The Screwtape Blog?

What if C.S. Lewis were to write the classic Screwtape Letters in our blogging culture?


The Screwtape Blog? 

Pray for Togo Elections & Missionaries there.

Please pray for Anthony Parker & the other missionaries in Togo. The elections that were held on Sunday do not appear to be going peacefully. Togo Election News

Law & Grace

Tonight I learned another lesson in law & grace. It was at James' baseball game. His second time up, he whacked the ball good. It made it to 2nd base in the air. It rolled into the outfield. He got his first double.

The coach calls him over and he heads into the dugout. He was out. He had slung his bat. My first thought was come on give him a break he is only 5. Then I thought about the parents of the little boy playing catcher. I bet they weren't into giving my son grace if their son had to suffer sore shins. After all that's why the rule is there. Most laws are there to protect us in some way from each other or ourselves.

That is what makes God's gift so great. God let his son suffer for our slung bats, our harsh words, our mean spirited gossip, our lustful glances, our dishonesty, the list could go on and on and on. You get the picture.

I would have loved if the other team would have said in unison, "Hey James, even though you should be out, go back to second. We forgive you." That wasn't going to happen.

But this has happened. God says "Hey (your name here), even though you should be (fill in consiquence here), go on to eternal life. I forgive you!" That is grace.

Dogwood Winter

Since moving to Tennessee in 2002, we have become aquanted with Dogwood Winter (April cold snap) and Blackberry Winter (May cold snap). We had what we thought was Dogwood Winter a few weeks ago but we had a suprise this morning. We had a good dusting of snow this morning. It was gone by the time we got out of chuch but it was beautiful this morning. Below is a picture of the white of the snow against the white of the dogwood.


Snow This Morning 

Emerging Church: A Suburban/Urban Phenomenon?

I have been reading a great deal about the Emerging Church movement. I see it being very effective in urban and suburban areas. I haven't seen any examples of it working in the rural areas.

Maybe this is because tradition seems to be deeper here. Maybe it is because change happens slower in rural areas. Is this just a suburban,middle class, college educated, white thing?

Work Spring Fling

We had a staff appreciation day at work yesterday. It had a western theme and our administrative team tried to come up with a name that matched. Since many of our staff consider us to be a pain in the rear, we chose the name "Saddle Sore Sensations"
Saddle Sore Sensations 

We had a great time and did well. The sack race was one of our better events. Below is a picture of me with my game face on.


Serious Sack Race Face 

One of the events we didn't fair as well in was the tug of war. That is me in the back on the ground and it's my boss heading into the water.


Tug of War Loss 

Baseball on the radio

Tomorrow, I will try to listen to a baseball game on the internet while at work. The game will be the Lexington Legends and the West Va. Power. The reason for my interest is that a kid we got to know last year when he played for the Greeneville Astros will be pitching and I want to hear how he does.

This year I am struggling with getting into Major League Baseball. The reason is this, the Braves no longer broadcast on AM 750 out of Atlanta. I have listened to baseball on the radio since I was a little boy of about 7 or 8. I loved hearing the games. I would almost build a relationship with the players from hearing their games. I loved those awful Braves teams. Players such as Jerry Royster, Rowland Office, Biff Pocoroba, Bob Horner, Terry Forster, Dale Murphy, Phil Niekro, Buzz Capra, and others filled my childhood nighttime. I feel asleep to the sounds of the Braves.

Since the Braves have changed flagship stations, I can no longer tune them in at night and I miss them. I could pay to listen to games on the internet but I refuse to do that on principle. Therefore, I am becoming more and more a fan of Minor League Ball. At least I will until they start charging to listen to their games over the net.

Acts 2 = Honeymoon?

Last Sunday we discussed this passage.

They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. Everyone around was in awe--all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.
(Act 2:42-47)

The lesson from the book was saying that this is an example of how Christians should behave all the time. I have a problem with this. I think this is an unrealistic picture. They didn't even pull it off in Acts. In the space of 3 or 4 chapters they have people lying to God and being struck down and then deacons appointed to make sure food was being distributed equally to all ethnic groups.

