Locker Room of Life

Dangerous Church - A Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:23:00 +0000

When offered a chance to read John Bishop's book Dangerous Church, I almost balked. I've read and been disturbed by Platt's Radical and Radical Together. I say disturbed because I'm not sure Platt has the right answers. To be fair, he often says he's not really sure he does either. But these other titles got me thinking and disturbed me. So with a book covered in Caution tape and the title Dangerous Church I felt we might head down that road once more.

Instead, Bishop has not shaken anything in me. The big idea is simply that we must do everything in our power to reach our world with the gospel. OK. How? By risking everything and always remembering God so we can reach people everywhere! And that was my take away. Bishop gives a great "rah rah" speech in nearly 200 pages of the importance of reaching people with the gospel. But his book is almost the polar opposite of Platt in that he focuses more on reaching the people near your church or in your city by making you church larger and going multi-site so you can preserve your church's DNA.

In fact, one whole chapter lauds the idea of multi-site churches. It might have been the point I just turned off completely. I am now and have always been against the multi-site ideology. In my own opinion it calls for worship of a pastor or church or church's DNA over a true worship of Jesus. Again, my opinion is that if an area of your community is unreached plant a church, install biblical, sound leaders and allow God to build what he wills. Requiring your new church plant to keep your name and play the video of your message denies that anyone else can reach these people other than you and robs the Spirit of it's work in the changing of hearts.

Ultimately, Bishop's book is a decent read but I wouldn't have called it Dangerous. Instead he's calling for a focus or refocus on the most important job a church has...reaching people with the gospel.

Chazown - A book review

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:23:00 +0000

I love Craig Groeschel. Several of his books have found ways into my hands and I've always lapped them up. When I was offered a chance to read his first Chazown and review it I was ecstatic. I now know that the first book may not be as great as the latter installments.
Let me preface these comments by saying this. Much of what Craig shares in this book are ideas that I had gleaned out of the other books I have read. I believe Chazown is a lynch pin for much of his thought process and because of that I notice these ideas seep into his other works and his sermons. (which I've listened to regularly for some time) If you are new to Groeschel this is a great place to start. He clearly maps out finding your vision for your personal ministry and putting that vision into action. He witty and engaging.

If you are familiar with Lifechurch.tv's creator, though, you've probably heard much if not all of this before. His stories and ideas are often regular pieces in other works or from the pulpit. They are not bad...they are in fact great in many ways...but you will probably be bored as you read this book.

This is a great read for new ministers and people searching for a way to vocalize a life vision or mission providing you have not been following the author for a while.

Washed and Waiting - A Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:24:00 +0000

This month I was offered a chance to read Washed and Waiting, a new book by Wesley Hill. Mr. Hill is a celibate, homosexual Christian and his book deals with homosexuality from a biblical viewpoint as well as giving insight into the mindset of a homosexual longing to fit into the church.

I found this book to be invaluable for several reasons. Hill gives theological discussion to the issue of homosexuality and does not pull any punches. He deals with the difficulty to live by a biblical standard but at once explains why it is necessary to do so. He also deals with the lonely and fearful position that homosexuals desiring the community of the church. Interspersed within the theological discussion are 3 profiles of well known homosexual Christians that give faces to the issue being discussed.

Overall this book is an excellent treatment of an issue that has become a battleground for the church over the past few years. I would highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to gain a better perspective.

Soulprint - A Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:39:00 +0000

There never has been and never will be anyone like you. But that isn’t a testament to you. It’s a testament to the God who created you. The problem? Few people discover the God-given identity that makes them unlike anyone else.

As I've become more and more involved with the Christian book scene I ran across an opportunity to read a book by author and pastor Mark Batterson. I'm not going to lie. Before the opportunity to read "Soulprint" came along I'd never heard of Mark Batterson. However, as is often the case once I became aware of him I got very excited about this book. I checked the mail for it each day. It finally arrived and I put away everything else I was reading and dove in. As I completed the book I came away disappointed.

Batterson's primise and ideas are all valid, wonderful things that everyone needs to be aware of. However, he never seems to dig in and provide the ideas on how to discover your Soulprint. What he has done is define what a Soulprint is and why we need to understand it's existence in our life. By using 5 different well known moments in the life of David Batterson has given me a vocabulary to express the idea of God-given uniqueness to my students... which is worth reading the book. However, I was hoping for something that worked on another level to help me discover more about myself and this book didn't provide that.

I would recommend this book for anyone searching for purpose or anyone who is new in Christ. But, if you know and believe the basic premise that you are an individual masterpiece created by God for his special purpose then you might be able to skip this one.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

To Transform a City - Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:20:00 +0000

In 2007 the number of people who live in urban cities was larger than the the number of people in rural areas for the first time. This is an irreversible trend. Church and ministry leaders must now determine the best way to minister to cities. At least, this is the contention for Eric Swanson and Sam Williams in the book "To Transform a City". Swanson and Williams deal with transforming a city into a better place to live as a means to share the gospel using work they've done in the Boulder, CO area.

