Tuesdays with Morris

After Ball State’s nice run to finish last season (anyone remember that game against Michigan), I was extremely excited for this season to come. That excitement is quickly diminishing. A new stadium can only perk ones interest for a short time. Posting a few wins will be crucial to keep this fan interested.

Last night, the Cardinals were out-coached once again. I think Brady Hoke is a decent coach. I believe he has shown signs of being able to turn this program around and post a winning season. However, when Miami scored on a short run with only seconds left in the game, I found myself realizing it had happened again (anyone remember that game against Indiana)…out-coached.

The Cards were set to defend the pass…given the time on the clock, one had to realize that Miami had time to run two plays. Miami had Murphy in the game…a sure sign that a 6-7 yard gain/touchdown was a possibility on the run. Ball State appeared to be shocked by the run. Out-coached.

So, how will Ball State keep fans coming back? This is going to be a huge challenge for an incompetent athletic department. We need to figure out how to create an exciting football atmosphere. When living in the South Bend area, I was able to witness an exciting football atmosphere week after week. BSU should re-think the tailgating policies (people are out cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner at ND games). By the time Cardinal fans get their grills set up, it’s almost time for kick-off. In order to get the students back, BSU will probably have to promote a Mardi Gras like atmosphere and give free beer to anyone with a valid student ID.

It’s sad to say, but without a win on the first game of the season in a brand new stadium against a mediocre MAC team, it’s beginning to look like it will be another typical BSU football season.

This Sunday, I’m going to be dealing with a difficult passage of Scripture (Ephesians 4:17-5:21). The passage brings to light all the dark issues that so many of us struggle with…all of those “impurities” that stain us. The idea of dealing with the various issues that separate us from God and one another isn’t to make us feel bad about our sinful state and nature. Instead, the idea is to help us be honest with ourselves and come clean…turning from our old, sinful ways and to be made new.

The passage calls us to “put off falsehood” and to become honest. We’re called to deal with our anger. We’re told to no longer steal (if that’s something you do) and instead to fill our lives with something useful. We’re called to control our words…using them to build up and encourage, rather than to tear down and destroy. Then, we’re given this list of things to get rid of: bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, malice, sexual immorality, greed, drunkenness, and the like. Some may read this passage and say, “Well, I don’t really stumble with any of that.” My response would be, “Liar.” And, I believe Jesus said something along the lines of how we don’t necessarily have to act on things…that even our thoughts will make us guilty (see Matthew 5)

The big issue is that it tells us to get rid of any of those impurities that usher the darkness into our lives. We’re told that God’s light will expose all the hidden darkness in ourlives…that everything will be made visible. That alone should be motivation to get our act together. For me, this comes down to an issue of either choosing to be obedient and honoring God or choosing to be disobedient and dishonoring God.

For those of us struggling with issues that separate us from God and one another, we need to give an honest account of who we are and “come clean.” We need to name the issues we’re dealing with and hand them over to God and seek His help (and professional help, if needed) to get a grasp on these sins that darken our world.

I don’t want to be one of those pastors that deals with a passage of Scripture like this and presents it as a “you need to get your act together” message. Too many pastors present themselves as having it all together. There are pastors that preach sermons about various issues, giving the image that they have all the answers and have it all together, only to find out they are deep in the darkness themselves. We all need to be honest about who we are. Covering up our issues is only another way of sinking deeper into the darkness.

Sunday morning, I’ll be giving our congregation some time to name their issues…to just get them out there in order to deal with them. The first step in getting out of the darkness and into the light is giving that honest account of what it is that’s consuming us.

Today, I’m heading to the “great” Darke County Fair. This is a big happening in Emily’s hometown…people seriously “come home” to “go to the fair.” The one and only time I’ve been to this fair, we ran into several of Em’s high school friends who had taken vacation time to attend the fair every night.

Now, just so you know, I am absolutely NOT a fair kind of guy. I’m making a huge sacrifice by attending this fair.

Also, I don’t believe any kind of fair should be called “great.” Call it “big”, “smelly”, “dirty”, any thing other than “great.”

I should also add that the “Great Darke County Fair” claims to be the world’s largest county fair. There are several other county fairs that try to lay claim to this title as well. I’ll do some research and let you know when I post about what it’s actually like going to this fair.

Pray for me.

So, Saturday I had the honor of performing the wedding of two of our great friends, Brad and Jen. It was a beautiful evening for an outdoor wedding. After a week-long heat wave, a brief “cool” front moved through taking the mid-90 temps down to the lower 80’s.

The setting was beautiful…the Oakhurst Garden at Minnetrista. The families did an excellent job with the decorating and it was just a wonderful moment. Except for two things…

1. There just happened to be a dog show going on across the street. Right as Jen was walking down the aisle, the dogs woke up and began to loudly bark. I did my best to roll with it and made a quick reference to the dogs joining in the celebration.

2. The mic I was wearing kept cutting in and out. The sound guy just decided to let it keep going in and out rather than just killing it. It was quite distracting. The battery pack was not in a convenient location for me to get to, otherwise I would have turned it off. So, I would try and compensate for the dead mic, and then it would cut back in.

However, the hilarious moments really fit this couple. And, at the end of the ceremony, their marriage was official. It was a great night. Now, Emily and I are just sad because Brad and Jen moved to Columbus.

During Samantha’s morning nap, I found myself watching a program on the one Christian channel we can pick up with our rabbit ears. It definitely makes for some good, clean, humorous entertainment. The program I ended up watching made me ask the question, “Are you for real?”

The title of the program, “Becoming a Millionaire God’s Way.” The host of the program, Paula White, appeared to be a bleach-blonde, Botoxed late 40’s/early 50’s woman. She looked straight into the camera and said some of the following:

“God wants you to be a millionaire.”

“Jesus wasn’t poor.”

“No one listens to a poor man.”

“Your attitude has a lot to do with your altitude.”

“God wants you to be wealthy.”

Obviously, the program was wrapped up in the prosperity Gospel. On one hand, it was much more direct than many prosperity Gospel peddlers communicate. And, I’m sure White has tons of supporters who have helped turn her into a millionaire.

Now, here’s the catch…the program touched on some of the ways you can become a millionaire. But, for the most part, it was simply an infomercial trying to get viewers to purchase the book, “Becoming a Millionaire God’s Way” by Tom Anderson.

I agree that God wants us to prosper and succeed. However, I’m not convinced that becoming a millionaire is what God intends for every believer. There are many faithful millionaires…And there are many faithful living in poverty. Is there something wrong with my faith if I’m not a millionaire? You might get that impression from Paula White and Thomas Anderson.

I had to laugh. Yet, I also have to say a pray for the people that are being manipulated by this programming. How many will end up feeling like a failure if they don’t become a millionaire?