God is Not My Pet Rock

I admit that I get frustrated by it all sometimes. Some of you are way too young . . . well actually you are way too young, period. But you were not around in 1975. I was a sophomore at Hampton High School, Hampton, Tennessee.

An advertising exec from California went to a local bar for a few drinks. He came home with an idea that made him a millionaire. Gary Dahl created the Pet Rock craze. He marketed a pet (retail 3.95) rock that took no care and still gave its owner a few minutes of pleasure. Name it, train it, and put it on your desk. Talk about it.

No need to defend this pet to your spouse. No costly pet food or messy carpet "spills." The rock came complete with a training manual that was a step by step guide to having a happy relationship with your geological pet (Encyclopedia of Pop Culture). Google Pet Rock. You will chuckle and get an illustration that will speak to boomers.

Seven students, one from Clemson, six from USC died in a fire Sunday morning at Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. I have no explanation for why that happened. I enjoyed a great discussion with my group at world headquarters yesterday. We wrestled over the why. I am so glad we did. If I met any family members, I would not even try to explain. I would say something like I am so sorry, I will pray for you all (and have already).

God is not my Pet Rock. He was not thought up in a bar over a couple of drinks. He is not a six month fad. Although sometimes I feel so very uncomfortable about it all, I enjoy His vastness. He is big, really big. Apparent messes bubble up. Disagreements over Him, His purposes and His ways emerge after tsunamis, airplanes in buildings, and burning beach houses. He can take the heat.

Cynthia, you get an assist for this one. The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law (Deut. 29:29). Enough said.

Shower Curtains and Free Tacos

Conrad Hilton acquired his first hotel in 1919. Sixty years leader, the founder and owner of Hilton Hotels was on his death bed. He was asked if he had any words of wisdom. His answer to the world: Leave the shower curtain on the inside of the tub.

He also said something even more profound: Success seems to be connected to action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit.

Thinking out loud about discouragement. Courage is required to keep moving. Our enemy in life, or a tool of the enemy, is to remove our courage for some reason. What event, person, or attitude has removed your courage and stalled your forward movement? Keep moving. Talk through it with someone you trust.

Watch Jesus. The rhythm of his ministry and life was movement. The focus was people. Many of them stalled out, on the side of the road. Maybe your next movement will be toward someone stalled out. You will move and help them move.

Our NAMB partners gave us one of the greatest gifts one could ever receive yesterday. The gift of listening. All day long . . . and we are better for it. We committed to action at the end of the day. I hope it matters. A commitment to action usually does . . . Columbia today at world headquarters for meeting week. Oh well. The weekend is on the way!

Get a free taco today at Taco Bell. They are giving them away from 2-5 p.m. because someone stole a base in the World Series. Don't ever say this blog is worthless. Retail value: 77 cents.

We Interupt this Program for A Word from Our Sponsor

Death is an interruption. I spend the last four days reviewing Uncle Tom. His life, his friends, and his stuff were all a part of the review process. I have never experienced death this way. In every death there is a sense of sameness, but also a sense of uniqueness.

Uncle Tom retired at 52, not because he had struck it rich, but because he was fed up with being produce manager at a Vineland, N.J. grocery store. He loved the Philadelphia Eagles and people. He married my Aunt Maryann when she was 39 years old. Uncle Tom was a people machine. From the UPS guy to the employees of Winn Dixie, they all knew and loved him.

Except for Aunt Maryann, we all will just dig back in now. We really don't have a choice. Back to the grind, the roles, the responsibilities, the appointments, etc. For a few of us, an occasional thought in the midst of a busy day about Uncle Tom, will flash in our brains. A Philadelphia Eagles sweat shirt or a leaf blower will remind me of him.

Where do I go from here? Someone will go through my stuff one day. They will see a few books, a Saint' T-shirt, Weight Watcher journals, and baseball cards. They will laugh and tell stories. Why did he keep this? He was always obsessing on these things. Then they will move on. Sobering? Challenging? All of the above. Death is a commercial for important things. Things that will last for ever. People and God's will are two of those things. Pardon me now, while I dig in. I needed the interruption.

Columbia today with the North American Mission Board partners. Big week. Busy Week. More tomorrow.

