey’s comments?
He said – “We got outplayed AND outcoached.”
It is the ultimate team insult…and accurate. For Tom Coughlin to come out and critique that is…two-faced.
From Tom Coughlin:
“Our game plan was solid, we just didn’t execute it.”
Translation: “It was the stupid player’s fault we lost.”
Besides that, here is a newsflash for you – the Giants aren’t that good of team.
Coast to Coast
Since May – here are the states I’ve visited:
That’s pretty stinkin’ cool.
No wonder I’m tired.
Our home…
My mom gave us this painting tonight that is absolutely going to be the English family motto from now on.
It reads:
In this home:
We do second chances.
We do grace.
We do real.
We do mistakes.
We do I’m sorrys.
We do loud really well.
We do hugs.
We do family.
We do love.
Those aren’t bad values for a student ministry either!
Major Update Time
Ahhhh, the joys of not updating for awhile! Alright….let’s take a quick trip down memory lane.
We start with…
Alabama vs. Arkansas, Saturday
Bruce and I rode up, grabbed some great grub with Jason and Cindy-Lou’s fam, then watched my Tide march up and down the field. Of course, I had more point to make about this but apparently no one from Alabama can make an extra point.
Here are a couple of sweet pics by Jason of the game.
Baptism, Sunday
I love Nathan. He is the real deal. I hate the fact it takes him a 1,000 years to make a decision. Like getting baptized. In September. In gator-infested water. Pics are courtesy of Lisa Wagner, who in my opinion may be the best photographer on the planet. Check out her work here
Argue with Home Warranty Company, Monday
If this situation doesn’t get resolved by the weekend, I’m going to blow the whole scam/story with a whole post. For now – I am VERY UNHAPPY with Warrantech Home Warranty. Horrible service, horribly rude customer service reps, the run around on every single thing…breath, relax….give them to the weekend…..okay…stay tuned….
Monday Night – Dinner with the Sudduths…do I need to say anything else?
Packing and State Workers, Tuesday
Had to get a new title for the Sequioa because – well, shocker – I lost the old one. So that meant a trip to the DMV that really isn’t the DMV. I’ve said my feelings about the state workers at the revenue office here and here. Rest easy, state of Arkansas – nothing has changed since then.
Tuesday night – Dinner with Singletons, collapse after midnight.
Out of Town, Wednesday
After picking up clothes at the cleaners and prescriptions, time for the wonderful drive to KC. In two cars. Kids were awesome, we are here for a day then on to Parker, CO.
It’s currently 50 something degrees outside. No AC needed.
The Countdown is On
Pinecrest has really stepped up huge in the last couple of days. We’ve gotten cards, emails, and now a house.
Get this – a couple who has never met us is giving us their house until the end of December if we need it. RENT FREE. How freakin’ cool is that? Never met us…that might be why they are doing this because if they knew us….
Seriously – it is a HUGE answer to prayer because that means we are all getting to go out to Denver TOGETHER!!! No long-distance family thing. Yes, it makes the next few days crazy – should we pack this or not? But I’ll take it.
Huge thank you to Suzanne and Danny. (Who by the way are both like Einstein geniuses. Another blog, another time.)
Wednesday AM we will head west for the adventure of a lifetime!!!!
Now we gotta sell our house.
New Contact Me Page
Paul has been giving me grief about this so I finally just sat down and finished it.
My contact page. It’s nothing fancy but it’s functionable.
So if you are a lurker and can’t stand to leave a comment but want to contact me…or you want to buy a house in Little Rock…drop me a line.
Are you happy now, Paul?
Anonymous Not Welcomed
Figured I’d post on something other than death and football…extremes can make you sick, right?
Sometime over the last couple of weeks, somebody asked me about anonymous comments and why I don’t allow them on my site. I mean, I seem to be a guy that is all for open dialogue so why not allow anonymous comments?
Here’s why – anonymous comments isn’t open dialogue. It’s a monologue. Anonymous has no accountability, flesh and bone, or feelings. Anonymous is illegimate parenting. Spawn off an idea and then take no responsibility for it. It’s immature.
I put my name on everything written here or everything I say. Anonymous doesn’t.
Anonymous threatens true, biblical, authentic community because anonymous doesn’t have to be accountable or ever apologize.
Grace Church had these little tear off comment cards. Every week someone would interrupt their worship of God in order to write something hurtful and/or stupid on these little cards and put it IN THE OFFERING PLATE and NOT SIGN IT. Think about that for a moment. I’m going to complain during worship and offer that to God as my offering and do it anonymously.
That stopped this past year. No, Grace still has the comment card thing but I told our admin assistant – who gets them before I do – if it’s not signed, throw it away. If it’s not important enough for them to talk face to face or even sign their name to it – it’s not important enough for me to read it.
