Saturday Morning Devotional:Answering Calls ...

Saturday mornings this time of year find me working the floor of the gymnasium at our church in Midland, offering halftime devotionals during Upward Basketball games. I was inspired to prepare this week's devotional by headline in the sporting news, about a young man, a minor league baseball player who was doing so well, that most figured it would be just a matter of time till he was called-up to play in the majors. Well, he answered a call, alright … but it was not the call that many expected.

Upward, by the way, is one of the the world’s largest Christian sports program for children, and was created with a vision to provide the best sports experience possible for every child. An estimated 1-million people around the world play, coach, referee or volunteer in some way to support Upward sports activities, hosted by more than 2,600 churches - there are four churches here, in Midland, including my own First Presbyterian.

The organization notes that, "anyone – children and volunteers of any faith or no faith – can participate in Upward sports. Specifically designed for children in K5- sixth grade, Upward aims to bring out 'the winner' in every child – regardless of the game’s score."

Really, not a bad venue for discussing someone like Grant Desme, a player in the Oakland A’s organization. In the eyes of many, he might have had it all - the promising professional baseball career, the six-figure signing bonus and the life many a boy has dreamed of. But I guess, in his own eyes, there was something more important than all of that. Last week, he announced he was retiring from professional baseball in order to enter a seminary this fall, in hopes of someday becoming a Catholic priest.

The news of that announcement, and the controversy - yes, controversy - it generated among some observers, remoinded me of a line of Scripture, from the Old Testament, Isaiah 6: 8 ...

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" (NIV)

I suggested at Saturday's devotional that - as many of those in the stands knew, and as many of the youngsters out there on the floor were learning - we hear many different calls in the course of our lives …

… maybe it’s a call from a parent, a teacher or a coach to make that extra effort, to aim higher, to work harder …

… maybe it’s a call from your country to serve in the armed forces …

… maybe it’s a call from your heart to enter into a lifelong and loving relationship with someone …

… maybe it’s a call from your conscience to engage in protest or civil disobedience …

… maybe it’s a call from family, a friend – or even a perfect stranger – to step up and help in a time of need …

… or - as in Desme's case - maybe it’s a call from the Lord to follow another path – one very different from the path you had set for yourself.

I acknowledged that not everyone may agree with how we answer these, and other calls. But I went on to suggest that, if we listen carefully to those calls – not just with our ears, but with our mind and our heart – the answers will come to us much more easily.

I reminded everyone in the stands that they had been called to get up early on a cold (24°F) Saturday morning, and head out of the house. I thanked them for answering that call the way they did, for being there for the kids that morning, and cheering them on.

By the way, whoever you are and wherever you are, we would love to have you on our team! If you're the parent of a youngster who wants to play basketball, soccer, flag football or cheer, chances are Upward has a league or camp near you. What? No kids? No problem ... Upward programs always need volunteers to coach teams, to referee games, to operate game clocks, to rustle-up snacks for the kids, or offer devotionals at halftime.

I can think of worse ways to spend a Saturday morning.

A Day That will Live in Celebration ....

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a central figure of the 20th century during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war, and a community organizer whose neighborhood encompassed the entire nation, was born on this day in 1882.

This day may be marked with less enthusiasm by some ... especially here, in the Tall City. Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor, established the foundation for modern American liberalism ... a legacy that is being recalled once again as a new administration takes charge in America, and tackles a new generation of problems ... with some observers even offering the phrase 'a new New Deal.'

Roosevelt was not entirely successful in every measure he proposed. Yet for all that, there are few who left such an indelible imprint upon us, our nation and its place in the world. His Wikipedia write-up notes that Roosevelt "has been consistently ranked as one of the greatest U.S. presidents in historical rankings, alongside Abraham Lincoln and George Washington ... a 1999 survey by C-SPAN found that by a wide margin academic historians consider Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Roosevelt the three greatest presidents, consistent with other surveys ... anf Roosevelt is the sixth most admired person from the 20th century by US citizens, according to Gallup."

Did Roosevelt elevate himself as high as history has? Maybe ... and maybe not. He was the first to establish a library (The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum), setting in motion what has become the dominant form of presidential memorials outside of Washington, D.C. As for a more traditional memorial, Roosevelt reportedly told Felix Frankfurter that he wanted nothing more than a plain block of stone the size of his desk erected in front of the National Archives. Such a memorial was built during the 1960s ... but would be dramatically eclipsed decades later ... you can still see that block of stone, by the way, at the new FDR Memorial in Washington, DC.