Clearing the Air - Ocala, FLA

I feel much better now. My Aunt MaryAnn told me when I dropped the heavy wooden object on my sister's head (The Santa Affect), I told her it was an accident. Maybe Santa didn't give up on me after all.

Clearing up business in Ocala with my Aunt. I am not sure why God pauses our daily lives unexpectedly. I noticed this first in 1998 when my dad had by-pass. I know the relationship part of life becomes a priority during these pauses. That is a good thing. We are eating at Panera Bread in Ocala as we speak. I would be doing something else if Uncle Tom had not died last Saturday. I am not glad he died, but I am glad I am here right now.

Did you ever notice that Jesus valued relationships over roles and responsibilities? I know He was the Son of God, so He obviously did things I will/can never do. But the relationship thing was the delivery system for all His important business. Same way He works today. I need to work more like Him. Don't you? More Monday.

PFP - The Dream Behind The Dream

I am old enough now . . . not to be a threat to waitresses. When I ask them questions they don't think I'm trying to find love. One that inspires great next level conversation is, What is your dream? Most who serve you in a restaurant are on their way to somewhere else. Their dreams are bigger than Atlanta Bread or M's Asian Grill. Remember, everybody, even the quiet ones, have something they want to talk about.

Rick Dockery (Playing for Pizza) thought his dream was to make it big in professional football. His real search (Dream Behind The Dream) was meaningful relationships, significance, and a place to belong. He had an opportunity to bolt from Parma and his Panther team mid-season. A $400,000 contract with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL was his road closer to his apparent dream. A decent raise from the $36,000 he would make with the Parma Panthers awaited him up north. He said no.

My dream was to play professional baseball, specifically for the Cincinnati Reds. My other dream was to preach before large crowds. Neither happened, although my mother still thinks the scouts were stupid when they refused to offer me a contract. Thanks mom. The dream behind the dream was the same as Rick's though: meaningful relationships, significance, and a place to belong. God has given me all three . . . beyond what I could ask or think (Eph. 3:20). He knew all along what I really wanted.

Yesterday provided great conversations from Greenville to Columbia, Maryland to Tennessee, Spartanburg to Anderson . . . On the road today with my sister Debbie, my brother-in-law, Randy and my cell phone to Ocala, FLA. My Uncle Tom died last Saturday. My Aunt MaryAnn is all that and a bag of chips to my sister and me. She is pretty blue right now. I don't blame her. We are going to laugh, talk about old times and Uncle Tom. Unresolved stuff there. Like jazz music. Like Playing for Pizza.

PFP - Herbie Hancock Freebie

Nice surprise at Starbucks last week. Free I Tunes! An old Herbie Hancock Jazz recording promotion . . . I downloaded and enjoyed for about 30 seconds. I am going to make myself listen again. I am trying to branch out a bit. The problem is Jazz seems to go no where. Jazz has no beginning, no ending, and no real story line.

Grisham did not answer every question I had about the main characters in Playing for Pizza. Some things were resolved. Other things were not. Bummer. I want the stories to end, even if I don't particularly like the ending. I want resolve. Did quarterback Rick Dockery get another shot at the NFL . . . or maybe even the CFL? Did Lizzy find herself in Italy and reconcile with her parents? How did the Parma Panthers do the following season?

We earthlings love resolve. Problem is, the times life is resolved, we often are not satisfied. In the faith hall of fame chapter (Hebrews 11) we read of people who had great faith but did NOT receive what was promised (verse 39). Some times no resolve is the resolution. Peace comes in acceptance. With that, I am going to leave today's blog unresolved. Just not sure where that fits. You, the reader, will have to figure that out.

More thinking with Chris and Neal about landscaping yesterday. Also with Carl Martin and Steve Cloud thinking about a powerful tool of God for transformation . . . coaching. Greenville today with Larry Bateman. Also in Columbia having coaching fun and hanging out at SCBC world headquarters. More unresolve, tomorrow.

Playing for Pizza - Welcome to Parma, Italy

My third Grisham novel out of 17 . . . Playing for Pizza had a natural appeal to me. The world of professional football meets Italian culture in John Grisham style. A loser third string quarterback, fresh off of blowing a playoff win for the Cleveland Browns, lands a small contract in the Italian NFL with the Parma Panthers.

