How Do We Meet Sin?

"In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus." (Romans 6:11)

Imagine the effort required to open up a barricaded door, to then enter a room that you were never intended to see, and finally, to fight a foe that is already dead. How foolish would it be to expend all that effort simply to struggle with a vanquished enemy? And to repeat this exercise over and over . . . 

That small exercise in imagination is my feeble attempt to describe what the Bible says is our proclivity to battle something which God has already conquered. Listen to what this devotion in "None But The Hungry Heart" has to say about this subject: "The moment that you begin to fight with it (sin) —no matter how resolutely you may struggle against it—that moment is when you begin to experience sin as your master. For it is then that we forsake our true position, which is one of freedom from sin as a master."

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1)

Merry Christmas!

 

3D BotMaker Championship Race (2020)

 Too cool . . . 

Modern Miracle?

We are witnessing an historical event in modern medicine, and yet the gratitude response for this "modern miracle" is sobering in its silence. Let's examine some of the facts and then break down the possible reasons for the towering silence.

In early 2020, the COVID-19 virus starts sweeping through the United States, and after a sluggish response from our national leaders, a plan is revealed in May 2020. Named, "Operation Warp Speed", President Donald Trump said that the effort would be focused on developing and distributing a vaccine for the virus before the end of the year. The media response was predictable:

• MSNBC - "the President is living in Wonderland"
• CNN - "totally preposterous"
• Bloomberg News - "this plan is virtually impossible"
• NBC News - "most experts say that the development, testing and production of a vaccine for the public is still at least 12 to 18 months off, and that anything less would be a medical miracle"

Fast forward to mid-December 2020, eight months after the announcement of OWS and front-line health care workers are receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

How?

Calm In The Storm

In the crazy, challenging times we live in, here is video to calm your nerves and slow your breathing. Presenting Haburu! 

It's All About Balance

You better watch out. You better not cry. Better not pout. I’m telling you why. 

Here is the why . . . 

In years past we listened to Christmas music through a pretty limited bandwidth. Radio stations weren't dedicated to 24/7 Christmas music, television channels weren't saturated with Christmas movies, Christmas decorations didn't show up in September, and we weren't bombarded with holiday emails, social media holiday content on a mobile phone that never leads our sight, and finally the effects of ramped up consumer advertising. Instead of a mere three weeks of being exposed to Christmas content, now we get a minimum of two months. Wow, it makes me tired just typing this content. 

Thanksgiving Stories

I watched a riveting video on YouTube this week titled, "How To Ride A Backward Bicycle". It is part of the "Smarter Every Day" video series that my wife and I enjoy on a regular basis. This particular episode dealt with this specific challenge, could someone learn to ride a bike that was engineered to turn the opposite direction of the steering column? 

On the surface this would not appear to be a difficult challenge, I mean all that is required is to reprogram your brain to understand that when you turn the steering wheel right the bike will go left and vice versa. But here is the crazy part, in this video, no one can successfully ride this bike! Hundreds of people have taken up this challenge and no one can ride this bike more than 2 or 3 feet before crashing.*

Why?

Six Hundred Years Ago . . .

In a kingdom driven by dynastic war, a young shepherdess receives religious visions, revealing that she is her nation’s only hope in leading her country to victory. At sixteen, she convinces the local garrison commander near her town to give her a military escort to the court of the uncrowned prince-royal. She achieved this by accurately predicting the outcome of a battle taking place more than a hundred miles away. (Though, notably, she’d already won several of his soldiers to her cause before she ever made her prophecy.) 

This was not the first time she had won over the confidence of authority figures in her life, she prevailed in a legal trial when her father sought to bound her to a marriage obligation to a man she did not even know. Somehow, she convinced the Judge to free her from the obligation her father had made. At the age of fourteen. Without any legal education. 

So after receiving her military escort, she arrives at the French Court, where she correctly identifies the prince hiding in the crowd of courtiers. She strikes up a conversation with the prince and whispers a secret known only to the two of them and God. (We still have no idea what this secret was, though it has been rumored to be the prayer the future king had prayed to His Creator. Joan of Arc refused to reveal this confidence even under torture.)

God Knows The Difference

After any election there will always be winners and losers. Those who feel vindicated and those who feel betrayed. But how we react to the consequences of elections reveals a great deal about our knowledge and faith in God's goodness. 

