Invitations

I've been able to visit wonderful places: Grand Canyon, Yosemite, National Cathedral, Liberty Bell, Tower of London, Carlsbad Caverns, Badlands, and a great BBQ place in Lulling, Texas.

There were strange places as well: Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD and Westminster Mansion in San Jose come to mind quickly...

I think I like best the places where I've been invited.

And I've been invited to some pretty memorable places in my life.

In college, I was invited to be part of a Federal Communications Commission petition on behalf of the state of Delaware. An ad hoc group gathered me up and took me along to their meeting in Washington DC. We were able to take a tour of the Senate Chambers. That reminds me of the one time in high school where I received a formal invitation (as a high school newspaper editor) to attend a Secretary of the Army press conference in the Pentagon. Both were great trips.

I like being invited to places. Invitations are great.

Perhaps one of the most enjoyable I invitations I had over the years was to be asked over for a simple but fun family dinner at one of the homes in Hollister, California. The Kliewers were a hoot to be around, always filling me (a single guy with no social life whatsoever) with solid stick-to-the-rib meals and great stories. I still remember the relaxing evenings we had. The Guerreros would invite me over for a no-nonsense Mexican dinner which still makes my mouth water in memory. Quesadillas, tacos, refried beans, tostadas...

Then there was the older gentleman in Fresno CA who met me at the church and took me to a Greek restaurant and let me pick and choose anything off of the menu. I remember the deep conversations we had while dining on halvas, lamb, artichokes and thick coffee.

It's a grand thing to be invited.

And that's what I like about this omnipotent Lord of ours: God is a God of Invitation!

Am I wrong? Take a look at Isaiah 1:18.

Then read Isaiah 55:1.

And then we remember that Jesus Himself said "Come unto Me and I will give you rest?"

God invited Noah into the ark, where He was. Isn't that a great picture of salvation?

Best of all, look at Revelation 22:17. You know the qualifications for coming to Him? You must be thirsty and you must be willing. That's it. He's a God of Invitation.

Some random Super Bowl Pix

Above: Halftime set up. They rolled that stuff in and out within minutes. Well, I guess they had to.

After the win... I still can't describe the feeling. It was an event that has few equals. People across the aisles were hugging and shouting, high-fiving and cheering. Put New Year's, Christmas and July 4th rolled up into one and you have an idea. Taylor Moran and I take a break from screaming.

I'm going to say that this was taken about 40 minutes before kickoff.

The above photo was taken a couple of hours before game time. We chatted with everyone around us. A really exciting atmosphere, and everyone friendly, even "enemy" fans. The Steeler-to-Cardinal fan ratio was about 4 to 1. Maybe that's why Card fans were so friendly.

After these guys warmed up, a grounds crew came out and picked up shreds of grass of the field with their fingers, one at a time. I'm not kidding.

Ben and some players loosening up. Every time these guys sprinted along the sideline, the crowd erupted.

This is one of the first sights I had after I found my seat about two hours before game time. yeah, we got in early.

This was one of the walls to help direct us to the many parking lots after the Game.

Earning tickets

When I was a child and attending Sand Beach Independent Bible Church, there was a running challenge to little kids like me. The glass-enclosed case in the lobby of the downstairs section had prizes for those who earned enough tickets. Each Sunday if you attended you would get a blue ticket (1 pt). If you brought your Bible you got a red ticket (2 pts). I also believe you got a red ticket for memorizing a verse.

And, oh, the prizes you could win! There was a little display full of trinkets and baubles.. but not the ones on the top shelf! Those were the Bibles.

And, buddy, I earned a Bible. Took me long enough, but I was able to "buy" a Bible for about 50 or so ticket points. Man, I loved that Bible. It was great to carefully write my name on the inside cover, and leaf through the maps and various passages.

The Bible still holds an awe to me today.

The Bible, as you know, has 66 books, with 39 in the Old Testament, and 29 in the New Testament. The OT, as some people call it, foreshadowed the coming of the Messiah, and gave prophecies and hints about it through the 39 books, like:

The Messiah would be born of a virgin Isa. 7:14

The Messiah would be rejected by men and be wounded for our sins Isa. 53 (the whole chapter)The Messiah would not only be the Everlasting Father, He would be the Prince of Peace Isa 9:6

The Messiah would be pierced in His hands and feet Psalms 22: 16

The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem Micah 5:2

There are many many more but these beginning ones give you an idea of the supernatural nature of the Bible. These prophecies came true even though they were separated by hundreds of years. The Bible, all 66 books, are cohesive and make up one theme: Jesus making the way for us to be with God and be part of His family.

