Friday, August 31, 2007
A FEW THINGS I'VE LEARNED THIS WEEK
"Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding..." ~Proverbs 3:13I'm always trying to learn things from everyday events. Little lessons hidden among daily events and activities. Some of the things I learn are beneficial and others are not. But as I see it ... as long as I'm learning, I'm growing. So here are the things I've learned this week.
- NICENESS IS IMPORTANT: Cooper came in on his second day of kindergarten this week and said, "Dad, I met the meanest teacher in the whole world today on the playground." "Really?" I replied. "Yes, Dad, she was very, very, very mean (note the 3 verys)." "And," he said emphatically, "There was NO niceness in her at all." I smiled and said, "No niceness at all?" He replied, "Nope, no niceness at all, Dad." I couldn't help but think, "It would be terrible to be known as a person with no niceness."
- LOCK YOUR CAR DOORS: This is yellow squash season. Twice this week someone has secretly left squash in my pickup. Time to lock my doors.
- "BORING CHURCH" POSTS ARE HOT TOPICS: Wow, yesterday's post was interesting. I had a ton of hits, a bunch of great thought provoking comments and many differing opinions. I don't know why I didn't remember that "worship practices" are a hot, and sometimes, touchy subject. Come to think of it, the first murder ever recorded in history (Genesis 4:1-8) was over an argument dealing with "worship practices." I definitely learned a lesson on this one.
- CSI: I asked my wife a while back if she had ever consider divorcing me. She shook her head and said she'd never considered it, but she had thought about killing me a couple of times (I'm sure I deserved it). I've noticed this week she really likes CSI. Should I be worried if she starts taking notes?
- FINALLY, SOMETIMES IT'S OKAY TO SAY, "I DON'T KNOW": I learned this lesson from watching teenage beauty contestant Ms. South Carolina when she was asked a question she didn't know. "I don't know," would have probably been a much better answer than the one she gave. I wondered if I've ever sounded like her trying to bluff my way through a question I didn't know. If you haven't see the video ... (Click Here)
So, have you learned any lessons this week?
Labels: Morgan Family, Worship
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Thursday, August 30, 2007
BORING CHURCHES?
One of the most frequent reasons given for someone not attending church is because the services are boring. I think the only place there should be boring churches is in Boring, Oregon where I've found, with the help of Google, that there are actually 25 Boring churches.Here are a few things that I believe may make services boring to some...
- When we use big words or "churchy" words that some don't understand.
- When we make anything other than Jesus our focus.
- We're afraid to use humor.
- In our sermons we don't make any applications to everyday life.
- When God's Word isn't served up hot and fresh.
- When our sermons quote tons of scripture and never tell any stories.
- When we preach about the Hittites, Perizzites or Jebusites instead of something a little more relevant today.
- When our services go long. No one really has anything else to do anyway.
- When we don't use any visual stimulation like overheads, PowerPoint or object lessons.
- When we feel like it's our goal to only beat people up, never build people up.
So, give me some help on this one. What are some things you thing might make church services boring to some?
Labels: Church
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
GOD SEES YOU AND HE SMILES
Monday was the first day of Kindergarten for our youngest son, Cooper. Cooper did really well on his first day. His momma didn’t.That afternoon when I heard the kids out for recess I looked out my office window and searched for Cooper on his first day of school. When I finally spotted him I couldn't help but smiled. He was so beautiful and I felt so proud that he was my son. I wished so badly that he knew that I was close by and watching him. I thought that might help comfort him as he felt so alone on his first day of school. As I watched him I realized that I loved seeing him play and it made me happy to see him having fun. And then, all of a sudden he looked sad, and my heart broke into a million pieces.
As I stood there watching Cooper I couldn't help but think about God watching us, His children. When He looks down and sees you He smiles and He is so proud that you are His child. You are so beautiful to Him. He loves watching you when you are happy and playing. And then, when you are sad, it breaks His heart into a million pieces.
God wants you to know you're not alone today. He sees you and smiles. God is good.
Labels: God, God's Love, Morgan Family
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
WHERE IS YOUR CHURCH?
From my very first post on this blog until now, I've wanted people to rediscover what real church is. We often have such misunderstanding of what church is.
How many times have you been asked, "Where is your church?" I often hear that question when people find out I'm a minister. They say, "Oh great, where is your church?"
So many of us associate the church with a place and not a group of people. There is actually so much more to church than what takes place for an hour every Sunday. So many think church is something you only do on Sunday. To them doing church consists of attending, singing, praying, assembling, giving, communing and preaching.
But church is so much more. Church happens seven days a week, not just Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday night. Church is not where, but who? In his book "The Monday Morning Church," Jerry Cook tells a story about Richard Halverson that illustrates the difference between "doing church" and "being church" as Christians.
For so long, I’ve told people that my church is up on 2nd Street in Childress, Texas. However, I think I’m going to change how I answer this question in the future. In fact, I would hope every Christian could begin to view the church differently – as God’s people who are everywhere doing the mission of Jesus. If someone asks you, “Where’s your church?", why not take that opportunity to help them view the church as people instead of a place? Of course, after a lengthy description of where your people are at any given time, you can always tell them that “periodically, we get together at a building on _________ street, but we don’t spend much time there. We’re mostly in the city.”
So tell me, where is your church today?
How many times have you been asked, "Where is your church?" I often hear that question when people find out I'm a minister. They say, "Oh great, where is your church?"
So many of us associate the church with a place and not a group of people. There is actually so much more to church than what takes place for an hour every Sunday. So many think church is something you only do on Sunday. To them doing church consists of attending, singing, praying, assembling, giving, communing and preaching.
But church is so much more. Church happens seven days a week, not just Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday night. Church is not where, but who? In his book "The Monday Morning Church," Jerry Cook tells a story about Richard Halverson that illustrates the difference between "doing church" and "being church" as Christians.