Initially, the authors make a great point as they open the book that the best way to transform any population is to love them unconditionally. Through loving on your city you can make things better for the least of these and share the gospel with everyone who asks why your doing these works. But this idea gets lost over the next 200 pages.

This book is a tough read. The writing is dry and the concepts are overcomplicated by the authors. Graphics in the book are simple and lack any pop much like the text. The information is useful as a study of how churches should interact as part of a city but I fear only the very dedicated reader will be able to push through and glean the best of the text.

Overall, I would recommend this for leaders of large churches of ministries. Lay leaders or smaller churches will find very little of this information useful and the text is not entertaining enough to recommend for these groups.

Sun Stand Still - A Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:47:00 +0000

What if God really wants to do the impossible in your life? What if the days of praying for the unimaginable and seeing God work in amazing ways aren't just relegated to the Bible? What could God accomplish through you life for His glory?

Steven Furtick's book Sun Stand Still is an call to the average Christian living the average Christian life to stop dreaming about the average and search out the huge things God can do with you willingness and faith. Your audacious faith. Furtick challenges you and I (and himself, for that matter) to live with the kind of faith that Joshua exhibits when he prays for the Sun to stand still in the sky. These "Sun Stand Still prayers" are not our wishes and dreams. (Oh Lord, provide me with a sports car and two new jet-skis. Well, they don't have to be new, just in decent condition...I don't want to be greedy.) But they can be amazing things that demonstrate the power of God and further the kingdom.

Furtick explains the process of finding a Godly vision. (he calls it a Page 23 vision) Then turning that vision over to God and following the leading of the Spirit step by step to see God accomplish great things for His glory.

At first blush I want to say the Furtick's claims are at best naive. He would tend to agree. But claims that being naive isn't always a bad thing. And ultimately he has a vision to pastor a thriving community that makes a change in the world for the glory of God and he's living it. Meanwhile, at the same age...I'm just getting started.

Furtick attempts to give the average Christian a kick in the pants to activate an audacious faith for the Kingdom. Should you feel the need for it I would recommend you give this one a read.

What makes Grace amazing anyway?

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 23:15:00 +0000

I get the opportunity to ride the bus to work a lot lately. Please, don't think I'm complaining. I like the bus for the most part. One of my favorite things about riding the bus is the ability to get lost in a book or download some sermons or even listen to an audiobook.

I just got finished listening to "The Ragamuffin Gospel".

I realize that many who read Brennan Manning's keystone piece are skeptical. Manning simplifies our relationship with God as simply as an unconditional loving father like the father in the Prodigal Son parable. No matter how long or wrong we live, in the end God loves us so much he will accept us. He loves us too much to have any other choice. There is a long theological discussion about the Grace and Love of God that could be taken up where Manning leads his readers. I'm not sure where I end up yet as I ponder his point, but I'm willing to discuss it with anyone who's read this particular piece and wants to talk.

One story that Manning uses hit me square in the chest...

In the middle of the Great Depression, New York City mayor, Fiorello LaGuardia, strived to live with the people. It was not unusual for him to ride with the firefighters, raid with the police, or take field trips with orphans. On a bitterly cold night in January of 1935, the mayor turned up at a night court that served the poorest ward of the city. LaGuardia dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench himself.

Within a few minutes, a tattered old woman was brought before him, charged with stealing a loaf of bread.

She told the mayor that her daughter's husband had left, her daughter was sick, and her two grandchildren were starving. However, the shopkeeper, from whom the bread was stolen, refused to drop the charges. "It's a real bad neighborhood, your Honor," the man told the mayor. "She's got to be punished to teach other people around here a lesson."

LaGuardia sighed. He turned to the woman and said, "I've got to punish you. The law makes no exceptions. Ten dollars or ten days in jail." But even as he pronounced sentence, the mayor was already reaching into his pocket. He extracted a bill and tossed it into his famous hat, saying, "Here is the ten dollar fine which I now remit; and furthermore I am going to fine everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. "Mr. Baliff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant."

The following day, New York City newspapers reported that $47.50 was turned over to a bewildered woman who had stolen a loaf of bread to feed her starving grandchildren. Fifty cents of that amount was contributed by the grocery store owner himself, while some seventy petty criminals, people with traffic violations, and New York City policemen, each of whom had just paid fifty cents for the privilege of doing so, gave the mayor a standing ovation.

True? No one knows. Even Snopes.com is on the fence and lead toward this particular account being legend. But...

LaGuardia or legend, I see a picture of the grace God has on us. We are all guilty with no defense. And as the Mayor says, the law makes no exceptions. But even as God was forced to pronounce judgement on us for our sin He gave His Son to cover our justly deserved penalty of separation from Him.

