I get a kick out of now former White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, but some of the comments he made upon his departure last night are just sad.
"I want more money. I don't work here for years. No, I want more money. Years -- what, I'm going to die poor with the White Sox? Hell, no." Guillen continued, "Life is about money. People don't believe that. People are happy after they make money."
This coming from a man already making around 2 million per year to manage ballgames. It begs the question, if you can't buy happiness on a 2 million dollar salary, just how expensive is it?
Friends, I'd submit to you that there will come a day when Ozzie won't care a lick about what he has in his bank account, but rather would trade it all for just a little more time with family and friends. Don't believe the lies the world tells you. There's nothing wrong with money, but life really is about so much more.
Your relationships are what matter. Your relationship to God, your spouse, your kids, your parents, your other family and friends. I don't mean this to say that I don't believe Guillen values these things. Guillen is an emotional guy and speaks without any filter whatsoever. I think his comments just show how easy it is to get caught up in what we do and the rat race for material "success" that we lose focus on what our priorities should be.
Stuff is nice, but the greatest thing you can leave behind is a legacy of character. What kind of legacy are you building?
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
What can you learn from a piece of tape?
I love NASCAR. I know that it doesn’t seem to be the most cerebral of sports to some folks, but believe me when I say that there is a lot more to it than guys driving fast and turning left.
This past Sunday I was down in the Sprint Cup garage area waiting to take my family and some friends to the pre-race chapel service for drivers and crew members. We watched as the teams pushed their cars through the final technical inspection area before they would put them on the starting grid. There was a slight mist falling but not so much that we were uncomfortable.
Several cars were in line including the cars of Hendrick Racing teammates Jimmy Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
As we watched, my friend Gary Hogue noticed that Johnson’s car had a piece of tape covering the exhaust pipes that point out from under the side of the car. Being an engineer by education, Gary surmised that the tape must have been placed there to prevent any moisture from entering the engine. Gary also noticed that of all the cars in line, only Johnson’s car was taped in this fashion. Not even his own teammates were taking this precaution.
If you follow NASCAR racing at all you know that Jimmy Johnson’s team has won the last 5 Sprint Cup championships in a row.
I thought about this for the next several hours. (There ended up being a rain delay so I had plenty of time to think) I came to several conclusions about that little piece of tape.
1) The value of associating yourself with people with different views and perspectives is immense. I’ve been attending NASCAR events since I was a boy, but I never would have noticed the tape or considered its purpose if I hadn’t been standing next to an engineer. Nothing in my legal or seminary training had conditioned me to see things that way. If we become too homogenous in the people we surround ourselves with we will necessarily miss out on some things. Nobody sees everything. A wise leader will understand where his blind spots are and seek out people to help him in those areas.
2) It is cliché, but those who excel at the highest levels are those who pay attention to detail in ways that seem odd or obsessive to most of us. The chances of rain getting through those pipes and getting into the engine of that racecar were probably miniscule, but they weren’t taking any chances. You have to wonder how many other things that Johnson’s team is doing on areas of the car that can’t be seen or in their shops away from the track that their competitors don’t do. I bet it’s a lot more than putting a piece of tape over an exhaust pipe. Details make the difference.
3) Don’t allow pride to cause you to become hard headed. The most amazing thing to me in all of this was the failure of Johnson’s competitors to notice the tape and implement it themselves. Johnson has won five consecutive championships. You’d think his competitors would be studying him intensely given his success yet that didn’t seem to be the case. Why would these other teams miss such an obvious thing? It surely isn’t laziness or a lack of educated engineers. Every NASCAR team works super hard and has lots of smart engineers. The most reasonable explanation I could come up with is pride. Sometimes smart folks with a lot of drive let pride and ambition cloud their minds. It’s not just that we want to excel, but we want to do it our way. We hold to doing things our way sometimes even though others around us are continually having better results doing it differently. We don’t just want to win. We want to be vindicated. Pride can bias our vision and our judgment. Wise leaders will recognize and guard against this tendency. It’s much better to be an adaptable winner than a hard headed loser.
Now, maybe I’m reading too much into a small piece of tape. Or maybe I’m not. After the race concluded Tuesday (it had to be rescheduled due to rain) there was a new driver leading the Sprint Cup point standings. His name was Jimmy Johnson. Go figure.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Random Things Final Installment
I'm sure everybody has been breathless with anticipation for me to finish this up...LOL
1. I'm a country bumpkin. Let's get that straight right off the bat. I hunt, fish, like Nascar, drive a tractor, and I've castrated pigs on the farm. And though she isn't as country as I am, my wife once clogged at the Grand Ole' Opry when she was a girl. That's bona fide!
2. Having children is the greatest thing I've ever done. Words can't describe how much I love them.
3. The most important days to come in my life will be the days when my kids accept Christ as their savior. Living an example of Christian faith in front of my children is the most important priority in my life.
4. A good steak and my Mom's onion rings has been my favorite meal for as long as I can remember.
5. I am unapologetically Southern, and it's a good thing too because my accent kind of makes it difficult to pretend to be anything else. Keep your stinkin' yankee oatmeal. I'll be eating grits.
1. I'm a country bumpkin. Let's get that straight right off the bat. I hunt, fish, like Nascar, drive a tractor, and I've castrated pigs on the farm. And though she isn't as country as I am, my wife once clogged at the Grand Ole' Opry when she was a girl. That's bona fide!
2. Having children is the greatest thing I've ever done. Words can't describe how much I love them.
3. The most important days to come in my life will be the days when my kids accept Christ as their savior. Living an example of Christian faith in front of my children is the most important priority in my life.
4. A good steak and my Mom's onion rings has been my favorite meal for as long as I can remember.
5. I am unapologetically Southern, and it's a good thing too because my accent kind of makes it difficult to pretend to be anything else. Keep your stinkin' yankee oatmeal. I'll be eating grits.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Why do we pray? Some thoughts on the invocation that is sweeping the nation.
If you haven't seen Pastor Joe Nelms' pre-race prayer from this past weekend's Nationwide Series NASCAR race, you should check it out. I'll hand it to him, it has certainly got folks talking.
Here's the link if you are interested.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM_MKCg1U-c&feature=related
Since I'm pretty outspoken about my faith and my love for NASCAR racing some folks have asked me what I thought of it. While many people are calling this the greatest sports prayer ever (including some Pastor friends of mine), I just cannot agree. The prayer didn't sit well with me for several reasons.
First, this pastor was asked to come pray before a highly dangerous sporting event. The drivers and crew members in NASCAR put themselves in potentially deadly situations with regularity. Part of the reason that NASCAR always starts events with a prayer is that although this reality is not often openly talked about, it is something that everyone in that community understands. That moment before those guys strap in their seats and fire engines is a serious moment for them and their families. It was inappropriate not to recognize that.
Second, this pastor lost sight of the fact that a public prayer should be more about bringing honor and glory to The One being prayed to and not the one doing the praying. We should pray to seek God's blessing, not to entertain people listening. It reminds me of the way the Pharisee prayed in Luke chapter 18. You might remember that there the Pharisee gave a long, proud sounding prayer to impress all those around him. In response to this Christ says in Luke 18:14 "...For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
Third, it is absolutely great to give thanks for your wife. Men should do that. The Scripture says that he who finds a wife finds a good thing. However, living in a culture that routinely makes sex objects out of women, I don't think that it set a good example for a pastor on national tv to objectify his wife by calling her "smokin' hot". I'm glad that he finds his wife attractive. I find my wife attractive too. However when I think of her beauty and all the reasons I'm thankful for her, physical attractiveness takes a back seat to all of her other traits that matter so much more. Emphasizing physical attractiveness over Godly character in prayer is a prime example of the culture influencing the church instead of the church influencing the culture.