Not sure I would tell you to rush out and buy one to pour over, searching for spiritual meaning. No suggestions for a sermon series or small group studies from me. The book, as you should expect, has no sexual boundaries or many other boundaries. I enjoyed the mind break though and a chance to read what a lot of people are reading and will read (currently 2nd on NY Times hardback list).

The book was fun, detailed, and somewhat predictable. Predictable is not always a bad thing, particularly when you are looking for entertainment. Have you ever noticed how unpredictable life usually is . . . and how frustrating that can be? Rick Dockery, scapegoat of the Browns latest blown playoff game, found himself in a land far away from the NFL of his dreams.

I am in that land of far far away . . . Parma. In 2002 I was exiled to South Carolina. I did not handle it well, at first. People were patient with me (or not) for over three years. God was patient with me, I think. God goes deeper when He turns your world upside down. God does, often, charge forward ignoring the wonderful plan you had for your life. Don't fight it like I did. You will damage people you love (did that) and great opportunities (did that, too). I have discovered new things, worthwhile things, and new levels I would have never known if not for God and Parma.

All day with Chris and Neal in Columbia looking at the future. A little overwhelmed yesterday.Another day with movement makers today. A movement maker does not create results. Only God can do that. A movement maker creates environments for God to do what He wants.

Raising the Bar. . . Final

13) The list could go on and on . . . but I can't close the book until I mention small groups. My first two groups were Sunday School and Pee Wee baseball back in the 60's. Groups are powerful. Groups are like families. In groups you do life together, good and bad. Also, groups often see you act beyond your roles.

My family group experience at Willow Ridge has raised my bar because we talk about real life. What are the kids doing? Who is going to bring the mac and cheese next week? How was your week? What did you learn from this morning's sermon? Did I even listen to this morning's sermon? I spent over two years in a men's group where we did everything from the MasterLife Discipleship course, to wrestle with the hardest questions we could think of.

A new group for me is the Sons of Italy, an organization with the purpose of preserving Italian culture. I am on the School Improvement Committee at Abby's school. I spent many years as part of an A.A. group in New Orleans. In A.A. we talked about everything from Jesus, to flying saucers, to Jesus in flying saucers. All these groups raised my bar in some way. All of them made me uncomfortable, in a healthy way, for some reason.

No matter the agenda of the group you are in plain view of people. When you are on your own you can drive the agenda. With groups, driving the agenda is not as easy. Protecting yourself is not as easy. Your accountability bar is raised . . . Playing for Pizza tomorrow.

What a weekend! When I pull for the other team the winning percentage of my real teams has raised(66%). So, I am pulling for the Gamecocks and the Jaguars (10/28) next weekend. The relevance of my 2007 football season is hanging by a thread. Carowinds was fun. I did Top Gun (roller coaster) twice in a row with Anna. I am thinking I might retire from coasters.

Heard Ruppe and Dustin preach. Two great young communicators. Chris had a strong word on self-awareness from Ps 139. Dustin addressed baptism, in preparation for the big baptism thing next week at The Coop. In Columbia today working on Cypress Project material. I'll keep you posted.

Raise Your Own Bar (10-12) Sir, What do You Think?

Preacher legend tells about a salesman's shocking experience. While going door-to-door one day, he was greeted by an eight-year-old boy. A large, smoltering, Cuban cigar was hanging out of boy's mouth. The salesman asked, Is your mother home? The little boy pulled the cigar out of his mouth, tapped the ashes on the carpet, and asked, Sir, what do you think?

Lets see, where was I? Oh yeah, personal accountability. How to raise your own bar.

10) Have Ongoing Conversations with People from Your Past. The miracles (I date myself here) of unlimited nights and weekends along with email leaves no excuse for not staying connected with a treasured few from the good old days. Why? Because they know you beyond your current roles. Most people around you value you for what you do. If you are pretty good at what you do, you are a great person. People from your past know you for who you are. They know what you stink at, because they have seen you in various roles over a span of time.

