Jacob's Dream

Shot these pictures today. Thought they turned out pretty cool. I'll upload the whole set to flick at some point.

Yeah!!

LCU Softball Team Wins NAIA Championship

I listened to the last three innings on the am radio. (Had to use the clock radio, the stereo would not even pick up the am station.) It sort of made me feel like a kid again! They went down to the wire, but managed to hang on to win. They had to win three games today to pull it off and did.

I do not know about any other division, but they are the first team in NAIA to win a national championship their inaugural season. Needless to say, we are excited.

Big celebration tomorrow at noon at the McDonald Moody, if anyone is in town.

Here is the story from the NAIA. I am sure the AJ will have more tomorrow.

Reflections of the Celebration of the Life of Jo Ann Davis

Living in Lubbock has several drawbacks when you need to attend something in Austin. More like 382 drawbacks. As in miles.

There is a plus in this, however, and that is you have plenty of time to think as your drive home. Here are some reflections on the events of the last day, in no particular order.

• I was struck how much I agreed with the comments Roger and Rayford made about Jo Ann being such a Godly woman. Her being Godly was not as remarkable to me as the fact that that reality is so ingrained in my mind. Growing up, I never thought: Wow, Mrs. Davis is a very Godly woman. At least, I do not recall every thinking that. At that period in my life, moms were rated more on the food they served at Sunday Night Devotional than things that had eternal significance. But I knew it. Knew it very, very much. That realization is a little scary for me as a parent. I recognize that Jo Ann's influence was so strong that even though I may have never articulated it, it was very real and very present. What do/will my children's friends say about me? More importantly, what will they know about me at their very core, even when they do not or perhaps can not say it?
• Speaking of Roger, I always think he does such an excellent job putting into words the thoughts that need to be expressed. I mentioned this to Jana and she commented that he is so believable. I think it is this, plus also a gift in understanding the moment and knowing what emotions are present. There is also certainly a gift of then being able to express those things. Thanks, Roger, for letting God use you in these powerful ways.
• Tasha M. was the first to articulate this, so I need to give her credit, but the visitation and funeral was what I would call "Old School Brentwood." And I think I would say Brentwood instead of Brentwood Oaks (no offense, late arrivers). The place was full of people who knew that building on Arroyo Seca. These were people who had been such an integral part of the life of this congregation for a long, long time.
• I was reminded by the many interactions I had with these people how much of a debt I owe to Brentwood for my faith formation. I cannot articulate - and I kick myself for not being able to do so - the specific ways individuals have helped shape me. I certainly do not live up to their training more times than not, but am so deeply grateful for what that congregation has given me. These are people who loved me, who have taken care of me, who have treated me like their own son, who have taught me, who have nurtured me, who have spent countless unknown hours in prayer for me. I am eternally blessed for my having been able to be a part of that community and for the ways I still have a place there.
• Jo Ann hosted our wedding shower in Austin. That was special to Jana and me.
• Jo Ann's home was always a place where you felt welcome and even as a child, you always knew it was a special home. I acted differently when I was at the Davis'. I never felt like I had to, but because Mrs. Davis was such a woman of grace, dignity, and class, you wanted to be on your best behavior.
• I also always felt like I was in the home of a celebrity because Jo Ann's kitchen was featured in Southern Living.
• I got to visit with Ben B. at the visitation. I hate to admit that I am not sure I could list out all of the people for whom I participated in their baptism, much less remember all of the baptisms I have seen. I will never, ever, ever forget Ben's baptism. I am not even sure I knew all of the circumstances surrounding his baptism, but even as an 8th grader or freshman (it was one of those years) I recognized the sacredness of that moment. I type this with tears rolling down my cheeks, it has such a powerful impact on me.
• Ben was one of those who I can articulate the way he and Laura impacted me, even beyond his baptism. When Branch Groups were in the early stages, we were in a group with Ben and Laura among other "older" adults. I was really concerned about this, because our group was not made up of people my age or people I hung out with. I hope I was not a typical teenager and a pain in the rump about groups, but I am pretty certain at least Mom and Dad knew I was not happy about this arrangement. I did, however, love being a part of this group!I learned more from being with this mix of people than I ever would have in a group of "my people." Ben continued to keep in touch with me, even going so far as to take me to breakfast when work took him to Abilene. Even at the visitation, Ben made me feel like I was important to him. I am grateful for that and for that example.
• I can remember staying with Glen and Craig in "The Zoo" on trips to Abilene. I am not sure I have ever said thank you to them and to Donovan and so many like them for the example they provided for those of us who followed them through the youth group.
• It is sort of hard for me to fathom that I have known John Scott longer than anyone else in the world, save relatives. When you get my age, you realize that is a LONG time!
• Speaking of aging, when the youth group had our reunion last year, I commented on the fact that some people have not changed one bit - Greg R., for example. I wasn't around the parents then, but realize that the same holds true for the parents and older people of the congregation. Some look older, some look like life has been hard on them over the years, and some look like time has just stood still.
• John Scott married above himself. We all did, but when you hear the things said about his mom, you realize where he got the criteria he did for his own mate. He did well!
  

