Dolphins

I took a whole different plunge at the start of this fall soccer season. I went back to coaching. I'm still roaming the fields as a referee, but, as I told others, I was tired of getting booed and wanted someone to cheer for me. So, the local club assigned me to a U-8 Girls team!

After raising two sons (now in college) and coaching boys teams at the U-10, U-12, and U-14 levels, my wife thinks this to be an appropriate twist of fate. We met at the Players' Orientation and as I called out the names to find who would be on my team, the "girliest girls" came forward. They were all pink ribbons and long blond hair. When they heard they were on the same team as a friend, they squealed in delight and jumped up and down in unison.

When it came time to choose a team name, I was focused on something that would inspire terror into our opponents - the Vandals or the Tigers. One young lady shyly suggested that "'The Little Princesses' would be nice." I was dumbfounded! Fortunately, a parent suggested they have a name after a sea creature. Again, I was voting for Piranhas or Sharks. We became the "Dolphins." So our banner shows a dolphin adroitly flicking a ball with her fin. And, yes, you can tell the dolphin in the banner is a female ... by her long lashes, mascara and eyeliner!

I find myself talking a lot about the Dolphins. A counselor friend of mine says it's because they tap into the whimsical side of God. We Christians can get bogged down in all the nuances of theology - all of which are important. But, God also has a whimsical aspect to Himself - remember, He's the one who created the aardvark and little monkeys.

The Dolphins - with their short attention spans and lack of experience - still manage to create many moments of whimsy. They wonder what is for snack much more than how to move the ball into the attacking area. They are more likely to help an opponent who has fallen that to take advantage of a stumble. Curiosity always brings a halt in play. It can be caused by the referee's whistle or just a part of the game they've never seen ("Coach, what's a 'goal kick'?").

We won't be challenging for any titles (We won our first match handily and got "smoked" in our second game), but I'm hoping that I can bring such enjoyment into their season that they will remember the 2010 season for a long time!

Numbers 12-13

The Emotionally Connected God

“This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:21-23 (NASB)

I’m starting to forget things. It’s nothing to worry about or go running to the nearest health professional. It’s just that I’m starting to have more and more of those “senior moments.” They come in various forms but the physical manifestations are all the same. I’m thinking about something and then the focus seem to slip from my mind. I halt what I’m doing and stand very still. My hand comes to my brow as if I can gather up the stray thoughts and push them back in. Then comes the exasperated sigh when I find that I’ve derailed myself. On some occasions, if I just relax the thought will pop up like a startled bunny scampering through the underbrush. I find that I then chase it with joy, revealing in the remembering.

Lamentations is not one of those books in the Bible that many go to for encouragement and strength. It was penned by Jeremiah, known as the “weeping prophet.” Jeremiah ministered during the final days of Judah before the Babylonian captivity. What had been a golden age for the Holy Land under David and Solomon had disintegrated into this final indignity of God’s people being led away into captivity. No wonder most of Jeremiah’s writings are dark and discouraged.

But, as a diamond displayed on black velvet are these words in Lamentations 3. In the midst of discouragement, Jeremiah remembers. And this memory brings a precious by-product – hope!
What was this focus that eclipsed the storm of indignities that were overshadowing Him? He simply said, “I remember the Lord’s lovingkindnesses.”

The Hebrew word for term we translate “lovingkindness” is an obscure one. Most scholars are a bit puzzled and there are as many ideas as there are students of God’s Word. It sounds as if God were like a cosmic Boy Scout helping people with good deeds in a nice way. He helps us across the street or picks up the paper that we dropped.

But, for my part, the meaning that resonates with me is that of “loving loyalty.” Way too many Christians see themselves as bothering God as He goes about the important job of running the universe. They picture themselves as slightly obnoxious children who must continually be brought back into line by a Father who seems to be uninvolved.

Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. Jeremiah tells us that God’s loving loyalty – His “staying with us” because of His delight in us – never ceases. There’s never a time when He is not on our side. Yes, sin does interrupt the communication and enjoyment that we have in our relationship … but it never completely breaks it.

Why is that? It’s because His “compassions” never fail. The word refers to His emotional involvement with His children. Our Heavenly Father is never, ever a spectator to the human condition. He is involved both in doing something and in what is being felt.