Let's check out this scripture from the book of Jeremiah:

“Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: ‘Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge those who are carried away captive from Judah, whom I have sent out of this place for their own good, into the land of the Chaldeans. For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land; I will build them and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.’” (Jeremiah 24:4-7)

Now these verses are not referencing the results of an election, they are referring to a hostile takeover. Some of the people of Israel were stripped of their land, separated from their families, and taken away to a foreign country where they were to live as slaves. Feeling better about your post-election status now? 

Trust Not In Princes

Praise the Lord, my soul.

I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.

When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.

Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.

He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—

He remains faithful forever.

Remember Our Defenders

 

"Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right." Abraham Lincoln

As a nation, we owe our veterans a huge debt of gratitude, and we must never forget the cautionary words President Coolidge said long ago, “The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.” 

"The blessings of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in a manner in which we choose has been fought for and, in some cases, died for by our veterans. Let us never forget their sacrifices over the course of our history, and let us be an example to others of what thankfulness and remembrance is supposed to be like. If we fail, we may imperil our nation and our future." - Mike Prendergast (retired U.S. Army colonel)

As we approach our national election day next week, let's take a moment to remember those who fought for the freedoms that we get to exercise by voting. 

God bless our veterans and their families, and God bless the United States of America.

The Grace of God

In his book “What’s So Amazing About Grace?” Philip Yancey describes a conference on comparative religions where experts from around the world debated which belief, if any, was unique to the Christian faith. C.S. Lewis happened to enter the room during the discussion. When he was told the topic was Christianity’s unique contribution among world religions, Lewis responded: “Oh, that’s easy. It’s grace.”

Lewis was right. No other religion places grace at its theological center. It was a revolutionary idea; as Mr. Yancey puts it, grace “seems to go against every instinct of humanity.” We are naturally drawn to covenants and karma, to cause and effect, to earning what we receive.

Hot Springs to Chattanooga

 

Braves One Win Away!

The Atlanta Braves are one game away from their first pennant since 1999

The Atlanta Braves have jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series. The Braves defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, 10-2, in Game 4 Thursday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington. 

The Dodgers blew the Braves out in Game 3 after being shut down in Game 1 and having a late rally fall short in Game 2. Now, their Game 4 loss puts their 2020 season on the line. It's win-or-go home for the Dodgers on Friday night. The Braves, meanwhile, are now one win away from their first NL pennant since 1999.

Steam Train in the Snow

 

The Lies Of Our Enemy

The longer I live on this earth, the more I’m convinced that the enemy’s go-to strategy in his quest to keep us from a relationship with Jesus is this: Convince us that God is not good. Period. 

Now, I’m going to start off apologizing for the length of this blog post, because like most of you, I lack the time needed to condense my thoughts and words into a more concise statement.  

I believe in the Bible. I believe that God authorized every word of the Bible. And since I build my world-view on this truth, I also believe that we have an enemy, who seeks to steal, kill and destroy our souls. He will stop at nothing to achieve this goal and he realizes that his time grows short. 

So how can this enemy keep utilizing the same strategy on humans for thousands of years without us realizing the trap he keeps setting?

The simple truth is this, we fail to remember our place. 

How To Become A Christian

1) Believe that you are loved and accepted by God.

The good news of the Christian faith begins with the recognition that you are loved and accepted by the God who created and sustains the world.

Jesus taught us to call God "Father." While some people may lack the positive experience of a loving parent, most can imagine what the word "father" can mean at its very best. It suggests one who gives life, supplies love, provides care, protects, guides, watches over, enables growth, and gives freedom. This is what God is like. Even when we do not acknowledge God, God cares for us like a mother who cares for her children.

God knows us intimately and loves us totally. Nothing we have done or could do can make God love us less. This is vitally important, our deeds and efforts, though important, do not impact the love that God has for each one of us. That is why we cannot rely on our own efforts to obtain salvation and forgiveness - each one of us is a sinner and in need of a divine act to restore and enable us to have an relationship with God. 

Braves Win!!

 

Atlanta Braves win first post-season series since 2001!

God and His Role In Temptation

Given our weakness, would God ever “lead us . . . into temptation”?

First, we have to use as our anchor this scripture, "God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession." (James 1:12 - 18)

So how do we explain the meaning of the strange (to us) parallel passages in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles in which God and Satan are both said to have incited David to number Israel: 

Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” (2 Sam. 24:1) 

Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. (1 Chron. 21:1) 

So which was it? 