2 Timothy 3:16 says that "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." Paul meant that both the New and the Old Testament were - and are - inspired. The word "inspired" is literally "God-breathed." This implies that the Scriptures are from the mouth of God.

As I said, the OT had prophecies, right? And you see that 2 Peter 1:21 says "for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." Peter is saying that prophecy is not the product of human will, but by those moved by the Holy Spirit.

Julianne's haircut

This is an old picture I found of Julianne during her first "professional" haircut. Unlike the boys, Julianne actually enjoyed her haircut. In fact, these years later, she still "cuts our hair" and as she plays the part of the hairdresser, she insists on calling herself the name of the stylist you see in the picture here: Erin.

Sort of gives you an idea of the strong impression adults leave on kids.

Childlike Faith

I spent the morning speaking to five different groups at the conclusion of the ministry known as the Upward Basketball season, in which I had about seven minutes with each group. My presentation was the culmination of weeks of messages from their coaches and leaders in which they heard Bible verses and instructions on God's plan of salvation.

I met with them at the West Park Baptist gym and gave them a joyous message of God's free gift of salvation and the way to accept it.

I was stopped on the way out the door after one of these times by a man who called himself a Christian. He told me that I was not presenting the Gospel correctly. In a nutshell, he said that "the kids were too small to understand."

???

Since when did the Bible tell us that the simple childlike faith of loving Jesus, wanting to go to Heaven, desiring to follow the Lord and not wanting to be sinful could not be understood?

Luke 18:17 - "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Ventroloquism part 2

Side note: I am getting more writing assignments than I thought possible. I am backlogged at least a week on immediate assignments, not to mention the two biographies I am working on (interviews, phone calls, etc) It was necessary for me to "fire" one of the companies for which I work. As I was assembling the content and sending in the features over the weekend, the company supervisor (my sole contact) slowly started requiring web-building requirements to my assignments. As I was discussing this issue, he became rude and disrespectful...and that was it for me.

You see, about four months ago, I made it a policy that in any business that I would do, if anyone would show disrespect to me or any of my teammates in the network, I would cease the business relationship. I might be the last businessman in the world that holds a strong policy on manners, but there must be civility in all aspects of the working world, I believe. Christian or non-Christian - no matter.

--------------

Now, back to the story:

I was the most anxious kid in the country the week before Christmas. Nothing else seemed to matter but that Jerry Mahoney ventroloquist puppet. I dreamed about using it and speaking without moving my lips. I studied the "Throw Your Voice" sections of party games books in the Hershey Library. I talked about how I would entertain church groups and school meetings alike. I was obsessed with Christmas morning.

The day came.

I bolted downstairs - along with the rest of my brother sand sisters - to the front room of our country house on Airport Road. Mom had us sit down (Dad wasn't around - I think the divorce was final) in front of the tall Christmas tree decked with plastic icicles and spray snow (which I still think is awesome stuff). We went through the smaller gifts that we exchanged among siblings (car-shaped soap, box of nonpareil candy) and laughed a lot. It was great.

Then there was one more present for each child.

The Big Gift.

One by one we worked our way around the room. I'm telling you, I was in a sweat, (and I believe I was too young to even have sweat yet) but I can tell you the honest truth, I was shaking whenever I grabbed that wrapping paper. It seems the right size, but you never know...

I held the rectangular parcel vertically and I ripped it open halfway up.

Jerry Mahoney peeked through the whole inteh wrapping paper.

I shouted, screamed and laughed. I kissed my mom and shouted some more. Christmas Day was Perfect.

I waited and waited and waited for something so long that I ached - and it came to pass.

And I look at the life we have right now, and as much as I know things are fun and enjoyable, there are also hurts and griefs that we all face. I know there is a better life that God has for us. He's not a monster to make us suffer and then extinguish from existence. There is a Heaven and I wait anxiously for that day whenever I can see it all come true.

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down-when we die and leave these bodies-we will have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.

We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long for the day when we will put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing.
For we will not be spirits without bodies, but we will put on new heavenly bodies.
Our dying bodies make us groan and sigh, but it's not that we want to die and have no bodies at all. We want to slip into our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by everlasting life.
God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.
So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord.
That is why we live by believing and not by seeing.

2 Cor. 5>2

Thoughts on Christmas wishes

I can recall the Christmas I wanted to be a ventroloquist.

