So, it’s been a while since I’ve blogged. My life feels like a fast-moving train with every cart packed full. Here we go…
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Last week, we we took a three-day trip, I performed two very different weddings within 14 hours of each other, and preached on what is probably the most familiar text in the whole Bible–Matthew 7:12 (The Golden Rule).
And I have an 8-week-old daughter whose sleep schedule doesn’t exactly match my own. I can get over it, though, because she’s starting to respond to me with smiles and coos that make fireworks go off in my heart.
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Our 8th wedding anniversary was yesterday. I went simple this year…her favorite flowers (sunflowers) and a card. We went to Jim’s Place East before Joy was born to do a real pre-anniversary date. By the way, that was probably the best meal I’ve ever had in the Memphis area. Joni would agree, I think.
I can say without reservation that I’m more thankful than ever that Joni’s my wife. She’s got it all–devotion to Christ, high integrity, remarkable stability, unwavering commitment to family, etc. As a bonus, she’s always been beautiful, but I think she’s hotter now than she’s ever been. She’s my most precious earthly treasure.
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My buddy, Josh Ross, took the words right out of my mouth with his letter to ESPN.
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We’re in the home stretch of our 20-week study of the Sermon on the Mount. Sunday’s text is Matthew 7:13-14.
Jesus really surprises me here. Everything from 7:13 forward is warning. Instead of finishing his most famous sermon with an emotionally charged story to “close the deal” as they say, he warns the crowd not to assume that everyone will actually do what Jesus taught. In actuality, he says that very few of his admirers would put his words into practice. I hear the same tone in his parable of the soils.
Many will profess. Few will practice. Many will talk the talk. Few will walk it out. That was the reality that Jesus was working from.
My goal is to preach this text in a way that honors Jesus’ tone of warning without using scare tactics to elicit obedience. Pray for the Holy Spirit to illuminate my heart and speak through me so that the sheep can hear the voice of their Shepherd.
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As a kid who grew up watching Michael Jordan in his prime, I have thoroughly enjoyed watching highlights on YouTube of all the games in which he scored 50 or more points. It’s pure, unadulterated eye candy. Every time I hear a teenager or college guy going off about how much better LeBron or Kobe is than Jordan, I roll my eyes and point them to videos like this.
still gives me chills dude. one of the best highlights ive seen of him, ever.
I concur on the Favre letter. I wonder if the man is as indecisve about other choices?
Favre: “Honey, let’s go out to eat.”
Wife: “Okay.”
Favre: “Well, I’m not sure if I’m up to it.”
Wife: “What?”
Favre: “I mean, I still have the desire to go out to eat, but I just don’t know if my stomach is up to it.”
Wife: “So, we’re not going out to eat?”
Favre: “I don’t know yet. Give me some more time to think about it.”
Growing up I heard the Matthew passage interpreted as a heaven/hell thing. I’m not sure that’s what Jesus is getting at here. Although “kingdom of heaven” isn’t used here, might it be implied? If so, “kingdom of heaven” seems to speak of the here and now in Matthew more so than a hereafter.
The scariest thing about the Jordan highlight montage from that game is that it’s Jordan before he really hit his prime. Unreal.
Jordan defines superstardom.
My letter to ESPN must have inspired some action. Favre is staying retired!