Tire & Weather Friday Evening

Friday night was the Bear's first regular game of the season. Our fortunes did not smile on us as the band traveled to Menard. We got as far as Santa Anna when the smaller bus with the junior and senior band girls and the cheerleaders on it developed a large bulge in the right inside back tire. So we unloaded that bus into the bigger one that was newer and the athletics students used without any problems last year.

We got about a mile outside of Brady and our right inside tire blew out. It was quite exciting and scary for those driving the suburban and the band trailer behind us. Mr. Camacho, our superintendent, knows the band director in Mason. He called him and he said that he would get a bus to us. He had a friend in Brady. Since Brady was closer, the Brady bus came out. It was a brand new Mercedes with good working air conditioning.

That gets us back on the road about 7:30 PM when the game was starting. We get most of the way to Brady and we run into a storm with lots of rain and lightning. We drive through it and it seems that it will pass and we won't have any more problems.

As soon as the band got there and settled, they played one song, It began to rain again. Then, lightning strikes causing a lightning delay in the game. Our football team had held them 0-0 until the rain started. The Baird fans were offered a rock building to wait. After about 45 minutes and the band had eaten and the game was back on. The woodwinds put their horns up because the rain continued the rest of the game. Menard pulled ahead and kept going.

Our sophomore quarterback was hurt by the end of the game and Robert has a pulled hamstring. Hopefully, they will be able to work back to full strength in a couple of weeks.

It was 3 AM by the time we got home to Putnam after unloading the trailer and laying everything out to dry. The Bears play Lubbock Christian High School in Cisco this Saturday morning at 10 AM. We don't have any pictures because of the rain. We'll try again next week.

We have not stopped moving since I got up about 7:30 AM Saturday morning. We do have school tomorrow. We opted for a three-day-weekend in October instead of having one so close to when school starts without another student holiday until Thanksgiving.

Stay tuned! More to come.

Take care,
Brad

What Happened to Last Week!

The week before students come back is a real busy week for teachers. We had seven days of training and most of one day for a work day. With Robert in athletics and being a senior, we had Project Graduation Events and Athletics issues at the scrimmage Friday. With Sarah being in band, we had meet the teacher night and Band Boosters Thursday. Our schedule got full extremely fast. We'll be adding James more and more to the schedule in two to three weeks when junior high football starts playing games.

Between Thursday night and Friday, we were doing things for band and found out that only 5 freezers of ice cream were coming to support project graduation. We got busy and made three more. Kerry started it, Beth and Butch got the freezers going, then I was able to come home and get them packed in ice to take. We made chocolate, peach, and strawberry. They sold all of the ice cream that was brought making $150 for the organization.

Robert and the rest of the Bears did real well against Gorman. Gorman went to the playoffs last year and they didn't lose very many boys. We didn't either. We moved the ball against them and made touchdowns. Football should be more fun to watch this year. The first high school game is next Friday in Menard.

Sarah tells me that there are almost 50 students in band (in summer band) this year. That is up from what we started with before school last year. They should have a fun year since this is the year that they do not advance in UIL Contests in Band. They have the opportunity to go on every other year.

Well, I'd better get busy. I'm working on an Herbalife order to send tonight, so let me know if you would like anything this week. Also, the AEP North areas are still 14.4 cents/KWH in electricity. Let me know if you are ready to become my electric customer.

Have a Great Week,
Brad

More Pictures from the Red & White Scrimmage

Robert and Garrett and Bears in action.
These are the 2008-09 senior Bear football players. What a tough crew!

Robert and Heather

The Crucifixion

Psalm 22 - Looking ahead

Matthew 27:32-44 – The Cross and the Shame

The crucifixion is well known and doesn't need any explaination. Let's talk about the background of crucifixion and the shame that was attached to that cruel death.

