Bobby Ross, editor of the Christian Chronicle, asked me if one can be both a Christian and a Yankees fan. My answer can be found here.
- - - -
Check out this piece by N. T. Wright on “Women’s Service in the Church: The Biblical Basis.”
He says at the end:
I think I have said enough to show you where I think the evidence points. I believe we have seriously misread the relevant passages in the New Testament, no doubt not least through a long process of assumption, tradition, and all kinds of post-biblical and sub-biblical attitudes that have crept in to Christianity. Just as I think we need radically to change our traditional pictures of the afterlife, away from the mediaeval models and back to the biblical ones, so we need radically to change our traditional pictures both of what men and women are and how they relate to one another within the church and indeed of what the Bible says on this subject. I do wonder, sometimes, if those who present radical challenges to Christianity have been all the more eager to make out that the Bible says certain things about women, as an excuse for claiming that Christianity in general is a wicked thing and we ought to abandon it. Of course, there have been plenty of Christians who have given outsiders plenty of chances to make that sort of comment. But perhaps in our generation we have an opportunity to take a large step back in the right direction.
- - - -
Diane and I had a real, live date night Tuesday before the middle school boys returned from the Houston Impact trip. We went to see “Prairie Home Companion.” I’m guessing it won’t be on many Top 10 lists, but for those who’ve been listening to and reading Garrison Keillor for as long as we have, it was great. Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Lindsay Lohan, Tommy Lee Jones, John C. Reilly, Lily Tomlin, Virginia Madsen, Woody Harrelson, and, of course, GK.
Ebert and Cope give it “two thumbs up.”
- - - -
This is pretty arbitrary, because for a long time this blog didn’t have a counter. But after I dropped one on, it rolled over to 500,000 about 6 1/2 months ago (11/28/05). I sent the “lucky” 500,000th person a copy of Seeking a Lasting City signed by the authors (Doug Foster, Randy Harris, and Mark Love).
In a few days, the counter will hit 1,000,000. Any suggestions for a prize? Maybe signed photos of Foster, Harris, and Love in summerwear? (Do shorts and swim suits come in all black for Randy?)
All right — perhaps another book? I’m thinking maybe a signed copy of Pilgrim Heart (Darryl Tippens) or of the updated Cruciform Church (Leonard Allen). Maybe free registration to the fall Zoe Conference? (How about it, Eric?) Think outside the box.
Mike.
Even mentioning the idea of Randy in a swimsuit makes me think your blog traffic demographic will dramatically change.
Yawn on the book prize idea. You could at least throw in a guacamole recipe and some tortilla chips.
I want a signed copy of Darryl’s book!!! I need to get people over here reading it.
PS: Have a great date!
And thanks for this link to Bishop Tom’s piece on women. (No, I’m not trying to flip your counter with multiple hits.)
Tickets to Busch Stadium
If I could be the lucky winner, I would want a copy of Mike Cope Sings The Classics and and a deeper explanation of this grace that allows Yankees’ fans to be Christians.
My beliefs have been challenged by you on a lot of topics but Mike, I think this Yankees thing may be too much for my little mind!
How about A Prairie Home Companion on DVD?
P.S. Of course a Christian can’t be a Yankee fan. The hand of the Lord is obviously with the Tigers.
I vote for the T-shirt that reads, “I am the millionth person to visit Mike Cope’s weblog!”
My thoughts exactly on the Yanks Mike. Knowing our luck - King George will figure this out and sign Ira to an A-Rodishly outrageous contract, then what do we do? On the counter — the problem I have now is some geek will figure out how to sneak in and win it - not fair at all to the loyal blog-ites out here in the cofC badlands.
Well, Nashville is a bit far away…. I’d take a registration to Zoe Fresno, though!! I like Terri’s suggestion as well.
How about a gift “basket”? Fill it with Preacher Mike goodies along the theme of the blog. For example:
-A Preacher Mike t-shirt or ball cap complete with URL for free advertizing
-Copy of Mike Cope sings the classics
-A book of some sort (Pilrim Heart?)
