Archive for October, 2008
Sick Day
Camber is not sick but she can’t go to school because she hasn’t had the prescribe number of hours on the antibiotic.
So….
We’ll drop Coop off at school.
Go to Home Depot. Because they have cool stuff and…
There is a Starbucks in front of it.
Then we’ll come home and play Lego Star Wars or Lego Indiana Jones.
Quarantine
Last week Cayden got strep, gave it to Camber.
Both have been an antibiotics. Camber got it again and is now on different antibiotics that the Dr. said he should have used last time.
So the visit and the new medicine are free?
‘Cause Dis Is Thriller…Shamon
I just bought Michael Jackson’s Thriller album and video on iTunes for $4.99.
Back when Michael was a man.
Paying It Forward…
I come downstairs from my office today and Amy meets me, throws her arms around my neck, throws herself at me, shoves her face in mine and gives me an end of a chic-flick kiss.
She is beaming, smiling. I had two immediate thoughts. The first one I can’t share with you but the other one was that she acted this way the last time she found out she was pregnant…please God…I love kids but 3 is plenty.
“You bought me flowers!!!”
Ever notice at key moments in your life everything seems to slow down? I look over to see the flower arrangement, Rowland is standing behind her shaking his head up and down in exaggerated moments.
I’m clueless.
“Ummmmm…… Honey, I gotta level with you. I didn’t send you flowers.”
“But it says these are from you. Look at the card.”
“Someone must really like me or they think I’m a lousy husband and need some help. But I didn’t send those flowers.”
Long Pause.
“So…do I get another ki—”
“You so owe me more flowers before you get another one of those.”
So whoever sent them to Amy – I just want to say thank you. It was 4 minutes of heaven. I’m still going to have to buy her more flowers now but it will be worth it.
And I’ll pay it forward.
29-9, 8-0, #2
Roll Tide.
No, they didn’t play outstanding in the first half. No, this wasn’t the complete game that we’re looking for.
But their defense shut down Tennessee all game long. The special teams gave away one fumble then played outstanding the rest of the night. And the offense showed up for the second half of the game.
It’s a good sign with games at LSU and against Auburn looming ahead.
Cooper and I watched the Auburn/West Virginia game Thursday night. It was ugly. I can’t stand Auburn. But they really need to play better than what they are playing. The offense’s inability to put points on the board and control the clock is killing their defense. By the 4th quarter, that Auburn defense (which is normally one of the best in the nation) couldn’t tackle air they were so tired.
Auburn just got physically manhandled all game long. It was painful to watch, even for an Alabama fan.
Great Weekend, Broncos Didn’t Lose
Of course…they had a bye.
Ski Day 1, Arapahoe Basin, Camber
Ski Conditions:
Snow was great. It was warm, 50 degrees and bright. No clouds at all, no wind until about 2 pm. Felt like a great spring day.
What was not great were the lines and the crowds. In the morning it wasn’t bad. After lunch it was terrible. We stopped skiing around 1 because of it. With only one lift and one run open – we expected a little wait. We forgot it was Fall Break for many schools in Colorado.
If A-Basin gets some snow over the next 2 weeks, they’ll be able to open the front side. It’ll be awesome.
It felt weird to pull on the ski pants, slap on the helmet and strap on the long boards after a long break. Then again, the last day I skied was just 6 months ago. The Xterra did much nicer than the Sonata, thanks for asking. It’s a manly car.
Day with Camber – priceless. I love her heart and spirit. We laughed pretty much all day long. Some pics:
Great One Liners From Student Parking Last Night
For whatever reason…there were a lot of funny moments at Student Parking last night.
I will not provide context. Just enjoy…
“So…you’re saying they are redoing the Sonic in Elizabeth?”
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?”
“This is it.”
“Alrighty then.”
“You can turn down the heat but you can’t turn off the hotness.”
“Some people actually think I’m intelligent.”
“Some people actually are idiots.”
“There are two kinds of people in the world…those that divide people into two different kinds of people and those that don’t.”
“Fo-Fo-Fo Shure.”
“And another thing I like about Oklahoma…”
“It’s not physically possible for him to keep fo—oh look, a squirrel.”
Camber’s Early Birthday Present
G: “So…what do you want to do on your birthday?”
Cam: “Ski.”
G: “Really?”
Cam: “Yep. Can we go on a Friday and miss school?”