10 Ways Music Can Impact Your Life

When I was around 8 years old my parents were somehow convinced that my life would be enriched through taking piano lessons. After much discussion, (I vaguely remember this being absurdly one-sided), I was enrolled in this horrifying experiment. The deal was struck and the piano teacher was informed that if I had no talent in this area than I would be let out of this demonic deal and restored to playing with my friends in the great outdoors. However, I had to practice a minimum of 30 minutes a day or the deal was off. Thus with all the particulars decided this cultural manifesto promptly began. 

I will leave the details of what I haven't blocked out of my childhood for another blog but all kidding aside this was a huge blessing in my life. For over 50 years music has been a faithful companion, opened many a door, and provided countless hours of pleasure. (Mom and Dad if I neglected to thank you over the years, Thank You!!!) 

I think we can all agree that listening to music can be entertaining, and some research suggests that it might even make you healthier. Music can be a source of pleasure and contentment, but there are many other psychological benefits as well. Music can relax the mind, energize the body, and even help people better manage pain.

Let's take a quick look at ten ways that music can impact your life. 

The Ultimate Question

In the radio series and the first novel, "The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy", a group of hyper-intelligent pan-dimensional beings demand to learn the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything Else from the supercomputer Deep Thought, specially built for this purpose. It takes Deep Thought ​7 1⁄2 million years to compute and check the answer, which turns out to be 42. The twist is that Deep Thought points out that the answer is meaningless because the beings who asked it never actually knew what the question really was . . . 

So here's a question, what if each one of us was immortal and at the conclusion of our finite period of time here on earth we move on to our infinite destination? Follow-up question, what would determine where we spend this eternity? 

I bet we would agree that no matter how much time, energy, sacrifice, and resources we spent on this question we would never exceed the depth and importance of our answer? Adding a layer of further complexity this question has a limited window of time in which it can be answered, because after our time here on earth is done, our freedom and ability to answer this question is gone. Forever. 

In 1 Corinthians 15:29 the apostle Paul addresses this very issue, "If this world is all there is, let's eat and drink and party all night because tomorrow we might die." Paul is agreeing with the culture of his time, (and our time) that if this world is all there is than why not spend it in pursuit of our own pleasures. 

But what if there is more to our existence? 

Let's see what Jesus says about this question:

Self Portrait Questions

• Date and Place of Birth: October 18th, 1960, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
• A Book I Recently Read: "The Ragamuffin Gospel"
• Something Few People Know About Me: I Love the game of baseball
• I Wish I Could: Travel For A Living
• My Most Valuable Possession: My Soul
• I Am Most Comfortable When: I'm Reading A Good Book
• My Most Precious Childhood Memory: Playing Football With My Brother and The Neighborhood Kids
• Five People I Would Invite To A Fantasy Dinner Party: Jesus Christ, My Grandpa Bible, Rich Mullins, Paul McCartney, and George S. Patton
• The Best Gift I Ever Received: The gift of forgiveness from Jesus Christ for all of my sins.
• My Favorite Meal: Krystal Hamburgers, Fries, Chili, Large Coke
• I Am Most Proud Of: My Daughter
• One Word To Sum Me Up: Grateful
• Favorite Things To Do To Relax: Reading, Watching a Movie, Playing the piano
• Last Words You Would Say To Those You Love: Love Jesus and accept His gift of salvation - Your Eternity Depends On Your Response
• Favorite Sports To Watch: College Football (Go Vols!) and Baseball (Go Braves!) 
• Favorite Sports To Play: Baseball, Tennis, Racquetball, Ping Pong, Football, Basketball
• Scariest Thing You've Ever Done: Spending the night in a haunted cabin outside of Mt. Rainier
• Favorite Song: "Brandy" by Looking Glass

Facts Versus Opinions

My daughter (who I am enormously proud of by the way) called me the other night and discussed an upcoming writing assignment in her Sophomore English class at college. The task was to argue the pros / cons of an article written by Patrick Stokes, "You Are Only Entitled To What You Can Argue For". 

The premise is simple, dividing opinions between statements of taste, such as "I prefer winter over summer" and "I love chocolate over strawberries" versus opinions grounded in technical, legal, or scientific expertise. Mr. Stokes premise is that of course you cannot argue about the first kind of opinions, they are a matter of personal taste. His issue is that our society is leaning more and more toward associating both types of opinions as unarguable, thus voiding the authority and power behind expert opinions.

Going home . . .

Just like John Muir wrote, “Going to the mountains is going home.”

Five Truths About Christian Suffering

After learning of the recent passing of a good friend, I found myself searching the web for articles on suffering. This article by Joseph Scheumann helped re-orientate my spiritual perspective. (Not to mention motivating me to re-read the Psalms) Hope it helps you as well . . .   

