"Overdressed" Dresses up Nicely (A review of the new Caedmon's Call release)

When you're wearing a fig leaf, it's hard to feel overdressed, but that kind of ironic imagery not only paints the cover of Caedmon's Call's new release, it permeates nearly every song on the album. The return of Derek Webb brings with it a raw and rich honesty, and the songwriting talents of the underrated Andrew Osenga give this album, and the band, a mature yet edgy, warm yet independant feel that is unmatched in their previous efforts. If 40 Acres told of a band coming of age, Overdressed tells of a band entering a new age with a feel that is at the same time both fresh and trusted.

The album begins, as it should, with Webb singing Trouble, a bluesy number that speaks of sin as not simply a "struggle", but something as deep as "the blood running through my veins." Webb's return is marked by the band's trademark B-3 organ, and fresh harmonies. Trouble is a song that sounds at once familiar, and demonstrates, right from the start, that all is right in the world of Webb/Caedmon's relations.

As the album progresses the thing that stands out is the flow of different styles and voices, instruments and arrangements. Need Your Love and Sacred, songs that easily bear the Caedmon's Call signature, are followed by Expectations, a simple yet sweeping epic that speaks of the over-optimistic outlook often attributed to real world faith. Osenga writes with great timing and truth that Christianity is often presented as another "expensive ad for something cheap." The variance in arrangements and writing gives the album the same kind of flow as a good compilation or soundtrack, and, as the album builds, a sense of anticipation develops within the listener. This is a "can't wait to hear what's next" release.

The anticipation created by the beginning of the album is richly rewarded in the second half of the release. The back-to-back-to back string of Share in the Blame, Hold the Light and Two Weeks in Africa is their best three song combination in recent memory. Share in the Blame is a folksy and melodic modern day admonition to get the log out of your eye before blaming others. Hold the Light is Osenga's tribute to accountability and trust, and it's haunting chorus is framed well by beautifully arranged instrumentals. It's a song more felt than heard, more absorbed than encountered, and it flows nicely into Two Weeks in Africa, a celebration of the change of perspective that comes only from participation in missions. The bridge on Two Weeks in Africa takes you from internal struggle to hope to outright elation over the possibilities present when people become partners with Christ in international missions.

The record ends with another gritty Webb number, All Across the Western World, followed by the encouraging Always Been There and Start Again. In a twist of irony, the final songs speak of the presence and new beginnings that Christ offers only to those who come poor and weary. It is a fitting ending for an album that recognizes man's propensity to stand before God Overdressed, embelishing his own goodness in light of God's glory.

In all, it's good to see Caedmon's Call return to form. The addition of Webb, though significant, is not all there is to Overdressed. Truth be told, this album dresses up very nicely. The writing is solid, as usual, but the overall flow of the music and themes is what makes Overdressed the best Caedmon's Call release in years.
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If you're anxious to hear something off of Overdressed, check out Share in the Blame on the Caedmon's Call Myspace Page here. Great guitar solo by Andy!

Things I'm Learning from Autism (Part 2)

This lesson goes hand in hand with Lesson 1 (Taking is bad; asking is good). The process of teaching Pierce to ask for what he wants is only effective if what he wants is witheld from him. In order to do this, we have had to remove all the toys and books from his room, place his favorite foods out of reach, and generally put everything he desires out of his grasp. We still want him to see the things he wants, but we want those things to be accessable to him only upon request.

This brings up an interesting lesson that I find so profound. The lesson is that our desires often seem just out of reach, and there may very well be a purpose for that. When the things you really want are beyond your reach, you become patently aware of your inability to get them on your own. You realize that you need help to get that which you desire most.

In Pierce's case the toys, food, books, etc. that he really wants can only be acquired with the help of others, namely his parents. In the case of humanity, the things we really want that are out of reach are often merely reminders of our helplessness before God. Our ultimate desires are security, comraderie, happiness and love. To a certain degree we can find all of these, but not in their fullest sense. In this world, security is an illusion, comraderie is flakey and fleeting, happiness is here one minute and gone the next, and love seems to come only at a very high price. We can have all of these desires, but the elusive quality that nags at our soul is the complete fulfillment of these desires. It is the book on the highest shelf, the four star restaurant with the food we can't afford, the toy that Mom won't indulge us with at the check out line. It's that nagging sense that things aren't as they should be, that we need help to make sense of it all.

For now, the help we need is the faith that one day things will be set straight. It's the belief that this is not all there is, that the thing we desire the most will one day be realized. It is, as the Apostle Paul implied, something that we do not yet have (Romans 8:24-25), but that we are to believe nonetheless. For, as Paul says, "hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

So, what I've learned from this aspect of Autism is that the things that are out of reach are there for a reason: they make us aware of our need for help, and they instill within us a hope that some day they will not only be within our reach, but fully attainable. So, lesson 2 ends with these words: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13)

Autism Lesson 2: Desires are out of reach because they make us aware of our neediness, and fill us with hope.

Things I'm Learning from Autism (Part 1)

I've decided to start a series on my blog called "Things I'm Learning from Autism." It should give you a glimpse into the world of Autism and the kinds of things a parent of an Autistic child thinks about. I'm going to try to post something everyday for a month on this topic. For those of you who don't know, my son, Pierce (4), has Autism.

So, here's the first thing I'm learning from Autism:

Autistic people are in their own world and they're only capable of thinking of themselves. In light of that, it's very important to stretch them to think about others. Here's what that means for us: We have to set up our home in such a way that Pierce has to ask for anything and everything that he wants.

I'ver never thought about it before, but having to ask for what you want is an interesting way to teach someone to think about others, isn't it? We usually think that asking for what we want is selfish, don't we? I want a new car, but making that desire known would just make me look unrealistic and self-absorbed. We all want a million dollars, but try going up to someone on the street and asking them for that kind of money, and you'll get a strange look at best and a punch in the face at worst. If we went around voicing our desires, we'd look extremely narcisistic. So, why would we want to force our self-centered little boy to ask for everything he wants?

