Don't Tell The Stamps

The Calgary Stampeders record fell to 1-2 since I declared them my new team. The Senesi football curse goes international! Poor Stamps. Don't tell them it is all my fault (Jonah Effect). They lost to the British Columbia Lions 42-9 this weekend. Before my adoption they had gone 4 weeks without a loss. Go figure.

Don't let me cheer for your team. A tailspin will follow. That is why I have adopted, as my new favorite team, none other than the Georgia Bulldogs. Go big hairy dawgs! Note: My Dawgs play my former favorite team, the Tennessee Vols, this week.

Michael Vick's Insane Behavior

All I ever needed to know, I learned from a bunch of drunks. The previous is one of ten perspective book titles I am considering. I spent the better part of ten years in New Orleans, sitting with them - the drunks - the hopelessly addicted. Walked in the door totally ignorant about the addicted community. How did it work? What were the rules? Why was their behavior so . . . stupid, or better put, insane? They helped me understand the nature and meaning of insane behavior.

If I had a insane detector maybe it would look like the metal detector at the airport. What if you could walk through and a loud buzz would indicate any insane behavior in your life? Stupid stuff. Mistakes you repeat. People you hurt, over and over. Priorities you neglect, over and over. Addictions you are committed to quit, over and over. Would my insane detector buzz when you walked through? Why?

Be careful when you judge the non-sensical, stupid, insane behavior of another person. Insanity is part of the human condition. Insanity is why I need outside intervention in my life . . . outside intervention from The Interventionist - Jesus (John 10:10). We all live it to some degree. If we all did what made sense . . . if we all made the right choices, all the time . . . the world would be a much different place. I am thinking out loud that the world would be heaven. Ah, yes. As I get older, I get more homesick.

Columbia yesterday. Enjoyed spending time with a group of prospective planters. Neal McGlohon and Chris Ruppe was there. Always enjoy being with those movement makers. Bryan and Jack from The River Church in Camden showed up. Always love hearing Bryan's story. Off today. Heading up to Northpoint in Travelers Rest Sunday. See you Monday.

Pig Pile!!!

I played the game many times, as a child, teenager, and adult. In all three phases the game looks a little different. You've played something like it. Some unsuspecting person comes in the room, and someone shouts, PIG PILE! The victim is tackled, and every able body in the room jumps on top of the pile, hard. Fun, lots of fun, and laughs . . . at the victim's expense. The only bad thing about Pig Pile was if you were on the bottom.

Do I sound like a bleeding heart today? So be it. Twenty-five years ago I sat in a prayer meeting in New Orleans with a small group of people. A lady was asking us to pray because someone had stolen her truck. What? Are you kidding me? Some idiot stole your truck! Poor thing. Let's get our pitch forks and torches out and find the scoundrel. She prayed a prayer, with sincere passion, I will never forget. Lord, please help the person that stole my truck. I know you love them. May they find the Bible I had, read it, and find you. Not exactly a scream of Pig Pile!

Pharisees love the game. I have heard it since yesterday, on ESPN radio, concerning Michael Vick. There is a feeling of superiority among participants. The real victims of Pig Pile are those who jump on. Why? You can fill in that blank. But remember, around the corner, maybe at work, maybe in church, maybe in your own home, there is a group of people waiting. There may be legitimate reason to believe you will be on the bottom of the pile soon. I have been there. It is very hard to breathe and it hurts places you did not know you had.

Great day yesterday. More of a numbers game. Hundreds of eager students at Anderson University being challenged by Andre to be a part of changing landscapes. Then, in Rock Hill, with a group of movement maker DoM's. I love those guys. Today, potential church planters and movement makers in Columbia.

Do You Have One?

You know . . . an ugly front door (see pic yesterday)? One that will not go away? Maybe it is a hurt, habit, or hangup. Or could it be a classic "thorn in the flesh?" The old, bald-headed, Apostle (Paul, not me) had one of those. No matter how hard you try to manipulate people, places, or things, including the Father, it will just not go away.

The grace thing is hard for me sometimes - but as God told Joshua, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. Somehow this applies to the ugly front door. You see, there is no simple formula. Hurt, habit, or hang-up? I know what God wants there, don't you? Don't hold it, don't stop to admire it. Let it go. Thorn in the flesh? You will meet Him at that ugly door, in a new and deeper way. Don't understand it, but I know it is true. Blue Like Jazz (Donald Miller)thing.

On the road today, a quick rock star tour of Anderson and Rock Hill. Did about 10 minutes on the ugly front door yesterday. Great coaching conversation with my coach mentor.