-A place for the link to the winner’s blog in your sidebar
-Free registration to Zoe in the fall (or something similar)
-etc.
(Karen makes a good point about distance. Maybe the Zoe registration could be either that or copies of the “tapes”.)
Traditions are good but traditional thinking is not always to be valued. We have flat missed the boat on some of these issues.
A million hits is nothing to sneeze about. Congratulations on getting the word out there. You make it both fun and interesting to be challenged like this!
Stubb’s BBQ Sauce
Lunch or Dinner at Perini Ranch… mmmmmmm, good!!
Yeah but isn’t the Cardinals Mission statement: We don’t want to be like the Yankees. Give me Dodger Blue anyday! Mike you might remember the days when the Rocky Mountain States couldn’t decide if they were Cardinal or Dodger fans being that those two teams were the closest to them. I remember years ago when Vin Scully and Dodger games were on the local radio in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Salt Lake, Denver and Albuquerque.
I found a picture of Love at a Dodger game from 1979, wait I think he had his shirt off.
Mike what do you think of fact that many Latin American players drop out of school when they are around 13 and play baseball full time?
Top Ten Millionth Hit Rewards:
10. Yankees tickets.
9. A Free Trip to Harding with Greg Kendall Ball and Ann Coulter
8. 4 Night/5 Day Spring Break trip to Merkell, Tx
7. Free round of golf with you, Harris, & Boone.
6. Backstage Passes to the Zoe World Tour Stop in Fresneck, CA
5. Free Diet Dr. Pepper for life
4. Every book, article, or sermon every done on the DaVinci Code
3. Their living room redecorated by the person who did Highland’s auditorium
2. Free tickets to attend the Hollywood premeire of Snakes on a Plane with GKB.
1. A years worth of my sermons on DVD with commentary by the scholars at http://www.piney.com
Just commenting on the part of men and women serving the Lord. I still feel that when they went house to house in the beginning and broke bread, the men did not make or serve the meal. When I think how many are divided by denominations and women being restrained, I do not see that as what Christ intended for His Kingdom. Jesus saying that verse about being neither male or female, but just being His people, His followers, the ones He died for. If His kingdom is here now, why only think of this for the afterlife?
I think a copy of Pilgrim Heart would be wonderful. After I read your post on it several days ago…I went and posted about it as well on my blog…in my opinion, thats what should be the prize
An interview with you on your blog.
Hey how do you know who visited when? That’s cool.
You all are thinking too small! How about a U2 iPod or a new dual core Mac Book!!! After all it is 1,000,000, isn’t it?
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore/
On women, I really like what an actual Christian woman has to say on the topic. She is Professor of Theology and Ministry at Haggard School of Theology at Azuza Pacific University.
http://www.apu.edu/theology/faculty/ssumner/
She wrote “Men and Women in the Church: Building Consensus on Christian Leadership.”
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0830823913/002-2749868-3459252?v=glance&n=283155
Peace.
I have recently stepped down from my “leadership” role in our women’s ministry. While I see a glimmer of hope from time to time, the atmosphere of spiritual slavery is just too thick. It was beginning to affect my attitude. It’s so hard to serve with so many senseless restrictions. I know that I will probably step back up to serve again in the future, but for now, I am taking a break. I am looking for ways to serve in my community where I feel I will be allowed to do more for Christ as a woman than I have been allowed to do in our church.
I have more patience with the men (and women) that simply do not understand this issue. I still have hope for God to teach them in His perfect timing. What frustrates me the most is the men that pat my shoulder and say things like “I have no problem with women serving” -They know the truth - yet they do nothing to change the way things are done. The spiritual slavery is allowed to continue, even though many of the men know that it is wrong, and are fully aware of the damage it does. I struggle to understand that and I have lost my patience in that environment.
