Category: Cowboys (Page 52 of 54)

Lives Worthy of God

August 10, 2007 / Allan / 3 Comments

As the Texas sun begins to crest over the majestic Legacy Mountains…..

Legacy Worship Center Construction Update!

A brand new eight foot chain link fence around the entire west half of the church campus, more heavy equipment being brought in, and much more digging. If they can finish the building as quickly as they put up the fence, they ought to be done in about three weeks.

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I think the Cowboys went 4-0 in the 1989 preseason. I think the Colts have gone 1-8 in the past two preseasons. I think Jerry Wayne’s blue suit was hideous at best. I fiddled with the color and contrast on my TV for 15 minutes before I figured out he was wearing those colors on purpose. I think Buck and Aikman make a very good football announcing team. I think Marion Barber runs like he’s angry, which I like. I also think I’d like to see him cut his hair. I think Romo’s in for a long season. I think Leonard Davis is huge. I think pre-season football only makes me wish it were real. I think if there’s anything more lame than pre-season football, it’s a locally produced 30-minute preseason football pre-game show. I think Wade Phillips has the personality of a cardboard box. He makes Chan Gailey look like Jimmy Johnson in the fire and personality department. I think we’re still 20 days away from any football that really counts.

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Today’s #20 in the countdown to football season is The Tyler Rose, Earl Campbell. Nobody ran harder or stronger or tougher. Nobody broke more tackles or carried more men across goal lines with him than Campbell. Nobody’s tear-away jersey ever tore away more often than Campbell’s.

A two-time All-America running back at the University of Texas, Campbell won the Heisman Trophy in 1977 with 1,744 yards rushing — he ran for more than a hundred yards ten times that season. He racked up 4,443 yards rushing during his Longhorns career and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

Campbell was the #1 overall pick of the Houston Oilers and won NFL Rookie of the Year honors in 1978. He was the NFL rushing champ in 1980 and the NFL MVP that season with 1,934 yards rushing — four games that year with over 200 yards. He finished up his career with the Saints in ’84 and ’85.

In total, Earl Campbell played nine years in the NFL, ran for 9,407 yards, made it to five Pro Bowls, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991.

I’ll give honorable mention to Mel Renfro and Barry Sanders. But Earl Campbell is the greatest to ever wear the #20.

Bum Phillips ran him too much and too hard. He carried those old Oilers teams that were “knocking on the door” during the late ’70s and early ’80s. And he’s paying for it now. Campbell can barely get around. He can’t stand up for more than a couple of minutes at a time.

But he makes a mean sausage.

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There was a minor outcry last night that I hadn’t even mentioned LaDanian Tomlinson with yesterday’s #21. OK. Here’s the mention. Give him a little more time before I can put him in the same class with Jim Thorpe. But he is extremely talented and he does seem like a nice kid. I had the privilege of calling a couple of his games on the radio back in the day when he and the Waco University Trojans were running around and over and through Marble Falls. And I know a young man who just went through LT’s football camp last month and said he couldn’t have been a nicer, more engaging person.

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“…encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God.” 1 Thess 2:12

Paul, Silas, and Timothy were courageous Christian leaders for the new church in Thessalonica. They led with integrity and love for their brothers and sisters. And the goal of their work in that fellowship of believers was that they would live their lives worthy of God.

The greek word translated “live lives” or “live a life” is actually peripateo, which literally means “to walk,” which implies that living your life in a way that’s worthy of God means being worthy in every step, every action, every word, and everything you do in the course of your every day. Every part of our lives should reflect the character of our God and bring honor to him. That means both attitudes and behavior. Throughout all of Holy Scripture what happens in a religious context is never separated from what happens in a worldly context. The very concept of having two ways to talk or two ways to act or two ways of thinking based on when one is at church or with church people and when one is somewhere else doesn’t even exist in the Bible. Living a life worthy of God is a 24-hour, around the clock commitment.

It’s important to note that when Paul tells the Thessalonian Christians to live their lives worthy of God, he doesn’t direct them to some list of commandments or some directory of prescribed behaviors. He points them to the character of God. Internal motivation, not simply external actions, is of critical importance.

And keep in mind, Paul doesn’t see any of this activity as earning points with God or generating his favor. He writes to “live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” Our lives are clearly a response to God who, on his own initiative, continually calls us into his presence and under his rule. The life Paul urges us to live is one of thanksgiving, a life that acknowledges and accepts with gratitude what God through Jesus has already done for us.

May our Lord bless us as we continue to be shaped by the words and teachings of Paul and the Holy Spirit in 1 Thessalonians.

