The Sad State of Sports

Forget the headlines of Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie, Brittany Spears, and Lindsay Lohan (as bad as they are), I am more concerned about the state of the sports world. The sad state of hero worship is being portrayed not only in Hollywierd (I'm sorry, Hollywood) but in the privileged world of professional athletics. The sad state of affairs can be seen in many places, some on the front page and some buried in the back pages. Here goes:
1. The Tour de France - I use to watch this on OLN (find that channel on your cable dial!) when Lance Armstrong and Greg LeMond were riding and winning. Now, the last two rides have been marred by drug scandals. Last year it was charges of doping against the eventual winner, American Floyd Landis. This year, before the race even got underway, cycling superstars Jan Ulrich and Ivan Basso were thrown out for doping. Now that the race is going on (and is anyone watching it?) and several riders have been thrown out for doping - Vinokourov was the first and now it is the overall leader, Michael Rasmussen, has been sacked by his own team not for failing a test but for lying about where he was when he missed two pre-race drug testing dates. This is not a sport anymore, it is a pharmacy on wheels.
2. The NBA - Well, this one has been on the front pages for sure. I have the sickening feeling that this one will go even deeper (and I hardly ever watch the NBA). I fear the inclusion of other NBA employees (players, time clock operators, low level team officials). This is, in my mind, the natural evolution of a league that has glorified thugs as the face of its league. The tattoo craze that infects nearly every player, is a foolish ritual that is glorified only in immature settings and gang related, street cred groups. When a Ron Artest can attack people in the stands and create a riot situation and find work as quickly as he gets back from suspension, is beyond me. It may be that the NBA is getting exactly what it has opened itself up to - you reap what you sow. I have no sympathy for Commissioner David Stern. He let it get out of hand. He now gets to go through the fire that could kill his sport.
3. Major League Baseball - No, it's not just Bonds or Giambi. It is the fact that we give credence to the voices of people who can hit a ball or throw one hard. My real sadness is with guys like Gary Sheffield who mouth off about racism and call guys like Derek Jeter, "not really black" because his heritage is mixed. People in sports will always look for an edge, especially when others are getting away with it. But guys like Sheffield reduce the seriousness of racial prejudice when they concoct racism out of thin air and think they are right because they didn't get treated like they wanted to. Hey Gary, how many teams have you played for? You think there's a reason for that? As they say on the Mike and Mike Show, "Just shut up!"
4. The NFL - For those who know me, my love of the NFL is well known. I play Fantasy Football, subscribe to Pro Football Weekly, got DirectTV so I could get the NFL package, had the caps of all the teams hanging in my Pastor's Study in my last two churches, and can't wait for Training Camps to begin. Good gracious, I get up early to watch the NFL Draft! But I am appalled at some of what goes on in NFL circles. First of all, I applaud the Commissioner, Roger Goodell, for having the guts to say, "enough is enough". I think Pac Man Jones (what a ridiculous name) should be banned for as long as it takes to knock some sense into his head. That should be a long time since neither he nor Tank Johnson get it. These guys continue to put themselves in bad situations and think they can get away with it. Dumb! And, Micheal Vick is a thug not a QB. I used to wonder how his younger brother could be such a thug when his older brother stayed out of the police blotter limelight. Guess I was wrong on that count. They are both nothing but thugs. After reading the 19 page indictment against him, Vick should be hosed down and hit with an electric prod (at least that's what he did to the dogs that didn't perform the way he wanted them to).
5. The NFL Players Association - How can you rake in the amount of money players and the Union do and turn a blind eye to the suffering of retired players makes no sense. Arthur Blank wouldn't consider giving Vick a paid leave of absence because he didn't think it was appropriate. Who wanted him to get a paid leave? The Union. But they won't fork over money for retired players who can't walk because of injuries sustained playing the game? Shame on you guys. Shame on the Union and its leadership.
6. ESPN and "The Who's Now" Promotion - The worst, most useless, fingernails on a chalkboard stunt in the history of ESPN. My only comment on this whole thing is, "Who Cares?"

