The Front Porch

Media strategist, Howard Mortman, asks the nation's star newspaper reporters which blogs they frequent most.  Jeff Zeleny, of The Chicago Tribune, says that he prefers blogs that "are rooted in real reporting." In his small list of sites he enjoys, Zeleny includes my site, SCHeadlines.com.

Jeff Zeleny, I'm honored.  Thanks for being part of a wonderful www-community.

No, I'm not talking about Al Franken's LYING LIARS book (which I honestly am in, he refers to me as R.J. troughout chapter 31--don't buy the book); rather, my chapter of life fits into a context of a larger book which begins, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning (John 1:1&2)."

In EPIC's act 1, John Eldredge shows us that I'm a small chapter in a bigger book.  My 2 year old daughter often forgets (I'm sure she actually has never really considered it for the first time let alone forgetting) that my wife and I lived before she was born.  We had hobbies and stayed pretty busy without her.  However, our precious little girl thinks life is about what she wants, which is apparant by here favorite phrase, "I wan' it."  Unfortunately, much as a two year old, I forget that my life isn't the beginning and end.  I'm just one chapter among many.

John also points out that all of our chapters mingle.  I'm part of your chapter and you're part of mine.  For instance, as you read my blog, you've allowed me to be part of your chapter--thanks.  John's point is amazing; he says, "We are relational beings."  By the way, I have three lectures on this very thing (1. People need people by design--Genesis 1; 2. People need people by plan--Eph 4:11-12; 3.  People need people by command--Mat 28:19-20).  To prove his point John asks you to think of the most beautiful, exciting, and heart breaking things you've ever experienced.  How many of those experiences did not include other people?  See, you are relational.

I praise God that He has allowed my chapter to mingle with many great folks.  For instance, my Dad--our life chapters share some pretty incredible adventures.  Another example, my Mom--her chapter causes my chapter to be brave and willing to face difficult journeys.  The list can go on and on, but I will only give one more example, Uncle Bill--his hard work, expectation for excellence, and tilted sense of humor has shaped my chapter incredibly. 

I pray that as our chapters mingle--whether it be formal or informal, steady or sparse--I can play a small part in pointing you to the tremendous hope found in the Author of the great story.

WOW!!!  Yesterday was A RED LETTER DAY. 

Last year I asked Governor Mark Sanford's wife for an interview for a Mother's Day article.  Unfortunately, she was unable to do the interview, but said that she was interested in any future interviews.  This year she was able to do the interview. We had a 10 minute phone discussion about mothering. 

Mrs. Sanford's success comes from pedal to the metal hard work and sacrifice.  A quick skim of her bio tells you she is no half wit.  That doesn't mean her children get gyped off.

Look for the Mother's Day article at SCHeadlines.com in a few weeks.

My wife and I have started to watch a six part DVD series entitled, THE EPIC.  John Eldridge, author of WILD AT HEART, wrote the book EPIC and also has video sessions on the book.  I look for tools to use in family devotions, and this week we intend to go through Eldridge's series.  Each morning, Lord willing, I'll journal what I learnt from Eldridge.

The Epic begins with a question taken from THE LORD OF THE RINGS.  Setting out on a long voyage Sam speaks up to Frodo, "I wonder what sort of tale we've fallen into?"  The statement seems simple and innocent, but Eldridge reminds us that we too are in a story.

Our story begin with perfect paradise.  In time tragedy struck, suspense builds as fellowships are built, we have heros and villans, we fall in love and experience heart break, and in the end a hero prevails.

My chapter of this story is simple.  It begins with a eager farm boy from the Mid-West dreaming of success in the cattle business.  Growing up, he becomes a  teenager, looking for thrills in rodeo.  The rebel within screams loudly, commanding our story's Hero to leave.  In time, the rebel meets his match.  Conflict stirs in the beautiful scenery of the Rocky Mountains (THE WILDS).  The Hero grabs the heart of the rebel and crushes it.  With a humble spirit the young man enters the Hero's fellowship and meets one of the Hero's beautiful, daughters.  The journey at this point is exciting, I wonder what the adventure will look like today.

Today, a student asked what to do when you know somebody's son is on drugs.  My answer, "Be his friend."  You can't help some one have life victories if you're not willing to be part of his life.

