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Practice Playing Second Fiddle

August 6, 2007 / Allan / 0 Comments

“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” Romans 12:3

There are certain passages of Scripture that I think should be read regularly in our public Christian assemblies because of the forming effect they have on us. Passages that speak to the loving and gracious nature of our God, his will for his people, and our mission as disciples of Christ serve to shape our mindset and our way of living with each other and in our world. The Word of God should mold us into the image of Jesus. And reading it together, especially passages that speak to these specific things, would go a long way in redirecting our focus from the little matters to the more important aspects of our lives of faith.

One such passage is the very familiar “living sacrifice” section of Romans 12. I’ve read Romans 12 out loud six times already today, once at our regular Monday morning staff meeting. It’s always had tremendous power to properly shape my perspective. In times of discouragment, or in times when I’m thinking too highly of myself, Romans 12 has always spoken to me, turning me towards the big-picture view of life in Christ and my place in it.

Let me share with you Eugene Peterson’s translation of Romans 12:4-21 from The Message:

“We are like the various parts of the human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.

If you preach, just preach God’s message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.

Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.

Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. ‘I’ll do the judging,’ says God. ‘I’ll take care of it.’

Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, give him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.”

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Legacy Worship Center Construction Update:

Dirt is moving!

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We had a fantastic time on our mini-family-vacation to Marble Falls. It was so great to worship with our dear friends at the Marble Falls Church Wednesday evening and to share, in some small insignificant way, the heartache of dealing with the flood of late June. We heard so many stories and saw so many amazing pictures. And the evidence of those horrible days is still all around: flood debris still clinging to power lines some 20-feet above the roads, washed out roads and bridges, creek beds that are permanantly now four times wider and deeper than they were before the rains. We wish nothing but all of God’s richest blessings for the good people of that great town, especially the Jamars as they rebuild their house, the Youngs and the Montgomerys as they continue to clean up, the Burdetts and the Longs as they recover from huge business losses, and the other dozen or so families of Christians down there.

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On the way to Marble Falls on Wednesday we made our bi-annual trip to the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco.

We did a little antique shopping in Salado

We stayed with our great friends Mike & Lee Ann Clark and saw nothing of Jennifer or Ashley, not enough of Logan, and too much of the cats!

We spent all day Thursday at Schlitterbahn and nearly froze our Schlitterbuns!

Friday we took in the Texas History Museum in Austin.

And then Saturday it was movie audition day for Valerie. We waited for almost two hours before they finally called her in. And she was only in there for about 60-seconds! All they did was take a couple of pictures and ask her one or two very general questions about her family and her summer on camera. There were at least 20-25 boys being auditioned from school districts all over central Texas. But Valerie was the only girl in the building. We were told later that they were looking at 300 or so boys, but only four girls. We have no idea what kind of movie this is, what the parts or the roles are, or what they have in mind for Valerie. They only told us it would be six months to a year before we’d be contacted. It’s not quite “don’t call us, we’ll call you,” but almost.

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There are only 24 days left until the REAL football season begins—none of this preseason mess. And today’s number 24 is Johnny “Lam” Jones from Lampasas High School. Johnny Lam wore #26 at the University of Texas where, as a Longhorn, he was a two-time All-America running back and flanker who scored eight touchdowns of 45 yards or longer. He wore #80 as the very first ever professional football player to sign a million dollar contract when the Jets traded two number one picks to the 49ers in order to select him second overall in 1980. But he wore #24 as a Lampasas Badger—the “Lam” stands for his hometown of Lampasas—where he wowed all of Central Texas on the football field and on the track. He won state championships, Southwest Conference championships, national championships, and an Olympic gold medal. And when he played for the Jets, from 1980-86, he was the fastest player in the NFL. I don’t have a picture of Lam Jones in his #24 Lampasas jersey. If you can find one, please pass it along.

#25 is Raiders great Fred Biletnikoff. He was an All-America reciever at Florida State before being taken second overall by Oakland in 1965. He was durable and tough. He had deceptive speed and amazing hands. He was the NFL receptions leader in 1971, made all conference four times, and went to four Pro Bowls. While he was a Raider, Oakland played in nine conference title games and two Super Bowls. He was the MVP of Super Bowl XI. And the Fred Biletnikoff Award goes to the best receiver in college football every year.