Mike - A copy of one of your sermons on Women’s Role has been circulating through the men in our congregation. I believe it has spurred some to much needed growth on this topic. Most of the women have not listened to it. My husband gave me a copy and encouraged me to listen to it. It took me a few days because I kept turning it off… I had to take it in small segments. While I appreciated what was said in the sermon - it was hard to hear. It really hurts to know that something you’ve struggled hard to live with your whole life because you have been taught that it is God’s Will for your life is something God actually never intended for you to have to struggle with. It really hurts to know the truth and still not be allowed to live it…. I appreciate what you, and others like you, are doing to teach the truth.
Hey Mike, I just had the 500th on my blog (that’s not counting when I visit ten times a day just to see the counter increase), what should I give away?
Mike, thanks for your response on the baseball question and for posting the link on your blog.
Bobby
Pujols on the DL. The Cowboys sign T.O. Dirk dinks the final free throw. Now Yankee fans receiving grace.
At least there was no mention of Cub fans.
It still hurts though.
HA! I have to say, Tim’s comment about Pujols, T.O. and Dirk is the best yet! It DOES still hurt…all of it…
As for the 1,000,000th visitor…how about a promise that Randy Harris will start a blog too!
Cubs fans are clearly too dignified to get involved in such conversations.
I still fail to see how anyone can support the idea of God being anything but an Angels fan.
I think an autographed 8 x 10 of John Lackey would be a nice gift.
Mike, I am a lifelong Yankee fan. On May 16, 1998, Rubel Shelly and I did a Saturday unity meeting at the Manhattan Church of Christ. We both preached the following Sunday morning, May 17, in different places. The Yanks were in town and I invited Rubel to go with me to the Bronx, but he didn’t want to risk missing his plane back to Nashville later in the day. I had a Filipino brother take me to the sacred shrine, Yankee Stadium. My seat was in section U6, Row U, Seat 1. It cost me $12 bucks and was worth every penny. When I left the stadium my ticket stub was worth many times more. Why? Because that was the day David Wells threw a PERFECT GAME against the visiting Minnesota Twins! I saw every pitch, every play, every out. And then on my flight home, which I made in plenty of time, I met the last surviving male Munckin from the Wizard of Oz movie and he gave me a signed picture of him with Judy Garland. I could hear Rubel gnashing his teeth in envy even at 30,000 feet!
What about a conversational blog between You, Wade, Randy Harris, Mark Love, Jack Reese…and get as many more people involved that you can…
Okay that has nothing to do with the winner of the millionth visitor…more like a prize where everyone wins.
I really do like that piece from N.T. Wright.
Nothing else revives a guy like Beebopareebob Rhubarb Pie.
A shoebox full of twenties and a peach pie.
Didn’t I see Randy Harris in goal for the French the other day?
Mike,
Bless you for your quiet, subtle soothing of the waters without actually addressing the subject. That’s some gift you have there, dear pastor/teacher!
Mark is right — the hand of the Lord is indeed with the Tigers this year.
My blog counter is about to hit 10,000. I thought about giving away the “Christ and Culture” sermon series on tape, as preached by Mike Cope at the College Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas in the mid-80’s. But I’m holding on to that.
If you happen to be my 10,000th visitor, I will buy you a cup of coffee at Aroma’s Coffee Coliseum the next time you happen to be in Ashland, Ohio.
Jeff’s got the right idea… a cup of coffee …and the ZOE conference of course …and perhaps a box of baseball cards?
How about tickets to the Padres/Rangers game next week in Arlington???? Yeah!!!! :o)
Okay I have more ideas: round trip tickets to Abilene, with dinner, coffee and a conversation with Mike (that will be reposted on the blog the following day).
Joe posted your thing about Yankees fans. It was sweet. I love Ira, but not enough to like the Yankees!
Can we support ZOE by buying DVDs of Mike Cope sings the classics.. It’d be worth a $20 donation to ZOE.
Randy in Shorts ? Ha ha ha ha. Isnt that one of the things Jesus talked about happening before he came back ? I say a signed autograph picture of you and Randy taken my freshmen year, you in the hat and randy in the wig with a dvd of Mike Cope sings the classics with the special guest The Man in Black.
