It has been my Mecca since 1986: the Pepperdine lectureship. For 20 years, it has been a fresh breeze in my life.
It’s been a place to speak openly — in evening lectures, classes, breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. (Jerry Rushford has had a way of talking you into doing more than you’d really like sometimes. He’s a very persuasive sort of guy!)
It’s been a place to listen to rich teaching and to be refreshed by times of worship. Great memories of Ken Young’s welcoming smile and worshipful heart, leading at the evening lectures.
For me, it’s especially been a place to connect with good buddies. Lunches with Rick, Chris, Randy, and Milt. Hangin’ with Darryl and Leonard–as well as with Rubel, Brandon, and many others. Even catching up with Searcy friends (David, Don, and some years James and Marla) and Abilene buddies (Thom, Dwight, Eddie, Jack . . .) in a more relaxed environment. This year, for the third time, I think, my parents will be there.
And then there is that other little serendipity: the outrageous beauty. Mountains smacked up against the ocean. What more could you ask for? Plus, the Reel Inn, Malibu Seafood, John’s Garden, The Chart House . . . .
Once again this year, I’ll be teaching my class with Zoe. (Brandon, we’ll miss you!) The class is called “Baptism and Sex.” I know, I know, it opens the door to way too many jokes. But what I really want to talk about is living within a story. The way we live flows out of the story we participate in.
This year makes 21 straight years to speak there. But next year . . . my final year to manage one of Chris’s baseball teams . . . I’m trying to keep the whole Spring schedule open . . . . We’ll see! The string has to be broken sometime.
But not this year. In a couple days, I’m headin’ west!
There’s a great article about a ministry outreach of the Southern Hills Church in today’s Abilene paper: http://www.reporternews.com/abil/nw_local/article/0,1874,ABIL_7959_4663713,00.html. I mention it here because it might spark some ideas for people in other places.
This will be my first journey to Pepperdine and southern California! David U. has been after me for years to make this trip, and I’m finally taking the time off to do it. Can’t wait to rejuvenate old friendships, while making new friends in a beautiful setting. Your classes are on my radar screen for sure…the title alone would get me there! I pray that God will pour through you and everyone speaking (Brian M., Don M….) the gift of preaching/teaching, so that great things can come from the next few day.
To His glory! See you soon…be safe.
Mike,
I am glad you will be blessed in going. Someday I might be able to do such a thing, I’ve heard such wonderful things about these Lectureships. May your cup be filled!
tough gig….
Mike, I so look forward to hearing you & others speak The Word this week! But even better will be laying eyes on son & daughter(in law)!! Blessings to you for safe travel to & from California, & hope to get to visit with you for even a minute!
Thanks for the link on the WATS service project. Great stuff there.
“Tough job, but someone has to do it!” Thanks for doing your part.
Speaking of good press, did anyone else see the great story during CBS coverage yestersay of the Zurich/NO golf tourney about Richland Hills’ collaboration with a black Baptist church in New Orleans? I loved the line from one of RHC’s members who said that after her experiences in NO, she will never again worry if her curtains matched her bedspreads (or something to that effect). Great story. Jim Nance was genuinally impressed.
Have fun in Malibu, Mike. It aint W.Texas, but it’ll do.
Steve Sr.
Soak up a little extra of that fellowship, learning and encouragement for those of us who can’t be there!
Safe travels!
Steve,
It’s great to see some good press for the C.O.C. after the whole Nancy Grace debacle. The churches are doing a lot of good work down that way.
Baptism and Sex? Aren’t you guys north of the O.C.?
…And how are you going to pull of talking about sex without the Christian Chronicle’s “Sexiest Worship Leader Alive”, Mr. Brandon Scott Thomas not there?
and speaking of sexy worship leaders…
checkout what Stephen Bailey is up to at http://www.joelquile.blogspot.com
and finally…
Seafood and the mountains are nice but I’d take seeds and the dugout any day!
Tell your stud that Mr. Incredible misses him!
Blessings on your trip to Malibu, Mike. I have no doubt that you will bless many that you preach and teach to. And “Baptism and Sex”, what a catchy title!
Furthering the golf tangent, this speaks to the idea of Christ-followers in media/entertainment being salt and light, which Mike blogged about a couple of weeks ago.
The producer of golf (translation: the head guy) for CBS is Lance Barrow, an ACU graduate and Richland Hills member. He used his influence to tell a wonderful story to a secular audience. That’s salt and light. I’m proud to know him. (Now if I could just get him to hire me…)
Mike, if you haven’t been to Paradise Cove, you need to put it on your list. It’s right on the beach & they have fabulous breakfasts–& other meals. Patty used to go their to study when she was in love school. Have a great week.
Sorry, Mike, I meant Patty used to go there to study when she was in law school.
Ohh Malibu Seafood…..I’m on the every other year schedule for Pepperdine. This is the off year. Nothing better then getting up going to get coffee and walking the beach every morning.
Where is this “love school” that you speak of Patsy and Jerry?
It sounds like a charming place.
I spent a couple of days last week at Pepperdine-wow, what a beautiful campus!! I loved just being able to travel down the road and sit on the beach for awhile-such a peaceful, calming experience. Sounds like a great class-I pray that it goes well and that you are blessed by your time out west!!
