Grizzly Cubs' season over...

The Franklin Grizzly Cubs varsity baseball team lost in the sectional semi-final to the Southport Cardinals, 12-2 yesterday. An eight-run 5th inning sealed the deal for Southport. Franklin pitchers walked in five of those runs and another scored when a batter was hit by a pitch. Southport loaded the bases seven times in the 5th and the Grizzly Cubs just could not get the final out.

Special congratulations and best wishes to the Franklin seniors: Brad Hook, Matt Cochran and Allen Sewell. Hook, a Mr. Baseball candidate, had a home run and a scorching single through the box in his final high school game.

Our son Isaac played third base for most of the game and played well on defense.

One of the joys I had in this game was watching several of the players I used to coach and coach against at Southport Little League play in this game. Way to go, Isaac, Shawn, Chris, and Jordan!

Best of luck to Southport as they play Center Grove in the sectional final on Saturday.

Top Ten Songs, part one...

I've been trying to make a CD of the best 25 popular songs from my lifetime. What a task! I've gone back and forth a number of times and ultimately gave up on the original idea.

My criteria was going to be this:

• They have to be from my lifetime, that is, from the time that I really started listening to music (around age 10—1965 or '66).

• They have to be pop/rock songs. I have to place some limit on type of song. I'm talking about Top 40 kinds of songs, not genre-specific songs like heavy metal, or obscure FM tracks, folk music, jazz, etc.
  

• Only one per artist. (I had to do this or I might have 25 Beatles' songs!)
  

• They don't necessarily need to be my favorities; I might recognize some as great songs even though they are not my personal faves.

I may keep trying to boil things down, but for my first pass I ended up with a CD of 23 that only got me to 1971!

Here are my top ten...

10. For What It's Worth, Buffalo Springfield

9. You've Made Me So Very Happy, Blood Sweat & Tears

8. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, The Rolling Stones

7. Light My Fire, The Doors

6. I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Marvin Gaye

5. You've Got a Friend, James Taylor

4. Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys

3. Blowin' in the Wind, Bob Dylan

2. Eleanor Rigby, The Beatles

1. Bridge over Troubled Water, Simon & Garfunkel

Let me know what you think. I'd love to hear your list.

Practice makes perfect...

Austin getting in some swings in the front yard.

Updates on Genesis Blog...

Marc Chagall, "Creation" 1960

I have posted updates on the Genesis Studies blog, including edits of former posts as well as a couple of additions. If you are interested in this study, I encourage you to go back and read the early posts so that you can review the flow of my argument.

ITEM: Coach survives first T-ball game...

I'm happy to report that the Dodgers (and their coach) survived our first T-Ball game last night. In fact, it was better than that with regard to the kids. They did great! For the most part, they listened to instruction really well, stayed in their positions, hit the ball both from the T and from the coach's pitches, and seemed to have a great deal of fun.

As for the coach, well the word "survival" does apply. Picture him rushing home from work to get ready on time, then suddenly realizing as he approaches the house that he forgot to pick up his grandson for the game! No time to go get him. Can't get hold of anyone on the phone who can. Frantically making calls, and as he does, he locks his keys in the car! Picture him trying over and over again to call his wife to find the location of the spare key. Picture him tearing apart the usual places and finally finding it. Then watch as he talks to the babysitter again and she agrees to bring the grandson, except he will be late. Oh well, at least this incident won't go into the "Bad Grampas" Hall of Fame. Then watch as he pulls out only to notice that the back door is standing wide open. He runs up and shuts it and quickly drives to the field, only to realize that he forgot all his papers—the schedule, the roster, the sign-up sheet for snacks.

By the way, as you are picturing this, gently put your fingers in your ears. You don't want to hear some of the words being uttered against the chaos!

As the coach gathers his team for the pre-game talk, he asks, "Have you ever had a bad day?" and confesses his loony behavior. Confession is good for the soul. The kids are unfazed, have a great game, and Austin arrives for at least half of it.

An inauspicious debut for the coach...

Blogs update...

In the ebb and flow of blogging, I guess I'm flowing again.

