Thoughts and Musings on Faith, Music, Family, Life

Still Thankful

This past week, with the Thanksgiving holiday upon us, someone reminded me of a blog post I made a year ago appropriately titled "Thankful".  I went back and took a look at it and noticed how almost all of the things I was thankful for then are things I'm still thankful for now.  I don't know if this is a sign of a guy who is continually blessed, or a guy who lives a pretty mundane life where nothing changes all that much.  Either way, I'm cool with it.

At the risk of being redundant I thought I'd revisit last year's post.  Any instances that required updating are duly noted in red.  And don't worry, I won't do this every year.  In 2010 I'll treat you to an entirely new and original Thankful post.

Happy Thanksgiving day, folks.  Here's hoping you have much to be thankful for - and, more importantly, that you take time with the ones you love to celebrate those things.

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I am thankful for coffee.  I'm drinking some right now, actually.  I wish to personally thank the individual who thought grinding up some brown beans and pouring hot water over them would taste good.  They were right.

At the moment I'm thankful for Ryan Adams.  Every time I listen to his music I hear something different I didn't pick up before, and I really like that sensation.  I like it because it stands in stark contrast to the sensation I get when I suffer through the repetitiveness of top-40 radio.  Which is something akin to eating those funnel cakes at the fair - it may taste good on the surface, but you know it's just not good for you.  Ryan Adams is kind of like the homemade ice cream - unique and worth the time and money invested.  That's also why I like Wilco, U2, Death Cab for Cutie, Nickel Creek, Radiohead, and others you don't always hear that much and who rarely get the deserved notoriety.  Which is exactly the point.

Last year it was Ryan Adams, this year it's The Avett Brothers. And Sufjan Stevens, especially his Christmas album.

I'm thankful for my boys.  I wish they could somehow know how much I love them, but I don't guess that's possible.  I'm not even sure I know how much.  Every time I look in their eyes I see my past, present and future all rolled into one, along with theirs.  It's a humbling, exhilarating feeling.

Likewise, I'm thankful for my wife.  I remember in my single days hearing folks describe their spouses as their "best friends."  I didn't get it - shouldn't you want your husband or wife to be something more than your "best friend?"  Now, having been married for just over nine years, I get it.  And I'm so glad that I happen to be married to my best friend.

Ten years.

I'm thankful for my parents, my brother, and extended family.  My life has taken all kinds of twists and turns in my 40 years, and it's humbling to know they've been there with me through it all.

Umm........41.

I'm thankful for the church I serve.  Unfortunately, this realization sometimes comes when I'm in conversation with clergy friends and hear their nightmarish situations.  And then I see that I really have it good.  It's a church that wants to go where the spirit leads; a church that genuinely cares for each other, and a church that puts up with (and even supports) my music and teaching ventures.  Most of all, it's a church that lets me be a real person, and that perhaps is the greatest gift they could ever give.

As if I needed any more reasons, my thankfulness for the church has increased ten-fold with their approval of a sabbatical for me next summer.  More on the sabbatical to come...

I'm thankful for the guys I've had the pleasure of making music with - Ken, Jerry, Les, Gary, David and others.  Acoustic Blend is entering its ninth year of existence, and Ken and I never tire of it.  And I'm more than content with being a so-so Mediocre Bad Guy, playing with some of the finest musicians Mount Airy has to offer.

I'm thankful for modern-day prophets like Shane Claiborne, Jim Wallis with Sojourners, Brian McLaren, David Beckmann with Bread for the World, Marcus Borg and many others who hit dummies like me over the head with the agonizingly simple message of the gospel.

I'm thankful for blogging.  I'd been trying for years to find a journaling outlet, but I never could bring myself to don a spiral-ring notebook and pen.  I'm too much of a keyboard guy.  Then I stumbled upon blogging, and that's pretty much been it (oh, and I'm thankful to you for reading it!)

I'm not blogging as much as I used to - it comes and goes in waves. That's okay, I still get a lot out of it.  And still thankful to you for reading!

I'm thankful for things like Facebook and Twitter.  Call me a geek, but they really are wonderful ways to stay connected with folks all over the place.  Where else can I catch up with that girl who lived down the block from me as a kid, and the friend who happens to be moderator of the denomination I serve in, and my old college professor?  The world really isn't as big as we make it out to be sometimes.

I'm thankful for wireless internet.  Free wireless internet specifically.

I'm thankful for the students in my college classes.  For actually showing up, for one thing, at 8:00 in the morning.  And then listening to me lecture for a solid hour.  They ask questions that keep me on my toes, which is exactly what I need.  And they're a lot of fun to be around too.

I'm still thankful for my students, but unfortunately it's no longer in a traditional classroom setting, as all my classes have been moved online. Not my preferred method of teaching, but we make it work.