Here is audo of Roosevelt, addressing his ideal of "The Four Freedoms ...


... elevn months later, he would deliver his "Peral Harbor Address" ...


There is no lack of online resources about FDR, his life and his world. Some good ones include the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Resource Guide from the Library of Congress, the New Deal Network (a collection of photos and primary sources), the FDR Cartoon Archive, FDR's episode in the "American Experience: The Presidents" series, Photographs of Franklin D. Roosevelt from the National Archives and the Franklin D. Roosevelt American Heritage Center Museum.

The Fast and the Curious ...

I've always been a fan of British television programs that have made the jump 'cross the pond to the United States. Among those currently at the top of my list is Top Gear, an imaginative and finely-crafted celebration of car and driver that is at times pointed and passionate ... and sometimes downright hilarious.

Discussions among Top Gear enthusiasts reveal different opinions on the show's strong points. Some like the vehicle reviews, while others prefer the "Power Laps," or the "Star In a Reasonably-Priced Car" segments, or the wacky races, or the even wackier challenges.

But one thing upon which we can agree is speculation over the identity of The Stig, the show's mysterious "Tame Racing Driver" who drives various cars around the Top Gear Test Track in the "Power Lap" segments, and trains each week's guest for the "Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car" segment.

In all of his appearances on the show, The Stig wears complete racing regalia, including full helmet and darkened visor, covered from head to foot ... and completely incognito. The hosts of the program add a little more mystery - and more than a little humor - in their introductions.

"Some say he once wrestled an elephant to the ground using the power of his mind and an alarming hairstyle. All we know is, he's called The Stig."

The mystery of The Stig's identity was solved late last year for British viewers, and late last week for American viewers ...



... or was it? More than a few fans of the show, and followers of the industry have suggested that the 'revelation' was a joke - albeit, a brilliant one. As for BBC's production arm, they're being more than a little mum about the whole thing, even when talking with reporters from their news arm. According to this report from BBC News, "after the show, a BBC spokeswoman would not confirm whether or not Schumacher was the genuine Stig, or a stunt to mark the first episode of a new series of Top Gear."

Me? I have no idea. But I DO know that I'll be tuning in next week - and the following weeks in the year ahead - for more exhilarating rides with with Jeremy, Richard, James and The Stig (whoever he is).

Thinking Globally, Acting Locally ...

Midland youth held a bake sale this weekend, raising funds for Presbyterian Church USA Disaster Relief

If you have concerns over where your contributions to Haitian earthquake relief efforts may actually be going, you can - to borrow a phrase from the environmental movement - think globally and act locally.

There are no lack of local groups - made up of your friends and neighbors, their kids, their schools, their churches - that are connected with legitimate national and international organizations already on the ground and hard at work in Haiti, providing invaluable first-hand feedback on what resources are most needed, and where they are best applied.

Here is just a small sampling ...

First United Methodist Church of Midland, for example is seeking financial and in-kind contributions to assemble health kits. Each kit costs about $12 to put together. United Methodist is asking that all items be new, and don't include anything else in the kit that's not on the list. All kits must be handed in to the United Methodist Church in Midland before February 1st. CLICK HERE for complete information on assembling a kit. You can also make financial contributions, 100% of which will go directly to aid those in urgent need through United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).

The Catholic Diocese of San Angelo has also called upon its churches across West Texas to step up and help Catholic Relief Services. In a statement released last week, Bishop Michael Pfeiffer is asking every parish and mission of the Diocese to send a donation, or take a collection, to help earthquake victims, and has promised that all funds will go to their relief, especially through CRS.

Buckner International is well known for it's humanitarian support around the globe. But it also has a local office working to get your relief contributions to where they are needed. Last week it was reported that the local division is planning to play a huge role in supplying the people of Haiti with basic needs - shoes and socks. And this is just one of the efforts under way at Buckner.

Not the same kind of local ... but there's also efforts under way by the Indianapolis, Indiana-based ServLife International, which was founded by Joel Vestal ... there are many in the Tall City who know Joel, and probably many more who remember his grandfather, Daniel. Recently, ServLife announced it had the ability to fly directly on a military-cleared plane directly into Port-au-Prince, Haiti and deliver Emergency Medical Packs as part of their Strategy for Relief and Response to the Haiti Earthquake.