Peace,

Allan

Is A Popular God…? Part Three

August 9, 2007 / Allan / 10 Comments

I appreciate so much the thoughts and the comments I’ve received regarding the blog this week, especially as it pertains to our current discussion on worship.

If you haven’t been to the comments page the past couple of days you can check them out here and here. One particularly revealing comment came from our brother Jason sometime last night:

I agree that we’ve got to be real in our worship in both style and substance but I think we have to be aware that the things that we are used to don’t create pseudo Church like barriers to seekers that don’t make sense to the rank and file (let alone seekers). What I mean is Church favorite hymns that reference things that don’t mean much in our current day vocabulary like Ebeneezer, Canaan, and Zion. These words from old hymns might be part of the lyrics of the beloved favorites, but they don’t hold much for the seekers or the rank and file members (like me). I’d rather have newer songs with relevant lyrics that mean more in today’s language. Just my 2 cents. Not trying to start a riot.

It’s not a riot. It’s just the back and forth of an emotional conversation about worship.

And I don’t want to throw Jason under the bus. I know his heart is pure and his love for our Lord is real. And he knows I know that. But his comments reflect a broad current of thought today in God’s church. And I think it needs to be addressed.

Those words to which he refers are not just part of the lyrics of the beloved favorites. The words “Canaan” and “Zion” and the images those words evoke are the very words and images handed to us by God and his prophets. Those words serve to evoke the very promises of our God—promises of eternal life with him, promises of protection and provision, promises of leaving this place to be with him and each other in a much better place. Our faith and our beliefs and our practices all hinge on words like “Canaan” and “Zion.” They come straight out of our Bible. And they’re not obscure words in a couple of hidden passages. They’re foundational, basic words that are consistently found throughout our Scriptures, from Genesis through Revelation. They’ve been used by God and his people in our articulation of and passing on of the faith for thousands of years. The words and ideas they convey were used by Moses and the Prophets, Jesus and the Apostles, and all Christians since.

I would say the words “salvation” and “repentance” and “sanctification” and “reconciliation” are just as biblical and just as foundational. But I imagine, to most “seekers” and most “rank and file members” today, they are just as irrelevant and make just as little sense as “Canaan” and “Zion.” That is not a reflection on the songs we sing as much as it is a sad commentary on the state of our teaching in the Church, the level of private Bible study and careful theological reflection in our personal lives and in our homes, and maybe our lack of an overall vision that, as disciples of Christ, we do not live in this world. God’s Church lives in another dimension. But if our songs or sermons or prayers reflect that other dimension too much, we balk.

But we can’t discard those words and images. We explore them and teach them and learn them and embrace them and live them and we grow in the faith together through them. The chemistry teacher doesn’t change or throw out the vocabulary because his students don’t understand it. He teaches it. And his students learn to use it, and even love it, so they can communicate with each other and with those who’ve gone before, with those who’ve studied and taught and experimented and learned chemistry hundreds of years ago.

Let’s teach the lasting words of our faith. Let’s don’t throw them away.

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The Cowboys pre-season begins tonight at Texas Stadium against the Colts. I’m sure that Aaron and Jennifer Green have had their Payton Manning jerseys washed and ironed and laid out for a couple of days now. And I suppose it’ll be good for the Cowboys fans to watch their starters for six or seven plays.

I’m not ready yet to give my prediction on the Cowboys season. Give me a couple of weeks.

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Speaking of the football season, there are 21 days left until the games actually mean something. And the best player to ever wear the #21 is the great pioneer of American football, the one and only Jim Thorpe. An All-America halfback at Carlisle from 1907-1912, Thorpe won an Olympic gold medal in the decathalon in the 1912 games. But it was as a member of the original Canton Bulldogs in Ohio and the very first president of the American Professional Football Association in 1920 that we honor him today. He wowed fans with his speed and toughness and ability to dominate both sides of the ball in the very earliest stages of the development of the game. He played for the Bulldogs, the Cleveland Indians, the Oorang Indians, the Rock Island Independents, the New York Giants, and the Chicago Cardinals. He’s in the College Football Hall of Fame. And he’s a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Thorpe wore #21 for the Giants and Cardinals. Barry Sanders wore #21 at OSU and receives honorable mention. I suppose Deion Sanders deserve mention, although I’m not sure how honorable. But Jim Thorpe is the greatest ever #21.

