Hi Trey!
I loved your post on dressing up for church. I have the perfect story but it is so long I did not want to post it in the comments. So I hope you will enjoy my story about Monroe.
Monroe was a part of our church family for about 5 years. I never saw Monroe in anything but overalls and a T-shirt. Most of us cannot imagine living the way Monroe lived. He had a house, if you want to call it that. A strong wind would have blown it over. There was not a way to keep the wind from blowing through it in the winter and the floor was rotting out all through the house. Needless to say Monroe did not always look acceptable to many of the "good" church going folks. He didn't sound acceptable either. He had a Cajun accent and a very pronounced speech impediment. It took me a year before I really felt I could understand what he was saying to me.
Monroe and his brother, Willie, had been turned away from many churches. They were usually willing to give them food or help pay a bill but most congregations did not want to fellowship with them. Many had openly made fun of them and some had asked them not to worship with them.
Our church family came in contact with Monroe through one of our members who happened to be Monroe's physician assistant. She saw a need, but more than that she saw Monroe's heart. She convinced Monroe to come to church with her. He was very unsure because he had been rejected so many times before. She finally convinced him to join her. Monroe soon became a huge part of our church family. We took him in because we thought we were helping him. Boy, were we wrong. God showed us what it meant to have a pure heart. Monroe simply loved Jesus. Because he loved Jesus, he loved all of us. He was baptized in our church at the age of 70. You have never heard so much clapping. There was not one person in our church family that was not touched by Monroe. He was so transparent. He was very honest about his past. (I heard stories I intentionally chose not to understand all of because they were pretty shocking). He was never shy about talking about his past and he was always ready to praise God for his salvation. He was just real. He had nothing to give from a financial standpoint. But he gave everything he had in the form of love.
Sadly, early this year Monroe's brother Willie passed away. Monroe was not in the best of health himself and a couple of months later he also died. We have had a huge hole in our church family ever since. I am so thankful to have been given the privilege of knowing Monroe. He made me look outside myself more times than I can count. God blessed me, my family and my church family in ways we cannot measure when He chose to send Monroe to us.
So, if you ask me what you should wear church. I have the perfect answer... a pure heart. I know this because I witnessed it and I know what I am supposed to be striving for. Thanks for always making me think!!
Labels: Church
posted at 
I'm still trying to sort out who I like and who I don't like when it comes to possible Presidential Candidates. I'm beginning to like Mike Huckabee more and more. Here are two reasons ...
VIDEO #1 - Chuck Norris (This made me laugh.)
VIDEO #2 - Evolution (A perfect response to a really stupid question.)
A friend asked me recently what my opinion was about "how to dress for church." I've been giving it a lot of thought on how to answer her, but I haven't really come up with any solid answers. So I thought I might ask for your help and opinion today on this subject.I grew up with three sets of clothes: the play clothes, school clothes and church clothes. And you better not have been playing around in the yard with your church clothes on or you were in big trouble. I was raised believing that when we went to church on Sunday mornings, we wore our Sunday best. My "church clothes" were by far the nicest clothes I owned. I also still vividly remember my hand-me-down, avocado green leisure suit I wore for years as a pre-teen. And I can still recall a time when women only wore dresses and men always wore a suit and a tie to church.
These days things have changed in dress, some for the good and some for the not-so-good. Gone are the days of everyone wearing their Sunday best to church every week, but thankfully so are the days that you had to wear a suit and tie to be allowed to wait on the table during the Lord's Supper. Now it's not uncommon to see people in Hawaiian shirts, Bermuda shorts, baseball caps and flip-flops. My friend Mike says, "The older generation is a lot more formal just because they were raised that way and it was the teaching at the time. You dress your best for God when you go to worship," he said. "Generally, the younger generation is much more casual. The younger generation has gotten more interested in what they look like on the inside, and they consider that more important." Which group is right? Probably both, as long as you don't look down on the other because they choose to either dress up or dress down.
