In the Zone

Ecclesiastes 3:1 teaches us that there is a time and a season for everything.   This week is our time for Thanksgiving.  Yes, I know Thanksgiving should be an attitude we maintain throughout the year and not one day in November, but I also think it's helpful and healthy to take at least one day out of the year and focus on God's blessings.  Those blessings aren't just material possessions and the presence of family, but also include the hurts and pains and trials you've come through and the lessons you've learned.   For me, the biggest event in our lives in 2011 (so far) was the move from Immanuel Baptist to Gracey West Union Baptist.  It was a whirlwind adventure.  Announcing at one church and town, and moving to another town (6 hours away) in less than a month is no small or easy task.  Yet, God worked in that quick time frame.  Here are just a few things I'm thankful for from that event:   We got a good house, located not far from mo...

It doesn't take long for us to learn dishonesty. My little girl is almost three years old.  I know when she stands in the corner and gets silent, that she's trying to quietly use the bathroom in her pull-up without me noticing.  Now if I notice her in the corner, I ask her if she is using the bathroom. "No," she quickly replies, yet another giveaway. Then I threaten her, usually using candy or something else she wants. "If you are, and you're lying, no Halloween candy for you for the rest of the day." Only then is she honest.  Sometimes. And so goes the beginning of my little girl lying to me.  That, by far, is not the only way she's disobedient.  (Trust me, I have to get after her quite a bit.)  It is, however, a clear example that we learn to lie and be dishonest from an early age. That's why God put lying in the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:16 says we are not to give false testimony about our neighbor.  Don't say they did so...

I'll admit. I've been transfixed on the Penn State story this week. Everyday this week I've watched a segment on sportscenter about it. I've poured over various twitter updates on the subject. I've read numerous columns. I watched live on Wednesday night as students rioted on campus to protest the firing of Joe Paterno. I have spent a lot of time this week on the Penn State story. One thing has stuck with me as all of this unfolded. The media spent story after story on the fate of Joe Paterno and other coaches on the Penn State staff. Commentators and former players weighed in on what should or should not be done. Students gathered in protest over a coach's firing - a coach who knew about sexual abuse taking place involving children and one of his former assistant coaches. If this were a church instead of a national college football program it would be a much different story and a much different tone. There would be no question about if a minister shoul...

I remember WAYYY back in the early 2000s.  File sharing was all the rage. A co-worker of mind talked about how easy it was and convinced me that it wasn't so bad, since you're only getting a few songs you hear on the radio anyway.  (I'll be honest, like most temptations, it didn't take a lot of prodding to convince me it was "OK.") So, a couple of days later, there I was setting up an account on a file sharing website and finding music online FOR FREE.  I didn't download hundreds of songs, but I downloaded enough, about 30 or so, to fill up two burnable CDs.  (You have to remember, this was pre-iPods.) So for weeks, I listened to my new CDs full of musics I didn't have to buy. I justified it because I wouldn't have bought these songs on my own anway.  Most of it was just one or two songs I liked from a band that I otherwise didnt like. (Remember, pre-iTunes too, so the only way to buy music was on full CDs.) It wasn't long before I was ...