Specifically I wanted to be as good as, or better than Paul Winchell (whom many of you will recognize as Tigger's voice in the Winnie the Pooh cartoons.) This guy could make the doll talk without so much as a flinch of his lips, and I was enthralled at the idea of being able to set up a partner onstage to make wisecracks and witty asides while I played the straight man. Oh, I could see my career take off, especially in my 4th grade class in January, when the teacher, Mrs. Riley, would let anyone march to the front of the class, proudly display one of their Christmas gifts and chat about it. Why, I don't know - perhaps for the experience of getting in some public speaking. No matter. This was my chance to take center stage and impress the girls, especially Lynette Bredbenner and Lori Morris. I would show my gift, go into a routine and make them swoon. Never mind the fact that I was a buck-toothed kid with a long neck and a bad haircut. It's the sheer thespian talent that knocks 'em dead, didn't you know?

Well, I was dropping every hint possible in order to let my mom know that I wanted a Jerry Mahoney puppet more than anything in the world...

Superhero Convention Part 2

(Please refer to my first Superhero post a few days before the Super Bowl. Now that everything has calmed down since my trip to Tampa, I can get back to this story.)

I truly believed that I could call the great heroes of the universe together and organize an ad-hoc Justice league of my own. Think of it! We could protect the world from all of the ills of the 60's... if we could just get organized. And I, a second grader from Dallastown Elementary, would be the one to bring them together.

Why I believed that the titans of the world would gather and obey my instructions, I cannot tell you. I just figured that they, being fair and kind much like they were in the comic books, would allow me to be President Elect or Headquarters guy or something. How I was supposed to know where the immediate crimes were? I hadn't figured that out either - the first thing was to get organized, for crying out loud.

So I found a hunk of cardboard that was about 3 feet square and set to work on it with crayons. It said this:

ATTENTION SUPER HEROS

of any powers. All are welcome.

TIME TO ORGANIZE.

Meet at Dallastown Park

at home plate today at 3 p.m.

ALL SUPER HEROS WELCOME.

I went down - so help me, a second grader - to Gladfelter's Furniture and was going to ask them to put it in their window, but when I got in the store, it was too quiet and ornate. I chickened out, and went outside. I propped it in front of the store on the sidewalk and took off. Nobody should know it was me who put the sign there. All things secret.

I hung back throughout the afternoon - not wanting to give away my secret identity. That, plus the risk of getting yelled at by the old guy sitting near the monkey bars. 2:45 p came and i was in a sweat. 2:55. 2:59.

They would all fly in, at the last minute.

3 p.m.

Gosh, these guys aren't punctual. Still, they have floods and fires to take care of...

... at 3:30 p.m. I walked back to Charles Street and went to my room, half disappointed and yet relieved a bit as well. I wasn't sure what to do if a whole mob of heroes with assorted powers showed up.

But I loved strenght and action in a person. That's probably why Mark is one of my favorite books. Jesus is portrayed as doing, going, moving, active.

He's the God-man, who stunned the disciples by calming the sea in a superhero way. Their reaction?

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:41)

When I first started learning about Jesus' abilities to defy the laws of the "normal" nature around Him, I got intrigued. This One who came to earth to heal and do wonders - why was He doing this?

My journey was starting...

Odd

I'm right in the middle of the work day, slaving over assignments and trying to figure out character development, plots and outlines - and it hits me: I really would like a tomato sandwich.

A good fresh tomato sandwich. The kind where you get a huge thick slice and add a little lettuce. I add mayonaisse to mine and some serious pepper (a little salt - sometimes seasoned salt).

There’s only two things that money can’t buy
And that’s true love and homegrown tomatoes
— Guy Clark

Being a Christian and Have a Great Time - is it allowed?

Halftime at the Super Bowl. Here's the funny thing - we tend to separate the secular from the sacred in many areas of our life, especially when it comes to sports. I mean, why bring Jesus into all of this - "does He love the winning team more than the losing team?", etc.

But I think it's your perspective.

I don't think of it along that pathway. I see sports - as a participant or a player - more as an extension of our need for an energetic diversion from our workaday world. I see it as a way for friends to chat about the lighter things of life and for people to find a fun way to socialize.

As I stood there throughout the game enjoying the singing of the National Anthem, the Springsteen concert/fireworks display, and the back-slapping that total strangers were exchanging with me, I remember openly thanking the Lord - I mean it - and just letting Him know that I so much appreciated this as one of the times when God just said, "You've put in a pretty hard work schedule in life - just go act goofy and have fun."

And I did.

I Lived to Tell About It

Awesome. Simply amazing. The anticipation did not exceed the event. It was everything they said it would be... and more. Electricity in the air. People cheering and chanting. Biggest TV event in North American television. 70,744 people in the stands, about 70% Steeler fans.

I'm still taking it in.

I will be writing a few thoughts about the game in a while. But for now, I am still processing everything that happened. Really, the pictures I will be posting will give you a good idea of the SB XLIII from the ground view.