John Madden and I have something in common.
No, I don't weigh 400 pounds and travel exclusively by RV.
I do have a man-crush on Brett Favre, though.
The question a friend of mine at LifeWay asked me this week is a good one. WHY?
There is a story here. First of all, my wife I and both are alumni of the University of Southern Mississippi, like the greatest quarterback of all time. Second, I actually knew Favre's late dad Irvin, because some of his former athletes at Hancock North Central played baseball with me at at Gulf Coast Community College. I am pretty sure I met Brett Favre when he was still in high school when he was making the rounds with his dad.
The third big reason is the best one, though.
The year was 1990 and I covered college football for the Montgomery Advertiser, Alabama's capital city newspaper. If you know about college football in the state of Alabama, you know the state is split down the middle between Auburn University and University of Alabama fans, many of whom have lost their ever-loving minds when it comes to this sport. If you don't pledge your undying allegiance to Bear Bryant (Crimson Tide) or yell War Eagle (Auburn) incessantly, you are unworthy of drawing a breath of life. I had people threaten my life over negative things I wrote about both sides. Seriously.
It was in this environment I covered college football. When my friends and newspaper readers found out I was a USM graduate, I was labeled incompetent to cover college football because this tiny school was not in the SEC and unworthy of any consideration by Alabama and Auburn folks. It made me a little crazy.
Six weeks before Alabama's home opener against USM, senior quarterback Brett Favre wrapped his car around a tree outside Hattiesburg and had 20 inches of his intestines removed as a result. He spent a week in the hospital. He lost 30 pounds.
Somehow, Favre led USM to a 27-24 win in Gene Stallings' first game as Alabama's head coach. What made it even better was that I assigned to cover the Southern Mississippi locker room and got a chance to do an interview with Favre. To cap it off, several weeks later, Favre followed up with a doubleheader sweep of the state, leading USM to 13-12 win over Auburn. Both of these were road games for Favre and the Golden Eagles, since at that time, none of the big boys wanted to "lower" themselves to come to Hattiesburg for a game.
So, in 1990, Southern Mississippi and Favre were the state champions of Alabama college football.
So, yes, Brett Favre has had a Hall of Fame NFL career with the Packers. Yes, he's won a Super Bowl. Yes, he will probably end up leaving the Packers for the Tampa Bay Bucs or the New York Jets.
But he earned my admiration long before he became a Packer. I became a fan when he put the USM football program on the map.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
A New View of Rain
This time last year in middle Tennessee, we were in the grip of a severe drought.
No rain. Multiple days of 100-degree plus weather. Brown grass. Brown trees. The creek behind my house dried up.
Depressing did not begin to capture what the heat and drought did to my mental outlook on life.
I know hot. I grew up in Mississippi, where heat and humidity can set your hair on fire, but where just about every afternoon you were hit with a thunderstorm to cool you off.
This was completely different. It felt like God had decided to vacation and had forgotten to leave the water running for us. I tried to keep my yard alive. I tried to keep some water around for the birds and wildlife in my yard. It didn't work, and all I got for my trouble was an enormous water bill. There is no substitute for rain.
Rain is mentioned more than 100 times in the Bible, and its absence is mentioned in lockstep with famine and with judgment. One of my favorite Old Testament passages, concerns Elijah and his request of God to keep the rain away for three years because of the sin of King Ahab. Eventually, God takes a very small cloud and turns it into a rainstorm that breaks the drought.
The prophet Jeremiah also attributes a drought that is cracking the ground to the people of Israel's wickedness and their failure to listen to God.
But then, there is also this great verse from the fairly obscure Book of Hosea:
"Let us strive to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land.'' Hosea 6:3
I am not sure what happened last summer in Middle Tennessee and in the Southeast U.S. It could have been climate change. It could have been a freak occurrence. It could have been anything. It certainly could have been God's judgment.