But the poor woman in the story isn't just set free with no penalty. She walks away from the bench with nearly $50 in her pocket. In the poorest area of depression era New York... that would have been an amazing gift.

Likewise, you and I are forgiven our sins. We are allowed entry into heaven. We are able to have a relationship with God. But God's generosity doesn't stop there. We are not merely occupants of the Kingdom of Heaven. Romans 8 says,

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.
And by him we cry,“Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

We are given more than we deserve in that Jesus died to pay our debt of sin. But we are blessed to receive heir-ship in the Kingdom. And that makes the Grace we receive from our Heavenly Father amazing.

USA! USA!

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 02:51:00 +0000

Woo Hoo!!!!!

The US finally won a soccer game. Not a draw or an inexplicable penalty that negates a goal...Just a win. And this win means they will continue on to the elimination round on Saturday. So in an attempt to find some biblical application, I landed on...

1 Cor. 9:24

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to win the prize."

See, the US has qualified to play in the World Cup. Beyond that they won there group in group play. But if they sit back at this point and get complacent ("We got this far... everything from this point on will be a major struggle. This is more than most other teams have done. This is enough for us.") they would miss out on the chance for huge life altering moments.

What about us?

Am I any better?

Too often I take a break from running. I mean it's tiring. Besides look at all those other people in the crowd just watching. I'm doing better than they are. At least, I'm pretending to try to win the race.

But but not running all out in desperation to win the prize, I am missing out on life altering experiences.

Prayer:

Lord, make me mindful of the times I stop running like I want to win... and just start pretending to try.

What I learned about faith from a four year old...

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:27:00 +0000

Readers...both of you (hi mom), good news. I'm laid up for the next 3 months or so with a broken leg...so i might actually blog some.

Tonight, as Diana put the girls down and they said their prayers, Abby prayed, "God, I hope you give us extra daily bread and when it runs out, I hope you give us more." It's cute, but more than that it's real. Abby isn't programmed to hedge her comments to God like I do so often. She want to be taken care of abundantly and not worry about where more will come from when it's needed...and she expresses that to her Heavenly Father...that's cool. And I can learn something from her.

It reminds me of a lesson I got in faith about a year ago. I was working for a place that also ran a daycare and the girls went with me to work on the bus every day. When the organization decided to terminate my employment the girls and I weren't on the bus for a few days.

We needed to head somewhere about 4 days after I lost my job and as we climbed up on the bus our driver asked where we'd been. "You guys haven't been riding to work lately."

Courtenay, without missing a beat, responded, "Daddy doesn't work there anymore. But that's OK, God has something better for us."

It was a jaw dropping moment for me. She was 4 years old and, in 2 sentences, had explained the kind of faith I should have. Courtenay wasn't worried about the future or upset that she would no longer see her friends at daycare anymore. She knew God had a plan. For a father of two who had no transportation (hence the bus) and no job, or even prospects, faith was running low for me. In a moment, through some teary eyes, I got it.

God's in control. Period. We can stress and worry about life and struggle to hold on and control the day to day things that happen so we worry a little less. But even if we do, we have no control. He controls it all. And he has told us "I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future." (Jer. 29:11)

And yet knowing all that, a year later I sit on the couch scared to death of the possibility of another lost job, or a complication during the upcoming surgery that could cost me know less than a foot (worst case) and I find it so hard to just shrug my shoulders and say, "It's OK, God has something better for us."

The new iPod (new to me in any case)

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:16:00 +0000

Yesterday I picked up a new toy. I have entered Steve Jobs world. John D. gave me an unbelievable deal on a 2nd gen. nano.

As I sit here on the computer between classes I've gotten the chance to just sit and listen. The iPod doesn't do anything to the music. It doesn't make it more powerful or meaningful. For some reason Jesus picked this moment to encourage me greatly through the music of Phil Wickham.

Have you heard Phil Wickham?

I got the opportunity to see him in December and I remember being impressed. Recently, the same guy who practically gave me my new iPod turned me back on to Phil.

It turns out while Phil has some great music, he's not really worried about getting all the cash he can off it. If you'll jet over to www.philwickham.com you can pick up his singalong album for the price of your email address.

I grabbed it several weeks ago and haven't received any spam or unwanted mail. What I did receive was some really great music. I highly recommend you download and enjoy.

Getting IT back

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:32:00 +0000

I'm sorry for the person I became.
I'm sorry that it took so long for me to change.
I'm ready to be sure that I never become that way again.
Cause who I am hates who I've been.

-"Who I am hates who I've been"

-Reliant K

So in December of 1999 I tossed any IT I had left into the trash and walked away from God's plan. (If you didn't already read this part, you need to)

Fast forward to March of 2008. I had chased dreams of acting...not very far...but chased after them to a point. I got kicked out of school. That happens when you keep registering for class and not going. I moved back home with mom and dad, moved out on my own. Got a job, got a girl pregnant, got smart and married her with my daughter as our flower girl. I had recognized how desperately I wanted IT back. But I knew that the past near-decade meant I would be unable to ever have IT again.

