Hillary took this picture this afternoon after my mom and I came home from “Bring Your Mom To Work Day” at the Ocean Springs Church of Christ (and for proof that she isn’t TOO embarrassed by my bald head). After recently retiring after 30 years as a church secretary, my mom wasn’t too unfamiliar with life around a church office.

I completed my sermon for Sunday today, and I am really excited about it. It’s titled “Mercy Vs. Rules” and comes from Matthew 12: 1-14. I hate to sound melodramatic, but it just might be the most important sermon I’ve ever delivered since becoming a preacher in Ocean Springs.

After morning work, my mom & I went to lunch at Blue’s BBQ. We both had the pork sandwich specials, then shared an AWESOME lemonade pie for dessert. Yum-yum, good!

Tonight, I have to pack for my trip to California tomorrow! I’ve never been out West at all, so I’m especially looking forward to this trip to the Pepperdine lectures. If all goes well in terms of internet connections, I’ll be checking in every day.

If not, well… you’ll just have to wait a few days.

It was such a nice morning at church. Not many people made fun of my bald head where I could hear them. My mom was here. The sermon went well, and not that this is connected, there were several responses (as opposed to the normal, zero). Then, we had a combined class where every class reported on the various outreach projects done this past quarter (this had been a brainchild of mine, and contrary to that fact, it seemed to go very well).

Then, this afternoon, I realized I am an utter and complete moron, and I feel like a total heel.

As I mentioned earlier, we normally have somewhere around zero responses during our version of an altar call, reflecting I’m sure on the quality of the preaching. In spite of that fact, I still say a prayer after response time each week about whatever seems to be pressing. Today, before the invitation song, I had tasked myself to remember two separate situations we needed to pray about. And then Shawn came forward. And then Audrey. And then Pamela. And then Marion. And then, just as the song was finishing, came Kathryn. Shawn & Pamela stayed on the front row, but Audrey, Marion, and Kathryn returned to their seats after sharing thoughts with me (this is important for later).

I didn’t write any of this down, as I bounced like a preacher pinball back and forth between all the responses (this is important information for my mounting guilt).

So I try to group all this stuff together into handy mental categories for my prayer. There were several health-related prayers – both Pat & the Kirby family that I had planned on praying for before, and Shawn’s stepdad, and half of Audrey’s prayer card. Then, there were family-related requests from Pamela, Kathryn, and the other half of Audrey’s card.

And so I prayed.

And then I sat down.

And no one threw anything at me.

It was this afternoon that it dawned on me that I had not prayed for Marion! Marion is one of my great friends, and he is considering entering professional ministry after getting out of the Coast Guard. He responded this morning, emotional in his growing belief that this is something to pursue, and then I totally snubbed him in my prayer! I feel so bad – I can’t even begin to tell you…

I called Marion, and he was so gracious to me. I’m not sure why, considering my completely irresponsible performance this morning. But he was gracious nonetheless.

I mentioned this to my wife & one of my elders separately this evening. Both said that they assumed that Marion had told me something private that he didn’t want to be mentioned aloud. I appreciate their confidence in me. Too bad they didn’t appreciate my idiocy.

I told Marion that I only take one little bit of solace in all this. Someday, when he’s preaching somewhere, because of the nature of the job, he will do something somewhat equally boneheaded. At least he’ll have a story to tell on himself, then…

The picture above is my personal justification for all the expense, effort, and pains in various body parts that comes with adding an above-ground pool to the backyard: Hillary, with friends, Mari and Alexis, posing with their funny hairdos this afternoon.

The two billion shovel-loads of dirt I dug today, and the umpteen wheelbarrow trips to the ditch, and the accompanying sore back are reasons that argue against it.

But the pool parties still win out.

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In other developments, I signed up for a Facebook account today, and I must have hit cyber-paydirt. I already have hooked up with 11 friends from all over the place, and I just signed up a few hours ago! This must be the new “cool place” to hang out.

