I heard a guest on a radio show the other day who was supposed to be representing the Christian voice of politics. Only the tail-end of the appearance was heard, but the part that was heard included a statement to the effect of “I believe that if people pray, God can orchestrate the circumstances so that His candidate is elected.” It was probably intended to be an affirmation of God’s sovereignty despite insurmountable circumstances, or the power of prayer, but it just irritated me. We are giving way too much to ANY political party or politician who claims to have the endorsement of God. Most candidates, if asked, would probably tell you that they believe they could be God’s instrument to bring about change in this country or else they wouldn’t be running. What if there are prayer vigils held all around the country and the candidate that is “supposed to be” elected isn’t? What does that say of God or of his praying people? Was it “lack of faith”?
I believe in the awesome power, provision and protection of God (how’s that alliteration for all my preacher friends!?). I just envision in it in a different way. Which is more amazing… orchestrating circumstances so that a specific person is elected, or still achieving your purposes despite whoever is in the Whitehouse? My vote is for the latter. There is more evidence both historically and biblically that suggests God’s work despite flawed leadership. It’s kind of like how amazed we could be with MacGyver who could pull off an escape with just a Swiss army knife, chewing gum, and a piece of string. My God is too amazing and too powerful to need any one person in charge other than Himself.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
My Own Private Homecoming
In keeping with my dad's tradition of getting together with college friends on an annual basis, I took a day to hang out with my good friend Kelly Wolverton. We stayed Sunday night at the "Heart of Texas Baptist Encampment" and spent all day Monday walking the campus of our old almamatur and seeing who we might run into.
Kelly is much more of an extrovert than I am, and during the years we were at HPU together, I was basically known as "Kelly's friend." He prompted us to go up to the School of Christian Studies and see on whom we could just "drop in." My first inclination was, "Why are we going to bother these people unannounced?" But I quietly followed his lead. Boy was I glad I did. The first person we saw in the door was a new friend, Rusty Wheelington, who is a Professor of Youth Ministry. He and I were acquainted last year at a conference and became friends. Then down the hall were two OLD mentors who are long-term youth ministers just up for a special class. When I was an undergrad, these guys would assist with a 2-week workshop and I had the privilege of hanging out with them outside of class. So to bump into them now and get to hang out with them for about 20 minutes was a great gift! With them was a man I respect and admire, Gary Gramling who is the director of the Master of Arts in Youth Ministry program at HPU. He was a former professor of mine in the early 90's, and friend when I served at FBC, Brownwood in the late 90's. His heart for God is tremendous and contagious.
Kelly, being the extrovert, invited the professors to join us for lunch at Gomez's! For those familiar with Brownwood, Gomez's needs no introduction. Those unfamiliar just know the term, "greasy spoon" does not even come close! Rusty and Gary joined us (check it out, I'm using their first names now!) but I was the only brave one to actually order Mexican food ("I'll have the #1... ALWAYS!).
I loved this day because the conversation was "all over the place" from light-hearted goofy stuff, to intimate sharing of internal struggles and desires for God's work.
Kelly and I ended the day visiting a 95 year old lady who is one of the Faithful at FBC, Brownwood. Her name is Pauline Moore, and we share a unique connection that developed through simple, short conversations when she would pass by my office at the church, or call to question why certain things were planned or conducted a certain way. Even with the connection, I still only call her Mrs. Moore. She has quite a life to share and actually a lot of life left for 95!
It was a great trip!
Kelly is much more of an extrovert than I am, and during the years we were at HPU together, I was basically known as "Kelly's friend." He prompted us to go up to the School of Christian Studies and see on whom we could just "drop in." My first inclination was, "Why are we going to bother these people unannounced?" But I quietly followed his lead. Boy was I glad I did. The first person we saw in the door was a new friend, Rusty Wheelington, who is a Professor of Youth Ministry. He and I were acquainted last year at a conference and became friends. Then down the hall were two OLD mentors who are long-term youth ministers just up for a special class. When I was an undergrad, these guys would assist with a 2-week workshop and I had the privilege of hanging out with them outside of class. So to bump into them now and get to hang out with them for about 20 minutes was a great gift! With them was a man I respect and admire, Gary Gramling who is the director of the Master of Arts in Youth Ministry program at HPU. He was a former professor of mine in the early 90's, and friend when I served at FBC, Brownwood in the late 90's. His heart for God is tremendous and contagious.