Herb Adderley is my all-time greatest #26. Drafted as a running back by Vince Lombardi and the Packers out of Michigan State, Adderley made the switch to cornerback late in his rookie season and had a Hall of Fame career with Green Bay and the Cowboys: 48 picks, 1,046 return yards, five NFL championships, four Super Bowls, and five Pro Bowls.

The greatest to ever wear #27 is Oilers and Redskins safety Ken Houston. Out of Prarie View A&M, Houston was a ninth-round pick of the Oilers in 1967 and then traded to Washington six years later for five players. He had speed, quickness, and size, punishing runners and receivers with huge blows on every tackle. He finished his career with 49 interceptions and nine TDs, made ten Pro Bowls, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

Finally, the greatest football player to ever wear #28 is Abilene Christian and Philadelphia Eagle star Wilbert Montgomery. He didn’t want to go to Jackson State where he’d have to play behind his cousin, Walter Payton. So he wound up in Abilene where he scored a 56 yard touchdown on his first ever carry and a 39 yard touchdown on his first ever catch. He took the ACU Wildcats to the NAIA National Championship in 1973, scoring 37 touchdowns that freshman year, and finished his college career with a national record 70 TDs.

As #31 with the Philadelphia Eagles he ran over the Cowboys in the 1980 NFC Championship Game for 194 yards. Montgomery went 42 yards for a score on the second play of that game, setting the tone for what was a long, frigid afternoon in Philly for the Danny-White led Cowboys. Following his eight years with the Eagles, he finished up with two seasons in Detroit. Montgomery’s in the College Football Hall of Fame (check out his ‘do!) and the forty-second leading rusher in NFL history. The great Darryl Green deserves honorable mention, but Wilbert Montgomery’s the best football player to ever wear #28. Thanks to Kipi and Paul and Gary for helping me hunt down the pictures.

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I’ll close today with the words of a dear friend of mine, Charlie Johansson:

“Never doubt yourself because you are called and gifted by God. He will use the good times to encourage you and the bad times to humble you. Both are needed.”

Peace,

Allan

"…in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ"

August 3, 2007 / Allan / 4 Comments

As we begin a series of lessons at Legacy Sunday on Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonica, it’s important to consider the purpose and the impact of the very first line. The richness of the imagery and the depth of the meaning is so much more than we notice at first glance.

Paul writes to “the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Greek preposition “en,” translated “in,” indicates means rather than position. So it designates the church as brought into being or assembled by or created by God and Jesus. By this, we recognize that the church has no life apart from God and his saving work in Christ — work that’s rooted in his divine love and grace for us, his people. Paul is emphasizing from the very beginning of the letter the centrality and importance of God for the life of the church. The church is from God and about God. It’s only secondarily for and about us.

There’s also a profound purpose behind Paul’s deliberate identification of God’s son as the “Lord Jesus Christ.” It’s an apostolic formula that describes in detail everything we profess as Christians. The name “Jesus” stresses his humanness and his death, the title “Christ” emphasizes his resurrection and eternal reign, and “Lord” expresses the believers’ profession of faith and total submission to his divine power and will.

In this one part of one sentence, Paul claims that the church is so much more than just another social organization. It’s nothing less than the people of God, called together by him for his purposes. It’s God who calls people to follow, worship, and serve him; not vice-versa. God does not exist for the sake of the church; the church exists for the praise and glory of God.

And if we can grasp this foundational point, it’ll fundamentally change the way we think about church. We’ll think of our worship less in terms of what it does for us, and more of an opportunity for us to glorify and praise our Father. We’ll consider the ministries of the church less as a means of meeting our needs, and more as opportunities to serve others in Christ. And we’ll never view gathering together with other believers as an inconvenience or an intrusion into our weekends, but more as an opportunity to declare our allegiance to the one true and living God.

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There are 27 more days until football season. But I’m going to wait until Monday to update the list of all-time jersey numbers in the countdown. In the meantime, you can help me. I can’t find a picture of Wilbert Montgomery in his ACU #28 from 1973-76. He wore #31 while he was running through and around and over the Cowboys in the NFL. But he was #28 as an All-America back at ACU. And I can’t find a picture. Somebody please find it for me!!!!

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Schlitterbahn is in the books and we’re heading to Austin. Have a great weekend!