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I shouldn’t be, but I am continually surprised at all the ways our sports teams keep finding to sell corporate sponsorships and advertising for actual in-game events. At the Rangers game Tuesday night, it was a little disturbing to hear the legendary voice of Chuck Morgan announce the Samsung Call to the Bullpen during a Rangers pitching change and the Jiffy Lube Pitching Change when the A’s made a similar adjustment. It’s not just a first down anymore, it’s a Radio Shack First Down. Doesn’t this, in some ways less subtle than others, work to undermine the dignity of the teams and the games?

Jerry Wayne’s computer-edited dancing in the Cowboys lockerroom during the Papa John’s Pizza commercial nauseates me. It proclaims without shame — even with pride — that I’m more than willing to do anything anybody asks me to do anywhere anytime if they’ll give me money. Never mind the dignity of the game or the teams or the people who’ve gone before us and from whose sacrifice and vision we benefit. Give me your money and I’ll sell off anything. And Jerry Wayne started all this.

I was amused and horrified at the same time when, a couple of weeks ago, I was watching a Mike Doocey interview with Jerry Wayne on Channel 4. Doocey asked Jones if there were even a remote chance that the new football stadium wouldn’t be named in exchange for dollars. Is there any way that you might name it simply Cowboys Stadium or Tom Landry Stadium? Jerry just smiled and told Dooce, “The Cowboys are America’s Team. And part of being America’s Team is the relationship and the connection we have with America’s corporations.”

And he said it with a straight face.

And, good for him, trying to mask his laughter, Doocey followed up with, “Are you saying that it’s your relationship with America’s corporations and their advertising dollars that make the Cowboys America’s Team?”

And Jerry Wayne replied, “I’m saying it’s the money from America’s corporations that pay for our players that America cheers for.”

I’m sure Tom Landry rolled over in his grave. But maybe Tex Schramm smiled.

Peace,

Allan

Is A Popular God….? Part Two. No Asterisk.

August 8, 2007 / Allan / 14 Comments

Today’s blog post contains a heavy amount of sports and sports analogies. But it is not tainted! It’s not! It’s not tainted!

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Continuing the thoughts from yesterday on “seeker-friendly” worship services, let me insert a comment from Cynthia that maybe some of you missed.

Thanks for saying so well what troubles my heart so often. We speak of making the church more attractive to seekers, but why do we assume that they are seeking more of what they already have in the world? If the life Christians live in Christ is different than the life lived in the world, shouldn’t the homage and adoration of our worship experience differ from the adulation given to cultural celebrities.

More and more, I am convinced that private worship (the assembly of the church) should not be attractional. Rather, it is in our public worship (Christ living in us as we move about in the world) where we should seek to attract the unbeliever.

I took the girls to the Rangers game last night and enjoyed a fairly well played, exciting at times, sporting event. Whitney and I spent a great deal of time talking strategy — hitting behind runners, playing at double-play depth, and running out grounders — using baseball-specific terminology such as RBIs, bullpen, full-count, hitter’s eye, foul ball, off-speed, check swing, ERA, and dugout. That communication during the game enhanced our enjoyment of the game, our appreciation of the game, and our relationship with each other in connection with the game.

Now imagine that, instead of Whitney, I was sitting next to someone who had never in his life seen a baseball game — a guy from another country, who’d never been to a baseball stadium or held a bat or seen a game on TV. There’s no way in the world that guy can attain the same level of understanding and appreciation for the game after watching it for those three hours that you and I have after watching it for 40 years. How long would it take him? Even if I tried to explain every single nuance of every single play and every single word in the baseball language, how long would it take?

Then why do we think we can convert a person who knows nothing about Jesus during a one-hour worship service? Why do we try? Won’t that person have to come to our services over and over again, for weeks and months, before he gets a sense of what we’re doing and why we’re doing it?

Maybe this is a better analogy. Suppose you’re the football coach of a playoff team in the championship game. Everything’s on the line. You’re in the lockerroom just ten minutes before kickoff, going over last minute details and instructions that will be critical to your team’s success. These are things that your team needs to hear and remember and immediately apply if they’re to win the battle.

“Charlie, remember that if the tackle moves into that three-gap he’s stunting inside. Make sure you release into the flat as a safety valve”

“Dan, don’t forget they’re going to cover-two deep but they’ll disguise it every time with a 4-3 blitz look just before the snap.”

“Kevin, we’ve been working on the deep fly to the Z back all week, but we’re changing our protection. Sid’s going to stay in the box and pick up the corner.”

“Watch the weak-side double. Remember to read the tight end’s stance. Don’t get suckered in on the draw…..”

