Archive for December, 2008
Broncos Fire Shanahan
I’m shocked and if anyone tells you they saw this coming – they are lying to you.
I expected Pat to say to Mike – “You can keep coaching, but you can’t GM” or another coordinator fired. But not show him the door.
On the other hand, you can see the chips lining up last year. The GM gets fired, another Defensive Coordinator gets fired. The last few weeks, Denver was not ready to play and squandered a 3 game lead in the division. After every game, Mike said it was his fault not getting his team ready to play.
Will the Broncos be a better team without Shanahan? Hard to say. Shanahan had an outstanding draft this year but the three years prior to this – not so great. In terms of game plans – he’s one of the best. Maybe he had a hard time relating to the new type of player, maybe he had a horrible sense of who would be a good defensive coordinator. It’s obvious he never figured out the defensive side of the ball.
But any other coach in Denver this year with the injuries and the horrific defense – the Broncos would be 1-15. So he can coach.
Here’s the irony of ironies…if I were the Kansas City Chiefs, I’d be calling the 303 area code right now.
Put Up or Shut Up
Hold on to your knickers, boys. Never has a contest between two mediocre teams meant so much to so few.
As a fan, you always want your team to win. Especially against the punk trash talking Phyllis Rivers. It would be awesome to send the Chargers into the off-season discouraged and disgruntled.
On the other hand, having the 11th or 12th pick in the draft would be awesome. It’s where we found Ryan Clady.
I’m not sure the Broncos have much left to prove. David B. posted about this over on his site and I agree with him on most points. Offense is close – injuries have killed the Broncs and the defense isn’t going to scare or stop anybody. Especially when the next somebody would be the Indianapolis Colts.
So take the pick and reload for next year.
But I can’t stand the thought of losing the AFC West to the Chargers.
To those who say it’s always better to go to the playoffs and take your chances – I disagree. I remember well all the Super Bowl losses in the late ’80′s. The Washington loss was excruciating. I think playing Indianapolis next week would be along the same lines.
So I’m conflicted.
Happy Anniversary
17 years ago I stood in Legacy Drive Baptist Church wondering what in the world I was doing.
I said ‘I do’ and so did she but we had no clue what we were doing.
After all this time, not a whole lot has changed. I still have no idea how this wonderful creation of God called ‘Woman’ really works. Especially the one named Amy Carolyn Seely English.
I’m convinced now more than ever I was given a better woman than I deserved, one that seems to be specifically wired to deal with ministry and two sports crazed boys that she loves. One that continues to grow in her love and knowledge of Jesus.
Happy Anniversary, Amy.
I updated my Facebook for you.
Power of Your Name
Surely children were not made for the streets
And fathers were not made to leave
Surely this isn’t how it should be
Let Your kingdom come
Surely nations were not made for war
Or the broken meant to be ignored
Surely this just can’t be what you saw
Let Your kingdom come
Here in my heart
I will live
To carry Your compassion
To love a world that’s broken
To be Your hands and feet
I will give
With the life that I’ve been given
And go beyond religion
To see the world be changed
By the power of Your name
Surely life wasn’t made to forget
And the lost were not made to forget
Surely faith without action is dead
Let Your kingdom come
Lord break this heart
Jesus Your name
Is a refuge for the weak
Only Your name
Can redeem the undeserving
Jesus Your name
Holds everything I need
Words by Lincoln Brewster expressing the heart of lovers of Jesus everywhere.
Merry Christmas and may this year may we walk in the power of His name to bring compassion, change the world, see His Kingdom come.
Praying For Mary Schwartz
During our second service today, Mary (resident grandmother of Pinecrest, Ray’s mom) got really dizzy…so dizzy, she passed out.
Of course, there are only a handful of people in the audience that can see what is going on – Ray (who is preaching) being one of them. Ray stops preaching and asks people to help Mary. Of course, most of us have no idea what is going on.
But what happened next was just awesome to watch.
First, the service stopped and church started. We had an ER doctor and an ER nurse in the congregation who immediately came over and started helping. Someone else called 911. Somebody else just held Mary’s hand. Somebody else cleared that side of the auditorium so that when the paramedics showed up there would be a clear path and room to work. The rest of the congregation just started praying.
Mary’s okay right now. Her EKG was fine but they kept her overnight to watch her.
But as our church was praying instead of ‘doing the service’ I had the sneaky suspicion that this was probably more pleasing to the Father – The Bride praying.
Enjoy The Off-Season
I said it when they lost to the Oakland Raiders – they had lost the playoffs. I just had no idea the Broncos would drag that process out over the rest of the season.
As far as today’s game – simple math held up again. When the Broncs turn the ball over twice or more – they lose. They did. It happened.
I’m glad the Chargers won. I’m glad the Broncos are going to have WIN to get in the playoffs. I don’t see it happening and it’s just as well. The sweet taste of beating the Chargers would only last 6 days before getting our chops busted by Indianapolis.
I don’t even want to talk about the game. I’ve given up trying to understand our defense and what they are trying to do. I’ve quit trying to understand our special teams coach as well. (Instead of kicking it deep and letting the returner get 30 yards a return, let’s kick it short and allow 40 yards a return. BRILLIANT!!!)
The Broncos just aren’t very good.
The Greatest Facebook Status Comment
My good friend David Baumgartner‘s status: David is getting ready to head to Cub Scouts.
Grant’s response: I never made it past there either but I quit when I reached high school.
Last As Student Pastor
It’s been 10 days since I last blogged. It was good to have a break. Now time to break the fast.
Last night we had our Christmas Party/Junk Food/Gift Exchange Extravaganza. It was a blast. Couple of highlights for me.