All Christians suffer. Either you have, you are, or you will — “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).

This reality is a stark reminder that we have not reached the new heavens and new earth. The New Jerusalem of no tears and no pain, of no mourning and no death, has not arrived yet, (Revelation 21:1, 4) though all creation yearns for that day.  

But just because we experience suffering as we await the redemption of our bodies, it doesn’t mean that our suffering is random or without purpose. And neither does it mean that Scripture doesn’t tell us how to think about our suffering now.

Here are five important biblical truths about suffering every Christian should have ready:

Brandy

 

Bernard Bailyn

This week we lost one of the leading historians of the early United States, Bernard Bailyn who was 97. He wrote a book, "The Ideaological Origins of the American Revolution", that helped shape our perspective of the American founding fathers in the late 1970's. 

After exhaustive research of political pamphlets in the 1700's, Bernard came to the conclusion that the founders held sincere and reasoned ideas about democracy and profoundly objected to England's claims of dominion over the colonies. This view was in opposition to the foundational belief that the founders were more profoundly influenced by The Enlightenment philosophy, vested more in power than ideas. His views that the founders were primarily motivated by the "logic of rebellion" led to his conclusion that the founders birthed the idea of "America's destiny in the context of world history," based on their ideals of freedom, not on their desire for personal power. 

The Rapture of the Church (Revelation 4)

Disclaimer: This video reflects more of my hope regarding Eschatology theology (The Study of End Times) and not necessarily my personal theological beliefs. 

Ownership

I recently finished a process that I've done now a few times in my life, and that is signing legal documents regarding personal property at a Title company. One of the main reasons for using a Title company is to verify legal and accurate ownership of whatever property is being sold, purchased, or any other directive having to do with the legality of ownership. 

I found this particular appointment interesting because I have been reading Psalm 24 and was reminded of the first sentence about God's claim of ownership of His creation. "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for He founded it on the seas and established it on the waters." (Psalm 24: 1-2) If there was a cosmic Title company it would actually be a pretty easy business to run, because everything belongs to God. Period. 

Baseball Is Back!

July 21st, 2020

My Hometown

My Hometown

Psalm 90

As I get older one of the Psalms that is growing as one of my favorites is Psalm 90, the first Psalm written and penned by Moses, the man of God. It is a overview of the life of humans, the impact of our sins on God, the futility of associating time and God, and the importance of counting our days as temporal. The line that always kills me is, "Our hidden sins are revealed in the light of your face." 

Here it is in its entirety. 

"Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.

Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world,

from eternity to eternity you are God.

You grind people to dust, and you say, “Return, children of Adam.”

For a thousand years in your sight are like a day, like yesterday that has gone by,

or like a watch in the night.

A New Face

I always wanted to be Batman. 

Growing up with 60's comic books and Adam West's parody TV show as my guide convinced me that Batman was the most awesome person I could aspire to be. Looking back I think a great deal of the appeal was the the Bat cave - the coolest, most secretive location on earth. Only accessible through a hidden tunnel in the hills or by descending down the Bat pole in Wayne Manor, this restricted access ensured that you could work, play and live your life uninterrupted by others. This fed into my utopia of life as an introvert and when you factor in the high-tech toys available in the Bat cave, well, it was a done deal. That goal had "legs" as my friend Jon Sims would say. 

But one day I was watching my favorite TV show and instead of just the usual plot-line involving the rotating cast of villains, there were two new characters being introduced, the Green Hornet and Kato. Suddenly my goal of being Batman was cast into doubt.

Cave of Despair

Once you accept Jesus Christ as Savior your life will become a cakewalk. All your prayers will be answered, situations will always go your way, and relationships will always be peaceful. Heaven begins at the point of your surrender, or so a lot of modern theology would have you believe. They teach that if you are a faithful child of God you should never experience depression. Or anxiety. Or fear. 

I can only suppose that those holding this foolish (trying to watch my language here) opinion have never read their Bibles. Because here is a brief list of faith-filled men of God who suffered bouts of depression, fear, worry and anxiety: Moses, Job, Elijah, David, Jonah. 

How's that for a short list of men who experienced the fear of the present and despondence for the future? 

Jackie Mitchell strikes out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig

Note: For this week's blog I yield to one of the greatest sports writer of our generation, Joe Posnanski. Hey, don't just take my word for it, check out his story about Jackie Mitchell (A Chattanooga girl!) below . . . 