11) Read. Almost anything. Reading is an ongoing conversation with an outside voice. Don't waste all your reading time with books that tell you what you want to hear. Some of your most valuable reading will be from people or about people you do not agree with. Ten Eternal Questions by Zoe Sallis, is a good place to start. The book features people from Jack Nicholson to Bono, who answer questions about eternity.

12) Hang Out with People Not Like You. A man who spends all his time with people who thinks, acts, and lives like he does is a coward. He is under challenged and not accountable for his thoughts about God and life. I feel lonely, at times, out in the real world with normal people. It remains, however, the place where God wants me and one of my most important positions of Kingdom influence. New topic Monday.

Talk about you movement makers, I forgot to mention Wednesday night's meeting with a group of a dozen high achieving Asian -Indians, who, will plant a church in Columbia. We heard their stories, one by one. These, strong in the Lord, missionaries will swim hard and fast to save those who are drowning. They have a passion to reach the world. Coaching was on my agenda yesterday, along with a great visit with Carl Martin, Ken Lewis and the Savannah River movement makers in Bluffton. Incredible! Had my favorite salad in the world at Cheeburger, Cheeburger in Bluffton.

My weekend will include deacons is White Oak, family in Carowinds, North Rock Hill Church, Midtown, and football! Roll Tide!!! Go Dirty Birds!!! I will keep you posted.

Raise Your Own Bar III (9)

9. Go see a Doctor. My doctor, Dr. Amajad Abdulrahman, is my friend. We talk about things other than health. I avoided doctors for years. Probably for the same reason normal people avoid preachers. I know what a doctor will rant about, I am not ready to change, so I don't want to hear it.

I saw Dr. Rahman yesterday. He was easy on the insults this time. He went over details of my blood work with great care. He told me I had a pretty severe Vitamin D deficiency. Off to Web MD etc. to find out how long I have to live. Not long.

I do get to experience what a megadose of Vitamin D is like. What a hassle. I really want ask Dr. Rahman to sit on that tall table and ask, What about you, Dr. Rahman? How is your Vitamin D? You are a wreck. Problem is he really does live what he believes. He is in great shape. He cares. He has no agenda but me.

He thought out loud while I was in his office about two years ago. I wonder how much nursing home care will cost when you need one? He also thought out loud when he said, I wonder what you could do with the money you are currently spending on blood pressure and cholesterol medication?

When I decided to go back to a doctor five years ago, I was a physical, emotional, and spiritual wreck. BTW, it is amazing how all those are tied together. Raise your own bar. See a doctor, regularly. Listen to him/her. I have never seen a doctor who did not have my best interest at heart . . . and who did not make me accountable for the insane choices I was making.

I also had a great conversation with my coach, and others in Columbia yesterday. More coaching today and off to Bluffton, S.C. More to raise your bar tomorrow and a report on the movement makers.

Raise Your Own Bar II (5-8)

Continuing yesterday's list on becoming more accountable . . . remember, you can't implement all, pick two or three

5) See a Counselor. no kidding. I have. I will in the future. Everyone reading this probably needs to go to a professional counselor in the next 30 days. Hearing myself talk to a counselor, who, does not know me, exposes my thinking to an outside set of eyes/ears.

6) Begin Blogging. Blogging (http://www.blogspot.com/) costs nothing. If no one reads your blog, or your blog stinks, you still need to process. Blogging, to me, is doing life with other people. A web log also keeps you in a journaling mode.

7) Read the Bible. I had to throw in another Sunday School answer. I am an alum, you know. The Bible annoys me like no other book I have ever read. I often feel like I am looking into a mirror. Go figure (James 1:22-24).

8) Hang Out with Your Wife and Kids. They do not know you, but they know you better than any other human being. People who know you less think you are much better, smarter, and godlier than you are. Your passion to be with other people may not be as God-motivated as you think. We spend more time with people who think we are heroes.

Discovered Carolina Cafe in Camden, S.C. yesterday. Got a ticket for parking too long in the same place. Made an appeal, the Camden police were amused, and took my money anyway.

Enjoyed time with movement makers including Bryan Plyler, pastor/planter of The River. Some of my most favorite people are part of that church. What a great story of life change!

