Last night was a night my daughter has been waiting anxiously for - the new American Girl movie, Felicity : An American Girl Adventure. She loves all things American Girl. She saved up last year and bought her first American Girl doll. And so we settled in last night after dinner to watch the movie on WB.

Felicity Merriman is an adventurous young girl living in the late 18th century, prior to the Revolutionary War, and part of the storyline involves Felicity’s love of a particular wild horse that she wants to tame, whose owner is an angry and quite mean old tanner named Jiggy Nye. He treats the horse horribly, as well as other people, including Felicity and her friend. Later, when her father asks to buy the horse from the man (after Felicity was found riding him without permission), the old man tells him no and to keep his daughter away from his horse, or he will kill the horse. He was aware of her love for the horse, so he clearly said this in order to cause her great pain - and, of course, was successful.

Later on in the movie, while going with her father to visit a friend’s father in prison, Felicity notices that Jiggy Nye is the man’s cell mate. On their way home, she has the following discussion with her father:

Felicity: Father, the man in the cell with Mr. Cole… it was Jiggy Nye.

Mr. Merriman: So that’s what became of him. I can’t say that I’m surprised.

Felicity: He looks so helpless and old, like no one in the whole world cares for him. Isn’t that sad?

Mr. Merriman: You feel pity for Jiggy Nye? I would think that you would hate that man. I was there when he screamed unspeakable things at you and threatened to kill your beloved [horse] Penny.

Felicity: But if I am filled with hate because of him, then I am no better than he is, am I?

Shortly after this, we see Felicity returning to the prison and requesting to see Mr. Nye. She enters his cell, places a basket of food and a blanket next to him, telling him she’s brought him something to eat and something to keep him warm. She turns and leaves as the bewildered man sits in his cell, speechless, probably wondering why she would do something so kind for someone who’d treated her with such unkindness.

When I watched that scene, two passages came to mind:

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:43-48 (NIV)

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 25:37-40 (NIV)

Movies, regardless of the subject matter, often seem to provide opportunities to reflect on spiritual matters. Since this scene ended with a commercial break, I took those few minutes to talk to my daughter about it, and how Jesus talked about this very thing, with these verses in mind. I also had a chance to reflect on it myself and consider how I could do a better job not just talking to my daughter about it during movies, but showing it to her in my own life, and providing opportunities for her to do the same.

You have to expect a happy ending in a movie like this, and in the end, Jiggy Nye, now out of prison, comes to Felicity’s aid and helps deliver the baby of the horse (which is now hers) around Christmas time. Her father comes along shortly thereafter and is surprised to see him there, inquiring what brought him there. Jiggy Nye then tells her father how his daughter has taught him a great lesson in kindness. Because of his daughter’s actions towards him, he was a changed man.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

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The Christmas Prophet

Check out this post on Wade Hodges’ blog. Definitely worth reading as Christmas in America rapidly approaches. What is foremost in your mind this season?

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Duke managed to knock off Memphis in a close game for the NIT title tonight. I still worry a little about their offense, which seems to be out of sync at times. However, with such a mix of old and young players, it’s going to take them a while. Paulus looked great playing the point tonight, and Shelden had a monster game. It didn’t help to have DeMarcus Nelson, their most athletic player, out of the game with an injury against a very athletic Memphis team. Hopefully, Nelson won’t be out too long. With games against Indiana, Penn, Texas and Bucknell coming up (not to mention the ACC schedule), they’ll need all of their starters. Overall, I’m pleased with the way they played and the way the freshmen appear to be coming along. But I must ask - has anyone seen Lee Melchionni’s shot lately?

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Arkansas-LSU

Arkansas managed to come through with a big game against LSU today. Even though they lost by 2, most expected a blowout in Baton Rouge. They nearly sent Auburn to the SEC championship game, which is what would have happened had LSU lost. Instead, LSU goes and Auburn stays home. So, I guess something good came out of the loss.