When a criminal was condemned, he was led away to the crucifixion. He was led in the center of four Roman soldiers. It was the custom that he should carry the cross beam of the cross to the place of execution himself. The upright would already be in place at the scene of the crucifixion. The charge on which the condemned had been convicted was written on a board; it was then either hung around his own neck, or carried by an officer in front of the procession; and it was later affixed to the cross itself. The criminal was led to the place in as long a route as possible, so that as many as possible may see him and be warned of consequences from the shameful sight.

Simon from Cyrene in North Africa was pressed to suffer the shame of carrying the beam for Jesus because of his physical condition. It may be that he had saved a long time to make this one trip to Jerusalem for Passover and now he is suffering the shame of carrying the cross for the condemned. Mark identifies Simon further as being the father of Alexander and Rufus (Mark 15:21). This indicates that these people were well known in the Church suggesting that this could be Simon's day of glory instead of shame.

The place of the execution was shaped like a skull, so that's what it was called. In order to deaden the pain, the condemned was given some drugged wine because he had to be impaled on the cross, nails driven through. The feet were only loosely bound to the cross with rope. Then, the property of the criminal was entitled to his clothes. The soldiers cast lots for Jesus' clothes and suffered the final indignity of nakedness taking away the humanity of the criminal.

Matthew 27:45-50

Jesus gives up his spirit and he does battle with death.

2 Corinthians 5:21

This reading indicates that the sin of the world fell on Jesus. He bore it all for us to have hope of eternal life. The penalty he bore was separation from God. Sin separates us from God. This separation bought us a connection to righteousness making us responsible to be God's righteousness in the world.

There are many conjectures about who Jesus was calling on from the cross at the end. Some said Elijah. The soldiers may have thought that he was calling to the sun, the greatest of the pagan gods. What it boils down to was that what he meant or who he was calling to is a mystery to us. The point is it was terrible what caused the cry at the death.

What do you think of when you think of Christ's ultimate sacrifice? Who are you following? Are you God's righteousness on earth?

Have a Great Week!

Brad

Next – The Great Revelation

Watching the Olympics & Football

The Olympics have captured our attention again this year. I am truly in awe of what the athletes must go through to be able to swim or tumble the way they do without ripping something on their bodies to shreds. It is also inspiring to me to get out and keep the hour daily exercise going. My doctor says that 4 miles per hour needs to be my pace for my age. I'm getting there and that is fast.

Back to the Olympics - I got as excited as with a close football game when the men's relay took to the water and came from behind to win against the French team. They were tough but the US team was inspired by all of the 'talking' that had been reported in the press. Then, the men's gymnastics last night keeping the pressure on and taking the lead at the midpoint of the contest. Then, winning the bronze even though they weren't supposed to be any sort of contender. The under dog can come through.


That tells me that we all have it in us to come through if we put our minds to it. The Baird Bear football team are trying to do the same thing. There are a ton of seniors and two juniors on the team this year.

Yes, you are seeing right. Robert is wearing number 55 and he is center and defensive end this year. The coaches are real impressed with his desire to play and do well. Thankfully, they are also aware of his past injuries and are wanting to find a safer position for him to play.

Saturday morning, the boys had their team pictures first then they had their traditional red & white scrimmage. Robert is center here. You can see the football heading to the quarterback. Kerry got this shot after several tries.

I go back to work Thursday this week and the marathon starts over for yet another school year. I am still working on the home business. Check out my 'Check it Out' sites to see what I have going on.

Take care everyone,
Brad

Pilate's Relationship with the Jews

Here is the lesson I had yesterday. Thanks for your patience.

Matthew 27:1-2, 11-26

The first two verses describe what must have been a very short meeting of the Sanhedrin to formally charge Jesus. The Jews could handle completely ordinary charges, but this major charge had to go through appropriate Roman legal channels to execute the death penalty.

Pilate was the Roman governor who Jesus was handed from the chief priests. Pilate did not see any reason to condemn Jesus. He gave the Jews one more way out trying to help Jesus. The chief priests convinced the people to release Barabbas instead of Jesus sealing his fate. Pilate washed his hands of him and handed him over to be crucified.

