Going Home

This time of year is always special for me. Ed Lewis and I always are in CA this last week of January (we're no dummies--we know when to get out of Indiana...) for meetings and to be in churches and to do a special evening in the So Cal area.

I would guess that people would say the reason I like to head west is to get in warmer weather. That is not all-together-incorrect, but it really is much more than that. Fir me, this is a great tie to reflect on so many of those who invested in my life as I grew up in Southern Cal. Teachers, church family, family, youth workers... I am grateful for those who applied the biblical passage about older men teaching the younger men...

This month CE National has started something called CE National Ambassadors. Stacie and Sarah will be on the road 75% of the time talking about discipleship and mentoring. I am really grateful that people did that in my life and it is a neat thing that these young women will be challenging people to build into the next generation.

So I am off to CA for week. And I look forward to remembering all who have invested in me. And I just heard that it is going to be raining just about the whole time we are out west. And I'm still looking forward to going.

Concluding with Class

Just heard that Tony Dungy is retiring from coaching the Colts. It is no secret that I am a dedicated Steeler fan. And just like the dad in the movie My Big Obnoxious Greek Wedding--or something like that-- who can take any word and share how it comes from a Greek oroot, Tony Dungy was once a Steeler... But I digress.

I have gotten to see this man quite a bit as the Colts are only 2 hours and 30 mins away from us. What a class act. Even in his retirement speech, the man is gracious to others and continueally referencing his relationship with the Lord. It just flows out of him.

I also read about President Bush leaving office. Again--from what I saw in action--a man of character. I am still not sure of some of his decisions, and some comments I heard about his view of the Bible were disappointing, but my point is that he could leave with anger, malice , self-centeredness. But that, as I recall, was the Previous President of the United States.

I hope that when I leave something--a job, an opportunity, a ministry--that I leave it in a way that is about others and that my character points to Christ. I am so impressed with Dungy that it cause the fact to pale by comparison that he was the first Black man to coach a team to a Super Bowl victory.

Maybe Tony will be willing to come speak at Momentum or Youth Emphasis Week. He lives out what he teaches and the entire press is confirming it.

Going Green

Maybe I finally got some time off in order to notice it. Maybe it is all of a sudden showing up EVERYWHERE. But over the Christmas/New Years break I noticed that everyone wants to be "green". Green products, going green, Green, green, green.

Now first off, I don't have any problem with taking care of the world that God created. I believe that is a Scriptural mandate. He created this place and we are to be good stewards of it. No problem. We have become more intentional about recycling at our house. We try not to waste. We try to conserve energy as much as possible--because it is a good thing--but maybe because I am just a middle age dad who feel like it is his god-given responsibility to go around turning off lights in rooms where no one is gathered...

But where I get concerned about "going green" is in the same area where PETA and some animal lovers tend to go. I like animals. We love dogs. I like eating cows very much. I want them treated well as I think it is even a reflection on a person's character who abuses such creatures. I am concerned that people are now valuing, in a different way, "the creature over the creator." In a comparison, some think that animals and the environment are more important than people. Hmmm. That's were I have a problem.

I think the Apostle Paul had a problem with that kind of reasoning and he says so in Romans 1. God is number one. Not the created (mankind). Not his creation. And I think the "going green" is getting way out of balance.

Consider the case of global warming --which may be important to consider as a steward. The issue has been so highly politicized that scientists were afraid to step forward and even question if it really was CO2 gas causing all the problems. Talk about politically correct. Now it is getting more and more coverage that some scientists are saying we are not really heating up--but are actually cooling slightly. And that what goes on in space may have more to do with global warming/cooling than gases we produce.

So, I am trying to "go green". I really am. But maybe not for the same reasons as some in society may think. And just so I can offend some people to an even greater degree, I still like my cow done medium-well-- along with a baked potato.