The reason we need Pierce to ask for stuff is becuase we need him to know that, in life, you can't just go around grabbing anything you want without asking. In other words, what I'm starting to learn is that it's not wrong to desire things, but it's very wrong to take action on those desires without asking. It seems to me that this is why God tells us over and over again in the Bible to ask for what we want. He says that we "have not because we ask not" (James 4:2), and states in Psalm 37:4 that we are to "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

Ultimately God tells us to ask Him for what we want for that same reason that we ask Pierce to ask for what he wants. What God knows (and what I'm starting to understand) is that when you have to ask for things, you have to recognize that there is someone who controls those things. And, when you see that you are not in control of the things you desire, you come to a place of unselfishness. So, while taking assumes ownership, asking assumes a lack of control and a limitation of rights. In this sense, teaching Pierce to ask for what he wants is training him for a life of unselfishness. In the same sense, learning to ask God for what we want is designed to teach us how to delight in God's control and ownership, so long as we ask with the right motives (James 4:3).

Autism Lesson 1: Taking is selfish; asking is unselfish.

Flowers from the Grave

Sigh. This story breaks my heart. Imagine you're Stacey Markham, and you just found out that your husband, Cpl Jonathan Markham, died in a roadside blast in Iraq. Now, fast forward six days. Your doorbell rings and there's a delivery person giving you flowers and a card. You open the card and read the words, "I love you with all my heart. Jonathan". It's at that point that you realize that your dead husband took the time to send you flowers and a card from Iraq as one of his last acts on earth. So sad.

You can read the story here. This thing is getting real old, real fast.

"Letting Go" of Bush

Gosh, I love Peggy Noonan. I've linked to her many times, but linking to her recent article is pretty tough! I almost always agree with Noonan, and - man, this is hard to say - I agree with her again. In this article she articulates why she no longer supports the Bush Administration.

It's taken me this long to get here, but I'm here. Now, unlike my liberal friends, I don't think George W. Bush is a bad guy. I don't think he's this terrible dictator who is out to hurt America. I just don't think Bush took advantage of the most polarizing event in modern American history to unite a country that wanted to follow his lead. Here's what Noonan says about this:

Bush the younger came forward, presented himself as a conservative, garnered all the frustrated hopes of his party, turned them into victory, and not nine months later was handed a historical trauma that left his country rallied around him, lifting him, and his party bonded to him. He was disciplined and often daring, but in time he sundered the party that rallied to him, and broke his coalition into pieces. He threw away his inheritance. I do not understand such squandering.

Instead of using wisdom to lead us out of crisis, Bush and Co. jumped the gun, like an eager child pouring a glass of milk, and made a huge mess. The Bush Administration's consistent bungling has not been intentionally malicious, but it has cost us dearly. Again, Noonan's words ring true:

What I came in time to believe is that the great shortcoming of this White House, the great thing it is missing, is simple wisdom. Just wisdom--a sense that they did not invent history, that this moment is not all there is, that man has lived a long time and there are things that are true of him, that maturity is not the same thing as cowardice, that personal loyalty is not a good enough reason to put anyone in charge of anything, that the way it works in politics is a friend becomes a loyalist becomes a hack, and actually at this point in history we don't need hacks.

It's sad for me to say it, but I'm no longer on board. Immigration is a disaster, the war is a quagmire, government spending is out of control, and the only thing I can say good things about is the abortion issue (at least Bush appointed pro-life judges). Call me liberal... Call me a flip-flopper... Call me un-American. When it's all said and done, I just can't feel good about this thing any more. I'd like to apologize to all my fans.

RIP Marquise Hill

Former LSU Defensive End, Marquise Hill, has passed away. He died in a jet skiing accident on Lake Ponchatrain.

A few thoughts:

1. Jet skiing on Lake Ponchatrain is generally not a good idea. If the snakes and alligators don't get you, there's always the chance that you'll have an accident. Not being disrespectful, but I wouldn't jet ski in that Lake.
2. Hill was a heck of a player at LSU. He was part of the huge resurgence in Tiger Football that came about in the early 2000's. Hill was a monster (6'6" 300lbs), and helped LSU to a National Championship in '03.
3. My favorite quote by Hill was after the BCS National Championship game. Jason White, the Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma, was the opposing quarterback. Hill and his defensive mates repeatedly roughed White up. After the game, Hill told reporters what he shared with White on the field.
   

   “He’s Mr. Heisman, and we wanted to go at him all night,” Hill said after the game. “That’s a big award, and if you win it, you’re going to pay for it.

   “I said to him, ‘Excuse me, Mr. Heisman, I’m going to be coming at you all night.’ He just nodded his head at me.”

Rest in Peace, Marquise.

Geaux Tigers!

They're Back!!

I'll never forget where I was when my good friend, Todd Bragg, sent me his band's first cd. I was living in Vail, Colorado in a house with 20 other guys. By week's end, everyone was wearing out this folksy cd by the group with the funny name. Caedmon's Call was something unexpected, even for me. Todd has always been a great guy and a wonderful musician, but even I wondered if his band would be any good. Turns out they were great, and have stood the test of time in a very strange and flighty industry.

Several years back, one of the band's co-frontmen, Derek Webb, left the band. Derek was a bit of a tortured genius. His voice was raspy and haunting, his lyrics were equally raspy and haunting, and he was fun and quirky to watch. The chemistry between he and other co-frontman, Cliff Young, was always entertaining, and really quite magical. When Derek left, things definitely changed.

Caedmon's Call made their best album ever after Derek's departure (Share the Well), but it met with very limited success. Derek has developed a large college and young adult following, but he's still a bit on the fringes. Together again, perhaps the magic of the original Caedmon's Call will return. Their new album, Overdressed, will hit stores in late August. Derek wrote and recorded on this project.

However this turns out, these folks are some of the nicest, coolest, most real people you'll ever meet. I wish them well.

Terry Tate had nothing on this guy

Remember the Office Linebacker: Terry Tate? This is a little spoof on that guy, except he's not trying to increase workforce productivity. This dude's making sure that people are evangelizing. Pretty funny stuff.

My favorite line comes at the 3:20 mark when the Linebacker proclaims "I knocks the pride out of them!" Awesome!