"Dr. Richard Halverson, formerly the chaplain of the United States Senate, had just finished speaking in a seminary chapel service, when he was asked by some students, 'Where is your church?' This seemed like a perfectly reasonable question to me, but Dr. Halverson looked quite perplexed and hesitated to answer. Then he glanced at his watch.
'Well, it’s three o’clock in Washington, D.C. The church where I preach is all over the city. It’s driving buses, serving meals in restaurants, having discussions in the Pentagon, deliberating in the Congress.' He knew exactly where his church was, and he went on and on with his lengthy listing. Then he added, 'Periodically, we get together at a building on Fourth Street, but we don’t spend much time there. We’re mostly in the city.'
A bomb went off in my head. All of my out-of-joint ideas about the church suddenly snapped into place. … the church is people!"
For so long, I’ve told people that my church is up on 2nd Street in Childress, Texas. However, I think I’m going to change how I answer this question in the future. In fact, I would hope every Christian could begin to view the church differently – as God’s people who are everywhere doing the mission of Jesus. If someone asks you, “Where’s your church?", why not take that opportunity to help them view the church as people instead of a place? Of course, after a lengthy description of where your people are at any given time, you can always tell them that “periodically, we get together at a building on _________ street, but we don’t spend much time there. We’re mostly in the city.”
So tell me, where is your church today?
Labels: Church
Sunday, August 26, 2007
BRISTOL FUN and MANY THANKS
I've just got to tell you about my weekend. What an amazing trip. It was fast, furious and fun. We left Friday morning at 6:30 from the Dallas-Fort Worth airport, with friends from Childress, Rickey and Angie. We got in to Knoxville airport, rented a car, and drove 100 miles to Bristol. When we got to Bristol, we went to the place where we were staying. It was a little cabin behind the home of the sweetest lady you'll ever meet. Her name was Mary Jane, and she treated us like kings and queens. She fixed food for us to take to the track everyday and then had snacks waiting for us when we got back to the cabin each night. She was a delight, and I wish we could have spent a week with just her.
The whole weekend was organized amazingly. They picked us up and dropped us off everyday at the track so we wouldn't have to drive and find a parking place. They brought us cokes and water while we were in our seats watching the race so we didn't have to get up. They even provided scanners and headphones for us.
Saturday, before the race, we were given passes to go down on to the track and back into the pit area. We walked among the race cars and race teams. We also got to go hang out behind the car haulers where the drivers, owners and important people hang out. For those non-NASCAR fans, it would be like getting to go in the dugout with the baseball players before a MLB game. Or it would be like getting to go back in the locker room with the NFL players before the game. (Although it was early enough in the day that there were no drivers there yet. We did see a few crew chiefs, car owners, and the president of NASCAR.)
The races were great, although the guys I pull for didn't do so well. It's fun watching races with 170,000 other race fans. Saturday night we got back to the cabin at 2:00 a.m. and then got up at 4:30 a.m. to drive back to Knoxville to catch our plane. We did cut it a little close. While we were finishing going through security, they were paging the the four of us over the intercom for "Last call for Morgan's and Husband's, you have 30 seconds." Just like the commercials, we ran through the airport to our gate.
I do need to say thanks to a lot of people for such an amazing trip. A HUGE thanks to Rickey & Angie for the awesome time. We had so much fun with you guys. We laughed, visited, talked bible, shopped, prayed, "listened to Rickey" and even sweated with you guys in the Bristol heat. You guys are what made this trip so much fun and I wouldn't have wanted to do it without you. I hope we can make some future trips together too. Thank you!
I also want to say thanks to Mary Jane, the sweetest lady I know in Tennessee. You are so sweet and loving. Thanks for sharing so much with us. I wish we could have more time to spend with you. Someday we're all going to come back just to "hang out" with you and eat some more of your banana nut bread.
Also Melody, Lea's sister, was sure good to us. She let us leave the four boys with her while we were gone. I hope they didn't eat her out of house and home.
The 4 of Us: Trey & Lea, Angie & Rickey
Outside Bristol Motor Speeday
Lea & Jack Roush (Owner of 5 Race Teams)
Super Gordon (who wasn't so super).
Outside the track after the race! Labels: General, Morgan Family
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
HURRICANES, NEWS AND APOLOGIES
My friend Theresa and her husband Dennis are working at a children's home in Cozumel, Mexico. Hurricane Dean when right through there 3 day's ago. I emailed her last week and asked her if the hurricane was going to hit where she was and her response was:
"Yeah, looks that way right now...it is shifting some to the south but looks like it could be a direct hit. We are getting ready none the less. We have boarded up windows, moved a lot of furniture, and are getting the shelter ready at the church. We will be going to the church building tomorrow which is a hurricane refuge for the city and hang out there with a couple hundred people till it is over. Please be praying for us! WE will get back in touch when it is over and let everyone know how we are doing. I will be getting back into it after the storm."
It's been three days and I have yet to hear anything from Theresa. Please keep her and all those in Mexico in your prayers. If you get a chance drop by her blog and let her know you're praying for her.
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Lea and I are headed to Bristol, Tennessee this weekend for the NASCAR rases (insert redneck preacher's joke here) with another couple from Childress. The other couple we're going with attend at the Methodist church. Rickey asked me last week if we were going to try and convert him and his wife Angie while we were on this trip together. I told him we didn't really want him, but we'd sure like to have his wife, Angie. :)
I'm really pumped about getting to spend some time away with Lea ... without our kids. As you know, sometimes when you still have children at home, your wife plays the role of your children's mother more often than she is plays the role of your wife. That's why time away from your kids is extremely important in every marriage. There has to be a relationship outside your children. So, it'll be good to spend some time with my wife this weekend and not my children's mother.
Oh, and make sure you watch for me on television Saturday night, I'll be sitting on the start/finish line with the big sign that reads "Real men love NASCAR." :)
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Sometimes it seems everything on my blog is very serious. Then there are times that everything is spiritual in nature. But for the past week it seems everything has been just the opposite. Every post this last week has seemed like it's a cartoons, family news or not so serious stuff. Sorry about that. I hope that doesn't bother you. I'll get back to the "serious" stuff soon enough.