I had lunch with a friend this week whom I had not seem in some time. Earl is a pastor who first welcomed me back to Sacramento when we returned in 1994. One of the things I appreciate about Earl is his ability to stay emotionally involved. When I spoke of my family or what God was doing with us here at First Free, I could see the emotions run across His face. He was following every point I was making with both His head and His heart!

This is also true of the God who delights in us. We are not only on His mind as His children; we are in His heart. Jeremiah tells us that this emotional connectedness is “new every morning.” In other words, God never suffers from compassion fatigue. He never needs to take a time-out from us because we have taxed His patience.

God’s faithfulness – His loving loyalty – is great. The Bible is replete with the reality of God not giving up on us. There are no situations, circumstances or people that thwart God’s interest in us. There’s only our own lack – a lack of allowing God to do what He wants to do in our hearts and lives.

2 Kings 22-23

When Blog is Not Enough

I've finally identified why I've been feeling so half-hearted in recent weeks (No, it wasn't because of the yellow cards I issued in last week's soccer matches. Although I did issue a yellow card in our jr. high meeting at church. The unruly student didn't know what I was doing, but one who had played soccer said, "Dude, you just got carded!"). I've come to realize that "blog" is not enough for me.

I started this blog because I was getting tired of being weighed down by the pages of journaling notes that I kept with me. I'm afraid I'm one of those who has not embraced all the technology of our age. I found that I do best keeping one of the Franklin-Covey notebooks with me. It does date me but there is a lot more satisfaction - for me - to be able to write in complete sentences rather than just abbreviations.

Yet, even though writing a blog gives me a certain sense of being "with it," I find that I'm not always forthcoming. I don't lie (Heaven's sake ... of all the vices I want to avoid ... that's the biggest), but I hold back. I hold back because in my journal, my audience was a private one - God and I. Here, with a greater audience, I find myself censoring what I write.

And, it's okay to write different ways for different venues. I've come to peace with the idea that I can't - and won't - share everything with everybody. Sometimes, it's because those who listen or read (in Jack Nicholson's words) "can't handle the truth." At other times, it's because I can't handle the truth. I have to go to the safest audience that I've ever known - an audience who can never, ever misunderstand me.

Will I still keep writing a blog? Sure ... although as I've noted before this is NOT great literature nor even mildly amusing thoughts. Yet, there is a certain sense of writing for some type of posterity. But, I will also go back to keeping a journal. I'll find some other pages in my notebook to remove so as not to strain the cover. It's too important to just ignore.

2 Kings15-17

Good Call

It was back to the soccer pitch these last few weeks refereeing junior high games. They are definitely on the "recreation level" of soccer, but they still provide good competition and some good moments. In this league, I've found that I've had to nudge both players and coaches into making better decisions.

A player bends the corner flag to get a better angle on a corner kick. "Sir," I mention. "If you didn't know ... that's now allowed under the laws of the game." Recently, it was "Coach, you sure you want to start this game with only 10 players on the field." He quickly ushered the needed player on to the field.

My eyes fell on an interesting verse - 2 Kings 12:2 (NASB) "Jehoash did right in the sight of the LORD all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him." The boy-king seemed to go along well as long as he allowed himself to be guided by the advice of the wiser, more-experienced counselor. But, it wasn't long before Jehoash was feeling his oats and put his advisor in his place. Later, he embarks on a fruitless battle against the King of Israel, only to drag home with his tail between his legs.

I'm not saying that all advice from those who are older is right or even wise. There's a reason that there's a proverb that says "There's no fool like an old fool." Still, when you've surveyed the landscape for men and women in whom resides the Spirit of God and a gentle, practical wisdom; it would be wise to include them in on your thinking.

Over they years -too many times to count - their insight saved me from some tremendous hurt. Some of those sages are now gone and I am righteously jealous of the few who remain. I want to listen with intent, love, and a view to the future.

2 Kings 10-14

The Happiest Place on Earth

Judy and I just returned from our "Southern California Tour." We visited both our dads and then, for a change of pace, spent a day at Disneyland. A day at Disneyland without children has a whole different pace. We could dither and dally. We could take our time in making decisions about where to go and what to do. Most of all, we didn't have to hurry. Many times we would just sit and watch the people walk by us. It was during one of those respites that I discovered the truth.