I love sports. I watch it. I've played it. I tried to help my sons when they wanted to play sports. But sports continues to have a fatal flaw in it. Its the "win at all costs" mentality. I saw it injure my boys in high school and college. I was it in Little League with out of control parents. I've seen it in Church Softball when teams load up their teams with non-church players to win a tournament (sad to say I've played on those teams the last couple of years - they were not satisfying experiences at all). I don't mind playing to win. I like the competition. I like to win. But I think watching Nate pitch on a hot afternoon in a league that gets no publicity or money - but who does so with for the joy of sport - is a better cover story than Barry Bonds chasing Hank Aaron's record. I love sports. But they are now and have been in a sad state for a long time. It seems that they are all about to pay the piper. The cost will be high, but probably not high enough to change the mentality. After all, Paris Hilton in jail didn't stop Lindsay Lohan from driving under the influence. Sin continues to be the dominant force in society today. How sad.

A Great Soul Knows How to Laugh

Forget the soap or disinfectant. If you really want to feel clean, just laugh for a while. Of course, that can be hard to do. I'm not talking about fake laughter or a good chuckle here and there. I'm talking about a good hearty belly laugh that you can't control and just comes out of you because the subject is genuinely funny.
Over the last week I've had two occasions to just sit back and laugh. Joanie and I traveled to Fresno to preside over the wedding of a friend. Upon our arrival on Friday night, we got together with some good friends (Demos and Carolyn). In turn, we went out to dinner with some other friends (Bill and Marjory and Patti) and then went back to Demos and Carolyn's for some fellowship after dinner. Now, Demos is an incredibly wise and insightful man. He is also a hoot. He is one of the funniest men I have ever met. His wit and sense of sarcasm are nearly perfect. He makes me laugh. And on Friday night, he was at his best. We laughed for about 2 hours straight. We laughed so much and so long that we all lost track of time. By the time it was over (approaching midnight) we were all hurting from laughing so much. But, it felt clean. It cleanses the spirit. I felt refreshed for the weekend.
Last night I got a call from my son, Joel. Joel calls most weekday nights around midnight for the two of us to talk as he drives the 45 minutes or so home from work. He is usually tired, it is 2am his time (midnight here), and he is grateful for the company on the way home. I love to talk to my son and this gives us both an excuse to do so. There are times I am too tired to be of much company (I've fallen asleep on him a time or two) and there are other times I'm not much company, but then there are times when we do talk at some length and talk about some serious stuff. Last night, we laughed.
I got out an old Isaac Asimov trivia book we used to use on trips and started asking Joel some trivia questions on movies. He is an ace at this with his theater background. However, the trivia book is somewhat dated and the trivia often includes obscure old films that hardly anybody knows. Last night it just got to be so very funny. Joel has one of the sharpest wits I know of anywhere. He is enormously funny when he wants to be or the occasion calls for it. Last night his wit was right on and I started laughing so much I woke Joanie up on more than one extended and hearty laugh out loud stretch. And when it was over, I laid down and went to sleep. Now, it's been a long week and I have not gotten much rest. I toss and turn enough as it is and rarely sleep well through the night. Last night I slept through the night and through the morning. I slept as well as I have for a long time. It was restful and relaxing. All because I spent time laughing with Joel and being cleansed of spirit by it.
People who are depressed find little if anything to laugh about. I think they get the drain in their souls stopped up and all the junk of life backs up on them and they feel even worse. Laughter snakes the soul's drain and allows the junk to flow out. In the end you feel cleaner and more refreshed. I think Jesus had a great sense of humor. I don't know that he told jokes a lot but I think he knew joy in a greater way than we usually imagine. I think he had the kind of wit that Demos and Joel posses. I think he had some times when he didn't have to go off by himself to be refreshed. I think there were times he just hung around the campfire with the twelve and laughed. He had a great soul, you know. And great souls know how to laugh.

