I'm going to be taking a blog break for a few days. I just didn't want you to think I had died or something! Have a great week. ~ Trey (PS- Wasn't sure whether or not to include the picture of the tombstone. So, I showed it to Lea and asked her what she thought. She said it was a little gross and morbid. There was my answer ... that meant it must be pretty cool.)
Labels: General
posted at 
I really wanted to share with you what I thought Christmas was all about. But I couldn't explain it any better than a kid named Linus Van Pelt. So I'll let him tell you in less than two minutes...
Wishing all my blogging friends a very Merry Christmas!!!
Labels: Christmas
I'm sure Max Lucado is an avid reader of my blog :) so I must apologize to him up front ... I have a confession to make. I absolutely loved your first two books, "God Came Near" and "No Wonder They Call Him the Savior," but after those two all your other books paled in comparison. Sorry.Actually in Max's book "God Came Near" there is a chapter called "Christmas Night" that has always pulled at my heart strings at this time of year. Every year this special chapter is unpacked with our Christmas stuff and placed on the refrigerator or somewhere close in our home. I'm then reminded by this story just how special this time of year is. Here's how the chapter goes ...
IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME. A time for Christmas cards, stockings, tinsel, and that smell of fresh cut Christmas trees. Spiced tea. Cranberry sauce. A time when you will eat until you’re sick, and then some way, work in dessert. A time when old, dusty Christmas records are gotten out for one more year's use. A time when you will hear, over and over, Frosty the Snowman, White Christmas, and Silent Night.
IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME. A time when lots of last minute trips are made to the store. A time when kids and grand-kids will rip open the packages you spent hours wrapping. A time when giving is more fun than getting. "Thank you so much." "You shouldn't have!" Knee-deep in wrapping paper. "It fits great." Flashing cameras. "Don't throw away any of those bows." It's the time for families, visiting, playing games, and being kind.
IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME. A time when the world is so different, you have to stop and ask, "Why, why the sudden change?" It's because it's the time when the world stops to think of Jesus. Those who pass through the year without seeing Him, suddenly see Him. All of a sudden He's everywhere. For just a while Christ will be the Lord to people everywhere, and then, like the rest of the Christmas things, He will be packed away until next year.
IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME. But in just a little while lights will come down, trees will be thrown out. Size 36 will be exchanged for size 40, wrapping paper will go on sale for half price. Soon life will be normal again. December's generosity will turn into January's payments and the magic will soon fade.
BUT IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME. And for a moment the magic is still in the air. And for a moment the forgotten Christ is still remembered. And for a moment I stop to pray, that those who briefly behold Him now, will also look for Him in July. And for a moment I can't help but think: If He can do so much with such a self-centered world in December, how much more could He do if He was thought of every day of the year?
Labels: Christmas
Growing up, my family had a lot of Christmas traditions. There was the annual reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas," lots of games and every year my dad would say, "Let's wait until after Christmas to open these presents" just to get a scream out of us kids. Christmas Eve night was when we'd open our presents that had been under the tree for weeks. The mystery of what was in those boxes drove me crazy every year. Trying to get a little hint of what might be in those beautifully wrapped little treasures, I would shake them, sniff them, lick them and touch them at least 82 times before we finally got to open them.
One of the biggest Christmas traditions my family had growing up involved opening presents. We never really just opened the presents, we made a production out of each one of them. They were never opened all at once. I guess to make it last longer, we'd pass out all the packages, and then one person at a time (from youngest to oldest) would open one. We weren't allowed to start opening our gift until the younger brother or sister in front of us had completely opened theirs and everyone would say, "ooh and aah." It was a one-at-a-time thing even if we had 40 people there for Christmas.
I clearly remember the first year I did Christmas with Lea's family. We were newlyweds. Her family sat down to open presents and all of a sudden everybody just started ripping them open as fast as they could. No "one at a time" for anyone and no "oohing or aahing" could be heard over all the commotion. I remember wanting to stand up and shout, "STOP YOU HEATHENS! You people don't have a clue how to do Christmas presents!" But I quickly learned that that was her family's Christmas tradition.
Lea and I have incorporated traditions from both of our families into our Morgan family. This weekend when our little family of six sits down to unwrap our Christmas gifts, we'll do it the civilized way. Yep, one present at a time, and if you listen clearly, you'll hear from our house lots of "oohs and aahs." It's just become our Christmas tradition.