The charge that we last heard was blasphemy but the Sanhedrin knew that Pilot would never listen to the charge of blasphemy. He would have told them to take him back and settle your own religious differences (Matthew 26:65-66). Luke tells us that they charged Jesus first with being a revolutionary, second, with inciting the people not to pay their taxes, and third, with claiming to be the king (Luke 23:2). They fabricated these three charges from lies because they knew that Pilate would have to act on these three charges.

So everything hinged on the Roman governor. What kind of man was Pilate?

Pilate was officially the procurator of the province; and he was responsible directly to the Roman Emperor. He had to have been at least 27 years of age because this was the minimum age for the position he occupied in government. He must have had considerable experience because of the ladder of offices he would have had to climb before becoming governor. He would have been tried as a military official and an administrative official. History tells us that he held the office for 10 years in AD 26. Then, he was recalled.

Pilate caused much of his own problems in his office because he was totally out of sympathy with the Jew who had such a large population in his province. The result was much bitter opposition between he and the Jewish leadership. Some time after his initial march into town with Roman standards and all ( an affront to the Jews), he decided that Jerusalem needed a better water supply which they did. He decided to pay for the project out of the temple treasury instead of the Roman government which was another problem with the local Jews.

Philo, the great Jewish Alexandrian scholar, has a character study of Pilate. He tells us that the Jews threatened Pilate to exercise their right to report him to the emperor for his misdeeds. This threat exasperated Pilate to the greatest possible degree because they might go to the emperor and might be impeached from his position. Pilate had a bad record when dealing with Jews. The Jews help Pilate in complete contempt. His career came to an end in Samaria where he dealt with a situation with unnecessary savagery.

Next week we will finish out the discussion of Pilate and turn toward the cross.

PS. I have relaunched Brad's Herbalife Store at http://brad.herbalcoach.com for those who are interested in inner and outer nutrition for a healthy life.

Peter's Bravery and Denial

How quickly the week and the summer flies? Tomorrow starts two-a-days in football in the morning and band starts in the afternoon. The kids will be back in school in three weeks. This is my last 'free' week of the summer. Now is a time of renewal. The students go back to school with a clean slate. They can make the year anything they want it to be. Peter got the chance to renew himself, too, right at the end of Jesus' ministry on earth.

Please read Matthew 26:31-35

Peter stood first and said that he would never deny him. Jesus said that he would that very night. Impetuous Peter is still displaying his honest impulsiveness without considering the climate that was going to be created by the arrest and legal proceedings that Jesus went through that day.

Certain characteristics of Jesus are clear from this passage:

1. Jesus is real. All his disciples will stumble because of him Zechariah 13:7. Jesus saw what was going on and he continued anyway. There was no deterring him from God's plan to bring about the plan of salvation. He told his disciples the truth.

2. Jesus is confident. 'After I am raised, I will go to you in Galilee.' He never doubted that he would win over death. He saw beyond the cross. He knew that he would give them more proof that would help them as they worked to establish the church in the world.

3. Jesus is sympathetic. He knew that his disciples were going to flee for their lives and abandon him in his hour of deepest need. He does not berate, rebuke, or condemn them. He did not chastise them for their weakness during their greatest test of faith. He understands that they will run, but they still love him and they will come back and unite and begin the building of the church. Jesus understands the big picture of the beginning of the church.

Peter was not going to abandon his love for Jesus, but Peter was overconfident in himself. He always was impulsive.

Read next Matthew 26:57-58, 69-75

Peter did not completely abandon Jesus, but he followed at a distance, but right into the courtyard of the high priest. He showed great bravery to follow Jesus into the heart of the "lion's den." Then, when he was asked by a servant, he denied that he had been with Jesus. He did this three times. His denials were getting stronger and less Christ-like as he went. This was a chaotic time and they realized the danger of being associates of Jesus around the chief priests in Jerusalem.