But here is one thing I do know. I remember clearly the day we first saw rain after months of drought. I saw the big drops hitting my windshield and a huge smile grew across my face. When I got out of my truck at home, I didn't rush to get inside. I watched it rain. I let it run down my face. I let it soak my shirt and pants. I watched the water flow into the dry creek bed. It was a great experience.
I have never looked at rain the same way since. Every time it rains, I smile. Every time it rains, I thank God for renewing the grass, trees and animals. Every time it rains, I am grateful.
For me, rain is one of the best descriptions of who God truly is. He refreshes. He cools. He washes away the dirt and sweat. Through his plan of salvation through Jesus, he washes away sin. He turns drought and famine into plenty. Hosea knew what he was talking about when he wrote that God will come to us like the rain, when we most need his refreshment.
Yesterday, it was 97 degrees at my house. Today, the forecast is for rain and cooler temperatures.
When that first raindrop falls, I will be smiling. And I will be thinking about how good God is to His children.
No rain. Multiple days of 100-degree plus weather. Brown grass. Brown trees. The creek behind my house dried up.
Depressing did not begin to capture what the heat and drought did to my mental outlook on life.
I know hot. I grew up in Mississippi, where heat and humidity can set your hair on fire, but where just about every afternoon you were hit with a thunderstorm to cool you off.
This was completely different. It felt like God had decided to vacation and had forgotten to leave the water running for us. I tried to keep my yard alive. I tried to keep some water around for the birds and wildlife in my yard. It didn't work, and all I got for my trouble was an enormous water bill. There is no substitute for rain.
Rain is mentioned more than 100 times in the Bible, and its absence is mentioned in lockstep with famine and with judgment. One of my favorite Old Testament passages, concerns Elijah and his request of God to keep the rain away for three years because of the sin of King Ahab. Eventually, God takes a very small cloud and turns it into a rainstorm that breaks the drought.
The prophet Jeremiah also attributes a drought that is cracking the ground to the people of Israel's wickedness and their failure to listen to God.
But then, there is also this great verse from the fairly obscure Book of Hosea:
"Let us strive to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land.'' Hosea 6:3
I am not sure what happened last summer in Middle Tennessee and in the Southeast U.S. It could have been climate change. It could have been a freak occurrence. It could have been anything. It certainly could have been God's judgment.
But here is one thing I do know. I remember clearly the day we first saw rain after months of drought. I saw the big drops hitting my windshield and a huge smile grew across my face. When I got out of my truck at home, I didn't rush to get inside. I watched it rain. I let it run down my face. I let it soak my shirt and pants. I watched the water flow into the dry creek bed. It was a great experience.
I have never looked at rain the same way since. Every time it rains, I smile. Every time it rains, I thank God for renewing the grass, trees and animals. Every time it rains, I am grateful.
For me, rain is one of the best descriptions of who God truly is. He refreshes. He cools. He washes away the dirt and sweat. Through his plan of salvation through Jesus, he washes away sin. He turns drought and famine into plenty. Hosea knew what he was talking about when he wrote that God will come to us like the rain, when we most need his refreshment.
Yesterday, it was 97 degrees at my house. Today, the forecast is for rain and cooler temperatures.
When that first raindrop falls, I will be smiling. And I will be thinking about how good God is to His children.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Finding Hope at BK
After full day of church-related activity, I found myself in need of food at 9 p.m. Sunday. I rolled over to Burger King, got myself a Steakhouse Burger and found something that changed my life. In the top of my sack, there was a note citing my reason for being deserving of devouring this fine sandwich. According to BK, I am now the Keeper of the Eternal Flame of Hope. I am taking this very seriously. So, here are some reasons for hope today in the dog days of July:
Brett Favre is coming back.
Gas prices have dropped from $3.95 a gallon to $3.93 a gallon in my neighborhood.
The St. Louis Cardinals are 14 games over .500 and Albert Pujols in hitting .359. Plus, the Cubs have lost three of their last four. I hate the Cubs.
Barack Obama has raised more than $272 million in campaign donations, so he’s got gas money for the next couple of months. Good for him.