G: “You are my favorite child.”
Cam: “You say that to all of us, Dad.”
G: “Don’t ruin this moment.”
Tomorrow morning we will hit A-Basin. They’ve got an 18-inch base, only one run open – “the white ribbon of death.” But we won’t care too much. We’ll go early, probably stop after lunch and head home.
Cammy was my skiing buddy toward the end of last year. We were the only ones to ski the coldest day of the year last year. It -13 at the base. I don’t even want to know what it was at the top. It was so cold, we took turns leading down the mountain. It was a nice thought from her but I’m not sure how much of windbreak she was for me. Our feet were solid pieces of ice when we got down. We grabbed some hot chocolate, sat for a few minutes then did it again. We were practically the only ones on the mountain that day. By lunch we were done. Great day.
She’s an intermediate skier, learning to do the moguls. Probably by the end of the year, she’ll be doing single diamonds with me. I’ll wait one more year to get on the double’s and backcountry powder skiing.
But lost in all of that – she’s turning 9. NINE. I’ve been told it just gets faster from here on out.
I’ll love tomorrow. Take some pictures. Make some memories.
Heart Stopped…Beating Again
I’m sitting in Chick-fil-A (Holy Fast Food). They have free wi-fi – which is awesome. They have plugs in the wall next to their booths which is even awesomer (is that a word?).
So I look up from my Mac and what you are about to read only took about 3 seconds in real time but might as well been an eternity.
I see a grey sweatshirt that says Abilene Christian University. Hey, that’s cool! Mainly because I went to Hardin-Simmons in Abilene and knew some folks that went there.
I then notice that the wearer of said sweatshirt has red hair.
She is also a she.
And she is short.
And holding a child.
She’s standing at an odd angle. Can’t get a good look at her face.
I notice that my heart has stopped beating.
I look closer, keeping the fake ficus tree between me and the red-head.
Heart resumes beating realizing it’s not HER.
HER would be my high school sweetheart. Who happen to drive a red Porsche and have season tickets to the Broncos. Have I mentioned that we haven’t talked in 20 years because of the wonderful way we broke up?
And yes…I was a jerk.
And yes, I’m completely different now but….how do you prove that in 3 seconds?
Corn Maze
Sunday after the retreat, our Life Group headed up to Wellington, Canada (inside joke) to the Harvest Farm.
Here’s the backstory of the Harvest Farm. It’s part of the Denver Rescue Mission. They have room for 72 men to learn how to farm, take care of animals, finish their high school diploma or work on other job skills while recovering from addiction AND running a working farm.
Part of running that farm is their annual Harvest Festival that includes a Corn Maze and a “No-Fright Night” for kids on Halloween. Here are some pics of past mazes. It’s impressive, huge, and a total blast.
We gave Suzanne an over the top hard time for how far the maze was from Parker (80+ miles) but it was worth it. Just know that the next time you go anywhere with the Davidsons – pack your passport.
I call this one, Camber Pets Breakfast.
This was a huge air compressor canon that shot out pumpkins over 200 yards. Brey and I want to build one for our houses.
41-7…Just Shoot Me Now
If you have an offense that is sick or needy, come play Denver.
The Broncos are the only team in the NFL that is regressing. Detroit? They started horrible and they got rid of one of their cancers. Seattle? A hospital ward – understandable. Cleveland? It’s Cleveland.
Denver looks ridiculously horrible. Horrible.
There is no pass rush. No swagger. The offense is allergic to the football. Shannahan is allergic to common sense. Who is he going to fire this season? We’re running out of scape goats.
Whatever progress the offense has made, it still can’t run the ball with any kind of power or consistency. And until they do, teams will continue to drop 5 and 6 people in coverage.
Just incredibly sickening to watch this tonight. Maybe they just aren’t that good. Most Denver fans can handle that – it’s the rolling over and giving up that is disgusting.
24-20, 7-0, #2
I’m not sure how to feel about this Alabama team. In the first half, they look like the best college football team in the country. Every game this has happened. They dominate. They impose their will on the other team. They shut people down, run up the score.
Then they switch uni’s at halftime. Or maybe Saban puts them in a hypnotic trance. Or it’s something they are eating or drinking at halftime. Maybe the JV suits up in the varsity’s numbers.
I’m running out of explanations. Do you have any?