And in the middle of all that — you giving your troops these critical instructions that mean success or failure in the fight — the team owner walks into the middle of your lockerroom and says, “Coach, I’ve brought in these seven guys from Kenya who’ve never seen a football game before. They only know soccer. They’re going to watch the game with me in my box. Can you explain to them everything you’re saying to your team right now? Help them understand what you’re saying.”

Right there in the middle of your pre-game speech, right there in the middle of your lockerroom. How do you do that?

Why do we try?

Origen said that if someone wanders into our church building off the streets while we’re praying, he should sense a “double church,” one that is seen, which may not always be attractive, and another that is unseen. Visitors should expect a little vertigo when they worship with us, a little disorientation. Allan McNicol says Christian worship done well communicates to outsiders that it’s not on a mundane dimension, it involves another world. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 14:25 that the unbeliever who comes into our midst will be so moved by the other-worldly nature of our worship that “he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, ‘God is really among you!'”

The greatest gift our worship can confer to a believer and to an outsider is a glimpse, however fleeting, of another city, another scene, another dimension.

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Back to last night’s ballgame and Barry Bonds* and Michael Irvin right after this……

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Legacy Worship Center Construction Update

The massive piles of dirt have now been dubbed the “Legacy Mountains.” I’m looking forward to watching several impromptu games of King of the Hill tonight after Bible classes. In fact, I’d be disappointed in the young people of today if I didn’t see any of that this evening.

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I always love going to the Rangers games. Valerie and Carley only care about the intrusive music between innings and pitches and the cotton candy while Whitney hangs on every pitch and every play just like her dad. There wasn’t a pitching change made or a defensive replacement brought in or a pinch runner added that she didn’t look up his bio and stats in the program. What a great gal!

Last night we got to watch a rising fan favorite in Marlon Byrd hit a go-ahead three-run homer, some clutch pitching from C. J. Wilson, and some nice defensive plays from Mike Young. It got a little uncomfortable when the A’s started pounding Frankie Francisco and mounted a bit of a comeback. But Texas held on and got the “W” and we all went home happy. I couldn’t help thinking though, from the first pitch to the final out, it sure would be nice if this meant something, if it really mattered at all. The victory keeps the Rangers 17-1/2 games out of first place.

I don’t know what to say about Barry Bonds* that hasn’t already been said, over and over and over again, for the past five or six years. It’s nauseating. What a great contrast between him and Hank Aaron on both personal and professional levels. I suppose if we didn’t have the bad guys, we wouldn’t truly appreciate the good ones. The same kind of contrast was on brilliant display in Canton Saturday evening. Michael Irvin sharing the same stage and accolades as Bruce Matthews and Roger Wehrli and Charlie Sanders brought back memories of the old Sesame Street bit: one of these things is not like the other, one of these things just doesn’t belong.

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Just 22 more days until football season and Bobby Layne is the second greatest player to ever wear the #22. The top honor, of course (come on!), goes to the all-time leading rusher in NFL history, Emmitt Smith. 13 records at Florida. Three Super Bowl victories with the Cowboys. He led the NFL in rushing four times. He was the league MVP in 1993, the Super Bowl XXVII MVP in ’92. He went to eight Pro Bowls. He set the NFL record for rushing TDs with 155. And his 17,418 career rushing yards are the most ever.

As great as he was, he’s routinely left out of most of the debates about best running back ever. And I have no clue as to why. He barely makes the top ten of most national lists. I don’t see how he’s not an automatic top three in every single all-time running backs list that’s compiled by anybody, anywhere. The only argument should be whether he’s the all-time greatest or number two or three. That’s it. First downs. Touchdowns. Durability. Leadership. Determination. Strength. Speed. He had it all.

Don’t say Barry Sanders could have had the record if he didn’t quit. He did quit. And he didn’t get the record. To me, there’s no comparison.

My word, that’s more than enough to chew on for one day.

Peace,

Allan

No Fear, No Doubt

July 31, 2007 / Allan / 3 Comments

I submitted a photo of myself to the Simpsons website that Simpson-izes images.

This is me.

It looks exactly like me. Except for the gray hair.

Thanks, Jennifer Green, for the link.

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We don’t have to look around and conduct surveys or read books or bring in experts to tell us what our mission in Christian ministry is. We’re assured in Ephesians 2 that God prepares in advance those works for us to do. We can’t open our eyes or drive two blocks or turn around without running into a person or a family or a situation that is desperately crying out for the love of God in Jesus. People all around us are dying for reconciliation. They need forgiveness. They need peace. Their lives are empty without the things only God can give them. And because the mission is all around us, because it surrounds us in its enormity, we’re usually intimidated. It’s too big. The mission is obvious but we don’t know where to start. We’re only one person or one church in a sea of lost people and hopeless circumstances. But if we’ll just step out in faith with the God who gives us the ministry, we can be certain his mission will be accomplished. He works through us and in us. He uses us for his will and his Kingdom. He takes us in our unique settings with our unique talents and quirks and abilities and puts us in places and situations in which those gifts can be utilized for Christian ministry.

