Thankful. Thankful for Sabbath. This weekend I actually enjoyed some beautiful Sabbath and it did my souls incredible good. I lead a men’s retreat for my church out to the Pamlico sound, on the Neuse River. We worked, we played, we canoed and sailed. Mainly we sat around, looked at the beautiful water, talked and laughed and enjoyed being men. It was Sabbath. I will work hard to remember that Sabbath as I have to move my entire house this week. It will not be a peaceful week. Thank you Lord for Sabbath.
Live Blogging in Church
Last night for our worship service I did something different for the sermon. Since I knew I was going to be gone all weekend on the retreat, I planned on just reflecting on the experience and the text from 2 Timothy 1 that we focused on all weekend. Then I invited some men who were with us to share what God had spoken to them about. In a lot of ways it was an exercise in preaching as live blogging. I knew the focus, but really just let the Spirit dictate where it went. I tried to interact with the congregation, grab a couple of clear points and teach on them and illustrate them, then allow the testimonies of others to reinforce and illustrate those points. In all it was a good experience. I don’t think it would suit me well each week, but there was a freedom to it that preaching a “normal” sermon doesn’t always provide.
Jim Zorn really is the true Washington Maverick!
4-1! How about the Skins winning on the road in Philly!?! That was a huge win. Jim continues to call all the right moves in getting this team to execute. It won’t always work as perfectly as it has thus far, there will be weeks when it all falls apart, no question. But, it just seems like this is a team built for a good season. Power running game, low turnovers, a defensive backfield that has really been sharp, and a QB that is poised and makes plays. It make me smile.
Zorn continues to impress with his gutsy calls and good game plans. Twice now this season he has gone for it on fourth down to ice a game and simply watched as his offense executed perfectly. How about that quick snap on third and goal in the 4th quarter? The Eagles barely looked aware when the ball was snapped. Or how about the Randle El reverse pass in the red zone? Am I impressed by Zorn and his maverick ways? You betcha!
Lorne Michaels loves some Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin’s emergence has done wonders for SNL this season. It seems like everyone wants in on the action. It is almost too hard for them to really make fun of her now because Sarah Palin does almost as good of a Tina Fey as Tina Fey does a Palin. Well done with the Joe Biden, however. Biden really hadn’t gotten much love from the immitation is flattery camp, but they captured his performance in the debate well. What was far funnier, however, was the skit where they had the press conference about he bailout. That was good commentary.
Shifting Modes
All summer long I felt like I was in a state of mourning and grieving. I knew we would be leaving Chapel Hill but I just wasn’t ready for that reality. After we announced it was easy to think more about all that had to happen to go than to concetrate on having to leave. But, today feels like the beginning of the goodbyes. That is a decidely different part of this process. I begin saying goodbye to friends this week, we say goodbye to our house this week, we say goodbye to neighbors and friends. This part is going to be really hard. (Incidentally my wife just called to say that my 2 year old got a hold of a touch up marker and colored all over the couch, that is the kind of week it is going to be) So here we go, it is time to do the hard part, not the moving or the work, but the hard part of looking back and looking forward. For all of it, I am simply thankful.
October 6, 2008 at 1:15 pm
It’s never easy to say goodbye, but hey it’s never a true goodbye, right? More like a see you later. I hope this week you find peace in the moving process.
If nothing else, enjoy being 4-1, you maverick.