Like I said, just a sampling ... I'm sure you'll find plenty of organizations out there you can trust to put your contributions to the good use you intended.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I would have linked you to the website for the local chapter of the American red Cross, but that site was having trouble this weekend. You can contact their local office at: 9601 Wright Drive, Midland, TX 79711, (432)563-2267, or visit the national organization's website at www.redcross.org

I'm as Dumb as Ever ... But My Phone's a Lot Smarter ...

It's been about a year, now, since I made the move to a cell phone that does more than just telephone calls and text messages. Now my phone is A LOT smarter ... wish I could say the same for me.

Last year at this time, my view of 'smart phones' was one often heard among curmudgeons (and curmudgeons-at-heart) of all races, colors, creeds, ethnic origins, social philosophies and political leanings ... "Hey, I can call people, I can send texts, and that's all I need!"

That was true then ... and, really, it's still true now. I still have everything I NEED. But now I also have a lot of other things besides ... things that I WANT... mmmmm ... things that I LIKE... yesssss ... and things that will impress others with my phone's smartness, my phone's usefulness. And by extension, they might also be impressed with MY smartness, MY usefulness - despite all appearances to the contrary.

For example, in a weekly film class, we were discussing Steven Spielberg's Munich, and watching a scene near the film's end where one of the main characters is reminded, "you are sabra, your wife is sabra." In the discussion following that clip, someone asked, "What is sabra?" I didn't know ... but my phone did, and within a couple of minutes we had all added a new word (for a Jew born in Israel) to our vocabulary.

Preparations for our annual Holiday Evening celebration included a walk-through of the campus grounds at night, giving us a better feel for what our guests might experience. One of our team asked how much of a moon there would be that night, and how much light (and visibility) it would contribute. I didn't know ... but my phone did, and within a couple of minutes we knew our event took place the very next night after a full moon, and could include its added light into our plans. We also got a long-range weather forecast.

Musical offerings at one of our Christmas season services included "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella." This prompted someone to ask, later, who Jeanette and Isabella were, and why didn't we see them in the Nativity with Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the wise guys, the little drummer boy, Santa and all the rest. I didn't know ... but my phone did, and within a couple of minutes we were all up-to-speed on the song's history, and its progression from 16th-century French dance music, to mainstay of modern Christmas carols.

Add to that other app's for blogging, Twitter and Facebook, maps and directions, photography and word processing, games, e-mail, an alarm clock, a flashlight and so much more.

So anyway, one year later, my phone is A LOT smarter. Wish I could say the same for me. But, hey ... getting a smart phone was a smart move on MY part, right ... right?

An Interesting View from Outside the Basin ...

"I’m an American soldier. I’m willing to die for my country, my fellow countrymen and their interests. But am I willing to die for oil," asks Jeffrey Maryak, in this post at When Falls the Coliseum. "You’re damn right I am."

I've been enjoying my work with WFTC, and posts such as Maryak's - thoughtful and provocative, whether you agree with them or not - are a big reason for that. By the way, WFTC's proprietor keeps the 'help wanted' sign hanging in his virtual window.

The "Poe Toaster" ... Nevermore? ...

Following-up on my post from this morning, the Baltimore Sun reports that, "a longtime tribute to Edgar Allan Poe may have come to an end with the absence of the 'Poe Toaster,' who for more than half-a-century has marked the poet's birthday by laying roses and a bottle of cognac at his original grave site. This is the first time since January 19, 1949 that the person, whose identity is unknown, failed to arrive, said Jeff Jerome, curator of the Edgar Allan Poe House."
At right, an archive image of the grave site

I I was sorry to read that, and I hope that all is well with the Toaster. All kinds of reasons for his/her absence have been offered ... including one suggestion from Baltimore's blogosphere that the Toaster was disgusted with the NFL's Ravens' performance against the Colts in the playoffs earlier this month.

Whatever.

I am glad of one thing, though - that, for now at least, we have been spared the media circus that grew around Rudolph Valentino's grave every August 23, with dueling contenders for the title of gen-yoo-wine "Lady In Black."

As for me, far from Baltimoreand its literary legacy, I shall crack open that half-bottle of cognac in the cabinet, and offer my own toast to Poe ... evermore.