I've always thought it's important to honor God by wearing our nicest clothes on Sunday, but recently I asked a new lady who had been coming to church if she was enjoying coming. She said she was but what made her so uncomfortable was that she didn't have any nice clothes like everyone else. I tried hard to explain to her that it doesn't matter what you wear as long as you're here. But as I explained those things to her the thought kept going through my head, "Does this mean that if we dress up, we might make people who can't buy clothes feel unwelcome?" Nothing would be worse than making someone feel unwelcome because their clothes aren't nice enough. So I think there has to be a balance.
I personally cannot find any scripture that spoke directly to how one should dress for public worship. In fact, the only clear New Testament reference to dress is found in James 2. Though the point of that passage is how the saints treated one who did not have ‘proper’ dress, not what he might wear to church.
A few thoughts on how to dress...
- There should never be a dress code at church that says you must be dressed up to attend, worship or serve. Clothes are not what God is interested in, it's the heart. You should feel free to come as you are.
- At the same time, we must make sure our clothes are respectful and modest. A Budweiser shirt, a dirty wife-beater undershirt, a halter top or see-through clothing would not really be appropriate, unless it's the only thing you own. The problem with this type of clothing is it might cause others to draw their attention to you and not God.
- I guess the best advice I can find is where Paul urges us to "dress up for church" everyday with the best clothes possible: compassion, humility, forgiveness, and love (Colossians 3:12-14).
So what are your thoughts on dressing up or dressing down for church services? I'd love to know.
Labels: Church
I was playing with Microsoft's Movie Maker and didn't realize how simple it was to make a video. So I made this for Lea. There are about 19 years that go by in this two minute video. You can probably tell which pictures are the old ones. I'll warn you upfront, it'll be a little sappy for some. But I'll also admit that I'm one whipped man over my girl!
(If you get Trey Morgan.net through a blog-reader like Bloglines, FeedBlitz or email you'll have to click on this link to see the video.)
Oh, and yes, the Christmas tree is up. You can click here for pictures of decorating the tree. Now if I could just get one of my nice neighbors (Zach) to help me get up the outside lights. ;)
Labels: Christmas, Morgan Family, Video
I saw John while I was preaching. He was packed in church with three hundred other people, and I can't begin to imagine how uncomfortable he must have been. Not because he was crowded that Sunday morning, but because it was his first time in his adult life to ever attend a church service, ever. He'd told me he was coming, and I should have believed him. Deep down I really didn't believe he'd show, but this past Sunday, there sat an old cowboy who'd lived life hard. He was in his best "Sunday" clothes, and even his best clothes were what most folks would call their everyday work clothes.I met John a couple of years ago at a mutual friend's funeral. It was John, who following the funeral told me in his most sincere attempt to pay me a compliment, "Hell of a funeral, preacher."
The last couple of years John has been doing lots of thinking about his life and how he might get it straightened out. Then two months ago John was diagnosed with cancer and knew he had to do something soon. He called me two weeks ago, and we began to visit. Four days later he gave his life to Christ. As I baptized him, he told me with a smile, "You may need to keep me under there a little extra long to make this work."
That old cowboy reminded me of the thief on the cross. The thief had nothing to lose and took a chance on Jesus' ability to save him. So too, 2000 years later, a hard old cowboy took a shot on the same Savior. I think both gambles paid off big.
As John left the building that Thursday afternoon he still looked like a worn out old cowboy who'd lived a hard life. But inside, John was as clean and pure as a new born babe. He had just been washed clean from all his sins. "I'll see you Sunday," he said as he was leaving. I should have believed him.
Labels: General
I don't know if you're a regular listener to my sermon podcasts, but I think this past Sunday's was one of my most challenging lessons..."Real Forgiveness." If you get time swing by and tell me what you think. - Did you see where a 102 year old British woman is going to bear all for the Miss November Nude Charity Calendar. Yea it's true. While it kind of makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about it, I did come up with 3 words that'd probably fit well with her picture: "She Needs Ironing!"
- If you need something to read today, here are three posts on the church you really need to read if you haven't already... here, here and here.
- This is probably one of reasons there are so many unchurched in our country.
- I think the thing I like best about Thanksgiving dinner is the cranberry sauce. When else can you put a big glob of sugary jelly on your plate, eat it with a fork and no one give you flack about it? Another reason to give thanks.
- The Christmas tree goes up today. Yea!!!