First, commissioning Toby. I got Toby a real shepherd’s crook as well as a copy of My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers. I know I surprised him. Told him that every shepherd needed a crook. (There’s a joke in there somewhere…) They use it for three main things, first is to guide the sheep. A nudge there, a nudge there and they’ll go there – as long as they know your voice. Second is to rescue sheep. Their necks fit in the crook perfectly. The third thing – support. A leaning staff, if you will.
Which led me to the devotional by Oswald Chambers. My mom gave me my first copy of this book. I wore it out. I still have it. I still read it. It’s been the second single most important resource of my life (next to the Bible).
This is pretty much what I wrote to Toby inside the cover:
Pastoring is hard. No one tells you how hard it is when you start. You figure that out along the way. One of those sleepless, tossing, turning nights when you realize no other job did this to you.
Student Pastoring is double hard. Yes, it’s also twice the fun but it comes at high cost. No one tells you how alone you will feel at times. We know in our head we are not, but it doesn’t seem to translate at times in our stomachs.
And after doing this for all these years, I keep coming back to this simple principle: You are what you eat. Your best ministry will come out of the overflow of what you feed your soul.
This book has been a staple of my diet. Oswald has become a mentor, a Yoda for me within these pages.
That’s my prayer for you. Be a Yoda, dripping with Jesus.
And you’re not alone.
The coolest part of the evening – our gift from the students. It’s a huge book with notes and letters from them, scattered in there are pictures. What a great gift.
In a moment of irony, our first youth group (12th Avenue) did the same thing – gave us a huge book of notes and pictures – that I still have and display in my office.
I was asked after the party – “How does it feel to be done with your last official duty as a student pastor?”
I didn’t really have an answer at the time. I was just enjoying the moment and the party.
This morning…it feels awesome.
Here’s why…it’s what we’re supposed to do. Toby is exactly the right guy for Pinecrest. We’re exactly the right family for Western Hills. It’s all good and right. So I’ll miss the relationships – sure.
But I can’t help but think God is pleased with this whole process – the decisions, how the decisions were made, and how it’s all playing out.
And that’s awesome.
MGM and The Osborne Lights
I was acutely aware of how many Gator fans were in the park today. They are stupid and mean.
Okay, they aren’t mean.
We got to ride the new Toy Mania ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studio, formerly known as MGM Studios. That had to be the highlight of the day – that and the lights on the Streets of America.
Funny story – it’s called the Osborne Family lights from the Osborne family in Little Rock, Arkansas. Having lived in LR, we know the stories of Cantrell being shut down while folks tried to drive by to see the 3 million lights on the three houses. City and neighbors got more than a little upset and now they are displayed here at Disney.
What’s funny is how many people think it’s Ozzie Osborne’s lights. Can you imagine him putting up lights?
“Hanmmmph dddmlonem akljofsadf.” Have yourself a Merry Christmas.
One more random thought – the line into Toy Story game was phenomenal. It how every children’s ministry area should look and feel like. It’s just FUN. These huge oversized games, every area that you could possibly look at has something to engage with.
Some pics of the day.
Gators Can’t Swim In High Tide
Nobody is pickin’ ‘Bama. I love it. Everyone is impressed with the speed and athleticism of the Gator offense. Let ‘em.
Here’s what I know – Florida hasn’t seen a defense like ‘Bama’s. Of course, Alabama hasn’t seen an offense like Florida’s either. And the Georgia Dome will be a fast track. Alabama has had to win at Georgia, at LSU. Florida hasn’t had to leave the state this year except to play Tennessee.
Going to be a great game.
Roll Tide.
Here’s hope to be saying Rammer Jammer later.
What I’m Doing On Vacation
Reading.
I’ll post later in the week on what I’m reading.
Playing Guitar Hero:World Tour.
Big Tom and Mimi surprised us by getting the fam this game for Christmas. Of course we had to open it early and pretty much that’s what we’ve playing.
Camber read the Christmas story this year for us. We do this every year – read from Luke 2. How many times have I heard it read? Why is it when you hear your kids read it’s like the first time you heard it?
Taking Self-Pictures
It’s kinda funny when I upload pictures now, because there will always be a couple of self-pictures in the bunch. Here’s our short collection so far.
Epcot
I love Disney. It’s just the feel of the place when you drive up. The attention to detail, the utter ridiculous extravagance they go to create a feel of magic when you show up serves as a model for every other company on the planet.
Job Searching
Since I posted this, I’ve had a few offline conversations about it. Chris Ediger has picked up on it.
Dad (Amy’s Dad) and I were talking about last night – even though it was a neat thing to have the search team hang out and meet with the current church’s leadership – it’s rare. And not every person is in a situation that would allow them to have that kind of openness.
My prayer is that we’ll be able to create that kind of environment at Western Hills (I think we can). It’s healthy and it’s Kingdom focused, not tribe focused.
Questions for Churches
I’ve had a couple of you email me asking me what questions did I ask Western Hills.
Here they are…
If you were forced to describe Western Hills (as she is today) in a single word, what word would each of you use? What words would you use to describe what you would like her to be?
What has been the biggest lesson learned in the last year?
As you dream about the future, what do you think is the greatest opportunity ahead? What do you think will be the greatest obstacle in getting there?
If money were no object, what would be the one thing you would want to do this next year?
What does ‘success’ look like for your church?
How are decisions made at Western Hills?
Tell me of a ministry decision where there was sharp disagreement and how that was worked out.
What kind of voice does your current staff have in the hiring of the next pastor?
If for some reason Western Hills burned to the ground, how would the community around you be affected?
Every church and culture has a set of unspoken values and ‘rules.’ What unspoken insights does the next pastor need to know?
How is Western Hills currently involved in both local and foreign missions?
What would you say are the biggest needs of your city? How is Western Hills addressing those needs?