Miracle Christmas

It seems for our family that December is the financially tightest month on the calendar. Merle Haggard has a well known song "If We Can Make It Through December" which embodies the sentiment. I suspect that we're not alone. The holidays can be the most financially tight times of the year. The pressure to purchase presents gets pretty high - especially if there are kids in the house.

This December looked to be the worst in the history of our family's existence. Having lost my job barely a month ago, we were behind on bills for most of the year. We were in danger of losing our house and a car. There was no way we could afford anything for Christmas this year. We tried to prepare our children in the weeks leading up to the holiday. It seemed like I'd be singing Merle's song the entire month, only there was no end in sight.

We've tried to teach our children over the years that Christmas isn't about the gifts. Down deep, however, having to do without gifts at Christmas really hurts. I remember the feeling of returning to school after such a Christmas as a boy. Just hearing kids talk about what they got over the Christmas Break was more painful than anything I had ever known. Forget all that "supposed to" stuff. It just hurt.

As Christmas neared, I tried to gradually prepare our kids and could see disappointment in their faces. To their credit, they didn't pout about our circumstances. We often talked about previous Christmas memories. One of the most memorable was two years ago. A friend of the family gave us a Toys-R-Us gift card to say thanks for our friendship. Wouldn't it be nice if that happened again! The truth was that such a thing wouldn't happen again and sadly we all knew it.

But, just when we resigned ourselves to our situation, the miracles started unfolding.

The first miracle took place shortly after Thanksgiving. My former boss was in a conference call with my now current boss. Shortly after the conference call, my former boss received an e-mail from me. He had told me when I left the company before "if there's anything I can do for you, please let me know." My wife and my dad both encouraged me to contact him to see if anything might be available with the company. I sent him the e-mail and he promptly contacted my current boss to tell him about me. Within a few days, I was happily re-employed by my former employer. Coincidence? Hardly - that is if you believe that God is still at work in the world today.

About the same time, I was trying to claim unemployment benefits. (I was notified that I would not receive benefits, due to circumstances surrounding my dismissal. Currently this is in appeal with the TWC) Still even more miracles began to take place.

I started receiving calls from different ones needing work done on their computers and was paid well for my time. We received several checks, one of which was from a former employer for proceeds on a sale of outstanding shares of stock that I didn't know about. People offered us cash out of the blue. It was like watching "It's A Wonderful Life" - only we were participating in the story.

My wife and I were up late on Christmas Eve wrapping Christmas presents. After the last present had been wrapped and tucked under the tree, we sat down together in our living room, basking in the warm lighting from the Christmas tree. We marveled at how our circumstances had changed so dramatically in the course of a month. Just being in our home, celebrating Christmas like this, was more than we could have hoped for only days before.

We like to say that God is concerned about our circumstances. We are told to believe God for the big stuff and we often see such prayers answered. But, every now and then, God does something that is so completely unexpected that it takes us by suprise. How can we begin to explain stuff like this?

It's the stuff that miracles are made of. That is why for our family, Christmas 2005 will forever be the miracle Christmas.

What's Big Deal About Christmas?

With only 4 shopping days left, my opinion on the topic of celebrating Christmas this year is quite a few days late. There's already been a lot of blather on the topic - Christians who are offended by those who insist on the use of the word "holiday" instead of Christmas. At this point, I'm not even sure stores like Target, Home Depot and others, who have opted to use "holiday," have caved into the pressure from the religious right to use "Christmas" again. Earlier this month, that was the talk everywhere. The president also caused a stir when he chose to use the word "holiday" in the card sent to his supporters this year. I thought he said he was a christian?!

I don't think most of the folks who have been stating their offense with the omission of Christ from the season have been paying attention, well for the practical length of their lives. Christmas in our culture is not about Christ. It hasn't been about Christ in a long, LONG time. In fact, the term "post-Christian" has been circulated for nearly a decade and a half as a description of our culture. In a time when church attendance is in decline, government is removing references to religion. In case this comes as a shock, back away from the computer and take a couple of deep breaths.

(Pause)

Now, is this offensive to you? Does it make you mad? Before you start planning to blow up my house or set my car on fire, stop for a second. What are the most prominent aspects of Christmas right now? What are the predominant concerns that people have as they enter the holiday season in our country? Ask nearly anyone anywhere, it will go something like this:

"I have so many gifts to get. I don't really have time for all the shopping I've got to do. Then, there's getting together with family. How are we going to work it out? Where will we/they stay? I have so many things going on this year. So many parties and get togethers. I'm so stressed. I can't wait for it all to be over!"

So much is made each year by how commercial the Christmas holiday has become. I get frustrated when I start seeing Christmas decorations on display in September and October. We can complain about it all we want. But, if we're spending money and running up credit card bills and running ourselves ragged with holiday events and stress - just like everyone else - we're just feeding the beast. Most folks do all those things and complain because Jesus isn't on display in the stores and shopping centers they go to. If it were on display, it would only be window dressing. There's no question why everyone is there - money is changing hands.

The truth is that it's not the job of any merchant to put Jesus on display in the first place. It's fine if they want to. It's their right to decline as well. It's not any business for any federal, municipal or civic governments to be involved in, either. This falls squarely on the shoulders of believers. What the world needs is not some clever marketing that includes the name of Jesus or pictures of a baby in a manger. Calling it Christmas or winter holiday won't make a bit of difference. No, what the needs is a fresh demonstration of Christ from His body - the church - plain and simple.

Remember the stir caused by the Passion of the Christ not too long ago? Christian leaders started calling that movie the greatest tool for evangelism that the world had ever seen, or something like that. How did people come to Christ before the Passion? Was it possible to become a Christian without it? No wonder it's been so hard to become a Christian all those years before! There are stories of those who turned to Christ as a direct result of watching the movie. In the time since, the furor has died down. With the release of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe this year, the same people are saying some of the same things about this movie as they said about the Passion.

Do you see what's happening? We're expecting someone else to step up to do something spectacular that will "win the world." The truth is it's a lot harder to demonstrate a living Christ as we live out our lives. We can mess it up and often do. We have so many cares and burdens and have so little time to spare for anyone else. It's easier to tell someone to go watch a movie or give them a book and ask them what they thought about it than to get involved with them and their lives. Getting involved often gets ugly. But that is what makes a difference in someone's life.

As for "saving" Christmas, I don't know that it's possible to save the holiday at this point. Commercialism surrounding the season is big money. Our culture doesn't need another marketing scheme. It's become brazen to them, which is why we see more and more shocking means of advertising. If we approach it as a marketing scheme there will be no lasting affects. Public sentiment can be swayed as easily as the wind blows. The church must demonstrate to the world of what Christmas is supposed to be.

So, stop crying about the world recognizing Christmas. It's your chance to show them exactly what it is.

Ever Heard of Friday Night Lights?

By now most folks in this country have heard about the book or the movie called "Friday Night Lights." It's the story from the entire 1988-89 football season in Odessa, Texas at Odessa Permian High School. Having played organized football for 10 years of my life, the story was one I could relate to. I've never been much of a reader, but I've known of the book for many years. It was a good thing for me when the movie came out. It was such a good movie that it made me want to read the book.

If you've only watched the movie, you may have gotten a different take on what really happened over the course of that football season in West Texas. According to many in the town, there were a lot of hurt feelings that emerged when the book went to print. Racial strife, bigotry, class warfare, excessive measures taken by coaches, parents, players, school faculty & students are observed and trumpeted to the world in book form. It's no wonder the whole town felt violated afterwards.

Unfortunately for Odessa, their city was the one selected by Mr. Bissinger (the book's author) out of the many hundreds of schools and towns across Texas - just like them. However, in the introduction, the writer makes it clear why he chose the home of Mojo as his subject audience. Odessa Permian is easily one of the most storied schools in the state with several state championships and many more playoff playoff appearances. Football is king in Texas but it's the center of life in Odessa. When anything garners so much energy, excesses follow and Permian High School is a prime example.

So, if you've not read the book or watched the movie, make an appointment for yourself. The truth is you may not like it.

Then again you may.

Lightning Strikes Twice - But with More Money

We've all heard the fable or myth that lightning never strikes the same place twice. It's a phrase that's as old as the hills, but there's not really any truth to it. Then again, maybe there is.

I'm not concerned about whether it happens in real life or not. Just as soon as I endorse a statement that says "lightning does indeed strike in the same place twice," somebody will show up that can definitively prove me wrong. That's not my concern.