I'm thankful for our next president.  I know I wanted Jesus, but I'm happy to settle for Obama.  I really do think he's going to bring the change our country so desperately needs.

I still think that.

I'm thankful for a good workout.  These days my goal is three miles jogging and one mile swimming, 2-3 times a week.  It wipes me out, and it's not taking as much off the waistline as it used to, but it still leaves me with a good feeling afterwards.

Something new I'm doing these days - treading water for 30-45 minutes, with weights.  I know it doesn't sound exciting, but it's one heckuva workout.  I've shed some pounds.

I'm thankful that God has never let me stand in the pulpit on Sunday morning with nothing to say.  This is the stuff of nightmares for us ministers, my friends.  I'm not kidding.

I'm thankful for football.  I live vicariously through the guys I watch on TV or read about in the newspaper or Sports Illustrated.  There's something fascinating about the orchestration that goes on between eleven players, all aimed at moving a piece of pigskin down the field; and another eleven orchestrated to stop them.

I'm thankful for that feeling when I drop the Eldest off in the car line at school in the mornings. The teacher opens the door, and I watch him gather his bookbag and any other stuff he's got.  We give each other a high-five.  Every time I tell him I love him and that I'm proud of him.  And I never, ever tire of watching him step out and walk through the school doors and into his big wide world in there.

So we're not doing the car line this year.  Our youngest is in the Pre-K program at the school and we're required to personally take him to his class.  Which means I actually get to take both boys to their classes.  I love this more than the car line. I get to hug 'em as they walk into their room and begin a day in their never-ending, lightning-fast quest that is growing up. 

I thought long and hard about something I could say to them every day, some words of wisdom to impart.  I guess I remember my mom telling me about what her father, a high school principal, used to always say to her and her two sisters: "Apply yourself."  It took a few weeks, but I finally found mine: "Learn stuff."  I like it.  More importantly, they do too.

The Real "Glee"

So I watched Glee for the first time the other night.  Afterwards I was informed by people who'd know that it wasn't the best episode and probably not a good one to start with. I imagine they're right.  But still - and with all apologies to my "Gleek" friends out there - I'm just not feeling it.  That's okay, though, because you thought I was nuts for getting into Battlestar Galactica, didn't you?  So we're even.

I imagine that a big part of my ambivalence has to do with the fact that I was actually in our school's Glee club.  And in the same way that football players couldn't get into Friday Night Lights or I never found much reason to read the At Home in Mitford series (about a small-town pastor), it's hard to get excited about a fictional situation that bears a striking resemblance to your real life.  You're already "living it," you see, so what's the point?

We actually called ours a "show choir," which I think sounds better than "glee club."  Think of it as a solid choral ensemble meeting Dancing With The Stars.  We worked equally hard to perfect our four-part vocal arrangements as we did the dancing/choreography.  Trust me, it's a lot harder than it sounds.  And it was a big deal in our school, with around 200 kids in three or four ensembles.  "Carolina Spirit" was the top group and involved a significant time commitment.  It was also a pretty well-traveled group.  I'm not talking about the annual appearance at the local mall, either.  Every year we participated in a regional event in Harrisonburg, VA.  There was also a trip to Pasadena, CA my junior year (including a performance at Disneyland), and another one to Chicago my senior year - both national competitions, both in which we placed in the top three.  

All of which looked nothing like what folks see Wednesday nights on Fox.  There was weight training involved - important when the guys were lifting girls in the air and swinging them around (they tend to prefer that you not drop them).  I already mentioned the hours and hours of rehearsals - not just with vocals but with choreography, down to standing in front of a huge mirror to make sure that thirty-some people have their movements perfectly synched.  And unlike the current TV show (at least the little I've seen of it), there was actually harmony with the jocks, and we had some members of the gridiron in our fold.  So there were no purple slushies.

Here, see for yourself - a video of Carolina Spirit doing their thing a few years after my time (okay, more than a few :)

(note: if you're subscribing to this blog via email the video may not show up - so check it out here).

I realize open talk about this sort of thing typically invites some level of ridicule, especially toward the guys.  Go ahead if you must - it's nothing I haven't heard before.  Chuckle at the sequins and stage makeup, at the dancing and the white shoes.  To which I say a heartfelt, "Whatever."  The fact is that I wouldn't trade this time in my life for anything.  I made some of the best friends in my life, many of whom I keep in touch with to this day.  Thanks to this experience the stage is a second home to me rather than a source of anxiety - something that comes in handy doing the music thing these days.  I'm quite at ease in front of groups, which means I'm pretty comfortable behind the pulpit on Sunday mornings (but sorry FPCMA folks - no jazz hands).  And the vocal techniques I acquired in all those years of training have proved invaluable in keeping my singing voice going strong.