It’s only by his grace, as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 3, that we build on the foundations laid before us. It’s not me, Paul continues in that same letter. It’s not us. We are what we are and we do what we do only by the grace of God. And because it’s a God-given mission that we perform with God-given gifts, nothing else should really matter. We should have no misgivings about risking our reputations to reach out with God’s love to strangers. There should be no hesitation in helping others. We’re not afraid to get out of our houses and church buildings to join the Father’s work in progress.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in Spiritual Care: “I expect naught from myself, everything from the work of Christ. My service has its objectivity in that expectation and by it I am freed from all anxiety about my insufficiency and failure.”

No fear, no doubt.

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

Putting our faith in God — not in our programs and planning or in our abilities — is the key to Christian ministry.

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$Teixeira$ Add Mark Teixeira to the LONG list of Texas Rangers who leave Arlington to win championships in another city for another team. There is nobody on that Rangers team who’s wanted to build a winner right here and do great things as a team right here than Teixeira. Nobody.

I don’t blame him. I don’t blame Scott Boras. I blame Tom Hicks. He’s lost another great one. And this one is a team leader who leads with character and work ethic and selflessness. And he wanted to be a Ranger. He wanted to stay. If he could only see some hope of some light at the end of the tunnel some day.

I’ve never rooted for the Braves. But I’m rooting hard for a great guy who’s now playing first base in Atlanta.

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For the past week Whitney has been chewing gum every day and eating popcorn every night because this morning she finally got her braces. They’re purple. For over a year she’s been talking about getting blue and red braces for the Rangers. But she’s so disgusted with the Teixeira trade that she went with purple. To match her room.

She and the rest of the Legacy Youth group just left the building for a full day at Six Flags. The kids here are so kind and friendly to Whitney. They’ve been so accepting of her and welcomed her right into the mix. And Carrie-Anne and I are so grateful for that. It’s an answer to fervent prayer.

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There are 30 more days until football season and today’s #30 is an undrafted quarterback out of South Carolina who played mainly a backup role as a running back with the Dallas Cowboys and then made his mark in the NFL as a Super Bowl coach.

Danny Reeves played for Dallas from 1965-72, actually leading the team in rushing with 757 yards in 1966, the team’s first ever winning season. But he served much more effectively as an assistant coach under Tom Landry for eleven seasons, at one time the front-runner to replace him whenever he decided to step down.

But Reeves couldn’t wait that long. He got the opportunity to coach the Broncos in 1981 and took them to four AFC title games and three Super Bowls, winning NFL Coach of the Year honors three times. He also took the Falcons to a Super Bowl after a four year stint with the Giants. In all, Dan Reeves appeared as a player or a coach in 50 playoff games and nine Super Bowls. He won NFL Coach of the Year five times and he’s the 6th all-time winningest coach in NFL history with 201 victories. And he was Chan Gailey’s little league baseball coach in Americus, Georgia.

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We’re packing up the family and heading down to Marble Falls tomorrow morning for a quick little four day getaway before school starts. We’re going to the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco Wednesday (we try to make Waco and Dublin on alternating years), worshiping with our Marble Falls family Wednesday night, going to Schlitterbahn Thursday, and doing something in Austin on Friday.

The impetus for the trip, though, is Valerie’s movie audition Saturday morning.

We recieved a letter from Primrose Productions Casting about six weeks ago telling us that they, in cooperation with the Marble Falls School District and the Texas Film Commission through Governor Perry’s office, had been scouting out new potential child actors at Colt Elementary School. They spent a couple of weeks secretly observing kids in the classroom, at lunch, and on the playground. And they selected Valerie to audition for a role in a major motion picture they’re going to be filming next year in the Austin area. The audition is at 10:30 Saturday morning. We have no idea what kind of role or what kind of movie they’re talking about. But we’ll be there.

Valerie has a tendency to be incredibly outgoing and funny in front of family and friends and then shut down completely in front of strangers. They’re going to put her on camera and just talk to her Saturday and I have no clue how it’s going to go.

I’ll try to keep up with the blog and the countdown while we’re away. I’ll try.

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Legacy Worship Center Construction Update:

Does this look like progress? A dumpster AND a port-a-potty! What else could they possibly need before they start actually digging?

