The Moderator Chair is Empty

I was just going to shut down my laptop and pack it up for the ride home from work and checked drudgereport to see what had happened in the world and saw that Tim Russert had died and put on the XM to Fox News to listen to coverage.

It took me a few minutes to process this. He is the common man of Washington that made it big. He comes across non-partisian. He was like me and you and he was gone. It reminded me of when John Holman the space reporter from CNN died suddenly in a car accident.
http://www.cnn.com/US/9809/12/holliman.obit.02/
Even though Robert Hager retired in 2004, I miss him more than any other reporter when crisis, weather or transportation issues happened. I grew up watching him. He was simply the best there was when things were tough. Times like the Iowa floods would have been his fortay.
I miss this type of reporter for the ones today that have an agenda.
http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=74072

Tim Russert was touted last night for his work ethic, his love of family and his faith. Wonderful to have enjoyed him so many times thru the years. NBC will leave his chair vacant on Sunday.
Whom takes up the chair has shoes that can't be filled. Just can't. He was once in a lifetime just like you and I are. Created for a relationship with the one true God.

Some bullet points from things I have picked up. The Friday Chattanooga paper had an article talking about Riverbend's featured act the Bachman Cummings Band. They had issues as The Guess Who and broked up due to Bachman's devout Mormonism. But.....
He has since left the Mormon temple the article states. "We found some things that couldn't be reconciled." "Religion is a bunch of rules, a fear factor."
I thought that said alot about the Mormon church . That is not the case of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray for Randy Bachman to have someone share that with him.

A recent study by the Jenkins Group, a custom book publishing firm showed these interesting facts:
*One-third of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of THEIR LIVES
*42 percent of college graduates never read another book AFTER COLLEGE
*80 percent of US families did not buy or read a book last year
*70 percent of US adults have not been in a book store in the past FIVE YEARS
*57 percent of new books are not read to completion

Does that tell you something? It does me.

Two weeks ago we were training new internal auditors in our ISO 14000 system and before the morning started I had just looked at this article below because it talked about Pepsi's new stance on talent and sustainability. I shared with the group from this article.
A new talking point was in this article that trust me you are going to be hearing more in the business world. Thank goodness it isn't like the 2005 HR speak phrase of the year "Onboarding" -the new rave phrase among HR people for orientation. (I just don't get it still and I am in HR) but the word in this article centers off of environmental sustainability which is now pretty common place (we in flooring have been knowing this for about five years) the word is "human sustainability." Read the article to see what Indra Nooyi, the CEO of Pepsico is starting among business. It will ripple. Business loves new words like this.
http://www.astd.org/NR/rdonlyres/F467615A-B5B4-4383-A78F-D67DF9AA867F/17013/76080632.pdf


Right before I got on a plane Monday I was reading about Steven Colbert in the Chattanooga Free Press and love this quote as he was talking about his Comedy Central show, The Colbert Report and himself...."I am not a passive verb," he says," This is first person, present tense, at all times, I am a verb. As Buckminster Fuller said,"I seem to be a verb." The show is present tense, present active. We're not passive, we don't observe. We set the news agenda. We create the news. We throw the pebble of the show into reality and we report on our own ripples."

I really think he and I could get along. But, he is really quick witted.....and Buckminster Fuller did at least believe there was a God who put all of this together. But, he pulled that name in didn't he?

I do hope that the Celtics can finish off the choking Lakers tomorrow and we can move onto pre-season NFL football! Dan Patrick has Dan Shaughnessy on Friday after the 24 point come back and he admitted that he had written his column for Friday about the Lakers big win and had to do a re-write for Friday publication. Here is a link to the Boston Globe Blog from LA. Rondo is ok and Perkins still 50/50. The Lakers say they have put the last game behind them. Yeah.
Alabama has put six straight losses to Auburn behind them too. Lakers are still favored by six-seven and haven't covered a line in the last two games? Bettors can't be happy. I stepped back in the NBA season gingerly after a 15 year absence. 15 years ago I was pulling for Magic and the Lakers...today Pierce and the Celtics....
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/

August 3rd is coming up fast. Colts and Redskins for one quarter of action followed by three quarters of senseless banter. To start the NFL season back. No Brett Favre...Ouch...

