This is a random assortment of advice given to me over the years. While most of this advice was given to me as a minister, I think it fits well with whatever profession one is involved. Here are a few sayings that have stuck with me (I am giving credit to the one who gave me the advice):
"To be on time is to be late; to be early is to be on time." - John Hume
"When I'm talking and you're talking - nobody's listening!" - Randy Hall
On Revelation: "I'm not on the planning committee; I'm on the preparation committee." - Dr. Dominy
On tough theological issues that no one really knows the answer to: "I reserve my right to change my mind when I get to heaven." - Dr. Dominy
On hospital visits: "Be brief, be bright, be gone." - Pappaw
"Don't be so heavenly bound that you're no earthly good." - Dr. Wade
"Babylonians 4:12 - No one can please anyone all the time." - Dr. Winfred Moore
"Don't hug anyone over 7 or under 70." - Dr. Winfred Moore
And my favorite:
"Keep your hands of the women and off the money - and tell the truth." - Dr. Wade
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Monday, July 07, 2008
Fatherhood Success
I oftentimes wonder how effective a father I am to my children. Am I raising them up in the way they should go? Are they learning how to act, how to treat others, etc? Am I a godly example for them? I don't know the answers to these questions, and I guess I won't until much later in life, long after I can do anything to correct my mistakes. But I am encouraged by one influence I have made with Grant - he loves baseball!
On Saturday afternoons, FOX has its MLB game of the week. Since we don't have cable, and since only 40 Ranger games are on regular TV, and most of those are at night, Saturday afternoon has become a good time for us to watch baseball. But let me back up a second. We are able from time to time to go to a Ranger game. Last year, whenever Grant and I would go, he would be more excited about the jumbo-tron and gimmicks than the game itself. He loved how the "H" in "Southwest" would light up whenever anyone got a hit, and of course, he loved the occasional fireworks after a homerun. But as far as the game itself, he really didn't care all that much. Toward the end of last season, he began to catch on a little more, perhaps from playing T-ball and watching more games with me. But this summer, baseball has captured Grant's attention. Like I said, we watch the FOX game of the week. Usually, this involves the Yankees, Red Sox, or Cubs. So we choose a team to root for and go from there. Grant has quickly learned the rules: always cheer for the Rangers, always cheer against the Yankees. Last week, the Red Sox were playing the Yankees. He kept me up to date on the game. As we were watching, he would say "Oh man! The Yankees got a hit. I wish they would have gotten out!" and "Yes, he struck him out!" We discussed why Giambi is a cheater and why we don't like the Yankees. Anyway, the last two weeks, the Yankees have won, much to our displeasure. In fact, the week before we also watched the Cubs play the White Sox. We pulled for the Cubs and they lost as well. We are not having much luck, unless, as Grant reminded me, we go to the Ranger game - the Rangers have won both times we have gone this year. So he thinks we should go again.
Over the weekend, we watched Wimbledon as well (uncle Ben would be happy). I haven't kept up with tennis since Sampras and Agassi, so we decided to pull for Federer. He lost, but it was still fun to see Grant get excited about tennis as well. (Tennis by the way is much more difficult to explain scoring wise to a 5 year old.) But when the epic match was over, we flipped over to the Ranger game, which was actually on regular TV. It was in the 8th inning. Grant said, "I wish it was just the 2nd so we could watch the whole game." I am smiling. I don’t know how good a job I am doing as a father, but I am so happy that Grant loves baseball. And I am even happier that he loves to watch it with me.
On Saturday afternoons, FOX has its MLB game of the week. Since we don't have cable, and since only 40 Ranger games are on regular TV, and most of those are at night, Saturday afternoon has become a good time for us to watch baseball. But let me back up a second. We are able from time to time to go to a Ranger game. Last year, whenever Grant and I would go, he would be more excited about the jumbo-tron and gimmicks than the game itself. He loved how the "H" in "Southwest" would light up whenever anyone got a hit, and of course, he loved the occasional fireworks after a homerun. But as far as the game itself, he really didn't care all that much. Toward the end of last season, he began to catch on a little more, perhaps from playing T-ball and watching more games with me. But this summer, baseball has captured Grant's attention. Like I said, we watch the FOX game of the week. Usually, this involves the Yankees, Red Sox, or Cubs. So we choose a team to root for and go from there. Grant has quickly learned the rules: always cheer for the Rangers, always cheer against the Yankees. Last week, the Red Sox were playing the Yankees. He kept me up to date on the game. As we were watching, he would say "Oh man! The Yankees got a hit. I wish they would have gotten out!" and "Yes, he struck him out!" We discussed why Giambi is a cheater and why we don't like the Yankees. Anyway, the last two weeks, the Yankees have won, much to our displeasure. In fact, the week before we also watched the Cubs play the White Sox. We pulled for the Cubs and they lost as well. We are not having much luck, unless, as Grant reminded me, we go to the Ranger game - the Rangers have won both times we have gone this year. So he thinks we should go again.