I equate this passage with the church's honeymoon phase. We would all scoff at a book on how to have a healthy marriage that focuses on the first few months of marriage. Those who are effective in helping others improve their marriages tend to talk about the struggles they have over come together. How they have found pleasure in just being with each other yet never taking each other for granted. You get the idea.

Honeymoons are great (even if your one bedroom cottage has twin beds - I'll tell that story another day). People even take second honeymoons. But marriage isn't about honeymoons. Marriage is about living life together everyday. If we want to look at how church should be we have to get past the honeymoon phase and get to real life. How we live with each other, encourage each other, love each other, and challenge each other every time we are together.

gods in Alabama

My brother, Chuck, send me an email this morning about a book by a mutual friend's sister. That may be confussing but that's the way we make connections in south. The book is by our friend Bobby Jackson's sister, Joshilyn Jackson. From the reviews of her first published work, gods in Alabama, we may be soon referring to Bobby as Joshily's brother.

Passing the plate

Greg Kendall-Ball is raising money to go on a missions survey trip to Rawanda. Go to his site for more information about how you can help.

Alathea and Lost & Found in Concert

Saturday night, my family crashed a "free youth concert". The opening act was why I was willing to do this. Alathea is a neat musical group that is hard to put in a category. They call their music "Popalachian". The web site calls it:
"It’s O Brother meeting the contemporary "newgrass" sounds of Nickel Creek… The sensitive warmth of Alison Krauss bumping into the organic pop of Chris Rice... But more than anything, new Rocketown band Alathea (pronounced uh-LAY-thee-uh) is a group of three East Tennessee women determined to engage their faith in a fresh way through authentic Appalachian roots music."

I call it wonderful music. It is a pleasure to listen too and the lyrics will stick with you as well. Seeing them live was a blast. The instruments they used in their 30 minute set included: guitar, mandolin, accordion, 5 gallon bucket, harmonica, washboard, soup cans, and my favorite the culligan water bottle (played as a drum and made a great bass sound).

Their set included songs from their current release and songs from some of their earlier independent releases. My favorite was an accapella rendition of "All the way my Savior leads me". Their harmony was tight and the crowd got very quiet. I hope they add it on their next CD.

To give you an idea of their thoughtful lyrics here are the lyrics of the song "Broken Down"

I will come to You if You don't mind this mess
Cause I have brushed up my act, but I'm still an
Orphan in rags trying to look her best

There's been talk all over town about the One who fixes the broken down

I will come to You if You don't mind my unfaithfulness
Cause I have put my hand to the plow, but my spirit was barely in it

There's been talk all in these parts about the One who warms the coldest hearts

I will come to You if You don't mind my sorrow
Cause I have planted rows and rows,
But my sweat and tears won't make 'em grow

They're even talkin' on the farms about the One who gathers us in His arms

He gathers us in His arms
So I will come to You if what they're sayin' is really true
Cause I have heard of blind that see, lame who walk, so can You mend me?

I will gather all my stuff and bring it to the feet of Jesus... Jesus
I will rise and go to Jesus--He won't mind my mess.

Lost & Found is a great live act. I was not looking foward to hearing them after visiting their web site. Yet they were a pleasent suprise. They put on a great show and were very engaging. They have a quirky sense of humor that had me laughing out loud at times. Then they threw this slow ballad at me:

Baby

HER SHAVED HEAD AND HER PIERCED NOSE, HER BIG ROTWEILLERS AND HER TIE-DYED CLOTHES. HER DR. MAARTENS WITH HER BIKER TIGHTS, HER LONG BLACK LEGGINGS ON A HOT SUMMER NIGHT.

AND NOBODY CALLS HER BABY, NOBODY SAYS, "I LOVE YOU SO." NOBODY CALLS HER BABY I GUESS SHE'LL NEVER KNOW.

HIS WORKING BOOTS AND FLANNEL SHIRTS, HIS SYMPATHIES BURIED AS DEEP AS HIS HURTS, LONG LONELY WALKS WITH NOWHERE TO GO AND HIS ONLY APPOINTMENT IS WITH A TV SHOW.

EIGHTY POUNDS SHE'S HARDLY WHOLE, LOSING HER BODY TO GAIN SOME CONTROL. HOURS ALONE IN SOME TANNING SALON, TRYING A SMALLER AND SMALLER SIZE ON.