This last week I was offered a position with Stewart Title - again. (Those of you who actually read my blog might remember that I left Stewart for the "opportunity" at Sam Houston State University. Of course that opportunity fell apart like a cheap suit.) After walking away from a job that I really enjoyed before, I've received another chance with the same company with another good boss. There are challenges, to be sure...a long commute, later hours and a different assignment that will involve more "over the phone" skills. But, I'm back with a company that I enjoyed to work for. That alone is something to sit back and think about. Who you work for AND with makes up about 80-90% of the work experience. If the people you work with really get on your nerves, it's hard to enjoy the job - as a whole.

But, the fact I get a second shot at the same thing - or same company - makes me stop and take notice. How often does lightning strike the same place - twice? How often does one get an actual second chance at the same opportunity? My experience has been not at all. However, I've been extended a second chance. I'm truly in awe of a God who can orchestrate the events of one's life so that things like this take place.

Despite the odds, it appears that lightning indeed struck the same place twice. The spot is smoldering. I go to work Monday morning. It's pretty cool.

The Return of Cheap Oil

After a year of seeing gas prices explode to unprecedented levels, it looks like they're going to fall off - sharply. In a report issued by many top oil company executives, gas prices could continue falling. Ironically, this news comes on the tail of a series of public service announcements instructing the public to curtail oil and gas usage until the shortages experienced as a result of hurricanes Katrina and Rita are replenished. Kinda ironic, huh?

For those who can remember back a further than a couple of decades, when prices have reached all time highs, the periods were followed by production gluts and significantly cheaper gas prices. During these periods, oil companies complained of their losses, begging for sympathy, suggesting federal assistance in some cases.

So, if prices continue falling, keep this in mind: Just a month or so ago, oil executives from Shell, Exxon-Mobil, BP, Chevron and others all boasted their record profits in the neighborhood of 250-300%. Maybe it's just me, but it's hard to feel sorry for the those who orchestrated their own good fortune.

Of course, all I can think about is that I sold the stock I had in an oil company in March of this year - just as the prices really began to take off. Perfect timing, huh?

I wonder in a few months if any of the same executives might be wondering if they should have run those "save gas" public service announcements in the first place.

High School Football - Follow-up to the Follow-up

I'm still following the Texas High School Football Playoffs and now, as we enter the 4th week of competition, the contenders have definitely emerged from the pack. Some pretty good teams have fallen by the wayside.

If any of these games come to your back yard, it might be a good time to take in some Texas High School Playoff Football.

Plenty To Be Thankful For

A few weeks ago, I wrote here how excited I was about the new direction I was taking in my career. That new direction came to an abrupt end last week. I wasn't given an explanation. I was just told things aren't working out. So, at the age of 37, I get to start all over again - from scratch. Pretty cool, huh? It doesn't help that I have to look for permanent work just as the holidays are getting started. Job counselors have all said the same things "it would have been nice if you were let go after the holidays. This isn't a good time to be looking for a job." Just what I needed to hear.

But before I go too far and make it sound like I may be bitter about what has happened, I pause to say I'm a very thankful man. A wise man once told me "real problems are the kind that money can't solve." Considering the kind of year we've experienced as a family, we've got plenty of financial problems. But, we've been blessed that we haven't been visited by any real problems. Jobs, money, houses, etc., come and go. People are what matter, or so I'm finding out. Thankfully, my entire immediate family is healthy. My father-in-law had a scare recently, but it appears his condition was discovered in time and can be treated.

Thanksgiving has become my favorite holiday. You don't have to exchange gifts. You really don't have to spend a lot of money - unless you plan to eat a lot. All you have to do is get together with people you love and celebrate each other. I like that. No expectations - unless you plan to eat a lot. Our family usually plans on eating a lot. We also pause to tell each other what we're thankful for. I've had time over the weekend to reflect on what I'm thankful for. Here's just a few things...

I'm thankful for my family. My wife is an incredible encouragement to me. She is the master of giving me more of what I need instead of what I want. If I'm feeling bad about how things are going and would like sympathy, she doesn't give it to me. Instead, I get that swift kick (it's not too hard, though) in the pants that lands me back on my feet. I'd be a mess without her.

I've learned so much from my children. I know it's supposed to be the other way around. Some of my most enjoyable entertainment of my life is to watch them when they don't think I'm looking.

God has given me incredible parents. I enjoy asking my dad for advice. He often says "I don't think I can offer any advice for that." I still ask anyway. I figure I can learn something from someone who survived the Battle of Bastogne. I think I get my grit from my mother. She doesn't know the meaning of the word "quit." Maybe it's because she's German. Dad is Scotch/Irish descent. No wonder I'm stubborn. (Which is why I often need the aforementioned kick.)

I'm thankful for my in-laws (they'll likely see this blog, so I'd better mention them). I've heard horror stories about people and their interaction with their in-laws. I don't have nearly that many. Just kidding! My in-laws (which includes both my brother-in-law and sister-in-law as well) have always been supportive of both me and my family. It means so much.

I'm also thankful for friends. My family has been blessed to be part of the Vineyard Church of Conroe for the past 5 years. We've known many of the same people for much longer. They've been there for us through some of the most challenging events of our lives - and they continue being there for us, even now. Proverbs says it best - "better to have a friend close by than a brother far away." I'm glad I have a lot of friends close by. Some of them are just down the street.

I could continue, but it would make for some pretty boring reading - for anyone that actually reads my blog (according to my page count, somebody must be reading something).

I close by asking this question: what are you thankful for? You might say "not much." Really? Try writing a few things down. Before long, you'll have quite a list - if you're honest.

I know I don't have much in the way of money. Hopefully, something will come along to change my job prospects. Still, I have what counts, which means I've got plenty to be thankful for.

Have You Seen A John Woo Film Lately?

There's been a lot of talk in the news about the decline in proceeds at the boxoffice within the last couple of years. This is with good reason: the material sucks! For every good movie, there are 5 or 6 terrible ones. At $5-8 a pop, it's no wonder that people are staying away from the silver screen. It's much cheaper to rent the same films on DVD and discover this same release was a complete bomb.

That leads me to the director, John Woo. If you happen to see his name as the director of any movie you might be interested in watching, stay away. Why, you might ask? There are several reasons.

After seeing his 2003 release, Paycheck, I was reminded all over again why his films suck. For one, they are known for dazzling explosions, combined with lots of broken glass, plenty of sparks and ridiculous live-action stunts. That might be fine for some movie-goers. But, if you're interested in an actual story in your film, you probably won't find it. In this particular movie, the main character becomes a science experiment, which involves erasing his memories. Somehow these have a link to the future. Make sense to you? Me neither - even after 2 hours of watching the story unfold. Several times my wife and I looked at each other and said "this is ridiculous!" But, with nothing to do on a rainy Saturday afternoon, we hung in there.

Still the worst specimen of Mr. Woo's film expertise I can think of can be seen in the movie Windtalkers. The story is based on the true story of a small group of Navajo soldiers who were responsible for developing a code based on their language. If you know your history, the Navajo code was impossible to be cracked by the Japanese and Nazi forces in World War II. In the film, the story is lost amid Woo's trademark sparks, "death-defying" stunts and meaningless explosions. It was an incredible story - lost in a terrible movie. Sadly, Windtalkers followed much better movies like Saving Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line and never matched the quality.

But, there are other bad examples of Woo's movie-making acumen. There's the ridiculous Face Off, where Nicholas Cage and John Travolta exchange their faces so they can fit in to their roles in separate worlds. If the idea wasn't bad enough, it emerged again in the movie Mission Impossible II, with the manic Tom Cruise trading faces in that one. Broken Arrow, Hard Target, Once A Thief and Blackjack have the trademark explosions, car crashes, broken glass and physical stunts just like any Woo movie would. They also have the typical 1 or 2 star rating that usually accompanies his movies.

Don't think that John Woo is content to rest on his movie-making laurels. He's scheduled to release more feature films in the near future. In 2006, there are 7 scheduled, of which 1 is currently being filmed and 2 are in production.

So, when you're thinking "that might be a good movie. I might like to see that one..." make sure that the name "John Woo" is nowhere in the movie credits. If it is, I can save you some money... it's probably going to suck!

Texas High School Playoffs - A Follow-up

One week ago, my son and I attended a game which marked the 3rd playoff appearance by my high school alma- mater in the past 60 or so years. I wrote then that I didn't think they, or their opponent belonged in the playoff tournament. A week later, I think that observation has been partially vindicated. The score in the Area round of the 2A Div. 1 playoffs: Newton-62; Hearne-13. Hearne defeated Malakoff last week 41-7. I can only imagine the outcome had the draw for last week's game been such that Malakoff played Newton in the first round instead.

