Archive for May, 2006

Y-Ball

Published
by
Mike
on May 30, 2006
in Baseball and sports
. 30 Comments

This weekend Chris and I went to a game where a little buddy of ours was playing. It was Y-ball — tee-ball played through the YMCA. It had been a LONG time since Chris’s Y-ball days.

I love Y-ball. There were no grumpy parents, no thrown bats, no slammed batting helmets, no hysterical coaches. It was, well, fun.

The third baseman rarely looked at the plate, but he compensated by having really cool sunglasses. One of the players woke up that morning just wanting to wear his favorite camo shorts instead of his baseball pants. Not a problem.

There are no strike outs. Everyone hits the ball. If you can’t hit it with your coach pitching it, the ball goes on the tee until you do whack it.

Actually there are no outs. Well, there are and there aren’t. The team in the field can get an out by fielding the ball and throwing to first or tagging the runner. But — here’s the interesting part — the runner isn’t considered out by the team batting. He gets to stay.

And everyone scores. When the last batter comes up each inning, he runs all the way around, no matter whether he hit it 100 feet or 1 foot.

Fans on both sides cheered every player. One of the dads pitching had a younger son who wanted daddy. Not a problem: he pitched while holding him. At times, the child wanted mommy (the first base coach), so he’d run back and forth. Everyone just thought it was cute.

I know that in later years more of a sense of competition has to kick in. But it wouldn’t hurt us if every once in a while in little leagues all around we decided to play by Y-ball rules. Just for a night.

Memorial Day

Published
by
Mike
on May 29, 2006
in General
. 55 Comments

A blog repeat:

The whole area of Christian participation in and support for war has been a vexing one for me. . . .

But regardless of how one comes out on that dicey issue, we have all benefitted from the courage and sacrifice of those who have fought for freedom. Part of why I have the liberty to sit at my desk today and hack away at this blog is that many have fought against what they believed were forces of evil and injustice.

One of my closest friends, Dr. Charles Mattis, grew up fatherless. When he was young, his father was shot down in Vietnam.

One doesn’t have to be a huge supporter of Vietnam to appreciate the sacrifice that was made-–not just by the young pilot but also by his widow and her two small children.

So today I “remember” this man whom I never knew–along with lots of other men and women I never knew.

And I double my prayers for the kingdom of God to continue breaking in. We pray for God’s rule that will cause humans to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. We long for the time when “nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4).

Stairway to Heaven: Led Zeppelin Comes to Highland

Published
by
Mike
on May 27, 2006
in Highland and scripture
. 13 Comments

Tomorrow I’m going to be preaching on Genesis 28:10-22, the text where Jacob has a dream involving a ladder — or as some translations have it, a stairway — to/from heaven. “Sure the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”

I’ll be interviewing Jack Maxwell, one of the most creative people I’ve ever met in my life. Jack has for many years taken notes on my sermons. But his note have no words: they are images and pictures. Many readers of this blog have seen Jack and Jill drawing while at preach at Highland or at Zoe conferences.

Jack has been working on the statue that is going on ACU’s campus. (Some of you may have seen the early stages between the Bible building and the new Williams Performing Arts Center.) His artwork seeks to recreate this amazing passage where God breaks into the sleeping world of a fugitive named Jacob.

I’m pretty sure this statue and the environment around it will become a favorite place on the ACU campus.

The Old Hermeneutic

Published
by
Mike
on May 26, 2006
in General
. 73 Comments

“Whoever, then, thinks that he understand the Holy Scriptures, or any part of them, but puts such an interpretation upon them as does not tend to build up this twofold love of God and our neighbor, does not yet understand them as he ought.” - Augustine, On Christian Doctrine

American Idol

Published
by
Mike
on May 25, 2006
in General
. 76 Comments

I’ve never watched American Idol – until four weeks ago. But I found out that my Abilene nieces are well-versed fans, so, in an attempt to be an informed uncle, I’ve watched part of the past four weeks. Not whole shows, of course. That’s a bit too much Simon for me. But pieces of shows.

And the winner? Taylor.

The amazing thing to me is that 63,000,000 Americans cast their vote? More than have voted in any presidential election.

Gore/Bush? Too busy to vote. Bush/Kerry? Still to busy. But Katharine/Taylor? Now THAT is worth a vote!

My only must-see show on t.v. right now is “The Office.” I’ve heard lots of people say they’ve watched it once and didn’t care for it. Maybe you have to watch a few times. Steve Carell is hilarious as the too-eager-to-be-loved-and-respected boss. (Any other good shows out there? My brother says that “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” is good.)

All right, back to textual criticism. Today? Early versions: Latin, Syriac, Coptic, Armenian, Georgian, and Ethiopic. Only Jeff could make this interesting.

Did You Hear the One about the Monk . . . ?

Published
by
Mike
on May 23, 2006
in faith and scripture
. 38 Comments

I’m taking a short course right now with Dr. Jeff Childers on the history of textual criticism. It was one of the studies I loved a quarter century ago in grad school, and I’m enjoying getting back into it this week.

The field of textual criticism is so important because we don’t have any of the original copies of New Testament (or Old Testament, for that matter) books. We have copies of those books. Actually what we have is copies of copies of copies of those books. As you might expect once you realize that we’re depending on so many scribes in so many places, these manuscripts don’t exactly agree all the time.

So textual critics study the available manuscripts — along with early versions in other languages and references from early church leaders — and try to determine to the best of their ability what the original text said.

