I found myself at a friend’s funeral the other day. Not a good friend, but a friend. We weren’t childhood playmates, or high school study partners, or college roommates. We played high school football together but he was a few years younger than me and upper classman rarely pay much mind to fledging sophomores. I admired him mostly from afar, but I always admired him. A few years later when he came through rush at my collegiate fraternity, I was sure to take him under my wing. He didn’t stick with the fraternal life but I would see him from time to time and I was always greeted with respect and grace. I liked him, he was a good young man and when I heard of his tragic death I had to go and pay my respect.

As I sat there in the funeral hall feeling the weight of death come too soon, listening to the organist play “Jesus I my Cross Have Taken,” and watching the mourners take their seats, I began think of my own funeral and who may come. Had my friend listed people that might show up to his funeral I am quite sure that my name would not have made the list. I hope he enjoyed the short moments we spent together in life, but I doubt he ever knew the impact that those quiet passings had left on my life. I can’t put my finger on it, what it is was that meant so much to me, just a life that touched another life.

We may never know the mark that we will leave on people with our lives or the extent of our influence on this earth. We can’t control what might happen to us in ten years or even this afternoon. But we do know that every day the Lord puts people in our way and how we treat them is one thing we can control.

Christ Jesus our Lord was once asked what was the greatest decree of the Almighty God. He responded, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. …and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” He was asked for one decree, one most high law, one superlative; yet he gave two. It is almost as if Jesus was saying, if you want to love God, you must love others. I pray we would learn to treat each with this in mind. Realizing that with each passing word and simple conversation we honor the living God and may be leaving an eternal mark on someone we barely know.

WE'RE BACK
After nine months of silence (Time enough to have a baby) the blog world will once again be enhanced by one of its favorite blogs, theduckandthegoose. With a new staff of writers and new ideas this could be the best year of blogging yet. Stay tuned for posts.

This was written early last Spring before everyone flipped out over this book. Let's hear your thoughts on the book...
BOOK REVIEW
Comments on Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
I just finished reading Donald Miller’s Blue Like Jazz. The book was given to me several weeks ago by a very dear friend of mine. So, half because I respect her opinion, and half because the book did look interesting, I began to read it. The first few chapters were a bit slow but eventually the book did pick up I found myself really enjoying the text in many places. Jazz was very refreshing and entertaining. I feel like part of the reason for this enjoyment was the fact that this was the first book I have read outside of school in quite a while and to read under no scholastic pressure is the best kind of reading. Eventually however, I became extremely annoyed with the book. I saw Donald Miller as an annoying character in his stories and it seemed to me that he spoke with too much confidence on the topics that he addressed. In the end I began to see him as a 2005 version of John Eldridge that thought he was “cool and tough” because he smoked a pipe. Now, the book is not all bad. Miller does have some good things to say and is very talented at putting words together, but he bases truth on a few of his experiences. Truth cannot be solely based on one man’s life experiences; I am glad that Mr. Miller seems to be at peace with himself, but all of our experiences are different and God’s plans are very unique. If you have been considering reading this book do so it is a pretty quick read but approach with it with caution and be careful not to put too much water in to Miller’s narrow minded thoughts.
Blue Like Jazz – C/C-