A Sip of Cognac, a Birthday Toast ...

FOLLOW-UP: For the first time in more than sixty years, "The Poe Toaster" failed to marked the poet's birthday by laying roses and a bottle of cognac at his original grave site.

A Sip of Cognac, a Birthday Toast ...

... marking the birth of poet, writer editor and critic Edgar Allan Poe, born on this day in 1809, in Boston, his legacy has generated new interest in this new century.

Through his writings - and adaptations of said writings for stage, film, television, even cartoons - he is best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, of tormented minds and souls. But he is considered the inventor of the detective-fiction genre (C. Auguste Dupin), and is further credited with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction (Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym). It is noted that he was the first well-known American writer to try to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career.

Would that he could have enjoyed back then, the interest and success he enjoys today. A number of cities are fighting for the honor to claim him as theirs and only theirs, in what's been dubbed 'The Poe War.' Last year, the U.S. Postal Service released a stamp to commemorate Poe's 200th birthday. And every January 19th, in the pre-dawn hours, crowds gather in a Baltimore cemetery, hoping to someday glimpse a mysterious visitor who places three red roses and a half-filled bottle of cognac at Poe's grave in Baltimore before quietly slipping away.

It's hard not to feel the allure of the man's vision, and the way he crafted the words that have shared that vision with untold milllions of readers and filmgoers ... and will continue to do so long after you and I have passed on to join him for a sip of cognac.

Poe's Wikipedia write-up is a good start for finding out more about the man, his works and his legacy. You can also visit the websites of the Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Edgar Allen Poe Society in Balyimore, Maryland, or the Edgar Allen Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia.

Saturday Morning Devotional:Looking Into Tebow's Eyes ...

Saturday mornings this time of year find me working the floor of the gymnasium at our church in Midland, offering halftime devotionals during Upward Basketball games. I was inspired to prepare this week's devotional by looking into the eyes of a Heisman Trophy-winning, All American college football quarterback, Tim Tebow.

Upward, one of the the world’s largest Christian sports program for children, was created with a vision to provide the best sports experience possible for every child. An estimated 1-million people around the world play, coach, referee or volunteer in some way to support Upward sports activities, hosted by more than 2,600 churches - there are four churches here, in Midland, including my own First Presbyterian.

The organization notes that, "anyone – children and volunteers of any faith or no faith – can participate in Upward sports. Specifically designed for children in K5- sixth grade, Upward aims to bring out 'the winner' in every child – regardless of the game’s score."

Really, not a bad venue for discussing someone like Tim Tebow. At the moment, he is one of the most well-known college athletes in the nation, and some are suggesting he will be the #1 pick in the upcoming pro football draft.

Those of you who watch college football on TV, have probably noticed those patches of eye black he wears during games, and the references to Bible passages written in white letters on that eye black … one of them is Hebrews 12:1 ...

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." (NIV)

I suggested at Saturday's devotional that it was nice, really, to have someone like Tim Tebow out there. Is it me, I asked, or are there too many sports headlines out there devoted to guns in the locker room, marital infidelity, dogfighting, coaching scandals and steroid drug use. I wondered, can one embrace sports at any level – whether it’s in the church gym, the local ballpark or a major pro sports stadium – and still embrace Christian values? Answering my own question, I said, "yes, I think so." Tim Tebow, I noted, did it every Saturday afternoon … and these Upward kids are doing it right here, every Saturday morning.

By the way, whoever you are and wherever you are, we would love to have you on our team! If you're the parent of a youngster who wants to play basketball, soccer, flag football or cheer, chances are Upward has a league or camp near you. What? No kids? No problem ... Upward programs always need volunteers to coach teams, to referee games, to operate game clocks, to rustle-up snacks for the kids, or offer devotionals at halftime.

I can think of worse ways to spend a Saturday morning.

It's a Shame, Really ...

There are not enough fingers out there to count the many, many ways, big and small, that Christians are finding to share the Word of God, and the love of God, with others. It's a shame, really, that so much time and space - that ANY time and space - will be devoted to this expression of God's love from televangelist Pat Robertson.