From Larry James’s blog:
Last Monday morning The Dallas Morning News’ SportsDay section had a front page, giant font headline reading, “Stacked Deck” following the Dallas Mavericks’ big Game 2 victory over the struggling Miami Heat, thanks in large measure to the lights-out shooting and overall play of Jerry Stackhouse.
Stackhouse scored 19 points for the night, but poured in 10 right before halftime.
Under the headline the paper published a great photo of Stackhouse on the floor watching his buzzer-beating 3-point shot from the corner swish through the hoop to send the Mavs into the break with a 50-34 lead. It was a thrilling moment as you can tell from the fans pictured in the courtside stands in the background.
I looked at the photo over my Cheerios.
The photo captured a lot really, including my imagination. Great journalism with a camera.
I studied the photo off and on all day long.
I count 45 faces in this section of the crowd. All are white faces. I did see one African American head in the stands, but the gentleman appears to be walking through the area.
Mavericks games, especially close to the court, are primarily Anglo affairs, except for on the court of course.
I did a little research on ticket prices to the hottest event in town.
Up near the top section of the photo the face value of seats for this game were $380 each.
I have a friend who sold his four seats to Games 1 and 2 for $2,500 each. Face value for entrance to the series before with the Phoenix Suns was a bit cheaper, but not much.
The seats nearer the floor–like the first three rows–are even more expensive and thus, bring even more on the open market.
I searched the websites of some ticket services and found out that if the series returns to Dallas for a Game 6, these tickets will sell for between $5,000 and $7,000 each. No telling what a Game 7 would bring!
Doing a little math, I came up with the following:
At face value the 45 people in the photo would have paid something like $20,250 to sit in the seats pictured.
Of course, who knows what these folks actually had to pay for their seats. At my buddy’s rate and assuming everyone bought tickets from a service, the cost for seating in the section would be around $112,500 for the evening for 45 people!
Scott Farwell, a reporter with the Dallas Morning News called me after this game. Ironic, huh?
He is working on a story about the Mavs, poverty in Dallas, the gap between rich and poor, black and white and the attitude of young, poor kids toward sports as the “way out” of the troubles of poverty and life in the ‘Hood. The reporter wants to know what to make of the games we are seeing from a broader perspective.
Interesting question.
I have a hunch people won’t like his story or his questions.
It’s just easier to watch the games.
Aw, who cares about the millionth visitor?
I’m still waiting for my copy of “Mike Cope Sings the Classics”!
Mike,
I understand where Larry’s heart is on this subject. I lived in a Third World country for 30 years and saw the juxtaposition of poverty in that country to the wealth present in their churches and cathedrals, one of the great paradoxes of the country.
Many visitors asked why the churches didn’t strip the gold from the churches’ altars to help the poor? When the poor were asked, their answer often was, “the Church is the only place I can go that doesn’t cost money, to escape, for a few moments, the situation of my life.”
The churches remain open to the public even during such private moments as a wedding, baptism, or funeral. The poor are welcome to come in, take part in the Mass, take communion with the rest of the congregants, then go home to the aching needs of their lives, a bit refreshed.
I find it to be a heartbreaking acceptance the needy have of their lot. I came to know and love the people in that beautiful country and their unsophisticated faith in their God.
How will you know who it is? Will a buzzer and a flashing light go off? Confetti from the ceiling?
I’ll have to trust the person the tell me that the counter said 1,000,000 when they hit the site. Unless GKB can tell me how to track it through Stat Counter (which I believe is possible).
Judy Craft responded to the link she saw here yesterday and sent a note to Bobby Ross, which he’s included in his article. Go check that out again.
Keith - I was told you had a copy. I keep checking to see if it’s on the zoegroup.org site.
Mike;
Thanks for the link to Bobby Ross’ article. It was good to be reminded of “Cowboy” and Judy. What a talented man.
Also, thanks for reminding me that grace also applies to Yankee fans. (ouch–that was really hard to say)
And for the gift for the millionth, I vote for the “Mike Cope Sings the Classics”