Louisiana Laziness

Wow. This one hurt! A recent article in Business Weekly declared Louisiana the laziest state in America. Considering how lazy Americans are in general, it's a pretty insulting concept. The study states that a lack of access to fitness areas contributes to the laziness title.

I know I'm just one Louisianian, but I've decided to accept the challenge this article presents and get a little retrospective. I wouldn't say I'm real lazy, but I guess if I were comparing myself to my dad and the work ethic he had at my age, I'd probably pretty much fit the bill! He was a hard working dude! 

My Uncle Vernon, my dad's brother, preached for me a few weeks ago here at Crossroads and told about a time he and my dad dug a water well at my grandfather's house BY HAND! I can't even imagine it! I remember digging a grave for one of our dogs that died a few years ago and it almost killed me! I seriously wondered if I had dug the grave big enough because I was afraid they might have to burry me in it too! 

When it comes to my job/ministry, I'm not lazy at all. I'm very dedicated and diligent about what God has called me to. I refuse to grow 'comfortable' with where we are in ministry and I'm always working towards doing more and accomplishing more to the glory of God. However - at home - I really need to get off my behind! I have a farm with lots of demands in regards to fix-it-up and keep-it-up work that I often find even the thought of completely OVERWHELMING! Yet, I know if I would just commit myself to the disciplines my father had, my efforts would be so worthwhile. It would ultimately be so good for me and would leave a much smaller pile of wood, hay and stumble when I stand before my maker to answer to Him about how I lived my life in the laziest state in the union! 

Video Blog - The Making of the "Submerged" Message Series Video Opener

I hope you enjoy this little video blog we captured on the set of our new Message Series Video Opener called "Submerged!" It is a very interesting approach to film making and I know you're going to love the final project that I'll post here sometime early next week!

Subjects or Citizens?

I read recently that scientists have used new laser technology to solve a mystery. For years historians were baffled by a word that Jefferson had used then blotted out in his original Draft of the Declaration of Independence. They didn't know if he had misspelled the word or used a different one, but the word he ultimately chose was the word 'citizen.' Because of breakthroughs in modern technology, scientists have been able to make out the word he had originally written. Interestingly, he had originally used the word 'subjects.'

Wow! Think about that for a minute! This is the Declaration of Independence! He is declaring our independence from Great Britain! Yet he still, at least subconsciously, thinks of himself as a subject to the crown.

This tells me something about Jefferson. It tells me he had a hard time getting his head around the idea of being free. I don't think he had a hard time getting his heart around the notion, but his mind was a different story. 

I think we're like that sometimes. Jesus said in John 8:36, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." My heart believes that, but sometimes I have a hard time getting my head around that truth. The devil is able to convince me I have to do something I don't really want to do. I don't really think of myself as the free man Christ has created me to be! 

Proverbs 23:7 says, "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." We need to see ourselves as Christ sees us. We need to see ourselves as the free men we really are, free from sin and no longer subjects of the devil! We need to declare our Independence! 

America Medley

Here's an America Medley we did at our church on July 4, 2010. It was a lot of fun! The soloists who joined me here are my nephew Jordy Davidson covering John Cougar Melancamp's "Little Pink Houses," Jane Lantier covering Martina McBride's "Independence Day" and Richard Gaspard wrapping things up with Lee Greenwood's "God Bless The USA." My assignments were Bruce Springsteen's "Born In The USA" and Neil Diamond's classic "Coming To America." I had a really good time playing rock star! 

No Oil Spill Here!

I am definitely a mountain guy. I don't care much for the beach at all. I have a lot of friends this time of year who are leaving for vacations on the beach. In Louisiana, that typically means the gulf coast of Mississippi, Alabama or Florida. Sometimes it means Galveston or if you're looking for a much less expensive option - maybe Holly Beach. (LOL!)

This year my beach-loving friends are all meeting with some complications due to the BP Oil spill. To me, it's all the same. If you're going to lay there miserable in the sweltering heat and humidity of the gulf of Mexico with sand sticking to your sweaty, sunburned body while lots of fat people with way too much skin showing walk around you, what difference does a few tar balls make? Give me the Rocky Mountains any day of the week! Doesn't matter what time of the year - Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall - It's beautifully picturesque and there's plenty to do (without the afore mentioned sweat and sand and fat people hanging out of their swimsuits!)

Yesterday we learned some good friends have purchased us a week's accommodations in Steamboat Springs, CO this coming February for a nice skiing vacation. We are SO excited! Come February we'll enjoy the scenery and the snow, the friendship and the fun and guess what - No tar balls!

Robin's Last Day at Chick-fil-a and Some Thoughts From A Former Pea-picker

Today was Robin's last day as an employee of Chic-fil-a. It was her first job and a very good one. They are a great company with wonderful morals and require their employees to be courteous, to dress appropriately and to treat customers (and each other) with respect! I would recommend any family who has a son or daughter contemplating their first job to consider Chick-fil-a. Robin will be going through Master's Commission this fall and between now and then she will be working as a nanny for a family in our church. Nannying is a good fit for Robin. She loves kids and kids love her. It makes me believe I can look forward to a wonderful passel of grandkids one day. (One day a long, long time from now!)

I remember my first job: My first job the government knew about and I paid taxes on that is (there were many other after school watermelon hauling, hay hauling, and the hauling of other various things type jobs that were really the equivalent of slave labor that I did before this). My first job that required me to get a social security number (you didn't get those at birth in those days) was a job at the Louisiana Experimental Station in Calhoun, LA. I literally picked peas every day all day long for an entire summer. It was hot, hard, back-breaking work that I believe paid $2.15 an hour.

What is the moral of this story? I have none, but to say that Robin retiring from her first line of work put me in mind of my first job and made me thankful that I'm not still picking peas for a living! I wonder if some of you would like to share your first job experiences?

One Proud Papa (and mom)

Mr. Monk The Entertainer

I love movies, but I don't watch a lot of television. There just aren't many shows that are written well enough to keep my attention. Monk was the exception. Here's what happened.

Our family discovered Monk late (a year or so ago) and started watching it on DVD. This past season (the final season) we recorded on our DVR and just got to the finale tonight. It was very bittersweet. I loved this show!

What's not to love about an OCD, germaphobic detective? That thing he did with his hands, the wipes, his little sayings... It was a masterpiece!

We loved the characters: Randy Disher, Captain Stottlemyer, Harold the rival nutcase - There were some really great characters on the show. I have to say I liked Natalie more than Sharona (she dressed way too trampy!) but I preferred Dr. Kroger over Dr. Bell.

Monk's devotion to his wife's memory and the tenderness he felt for her was always moving. I wish more marriages were portrayed that way on T.V.

Now here's the thing: What I loved most about Monk was he provided Donna, Chase and I a lot of laughs (Robin wasn't a fan). We're definitely going to miss him! I guess you might say the show was a gift... and a curse.