John McCain is promising me and you $5K in tax relief is if I buy a zero omissions car next year. I’m looking at a Chevy Volt or an EZGO golf cart.
Run’s House — the best reality show on TV — started a new season last week.
Josh Hamilton told a gazillion people watching the Home Run Derby last week that his grandmother and Jesus pulled his life out of the sewer.
The real Burger King — the creepy dude behind the mask and in costume — is a believer and a good guy. He runs small groups for a church in NYC.
I watched a guy who did not know Jesus Christ a year ago leave to go on his first mission trip as a believer Saturday.
My wife is finally able to sleep through the night after having lung surgery three months ago.
Seeing that prayer answered gives me hope.
There is nothing you can do that will separate you from the love of Jesus Christ, our Saviour.
There, I believe I am fulfilling my duty to BK for the day.
Brett Favre is coming back.
Gas prices have dropped from $3.95 a gallon to $3.93 a gallon in my neighborhood.
The St. Louis Cardinals are 14 games over .500 and Albert Pujols in hitting .359. Plus, the Cubs have lost three of their last four. I hate the Cubs.
Barack Obama has raised more than $272 million in campaign donations, so he’s got gas money for the next couple of months. Good for him.
John McCain is promising me and you $5K in tax relief is if I buy a zero omissions car next year. I’m looking at a Chevy Volt or an EZGO golf cart.
Run’s House — the best reality show on TV — started a new season last week.
Josh Hamilton told a gazillion people watching the Home Run Derby last week that his grandmother and Jesus pulled his life out of the sewer.
The real Burger King — the creepy dude behind the mask and in costume — is a believer and a good guy. He runs small groups for a church in NYC.
I watched a guy who did not know Jesus Christ a year ago leave to go on his first mission trip as a believer Saturday.
My wife is finally able to sleep through the night after having lung surgery three months ago.
Seeing that prayer answered gives me hope.
There is nothing you can do that will separate you from the love of Jesus Christ, our Saviour.
There, I believe I am fulfilling my duty to BK for the day.
Friday, July 18, 2008
My Solution to the Price of Gasoline
I thought this post might give you a good idea of who I am, instead of some boring introduction.
I have an idea about to solve our current gasoline pricing crisis. Fifty dollars a barrel sounds like a reasonable price for a barrel of oil for the United States to pay. If you're our friend, then the price is $50 a barrel. At this price, we help you militarily, with economic aid, food, technology, etc., the usual way the United States helps out the rest of the world. Glad to do it.
If you aren't willing to sell us oil at $50 barrel, congratulations, you are our enemy. Be prepared for us to take the oil we need from you at the price we decide is reasonable. People of Venuzuela, decide who you like better -- America or Hugo Chavez? If you give us the wrong answer, we will take your oil and take over your country. Go ahead, riot in the streets and call us imperialists. Frankly, I don't care. I do care the hard-earned money from my neighbors, my trucker friends and my wallet is going to purchase solid gold bathroom fixtures in Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and the United Arab Emirates. Do you realize it costs $18 a barrel for our friends in Kuwait -- who we helped rescue from Saddam Hussein -- to get oil out of the ground. They now sell it for $130 a barrel. That's quite a profit margin. By the way, did they ever pay us back for bailing them out?
Iran, same song, second verse. Decide if you are our friend or our enemy, then be prepared to accept the consequences. Putin and Russia, ditto.
In addition, let's start using the new horizontal oil drilling technology available to us to tap the huge shale deposit in North Dakota. Why not start today? There is enough oil available in that deposit to keep our economy running for 30 years or more. The people in the Dakotas could use the economic boost this would surely provide.
I have an idea about to solve our current gasoline pricing crisis. Fifty dollars a barrel sounds like a reasonable price for a barrel of oil for the United States to pay. If you're our friend, then the price is $50 a barrel. At this price, we help you militarily, with economic aid, food, technology, etc., the usual way the United States helps out the rest of the world. Glad to do it.