Labels: General
Famous child psychiatrist Fritz Redl used to say to groups of parents: "Get out your paper and pencils. I am going to tell you the three most important things you will ever need to know about raising children." The parents would wait breathlessly for his words of wisdom. Then he would say, "Example, example, example."In case you doubt the importance of teaching by example, think about your own childhood. How were you most influenced to become the person you are now? Chances are that the person you have become was influenced mostly by the example set by your parents.
One of my biggest fears as a preacher is preaching the "how to live" on Sundays and not actually living that at home with my family. Making my walk match my talk is so important to me. I try to ask my kids periodically, "Am I doing at home what I'm preaching on Sundays?"
I was reminded recently about my walk matching my talk when my sarcastic son Taylor, who's just like his father, reminded me of something I said in a sermon that I didn't want to hear. I'd been trying all summer to get some new grass seeded in a bald spot in the front yard. My sons and all their neighborhood friends decided our yard was the best place for their Sunday afternoon ballgames (which is why there is the current bald spot). So I stepped out the front door and said, "Guys, if possible watch my new grass over there" (translation: "Stay off my new grass or I'll choke you"). Taylor quickly shot back, "Hey Dad, don't forget you're raising boys around here, not grass." That was an exact quote from a previous sermon I'd done just weeks before. Ouch!
Does your walk match your talk when it comes to your children? Or do you do dumb things that your children clearly see?
- Do we tell our kids to be honest and then tell them when they answer the phone, "If it's for me, tell them I'm not here?"
- Do we tell them to obey the law and then speed down the highway when we're running late?
- Do we lie for them to get them out of trouble? Do we write them notes saying they were sick when they weren't?
- Do we tell our children to control their anger and then go ballistic at one of their ballgames when a referee makes a bad call?
- Do you tell your kids they're not allowed to watch rated R movies and then go see them yourselves?
- Do we praise our children for excelling athletically and academically more than we do spiritually?
I understand that none of us are capable of perfection or anything close to it. We all lose our tempers, say things we're sorry for, are not always as kind as we would like to be, maybe even cheat a little here or there. We are human and so are our children. Perfection can be expected of neither. When we screw up we need to apologize to them and ask for their forgiveness. When we apologize, we're teaching them that when they make a mistake it's not the end of their world, but that they can admit it and grow from it.
It is essential as a parent that your kids see your walk match your talk. And what ever you do, make sure you don't forget that you're growing kids not grass.
- CHRISTMAS TREES: I asked Lea if we could put up the Christmas tree before Thanksgiving and she said "No! Wait till after Thanksgiving." We even had a poll on TreyMorgan.net to see if I should get to. The final tally came out to "59 for and 52 against." May I just say you 52 "against" people are party-poopers. Lea actually relented and told me I could put up the tree if I wanted, but believe it or not, we just haven't had time. We're hoping to get it done this weekend. I can't wait.
- THANKSGIVING: We're headed to Amarillo this weekend for Thanksgiving with Lea's family. We swap out having Thanksgiving and Christmas with each family every year. I'm looking forward to a plate full of turkey, dressing (my favorite) and cranberry sauce. Thankfully we'll plan the meal around the Dallas Cowboy football game.
- COWBOYS: We had about 15 high school kids over at our house last night watching the Dallas Cowboys game. Wow, can they ever get loud when something good happens. Who would have ever thought that the Cowboys would get off to a 9-1 start. Looks like their only real weakness is Roy Williams trying to cover receivers.
- HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Parker starts basketball games this week. Living in a town that's out in the middle of nowhere will require lots of driving to out of town games. Good thing that gas is only 3.09 per gallon right now. :)
- NEW CHRISTIAN: I was thrilled to witness a new brother confessing Jesus as his savior and being baptized last week. What made this one so memorable? The man who became a Christian was an old cowboy who had lived life hard without much thought to where he'd spend eternity. We became friends following the funeral (I told you about him here) of a mutual friend. He began questioning how he was living his life about 2 months ago and called me last week to talk about it. He was baptized Thursday afternoon. As I was preaching Sunday morning, I looked out in the crowd of people and saw him sitting there worshiping with us. Too cool. Most people who knew him couldn't believe he was "at church!" After services I told him, "See, I told you if you'd come the roof wouldn't fall in!" :)
- FAVORITE POSTS: I told you last week I was thinking about my favorite posts over the last year. This was my very first post on this blog, so it has to be one of my favorites. This is my favorite post about my kids and how I can see God in our relationship. This is my favorite post about church and what it should look like. BUT, if I could only keep one post from my entire first year of posts, hands down, it'd be this one.