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Tomorrow’s my first Sunday to preach bald. Well, completely bald.

I’m really tired, so I’ll greatly summarize:

The picture above shows the after-effects of Hillary’s dance recital tonight. The Studio Upside Down put on “Spring Fling” at the beautiful Saenger Theater in Biloxi this evening, a three hour extravaganza that was extra cute and super fun. Hillary’s jazz class performed “Boogie Wonderland,” and my completely biased opinion was that it was the best one of the night. I never thought I would enjoy dance recitals, but daddyhood does such things to a man.

My mom flew into town today & was able to see the recital tonight. My mom is an extra special person, as all who know her realize, and it is great to have her spend some extra time with us not that she’s retired!

My oldest daughter, Erica, came home tonight, too, just to watch her little sister dance. That’s the kind of thing that makes a daddy extra proud. She was impressed by her little sister!!!

I mowed the yard & ran the weedeater this morning, a three-hour chore each time it’s done. But it always feels so good once it’s done!

I’ve got to get some SLEEP!!! Good night everyone…

Tonight’s the big dance rehearsal at the Saenger Theater in Biloxi for Hillary’s upcoming recital (this pic was from the dress rehearsal last Thursday). She is SO excited. To make things even better, my mom is flying in to watch!

This morning began with heavy storms passing through the area. There was another tornado warning for our county around time for the kids to go to school. Sheesh! Sometimes I think I’m back in Arkansas!

I spent more time than I expected printing off maps, etc. today of Pepperdine & the Los Angeles area for my upcoming trip to the lectures there. It’s killing me that the Dodgers are playing a home game during the lectures, but I can’t justify taking that much time away from my purpose for being there. I do have a few ideas for tourist stops on my way from the airport to the campus, and vice-versa. Two of them are normal; one confirms my unique personality! Oh, and I will have to sneak out of one of the evening lectures long enough to watch the sunset on the Pacific Ocean. I can justify that one – I think it’s better to see God firsthand when compared to hearing a lecture about him!

I’m really looking forward to seeing my friend, Michael, who teaches at Pepperdine. He’s one of the neatest people I know, and the glue behind the crazy gang at my Desperate Houseflies blog.

I also had the pleasure of meeting the owner of Not Too Little Play & Party Center in Ocean Springs today for My Ocean Springs photo-project. Another neat place!!!

Adult tennis is HUGE on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Treasure Oak Country Club in Ocean Springs is hosting a big tournament this week, and I was honored to steal five minutes of a busy man’s time today (tennis pro, Steve Pennington) to add another entry to My Ocean Springs project (check it out HERE). After Katrina, I planned to get heavy into tennis once life settled down, but it never happened. But now that I look like Andre Aggasi…

Tonight’s a big night for me, the unveiling of my bald head to a big chunk of my church family. No telling how that is going to go over…

A few bald observations so far:
* I’m suddenly a LOT more sensitive to air conditioning
* I’m suddenly pulling for Phil Stacey to win American Idol (our club sticks together)
* I’m suddenly no longer worried about whether it’s raining or not

There’s more to come, I’m sure. It’s still early in my bald career.

By the way, I’m really into the book, Brother to a Dragonfly. It is DEFINITELY my kind of book, and for those who haven’t read it, even though I’m only halfway through, I would definitely recommend it.

My wife sent me a forwarded email of the huge, ugly fish above, with the explanation below:

“FYI: This Sturgeon is Still alive, just worn out from the fight. They turned him loose (it’s the law in OR.). This Sturgeon was caught on the Willamette River just below Oregon City . It weighed out at over 1,000 lbs and measured out at 11′1″. It was 56″ around the girth and took over 6 and a half hours and 4 dozen beers for the 4 guys taking turns reeling.”

In case you didn’t know a “sturgeon” is an ugly fish. The female sturgeon produces eggs more popularly known as the delicacy, caviar.