Charles Grandison Finney

His name may not be familiar to you (or, at best, vaguely familiar) but his influence on your life is pretty significant. He died nearly a century and a half ago and what he did is still being felt by people throughout the world. He is one of the key figures in history that you never read about or study about. He is lost in our secularized, sanitized history of America (or the history of the world, for that matter). But you should know him or, at least, know about him. Let me introduce you to Charles Grandison Finney.
Finney was a lawyer who became a Christian (already he breaks the mold, huh?). He lived in Western New York in the first quarter of the nineteenth century. After he was converted (I'm talking about the same day) he shared the gospel with a client and helped lead him to the Lord. He went out into the streets and began to share his new found faith with others. Not bad for the first day of your new spiritual life! He began preparing for ministry by rejecting the normal route (going to Princeton for some seminary training) and was "apprenticed" to a minister for individual training. He chose to study the Bible rather than slaving away on the books in the pastors library. He disagreed with most of the conventional theology of the Presbyterian Church, but they ordained him anyway. The rest, as they say, is history.
Western New York in 1825 was the frontier of America. It was where people went who wanted to escape the hustle and bustle of Eastern society went to start a new life. It was where Finney grew up and where he began his ministry. And when he began to preach, incredible things happened. Dozens, hundreds, even thousands started to come to come to Christ. Finney was so effective that his revivals where huge social events that caused social changes in the communities in where he ministered. In one revival, hundreds of lawyers were converted. No, that's not a punch line to the joke, "What do you call hundreds of lawyers at the bottom of the ocean?" (Answer: a good start) Finney was the Billy Graham of his day.
So what, you say? Well, here is the rub. Finney was a biblical pragmatist. He followed the Bible in every way he could. But when the Bible was silent on an issue, Finney became a pragmatist. His view was, "If the Bible doesn't say anything about it then do whatever works!" That attitude changed how America worshiped. When you go to church and there is not a liturgy or prayer book in use, that's because of Charles Finney. If you have ever gone to a revival service or an evangelistic crusade where an altar call was given and people came forward to an altar, that's because of Finney (Finney called it the mourner's bench or the anxious seat). If you've ever heard someone address sinners from the pulpit directly, that's Finney. If you've ever heard a sermon that was based on logical, deductive reasoning and that sounded like a legal argument - that was how Finney preached. Finney could rightly be called the father of the discipline of Apologetics (proving the truths of Christianity). He was the person who changed the face of Protestant worship in America and gave it the distinctive evangelistic and pragmatic feel it has. If you ever went to a Billy Graham rally or a Promise Keepers Convention or a Camp Meeting service in an outdoor facility, you have experienced the effects of Charles Grandison Finney.
Finney moved from the frontier to New York City. During the four years he ministered there, he began seven new churches. People heard about the revivals on the frontier and attributed them to the lack of sophistication of the people who lived there. When Finney moved to NYC, he brought with him the same measures that worked on the frontier. Amazingly, they worked in the city, too - in NYC of all places! Finney got himself in trouble with the leadership of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was a minister. Why? Well, among other things, he favored the use of laity in the service. He had laymen and (aghast!) laywomen share in the services. He got in trouble with authorities for allowing women to be involved too heavily in ministry. He eventually moved to Oberlin, Ohio to become a Professor of Systematic Theology at a new college that was being started. Before going, he insisted that the college would have to allow both whites and blacks to attend the college. If the college refused, he would not go. They agreed and Oberlin became a leading voice in both the anti-slavery movement and women's suffrage. Oberlin became a leading institution in the training of ministers. His theology, religious ethics and activism changed the face of the American frontier and the values of middle America.
In 1865, at the end of the Civil War, Finney, now quite aged, had become the President of Oberlin. He remained both its' Systematics Professor and the pastor of the First Congregational Church in Oberlin. He wrote books on theology, an autobiography, and continued to do evangelistic work. In the fall of 1865, one of many young students returning from the Civil War, enrolled in Oberlin. He would take courses off and on during 1865-66 and 1866-67. That young preacher was Daniel Sydney Warner, the key figure in the beginning of the Church of God Movement. Much of what I know about church and ministry comes by way of my association with the Church of God. In many ways, most of what I know about God and ministry comes from, well, I guess it comes from Charles Grandison Finney. How would you like to sit under a sermon he preached with those eyes looking deeply into your soul?