HIS PIN-STRIPED SUITS AND HIS WING-TIPPED SHOES, HIS LAP-TOP COMPUTER AND HIS WALL STREET NEWS, HE MAKES HIS PLANE AND KEEPS HIS PACE. HE HIDES HIS PAIN BEHIND A POKER FACE.

BUT SOMEBODY LOVES THOSE BABIES. SOMEBODY LOVES WHAT WE CAN'T SEE. AND IF SOMEBODY TOLD THEM MAYBE THOSE BABIES WOULD BE FREE.

It was a good evening. I would love to hear them in a real venue as opposed to a school gym but I guess you get what you pay for.

Introducing a new link

Anthony Parker is a missionary in Togo West Africa. He is supported by the Homewood Church of Christ. I got to know he and his family during their furloughs while we were at Homewood. Anthony and his wife Maureen are impressive servants of God. Anthony is also a very good writer as you will see if you check out this post on his visit to a castle that was used in the slave trade.

Add this team to your prayer list. Visit their site and be encouraged about what God is doing through them in Togo.

James' First Pee Wee Game

James experienced his first Pee Wee game yesterday. He got to play pitcher and was in on a great deal of the action. The proud Daddy moment was when the girl playing first base ran up to field a ball, he ran over to cover first just like the pitcher should. He went 1 for 1 with a run scored. He was next batter up with time ran out. He had fun. He looked super cool with the wrist bands thanks to MiMi. Ken & Melinda Bowlin from church came to support James and the first time Pee Wee parents.


On base for the first time 

Playing Pitcher 

Challenging verses

Tonight in Bible class I had people share verses they felt were challenging. They fell primarily into two categories: hard to understand or hard to accomplish. Mine fell into the hard to accomplish category. If I just had "faith like a mustard seed". If that amount of faith can replant trees in the sea or move mountains, what is the size of my faith. As a result of that challenge verse, I pray the prayer the original disciples prayed and many have prayed after them. Lord, increase my faith.

What verses do you find challenging?

Family Baseball Picks

We have made our predictions for who will win the divisions & wild cards in baseball. This started early in our marriage as a way for her to show one doesn't have to follow sports to pick who is going to win. Yet I believe I have just about won every year. Grace & James like to be included.

Shannon picks - AL - Yankees (Win World Series), Twins, Angels, Red Sox (Wild Card); NL- Braves (Lose World Series), Cards, Padres, Marlins (Wild Card)
Grace picks - AL - Yankees, White Sox, Angels (Lose World Series), Red Sox (Wild Card); NL - Braves (Win WS), Astros, Padres, Marlins (Wild Card)
James picks - Yankees (Lose WS), Twins, Angels, Red Sox (Wild Card); NL - Braves (Win WS), Astros, Rockies, Marlins (Wild Card)
Steve picks - AL - Yankees, Twins, Angels, Red Sox (Wild Card & Lose WS); NL - Marlins, Cubs, Padres, Braves (Win WS)

We'll check back at the All Star break to see how we are doing.

Quick hits

Just a few things to throw your way:

I just heard of a new support/activist group. DAM = Mother’s Against Dyslexia (that one is for you Dad):)

Final Bracket Scores:
Shannon 760
David 660
Grace 630
James & Me 410.

We make our MLB picks tonight - I will post them since I usually win that competition. I am never doing a bracket ever again (at least not till next year).

And to keep my dear wife humble. Even though she won house bragging rights, her over all rank at ESPN.com was 1,631,165. For the record mine was 2,727,792. So when people say Shannon is a million times better than me, they apparently are right

April Fools Day - Random Thoughts

Last night during prayers James as for us to have a good time as we "celebrated" April Fools Day. This morning he asked if I would let him fool me today. I love my sweet son. Now I have to figure out a way to let him fool me. Hmmmmm

One of the best April Fools Day pranks ever was pulled off by Sports Illustrated. They did a mock story on a guy named Sidd Fitch. The story detailed the decision of an English born man who had studied eastern religion and had developed an 186 MPH fast ball. Today is the 20th anniversary of the story. Take time to read it, it's a classic!

And for those who feel the need to be cruel today a bit of scripture:

Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!" Prov. 26:18-19