A few years ago, our daughter Elizabeth rather suddenly grew interested in the story of Jackie Mitchell. She had not expressed interest in baseball at all up to that point. When we took her to ballgames, as I’ve written before, she would bring a book and so lose herself in it that when I would try to point out something on the field, she would briefly look at me a bit bewildered, as if she had totally forgotten that we were at a baseball game.

But then, one day a few years ago, maybe when she was 12 or 13, she became fascinated with the story of Mitchell, the girl who struck out Babe Ruth.

If We Forget The Past, We Are Doomed To Repeat It

In the movie, Judgment At Nuremberg (1961), the Chief Judge in the movie, played by Spencer Tracy, delivers one of the most powerful speeches recorded on film. In this scene from the movie, Tracy's character is delivering the final judgement of the four German judges on trial for atrocities committed during the time of the Third Reich (1933 - 1945). 

Under extreme duress to let these men off with probation or light sentences due to the crisis with Russia over the ruling of Germany in 1949, the judge's ruling is fraught with diplomatic and political repercussions for all the parties involved. Yet, this judge, sums up the duty of the court and its responsibilities, to deliver a ruling, despite the outside pressure, and to properly judge the actions of these four men and their injustice toward their fellow man.

Greatest Hits of the Bible

For those of us old enough to remember record albums was there a better treat than to find one that didn't have a bad song on either side? Usually the only way that would happen would be on a "Greatest Hits" compilation but even then you're weren't guaranteed to hear awesome songs on both sides.

If I'm being honest the same thing can be true when I read the Bible. The book of Numbers is not as relatable to me as the book of Luke. (Note: I realize that all scripture is God breathed and suitable for teaching, and that all scripture is truth, but I'm simply referring to my own personal experience of being able to relate to certain books of the Bible above others.)

Now if you'll permit me, I'd like to segue into one of my favorite books of the Bible, the Book of Philippians, a greatest hits collection that doesn't disappoint in its four wisdom-packed chapters. 

A Tribute To "Hammering Hank"

Sometimes a person's career is so noteworthy that it speaks for itself. That is the case with Hank Aaron. 

So after this brief quote from Mickey Mantle I'm posting nothing but statistics from the career of Henry Louis Aaron. #44! Go Braves!

"As far as I'm concerned, Aaron is the best ball player of my era. He is to baseball of the last 15 years what Joe DiMaggio was before him. He's never received the credit he's due." - Mickey Mantle (Baseball Digest - June 1970)

Hank Aaron Baseball Statistics

Hank Aaron holds the top spot for runs batted in (2,297)
He also holds the top spot for total bases (6,856)
Was named an All-Star 25 times (Due to the 4 year stretch when Major League Baseball (MLB) doubled up on the Midsummer Classic)
First in home runs for non-steroid users (755)
Fourth in runs scored (2,174)
Seventh in WAR (143)
Most home runs - one club - career (733 with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves)

Stealing The Hearts Of The People

"After Absalom, the son of King David, received a blessing from his father, he set out to construct a plan to capture the hearts of the people of Israel. 

Receiving a small group of men from David, Absalom purchased a chariot and horses and had his men run ahead of him wherever he went. Then he started rising early and positioning himself by the road beside the main gate leading into Jerusalem. He would then call out to everyone who passed by, asking them if they had business with the king. When the answer was in the affirmative, he would proclaim, 'See, your claims are good and right; but there is no one deputed by the king to hear you. If only there were a king in the land to hear you and bring you justice.' He would then shake their hands, pull them close for a hug, and kissed them. Thus after four years of this strategy Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel." (2 Samuel 15:1 - 6)

This is one of most interesting stories in the Old Testament in regard to family, leadership, politics and betrayal. After being restored in his relationship with his father, the king, Absalom reveals his true motives in regard to his renewed standing as a prince. But he does this in a very public way, with what appears to be little fear of being caught or even confronted. And this public betrayal is not a one-time thing, Absalom executes his plan right in plain sight of the King and his advisors for over four years!

Happy Mother's Day!

To Mom,

Here is my gift to you. Recognizing that there is no amount of time, resources, or effort that could possibly demonstrate my gratitude and love to you and all that you have done for me. Your prayers have kept me safe and anchored, and your grace has been an real-life example of the love that my heavenly Father also has for me. Truly words fail in my ability to express my thankfulness that God gave me you as my Mom.

