Sara B

A while back during a visit with my brother and his family, my brother and I got into this discussion that caused us to sound like the stereo-typical old codgers. The subject of the discussion was music today. It was decided by us (which by the way is the ultimate authority) that there is no current group or artist that has grabbed us to the point that we want to just listen to their music over-and-over. There are no songs that captivate us to the point of wanting to listen to them enough where we can sing along. All the many factors such as quality of music to lack of beauty and theme were discussed which further solidified our opinions.

Then a few months later, I discovered Sara Bareilles. I heard "Love Song" on that Direct TV commercial and thought it sounded pretty good! Ashton wanted the single on her MP3 player, so I downloaded it for her and added it on my iPhone. I listened and loved it! Decided to download the whole "Little Voices" album and it is now in constant rotation on my iPhone selections. It has been a LONG time since I have encounterd a full album without a weak link. Bareilles' voice is rich and emotive. The music she has composed is down-right addicting. This is a great artist and a tremendous album. I want to hear and learn her songs (even though I have a very difficult time singing like a girl--no comments please!).

I think I'll buy a copy for my brother.

Small World

This morning a good friend of ours, Dana, brought her mother to church with her. When introduced to me, she commented, "Irby? I knew an Irby when I was at school at North Texas State." Knowing that my father had attended North Texas State, I asked her if his name was, "Bob or Robert" she said, "No" and then explained that she dated this Irby for a while. Gaging her approximate age and thinking this coincidence, is too great, I explained that my father went to North Texas and was a music major. This jarred her memory and she said, "well, the Irby I knew was a music major." Turns out she did date my dad in college and journeyed with him and a quintet of singers who called themselves the "Dipsy Doodlers" one summer. This summer tour was one that my dad spoke of often with fondness. There is a framed black and white picture of him and the other "doodlers" in full hillbilly garb prominently displayed in his study. As we talked, she said that she had a print of the same picture. While musing about their summer, she commented, "I think we decided that we loved each other, but were not 'in love' with each other."

As we were all walking out of the room in which we were talking, Dana turns to me and says, "You know my mother was one of the 'North Texas Beauties' when she was in school." Way to go dad!

Oh, Please!!!

Today, I had a rare opportunity to have lunch with my wonderful wife. It is rare more due to my schedule than hers. Since my morning appointments all canceled and/or rescheduled, it freed me up to do something I love to do.

On the way to her school, I was listening to Paul Harvey deliver the news. A mixture of emotions ranging from frustration, sadness, and disbelief manifested themselves as sarcastic laughter as I heard his proclamation that LifeWay Christian Bookstores has hidden the most recent issue of "Gospel Today" Magazine. To purchase this month's issue you must REQUEST it. Why? Why is a Christian magazine censored as if it were a pornographic publication? Because, the cover displayed WOMEN! Not women who are scantily clad or of questionable reputation. Women who dare to serve in the role of Pastor.

You see LifeWay Christian Bookstores is owned by the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)and the ordination of women as pastor or chaplain is viewed as unbiblical and therefore doctrinally unsound. Therefore, the magazine cover and subsequent story of women who love God, love people, and spend time in prayerful biblical study and preparation before being God's mouth-piece is somehow offensive. Oh, Please!

A quick Google of the issue brought me to a pastor's blog who stated that he supported the SBC in this stance adding that "scripture is clear [about this issue]." Oh, Please! I'm sorry, but to believe that scripture is "clear" on this issue and on the side of the SBC's most recent revision of the Baptist Faith and Message is utterly ridiculous and it is a narrow interpretation of passages detailing the people to serve as overseers as "husband of one wife" and completely ignores the role of people like Deborah and Phoebe.

It embarrasses me as a Christian and as a Baptist to hear a story like this broadcast.

Let me be clear... LifeWay has the right to censor what resources they offer and where they place products based on their doctrinal stances. On some level, I respect the fact that they have guts enough to allow their convictions to determine their course (such is the life of faith). According to a loose and abridged take on the "priesthood of the believer" doctrine we have the ability to disagree on interpretations. There are more important issues about which we as Christians and Baptists should be proactive. Issues about which we agree. Issues that can lead to more healing and restoration rather than more division. Maybe, this posting does the same thing -- further widens the gap of division.

I should've just told you how awesome it was to have lunch with my wife on a Tuesday.

"Being" versus "Doing"

As a church we are going through a bible study series called "Inside Out." One of the first studies focused on the difference between "doing church" and "being church." The obvious correlation to the theme, is "doing church" is what typically happens within the walls of the church (i.e. attending programs/meetings) and "being church is what happens on the outside of the walls (e.g. building relationships with unchurched and/or "least of these"). While I agree with the premise, I find it somewhat limited. First of all, I think we should "be the church" to those in the church. This can and should happen within the walls of the church. What happens when those "unchurched" start "doing church" and they find Christians who won't "be the church" in the church? For that matter, what about those long-time faithful who are hurting and seem to fall through the cracks because we are so busy doing church?

Here are a few more insights pondered as a result of the study:

1. When we talk about "being church" the focus seems to be primarily on others "out there" and we tend to forget that we need to be the church to our spouses and children before or as we are being the church to "them."