So watch "Glee" if that's your thing - I may tune in from time to time.  But forgive me if I don't jump on the bandwagon.  The real thing is a whole lot better.

PS - I know there are a lot of show choir folks out there, including some "Carolina Spirit alum," and I'd love for you to share your stories in the blog comments below.  What are some of your memories?  How has your show choir experience translated to things you do in your adult life?  Let's hear 'em!

What $1 Billion can - and can't - buy you in the NFL

It's Monday night in September and my wife is off with a friend of hers at the Rob Thomas concert.  Which means I'm not at band practice - a standard Monday evening ritual - but at home with the boys, who are now (supposedly) asleep in bed.  The TV is on and I'm watching my beloved Carolina Panthers taking on the Dallas Cowboys in that time-honored tradition known as Monday Night Football.  The game has a lot of intrigue - the Panthers are 0-2 and have not done much to instill confidence in their fan base so far this season.  The Cowboys seem slightly better but they, too, have an erratic quarterback and suspect defense.  Suffice to say it should be an interesting matchup.

That being the case, what is almost just as intriguing as the game itself is the field the game is being played on - the field and the millions of tons of concrete and steel hanging over it.  The New Dallas Cowboys Stadium is a sporting venue unlike any other - and that's not just a figure of speech.  It's been getting so much attention that Matt Lauer and Al Roker broadcast part of The Today Show from it a few weeks ago (no doubt promoting NBC's Sunday Night football game a few days later).

(Sweet, the Panther's defense held on the Cowboy's first possession and they missed a field goal.  My apologies for the occasional game interruption).

By now you've probably heard some of the facts and statistics surrounding this behemoth, which was introduced on opening night with a short video montage that showed the Parthenon, the Pyramids, the Taj Mahal, the Roman Coliseum....and finally the Cowboys Stadium.  Nothing like setting the bar high!  Anyway, here are just a few to chew on:

• The interior of the stadium is 3 million square feet.
• Seating capacity is well over 100,000, making opening night the largest crowd to ever see an NFL game in person.
• The storied jumbo hi-def screen hanging over the field is 60 yards long, the largest of it's kind in the world.  It also has been a source of frustration for some punters.
• The interior of the stadium is so vast that the entire Ford Field, the indoor football stadium for the NFL Detroit Lions built just a few years ago, could actually fit inside it.
• In addition to the jumbo screen, there are over 3000 other screens in the luxury suites, concourses and restaurants.  Know that one concession stand at your local high school stadium?  There are hundreds of them here, along with dozens of food courts.
• The roof is retractable and can be opened and closed as the weather permits.  In addition, each end of the stadium is a huge sliding door that can be opened to let in air flow.  However, both doors must be opened at the same time or the air pressure could blow out the opposite door.
• Leases for the luxury suites range between $100,000-500,000 - and that's only for Cowboy games, not third-party events. They've got ten home games this season, including preseason games. Do the math.
• A 20-inch pepperoni pizza sells for $60 and parking goes for $75.  I think I read somewhere that a beer was $9 (which, all things considered, is pretty reasonable).
• Want to just go and hang out in the concourse areas with your friends without seeing any of the actual game?  You can, for a mere $29.  Seriously.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.  Every fact about this stadium is worth acknowledging.

(Hmm, first Panther possession was nothing to get excited about. Would've liked a little more "umph" out of the initial drive, guys.)

So time for full disclosure here: I do not like the Cowboys.  I was raised by my Dad to follow the Washington Redskins, which meant I could only hold the supposed "America's Team" with disdain and scorn.  I once met someone who swore they were both a Cowboys and Redskins fan.  I told them they needed to have their head checked. I will admit to Troy Aikman being a class act and I thought it was cool when Emmitt Smith won the original "Dancing With The Stars."  Other than that, though, there's not much I find more unappealing in the football world than that blue star on the silver helmet.  Even so, I'd like to think my uncomfortableness with this stadium has nothing to do with the team that's playing in it.

(Dang, Jake's eleventh interception in four games, dating back to the debacle in last year's playoff game.)    

I love me some football, I really do.  I suffer mightily every February as the last few seconds of the Super Bowl wind down and our world enters the 4-5 month purgatory known as baseball season.  I watch preseason games even though they don't mean a bloomin' thing (last year's winless Detroit Lions, as an example, went 4-0 in the preseason).  I know these guys get paid way too much money and there's simply no way to justify a drafted rookie haggling over whether his signing bonus should be $10 million or $12 million.  Still, I can't help myself.  I eat it all up, much to the chagrin of my betrothed.