Since we're talking about not-so-serious stuff lately, let me add that the other day I over heard a group of teenagers that were talking and one of them said, "did you know that I read that we only use 10% of our brains?" To which one of the others replied, "Wow, if we're only using 10% of our brains now, can you imagine what we could do in this world if we just used the other 60%?" That made me laugh out loud.
"Yeah, looks that way right now...it is shifting some to the south but looks like it could be a direct hit. We are getting ready none the less. We have boarded up windows, moved a lot of furniture, and are getting the shelter ready at the church. We will be going to the church building tomorrow which is a hurricane refuge for the city and hang out there with a couple hundred people till it is over. Please be praying for us! WE will get back in touch when it is over and let everyone know how we are doing. I will be getting back into it after the storm."
It's been three days and I have yet to hear anything from Theresa. Please keep her and all those in Mexico in your prayers. If you get a chance drop by her blog and let her know you're praying for her.
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Lea and I are headed to Bristol, Tennessee this weekend for the NASCAR rases (insert redneck preacher's joke here) with another couple from Childress. The other couple we're going with attend at the Methodist church. Rickey asked me last week if we were going to try and convert him and his wife Angie while we were on this trip together. I told him we didn't really want him, but we'd sure like to have his wife, Angie. :)
I'm really pumped about getting to spend some time away with Lea ... without our kids. As you know, sometimes when you still have children at home, your wife plays the role of your children's mother more often than she is plays the role of your wife. That's why time away from your kids is extremely important in every marriage. There has to be a relationship outside your children. So, it'll be good to spend some time with my wife this weekend and not my children's mother.
Oh, and make sure you watch for me on television Saturday night, I'll be sitting on the start/finish line with the big sign that reads "Real men love NASCAR." :)
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Sometimes it seems everything on my blog is very serious. Then there are times that everything is spiritual in nature. But for the past week it seems everything has been just the opposite. Every post this last week has seemed like it's a cartoons, family news or not so serious stuff. Sorry about that. I hope that doesn't bother you. I'll get back to the "serious" stuff soon enough.
Since we're talking about not-so-serious stuff lately, let me add that the other day I over heard a group of teenagers that were talking and one of them said, "did you know that I read that we only use 10% of our brains?" To which one of the others replied, "Wow, if we're only using 10% of our brains now, can you imagine what we could do in this world if we just used the other 60%?" That made me laugh out loud.
Labels: Blogging, Morgan Family
FOOTBALL IN HEAVEN?
"Honey, somehow, I thought it would be different up here."Labels: Cartoon
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
SECURITY BLANKETS
Linus, from the Peanuts cartoon, had his blue blanket that he couldn't ever give up. For some kids it is a pacifier they can't give up. For Cooper, our five year old, it's his "scratchy-cup."For the past year or so Lea and I have been trying to get Cooper to give up a sippy cup that he calls his "scratchy-cup." We've tried to simply talk him in to giving it up, and when that didn't work, we also tried bribing him (money always works for the other boys). No offer was good enough for Cooper and he continually refused to give up his scratchy-cup.
Cooper starts kindergarten next week and we know he can't take his cup with him to school. So it finally happened, dad officially "misplaced" the scratchy-cup. It's been a couple of weeks now and he's doing better, but he still misses his lost scratchy-cup. There have only been a couple of times that he's asked us to help him look for his scratchy-cup at bedtime.
Did you or your kids have a security blanket of some kind when they were little? When did they give it up?
Labels: Family
Monday, August 20, 2007
EMPTY CLICHES and CHRISTIANITY
I love a good cliché. Many of them make me laugh. Here are a few of my favorite clichés:
- "He's as cool as the other side of the pillow."
- "I'm feeling as lucky as a man in a women's prison with a fist full of pardons."
- "I don't like the cut of his jib" (not sure what it means, but it sounds really cool).
- "She is busier than a one-armed paper hanger."
- Close only counts in ... (hand grenades and horseshoes).
- You can't live with them and you can't live .... (without them).
- If you've heard one cliché, you've .... (heard them all).
- If you can't stand the heat, get out of... (the kitchen).
- When the going gets tough, the tough (go NASCAR racing) ... okay, maybe not.
Parents are the masters of clichés. You have a baby, and "boom," you become fluent with clichés.
- "When I was your age..."
- "Don't make me stop this car."
- "Stop that crying or I'll really give you something to cry about."
- "If I've told you once, I've told you a million times don't exaggerate."
- "Dirty room, dirty mind." (hmm, I've heard John Dobb's office is a huge mess)
The thing about clichés is they become empty and meaningless, because we think, "Yea, I've heard that before." My concern is that sometimes as Christians we hear biblical phrases and words over and over until they become meaningless and empty. We say, "Yea, I've heard that before," and we don't give the words much thought. Words like...
- Grace, Faith, Mercy
Or Christian phrases like ...
- "For God so loved the world..."
- "If you have been set free, you are free indeed..."
- "For you have been saved by faith through grace..."
Don't let your Christianity become some kind of cliché ritual where you think you know all the words, phrases and answers even before they're said. Instead, think, desire to learn and want to grow.
So, do you have any favorite clichés?
Labels: Christian Living, General
Saturday, August 18, 2007
I GOT SPAMMED and OTHER NEWS
- I got spammed yesterday. Fifty-seven times someone posted on the comment sections of my blog a link for "cheap Canadian Viagra." It took me a couple of hours to delete all of them. I had to turn on the "word verification" for comments. I don't know about you, but I hate doing word verification just to leave a comment. I'll leave the word verification turned on for a while and then turn it back off and see if they are gone.