Allan

10-2-4

August 1, 2007 / Allan / 0 Comments

I’m beginning a six or seven week sermon series from 1 Thessalonians this Sunday with the intention of looking at that church that met at Jason’s house in Thessalonica that Paul said was so great. I want us to look at that church for the next month and a half and see why Paul said they were THE model church. And then I’m praying that, naturally, we can imitate that wonderful group of believers and do what they did and live like they lived.

If you’re a member of our Legacy church family, I challenge you to read all five chapters of 1 Thessalonians — out loud, of course! — sometime between now and Sunday. And notice how often Paul says something along the lines of, “You’re doing exactly what we’ve taught you to do. Keep it up!”

In my extensive reading for a Christian Ethics course last year (no, that is not an oxymoron) I came across the writings of John Chrysostom. One particular passage from 388 AD, concerning the ways the Church of Jesus Christ overcomes the world, fits our upcoming series perfectly:

“Let this, I say, be our way of overpowering them, and of conducting our warfare against them; before all words, astound them with our way of life. For this is the main battle, this is the unanswerable argument, the argument from actions. For though we give ten thousand precepts of philosophy in words, if we do not exhibit a life better than theirs, the gain is nothing. For it is not what is said that draws their attention, but their enquiry is, what we do. Let us win them therefore by our life.”

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There are 29 days left until football season. And today’s all-time #29 is one-half of the famed Pony Express and one of the most underrated running backs in football history. Eric Dickerson was not a TV analyst. But he could tote the pigskin. Dickerson was born in Sealey, Texas and went to SMU (for who knows how much money) to team up with Craig James — who is a pretty good analyst — to form the Express during the Ponies’ glory days of the glamorous ’80s. Dickerson was a unanimous All-America selection in ’82 and finished his college career as SMU’s all-time leading rusher and the all-time leading rusher in Southwest Conference history with 4,450 yards. His 28 100-yard games is also still a school record.

Dickerson was the Rams’ #1 pick, #2 overall, in ’83 and racked up over 1,800 yards rushing in three of his first four seasons. He ran for 2,105 yards in ’84. He bounced around from the Rams to the Colts to the Raiders and then finally to the Falcons. But when he retired in ’93, he was the NFL’s second all-time leading rusher behind Walter Payton.

He was so big and tall (6’3″, 220 lbs) and ran so smoothly and effortlessly that most casual observers, including reporters and writers who should have known better, believed he wasn’t giving it his best — that he wasn’t trying hard enough. There just wasn’t a whole lot of wasted motion with Dickerson. He made it look so easy. Too easy, in fact.

He wore #19 with the Hilltoppers at SMU. But he’s my all-time #29.

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Off to the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco and then on down to Marble Falls for three days. Have a great day!

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

Legacy Adopts Walker Creek Elementary!

July 30, 2007 / Allan / 1 Comment

There are so many things to be excited about at the Legacy Church of Christ. There are so many programs and ministries here that our God is using for the Kingdom — the new Worship Center construction, our new focus on small groups, the upcoming Giveaway Day, all that our young people are doing, the camps and mission trips, VBS. But adopting Walker Creek, claiming that campus for Christ, is exactly the kind of thing this body of disciples is called to do by every paragraph of our Scriptures. If we really believe we are the body of Christ then we must be Jesus Christ to our community. And we can’t fulfill even a fraction of what it means to be the body of Christ inside our church building. If we are to be Jesus, we do that outside, face to face, person to person, in relationship, showing love and compassion in our actions to the people with whom we live in community.

Just like Jesus, we bear the burdens of our world. We bear the infirmities and the iniquities of our community. We turn sorrow into joy in the name of our Savior.

Our community is sick. Its families are fractured. Its neighborhoods are diseased. We live in a broken world. And Christ says we are the light.

In his lectures delivered to the University of Berlin in 1933 Dietrich Bonhoeffer presented the church of Jesus as “a sociological category unique unto itself.”

“Unlike other human organizations, the Church is not a vehicle for some other goal but is, in fact, an end in itself, containing within its own proclamation and witness and work the very gifts it promises. Thus, within the Church’s proclamation and sacramental life, that grace which is eschatologically promised in the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ becomes present to the community and to the individual.”

In other words — although I like his so much better — the Church is Jesus to the community. The love and the grace, the compassion and the benevolence we show to others is actually the love and grace, compassion and benevolence of the risen Lord. The Church reaches out with the mercy of God to the community and becomes the healing touch of God to those persons and circumstances.

