$75

Today I drove to work and back home in my brand new 48-year-old Falcon. I've named it the Millennium Falcon, after one of the spaceships in Star Wars. We nicknamed it Millie, in honor of grandson Caleb's dog that recently died.

My original Falcon cost $75. Nothing on it worked--no radio, no heat, no air, no nothing. In the winter I drove with a blanket over my lap. In the summer all windows were down.

My car was purple, except for a white left front fender. It had been in a wreck. I totaled it one cold December morning on the way to a college class.

My new Falcon looks better, runs better, has better working accessories, and Lord willing, will last a lot longer. Huzzah!!

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First Time in 40 Years

As best Ruth and I can remember, tomorrow will be the first Thanksgiving Day we have not spent with our parents. Through all of our married life, we have always found a way to make it to the Hueys or my parents.

When in seminary at New Orleans, when a Pastor in Mississippi or Arkansas, we faithfully made our Thanksgiving pilgrimage. Ruth's parents are in Heaven now. Every day for them is Thanksgiving.

My parents live in St. Louis County. Ruth and I slipped away to spend two days with them last week. Ruth and I are now officially on grandbaby watch. We want to be here when our new granddaughter comes.

Tomorrow Ruth and I will eat at Rebekah's. John and his crew will be there, as well as Nathan's family. When the Marshalls and Williams get together, we all have a blast.

By the way, before tomorrow is done, I will call Mom and Dad to wish them a happy Thanksgiving. Oh yes, one final note. Go Cowboys!!

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47 years ago today

We who are old enough to remember November 22, 1963, can tell you precisely where we were and what we were doing about 1:00 pm that day.  President Kennedy was assassinated.  I was in the sixth grade.  Our school secretary came into our room and whispered the news to my teacher.  She told us and then said maybe we would want to say a prayer for the President.  It's the only time in all my education that prayer was ever mentioned.  The whole country came to a halt for five days.  It's still an unpleasant memory.

Less dramatic was the death on that same day of the Christian Apologist C. S. Lewis.  His passing was completely lost in the Kennedy story, but as the years have passed, Lewis' star has continued to rise.  Many consider him to be the most brilliant mind ever to espouse the Christian cause.  His books are as popular as ever and continue to be effective defenses of our faith.

Albert MVP?

I have to admit I am anxiously awaiting Major League Baseball's announcement on Monday regarding the National League Most Valuable Player award. I think it's safe to say it will be Pujols or Votto.

I remember a few years ago when Albert was upset because he lost the MVP award, though the Cardinals made the play-offs, and the player he lost to played on a team that did not make the post-season.

If Albert wins the award this year, will he regret it since the Cards did not make the play-offs, but the Reds did? Everyone knows I'm a radical Pujols fan, but I think this year's award should go to Votto. However, if Albert wins it, my grief will not last long.

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At Mom and Dad's

Ruth and I are spending today at my mom and dad's house in Bridgeton MO, a northwest St Louis suburb. This is my home away from home. I'm relaxed, at peace, definitely in my element. I enjoy the familiar.

This is our Thanksgiving time with my parents and brother. Once we arrive back home we are officially on grandbaby alert, ready at a moment's notice to help when grandchild 5 arrives. These are exciting times. Bring on that baby!!

Grandparenting is all it's cracked up to be, and more. May all your grandchildren be twins.

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Me and 2200 women

Last night Ruth and I attended Jennifer Rothschild's Fresh Grounded Faith conference at Second. It didn't take long to figure out why it is so popular.

Michael O'Brien started things off with congregational music. Ever heard 2200 women sing? Move over, Heaven.

Jennifer's message was superb. I'd be sweating bullets if Southern Baptists allowed women to be Senior Pastors.

Chick-fil-a sent over some dancing cows. Yep dancing cows. Baptist preachers are skiddish about dancing people, but dancing cows are okay.

Comedian Tim Hawkins did a one hour and fifteen minutes set. Maybe the funniest 75 minutes of my life. I couldn't believe how he was sustaining unbroken humor that long.

Way to go, Jennifer!!!

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Thank You

Second will celebrate our 15th anniversary tonight after church.  People have been extremely kind to Ruth and me, expressing their congratulations and gratitude for our years of service here.

Please let me return the favor.  You have blessed Ruth and me far beyond our wildest expectations.  It seems we weekly see things happen that many people never see at church in a lifetime.

Ruth and I plan to be around for many more years.  Let's buckle our seatbelts, give ourselves to prayer, and zoom off into the future together.  It truly is an honor to be your Pastor.  Thanks for this weekend's celebration.

15 Years

Has it really been a decade and a half since Ruth and I first arrived at Second? We were younger then. My hair was all brown, and I had no grandchildren.

Did any of us have even in our wildest dreams any notion of what lay before us? Rapid attendance growth. New buildings. Missions revival. Ministry expansion. Debt paid off. Church planting. MBC President. Four grandchildren (one more coming).

Be assured Ruth and I think this ride has been wild and fun. No boredom here. We're set to jet for another 15 years. We both believe Second's best days are yet to come.

Ruth and I hope you will join us at the church-wide party Sunday night. I'll preach at the 5:00 worship service, and then we'll celebrate in the gym to our heart's content. Huzzah!! Let the games begin.

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World Series

The Giants win!! In November. November?!!? Baseball wasn't meant to be played after Halloween, but no one seems too worried about it.

I'm too young to remember the last time the Giants won the big show. The last two teams I've never seen win it are the Cubs (102 years), and Indians (62 years). Wouldn't a Cubs/Indians World Series be historic?

One thing that made this World Series extra special is that our dearly beloved Pilgreens live only one block from the Giants stadium. They can hear the sounds of the game from their home. I wish the Giants would have won at home. It would have been an experience none of them would have ever forgotten.

Come to think of it, the Series was won by a city where Second started a church. We also started a church in Chicago. Go Eric Arnall. Go Cubs!!

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