Quick question: What's your favorite thing to eat on Thanksgiving Day?
A few things came to mind when I saw this video....
- If you're going to lead the singing, know the words.
- In this case I'm all for instruments in worship (it helped drowned out the singing - ha).
- Don't be drinking anything when you watch this video... you'll spew it all over your computer before it's over.
Enjoy...
PS - Want to have a little fun with us? We're raising some money for some people in need this weekend. So, if the holiday season moves you to share with someone in need ... here's a great place to share. Stop by and check it out. Please!
Labels: Video
I've been spending a lot of time in Psalm 57 this week. And let me tell you why ...I have a confession to make, occasionally I get really tired, really tired. I'm talking tired emotionally, physically and yes, spiritually. Sometimes I get this way because Satan has been pounding on me. Other times it's because I'm pushing myself to the limits, over-scheduling, or sometimes it's simply because I've been giving all the spiritual food and not taking time to feed myself. But when it happens, as it has the last couple of weeks, the effects in my life are obvious. When I get tired, here are some of the signs I see...
- Instead of feeling like getting up and attacking the world I begin feeling overwhelmed.
- Instead of feeling compassion for others I feel callused.
- I become critical of others.
- I get frustrated easily.
The amazing thing is, most people would never believe that a minister, elder or leader would ever get tired, spiritually drained or emotionally worn down. Believe it or not, it happens and thankfully there are examples in the bible of people feeling the same way I do at times. On more than one occasion Jesus felt this way. How did he deal with it? He'd go off by himself and spend time with his Father. And while I can find comfort in that, I also remember that Jesus was God's son, deity, he could handle it.
And then there was David, who shows me exactly what to do and how to handle this situation. In Psalm 57, King Saul has been chasing David all over the country trying to kill him. It's there that David finds himself hiding alone in a cave obviously scared, frustrated, lonely and overwhelmed. I loved what David does ...- He prays, prays and then prays some more. vs.1-4
- He takes time to worship. He changes his focus from himself and his problems to God and how great He is. vs.5
- He reminds himself of God's past faithfulness to him and decides to trust God to get him through this trying time. vs.7-11
- Do you ever feel this way?
- How do you get through it?
- And, does it surprise you that people who are supposed to be spiritual leaders ever feel this way?
Labels: Ministry, Preachers, Spiritual Growth
About one year ago I was encouraged by my Blog-Mother, Mommy Smart, to start a blog. She helped me get started and encouraged me daily during that dull first month. So today I celebrate my blog's 1st birthday. On November 14, 2006, "Rediscovering Church" was born. A few months later "Rediscovering Church" was changed to simply "Trey Morgan.net." Now as I look back on one full year of blogging one thing comes to my mind, "I can't believe I've stuck with this thing for a whole year."Seriously, one year later, and 80,000 visitors later, I am amazed at how my life has been blessed by all of the wonderful friends I have made through this blog. You have become such a blessing in my life. I enjoy your comments, your opinions, your emails and your friendship.
As I spent some time this week looking back over a year's worth of posts, I had mixed emotions. Some posts I read I thought, "Wow, that was harsh. Did I really say that?" and others I thought, "What was I thinking when I wrote that?" All in all, I've loved sharing my thoughts. My goal when I started this blog was to post about the church and what God wanted it to be. Things changed over the course of a year, and my focus was more on marriage and family than anything else. I also got to thinking about what my favorite post was. If I had to delete every post on my blog but one, which one would I leave as my favorite post? I'll give you the answer later this week.
At the bottom of my blog there is an item called a site meter that tells me that hundreds of people visit everyday from all over the world. I think that is so cool. While some choose to leave comments, many still don't - and that's okay. But if I had one "blog birthday wish" today it would be for all those who stop by to leave me a comment telling me who you are and where you're from. If you're uncomfortable leaving a name, you can just leave me your initials. I'd love to know where you are from.