- We took a quick three day vacation this week. We went to Dallas where we lounged by a pool, relaxed and then caught a Texas Ranger's baseball game. The lowly Rangers were playing the even worse Kansas City Royals. My friend Dane got us some great tickets twenty-three rows up and right behind home plate. In the eighth inning we had an usher that I'd been visiting with, ask if we'd like to go sit on the front row. I told him we'd love to. He moved us down to the the very first row right behind home plate. That was awesome. We also caught a ball during warm ups before the game and then later had two players and the manager sign it. Although the Royals won the game we still had a blast. I don't think I mentioned that it was dollar hot dog night. The four of us polished off 18 hot dogs during the game.
- Parker, who will turn 16 in about a month, bought his first vehicle this week. It's a 1996 Chevy Z-71 pickup. We had been looking for a while and he was wanting a pickup. The body is dinged up in places, but mechanically it's a good pickup. Besides we can use it for hunting, cutting wood, and working and leave my pickup in the garage.
- The Childress church has a new web page http://www.childresschurchofchrist.com/. It's nothing fancy, just a way for people to find us and information about the church. Swing by, take a look and tell me what you think. All it cost me was $10 for the domain name. I did the rest of it for free with Wordpress.
- I'm in the middle of a sermon series on Sunday's called, "Our Modern Moral Dilemmas." It focuses on how the values and morals of our nation and families have changed in the past 50 years. The second lesson in the series "Television, Satan's Favorite Tool," is posted on the sermon link if you want to listen.
Have a great weekend, and if you're in need of some cheap Canadian Viagra, just let me know ... I think I still have the link :)
Parker & his new pickup!
Labels: Baseball, Blogging, Morgan Family, Sermon Link
Friday, August 17, 2007
A BLOGGING MINISTRY
In the beginning I started blogging as a way to voice my thoughts and opinions, but more and more I'm seeing it as ministry that has really blessed me. My stat-tracker at the bottom of this page tells me that I can expect between four and five hundred visitors on this site everyday. Weekends are a little less but some weekdays I may have over 500 hits. That's a lot of people that stop by every day for one reason or another. I got to thinking that there are probably 3 different kinds of visitors to this site (and every other blog for that matter).
- SEARCHERS: Those that come to this site for the first time from search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN. They are brought here because of a search they've done. My prayer for them is that when they make a stop by here for the first time they'll find something that catches their attention. They'll read something about God, His church, faith, love, marriage or family and they'll want to know more.
- LURKERS: I love lurkers. They are the majority around here. A lurker is someone who is a regular reader but never makes a comment. They're more comfortable being anonymous, hiding behind the scenes and not making their presence known. They don't leave comments and that's absolutely fine. I'm blessed by lurkers and welcome them all. I do find it interesting that this month I've had two regular readers, who are lurkers, come out of hiding and email me to say hello.
- COMMENT MAKERS: You guys know who you are. You are the ones that read and choose to leave a comment. Let me say from the bottom of my heart, I love your comments. I read everyone and sometimes read them twice. Although I don't always respond to every comment, I never take anything you say lightly. You encourage me, challenge me and strengthen me by your comments. You make me smile when you say something funny and sometimes I even laugh out loud. While I've enjoyed getting to know many of you through the blogging community, I know that many of us will not meet face to face till someday when we enjoy heaven together. And that will be alright, because we'll have plenty of time to get to know one another then.
You know ... I'm really looking forward to heaven ...
Thursday, August 16, 2007
STEPPING ON TOES
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
FEEDING FRENZY
(Pictured: Parker - 15, Cooper - 5, Connor - 11, Taylor - 17)
I love my boys. I have four boys. They are 17, 15, 11 and 5 (Yea, really... pray for me. Better yet pray for their mother).
I always thought I would have liked to have a little girl and was considering a 5th child, but I read in a magazine somewhere that every 5th child born in this world is Chinese. Knowing I can't speak Chinese, I decided it would probably be best NOT to have a 5th child :)
Lately, nothing is more amazing to me than feeding these 4 boys. We've turned into buffet people. The last time we finished a meal at a "sit down and order off the menu" place, 3 of the 4 boys said, "We're still hungry, is there anything else to eat?" I had just dropped $50 on a meal that didn't fill up half the family . Since that day, when we do eat out, we hit the buffets and no one leaves hungry. Places like Furrs, Golden Corral, Ci Ci's Pizza and other buffets have become regular stops when we eat out.
But at home it's a different story. These guys can go through a gallon of milk, 3 boxes of cereal and a 2 gallon bucket of ice cream in a day. You'd think they have hollow legs. A few weeks ago, I was walking through the kitchen, and one of them is unwrapping a stick of butter. I asked him, "What are you doing with the butter?" To which he quickly replied, "You guys haven't been to the store, and there is nothing else to eat in this house." Thank goodness for the local Wal-Mart to keep us stocked up on food for these poor starving boys.
Just recently as Lea was returning from the grocery store with $200 worth of groceries, the phone rang, and it was a salesman looking for a donation for some good cause. Unfortunately for him, I had just looked at how much we'd spent on groceries when the man asked, "Can you make a donation today?" I quickly told him, "Look, I'd love to help right now but I can't. I'm currently supporting a starving family who can't seem to feed their kids." Then I hung up the phone.
Was your family ever like this? Could you or your kids ever put away large amounts of food? Oh, and any idea which of those 4 boys of mine actually eats the most?
Labels: Family, Morgan Family
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
SATAN IS CLOSE, REAL CLOSE
While hiking and fishing in Alaska three years ago with my brother Bruce, the evidence that we were in bear country was everywhere. Signs of partially eaten fish, tracks in the dirt and claw marks on trees were pretty much anywhere you looked. Although I never actually saw a bear on the trip, I have no doubt one saw me through the thick Alaskan woods. One afternoon while walking back across an area we had just been, I looked down to see one of my old footprints I had just left, but this time it was mostly covered with a massive sized paw print from a bear. He was out there watching us somewhere. We couldn't see him, but the evidence told us he was there and probably watching us. I remember chills running up the back of my spine as my brother and I picked up the pace. We moved pretty fast through those thick woods and made it back to the car fine, but I was certainly nervous about the whole experience. Bruce and I got to talking later how Satan is like the above bear story. You never actually get a glimpse of him, but if you are paying attention, you'll see his evidence all around you. You'll notice signs that tell you he's close and probably watching you. Here are a few places I've seen Satan just recently ...