Fourth, it was fairly obvious that this pastor's "inspiration" for this prayer was a scene from the movie Talladega Nights where Will Ferrel's character offered a rather ridiculous prayer before a meal. The purpose of the scene was to make people laugh by making fun of people who actual take saying grace before a meal seriously. It was irreverent and sacreligious. Pastors ought to be seeking their inspiration for prayer from other sources.
I know that some will read this and think that I'm just an uptight Christian who can't take a joke. That's not the case at all. It's just that I expect that kind of humor from Will Ferrell. I expect something a little different from a pastor.
At the end of the day, his prayer was more about entertainment than anything else and that bothered me. When called on to give an invocation before a sporting event, it's best to leave the entertaining to the drivers/players.
Here's the link if you are interested.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM_MKCg1U-c&feature=related
Since I'm pretty outspoken about my faith and my love for NASCAR racing some folks have asked me what I thought of it. While many people are calling this the greatest sports prayer ever (including some Pastor friends of mine), I just cannot agree. The prayer didn't sit well with me for several reasons.
First, this pastor was asked to come pray before a highly dangerous sporting event. The drivers and crew members in NASCAR put themselves in potentially deadly situations with regularity. Part of the reason that NASCAR always starts events with a prayer is that although this reality is not often openly talked about, it is something that everyone in that community understands. That moment before those guys strap in their seats and fire engines is a serious moment for them and their families. It was inappropriate not to recognize that.
Second, this pastor lost sight of the fact that a public prayer should be more about bringing honor and glory to The One being prayed to and not the one doing the praying. We should pray to seek God's blessing, not to entertain people listening. It reminds me of the way the Pharisee prayed in Luke chapter 18. You might remember that there the Pharisee gave a long, proud sounding prayer to impress all those around him. In response to this Christ says in Luke 18:14 "...For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
Third, it is absolutely great to give thanks for your wife. Men should do that. The Scripture says that he who finds a wife finds a good thing. However, living in a culture that routinely makes sex objects out of women, I don't think that it set a good example for a pastor on national tv to objectify his wife by calling her "smokin' hot". I'm glad that he finds his wife attractive. I find my wife attractive too. However when I think of her beauty and all the reasons I'm thankful for her, physical attractiveness takes a back seat to all of her other traits that matter so much more. Emphasizing physical attractiveness over Godly character in prayer is a prime example of the culture influencing the church instead of the church influencing the culture.
Fourth, it was fairly obvious that this pastor's "inspiration" for this prayer was a scene from the movie Talladega Nights where Will Ferrel's character offered a rather ridiculous prayer before a meal. The purpose of the scene was to make people laugh by making fun of people who actual take saying grace before a meal seriously. It was irreverent and sacreligious. Pastors ought to be seeking their inspiration for prayer from other sources.
I know that some will read this and think that I'm just an uptight Christian who can't take a joke. That's not the case at all. It's just that I expect that kind of humor from Will Ferrell. I expect something a little different from a pastor.
At the end of the day, his prayer was more about entertainment than anything else and that bothered me. When called on to give an invocation before a sporting event, it's best to leave the entertaining to the drivers/players.
Monday, July 25, 2011
More random things 6-10
Almost done...
6. I've had three dreams of what I'd like to accomplish in life. The first was to be a country music singer, but I can't carry a tune in a bucket. The second was to play major league baseball, but I couldn't hit my body weight against good pitching. The third was to be Governor of South Carolina, but I've really grown sour on the idea of running for office. (haven't ruled it out though)
7. Speaking of politics, I served two terms the State Chairman of College Republicans in SC and I was the youngest delegate from South Carolina to the 2000 GOP National Convention in Philadelphia. (Strom Thurmond was the oldest)
8. I like to drive fast. I've been to numerous race car driving schools and I don't mean the thing where you go follow an instructor for 10 laps and get a certificate. I'm talking about multi-day things where they teach you how to go fast. I'm able to achieve a focus when I'm behind the wheel of race car that I can't achieve anywhere else. Trying not to get killed will do that to a man I guess.
9. Making my wife laugh is one of the simple pleasures in life that I hope I never take for granted again.
10. I have many limitations as a man, but one of the biggest ones is that I may be the least "handy" man to ever be born into my family. It's so bad that sometimes when friends are doing handyman projects they will call me and ask if I'd like to come over and get in the way.
6. I've had three dreams of what I'd like to accomplish in life. The first was to be a country music singer, but I can't carry a tune in a bucket. The second was to play major league baseball, but I couldn't hit my body weight against good pitching. The third was to be Governor of South Carolina, but I've really grown sour on the idea of running for office. (haven't ruled it out though)
7. Speaking of politics, I served two terms the State Chairman of College Republicans in SC and I was the youngest delegate from South Carolina to the 2000 GOP National Convention in Philadelphia. (Strom Thurmond was the oldest)
8. I like to drive fast. I've been to numerous race car driving schools and I don't mean the thing where you go follow an instructor for 10 laps and get a certificate. I'm talking about multi-day things where they teach you how to go fast. I'm able to achieve a focus when I'm behind the wheel of race car that I can't achieve anywhere else. Trying not to get killed will do that to a man I guess.
9. Making my wife laugh is one of the simple pleasures in life that I hope I never take for granted again.
10. I have many limitations as a man, but one of the biggest ones is that I may be the least "handy" man to ever be born into my family. It's so bad that sometimes when friends are doing handyman projects they will call me and ask if I'd like to come over and get in the way.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Random things about me (11-15)
11. The Tommy Bowden "era" of Clemson football surely took 10 years off my life. I'm not sold on Dabo, but at least there's hope we won't continue to underachieve as we have in the past....Maybe now we can just expect and accept mediocrity.
12. My Grandfather and I shared the same birthday 60 years apart.
13. The best teachers I ever had taught me tons more outside of a classroom than they did inside of one. Thanks Walter Hogg, John Huggins, Billy Keels, Booker Ingram, David Gillespie, Tom Weaver and Jody Lipford.
14. I'm totally convinced my wife is a direct descendant of Job from the Bible. No way anyone could stay with me for as long as she has without patience that defies understanding.
15. I've never left the United States of America but I'm hoping to rectify that soon. My favorite places to visit in the US are Manhattan, Washington DC, and San Francisco. I don't particularly care for Las Vegas.
12. My Grandfather and I shared the same birthday 60 years apart.
13. The best teachers I ever had taught me tons more outside of a classroom than they did inside of one. Thanks Walter Hogg, John Huggins, Billy Keels, Booker Ingram, David Gillespie, Tom Weaver and Jody Lipford.
14. I'm totally convinced my wife is a direct descendant of Job from the Bible. No way anyone could stay with me for as long as she has without patience that defies understanding.
15. I've never left the United States of America but I'm hoping to rectify that soon. My favorite places to visit in the US are Manhattan, Washington DC, and San Francisco. I don't particularly care for Las Vegas.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Dad as Pastor Part 1
So how does a man serve as the Pastor of his home and provide the spiritual leadership his wife and children need? Here are some specific ways you can follow the servant leader example of Christ with your family.