(Password is: "Mom")

https://vimeo.com/416772142

Baseball And My Youth

Reading has always been one of my favorite joys and one of my favorite subjects is sports, particularly baseball. Without boring you with why I love the game of baseball, (because frankly, George Will has already achieved that piece of perfection . . . ) baseball and the men who have played this game have always been an integral part of my childhood, continuing into adulthood.

For instance: My Uncle Pat stood in line at Eastgate Mall in Chattanooga, TN, on a rainy weekday in June, 1969, all for the goal of obtaining Mantle's autographs for his two nephews. Mickey Mantle was opening up a Men's clothing store in the mall and of course he was the main attraction on this opening day. 

Uncle Pat said the line was very long and full of children and teenagers who should have been at school, unlike the obedient and/or forced-to-attend classes children like my brother and me. I mean, come on!!! Mickey "The Mick" Mantle was signing autographs in our city!! The Yankee great who was one of the two greatest sport stars in baseball in the 1950's and 60's! 

The Power Of One

From the wonderful and evangelistic mind of Charles Schultz came spiritual wisdom wrapped in entertainment. This is the man who fought to ensure that millions of people would hear the true story of Christmas in his release, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" in 1965. But I'll bet you've never heard the full story of how this timeless classic came to fruition . . .

First of all, the Charlie Brown Christmas show might never have happened if not for the shared love of baseball between Charles Schultz and television producer Lee Mendelson. Schultz was a devout follower of baseball and when Mendelson called to talk about creating a TV show using the Peanuts comic strip, the two men quickly found common ground. Lee had recently produced a documentary on Willie Mays, "A Man Named Mays" and this fueled the early good will between these two men.

Battle Cry!

One of the best war game / simulation games of all time!

Favorite Musical Instruments

Talking to a friend of mine recently and we were both bemusing all the gear that we had lost, sold, or had come up missing throughout our musical life. That sparked a challenge to list all of the keyboards and synthesizers I had owned and here is that result:

1) Roland JX-3P - This was my very first musical purchase as an adult. I had played acoustic pianos, B3 organs and Rhodes electric pianos but this was the first musical gear that I personally owned. The JX-3P was Roland's very first synth with midi (simple notes on and off but still . . . ), backed up to a cassette tape and had six voice polyphony. I used this keyboard for four years until it, along with my PA System, Ross 4-Track Recorder, and more was stolen by the manager of our band. A story for another time. 

2) Kurzweil K250 - great piano and string sounds. (A favorite of Stevie Wonder) This didn't have the analog pads and gritty sounds that the JX-3P possessed but it was still a great synth.

3) Roland JV-80 - This quickly become my favorite synth. Great sounds, tons of polyphony (for the time), and the key action was awesome! This synth was also easy to program and worked out well to be a controller of other rack mount synths. This keyboard could sound like a guitar, electric guitar, piano, strings and analog pads. 61 key wonder!

Show Me The Way

 Best Christian song by a secular band ever . . . 

The Sweet Spot

It was a stormy night in Arkansas (I'll bet your mind is already racing toward clues and mysteries . . .) and I was on my way home from work. I was thinking that there are definitely benefits to living six minutes from work but one of the downsides is the lack of time to decompress. My longest commute in my work life was from Rome, Georgia to Chattanooga, TN which was almost two hours on I-75, with good weather and traffic. But there was also a back way home that wove through the mountains, added about thirty minutes to my drive, but offered some amazing views, especially at sunset.

I remember jamming out to Three Dog Night, Genesis, Steely Dan, Cat Stevens and more as the musical soundtrack combined with the rolling North Georgia mountains. But there were other moments, listening to teaching from Tony Evans, Charles Stanley and Chuck Swindoll on Christian radio. And then finally there was the silence afforded during this journey . . .

I Admit It's Not Normal . . .

When I turned 20 I made some pretty big decisions about my life. For instance, I resolved not to date any girl more than 5 times thus reducing the likelihood of becoming ensnared during the prime of my life. Also, after a year and half of college I decided that money held greater appeal than knowledge (I never said these were smart decisions . . . ) and turned my full attention to my job. I had already moved out years earlier so along with this new found direction I decided to reward myself with a new car.

My first car was a 1974 Chevy Nova, not a bad car, a little slow, (also it was painted yellow) but my main gripe was that lately it had made up it's mind that it would decide when to turn off its engine. I used to time the starting point when I turned off the engine and then the final gasps which culminated in a lot of smoke and noise a few minutes later. It was six years old, on the verge of costing me more than it was worth and the decision seemed pretty clear to me. That, combined with the fact that I was a young executive on the move made this an easy decision. It was time to go car shopping!