As far as this blog goes, I see this as an extension of my house. The front porch, if you will. All are welcomed here and you’re welcome to say your mind. Just own it and be nice about it. Act like we were sitting in front of each other.
Those of you who blog – why or why don’t you allow anonymous comments?
And yes – you have to put your name on your answer! 
Meltdown
I found out that one of our former students in Emporia was killed in an ATV accident this week.
I’ve lost it completely a couple times since hearing the news – it just grieves my heart to the core.
Sam was a fun kid – even when he got in trouble, you liked him. And he never stayed in trouble for very long. Just a lot of fun to be with.
I’m sitting in Little Rock wishing I was in Emporia but I know if I was in Emporia I’d be just as worthless there as I am here.
There are no words.
Ready, Fire, Aim
Concerning this post…
The reference is supposed to be Pat Robertson, the PTL/700 Club.
The joys of blogging the way I do – going back and spelling things correctly…
NFL Reflections, Week 2.
San Diego has destroyed two very bad football teams (Oakland, Tennessee).
That is exactly what Denver HAS NOT done (St. Louis, Kansas City).
Rex Grossman (Bears) looks like he learned the game of football in the off-season. Will anyone score on the Bears all year?
Green Bay (and the beloved Favre) look…tired.
The Saints are the feel-good story of the year.
The Cowboys are done. TO explosion coming after bye-week.
Redskins are more done than the Cowboys. Name me a team in more need of a quarterback? Tennessee…okay, name me another….Denver…okay, after that…
Oakland – okay, seeing a pattern here. The quarterback level of play this year is atrocious across the board. Maybe we needed more preseason games.
Sunday night football is infinitely more fun to watch than MNF right now. It just makes for a long day.
Other Rivalry/Non-Rivalry
The last post got me thinking…what are some other ‘rivalries’ that mean more to one team than the other…ala salad at a BBQ. The salad teams are in bold.
Clemson vs. Florida State – until this year, I doubt a FSU fan could tell you where Clemson was.
Texas A&M vs. Baylor – I don’t even know why Baylor has a football team.
Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma St. – with Nebraska and Texas on the schedule, this one just isn’t as large, is it?
Penn St. vs. Northwestern
Colorado vs. Colorado St. – of course now this series is completely upside down. CSU is definitely the 2nd best team in the state of Colorado.
Anybody other than Michigan vs. Notre Dame – The Irish are so arrogant and overrated that the only rivalry that means anything is Michigan.
USC vs. Anybody other than UCLA – forget the fact that UCLA hasn’t put up a fight in years. They are still USC’s biggest rival.
What are some others you can think of?
[tags]college football rivalries[/tags]
Why Arkansas Fans are Annoying
If you follow this blog, then you’ve probably run across the comments by Clay or other random Hog fans on this site.
Here’s the latest and the context.
You will note that nothing was said about Arkansas, Matt Jones, or the in-breeding practices of Arkansans in that post. Only that the MNF matchup between the Jaguars and the Steelers was boring to watch especially given the personalities calling the game.
Yet – a rabid Arkansas fan comes out of the woods to defend the honor of Hog Nation because Matt Jones is on the Jaguars. Guess what? There are about 51 other schools represented on the Jacksonville team OTHER than Arkansas. Never mind the fact that a few posts earlier I commented on how Jones is going to be a good WR.
I spent time in Alabama last week among the Tide faithful. Know how many times Arkansas was brought up? Zero. That’s right, gang. ZERO. Arkansas – in Alabama’s economy is like salad at a bar-b-que place. It’s there because in theory you need something other than just meat at a meal. (Which, I think is a stupid theory.)
Since I’ve been in the Rock, how many times has Alabama been brought up by Arkansas fans? I lost count after 115. I think the “rivalry” means a heck of a lot more to Arkansas than it does Alabama. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. See Louisville/Miami rivalry. It meant a lot more to Louisville than Miami…until this year when Louisville kicked in Miami’s teeth. Miami will be paying attention next year.
Which if Arkansas kicks in the teeth of Alabama this year, they’ll probably take notice.
In short, here is what is annoying about Arkansas fans…
The complete disconnect with reality.
Example 1: USC game. There was no chance Arkansas was going to win that game. None. Arkansas does not have the talent level or depth (or play calling ability) to hang with USC for 4 quarters. Join the club, most teams can’t. Certainly not Alabama either at this point. But to hear Arkansas fans, you’d thought they had a chance at a national championship this year.