Disneyland may bill itself as "the happiest place on earth," but you wouldn't know it from the faces that passed by us. The scale went from weary to grim. The only person with anything close to a smile were a couple of toddlers who were still on a maniacal sugar high. To be fair, a number of the employees at the park looked as if they were enjoying themselves. But, even then, there were a few who had that glazed look that said "when does my shift end."

I'm sure there were many children who went to sleep that night clutching their Buzz Lightyear action figure or curled up around their Cinderella doll. I don't know if there were many parents who - as the kids dropped off to sleep - would intone "We had a wonderful time."

I guess the point for me is that happiness can be over-rated. When our nation's Constitution promotes "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," it was in the context of well-established virtues. Happiness came from living the life for which one was created. It was not the temporary euphoria of Big Thunder Mountain or the Matterhorn.

I had to chuckle as we waited 55 minutes in the line for the Indiana Jones ride and then, once on, the ride to 3 1/2 minutes to finish! How's that for the pursuit of happiness?

Isaiah 26:3 (NASB) "The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You."

2 Kings 5-9

Repent ... then Relent

I caught the interview with Tiger Woods on ESPN's Sports Center while at the gym. I saw the stoic expression and listened to the guarded words. ESPN informed us repeatedly that the interview was going to last only five minutes. It timed out at 5:18 and the studio hosts were quick to pounce on the questions they felt had to be answered. Yet, with Tiger being careful with his words, they were left to flail around with guesses.

I caught myself saying "Enough!" As I looked at that flat affect, it was the look of a man engaged in battle. He was - as the old saying goes - "shell shocked." In the immortal words of the cartoon, Pogo, "He has met the enemy and he is us!" It's tough to look in the mirror and see with new eyes that the cause of all the problems and heartache is staring right back at you. There comes an unreal quality to life where one just hopes that this is a bad dream. But, when you do finally wake up ... you're neck deep in the mess.

Let the man get on with his rehabilitation. He has apologized to those who had the greatest stake in his transgressions. He has admitted responsibility, so back off.

I'm amazed (although not really) at those who either want the proverbial pound of flesh or the salacious details. The public - through some of the media - proclaims its hurt because they "believed" in Tiger as an icon of what was good and noble in life. So, when he turns out to be human, when he shows himself to have feet of clay, the worshipers turn and savage him. who knows why. Perhaps it's because their shortcomings are magnified in him. Perhaps, their misplaced worship is now tarnished. That is "their" problem, not Tiger's.

It's time to relent. In repentance, God never lets us off easy. The tale that comes to mind is that of the woman caught in adultery. Jesus ran off her accusers - not because she was innocent - but because they merely confused the issue. When this woman is face-to-face with the Son of God - the one who would pay the penalty for her sins - His words were both gracious and firm.

"Go your way." Get on with your life. Your accusers have been dealt with and your own guilt has been forgiven. But, it's the second part that brings the cure - "... and sin no longer." This is the spiritual developmental task that will take the rest of her life. She will spend the rest of her days living out the repentance she has asked for and the forgiveness that is freely given.

I have no idea what Tiger Woods will do from this point on. He says that he lost his bearings from the teachings of Buddha that his mother had imprinted on him. I hope that he would discover one who would not just ease the guilt ... but One who would take it away ... forever.

2 Kings 3-4

Life Interrupted

This evening I will be heading over to the home of one of the participants from our church. She is about my age and is scheduled for a mastectomy on Wednesday morning. She's struggling with the interruption of her life. And, I can't say that I blame here. It's one thing to see something coming years off; it's another to just have your life turned around in one day. This was not what she was expecting for this year. She was expecting her practice to expand and a wedding to be planned. Instead, it's weeks filled with apprehension and doubt.

I will be going over to pray for her based on James 5:13-15 (NIV) "Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven."

I can exegete this passage along with the best of them ... but it is still a mystery to me. I'm going in obedience to God's Word ... not because I completely understand what James is saying. I realize that there is nothing "magical" in laying my hands on another. I am well aware of my impotence. I have to conclude that this is what God wants. The realization that man - by the shear dint of his or her will - cannot effect a change. It has to be something that God does.

I still rest my hope on Jesus words in John 9:3 (NIV) "... but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." I'm praying that into the life of this woman.

2 Kings 1-2

When Giants Win

This last month I was given a copy of the movie "Facing the Giants" to watch. It was an entertaining movie with a wonderful message. It's the story of a beleaguered football coach at a small Christian high school. After a number of losing seasons and with a disgruntled fan base, he makes the decision that winning is not the highest aim. The goal has to be God's glory. He makes a private commitment and then sells the concept to his team. The somewhat predictable story line has this team make a complete turnaround. At the climax of the story, the team wins the championship game because they wanted God to get the glory.