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In 1986, I bought a cassette tape that would, in a way, change my life. Maybe that’s an overstatement, but it at least changed my music library, which is a big part of my life. I went to The Bible House bookstore in Searcy, Arkansas, during my sophomore year in college, and purchased the tape Back To The Street by a band called Petra.

I was new to the “Contemporary Christian Music” scene, this being only my second purchase (my first being The Big Picture by Michael W. Smith). Of course, “CCM” was nothing like it is today, or even like it would become in just a few more years. It has grown by leaps and bounds in both quality and popularity. But if you look at popular rock bands of the present day who’ve started (or still remain) in the CCM world - Audio Adrenaline, Third Day, Switchfoot, Kutless, Pillar, and many others - Petra is the one considered by most as having “started it all.” They were the pioneers who made bands like these possible.

I wore out my copy of Back To The Street, then wore out a copy of Captured In Time and Space, a live album recorded prior to …Street. The following year, This Means War! was released and I was officially a die-hard Petra fan. In the years to come, I would get the opportunity to see them live 4 times, starting in March of 1990 and the final time in August of 1992.

The classic Petra lineup for me - and the one I saw live 4 times - was the one of the late 80’s and early 90’s. John Schiltt (vocals), Bob Hartman (guitar), Ronnie Cates (bass), John Lawry (keyboards) and Louie Weaver (drums). That group of guys will always be Petra to me, even though I also have always loved Greg X. Volz’s voice as well on the early stuff.

Since the early 90’s, their music’s popularity has faded, as newer (and much younger) bands have come along and taken over as the most popular CCM rock bands for periods of time. And they’ve not had any newer discs that reached the popularity of Beyond Belief (1990) or Unseen Power (1991). But they have continued to have a few gems here and there, including some pretty good praise music. And the recent Jekyll and Hyde disc a couple of years ago was their best since 1991.

Earlier this year, it was announced by founder Bob Hartman that the band would officially retire. They would be recording a live album (and DVD) to be released in late 2005 (early 2006 for the DVD). It would be titled Farewell and would contain performances not only by the current lineup, but include past members as well (which included John Lawry and Greg X. Volz).

It was released yesterday and it is really outstanding. Not necessarily in quality, but to get the opportunity to hear them live again brings back a lot of great memories. I still remember “He Came, He Saw, He Conquered” and “Mine Field” from a concert in Jackson, MS, and the the Beyond Belief tour in Nashville, TN, with “I Am On The Rock” opening up one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen. And I’ll always remember “It Is Finished” in Hot Springs, AR, the last time I saw them.

As is always the case when a favorite band or artist retires and ceases to make new music, it makes me a little sad. But at the same time, there comes a time when you have to leave the stage, and Petra’s time has come. They will stop doing what they’ve done for 33 years, but I’m certainly glad they did it for that long and that I could be a part of it.

Here’s the track list:

All About Who You Know Dance Amazing Grace Test Of Time Creed Right Place Rock Medley: Sight Unseen/It Is Finished/Think Twice/I Am On The Rock/Midnight Oil/Mine Field/This Means War/It Is Finished (reprise) Jekyll & Hyde

Acoustic Set: Rose Colored Stained Glass Windows/Road To Zion/More Power To Ya/For Annie/No Doubt/The Coloring Song/Love (featuring Greg X Volz) Grave Robber Keyboard Solo (featuring John Lawry) Beyond Belief Guitar Solo (featuring Bob Hartman) He Came, He Saw, He Conquered

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Just days after the 1-year anniversary of it’s opening, I made my first visit to the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library today. It was not under the ideal of circumstances - namely, with the kids. My wife’s family was in town and wanted to go. So everyone loaded up and went over to the east side (like the Jefferson’s). We didn’t spend as much time there as one should, because children quickly become bored in such a place. But we just wanted to get an idea of what it was like. We hope to go back soon “child-free”.