- I saw glimpses of him yesterday when I was waiting in line at the bank and became impatient with the person in front of me.
- I was reminded just how close he was this past Sunday when I was looking over my sermon notes for that morning and he was planting thoughts in my head, "Look at all the sin in your life. You have no right to be a preacher and stand in front of all these people with this sermon. You're guilty of everything you're preaching about. Why are you even a minister!"
- He was there as I was flipping through channels last night, and he placed perfectly on one channel a beautiful woman with very little clothes on. Then he whispered, "No one's in the room with you, stop and look, it won't hurt a thing and no one will know."
You know if you just pay attention to the evidence around you, you'll see that he's close by. He's probably watching you right this very minute, looking for ways in which to make you stumble in your walk with Jesus. You must, watch for him (1 Peter 5:8), resist him (James 4:7) and trust in the Lord's strength not your own (Proverbs 3:5). Don't ignore the signs. Don't under estimate his strength. Whatever you do, DON'T pretend he's not there, that's when he's most dangerous. And the times when you see that he's really close, it's okay to pick up the pace and run out of whatever situation you're in (Genesis 39:12).
Where have you seen him lately?
Labels: Christian Living, Satan
Monday, August 13, 2007
WE'RE GOING TO BRISTOL, BABY
Yee Haw! A few months ago my wife made a comment in passing on my blog about how much she wishes I'd get her tickets to the Saturday night race a Bristol, Tennessee. Yea, right Lea. Like that would ever happen. We'll honey, we're going to Bristol in two weeks for the "Sharpie 500."A friend of mine, who is far better to me then I deserve, read Lea's comment and started working to find tickets. He called me last week and said, "I got you two tickets to Friday night's race and two ticket to Saturday night's race, plus room and board are covered for your trip. You just need to take care of your plane tickets." I think we can handle that.
Bristol tickets are the hardest to get in NASCAR. From what I understand, they sellout years in advance. Now you know why I'm pumped.
Lea and I love sports. Major League Baseball, NFL football and NASCAR have always been sports we like to watch. But Lea's real love is NASCAR. We've made races at Texas Motor Speedway in Dallas the last 6 years. We even celebrated an anniversary by flying to Richmond, Virgina, a few years ago, and catching a race there. But Bristol has just been a dream ... till now.
So, the kids are lined up, the plane tickets purchased and we're less than two weeks from the green flag dropping. Bristol Motor Speedway here we come.
PS - It worked for Bristol tickets so I thought I might also mention here that I'd love to go to the Super Bowl, the World Series, Hawaii, the beach and those new Chevy pickups are really cool. ;) Just kidding.
So, have you ever been given a gift that just "overwhelmed" you?
Labels: Blogging, Morgan Family
Saturday, August 11, 2007
HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT MONDAY
I am PUMPED. I cannot believe what I'm going to get to do. It's still almost "unbelievable" in my mind. It all got started when I wrote a silly post called, "10 Things I Wish my Wife Would Whisper in my Ear," and then I asked my wife to have a follow up called, "10 Things I Wish Trey Would Whisper in my Ear." It was an outrageous wish that looks like may actually happen. I cannot believe it. It's like a dream come true. I'll let you know the full details Monday. I am so excited!
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I recently found these "jaw-dropping" statistics. Did you know ...
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I recently found these "jaw-dropping" statistics. Did you know ...
- A major crime is committed every 6 seconds.
- A rape occurs every 6 minutes.
- A murder takes place every 23 minutes.
- This year 1,095,000 babies have been aborted.
- Texas now has it’s first 21 year old grandmother, because children are having children.
- Over 50% of graduating seniors who marry this next year will be divorced by the time their 21.
- The US has the highest incarceration rate in the world.
- In the 1950’s teachers reported that their biggest concerns were: talking in class and not paying attention. In 2006 teachers reported that their biggest concerns were drugs, weapons, metal detectors and violence in class.
- Two-thirds of American children don’t live with their two parents.
- Even our highest government office in the white house hasn't been exempt from a sexual scandal.
- This list could go on and on and on and on....
Have you noticed how the values and morals of our country (and world) have changed over the last few years? In 1931 when the movie "Gone with the Wind" came out many were outraged and wouldn't allow their children to see it because it used a vulgar word in the last line of the movie, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn." Wow, that seems so minor compared to the word they use today on simply prime-time television.
I kicked off a new series this past Sunday called, "Our Modern Moral Dilemmas." Last Sunday's lesson was "The Decaying of our Value System," if you want to swing by and listen.
Thanks for reading... ~ Trey
Labels: Family, Sermon Link
Friday, August 10, 2007
"DO YOU WANT ME TO SPANK YOU?"
When Connor was little, he was SO strong-willed. Actually that hasn't changed a lot. As a three year-old, we tried everything on our strong-willed child, including Dobson's book, "The Strong Willed Child." The book only worked when I spanked him with it :) Lea and I would often tell him to do something, and he'd just ignore us and continue on with what he was doing. Once when I told him it was time to get ready for bed, he just sat there continuing what he was doing. So I leaned over again and said, "Connor, it's time for bed." No response. Finally, I said, "Connor, do you want me to spank you?" He immediately jumped to his feet and scurried off the bed. Lea and I were amazed. Something had worked. I immediately wrote down the phrase, "Do you want me to spank you?" thinking I had just come across the perfect phrase for raising children. I could even see a best selling book in the works called, "Do you want me to spank you?" I began to use that new powerful phrase anytime Connor wouldn't cooperate. It was by far was the best thing I had come up with. I was in parent heaven.