This team can’t score in the 3rd quarter. They can’t stop anybody in the 3rd quarter. Fortunately, the defense decides to play in the final moments of the 4th. Saban is 7-0 but you wouldn’t know it by watching him on the sidelines or after games. He’s irritated. Borderline angry. You can see the volcano just underneath the surface. He doesn’t get it and he’s trying to fix it.
Through all of this, this truth remains. Alabama plays well enough to beat anybody in the 1st half. They play just well enough to win in the 2nd. Will that work in Knoxville this weekend? Will that work in Death Valley? Will it work against Auburn?
Maybe, no, and absolutely. We’ll soon find out.
Meanwhile, we’ll enjoy the ranking and enjoy the win. It’s nice to be relevant in college football again. But Saban doesn’t have long to figure out how to put a complete game on the board if they want to remain in the national title hunt.
Cool New Feature
I’ve been trying to figure out how in the world to get the comments from Facebook to my blog. Anytime I post something here – I’ve got it automatically going to Facebook.
Some of my friends comment on Facebook, some here. How to bring the two together?
This plugin by James Low. (In the process, James has a pretty cool little blog. Click over there and check it out.)
It’s running like a dream so far.
Fastbreak 2k8 Redux
It’s over, done, finished…at least the event is. Let’s hope the effect of it keeps working for a lot longer.
Here’s the quick hit of the weekend…
3 Sessions – snapshots of Jesus. His temptation (no shortcuts), his sermon (on the mount – extreme truth), his heart (sinners loved to hang with him – extreme grace).
2 hours on High Ropes course. Saw one kid scared to death of heights get in a harness, climb up, do one element then come down. Awesome job. Saw another kid scared to death of heights do the whole course then jumped off the leap of faith.
4 hours of volleyball, putt-putt, hiking, and tether ball.
4 outstanding meals.
Lots of hot chocolate.
1 night of smores.
1 Connect 4 tournament.
Some pics of the weekend.
The Hardest Thing To Get Ready For A Retreat Is Yourself
Songlists
Journals
Bibles
Snacks
Smores
Pens
Games
Water bottles
Talks
Food
Volunteers
Medical Release Forms
Check for Retreat Center
Maps for Volunteers
Cell phone numbers of drivers
As I’m packing up for the retreat, I noticed a couple of missing things on my list.
First – my own clothes. Yeah…somehow me wearing the same clothes all weekend long doesn’t sound like a great idea.
Second – my own heart. We pray for students hearts, we pray for safety, we pray for the food…how about praying for us leaders? Pray for our hearts to be challenged, energized, recharged, reconnected, inspired, and refreshed?
The talks are ready. The breakout questions are ready. The meals are ready. Time to get myself ready.
What do I want out of a weekend like this?
Laughter
Laughter is a memory maker, the front door to a heart. It’s makes new things less intimidating and uncomfortable.
Refreshment
A good retreat is when you come home refreshed…spiritually. We’ll a late night or two, you can be sure of that. But we’ll also have loads of hang time.
We start tonight at 4.47.
Opening Day
Today is the first day of ski season for A-Basin.
There was frost on the ground this morning.
The top of Pikes Peak has snow again.
I have next Friday off.
Can I make 10 days?
The Inconvenience of Community
“I only disciple guys that I’m doing life with. So if you’re not in my Life Group or doing ministry with me, I’m not discipling you.”
I could tell the words shocked him. He went from smiling to jaw hanging open astonishment. There was no anger or tension between us. I like this guy. I’d love to hang with this guy. He wants to become more of a man of God. He’s a good man already. But he’s looking for more.
It was the last of 5 hard conversations I had on Sunday. The other four wanted personal, face to face, extended attention. Life had one way or another got upside down on them. They were in crisis. Needed some help. Wanted someone to walk through the crisis with them.
I’m flattered they trusted me enough to talk to me. I am. But the problem is – there is only one of me. Besides that…as many of the comments on this blog will attest…I’m not that smart.
I listened to each one. Their issues were varied but each had come to a crossroads of sorts. A tragedy in a family. A trust broken in another. A man wanting to become more of a man of God. After each one got finished, I asked the same question.
“Are you in a Life Group?”
No.
“Are you serving in a ministry with a team?”
No.
“Do you have any other believers that you meet with regularly to pray and study the Bible together?”
No.
After each one, there was a long pause and a look at me like – “What has this got to do with my problem?” After each one, I had the same conversation inside my head with God.