- So, what were some of your family's traditions when you were growing up?
- Have you incorporated them into your current family?
Labels: Christmas, Morgan Family
John Cassis is one of our nation's finest motivational speakers. He told a story recently about a time when he was serving as one of the chaplin's for the Chicago Bears during their glory years of the 80's.As John tells it, Mike Ditka was about to deliver a locker room pep talk one day. He looked up and saw defensive tackle William "Refrigerator" Perry. How could he not see him? At 338 pounds the Fridge stood out even in a crowd of pro football players. Ditka gestured to the Fridge. "When I get finished," he said, "I’d like you to close with the Lord’s Prayer." Then the coach began his talk.
Meanwhile, Jim McMahon, the brash and outspoken quarterback, punched John Cassis. "Look at Perry," McMahon whispered, "he doesn’t know the Lord’s Prayer."
Sure enough, Perry sat with a look of panic on his face, his head in his hands. He was sweating profusely. "Everybody knows the Lord’s Prayer," said Cassis to McMahon in disbelief. After a few minutes of watching the Refrigerator leaking several gallons of sweat, McMahon nudged Cassis again. "I’ll bet you 50 bucks Fridge doesn’t know the Lord’s Prayer."
As Cassis tells the story, he stops to reflect on the absurdity of it all: "Here we were sitting in chapel and betting 50 bucks on the Lord’s Prayer."
When Coach Ditka finished his pep talk, he asked all the men to remove their caps. Then he nodded at Perry and bowed his head. It was quiet for a few moments before the Fridge spoke in a shaky voice, "Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord, my soul to keep…"
Cassis felt the tap on his shoulder. It was Jim McMahon. "Here’s the 50 dollars," he whispered. "I had no idea Perry knew the Lord’s Prayer."
When I grew up it seemed like everyone knew the Lord's prayer. Everyone knew the stories of the Biblical heroes like Noah, Abraham and Daniel. It was not uncommon for people of all ages to be able to quote to you all the 10 Commandments or all the books of the Bible. Wow, how things have changed! Now our generation suffers from a kind of faith illiteracy. I honestly believe that there are men, women and children in our "one nation under God," who have never uttered a prayer in their lives. They are much like the little girl I encountered at our elementary school on career day. I had just finished telling the story of David and Goliath, when she smiled a big grin and said, "That's not really a true story is it? I've never heard that in my life."
I believe that there is still a need for Bible stories. I believe there is still a need for the Lord's prayer. And I believe that there is still a need for something as simple as a children's prayer like, "Now I lay me down to sleep." All of these things are important because they draw attention to God. We must once again become a people who know God, His book and His will for our lives.
Oh, and just in case you don't know the Lord's prayer, you can find it Matthew 6:9-13.
I saw "It's A Wonderful Life" for the first time Saturday afternoon. Yea, I'm a little slow, but what a fantastic movie! George Bailey directly or indirectly touched a lot of lives. Fathers are fixers. They fix things. That's what they do. Everything from broken toys to broken hearts are placed into the hands of our fathers in full expectation that given enough time, everything will be all right.
It's winter and children should be wrapping themselves up nice and warm. Zuzu, however, has a different agenda. She has a flower she doesn't want damaged. So, at the expense of her health she makes sure the flower gets home safely. George Bailey arrives home to find his daughter in bed sick and goes up to her bedroom to check on her.
"Where do you think you're going?" George asks Zuzu as she begins to make her way out of bed.
"I want to give my flower a drink," she replies.
George denies the request, proposing that he will give the flower a drink. Not surprisingly Zuzu is reluctant to part with her flower and in a tussle for the rose a few petals fall off.
"Look daddy," Zuzu says in the sweetest voice you ever heard in your life, "Paste it."
It's then that George Bailey turns his back on Zuzu and stuffs the few fallen petals into his pocket and presents the flower back to his daughter, good as new.
That's what fathers do! They fix things. Our Heavenly Father is no different, and by understanding this we can deal with earthy afflictions and in the face of it all proclaim, "It's a wonderful life!" For we have a Father in heaven whose pockets are bursting with our petals. He has made everything new. Now, and for always, everything is going to be all right. "Bring me your broken lives," He calls to us. "I'll fix them."
After all, He's a father - that's what they do.
What a great movie, what a great book and better yet, what a great God!