George Preddy

One of my favorite activities as a child was reading. Back in the 60's my Mom enrolled us in the Scholastic Summer reading program and I will never forget the excitement of opening up that box of treasures when it arrived and stacking them carefully on my desk.

My favorite books were mysteries, stories on athletes, and war stories. I remember one book that made an huge impact was a book on WWI aircraft pilot aces. Eddie Rickenbacker was the most successful American fighter ace in the war with 26 kills. He also led an incredible life after the war that you can read more about HERE.

That book prompted me to research WWII's aces and that led me to learning about George Preddy.  George grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina and his love for flying was born early in his life. After school he became a barnstormer pilot but when WWII started he made three attempts to join the U.S. Navy and was rejected each time for his physical condition. Dejected, he returned to barnstorming but he didn't give up on his goal of being a fighter pilot. During the summer of 1940, before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he made another attempt to join the USAAF and this time he passed all the required tests. He was told he would have to wait for an opening so while waiting Preddy joined the Army National Guard to gain experience and serve his country while waiting for the USAAF to notify him of an opening.

In April of 1941 Preddy finally received his orders to report to flight training. His goal of becoming a fighter pilot was now within his reach. Already his tenacity and single-minded focus was becoming apparent to his commanding officers. General John C. Meyer who was Preddy's squadron commander for more than a year, wrote: "I have never met a man of . . . such intense desire to excel . . . George Preddy was the complete fighter pilot."

10 Songs I Detest

I almost titled this post, "The songs that most make my ears bleed." Now there are a lot of songs that I just don't get or like. For instance, any country song makes that list. But for this post I picked songs from artists that I follow and enjoy. We all have bad days and artists are no exception.

Of course some artists don't have the luxury of a deep catalog of songs to be known for, they only got one shot at stardom. Songs such as: Terry Jacks - Seasons In The Sun, Morris Albert - Feelings, Bo Donaldson - Billy Don't Be A Hero, Hues Corporation - Rock The Boat, Debby Boone - You Light Up My Life, and many, many more!

So just like there is a deep emotional attachment to the songs that I love the most, (click HERE for that post) there is an equally visceral response to the songs that I absolutely loathe. Without further ado, here is that list:

Flight or Flight or Freeze

(This is a reprinted article by Donovan Walls) (2020)

Human beings aren’t so different from the many types of creatures that roam the planet, One of the universal traits shared by so many species is this. Fight or flight or freeze.

In a situation that presents danger, living creatures will perform one of these actions. Fight, meaning we leap into action and confrontation. Flight, meaning we try to remove ourselves from the danger. Freeze, where we are facing an unfamiliar situation and do nothing.

As the last several thousand years of recorded history has shown, humans have yet to grow beyond these basic instincts. It’s a part of who we are.

The brilliance comes in exploiting this mindset in a military situation. Consider a classic military tactic.

 Encirclement.

The idea of encirclement is simple. Use your forces to surround an enemy and isolate them. Cut off their means of supplying themselves with material and reinforcement. Strangle them as you make sure that you don’t run low on supplies. It’s classic thinking for military warfare, especially in regards to sieges.

But I want you to think of that in terms of what I just told you. “Fight, flight or freeze”.

If you take away an enemy’s ability to retreat, you are actually giving them a subtle advantage.

ESPN Trivia

                                                                                                       

Did you know?

• ESPN was incorporated on July 14th, 1978. 
• The original vision was to broadcast sports in the Connecticut area. 
• When researching broadcasting options it was discovered that satellite's were cheaper than regional coverage and 24-hour satellite access was cheaper than regular platform channels. (Satellite was first used by HBO in 1975)
• Bristol was picked as the headquarters because the land was fairly cheap, ($18,000) because it was located on a dump and because the satellite feed was unhindered at the location.

"Art Is A Lie That Tells The Truth."

Picasso once said, "Art is a lie that tells the truth." The reason I like this quote was beside Picasso being one of my favorite painters, he is the creator of one of my favorite paintings. The painting is, "In Mandolin and Guitar". And the reason I like this painting is the mystery behind this creation . . .

Some people allude that in this painting Picasso honors his poet friend, Apollinaire as well as mocking his rival (Matisse) who was attempting his own attempt at Cubism. Let's check it out together . . . 

My Favorite National Parks

This list is mostly made up of personal reflection and memories of visits to my favorite National Parks. I would also be remiss if I didn't express my gratitude to my parents who made traveling a major priority during my childhood / teenage years. (With varying degrees of gratitude and appreciation depending on my age and mood at the time) So with no further ado, here is a list of my favorite National Parks. And yes, these are in a particular order - starting with my favorite park.