What does it say about a team who squeaks into an expanded playoff system and gets annihilated by a much better opponent? Many will argue "that's just the way it is," and they are right. But, I go back to my original argument in this thread - why invite those who don't really belong? Is there any benefit in allowing more teams in so they can feel good about their season?

Why do I make this argument? Frankly, sport is such that no matter what extent someone tries to make everything fair, at some point it just won't be. There are always bigger and faster players. There are some schools that just develop better players in droves. That usually means that only a few schools are truly successful and the rest are part of the pile.

I remember during the course of high school getting word of district realignment and discovering we would no longer play some of our most hotly rivaled opponents. The way it was explained to us players then was it was a chance to be aligned with teams that we can compete with better. I didn't realize it then, but the realignment process was set up so that the UIL could promote "fairness" so that better teams could not keep a long-standing advantage over weaker ones. Since our school was mostly outmatched by the teams in our district, the prospect of being aligned in a "more favorable" district was very attractive.

Once, after the alignment process had ended, one of our coaches told us "men, you shouldn't be relieved that you won't play those teams anymore. Your new opponents will also be a challenge to you. It should make you sad that you likely will never get the opportunity to get revenge for the last time your old opponents beat you." He was right. We played other schools, with which we had no history and saw long-standing rivalries abandoned. According to UIL rules, it had become necessary to be realigned because many of our rival schools had grown significantly. Still, there would be no chance for revenge or to redeem ourselves as a team against those foes. We also found the new alignment to be just as feisty as the the old one and garnered very limited success.

There has always been a struggle in athletics. There also has been a winner AND, sadly, a loser. Having been on the losing side for most of my athletic career, I have to say losing, far more than winning, builds character. My coaches throughout junior-high and high school sports, who were likely considered also-rans in their profession by their peers, are still some of the most esteemed people in my life. They taught me life would never be fair and, win or lose, the only thing that would matter at the end of each night would be how much effort I gave in each contest.

Why is it, then, that we as parents try so hard to insulate our children and to protect them from the lessons of life? I'm not saying that we should just let them go and learn everything the hard way. That would be ridiculous and stupid. I think our kids deserve the best opportunities we can give them. Sometimes it's important to step in a protect them from something that is potentially a destructive force in their lives. More often, in concern for self-esteem, we intervene and rob them of the richest lessons they will ever learn in life.

At some point, however, we have to teach them that life will not be fair. We have to teach them that most of life's situations and circumstances don't have a story-book ending. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter whether you win or lose, because there will always be a winner and a loser.

It's ALL about how you play the game.

The Saga Ends...Now Jesus Can Come Back

When I tell stories about my childhood, I usually get a lot of laughs. It's not because they're particularly funny stories. It's usually because they're told in the context of ignorance, misinformation or miseducation - the byproducts of hailing from East Texas. There's lots of superstition and misinformation in just about everything. Church was usually the worst.

Having been raised in a Pentecostal home, I was taught a hodge-podge theology that resembled that of any main-line Baptist church. The Pentecostal aspect of the faith made us more of the wild-eyed, wrong side of the tracks, uneducated and plain old weird church in town. Ours was the church that had the reputation of people who jumped pews, fell out in the aisles and swung from chandeliers - only we couldn't afford chandeliers in our church. The truth was it was an enthusiastic but often Biblically ignorant atmosphere.

Sermons were often preached about the Rapture, a pseudo return of Christ. The actual word isn't in the English Bible. It's actually in the Greek text and it means "caught away." It's then instance when Jesus calls the church out before the "Great Tribulation," 7 years before his actual, earthly return. I heard countless sermons that often ended with "altar calls" that went something like this: "If Christ were to return tonight, if the rapture took place on your way home, or while you were asleep, would you be ready?" That sort of appeal was designed to scare little kids on the edge of their faith, as well as the hardest sinner that might ever darken the doors of the church. In my young life, such preaching made quite an impression. The rapture could happen at any time. Don't mess around with God. Get right!

Another thing that preachers preached about was that attending movies, or "picture shows," was wrong for a Christian. My parent's didn't allow me to watch movies in theaters until I was much older and could afford to get in on my own. There wasn't a good reason, except that God might not want to go into theater to get me for the "rapture." It never really made sense - especially when there were decent movies to watch. Case in point was the release of "Star Wars." I was 8 years old when it was first released and it was out of the question for me to see it. Of course, all of my friends saw it and couldn't understand why I would ask so many questions about the movie and could not fathom why I hadn't been to see it myself. I never bothered to tell them my reason and eventually got around seeing it by reading comic books based on the movie (because there wasn't anything wrong with comic books, unlike movies).

I eventually got to see the movie, as well as the Empire Strikes Back (on the first run in theaters, which is another story) and was totally immersed in the Star Wars story. I learned everything there was to know about the cast, characters, the director, George Lucas as well as the supposed time-line for the release of other movies, particularly the Return of the Jedi. Fans of Star Wars know that in George Lucas' story, there were actually 9 parts to his story. Star Wars, Empire and Jedi were just the middle 3.

If you remember, Empire was released in 1979 and Jedi came out in 1983. Still, this caused a dilemma within my theology: "what if Jesus comes back before Return of the Jedi comes out?" What would become of Luke Skywalker, or Han Solo? Would Darth Vader crush the rebellion once and for all?" Considering the fact that I was so caught up in a movie and wasn't supposed to watch them in the first place put me in a precarious position with the Good Lord. Still, I was grief stricken and often prayed "Jesus, can you please wait until I can see the Return of the Jedi before You come back?" I was sincere in my faith in the return of Christ and just knew it would undermine the Star Wars saga forever.

Of course, it's pretty safe to say now that Jesus didn't return (not necessarily in answer to my prayers) and in the years since Return of the Jedi was released, the entire trilogy has since been re-mastered and re-released twice. (I guess in the heart of the unbeliever, that would be cause to give in to wild living) The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and finally The Revenge of the Sith were finally released, providing a brilliant backdrop for the original story. So far, I own 3 copies of the original trilogy (the original release on VHS, the Special Edition on VHS and most recently the DVD edition) as well as Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones on DVD.

Two weeks ago, Revenge of the Sith was released on DVD. According to George Lucas, this would end the Star Wars saga once and for all. Forget the last 3 installments. 6 movies and 28 years of work are now a complete work for the ages. It ties up the loose ends of the story that came alive to me so many years ago. It is so much more than just a story or a bunch of movies. It was a vital part of my life and development.

But, now that it's over, what am I to do? I guess I can camp out on a rooftop and wait for the Rapture. I can sell my house and all my stuff and make preparations for the return. I can also add a chapter to that ill-fated book "88 Reasons Why the Rapture Could be in 1988." I'm sure there are many more reasons now than 17 years ago.

One of them should be the Star Wars saga is finally over.

Another Tough Loss For The Tigers

I attended that playoff game in Waco Saturday night. My son and I drove 3 hours to get there (even after a wrong turn) and truly enjoyed ourselves - that is, until the game began. Emotion was running high on both sides of the field as the two mediocre teams squared-off in state playoff competition. Noone cared about their team's regular season record anymore. This was a new season of hope - at least for about 5 minutes after the start of the game.

Malakoff received the opening kick-off, ran three plays and were forced to punt. That's when the trouble began. Hearne blocked the punt and recoved the ball inside the Malakoff 20-yard line. 3 plays later, the score was 7-0, in favor of Hearne. The ensuing kickoff was fumbled by the Tigers, recovered by the Eagles on the Malakoff 17-yard line. 4 plays later, the score read 14-0, Hearne. Malakoff moved the ball after the game's 3rd kickoff, but had to punt again. The punt got away, but only traveled 10 yards. Hearne got the ball on the Malakoff 25. 3 plays later, 21-0, Hearne.

I do not intend for this blog to be sports column. There are much better sports writers around than I could ever hope to be. Instead, the outcome of the game, which was 40-7, Hearne over Malakoff, highlights two recent trends in Texas high school football that can be seen statewide. First is the matter of the expansion of the playoff system, which I discussed here previously. The 2005 Malakoff Tigers legally made the playoffs this year, but clearly showed they didn't belong or deserve to be there. The score beared that out.

The second trend, which is a result of shifting population centers, seems to be more of a factor from year to year. The trend isn't just happening in Texas. It's a national phenomenon. People are leaving rural areas for cities and suburbs. Larger cities in rural areas are even feeling the pinch as traditional job sources dry up forcing residents to look elsewhere for employment.