It’s a pretty fascinating place. I’ve never been to a presidential library before, but I enjoyed the hour and and a half I spent there, and look forward to returning. There was so much to look at, but several things stood out and drew my interest in my relatively quick walk-through.

Letters
There were many personal letters to and from President Clinton on display. Some a little more formal, some a little less. It was interesting reading through some of those.

Daily Schedules
It was fascinating to look at the daily schedules of the President. You could do so on touch-screens for any day of his presidency. It’s really amazing what they do every day.

State Gifts
These were pretty neat. Various gifts given by foreign leaders and other people. Some cool looking swords and daggers, which were my favorites.

Oval Office
The “exact replica” of the Oval Office was neat, but I’ve got to say it seemed smaller than I would have imagined. It always looks bigger in TV shows and movies. Martin Sheen seems to have a lot more space than President Clinton did.

Childhood items
Various things from his childhood, including badges from cub scouts, school report cards and yearbooks, other photographs and at least one picture he’d drawn as a child.

Information!
So much information. So much to watch and read. That’s why I want to go back - to look at and absorb more of these type of things.

So, it was a relatively quick visit (and at times distracting with children who were far less interested), but I look forward to returning.

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Michigan StateIn basketball news, so much for Michigan State. While they won this afternoon, The Sporting News’ preseason #1 lost by 22 to Hawaii. Yes, Hawaii. Hopefully it had something to do with the long trip. That’s pretty bad.

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I watched the new live DVD from U2, Vertigo 2005: Live from Chicago. It is great. I’ve not seen the other live DVD’s they’ve released in recent years (or ever seen them live in person) so I don’t know how it compares, but I thought it was great. They included most of the songs I’d have wanted to hear, although there were a few I might have added to the list. These guys are just the best, though. Great music, great show, great DVD. Check it out asap. Here’s the track list:

1. City of Blinding Lights 2. Vertigo 3. Elevation 4. Cry/Electric Co. 5. An Cat Dubh/Into The Heart 6. Beautiful Day 7. New Year’s Day 8. Miracle Drug 9. Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own 10. Love and Peace or Else 11. Sunday Bloody Sunday 12. Bullet The Blue Sky

13. Running To Standstill 14. Pride In The Name Of Love 15. Where The Streets Have No Name 16. One 17. Zoo Station 18. The Fly 19. Mysterious Ways 20. All Because Of You 21. Original Of The Species 22. Yahweh 23. 40

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VolsNormally, it would be great to see Tennessee lose. Even greater to see them lose to Vanderbilt. Or, say, lose and not be bowl eligible. But to have all of these things happen at once is just beyond what I could have hoped for. No matter what else happened, it was a great weekend of college football.

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There are times from our past that make us feel ashamed. Everyone has those things that they wish the could undo. In the long list of screw-ups that I’d like to erase from my past, this one is probably not exactly at the top, relatively speaking. But, it’s one that, for some reason, has been on my mind recently. I don’t even remember why I started thinking about it, what jogged my memory and caused me to remember this. But it’s been there nevertheless.

There was a boy in my neighborhood when I was growing up who I never exactly treated the best I could have. I wasn’t mean to him all of the time. In fact, most of the time we played together quite well, I suppose. But there were times when I treated him unkindly. I didn’t even think I was at the time, but I was. He was younger than I was, and a little different than the rest of us. His family was a little different, having moved there from another part of the country. These differences were obvious to myself and other children in our neighborhood, and, being children, we often made him the object of our ridicule or the butt of our jokes. We all poked fun at each other, I suppose, but the glaring differences seemed to make it easier to direct such things towards him, and looking back, it was probably a little harsher when directed his way. Children do mean things sometimes - even good kids - but I know that behaving in such a way - if not immediately, then maybe thirty or so years later when you recall it - makes you feel remorse and regret. It just makes me sad. Sad that I behaved that way. Even more sad that he had to endure my unkindness and stupid behavior.