1) Take your family to church regularly. Many folks will say that you don't have to attend church to be a Christian, and while that is technically true, it misses the point. If your goal is to pattern yourself as a servant leader in the model of Christ, then you have to look to his behavior. Luke 4:16 tells us that it was Christ's regular practice to be in the synagogue on the Sabbath. If it was important for Jesus to be in a house of worship on the Sabbath, then I think it's safe to say that it is important to your family too.
2) Make it your business to serve your kids at every opportunity. Christian leadership is really about being an effective servant to God, your family, and your fellow man. Don't sit back at the dinner table and wait to be served. Be proactive and serve everyone else. Wash the dishes, fold some laundry, help the kids make the bed. Be service minded and your kids will too.
3) Don't miss an opportunity to teach your kids. A big part of a pastor's job is teaching the congregation. If you want to be the pastor in your home, you've got to teach too. Too many times fathers are quick to criticize and find fault. While it's part of a father's job to point out error when appropriate, we should always try to pair that with a message about the way something should have been done. Always be ready to say, "here, let me show you how to do it" or "now let me explain the reason why we don't..."
4) Love their mother. The Bible describes the church as the bride of Christ. If you want to demonstrate Christian leadership in your home, then you've got to obey the command that tells husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Serve your wife. Sacrifice for your wife. Never do anything major without first considering what effect it will have on her. The way you treat your wife will impact the type of husbands your sons will make and set the bar for what your daughters will expect in a potential mate. For those of you guys who are divorced or had a child when you weren't married, it is still very important to treat the mother of your children with courtesy and respect. (I don't care how much she does to make you angry)
5) When it comes to complaining, shut your pie hole. If you want to be the spiritual leader in your home put a sock in it when it comes to complaining in front of your children. A habit of complaining and murmuring is one of the worst things you can pass down to a child. A hopeful and content attitude is one of the hallmarks of a man who has put his trust in the Lord. Let your walk demonstrate that you have a peace that passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:7) Trust me, it will show through and it will make a ton of difference in all of your relationships, especially within your family.
I'm sure some are wondering why there is no mention of prayer, bible reading, or devotionals in this list above. There will be more to come on those subjects later in the week.
1) Take your family to church regularly. Many folks will say that you don't have to attend church to be a Christian, and while that is technically true, it misses the point. If your goal is to pattern yourself as a servant leader in the model of Christ, then you have to look to his behavior. Luke 4:16 tells us that it was Christ's regular practice to be in the synagogue on the Sabbath. If it was important for Jesus to be in a house of worship on the Sabbath, then I think it's safe to say that it is important to your family too.
2) Make it your business to serve your kids at every opportunity. Christian leadership is really about being an effective servant to God, your family, and your fellow man. Don't sit back at the dinner table and wait to be served. Be proactive and serve everyone else. Wash the dishes, fold some laundry, help the kids make the bed. Be service minded and your kids will too.
3) Don't miss an opportunity to teach your kids. A big part of a pastor's job is teaching the congregation. If you want to be the pastor in your home, you've got to teach too. Too many times fathers are quick to criticize and find fault. While it's part of a father's job to point out error when appropriate, we should always try to pair that with a message about the way something should have been done. Always be ready to say, "here, let me show you how to do it" or "now let me explain the reason why we don't..."
4) Love their mother. The Bible describes the church as the bride of Christ. If you want to demonstrate Christian leadership in your home, then you've got to obey the command that tells husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Serve your wife. Sacrifice for your wife. Never do anything major without first considering what effect it will have on her. The way you treat your wife will impact the type of husbands your sons will make and set the bar for what your daughters will expect in a potential mate. For those of you guys who are divorced or had a child when you weren't married, it is still very important to treat the mother of your children with courtesy and respect. (I don't care how much she does to make you angry)
5) When it comes to complaining, shut your pie hole. If you want to be the spiritual leader in your home put a sock in it when it comes to complaining in front of your children. A habit of complaining and murmuring is one of the worst things you can pass down to a child. A hopeful and content attitude is one of the hallmarks of a man who has put his trust in the Lord. Let your walk demonstrate that you have a peace that passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:7) Trust me, it will show through and it will make a ton of difference in all of your relationships, especially within your family.
I'm sure some are wondering why there is no mention of prayer, bible reading, or devotionals in this list above. There will be more to come on those subjects later in the week.
Monday, June 13, 2011
The best advice I ever got about being a Dad
You know when you start having kids you get a lot of advice from people. Some of it is bad. Some of it is just tongue in cheek nonsense. Some of it is actually pretty good. The best advice I've ever got on parenting came from my Pastor at Riverland Hills Baptist Church Dr. Ed Carney.
Meeting in his office one day we got to discussing the subject of fatherhood. Ed asked me "You know what your biggest job is as a Dad right?" I paused for a second realizing I had never approached the idea of fatherhood with such a systematic thought process. I knew a list of things Dad's should do...provide financially, protect his children, take them to church, be sure they get an education, etc...
Before I could answer Ed told me, "You have to be the Pastor in your home. You see I'm only their Pastor one day a week for just a few hours. Your family needs pastoral leadership every day, all the time. That's you. That's your job. It's more important than anything else."
As soon as he said it, a light clicked on in my head. I'd read the Bible. I knew much of what it said about the husband being the head of the home, raising your children in the way they should go, not provoking your children to wrath, etc. but this simple word of wisdom put all of it into a new simple perspective to me.
My #1 job as a husband and father is to provide spiritual leadership. That starts with making a commitment to raising them up within the community of church and modeling the Gospel of Christ in my life. My kids know that church is important to Daddy. But more than that, they know Monday through Saturday that God is the real boss in our home. If you don't make that plain then you aren't really living the Gospel in front of them, you are just showing them how to be a hypocrite.
Now you may say, "I don't know anything about being a Pastor. How am I supposed to do that?" Don't let that trouble you. You may not know how, but if you humbly and sincerely submit yourself to the leadership of God, then He will show you how to lead your family.
I'll write some more this week about practical ways you can show practical, pastoral leadership in your home.
Meeting in his office one day we got to discussing the subject of fatherhood. Ed asked me "You know what your biggest job is as a Dad right?" I paused for a second realizing I had never approached the idea of fatherhood with such a systematic thought process. I knew a list of things Dad's should do...provide financially, protect his children, take them to church, be sure they get an education, etc...
Before I could answer Ed told me, "You have to be the Pastor in your home. You see I'm only their Pastor one day a week for just a few hours. Your family needs pastoral leadership every day, all the time. That's you. That's your job. It's more important than anything else."
As soon as he said it, a light clicked on in my head. I'd read the Bible. I knew much of what it said about the husband being the head of the home, raising your children in the way they should go, not provoking your children to wrath, etc. but this simple word of wisdom put all of it into a new simple perspective to me.
My #1 job as a husband and father is to provide spiritual leadership. That starts with making a commitment to raising them up within the community of church and modeling the Gospel of Christ in my life. My kids know that church is important to Daddy. But more than that, they know Monday through Saturday that God is the real boss in our home. If you don't make that plain then you aren't really living the Gospel in front of them, you are just showing them how to be a hypocrite.