Case in point, Texarkana, Texas, which is a city of roughly 40-50 thousand. The former 5A powerhouse Texas High School was reclassified in 2004 and is now in the 4A class and is the number 1 seed in the 4A playoffs. Palestine, a city of 20,000+ has been a 4A playoff team for decades. This season was their first to be in the 3A class, thanks to an exodus of some 3-5 thousand residents within the past decade. This year, they, too, are well ranked as they begin their playoff run. Hearne was a good sized 3A school just a decade ago. In that span, railroad and oilfield work has dried up, forcing townsfolk elsewhere. Now, they are an underachieving 2A squad. Such stories are repeated all around the state, rural schools are losing students in droves year by year.

As for the cities and suburbs, enrollment continues to explode. New powerhouses continue to dominate throughout the season, year after year. Southlake Carroll, a 3A school only 10 years ago, is now classified as super 5A, enjoying the benefits of DFW area urban sprawl. In Montgomery County, north of Houston, the Woodlands High School also reaps the benefit, as the super 5A football runner-up from a year ago. There currently is another high school in the Woodlands. University Park HS had only 9th grade students this year. Within 4 years, the school's attendance should be roughly 5,000 students. The Woodlands High School also will have roughly 5,000 students. Magnolia HS was a 4A school only 3 years ago. Now, they are a mid-sized 5A school, trying to find their way among 5A powerhouses. There are plans to begin construction on a new high school in Magnolia in the next 3 years.

So, what does this mean? Possibly, the death of the small, rural school - at least as far as athletics is concerned. As the national trend continues, more and more people will continue to move to be closer to jobs available in big cities. As they do, they leave behind a rich history of competition, sportsmanship and small town comeradery that typifies sports in a small town.

Texas High School Football

I found out over the weekend that my high school alma mater, Malakoff High School will participate in the Texas UIL State Playoffs for the 1st time in 15 years and only the 3rd time in the last 60. That's big news for the town known as the Gateway to Cedar Creek Lake. In Texas, if somebody goes to the playoffs in football, it's a big deal. Who cares about the other sports! Football is king!

The more I've thought about the success of this Tiger team, I've given a lot of thought to the UIL playoff system in Texas. In at least the last 15 years, there's been a rule change that, in my mind, has diluted the achievement from what it once was. In Texas, there are all kinds of schools, small to really, really big. The classification system has pretty much always been Class A for the small ones and 5A for the big ones. Everything else is graded between A and 5A accordingly. In the "old days" there was one champion per class, which is fitting. The best of the rest.

In the late '80's or early '90's, there was a division made between the "smaller" 5A schools and those called "Super 5A" which were just incredibly big by anyone's standards. It made sense to make a division. Some schools were enormous while the others barely qualified for the rank. Suddenly, there were 2 - 5A champions. Then, the trend followed - 4A was divided, then 3A, 2A and finally class A. The argument goes "it's not fair for a smaller school to have to compete against a larger one within their own division." Everyone wants to be "fair" these days. Here's the playoff pairings for the 2005 football season in Texas. At the end of this football season, there will be 11 state champions from the Lone Star State.

For those reading, you might wonder "what's the big deal?" This is it in a nutshell: of the 3 playoff teams from Malakoff, the 2005 team posted the worst record of them all. The 2005 Malakoff Tigers were 5-5 overall and will be playing an opponent with a 6-4 record this weekend. They lost to teams with winning records and beat the ones with losing records. I doubt this team will advance beyond the Area round - if they can get past their next opponent on Saturday. The issue in my mind isn't whether they'll go deep in the playoffs or get eliminated in the first round. My issue is "do they even belong there at all?"

There were two teams prior to this one who made it to the playoffs in the State of Texas. The Malakoff team from 1946 was a perfect 12-0 and went as far as they could in those days, which was the regional championship. The other playoff team from 1990 was 9-1 and was eliminated in the Area round of the playoffs by a team that lost in the state championship game. See the difference? It's a comparison between outstanding achievement and being an also-ran. I don't know about that 1946 team, but the 1990 team had high hopes from the start. The frustration that followed their early departure from the playoffs that season ultimately led to Head Coach Jim Wills to resign before the next season. That team was that good.

It might seem like I've got something in my craw about this. One could ask "what did the teams you played for do in those seasons?" I never played on a team with a winning record throughout high school. But, as a kid, I was a fan of some of the most incredible teams ever fielded by Malakoff High School, in that playoff drought from 1946 to 1990. From 1977-1983 probably some of the most talented teams I ever saw graced the old Tiger Stadium at the corner of Hillcrest and Smith Streets in Malakoff. Bennie Rogers, Homer Turner, James Jackson, Tim Farrell, Harold Driver, Todd Shelton, Chip Souza, Billy Whitely, Curtis Ivey, Wes Hughes, Ronnie Dennis, Joe Bailey, Clint Clements, John Cross and others were the names of my real-life heroes. They played against teams from places like Red Oak, Crockett, Palestine, Rusk, Lindale, Fairfield, among others which all had one thing in common - an enrollment double to ours.

Anyone familiar with high school sports knows that enrollment is the key to a school's success or failure. Playing schools with attendances that dwarfed ours, my heroes were successful. They stood toe to toe with blue-chip college prospects and held their own. Their success was limited due to the odds they faced each time they walked on the field. For 4 consecutive seasons during this span, the Tigers were 7-3. Twice they were 5-5. There was a time I could recite from memory the events that turned the tide in the crucial games - often just a matter of inches. They were heartbreaking losses - especially to their many fans - kids like me. Under today's rules, those Tiger teams could have gone on to play in the playoffs just like the 2005 Tigers will this weekend.

I mean no offense to the 2005 Tigers. I'm sure you have a good team in your own right. In fact, I'll be in the stands rooting for your success. You will be going where I was not able. But, I can't help thinking what if one of those teams - the teams of my heroes - had the opportunity to advance in a second division? That is a question for child-fans to ponder. As an adult I know, such questions are foolish and a waste of energy.

But, what if?

In the world of the Malakoff Tigers - past and present - we will never know.

History Lesson - Up Close and Personal

Our church spent the last weekend at Fort Parker State Park near Groesbeck and Mexia, Texas. Of course, any time there is a fort something or other in the state of Texas, you can bet there's quite a bit of history involved. Fort Parker is no exception. A cool East Texas slant is part of the story. It's hard to believe that East Texas was once part of the wild frontier. A lot has happened in the last 150 years.

Thank You Astros

It's already been a week since the Astros fell to the Chicago White Sox. Despite being swept by the Sox, there is so much to be proud of and relish as a fan. Despite being swept, the "good guys" never were out of any game. As heart-breaking as each loss might have been, this team thrilled fans, just like me, like never before.

Astros' fans, think of all the teams that have been fielded by the Astros in the last 20 years. The 2005 version was not the strongest team by any stretch. Yet, they were as opportunistic - if not more - than any team before them.
I'm here one week later wishing they were still playing. Of course, the season would be over by now - whether they won or lost. The memories of this season will last for a long time. I hope they last for the rest of my life. I hope folks never forget the excitement generated by this team. This season was fantastic and one to remember.

I Have My Reasons...

Unless you live under a rock, you know that the Houston Astros are playing in their first-ever World Series against the Chicago White Sox who hasn't been to a series since 1959. There is a lot riding on these 7 games for both teams as well as their fans in their perspective cities. It's been a thrilling series so far, but very disappointing for Houston fans for obvious reasons. Mainly because Houston is now down 2 games to none. Let me point out that there is still hope. The series moves to Houston tomorrow night.

During the course of this season, I've noticed a change in myself. Actually, the change started last season and it was because of this Astros ballclub. Let me explain...

About 28 years ago, in Malakoff, Texas, I decided I wanted to play baseball. I was 8. I signed up for Little League and got on a team. I wasn't very good. Most of the guys on the team had been playing for 3 or 4 years and were better than I was. But, I decided I really wanted to play the game. My coaches told me to do things that would help me play better and I did everything they said do. Early on I demonstrated that I could throw a baseball pretty well. I couldn't do much else. I was stuck in right field. Not much happens in right field. If it does, you have to be able to throw the ball. I could do that for sure.

From the time I started playing, I really wanted to be a pitcher. My coaches weren't ready to give me a shot because I was still pretty new to baseball. One of my coaches told me to set up a target somewhere where I could practice pitching. My dad set up a target for me against a side wall on the barn in our back yard. It was a worn-out, 14-inch tire - perfect for the beating it would take over the next 9 years.

