On Voting & Prayer

When Sam got into my car last week he smelled like he had just stepped out of Floyd Lawson’s barber shop, the one next door to Sheriff Andy Griffith’s courthouse. (If you’ve read my book, Just Add Water, you remember Sam—one of God’s “special” people, the kind everyone knows and needs, I might add, in his or her life.) It was Election Day, and not to be outdone by the other 133.5 million Americans who cast a ballot for President, Sam had spruced himself up significantly—fresh breath, fresh shave, even a fresh shirt (a pro-Jesus t-shirt, he would want me to clarify) and, finally, his requisite crucifix on yon lanyard (I say “finally,” because he forgot it and we “had” to go back and get it).

Arriving at his precinct’s polling location, I went in with Sam but waited to the side while he proudly presented his bone fides and headed to a voting station. Sam was so proud to exercise his right to vote even though he hadn’t yet decided which candidate would receive his nod. As planned, he waited until he was safely in the sanctuary of a booth, pulled out a quarter from his pocket, flipped it into the air, watched it roll around on the ground, and promptly cast his ballot for whomever came up “tails.”

“Well, I voted!” Sam said succinctly when we got back to the car. We shared a good laugh as he added, “The thing is Reverend Loughlin (what he has always called me), did you see me bounce that quarter off of the voting machine?!”

We enjoyed a few more laughs as we took care of some of his errands and picked up a “to go” order for his supper before driving back out to his house on the edge of town. It was a good day. He had voted. I had helped. And, frankly, we both felt good about what we had accomplished.

Voting. Such a simple but profound thing. Meaningful. Fulfilling. And yet, too many people fail to exercise their right to do it. Even in this election, one of the most important in a lifetime, over one-third of registered voters decided “Nah!” and stayed home. Amazing!

It’s a lot like our opportunity to pray. The Most High God of the universe invites us to approach freely, anytime, anywhere, and talk with Him, casting not our ballots but all our cares on Him. Yet, often we’re so busy or apathetic we forget or somehow fail to take Him up on the offer. Amazing!

We’re in good company, though, if it makes us feel any better. Jesus once told his closest followers, “If you ask the Father for anything, He will give it to you in my name. However, so far you’ve asked for nothing in my name.” (John 16:23-24)

That last phrase stuns me every time I read it. So far...today Joe....you’ve asked for...nothing....

Prayer. Such a simple but profound thing. Meaningful. Fulfilling. “Ask, and you will receive,” Jesus continues, “that your joy may be made full.”

Random Weirdness--A Bird in the Bush

In the category of "You just never know"...

...a peacock...

...in our front yard!

Play Ball! A Lesson for Life from Baseball

...And the home of the brave! Play ball! One of my favorite rites of Spring is here--the opening of baseball season. And, hey, the Texas Rangers are already camped out in third place (out of four) in their division! Seriously, though, one of the reasons I really like baseball is that it offers so many insights into the game we call life. For example...

...one of the keys to being successful in baseball (and life) is learning how to manage failure--dealing with that which has gone awry. Ty Cobb is major league baseball's all-time batting leader with a career batting average of .366 (for baseball non-enthusiasts, that means he got a hit in only 36.6% of his official at bats). In other words, the greatest hitter, ever, failed 63.4% of the time, almost twice as often as he succeeded.

So, what do we do when we fail? (That's right, I said "when.") Well, we can either let failure become fatal, which is like the baseball player who lets his first error get in his head causing him to commit additional ones, or we can learn how to successfully manage our failures. And, if we're Christ-followers we have the ultimate Manager to coach us through those failures.

A Christ-follower who messed up says to Christ the Coach, "Okay, my bad! I blew it!"

Christ the Coach says to His error-prone follower, "No problem. I have it covered. But, what did you learn?"

The forgiven Christ-follower says, "Uh, I was out of position to make the play."

Christ the Coach says, "Right! You'll keep getting better. Get back out there."

Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:19, NASB)

Texas Weather--Always Changing

It's been said about Texas weather that if you don't like it, wait...it'll change!

Today's forecasted high temp is a balmy 90 degrees, but one week ago today...

Had to get up and out early, because we knew it wouldn't last long!

The requesite snow angel!

And the snowman...

...with bunny ears!