Now you may say, "I don't know anything about being a Pastor. How am I supposed to do that?" Don't let that trouble you. You may not know how, but if you humbly and sincerely submit yourself to the leadership of God, then He will show you how to lead your family.
I'll write some more this week about practical ways you can show practical, pastoral leadership in your home.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
25 things continued 6-10
And the list continues...
6. I've had three dreams of what I'd like to accomplish in life. The first was to be a country music singer, but I can't carry a tune in a bucket. The second was to play major league baseball, but I couldn't hit my body weight against good pitching. The third was to be Governor of South Carolina, but I've really grown sour on the idea of running for office although I haven't totally ruled it out. (my wife has though...LOL)
7. Speaking of politics, I served two terms the State Chairman of College Republicans in SC and I was the youngest delegate from South Carolina to the 2000 GOP National Convention in Philadelphia. (Strom Thurmond was the oldest)
8. I like to drive fast. I've been to numerous race car driving schools and I don't mean the thing where you go follow an instructor for 10 laps and get a certificate. I'm talking about multi-day things where they teach you how to go fast. I'm able to achieve a focus when I'm behind the wheel of race car that I can't achieve anywhere else. Trying not to get killed will do that to a man I guess.
9. Making my wife laugh is one of the simple pleasures in life that I hope I never take for granted again.
10. I have many limitations as a man, but one of the biggest ones is that I may be the least "handy" man to ever be born into my family. It's so bad that sometimes when friends are doing handyman projects they will call me and ask if I'd like to come over and get in the way.
More to come later.
6. I've had three dreams of what I'd like to accomplish in life. The first was to be a country music singer, but I can't carry a tune in a bucket. The second was to play major league baseball, but I couldn't hit my body weight against good pitching. The third was to be Governor of South Carolina, but I've really grown sour on the idea of running for office although I haven't totally ruled it out. (my wife has though...LOL)
7. Speaking of politics, I served two terms the State Chairman of College Republicans in SC and I was the youngest delegate from South Carolina to the 2000 GOP National Convention in Philadelphia. (Strom Thurmond was the oldest)
8. I like to drive fast. I've been to numerous race car driving schools and I don't mean the thing where you go follow an instructor for 10 laps and get a certificate. I'm talking about multi-day things where they teach you how to go fast. I'm able to achieve a focus when I'm behind the wheel of race car that I can't achieve anywhere else. Trying not to get killed will do that to a man I guess.
9. Making my wife laugh is one of the simple pleasures in life that I hope I never take for granted again.
10. I have many limitations as a man, but one of the biggest ones is that I may be the least "handy" man to ever be born into my family. It's so bad that sometimes when friends are doing handyman projects they will call me and ask if I'd like to come over and get in the way.
More to come later.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
25 Random things about me (first installment)
I did this list back when it was going around Facebook a couple of years ago...figured I'd repost because I've made a lot of new friends since then.
1. I'm a country bumpkin. Let's get that straight right off the bat. I hunt, fish, like Nascar, drive a tractor, and I've castrated pigs on the farm. And though she isn't as country as I am, my wife once clogged at the Grand Ole' Opry when she was a girl. That's bona fide!
2. Having children is the greatest thing I've ever done. Words can't describe how much I love them.
3. The most important days to come in my life will be the days when my kids accept Christ as their savior. Living an example of Christian faith in front of my children is the most important priority in my life.
4. A good steak and my Mom's onion rings has been my favorite meal for as long as I can remember.
5. I am unapologetically Southern, and it's a good thing too because my accent kind of makes it difficult to pretend to be anything else. Keep your stinkin' yankee oatmeal. I'll be eating grits.
Be looking for 6-10 next week.
1. I'm a country bumpkin. Let's get that straight right off the bat. I hunt, fish, like Nascar, drive a tractor, and I've castrated pigs on the farm. And though she isn't as country as I am, my wife once clogged at the Grand Ole' Opry when she was a girl. That's bona fide!
2. Having children is the greatest thing I've ever done. Words can't describe how much I love them.
3. The most important days to come in my life will be the days when my kids accept Christ as their savior. Living an example of Christian faith in front of my children is the most important priority in my life.
4. A good steak and my Mom's onion rings has been my favorite meal for as long as I can remember.
5. I am unapologetically Southern, and it's a good thing too because my accent kind of makes it difficult to pretend to be anything else. Keep your stinkin' yankee oatmeal. I'll be eating grits.
Be looking for 6-10 next week.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Truly Amazing People
This past Saturday night was about as good as it gets for me in watching sports. I got to watch two friends executing in their sport at the highest level. I flipped between watching my friend Ray Allen and the Boston Celtics put a whipping on the Miami Heat on ABC and seeing Kasey Kahne leading the most laps in the #4 Red Bull Toyota at the Southern 500 on Fox. I've been fortunate to have several friends who either are or were formerly professional athletes but I'd never been able to flip between watching two of them at the same time. I have to admit that I went to bed Saturday right proud of myself for being so connected to such famous, successful and amazing people.
On Sunday morning I got up and took the family to church. We'd been in Sunday School for about 5 minutes when God hit me up side my head with a 2 X 4 of truth and perspective. Two stories were told in our sharing time prior to the lesson that put some perspective on what being an amazing person really is all about. (I will share the stories here with first name only to preserve privacy)
My friend Robin teaches 4 year old kindergarten in Irmo, SC. She had shared with us some weeks previously about a girl in her class whose mother was in the midst of a very complicated pregnancy that was going to require her to be hospitalized in Pennsylvania up until she gave birth. She was going to have to be away from her family for several months. Robin updated us on the situation Sunday. She first shared that all was going as well as could be expected medically under the circumstances. Then she shared that the family member who had been caring for the girl in her mother's absence was being forced to return home. There had been some uncertainty as to what would happen because the child's father had a demanding work schedule and could not afford to lose his job. Finally, she told us that she and her husband had decided that they would take the little girl in until her mother returns from the hospital. She and her husband asked the group to pray for them and their children as they prepared for this opportunity to show the love of Christ to these people in tremendous need.
Before anyone could really comment on this another Brother asked that we would be in prayer for another class member named Chris because of what he had done on Friday. Many in the class didn't know what Chris had done so it had to be recounted for everyone. Chris is active in prison ministry. Over the past year, he had befriended a man on death row who had been found guilty of three murders, the last of which had actually occurred in prison. As I understood it, Chris had a hand in leading this man to Christ. The man had been scheduled for execution Friday evening for his crimes and as part of the preparation that does along with that, he got to pick one person to come spend the last 10 hours of his life with him in his cell. The man chose Chris. Chris spent from 8AM to 6PM on Friday with his friend and didn't leave his side until they came to take him to the death chamber.
As our class secretary wound up the sharing time with a prayer and I stood to teach, the Lord convicted me about my misplaced pride from Saturday night and I had to confess it to our class.
Now I don't want it to seem like I'm implying anything negative about Ray and Kasey. They are both humble, hard working, charitable and worthy of admiration for the excellence they display in their fields. But what I was struck with so powerfully was the immense nature of what these two people right in my very own Sunday School class were doing and how easy it is to get caught up in pride about the temporary and worldly things we do instead of rightly focusing on the things we do that count for eternity.
I'm so thankful to know and serve with people like Robin and Chris. They are truly amazing.