What to do when you know somebody is destroying his life:

1. Encourage him:  Often he knows what he is doing is wrong and feels that help doesn't exist.  Light is at the end of the tunnle, even when you don't see it.
2. Be honest:  I hate it when a nurse takes her time giving me a shot.  I know two things about what's taking place.  First, it's good for me.  Second, it will hurt.  So my attitude is, "Let's get this thing over with."  You do no one any good by beating around the bush.
3. Dig:  Generally, a deeper problem exists--bitterness toward a parent, loss of a loved one, or even an improper view of God.  Find out what's hurting them and attack that.  Getting rid of drugs or self-mutilation will only be a temporary fix if deeper issues exist.  Drugs, for instance, is often just like spider webs. You can keep knocking them down, but until you get rid of the spider, the webs keep coming back.
4. Motivate:  Teams that win are motivated teams.  Here in the Upstate of SC, Byrne's football team boasts an unbelievable record.  They can't be beaten.  Why?  Their coach knows how to motivate them.  Not just under the lights and in front of the crowds, but in the weight room, on the track, at the practice field, and during off season.  People that aren't motivated aren't prepared.  People that aren't prepared can't be victorious.
5. Celebrate the little things:  Victories don't always come in large packages.  As a matter of fact, they typically are the smaller, often unnoticed parts of life.  Celebrating small victories helps a struggling friend gain momentum, which leads to the Ultimate Victory.
6. Point to Christ:  The truth remains - life seems vain.  However, to live in reality is to live knowing that a Creator exists, wants to commune with you, and loves you.  By pointing to Christ, you intensify the encouragement, honesty, deeper meanings, motivation, and celebration.  Christ is all.  Read Philippians (remember it was written by a man in a Roman jail).

If you know somebody in trouble, don't be afraid to be a friend.

Telling our two-year old the resurrection story was eggsiting with BENJAMIN'S BOX.  Each chapter tells part of the Passion Week and has a small object hidden in an Easter Egg.  The objects helped our little girl grasp each section of the story.  Last night, she was able to tell my wife and me what she could remember about each object.  Daddy, was very impressed.  We used the story time as our family devotions, and concluded the time by thanking Jesus for His sacrifice and prayed that our two children will begin a relationship with Him at an early age. 

After church, I hid a few eggs around the front yard.  Our little girl thought finding those eggs was pretty cool.  I told her that a special egg had been hidden, it was empty and represents the empty tomb.  She was actually pretty excited when she found an egg that was empee.

Just in case you think a two-year old can't get all this, my daughter began repeating the word obey as she lay in her bed yesterday.  Then I heard her say Not obey; sin.  I think she's getting it.  She also associates sinning with hurting Jesus.

As we celebrated the resurrection of our Savior, my wife and I were reminded of the simplicity of the gospel and passion stories.

He is risen! 

Today, South Carolina's Attorney General Henry McMaster announced that investigation into suspected price gouging found seven South Carolina gas retailers guilty.  After Hurricane Katrina, the Attorney General's office received around 1,500 complaints for over 100 gas stations.  Today's report claims that the following retailers were not able to supply justification for their increases:

• Pavan Food Stores, 502 N. Harper Street, Laurens, SC
• Pavan Food Stores, 310 East Butler Road, Mauldin, SC
• Cornerstop #58, 102 South Broad Street, Clinton, SC
• Cornerstop #57, 801 N. Harper Street, Laurens, SC
• Cornerstop #53, 700 Fleming Street, Laurens, SC
• BP Station, 1140 Church Street, Laurens, SC
• Pik-N-Go, 811 South Broad Street, Clinton, SC

[READ MORE]

FINALLY!  The first four weeks of NASCAR Fantasy league was brutal.  Four consecutive THUMPINGS.  However, the tides have changed as the last two weeks have seen my team as the fast group.

I have been running Tony Stewart and Jamie McMurray with Kevin Harvick and Chad Vickers taking turns as the alternative.  I did trade Vickers for rookie Denny Hamlin this morning, but I intend to run Harvick over Hamlin for the time being, and consider Hamlin over McMurray.

To my non-NASCAR friends, no need it replying with left turn jokes; I haven't heard any news ones in years.  Actually, the jokes are more predictable than the turns.

To think that 74% of all 6th to 12th graders have tried alcohol blows my mind away.  Fortunately, I never became one of those statistics.  I remember one time grabbing a wine-cooler.  I was the only one not drinking in a place I should have never been.

Maybe it was my friend, who admitted to be an alcoholic, sitting there with a beer in hand and shaking his head "NO."  Or maybe it was those talks from my parents on the dangers of alcohol.