But really - a $1 billion stadium?  Sure it's an architecture marvel and the huge TV screen is impressive.  But is it necessary?  Word is that it came with a price tag of well over $1 billion - that's with a "B" folks. And if you're in the greater Dallas area you going to feel about $325 million of that.  That's not chump change. It doesn't help matters that the instigator behind this is a narcissistic owner who unceremoniously fired a class act of a coach upon his arrival (Tom Landry) and then years later ditched his most successful coach because he'd proven not to be a simple "yes man" (Jimmy Johnson). It's hard to root for a guy like that.

But most importantly - does a stadium like this really enhance the overall experience?  When you get right down to it, everything boils down to one common denominator: the game on the field.  And despite all the bells and whistles surrounding it, the only thing that really matters is the two teams suiting up in helmets and pads, blocking, running, passing, tackling, trying with all their might to get a foot-long leather orb into the gridiron Holy Land known as the end zone.  That's why this game is a work of art whether you're watching it in a fancy NFL stadium or freezing on those horrid aluminum bleachers on a Friday night cheering for your local high school team.

(YEAH!  Touchdown, Rosario!  Nice snag!  Panthers up 7-0!)

All I can say is that I'd hate to be Tony Romo or Wade Phillips.  You don't build the Roman Coliseum of the 21st century to house a .500 football team. Talk about pressure.

Glad it's them and not me.  I'll go back to watching the game on my old tube TV from the comforts of my 13-year old recliner while munching on my $2 bag of pretzels.  It's good enough for me.

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POSTSCRIPT: Panthers lose 21-7, Delhomme throws another interception and a fumble. An ugly finish in any stadium.....

Play like a Champion - Today and Always! (Guest blog)

(As I mentioned in my last post, Byron Wade is our guest blogger.  You can find out more about him here, but suffice to know that Byron is currently Vice-Moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and was a classmate of mine in graduate school.  Thanks, Byron, for sharing your thoughts here.  You da man!)

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One of the most significant athletic events of my life happened 16 years ago. It was my first semester at Presbyterian School of Christian Education (PSCE) in Richmond, VA and I was on the school’s intramural flag football team which was appropriately named the “Fighting Squirrels.” All of the theological schools in the Richmond Theological Consortium had teams – Baptist Theological School of Richmond (BTSR), School of Theology at Virginia Union (STVU) and three teams from Union Theological Seminary (now Union Presbyterian Seminary). The history of PSCE’s intramural team was pretty sad and to anyone’s knowledge they had never won the Calvin Bowl, which is the championship game. Our team was a ragtag crew but had some good athletes and our goal was to make the Calvin Bowl. We only had one loss during the regular season and that was to Union’s top team who spanked us pretty good. However we regrouped and made it to the Calvin Bowl where we met them again and this time we won! I remember that people were SO happy to see us win and we were proud of ourselves for that great accomplishment. No longer would we be look at as “that school across the Brook” (Brook Avenue separated PSCE and Union’s campus).

The 1993 PSCE “Fighting Squirrels”
CALVIN BOWN CHAMPS!

(That's me on the first row, far right.  Steve is next to me.  A crosseyed John Calvin looms overhead in approval)

Since that time many years have gone past and we still keep in touch and/or see each other from time to time and when we do, we always reminisce about being the Calvin Bowl Champions!

They say that participation in sports makes one better equipped to handle life’s challenges. All of are now a little older and are “weekend warriors” at best. Instead of football, we have other areas in life which presents challenges – work, family, etc. And those are much more difficult than the game we played all those years ago. However I do believe that our past experiences being champions helps us to cope with difficult situations and life’s challenges. We learn that through difficult times we can stick together when things are not going well. We can rely on God’s Holy Spirit to help when we feel that we cannot handle things on our own. We learn that when we do our best, God will do the rest. And we learn that if we were successful once we can do it again. I have learned much from that victory on that will help me the rest of my life.

As you reflect back on your own life – whether you were a champion or not - I hope that you will continue to “Play Like A Champion – Today and Always.” For if you do your best, things will work out.

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Editor's note: The year after Byron left, our PSCE football team had t-shirts made up; something for the fans to wear, you see.  The pic to the right is the back of the shirt (and yes, the squirrel looks suspiciously like Disney's "Chip & Dale" character).   The scripture citation from Leviticus was most appropriate - however, we did leave off the second half of the verse, for obvious reasons: ".... and they shall bereave you of your children and destroy your livestock; they shall make you few in number, and your roads shall be deserted."  Because, you know, that would've been way too much to put on the back of a t-shirt. ;-)

Introducing tomorrow's guest blogger - a.k.a., "The Man"

Normally I wouldn't do a full blog post to introduce a guest blogger.  But with my good friend Byron Wade, currently Vice Moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA), I couldn't resist.  So many good memories....