Sad Day for LSU

Those of you who have never been to the LSU campus, and especially to a Tiger football game, will never be able to fully appreciate the sadness of this day. LSU's wonderful mascot, Mike V, has died. Mike was recently given a new habitat, and I guess the new diggs were too much for Mike's Tiger heart to handle. The first time I saw Mike was in 1987, when I went to my first LSU football game. Mike lived in a cramped little cage near the Peat Maravich Assembly Center (PMAC). It'll be very interesting to see Mike VI. He'll have a sweet new home to live in thanks to his successor. RIP, big Mike.

Christianity "Going South"?

Newsflash: The World is Changing. In particular, the Christian world is changing. Phillip Jenkins' eye opening book, The Next Christendom, points out some staggering statistics about the changing face of Christianity. Here are some:

• In 1950 a list of the world’s leading Christian countries would have included Britain, France, Spain, and Italy, but none of these names will be represented in a corresponding list by the year 2050.

• In 1900 Europe was home to two-thirds of the world’s Christian population; today, the figure is less than a quarter. By 2025 it will fall below 20 percent.

• In 2005 about one third of the planetary population, some 2.1 billion people, were Christians.

- 531 million were Europeans.
- 511 million were Latin Americans
- 389 million were Africans
- 344 million were Asians
- 226 million were North Americans

• The number of African Christians will double in less than 30 years.

• In 2025, here’s how these figures will change. Of the 2.6 billion Christians worldwide…

- 595 million will live in Africa
- 623 million will live in Latin America
- 498 million will live in Asia
- 513 million will live in Europe
- Latin American and African Christians will account for half of the world’s Christian population.

• By 2050 only about one fifth of the world’s 3 billion Christians will be non-Hispanic whites.

What all of these figures tell us is that Christianity is, quite literally, "going south." In other words, the momentum of Christianity is moving to parts of the world that have less access to wealth and resources, namely Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Now, how does that make you feel?

I’ll be honest that it made me feel a little bit scared. It made me feel like I was losing my Christian voice. It made me wonder if Christianity would survive in such cultures, and if it did survive, would it even look the same as the Christianity that I believe?

Then it made me look at Christianity throughout history. It survived the Romans, the Catholics, the Europeans, the Nazis, the Russians and the Americans. It survived the Crusades, the Reformation, the Scientific revolution, Darwinism, the Industrial Revolution, Marxian philosophy, Television, the Internet, etc. If the West hasn't completely screwed up the gospel by now, who can? Plus, think of the culture of the West and compare it with the culture of the South. Which is more like the culture of the Bible? Perhaps there's a lot we can learn from our Southern friends about the true nature of the church.

We've reviewed the Western challenges to the Christian worldview, but have we considered how those challenges influence the way we view our faith? It would take us at least sixty days in the woods to begin to understand God without all our gadgets, television, internet, and luxuries, much less the philosophical baggage we may not even be aware of. So, while Christianity has survived these things, it has also been influenced by them. What will it be influenced by in 50 years?

This is important, because now, more than ever, we need a clear understanding of what it means to be distinctly Christian.

Is the Christian life summed up in the old hymn, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey”? Is it all about discipline and discipleship? Is it all about knowing Christ and obeying his commands? Here’s what Scott McKnight says about that:

“My 20 years of studying and teaching the Gospels have made me very aware of the power of Jesus images of discipleship--his admonishment to "be perfect" and to "take up your cross daily," and his warning that "any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." I also am aware that these texts can be abused and misused, particularly when they are employed to present radical obedience as the entirety of the Christian life. Radical commitment is an important concept, but it is not what the Christian life is all about. There is something behind discipleship.

Is it the disciplines that stand behind discipleship? Jesus prayed, meditated, fasted, kept periods of solitude, lived simply, worshiped and celebrated. But he rarely spoke about the disciplines. They are there, but they are not his focus. Because they are so objective, the spiritual disciplines easily attract legalistic and pietistic barnacles that turn them into ugly monsters. Because the disciplines can be quantified, counted and assessed, they can easily lead people to compare themselves favorably or unfavorably with others. And because they are acts, they can easily lead to a sense of accomplishment and superiority. A discipline-focus for spiritual formation can lead to legalism--as evidenced by the Christians who congratulate themselves on their daily Bible reading, church attendance, or the superior vocations of their children.”

So, what is it that we are to be focused upon as Christians? What is our gospel? Again, McKnight is helpful:

“A scribe comes to Jesus and asks, "What is a life of discipleship? What are the disciplines designed to accomplish?" Because that scribe is a Torah-observant Jew and because Jesus is a Jew as well, the scribe asks this great question in a first-century Jewish manner: "Of all the commandments [and you know Jesus, there are over 600 of them], which is the most important?" "The most important," Jesus answers, is this: 'Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this: "Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no greater commandment than these" (Mark 12:28-31).

Behind discipleship and beyond the disciplines is love--love of God and love of others. Radical commitment is fine, if it is fired by love. Spiritual formation is noble, if it produces love for God and others. Without love, to modernize Paul's words, we become either fanatics or egoists. When Jesus says we are to love God he is quoting from the Shema, from Deuteronomy 6:4-9, words that were recited according to the "divine hours of Judaism." Most scholars think observant Jews recited this passage two or three times per day. But when Jesus goes on to say that we are to love others, he tampers with the sacred creed of his contemporaries. He adds to the Shema by quoting Leviticus 19:18, and in so doing creates a new creed for his followers, the Jesus Creed. Love of God is to be joined, at all times, with love for others. Both, always. Apart they turn humans into fanatics and egoists. Together they turn humans into the imago Dei, walking expressions of God's love.”

In the ever changing landscape of the Christian world, the joy of the true gospel is what excites me most. The opportunities we have to be people of The Jesus Creed - lovers of God and lovers of others - gives us the freedom to embrace our Southern brothers and sisters with grace and simplicity, and allows us to learn and be shaped by them as they learn and are shaped by us. After viewing these statistics and pairing them with McKnight's quotes, I am as excited as ever about being a part of the world community of Christ followers. It's nice to know that as the world changes, the gospel remains simple, beautiful and believable: Loving the triune God, while sharing that love with the diverse world.

