Archive for December, 2009
I’ll Take the Hippo, Please! :: Thoughts on Asking and Receiving
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Christmas is an odd time of year, is it not? The dichotomy of lowly Mary and Joseph in the stable, birthing the Savior of the world as a defenseless baby in the most unpretentious surroundings imaginable juxtaposed with the mad-rush commercialism and gimmie-gimmie mentalities that plague our nation. It can be a lot to deal with. How do the two even make sense together?
Last week, my wife and I were a part of a production called Behold the Lamb of God, a musical re-telling of the coming of Christ into the world. Before the main performance, there was a section called Songwriters in the Round that we were also asked to participate in. We gladly accepted and began the process of figuring out what songs to perform that would fit within our gifting…two singers and a guitar are limited in some ways.
The standards were considered: ”Silent Night”, “O Holy Night”, “What Child Is This” and the like were all thoughtfully scrutinized, studied and thought over. What songs would faithfully capture this picture of great humility that is Jesus born in a manger? What songs would adequately convey His grandeur and basic awesomeness?
“What Child is This” made the cut. Full of revelation about this dual role of Jesus both as man and Son of God seemed absolutely fitting and perfect for a setting such as this. Plus, I already had a good arrangement worked out that I enjoyed playing immensely.
What about that other one, though? What would work?
“What about ‘I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas?’” my wife chimed in. I gave her a cursory glance and continued on in pursuit of what we were really going to be singing. I mean, who in their right mind would sing such a goofy song on such a big stage? Who would want to do that?
Tricia would. Read More→
We All, Like Cats, Have Gone Astray
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I remember my first meeting with Sapphire like it was yesterday. I had just spent the last three hours wooing and impressing her owner, Tricia, over an extended, first-date meal at Rafferty’s. Truth be told, I was probably a big dork, but I suppose I was suave enough to deserve an invite back to her place for a viewing of Wild Hogs and my first introduction to Tricia’s fat cat duo: Toby and Sapphire.
Upon walking into the apartment, I saw both felines give us the “oh, its just you” look, quietly instructing us with their stares to keep the noise down and to stay out of their way. It was quite clear that they were not excited or shaken by our presence. This was their home, I quickly realized; the arrogance in their eyes plainly conveying that fact, glaring as if to say, “I see you there and just need to make it very plain that we run this place and you are the guest.”
I figured I would make nice with Toby first. Aside from his gargantuan size, he looked rather harmless. So I headed over to where he was laying and extended my hand in a gesture of peace and welcome. He gave me a cursory sniff, but made no bones about the fact that he wasn’t excited at all about my approach or my condescending pat on the top of his head. He was done with me before we started. Classic. This one’s a jerk, I quickly surmised.
And the next thing I knew, Sapphire was on me like a fat kid on a cupcake… Read More→
All Eyes Forward, Please :: How Your Distractions Steal What’s Most Important
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I’ll be real honest with you, in sitting down and trying to get this post together this week, I had a hard time focusing in on how to best verbalize the “big idea.” You see, it’s one of those subjects that perfectly illustrates itself as it is conceptualized. It evades just as it is evasive. It constantly does exactly what it is. So what is “it?”
Distraction.
Look around you. Seriously. Do it.
Take in all the elements around you right now. Your cell phone. The internet and it’s proliferation of advertisements. Cars driving by. Music over the speaker system. Idle chatter. Paintings and pictures on the wall. That next sip of coffee. Your next due date. Your next meeting. What you’ll have for that all-important next meal. What else you should be doing right now.
All these factors and a million others sit in waiting, holding their collective breath for the next moment they might steal away a second of your attention. Some are more important than others and some we could do without, but every distraction you or I face has the potential to seriously derail our otherwise focused and well-meaning plans.
This absolute truth nailed me a few days ago as I was connecting the dots of a busy, albeit very productive and important, morning. Read More→
Titans Indeed :: How Vince Young Inspired My Resurgence
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12 weeks ago, I never would have dreamed that I would be in the position I was on Sunday evening. Fists clenched, jaw set, on the edge of the couch staring intently at the TV. This was it. This was the moment. This was the final play of the game, and the Tennessee Titans were going for the final score on fourth down with 0:00 on the clock.
This wasn’t just another week-12 game. This was history.
For those of you who don’t follow football or all the drama that is the NFL, the Tennessee Titans ended last season quite abruptly after finishing with the league’s best record: 13-3. They went 10-0 before losing their first game of the season and did it all without Vince Young, their first-round draft pick from 2 years ago. All cylinders were clicking and everything was in place for a run at the Super Bowl, but it all unraveled in the first round of the Playoffs, forcing the Titans to take an early trip home and leave us, the fans, eagerly awaiting next year and the hope of another Super Bowl run.
Enter the 2009 Titans squad, full of vengeance and eagerness, ready to make amends for the abrupt end that met them last season. We were ready for a stellar year. Division champs. Super Bowl rings. Final retribution.
What we received in the first six weeks, however, was anything but. Read More→