These days Byron is pastoring in Raleigh NC and spending some time traveling our country in the name of all things Presbyterian.  Along with Bruce Reyes-Chow, PC(USA) Moderator, the two represent a remarkable turn in our denomination to younger leadership.  Since our church is inextricably interconnected, there is great truth to the expression, "Being Presbyterian means never really having to say goodbye." I've had the pleasure of knowing, to various extents, most of this new leadership.  We're in good hands.

Bryon and I spent a year together at the Presbyterian School of Christian Education, which was later federated with Union Theological Seminary, which soon will be changing its name to Union Presbyterian Seminary.  Progress, one hopes.  Back then, PSCE was a two-year graduate school that specialized in preparing those wishing to enter Christian Education or Youth ministry.  Byron was there for a year's study in the midst of his M.Div work; I was entering as a first-year student. 

The two years I spent at PSCE were some of the best of my life, and it pains me to know that others will not have that kind of experience.  I made the best circle of friends I've ever had; and even though we keep in touch loosely in the midst of busy church work and family, I still consider them my closest colleagues.   I had the pleasure of studying alongside some of the best professors - like the late Isabel Rogers, whose student affectionately called "Dr. Izzie" (herself a former moderator, pictured to the right).  She and the rest of the faculty impacted a generation of educators in ways they'll never know.

From the moment I met Byron I knew we'd be good friends.  Byron has a fun-loving, friendly personality; and his smile and laugh are infectious.  I can't remember exactly when it started, but at some point one of us said to the other, You da man!  To which the other responded, No, you da man!  This went back and forth for the whole year - in fact, we're still carrying it on today via phone calls, Facebook messages, Tweets, you name it.  I keep on trying to convince him that being the vice-moderator of a denomination has him most deserving of the title; he, in turn, keeps suggesting otherwise.

Byron was also part of what turned out to be my greatest moment of sports glory, but I'll let him tell that story.  Suffice it has something to do with football, graduate school and albino squirrels.  They do exist, you know - white as a sheet.  Here's an actual picture to prove it:

See, told ya.

Anyway, all of this is a very long-winded way of saying that Byron will be a guest blogger on Thoughts & Musings, more than likely tomorrow.  And a heads-up to FPC Mount Airy folks - Byron will be with us in worship on Worldwide Communion Sunday, October 4th, so make sure you're there.

Feel free to subscribe to Byron's Vice-Moderator blog here, even if you're not lucky enough to be Presbyterian.  Byron has a lot of great insight into matters of the church and faith.  He's also a great guy and I'm grateful to count him as a good friend. 

I'm also grateful to say, without reservation that he is indeed THE MAN. That's it, Byron, sorry.  End of discussion. :-)

25 Things

I'm a big Facebook fan.  I like the comment a friend of mine wrote on the "wall" of a mutual friend who recently joined Facebook - something like, Welcome to Facebook.  Now prepare for your day to be, in essence, one hour shorter.  True, how true.

If you're on Facebook you're probably familiar with the "25 Things About Me" craze that's making its way around.  The general gist is this - you post a "note" on your Facebook profile with 25 random things about you, and "tag" 25 other people to do the same thing.  I've been tagged a number of times but have resisted.  And then, after the cajoling of one of our church youth, I decided to play along.  And much to my surprise I found it to be a fun little exercise. 

So I thought I'd share these 25 things with the blogosphere - here they are. Whether you're on Facebook or not, consider doing the same thing.  I think you'll find it kind of cool.