I don't know how long I'll keep on blogging, but I have to admit that the first year has been a lot of fun. My prayer is that this blog has been as much of a blessing in your life as it has been mine. Thanks for being my friend. :)
Trey
Labels: Blogging
I'd coached baseball and basketball before, but I'd never coached a football team. I learned very quickly that it was really easy to get attached to the kids. My eight little guys made every practice and played every down as hard as they could. These guys even "called me out" after the first four games for not having a team prayer before the games we played. The three things I preached to them all season was that every kid will get to carry the ball at some point during the game, whether we win or lose always be a good sport, and have lots of fun. They did great all season and somehow our team went amazingly farther than anyone (especially me) ever expected.
This past Sunday we made it all the way to the Super Bowl game. As I stood there looking at our team, I got a lump in my throat thinking to myself that this was our last game. I told the boys that win or lose, they'd make me the most proud if they played as good sports.
We quickly went down two touchdowns in the first half. On our second time to get the ball we were driving for what I hoped was going to be our first score. As we all huddled near the goal line I was racking my brain to come up with the play that would give us the best chance to score. It was then that Mason, the young man who'd led the team all year as quarterback said, "I've got an idea." I said, "What do you think we ought to do?" He said, "I think we should let Matthew run the ball." Everyone in the huddle agreed. Matthew was the boy on our team that had some physical disabilities. He is a great kid that made every practice and always tried his very best, but Matthew wasn't very fast. He didn't always run the ball the right way, and he had a hard time taking the snap because he only had one arm that worked at 100%. I'm ashamed to admit it, but way down deep in my heart that wasn't the play I wanted to call. That next play we gave the ball to Matthew. He took the snap and got us two yards closer to the end zone. He did great. We were able to score on the following play.
Even though we lost the game Sunday, we still came home a very proud second place. Most of all, they played as good sports and made me very proud. I'm really glad to be through with all the games and all the practices, but I'll still miss seeing my eight all-stars on a regular basis. I was honored to be their coach. They are champions in my book.
Labels: General, Morgan Family
Top 10 Signs You’re at a Redneck Wedding:
- Your rehearsal dinner held at the Waffle House.
- Instead of "Friends of the bride or friends of the groom?" ushers ask "Ford Or Chevy?"
- Bridesmaids: Pink Tube Tops; Groomsmen: Travis Tritt T-Shirts
- Phrase "I Do" replaced by "I Heard That."
- Tender rendition of "The Wedding Song" performed by Hank Williams Jr.
- When the minister asks "Who giveth this woman to be married"… some guy in the back stands up and hollers "Earnhardt! Yee Haw"
- Reception conversation includes the phrase, "So what have you been doing since Hee Haw has been off the air?"
- Snack trays at reception: Vienna sausages and Nacho Cheese Doritos
- Plans for the honeymoon include tickets to the monster truck rally & NASCAR racing at Talladega.
- Sign in front of the church: No Shirt… No Shoes… No Problem!
10 Actual Country Music Song Titles:
- Her Teeth Was Stained, But Her Heart Was Pure
- Get Your Tongue Outta My Mouth, Cause I m Kissing You Good-bye
- She Got The Ring and I Got The Finger
- You're The Reason Our Kids Are So Ugly
- I'm Still Missing You Baby, But My Aim's Gettin Better
- I Wouldn't Take Her To a Dog Fight, Cause I'm Afraid She'd Win
- I'm So Miserable Without You, It s Like Having You Here
- If I Had Shot You When I Wanted To, I'd Be Out By Now
- Mama Get a Hammer, There's a Fly On Papa's Head
- My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend, and I Sure Do Miss Him
10 Country Music Songs I'd Like to Write and Sing to Lea (if I actually liked Country music):
- She Thinks My Preaching is Sexy
- If My Nose Were Full of Nickels, I'd Blow Them All On You
- Honey, Don't Let Your Negligee Turn Into a Flannel Nightgown
- Baby If Love Were Oil, I'd Be A Quart Low
- Wake Me Up When There's a Wreck (The NASCAR Ballad)
- If You Were a Booger, I’d Pick you First
- Jesus, Take the Wheel 'Cause There's a Smokey on My Tail
- If You Leave, Please Don't Take My NIV.