While Tim Russert's death is so sad, Charlie Jones passed away too on Thursday in CA. He was on his way to dinner at Torrey Pines with friends and had a heart attack. His voice was like melted butter. He was one that I grew up with too. He always had the AFC late games with Merlin Olsen. I was just thinking of him the other day as they showed highlights on NFL Network and wondered what he was doing....He was such a joy to listen do a game. Such a joy! I must make an effort to listen to Vin Scully today before he is gone from the Dodger games. There are so few men left that truly understand how to do games and care to do them well. Most are just saying things about the moment and not painting a picture for you of what is happening and coming up. If you are watching the NBA finals you know what I am talking about. The year I got married the Celtics and the Lakers were duking it out and the announcers then were better than the three doing the game now. (Off the soap box)

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jGBDZNoq4J0JP8H9G6EpCg3otkQQD919J8L01

The next time someone starts talking about the possibility of building a commuter rail between Atlanta and Chattanooga and they say it can't be done, show them this article and tell them it is time we start working on this mode of transportation. I wish a presidential candidate would start the dialogue.

http://www.usbusiness-review.com/content/view/906/31/

Last but not least the NY Times writing about what Bush called the Pope. HA!
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/wait-what-did-he-just-call-the-pope/

This shocked me.
No thanks Billy Graham—that’s the message John McCain had for the renowned evangelist, who had requested to meet with the presidential candidate. A letter to Graham from the McCain campaign read: “I must pass along our regrets and do not foresee an opportunity to add this event to the calendar. I know you will understand that with the tremendous demands on his time and the large volume of similar requests, events such as this are extremely difficult to schedule even though each one is important.” The exchange comes only weeks after McCain severed ties with pastors John Hagee and Rod Parsley over controversy that erupted when the media highlighted controversial segments of the preachers’ past sermons. [newsmax.com, 6/8/08]

Happy Father's Day! 1 Timothy 3:4

Father's Day/Wedding Anniversary

This next weekend will mark Father's Day once again. I am extremely blessed to be a dad of our wonderful children. It is a day since Fletcher came into this world 14 years ago that I really am just thankful. Don't want anything (although the XM radio gift five years ago/it was a father's day-birthday gift combo) still is one I love because I have enjoyed having XM both at home and at work. Being a radio/music/info consumer it has been super. That is a whole different blog about how that technology works.

I just enjoy seeing these children grow and look forward to what God has in store for them in their lives. I have more than enough for this life. I just want my children to know the one true God and to have a continuing relationship with Him. For He is worthy. He is not just a story, either you believe who He said He is or you don't. Your faith will show it, through your actions. OR inaction.

Being their dad is wonderful and they are a blessing to me. The way they study, and are learning the word of God, how they interact with others makes me proud.
But men today are not real clear on what this looks like. With 72 million children under the age of 15 without dads in this country today you can see why. They see divorce as a norm. Most 20-30 year olds come from broken homes and have the technology downpat just need to know what it means to chart the course. Name one tv show today that is a role model show? Guys today have the God of Materialism down. How do you get a view of this manhood?

How do they get this? Well, one of the best ways is to make time to start I share here is what I have done. First is to learn about it from men that have been there. Pray for someone to disciple you that is older and been there done that. AND- Large and. Listen to wisdom, have someone whom can tell you NO, bad idea- and challenge you. Don't have someone that tells you how wonderful you are all the time. Beteachable in all things. Show humility at all times. It is not a sign of weakness but strength.

Next, in the word of God look for applications to your life and your family. Precept Austin's link to the right can take you to some wonderful sermons around the family. This will allow yourself to see ways to honor your wife and stay in touch with your children.
Learn more about yourself. Seriously. Your behavior profile can tell you alot about yourself. This helps me more than anything in dealing with my children but also all people.
Have a plan thru prayer. Men's Fraternity is a wonderful baseline curriculum for men to see in "Winning at Work and at Home," what your role is thru different years with your children. The reason I say have a plan is that the time moves very quickly.
Congratulations to all the dads out there. Even if you have a prodigal or are struggling, continue to pray. Continue to trust God. Life is a training ground for heaven. As my bible study teacher said last week-Are you closer to God yourself than yesterday? Last month?
This pursuit of holiness in very important mine and your growth as men.
Do you see where God is using circumstances to bring you closer to him?
Do not be alone men either. You can easily be picked off in isolation.

21 years of marriage to my wife. We celebrated this yesterday with dinner at Bonefish Grill. Wonderful meal and service. So much to be thankful for. We both looked at how different we are today than on that day in 1987. I thank the Lord for his patience with me.
We went by World Market and then LifeWay and they ran us out at 9pm. Patrice has purchased a new glider for her and her mom to sit in on our front porch. The installation begins tomorrow as the final push to renovate our front bathroom. (We love American Express Rewards Points)

We came home and Brynna had made a banner for us. Corley made a newspaper of the "Humphrey Family News" complete with a salute to us, movie polls and upcoming stories. That was pretty funny. She didn't realize I used to do this, let her read some old handwritten papers I did in junior high and she laughed. That is too funny.