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25 THINGS

1 - I'm not sure why I'm doing this. I'm also not sure why you're reading this, but thanks.
2 - Other than a couple of years in graduate school, I've lived all 40 years of my life in the Old North State.
3 - Oh, I did live in Hiroshima, Japan for four months in the fall of 1990, teaching English and learning enough Japanese to freak out Japanese people who didn't think I knew Japanese.
4- I have a younger brother, Brad, who is taller than me. But then again, a lot of people are. And I'm cool with that.
5 - I'm a fan of free wireless internet.
6 - I don't know that my two boys will ever be able to know how much I love them.
7 - I'm into reading Paste Magazine these days. It's got lots of great stuff about music, film, books. You should read it too.
8 - My wife has to be the most patient person on the planet to put up with me. And I love her lots for it. And for many other reasons too.
9 - I play music - solo, with Acoustic Blend, and a band called the Mediocre Bad Guys. It adds balance to my life.
10 - One time at a gig we were advertised as "Acoustic Bland." Seriously. Hardly anyone showed. Wonder why.
11 - I think I'm addicted to multitasking. I need to stop that.
12 - I was bitten by a shark when I was twelve. I started a Facebook group for people bitten by sharks, and so far only one other dude has joined besides me.
13 - I'm pastor of a church in Mount Airy and am truly blessed to work with such great members and great staff. It thrills me that they truly are seeking God's mission & vision.
14 - I love yardwork - it's my form of therapy. Cheaper than the real thing, and I can listen to my ipod while I do it.
15 - My family has three dogs.....waitaminute, it's four. At least for the moment. And two cats. And a hamster.
16 - I cried my eyes out when I saw "Marley and Me" with the family. My soft spot.
17 - I always dreamed of playing football as.....get this....a punter. Who dreams of being a punter?
18 - I was in Beijing, China with a Wake Forest group when the Tiananmen Square massacre happened.  We got out about an hour before the airport closed for a week.  Close call.
19 - My grandfather (Dad's dad) died when he fell off Mt. LeConte while hiking. I wrote a song about it.
20 - Speaking of which, I've put out two Cds of original music, but the last one was last century. Still waiting for the songwriting muse to come back around.
21 - A new routine I've taken on is getting up early on weekday mornings, before everyone else, having a bowl of cereal and reading the paper in silence. Aaaah.
22 - I feel at peace the most when I'm in the mountains or at the beach. Montreat and standing on the beach gazing into the horizon are my sanctuaries.
23 - I really don't have many major regrets, or complaints, about my life thus far.
24 - I think that sermons are a three-way conversation between a pastor, the congregation, and God. I like it when all three are communicating well together.
25 - I live by grace, each moment of every day. And I'm still learning exactly what that means. The joy of the journey.

To Fire or Not to Fire - that is the question

Two sports blog posts in a row - who would've thunk?

In a college football January full of bowls, bowls, bowls and (yet again) dispute about who's number one (I kind of like undefeated Utah, actually) comes this story about a fired football coach.  This, of course, is nothing new - coaches have been getting kicked to the curb as long as teams have been hiring them.  Certainly the advent of big-time college athletics has put even more pressure on athletic directors and the coaches the bring aboard to produce winning teams yesterday.

But the circumstances surrounding Boston College's dismissal of head coach Jeff Jagodzinski are unique indeed.  It has nothing to do with a subpar season - the Eagles actually finished the year with almost ten wins and lost a close bowl game.  Nor did the coach commit some egregious recruiting violation that put the school in danger of some kind of probation.

Nope.  Jagodzinski lost his job because he interviewed for another job.

A little history is in order.  JJ, as he'll now be referred to (hard last name to type) took the top position at BC in 2007 after a stint as offensive coordinator for the NFL Green Bay Packers.  JJ did a pretty good job in his first two years - 11-3 in 2007 and 9-5 this past season.  Things were looking strong for Eagles football.

Then came the head football coach openings that are part and parcel this time of year.  One particular one intrigued JJ - the NFL New York Jets job, where a certain quarterback named Brett Favre now plays (who used to play for the Packers when JJ was there).  The BC coach decided to interview for the opening - not accept a job, just interview. 

And that is when BC Athletics Director Gene DeFilippo pulled an ESPN Lee Corso move and essentially told his football coach, "Not so fast, my friend."  He laid down the ultimatum - you interview for the job and you will be fired.

Wow.  That's "fired" as in terminated, dismissed, no longer the football coach.  And not for a poor season or a recruiting violation, but for the simple act of flying to another city and meeting with another football guy to talk about their need for a head coach. 

I guess there are two perspectives one can have on this.  Perspective #1 says, Hey, this guy has an obligation to Boston College.  It's called a contract, and he signed one to be their head football coach for five years.  That was in 2007 - do the math.  Schools don't go firing their coaches just because there are some others out there they may want to consider (well, it doesn't happen as much as it could).  Likewise, JJ shouldn't be looking for a better opportunity, at least not until after 2011.  And if he chooses to disregard that obligation to his place of employment, then the school has no choice but to end it's obligation to him.  Besides, they've entrusted a lot to him, beginning with an annual salary most people would kill for.

Then there's Perspective #2.  This one says, Listen, sports teams fire their coaches on a whim these days - so coaches have to be extra protective of their careers and think proactively.  If this is a good opportunity for him, who can fault him for at least looking into it?  Besides, reality check - all he's doing is just going to an interview.  This isn't some conspiracy against his current club.  There's no guarantee he'd even get a call-back.  People interview for new jobs all the time in the business world and aren't let go from their current place of employment.  How is this any different?  And finally - it's great that the school wants to take a stand and all, but the guy has guided their club to a 20-8 record in two years.  You really want to kick him to the curb so quickly?

It's not just a sports story, friends.  It's an ethical dilemma!

