Tuesday, August 28, 2007

This Story Really Bothers Me


This story was in The Tennessean on Sunday:

The Titans had no comment today on a report that they loaned former running back Travis Henry $9,800 for child support payments ... Henry, 28, has fathered nine children by nine women in at least four Southern states . . . Henry, who now plays for the Denver Broncos, has a $25 million contract and a base monthly salary approaching $50,000. According to court records, the judge wants to ensure payment by establishing an unusual $250,000 trust that Henry must fund by next spring.
Seeliger wrote that Henry displayed "bad judgment in his spending habits," dropping $100,000 for a car and $146,000 for jewelry . . . asked that the trust be set up because Henry rarely made the payments mandated by an earlier order, though they were $800 less a month. Wellon said there was testimony establishing that Henry received a $1 million bonus earlier this year but quickly spent most of it, buying, among other things, a Mercedes and gold jewelry. Edlin, though, said Henry collected much less than $1 million after taxes, and he said much of it went to debts. "He doesn't have any money," Edlin said. "The guy has significant financial issues." Records show that Henry's children live in Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia.

This story disgust me. I enjoy watching football, its a clean excape (minus the needless violence). However, reading this makes me so glad I don't invest my money into the NFL. There is too much money spent on the NFL, and Travis Henry is the epitome of the waste and lack of responsibility. I spend money on Vanderbilt football tickets, but at least that is an institution of higher learning that makes some attempt to resist this ridiculous misappropriations of money and priorities. The Titans have brought a lot of joy and civic pride to Nashville, but I don't blame any resident of Davidson County who resist spending any more of their tax money on this football team. There are some great people in the NFL. This story is just too much. And I admit, I used to really enjoy watching Henry carry the football.

Monday, August 27, 2007

The Weekend


Now this is a weekend:

Friday:
- Dropped off the kids with Rich & Jessica for the night.
- Ate seafood with a group of friends (Beech Life Group) at Steamboat Bills
- Saw Borne Utlimatum with Beth
Saturday:
- Early morning coffee to create a new ministry
- Tubing on Old Hickory Lake (see pic above)with Dennis Stackhouse & The Studio
- Picked up the kids, hung with Rich & Jess
- Fellowship with the Huffs - the Indiana and Hendersonville version
Sunday:
- A great Sunday service
- A fun lunch at the Rollins home - lots of good fellowship with the Young Couples of SL
- A productive Advisory Council meeting - I love taking on the challenge of this building.
Monday:
- I am still tired from the weekend . . .

Monday, August 20, 2007

High School Musical 2


My children are obsessed with High School Musical 2 - the Disney Channel movie that is enormously popular. It's not just children, but parents and teenagers who love this show also. This movie proves:

- Typical high school stereo-types never change

- Music speaks to us more than dialogue

- Entertainment with a wholesome tone still sells

Both High School Musical movies are the train wreck you can’t stop watching. You know it’s cheesy beyond words, but its still fun to watch. Just don’t admit it publicly!

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Luke's First Day



Luke's first day of Kindergarten. This picture shows confidence and apprehension. There is uncertainty, but the knowledge that this "rite of passage" is necessary. I love this complex kid.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Indianapolis


I am in Indianapolis right now. It is my first time, and I have found it to be exactly like David Letterman has always described - a bit "bland." Still, it is a nice city.

I drove up here with two of my pastor friends - Clay and Damon. We drove up Wednesday and will be back Friday night. We are part of the national meeting for the Assemblies of God. The reason I came to this is because we are electing 4 of the top 6 positions for this fellowship of churches. Its really an historic time period for our little world - a changing of the guard.

Today at lunch my Texas and Tennessee world collided with a lunch that included the guys mentioned above, Eddie and Amanda Turner, Scott and Jenni Wilson, John and Melissa Mckinzie, and Tom Wilson. It was on odd combination, but a great lunch. It was kind of neat to be the one to pull that group together. I only wish Beth was with us.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Some words that are working on me


I put a lot of work into my sermons. I love public speaking, and I always feel honored when people take time to listen to me. Last week I head a message on-line by Francis Chan (picture above), a pastor in California. He seemed to be coming back from vacation and was addressing his church for the first time. The opening words have really affected me. He in essence told them, “I have been praying for you this summer, does that mean something to you? Or am I just the guy who speaks to you once a week.” Francis went on to say, “I am starting to realize that my prayers for you are more powerful than my speaking.”

These statements are really sticking with me right now. As a pastor, my speaking means so much because I have access to the most people during one time period. In addition to this, as a minister I am judged and evaluated primarily by my speaking. This reality causes me to put speaking as the supreme priority, but Francis’ words have reminded me that prayer is the pinnacle of my call.

God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times – Romans 1:9-10