Our Dads and Daughters class started this Wednesday with a good start with more men than we thought had signed up! We have men that have one daughter all the way to four. They all want to raise Godly women. It will be an exciting eight weeks for us to learn about being better fathers....Our summer breakfast series starts this Tuesday. Don Gordon will be leading a series around "Walking With God," Please continue to pray Don's wife's family in the passing of her mother.

Must travel on Monday, hopefull we will see a post by Gary. If the Braves lose today, I may been in for some heckling in Philly. I got a text after last night's game from a friend from work up north....that just read....."get the broom out." I look forward to the cheesesteaks. The Braves just need to finish a game. (Like the Lakers do!)

Two things I have down from work this week- One is a quote-"To teach is to learn twice," -Joseph Joubert

and from Pat Leconcini's e-blast this week on Leadership. That leaders need to get out of their office since leadership is social by nature since it always relationship driven. Staying in your office leads to privacy instead of openiness and colloboration. Now, Pat is an extrovert so he admits later that this plays a role in his thinking and it does. But, his points are true about the relationship angle. My job is always about relationships and if stay in my office all the time I will not be able to help in things that happen the course of just walking thru our plants or offices. So for yourself how does that apply? Don't send an e-mail to someone next to you. Talk to them. Don't let an e-mail thread go beyond about two-go talk. Leaders listen, Leaders open doors, bring about change and then go back for more.

May God Bless you today....May you understand the overwhelming grace He gives you and me. May we take His light and shine it around us and make the world a little brighter place. May you be salt to this world to bring a flavor to it that is different and inviting.

Saturday Meanderings

We are headed to Atlanta and then to Elijay today to celebrate Fletcher's 14th birthday and have some family time.

I am reading "The Letters and Lessons of Theodore Roosevelt for His Sons," and found this quote this week to share on this day.

"Love of peace is common among weak, short-sighted, timid, and lazy persons: and on the other hand courage is found among many men of evil temper and bad character.
Neither quality shall by itself avail.
Justice among the nations of mankind, and the uplifting of humanity, can be brought about only by those strong and daring men who with wisdom love peace, but who also love righteousness more than peace."
Teddy Roosevelt

This quote struck me this week as most politicians today just don't get it. They are trying to get elected again and not thinking of the future.
They talk about bringing people together but are really dividing people. They are afraid to make law in some areas, offend their voters and not stand for anything. Statesmen are gone. They play to cameras and media.
They seem to let their faith not even be important-suddenly here in 2008 endorsements from controversial people matter. It hasn't in the past.
What am I saying? Well, to me it just guides me back to the fact that I am glad that God is in control, and understand more the wisdom of Paul talking about how men would be in the latter days.... Men, we are there.

Where do you stand? Who is guiding you or what? More tomorrow and some links....
hh

Chapman Family Need Your Prayers

I will let you read the article and just wanted to offer prayers for them during this time.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080523/TUNEIN/805230396

Weekend Reflections

I have saved some links and info to post today, there is something for everyone so scroll down and take in the things that may interest you:


Greg Moffatt sent me his monthly column this week and thought I would share this one with you. He teaches at a christian college in Atlanta, has his own practice and is published in the Peachtree City Citizen. He and I got to know each other due to his excellent presentations on Violence in the Workplace. He is an expert on educating and what is happening in our culture in regards to this. Hope you enjoy his article on parenting.