P.S. If you want to read a sermon of his, here is a link:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Graphics.Voice/Finney.old.oval.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Voice/Power.From.On.High.text.html&h=357&w=239&sz=11&hl=en&start=9&tbnid=CDWVfpOgHygSwM:&tbnh=121&tbnw=81&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522charles%2Bgrandison%2Bfinney%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

One of the many things that my classes are teaching me is that we are indebted to the past for most everything we think is modern. It seems to be the height of hubris (ego, self-centeredness) to believe that things begin with you or with your self. Our lives are built upon a whole string of past understandings or historical precedents. I have been learning this in preaching and worship studies. So much of who we are and what we do in the Church of God has its roots in the early eighteenth century actions of frontier settlers and preachers who carved out a new version of how to worship and preach (built, of course, on Scottish communion rites and those were built upon the principles of the Reformation which were an attempt to return to 1st century Christianity, etc.). It may be that nothing new is under the sun.
I have just finished my Latin class for the evening and I am finding out how much of what we do in English is based on Latin words, rules, and grammar. For instance, "in nomine" means "in the name". Patris (from which we get Padre) means Father. Filii is Son (OK, it doesn't always work). and Spiritus means (think for yourself) ... Spirit and Sancti (from which we get sanctify and sanctification, means holy (so it is Holy Spirit). So, the title of this article is a quote from the Latin Mass when they end their prayers saying, "In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." Everything we say is built on a language that is from the past.
Last weekend Joanie and I went back to Fresno and went to church there for the first time since we left in August. Following the service, I performed a wedding ceremony for a good friend. I realized how much of my life is built upon what happened there. What do I do with that? What do you do with your past? Do you continue to live it over and over again? Do you forget about it and leave it behind?
The best thing you can do with the past is appreciate it for what it has done. Even the bad times have been foundational for your future. In that there is hope. If you are in a bad time now, know that better times lie ahead that will be built upon the struggles of this moment. If you are celebrating your present then be reflective enough to know that the good times you experience now are based in the work you did in the past. The implications are astounding. What you do today forms the foundation for what you will do and be tomorrow. How you live this moment goes a long way toward accomplishing what will come to fruition in the future.
You see? Everything is connected. Even you and me. Through this blog our lives are now intermingled. We are building a future together. May it be joyous. In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

Tired of Being Tired

It is fairly late and I am tired. As much as I love what I'm doing and who I am doing it for, I do grow weary. Lots of late nights (last night I got to bed at 3am) and early mornings (I was up at 8am) have taken its toll. I stay up late to hear from my son, Joel, who is getting off at work at 2am Central Time (midnight here). I wouldn't pass up the opportunity for anything. Talking to him is one of the great joys of my week. Even if we don't talk about anything earth shattering, it is time I get to spend with someone I haven't physically seen in a year. It is all worth it. But, it is one of the many things that have made me tired. Sleeping on the couch with Joanie on the bed in our living room; trying to get my head around Latin this summer; getting prepared to teach a two-week intensive class beginning Monday; preaching on Sundays; doing RA work for one of the professors; taking a weekend trip back to Fresno (4+ hours one way) to perform a wedding ceremony for a friend - all these are joyous problems that I wouldn't trade for anything (OK, maybe I would trade the Latin!) but they do make me tired. I put in about 8-10 hours over the last couple of days doing Latin and about 15-20 hours over the weekend getting a major translation project done for this past Tuesday. All takes its toll.
When I get tired, I get irritable. I snap at just about anything. Yesterday the lawn guys were blowing stuff around the complex and blew all kinds of dirt through the window. I shut the door and voiced my frustration. I've snapped at Joanie (nothing too major but enough for her to know that I am tired). It's at this point that I get tired of being tired. So, it's time to go to bed and get a good nights sleep. I may turn on the air conditioning and crawl under the covers and worry about tomorrow, well, tomorrow. Tonight I think I will just get some sleep and try and get renewed. Things will not slow down for me until I slow them down - at least enough to get back on track. So, if you are irritable, get some rest. If the baby is keeping you up, catch up as best you can. If the dog is barking, put some cotton in your ears and turn on some music. If you're that sleepy, go to church on Sunday. I've seen plenty of folks catch up on their sleep during a sermon. Goodnight. I'm going to bed.