Peace,

Allan

COWABUNGA!

July 27, 2007 / Allan / 3 Comments

<<<This Friday post contains information regarding this coming Sunday’s sermon; updates on the Medina Children’s Home fundraiser, Legacy worship center construction, and the Four Horsemen; two of the greatest running backs in the history of football; and an homage to The Simpsons>>>

“The Simpsons is one of the most subtle pieces of propaganda around in the cause of sense, humility, and virtue.” ~ Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Anglican church

“The Simpsons is a situation comedy about modern life that includes a significant spiritual dimension; because of that, it more accurately reflects the faith lives of Americans than any other show in the medium.” ~Mark I. Pinsky, Christianity Today

“It is not the be-all and end-all of theology on TV, but the most consistent and intelligent treatment of religion on TV is on The Simpsons.” ~David Landry, New Testament professor, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN

“There is more spiritual wisdom in one episode of The Simpsons than there is in an entire season of Touched By An Angel.” ~ The Door

“70-percent of The Simpsons episodes contain at least one religious reference. Ten percent of the show’s plots are constructed entirely around religious themes.” ~ John Heeren, California State University

“As satires go, The Simpsons is not overly harsh; indeed, most Christians would find much truth in it. If this is a show with attractive Christian characters, where good always triumphs and evil always fails, where the family virtues are always affirmed in the end, why are Christians put off by it? If you’re a mature Christian and you get all the jokes, you should watch it.” ~ Gerry Bowler, professor of philosophy, Canadian Nazarene College, Calgary

“The Simpsons proves it is possible to produce a profitable, respected program that credits religion as a part of the American lived experience. In an industry where spirituality is either absent or merely glossed over for a cheap, dispensable laugh, this cartoon proves religion can be featured as a theme without isolating the audience.” ~ Jim Trammell, professor of journalism, University of Georgia

“It doesn’t compare just with other television programs, but with the very best of American humor. Will Rogers, Mark Twain, and The Simpsons can happily occupy the same stratosphere of respect in the annals of American humor.” ~ Robert Thompson, founding director of Center for Study of Popular Television, Syracuse University

“The Simpsons is smarter, sharper, and more allusive than any other show on television.” ~ Kurt Anderson, New Yorker Magazine

“One shouldn’t think The Simpsons is a sociological tome on the best in American religious life. But, on the other hand, it does provide a pretty good picture of our religious thinking and behavior without the sometimes heavy jargon of social scientists.” ~ Tony Campolo, professor of sociology, Eastern College, St. David’s, PA

“I see in The Simpsons goodness galore — intelligence, hilarious writing, insight, telling social criticism and commentary, and plenty of helpful hints for spiritually challenged people like me.” ~ Robert L. Short, author of The Gospel According to Peanuts

“Bristling with humor and laced with keen observations, The Simpsons explores, seemingly with every episode, our fabric of faith and spirituality.” ~ William Romanowski, author of Eyes Wide Open: Looking for God in Popular Culture

“No home should be Simpsons-less.” ~ Dr. Keith Stanglin, professor of Bible, Harding University

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When the church leaders in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch to investigate the Greeks there who were “turning to the Lord,” Acts 11:23 tells us that, when Barnabas arrived, he “saw the evidence of the grace of God.” What in the world did he see? What was the visible proof that God was working in and among those Gentiles in Antioch?

That’s what we’re going to consider together at Legacy Sunday morning. The Scriptures are clear, I think, about what Barnabas saw. And those lessons and examples are valuable to us in the church today. But there’s another rabbit trail tangeant in there I want to explore in this space today.

Earlier in that same chapter of Acts, the church leaders in Jerusalem got in Peter’s face and criticized him for eating with Gentiles. Now these leaders hear that Greeks are claiming Jesus as Lord and worshiping God in the third largest city in the Roman Empire. And they send Barnabas to check it out. What was the attitude of the church leaders? Were they excited about the new converts in Antioch or where they suspicious? Were they glad about the news that Greeks were repenting and becoming disciples or were they skeptical? What were they looking for? What did they expect Barnabas to find? It’s all speculation, of course. But based on the background, it’s obvious their feelings were at least mixed.

When Barnabas arrived in Antioch I’m certain he found them worshiping differently than what he was used to in Jerusalem. I’m sure they acted differently, dressed differently, maybe kneeling for prayers instead of standing, probably singing songs Barnabas had never heard. He must have seen many weaknesses and excesses of religious enthusiasm that would have shocked most of the church leaders in Jerusalem.