Today, I get to see my doctor. Talk about your accountability. He has been insulting me for almost three years. We (my insurance company and I) pay him to do it. I will report his latest rant tomorrow. I will also have a conversation with my coach. Wow. Talk about feeling naked.

Raise Your Own Bar (1-4)

Personal accountability . . . I am not sure how good I am at that. Yesterday (No 'I' in Team) Miller said p.a. is the key to team health. Could it also be a key to God's Kingdom? The next few days I will present food for thought . . . ways to raise your own bar. You can't possibly implement all of the ideas. Pick a few that jump out at you. Begin raising your own bar.

1. Ask Yourself Hard Questions and Answer Them. Get and Life and Practicing Greatness, by Reggie McNeal, are tough question books. Great questions are everywhere. Make your own short list. The highest performing leaders are self-coached. They feel a high sense of accountability to themselves and God.

2. Pray. That's right, no Sunday School answer here. Blackaby, in his book, Experiencing the Prayer Life of Jesus, said: Jesus entered prayer with goldy fear and reverent submission toward God's will - a sense of 'divine accountability' . . . never thought of prayer as my personal accountability talk with God.

3. Get a Coach. God has used coaching to increase my accountability factor from a 2 to a 6 (1-10 scale). We all need mentors and sages in our lives. A coach helps us work through obstacles and overcome foggy areas.

4. Play with Players Better Than You. My Uncle Harold told me this about pick up basketball when I was a kid. People who are taking areas of their lives to higher levels make me uncomfortable. They also stretch me, make me think, and show me what God can do. Find them and eat lunch with them, with eyes and ears wide open. More tomorrow (5-8).

Columbia yesterday. Hanging out on Stonebridge (World Headquarters of the South Carolina Baptist Convention) with people who care about the Kingdom . . . Camden today.

No 'I' in Team . . . A Myth?

John G. Miller, business consultant and author of the book QBQ! The Question Behind The Question said:

There's a misbelief, a myth, that there is no 'I' in team . . . that is so wrong. Every team is full of 'I's and when the 'I's start taking care of themselves, the team wins(Dallas Morning News 2/4/04).

Still on the topic of personal accountability . . . When I stumbled over Miller's ideas when Googling accountability, it made me uncomfortable. Accountability is a systems issue, I am learning. To some degree, we either get it, or we don't. We like accountability, or we don't.

I have bragged, Ask me questions, that only makes me look good. Did some throw up come to the back of your throat when your read that? Sorry, Thinking Out Loud can get ugly. Just trying to be accountable :). Truth is, what I should say is, Ask me questions in the areas where I would like you to ask me questions, that only makes me look good. Please don't confuse that with, Ask me anything.

For the next few days I will talk about raising your own bar. The idea is that you and I must volunteer to be accountable. No one will make us. And remember, when we choose to be accountable, the team wins.

Great weekend. Went to Family Life, with Greg Abrams. I love God's fingerprint on Lakepoint in Lexington. Enjoyed a run to the club (Sam's) to keep America's economy moving forward. Vols and Saints won! Not that I pull for either team anymore, because when I do they lose. In Columbia today with movement makers. Will report on that tomorrow.

Where Are You? Part III - Secret Places

What does it really mean to be accountable to God? How can that help me along the journey? Am I accountable to God simply because I say I am? Am I accountable to God because He is Boss of the universe . . . King, Lord, Master?? Is it impossible to be not accountable to the one who knows what time I got out of bed this morning (5:20 a.m.)? And what time I went to bed last night (10:00 p.m)?

Accountability has multiple layers. One layer is, I am accountable to God, I will answer to Him for every action, one day. Another layer is, I answer to some people in my life, no matter if they ask or care. For example, Yvette, Anna, Abby . . . what I do affects them, even though they don't yell at me and they trust me completely. That circle of influence is much wider than I would like to believe, but those closest to me are most influenced by how I behave.

The third layer, however, is the ultimate, because it influences the other two. Day to day, God is watching me. It is in my best interest and the interest of those around me, to behave in line with He thinks. This layer goes deep into my secret places. In my life, there are tightly guarded spots that I never volunteer to show. Secret places can destroy me. How can I let Jesus into those places?