2. We discussed "barriers" that prevent the church or Christianity from palatability in much of society. There is a wonderful trend in evangelical Christian literature and teaching that is emphasizing the relationship style of evangelism versus the "hit and run" confrontation style that was so popular through the 70's, 80's, and early 90's. This trend also emphasizes the need to be salt and light in the world and the power of love over condemnation. I think of the ancient words of the Psalmist that Chris Tomlin integrated in to one of his songs, "It's your kindness, Lord, that leads us to repentance." This trend will remove much of the barriers history has given us.

I need to spend more time "being" (i.e. moving out the way and allowing Christ to emanate through me) as salt and light.

Random

Just a couple random thoughts I had on the drive into work today.

1. I started an experiment to see how much slowing down on the highway would truly save on gas. Driving to work for me means about 18 miles, 15 of which are highway with very little traffic (i.e. no "stop-start" rush hours)and about 6 intersections off the highway at least 3 of which I have timed out to catch the green light. Prior to the experiment I was filling up with gas once a week - occasionally once every 8 days. Last Tuesday (8 days ago) I filled up after work. I have slowed my highway driving to 60 MPH from 70-73 MPH. Today I am still above the "half tank" (barely).

2. Dry cleaners who wish to save money yet still maintain a semblance of organization could e-mail claim slips to customers. Saves on paper and ink costs and provides the consumer with at least the idea that they will keep the order straight. I thought first about texting slips, but realized that would probably require development of new software and expensive computer upgrades. Surely there is a cost-effective, streamline way to e-mail them.

Prayer OF my Daughter

The summer usually brings about the breaking of evening routines. Routines that I love, by they way, such as reading with my son and praying with my daughter. One of the common things my daughter says in her prayer (at least she did as of May)is, "please help my brother and me to get along better and not fight so much."

One would think that as a father, it does my heart good to hear this prayer and recognize that my daughter realizes God is her help and hope to become all that He wants her to be. This prayer warmed my heart for about two weeks. Then I recognized "it ain't happening..." the bickering, teasing, and annoying of one another continued at the same level and at times worsened.

This got me thinking about Ashton's prayer, her ever evolving theology, and how she might be interpreting the fact that there is seemingly no answer. The possibilities I considered are:
1. She believes God is not hearing her which could mean she believes God could be unfaithful.
2. She believes this whole idea of getting along with my annoying brother seems to be even out of the reach of God (which I sometimes find myself believing... ahem!).
3. She says to herself, "I say these words at night as a part of my routine prayer and never really think about it again until it is bedtime and time to pray."

Knowing that any one of those possibilities is... err... possible, and knowing that my son, too, had been known to pray this prayer, I decided to take advantage of a teachable moment. The next time they starting having a mild bicker (because a major one means "meltdown" and "I'm not listening!!") I reminded them how they have prayed this prayer and asked them why they think God hasn't done anything. They thought for a couple of seconds and shrugged. I explained that God was not going to magically place a heart of camaraderie in them, but that He is going to build this in them if they allow Him to do so. When you feel yourself wanting to retaliate and annoy, that is the opportunity to allow God to work. It will take time, it will take intentionality, you will not be perfect.

I wish I could tell you that they fell down, tore their clothes, sat in the ashes and grieved over their behavior and/or celebrated with great songs of praise at this new revelation of the goodness and faithfulness of God, but I can't. That's OK, with me. I trust that God will continue his work and I am well aware that there are still SEVERAL opportunities a day for this prayer to be answered. I believe it is happening.

This same kind of thinking is present in adults, too. It is seen in the frustrated couple who prays God will help them love their spouse again, yet continues in the same distant, dysfunctional interaction that does nothing but further estrange them. Or the person who prays for a new job and does nothing but wait for the phone to ring. We miss opportunities for God's work in us all the time. MY prayer is that I begin to recognize them more often in my life. God is faithful.

Well, Hello Dolly...

Well, we just had a ill-planned trip. My brother's family and my family coordinate our trips to Harlingen (Christmas and Summer) so that we can all be there together. With our daughters in adolescence, the calendars fill up pretty quickly. So the only time we could all be together was SUPPOSED to be Saturday through Wednesday. It became clear by Sunday that we might have to leave a little sooner than expected because of a little hurricane brewing in the Gulf. By Monday, my step-mother was urging us to leave on Tuesday.

Judging from the initial reports on Sunday and Monday, I wasn't so sure we were going to encounter more than some harsh wind and rain and thought everyone was just a little paranoid.

We decided to go ahead and cut our trip short but not without going to our favorite Mexican food at Las Vegas Cafe. YUMMMM!!!!

I am glad we came back! My uncle and step-mother both had some damage and have been without power since 10:00 Wednesday morning. All are safe... Hot and bored... but safe.

Meanwhile, we had a great lazy last day of vacation yesterday while my family nearly blew away. Went to see Get Smart together ("that's not cheese!"). As we were leaving the theater, Seth offered his insight that it Get Smart was probably the best choice of movie for our entire family to see together since the boys didn't want to see Mamma Mia and the girls don't want to see Hancock. Dad is the only one who wanted to see Dark Knight. I still CAN'T WAIT to see it!!!

I liked having a day at home to recover from travel before going back to work.