Sundays had always been a challenge. Getting Connor to sit through an hour worship service was a HUGE challenge. The preaching was my favorite part of the worship, not because I liked doing it, but because I got a break from wrestling Connor. Usually I'd have one less layer of skin by the time I began to preach, just from being wrestled by Connor. One particular Sunday, we had a visiting preacher. Lea had told me in advance, "Since you're not preaching, it's your turn to wrestle Connor." I thought I was up for the task. The preaching started, and in only a few minutes I was already wishing we would not have invited this man to speak. And then he did the unthinkable, the preacher went into overtime. And then he went into double overtime. Forty-five minutes into the sermon, I was ready to choke Connor and the preacher too. I'd had all I could stand and so had Connor. I had no doubt that Connor felt the same. He was mad, tired and wanted to leave. I'd already answered the question, "How much longer?" seventy-two times. When I finally reached my boiling point and couldn't take anymore, I remembered, "The phrase, use the phrase." So I leaned over to Connor, looked him in the eyes and with the meanest face I could make I said, "Connor, do you want me to take you outside and spank you?" I was a little confused when a look of relief and not fear came over his face and he said, "Oh yes, Daddy, please take me outside and spank me!" I couldn't help but start laughing. He wanted to know what was so funny. We went outside and spent the rest of church time throwing rocks out in the street from the steps of the building.
I realized that day two things: Connor was willing to take a spanking to get out of church but also, "Do you want a spanking?" was really a stupid thing to ask a kid.
Labels: Children, Family, Morgan Family
Thursday, August 09, 2007
CHURCH ON THE DECLINE
It's no secret that for the last few decades most mainline churches have seen a sharp decline in attendance. Too many times in the past, the things that held churches together and kept them strong were not things Jesus would applaud: impressive buildings, doctrinal formula, worship tradition and membership loyalty.
What people are longing for is community, relationship and discipleship (Acts 2:42-47). Instead of giving them this, we're offering discipleship as committee meetings and programs. I see people who have grown tired of church conflicts over institutional issues (order of worship), personalities, and trivial items they have to deal with in other areas of life.
Will we continue to simply be satisfied with riding out the storm thinking things will get better in time, while all around us more and more churches close their doors? Or will we heed the warning signs and look for the answer that has been there all along? So, what's the answer? It's the realization that the church is not the draw ... Jesus is the draw.
---------------
For more, I've written on the subject of "real church" click here.
For more on the subject of churches declining, Dwight Whittset has recently written an excellent post called "From Decline to Growth."
What people are longing for is community, relationship and discipleship (Acts 2:42-47). Instead of giving them this, we're offering discipleship as committee meetings and programs. I see people who have grown tired of church conflicts over institutional issues (order of worship), personalities, and trivial items they have to deal with in other areas of life.
Will we continue to simply be satisfied with riding out the storm thinking things will get better in time, while all around us more and more churches close their doors? Or will we heed the warning signs and look for the answer that has been there all along? So, what's the answer? It's the realization that the church is not the draw ... Jesus is the draw.
---------------
For more, I've written on the subject of "real church" click here.
For more on the subject of churches declining, Dwight Whittset has recently written an excellent post called "From Decline to Growth."
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
GOD HATES DIVORCE BUT ...
Anytime I preach, teach or write (like yesterday) about marriage, it always hurts my heart to think of those who have gone through a divorce sitting there listening to the sermon or reading a post about marriage. I sometimes wish I would pick a different topic than marriage just because I don't want divorced people to think I'm rubbing their noses in it.
Not to long ago I told my friend Stachia, who goes to church with me, how I feel about this. Stachia is one of the godliest women I know. She has more faith in her little finger than I do in my entire body. Stachia is a single mother of four who did everything she could to save a marriage years ago. I had just finished preaching a month long series on the family, marriage and how divorce hurts everyone involved. After the sermon I made a special effort to find Stachia and apologize for preaching on such sensitive subjects. I told her, "Please don't think I'm picking these topics to make you feel bad. These sermons are not meant for you." I'll never forget what she told me, "Don't feel bad at all, my kids and I need to hear these lessons too." She has always amazed me, and I've prayed often that others would feel the way she does.
Malachi 2:16 says, "God hates divorce..." He hates the pain it causes families. He hates what it does to children. He hates the emotional and spiritual scars it leaves. BUT UNDERSTAND THIS ... it never says, anywhere, that God hates divorced people. Never. God doesn't hate divorced people. In fact, He loves them with all His heart, just as much as He loves those that haven't gone through a divorce. Every person matters to God. Black, white, rich, poor ... and yes, divorced. You matter to God.
So please understand that I will on continue to preach, teach and write about marriage. And you continue to understand ... God love you very much, no matter what anyone else tells you.
Not to long ago I told my friend Stachia, who goes to church with me, how I feel about this. Stachia is one of the godliest women I know. She has more faith in her little finger than I do in my entire body. Stachia is a single mother of four who did everything she could to save a marriage years ago. I had just finished preaching a month long series on the family, marriage and how divorce hurts everyone involved. After the sermon I made a special effort to find Stachia and apologize for preaching on such sensitive subjects. I told her, "Please don't think I'm picking these topics to make you feel bad. These sermons are not meant for you." I'll never forget what she told me, "Don't feel bad at all, my kids and I need to hear these lessons too." She has always amazed me, and I've prayed often that others would feel the way she does.
Malachi 2:16 says, "God hates divorce..." He hates the pain it causes families. He hates what it does to children. He hates the emotional and spiritual scars it leaves. BUT UNDERSTAND THIS ... it never says, anywhere, that God hates divorced people. Never. God doesn't hate divorced people. In fact, He loves them with all His heart, just as much as He loves those that haven't gone through a divorce. Every person matters to God. Black, white, rich, poor ... and yes, divorced. You matter to God.
So please understand that I will on continue to preach, teach and write about marriage. And you continue to understand ... God love you very much, no matter what anyone else tells you.