Labels: Christmas
What? We have to pay consultants to name our babies now (read story here)? You need help coming up with a name? Come on people, just name your babies. But then I read a few minutes ago about the latest in a bizarre trend to make your baby's name so unique that they'll standout. Some recent real names include the following: ESPN, Armani, Timberland, Del Monte and Chevy. It will only be a matter of time before we'll see Motorola, Diet Coke and Survivor. Incidentally, let me apologize in advance if any of my readers are actually blighted by one of these names. I take pity on you, especially if you're called ESPN. After looking at some of these names, maybe we do need to pay a consultant to help some folks name their kids.- For those still doing some Christmas shopping, here's a list of the Top 10 Worst Christmas Gifts ever. You'll never believe which one was number one (shuddering).
- My good friend TA has been sick and in the hospital lately. In the past he has served as one of my elders and has always been my friend. He has prayed with me, encouraged me and befriended me. I don't get to see him very often anymore, but I think he'll read this today. So, I just want to say to him, "I love you and miss you. Hope you're feeling better soon."
- I've been outed by John Dobbs. No, I have never seen "It's a Wonderful Life", but it came on last night and I set my DVR to record it. I promise John, I'll watch it before Christmas.
- I've always thought deer hunting wasn't fair. I think the deer should get to shoot back at the hunter, or better yet set up their own trap. Maybe that's why this commercial really made me laugh.
- We have had an amazing amount of local "community" visitors in our Sunday services over the past few months. The church in Childress does a great job at inviting their friends to come to worship with them. Many of our visitors ask me questions about the "church of Christ." "Who are we and what do we believe" are just a couple of questions I get. So I did a sermon a couple of weeks ago on the subject of "Want to know more about the Church of Christ?" If you're interested you can find it here. This past Sunday's lesson was on "Wise Men Still Seek Him," if you're looking for a Christmas sermon.
- Parker Morgan, student of the week at Childress High School... way to go kiddo!!!
- Fellow bloggers, has anyone else's blog stats gone crazy the past three weeks? I think it's the Christmas crowd internet surfing. I guess more surfers equals more hits.
- Eleven years ago I did the wedding of a couple of kids that have really turned out great. I'm proud of you two. Many of you know them, but if you don't, click here and meet them. They write one of my favorite blogs in the world that blesses my life!
Labels: General
Still wondering what to get your kids this Christmas? Here are 5 perfect gifts that will really last a life time.- THE GIFT OF A GOOD MARRIAGE: I wish as parents we’d realize that a vital marriage between you and your spouse is the best gift you could ever give your kids. It's better than a Wii or an X-Box, and it's the gift that would really last their lifetime.
- THE GIFT OF TIME: I wish as parents we’d stop believing the lie that quality time is enough for your children. The only way to give quality time is to invest quantity time in your children's lives.
- THE GIFT OF DISCIPLINE: I wish as parents we’d see that discipline is a debt that we owe our children. I thought it was interesting that a recent survey showed that eighty-seven percent of college students said their parents weren't strict enough on them. Make rules and set boundaries and stick to them.
- THE GIFT OF SPIRITUAL TRAINING: I wish as parents we’d see that spiritual training is not optional but essential. Families today don't need a small dose of God, they need a large dose of God. Children need spiritual training.
- THE GIFT OF INTEGRITY: I wish as parents we'd practice what we preach. I wish we wouldn't tell our children one thing and then do just the opposite. That has to be so confusing to our children. Practice what you preach!
What did I leave off this Christmas list?
My sons, Taylor (Senior) and Parker (Sophomore), are both blessed to attend school at Childress High School. Yesterday they had "Bring Your Parents to School" day, and I got to hang out in the boys' classes with them.Labels: General
When he stopped me in the store he said he needed to talk. In his words, he needed help, "Big time." He had been struggling with alcohol. He couldn't pay his bills. He was about to lose his job, get kicked out of his house, and to top it all off, his wife was threatening to leave him. I listened to him talk about needing God to help him and getting his life straightened out. It was when I asked him, "Have you ever thought about going to a church to look for more help," that his words cut me deep. He said, "A church? Why would I ever want to go to a church? They'd only make me feel worse."
Here was a man wanting to run towards God for help but run away from God's church. He saw God as a life-preserver who could help him, but he saw God's church as causing more problems in his life. Have we, as a church, moved so far away from mercy and grace that people don't see the church as a place to find help or God? Wasn't it the "down and out" that flocked to Jesus during his time, but now people run from his followers when they're in need of help. What have we lost?