His denials grew with intensity. His speech gave him away as a Galilean linking him to Jesus' home area. The Galilean dialect was harsh and they weren't allowed to read the scripture in the Temple because of the roughness of their dialect. Then the third time he could stay no longer, he swore, denounced his master and then he remembered what Jesus had said earlier.

Peter's actions in most organizations would have been hushed up. There would have been a problem with the appearance of a main disciple of Jesus in a position of not supporting the leader and founder of the organization. Mark tells the story in more vivid detail (Mark 14:66-72). This tells us that the Bible is an honest document of the details of the life and ministry of Jesus and his disciples.

Peter told the story later and said that Jesus could forgive even he who had failed him at his greatest hour of need. This tells of the cleansing power of forgiveness that Peter experienced and the forgiving nature of Jesus. It is important to remember that forgiveness follows repentance in the truest sense.

Peter was brave to come into the center of the house of the enemy, the chief priest, to see what was happening. All of the other disciples left and scattered. When Peter heard the call, he remembered what Jesus had said and what he assured Jesus he would not do yet did. He then ran out and wept bitterly (repentance). Then, he got the opportunity to start over with a spiritual clean slate.


How's your slate? Is it in need of cleaning? Follow Peter's example to start the school year with a true clean slate and build on a stable foundation.

Have a Great Week!
Brad

It's Friday!

Good Friday Everyone!

I was privileged to be invited and go to the area-wide men's fellowship last evening in Baird. We had brisket and all of the fixings. There was fellowship and reports from congregations of the area. Then, there was singing. There were folks from Baird, Cisco, Cross Plains, Gorman, Highway 36, and Putnam. It was good to get together and encourage each other and find out that some of the same problems are not unique where you are. All of this was lifted to the Lord for his help and guidance.

We're looking for another preacher in Putnam. We have been blessed with Len and his family, but his education is done and he will be sent to his first assignment in the navy soon. The meeting last night was a way that I could get the word out as did a couple of other congregations.

I went to Baird Monday to meet the new principal, Mr. Kinslow. Sarah was with me so she got to meet him as well. I found out that I won't know anything about the schedule until next week when he, the new counselor, the secretaries, and athletic director come on contract. That is the first order of business to fit the new staff and their responsibilities into the system. The new math teacher, Coach Vaughn, will be coaching as well as teaching math, so I'm going to be teaching more subjects this year.

Mom and Dad called last night that they reached their destination and called at 10:30 central time last night. They had a good flight with a two-hour layover in Portland, Oregon. They were in Burley when they called and talked to my voice mail last night. They are enjoying that cell phone!

I have been working on my business this week. Herbalife have come out with samples of their skin care products which I am excited about. These are high quality products that everyone can try before buying a whole regimen just to see what it's like. I'll be bringing those around little by little as well. The first set are due to arrive in Putnam today. The weight-loss products are very good and work very well, but it's a full-time job to motivate folks to continue in the program and keep exercising to see the full benefits. I'm still using those products to maintain my energy and lose a little bit more size. Robert is using the Bulk & Muscle formula since he works so hard outside and needs quick pick-me-ups and muscle-building. It is also helping him get ready for two-a-days (They start Monday, August 4th!).

I've also been letting everyone I have an email address for know about the excellent income potential of the opportunities in the energy business little by little. The flash videos download quickly and take about 10 minutes to watch. If you haven't gotten yours, it'll be coming (let me know if it doesn't). This is an excellent program for those with a natural gift of gab. The business will last longer than any business I have worked with. When was the last time you heard someone doing without electricity in their homes or businesses? They are only in Georgia (natural gas) and Texas (electricity) for now, but they are working with the states that are getting ready to deregulate natural gas and electricity and will be there as it happens. Everyone's down line will be from here. They also pride themselves on paying associates as quickly and as often as possible. FYI, my goal is to have four more customers by the time school starts. I'm also looking for three more associates soon after that. 13.4 cents and 14.4 cents are competitive.

Well, it's already time for lunch and there are other things that have to be done and I'd like to enjoy the last few days of the summer vacation.

Take care,
Brad