Kelly, being the extrovert, invited the professors to join us for lunch at Gomez's! For those familiar with Brownwood, Gomez's needs no introduction. Those unfamiliar just know the term, "greasy spoon" does not even come close! Rusty and Gary joined us (check it out, I'm using their first names now!) but I was the only brave one to actually order Mexican food ("I'll have the #1... ALWAYS!).
I loved this day because the conversation was "all over the place" from light-hearted goofy stuff, to intimate sharing of internal struggles and desires for God's work.
Kelly and I ended the day visiting a 95 year old lady who is one of the Faithful at FBC, Brownwood. Her name is Pauline Moore, and we share a unique connection that developed through simple, short conversations when she would pass by my office at the church, or call to question why certain things were planned or conducted a certain way. Even with the connection, I still only call her Mrs. Moore. She has quite a life to share and actually a lot of life left for 95!
It was a great trip!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Those Crazy Kids!
My daughter had a slumber party last night. They were up until 3:30! But they had fun. They also put together their own comedic skit and asked us to video it. Sooooo, being the kind and compassionate father that I am, caring for my children's ever-changing self-esteem, I'm posting the video on the internet.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Flag Football
Seth started his first-ever season of Upward Flag Football. His mom and I are OK with FLAG football because there is little chance of breaking growth-plates and that sort of thing. We weren’t too sure how he would like it. This is the first time in a while I haven’t helped coach a team he is on. Of course, it’s FOOTBALL so, what knowledge I have of the intricacies of the game is pretty much exhausted in 30 seconds. Basketball is another story. His team got pummeled 23 to 8, but he had fun. He actually had a stint as quarterback and threw for the team’s only touchdown. Below are some pics. Keep in mind this is “serious business” and it shows…
Monday, September 10, 2007
Oh, What a Day!!!
Friday, September 7, 2007 will be forever etched on my memory. The most important reason for this remembrance is to give thanks for the successful results of my father-in-law’s prostate surgery. However, the events of the day leading up to this surgery were anything but successful.
My lovely wife had gone to Arlington Thursday with her parents so that she could be with them during the surgery. My assignment was to make sure the kids get to school, pick them up for the early release, and head up to Arlington to meet them. Seems simple enough.
The morning started leaving the house a couple of minutes later than usual to get my son to school. When I have both kids to drop off, I take him first, then my daughter. As I walk into the garage, my son exclaims, “Oh, dad! You have a way flat tire!” Needless to say, I changed the tire as quickly as possible, but I still got him to school about 10 minutes late. It’s now 8:20 and I have to travel about 10 miles to my daughter’s middle school and then drive into Abilene (approx. 20 minutes). I have an 8:30 client scheduled. They drive in from Sweetwater and never miss an appointment. I’m thinking they are going to be very upset with me. I call ahead to the secretary and give her the “heads up.” She kindly goes and explains the situation to the couple.
I pick up the kids and have researched places that might be able to fix a flat tire fairly quickly. I drove by one place on the way to pick up the kids and it had no cars out front and one in the garage. However, when I drove back to the tire store, there were 3 cars in front and 3-4 in the garage. Needless to say, the kids and I waited an hour and a half sitting on the floor because there were no seats available, to hear the technician tell me the tire was not able to be fixed. So, I had to buy 2 new tires – not in the budget.
