Birthday at #gamecocks baseball 3/9/12

Birthday at #gamecocks baseball 3/9/12
Posted by Instagrate to WordPress

Thanks to Louisville Slugger for the #gamecocks mini bat

Thanks to Louisville Slugger for the #gamecocks mini bat
Posted by Instagrate to WordPress

New Tradition for me in ministry

Yesterday I started a new tradition with my two year old daughter with a daddy/daughter date.  I decided to do this because I’m going out of town this weekend to Simply Youth Ministry Conference in Louisville, KY and will be gone for 5 days.  Last week I talked with my good friend at Simply Youth Matty McCage and asked what he did for his kids since for the past couple weeks he has been out of town almost every weekend for a youth ministry conference.  He told me he always took the kids out before he left for the weekend.

So yesterday I decided since my daughter is getting older and noticing more when I’m not around that I would take some time with her.  Last Friday night I took her to the Gamecocks baseball game and she had a blast.  So after I finished my meetings yesterday and taking care of things in the office I left early to pick her up early from preschool.  I picked her up and told her we were going to the baseball game and she got really excited.  And to make things even better for her we went to the park and ride so she could ride on a bus to the game.   Two things here.  First I knew it would be a lot easier, cheaper, and safer than parking and walking to the game.  Second she loves to ride on buses so I knew that would make her day.

When we arrived to the stadium we didn’t have tickets, so we walked up to the ticket window.  As we were approaching an officer stopped us and gave us two tickets behind home plate.  He told us that a gentleman gave him the tickets and told him to give it to a father and child.  So we walked in and she started to have a good time by running around.  I then took her to get ice cream before sitting down in our seats.  When we sat down, we met the ticket holders who gave the office the tickets.  They were very nice and glad that they could help us out.  Let me say that I had a blast watching my daughter dance to the batter intro music and asking questions in her two year old mind about what was going on in the game.

It was an amazing afternoon with my daughter, plus the Gamecocks won 2-1!  And I know that from now on that before I go away for the weekend or week for a retreat or conference that I will make special arrangements to hang out with my daughter before I go to remind her how important she is to me and that I will miss her while I’m gone.

 

Tebowed

I grew up a Florida Gator fan because my dad is a UF alum.   Even though I graduated from the University of South Carolina, I still am a huge Florida Gator fan.   But even if I wasn’t, I would still be a huge Tim Tebow fan.  The guy is just good and he has a workmanship, determination, and lifestyle that we should all strive to have.     Its been interesting to see him grow in his faith.   I’ve read his book and it is amazing to see his faith for God.  But it is even more amazing to see how he really is.

Tebow is a great man of God and a pretty good football player.  The man won a Heisman, won 2 BCS titles, and is a starting QB in the NFL.  Say what you want about his throwing motion or that isnt a pocket passer, but he’s still getting things done in Denver.  He has led the Broncos to the most road wins since his boss John Elway.

But most don’t see him like that.  Every “expert” mocks him for his throwing motion and can’t wait for him to have a bad game or fail at a comeback.  They are waiting for him to get frustrated and drop the F word.  They have a problem with him showing his faith like he did in college with putting scripture on his eye black.

When he was a Gator, I couldn’t believe the hate that was on the Gamecock and Georgia message boards.  I know that the people hate a winner when that player is beating their team, but to knock a mans Christianity when you are a Christian yourself.  It was sad to see the witness some people had knocking him for his passion when UF loss to Alabama in the SEC championship game and the number of said Christians that joined in posting “Tebow Wept” in reference to John 11:34 “Jesus Wept”.

Now the trend is Tebowing.  Its really hard to see if it was started out of honor or out of mockery.  But its the new planking.  So what it is tebowing?

Tebowing: (vb) to get down on a knee and start praying, even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different

 

Now they mock him by Tebowing after they sack him, or after the score a ouchdown against Denver.  Our culture is more about lifting up the bad role models who commit crimes, fail drug test, and curse on camera.  Instead of lifting the man up and saying, thats someone we should model our life after.   Even if you disagree with his belief in God, He still is a great role model in his work ethic, morals, and character.  I’m glad to see that Tebow isn’t listening to the experts and is continuing to live the life he has been called to be.  I’m glad that he doesn’t let the Tebowing mockery get to him.

If you haven’t read the his book, Through My Eyes, pick it up today.  It is amazing to hear his entire story and see who he really is on and off the field!

 

Car Flag Theology

When you are driving around your town a few days after a college football team wins and you see a car flag flying from a window…I’m usually one of those fans!  On any given Saturday in the fall you will see me driving around Columbia or in another SEC football town flying my South Carolina Gamecocks car flags!  Thats only to show you that I’m proud to be a fan and an alumni!  But if I didn’t have the flags, you would still know by the stickers on my rear window, my vanity plate, my tag plate border, and my USC South Carolina Tag!  What can I say…I’m proud to be a Gamecock.

As I was driving around town the past two days I’ve noticed there are no orange Clemson car flags around town.  It could be because Clemson fans are ashamed of their teams performance or it could be that some of them are just happy with their Clemson Car Tags and stickers on their cars.  But at the beginning of the year, the car flags for both school were all over, no matter what day of the week it was.

Now I’m not trying to rub it in to my Clemson friends, but thought it to be interesting.   I was thinking that its kinda like our relationship with God.  When things are going good, we are praying, in full worship, and most people can tell we are Christians.  Other people sometimes only pray or attend worship when things are going bad and they are looking for God to help them.  That is kind of like when people put their car flags up or their favorite schools clothing on only on game day.  They are hoping for something good to happen, but it if it doesn’t go their way, then they’ll just put it away until the next week’s game.

It shouldn’t matter if you are winning or losing, but you should always wave those flags with pride.  Just like when things aren’t going great with God, don’t hide from Him, but turn to Him.

Just a thought as I was driving today…