I found myself tearing up at times, especially when the coach drew a line in the sand for himself in regard to his commitment to God. But, in light of everything that I face as a Christian and as a pastor, I had to ask, "Don't the giants win more times than not?"

For every last-second touchdown and miraculous cure, there is the cancer that doesn't get healed, the home that still faces foreclosure, the depression that never lifts. What do you do when the giants beat back your best effort?
A friend - traumatized by a cancer diagnosis - called and said, "I don't know where my faith went. I had scores of people praying for the biopsy. I was sure that it would come back benign. Now, I don't know if I have enough faith to continue."

There are a number of fine Christian aphorisms that can be shared at this point, but since my friend is a pretty astute believer, I just kept my mouth closed. The only thing I could offer was Jesus' words "My Father is working even until now, and I am working, too."

What we may see as a fatal diagnosis, a no-win scenario is still open-ended in God's perspective. The difficulty is that we want the win now! God says that we've already won, but the victory parade comes later.

Jesus told Mary and Martha at the death of their brother and his friend Lazarus, "I am the resurrection and the life." Although the resurrection is an event in space and time, it is mainly a person! Just like with the issue of salvation, God didn't send a system of belief to deal with our issues; He sent His Son!

1 Kings 21-22

Indolence

I had a physical this morning. New doctor ... new location and the same old anxiety. "I really should exercise more." "I wonder where my blood pressure is going to be." "Am I going to get back any flexibility in that right hip?" Questions that I had put off for months were now circling like vultures over road kill.

During the day before, I made all the right resolutions. Plans for working out, eating better and taking care of myself rolled across my mind like a well-ordered army. Then one more word scrolled across the screen of my mind. Indolence.

The dictionary defines indolence as "the tendency to be lazy." It's not laziness personified; it's just leaning in that direction. It's staying in bed when life urges you up. It's staying in bed because you haven't thought about the big picture of your life; just the fact that you don't want to face the day.

Well ... the day is going to come whether you want to face it or not. It's just a matter of whether you want to move about the day, the week, the month in an orderly manner or one would rather have things pile up so that you have to cram it through at the end. I hated this when I was a student (didn't keep me from doing it); and I detest it as an adult.

Why? It's because it robs my leisure and recreation time of joy. I take a break because I am sick or worn out, not because it's part of the natural rhythm of life. I don't end a time of leisure with a smile, but rather with a groan because I haven't fully rested.

1 Kings 19:11 (NIV) "The LORD said, 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.'" This is what I want to do this morning "stand in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."

1 Kings 19-20

Blessed

It was one of those "good" workouts this morning. The ache in the hip was minimal. The time grinding away on the cardio machines was okay (Thank heaven for an iPod with workout music and ESPN on the TV's!). I could do without the core exercises, but with the hip issues influencing my back, etc. ... gotta do them.

I'm walking out of the gym thinking about how blessed I am. I work at a great church. I have a wonderful wife and two terrific sons. Most of the "stuff" in my life is paid for and debt is minimal. I feel the rain on my head and it reminds me that I can get out of this anytime I want.

Then, it hit me. There's some brother or sister in Christ in some far-off country. They can probably live for a year on what I make in a week. Their possessions are few and their luxuries are almost non-existent. But, he too, may have looked up to the heavens and thought how blessed he was by the God Most High.

That thought humbles me. I can't be sure that I would praise God if I was in that position. Some would say, "If you grew up in that environment, you'd never know the difference." But, since I grew up in an environment of relative wealth, I do know the difference.

John Wesley once noted that he didn't expect to see his contemporary, George Whitefield, in heaven. Wesley and Whitefield were at opposite ends of the theological spectrum. But Wesley went on to note, "I won't see him because he will be so close to the Father while I'll be at the back of the crowds."

I suspect that those who are at the head table at that great banquet in heaven will be the most obscure people from the history of the earth. But, in heaven, their reputation has been touted for eternity.

1 Kings 17-18

Half-empty

As I was leaving the gym after a very ordinary workout, I found myself smiling. The reason ... because I was in a room full of people who had no smiles. It didn't matter if it was the treadmill, the elliptical trainer or the free weights. There was not one grin or even a smirk.