We get gas, and finally get on the road 2 hours later than planned. About 20 miles east of Eastland, TX I’m driving in the left-hand lane with a pick-up in front of me in the right lane. I notice he has two oil drums in the back of his pick up and within seconds I also notice one the lids of those drums is flying off like a Frisbee out the back of his pick up and is headed straight at my car. All I can do is think, “I sure hope that doesn’t hit my windshield!” The lid dives down toward the asphalt and I think, “Oh good, I can just straddle it and drive right over it!” because there is no way to miss it. “Whew! Barely got out of that one!” Then I hear the sound of pavement scraping under my vehicle. I’m imagining sparks flying all around the bottom of the car and the possibility of us all blowing up. I knew if we blew up, my wife would kill me! So, I pulled over to the shoulder of the interstate, open the door, and immediately smell radiator fluid. “That can’t be good”, I think. I look under the front of the car and the barrel lid has wedged itself up under my fender and jammed itself into the radiator. I remove the lid, save it for evidence, and see fluid draining out rapidly. I exit the interstate and call my wife to let her know what just happened. I tell her I’m going to try and make it as far back to Eastland as I can because I have good friends in Eastland who would help us out. I get as far as the infamous “Ranger Hill” and my temperature gage hits the red zone and the caution light comes on telling me the engine is overheating. I pull out my trusty Palm Pilot and look up my friend’s phone number. I haven’t called them in a VERY long time. So long in fact, that I did not have the correct area code. I called information and got the correct number. I called the Whites – Ronald and Donna. Donna answers the phone it goes something like this:
Donna: “Hello?”
Me: “Hi Donna, this is Paul Irby.”
Donna: “Paul Irby! How are you?”
Me: “Well, I’m in a little bit of trouble.”
Donna: “How can I help you, Paul?”
I explain the situation to Donna and she immediately says she is on her way to pick up myself and my two kids. We leave the car because it’s parked on the shoulder and we don’t want to be in it in case a random semi-truck loses control and plows into the back of it. So there we are standing on a feeder road parallel to I-20 with our luggage. It was quite a sight! I couldn’t help but tell my kids what a great Christian friend Donna was to not even hesitate to offer help at the mere mention of “trouble” not knowing what kind of trouble it was.
Donna picks us up 30 minutes later and my daughter tells me Donna is her “most favorite lady ever!” She takes us to her home and asks her husband about a good towing service and/or mechanic. He gives her the name and I call them and they are more than willing to tow it in and fix it if they can.
Laurie arrives in Eastland about an hour and a half later. She hasn’t eaten since 9:00 AM and it is now about 7:20 PM. She had just sat down to supper at Abuelo’s when my call for help came through. We run through McDonald’s and eventually arrive at Arlington around 9:15. Her Dad was sitting up in bed and seemed to be doing great! Laurie also, had not seen her dad since he went in for surgery around 1 PM.
Saturday morning I call the mechanic/wrecker service and he tells me not only is the radiator severely damaged, but the lid shoved the radiator into our A/C compressor. Thank the Lord for insurance!!!
As we are telling everyone, what HAD to go right that day, DID go right. My Father-in-law had successful results from his surgery. Everything else went horribly wrong! However, I am quick to note that it could have been much worse. No one was hurt or killed. Our kids are safe. It’s not hard to see the hand of God even in the midst of disaster.
My lovely wife had gone to Arlington Thursday with her parents so that she could be with them during the surgery. My assignment was to make sure the kids get to school, pick them up for the early release, and head up to Arlington to meet them. Seems simple enough.
The morning started leaving the house a couple of minutes later than usual to get my son to school. When I have both kids to drop off, I take him first, then my daughter. As I walk into the garage, my son exclaims, “Oh, dad! You have a way flat tire!” Needless to say, I changed the tire as quickly as possible, but I still got him to school about 10 minutes late. It’s now 8:20 and I have to travel about 10 miles to my daughter’s middle school and then drive into Abilene (approx. 20 minutes). I have an 8:30 client scheduled. They drive in from Sweetwater and never miss an appointment. I’m thinking they are going to be very upset with me. I call ahead to the secretary and give her the “heads up.” She kindly goes and explains the situation to the couple.