Every devastating scandal, Ted Haggard, Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Baker, Michael Vick, Bill Clinton and billions more, started with a secret. An underestimated cost, moments of insanity, a memory lapse, that what I do is being watched by God and countless others. What is your secret? More Monday.

Weekends and holidays . . . football, Boo at the Zoo, Sam's Club, and one final coat of paint.Yesterday in the upstate with Neal thinking about landscaping . . . always great. Larry and Dwight couldn't make it. Bummer.

Where Are You? Part II: The Santa Affect

My personal accountability to God is supposed to be a really big deal. If you were in a God environment as a child, one of the first things you learned was, God is watching you. I am not sure if that came before or after the Santa thing for me. I learned Santa watched too, and short term that could mean even more trouble. I felt a little over matched. A tag team glared over my shoulder on a given day, neither of whom were really concerned about a kid's privacy.

Santa quit watching me sometime around the age of five (I think). He threw his hands in the air when I (accidently) dropped a heavy wooden object on my sister's head. Glad to get that accountability relationship off my back.

God still watches. I am not sure He is overly entertained either. One option for me is to adjust what I am doing to become more in line with I think He wants. Another option is to some how put the fact that he is watching out of my mind (like I did years ago with Santa). A third option is to hope He stops watching.

The QBQ (question behind the question) is how can I, and the people around me, enjoy the benefit of my accountability to God? There is a benefit, right? Is there an upside to my accountability to God? Remember, I am thinking out loud here. More tomorrow.

Yesterday I was in Charleston with movement makers at Charleston Southern University. The Midtown crew, Clark Carter, Dr. Rick Brewer, and students who will change the world were all in the room. Great conversation with Ronny Byrd. Today I am in the Upstate with Neal McGlohon, Larry Bateman, and Dwight Huffman from Canada. My uncle used to tell me, play basketball in pick up games with people who are better than you. They will force you to raise your game.

Where Are You?

Talk about your coaching . . . how about the most powerful coaching question in history, from the most powerful coach. God asked Adam the question (Gen. 3:9), where are you?

I am all for accountability. I believe it is a Bible concept . . . iron sharpens iron. Over the past few years, I have heard of two incidents of men who led accountability groups. At the same time they led, they were blowing, big time, in their personal lives. Accountability works best for those who have nothing to be ashamed of.

Accountability does not make us bullet proof. Our evil hearts can break any safe. We can crack any code. We can adopt any script. So, are you telling the truth to your accountability partners? Maybe stepping outside those normal accountability relationships to find someone even safer would be a good idea. Tell the whole truth to someone, even if it is dial a prayer. You need to hear yourself talk.

One of many unique phrases from the New Orleans culture was a greeting. Instead of hello, how's it going? . . . the question was, where ya at? Maybe that is a better greeting. Ask me the next time you see me. I will ask you, too. More tomorrow.

Lots of road miles yesterday. Enjoyed time with Eddie Cox and Tommy Vandiver. Good conversation with Art Fulks. My mother has Parkinson's. Met her later in the day in Asheville. Got to hang out with my brother-in-law and sister (Randy and Debbie), too. Ate some great Greek food at Apollo's in Asheville. Charleston Southern for Transplant http://www.transplantthechurch.org/ today.

How About This Game Plan?

Movies are a personal preference thing -- I don't like to recommend movies because there is something not to like or be offended by in most movies. Also, I have a man crush on Mr. Bean, so grade my recommendations with that in mind.

Game Plan, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, is an exception to my movie recommendation rule. The political incorrectness of this movie was interesting. Before you eliminate the movie from your list because of slapstick, predictability, and mediocre acting (all are in Game Plan) I have a suggestion. Why don't you take a break from being a movie critic and go for the fun of it? Take your children, grandchildren, or the neighbor's kids. They will miss (or enjoy) flaws that will cause the Screen Actors Guild to shun Game Plan.

Yeah, the movie is one long commercial for everything from Hannah Montana to Blackberry. But the surprising part is the confirmation of the unique roles of a mother and a father in the life of a child. Part of Rock's awakening is his realization of the power of a father. He is made to look like an idiot (predictable) by leaving his daughter in a bar. However, he is also made to look like a hero at the end, for valuing his relationship with his daughter over playing football.