I don’t want to say what You are telling me to say. I asked the questions. You help them figure it out on their own. I don’t want to have this conversation, that’s why. Because I don’t want to be the bad guy. No, God. No. Okay…fine.
So I’d ask….”Why not?”
Every answer was the same…too inconvenient. Too busy. Another night out.
“How much would it be worth right now to know that you had 5 other couples you could call, cry with, pray with, laugh with, be real with – no masks – people that could walk with you through this crisis?”
Would it be worth 2 or 3 nights a month? The inconvenience of getting kids to bed late once in awhile? The inconvenience of having someone spill something on your carpet? Or break a Xbox controller? Is it worth a 12 pack every other week? Would it be worth just those 3 or 4 nights a year of bitter cold, having to wait on the car to warm up and scrape snow and ice off the windshield?
I told each them – “The greatest moments of healing and transformation in my life have come because of the community I’ve chosen to do life with.”
The jaw was still slightly opened. I shrugged my shoulders.
I leveled with him. If we started this discipleship thing, you’ll make some changes. Those changes are going to have a profound impact on your family. Your wife is going to need some godly woman around her, just like you’re going to need more than just me around you. That’s a Life Group. We’ll challenge each other. The two or three coffees a month will have a much great impact if we’re in a Life Group together. But the best first step in becoming a man of God is realizing you can’t do it alone then doing something about that.
And the truth of the matter is this – it would be easier, more convenient, and safer to hole up and stay private. It’d be easier to let people believe that I’m more patient than what I really am, smarter than I really am, and more together than what I really am. Tons easier.
But it wouldn’t be better.
Tide Stays At 2
Cooper and I were talking about what would happen this weekend after Texas beat Oklahoma. (We had to talk about something other than his Auburn Kitty Cats getting it handed to them by the Hogs.) We both thought if LSU took care of business, they would leap-frog Alabama in the polls.
Then Florida went out and demolished LSU. Coop thought Alabama would get the 1. I didn’t. Nor did I want them to.
First of all, whatever the rankings are now – it doesn’t matter. Texas has to play Missouri (potentially twice) and Texas Tech. Alabama has to play LSU, Auburn, and either Florida or Georgia (again).
The winners in all of this – Penn State and USC. Both have much easier conference schedules. Neither will face the gauntlet that awaits Texas and Alabama over the next few weeks. Neither will play in a conference championship game and even if they had one, it would be against a much weaker opponent. They wouldn’t have to play a team that could have played for the national championship as Texas and Alabama will surely face (if they make it that far).
So I’m reluctantly pulling for Texas because I’d be sick at my stomach to see PSU and USC sneak back into one of those top two spots.
Although it would be awesome to see Penn State and Alabama play each other again for the national championship. Two of the best uni’s in college sports.
24-17, 4-2
Time to face reality, Bronco fans. This team is going to take us back to the ’80′s. Do you remember those days? Young gun, cannon for arm quarterback, a defense that leaked like a sieve, and two receivers who were learning the game – Rod Smith and Shannon Sharpe.
The vaunted Jaguar defense basically rolled over and let the Broncos roll between the 20′s. Then it just waited for a Bronco to hand the ball back to them. They weren’t disappointed. After the first drive, a pattern emerged.
Broncos roll up tons of yardage, then hands the ball back before getting to the end zone.
Take Care of the Ball
Brandon Marshall is a beast. He has the potential to be the best WR ever…but he has GOT to hold on to the ball. Fumbles are killing the Broncos. Until that happens – he’s an incredible talent with no quit in him that needs some maturing.
Cutler has the leadership moxie, arm strength, and intelligence to be one of the bests. TAKE CARE OF THE FOOTBALL!!!
Especially since you don’t have a defense that can stop anybody.
Defense – You’re Killing Me, Petey.
The 2 questionable calls in the 4th quarter did NOT cost the Broncos the game. The phantom defense of Dre Bly and the safeties did. Gerrard looked like Peyton Manning yesterday hitting wide open receivers for huge chunks of yards. I’m still wondering how they only scored 24 points.
The defense is broke. Is it talent or is it coaching? How about both?
Bottom line – this is the shakiest 4-2 team in the league. Without Eddie Royal and Tony Sheffler – this is a serviceable offense, not an explosive one. It was good to see Cutler give other receivers a chance at catching balls. But if they keep dropping passes – he’ll start bringing it down and running it. Which isn’t exactly what we want either.