But Barnabas just looks and listens. He sees and hears. And he experiences the grace of God among these Greeks. And that has everything to do with Barnabas’ spiritual mindset and godly vision. It’s his attitude that allows him to be glad and encouraged by the new Church in Antioch.

Two Christians can look at the exact same thing and come up with two very different conclusions based solely on their own bias and prejudice. The very news that fills a generous spirit with joy fills a sectarian with jealousy. Gentiles are receiving the Word of God! Fantastic! How could anyone think otherwise? But to the sectarian, any change is appalling if it threatens to break down the fences of the sect and force him to widen the extent of his fellowship.

This Acts 11 incident was a watershed moment, a crossroads in history, especially for us Gentile Christians. The report and advice from Barnabas was going to be taken very seriously by the church in Jerusalem. Praise God that Barnabas was a “good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith.”

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There are 34 more days left until football season begins. And today’s #34 in the countdown is Walter Payton. Out of little bitty Jackson State, “Sweetness” finished 4th in the Heisman voting in 1974 after a college career that saw him gain over 3,500 yards and score 66 touchdowns. He spent 13 seasons in Chicago after the Bears made him their number one pick and retired following the 1987 season as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with 16,726 yards. Payton was named the NFL’s Player of the Year twice, he went to nine Pro Bowls, and ran for over a hundred yards 77 times. He rushed for 275 yards in a single game against the Vikings in 1977. He was a more exciting runner and had more moves than Barry Sanders. And he was as tough as a Larry Csonka. Even with his “Roos” headband and shoes, Payton was certainly the essence of class and cool in the ’70s and ’80s. Herschel Walker gets an honorable mention for what he did at Georgia. But Payton is hands-down without debate the best to ever wear #34.

Tomorrow’s #33 is another great running back, one I’d put in the top ten all-time in both college and the pros. Tony Dorsett won the Heisman Trophy at Pittsburgh while helping the Panthers win the National Championship in 1976. He racked up 202 yards rushing, a Sugar Bowl record, against Georgia in the title game. And when he left school, he was college football’s all-time leading rusher. Dorsett was a four-time All-America and the first ever player to rush for a thousand yards in all four seasons.

The Dallas Cowboys stole Dorsett from the expansion Seattle Seahawks in exchange for three early picks in 1977. And in his 11 years in Dallas, the Cowboys rode him to five NFC Championship Games and two Super Bowls. He was the NFL Rookie of the Year in ’77 and he’s still the NFL’s fifth all-time leading rusher with 12,739 yards. And his 99-yard run against the Vikings on a Monday night in 1983 is a record that can only be tied.

Someday when I have more time and space I’ll rehash my chasing Dorsett down in a Sears parking lot for his autograph. I was ten. He refused. I cried. He signed.

And when I had him as a guest on my talk show in the end zone at St. Edward’s University in 1994 following the news conference announcing his induction into the Cowboys Ring of Honor I retold the story. He claimed, nearly 20 years and a Hall of Fame career later, to remember it.

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I just found out this week that the big dinner at the Fairmont in Dallas last month with Avery Johnson raised $368,000 for Medina Children’s Home! Thank you so much to everyone who attended, everyone who bought something at the auction, and everyone who’s given of their time and money to support that wonderful work. Jeff Powers, a dear friend in Mesquite, was the evening’s official photographer and his pics are posted on this site. The pictures of me praying are on pages 2 & 3. Yes, my eyes are closed.

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There are tons of stakes now out on the west lawn at the Legacy Church campus. They must be getting close. Hurry.

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The Four Horsemen ride again this afternoon. Every fourth Friday. My time with Jason, Kevin, and Dan always leaves me uplifted, recharged, and amazed at how our God is so active in our lives. They encourage me so much. And I’m thankful to our Lord for putting them in my path.

Have a great weekend,

Allan

Hope Springs Eternal in San Antonio

July 26, 2007 / Allan / 1 Comment

I’m nauseated by the pictures and stories coming out of San Antonio and Dallas Cowboys training camp. Forget Terrell Owens purposefully showing up in a Barry Bonds San Francisco Giants jersey when Bonds right now stands for everything that’s wrong with professional sports in this country. To intentionally align himself with Bonds at this moment in time says a whole lot about Terrell Owens. But not much more than we already knew. It also says a great deal about Jerry Wayne, who spent five million more dollars over the spring to make sure Owens was going to be a leader on this squad. This is the same Jerry who passed on Brady Quinn at #22 when Quinn was ranked as high as #5 on their Valley Ranch draft board. And as much as I love Tony Romo, this so very much reminds me of the Cowboys passing on Dan Marino because they’d already committed to Danny White and Steve Pelluer.