I had tried working with youth in a couple of churches with varying degrees of success over the years. Finally my wife, Diana signed our daughters up for dance class. In a true God moment a dance teacher I still have never met changed the course of my life by inviting my family to Grace Point Church. My job at the time required me to work most Sundays so my family went without me for a couple of weeks. When I finally got a chance to go...I was encouraged by the message. As we drove away I decided we would go back again...the key decision anytime we visit a church. I changed jobs and we begin to attend Grace Point here and there and I was OK with that, up to last spring.

In February, I agreed to be in a play. Along the way, God got involved.

The play was called "Brooklyn Boy" and yours truly played a 40-ish Jewish author who's finally realized so professional success only to have everything else fall in around him. His father is dying, his buddy from school feels he's sold out, and his wife is divorcing him. We went through several actresses to play my wife and each had issues pop up that didn't allow them to commit. Then as a last ditch effort our director contacted an actress who he worked with before and she agreed to help out...even though it wasn't really convenient.

Trish probably has no idea how much she means to me and my story. She was a terrific actress to work with. Our one scene together was the highlight of a wonderful show for me every night. We really worked well together. But off stage I found that Trish was a strong Christian woman. And we began to discuss my past, my desire to get IT back, and how I was convinced that I could no longer be used to minister to students because I had thrown IT away.

Trish spiritually slapped me outside the head with a "snap out of it" kind of moment. She told me I was buying into Satan's lies. And she was right. I spent some real time thinking and praying and reaching out to God again. We started going to Grace Point..... well...... religiously. I talked with Andy the Student Pastor and got involved with the Youth group. When Andy moved over to the college ministry and John took over the youth, I got even more involved. I joined a Men's group with some of the greatest men in the world and I begin to get involved everywhere I could. I now realize that my past doesn't make me unusable for God. God met me right where I was and by embracing my story I can help those who are missing IT.

I'm proud to say I got IT back...most definitely.

How about you. Maybe your not with IT now. If your not sure if you have IT, I venture to say you don't. And if you never had IT, we need to talk.

See here's the thing with IT. IT overflows. I have IT spilling out all over the place. And I am willing to share IT. If It is missing for you, I want to help you get IT back. If you've never and IT, I want to show you the joy and abundance that IT brings.

Do you want IT? Dumb question. Of course you do.

Shoot me an e-mail at philguard@msn.com and I'll share IT with you, and before you know it, you'll have IT overflowing from your spirit and wanting to share IT with others.

How I lost IT...

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:19:00 +0000

Stop right there,
That's exactly where I lost IT.
See that line,
I never should have crossed it.
Stop right there,
I never should have said that.
It's the very moment that I wish I could take back.

-"Who I am hates who I've been"

-Reliant K

I've been reading Craig Groeschel's book "IT". IT is the hard to define quality that we see in Christian leaders and ministries. IT us hard to define but easy to see and unmistakable when IT's present. It has been a defining experience for me. And it got me to thinking about 10 years ago when I unquestionably lost IT.

A little over ten years ago I recognized a call to ministry, specifically Student ministry. I was a Junior in High School. I walked out of the doors of High School oozing with IT. I enrolled in Howard Payne University majoring in Christian Studies ready to carry my IT into the world and make a radical difference for Christ. But, unknown to me at the time, my IT was fading. Less than 2 years from enrolling in HPU I changed majors and schools to live my life like I wanted. Where did IT go? and why?

Quite simply, I didn't care at the time. But looking back, it's almost embarrassing how I let IT get away. As you could quickly guess, if I made you, It centered on a girl. Surprise, and 18 year old guy got all screwed up over a girl.

I want to be very clear. My discombobulation was my fault. Not hers. No one is responsible for my misplacing of my IT but me.

I met her the 4th day of my senior year at lunch. We had an almost identical desire to make Jesus famous. That night I saw her again at a planning meeting for a campus ministry that her church and my church were planing together. I pursued her recklessly for months and finally convinced her I was not a lunatic but a decent guy. We became friends and before long we were dating.

I spent every moment I could with her. When I wasn't with her, I was thinking about her. As the adage goes, "I was smitten. I was in deep smit." She became my world. And that was the problem.

When I left for college in August she still had a year left in High School. I moved 5 hours away to chase God and left my heart and my mind in Garland. For a year, I traveled back home every chance I could to see her...not every weekend or anything, but pretty often. I was working with a church near college as a Youth Director. I would leave Brownwood on Thurs. after class, (I arranged my schedule so I didn't have Fri. classes) and head to Garland. I'd spend the weekend with her and then jump in my Jeep on Saturday night or very early Sunday morning and race to teach a Sunday school lesson I had not prepared for. When summer came around, I left the Pastor in charge of the summer program so I could move back home and work at the pool I lifeguarded at....with her.

