Mark McGwire

While much of the country is gorging on sports after having gorged on
food, let me interrupt our holiday complacency with a controversial
blog.
People who think Mark McGwire should be in the baseball Hall of Fame
may have valid reasons for thinking so.

Did he take body enhancing substances? Yes, but none of them were
banned by baseball then. He broke no official rule. Many think it's
unfair extend a rule into the past. We don't allow it in our judicial
system.

In most cases like this I favor swift stout penalties. But I have to
admit McGwire's supporters can build a case for saying his situation
is marked by extenuating circumstances.

Many think McGwire should be in Cooperstown because he brought
baseball back from the brink of annihilation. Some of us are old
enough to remember how disgusted even the most loyal fans were with
baseball after the players strike.

Many felt baseball would never recover. The homerun races between
McGwire and Sosa resurrected baseball. Their heroics brought it back
to life. They did for baseball after the strike what Babe Ruth did for
it after the Black Sox scandal.

People smarter than I am will have to make the Hall of Fame decision.
I'm just a lowly Cardinals fan who is glad Mark is returning to the
Cardinals as their hitting coach. I hope he and Pujols become the best
of friends.

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Tony LaRussa

I just finished reading a biography of the Cardinals manager. Lots of
interesting info.

He is a lawyer. When he signed as a young man to play baseball he
promised his mom he would finish college. It took him seven years but
he kept his promise. He then went on to law school.

He is a complex figure. Intense. Hot tempered. Baseball genius.
Extremely liked. Extremely disliked. Winning is all that matters.
Animal rights activist.

I wish the author would have told something about Tony's religious
views. It's impossible to understand anyone until you know their
spiritual outlook. It affects everything else.

LaRussa is now 65 years old. I think he still has a lot baseball
victories left in him. At least I hope so. Go Cards. Go Pujols.

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Revivals and Football

Capital One Football Week(s) is upon us. Watching football, something
we usually do once a week, is for this week or two a daily event.

Reminds me of the old revival meetings we used to have twice a year.
I can still remember the last two-week revival meetings I attended.

I was too young to drive, and rode with Dad every night for two weeks
to a meeting he preached in Commerce MO. For the next two weeks I
attended a revival every night in my home church. I went to church
essentially every night in August that year.

Speaking of concentrated church attendance, Ed Meyer and I had a
mutual friend, Carey Miller, who was one of the most effective and
powerful evangelists we ever knew. He preached 26 Sunday to Sunday
revivals a year.

He preached 4 times on both Sundays, and noon and night the other 6
days. Yep. Add 'em up. Twenty services in one week. We don't do
concentrated church much any more. Maybe this tells us something
about ourselves.

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Reflections

I had a perfect birthday yesterday. Ruth masterminded it all, of
course. Mom and Dad came; the trip is getting harder for them to make
as time passes. My brother Charles and sister Esther came from St.
Louis.

John, Amanda, Nathan, and Rebekah were here, as were all 4 of my
wonderful grandchildren. We partied hard.

I am now two times older than anyone in their 20s, three times older
than all teenagers, four times older than pre-teens. But it doesn't
bother me one whit.

I feel incredibly good. When I close my eyes and ponder my life, I
feel as healthy and as strong as I did when I played basketball at age
15, married Ruth at 19, and received my doctorate at 23.

My problems begin when I open my eyes and see a mirror. "Who is that
old guy?" I wonder for half a second. Then I smile and reflect, "Life
is good. God has drawn the lines for me in pleasant places."

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Bible 2010

My friend Paul Bowen said he's tried to read the Bible through in one
year, but always stumbles in the book of Numbers. Let me make a
suggestion that might help many of you.

Every January I read Psalms, Proverbs, and Matthew. This allows me to
read some of my favorite Bible books at the start of the year, and
gives me a feeling of accomplishment before February arrives.

I then read a different Gospel every quarter. This keeps me close to
Jesus in every part of the year. I go back and forth from New
Testament to Old Testament throughout the year.

I have other little things I do, but these at least get you started
with a workable plan. If you want one of my printed Bible reading
guides, call my assistant Angie at 417-887-3111 x110. They are free
and easily reproducible.

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Elliptical Religion

I came downstairs to walk on the elliptical. I had my large print
Bible at the ready, but saw another book on the elliptical.

It was Ruth's Bible lying open. Nearby was Lloyd Ogilvie's book
"Quiet Moments With God." Ruth's Bible was carefully marked and not
large print. Thus I reverently removed it, set it by Ogilvie's book,
and started my own stationary run (walk) through Acts 13-19 with the
Apostle Paul.