Now, having kids of my own, the thoughts of my shameful actions are even more painful. How do I feel when I see my daughter’s hurt feelings over something another child has done or said to her at school or at play? How would I feel if some child acted like I did thirty years ago towards my own child? Here’s how I’d feel: first, I’d feel compassion for my child. Even though I may have acted badly at times, I’ve also been on the receiving end, too. So I know both sides of the story. But, secondly, I’d be extremely angry. I would wonder why this evil child had dared to treat my beautiful daughter or son that way. What could this kid be thinking? Was he/she raised by wolves? I’d probably also question the intelligence and ability of his/her parents.

But I wasn’t raised by wolves, and my parents are great parents who tried to teach me what was right and what was wrong, and how to treat people the right way. But hearing is the easy part. Doing is harder, and I didn’t always do what I knew to be right. And when I didn’t, someone’s child suffered because of me.

Considering my own feelings as a parent in such a situation also made me think about Mary. What did Mary do that day in Jerusalem when they arrested her son, beat him, mocked him, spat on him, tortured him, and eventually, killed him? How did she contain herself? Did she react the way I would - with anger, trying to put a stop to what was happening, perhaps cursing those responsible? I doubt it. But I’m sure her pain was beyond my comprehension. There’s the pain over seeing your child distressed over a schoolyard incident, and then there’s the pain of seeing your child on a cross.

I mentioned Stuart Townend’s song “How Deep The Father’s Love” the other day. These lyrics came to mind today as I thought about this post:

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

Had Mary been reacting to “the scoffers” that day, she would have been reacting to people like me. This is what makes it more painful. Jesus said that the way we treat others is the way we’re treating him. If I’m not treating others like I would treat Jesus, then I’m not really treating Jesus like Jesus, either, am I?

Maybe this is why that memory has been brought back to the front from some remote part of my mind. Maybe I’m supposed to remember this story so that I will not forget to teach my own children the importance of treating others like Jesus. Maybe it’s because I’m failing to see Jesus in everyone I encounter today, thirty years later, and acting accordingly. What good is saying I follow Jesus if I don’t act like it?

But it’s not really about doing anyway. I said earlier hearing is the easy part, and doing is harder. But doing can be done without the heart being involved. There’s another thing even harder than doing, and ultimately more important, and that’s being. That comes from the heart. If I am going to treat others like I would treat Jesus, then it’s going to involve being - being like Jesus. In being, the doing will follow.

He may not have been Jesus, but I should have treated him like he was.

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I mentioned Tim Lundy’s message from Sunday morning. Also, along with that theme, we sang Stuart Townend’s song “In Christ Alone.” He has written a couple of my favorite songs in recent years - this one and “How Deep The Father’s Love.” I really love both of these songs. Here is an article about this song, and here are the lyrics:

In Christ Alone
Stuart Townend and Keith Getty

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:

Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!

And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

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Yesterday at Fellowship Bible Church, where we are visiting, Tim Lundy was speaking and talked about Jesus being the Alpha and the Omega. He mentioned the “ABC song” - you know, the one you sung as a child to help you learn the English alphabet. “A, B, C, D, E, F, G…H, I, J, K, LMNOP….” and so on. He started singing without the A, instead starting with B. It just didn’t flow and clearly sounded wrong. He also sang it by inserting A later in the song, and after you got to the A, everything started syncing up again like you expect.

The point was that Jesus (i.e. the Alpha, the “A”) should be first in our lives. Nothing should come before him. And when he’s not there, everything is out of sync. It’s a simple lesson, that Jesus belongs at the top of our list of life priorities. It’s easy to understand, and yet much more difficult to live.

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Duke’s season begins

Duke begins it’s season tonight with their first game against Boston U in Cameron Indoor. I’m very anxious to see the new freshmen, particularly McRoberts and Paulus. It’s on ESPN2 at 6:30pm (CST) tonight.