Lots of driving yesterday, to ATL. Enjoyed great time with movement maker, John Bailey, of the North American Mission Board. Also experienced the Commissioning Celebration of new NAMB missionaries along with the commissioning of new NAMB president Geoff Hammond. Movement makers Samuel and Dilcia Rodriguez and Will and Tarah Browning, from South Carolina were commissioned. Today Eddie Cox, Tommy Vandiver, and Mom!

A Face In The Crowd

By the end of last week I had been just a face in two unusually big crowds. Okay, I know the 6 billion thing, but beyond that . . .

On Thursday, I was one of 84,000 people to witness, in person, a win by the Gamecocks over Kentucky. I would have been bewildered except for the fact that I had someone with me (Hub), who knew the way, was committed to get me in the right place, and to see me home. BTW, the SEC is football chaos right now. Fun, huh?

On Saturday, I was a part of the 14th annual Walk for Life in downtown Columbia. Yvette, Abby, David, and I were in a group of 11,000 participants. Lots of pink. Great cause. Breast cancer research and awareness. Wandered and wondered for the first 30 minutes of the 3 mile walk . . . Has the race started? Are we on the right road? Who can help us?

You probably know where this is going. I need people to coach me through the mass of humanity I will be in this week. I also need to sift through the crowd to look for people. Those with a lost look on their face. Harassed and helpless, using Bible words (Matt. 9). People thinking out loud maybe . . . Has the race started? Am I on the right road? Who can help me?

Ugly front door is finished! You were there! Once my dirty little secret got out, every time I felt urge to do nothing, I remembered you. Great movie this weekend. Game Plan. Preached at Willow. Visited Midtown (awesome). Had lunch Saturday with my sweetie. Went to Greg Abrams and Lakepoint's movies in the park. Glad it is Monday. I am off to ATL so I can rest up for next weekend!

The Sun and The Gamecocks

American Essayist and Critic, Logan Pearsall Smith said, Thank heavens the sun has gone in and I don't have to go out and enjoy it. Funny quote. Don't know what he meant for sure. Would ask him but he died in 1946.

Don't put too much pressure on yourself this weekend? That works. How about don't let people put too much pressure on you this weekend? That works. How about don't let opportunities put too much pressure on your this weekend? That works. Sounds like a Baptist sermon now. I need to find a scripture and a dead dog or momma story, then I am ready for Sunday!! Woo Hoo!!

I went out and enjoyed my first Gamecock game in person last night. Great fun! Wet and wild! Went with Hub and thanks to Hub. Gamecocks whipped a pretty good Kentucky team. Kentucky, South Carolina, and Alabama have moved from the bottom to the top. Georgia, Florida, and LSU are already there. Somebody from the top has to move down, like my former team, the Tennessee Vols. Go big hairy dawgs!

Near death experience yesterday sitting in Baptist meetings in Columbia. Wait, not near death, just dozed off a few times. Meetings are necessary, no kidding. Doesn't mean they are fun. Coaching today in Columbia. Preaching at Willow Sunday. Think I will work on the "Sun's Gone Down" sermon and use it later. Won't fit into the new Lost series we are starting.

Disclaimer II

Eddie Cox http://www.eddiecox.org/ is founding pastor/planter of Marathon Church, Easley. In most anyone's terms he has accomplished a lot for God. He started with a small God-called group of people in 1997 with the mission to Love All, Serve All (inspired by Hard Rock Cafe'). Over 3000 people worship at Marathon each week. Hundreds cross the line of faith, surrendering their lives to Jesus Christ each year as a direct result of the influence of Marathon Church.

Eddie is one of those leaders . . . you know, the kind that are out to disprove themselves (see yesterday). He and his ministry team just finished reading Geiger's book Simple Church. Geiger is coming to S.C. April '08. Eddie is so excited he can't stand it. He and his team have set out to re-do the entire approach to ministry and discipleship at Marathon inspired by Simple Church principles.

Leave it alone Eddie. You are the founding pastor/planter of Marathon. You are there, man. Don't you know that? You're a rock star. Many of us dream of being where you are. I give up! I've watched Eddie lead for five years. My words to Eddie will fall on deaf ears. He just doesn't get it . . . because he is one of those kind of leaders.