On Sunday morning I got up and took the family to church. We'd been in Sunday School for about 5 minutes when God hit me up side my head with a 2 X 4 of truth and perspective. Two stories were told in our sharing time prior to the lesson that put some perspective on what being an amazing person really is all about. (I will share the stories here with first name only to preserve privacy)
My friend Robin teaches 4 year old kindergarten in Irmo, SC. She had shared with us some weeks previously about a girl in her class whose mother was in the midst of a very complicated pregnancy that was going to require her to be hospitalized in Pennsylvania up until she gave birth. She was going to have to be away from her family for several months. Robin updated us on the situation Sunday. She first shared that all was going as well as could be expected medically under the circumstances. Then she shared that the family member who had been caring for the girl in her mother's absence was being forced to return home. There had been some uncertainty as to what would happen because the child's father had a demanding work schedule and could not afford to lose his job. Finally, she told us that she and her husband had decided that they would take the little girl in until her mother returns from the hospital. She and her husband asked the group to pray for them and their children as they prepared for this opportunity to show the love of Christ to these people in tremendous need.
Before anyone could really comment on this another Brother asked that we would be in prayer for another class member named Chris because of what he had done on Friday. Many in the class didn't know what Chris had done so it had to be recounted for everyone. Chris is active in prison ministry. Over the past year, he had befriended a man on death row who had been found guilty of three murders, the last of which had actually occurred in prison. As I understood it, Chris had a hand in leading this man to Christ. The man had been scheduled for execution Friday evening for his crimes and as part of the preparation that does along with that, he got to pick one person to come spend the last 10 hours of his life with him in his cell. The man chose Chris. Chris spent from 8AM to 6PM on Friday with his friend and didn't leave his side until they came to take him to the death chamber.
As our class secretary wound up the sharing time with a prayer and I stood to teach, the Lord convicted me about my misplaced pride from Saturday night and I had to confess it to our class.
Now I don't want it to seem like I'm implying anything negative about Ray and Kasey. They are both humble, hard working, charitable and worthy of admiration for the excellence they display in their fields. But what I was struck with so powerfully was the immense nature of what these two people right in my very own Sunday School class were doing and how easy it is to get caught up in pride about the temporary and worldly things we do instead of rightly focusing on the things we do that count for eternity.
I'm so thankful to know and serve with people like Robin and Chris. They are truly amazing.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
We don't need to raise taxes on ANYBODY!
President Obama rolled out his plan today to eliminate 4 trillion dollars from the budget deficit. Predictably, it included plans for a massive tax increase on "the wealthy".
Of course that sounds good...most of us aren't wealthy so it's easy to say soak the rich. But is that really a good idea?
Let's say you had a child who came to you and asked for a raise in his allowance to invest in his future. Now assume that child had a demonstrated history of reckless and irresponsible spending. Would you give him the allowance right away or would you make him prove his reckless days were over?
Common sense and parental love says that you would make the child prove that he had learned a lesson. Well friends, that child is President Obama. He wants a raise in the government's allowance. Evidently he thinks that he can convince enough people to throw common sense out the window and support his spending habit.
The President doesn't seem to understand that our government doesn't have a problem with revenue. It has a spending problem and a bad one at that. The truth is that we can't tax our way out of this hole. If we collected 100% of the income of all the people in the highest marginal tax bracket, we would still have over a 1 trillion dollar deficit in this year alone.
The President hasn't learned a thing and he doesn't deserve the raise he's asking for.
Of course that sounds good...most of us aren't wealthy so it's easy to say soak the rich. But is that really a good idea?
Let's say you had a child who came to you and asked for a raise in his allowance to invest in his future. Now assume that child had a demonstrated history of reckless and irresponsible spending. Would you give him the allowance right away or would you make him prove his reckless days were over?
Common sense and parental love says that you would make the child prove that he had learned a lesson. Well friends, that child is President Obama. He wants a raise in the government's allowance. Evidently he thinks that he can convince enough people to throw common sense out the window and support his spending habit.
The President doesn't seem to understand that our government doesn't have a problem with revenue. It has a spending problem and a bad one at that. The truth is that we can't tax our way out of this hole. If we collected 100% of the income of all the people in the highest marginal tax bracket, we would still have over a 1 trillion dollar deficit in this year alone.
The President hasn't learned a thing and he doesn't deserve the raise he's asking for.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
My current reading material...
I love to read and I read quite a bit. Sometime soon I hope to post a blog about some of my favorite books and how they have helped shape my thinking. Before I do that though I'll just share a list of what I'm reading right now. I'll try to post the current reading list every few weeks as I start a new batch of books.
Here's what I'm reading right now:
The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul. Hard to believe I had never read this 25 year old classic.
A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller. Just getting started but the book comes highly recommended from people I respect a great deal.
Forgotten God by Francis Chan. Another great effort from Chan that challenges the average Christian in his understanding and appreciation of the power of the Holy Spirit.
The New Guidebook for Pastors by Mac Brunson and James Bryant. It's a very comprehensive and helpful guide for men at all stages of a ministry career.
Here's what I'm reading right now:
The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul. Hard to believe I had never read this 25 year old classic.
A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller. Just getting started but the book comes highly recommended from people I respect a great deal.
Forgotten God by Francis Chan. Another great effort from Chan that challenges the average Christian in his understanding and appreciation of the power of the Holy Spirit.
The New Guidebook for Pastors by Mac Brunson and James Bryant. It's a very comprehensive and helpful guide for men at all stages of a ministry career.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Why Would Anybody Want to Chair the SC GOP?
Anybody who knows my history knows I've done more than my fair share of work in the Republican Party. As a student, I was Chairman of the state College Republicans for two terms. As a young lawyer, I was the Chairman of my home county's GOP. I've been a delegate to the national convention, and in recent times I've often been asked to endorse candidates or serve on various finance committees. I love politics. Always have, probably always will. That said, I have no idea why anybody in their right mind would want to be the Chairman of the South Carolina GOP.
Ok, I know that this sounds extremely hypocritical given my background of activism....but hear me out.
Now that the GOP has pretty much completely achieved one party rule status in SC, I just don't see what allure being party chairman would have. By definition the Chairman has to stay impartial in primaries. The primaries are the only elections that matter any more in this state. Why run for a job that a) means you can't take sides and b) doesn't pay a thin dime? I don't get it. It's like not getting paid to not participate. I can do that at home without waging a statewide campaign.
Many years ago Henry McMaster took the office of GOP Chairman with the mantra of making Democrats so scarce in South Carolina that we'd have to hunt them with dogs. Under his leadership and that of Katon Dawson, that work was accomplished. What else is there to do? Beating Democrats in South Carolina is like me pushing over my 3 year old nephew. There's no challenge in it.
Moreover, given the number of "Republicans In Name Only" (RINO's) that currently populate many high ranking elected positions in SC, the last thing that a real conservative activist who wanted to change things would do is to take a position that where you'd have to carry water for some of those clowns. I'd rather hunt these RINO's than feed them.
What we really need in SC are political leaders who want to make these RINO's so scarce that we have to hunt them with dogs. If somebody wants to lead that charge, then sign me up. Otherwise, I just don't see the point.
Ok, I know that this sounds extremely hypocritical given my background of activism....but hear me out.
