Another teachable moment

Honus Wagner and Derek Jeter's respective baseball cards made news today; one is worth millions, one may be worth something in the future.
Baseball cards made the news around our house yesterday. The Children's Minister at our church had lunch with Madison on Monday and gave her a box of baseball cards worthy of kickstarting any kid's collection. It would have never occurred to me a 7-year old girl would be so excited about getting baseball cards, but it made her day. She called my office as soon as she got home to give me the details of her latest treasure, then nearly knocked me over when I got home that evening to show them to me. As I looked through them with her some names were well known, others not so much. Most likely none would be future Honus Wagners, but to have the chance to share a night of sorting baseball cards with my daughter?

Priceless.

Bitter roots run deep...

A story in the New York Daily News, reports late Senator Strom Thurmond and Rev. Al Sharpton have a notoriously historical linkage.
I think the most shocking comment on this discovery comes from Ellen Senter, the niece of the late senator in a story written for FOXNews.com .

"I doubt you can find many native South Carolinians today whose family, if you traced them back far enough, didn't own slaves," said Senter, 61, of Columbia, S.C., told The Daily News.

She added: "And it is wonderful that (Sharpton) was able to become what he is in spite of what his forefather was."

In spite of what his forefather was? He wasn't a mass murderer. He was a man who, despite being on the wrong side of a horrific part of American history, survived the ordeal and raised a family.

"Once freed, Coleman Sharpton earned a living as an elderly wood hauler, and fathered a son, Coleman Jr., who would go on to be a minister - like his grandson, the Rev. Al."

Senter's comments show me she has become what she is in spite of nearly 150 years of progress. "In spite of what his forefather was." That's a telling word, "was". It tells me she doesn't acknowledge slavery for what it "was", an evil institution that stripped a race of its humanity. Maybe I'm hung up on it, unfairly judging her, but I can't get past that word.

Maybe it's because I'm reminded who I "was" all the time. Through temptation and accusations, Satan brings up my past. He tries to shame me back into chains and rob me of the freedom won by the sacrifice of the Cross.

The FOXNews piece closes with this "One of the late senator's sons, Paul Thurmond, and a nephew, Barry Bishop, declined comment, the Daily News said."

Looks like cousin Ellen should have followed the family on this one.

Redeeming the Time

As my daughters grow from babies to toddlers to little girls, I'm constantly reminded of the power each moment I have with them carries. When my wife and I tuck them in at night, their first "strategy" for staying awake a little while longer after we pray is to remind us that we didn't tell them a story. One of my favorite songs by Geoff Moore reminds me to take the opportunity to use those "teachable moments" to pass along stories of God's faithfulness and love.

So I hope Mr. Moore won't mind, but I've posted the lyrics here.

A little boy sitting on a metal folding chair,
In what appears to be a Sunday school room.
He could see that shepherd boy, His sling up in the air,
He could feel that giant hit with a boom.
In that room I saw the Red Sea part,
And two by two animals get in the ark.
And Mrs. Keen gently would say,
The God of the past is still God today.

Chorus
So tell me again of the old, old stories.
Tell me again of the faithful who walked,
In the lions' den and the fiery furnace,
Of Noah and rainbows and donkeys that talked.
I don't want to forget so please, tell me again.

Verse Two
A young man sitting at a desk with a wooden chair,
In what appears to be a high school class.
He can see a battlefield there's giants everywhere
saying, "The Bible is a thing of the past".
In this new age you believe what you want to believe.
'Cause god is whatever you want it to be,
And I can hear Mrs. Keen gently say,
The God of the past is still God today.

Chorus
So tell me again of the old, old stories.
Tell me again of the faithful who walked,
In the lions' den and the fiery furnace,
Of Noah and rainbows and donkeys that talked.
I don't want to forget so please, tell me again.

Bridge
How the God of the ages,
Turned history's pages and saw my need.
Tell me again of the shepherds and wise men,
And the star that would lead them to the baby who was born,
So that we could be born again.

Second Chorus
Tell me again of the Gospel story.
Tell me again how the whole world was lost.
How the Only Begotten with grace so amazing,
Gave up His life on an old rugged cross.
I don't want to forget so please, tell me
Tell me again of the old, old stories.
Tell me again of the faithful who walked.
How the Only Begotten, with grace so amazing,
Gave up His life on an old rugged cross.
I don't want to forget so please, tell me again.
I dont' want to forget, so please, tell me again.

Baptist Identity Conference

For anyone who could not attend I'm posting a link to the Baptist Identity Conference held over the weekend on the campus of Union University. The audio for each presenter is available for listening and download.

Some more Mid-Major credibility...

The SIU Salukis broke into the Top 25 this week following a win at Wichita State. They make their debut at number 20 in the ESPN/USA Today rankings and 21 in the Associated Press poll.

SIU will play 10th ranked Butler in the headline game of the ESPN Bracketbuster series on February 17th.

How long can the Pack avoid Aaron Rodgers as starter?

Brett's back in 2007

Thoughts, anyone?