When I went to the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory last week and met the wonderful Jim Franks, we talked about the sturgeon fish. He said that a couple of guys at the research lab are doing research on sturgeon, and that the Atlantic Sturgeon is endangered.

That big’un in Oregon fended for himself pretty good, it sounds like…

Anyway, after looking at this ugly sturgeon yesterday, thought I’d show you another one today.

For Sale: One used comb, and one fairly new bottle of shampoo. Both still in excellent shape. Owner no longer needs them. If interested, just give me a call!

It’s going to be an interesting week (and more to come!), bumping into people I know and seeing the look on their faces… But you in blog-world, outside of Jody & Hillary & our friend, Devon, are the very first to know!

And don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Jody likes it, and Hillary likes feeling my head (she claims it feels like felt!). And I’m going to like it a lot, as soon as I (and everyone else) gets used to it.

Freedom!!!!!!!!!

My sermon this morning centered on the end of Matthew 11:19, where Jesus replies to his own parable which highlighted both he and John the Baptizer’s poor standing in public opinion, by saying, “wisdom is proved right by her actions.”

In other words, if you want to judge Jesus, judge him by how he lived.

My application, once again, asked us to compare our lives to His. How do we truly compare?

After a good morning with our church family, several of us went to eat lunch together, as is our normal practice. Today, while Jody drove to see Erica at Hattiesburg, Hillary & I went to McElroy’s with Keith, Tom & Laura, Tandy & Peggy, and Gene & Eileen. (Hillary had the catfish, while I had the shrimp po-boy.)

Among many topics, Tom & I explained to Keith our “Men Against Sandals” club. We believe we are the only two members remaining, since most men are now seen wearing flip-flops or sandals in some shape or form. Tom’s membership is faltering now, too, since he has purchased a pair for an upcoming cruise.

Keith is with the majority on this one, and after a moment’s reflection, he explained to us in all seriousness: “Some of us are trying to be like Jesus.”

What can I say? At least someone took my sermon seriously…

Check out my addition to My Ocean Springs photo-project today HERE. (Click over – I really liked the picture, plus the caption tells you about GINS, one of the many neat things about Ocean Springs that a lot of people don’t know about…)

Happy Earth Day to you,
Happy Earth Day to you,
Happy Earth Day dear everyone,
Happy Earth Day to you.

It has always struck me as odd that those associated with the Religious Right have generally been in opposition to environmentalists. On the surface it seems to me that religious folks would be all for anything that leads toward respecting nature. Even if some have a tendency to overdo it, it just seems to me that the religious would prefer erring on that side than on the other, but this is most definitely not the case.

After a bit of reflection, it seems somewhat obvious why this oddity exists, and it has everything to do with that confusing seminary word, eschatology (to oversimplify, the study of how the world will end). The religious world to which I refer believes in “a new earth” after this one, and as a result, aren’t desperately concerned about this one, while simultaneously believing that their opposition is so concerned about preserving this planet because they believe that this is our only hope.

Hence, you find predominantly religious folks sneering at the concept of global warming. And so on and so on…

But I don’t buy this outlook.

For one, it is glaringly inconsistent. This same belief in a “new earth” carries alongside a belief in a “new body,” too, but the same folks will lead the way in campaigns against smoking, drinking, etc. on the very basis that it harms the body (even going a bit overboard periodically). What’s the difference?

It just seems to me that followers of God would want everything respected.

I remember an odd thing from my high school days. When our National Honor Society went on our annual trip, Coach Watson would insist that we make our beds in our hotel rooms and clean them completely before leaving. This was silly, of course, because the maidservice would have to strip the beds anyway, but he insisted. And why? He was teaching us that it is our responsibility to clean up after ourselves, no matter what.

And he was right.

And the same concept extends to our planet.

So Happy Earth Day to everyone. I’m thankful for a day to remind us to respect the marvelous planet God gave us.