Now that the GOP has pretty much completely achieved one party rule status in SC, I just don't see what allure being party chairman would have. By definition the Chairman has to stay impartial in primaries. The primaries are the only elections that matter any more in this state. Why run for a job that a) means you can't take sides and b) doesn't pay a thin dime? I don't get it. It's like not getting paid to not participate. I can do that at home without waging a statewide campaign.
Many years ago Henry McMaster took the office of GOP Chairman with the mantra of making Democrats so scarce in South Carolina that we'd have to hunt them with dogs. Under his leadership and that of Katon Dawson, that work was accomplished. What else is there to do? Beating Democrats in South Carolina is like me pushing over my 3 year old nephew. There's no challenge in it.
Moreover, given the number of "Republicans In Name Only" (RINO's) that currently populate many high ranking elected positions in SC, the last thing that a real conservative activist who wanted to change things would do is to take a position that where you'd have to carry water for some of those clowns. I'd rather hunt these RINO's than feed them.
What we really need in SC are political leaders who want to make these RINO's so scarce that we have to hunt them with dogs. If somebody wants to lead that charge, then sign me up. Otherwise, I just don't see the point.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
What's behind the Charlie Sheen meltdown?
I've been making a lot of comments about Charlie Sheen on my Facebook the past couple of days. You'd have to live in a cave not to have followed the story. It has been ubiquitous to say the least.
But in case you do live in a cave, here it is in a nutshell. Sheen has, in the course of a week, alienated most of his friends, had his publicist quit, his top rated tv show canceled, and lost custody of his children all the while saying some of the craziest, most delusional things ever heard on national television. His bitterness is evident even as he declares he is a "winner" with "tiger blood" and "Adonis DNA" living with porn star "goddesses" flying around the world in private jets.
Why would a man with all of this be so bitter and delusional?
I believe I know the answer. Sheen has finally realized that the world has been lying to him all of his life about where to find fulfillment and it's impossible to hide the bitter disappointment and anger he feels. He's tried money, women, whiskey, drugs, and fame and they are all empty. He's worshiped at the feet of all of the major idols of our popular culture and they can't fill the whole he has in his heart.
It's a story that I know a little too well (though thankfully not nearly to the same extent as Charlie). I had bought in to the idea that what I needed to be happy, accepted, and fulfilled was success, money, status, and popularity. I've made many of the same mistakes in the wake of success as Sheen has. I've looked for meaning in whiskey, women, and money/success and having experienced more than my fair share of all three, found them sorely lacking. It was only when I turned my heart and life completely over to Jesus Christ that I found any measure of contentment and meaning in my existence. I came to know the truth in Christ's promise that He had come so that we may have a truly abundant life (John 10:10) and it has made all the difference.
The sad truth is that the only difference between Charlie Sheen and a lot of us is that he can afford to make mistakes on a grander scale than we can. We meet people everyday with the same basic problems Charlie Sheen has. They are looking for someone or something to help them make sense of life in all the wrong places. The lost, hopeless, bitter, depressed and disillusioned are all around us. It's a whole lot more common than you think.
It's hard not to laugh at Charlie Sheen's nonsense. Lord knows I have. But Charlie needs prayer. Instead of being filled with tiger blood, Charlie Sheen needs to be filled with the Holy Ghost. And we all need to see this saga for exactly what it is, a textbook example of the destruction and despair that come from believing the lies the world tells us. Proverbs 14:12 describes it perfectly, "There is a way that seems right to a man but its end is the way of death". Let's hope that Charlie stops going down this road before he proves that verse to be true.
But in case you do live in a cave, here it is in a nutshell. Sheen has, in the course of a week, alienated most of his friends, had his publicist quit, his top rated tv show canceled, and lost custody of his children all the while saying some of the craziest, most delusional things ever heard on national television. His bitterness is evident even as he declares he is a "winner" with "tiger blood" and "Adonis DNA" living with porn star "goddesses" flying around the world in private jets.
Why would a man with all of this be so bitter and delusional?
I believe I know the answer. Sheen has finally realized that the world has been lying to him all of his life about where to find fulfillment and it's impossible to hide the bitter disappointment and anger he feels. He's tried money, women, whiskey, drugs, and fame and they are all empty. He's worshiped at the feet of all of the major idols of our popular culture and they can't fill the whole he has in his heart.
It's a story that I know a little too well (though thankfully not nearly to the same extent as Charlie). I had bought in to the idea that what I needed to be happy, accepted, and fulfilled was success, money, status, and popularity. I've made many of the same mistakes in the wake of success as Sheen has. I've looked for meaning in whiskey, women, and money/success and having experienced more than my fair share of all three, found them sorely lacking. It was only when I turned my heart and life completely over to Jesus Christ that I found any measure of contentment and meaning in my existence. I came to know the truth in Christ's promise that He had come so that we may have a truly abundant life (John 10:10) and it has made all the difference.
The sad truth is that the only difference between Charlie Sheen and a lot of us is that he can afford to make mistakes on a grander scale than we can. We meet people everyday with the same basic problems Charlie Sheen has. They are looking for someone or something to help them make sense of life in all the wrong places. The lost, hopeless, bitter, depressed and disillusioned are all around us. It's a whole lot more common than you think.
It's hard not to laugh at Charlie Sheen's nonsense. Lord knows I have. But Charlie needs prayer. Instead of being filled with tiger blood, Charlie Sheen needs to be filled with the Holy Ghost. And we all need to see this saga for exactly what it is, a textbook example of the destruction and despair that come from believing the lies the world tells us. Proverbs 14:12 describes it perfectly, "There is a way that seems right to a man but its end is the way of death". Let's hope that Charlie stops going down this road before he proves that verse to be true.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
CAMO Conference report/Facebook ministry
This past Saturday I had the great pleasure to attend the Ironman Outdoors CAMO Conference on men's ministry. It was a fantastic, spirit filled event. The keynote speaker on Friday evening was Dr. Bill Jones, president of Columbia International University. He preached a wonderful expositional message on practical evangelism from Colossians 4:2-6. Dr. Jones made plain that if you want to be an effective witness for Christ you have to 1)Pray Something; 2) Do Something; and 3) Say Something.
On Saturday, my dear friend and mentor US Navy Captain Mike Langston spoke and I was so honored to be able to introduce him. Captain Langston is a true leader of men and man of God. He made it plain that men want to be led and that we have an obligation to do so if we want to impact people's lives with the Gospel of Christ.
Most fun for me was that I was invited to lead a breakout session on Saturday morning about how to use Facebook as a ministry tool. I don't believe that God has allowed the great technological advancements of the internet and social media simply so teens can post embarrassing photos and celebrities can build big fan followings. Communications advancements have always lead to ministry opportunities. The unique thing about social networking as a ministry tool is that you don't need expensive equipment or lots of infrastructure to start a ministry. All you need is a computer, an internet connection, and a desire to impact your sphere of influence for Christ. I outlined ten keys to unlocking your Facebook profile as a ministry tool. It was a good session and it's been very rewarding to see some of the men there already implementing some of the strategies I talked about. Hopefully the Lord will bless me with other opportunities to share what He has taught me on this subject.
Thanks to Ironman Outdoors for allowing me to participate. If you want to know more about Ironman Outdoors and their ministry visit them at www.ironmanoutdoors.org or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ironmanoutdoors
On Saturday, my dear friend and mentor US Navy Captain Mike Langston spoke and I was so honored to be able to introduce him. Captain Langston is a true leader of men and man of God. He made it plain that men want to be led and that we have an obligation to do so if we want to impact people's lives with the Gospel of Christ.