I realize at this point you are wishing Lubbock was only 82 miles from Austin, so I will close with this.

I am grateful that God allowed us the honor and privilege of knowing Jo Ann. The entire Davis family has been such a blessing to so many families, especially mine. From that first Easter Sunday we were in Austin and ate at the Davis' -- which I do not even remember, I just have seen the pictures and heard the stories of John Scott falling in the creek -- to a friendship with John Scott that has been through an entire life together and reconnects in seconds, regardless of the amount of time it has been since we have actually spoken, I have been blessed. Thank you Lord for the life of Jo Ann, a life of grace, mercy, and service, and a life that continues to be exhibited in Ross, their children and their grandchildren. May those of us who have been touched by her life show her the greatest honor we can by living a life of faith as she did.

Embattled West Virginia U. President Says He Won't Speak at Commencement - Chronicle.com

Embattled West Virginia U. President Says He Won't Speak at Commencement - Chronicle.com

Sounds like life is good at WVU. You have to wonder if his days are numbered.

Everyone could have done this...

At Washington U., Protesters Turn Their Backs on Phyllis Schlafly

Several hundred people—including some faculty members and graduating students—turned their backs on Phyllis Schlafly as she was awarded an honorary degree at Washington University in St. Louis Friday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

How cool is this?

Sitting on the back porch at the new (to us) patio furniture that was gifted to us (Thanks Bob and Susan!) ... grill is going, about ready for steaks ... surfing the net with my new wireless hook-up and a laptop that now runs XP ... watching the dove that is sitting on her nest in the tree above me ... the grass is green ... the wind is blowing ... the sun low enough that it is not shining in my eyes ... just got my haircut and it included a shoulder massage and a hot towel (Luke, you were right, those are pretty cool!!) ... the flowers are blooming. Life is good!

The only thing that would make it better is if my family were here. They are enjoying the rodeo in Vernon this week. They just left and I miss them already!

Another Fun Site

And yes, it was on some fundraising blog. Sorry I cannot remember where I saw it first.

soccer goals | Addictomatic

Link

Fun Video Thingy

Not sure what else to call it. As with the previous post, I found this while searching fundraising blogs. No idea why it appeared on a fundraising blog...

http://www.dipity.com/mashups/timetube

I'm it, and now you are

I read several fundraising blogs and a couple of them (here and here) posted about the following meme. I am going to edit it somewhat, mainly because I do not have five blogging friends, but if you happen to read this and want to play along, feel free to do so.

1. Pick up the nearest book.


2. Open to page 123.


3. Find the fifth sentence.


4. Post the next three sentences.


5. Tag five people, and acknowledge who tagged you.

Since the computer is in the computer room and not by the bed where my "for fun" reads are, the closest book to me right now is Strategies of Qualitative Inquiry, 2nd ed. by Norman K. Denzin and Yvonna S. Lincoln. (I am in grad school - what can I say?! On a side note, Lincoln was my professor's professor. Almost famous, huh?)