It's been said, "Churches ought to be competing to "out-grace" their rivals, and grace should be Christianity's best gift to the world." Amen to that. Here are a few questions I'm trying to figure out...
- Have we presented ourselves to the world as Pharisees who are so perfect that we're not in need of God's grace too?
- Why does the world see a shortage of grace, mercy and forgiveness in the church?
- Why does the world see church as a place to go after you have cleaned up your act?
We represent God (or should), so why doesn't the world see this? Just a few things I'm thinking about today.
Any thoughts you'd like to add?
When it comes to Christmas gifts, there is no Christmas gift more dreaded and more prolific than the fruitcake. It has been said that there is only one fruitcake in the entire world, and people keep sending it to each other because no one wants it.
A recent American Express survey about Christmas gifts found that the fruitcake was chosen as the worst holiday gift. It even finished ahead of "no gift at all." Meaning most people would rather have "nothing at all" than a fruitcake.
Something has to be wrong with fruitcake when...
- You don't have to refrigerate it.
- Men and birds won't eat it.
- Mice and roaches won't touch it.
- Use it as a door stop.
- Hide in it during a nuclear fallout.
- Kill it with a mallet and wooden stake.
- Place in the toilet tank to conserve water when you flush.
- Plug the rodent holes in your house.
- Use a slice to shim up the leg of that wobbly table.
- Chock the tires of your car, truck or trailer.
- Throw at police during violent protests instead of bricks, rocks, or molotov cocktails.
- Use it as blast shielding for launch re-entry space vehicles.
- Give it to someone you don't like.
Labels: Christmas
- I learned that when you wave at people, they'll wave back. (Age 6)
- I learned that my Mom and Dad are the smartest people in the world. (Age 7)
- I learned you can't lie about shooting your brother with a slingshot and get away with it. (Age 9)
- I learned when you shoot a bb-gun in the house, mom will always find out. (Age 11)
- I learned that just when I got my room the way I like it, my Mom made me clean it up. (Age 12)
- I learned that my Mom and Dad weren't as smart as I thought they were. (Age 14)
- I learned that my Mom and Dad don't have a clue about life. (Age 16)
- I learned that I was secretly glad that my parents were hard on me. (Age 17)
- I learned that my Mom and Dad need me if they are to actually survive in this world. (Age 18)
- I learned that my Mom and Dad may be smarter than I've given them credit for these last few years. (Age 20)
- I learned that once again my Mom and Dad are the smartest people in the world. (Age 21)
- I learned that a sweet little brown haired, brown eyed girl named Lea can rock my world. (Age 22)
- I learned that having kids is cool and a lot of work. (Age 24)
- I learned that people are interested in learning about a God when I tell them how much He loves them. (Age 25)
- I learned that wherever I go, the world's worst drivers have followed me there. (Age 26)
- I learned that my dad is incredibly wise and should be sought for advice in every big decision that comes. (Age 27)
- I learned that playing catch in the backyard with my sons is one of life's greatest pleasures. (Age 29)
- I learned that you can tell a lot about a man's true character by the way he handles these three things: tangled Christmas lights, a bad call at his kid's athletic event and how he talks about his wife when she's not around. (Age 33)
- I learned that making a living and making a life are two different things. (Age 35)
- I learned that sometimes life gives you a second chance when cancer comes. (Age 37)
- I learned the value of sharing a touch and that everyday you should hold some one's hand, share a hug or a friendly pat on the back. (Age 39)
- I've learned that a sweet little brown haired, brown eyed girl named Lea still rocks my world. (Age 40)
- I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. (Age 41)
What are some things you've learned as you've experienced life?
Labels: Cancer, Lea, Morgan Family
- What's more important to us -God or sports?
- What are we more committed to - church or our children's sporting events?
You must take the time today to read, Wade Tannehill's, "The Changing Values of the Church." It will smack you right between your eyes.
Labels: General
I enjoy Christmas movies. It is a tradition in our household to watch certain Christmas movies every year together. We have our favorites and tend to watch the same ones over and over. It got me to thinking about what my favorite Christmas movies are. Shrek the Halls was sure funny this year, but it's too new to make the list. - James Taylor at Christmas
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra's - Christmas Trilogy
- A Charlie Brown Christmas
- Diana Krall - Christmas Songs
- Here's a Christmas CD I'm going to love when it gets here. Have you placed your order for one yet?