Labels: Marriage
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
10 MYTHS ABOUT MARRIAGE
Growing up I remember shows like The Walton's, Father Knows Best, Leave it to Beaver, Happy Days, Bewitched, I Love Lucy and others. Most of these shows showed us a traditional family of mom, dad, and kids. They didn't seem to have any real problems because there are no story lines about prior marriages, step-children, lack of sex, chores, physical abuse, infidelity, drinking problems, drugs, dropping out of school and threats or even thoughts of divorce.
We got the idea from shows like this that marriages were perfect, every one's needs were always met, children raised themselves and never caused problems. And no matter what, you always lived happily-ever-after. Wow, how untrue.
I require in every wedding I do that I have premarital counseling with the couple. I also do some marriage counseling for couples who have been married and are having problems. In counseling there are always some things I pick up on that are myths or untruths about marriage that we have created in our minds over time. Here are a few I've noticed...
We got the idea from shows like this that marriages were perfect, every one's needs were always met, children raised themselves and never caused problems. And no matter what, you always lived happily-ever-after. Wow, how untrue.
I require in every wedding I do that I have premarital counseling with the couple. I also do some marriage counseling for couples who have been married and are having problems. In counseling there are always some things I pick up on that are myths or untruths about marriage that we have created in our minds over time. Here are a few I've noticed...
- GOD WANTS ME TO BE HAPPY: I've heard this phrase more than any other. Most of the time it's from the person that's wanting out of a marriage and they are looking for a reason. "But I believe God wants me to be happy in marriage and I'm not," has been muttered a million times. Understand this, happiness comes and goes in marriage. You will not always be happy all of the time. It'll take work from both sides to be happy.
- THE KEY TO A LONG MARRIAGE IS ROMANTIC LOVE AND SOME LUCK: I can't help but smile when young couples who are wanting to get married tell me, "Trey, we'll be alright. When things get bad, we'll live off the love we have for each other." It's at this time I'm usually looking for a trash can so I can throw up. Believe it or not, marriages that last are built on good old-fashion work; no one ever "lives on love." Good marriages and even great marriages don't just happen, they take work. What kind of work? Read a book, attend a weekend marriage seminar, go through a His Needs Her Needs class, take a weekend to get away without the kids, be willing to make changes in your own life or simply start by asking your spouse "How are we doing?"
- HAVING KIDS WILL BRING YOU CLOSER TOGETHER AS A HUSBAND AND WIFE: Actually most studies show the opposite. The stress of having children often pushes the struggling marriage of a husband and wife farther apart. If you have children make sure you maintain your relationship with your spouse. Continue to date, spend time together and go for walks to keep your relationship strong with your spouse. If you focus 100% of your time and energy on your children you relationship with suffer from it.
- COUPLES WHO LIVE TOGETHER BEFORE MARRIAGE HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF HAVING A LONG LASTING MARRIAGE: Actually that's false. The divorce rate is quite a bit higher for couples who have lived together before marriage than it is for those who didn't.
- ALL MY NEEDS WILL BE MET ALL THE TIME IN MARRIAGE: That's a big whopping lie. Hopefully your spouse will do everything they can to meet your needs, but thinking every need will be met at just the perfect time is unrealistic. There will be times in your marriage that "romance" will be lacking. Your spouse won't always be there at your every beckon call for sexual fulfillment. Plain and simple, your goal is not to get your own needs met in marriage, but to meet your spouse's needs and in turn they meet yours.
- MY SPOUSE WILL KNOW MY NEEDS WITHOUT ME SAYING ANYTHING: No way. Just because you are married doesn't mean your spouse can read your mind. You have to tell your spouse what your needs are in order to have them met. Quit giving your spouse the stupid old phrase of, "We'll you should know my needs without me having to tell you."
- CONFLICT WILL NEVER HAPPEN IN MARRIAGE: Conflict happens in every marriage. In fact, conflict can often bring growth in your marriage. I'm not saying that the couple who is constantly having a knock-down-drag-out will have a healthy marriage, but that working through conflict can bring marital growth.
- A HAPPY MARRIAGE WILL NOT HAVE PROBLEMS: Every marriage will have its problems. Couples who truly love each other have problems and stress just as any other two people. In order to make it through the difficult times, the couple must have a commitment to each other and effective and honest communication. Seek help when you come to an impasse.
- MARRIED PEOPLE HAVE LESS SEX AND LESS SATISFYING SEX THAN SINGLE PEOPLE: I don't know how many times I've heard this, but it's just not true (read this). According to a national survey, married people have more sex than their single counterparts and report more physical and emotional satisfaction. Maybe it's because it the way God created it to be!!!
- MY SPOUSE WILL CHANGE AFTER WE'RE MARRIED & THINGS WILL BE BETTER AFTER WE'RE MARRIED: People and things do change. However, the most accurate prediction of the kind of companion your spouse will be in the future is the kind of companion he or she is right now. Those who marry a person with the intention of overhauling their personality or of converting them usually face serious disappointments.
In the long run, marriage is built on good old-fashion work. Your marriage needs love, support, tolerance, communication, realistic expectations, caring, nurturing, and even a sense of humor to be successful.
Did I leave any "myths" off that you can think of?
Labels: His Needs Her Needs, Marriage, Top Ten List
Monday, August 06, 2007
WHAT KIND OF SINGING DOES GOD WANT?
"You sure missed a bunch of notes on that song?" said a gruff sounding woman at church the other day. I turned to see who she was talking to and discovered an embarrassed teenage boy. I immediately prayed for two things, first that God would shut her big mouth, and second that the young man wouldn't take what she was saying as criticism and stop singing. I have no doubt that the Lord loves hearing this young man sing (missed notes and all).
When will we learn that God is more concerned with singing that comes from the right heart than singing that hits all the right notes.
Even the singer James Brown was criticized for not hitting all the right notes, but no on ever questioned his heart. He sang with his heart. I don't imagine anyone ever left a sold out James Brown concert saying, "I just don't think he meant it." He sang from the heart.