- Nobody is Look'n, So Scoot Over and Let's Snuggle on the Church Pew
- I'll Like Your NASCAR Driver When the Waffle House Decides to Close
Romantic aren't I? I know what you're probably thinking, "Lea sure is a lucky girl to have Trey for a husband." :)
Labels: General
I'm already tired of talking about last Tuesday's vote. Had I not promised you yesterday that I'd tell you about getting called a name, I would have skipped this altogether.
I found the following quote in the "comments" section of this story about the Childress wet verses dry issue. Here's the quote about those who were against going wet.
"When you have a group of people in a community that do not allow it to grow the town will die. Alcohol is not the issue here, it is a close minded religious sect that attempts to impose their beliefs on everyone."
Ouch. I never thought of myself as being a part of a close minded religious sect. Funny thing is 98% of all the people in Childress, Texas considers themselves to be a "Christian" or "Religious," but because you choose to vote "no" you immediately become part of a, "close minded religious sect that attempts to impose their beliefs on everyone." Interesting.
For a very brief second when I read it, my feelings were hurt, and then I remembered this.
___________________________
I had a little fun with the sermon this last week. Believe it or not, it's okay to have a little fun in a sermon. I started a new series called "So Easy a Caveman Could Do It!" And no, I didn't dress up like a caveman. It deals with the fact that so many times we take things God intended to be easy and make them difficult. If we'd just do things like God wanted us to instead of complicating things ... our lives would be much simpler. So this past Sunday's lesson was "Doing Good - So Easy a Caveman Could Do It." Stop by here and listen if you want. Next week I'm doing "Salvation - So Easy a Caveman Could Do It."
_________________________________
One of the coolest things about having a blog is I get to meet so many people. I love getting an email from people and getting to know them better. I've been blessed over the last couple of weeks with a bunch of new friends dropping me a line. I heard from a guy named Clyde this morning. Looks like he's got a great blog, so I can't wait to add him to the blog roll. Ran into my old friend Jamie yesterday. I hadn't seen the guy since we were in school together about 20 years ago, and then I opened my email and there he was. Too cool. Shawn, my old youth minister, emailed me about two weeks ago. I've loved catching up with him and may even get to go spend a weekend with him very soon. Then there's sweet Beverly from Georgia and Raja from India, and I can't leave out Steven, Douglas, Caleta, David, Kathy and Susie. All who I've met in just the last couple of weeks. Blogging has been amazing, and I've enjoyed all the new acquaintances and old friends.
Labels: Blogging, Sermon Link
So what happens now? Now it's time for those of us who were on the losing side to be kind, respectful and Christlike to all those who we have differed with for the past two months on this issue. Let's pray that going wet will bring all the good to our community that has been promised without including the bad.
If you'd like, you can read more about some of the arguments from both sides here and for the election results click here.
And, you won't believe what those who voted "no" got called. I'll tell you tomorrow...
Labels: General
Here are some reasons I'm choosing to vote "No" today...
- If Childress goes wet, we could have both bars and nightclubs open up throughout the city of Childress? Going wet is not just about selling alcohol in the stores, but it opens up more problems when we allow bars and nightclubs to open. Not too long ago we had a "bring your own drink" bar that opened in the downtown area of Childress. The place was a constant source of problems for the local police department. The police were called out there nearly every night. When the place was finally shut down, the community applauded. Now if we choose to go wet, many more may come just like this one.
- Why would we want to make alcohol more accessible to our young people? Our school district does such a great job fighting against drug and alcohol use among our young people. Why would I want to make it harder on our school system and our kids to say “no” than it already is? Many will say "if they want it, they'll get it anyway," and that's true, but why make it easier to get it?
- Making Childress wet would increase our need for more law enforcement from our fantastic but already overworked and thin police department.
- I can’t see how the sale of alcohol will make Childress a safer community or a more family-friendly community.
- There's a rumor that has been going around that says, "If Childress will go wet, we'll get a major chain restaurant to come to Childress like a Chili's or Applebee's." Yet two towns around Childress, Vernon and Quanah, both went wet, and they have yet to see a new “major chain restaurant” open there. Interestingly enough, Plainview, Texas is dry and they have a Chili's.
