Moore Stuff

Traveling was smooth yesterday, in fact, security lines seemed less busy than usual. The in-airport shops have to be concerned though, as they've had to significantly alter their product offerings to travelers.

Arrived in University of Oklahoma country (Moore, OK) for a Youth Emphasis Weekend at Abundant Life (Pastor Charles Clanton). Whenever I visit a church I instinctively look to see how multi-cultural it is (check out this week's Ninetyandnine.com Big Question - BQ). Abundant Life is quite ethnically diverse; in my opinion, an indicator of a well-rounded view of evangelism and a sincere desire to affect the entire surrounding community.

It's encouraging to see the various avenues that people have to be inspired and challenged spiritually. Certainly the local church tops the list, but also there are events such as North American Ladies Conference in Louisville, and the Soulwinners' Booth Camp in St. Petersburg.

More from Moore, later.


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Big Pharmacy

So I have a business trip scheduled tomorrow to Oklahoma City and find out today that the one piece of luggage I had planned to take onto the plane with me (to avoid the always-prompt luggage collection on the belts to nowhere) can't have any liquid or gel.

So I see my choices as three:

1) Hope the congregation I'm preaching to this weekend looks past my bad breath (mouthwash) and mussed-up hair (hair gel).

2) Stand in line with the 4,000 other mouth wash and hair gel- carrying people and check my one bag to my final destination.

3) Go ahead and carry on my one bag, sans mouthwash and hair gel, then buy a new supply of both of them at a drugstore when I arrive.

This whole thing sounds like an evil plot of Big Pharmacy, or at least that's the tack I expect the libs to take in the days ahead.


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Super Tuesday

In an effort to jump start our not-consistent-enough family devotions, we began "Super Tuesdays" tonight. I suppose my passion for politics prompted the un-original name, but the concept is simple - each Tuesday night, my wife and I present one "Super Idea" (basically one important biblical concept) to my kids and after a short verbal explanation (in a child's vernacular), make it stick with a hands-on activity.

Tonight (our first Super Tuesday) we discussed Forgiveness, complete with an ending activity consisting of dirt, water, the resulting mud, their hands, in the mud, spray bottle filled with water, clean hands ... you get the picture.

The words of 1 John never cease to amaze me:

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Such a promise is either completely true or a pipe dream of a guy named John. I know it's true. Through the help of the Lord, and Super Tuesday, I plan on my girls knowing it's true too.


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

A Birthday, A Ballot, and Books

My oldest daughter turned six today. While wishing I had forsaken psychology for a mechanical engineering degree while I attempted to assemble some of the toys she received from malicious parents of similar-aged children, memories of her actual birth-day flooded back over me.

I've heard all my life - "life goes so fast as you get older." I think I'm getting older. Where have the six years gone? What makes the adjustment even harder is that she starts school next week. Hold on. I've got to sit down.

Tomorrow's election day at several places around the country. If the polls are open where you live, vote. If you don't, don't complain. I still think Election Day (first Tuesday in November during mid-terms and general elections) should be declared a national holiday. Let's see what the entire country thinks (or at least a higher percentage than the 50-60% that currently vote).

While I'm rambling, here's what currently on my bed stand:

• A Generous Orthodoxy - Brian McLaren
• The Big Sleep - Raymond Chandler
• A Long Obedience in the Same Direction - Eugene Peterson
• Mental Floss magazine

So much to read, and so little time.


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Common Ground or Compromise?

As I'm spending a few minutes reading the ever-present updates on which political races are going down the mid-term wire (warning - Joe Lieberman), I realize all over again just how polarized the political world is today. Both parties it seems are beholden to the hard edges, so much so that moderation is deemed mushy and uncommitted. It makes me wonder ... where is the middle ground? Does it even exist any more? Is common ground between two disparate camps truly impossible? Why is an attempt at common ground so often deemed compromise?

Check out Newsweek's article on Billy Graham. In referencing Billy Graham's apparent moderating of his still-conservative views, the article's author cites a recent study that claims that "66 percent of all Americans want a 'middle ground' on abortion. Six out of 10 white evangelicals also support compromise; meanwhile, 44 percent of white evangelicals—the highest figure recorded in five years of polling—back stem-cell research."

While few topics are as divisive as abortion, there seems to exist an ever-present conundrum - people seem to want common ground on many topics, but may feel guilty or less-than-committed-to-their-initial-position pursuing it. Or maybe that just describes my feeling sometimes. As a preacher suggested one time, "being a bridge is admirable. But don't be surprised if you get walked on. "

I suppose the older I get, the more I feel I don't know. I'm not sure if it's ignorance, naivite, or moderation. It's just that the whole bridge idea is strangely appealing.


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!