Now, you tell me...why did I lose IT? Was it having a girlfriend? Nope, not at all...if fact I think God had put her in my path, and He's not trying to drag my IT out of me. The issue was one of priority. If the decision came down to God or her I didn't even stop to think and pray about it. I did what I wanted. She became my world.

When she finished High School, she enrolled at HPU. After 4 days in Brownwood she expressed a desire to live her college experience without being tied to someone. She dumped me. And it wrecked my whole world. I went through the darkest period of my life because a 19 year old girl rejected me. I gave up on God's plan. He had taken away more than I was willing to give up. The church I was working with asked me to take a step back and get my head on straight. I got angry and stopped doing anything with the students there. I decided I wanted to be an actor so I made a hasty decision to change majors. (really hasty...I walked into Greek one day as a Christian Studies Major and walked out a Drama Major) As the semester drew to an end I decided to change schools all together.

In December of 1999, I took God's plan for my life and tossed IT in the trash. And left IT there for almost 10 years.

But take heart, I got IT back. Stay tuned....

"Failure is not an option...it's essential." Craig Groeschel

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:29:00 +0000

I changed schools in January of 2000. I gave up on my call to the ministry with the reasoning that I could minister in any walk of life. I left HPU for Angelo State because HPU had very little going on in theatre.

It's true that we are all called to minister, no matter where we are in life. But there is a distinct difference for those called into full-time ministry that I refused to recognize at 20. In that season of life I wanted to be an actor and ministry would have to come along side what I wanted or it wouldn't happen. Consequently, it didn't happen.

My mom came to see a play I was in at ASU and brought a John Maxwell book for me called "Failing Forward". It was not really a secret that mom didn't agree with my decision to change schools and majors. And this book seemed to be a jab. I felt Mom was saying, "you're going to fail so try to fail successfully." I was offended. I never even read the book. Somewhere along the way in life it disappeared and, to be honest, I probably got rid of it on purpose.

Well, as I shared yesterday I'm reading through a book called "IT". Today I read something that will stick with me for a long time. The idea that failure is not an option is 100% right. If you want to succeed you have to try things...undoubtedly you will fail. There is no option if you try you will fail.

In sports there's an adage I hate. "If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying." However, it occurs to me that changing the word "cheating" to "failing" works. Face it, if you succeed at everything the first time you try it, buy a lotto ticket.

To put it in another context. I'm hanging out with my daughter today. She woke up with a fever so she couldn't go to school. In a few minutes, I'm making Grilled Cheese sandwiches for lunch. I make a good Grilled Cheese sandwich...you know why? Cause I've made some awful Grilled Cheese sandwiches. When I've messed it up I've taken note of what I did wrong and didn't do it again. Eventually, I eliminated several bad practices and make a good Grilled Cheese sandwich 90% of the time. (note: I still fail every now and then)

So, sorry mom. (she won't be reading this so I might go ahead and voice that as well) The book might have taught me something I come to realize almost 10 years later...Failure is not an option, it's essential.

Thanks mom and Craig Groeschel.

"It" and "ME"

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:08:00 +0000

I'm reading "It" by Craig Groeschel (bout halfway through, thanks to John D. for lending me a copy). In "It" he writes about those churches that are filled with this undefinable quality...something I would define as life. I've been in church bodies that are alive. I've also been in church bodies that are comatose. I've even been attached to churches that were dead. As a minister who hopes to build a ministry that is full of "It" (as opposed to being "full of it", very different) I find it necessary to search for "It" so I never find myself running a comatose or dead ministry.

Part of the "It" idea is really, really exciting. As Christians, we've all experienced"It" personally. "It" overflows and you can't contain "It". You have to shout and dance and sing and raise you hands and tell others how full of joy you are, and why this joy overflows in you spirit. And you cry. When "It" is present you bawl. (that's true Texan word usage) See when "It" happens to you, you realize who you truly are and what your worth. You have a dirty tattered rag of a life and Christ openly offers an exchange. A spotless gleaming robe. And all he wants in return is your rag. And when you get that, you weep. I'm don't deserve what I've been given...and I don't want what I deserve.

Another part of "It" is scary. Because, as Groeschel writes, "It" can disappear without much notice. Why? At this point, I'm not sure I know...to be real honest it probably has something to do with a connection to the Holy Spirit. But we've all lost "It" at some point. In my experience when we realize we've lost "It" we don't turn inward and find that connection with the Holy Spirit ...Instead we turn to our outward appearance. We know we've lost "It", but we can't let anyone else know that. We concentrate on "ME" instead. What do I mean?