Next up is the Patriots – not THOSE Patriots – but some replacement team. After watching the Chargers blow them up, it is abundantly clear why Tom Brady is the MVP. I think the Broncs can beat the Patsies but after that game – the schedule gets tougher and the wins will get fewer.
Thanks to Steve Purkapile…
it looks like you know who is running for President.
Tom Selleck Movies
I’m sitting in one of those Starbucks that is located inside a grocery store this morning with Danny Davidson. You might remember Danny as the “John Denver” guy. (This morning there were no John Denver references.)
As we are walking out, we meander over to the DVD discount bins. All these cool movies or movies you used to think were cool were on sale. I noticed a pattern.
Last Stand at Saber River
Ike: Countdown to D-Day
Stone Cold
12 Mile Road
Crossfire Trail
Runaway
There are all Tom Selleck movies.
Tom Selleck was awesome as Magnum – I mean, he drove a Ferrari – but other than 3 Men and a Baby, did he ever really make a solid movie transition?
Can you think of other TV guys that didn’t make it as well in the movies?
Where Are The Workers?
Our student ministry is growing. I mean…really growing.
Last night we had close to 50 students, by far the largest night we’ve had at Pinecrest.
We had 3 volunteers. 3. THREE.
Granted, we were missing two because of Canadian Thanksgiving. (All this time I thought of Canada as our 51st state. Now that I have a Canadian on the team, I’m learning they are a sovereign country and have their own holidays in which families actually get together. It’s a shock. But I digress.)
Last night a well-meaning individual suggested to just “stand up in front of the church and ask for volunteers.” After all, we need workers, right? How much do you compromise just because you need the warm body?
Last night was crazy but it worked. Get the wrong person on the team and all of a sudden crazy turns into disaster. Crazy – we can deal with. Disaster – not so much.
We’ll take inexperienced people who are teachable. I have some great workers that can mentor/train for a season before throwing them to the deep end. But I can’t have people who already know all there is to know about student ministry and walk around like the Gestapo.
Or can I? Is that part of leadership? The vets shaping and discipling the Gestapo youth worker into something more, something deeper than what is there at the present? Do you take the chance of conflict for the possible reward of a great volunteer? Have I critiqued my own answer with these questions?
The 5 Horseman
This may be one of the coolest pictures around. Last week I spoke at Oasis which was being hosted at my old church, 12th Avenue Baptist Church.
Every youth pastor in the history of 12th Avenue was there – minus interims.
Here’s the lineup from right to left…
Phil Brown (1984-1993) – currently the Adult Education Pastor at 12th Avenue.
Russ Bauck (1994-1996) – on furlough, currently a missionary in the Philippines.
Grant English (1997-2002) – currently student pastor in Parker, Colorado
Reg Hamilton (2002-2006) – currently student pastor in Gardner, Kansas.
Danny Payne (2006-present)- current student pastor at 12th Avenue.
Here’s the coolest thing about the picture. I met every one of these men in the same year – 1997.
Phil came back to Emporia to perform a wedding, we grabbed some face time and it was one of those instant – “I like this guy and I don’t really know why” moments. When I got there in 1997, he still was remembered and spoken highly of. He made Russ’ and my life easy by creating a culture where student ministry was valued and fun.
Russ and Etta were raising money to go on the mission field when I first met them. They were in Emporia right before they left for the Philippines. We had dinner and again – instant “I love these people and I don’t know why” moments. Every year they come back for furlough, we manage to hook up and pick up right where we left off.
Reg was a youth pastor at another local church in 1997. His church, mine, and the Assembly church pulled off retreats, lock-ins, WOW Week and 5th quarters together all the time. It was the start of 3 great, deep friendships – Tony, Reg, and I – that still continue to this day.
When Reg resigned at his church across town, he came to heal up with us at 12th by serving on our youth team for the next year. 12th ended up hiring him after I left.
Danny Payne and I met at In Depth in 1997. Another instant click. We ended up serving time in Topeka together. Charges were later dismissed. Seriously, we served on the State Convention youth ministry board for 3 years together. Many a late night we have spent.
When Reg left, I recommended Danny to 12th.
So the picture is just more than the youth pastors of 12th Avenue but 5 deep friendships that are centered around our love for Jesus and teenagers.