- I’m all for change, a stronger economy and growth in the Childress community, but at what price?
To my Childress community family please let me say that I am thrilled, honored and privileged to be raising my family in the great community of Childress. Thank you for allowing me and my family to be a part of this great place.
Now, exercise your right today... GET OUT AND VOTE.
Labels: General
ONE: Maine Middle School Handing Out Birth Control. King Middle School will become the first middle school in Maine to make a full range of contraception available, including birth control pills and patches. Condoms have been available at King’s health center since 2000. Arg...
TWO: Church Ordered to Pay 11 Million Dollars. I'm really not a believer in suing people, and I especially hate to see a church getting sued, but I have to say I have no sympathy towards these idiots who got slammed with an 11 million dollar settlement in a legal case against them. People who carry signs that say, "God hates fags," and "Thank God for Dead Soldiers," make me want to puke. Sheesh...
THREE: Childress, Texas to Vote Tomorrow on Going Wet or Staying Dry. Tomorrow will be a historic day for those of us in Childress, Texas. Tomorrow we go to the polls to decide if Childress county will begin to sell and serve alcoholic beverages or remain a dry county as it always has been.
Those in favor of going wet say we're missing out on tax dollars. Those against going wet say the sale of alcohol will bring bars and other problems into our city that aren't worth the extra tax dollars.
Our local paper has been bombarded by letters from both sides. I've found it interesting that all those staying dry have signed their names on their letters. Those who want to go wet have yet to be willing to sign their name or say who they are. The one letter that was signed in the local paper from the "going wet" side was signed by a made up name. I'm not sure what all that means, but it makes me think if going wet is so right ... why are they so ashamed to admit they support it?
I think every religious organization in town has written letters opposing going wet. I too, wrote a letter that was published a week ago. I'd like to ask that when you say your prayers today, that you'd include a little prayer that Childress makes a good decision on this when they vote tomorrow.
Tomorrow I'll share with you the letter I wrote and some more information on the "wet or dry" arguments in Childress.
Labels: General
I've also learned that my mom likes it when I post about family news and put up pictures up of her grandsons. It helps her to see what's going on in the Morgan family. So Mom, here are some pictures for you. I love you.
Taylor asked to go to an Atlanta Braves game for his 18th birthday. So here are Taylor, Parker and I in Houston at Minute Maid Park, to see the Braves play the Astros. Although it was a 1000 mile trip in less than 24 hours, we still had a great time.
Out in front of the baseball stadium you'll find Parker & Taylor with a statue of Craig Biggio who played for the Astros.
Parker just beats the throw to second as he slides in safely for a stolen base. There were a few people standing around watching us take different poses with the statues. I'm sure they thought we were a little weird.
For Parker's 16th birthday he got a Texas Ranger's jersey and of course the old pickup that you can see here.
Mom, as you know we measure the boys every year on their birthday to see how much they've grown. Parker was 6'4'' this year (about an inch taller than me).
Cooper's turn to being measured. Although he's not quite 6'4'' he told us, "One day I will be."
Cooper riding the bicycle he picked out for his 6th birthday. The brakes on the new bicycle work much better than the brakes on this one (ha). It was a big crash.
Connor got Taylor his favorite thing for his 16th birthday ... a bag of Starburst. Mom, can you tell that Connor has spent the entire summer out in the sun?
Parker, Taylor and Ryan Wakefield. Ryan is the one we call our 5th son, and he's Taylor's best friend. We spent a lot of time raising and feeding this kid. Ryan and Taylor are planning on doing AIM together next year. This picture was taken at camp this summer. I have another picture, just like this one, that I took about 10 years ago at the same cross. All three of the boys in the same pose. Pretty cool to see how they've changed.
Mom, I just had to put this one in of Lea. Even after spending all day working in the sun, dirt and heat in Mexico City, she's still absolutely beautiful isn't she?
Labels: Blogging, Morgan Family
A while back Cooper and I were playing with our digital camera that will do little videos. So, when I was getting all my pictures off the camera yesterday, I found this ...
Labels: Morgan Family, Video