The best thing about pitching is that it involves throwing a baseball. That's really good if you can throw it pretty well. That can also be the worst thing about it. You can throw a baseball too much. Baseball is very unforgiving. It doesn't make sense that a baseball can hurt someone's arm the way it does. People walk away from the game every year because of it. I did 15 years ago. My arm hurt, but my heart hurt worse. There's no way to explain how a goofy game like this can mean so much to a person. It just does.

I couldn't bear to watch too many games. It was a painful reminder of what I could do at one time. So, I stopped - that is until last year. I watched in amazement as they climbed the standings in the NL Central. They got hot in the second half and really didn't cool off until Scott Rolen hit the homerun off Roger Clemens in game 7 of the NLCS. Of course, the Astros' encore this year eclipses everything ever done by the organization. They were given up for dead in May and avenged the painful loss in the NLCS from a year ago. They roared back to St. Louis and made everyone forget about Albert Puhol's heroics from game 5 and avenged the painful loss a year ago. Now, people just like me are believing that this team - even more so than last year's squad - can do anything. I have no doubt, now down 2-0 to an opportunistic White Sox team, that these same boys of summer can erase the deficit and bring the World Championship to Houston and to Texas.

These guys are no longer just playing for themselves. They're carrying the hopes and dreams of much of the Lone Star State - including my own. Come on, Astros! Do it again! We Bee-lieve!

No Socks Weekend in Houston

Come-on, those of you who are Astros' true believers. Show your spirit!

Houston mayor Bill White has declared this weekend (October 21-23) "No Sox Weekend" for the city and for Astros' fans everywhere.

So, do your part. Leave the socks in the drawer over the next 3 days, wear whatever memorabilia you have on hand and root for the Astros!

You might also put a little foot powder in your shoes.

Thoughts on the World Series

This weekend I plan to be watching as the Astros take on the White Sox. I've read the articles and seen the sports segments. I really want the Astros to win, not by the skin of their teeth, but to dominate in this series. I don't want anyone to say that St. Louis was "sandbaggin" when they played the 'stros. More importantly, I want to see guys like Biggio, Clemens and yes, Bagwell come up big against the Sox.

I've watched each of those guys play since they came to the majors umpteen years ago. I was watching on ESPN the night Roger and his Longhorns won the college world Series in 1983, long before I'd ever heard of the other two guys. I want them to win so they can be complete as ballplayers. As good as they've been for so long, they deserve the shot. I'm sentimental about that.

I understand that the Chicago White Sox is arguably the most disparaged MLB team in existence, but I have no sympathy for them or their fans. It's hard to be sympathetic for a team that comes from the same place that Al Capone once called home. If they're under a curse, it's because they sold themselves out in 1919. Whether Shoeless Joe was guilty or not isn't my concern. There's enough problems in sports without having to wonder if one side or other is throwing a game.

When the Red Sox won last year, their "nation" was pleased and I was sentimental along with them. They hadn't been to the big show since 1918. If they were a cursed team, it was simply because they were in the same time zone and division as the damn Yankees. Unfortunately, some things are beyond anyone's control. They finally had the team and the breaks they needed to beat their nemesis. I was sentimental and glad they won. I also wanted them to destroy St. Louis. But, I wouldn't have been sentimental at all if they were playing my Astros.

I'm proud to say I'm not sentimental at all this year. This one belongs to the Astros.

More Thoughts on 37

In a previous post, I was musing about reaching the age of 37 and how that age appears to be a threshhold for athletes in terms of when their bodies begin to break down and skills begin to decline. After writing, I realized that I failed to mention two more 30-somethings that will be participating in (more appropriately, watching up-close) the fall classic that starts on Saturday in Chicago.

Jeff Bagwell and Frank Thomas, both 37, share the same birthday (May 27, 1968) - 5 1/2 months before my own. Both guys, baseball legends in their own right, virtually inactive for the World Series. Of course Bagwell has seen a dramatic recovery in the past 5 months and has been activated since early September. Frank Thomas, on the other hand, is on the DL for the series. Both men are considered leaders by their teammates and have been receiving accolades throughout the sportsworld during their teams' runs into October. Why, you might ask? Both have put together very distinguished careers and have remained with the same team through it all. Truly remarkable - to both men's credit.

To me, it's truly amazing to know that I've seen both men play over the past 15 years. They're considered heroes in their own right, but they're MY AGE! Of course I should note: they're a LOT better at the game of baseball than I ever was! God bless them. It's truly a gift to get to play the sport they way they have.

A World Series for Texas

I'm up late tonight. The Houston Astros clinched their first World Series berth after 43 seasons. I grew up a Rangers' fan. They were the closest team to me and the first major league team I ever saw in person. But, after two years of really following these Astros, I'm no longer a Rangers' fan. I'm Astro red (or is it orange?) through and through. I watched on Monday night when Albert Puhols kicked every Astros' fan in the gut with that 3-run bomb. But, this team isn't like most teams. They put it all together when it mattered most and have gone where no Texas baseball team has ever been before.

So, whoever you are, if you're from Texas, tip your hat to the 'stros. You don't have to like them or cheer for them. But, give them their due. They've finally won a National League Pennant and can win the World Series.

That's One Bad Ass

I recently received an e-mail that was a little hard to believe. Supposedly a mule fought off a mountain lion that had bested two hound dogs and endangering the lives of his owners. Unbelievable, right? You may have noticed in a pasture full of cattle, horses, sheep, goats, whatever, somewhere in the mix, a lone donkey will be out there just minding his own business. Why would a donkey be out there? The old timers say "because donkeys kill wolves" and apparently whatever else. I've just taken their word for it, until I saw this story. I've listed it below and included the photos at the end. From what I can tell, these photos do not appear to have been doctored.

Here's the story:

A couple from Montana were out riding on the range, he with his rifle and she (fortunately) with her camera. Their dogs always followed them, but on this occasion a Mountain Lion decided that he wanted to stalk the dogs (you'll see the dogs in the background watching). Very, very bad decision...

The hunter got off the mule with his rifle and decided to shoot in the air to scare away the lion, but before he could get off a shot the lion charged in and decided he wanted a piece of those dogs. With that, the mule took off and decided he wanted a piece of that lion. That's when all hell broke loose... for the lion.

As the lion approached the dogs the mule snatched him up by the tail and started whirling him around. Banging its head on the ground on every pass. Then he dropped it, stomped on it and held it to the ground by the throat. The mule then got down on his knees and bit the thing all over a couple of dozen times to make sure it was dead, than whipped it into the air again, walked back over to the couple (that were stunned in silence) and stood there ready to continue his ride... as if nothing had just happened.

Now, here's the photos:

There it is. If the pics are fakes, I'll be glad to appologize. But, right now, I'm thinking it might not be a bad idea to get a donkey to keep in my back yard. It might make a better watchdog than my dog, Otis.

Bigfoot Lives?

Does Bigfoot really exist? I'm sure everyone has got their own story. Mine is one my oldest nephew told me when we were boys (we're 18 months apart). He said his grandpa saw Bigfoot walking along the treeline in the back part of their property. He didn't have a camera with him. Otherwise, there might be conclusive proof that Bigfoot is for real.

Recently, the Bigfoot believers convened for their annual conference in Jefferson, Texas comparing notes and "artifacts" to sway those who are slow to believe to come around with them. They share molds of footprints - which is the most predominant item available - as well as stories of where the footprints came from.

As for those footprints, there are almost as many justifications and explanations debunking them as there are those defending them. In 1958, a construction worker in California, first coined the term Bigfoot and gained front page news status for the story. It was later discovered that he had constructed wooden feet and went to great lengths planting the footprints to get his 15 seconds of fame. Perhaps if it weren't for such stories and if these "experts" could present real artifacts, like fur or something more substantial, there might be more believers.

So, for now, keep an eye out when you're in the woods. If the world is waiting to finally discover Bigfoot, he might be watching from just inside the trees. Make sure you take a camera with you, just in case he's there.

37 Years Young

Yesterday I officially became one year older.

I've finally reached the point where birthdays aren't a big deal anymore. We usually celebrate the occasion as a family (this year, we've gone to San Antonio to be with my wife's family) which usually means a big meal at the restaurant of my choice (tonight it was "Bobby J's" in Helotes, TX). I've definitely gotten to the place where I don't anticipate getting any older. As birthdays go, after passing the age threshholds of 30 and 35, the age of 37 is just another number. 40 still lies ahead.