It appears that the AD has, in fact, followed through on his threat and fired JJ, as of this afternoon.  So now we have a college team looking for it's third head football coach in three years, an NFL club that may or may not hire his latest interview (I wonder if they feel some kind of obligation to him, given what he sacrificed for just an interview - probably not...) and a football coach out of a job with no guarantee of another one.

But still, it makes you think.  I'd be curious to know what your take on it is.  Which side do you tend to lean toward - Perspective 1 or 2?  Or can you see both sides of the coin?  Comment away!

Granite Bears are real - and State Champs, too

I've made it clear in previous blogs that I'm a big football fan.  It's great watching a group of guys come together and take the team concept to new levels.  As a proud Wake Forest grad I enthusiastically cheer for the Demon Deacons on Saturdays in the fall.  Sunday afternoons after church I rush home to turn on the TV and see how my Carolina Panthers are doing.  My Deacs are bowl-bound, and the Panthers are sitting at 10-3 on the season and, hopefully, on the verge of the playoffs.

But I must confess that my true football excitement this fall has revolved around a group of 30 high school guys who, every Friday night, have donned the helmet for Mount Airy High School.  The "Granite Bears," they are called - a nod to the huge granite quarry in our city, supposedly the largest open-face granite quarry in the world.  In recent years the school has fielded some pretty competitive football teams, but this year topped the cake.  Mount Airy went undefeated for the season - 16-0 - and yesterday in Raleigh at Carter-Finley Stadium (where NC State plays) won the 1-A State Championship game, beating Williamston 37-14.

Just about the entire town of Mount Airy made the trip down I-40 to see the game yesterday afternoon.  Alas, I had two music gigs and couldn't make it. I turned on the radio to listen to the game while driving from one gig to another and caught the entire fourth quarter.  It was great to hear the faithful cheering loudly as the game ended.  I smiled and imagined myself there.

Now - it's quite an accomplishment to win a state football championship, but let's face it - every year five teams from North Carolina earn that title (we have five divisions).  There are fifty states in this great country of ours, so that means literally hundreds of teams every year win a state football championship.  But there are many reasons why this team is such a special one, and why my football-loving self has come to claim it as my own.

First, the Bears went undefeated on the way to the championship.  And not only did they not lose a game, but they never trailed in a game (until yesterday).  They also won by huge margins with scores like 55-0, 63-13, and 51-7.  These are actual scores.  And before the cynic in you shows, let it be known that this was not due to running up the score.  Seriously.  The first string hardly saw any second half action the entire season.  Coach Kelly Holder routinely put in second and even third-stringers, and they still played better than the other team's first string.

Which leads to the second reason I enjoy being a Granite Bears fan - and that is that these guys are so talented.  With a team of only 30 players, most if not all of them go on both offense and defense.  This is partly out of necessity, but the fact is that they really are skilled enough to play more than one position.  Sure, there are guys like running back Michael Dobson, who had some 1600 yards rushing for the season and has verbally committed to East Carolina.  But this team is loaded with stars, many who never get heard about.  They're that good.

Ultimately, though, football is just a game.  And even the sports fanatic in me recognizes that there are more important things in life - like, for instance, being a good person.  And that's another reason why I'm a Bears fan.  These guys are good people off the field too.  Two players are church members; and one of them gave a fine sermonette for our Youth Sunday service back in November.  I also have four of them in the Old Testament college class I teach and they are some of my best students.  A few weeks ago our church hosted a pre-game meal in our fellowship hall (most of the churches in town do this), and I came away so impressed with the conduct and general disposition of the team. 

Because our town is small, and because this is the only high school in town, most everybody knows these players.  They've watched them play from Little League on up, they know their families, they sit next to them in church on Sunday.  In many ways the community itself has raised these kids; and that has fostered a strong connection between this team and the community.  All of this is to say that these players and coaches are class-acts, which gives this town even more to be proud of.

God forbid my Deacs falter in their bowl game in a few days, or my Panthers fail to make it to the Super Bowl this year.  But if either of these happens, the 2008 football season won't be for naught.  I'll have the Bears to remember - we all will.  And in a community that's been hit hard by the recession, business struggling and people losing their jobs, this is something we can all get excited about.  Congrats, guys, on a great season, and for representing your school and town so well.  This will stay with us for a while.

Thankful

It's an overused word, frankly.  And I know that.  But I can't think of a better word that captures the human emotion of gratitude and reflection for one's many blessings.  There's another overused word - blessings.  We throw that word around too casually, sometimes just because we like the sound of it. Nevertheless, this blog is about being thankful for my many blessings.