1) Great Smoky Mountains National Park - What can you say about a National Park that already has the name "Great" in the title? This is not only the most visited National Park in the United States, but in my opinion it is also the most awe-inspiring and interesting park. But the beautiful scenery, as breathtaking as it is, is not what makes this park so special to me. Picture a place in your mind that inspires countless memories and is a favorite go-to place in my mind where I can get lost for hours.

Some Facts About Chess Openings

Chess openings are broadly classified into six types. Open games, closed games, semi-open games, Indian defenses, semi-closed games, and flank openings.

Open games start with the moves 1.e4 e5, and usually lead to positions with open lines, and tons of tactical ideas.

Closed games start with the moves 1.d4 d5 and usually lead to slow, positional games where each player strives to gain a long-term advantage.

15 Ways To Make Your Life Simpler

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." - Leonardo da Vinci

Simple can sometimes be a proven pathway to calmness and happiness, so I would like to share some habits that have helped me to live a simpler life. 

I would advise just picking one of these and incorporating it into your lifestyle before tackling another. 

Ready?

1) Breathe. It's impossible to overestimate the importance of proper breathing on your stress levels. Take a couple of minutes when facing a difficult challenge and practice deep breathing exercises to lower your heart rate and focus your thinking.

2) Focus on one challenge at a time. Multi-tasking is a wonderful gift but in times of mental and physical challenges it is far more efficient to tackle only one problem at a time.

3) Write it all down. When we are stressed our mind starts leaking information. You will be less likely, (and therefore less stressed) when you are not dropping projects and meeting deadlines. This especially applies to students who are usually learning to balance work, school and life as they navigate closer to adulthood.

Takin' It To The Streets

Two Baskets of Figs

As I continue to journey through this life I become more and more convinced of certain truths. My wife is generally right, my parents were really prophets-in-training, and when God said, "My ways are not your ways," He meant it.

God didn't hide this truth or not expect us to embrace this reality. In Proverbs 14:12, He reminds us, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." In other words, if I'm relying upon my experience, judgement, and intellect to properly evaluate my circumstances, especially those life-altering moments in my life, chances are I'm going to be wrong. It's not that God doesn't expect us to use our brains to make good decisions, but He never expected us to evaluate our life through the prism of our finite minds.

Okay, if you're like me you're going to need an example. One example coming up . . .

Oh No!!!

[Disclaimer: Since I moved to Arkansas in 1996 I have failed to keep my childhood promise, (though I must gently point out that if there were a Krystal restaurant within 100 miles of my residence this probably wouldn't have happened). to forever sustain this restaurant chain, to the best of my ability, and to help it maintain its profitability until the day of my death. I am sorry for failing in this particular endeavor . . . ]

News Alert: Krystal, a popular fast food chain in the southeastern United States, has filed for bankruptcy.

The Board and The Keys

Black and White keys and pieces, full of hope, teaming with possibilities . . . you pull up your chair or bench, extend your fingers, reach into the recess of your mind . . .  and begin!

Have you ever given much thought to the similarities between playing a piano and the game of chess? Both have black and white pieces / keys, awaiting the commands of their masters. Both endeavors involve creativity, and both have the task of containing opposing forces that must be controlled for success to be earned.

The feeling of approaching a piano keyboard, the keys casting a shadow from an impartial light, awaiting you and no other, is a magical moment. You close your eyes, place your fingers on the keys and search for inspiration. Where will this journey take you? Will you run into old friends, past melodies dancing along the edge of your memory or discover new friends? 

Do you see the possibilities? 

Trying to focus your mind as you search for inspiration, fighting off the howls of insecurity, yet sadly recognizing that creativity usually fails to deliver when beckoned . . . 

New Year's Resolutions

Like so many others, part of the ritual of my New Year holiday usually involves making resolutions. I embraced this challenge in my early 20's but have shifted away from emphasizing goals as I have grown older and have shifted toward a focus on improving my character. 

The three "R's" a former boss once taught me, were the keys to living a better life, Reevaluation, Restructuring, Reinvention. And there is no one better than Jesus to reveal our true hearts, unveil the illusions of who we think we are, and emphasize how we should treat others through reading His Word.

I thought I would share what I have been pondering on for the New Year for the last few years, I hope these will be of value to you in setting your own New Year resolutions. Here we go!