I now understand what octegenarians have told me about how the body ages and the mind somehow stays the same. I still think like I did in my twenties. However, after returning to the softball diamond only a few weeks ago - after a 15-year hiatus - I have been repeatedly reminded of just how old I am. In four separate weeks on the diamond, I somehow found a way to pull or strain a different muscle. The latest injury was a pretty nasty hamstring pull that occurred while advancing from 1st to 3rd base. I'm still getting over that one.

Actually I've noticed that professional athletes that are my age are talking of retiring or have already done so. I'm sure these athletes have faced nagging injuries for years and now the affects of age make them more difficult to overcome. There are exceptions, to be sure. For instance, I watched Roger Clemens, the 43 year-old phenom, do it again just today. Somehow the living baseball legend managed to win another crucial game like so many others throughout his career. However, just across the field, Larry Walker, the 1997 MVP of Major League Baseball, continued his struggle through a season-long neck injury. He's 38 years-old and talking about retirement. Suddenly 38 doesn't look as old as it used to. As I recall, Roger Staubach was 38 years old when he hung up his cleats. So was Joe Montana. Michael Jordan was 35. I guess I'm in pretty good company.

I suppose it would be possible to play softball if I could remember to act my age during the course of a game. Like I mentioned before, the brain still thinks like it did in the old days. The body, on the other hand, seldom responds in kind. For instance, in the last game, the following scenarios presented themselves:

1. A hard ground ball is hit in my direction while playing first base.
"Slide to the right to get that ground ball!" I start moving, but the feet don't move like I want them to. I end up tripping and falling; allowing the ball to pass through the infield and somehow scraping my knee and elbow in the process. "How did you do that?" my daughter asks. I don't bother to explain.

2. I swing at the first pitch and hit the ball on the ground in the infield.
" Run it out!!!" I take off and feel that familiar sharp pain in the back of one or both of my legs.

3. I catch a deep fly ball. The runner at 3rd base is tagging up and running home.
"Come up firing and nail him at the plate." I take the steps and rear back. Suddenly I hear a faint voice in my head that says "Joel, this is going to hurt - BAD!" I let it go and it feels as if my hand is still holding on the ball and they are flying together toward the plate.

There were days when faced with such situations that my body could effectively respond to those mental impulses and was able to do the things I wanted to do. But, those days are no longer today. If I were a pro athlete, I would be contemplating giving it up, if I hadn't already. Pro athletes play for money. If they get hurt, they still get paid. I play for fun, or at least I'm supposed to. If I get hurt, playing is no longer fun.

Such are the considerations of guys my age. I'm 37, as of 7:14 PM yesterday.

Whew, that was close...

I'm sure for everyone who watched the situation with Hurricane Rita unfold on television, it likely appeared that everything in the southeast part of Texas was a complete mess. As one who survived the hype and subsequent turmoil, I can only agree. It was a mess.

Our home is just a few blocks away from the I-45 corridor and to see such a happening at our doorstep was pretty doggone scary! I probably should have taken some notes to log how I was feeling at this point, what I was thinking at that point, whatever. It would have made an incredible blog (from my perspective anyway). Of course, the fact that I, along with some 2.5 million evacuees, were not actually in harm's way would take a lot of steam out of such a story. That's the trouble with responding to such hurricane warnings. Mother Nature always has the final say and noone in their right mind can ever truly predict where such a storm will run aground. But, after seeing what transpired hardly 4 weeks before in Louisiana, anyone would have been foolish to wait around to see if the storm might turn.

Still, after spending $100 on plywood to cover the windows at my house, fighting the evacuee traffic to get to work, spending 1 1/2 days without electricity and dealing with the uncertainty following Rita, I've come away with a few lessons of my own.

First of all, planning is vital. There are people who are good at it and folks in charge need to find those people and give them a job planning for rainy days like this. A good planner would have foreseen people getting stuck in traffic and running out of gas along an evacuation route. That kind of thing happens in movies, for crying out loud. If something like this happens again and people run out of gas, get stranded, etc. there will be a lot of people demanding answers. So, while we're waiting for the next storm, someone needs to hire one of those "planning" types and put them to work preparing for the next "big one."

Fear can make a bad situation worse. The last thing people need is a reason to panic. Some folks don't even need a reason. It didn't help that Rita was right on the heels of Katrina. After watching non-stop coverage of the Katrina aftermath, people had been primed to respond to Rita. "Get outta Dodge!" If people are given a reason a reason to panic, strange things will follow in short order, which leads me to my next lesson.

The biggest tragedy of the evacuation had to be that despite what planning went on, people did what they wanted to. For instance, the evacuation schedule. There were folks who had been given mandatory evacuation orders, considered in harm's way in Galveston and all points from there to Houston, who were stranded on roadways as the storm made its final approach. Why? People in points north of them were already on the roads out of town. In the end, people did just what they wanted to. It's a good thing the storm turned when it did and didn't catch any unfortunate souls still on the roadways.

It's a collossal understatement to say that a crisis will bring the worst out in people. It's the stress, right? Any reasonable person can only take so much. Still, some are able to take more than others. But, what can be said about people who take out their frustrations on whoever or whatever might be in front of them? Heresay is abundant, but many eyewitnesses said a lot of the same things. People were acting like animals. Urinating and deficating in public places, intimidating and verbally abusing innocent people who were just "in the way." I guess a crisis will not only bring out the worst in people but will unearth the worst OF people. I have to say it looked that way along the I-45 corridor.

Everyone stuck on the road a few weeks ago was hot and tired. Most of them needed help of some kind and hopefully they received it in some form or another. Many were grateful for whatever they could get. Many wanted more and were disappointed that they didn't get this or that. Some were ungrateful and took their frustrations out on those who tried to help. Some saw it as an excuse to behave like animals. For me, it comes back to one's perspective. How does a person view their circumstances? Was this a crisis or an opportunity? Many saw it as a crisis and responded in kind. Fortunately, many saw this a an opportunity and both grateful and ungrateful alike were better for it.

Day 1 in the New World

My first day at Sam Houston State was quite remarkable. It all started with NOT having to fight commuter traffic going to Houston. I have been fighting southbound traffic on I-45 for almost 8 years. For once I'm going in the opposite direction. That in and of itself is reason to be excited.

When I arrived at the office, I had to start meeting everyone, making rounds and making my way around campus. It turns out that a current employee at "Sam" is going to be my counterpart in my new job. She and I will be responsible for 60 student-employees between us. Quite a task for two first-time managers. However, both Kayla - my counterpart - and I have been assured that we will receive appropriate training to make sure we are prepared for our job. Pretty cool, I must say.

Probably the most interesting event of the day came when I was trying to set up my employee computer account. Sam uses a SQL database that contains old mainframe data from years back. Whenever my name was entered to perform a query (HR was supposed to have entered my user info), information over 18 years old was pulled up. I had forgotten, but during the summer between my Jr/Sr year of high school - 1986 if anyone might ask - I took the SAT and ACT had selected Sam as one of my school interests. Even though I had forgotten Sam, Sam had not forgotten me. Since HR had not entered my info, so I had to wait another day to get my new user account. No biggie. Still, it was funny to have seen the info contained in my prospective student file. I don't remember my entrance exam scores being quite that bad. Sometimes the memory fails us - for good and bad reasons. I think my memory had done me a favor. I'm glad that noone had accessed this particular information BEFORE I got hired. The outcome could have been quite different.

As for the rest of my first day, I really think I"m going to like this new job as well as the people I work with. It's hard to believe that I am working in the capacity that I am at this particular institution. I've been pinching myself since I realized that I had been hired. Who says we shouldn't expect anything more?

God truly does work in mysterious ways. Sometimes He pulls off stuff that amazes us all.

Moving On

Today is a strange day. It marks the last day with my current employer, Stewart Title of Houston. Tomorrow is my first day with Sam Houston State University, in Huntsville, Texas. It's quite odd how it all worked out.

In mid July, I applied for a position at "Sam" in the Computer Services Dept. I've always wanted to work in an educational environment. I'm not exactly sure why. I suppose that just the fact that so much learning is going on I stand a good chance to learn a thing or two. Anyway, I had an interview with two of the supervisors in the department that was frankly, a disaster. I left pretty dejected. What was I to do now? I had been unemployed for 4 months by this time. I NEEDED to get a job.