Fortunately, there are other stories out there, about all kinds of efforts - both secular and faith-based - that are already on the scene and dealing with the terrible destruction, or rushing to Haiti's aid ...
• First U.S. vessel arrives at Port-au-Prince
• Pennsylvania pastor ‘expecting the worst’ at Haitian site
• Americans flocking to help out in Haiti
• Doctors Without Borders: Supplies and staff scarce
• Haiti earthquake: How to help
Really, this is just a small sample ... find some of your own, and share them with others ... and urge THEM to spread the word and, maybe, contribute to relief efforts ... and help place contributions such as Robertson's in their proper perspective.

Worth the Trouble ...

Those of us in the Tall City wishing to enjoy Bob Marshall's "Nine" must invest a little more time, a little more trouble than we normally would to see a movie ... but it's worth it.

The film is based on based on the book for the Tony Award-winning musical of the same name, which was derived from an Italian play, which itself was inspired by Federico Fellini's autobiographical film "8½." The film follows the tangled life and loves of celebrated Italian film director Guido "Maestro" Contini (played by Daniel Day-Lewis) who must deal with a midlife crisis that is stifling his creativity, and complicating an already complicated number of romantic involvements.

I've wanted to see the film ever since I caught the trailer for it on HDNet TV's "Nothing But Trailers." The trailer suggested colorful and high-spirited musical numbers, and an all-star cast that included Lewis as well as Judy Dench, Penélope Cruz, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman and Sophia Loren. But seeing the film itself, proved to be problematic.

I didn't realize that demand in the Tall City for a film like "Old Dogs" continued to be so strong that the local cineplex couldn't devote at least part of that screen's schedule to "Nine" ... or maybe the film came-and-went through Midland quickly, and I missed it.

Oh, well ... off to Odessa, then, where the film was sharing a screen with another film, and was showing only once-a-night. It's not the first time we've headed to Odessa to catch a film that never made it onto the screens in Midland, and that meant extra time and trouble ... but it was worth it! The film offers a story that gets its hooks into you and holds you, mixing comedy and pathos ... words - and music! - delivered by that all-star cast ... those sparkling musical numbers that I mentioned ... and an ending that I absolutely loved.

I recommend the film ... AND I recommend seeing it right away ... I suspect it will soon be gone from Odessa's cineplex as well.

Lingering Over Christmas, Hanging With the Wiseguys ...

In many respects, Christmas is just a memory, now. Variations of “How was your holiday?” are disappearing from our conversation, depleted shelves of Christmas goods (at dramatically-reduced prices) are giving way to shelves stuffed with Valentine’s Day goods, and the ‘fridge has been cleared - one way or another - of the last ripening remnants of Christmas dinner leftovers.

Considering that we’re only now, finally regaining our breath and our our sanity from Hectic Holiday Hustle 2009, is this any time to talk of lingering over Christmas?

Well … yes, actually. It just might be, as was suggested this past Sunday at church, and will again be suggested tonight - ‘church night’ here, in this part of the country - during a special Epiphany Celebration Dinner, an evening of food and fellowship, prayer and praise … and gifts!

Some will suggest that tonight’s gathering is something of a stretch for us … westerners, Protestants - Presbyterians, no less. But, deciding not to turn-off the spirit of the season like a string of lights at 12:00:01 December 26, we instead chose this year to linger over Christmas, joining with other western Christians in celebrating the revelation of God-made-Man in the visitation of the Biblical Magi - the original Wiseguys - to the Baby Jesus.

Relying solely upon the Bible, there’s not much we actually know about the Wiseguys. Less than twenty lines in the Book of Matthew - a few facts, and the basis for some strong assumptions, and that’s it. Really, most of what we ‘know’ about them comes from various traditions over the last 1,500 years, and a 19th-century Christmas carol.

But we do know that, whoever they were and from wherever they came, they came bearing gifts. And that is a tradition we will honor tonight, with gifts for babies and toddlers - cans of formula, jars of baby food, boxes of cerial, diapers and wipes - which will be distributed to our church’s mission partners who serve young children.

I'm looking forward to a wonderful evening. I also expect to come away with the thought that I might find ways to continue lingering over Christmas, and hanging with the Wiseguys, throughout the year ahead.

Won't you join us? It's tonight - Wednesday, January 6 - at 5:30 in Lynn Fellowship Hall of First Presbyterian Chuch-Midland, on the northwest corner of the intersection of A and Texas streets, on the west edge of downtown Midland Everyone eats free!