Example 2: Alabama game. I hope ‘Bama plays well and wins. I really do. And it ought to be a great game. But let’s not lose sight of the fact that both ‘Bama and Arkansas are mid-level teams in the SEC this year. Both are young, inexperienced teams. If any team has an advantage – it’s Bama with it’s defense. But both offenses are struggling to find any kind of tempo. Neither one of them are going to push LSU or Auburn for the SEC West. (Maybe Alabama can upset Auburn and ruin their year because that IS the rivalry for ‘Bama.)
But Arkansas and ‘Bama are playing for the Music City Bowl at best.
Example 3: The Texas rivalry. We lived in Texas for the better part of 14 years. Oklahoma and A&M were the rival schools. Arkansas was salad at a BBQ. Then Arkansas went down there and kicked them in the teeth 2 years ago. If Arkansas does that again – Texas will take notice.
Example 4: Hog women. Arkansas women fans are nice. They are sweet as the tea they drink. But they don’t know jack about football. Talk to an Auburn or Alabama, heck a Vandy gal and they are going to argue with you the merits of the 3-4 defense on passing downs. Not going to happen with an Arkansan. They are pretty. They are sweet. They just could care less about football.
(Vandy, IMHO, has the deal. Crazy intelligent. Crazy pretty. Crazy rich. So for all my guys who are determining where to go to college – something to think about.)
Alright…I’ve said enough until after Saturday’s game.
Roll Tide.
Back in the Rock & Studio 60
We are back in the Rock. Last night we punted the horrible MNF game (somebody just shoot Kornheiser and Theismann for me) and instead watched Studio 60, new series on NBC with Matthew Perry and Amanda Peete.
It was actually very good. Perry kept his sarcastic “Friends” edge but added something else…depth. I’ll watch it a couple of more times. One of the story lines is that one of the comedians on the Studio 60 is a Christian. They bashed Pat Robinson in the show but the comeback of the night was – “90 percent of Christians are nothing like Pat Robinson.”
I personally want to say “Thank you for noticing that.” We’ll see if they can keep the character solid, funny and loving. I’m not so much concerned that they keep her moral. To me, that would just be typical and shallow.
I want to see her loving, funny, extremely truthful AND extremely graceful. I’d rather see her screw-up and be loving towards people than see her be “holy” and the biggest witch on television.
Did anyone else see it?
[tags]Studio 60[/tags]
AFC Rant, Week 1
By division…
AFC East
None of these teams are impressive.
New England looks tired but still dangerous.
Miami has everything it needs for a playoff except a quarterback. Culpepper’s knee is fine, his head is still the issue.
J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets…how can anyone question Chad Pennington anymore? They’ll be fine as long as the rookie coach doesn’t panic.
Buffalo is just a bad team. Gone are the Marv Levy days.
AFC South
The Have’s:
Indianapolis – they will be good but not like last year. Addai better get his cleats tied on, he’ll be starting by the end of the year.
Jacksonville – this team will just line up and knock the snot out of you. Matt Jones is going to be a good WR.
The Have Not’s:
Tennessee – Fischer will get canned this year and that’s too bad. He doesn’t have the guns to run this year.
Houston – we have a problem. Not going to take Reggie Bush? No prob. Davis out for the year. Big prob. Can Mario run the strong side sweep?
AFC North
Three out of these four are going to compete for 2 playoff spots.
Baltimore – looks nasty tough on offense AND defense. McNair is a huge difference maker here.
Pittsburgh – it doesn’t matter who they roll out, they just win.
Cincinnatti – Offense is smooth, defense is suspect.
Cleveland – well, there is always next year and the Cavs.
AFC West
Denver – looked completely lost on opening day. They did last year and went 13-3. We’ll see.
San Diego – They beat a horrible Raider team. But they did beat them and Rivers is going to be managed like crazy.
Kansas City – Green’s healthy, the Chefs are okay. Green not healthy, Chefs are done. No defense here.
Oakland – This is the worst team in the NFL, bar none. Moss is finally growing up but he’s on a horrible team. Brooks might not survive this year. Note to Brooks – forget about throwing the ball, start running for your life.
16 more weeks, 15 more games….we will see.
Out of Blogosphere For A Bit
We are on the road this weekend so blogging will be down. Next week – back in action on more meaningful stuff…like the AFC side of things, the Sequioa, the openness of God…you know, light stuff.
Space Mickey
After three days at Disney, I am amazed at how many different kinds of characters they come up with. Here’s the kids at Epcot. I’ll post MGM pictures later today.
NFC Rant of the Week
My Thoughts after Week 1 by Division.
NFC North
Are the Bears that good or Green Bay that bad?
Favre just looks…tired. And the Pack will be lucky to win 4 games this year.
Lions will be mediocre, just like all other Detriot teams but without Barry Sanders.
The Vikings will be the league’s most annoying team. They will win games they aren’t supposed to and lose those they should win.