In 22 minutes he and I covered Asia Minor and Europe. Faster than a
speeding bullet.

When Paul and I finished our missionary work, I removed my Bible and
dutifully returned Ruth's to its rightful spot Let me encourage you
to have a prayer closet and a Bible elliptical.

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Adoniram Judson

When we last night ordained Ngun Iap, Pastor of our Burmese church, I
felt myself caught up in history, suddenly living in the train of
Adoniram Judson.

I realized I was seeing fleshed out what can happen as a result of
laboring in an unreached people group. Judson labored for years
before winning one convert. But now, 200 years later, over 80% of
Burma's Chin people are Christians.

Pastor Ngun says Judson is their hero, and they consider the USA their
motherland, because we sent the Gospel to Burma.

Hopefully a similar day of triumph will be celebrated among our UPG,
the Bells of China. We adopted them in 1997. The latest estimate is
that 600 Bells are now Christ-followers.

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Best President Trivia Ever!!

I always have enjoyed trivia. My close friend in St Louis, John
Wonsewitz, says I am the world's largest compendium of useless
information.

On Facebook I read the other day that President John Tyler still had
two grandsons living. Impressive. It would not let me go. I had to
dig this one out for myself, because if it's true, it has to be the
biggest President trivia fact of my existence.

Oh my goodness!! It is true. Let me tell you how impossible this
seems. John Tyler was born in 1790, when George Washington was
President. As a boy, Tyler attended Washington's funeral.

When 63 years old, Tyler fathered Lyon Tyler in 1853. At ages 71 and
75, Lyon gave birth to Lyon Jr and Harrison Tyler in 1924 and 1928.
Both are still living. I wonder if they plan to have more children.
Look out, Abraham and Sarah.

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USMC Lt. Josh Hill

My first cousin once removed is in town. He's on his way from
California to Virginia to continue his military training. He drove
2000 miles in two days, and has another 1000 to go. Oh to be young
again.

My weight has skyrocketed in recent weeks. I was depressed when I got
up to 205. Now I'm at 212. Yep. Read it and weep. My situation is
made worse by the fact we still have 3 weeks of Christmas parties and
feasts yet to enjoy. I need a miracle. No kidding. Pray.

Humor helps. Doctors' comments on patient charts. The patient has
been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993. 69 year old male,
mentally alert but forgetful. Patient refused an autopsy. Patient
had no past history of suicide.

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Frozen Custard Anyway

I asked why I would be at Andy's Frozen Custard when the temperature
was 22 degrees. Here are FB/Twitter responses.

Why? Grandchildren of course. Because it's wonderful. Makes it fun
to be a kid awhile. It's never too cold for Andy's.

Makes me a little insane for a taste of its goodness. To stand under
their heater? Helps add an all-important layer of fat to our bodies
which insulate us from the cold.

My favorite comes from missionaries to Asia. Sounds so good. Wish we
could eat some. 3 more years. Enjoy it for us.

In light of this plea from missionaries, I feel I would be derelict of
duty if I did not regularly go to Andy's for them vicariously.

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Christmas in the air!!

Uncle Phil's Diner was a scream last night. We were laughing our
heads off. The songs, choreography, and acting were superb. Last
night was a full house. Tonight is already sold out. I will find out
by Sunday how availability is for Monday and Tuesday nights.

Speaking of Christmas, my daughter has gone hogwild on her blog http//:www.yeebird.blogspot.com
. I noticed she had been putting new posts up daily with family craft
Christmas ideas. I asked her yesterday, "You're not going to do this
every day till Christmas, are you?"
"Yes I am." Wow. She is a plethora of Christmas originality.

Florida plays Alabama tomorrow for the SEC championship. My loyalties
are torn. Florida's Tebow is a wonderful Christian, but almost all my
friends are Alabama fans. One thing I know (I think). The winner of
this game will go on to win the national championship.

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November 31

I looked at my watch to check the date. It said Nov 31. Even early
in the morning I knew that was fishy. As I moved my clock date
forward, I suddenly realized it's December. What happened to the rest
of 2009. Why has it been in such a hurry to leave? Slow down, Time.

As you know, I am exhilarated at Pujol's selection as NL MVP. The
other day I heard he and Kurt Warner had recently met.

Wow. There's a dynamic duo, not only for sports, but also for the
Lord. Both married Godly women who led them to Jesus. Both have
special needs children. Both are sterling examples for Christ. Thus
far they have been good role models for the younger generation. Yay
Jesus.

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