We’ve been given an opportunity, a good work prepared in advance by God for us to do, to adopt Walker Creek Elementary School. Our plan is to buy backpacks and school supplies for the nearly 200 economically-disadvantaged, mostly Hispanic students there and volunteer to read to them in their ESL classes and eat lunch with them occasionally. By being committed to doing these little things in the lives of these children, we can positively impact them and their families with the love of God and claim that part of our community for Christ.

Jason tells me a bunch of our teenagers went out and purchased several backpacks last night. At the dinner for the Dodds last night several of us began planning how our classes and small groups could expand the extent of the relationship with Walker Creek even further. The idea has already caught fire. Praise God for the opportunities he gives us to serve his people in the Kingdom!

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It was exactly one year ago today, July 30, 2006, that I preached my first sermon at Legacy. I was officially hired a couple of weeks later — the culmination of an amazing process, so strange and so wonderful it could have only been of God. But because of my commitments to school at Austin Grad we couldn’t start here until June. I was able to drive up here and preach at Legacy once a month during that ten month interim. So in a lot of ways, we’ve been a part of the Legacy family for a year now. But in so many other ways, I still feel brand new.

And those same feelings of humility and complete inadequacy in the pulpit and in my work as the preacher at this place won’t go away.

I believe with all my heart that it’s our God who is using me. He inspires me through the week in my study and my prayer and then speaks through me on Sundays. He takes his message and places it right into the hearts of the people here, in exactly the place where and when and how they need it. I’m totally baffled by the way it works. None of it is me. All of it is Him. And a week doesn’t go by that several people talk to me about how the message reached them and touched them, the exactly perfect words were said at exactly the perfect time. The word of grace they needed at just that moment was delivered, perfectly tailored to specifically comfort and encourage them. None of it is me. All of it is Him. And it blows me away.

People I don’t know that well, people I’ve barely met, will talk to me about their innermost fears and anxieties, their sins and their struggles with faith and hope. And we’ll cry together and we’ll pray together. And I don’t even know these people yet. As they’re talking to me, I can’t help thinking, “Why are they telling me these things? What am I supposed to do? They’re telling me things and confiding in me things they wouldn’t tell their dearest friend. Why?”

It’s because I’m the preacher. I represent God and the Word of God to these people. I represent a deeper relationship to our God to the church. I’m expected to give them spiritual direction and comfort and hope straight from the Lord.

And when I’m finished with those conversations, I feel so small and insignificant. I feel like I haven’t helped at all. I feel like I haven’t said a thing they couldn’t have heard from almost anyone else. I feel so humble. Everytime it happens, I look at my own life. I look at my own sin and selfishness and inclinations to evil. I look at all the things I don’t understand about God and his ways and his will. And he still uses me. And that completely blows me away.

I find myself every day praying the prayer of Terry Rush up in Tulsa: “God, please keep doing that thing you do.”

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31 days until football season and two more running backs in the countdown. #31 is the great Jim Taylor of those Titletown Packers in the ’60s. As Green Bay’s top pick out of LSU in 1958, Taylor ran for over a thousand yards in five straight seasons, he led the NFL in rushing in 1962 and was the league’s player of the year that season. He was a ferocious runner and a powerful blocker and a member of that original “run to daylight” backfield with the Packers.

Yesterday’s #32 is not O. J. Simpson, Franco Harris, or Marcus Allen, although they all three deserve honorable mention for their college and pro careers. Walt Garrison’s a personal favorite at #32 but probably doesn’t fit in the same category as the greatest ever. The best ever #32 is Jim Brown. As an All-America out of Syracuse, he was built like a lineman and punshished defenders when he ran over them. He was the Browns’ top draft pick in 1957 and led the NFL in rushing eight times, winning the league’s MVP award twice. His career lasted only nine seasons. But he racked up 58 100-yard games and a combined 15,459 yards from scrimmage. He still holds 20 NFL records. His career rushing average is 5.2 yards per carry. His career receiving average is 9.5 yards per catch. And he’s appeared in 39 movies.

I don’t care much for his politics or his demeanor. But Jim Brown was the best to ever wear #32.

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Happy Birthday, Rhonda! I love you. Thank you for not letting go.

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

The Kingdom, The Kids, & The Cowboys

Page 486 of 493

Practice Playing Second Fiddle

"…in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ"

10-2-4

No Fear, No Doubt

Legacy Adopts Walker Creek Elementary!

COWABUNGA!

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