I've added a blog called "Loving the Church, Questioning the Organization." I find myself with many others in our culture at the moment on the outside looking in when it comes to the organized or institutional church. The purpose of this blog is to capture insights from others who are standing with me out here, and to personally work through my own thoughts and feelings.


I will also be reviving my Genesis Studies, as I prepare to preach a series of messages on Genesis 1-11 for our church.

These texts have held a continual fascination for me since the days of seminary, when I studied Hebrew and OT under John Sailhamer. Much of what you will read here will reflect the approach (though not necessarily the details) he takes in his stimulating commentary on Genesis, his work on the Torah called The Pentateuch as Narrative, and in his specific study of Genesis 1-2, Genesis Unbound.

A word about the nature of this study...I am interested in the meaning of the text, not in its application to apologetics. Many modern studies of Genesis are undertaken in order to help Bible-believing people understand the relationship between Scripture and science. That is the realm of apologetics and it is not unimportant. However, it is secondary. My goal is different, and more foundational. I want to know what the text says and means in the context of the Bible, and what the author wanted his audience to gain from reading this text.

Hope someone finds encouragement through these efforts.

Soriano on a tear!

When we saw the Cubs in Cincinnati recently, Alfonso Soriano looked terrible at the plate. Coming off a leg injury, his timing and pitch selection was atrocious. But boy, how he has come out of it lately!

Here are this week's stats:

• A home run Monday
• A home run Tuesday
• A home run Wednesday
• Two hits Thursday
• Two home runs Friday
• A five-hit day Saturday (with two more home runs)
• A hit and an RBI sacrifice fly Sunday

I think it's safe to say he's back.

Good commentaries on Ephesians...

Peter O'Brien
Pillar New Testament Commentary

Good all-around commentary with excellent exposition.




Markus Barth
Anchor Bible Commentary

In my opinion, one of the greatest commentaries ever written. Incredible scholarship and insight.



Charles H. Talbert
Paideia Commentaries on the New Testament

A section by section study, this excellent commentary fills a need by emphasizing the "big picture" and the flow of the argument in Paul's letter.



Andrew T. Lincoln
Word Biblical Commentary

Fine, well-balanced, serious and thorough study of Paul's epistle.





Klyne Snodgrass
The NIV Application Commentary

In my view, one of the better volumes in this series. The exegesis is solid and the applications pertinent.




Tom Wright
Paul for Everyone

These handy little commentaries are fast becoming favorites of mine. Wright has a well-deserved reputation for insight and clarity, and that's exactly what you get here. Not detailed or comprehensive, but packed with nourishing nuggets.

Happy study!

Paul's Letter to the Ephesians

I just completed an Eastertide sermon series on Ephesians this morning. It's my hope that our small congregation has been blessed listening to the messages as much as I have in studying and presenting them. Here are a few of the things I learned...

• Ephesians may have been a circular letter, written to several churches in the region of Ephesus (modern-day western Turkey). Its teachings are more generalized than most of Paul's epistles; there doesn't seem to be a specific occasion or issue that he is addressing.

• The opening and closing of Ephesians are very brief. (1) Opening (1.1-2), (2) Closing (6.21-24).

• The Body of the letter is divided into two main parts. The first part (1.3-3.21) consists of prayers and extended meditations that grow out of those prayers. Instead of following the customary pattern of opening a letter and then setting forth one's business, Paul fills the early part of his epistle with a long blessing, a prayer that leads to two long meditations, a second prayer that is interrupted by an intensely personal meditation before being completed, and finally a doxology. Not only are Paul's words filled with the most profound truths, but his method of communicating them shows that true theology is never a merely academic or intellectual matter. Theology and doxology must go hand in hand. Knowing the truth must lead to devout meditation and prayer.
  

• The second part of the letter's body (4.1-6.20) is hortatory, built around the word "walk." Paul urges believers, blessed with all spiritual blessings (1.3) to "walk worthy" of their high and privileged calling. He speaks of walking in unity in the Body of Christ, using our diverse gifts to help the Body become mature (4.1-16). He speaks of walking in the way of Christ, rather than in the ways of their former, pagan manner of life, which includes walking in love and in the light (4.17-5.14). And he speaks of walking carefully, in wisdom and the fullness of the Holy Spirit, transforming their household relationships as they pursue them in Christ-centered ways (5.15-6.9).
  