Most fun for me was that I was invited to lead a breakout session on Saturday morning about how to use Facebook as a ministry tool. I don't believe that God has allowed the great technological advancements of the internet and social media simply so teens can post embarrassing photos and celebrities can build big fan followings. Communications advancements have always lead to ministry opportunities. The unique thing about social networking as a ministry tool is that you don't need expensive equipment or lots of infrastructure to start a ministry. All you need is a computer, an internet connection, and a desire to impact your sphere of influence for Christ. I outlined ten keys to unlocking your Facebook profile as a ministry tool. It was a good session and it's been very rewarding to see some of the men there already implementing some of the strategies I talked about. Hopefully the Lord will bless me with other opportunities to share what He has taught me on this subject.
Thanks to Ironman Outdoors for allowing me to participate. If you want to know more about Ironman Outdoors and their ministry visit them at www.ironmanoutdoors.org or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ironmanoutdoors
Thursday, January 13, 2011
The Mighty Blue Hose of Presbyterian College
Folks who know me well know that I'm a proud graduate of tiny Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC. PC is in the middle of a transition to NCAA Division 1 from Division 2. To the best of my knowledge, we are the smallest Division 1 institution in the country.
The transition has been hard on our schools' athletes and coaches. We've endured a winless football season and a basketball travel schedule that was so ridiculous that ESPN actually did an article about it.
This season has been a bit of a turning point for our basketball program under the able leadership of longtime coach Greg Nibbert. In December, the Blue Hose actually defeated Auburn and Wake Forest on the road in back to back games. It was our school's first victories over a team from traditional power conferences in ANYTHING.
As if that wasn't great enough, last night's Florida State victory over #1 ranked and previously undefeated Duke puts PC into some rarified air...You see PC beat Auburn. Auburn had defeated Florida State. And now Florida State has beaten Duke. Obviously, PC should now be considered the top college basketball team in America.
I should point out that I make the last statement with my tongue planted firmly in my cheek but that doesn't change the fact that I'm proud of our basketball team and their ongoing story of being a basketball David willing to meet Goliath on any court in the country. Go Hose!
The transition has been hard on our schools' athletes and coaches. We've endured a winless football season and a basketball travel schedule that was so ridiculous that ESPN actually did an article about it.
This season has been a bit of a turning point for our basketball program under the able leadership of longtime coach Greg Nibbert. In December, the Blue Hose actually defeated Auburn and Wake Forest on the road in back to back games. It was our school's first victories over a team from traditional power conferences in ANYTHING.
As if that wasn't great enough, last night's Florida State victory over #1 ranked and previously undefeated Duke puts PC into some rarified air...You see PC beat Auburn. Auburn had defeated Florida State. And now Florida State has beaten Duke. Obviously, PC should now be considered the top college basketball team in America.
I should point out that I make the last statement with my tongue planted firmly in my cheek but that doesn't change the fact that I'm proud of our basketball team and their ongoing story of being a basketball David willing to meet Goliath on any court in the country. Go Hose!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
How you know you are winning an argument with a liberal
You ever have an argument with a liberal about some ridiculously wasteful piece of government spending?
The conversations all go the same way. You point out that the country is broke and we simply can't afford to spend money like a drunken sailor even if the program/spending seems like a worthy cause. If something is not part of a core function of government then we need to have a very suspect eye towards that spending. Maybe you throw in some cautionary words about how it's against our national security to keep borrowing from China in order to pay for things we don't need, and "X" is something we clearly don't need so it's got to go. All pretty straight forward stuff.
And how do your liberal friends respond?
1) that's just a drop in the bucket and not enough to make a difference.
2) Well look at all the money Republicans waste on (Insert something liberals are against like the war or corporate welfare)
Consider those arguments for a moment. Are our liberal friends really saying that they approve of wasteful government spending in small doses? A few million here and a few million there will add up to real money pretty quick if we get serious about trimming waste. When you point this out to liberals they usually come back with, "Well we should focus on the big things first." That's almost as ridiculous. How are we going to get to a bipartisan consensus on cutting big things like entitlements and Social Security if we can't come to a simple agreement on something that is obviously small and wasteful? It defies common sense. In cutting spending, as in everything else, you walk before you run.
The second response is even more ridiculous. I hesitate to even call it an argument because it basically cedes that the current item is indefensible on its own merit and just seeks to change the subject. Do wasteful practices by someone else or under someone else's watch really justify continued poor stewardship of taxpayer resources? I've found that liberals really don't like answering that question. I generally tell them that I'm glad they agree with me and that I'm even more glad that they have ideas about other places we can impose some fiscal discipline.
Bottom line is that if a liberal ever tells you either of these two things in an argument about government spending, you've won. Liberals don't have any substantive arguments to make on reducing government spending because for most of them there is nothing outside of the defense department that they want to cut.
The truth about liberals is that they would rather raise taxes and continue to allow government to grow at the expense of the private sector. Of course, this would be a lot easier to swallow if they didn't raise these ridiculous objections to defend every wasteful, pork barrel project on the books.
The conversations all go the same way. You point out that the country is broke and we simply can't afford to spend money like a drunken sailor even if the program/spending seems like a worthy cause. If something is not part of a core function of government then we need to have a very suspect eye towards that spending. Maybe you throw in some cautionary words about how it's against our national security to keep borrowing from China in order to pay for things we don't need, and "X" is something we clearly don't need so it's got to go. All pretty straight forward stuff.
And how do your liberal friends respond?
1) that's just a drop in the bucket and not enough to make a difference.
2) Well look at all the money Republicans waste on (Insert something liberals are against like the war or corporate welfare)
Consider those arguments for a moment. Are our liberal friends really saying that they approve of wasteful government spending in small doses? A few million here and a few million there will add up to real money pretty quick if we get serious about trimming waste. When you point this out to liberals they usually come back with, "Well we should focus on the big things first." That's almost as ridiculous. How are we going to get to a bipartisan consensus on cutting big things like entitlements and Social Security if we can't come to a simple agreement on something that is obviously small and wasteful? It defies common sense. In cutting spending, as in everything else, you walk before you run.
The second response is even more ridiculous. I hesitate to even call it an argument because it basically cedes that the current item is indefensible on its own merit and just seeks to change the subject. Do wasteful practices by someone else or under someone else's watch really justify continued poor stewardship of taxpayer resources? I've found that liberals really don't like answering that question. I generally tell them that I'm glad they agree with me and that I'm even more glad that they have ideas about other places we can impose some fiscal discipline.
Bottom line is that if a liberal ever tells you either of these two things in an argument about government spending, you've won. Liberals don't have any substantive arguments to make on reducing government spending because for most of them there is nothing outside of the defense department that they want to cut.
The truth about liberals is that they would rather raise taxes and continue to allow government to grow at the expense of the private sector. Of course, this would be a lot easier to swallow if they didn't raise these ridiculous objections to defend every wasteful, pork barrel project on the books.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Another Misguided Lawsuit
I read earlier this week where parents of a high school basketball player in Indiana had sued the local school district because the coach has a policy against his players having long hair.
The school district to its great credit has refused to cave to the demand. They rightly point out that playing high school sports is not a right and as long as the policy is uniformly enforced, the kid doesn't have a cause of action.
