Mondays are for ironic ramblings…

DMV Irony, Who’s laughing now son!

So this morning I got up at 6am, left the house at 6:30 and was the first person waiting in line at the DMV at 7. Why? You may ask. When I moved to NC over 5 years ago my Colorado drivers license was still valid for another 8 years. Out of lack of desire to deal with the DMV if I didn’t have to, I decided not to get a NC Driver’s License for as long as possible. This made my wife very upset. Being the wonderful rule follower she is, she couldn’t believe I would flaunt the rules so clearly in this regard.

Over the next couple of years I was stopped multiple times in license check points. Everytime I showed them my valid Colorado ID and they were completely satisfied. This made my wife more indignant with my obvious flaunting of the rules.

Fast forward to a week ago when we are applying for a mortgage to buy a home in Indiana. As we make photocopies of all the pertinent documents the mortgage broker is flummoxed that I do not have an ID that matches my address, something about the Patriot Act, terrorism, and Abu Ghraib. So in order for me to leave the state of NC, I had to go and get a NC driver’s license that will only be accurate for one month.

I find great irony in this. My wife was just mad at me. Regardless it is done. Of course, I was randonmly assigned an 8 year license from the state of NC, so this whole scenario could repeat itself 7 years from now in Indiana. Except of course if I don’t get one in Indiana as soon as I get there I will probably be divorced. This will be a great sermon illustration one day.

How about them Skins!

I am very impressed by the performance my Redskins put on yesterday. Beating a very good Dallas team on the road is impressive. What was most impressive was how they dictated the game. The Cowboys always seemed to be playing catch up. They ran the ball very well, especially in the second half, they defended when they needed to, and Jason Campbell continues to impress. The improvements of the team from the preseason and opening week loss to the Giants is impressive. I can see the Skins getting 9-10 wins this year. That might not be good enough for the playoffs this year, but it would be a great first season for big Z making his coaching debut.

It was also probably the last game the Skins will play at Texas Stadium. Good riddance, blow that place up! I have always disliked that goofy stadium with the almost dome that gives such weird shadows. Plus it was a place of horror for the Skins throughout my childhood. Many a good Thanksgiving was ruined by the Skins having to play and get pummeled at Texas Stadium. The new place is bigger, cooler, and will have far more fans. But, there is also some magic that gets lost when you move into a new stadium. It took the Skins a long time to get a real home field advantage at Fed Ex field. No one wanted to play at RFK.

The only sad part, watching our team this year, is realizing just how behind the times the Joe Gibbs teams from the past 4 years looked. Those teams always seemed reactionary and you felt lucky when they scored. The team yesterday should have put up 35 points with the way they were playing. It is the first time since Brad Johnson, Stephen Davis, and Michael Westbrook that the offense has felt like it was a modern and up to date offense. Sorry Joe, but I am liking the future.

Fear the Turtle – that’s right I am talking to you Tigers

Quick shout-out to Ralph and the mighty fighting Terps who came back on the road at Clemson and pulled out a huge win. The first half they looked completely outclassed, but Darius Heyward-Bay really changed the game with his 75 yard reverse. They could win 8-9 games this year. That would be a very successful season with the team we have assembled.

Standing Up for Prayer

Yesterday during I worship I had the privilege of leading the prayers at all four services. In preparing for the services I was feeling lead by the Spirit to do the prayers differently. I felt called to ask people to stand for the prayers, but not in unison. I prayed a prayer of confession focusing on the authority of God and our struggles to give up control of our lives, but then I prayed a litany of prayers. Before each litany I asked if those who wanted prayer for that petition would stand as a sign of humility before God and an acknowledgment of his authority. I had people stand if they wanted to be filled anew with the Holy Spirit. I asked people to stand if they would represent someone in their life or someone in our church who needed physical healing. Finally I asked people to stand if they would represent the lost, those who still are resisting or haven’t clearly heard the call of God into the kingdom yet.

It was powerful to watch people respond to these invitations. Just to be able to physically do something that would connect them with prayer or represent a concern, it helped people focus and connect to the prayers being offered. It is funny how our physical posture can be so connected to our spiritual posture.