This morning, I received an OP-ED from our Governor's wife--Jenny Sanford.  I decided to post the editorial on SC Headlines.  You'll enjoy her motherly candor.  Read it here.

By the way, I wouldn't mind seeing Mrs. Sanford run against Ms. Hillary Rodham C.  Hillary might out cat-fight--rrr, I mean debate--her, but Mrs. Sanford would out campaign her.

Today, I've sat in a hospital and nursing home. Having no children Uncle Bill (my great uncle) and Aunt Fern let my Dad farm with them. They treated Dad as their son, and me as their grandson. Uncle Bill and I have a special relationship. Uncle Bill lost the love of his life in 1997, when Aunt Fern passed away. Then, in 2003, my Dad died in a farming accident. This week Uncle Bill had some health problems and he's been in the hospital for several days. I left South Carolina yesterday for Richmond, IN. I've sat most of the day hearing about Uncle Bill's good old days. Lord willing, he turns 90 in May. We chatted over how things have changed and discussed some of his last wishes. I remember when Uncle Bill would toss hay bailes around and climb in and out of tractors. Today, he needs help getting situated in bed. Earlier today, I stopped by the nursing home to see Grandpa Feller. He told me how his beans weren't any bigger than 3 inches, and how the combine needs to be fixed. Neither is true, Grandpa has dimensia. I discussed the issues with him anyway. I was surprised Grandpa recognized me. At one point we held hands, he was for a moment in his right mind. All he could do was wipe tears from his eyes. My mind flashed back of delivering Duroc boars with Grandpa to Ohio and going to State Fairs. I remembered showing pigs for over 12 years, and his interest in seeing me do well. Life's cycle often seems harsh. My Grandpa Buck and Father died six months apart, both in 2003. I wonder if 2006 will bring the end to the adult men in my life. In March, my son was born. Much will happen before he turns 90. However, for the next few years, I have the responsibility to be sure that the beginning--the foundation--is right. For this reason, I will stay politically involved, I will embrase every education opportunity, I will grow in my knowledge of Christ, and cherish our time with family.

How deep the Father's love for us, how vas beyond all measure?
That He should give His only son, to make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searching loss, the Father turned His face away.
As wounds which mar the chosen One, bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross, my sin upon His shoulders.
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished.
His dying breath has brought me life; I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything: no gifts, no power, no wisdom.
But I will boast in Jesus Christ; His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?  I cannot give an answer.
But this I  know with all my heart:  His would have paid my ransom.

Listen to a preview of this moving song at Sacred Sounds.

Just before the Lord of the Rings came out, my wife set down the law.  ALL EDUCATED PEOPLE HAVE READ TOLKIEN'S MASTERPIECE.  So I had to pick it up and start reading.  Notice, I said start.  I never finished.  Later, my wife reluctantly let me watch the movies--I hadn't read them, why should I watch them.  Well, I'll have you know, just as I never finished a Lord of the Rings book, I never finished the movies either.  I keep falling a sleep.  Our tradition was to meet with some friends to watch each of the LOR--for intermission we would drink the world's largest milkshakes.  I sure loved those shakes and... well, I'm glad my friends have big fluffy pillows on a long comfy couch.
                                         
Narnia comes out today on video.  I've been told to read Lewis's children's books.  I can't.  I'm trying, but fiction just doesn't grab me.  I'd rather sit down with Paul Tripp, C.J. Mahaney, Jerry Bridges, or A.W. Tozer.  Last night, my dear wife informed me that I cannot watch Narnia until I've read the book.  O.K.  I won't.

I guess I have to give my wife my two diplomas now.  I'm no longer edjewkated.  Be that as it may, I have a beautiful wife, great kids, an awesome job, and some of the best milkshakes in the world.

Today, SC Headlines published a quiz that allows guests to evaluate which gubernatorial candidate they are most harmonious with. The quiz considers positions from Governor Mark Sanford, Dr. Oscar Lovelace, and Tommy Moore.

The quiz is extremely non-scientific, and by no means should it be a deciding factor for your vote.  Afterall, the issues are too numerous and much more complex to fully evaluate in one electronic quiz.    Nevertheless, the quiz may help you.

Each statement is based on the candidates' campaign websites, and of course are given in a much broader context than the options before you provide.  After taking the quiz besure to visit each candidate's site.  Enjoy the quiz.

Sanford
Lovelace
Moore