We began to make sure nobody else sees "ME" as I really am...They need to see the "ME" I want to project. A religious and u[right "ME". As I've began defining my own ministry I've pointed to some important things I want to help students get that will make them fully devoted Christ followers. One of those things was to "Avoid the Mausoleum Effect" referring to Christs admonishment of the Pharisees as "whitewashed tombs". On the outside beautiful but full of death and decay on the inside. I picked the words "Mausoleum Effect" quite by accident, an attempt to paraphrase and update the idea of whitewashed tombs. But on the bus thinking over it I realized the "Mausoleum Effect" occurs when I focus on "ME" (first letters of Mausoleum Effect). When I focus on making "ME" look right to everyone else without finding that Holy Spirit connection I make sure I'm beautiful on the outside, but inside I am full of decay.

So to me I find that the opposite of "It" is "ME". And the "ME" is the last thing I want to experience.

As unoriginal of a title as it is...I'm Back

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:24:00 +0000

Locker room of life was started as a place for me to pick out some sports stories and help illustrate some spiritual truths, as I see them, through the world of sports. Now, don't get me wrong...(Billy Joel's "My Life" was playing as I started writing and I think it got in my head, based on that last phrase. Sorry, reader..Nickelback's "Rockstar" is playing now, who knows where I'll go next)Anyway don't get me wrong, sports will still be a big topic. This is my little corner of the internet and I can't imagine I can avoid talking sports every so often.

But there is more to life than sports (somebody tell Diana I put that in writing) and I would be remiss to avoid the Spiritual moments in life that could edify other Christians because they don't involve sports.

For those of you who don't know me well or do and wonder why I picked Locker Room of Life for my corner on the web, here's the deal. A role model for me in high school...and to this day, truth be told...Steve used to bring us the high school football reports on Sunday morning as "Al B. Bach." Our intrepid reporter would finish each report with spiritual truth and sign off from the "locker room of life" each week. At first I borrowed the idea as a neat sports connection but over the last few months it has come to identify a point of my ministry.
The locker room is not where you play the game. It's where you prepare, or rest during a break but the game takes place out on the field. Equally, the church or this blog is a perfect place to prepare, make adjustments, and rest and replenish during a break from the life...but it's not the place God sent you here to be. Players take the prep and adjustments from the locker room onto the field...and we have to do the same. God has us all here for a purpose and it's not in the locker room.
Make time to step out on the field and play the game. You libel to get beat up and tired... you might even get injured and when you need help or edification head into the locker room and spend some time with your team. But don't waste time getting back in the game...cause here's the deal...I've already seen the final score...we win...by a lot, and you want to be part of it.

Live Blog of the Texas-OU game.

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:35:00 +0000

I will be hosting a live blog over at Pyle of List for the Red River Rivalry.

Feel free to swing by and be sure to say hello.

And here's a way you can set up an e-mail reminder.

I might actually like Terrell Owens, who woulda thought...

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:40:00 +0000

I'll be very honest with you. As you probably know by now, I'm a huge Cowboys fan. That being said I've never been real excited about Terrell Owens. He is a fantastic football player. His work ethic and preparation are unquestioned throughout the league. But he's also always been a "ME" guy. So much so that in an interview on ESPN several years ago he made the comment, "I love ME some ME." while wearing an I (heart) TO shirt.

On top of his Me first attitude was the infamous Cowboys star incident in 2000. If you forgot....

But when Jerry Jones decided to sign TO I looked at it as a good thing for Dallas. TO was a cancer on two different teams and Dallas would be his last chance to achieve any goals he may have. If he were to implode here like he did everywhere else he would never get another chance to win a Super Bowl or make a good career into a Hall of Fame career.

Fast forward to year three of TO and the Cowboys. Owens has done nothing wrong this year. He's contributed on the field not only as a receiver for Tony Romo but blocking down field to help others make plays. He did make some comments after the loss to the Redskins to the effect that he felt they had a better chance to win when he had more opportunities to make plays. ESPN and sports fans all over the nation have attacked TO using these comments all week saying he appears to be back to his old selfish ways.
On Sunday Dallas beat the Cincinnati Bengals, 31-22 where Owens had just 2 catches for 67 yards. 57 of those yards on the touchdown that cinched it for the Cowboys. After the game, TO had this to say...

I am going to make this short and sweet. I just have been dealing with a lot of stuff and this was a great team win. We fought hard to get back in this ballgame and there has been a lot of criticism all week, and it's more about getting my faith and giving God all the glory he gave me today. It was frustrating out there, but I just stuck with it. It's more about a star being on my helmet. God put me in a situation to let everybody know I am a man of God no matter what criticism I may take or people point at me. I am standing here today to confess my faith in God and the ability he gave me to go out there and show that on this football field today. God used me today for his glory and reality is what really resides. And that's all I have to say.

Now I've heard a lot of discussion about these comments and I'm surprised. Most of the comments have come from Christians who have bemoaned TO for making these comments. Because he's always acted selfish till now some see these comments as disingenuous.
I'm not going to tell anyone how to feel. But I will say this. Great job, Terrell. Any time, any one is willing to give the credit to God for their accomplishments sets the kind of example I want to point out to my daughters. I can't discern his heart, but a guy when a guy who has always been about me comes out and says he want everyone to see God using him for His glory that appears to be a huge step in the right direction for Mr. Owens.
Keep plugging away, TO...your making me into a fan as we speak.