If the heart isn't involved in the singing, it's nothing more that just some words, even if you hit all the right notes. But when you use your heart, it's really SINGING and praise to God. That's what God really wants.
Sometime it's easy to forget that it's not about how I sound on the outside, but how I sound on the inside. My dad understands this better than most because he knows how to really sing. He'll be the first to tell you that he can't carry a tune in a bucket. I beg to differ with my dad on this, I've painfully sat next to him in church many times when he's singing. Not only can he not carry a tune in a bucket, he can't even find the bucket to carry a tune in! But understand this ... that doesn't stop him from singing. And sing he does. To God he sings beautifully, and God is glorified not by how it sounds coming out of his mouth, but what's coming from his heart.
We must engage the heart ...
When will we learn that God is more concerned with singing that comes from the right heart than singing that hits all the right notes.
Even the singer James Brown was criticized for not hitting all the right notes, but no on ever questioned his heart. He sang with his heart. I don't imagine anyone ever left a sold out James Brown concert saying, "I just don't think he meant it." He sang from the heart.
If the heart isn't involved in the singing, it's nothing more that just some words, even if you hit all the right notes. But when you use your heart, it's really SINGING and praise to God. That's what God really wants.
Sometime it's easy to forget that it's not about how I sound on the outside, but how I sound on the inside. My dad understands this better than most because he knows how to really sing. He'll be the first to tell you that he can't carry a tune in a bucket. I beg to differ with my dad on this, I've painfully sat next to him in church many times when he's singing. Not only can he not carry a tune in a bucket, he can't even find the bucket to carry a tune in! But understand this ... that doesn't stop him from singing. And sing he does. To God he sings beautifully, and God is glorified not by how it sounds coming out of his mouth, but what's coming from his heart.
We must engage the heart ...
- It's the heart that matters in my worship.
- It's the heart that matters in my relationship with God.
- It's the heart that matters in my marriage.
- It's the heart that matters in everything I do.
Besides, those of us who can carry a tune may be really surprised someday when we get to heaven and God tells us that people like my dad and this teenage boy have been the ones doing the singing right all along.
"...sing and make music in your heart to the Lord..." ~ Ephesians 5:19
Saturday, August 04, 2007
THE PORN MYTH
"In the end, porn doesn’t whet men’s appetites—it turns them off the real thing."
"People are not closer because of porn but further apart."
"For most of human history, erotic images have been reflections of, or celebrations of, or substitutes for, real naked women. For the first time in human history, the images’ power and allure have supplanted that of real naked women. Today, real naked women are just bad porn."
The above quotes are from a secular article called "The Porn Myth" that ran in N.Y. Magazine this week. I find it sad that our secular society is just now figuring out what the Christian community has been preaching for years ... the dangers of pornography and the negative effects it has on both men, women, married and unmarried.
I found the story at the end of the article jaw dropping and amazing all at the same time. Feel free to read the article, but understand it probably needs a PG-13 rating. Also for more on pornography, pornography statics, pornography addiction and the evil grip it has on people ... you can read this: "Free Porn or Porn Free."
Labels: Porn
Friday, August 03, 2007
FINDING THE RIGHT CHURCH - Part 3 of 3
When searching for a new church we've looked at "Churches to Avoid" and we looked at "Churches to Consider," but there are a few things we still need to do ...
- PRAY ABOUT IT: Ask for the Lord's wisdom, guidance and blessing as you search. Be specific, ask where you can be used best, and ask where you can grow the most.
- MAKE A CHECK LIST: Before visiting, make a check list of the most important characteristics about the church you hope to find. Then rate the church according to your check list when you leave. Keeping notes will help you compare and decide later. If you are visiting many churches, as time passes you may have trouble keeping them straight. This will help you keep a record for future reference.
- VISIT A CHURCH MORE THAN ONCE: It will give you a chance to dig deep. All churches will come across as friendly, and all churches will have some hypocrites. While first impressions are important, don't forget to look below the surface.
- ASK SOME QUESTIONS: Is the church a place where I can connect with God and worship Him freely? Did I learn about the Bible? Was it a place where fellowship and community are encouraged? Are people's lives being changed? Is there a place for me to serve in the church, be accountable and have opportunities to pray with others? Does the church reach out through missions and local outreach? Are the leaders willing to lead?
- GET INVOLVED: Now once you’ve found such a church, stick with it. Don’t be a church hopper. Commitment is priceless! Commit to Christ and His bride, the Church! Be a tither. Be strength to the body. Be a faithful disciple, not a person who sits on the sideline and just watches. YOU GET IN THERE AND GET BUSY. It's not all about what a church can do for you, but it's also about what you can do for a church.
Labels: Church
Thursday, August 02, 2007
A FEW THINGS I THINK TODAY
I think tomorrow is a good time to finish up part 3 of the "How to Find the Right Church Series." - I think I had a great time with John Dobbs yesterday in a phone conversation that he recorded for his podcast. He asked me questions about how Lea and I met, some things about the Childress church, about my past battles with cancer and about some other things too. John also asked me what the most popular post has been on my blog. You might be surprised at the answer. We did our best to talk about fellow bloggers like Dee Andrews, Danny Dodd's podcast last week and our worries about Bobby Cohoon who is MIA. We also brought up bloggers Brian Nicklaus, Eben Emerson, Danny Sims, and others too. No one was out of bounds ... it was a no-holds-barred interview :) If you want to swing by and give it a listen you can find a link to it on John Dobb's blog or go straight to his podcast and find it here: Part 1 and Part 2.
- I think Evan Almighty was an AWESOME movie. Why can't they make more movies like this where there is no cussing, no sexual innuendos and they don't make God out to be a bad guy? It had so many funny parts. It's a GREAT family movie and I highly recommend it.
- I think I'm glad my sister if finally back blogging a regular basis. She's been on a break, but now she's promised she's back.
- QUICK ADDITION: Got last weeks sermon up today for those who'd like to listen. Just click here: "Jesus, Calm my Storm."
Labels: General, Morgan Family<