Girls do it too!!

This is really funny, but a bit crude. I've always contended that girls do it too, even though some act like they would never do such a thing. This shows how far they go to avoid getting caught. Enjoy!!


Girls Fart Too - Awesome video clips here

Mike Seaver debates Atheists

Kirk Cameron, the star of the 80's sitcom, Growing Pains, will be a part of a debate on the existence of God. This debate is a bible-less debate that is designed to try to prove the existence of God using logic and science and not the Bible. Interesting stuff. The event will be aired live on abc.com on May 5. ABC's Nightline will also air portions of the debate.

On a side note, I'll never forget that episode of Growing Pains when Kirk Cameron (Mike Seaver) tries to make the moves on this really pretty high school girl. He pulls out all the stops. Finally, when he's done with his big speech to try to win her over, she speaks, and her voice is the most high pitched, ridiculuous voice you've ever heard. That Mike Seaver... he was something.

Watch a Video and Help with Autism

Autism Speaks, an organization dedicated to Autism awareness and research, is asking that you watch this video by the band Five for Fighting. They’re trying to raise money for Autism research by asking people to watch this music video online. If you click on this link and watch this video, you’ll be generating 49 cents for autism research, so please do it if you have the time.

Pierce Update

I'm too tired to get into what went on yesterday, but we had a pretty significant and difficult meeting with Pierce's therapist (for those of you who may not know, Pierce is our 4 year old Autistic child). I can't go through it right now, but it was a hard meeting. We left heartbroken and depressed. Each time we face this Autism monster we take a tremendous beating. I'm reminded of the Caedmon's Call song, "Wings of the Morning". It says "Ask any good detective and he'll tell you, 'It's the eyes that always give the truth away.' In yours I see a fear that's bound and gagged you with no hope for escape."

I'll be honest: we don't feel any hope for escape right now. This thing is so all-consuming and painful that neither Kim nor I know what to do. We're tired, depressed and confused. But hey... what's new!

Anyway, my good friend, Chad Freeman, just wrote an article about us on his blog. He does a beautiful job of captuing the heartache that we feel on a daily basis. For some reason, as I read his article, the rest of the song came to my mind. It says "On the wings of the morning hope is rising! In your darkest night His love will light your way!" Man, thank God for the gospel!!

"Who's to blame?" is the wrong question

I haven't written anything about the Virginia Tech massacre because I've been just trying to soak it all in and see where everything settles. The news coverage has been, at times, troubling. Public reaction has been the usual mixed bag of compassionate empathisers, blame gamer's and heartless ogre's. The most disturbing thing, aside from the thing itself, is the rush to find someone to blame.

Denny Burk writes a great article today about how the "blame game" is fruitless at this point. He pretty much sums up my thoughts. Check out his article here.

When Animals Attack... Reporters!!

OK, I don't know why I love this kind of thing so much, but it just cracks me up when reporters get ambushed by the "loving" animals they are doing stories on. The sheer shock and anguish of the overzealous reporter when the animal attacks is just funny to me. Look, I know I'm sick and twisted, but just try to watch these videos without busting a gut. See, you're sick and twisted too. Just admit it!

Here's are the 5 best animal attacks of reporters. Enjoy the carnage!!

And this is why America has a weight problem...

Unbelievable...

Everbody was Kung Fu Fighting!

Kung Fu movies were a big player in my childhood. My older brother was obsessed with Martial Arts, and we were huge fans of the infamous Saturday Night Kung Fu Theater that aired on local TV at about 11:30pm. My favorite Kung Fu movie was "Five Deadly Venoms", a classic that features various different styles of fighting including, "The Snake", "The Lizard", "The Toad", "The Centipede", and "The Scorpion". As a kid, I was captivated by this movie. It'd be fun to see it again.

The reason I'm blogging about this is because I recently found this post, which features the 5 best Kung Fu movies of all time. "Five Deadly Venoms" tops the list!

Are "More" and "Better" really more and better?

I just started a book called "Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and The Durable Future" by Bill McKibben. Here's a quote from the introduction that made me think:

"And in the end it's reality I want to deal with - the reality of what our world can provide, the reality of what we actually want. The old realism - an endless More - is morphing into a dangerous fantasy. (Consider: if the Chinese owned cars in the same numbers as Americans, the world would have more than twice as many vehicles as it now does.) In the face of energy shortage, of global warming, and of the vague but growing sense that we are not as alive and connected as we want to be, I think we've started to grope for what might come next. And just in time."

McKibben's point is this: "More" and "Better" are not turning out to be the best motivations for civilized society. Rather than making our lives full and rich, these economic motivators have left us overindulgent and wanting. Perhaps simplicity and community are the best motivators for a new age. If so, we are certainly poised for a better world. That not only makes me excited about America's future, but it also makes me excited about the cause of Christ. After all, Jesus is the perfect model of simplicity and community.

The latest Time Magazine cover story is "Why We Should Teach The Bible in Public School." The premise, per the title, is that teaching the Bible might be necessary for a well rounded public school education. I'm skeptical because I believe it is a little wierd to teach the Bible without doing so in a context of faith. That would be like a math teacher instructing students about literature. Studying the Bible is not simply an intellectual pursuit. It is, at its core, a spiritual pursuit. So, while I'm not opposed to students being exposed to Scripture, I am uncomfortable with the idea of the Bible being taught in an intellectual vaccum. It was never intended to be viewed in this light.

Here's a snipet from the Time Magazine article:

"Says Stephen Prothero, chair of the Boston University religion department, whose new book, Religious Literacy (Harper SanFrancisco), presents a compelling argument for Bible-literacy courses: "In the late '70s, [students] knew nothing about religion, and it didn't matter. But then religion rushed into the public square. What purpose could it possibly serve for citizens to be ignorant of all that?" The "new consensus" for secular Bible study argues that knowledge of it is essential to being a full-fledged, well-rounded citizen. Let's examine that argument."

A Little Perspective...

I found this video fascinating. I've never seen anything that so clearly demonstrates that the majority of the world lives on the margins, and the vast minority of the world lives in wealth. We must do what we can to move our world into greater balance. I think we do that by first deciding to live with less, and then deciding to do more to help others with that which we don't need.