Even aside from those two things, where does all the optimism come from? Has a football team ever gone into a season with a brand new coach, a brand new defensive coordinator, and a brand new offensive coordinator who’s never called plays and done anything? It’s so crazy to me to hear people talking about the division and the conference being up for grabs and “somebody’s gotta win it so why not the Cowboys!”

In the history of organized professional football has a team ever opened up its training camp with a no-pads no-contact practice? I understand Wade Phillips is going out of his way to prove to his players that he’s no Bill Parcells. I understand that he’s relaxing every single aspect of player life in the lockerroom, on the field, during meetings, and even away from the team to show everyone he’s a player’s coach and not a strict disciplinarian. And I completely understand the players all agreeing to a man that they were tired of Parcells’ dictatorship and relieved to be a playing for a coach who “understands today’s player.” But I also recall vividly that four years ago, to a man, the entire organization was thrilled to be rid of the Dave Campo player’s coach model in exchange for Parcells’ rules. Don’t all the beat writers and reporters remember the same thing? Why do I keep hearing and reading that the players are completely buying into the Phillips system and that’s the most important thing? Remember the first Monday night game of the Parcells era, week two in New York against the Giants? The Cowboys blew a 17 point lead and wound up taking it to overtime on a fluke special teams play and a long pass at the buzzer and then winning with a field goal? No team has ever “bought into” a coach more than that team did in the early part of that year. That’s not the most important thing. The most important thing is good players and good coaches and team discipline and consistency over at least a couple of seasons.

And if you look at the most successful NFL coaches over the past 10 years, they are hard-nosed disciplinarians. Rules guys. Dungy. Cowher. Belichick. Fisher. Gruden. Shanahan. Holmgren. They always have been. Shula. Landry. Gibbs. Lombardi. Even Bill Parcells.

The scenes and stories coming out of the Alamodome are complete repeats of the Campo era scenes and stories. The loud music, the mascots and cheerleaders disrupting practice, mostly just once a day walkthroughs, a reduced number of two-a-day full-contact scrimmages, corporate displays and booths actually on the practice field, and Jerry Wayne and his ever-present publicity machine in the huddles and in front of every camera.

Playoffs?

Right.

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Elijah was taken up to heaven last night in an elaborately decorated fiery chariot with the aid of a Tommy-Lift. And thus ends another wonderful VBS at Legacy. Terri and Shellie and Kipi did a terrific job and are to be commended for organizing and executing a wonderful way to teach our children the stories of God’s people and God’s faithfulness to his people. I’m so looking forward already to next year. Someone’s mentioned that if we do Daniel next year there would be plenty of eager volunteers to throw me and Jason and Lance into the fiery furnace. I’m not sure how to take that. Enjoy some pics from the last night.

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There are 35 more days until football season officially begins. And the best ever #35 is a Yale man. Calvin Hill was the Dallas Cowboys first-round draft pick out of the Ivy League school in 1969 and went on to become that season’s NFL Rookie of the Year. He was the first ever Cowboy to rush for a thousand yards and is still the team’s #4 all time leading ground gainer. He led the team in rushing four times, in receiving twice, and he’s still #8 on the squad’s all-time all-purpose yards list with 6,368. He scored 24 points on four TDs in a game against the Bills in ’71, which is still a team record.

Calvin Hill finished up his career with the Redskins and Browns. He’s also the father of the NBA’s Grant Hill, which, if you keep up with basketball, you know speaks to Calvin’s integrity as a great dad who raised a fantastic son.

Calvin currently works with the Cowboys, and has for a little over a decade, as the team’s player development guy. He counsels them and works with them on dealing with life in the NFL, trying to keep them out of trouble off the field and helping shape them into productive members of society. Tough job. But the Cowboys’ players have gotten into considerably less trouble with Calvin on the job.

And when the Cowboys are gearing up to play the Redskins, Giants, or Eagles and you get Calvin at just the right moment, off by himself, and in a talking mood, he’ll go for days on how things used to be in the bitter NFC East. He’ll talk forever about the genuine hatred between the teams and the things that were done and said on the field during those games in the early ’70s. He’s a super great guy. And one of the few positive elements you can point to right now with the Cowboys as an organization.

Peace,

Allan

Category: Cowboys (Page 52 of 54)

Lives Worthy of God

Is A Popular God…? Part Three

Is A Popular God….? Part Two. No Asterisk.

No Fear, No Doubt

COWABUNGA!

Hope Springs Eternal in San Antonio

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