"Daddy, I'm scared!"--A Whole New Twist

Do you remember as a child being scared at night? I certainly do! To "protect" myself I would pull the covers over my head, making sure not even so much as one hair was exposed--as if keeping everything under that simple, quilted piece of fabric would shield my life from doom. Then, as I would try to get my voice to call out “Daddy!” fear would grip my throat and little more than a whisper would escape. After several attempts I would finally be able to force out enough of a screech or a shriek to awaken Dad, and Mr. Rescue would be on his way.

Well, times have clearly changed. Don’t get me wrong—children still get scared at night and call out for Dad, but it’s different now. At least it was different at my house a couple weeks ago....

...One of my children became scared in the dark and, rather than call out for me across the house, simply picked up her cell phone and called me on mine!

It was almost midnight, and I had just drifted into the first level of a dream-filled snooze when my cell phone rang. I careened out of bed and went stumbling and bumbling into the kitchen where my phone was recharging. Of course, I couldn’t read the caller i.d., because my “eyes” were back in the bedroom “resting” on the bed side table. So, though I answered the call with “Hello,” I was actually thinking, “It’s midnight! Somebody better have died!”

“Daddy,” a trembling voice responded, “I’m too scared to come across the house. Can you come get me?”

Now, I wish I could say I immediately went in and saved the damsel in distress, because it would preach a lot better that way. But, I can’t. I did go get her and offer her the comfort of my presence for the night, relocating her to a pallet of blankets on the floor beside my bed. But, my initial response was far from “fatherly.” I was nothing short of ticked! (My daughter has given me permission to tell this story as long as I admit that I got mad at her for calling me on the cell phone.)

Of course, my failed initial response reminds me of Jesus’ encouragement concerning the trustworthy protection and provision of our Heavenly Father. Speaking to a group of men, He said, “If you being evil (uh, there’s my cue) know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so does your Heavenly Father….” (Matthew 7:11). Indeed, not only does our Heavenly Father not get angry when we cry out to Him, He neither stumbleth nor bumbleth in responding, and He certainly doesn’t need caller i.d. to recognize the voice of the one crying out. If we could just somehow get our fear-gripped voice of faith to work enough to cry out to Him….

After my daughter had settled on the floor of our bedroom and after I had apologized for my initial angry response, something kind of sweet did happen, though, and it redeemed the whole experience. The lights were back out, and in the renewed quiet of the dark we began to laugh. It started with her giggle and quickly became contagious laughter as we pondered her creative use of technology. We laughed off and on for several more minutes, thinking we were surely done only to be jump-started again by one of our snickers. Finally, after a long cessation of the giggles, my daughter said with a sleep-filled softness, “Thanks Daddy.”

“You bet! Anytime,” I said. We slept well.

Father-Daughter Banquet & Ball

Glenna, my youngest, and I recently attended a Father-Daughter Banquet & Ball. Here are some of the pics.

Yep! I dressed up for this young lady!

Already gorgeous at a mere 10 years of age. Looks just like her Momma!

Glenna is my performer! I was the keynote speaker at the banquet/ball and had Glenna on the platform to speak a few words to the crowd. She loved it!

Ah! Espana!

Here are some pics and notes from my trip to London (early December) and Val's and my trip to London, Gibraltar (U.K.) and Spain (during New Year's). Enjoy!

The english manor in the countryside south of London where part of the U.K. retreat was held. Beautiful, but cold and rainy of course. Typical London--I never saw the sun during the entire, eight-day trip.

Val and I standing on the southern-most tip of Europe--the south side of the Rock, Gibraltar. Obviously, plenty of sun here! No wonder they call this area of the Mediterranean the Costa del Sol!

This little light shines bright enough to be seen all the way from North Africa--Hmm!

A room with a view--overlooking Gibraltar (known locally as Gib or the Rock) from our room in southern Spain.

Our view overlooking the port of Algeciras, Spain and across the Strait of Gibraltar. In the distance--the Rif Mountains of Morocco, North Africa.

Our view overlooking the village of San Roque, Spain. Si, Senor, that is a bull ring! Ole!

Doing what I get paid to do--talk!

Val with our favorite Londoners, Terry and Darla, at the Hard Rock Cafe.

The last night overseas, kicking back at the Hard Rock Cafe (London) with my favorite person in the whole world.

Well, yes, I understand that the transit to the north terminal at London's Gatwick airport is free, but, uh, just what exactly do they mean by "north?"