Over the weekend, we watched Wimbledon as well (uncle Ben would be happy). I haven't kept up with tennis since Sampras and Agassi, so we decided to pull for Federer. He lost, but it was still fun to see Grant get excited about tennis as well. (Tennis by the way is much more difficult to explain scoring wise to a 5 year old.) But when the epic match was over, we flipped over to the Ranger game, which was actually on regular TV. It was in the 8th inning. Grant said, "I wish it was just the 2nd so we could watch the whole game." I am smiling. I don’t know how good a job I am doing as a father, but I am so happy that Grant loves baseball. And I am even happier that he loves to watch it with me.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Happy July 4th!
In 1993, I was fortunate enough to travel with a group from my high school to the Presidential Inauguration in Washington , DC . While we participated in many events and visited numerous places, certainly the event that made the most remarkable impression on me was the actual inauguration ceremony. There, in span of a few minutes, President George H. W. Bush became former president, while Bill Clinton became President Bill Clinton. Both men stood only a few feet apart. Both had just endured a long campaign. Power was transferring from one political party to the next - with only a short recitation of an oath. No bloodshed, no intimidation, no fighting. After the ceremony, Bush left via helicopter, Clinton rode in the presidential limo to the White House. Simply remarkable.
Fast-forward to Zimbabwe today. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai initially wins against highly corrupt long-time leader Robert Mugabe. However, Mugabe is in charge of releasing the vote totals. After holding the results secret, Mugabe declared that Tsvangirai did not have a majority and there would be a run-off. Over the last month leading up to the run-off, Tsvangirai has been arrested, run out of town, and threatened, while his supporters have been beaten, harassed, and intimidated to the point that Tsvangirai withdrew from the election. Mugabe then forced everyone to vote and claimed victory a few days ago, holding on to his power. The world has called the election a sham, but yet Mugabe still maintains his power. Meanwhile, the people of Zimbabwe face 4 million percent inflation - that number is not an exaggeration.
In America, George W Bush is highly unpopular, the economy is sagging, and the war in Iraq has been heavily criticized. McCain and Obama, campaigning to succeed Bush, trade barbs daily in the race to the White House. It looks like over the next few months we will see McCain and Obama go after each other as hard as they can. As nasty as our politics in America can be, come January, our new president will be sworn in as Bush stands a few feet away, and as the losing candidate heads back to the Senate. Bush will get in a helicopter and fly away, the new president will ride in a limo to the White House. And while some may be upset or depressed that their candidate didn’t win, we will peacefully continue on as a free, democratic nation. Perhaps Zimbabwe will claim the same one day. Happy July 4th!
Fast-forward to Zimbabwe today. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai initially wins against highly corrupt long-time leader Robert Mugabe. However, Mugabe is in charge of releasing the vote totals. After holding the results secret, Mugabe declared that Tsvangirai did not have a majority and there would be a run-off. Over the last month leading up to the run-off, Tsvangirai has been arrested, run out of town, and threatened, while his supporters have been beaten, harassed, and intimidated to the point that Tsvangirai withdrew from the election. Mugabe then forced everyone to vote and claimed victory a few days ago, holding on to his power. The world has called the election a sham, but yet Mugabe still maintains his power. Meanwhile, the people of Zimbabwe face 4 million percent inflation - that number is not an exaggeration.
In America, George W Bush is highly unpopular, the economy is sagging, and the war in Iraq has been heavily criticized. McCain and Obama, campaigning to succeed Bush, trade barbs daily in the race to the White House. It looks like over the next few months we will see McCain and Obama go after each other as hard as they can. As nasty as our politics in America can be, come January, our new president will be sworn in as Bush stands a few feet away, and as the losing candidate heads back to the Senate. Bush will get in a helicopter and fly away, the new president will ride in a limo to the White House. And while some may be upset or depressed that their candidate didn’t win, we will peacefully continue on as a free, democratic nation. Perhaps Zimbabwe will claim the same one day. Happy July 4th!
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
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