"That's Not Nice"

Peggy Noonan is just about always a good read, with insightful wisdom and intelligent discourse that rarely hits below the belt. In her latest Opinion Journal, she shares what many in our country are undoubtedly feeling in this supercharged political climate (Especially in light of the recent wave of hate speech by the likes of Ann Coulter and Bill Maher). My guess is that there are some on the far left who would be viewed as extreme, some on the far right who would share that title, and the middle is divided into those who care and are frustrated, and those who don't care and are frustrated. For those of you who care and are frustrated, this article should give voice to some of the causes of your frustrations. Hopefully it will convince you that it's still OK to care.

One other thing about this article: Noonan points out that Grandmothers have a lot of wisdom, and they have the kind of discipline and sensibility to restrain from the things that "are not nice." Noonan writes, "Fifty years ago, no one speaking at a respected political gathering would say, would even think of saying that Adlai Stevenson is a faggot. Nor would Arthur Godfrey or Jack Paar have declared on their television shows that we'd be better off if Eisenhower died. Is our discourse deteriorating? Yes, it is." Although I agree with Noonan's sentiments, I do find it troubling that prior generations demonstrated such great restraint, yet were capable of such great oppression with reference to race relations. They wouldn't have called other candidates "faggots", but they wouldn't have had a problem calling a black candidate a "nigger." Just a thought.

I still get Noonan's point, and I think the article merits acclaim. Her basic points are true and much needed in today's political world.

Surfing the Amazon?

So, this is the coolest thing I've seen in a while. Twice a year the waters of the Atlantic Ocean roll up the Amazon River, in Brazil, generating the longest wave on the planet. This phenomenon, known as the Pororoca, is a surfers dream: the never-ending wave. This statement, however, would make me think twice about surfing the Pororoca: "Surfers have only recently realized the extreme challenge of surfing the “Pororoca”, despite the fact of the large risks involved; ship waste and wreckage, poisonous snakes, to name just a few."

Check out this video of some pretty crazy dudes catching this amazing wave.



Source

Son, please step out of the car.

How to Catch a Seagull

That's a lot of trouble to go through just to catch a rat with wings!

What's that behind the cloud?

Nice day at church? It's a good thing that the gates of hell shall not prevail against us!

Life with Autism

Just wanted to post this again. It tells the story of our son, Pierce, and his battle with Autism.

Click here to view the video.

Billary!!

I laughed when I saw this... and then I vomited.

Spears Shown Grace

Good stuff from Craig Ferguson, host of CBS's Late Night with Craig Ferguson. It's very refreshing to see a comedian show some restraint. Britany Spears is an easy target, and it's unfortunate that so many will choose this time of obvious struggle as an opportunity to tee off on the pop star. Koudos to Ferguson for handling Spears' struggles with grace.

Watch Ferguson's monologue here.

Pistol Pete

One of my hero's in life is "Pistol" Pete Maravich. The Pistol was a phenomal basketball player, and his ability to manipulate a basketball is legendary. He was way ahead of his time, and many of the highlight reels we see today have trickled down from Pete Maravich's creativity and style. In many ways, Pete brought the one-on-one style of play that became prominent in the Michael Jordan years to basketball.

Pete is college basketball's all time leading scorer, averaging a staggering 44.2 pts per game, without the 3-point line (He played for LSU, of course!). He was a five-time All Star in the NBA, and averaged 24.2 pts per game in his 10 year career (15th all time). Most of his career was spent with the New Orleans Jazz, who later became the Utah Jazz (Jazz makes a lot more sense in New Orleans, doesn't it?).

On January 5, 1988, while playing a pickup basketball game at the Church of the Nazarene in Pasadena, California, with a group that included Focus on the Family head James Dobson (Maravich was scheduled to appear on Dobson's radio show later that day), he collapsed and died of a heart attack at the age of only 40. An autopsy revealed that his death was due to a previously undiagnosed congenital heart defect; he had been born with only one coronary artery instead of the normal two (he had no left coronary artery, a very rare condition).

"He'll be remembered always", former LSU head basketball coach Dale Brown said on hearing the news of Maravich's death. "When we see some tousled-haired kid with drooping socks standing on some semi-darkened court or in a yard after everyone else has gone home, he will be shooting a basketball, and we will remember Pete."

Years before his death Maravich told a Pennsylvania reporter, "I don't want to play 10 years [in the NBA] and then die of a heart attack when I'm 40."

Here's the ultimate Pistol Pete highlight. Enjoy one of the greatest of all time!!

Fusion 2007

I went to the Fusion Conference in Orlando last weekend, and it was a really good experience. I've worked with Fusion from the get-go as a creative consultant, and it's always very cool to see some of the things we've brainstormed about for months around boardroom tables come to life at the actual conference. One such creative element was a series of videos based on the life of Nehemiah, but brought to life around the events of Hurricane Katrina. The videos were top notch, the interactive elements involved were inspiring, and the heartbeat of the conference came through loud and clear. Very cool.

Fusion is coming to Irving Bible Church in September, and here's a video that will give you an idea of what this thing is all about. Enjoy!

Blender Lantern

From the folks at "Will it Blend?" comes this fun demonstration of what happens when you put glow sticks in a blender.

5 Great Ways to Leave a Tip

Try one of these the next time you tip your waiter. Personally, I like the spider.

Car of the Future?

Foldable? Stackable? Electric? If this thing works, parking will become much more pleasant.

Read story here.

13 Places to Watch TV Online for Free

Tired of those crazy cable bills? Try these free TV sites on for size!!

The World is Changing...

When I read this article I was reminded of the opening line of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: "The World is Changing..."

There are some serious implications for the church, education, government and just about every other aspect of society if this article is correct (which I don't doubt that it is).

Read more here about the recent report of a Census Bureau survey found that married-couple households in the U.S. are now outnumbered. A hair more than half — 50.3 percent — of households are headed by unmarried people, and 31.7 percent of American children are being raised in unmarried homes.

Giant Asian Wasp!!

Sweet Mercy!! I bet it would hurt like a mutha to get stung by one of these!!