It's ALL over...eventually

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 22:29:00 +0000

The Yankees have shut the door on Yankee Stadium after 85 years. In 1923, this monument to the national pastime was unbelievable. Even into this final season many have commented on being awe struck as they walked into "the House the Ruth Built."

But now it's over.

It doesn't matter how big you build it or how sturdy it is. If it's here on this earth it has already begun to deteriorate. So why do we continue to consume, run after and store up the things of this world?

Jerry Bridges, in The Practice of Godliness writes "The very first temptation in the history of mankind was the temptation to be discontent." Adam and Eve were offered a perfect place to live, plenty of food, and a personal relationship with God, yet the snake was able to tap into the refusal of man to be content with what we have and sin entered into the world.

My prayer is that God will help me understand that I don't need that Tony Romo jersey or Guitar Hero: Aerosmith. I should be content with my place in this world and strive to please God daily. Besides if even Yankee Stadium is discarded I realize that Tony Romo won't always be a Cowboy and my Wii will stop playing games one day so why run after things that moth and rust destroy.

Pain is weakness leaving the body, right?

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:08:00 +0000

That's what those "No Fear" shirts everybody in wore in the 90's said.

Well, last night my wife and I entered the world of new mountain bike owners. We didn't go overboard...in fact the opposite because anyone I've talked to that does the bike thing all seem to agree on one thing, don't buy a Wal-mart bike. Which is what we did. I rode home from the store last night (about four miles) and I woke up this morning and tooled around to the tune of another 6 miles. And I HURT.

I don't understand. I used to ride a bike everywhere all day and never get tired. what happened over the last 14 years to make this so tough? I've tried to get more healthy lately. I switched from Coke to Coke Zero about a month ago.
In any case, the guy at the bike shop I stopped at this morning (because my one of my cheap plastic pedals broke very first thing his morning, don't buy a Wal-mart bike) assured me that it would actually not take long to get used to riding again. I hope he's right.

As I rode around this afternoon I began to do my usual thing...looking for the spiritual truth that the current situation and I got this. The call to radical discipleship (as I'm reading Brennen Manning's Signature of Jesus which centers on that topic) is not a gentle walk or a ride in the car but more of the 4th mile of a 6 mile bike ride. The hills get high and tough at times. And sometimes you can't go any further and you have to jump off and walk the bike up the hill. But stopping doesn't help and going back is no longer an option so you just have to keep going and trust that God can and will give you the strength if you keep moving forward. And since I've been concentrating on James 1 this seemed to speak to the situation.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
-James 1:2-4 NIV

And because I didn't stop or give up that last downhill streach just before the apartment complex was a wonderful feeling. I hope that my perseverance in my realationship with Christ will bring about the same elation as Jesus calls me home one day....

See Ya.

A new and better home.

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:38:00 +0000

This weekend we took the kids up to Dallas to see family. And since we'd never tried the train for a trip we thought we'd give it a try.
As we left on Monday the train passed just to the south of the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington.

Now as a Cowboys fan, I've seen the pictures online and every preseason game has included halftime feature segments about the construction, but there is no comparison to seeing it in person.

Even though the train doesn't allow for you to stop and take in the whole thing I realized immediately, TV and the internet can't do this justice. I would equate it to my first trip[ to Las Vegas in 2006. As you walk down the strip at night for the first time, nothing can prepare you for the lights and scope of everything around you. On the train this weekend a little of that came back to me.
I can't wait for the new stadium to open. And I'm ready to see the Dallas area host the Super Bowl. As much as i love Texas Stadium and all it's meant to the organization, I'm in no way sad to see it go, simply because the new place is that much better.
I feel the same way about Heaven. Life here on earth can't compare to the God's Kingdom. And I can't wait for God to call me home. I am pretty sure the stories and songs we've composed can't possibly do it justice .

Till next time.

See Ya.

A different take on the big sports story of the day.

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:25:00 +0000

The NFL has decided that embattled Defensive Back Adam "Pacman" Jones can come back and play after being suspended for the past 16 months. The suspension was handed down after 10 separate run ins with the law. But he says he's learned for all the past mistakes and is ready to be a model representative of the NFL.

Object Lesson Time...