When I got home, I received a call from a staffing company in Houston. They had a job they wanted to discuss with me. I jumped in the car and drove across the world to their office (from where I live, their office might as well be half-way around the world). The next morning I had an interview with the man that will be my boss until the end of the day. In this interview, everything I had done wrong the day before simply disappeared. No gaffes, sticking my foot in my mouth or saying something ill-advised. I was given a personality test and had a background check run on me.

Somehow I cleared those hurdles and got hired. I was driving further than I ever had for a job, but I had to pay the bills. Such is life. But, it was worth the drive. Stewart is a good company. My boss is actually a GOOD boss (just in case he might read this) and my co-workers - great to work with. I was a happy man. I haven't had a job I enjoyed for nearly 4 years. This was great.

Then, about 3 weeks ago, I received an e-mail that suprised me. One of the folks I had interviewed with at Sam wrote and asked if I would be interested in meeting a few more people. What could it hurt? I explained that I would have to meet after normal working hours. I wasn't about to ask off early and lie to my boss. She asked me to name a time. I did and braved torrential Texas summertime rain to get there. This time things were different, she made introductions, explained what the job entailed and how much it would pay. That was it. I was told that HR would contact me within a week - if I was the successful candidate. I knew about that. They told me that the last time. So, I left, feeling pretty good. Afterall, they called me.

A few days later, I got another e-mail from the same person. "Have you heard from HR yet?" My response was "No. Should I expect them to contact me?" Her reply was "yes." HR did contact me later that week, offered me the job, which would pay $5K more than what I was already making. Add to it that I would now be driving AWAY from Houston each morning instead of toward it. No more snarling traffic! All that was left was talking with my boss at Stewart.

That was two weeks ago. Today, I'm looking at the shortest tenure I've ever had on a job and can't believe my prospects before me. I have to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming. I'll post updates here.

It's been an adventure. I now have a motto: Enjoy the Ride!

Out Today...

Today marks the release of supergroup Switchfoot's 5th studio album "Nothing is Sound." The band has absolutely nothing to with East Texas except that I and my family absolutely adore the band. I still find it remarkable that I discovered their music in a sort of back-handed way.

I was looking for a CD by a band called "Pushstart Wagon" at a local CD Warehouse. I was told they sounded a lot like another band I was following at the time called "Plankeye."I wasn't really clear on the name of the band and when I saw Switchfoot's "The Legend of Chin" in the bargain bin, I thought I had found what I was looking for. Instead, I discovered what sounded like mid-90's college rock with a unique jazz influence. Really mature music for a young 3-piece band. We liked them so much, my wife and I drove to Dallas to see them at the Bronco Bowl with Third Day and All-Star United. Switchfoot was the opening band and we happened to be on the front row.

Now, some 8 years later, they've grown beyond their college rock sound to cutting edge modern rock. The Beautiful Letdown was a mult-platinum release and their songs "Meant to Live, Dare You To Move and This is Your Life" have been in commercials, movies and TV spots across the country and around the world. I've seen the band on the David Letterman Show, twice at the Cornerstone Festival and tonight they're going to be on the Conan O'Brien Show. They are easily my youngest daughter's favorite band. They are good role models for teens and young adults. What they have as a band is unique in rock-n-roll. You don't have to fit the stereotype of promoting sex, drugs and whatever else to make it. They've proven it.

So, tonight I'll be sitting up waiting for their spot on Conan. If you've not heard the new single "Stars," it might be worth sitting up late tonight, too.

Pitchin' in...

I talked to my Mother last Thursday. She was on her way from the Community Center in Malakoff, Texas - the town where I grew up. She had just finished her "shift" at the local make-shift shelter for Katrina evacuees. My mom is 76 years old and shows no sign of slowing down - at least she doesn't let on to any family anyway. She's a retired RN and apparently they needed medical staff at the town's shelter. She told me that she has been asked repeatedly to volunteer each day. She doesn't feel like she can come in that often, but she's trying to be available as much as possible.

It turns out that small communities all over Texas are doing the same. This was in the Dallas Morning News today about various efforts around the state. I'm a firm believer that it's important to help out one's neighbors - if for NO other reason - that one day that person might need some help of his own. Marvin Olasky has a great article about people who have been offering just what they have to help Katrina victims. It's not about how much is given but just that something is given. It's nice to see that courtesy and compassion are still alive and well.

Let folks say what they want about Texas and Texans. We've got big hearts and we like to wear them on our sleeves. God bless Texas and Texans!

Mystery Worshipper

It's amazing what can be found when you're bored, you have lots of time on your hands and a computer with a broadband internet connection. I've been afforded these luxuries recently, due to a job transition. (I'm in a lame duck period at my current employer. I gave my two-weeks notice last week and have the remainder of this week and four days next week to serve here before starting my new job next Friday.)

In my surfing, I revisited a site called Ship of Fools, the Magazine of Christian Unrest. It's a site full of parody, satire and humor directly related to church and church tradition. Of course the name of the site comes from one of my all-time favorite bands, the Grateful Dead, which is known for their own bit of wit and humor. If you're a little cynical about what you see in the church world and Christianity today, the Ship of Fools might be just what you need to take the edge off your experience.

One of the coolest sections of the website is found at the Mystery Worship link. It is a running archive of several people who attend various churches incognito. Of particular interest to me and this blog is the account of the mystery worshipper attending the First Baptist Church in Athens, Texas, which is in the heart of my old "stomping grounds." There also is an account of attending Christ Church in Nacogdoches. But, I think my favorite of all the accounts has to be the account of attending the Cowboy Church in Rosanky, Texas where the mystery worshipper identifies himself as being from East Texas. How cool is that?

So, when you have time, pay a visit to the Ship of Fools site and have a look around at where the mystery worshipper has been. Who knows, he might even be sitting next to you at your church this Sunday! So, be nice...

Getting Involved

Ever since the tragedy in New Orleans was making itself known, my wife, Danelle, and I, were concerned about friends and family we knew in New Orleans as well as Louisiana and Mississippi that were likely affected by the storm. We also wanted to get involved in some way, make a donation, volunteer - just do something - to lend a hand. We got our opportunity last Friday night.

My mother and father-in-law had gotten word that two of Danelle's cousins, Danielle and Michelle Latia and Michelle's son Blair were on buses out of New Orleans to Houston. At some point along the way their bus was re-routed, due to spreading word that the Houston Astrodome had reached its capacity. They had landed in Leesville, Louisiana and were staying at a Red Cross shelter at the local First Baptist Church. My inlaws live in San Antonio and were distraught at the thought of what might have happened to their kin and contacted Danelle and I about making the trip to get them. So, we set out from Conroe and drove through some beautiful East Texas scenery to Louisiana.

The trip was about 2 hours one-way. When we arrived at the shelter, we were met by friendly volunteers, plenty of food, water and other refreshments. There were a few refugees besides the cousins. We were told a couple of busloads were still on their way. We asked if there was anything we could do to assist the volunteers, but they in turn asked us if we needed assistance. It was nice to find out that the cousins had landed in such a good place.

We loaded up the Knoxmobile and headed back to Houston to Grandma Lillie's house. On the way, we heard of the conditions that the cousins had faced on their journey west. We're thankful for the opportunity to have helped out. Most of the time we think lending a hand or providing assistance is a really big thing. Gotta give lots of money or make some heroic effort to do something for someone else. We didn't get to do very much. All I did was drive and my wife kept me awake. After having the weekend to sleep off the trip, it feels good to have gotten to take part in helping folks in need. I wouldn't mind doing it again.

Crisis or Opportunity

Hurricane Katrina poses to be one of the most significant events of the 21st Century, right along with 9/11 and the Iraqi Conflict. Economists are speculating that the economy has begun to feel the affects of an event that could impact the entire global economy. On a personal level, this event has touched the lives of thousands who have been left with no home to go to. Just yesterday, a friend who works in the downtown Houston area talked about seeing entire families walking the streets, which isn't a normal, every day sight. If you happen to be looking for a hotel room anywhere within the Houston area, you're likely to find no vacancy.

Over night, thousands who rode out the storm in the Lousiana Superdome began arriving to stay in the Houston Astrodome. Hundreds have been turned away. Still, many more are on the way. The Astrodome has been reserved through December in anticipation of a slow rebuilding process.

In the midst of such a tragedy there are those who take advantage of the situation, while others try to help. Facing the aftermath brings with it pitfalls and opportunities for each of us. How will we respond as individuals? As a nation? It remains to be seen. On thing is for certain, however...we all have a long way to go.

Have You Been Moved?

Over the past 72 hours we've all likely seen a lot of footage and heard lots of information about the tragedy associated with Hurricane Katrina. It's hard to believe that so much pain and suffering could exist so close to home (New Orleans used to be a 5 hour drive from the Houston area).