Why do we Play War and not Peace?

Office Bloopers

If you are, as I am, a fan of The Office, here's a fun assortment of bloopers from the show. Man, it really doesn't matter what Dwight says, I laugh the minute that guy's face hits the screen. Enjoy!!

Mom's who eat fish have smarter kids.

Children of mothers who ate more fish and other seafood while pregnant are smarter and have better developmental skills than kids of women who ate less or none, researchers said on Thursday in findings they called surprising.

Read story here.

Dante's Peak?

Ever wonder what an active volcano looks like? Check out the plume from Mt. Etna!

Cat Wash

Washing cats is fun!!

Check out more pics here!!

Vacation Anyone?

Hard to describe where I am these days. The New Year started out with a bang, but the dust has settled, and I'm not sure if I'm standing amidst the ruins with which to mourn or a pile of construction supplies with which to build. My church, with all its wonderfulness is a place of great stress. My home, with all its love and beauty is a never-ending responsibility. My free time, with all its... well... freedom, is boring and aimless. Still, there are those moments where something bigger is at work.

Like last night.

A guy I've only met once - at a funeral of all places - called me. I'm not real sure how he got my number, but he called, and for some reason I answered. He spoke in a choppy, breathy tone, leading me to believe he was at best upset, and at worst suicidal. His thoughts weren't real clear, and even he was aware of this fact. After a few minutes of rambling, he finally shared, "I... I'm not sure why I called. I just needed someone to talk to, and I thought you'd be good."

After he stated that, things started to clear up quite a bit. He was, in a word, broken. His friend, at whose funeral we first met, had just passed, and with his passing came a whole new flood of confusing thoughts and emotions. After talking for a while, it became clear to me that this guy was just afraid. In light of the loss of his friend, he wondered what was next for him. The stark shadow of reality had temporarily caused an inner eclipse in his soul.

Now, I don't claim to have a quick fix for that kind of struggle. I just listened and nodded, as only someone who understands eclipses could, and I offered my thoughts when asked. At the end of our conversation we prayed, and I asked that God would bring peace, as He has many times in my life, to this wounded brother's soul. Before he hung up, he asked if he could call again, " ...you know, if I need to talk sometime." I assured him that would be fine. Then he said, in the most gracious of ways, "You're truly touched by God."

Well, that had to be it. I can't even figure out if I'm in a good place or not, but this hurting acquaintence-turned-friend concludes that I have the touch of God. I guess the only thing that I can conclude from all this is that God uses us regardless of how we feel. We don't somehow turn on God's usable switch when life is good, and turn it off when we're feeling kind of blah. God determines when and how He will use us, and sometimes it's right in the middle of our most useless moments.

It's just good to know, in times like these, that there is no vacation from following Christ.

Video from the Hayes Family Vault

Here's a video I made of a bunch of recent Hayes Family exploits. Enjoy!!

This is what I saw this morning...

...when I stepped outside:








Mmmmmm. Sweet Dallas snow. The weathermen are going nuts!! We may not make it through the day. Apparently the icy road conditions are mobilizing for an attack. Beware the icy road!!

A Day in the Life...

I can't seem to find anything that really jazzes me these days, so I've kind of slowed down on writing posts. Sorry. Let me just share with you what I did today. I was a little drained after last week because I had to speak at a funeral for a kid that was in my old youth group who decided it would be a good idea to kill himself. I baptized this kid. Man, it's tough to be a pastor at times.

I was also tired because we had a major event at church on Sunday night, and it was kind of my baby. Things went very well, but it just took all the wind out of my sails.

Anyway, I decided to take a personal day, and today was that day! Here's what I did:

1. Got up this morning and prepared the kids for school, after which I dropped them off at the illustrious Roanoke Elementary.
2. Fell asleep on the couch while watching a documentary on NYU's Downtown Hospital and its work after the 9/11 attacks. Is it wrong to fall asleep during a 9/11 documentary?
3. Woke up again at around 9:25, and headed to Barnes & Noble. I read halfway through a book about Autism, and then flew through a fascinating book by Scott Turow called One L. It's about Turow's first year as a law student at Harvard. Really interesting stuff.
4. After reading for a few hours, I walked through the Southlake Town Center, one of America's largest outdoor malls, to Snuffers. I loves me some Snuffers. I ate some spicy chicken strips and may have had a certain beverage or two. It was nice.
5. My final guilty pleasure of the day was a viewing of the film The Departed. Sweet mercy, this movie was good. Leonardo DiCaprio, who I usually despise, was very good in this film. It's easily the best role I've seen him take. This show had me hooked from the first frame to the last. One of the most enjoyable movies I've seen in a while.
6. When I left the theatre, it was snowing! I mean it was really snowing. It came down in white sheets for about two hours. That makes three snowfalls this year in my neck of the woods. Man, that global warming is really screwing things up.

No Woman, No Lie

This is a Southwestern Ad. You think this Girl will ever get a job at the institution that trained her?

Dr. Sherri Klouda was my Hebrew professor at The Criswell College. She was really good to me. I remember her most because I took her final exam the day after my oldest son, Trent, was born. She knew how tired I was, and allowed me to have a little extra time to complete the exam. I made a "B" on it and earned a "B" in her class. I always liked her a lot.

Anyway, I tell you all of this because Dr. Klouda was involved in an unfortunate set of circumstances at Soutwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She was let go because of her gender. I find this very unfortunate for many reasons. Dr. Klouda was not an ordained minister, was not teaching or preaching at a church and was not teaching her interpretation of the Bible. She was simply teaching a language, and teaching it well, I might add.

Man, I'm glad I'm no longer in the Baptist loop. It's certainly not bad to be a Baptist, but these kinds of goings on at Baptist institutions have given the denomonation a bad name. It's a real shame.

You can read about Dr. Klouda's plight here. Dr. Klouda has been hired by Taylor University to teach Hebrew. Good for her.

Self esteem is over rated

I know I've been posting a lot of junk lately, but I don't always have time to write stuff, and it's fun to find obscure things that you may or may not have seen. So, when the mood hits, I'll continue writing my usual thoughts on life, religion and stuff. Until then, enjoy the junk!