Best thing about yesterday in Columbia was . . . I survived. Love to hear the passion of my boss, Marshall Fagg. He burns with a love for God and a desire to see people discover Jesus. Today, more meetings. Hopefully I will find new ways to disprove myself. Sunday's coming!

Disclaimer

I don't necessarily agree with everything I say. The previous quote from Canadian media expert, the late Marshall McLuhan, appeared in USA Today last week. At first, I thought it was funny, and it was. Then, I began to think about the implications. I probed deeper than McLuhan http://www.marshallmcluhan.com/ ever intended.

A real leader is out to disprove himself. Today, he is confident that his strategies and tactics are effective. A curiosity though, maybe a holy dissatisfaction, remains deep in his heart. My mother used to rant, there's got to be a better way!

You may be riding a wave of success today. Bravo! Ticker tape! You da man/woman! But, can I tell you something? If higher level is the goal, then, there's got to be a better way.

Greg Surratt, founding pastor of Seacoast Church http://www.seacoast.org/ in Charleston, compared good ideas to milk. They all have expiration dates. Hold your successes with an open hand. Surround yourself with people who are better at "it" than you. Keep moving forward. The target is always moving.

Columbia yesterday. Movement makers. Time with the kind of people God uses to change landscapes. Today is the worse meeting day of the month. I need to take a shower and set out to disprove myself.

How Real Leaders Get Thrills

Not my idea but I can't get it out of my mind . . . maybe you need it, too. Tri Robinson is founding pastor of Vineyard Boise. In his book Revolutionary Leadership, he gave advice he received from his father about two ways to climb a ladder:

He told me some leaders aggressively fight their way over all those on the lower rungs, stepping and climbing over as many people as possible until the top is finally achieved. On the other hand, he said there are some leaders who would encourage and even physically help people around them climb upward until everyone is on top . . . Which leader would you like to follow?

When coaching others, a powerful processing question is, Who can help you accomplish this task? How? My Mother Teresa, powerful question of the day is: Who can you help? How? Look around. Think backward, to people from your past. Take a small action step toward them this week. Experience the thrill of helping someone else one step higher.

Yesterday I was in Columbia, working on the rest of the year. Planning is a frog I don't enjoy eating, so I saved it until last. That is what you are supposed to do . . . right? I love October - Fall, Football, and Procrastination Season. Now, you can officially put things off until first of the year! As Homer Simpson might say: Woo Hoo!

Bag Recycled

John Wooden (as cited in Reveal: Where are you?) had a sign in his office at UCLA that stated, When you're through learning, you're through.

So, I recycled by reading bag this weekend. I am at work hoping to learn from the following fun titles:

Playing for Pizza (Grisham)
My third Grisham (Bleachers, Skipping Christmas) -- about a pro quarterback trying to make a comeback through the Italian NFL playing for the Parma Panthers (real team btw, I am thinking about taking them on).

Ten Eternal Questions (Sallis)
Not a Christian book, but a great idea for a sermon series. Easy read. Zoe Sallis interviews a group of famous people from Jack Nicholson to Bono asking them questions such as: What is your concept of God? Do you believe in an afterlife? If not a sermon series, a lot of quote material.

Experiencing Prayer (Blackaby & Blackaby, son of Henry, I think)
Another Blackaby devotional book (those guys are busy). At this critical time in history, we don't need simply 'more prayer' from God's people; we need specifically the kind of praying exemplified in the life of Christ. Sounds like Blackaby. I thought we just needed to pray more!

Reveal (Hawkins & Parkinson)
Willow Creek writes an expose' of themselves! Must read for those passionate about making disciples. Extensive research began in 2004 from those who attend Willow Creek Church. Results were profound. The implications could revolutionize the way you think about church and the apparent results we are getting (or not).

Great weekend that included my second viewing of the movie, Underdog, with my daughter Anna; a visit to Tropicana Cafe (my favorite cheap place); Books-A-Million; final primer coat and first finish coat on the Ugly Door; yard work; preaching and lunch at Northpointe, Greenville (Tommy Vandiver); a little football (love watching the Irish lose); family group at Subway.