PAPA'S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG
Let me tell you about my heroes. The first is James Brown. No, I’m not talking about James Brown the singer, although when the mood is right and “Papas Got a Brand New Bag” is playing, I can really “Shake Em Down.” No I’m talking about James Brown the vice president of a bank in Huntsville, AL, father of two, and proud owner of 7801 Fair Circle. Every morning he gets up, gives his wife a kiss good-bye, and faithfully goes to his office managing the tasks set before him with duty in his heart, skill in his hand, and a smile on his face. James Brown has never climbed Mt. Everest, he has never won a Super Bowl ring, and he has never raced the Number 20 car at Talladega. James Brown hasn’t done a lot of the things that usually make people “heroes,” but he is a hero to me. Another one of my heroes is Calvin Blevins. Now Calvin much like James has never climbed a mountain (Well not unless you count Monte Sano.) And just like James he is the father of two, and in fact owns a home just a few miles south of the Brown residence in Huntsville. And every morning he wakes up, kisses his wife goodbye, and faithfully goes off to work. And every afternoon he comes home makes sure everything in the neighborhood in check, and proudly talks with his wife about their two lovely daughters. How about my own father John Dees? He has been a pastor in Huntsville for twelve years now. He has never written a book, he has never had a web page, and if we have to be honest he has never even had an E-mail account. But everyday he wakes up kisses Sweet Nancy and faithfully ministers to his congregation; pain after pain, joy after joy, day after day. These men are my heroes. And when I think about the kind of man I want to become, they are who I think of. I read a lot of books for young men; books that are full of adventure, and mountains, and rivers, and big blue skies; books that encourage you to dream big and then leave everything behind to chase those dreams; books that encourage you to buck traditionalism and be your own man. Now these books are fun and exciting and have some great things to say about "being a man." But, these books are written by a bunch of young guys with goatees and thirty-dollar-a-week Starbucks’ bills. For me, the most important lesson that I learned about "being a man," I didn't learn in any of these books, and that is the value of faithfulness. I learned it by watching James, Calvin, and John. I have watched them understand the responsibilities and gifts God has given and faithfully stick to them. I have seen them be faithful to their job’s, their families, and their communities. You ask what the world needs? You ask what God desires from a man?…One word, faithfulness. That is the true mark of a man, and I have been so blessed to have that modeled to me every day of my life… by my heroes.

I was ten and a half. My extended family visited for the holidays and we all headed to the park for a little game of soccer. The teams: parents vs. kids. We had the speed, the finesse, we all played soccer everyday, we had the victory. Our parents had a little bit of size on us, but I knew that size didn’t matter – plus I knew that my dad was always sore the day after fierce competition so I knew they had the fear factor against them, the game was in the bag. The kids raced out of the blocks scoring quickly and letting the ol’ parents know what the outcome was going to be. They made a slight come back, but we had guts. We had guts and we left them on the field. Somehow our parents pulled out the victory, and as they celebrated in laughter, I ran. I ran and ran, crying violently. They let me run. They let me cry. But when they came to pick me up, they made me shake hands and congratulate everyone. We lost. I lost. I learned something: sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. You can’t read about losing and understand it. You can’t study it, you can’t download it, you have to compete and lose. Some sports leagues in our churches allow everyone to win, a wonderful idea. All the kids go home ‘unhurt’, but I question if any of them go home satisfied. The only analogy that comes to me is extreme, but if you take it simply as an example of a good idea that doesn’t work in this world of sin, it will do. Socialism, a wonderful thought where no one gets hurt, but in my estimation, no one is satisfied--even temporarily, definitely not ultimately. I survived the excruciating loss at ten and a half, and you know what, I think I am better for it. I have since lost in relationships, work, school… and I don’t run, at least not as far, and I don’t cry, at least not as long. I learned, I want to teach. Let’s keep score.

THE BOYS FROM THE MINNE HA AH, THANKS FOR THE GREAT SUMMER FUN!

SOME QUESTIONS TO PONDER

IF YOU WONE A ESPN AWARD WHAT SPORT WOULD IT BE IN? WHAT DID YOU DO IN THAT SPORT? WHAT AUTOMOBILE DO YOU SHOW UP IN? AND WHO IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WITH YOU?

IF KIDS WANT TO BE BETTER PARENTS THAN THEIR PARENTS WERE, WHY THEN IS THIS NOT HAPPENING?

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF HAIR?

WHY ARE WE TRYING TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO LIVE ON THE MOON WHEN WE STILL HAVE NOT INHABITIED ANTARCTICA?

WHEN YOUR PHONE RINGS WHAT NUMBER MAKES YOU THE MOST EXCITED?

WHY DO PEOPLE LIKE WATCHING SPORTS SO MUCH?

DOES A FISBEE FLY FURTHER INTO THE WIND OR WITH THE WIND?

NOTICE ANY SIMILARITIES? LET US KNOW.