This was a huge contrast for me because I tend to be a "glass half-empty" type of person. I don't tend to write about the rosy, cheery aspects of life or my faith. I find I'm more comfortable grinding on about those rigorous aspects of my inner and outer life.

I guess I was smiling because I could do it. It always seems to strike me somewhere in the workout that it is a privilege to do it. There will be a time when I can no longer grind it out. A workout may consist of a shuffling lap around some nurse's station. If so, I want to have the same attitude that I have now ... that I can do it.

1 Kings 15-16

'Toonville

The last couple days seem like I've been in a really bad cartoon. Sunday was okay, but I kept dropping things and colliding with stuff at church. I was pretty wiped out so I just listened as folks talked after the service. I could feel these replies bubble up, but I squashed them down because I wasn't sure my mouth and brain were working together. To top it all off, I've been hyper-sensitive to criticism. I'm having trouble dodging or warding off those comments that come from people who have no real agenda ... just the things said at the wrong place and the wrong time. They start sticking to my soul and it takes a long time to dislodge them.

1 Kings 13:33 (NASB) "After this event Jeroboam did not return from his evil way, but again he made priests of the high places from among all the people; any who would, he ordained, to be priests of the high places."

This is not the most encouraging of passages in the Bible, but it points out a human condition that has plagued us through the ages. We don't learn from our mistakes. Today, people declare that if God would only "show" Himself that they would change. The biblical record shows that even when God does show up ... humanity brushes it aside. The only real change comes with repentance and a surrender of our heart, mind, and will to Jesus Christ. And that ... is so hard to do when we live in a culture that screams at us that we are capable and masters of our own fate.

1 Kings 13-14

Finishing Well

I admit to a certain fascination with King Solomon. I wonder how could someone who the Scriptures call the wisest man in the word finish his life in such a mess. I realize that many aspects of his life are recapitulated in my life and the lives of others. Advantages mean little if they are not followed up by discipline.

Solomon also reminds me that people are a mixture of good and bad, that which works and that which doesn't. He builds a magnificent temple for the Lord, but his own palace is twice as big and just as opulent. He is, perhaps, a captive of his culture as he increases his army and his wives ... because he can and the culture expects it. Sadly, God had warned in Deuteronomy about multiplying horses and wives.

Solomon doesn't follow God fully like his father, David. His final years are lived in seeming comfort but the peace that characterized the early years of his reign is gone. David is a murderer and an adulterer ... yet he never worships other gods. In contrast, Solomon is chastised for his faith that seems so easily diverted. This doesn't excuse David's sins, but it does point out that David continue to have a source to give him hope. Solomon took his hope in his wives and false gods.

1 Kings 10-11

Discipline Dilemmas

I was thinking about the issue of discipline this morning. It has to be one of the least natural things in one's life. There are aspects of life for which discipline seems to take little effort (i.e., brushing your teeth, putting on make-up, etc.) with a seemingly small return. There are other aspects of life for which discipline takes great effort (i.e., exercise, good nutrition, spiritual disciplines, etc) that promise a great return. We pat ourselves on the back for doing the minutae of life while conveniently ignoring that we have positioned ourselves for continued failure.

I share this ambiguity. I wrestled this morning to get up and go exercise. I had all the good excuses lined up. It was a mighty tussle to finally admit that the return - although far off - was a good one.

Now as I sit/lie/stand with a pinched disc in my back, I have to question the wisdom of what I did. But, that's all smoke and mirrors because I know that making the attempt this morning was good and right. The trick is to do it a second and third time!

1 Kings 8-9

A Tough Opponent

I face a tough opponent tonight - junior high students. Out on the soccer pitch with a whistle in my mouth, I don't have much trouble ordering what is going on. If I blow the whistle, I make the call - then we play. I have pretty much absolute control. The kids want to play soccer so they stay within my guidelines in order to get that accomplished.

But, with the junior high group at church, it's a different story. Their purpose for attending is quite a bit different than mine. In the last few weeks, I've watched my inner temperature rise as we worked at cross-purposes. Now, these students are not "bad" ... they're just adolescents. They have their own likes and dislikes, along with their own way of expressing those opinions.