Also noticed this weekend that Bob Knight is only 26 wins, I believe, away from passing Dean Smith for most coaching wins. Bob should easily pass him by mid-season next year, at the latest. This is, of course, assuming he avoids getting fired before then, but I think he’ll do it. This will be great for a couple of reason - one, I like Knight and would like to see him at the top (at least until Coach K can pass him several more years down the road); and two, because Dean Smith will no longer be first. That’s something to look forward to.

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Well, not really. Are you kidding? I don’t think so. I just thought - since college basketball season has begun and I’m also in the middle of reading Blue Blood - that it was time to post my favorite UNC/Dean Smith joke. Of course, this is a joke everyone has heard, only the names and schools were probably different. But I still like it, especially when Duke/UNC are plugged in. Here it is:

Dean Smith dies and goes to heaven. At the Pearly Gates, St. Peter greets him and says, “You’ve done such a great job on earth providing futures for young men and entertaining millions of people, God has rewarded you with a house here in Heaven. I tell you this is a great honor; very few people are awared a house.”

So, Peter takes Coach Smith up a little path and brings him to this cute little one bedroom house with a North Carolina banner hanging from it. Coach Smith thanks St. Peter, but then sees this HUGE mansion up on the hill, with giant Duke banners flying from every available window. The coach says to Peter, “Peter, I don’t want to sound ungrateful, and this is a great house and everything, but why does Coach Krzyzewski get such a huge mansion?” St. Peter smiled and looked up at the mansion, “That’s not Coach Krzyzewski’s house, Dean. That’s God’s house.”

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Blue Blood

Speaking of Blue Blood, I will say this after being nearly halfway though - Chansky, a UNC alum, has written a book that has a Carolina bias to it. Not a huge one, but it’s there. He says in the intro that Bill Brill (who has written books about Duke) read it and helped him stay balanced, but maybe he didn’t give Brill the final copy. It would’ve been nice for this book to be written by a non-UNC (and non-Duke) alum that would’ve had no horse in the race. And despite his claim that he waited an additional year because the season ended in disappointment for each team in 2004 (UNC lost in the 2nd round of the NCAA’s, but Duke went to the Final Four - so one team seemed to have more disappointment than the other), I believe he may have waited because he felt UNC had a good shot to win in 2005, and therefore his book could end with the story of UNC’s title. That makes a great ending for the book…if you’re a UNC fan.

Despite his bias, and his obvious dislike of Mike Krzyzewski, the book has been a good read and provides a lot of history of both schools and the rivalry (although I do have to wonder what stories he may have left out). I look forward to finishing it (except for the very end, of course.)

And if he was so concerned about a good ending, maybe he should’ve delayed it yet another year. An ending of UNC and Duke winning the title back to back would’ve been even better…

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Feinstein’s newest

Speaking of basketball books, I just found out that John Feinstein - my favorite writer of sports books (and a Duke alum, by the way) - is due out with a new book in February called Last Dance : Behind the Scenes at the Final Four. I expect it to be excellent and look forward to it’s release.

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Yes, that’s right, the wait is over. College basketball has officially begun as of today. I found that the AP Poll has also been released and Duke is, as in most other preseason polls, a runaway #1. It’s the beginning of the greatest 5 months of the year, and hopefully, the beginning of championship season #4 for the Duke Blue Devils.

In case you haven’t seen the AP, here it is:

1. Duke (61) 2. Texas (6) 3. Connecticut 4. Michigan St. (4) 5. Villanova (1) 6. Oklahoma 7. Louisville 8. Gonzaga 9. Kentucky 10. Arizona 11. Boston College 12. Memphis

13. Stanford 14. West Virginia 15. Alabama 16. Syracuse 17. Illinois 18. Wake Forest 19. UCLA 20. Iowa 21. George Washington 22. Nevada 23. Indiana 24. Maryland 25. Iowa St.

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