Dark Knight - A Better Class of Criminal

Fast Track Review: From beginning to end you are falling out of a plane. The time flew by.

Best Scene in the Movie: The First One - The School Bus Bank Robbery

Best Actor - Heath Ledger (Joker) - I have a mind of my own, but everyone is right about this one. He dominated the movie from beginning to end. This is not your father's Joker.

Best Line (s) - Wanta see a pencil disappear (Joker, before he jams it in some one's eye) This city deserves a better class of criminal and I am going to give it to them (Guess Who?).

Most Overrated - The Violence - Except for Two-Faces' Face - Intensity should keep the kids away, but the majority of the violence is cut away stuff. Little or no profanity.

Most Underrated - Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) (the pathos, the pressure). Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), but I have never seen him in a movie that I didn't love his character.

Would I See it Again? - ASAP

A Day Late - No Perfect Season

I made this one up . . . My definition of the future: The place I have yet to fail. Jesus pointed to the future when he addressed the woman in adultery. He said, go and sin no more.

My counselor would say, resolve the past. My coach would say, face the future. Two sides of the same coin. Problem? Yes. We tend to tread water enjoying yesterday's failures. Yesterday's failures seem to give us permission to stay in the fog. I have an excuse, I am a loser.

BTW, this blog is a day late for two football teams: North Carolina State Wolfpack and Baylor Bears. Current realities: They get out of bed today with no chance of a perfect season. I get out of bed in the same condition. So, where do we go from here? No excuses. A lot of daylight today. Run toward it.

Life is a Team Sport

I agree with Putman, Church is a team sport. So is marriage. So is parenting. Yada. Yada. Yada.

The road was long this morning. David and I planned a mid-week big run. He was on vacation and I was just feeling stupid. He did not show. I agree 4:45 a.m. is a bit early. My big run turned into 1/2 of a big run. Alone is just not the same.

When David and I run, we laugh. We make up funny things. We talk about grandchildren. We talk about how the race is a metaphor for life and a relationship with God. The journey is way too long to go solo. The trail is too dangerous and dark.

You can have all kinds of people around you, but you can still be going solo. You can be an extrovert and be running by yourself. Sometimes it feels easier and safer, but it's not. Phone a friend today.

Recovery - The Last Race

David (son-in-law) and I set personal distance running records Saturday morning. If you are a serious runner you would not be impressed. If you are not, you probably would be. I did learn some things beyond running.

Adrenalin can get you through the race, but recovery is a big deal. We felt euphoria when we got close enough to know we would finish nine miles. Wow, we made it! Then, reality. How will my body respond the following 48 hours? I was in less control of that than finishing the race.

As I hang out with leaders, and lead a little myself, I have seen this principle many times. Leaders short sell the effect of post race trauma. They focus so well on the mountain, the goal, the finish line, that they tend to destroy themselves and the people around them to get there.

This is more profound than you think. I did better than I thought 48 hours after Saturday. Why? I don't want to take too much credit, but I ran with after shock in mind. Shoes, hydration, stretching, carb replacement, post race meal, and a little medication were all key issues. I thought beyond the finish line. Because of that and God's grace (no kidding), I will race again.

As a leader, don't treat every race like it is the last one. You will last longer, you will win more, and there will be more joy in the journey!

From Tennessee - Rocket Surgery?

One of the funnest quotes I overheard in a long time came this week came from Mark via his sister. It's not rocket surgery!

I have been with movement makers for five days straight. I feel alive. I love environments where I am constantly overhearing new things that matter.

I am near Newport, Tennessee. Some churches here handle snakes as part of getting to know God. I think they are guilty of turning a real relationship with Jesus into rocket surgery.

No matter what obstacle you are facing today, don't turn it into rocket surgery. Answers may be more simple and obvious than you think. Look for clarity. Look for next steps. Look for relationships and healthy environments. Leave the snakes alone. Simplify.

Nothing Normal - Overhearing

Last week was not an average week in my journey. Anytime I can connect with Leadership Network in Dallas, I come away with change in my pocket. Anytime I can hang out with Neal, Chris, Bryan, Jay, Ryan, well . . . you have those kind of people, you know what I mean.

Environments. I believe leaders look for places not information. The vast majority of our learning and growth is informal. I overhear most of what I need. How did Jesus do it? As people did life with Him they overheard His everyday conversations.

Overhearing is safer. I don't have to admit I am struggling when I overhear something that helps me. I may act like I am not listening, but I am. So, if I am around the right people I can ask questions. I confess struggles. I overhear. Sounds like a win/win! For you Bible readers, check out Psalm chapter 1.

From Dallas - Handy Men

No matter how smart we get we still thrive best in informal relationships and in groups. I know we live in the information age but the real question is, so what?

I am surrounded by people in Dallas who are trying to figure something out. Sometimes I disengage and watch, simply to learn how to figure things out. I may not need to figure out the issues they do. But I am always up against some kind of wall. What are my options? Which one is best? What does God want me to do? Know what I mean?

I admire men handy men. Personally, when looking at a wall to paint or a room to remodel I feel overwhelmed. I feel no different than if I were assigned to perform brain surgery on you. Handy men observe, think, talk with other people, consider options, and make choices. Wow.

Dream Beyond the Backside

We had seen the Stone Mountain Confederate Memorial before. We learned more of the story this time. Described as the world's largest piece of sculpture, the details of the story and the work are amazing. The project took 55 years to finish. World War I stopped the progress for 37 years.

Dreamers and get er' done types all were a part of making Stone Mountain a famous place. A different thing gets both people out of bed each day. Decide who you are and get some opposites around you. Don't be satisfied working with people who are just like you. Don't take the safe way out. Dream beyond the backside of the horse! See the whole picture.

God of the City

North American Mission Board business, Stone Mountain with the girls, and preaching at Briarlake was part of the fun over the past week. All fun. More details coming.

Got a close up look at the city of Atlanta. I am not an expert on the history or the state of things now, but the parts I experienced were not so good. I wondered out loud as Abby and I walked through a pretty rough section of the city -- the old apostle Paul used to come to a city like this, preach the Gospel and start churches. People would give their lives to Jesus and everything would change. He is the God of Atlanta. Their best hope has become their only hope.