Labels: Christmas
The debate rages on ... is it Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? Or have you heard of Merry Tossmas? Trust me, you'll like this.
(If you get this through email or a blog-reader like Bloglines and FeedBlitz you'll have to click on this link to see the video.)
Labels: Video
When Mike was 2, he wanted a sandbox, and his father said, "There goes the yard. We'll have kids over here day and night, and they'll throw sand into the flower beds, and cats will make a mess in it, and it'll kill the grass for sure."
And Mike's mother said, "It'll come back."
When Mike was 5, he wanted a jungle gym set with swings that would take his breath away and bars to take him to the summit, and his father said, "Good grief, I've seen those things in back yards, and do you know what they look like? Mud holes in a pasture. Kids digging their gym shoes in the ground. It'll kill the grass."And Mike's mother said, "It'll come back."
Between breaths, when Daddy was blowing up the plastic swimming pool, he warned, "You know what they're going to do to this place? They're going to condemn it and use it for a missile site. I hope you know what you're doing. They'll track water everywhere and have a million water fights, and you won't be able to take out the garbage without stepping in mud up to your neck. When we take this down, we'll have the only brown lawn on the block."
"It'll come back," Mike's mother said.
When Mike was 12, he volunteered his yard for a camp out. As they hoisted the tents and drove in the spikes, his father stood at the window and observed, "Why don't I just put the grass seed out in cereal bowls for the birds and save myself the trouble of spreading it around? You know for a fact that those tents and all those big feet are going to trample down every single blade of grass, don't you. Don't bother to answer. I know what you're going to say, 'It'll come back.'"
The basketball hoop on the side of the garage attracted more crowds than the Olympics. And a small patch of lawn that started out with a barren spot the size of a garbage can lid soon drew to encompass the entire side yard.
Just when it looked as if the new seed might take root, the winter came and the sled runners beat it into ridges. Mike's father shook his head and said, "I never asked for much in this life - only a patch of grass."
And his wife smiled and said, "It'll come back."
Time has passed and little Mike is grown now. The lawn this fall was beautiful. It was green and alive and rolled out like a sponge carpet along the drive where gym shoes had trod ... along the garage where bicycles used to fall ... and around the flower beds where little boys used to dig with iced-tea spoons. But Mike's father never saw it. He anxiously looked beyond the yard and asked with a catch in his voice, "He will come back, won't he?"
An old friend mentioned to me recently that he found me by Googling me. I thought that sounded cool, so I Googled myself to find out if I was really out there. I really was out there, but did you know there are other Trey Morgan's out there too? There are some really interesting Trey Morgan's in this world. Did you know I could be...
- A Professional Chef - I've written my own book. Yeah, now that sounds cool.
- A Professional Bass Fisherman - Getting paid to fish! Would that not be the greatest job ever?
- A Rockabilly / Country Musician - Um, no, I don't think so.
- (My favorite) A Star in a Romance Novel that takes place back in the early West - I'm a wanted man. Wanted by the law and by the beautiful Brianna McGraw. The information on the books reads, "Soon, the threat Trey's beautiful captor Brianna holds over him is not so much in the pistol she wields, but the lasso she has firmly fastened over his heart." Unfortunately Lea's not in the book so she may be jealous of Brianna.
Did you know that Evel Knievel - the iconic motorcycle jumper, who loomed extremely large in my childhood, died yesterday at 69 years old? My body still bares the scars from jumping my bike over a bunch of small homemade wooden ramps in the driveway, pretending to be him.
Here's a Christmas CD you need to consider getting. I've already placed my order. It was done by Shane Coffman and the bunch at Memorial Drive in Tulsa.
I'm reading through 1 Kings right now. It amazes me that when Judah had a good king the nation followed him and did what was right, and God would bless the nation. But when there was a bad king the nation always follow the king in his evil ways, and God would punish them. Do you think we can learn something from that as a nation?
I sure enjoyed watching the Dallas Cowboys beat up on Brett Farve and the Green Bay Packers this past Thursday night. Since the NFL Network has now added Thursday night football, life has just got a little better.
Any guesses on which of these three billboards are a fake? I thought all three were interesting. One? Two? or Three?
Labels: General