I saw on CNN an interview with a man who recounted how he lost his wife in rising waters. From what I could understand, the roof they were standing on to get out of the water suddenly split apart causing his wife to fall in. He reached for her and was trying to pull her out but could not. The house was literally coming apart around them. His wife told him to get their children and grandchildren out and save himself. He escaped with 3 children and the clothes on his back. The reporter seems to be in tears. You can see it along with other footage and stories here.

The issue of pain and suffering is not new to the human race. We each have faced some sort of pain and or suffering in the course of our lives. In times like these, questions like "where is God in this?" or "how could God allow this?" seem endless. I know I can't answer such questions. I'm barely able to grapple with them myself. My brother-in-law Aaron has a blog of his own and he's been knocking that subject around. He has some good things to say that might make some sense of what is going on in front of our eyes. Click here to read Aaron's blog.

My intent however isn't to discuss the matter of pain. There's a lot more writers out there who frame the argument quite nicely. I like to think I'm well acquainted with pain. I know I will most likely live with a limp, a bad shoulder and neck problems for the rest of my life. It's small potatoes to what some folks endure. Take the folks from New Orleans. How can anyone get past that?

Instead, I'm concerned about how we, who have watched this event unfold from a distance, have been impacted. Have we been moved by what we've seen? Is this human tragedy little more than reality TV that we watch along with our evening meal? Do we feel compassion in the face of such grief and loss? I've been asking myself as I've scoured the internet for the latest update on the aftermath of the storm. Covering this story has been a shot in the arm for cable and TV news stations. Is this just another story or TV show? Or does this hit us in the chest and cause a lump to form in our throats?

It should. It could have been us who suddenly lost everything and is now at the mercy of the elements. It could have been us, fighting to survive and being forced to steal. Please understand, I'm not advocating looting or those who have been participating in it. Stealing is wrong on several different moral levels. But, what would we do in the face of hunger, pestilence and despair? Notice that most of these folks weren't stealing "valuables." They were going after essentials: food, water, clothing. What else is left?

So I ask, in the face of the horror that is the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, have you been moved by what you've seen? Does it grip your heart when you see a child crying because his grandmother was lost to "storm surge?" Do you offer a prayer for those who tell their harrowing stories of how they survived "the perfect storm" and don't know what they will do next? We haven't begun to know the extent of damage or how much has been lost. We're going to have to fight apathy and lethargy and be moved by this tragedy. Afterall, wouldn't we want someone else to do the same for us?

Time Marches On

Last week was an important milestone in the Knox family. All three of the Knox children started public school. Big deal you might say. Read on...

7- 1/2 years ago, my wife and I picked up everything we owned and moved our family to the big city of Spring, Texas. When we arrived, we had been contemplating teaching our children at home. My wife had been an early childhood education major in college and was a year from graduation when we started our family. She had taught in the day school in our town before we moved and even had our son in her class. She had done research on home schooling and felt it was something she would like to try with our children. The motivation wasn't to seclude or insulate our children from the world. My wife just wanted to be able to spend time with our kids in their early, developmental years. In the fall of that same year, we started our experiment with our oldest, Christopher. He was 5 years old.

Now, 7-1/2 years later, we sensed the winds of change and after a lot of prayer and consideration, we enrolled our children in the Conroe School District. For the first time in their lives, our children would be spending the day away from us and each other. Each would be attending different schools in different parts of town. We were very concerned about how the children would adapt to the social climate as well as the structure and schedule. We were also concerned about the kids having to ride the bus to school. Each child would be riding different buses. How would our kids adjust to the double whammy of attending public school AND riding the bus?

After a week and a half, despite our misgivings and conerns, I'm pleased to report that our transition seems to have been a success.

Christopher, our oldest, started 7th grade and went out for football. He's 5' 9" and 220 lbs. and appears to have made the B team squad. He has practice at 7AM every day. He would prefer not to have to get up so early, but is enjoying Jr. Hi at the moment. He really likes football, too. His first game is September 6. Chris enjoys his Texas History class.

Jessica, our oldest daughter, started 5th grade at the newest school facility in town. Her primary teacher is a first year teacher and Jessica likes her. Jessica decided that she would like to be in the school band and wants to play the trumpet. Her grandfather and I both played the trumpet in school bands and we're letting her pick which of our horns she wants to play. She hasn't decided which class she likes best. She's just having fun.

Anna, our youngest, started 3rd grade. She is the most out-going of our children and loves the opportunity to make new friends. Interestingly enough, 60 or 70% of Anna's class is hispanic. She's hoping to learn spanish along with other things this year. Her favorite class is PE.

Our goal when we started teaching our kids at home was to make sure - above everything else - that we raised decent people. At this stage, we feel we've been successful in that enterprise. If the last week and a half is any indication, it looks like they're going to be just fine.

Update - Good News for Wrecks

Wrecks Bell wins a partial decision over Starbucks on the day the Acoustic Cafe reopens. Wrecks closed the bar indefinitely when his wife Leanne passed away in June.

David vs. Goliath

I suppose everyone has heard the story. A little guy takes on a real big one and wins. It has served as inspiration for little guys everywhere to stand up for what they believe in. Sometimes the little guy gets the stuffing beaten out of them. But, every so often the little guy might get lucky, or get some help - like David did.

The reason I bring this up is something I saw mentioned on the Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe's web site (see sidebar for link). I mentioned in my previous blog the name Starbock. It is the name of Wrecks Bell's own brew, which is said to be a combination of Shiner Bock and Lone Star beers, thus the name Starbock. I don't know Wrecks' motivation in naming his beer, but it drew the attention of Starbucks Coffee which led to a pretty big lawsuit - at least by small business standards. There's been no decision in the case at this point, but it seems that court opinion is in Wrecks' favor.

It sure would be nice to see little David send Goliath back to the northwest with a black eye. Hang in there, Wrecks.

Local Music

The past 5 years has been a sort of renaissance for me. That's what I'll call it anyway. Other folks may think something else. One area that has been directly affected has been the music I listen to. Most of my life, I've tried to avoid country/bluegrass music and embrace pop/rock styles including some of the more progressive and extreme expressions.

In the past handfull of years however something changed. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think it started when I first visited Wrecks Bell's musical wonderland the Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe (see the link in the sidebar) in Galveston, Texas. I've told the story hundreds of times. My wife and I visited thinking it was a coffee house. We couldn't have been more wrong. It was a plain old Texas bar. All they served was beer and screw-cap wine, served from the refrigerator in the back room (which has since moved behind the bar). I quickly found out that the Acoustic Cafe is not about the drinks. It's about the music. Wrecks' motto is "lyrics count." One visit and you'll understand.

Despite my suprise (until then, I had only been in a couple other bars in my life) I came to love the place. It may not look like much - outside or inside - but it's easily my favorite place on earth. I discovered Townes Van Zandt, Lucky Boyd, Sweet Mama Cotton and others there in the Old Quarter. It wasn't just country music, in the sense that someone was singing a song with an exaggerated twang. The folks wrote and played real songs expressing who they were. It made quite an impression on me. I knew music was in my blood, but I realized that this music was in my veins. That's when my renaissance began.

Since that time, I've discovered other artists much like the ones at the Old Quarter. One group of note is the Sidehill Gougers. Some of the nicest, most talented people you'll ever meet. Another is Hayes Carll. Hayes is a local boy - that is from Montgomery County, where I currently live. One of the better known artists I've discovered is Jimmy LaFave (see his link in the sidebar). Jimmy hails from Wills Point, Texas, a former tri-county rival of my home town. Jimmy has written some of the most beautiful ballads ever put to music. He is definitely one of Texas' best kept secrets.

Speaking of secrets, Wrecks is another to mention. Wrecks traveled with both Townes Van Zandt, mentioned above, and Texas blues legend Lightnin' Hopkins. I hear that he's written a few songs over the years. His favorite ones are those written by his good friend, Townes. Occasionally he will treat the crowd to his own pickin' and grinnin'. He's no slouch. It brings to mind an old saying in Texas bars. It goes like this: "When you're on stage, shut up and play. The guy who owns the bar can play better than you. If you can't shut up, he won't just show you up, he'll kick your ass." Wrecks isn't as young as he used to be, but I'm sure he can hold his own.

So, if you're ever in Galveston, see if you can find the Old Quarter. It's just off the historic Strand. Stop in and have a Starbock and soak up the atmosphere. There's no place like it on earth.