NFC East
The hype at the start of the season that this was the best conference? That’s all it was…hype.
The Eagles beat a horrible Houston team.
The Cowboys have way too many egos in that organization – including Parcells.
The Giants are for real.
The Redskins are going to have another season of close calls.
NFC South
Falcons looked great. Abraham is the real deal.
Carolina looked lost without Steve Smith.
Tampa Bay looked horrible.
New Orleans will be entertaining but miss the playoffs.
NFC West
The Cardinals and 49ers will put up a ton of points and have no defense.
The Seahawks and Rams will have great defenses and struggle to put up points.
What a difference a year makes.
I’ll do the AFC later.
Why Yesterday Was Awesome
1. Lego Star Wars II. If you have kids, an Xbox, hate playing kid games with your kids and want something fun…this is it.
2. John Mayer new CD – Continum. Aweseom. As usual. Has he had a bad SONG yet?
3. Nice romantic dinner with the wife.
4. Java Chip Frap for dessert.
5. Finish the Sequoia soap opera lug nut story…(again…don’t ask.)
6. I didn’t have anything else to do.
Blog Party…sort of
Since we have free baby-sitting – me and the wife are going to do a nice dinner tonight.
However – we are scrambling for something to do tomorrow night as the in-laws are having their small group at the house and we need to vacate a couple of hours.
Ideas?
Cutler Watch Started…
As late as last week, I said I’d love to see Jake play well this year and then Jay compete next year for the starting QB position.
As of 4:11 ET on September 10, 2006 that opinion has officially changed.
Start the Cutler watch as far as I’m concerned.
3 Picks.
1 Fumble.
138 yards passing against an anemic Ram secondary.
Painful.
Very, very painful.
Magic Kingdom
Perfect day at Magic Kingdom. We waited in line once for 15 minutes. That was it. The rest was walk up, get on, decide how you were going to spend the 4 hours of time you normally spend in line. We had done it all by 5 pm and were wondering if the kids were going to make it to 10pm.
BUZZ LIGHTYEAR to the rescue. I think we rode it 50 gazillion times. Here’s my highest score:
And the kids in jail with Zurg:
Saw Cap’n Jack Sparrow…twice. He’s now on the ride AND a street act. 
The street guy was actually very good – had the accent and the mannerisms down fairly well. Savvy.
What else can I talk about? The fireworks. Nobody does fireworks better than Disney. I’m completely amazed at what they do EVERY SINGLE DAY and make it feel like it’s the FIRST TIME. Take the parade. They sing that song, dance that dance every day the same exact way. For us – it’s the first time we see it. For them – it’s work yet they make us feel like it’s the first time.
We have a picture of every time we’ve been to Magic Kingdom with Chip and Dale. Amy and I have one on our honeymoon with Chip and Dale. I’m sure my mom has a picture of me and Leslie with Chip and Dale. Which all leads me to this question…
Is there any good reason why Disney has two male characters who talk femininely (go ahead and spell check that one, Cathy) named Chip and Dale? Does that bother anyone else or just me?
My hot wife in the middle of Main Street, USA…
And of course – Cinderella.
Adrian and Itabeda (you know who you are – your daddy reads this blog) we have about 1,000 princess photos that Camber and Cayden made me take to share with you when we get home. Here’s one now.
Oh…almost forgot.
It’s a Small World – figuratively. Ran into someone we knew from Little Rock. “We read your blog and knew you were going be here but thought there’d be no way we’d run into you!!!” Cool seeing a familiar face. Which led to this interesting, funny exchange with my father-in-law.
“You know them from Grace?”
“Yeah, they used to go to Grace.”
Long pause. I resume the conversation…mainly with myself.
“I think about half the population of West Little Rock used to go to Grace.”
Dad doesn’t say anything.
“You know, we could’ve been a megachurch.”
Still nothing.
“So, you know at least we didn’t have to deal with that problem.”
Still nothing.
He looks at me. “You saying something? I’m having a hard time hearing you.”
“Never mind.”
It’s a Small World – literally.
We have to ride the Small World ride. If we don’t, some space-time continuim will explode and the earth will stop rotating. I rode it as a kid, Amy rode it as a kid. Our kids are going to ride it. They love it.
As we get in line, I think to myself – what kind of workers get stuck working this ride? Close talkers? People who made someone angry at management? The new host of “America’s Got Talent”?
I then find out. Guy can’t load 4 empty boats on the dock with 8 people in line. It’s that empty. 4 whole boats, only 8 people on the dock and this guy is dumbfouned as to how to get them all in.
Luckily, we all had been on a ride before so we figured it out for him.
Great day, great fun. I love Disneyworld. Thank you, Big Tom and Mimi.