I just find myself weary as it comes to gathering their attention on eternal things. I have to constantly remind myself that this is a long process, in which I am only one part. It is God who is continually at work in the hearts and lives of these kids. My role is not to be the wise adult with all the answers. My role is to cooperate with God in what he is doing in the lives of these kids.

1 Kings 3-5

Taking It Seriously

One of the challenges of being a Christian is trying to take it seriously without becoming grim. There is a fine balance there. At our Men's Huddle (Men's group), the guys asked about my library. They wanted to know what tools I used in preparing sermons, teaching, etc. As I was explaining, one of the younger guys asked, "How did these authors find time to do all this?"

I immediately blew his mind by noting that works like Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, Hodge's Systematic Theology, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, and others like these were done without the aid of a computer! My young friend was a bit glassy-eyed as he tried to absorb all of this.

It's not that I long for these days gone by. Believe me, I love my computer, cell phone and all the other modern gadgets (try writing a paper in seminary on a typewriter and having to include Greek or Hebrew characters ... it was a nightmare!). I just wonder what got into these men and women to produce these types of works. In contrast, we appear to have very "thin soup" when it comes to what is being sold in Christian book stores today.

Could it be that in days gone by that these saints just toughed it out and dug into God's Word when things were going bad? Today, we have all sorts of volumes for all sorts of ailments that face in our lives. People have done the research for us. I wonder if there is something more when you dig it out for yourself.

1 Kings 1-2

Old Wine and New Wineskins

We had a spirited discussion in our Men's Huddle last night at church. We had read an article about having "kingdom vision" that was replete with all the current ministry buzzwords. The guys immediately got on to the shoddy use of terms and definitions.

I was reminded again that not everything that is new is good. I heard a pastor say recently that for every current author he reads; he reads two books from authors who are deceased. It was his way of reminding himself that the church is built on the shoulders of some giants of years, decades, and centuries gone by.

The difficulty is that Spurgeon, Henry, Wesley, Luther, Calvin, Augustine and their ilk are simply not easy reading. They write in a dense manner that means the reader must slow down. I've gotten to the point of reading a paragraph and then summarizing its content in the margin. But, these men and women were thinkers (This is not to say that anything modern is of no value. There are many serious writers in our generation that are well worth the read). They brought in a breadth and depth of knowledge that is lacking today. It is not that they are any more right than authors in present generations. But, my reading experience shows that they were not so much caught up by the fads of their day. They wrote with a sense of purpose, with a view to the long run rather than bowing to the god of "what's-happening-now."

I've been in ministry long enough to see trends come around. A recent article in a major ministry publication touted the importance of multi-generational churches. I had to laugh because my church is finally on the cutting edge and we didn't do anything to get there! The reality is that God wants a special operation done in each special place. Each ministry is unique to its own environment. There can be some similarities, but cloning a ministry is a recipe for diminishing returns.

2 Samuel 23-24

THE New Year

One of the perks of having an understanding wife is that I get to watch as much football during the holidays as I can handle. I try not to abuse this privilege. I also make sure I sprinkle these days with plenty of dinners and conversation.

Occasionally, Judy will join me ... not so much to watch football, but to do something together. It's kind of refreshing to see - what has become for me "old hat" - these games through new eyes. One aspect that has her shaking her head is the "introductions" of the offensive and defensive teams, especially in the pro games. The players - who for the most part - glare at the camera ... state their name and the university they attended. There are a few - who relish their roles as rebels - that give the name of their high school or junior high. Then, there are those who choose to use a special moniker for their school. We hear of players being from "The 'U'" (University of Miami) or "THE Ohio State University."

I'm reminded that for all the school spirit and bravado ... the Hurricanes of Miami or Buckeyes of Ohio State have (and will in the future) fall on hard times. The game of football is not one for dynasties. Fortunes and the won/lost records change from year to year.

It reminds me of Jeremiah's words - "Thus says the LORD, 'Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,' declares the LORD" Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NASB).

My boast of knowing God only comes to reality through my actions. My words and my deeds either confirm that I am changed by knowing God or they show a lie. How sad it is to live with this boast, but be living a lie.

Knowing God starts with a humble heart that says "I don't know, but I want to know." Although I am grateful for all my education and knowledge ... I "know" that I have only scratched the surface. And, I look forward to knowing much more and being known.

"To the faithful, You show Yourself faithful, to the blameless, You show Yourself blameless, to the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd." 2 Samuel 22:26-27 (NIV)

2 Samuel 20-22