I pick up the kids and have researched places that might be able to fix a flat tire fairly quickly. I drove by one place on the way to pick up the kids and it had no cars out front and one in the garage. However, when I drove back to the tire store, there were 3 cars in front and 3-4 in the garage. Needless to say, the kids and I waited an hour and a half sitting on the floor because there were no seats available, to hear the technician tell me the tire was not able to be fixed. So, I had to buy 2 new tires – not in the budget.
We get gas, and finally get on the road 2 hours later than planned. About 20 miles east of Eastland, TX I’m driving in the left-hand lane with a pick-up in front of me in the right lane. I notice he has two oil drums in the back of his pick up and within seconds I also notice one the lids of those drums is flying off like a Frisbee out the back of his pick up and is headed straight at my car. All I can do is think, “I sure hope that doesn’t hit my windshield!” The lid dives down toward the asphalt and I think, “Oh good, I can just straddle it and drive right over it!” because there is no way to miss it. “Whew! Barely got out of that one!” Then I hear the sound of pavement scraping under my vehicle. I’m imagining sparks flying all around the bottom of the car and the possibility of us all blowing up. I knew if we blew up, my wife would kill me! So, I pulled over to the shoulder of the interstate, open the door, and immediately smell radiator fluid. “That can’t be good”, I think. I look under the front of the car and the barrel lid has wedged itself up under my fender and jammed itself into the radiator. I remove the lid, save it for evidence, and see fluid draining out rapidly. I exit the interstate and call my wife to let her know what just happened. I tell her I’m going to try and make it as far back to Eastland as I can because I have good friends in Eastland who would help us out. I get as far as the infamous “Ranger Hill” and my temperature gage hits the red zone and the caution light comes on telling me the engine is overheating. I pull out my trusty Palm Pilot and look up my friend’s phone number. I haven’t called them in a VERY long time. So long in fact, that I did not have the correct area code. I called information and got the correct number. I called the Whites – Ronald and Donna. Donna answers the phone it goes something like this:
Donna: “Hello?”
Me: “Hi Donna, this is Paul Irby.”
Donna: “Paul Irby! How are you?”
Me: “Well, I’m in a little bit of trouble.”
Donna: “How can I help you, Paul?”
I explain the situation to Donna and she immediately says she is on her way to pick up myself and my two kids. We leave the car because it’s parked on the shoulder and we don’t want to be in it in case a random semi-truck loses control and plows into the back of it. So there we are standing on a feeder road parallel to I-20 with our luggage. It was quite a sight! I couldn’t help but tell my kids what a great Christian friend Donna was to not even hesitate to offer help at the mere mention of “trouble” not knowing what kind of trouble it was.
Donna picks us up 30 minutes later and my daughter tells me Donna is her “most favorite lady ever!” She takes us to her home and asks her husband about a good towing service and/or mechanic. He gives her the name and I call them and they are more than willing to tow it in and fix it if they can.
Laurie arrives in Eastland about an hour and a half later. She hasn’t eaten since 9:00 AM and it is now about 7:20 PM. She had just sat down to supper at Abuelo’s when my call for help came through. We run through McDonald’s and eventually arrive at Arlington around 9:15. Her Dad was sitting up in bed and seemed to be doing great! Laurie also, had not seen her dad since he went in for surgery around 1 PM.
Saturday morning I call the mechanic/wrecker service and he tells me not only is the radiator severely damaged, but the lid shoved the radiator into our A/C compressor. Thank the Lord for insurance!!!
As we are telling everyone, what HAD to go right that day, DID go right. My Father-in-law had successful results from his surgery. Everything else went horribly wrong! However, I am quick to note that it could have been much worse. No one was hurt or killed. Our kids are safe. It’s not hard to see the hand of God even in the midst of disaster.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Turn Around, Don't Drown!
It's flooding in North Abilene today. Fortunately, we don't live there anymore. We live in the rolling hills between Abilene and Tuscola. However, my wife's family has had a small lake cabin at Lake Fort Phantom since 1953 which is in the north part of Abilene and is catching most of the "run off" from other area creeks.