• The Body of the letter concludes with what I call Paul's "pre-game pep talk" (6.10-20). In this final passage, he recapitulates themes from the earlier parts of the letter and calls his readers to "Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power" as they take what he has written and apply it to their daily lives in the world.

• The ultimate theological theme of Ephesians is found in 1.8-10, "With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth." The Gospel proclaims that God has invaded the world with his grace and salvation in Christ to overthrow the powers of evil, sin and death and inaugurate the final process of making all things right and new in him.

• Christ's coming, as one theologian put it, was like D-Day, the decisive event of WWII. When the Allied forces invaded France and gained a foothold in Europe, the tide turned and their victory was essentially secured. However, the battles continued for a year until VE-Day, when the Axis powers surrendered and the war was over. Even so, Ephesians tells us that, right now, all things are under Christ's feet (1.17-23). The decisive victory has been won, the outcome is sure. However, the battle is still on, and we continue to battle the powers in Christ's strength (6.10-20) until the final day of redemption.

• This all sounds very heady, but the reality of the battle is down-to-earth. It involves "walking" throughout our daily lives, relationships, vocations, and communities in the way of Christ.

"Peace be to the whole community, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who have an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ." (Eph 6.23-24)

Friends are friends forever...

Gail and I did a crazy thing Friday. We drove to Chicago at the last minute to see a group of our dearest friends, and then turned around and came back the same night! Because of the traffic, it took us six hours to get there, but it was worth every frustrating moment on the road.

This group of friends was together when we were all young adults, starting families and careers. We were together in a church in Waukegan, Illinois, learning to serve the Lord and function as adults in the real world. I was in seminary and also became the pastor of the congregation for awhile before we moved to Indianapolis in the early '90s.

Now one of the couples is packing up rather suddenly and moving to Cannon Beach, OR, to work in a Christian conference center there on the Pacific coast. They'll be pulling out next Sunday. Mike and Paula...Godspeed. We look forward to visiting a part of the world where we've never been before.

As for Terry and Cheryl, Jack and Sally, Paul and Lynette...we're really not that far from each other. Any of us could make it roundtrip in a day. However, at our age, I'm not sure I recommend it!

More rainy May day shots...

Except for having to miss baseball games, I love everything about these kinds of days.

Rainy May...

T-Ball practice and a bunch of games washed out today. Rain in the forecast for days to come. It's the month of May in Indianapolis.

My new favorite team

Go Dodgers!

Our T-ball team had its first practice this morning on a lovely sunny spring day here in Franklin. What a great group of kids and parents! Should be a fun season.

At the ballgame

Jesse and I trekked over to Cincinnati last night to see the Cubs play the Reds. Both teams have been in a bit of a swoon lately, and the Cubbies kept it up. Ryan Dempster, previously undefeated, pitched well, but fielding foibles led to five unearned runs early, and the Cubs couldn't come all the way back. The ninth inning was especially frustrating, as the visitors loaded the bases twice and couldn't score. Final: Reds 5, Cubs 3.

Oh well, we saw Geovany Soto and Adam Dunn hit tape-measure homers, Ken Griffey make a leaping catch of a possible Soriano home run, Felix Pie do the same with Griffey's attempt at #598, some good pitching, and a few nice plays in the field. Plus, it was a beautiful night, the food was great, and nothing's better than being with my son at the ballpark.

Why I don't watch the NBA

This is what passes for basketball now?

I realize that this has been one of the most exciting NBA seasons in recent years, with many new stars and more parity, especially in the Western Conference.

But come on, any game that includes this level of blatant thuggery is not worthy of the name "sport."

Sure you say, Marvin Williams was ejected for this flagrant foul. So what? This is assault and battery!

The NBA is gladiator spectacle, a wild chaotic circus of flying bodies and sucker punches. It's a game virtually without rules that only vaguely resembles what was once known as basketball.

Handsome guy attends prom

Our youngest son, Isaac, who is a junior at Franklin High, attended the prom with his friend Marci last week. They and a group of folks from the Jazz Band hung out together and, by all reports, had a great time!