But what bothers me more than the frivolous nature of the lawsuit and the resources it will undoubtedly waste is the message that these parents are sending to their kid. They are basically saying to the kid go ahead and disregard authority. You don't have to play by the rules that every other player on the team has to accept.
I'm sure these parents think they are doing right by their son, but they aren't. Life is full of arbitrary rules that many times we won't agree with. You can't go around challenging all of them with a lawsuit, especially if you want to get and keep a job. A better message to send their kid would have been to say, "Well son, it might be a silly rule, but it's the Coach's rule and it applies to all the players. You'll just have to decide which is more important to you, long hair or playing basketball."
I believe that the real key to success in life is learning to make good decisions regarding the allocation of scarce resources. There's only so much time, money, and talent to go around. You've got to learn to make disciplined decisions on how you are going to apply them.
The story reminds me of a story I heard about Coach John Wooden of UCLA. Coach Wooden won more NCAA championships than any other coach in history. Back in the 70's he had an All-America center named Bill Walton who fashioned himself a hippie. As the time neared for the beginning of practice for his senior season Walton informed Coach Wooden that he was the returning MVP and National Player of the Year and that a coach didn't have the right to make him cut his hair and shave. (Coach Wooden had a similar policy to the one these parents are suing about.) Wooden didn't hesitate. He told Walton that he was right. He didn't have the right to make him do anything, but that he did have the right to determine who was going to play basketball at UCLA and that if he wasn't back in 15 minutes with his hair taken care of that he would not be one of those playing that season.
Walton cut his hair. UCLA went on to win yet another championship.
Consider what the rebellious star Walton had to say about Wooden last year upon the Coach's passing:
John Wooden represents the conquest of substance over hype, the triumph of achievement over erratic flailing, the conquest of discipline over gambling, and the triumph of executing an organized plan over hoping that you’ll be lucky, hot or in the zone.
John Wooden also represents the conquest of sacrifice, hard work and commitment to achievement over the pipe dream that someone will just give you something, or that you can take a pill or turn a key to get what you want.
I guess these parents don't believe their son would have benefited from playing under a coach like John Wooden. What a shame.
The school district to its great credit has refused to cave to the demand. They rightly point out that playing high school sports is not a right and as long as the policy is uniformly enforced, the kid doesn't have a cause of action.
But what bothers me more than the frivolous nature of the lawsuit and the resources it will undoubtedly waste is the message that these parents are sending to their kid. They are basically saying to the kid go ahead and disregard authority. You don't have to play by the rules that every other player on the team has to accept.
I'm sure these parents think they are doing right by their son, but they aren't. Life is full of arbitrary rules that many times we won't agree with. You can't go around challenging all of them with a lawsuit, especially if you want to get and keep a job. A better message to send their kid would have been to say, "Well son, it might be a silly rule, but it's the Coach's rule and it applies to all the players. You'll just have to decide which is more important to you, long hair or playing basketball."
I believe that the real key to success in life is learning to make good decisions regarding the allocation of scarce resources. There's only so much time, money, and talent to go around. You've got to learn to make disciplined decisions on how you are going to apply them.
The story reminds me of a story I heard about Coach John Wooden of UCLA. Coach Wooden won more NCAA championships than any other coach in history. Back in the 70's he had an All-America center named Bill Walton who fashioned himself a hippie. As the time neared for the beginning of practice for his senior season Walton informed Coach Wooden that he was the returning MVP and National Player of the Year and that a coach didn't have the right to make him cut his hair and shave. (Coach Wooden had a similar policy to the one these parents are suing about.) Wooden didn't hesitate. He told Walton that he was right. He didn't have the right to make him do anything, but that he did have the right to determine who was going to play basketball at UCLA and that if he wasn't back in 15 minutes with his hair taken care of that he would not be one of those playing that season.
Walton cut his hair. UCLA went on to win yet another championship.
Consider what the rebellious star Walton had to say about Wooden last year upon the Coach's passing:
John Wooden represents the conquest of substance over hype, the triumph of achievement over erratic flailing, the conquest of discipline over gambling, and the triumph of executing an organized plan over hoping that you’ll be lucky, hot or in the zone.
John Wooden also represents the conquest of sacrifice, hard work and commitment to achievement over the pipe dream that someone will just give you something, or that you can take a pill or turn a key to get what you want.
I guess these parents don't believe their son would have benefited from playing under a coach like John Wooden. What a shame.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Answer I gave a friend about church
Been a while since I've posted, but it's a new year and I've got a lot to say...so here goes
A friend asked me on Facebook yesterday if one had to go to church to be a "true" believer in Christ. Here is the response I gave him.
I do not believe that one must go to church to receive salvation. Salvation comes from believing in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ and repenting of your sin. Nothing more is needed. Baptism, church attendance, giving tithes...none of these are required to go to heaven.
That said, I think it is entirely fair to think about what our response to God's undeserved and overwhelming grace through Christ should be. The Bible speaks to this as well. Christ said that those who love Him would keep His commandments. Similarly James wrote that faith without works is dead. In other words, if our faith is real and sincere, we will be motivated to obedience. If we believe that Jesus is who He says He is and that Christ did the things the Bible says He did, I can't imagine responding any other way.
Now, does the Bible speak to church attendance? Absolutely. See Hebrews 10:25 where Christians are told to meet together and encourage one another. I would also call attention to what Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians 12 analogizing the church to the body of Christ and explaining each part's dependence on the other. This makes sense as it is plain to see that a hand that is cut off from the rest of the body is of little use. The Bible also points out that Christ loves the church and analogizes the church to being Chirst's bride. Finally, and most persuasively to me, the Bible teaches that Christ Himself was a regular attender of church and if being a Christian is about being more like Christ, then there can be no greater example. See Luke 4:16 describing Christ's regular practice of attending church on the Sabbath.
So if you believe what the New Testament says about the way Christians should function together and you want to be like Jesus, then it is really hard to justify a careless attitude about attending church.
A friend asked me on Facebook yesterday if one had to go to church to be a "true" believer in Christ. Here is the response I gave him.
I do not believe that one must go to church to receive salvation. Salvation comes from believing in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ and repenting of your sin. Nothing more is needed. Baptism, church attendance, giving tithes...none of these are required to go to heaven.
That said, I think it is entirely fair to think about what our response to God's undeserved and overwhelming grace through Christ should be. The Bible speaks to this as well. Christ said that those who love Him would keep His commandments. Similarly James wrote that faith without works is dead. In other words, if our faith is real and sincere, we will be motivated to obedience. If we believe that Jesus is who He says He is and that Christ did the things the Bible says He did, I can't imagine responding any other way.
Now, does the Bible speak to church attendance? Absolutely. See Hebrews 10:25 where Christians are told to meet together and encourage one another. I would also call attention to what Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians 12 analogizing the church to the body of Christ and explaining each part's dependence on the other. This makes sense as it is plain to see that a hand that is cut off from the rest of the body is of little use. The Bible also points out that Christ loves the church and analogizes the church to being Chirst's bride. Finally, and most persuasively to me, the Bible teaches that Christ Himself was a regular attender of church and if being a Christian is about being more like Christ, then there can be no greater example. See Luke 4:16 describing Christ's regular practice of attending church on the Sabbath.
So if you believe what the New Testament says about the way Christians should function together and you want to be like Jesus, then it is really hard to justify a careless attitude about attending church.
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