We were ecstatic this year when the rains came and the lake filled to capacity. Just last week we were at the cabin for a long weekend of fishing, skiing, tubing, and just floating around. The lake had overflowed the banks and barely into the back yard.
This weekend Abilene got much rain attributed to remnants of tropical storm Erin. We went out to the cabin yesterday to help get furniture and appliances elevated enough were flooding might not hurt them. We were too late getting there because my father-in-law and uncle-in-law (?) already had the work done. So, I pulled out the trusty digital camera and took a few photos. Below are some of them. You might be able to see the dock way in the background of a few of them. The lake is supposed to stop there.
More water is coming! Yikes!
(L-R) A view from the front of the cabin. Technically, the lake ends at a place behind the cabin not visible from this view. Seth is standing on the top step at the back door.
This weekend Abilene got much rain attributed to remnants of tropical storm Erin. We went out to the cabin yesterday to help get furniture and appliances elevated enough were flooding might not hurt them. We were too late getting there because my father-in-law and uncle-in-law (?) already had the work done. So, I pulled out the trusty digital camera and took a few photos. Below are some of them. You might be able to see the dock way in the background of a few of them. The lake is supposed to stop there.
More water is coming! Yikes!
(L-R) A view from the front of the cabin. Technically, the lake ends at a place behind the cabin not visible from this view. Seth is standing on the top step at the back door.
(L-R) Ashton is standing at the back of the cabin next to the "swamp cooler" that is usually a couple of feet off the ground. The kids are about 15 feet out the back door. Obviously, Seth didn't want to get his shorts wet.
(L-R) A closer view from the first picture. That cement square is the septic tank. When my father-in-law first got to the cabin (about 1 hour previously) it did not have water covering it. This last picture is again from the front of the cabin. You might be able to see the dock way in the background in the center of the picture.
Just wanted to add a picture of my wonderful wife!
Monday, August 13, 2007
Anger Management
Yesterday, I was scheduled to teach the middle school boys Sunday School class. During the summer months we don’t have a standard curriculum, so we have some freedom to choose what to teach. I had recently viewed one of Rob Bell’s Nooma Videos that deals with the issue of anger and thought it would be a good discussion starter for us. The simplified overview of this video is that there are things worth getting angry over, anger can be channeled to increase peace rather than lead to destruction, and that Jesus was angry. I liked the fact that Bell didn’t use the money changers incident to illustrate Jesus’ anger. Instead, he focused on an account recorded in Mark 3 where Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath. In that story, Jesus was said to be looking upon those (who were trying to criticize and trap him) with anger. As I studied the issue of Jesus and anger, I came across His teaching in Matthew 5 – “…if anyone is angry with his brother, he will be subject to judgment…” The thoughts/questions occurred to me – Did Jesus sin by getting angry with these men? What about Eph. 4:26 “in your anger, do not sin”? and How does all this balance with what Jesus taught in Matthew 5? The insight occurred to me that I naturally read the Matthew 5 passage with the assumption that being “subject to judgment” is a bad thing and naturally leads to condemnation. Therefore, I interpreted this verse as Jesus saying, “if you are angry with your brother, you are sinning” which could be the implication, but the biblical context seems to lead in another direction.
Think about it. Anyone who is “subject to judgment” has the potential to be either convicted or found “not guilty.” With this in mind as well as the insights of Bell and my own understanding of anger in the psychological realm, what Jesus seems to be saying is that our episodes of anger will be scrutinized. The healthy or acceptable display is one that promotes peace and resolution rather than making matters worse. We cannot eliminate anger from our emotional experience. However, we can manage it in such a way that it is not harmful, destructive, and explosive.
Think about it. Anyone who is “subject to judgment” has the potential to be either convicted or found “not guilty.” With this in mind as well as the insights of Bell and my own understanding of anger in the psychological realm, what Jesus seems to be saying is that our episodes of anger will be scrutinized. The healthy or acceptable display is one that promotes peace and resolution rather than making matters worse. We cannot eliminate anger from our emotional experience. However, we can manage it in such a way that it is not harmful, destructive, and explosive.
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