Adam Jones has, at best, been running in the wrong crowd. At worst, he's knowingly made and then repeated transgressions against his fellow man. But here's the kicker, so have you and I. But a God's radical grace covers our transgressions, and covers might be the wrong word. Our sins aren't just covered but wiped away...they no longer exist. If they were simply covered over a Holy God could not abide within us and a the Kingdom of God promised in Revelation, where God and his people could live together, couldn't happen.
Probably a bad example but... You and your buddy go camping. Do to an unfortunate series of circumstances he gets sprayed by a family of skunks. He bathes and changes clothes, but alas the smell remains. That's because that skunk smell can't be covered up by new clothes, deodorant and soap. The particles of skunk smell can't be covered...they have to be neutralized(thanks for the education on skunk smell Mythbusters). That's the deal with our sin. It can't be covered up it has to be neutralized. The sacrifice made at the cross is our tomato sauce, it has the right components to neutralize the sin.
Because we all have been sprayed by the sin skunk but have received the neutralizing effects of Jesus' blood through nothing we've done but simply by God's grace, we are in no position to look at anyone else in judgment. Instead we get this wonderful opportunity when someone like Adam Jones comes along. We get to share in the freeing feeling of complete forgiveness. There is an amazing joy and peace in it.
So, instead of waiting for the other shoe to drop on Pacman and scrutinizing every move, I'm going to cheer for the guy. I'm not only cheering for him on the field, to be fair...I'm a Cowboys fan, so that was, most likely, going to happen anyway. I'm going to cheer for a man who says he's made a change, and my prayer is that he would find more in living in the way of righteousness and not the shadows of worldly living.

And also a prayer of thanksgiving...because I don't smell like skunk, literally or in the spiritual since.

“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

“The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’

“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Matthew 18:23-35 , NIV

My Olympic Memory

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 03:57:00 +0000

The Summer Games always bring up the same memory for me.

12 years ago, when the Olympics were in Atlanta, I went to Church camp in June. I don't remember much specific about the week that makes it stand out except...

The daily "Quiet Time" sheets we were given all had an Olympic theme. One, in particular...

Derek Redmond had trained all his life to run in the Olympics. In 1988, he was about to get his chance but, with minutes until the first heat started Redmond had to pull out of the race with an Achilles injury. After 4 more years of training and thinking of the lost opportunity, Redmond once again prepared to run his race.
Halfway into the race, Derek heard a pop in his leg and felt a shooting pain. Derek fell to the ground, unable to stand, much less run. As he struggled to his feet and began to hop on one foot toward the finish line a man ran out of the crowd. Derek's father Jim broke free from the crowd of 65,000, ran past a security guard and reached out to his son. Together, side by side, Derek and Jim made there way to the finish line.

I didn't see it happen at the time. I have since watched the tape. But 12 years ago I read about it and it impacted me. I think the point of the Devotional sheet was about finishing the race. But, I remember thinking about a father watching his son, wanting to see him succeed and ready to jump out of his seat and get involved in a side-by-side effort with his child that would have never accepted his help before that moment.

It's my opinion, that God sits and waits...wanting nothing more then to give us all the help we could ever need, but we fail to ask and would never accept any help we didn't understand. But God's word tells us...

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (New International Version)
I find the story of Derek and Jim Redmond shows us a picture of a fathers love. And if that's a human father loving his son, how much more will our heavenly father love us.

Short time

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:28:00 +0000

As you may have heard....Gene Upshaw, Executive Director of the NFL Players Association, died last night at 63 from pancreatic cancer.

Upshaw did not learn of the fatal growth until Sunday. After a hall of fame career as a guard for the Oakland Raiders and then a quarter of a century at the top of the players union the end came that quickly.
It reminds me that each day is a gift that we, all too often, take for granted and waste. Each time we wake we have a mandate to use that time for the glory of the Kingdom, and we never know just when the sand will run out of our hourglass.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Upshaw family in the coming days and weeks. But my prayer is also that I be the best sterward I can be of the time given to me.

See Ya.

Welcome to another corner of the already jammed sports blogosphere.

noreply@blogger.com (Phillip) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:17:00 +0000

As I've gotten involved in the sports blogosphere over the past few months, I've noticed something missing.

As a Christian sports fan I wondered about looking for a Christian alternative to the average sports blog.

Since, I've found none, I decided to make a very average sports blog with a Christian lean to it.

Don't get me wrong, the blogs out there give some great content and I see no reason to stop reading or contributing to your favorite site out there anymore then you stop watching secular news programs or reading secular newspapers. I write for www.pyleoflist.com and I see no reason to stop. I simply think we should look at life through the Christian filter from time to time.

As for the name. In the late 90's I had a mentor and friend who had Sunday School bit that poked fun at the stereotypical sports broadcaster. My mentor would take the stage in a shabby sport coat and not quite matching fedora, sit down behind an old antique looking microphone and bring us the local high school football results from friday night as, Al B. Bach. Every so often, Al would have guests like the his protogie, Jus Doit or the Scandanavian duo Sven and Sven. I even jumped in myself as Phil N. Inne when Al was unavailable. At the end of each weeks cheesy jokes and sports info Al or the guests would bring us a lesson about fighting the good fight. As a signoff, Al always said "From the Locker Room of Life, this is Al B. Bach saying, See ya."

So stop by often and send by some friends.

See ya.