If you aren't willing to sell us oil at $50 barrel, congratulations, you are our enemy. Be prepared for us to take the oil we need from you at the price we decide is reasonable. People of Venuzuela, decide who you like better -- America or Hugo Chavez? If you give us the wrong answer, we will take your oil and take over your country. Go ahead, riot in the streets and call us imperialists. Frankly, I don't care. I do care the hard-earned money from my neighbors, my trucker friends and my wallet is going to purchase solid gold bathroom fixtures in Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and the United Arab Emirates. Do you realize it costs $18 a barrel for our friends in Kuwait -- who we helped rescue from Saddam Hussein -- to get oil out of the ground. They now sell it for $130 a barrel. That's quite a profit margin. By the way, did they ever pay us back for bailing them out?
Iran, same song, second verse. Decide if you are our friend or our enemy, then be prepared to accept the consequences. Putin and Russia, ditto.
In addition, let's start using the new horizontal oil drilling technology available to us to tap the huge shale deposit in North Dakota. Why not start today? There is enough oil available in that deposit to keep our economy running for 30 years or more. The people in the Dakotas could use the economic boost this would surely provide.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
An Encouraging Word
I had the opportunity to preach at my church (Hermitage Hills Baptist Church) a little while back and really enjoyed talking about the idea of encouragement.
There are way too many people sowing seeds of discouragement instead of hope. When I wrote about sports for a living, I remember former Alabama football coach Bill Curry labeling the pessimistic souls who always thought the worst of any situation, the "Fellowship of the Miserable."
It seems like we have a full house in that club these days, including the media and most of our politicans.
How about stirring the pot with a little HOPE!
The poster boy for encouragement in the Bible, was a man named Joseph, who went by the nickname of Barnabas or Son of Encouragement.
The Bible does not record much of his actual words, but in the Book of Acts you catch a great sense of who he really was. He sells a piece of land and donates all of the proceeds to the church. He takes a risk by adopting and mentoring early Christianity's Public Enemy No. 1 --Paul -- after his Damascus Road experience. He convinces the rest of the apostles that Paul can be trusted and Paul is on his way to becoming the world's greatest evangelist.
Later in Acts, we see Barnabas again giving a problem person a second chance. This time it's John Mark, who left Paul and Barnabas hanging on a mission trip. Ironically, Paul washes his hands of John Mark, but it's Barnabas again who extends hope and another opportunity to a young believer.
If I died today, I would want inscribed on my headstone, Son of Encouragement. Barnabas had the right idea, and I think he was a driver behind the explosive growth of the New Testament church.
Encourage someone today. Become your local distributor of hope.
There are way too many people sowing seeds of discouragement instead of hope. When I wrote about sports for a living, I remember former Alabama football coach Bill Curry labeling the pessimistic souls who always thought the worst of any situation, the "Fellowship of the Miserable."
It seems like we have a full house in that club these days, including the media and most of our politicans.
How about stirring the pot with a little HOPE!
The poster boy for encouragement in the Bible, was a man named Joseph, who went by the nickname of Barnabas or Son of Encouragement.
The Bible does not record much of his actual words, but in the Book of Acts you catch a great sense of who he really was. He sells a piece of land and donates all of the proceeds to the church. He takes a risk by adopting and mentoring early Christianity's Public Enemy No. 1 --Paul -- after his Damascus Road experience. He convinces the rest of the apostles that Paul can be trusted and Paul is on his way to becoming the world's greatest evangelist.
Later in Acts, we see Barnabas again giving a problem person a second chance. This time it's John Mark, who left Paul and Barnabas hanging on a mission trip. Ironically, Paul washes his hands of John Mark, but it's Barnabas again who extends hope and another opportunity to a young believer.
If I died today, I would want inscribed on my headstone, Son of Encouragement. Barnabas had the right idea, and I think he was a driver behind the explosive growth of the New Testament church.
Encourage someone today. Become your local distributor of hope.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