Leaving in a couple of days??? Get on with it man. Got to have at least one day to get acclimated and settled in and then of course to have pre-lectureship man of God night to take in some of the local atmosphere.
I will be sad and deeply under it this week without my Pepperdine/Malibu fix.
The Peace of God flow over all of you out there this week. Keep us posted!
Peace.
CBS’s bio for Lance Barrow. Cudos to you my brother.
LANCE BARROW
Coordinating Producer & Lead Game Producer
THE NFL ON CBS
Lance Barrow was promoted to coordinating producer and lead game producer for THE NFL ON CBS in May 2004. Since the NFL returned to the CBS Television Network in 1998, Barrow had served as the producer for the Network’s NFL announce team of Dick Enberg and Dan Dierdorf for six seasons and served as replay director for CBS Sports’ coverage of Super Bowl XXXV and Super Bowl XXXVIII.
An eight-time Emmy Award-winner, Barrow joined CBS Sports in May 1975 as a spotter/researcher for the Network’s golf coverage. He has served in virtually every capacity of CBS Sports’ golf production. Barrow assumed the position of coordinating producer, CBS Sports golf, in January 1997 and has produced the majority of the Network’s golf coverage since 1996, including the Network’s historic coverage of the Masters® and PGA Championship.
Barrow produced CBS Sports’ coverage of ski jumping and nordic combined at the 1994 Olympic Winter Games and was the associate director of the primetime broadcasts at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games. He also has served as the producer for coverage of NCAA basketball, college football and auto racing. Barrow produced coverage of the 1998 Daytona 500, for which he received an Emmy nomination. As an associate producer, his credits include the Masters and PGA Championship; NCAA men’s Final Four; Daytona 500; the U.S. Open Tennis Championships; THE NFL TODAY and six Super Bowls. He has earned Emmy Awards for his work on the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship, the Daytona 500 and the NFL.
Barrow attended to Abilene Christian University in Texas, where he played football and baseball. He earned a communications degree in 1978. Born Feb. 2, 1955, in Fort Worth, Texas, Barrow lives in Colleyville, Texas.
Peace.
You were the very first speaker I ever heard at the Pepperdine lectures-way back in 1997. 8 1/2 months along with my daughter, traveled all the way from Alabama, against doctors wishes.
To this day, those stairs, and “The Gospel According to Megan” I feel are responsible for her amazing endurance, and her soft, emotional heart!
Don’t get me wrong when you read this, I mean, you are a good speaker and all, and you are elevated most deservingly for that. But you know what is impressing me most about you? The fact you are stepping off your platform to just play ball with son. I have a feeling that will impact him (and you) much greater than your words and experiences from your speaking engagements.
God bless you and your son.
I meant to say, play ball WITH your son-sorry.
So how many Steve’s read your blog?
Y’all could have some fun with that, you know.
Retrospective and belated thanks for recommending Kenneson’s “Life on the Vine.” The thought occurred to me this afternoon after Amazon delivered some goods (Nouwen and Kenneson amongst them) that we’re in sort of a Golden Age of good writing, good thinking and improved academic priorities right now. Or maybe I’m just late to the party. qb
maybe some year it will work out for me to actually go. But I can say that I have gotten some of the best tapes (yes tapes) and Cd’s from there. Rich stuff. And for a couple of years Sonstream was streaming it live!
Amy, are you and I the only ones who will mention it?
Fighting the urge…must make joke…
You know Mike, some folks in the “brotherhood” already consider Pepperding way off to the left…but Mecca? That’s an eye-opener…
Mike
Jerry indeed is a friendly persuder and a man of great wisdom,,,,but you must ask him about his illustrious years for Michigan Christian College as the best flopper on the basketball court. No foul was too small that he didnt hit the floor. Bill Laimbeeer of the Bad Boy Pistons would have been proud. No ref ever doubted his sincere appeal for justice. Jerry’s not Bill. Give him a greeting from Rebel, class of 64.
Mike, I didn’t get to speak to you at Tulsa…maybe I’ll get to say howdy at Pepperdine. I will be helping Carla Calhoun and Laura Cremeans at the disaster relief table in the entrance way to the big hall (novice here doesn’t know the names of anything). Even if I do not get to say hello, I appreciate you much. It’ll be great to get off of the Gulf Coast for a few days and see some Coastline that hasn’t been torn to pieces by Katrina.
The Pep Lecs are one of my lifetime goals. I hope to get there some day. Glad it has been so great for you Mike. Interesting topics there!
Mike - thanks for the link above. I hadn’t seen yesterday’s paper. I cannot tell you how much I love what those four churches did. Great idea. Now that is fruit.
Mike!!
Keep it up! This attack of homesickness is getting worse and worse. And I DO miss hearing you at Pepperdine, where first I heard you speak. It is thanks to Pepperdine that I settled in at Highland when I arrived from San Diego.
Bottle a bit of salt air and SoCal sunshine for me. Okay?
Have a gloriously joyful and safe trip. We’ll miss you.
Mike,
Don’t forget the lunch time tradition of Star Gazing! I think it was a certain Mrs. (or Ms. or Miss) Anderson you, me, Wade, Rick, Rubel, and others saw playing in the sandbox with her young son and bodyguards circa 1997…
Ah, Pepperdine…
Enjoy!
Rob
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