Speaking of junk, check out these two short films. One is a Dove ad promoting self esteem, and the other is a funny spoof of the Dove ad promoting, well, I don't exactly know what it's promoting, but it's stinking hilarious.

Watch this first:


And then watch this:


I think I like the second one better!!

Hyperactive

Think this guy has some time on his hands?

24 Hours of Greatness!

The following took place on Sunday, January 14, and Monday, January 15, 2007 from 7pm - 9pm:

• Jack Bauer did some awesome stuff, killed a few people and did some more awesome stuff.
  

24 is probably my favorite show ever, and Jack Bauer is the most hard core hero ever to hit network TV. The end of last night's premier was some of the craziest, most shocking television I've witnessed. Jack does it again!!

Sunday Bloody Sunday

This is funny, sad and ironic... but mostly funny.

Who Dat?

If you grew up watching Archie Manning, Sam Mills, Rickey Jackson, a very old Earl Campbell, George Rodgers, Bum Phillips, Bobby Hebert, and many other failed New Orleans Saints, you know that this is a good day. The Saints head to the first Divisional Championship Game in their history!! And to top it all off, they knock Philadelphia out to get there (I hate those dirty birds). Congratulations to the Saints, and let's hope this ride continues all the way to the Superbowl!!

Who Dat? Who Dat? Who Dat say they gonna beat them Saints? Who Dat?

(I don't know what it means either, but I've been hearing it since I was a child!)

Garage Camping and More

My two oldest boys and I went camping tonight. Well, maybe it wasn't quite camping, being that an arctic blast came through with high wind gusts and freezing rain, but it did involve a tent and lots of fun memories. You see I told the boys that I'd take them camping this weekend, but after weather reports painted a bleak outlook, I decided to add a little twist to our camp out. Instead of heading to the nearest camp site and staking out a spot, I set up the tent, unfurled the sleeping bags and unfolded the camp chairs... in the garage.

I know it sounds odd, but it really was the best place to camp given the weather conditions. Plus, there was that little issue of the promise I had made to take the boys camping, and I couldn't rightly flake on a promise because of a little arctic blast, now could I? No, the camping would go as planned, but instead of sleeping under the stars, surrounded by trees, we'd sleep under a sheet rock ceiling, surrounded by lawn tools and storage bins.

The boys thought it a strange idea at first, but soon grew eager to dive into the tent and enjoy the experience. We put on our best pair of long johns, grabbed some snacks and unzipped the door to the tent. I'd forgotten what a magical place a tent can be for a young boy. The kids were thrilled, and once we started telling stories and playing games, I couldn't have gotten them out of that tent for a million dollars. Honestly, I don't think I'd have taken the money either.

At one point Trent informed me about the great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He told me that Dr. King was a passionate man who had a dream. He said that without Dr. King, he'd have to beat up black people, and he didn't want to beat up anyone. I agreed that Dr. King was a great man, and thanked Trent for summing up the Civil Rights Movement in such wonderful terms.

Cale told a scary ghost story that involved bugs and bears and lots of other creatures, and although it wasn't quite as noble as a retrospective on Dr. King, it was equally endearing. We wiggled in our sleeping bags at every gory detail, and added a few details of our own for effect. We soon forget we were in the garage. We were camping!

Three books and a rousing game of Simon Says later, it was bed time. We zipped the sleeping bags together, and snuggled close for warmth. The blast had made its way through, and the night air was freezing. As the boys grew quiet and sleepy, Trent said to me in the sincerest of tones that his "whole entire body is filled with love." I asked the boys if they wanted to pray, and they said yes. We each said a prayer, thanking God for such a wonderful night, and more importantly, thanking Him for each other. After the last "amen", the boys drifted to sleep without fanfare.

As the rain dripped outside, and the frigid wind howled, I thanked God for the garage. It may have been the first time I've ever thanked God for my garage. What I was really thanking Him for was a very special time with my children in the most unlikely of places.

We ended up back inside at around 11:30pm. It was just too cold to stay in the garage any longer. Still, the garage had done its job. It gave us a brief opportunity to experience the all encompassing joy of being together, and we went to bed happy with "our whole entire body filled with love."

Saban, iphone & Sopranos. Hmmmm.

I haven't posted a whole lot lately, so let me catch up on a few recent stories.

• Nick Saban shuns the Miami Dolphins for the University of Alabama. Saban did a lot for LSU football, but the guy has lost all credibility. He repeatedly claimed that he "would not be taking the Alabama coaching job", only to flip-flop on the issue in a matter of days. Of course $4 million a year tends to make people not worry so much about lying. It bothers me quite a bit to have to watch the coach who brought my beloved Tigers their first National Championship in 50 years on the sidelines of a bitter rival. I wish failure upon Nick Saban.

• Apple announces it's new iphone. This thing looks so cool. I will begin lusting over it in 3 - 2 - 1...

• The Sopranos is now on A&E. How can they possibly broadcast this show and not be shut down by the censors? There are more f-bombs per minute on The Sopranos than calories in a Big Mac, and let's just say that the show is littered with "adult content". It'll be interesting to see how they broadcast this show without having to chop it up like an onion.

OK, that's all I have for now. More to come...

Nobody Does Football Like the SEC!!

Well, this year's bowl season was pretty stellar. My LSU Tigers molested Notre Dame like an altar boy, and the SEC won yet another National Championship. I think it's safe to say that Florida and LSU may have been the two best teams in the nation at the end of the season. After all that talk about Ohio State and Michigan, it appears that the SEC has once again produced the best talent in college football. It is, without a doubt, the toughest conference in the land.

The best performance in any game this season, however, has to go the the Boise State Broncos. I've never seen a finer piece of coaching in my life. Not only was that an unbelievable game, but it couldn't have happened to a better team than Oklahoma. Those poor folks at Zero U got used by a team that plays on a blue field, and I loved every minute of it.

But back to my original point... The SEC rules!!

Happy New Year!!

2007 used to seam like such a futuristic date. I'd imagined that we would be flying to work in space cars and having our robotic maids cleaning the house for us by now, but I'm still driving the same crappy car, and we can't even afford a Roomba (it's a self operating vaccum cleaner). Oh well, happy New Year anyway!