So, just a few days from the holiday, here are some of the things I'm thankful for.  It's kind of long because, well, I have a lot for which to be thankful.  If you don't want to read all of them, then try choosing five or so randomly:

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I am thankful for coffee.  I'm drinking some right now, actually.  I wish to personally thank the individual who thought grinding up some brown beans and pouring hot water over them would taste good.  They were right.

At the moment I'm thankful for Ryan Adams.  Every time I listen to his music I hear something different I didn't pick up before, and I really like that sensation.  I like it because it stands in stark contrast to the sensation I get when I suffer through the repetitiveness of top-40 radio.  Which is something akin to eating those funnel cakes at the fair - it may taste good on the surface, but you know it's just not good for you.  Ryan Adams is kind of like the homemade ice cream - unique and worth the time and money invested.  That's also why I like Wilco, U2, Death Cab for Cutie, Nickel Creek, Radiohead, and others you don't always hear that much and who rarely get the deserved notoriety.  Which is exactly the point.

I'm thankful for my boys.  I wish they could somehow know how much I love them, but I don't guess that's possible.  I'm not even sure I know how much.  Every time I look in their eyes I see my past, present and future all rolled into one, along with theirs.  It's a humbling, exhilarating feeling.

Likewise, I'm thankful for my wife.  I remember in my single days hearing folks describe their spouses as their "best friends."  I didn't get it - shouldn't you want your husband or wife to be something more than your "best friend?"  Now, having been married for just over nine years, I get it.  And I'm so glad that I happen to be married to my best friend.

I'm thankful for my parents, my brother, and extended family.  My life has taken all kinds of twists and turns in my 40 years, and it's humbling to know they've been there with me through it all.

I'm thankful for the church I serve.  Unfortunately, this realization sometimes comes when I'm in conversation with clergy friends and hear their nightmarish situations.  And then I see that I really have it good.  It's a church that wants to go where the spirit leads; a church that genuinely cares for each other, and a church that puts up with (and even supports) my music and teaching ventures.  Most of all, it's a church that lets me be a real person, and that perhaps is the greatest gift they could ever give.

I'm thankful for the guys I've had the pleasure of making music with - Ken, Jerry, Les, Gary, David and others.  Acoustic Blend is entering its ninth year of existence, and Ken and I never tire of it.  And I'm more than content with being a so-so Mediocre Bad Guy, playing with some of the finest musicians Mount Airy has to offer.

I'm thankful for modern-day prophets like Shane Claiborne, Jim Wallis with Sojourners, Brian McLaren, David Beckmann with Bread for the World, Marcus Borg and many others who hit dummies like me over the head with the agonizingly simple message of the gospel.

I'm thankful for blogging.  I'd been trying for years to find a journaling outlet, but I never could bring myself to don a spiral-ring notebook and pen.  I'm too much of a keyboard guy.  Then I stumbled upon blogging, and that's pretty much been it (oh, and I'm thankful to you for reading it!)

I'm thankful for things like Facebook and Twitter.  Call me a geek, but they really are wonderful ways to stay connected with folks all over the place.  Where else can I catch up with that girl who lived down the block from me as a kid, and the friend who happens to be moderator of the denomination I serve in, and my old college professor?  The world really isn't as big as we make it out to be sometimes.

I'm thankful for wireless internet.  Free wireless internet specifically.

I'm thankful for the students in my college classes.  For actually showing up, for one thing, at 8:00 in the morning.  And then listening to me lecture for a solid hour.  They ask questions that keep me on my toes, which is exactly what I need.  And they're a lot of fun to be around too.

I'm thankful for our next president.  I know I wanted Jesus, but I'm happy to settle for Obama.  I really do think he's going to bring the change our country so desperately needs.

I'm thankful for a good workout.  These days my goal is three miles jogging and one mile swimming, 2-3 times a week.  It wipes me out, and it's not taking as much off the waistline as it used to, but it still leaves me with a good feeling afterwards.

I'm thankful that God has never let me stand in the pulpit on Sunday morning with nothing to say.  This is the stuff of nightmares for us ministers, my friends.  I'm not kidding.

I'm thankful for football.  I live vicariously through the guys I watch on TV or read about in the newspaper or Sports Illustrated.  There's something fascinating about the orchestration that goes on between eleven players, all aimed at moving a piece of pigskin down the field; and another eleven orchestrated to stop them.

I'm thankful for that feeling when I drop the Eldest off in the car line at school in the mornings. The teacher opens the door, and I watch him gather his bookbag and any other stuff he's got.  We give each other a high-five.  Every time I tell him I love him and that I'm proud of him.  And I never, ever tire of watching him step out and walk through the school doors and into his big wide world in there.

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Indeed, I'm a thankful guy.  I hope you are too, for many reasons of your own; and I invite you to share your reasons in your comments below.  Happy Thanksgiving, folks!