When the King James Version was translated, we didn’t have the early manuscripts we now have. So, in all likelihood, the translations we have today are much more reliable (if by reliable we mean that they more likely reflect what was originally written).

Another aspect of textual criticism is that you get to peek at the way the living word of God spoke to various communities of faith over time. It spoke with power, provoking deep conviction.

It’s not exactly an area that will produce a future sermon series. But it’s nice to jumpstart my brain; it’s nice to spend a day with a good teacher, sharp students, and an open Greek text. For the past couple days we’ve been reading pages from some of the earliest manuscripts, which is hard BECAUSETHEYUSEDALLCAPITALLETTERSDIDNT
LEAVESPACESBETWEENWORDSANDUSEDNOPUNCTUATION.

Textual criticism by day. Little league coaching by night. It’s a good life.

Senior Sunday

Published
by
Mike
on May 22, 2006
in Highland and faith
. 26 Comments

Yesterday was “senior Sunday” at Highland — as it probably was at many churches. We honored and challenged our 48 seniors who’ll be heading out — a few to work, most to ACU, and some to other places (Tech, A&M, Pepperdine, Howard Payne, UT, and the Air Force Academy were the ones I heard).

A few reflections.

First, a few years ago, we quit announcing all their high school awards and accomplishments when we read their names. Those accomplishments are wonderful and important — but they tended to make church one more place where people without all the honors and awards felt second-class. At church, we value you not because of your all-district awards or your GPA but because of the person you’re becoming in Christ.

Second, I love that the seniors are asked about the people at Highland who have influenced them the most. Their answers remind us that our words of encouragement are vital to the development of deep faith. It’s evident from their answers that the huddle leaders — this year it was four couples — had been spiritual uncles and aunts who had profoundly influenced them.

Third, when students are asked what activities at Highland have been the most important to the formation of their faith, the answer that always rises to the top is the summer trip to Mexico. Something about traveling together, having fun, working hard, being exposed to poverty, meeting brothers and sisters of another language, and envisioning yourself as a person used by God in his kingdom work that shapes you forever.

So to these 48 seniors from Highland and to all the others at your churches — may the grace of the Lord Jesus, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit rest on you!

A Really Sweet Parking Space

Published
by
Mike
on May 20, 2006
in General
. 27 Comments

I just read about a parking space in Boston — a 180-square-foot parking space at the Brimmer Street Garage — that sold for $200,000. I also just read that the cost of an average house in Abilene rose to about $80,000.

There are those times when I’m thankful for how far a buck stretches here:

- When I get the breakfast special at Towne Crier for about two dollars (or the Rosa’s Tuesday Taco special for three bucks);

- When I leave my car at Abilene International Airport for $5/night (in a spot that is thirty seconds from the AA counter);

- When I compare what my house cost per square foot with what it would cost elsewhere

Having said that, I do love Boston. What an amazing place to live. But $200K for a parking space?

Turning 50 This Year

Published
by
Mike
on May 19, 2006
in General and memories
. 40 Comments

What and Who is turning 50 this year?

Yahtzee

“The Wizard of Oz” on TV

Jif peanut putter

“Heartbreak Hotel”

Pampers

“Dear Abby”

Tom Hanks, Kim Cattrall, Mel Gibson, and Ann Curry

Scotchgard

“As the World Turns”

“I walk the Line”

Certs

First hard disk drive

Play-Doh

“The Price Is Right”

Me

- - - -

Yesterday afternoon carpool was as lively as it’s ever been. Things are being dissected in 7th grade biology. Dissected animals and 7th grade boys — now that’s a successful combination. All were complaining because in one of their friend’s classes they got to cut open a pig and jump rope with the small intestines.

No wonder they were jealous.

Why Has Starbucks Conquered the World?

Published
by
Mike
on May 18, 2006
in food
. 105 Comments

It’s not your father’s library.

I went through the ACU library yesterday for the first time since the renovation. It’s incredible. No wonder students have been telling me about it with wide eyes and big smiles. Most of the first floor is a study area with computers (PCs and Macs) and . . . get this . . . a Starbucks. That’s right. A Starbucks. Right there in the middle of the library.

Starbucks has taken over. They won.

They sell a cup of joe for more than a gallon of gas, and people stand in line to get it. Plus they’ll add all the ingredients you know you’re not supposed to have and charge more. People still standing in line.

And it’s not just COFFEE. It’s Rift Valley Blend, Guatemala Antigua, Ethiopia Sidamo, Arabian Mocha Sanani, Komodo Dragon Blend, or Sumatra.

Now, in all fairness, I don’t like coffee. Not with chocolate, not with cream, not as a flavor in ice cream, certainly not alone. And I’m quite certain that blending in a komodo dragon wouldn’t help.

I would have made a good Mormon. (There is that tiny little Diet Dr. Pepper addiction, however.)

So you coffee drinkers — help me understand this. Why has Starbucks conquered the world? Is the coffee really that good? If so, what kind? (I met there a couple times with one of our youth ministers, and I can say that the bottled water is excellent!) Is it a gathering place?

While you’re telling me, let me add that sometimes after I work out in the morning I’ll swing through the Starbucks drive-through for a treat for my beloved. She’s not much of a coffee person, either, but she does like a tall (which I believe means “short”) mocha without the whip cream.

Price of the tall (short) mocha: $3.16. The look on the sleep-deprived face of my second-grade-teacher wife: priceless.