Hayes Christmas Fun!!

Here's a sneak peak of our family Christmas. Cale got sick and had to throw up. I'm afraid I'm not far behind. Donna, my sister, is in from Philly to hang with us. Even my friend, Chad Freeman, came by for some gumbo and an accidental shot to the jewels (courtesy of Donna). Hope you enjoy the video. Merry Christmas!!

Summits, Trails and Books, Oh My!

I accidentally recorded what has become my favorite show of the year, and it's started me on an obsession that won't easily be assuaged. The show, Everest: Beyond the Limit, is the best thing to hit TV in a long time. It chronicles the story of a team of strangers who are seeking to climb Mount Everest. Their ascent of the mountain, and the accompanying story lines, is some of the most riveting stuff ever put on film. Incredible!!

Since discovering this gem, I can't get the idea of climbing and hiking out of my mind. I have no plans to climb Everest, but those who have attempted this feat are fascinating to me. I would, however, like to try something closer to sea level, and a little more attainable. Perhaps something like the Appalachian Trail.

In light of this, I've purchase two books that I highly recommend. The first is "Into Thin Air", by Jon Krakauer. It's the story of an Everest expedition gone wrong... very wrong. This book is intense and gripping, and it's also very sad. Even so, it's an enthralling read. The second book is called "A Walk in the Woods", by Bill Bryson, and this book is so funny and fresh that I just about can't put it down. It's Bryson's account of his hike through the Appalachian Trail (more than 2,100 miles). This guy can flat out write, and it's as enjoyable a book as I've ever read. A true joy!

If you have some time this holiday season to rip through a book, these two are guaranteed to satisfy. Enjoy!!

I'm Dreaming of an Ugly Christmas?

Each Christmas it seems I see different aspects of the Jesus event. In the past I've been struck by the simple beauty of the somewhat anonymous birth of the Savior of the world. I've been amazed by the bright glory of the Christmas Star, and its leading of the shepherds and wise men. I've been blown away by the pageantry of the heavenly host, and their dramatic announcement of the Messiah. But this year I've been struck by something completely different and unexpected.

This Christmas has been, for lack of a better word, ugly. The nice, clean picture of the Nativity, depicted serenely on Christmas cards and manicured lawns, is what most of us picture when we think of Jesus' birth. We think fondly of the winsome Christmas hymn "Away in a Manger", where we are told that "The little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes." What a bunch of hooey!

The fact of the matter is that Jesus was born under the worst of circumstances. His mother, fresh off a seventy mile donkey ride, settled into childbirth within the lovely confines of a livestock kennel. The smell alone had to be nauseating. Then there's the blood, sweat and tears that accompany such an event (after witnessing the birth of 4 kids, I can testify that childbirth is no picnic). Finally, think about the fact that Jesus' first guests were shepherds. No heads of state thought this birth worthy of a visit, but a bunch of penniless (and, no doubt, smelly) shepherds descended on the stable like flies on, well, you know. This was definitely not a pretty sight.

I like this picture, ugly though it may be. It gives me comfort to know, in an age where important births are so gaudy and on parade (see baby TomKat, baby Brangelina, etc.), the birth of Jesus wasn't even worthy of an attempted Madonna adoption. Jesus came to us like he left us: ugly, bloody, and humble. In so doing, he proved that he is such a different kind of King. He defends the weak, empowers the lowly and embraces the humble. Thanks, Jesus, for showing up without bells and whistles. Your meager entrance is pure and real. It's a story I can believe in!

Falling

It's probably not right to write about this sort of thing this close to Christmas, but it's on my mind, and that's kind of what this whole blog thing is about.

People come to me with stuff because I'm a pastor. Most of the time they come to me with stuff they can't go to anyone else with. I'm sworn to confidentiality, so I can't go into specifics, but let's just say I hear some pretty ugly stuff. I don't know what's in the water lately, but I've had a record month for ugly stuff.

I can honestly say that I'm seeing more and more people lured into terrible choices by life's temptations than ever before. My proof is not scientific, but all I can do is base this on what I'm observing, and what I'm observing is not good.

Look, we all have our stuff, but what I'm writing about is a bit more than the occasional slip up, or the periodic moral dilemma. What I'm addressing is full blown, large scale, no-way-out, what-the-heck-am-I-going-to-do-now screw up's of the highest order.

The most difficult thing about all of this is that it makes me realize how thin the line is between walking upright and falling face down. Many of the people who have bombarded me with their stuff are indistinguishable. There's nothing about them that would cause others to have any suspicion about the level of their personal failures. Most of them are people I would describe as noble, yet they've been lured into deadly traps like bugs into the inviting confines of a hungry spider's web.

I'm reminded of this quote by the great John Bunyan: "One leak will sink a ship; and one sin will destroy a sinner."

I've probably shared more than I should have already, but if you think about it, please pray for these folks. Pray that their confidence would be renewed, and that their faith in the goodness and sovereignty of God would be bolstered. Pray for me as well. As Augustine said, "Nothing so clearly discovers a spiritual man as his treatment of an erring brother." I want to be discovered as one who is gracious with those who have fallen, and humble in the knowledge of my own weakness.

Grace and Peace to you.

More Christmas Funnies

OK, I'm getting over myself slowly but surely, and am feeling a bit better about Christmas this year. Here are a few fun things that have helped. Enjoy!!

• In this lovely clip, Bill Clinton tells a little girl of his plans to kill Santa. If you saw his original interview, you know he actually just wants to kill Fox News Sunday Anchor Chris Wallace

.

• This comes from my good friend and coworker, Joanne (Well, I guess she's not "officailly" a co-worker. She's Canadian, so she doesn't actually get paid. I still consider her a co-worker!). Thanks Jo!!

• Be sure and check out Pimp My Nutcracker, America's new favorite holiday game!! It really is kind of fun. Thanks to Bag of Nothing for the link!

Christian or Christ Follower?

Keith at Bag of Nothing had this posted on his site today. It's brilliant! Forget the Mac/PC debates, and let the Christian/Christ Follower talks begin.