Page 123 is in the chapter entitled: "Performance Ethnography: A Brief History and Some Advice" and the three sentences are:

"It was approximately 120 pages long, representing 6 hours of audiotaped conversation. I needed to produce a script that would take 30 minutes to perform (the time allotted to us at the Blandin conference); as it turned out, this meant the script was 10 1/2 pages long--only a 'small portion of the total set of fieldnotes.'
The St. Cloud workshop was organized by Barb Thomes, who had participated in a 1992 workshop."

Come on folks, surely you can do better than that?

The Raiser's Razor: Do fundraisers have friends?

The Raiser's Razor: Do fundraisers have friends?

Jeremy Gregg (Director of Development at Central Dallas Ministries) over at The Raiser's Razor posted this in relation to fundraising, but I thought his quotes on friends were good, so I share them:

"Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty."
- Sicilian Proverb

"The friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you." - Elbert Hubbard, The Notebook, 1927

"A good friend is cheaper than therapy." - Author Unknown

"A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails." - Donna Roberts

"You can always tell a real friend: when you've made a fool of yourself he doesn't feel you've done a permanent job."
- Laurence J. Peter

"Friends are those rare people who ask how you are and then wait for the answer." - Author Unknown

"There are big ships and small ships. But the best ship of all is friendship." - Author Unknown

"A true friend is one who thinks you are a good egg even if you are half-cracked." - Author Unknown

You Don't See That Every Day!

And unfortunately, you still won't because I did not have a camera on me, but...

My friend Daniel and I went to Moe's for lunch today. Moe's is at 19th Street, just off of Quaker. Both of these are major thoroughfares in Lubbock, with lots of traffic, businesses, concrete, etc. Just to give you a frame of reference, see here:


We had had some heavy rain during the night, and then some this morning ... and would get some during lunch. The gutters and the right most lane of traffic was filled with water. As we pulled into the parking lot, I noticed there were several women looking at something right at one of the entrances to the parking lot. Upon further examination, one was trying to move a fish -- a pretty large fish, say 8-12 inches -- into the gutter water. It was flopping around and generally being very uncooperative.

I do not know if they ever got it into the water, we went on in to eat. They came in a few minutes later and then even later yet, the rain came. Lots and lots of rain. If it did make it back, I am assuming it would have been washed back to whatever playa from whence it came.

Welcome to Lubbock, Texas, ya'll!

Another Communion Milestone

Yesterday I was on the list to serve communion at church. Luke was with me when I checked in and asked if he could help me serve. There are a couple of other people who have their sons help - the man organizing the servers being one of them. (We call him the "Worship Director," which has some huge theological implications best saved for another post.) I couldn't really think of a reason why I should not let him, so when it came time, he and I went to serve.

Here are some of the thoughts I was thinking while standing in the back waiting for the person giving the communion thoughts was speaking:

• We don't have a Children's Worship or whatever we called it at Brentwood to train people how to serve communion. That's where I learned the specifics. I can remember very little about it now; I just now that is where I was "officially" taught.
• I thought about what I wanted Luke to know about communion. (He knows a lot about the sacrifice Jesus made already. I have said often that Luke is the best theologian in our house.)
• I also thought about what I wanted him to know about the actually process of serving communion. I did not come up with something specific here except I wanted him to be aware of what was going on around him and that serving people communion was more than the tuck-and-pass, as my friends Daniel and Trent call it.
• I thought about the first communion I celebrated after Luke was born. You can talk all day about what it means to sacrifice your son - actually having one drastically changes your perspective.
• Just like that day, I fought back tears as I recognized the significance of celebrating this moment with Luke. It is one of many moments we have shared together as he continues to grow up and become more of a young man - ok, young, young man. Old child? - and becomes more of the man God is calling him to be.

He did great, by the way. Very attentive to where the plates were and held the juice plate with both hands. I am proud of him for that, but even more proud of him for his heart and that he really is the light of Jesus.