Reviewing the North American Convention

After spending a few days in Anderson at our annual NAC, I thought I would offer a few thoughts. This could be dangerous - even foolhardy, but here goes.

It is sad to see the attendance figures still dropping each year. Gas prices, travel options, and questions about the new auditorium probably affect the numbers. I hope and anticipate that things will rise over the next few years, but I think some changes need to be made. After all, the pioneers of this Movement were innovators not status quo thinkers. I have a few suggestions:

1. On several of the evenings, have multiple services. Why is one service the only choice in the evening? If the speaker doesn't interest you or the venue doesn't appeal to you, what can you do? Sit home and watch it on cable? Watch it on the Internet? How about offering at least three different services - one in Reardon, one in Byrum and one in the Wellness Center.

2. Multiple venues will increase the number of speakers. In a world where we are competing with options, why fight the trend? Every Sunday, our folks have their choice of speakers at our multiple service options at home - why not at Camp Meeting? That way, if one speaker flops (and they do) then you can hear about the other one(s) that didn't. It would increase your sales of tapes and videos.

3. On at least 3 nights, combine into just one service. Keep the Wednesday night celebration together and Friday night AU opening. You might add the one where we invite and outside guest to speak as the third night. On that night, you could still have 3 venues and even 3 worship services. You could then send the picture and video of the sermon into the other venues. This is not necessary, but could be interesting.

4. Theme the different venues. Have one service be a contemporary service with a guest worship leader (Chris Tomlin or David Crowder come to mind). You would surely attract more young people with a service like that. Have one be a southern gospel theme. Use quartets and trios for your base and have a good old time with a hymn sing. They do this on one night after the service. Why after? Why not have a service with that as the theme? Bill Gaither sure has made a lot of money by doing this on a grand scale. Why not do it for a service or two during Camp Meeting. You could do this at Reardon or in the Wellness Center. You could even do this at Park Place. Logistics are not the problem. How about a bi-lingual service? Hispanic, Korean, German, Russian, etc. You could feature some missionaries sharing testimonies during the service instead of trying to have one of them preach on Wednesday night like they did this year (with less than sterling results). How about a multiple preaching night where you have several preachers preach at one service. This happens at venues such as a Preaching Clinic - why not at Camp Meeting? For those who are more interested in preaching than anything else, this would seem ideal. Surely we have the worship leading talents and the preaching talents to make such a thing work. The themes can go on and on (Women only, Men only, Youth driven, Children's Service, etc.).

5. Use pre-recorded video announcements and promotions to use prior to the services. That way, it all gets done well and it can be used a multiple locations.

6. Pre and Post-service gathering events. Something should be done to capitalize on the "Camp Meeting Shuffle". There were vendors selling all kinds of things outside the Wellness Center (food - even beer battered onion rings!). With all the room in the back of the Wellness Center, why not set up some kind of reception areas for different groups? Give away stuff that you want people to have; Introduce people that you want the church to meet (like the missionaries before or after the Wednesday service); give water out to those who need it; put up an area for Healing or for Prayer or for Counseling. Have an ice cream social after one of the services. Do something that allows you to take advantage of the crowd already gathered. You could do these at any or all of the three or four venues.

7. Please, find people who can preach and let them speak at Camp Meeting. Only a few of those who spoke were either theologically sound (wow! for a group that prides itself on its doctrine, there were some amazing statements made that had no theological base at all) or biblically accurate (at least one preacher never even had a text). There are some great preachers in this Movement (I hope). Let's find them and those who have a great reputation for preaching and give them a chance to share with others.

Oh well, just a few thoughts. What do you think?