post game report

I’m with Collin Cowherd on this one. I think it is difficult to beat a competitive team twice in one year. So we will see the Cowboys in the playoffs hopefully.

I tempted to complain about the Al Harris interception that was stolen from us which led to us not having a third challenge to challenge the poor spot of the ball that led the Crosby field goal at the end of the game. And I’m tempted to complain about the my legs ran into yours pass interference call, but the Terrell Owens “let me give you the game sealing touchdown” interception makes up for all of that.

In the end the game seemed like one were the Packers were strangely close and really shouldn’t have been. They got outplayed in almost every element of the game, and Tony Romo really has emerged as the best thing to come out of Wisconsin in a long time.

Having said all that we need to talk about what is most important. Two words…Aaron Rogers. Holy Snikies!!! I was as pessimistic as anyone. The few glimpses I saw were like Joey Harrington on a bad day. And then last night happened. I suppose you feel guilty speculating about the career of Paul before Jesus had actually ascended, but let start whispering folks…The future looks a bit brighter in chilly Green Bay.

is the middle ok

Just a quick thought on this day before thanksgiving. Today I went to the movie “Enchanted.” I would lie and say that I was outnumbered by my sister-in-law and wife, but the truth is, that I’m a sucker for these kind of movies and in the end made the decision.

The middle, is that he best place? Moderation…really…in all things? I guess if I took one truth away from the movie it was this. The people from the enchanted land needed a good dose of reality. A good dose of anger, heartbreak and everything that is real about life. Conversely the people from reality needed a good dose of what seems to be enchanting. To be reminded that dreams do come true and that we are awoken from this slumber from what seems to be a divine kiss, and I can’t help but think that…that is just right.

Some days we wake up needing to be reminded that all isn’t ok and some days we need to be reminded that all is going to be o.k.

Casting call for new penguin movie

My wife recently landed some sweet deals at the gymboree, a piece of american capitalism that specializes in textiles for those who can't quite hold their own spoons. Among the 31 super saver deals (all for $.99 or less might I add) was this sleeper (not costume).

sorry about pictures two posts in a row...but let's be honest you enjoy pictures more than my writing.

the latest

here are some pics of chunk change

1. Halloween outfit from grandma
2. homecoming parade at baylor with mom
3. red outfits picture with dad
4. black and white red picture...the type of thing that would be posted on a wall in a gap store because Josh was famous for something like..."josh carney and son roy...re: inventor of the 'indie' image"

believing today

I’ve been thinking a lot about the question “what is the gospel” as is evidenced by a few of my recent posts.

I feel like I’ve given up on the epistemological (confess Jesus as your savior) leg. Not because it’s not true, but because it is the leg we’ve seen abused our whole lives. Like televangelists or even evangelists who just get you to confess that you believed a certain story line was true 2000 years ago. I like how my friend Lanny puts it. It’s about insurance and it is difficult to have a relationship with insurance.

The power and the notion of the epistemological leg has been redeemed for me recently. We hired a new ranger at work who has been a Christian for three years. He uses some of the language I despise, but something incredible happens when he tells me his conversion story. I’m deeply moved. I think I’m moved because though he uses some of the language I don’t like, I get that for him the language means something genuine deep within him. His words aren't coated with the baggage of the church. He describes or better yet has trouble describing the weeks or so before he decided to pray the prayer.

I ask the question about knowledge. “Was it really that you just didn’t understand the story of Jesus and someone told it to you and then a light bulb went off and you believed?” Knowledge is the problem, but it’s not propositional knowledge…it’s belief knowledge and the way that belief knowledge changes you. Empowers you from the inside. Stirs your soul.

He throws out these powerful lines like, “well I guess I started to read the Bible and I just couldn’t put it down…I don’t know why I couldn’t…I just couldn’t.” And I ask him, when you actually decided to pray the prayer did something happen? He hesitates, “yeah, this peace came over me.” So then my smart ass, and yet curious ass asks him that if he thinks he would have been saved had he died five seconds before he prayed the prayer and he gives a response that reminds me of what the faith used to be about before I spent years bogged down in seminary and theological questions, “I guess only God knows that.”

I like his story. I like it because he wrestled with this “decision” to become a Christian for weeks before he did it. I like because as awkward as it was, he and his believing mother sat down and prayed about how he was feeling when he started to think about becoming a Christian. I like his story because when I asked him about who he was before he was a Christian and he said, “well I guess I always believed in God, I just didn’t want to acknowledge Him because then I would have to admit there was a problem with me.”

I take that kind of statement and Romans seems alive for me again. I think my problem and it is problem I’m grateful for is that I grew up in Christian home knowing the power of believing knowledge my whole life. But perhaps I forgot or even don’t really know what it was like to struggle to believe and this is why my friends words are so enchanting.

Well I’m not sure this helped, but at least it’s out of my head. I can sleep now.

Popeye Sailor Man, Olive Oyl, Bluto and a very happy first Halloween