10 Commandments for ParentsGregory K. Moffatt, Ph.D.
May 2008
A reader suggested that I consider writing a column on “10 Commandments for Parents.” It sounded like a great idea, so here it is.
1. Be consistent. Set boundaries for your children and be dependable. Life has enough surprises. Your children need to know what to expect from you.
2. Remember children are small. Even teens can feel dwarfed by your size, your age, and your power. If you are not careful, you can easily hurt a child’s small bones with your powerful hands. Your size magnifies your anger in a child’s eyes and it makes your voice sound louder than it really is. You can hurt their developing egos with your powerful voice and attitude. Also, remember they are still growing. They are learning to recognize and control their emotions, to control their bodies, and how to relate to others. This takes many years to perfect.
3. Be patient. Children don’t know as much as you do. What seems obvious to you is not obvious to a child. We experience this as adults, too. For example, the computer specialist at my office recently sent out a memo describing the new procedure for logging on to the network from various places on and off campus. I’m sure it seemed very clear to him, but to me he may have well been speaking French. I felt like an idiot asking for clarification. Children experience this every day. As children develop cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally, it will take them less time to understand concepts and less time to perform tasks. Until then be patient.
4. Be respectful. Never say anything to a child that you wouldn’t say to an adult. I understand we might speak slower, use different words, or speak in a different tone when talking to children. But our attitude of respect should be the same regardless of the person to whom we are talking. I often use “ma’am” and “sir” when speaking to children because it models respectful behavior. I try to avoid sarcasm, a condescending tone, and belittling remarks.
5. Let your children make mistakes. Everything doesn’t have to be perfect. Water can get on the floor while your child is learning to wash dishes and he doesn’t have to always color inside the lines. Let your children learn by making mistakes. Good parenting doesn’t mean having children who never make mistakes. Instead, it is knowing when to intervene and prevent a mistake, when to rescue a child from a mistake, and when the child will learn best from making a mistake and suffering the consequences.
6. Be available. Even though it is a cliché, they are only children once. When you’ve heard, “Mommy come play with me” for the tenth time of the afternoon, remember there will soon be a time when they won’t ask anymore. Let the laundry and the dishes wait. Read a story, go for a walk, or snuggle in the bed.
7. Be your child’s teacher and mentor. No teacher, football coach, dance instructor, or youth minister can have a greater impact on your child than you. Take advantage of car rides, trips to soccer practice, and evenings watching TV together to talk about life, the news, books, and most importantly, character.
8. Be a good listener. Listen to your children’s fears, cares, and worries. Share their happiness and their sorrows. Don’t try to fix everything. Just listen. Sometimes being a good listener is the best prescription for healing. There is great comfort in being understood.
9. Find ways to say “yes.” Children hear the word “no” from their earliest days. Do your best to say “yes.” A friend told me many years ago that he looked for reasons to say “yes” to his sons rather than reasons to say “no.” That was great advice.
10. Help your child find his or her talents and develop them. As children grow, they need something external to help them define themselves. Activities can help us feel worthy and competent. Whether it is playing piano, soccer, or baseball, or perhaps it is dance, karate, or scouting. Whatever the activity, help your child find something that works and at which he or she can excel.

If every parent lived by these Ten Commandments, my practice might go out of business. What a joy that would be!

{Some good reflections for all men in that article} Identify one area you are not dealing well in and begin to work on it, learn more about it, pray about it and talk with your wife about how to be a better dad in those areas. After you practice it for awhile you will be better at it.

This article on water woes is interesting. Not just in our area. We have some issues developing in a lot of places:
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/16/water-woes-from-florida-to-spain-to-orbit/index.html?hp

This is an interesting article from The Christian Post about the last church standing in Cyprus:
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080428/32154_The_Last_Church_Standing_in_North_Cyprus.htm

This blog's note made me realize I had better start taking in some Dodger games on XM this summer before Vin Scully does retire. He simply is wonderful to listen to and understands how to paint a game on radio:
http://awfulannouncing.blogspot.com/2008/05/dodgers-annoucner-vin-scully-hints-at.html

I have always loved newspapers. If you have ever seen, "Broadcast News," I was just like Holly Hunter as she would go into work she was buying about six papers a day. There has always been a connection for me and having worked in journalism for several years as a stringer of games, and columnist I am always fascinated with layout/design. We even have a Daily Scoreboard at work we use to communicate with our workforce that the design is around a short page paper for Huddle Group Leaders to work off and communicate things at work around Safety/Service/Quality/Productivity/ and Waste. So, here is an interesting story about how much time people are on the newspaper sites.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003794092

JD Greer has an excellent column about the Southern Baptist Conventions note we placed on here about a week ago, very well thought out:
http://jdgreear.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/05/southern-baptis.html

I received Ron Hutchcraft's guide on Caspian, you can get it for free at his site. It is very well done.
http://www.hutchcraft.com/A-Christian-s-Guide-to-The-Chronicles-of-Narnia-Prince-Caspian

The extent of fatherlessness complete with statistics:
http://www.fathers.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=336

Sports
Too bad about the Jazz last night, I thought they would take it to seven, but they played so poorly in the first half that it compounded the comeback, they even had two shots to tie and missed both though.
Ryan Periouloux from LSU is headed to my alma mater, Jacksonville State, for the fall to play QB. What this means? Second chance for Ryan, and possible OVC championship for the Gamecocks. My manager told her son that Ga. Tech was opening with Ryan at QB against Tech and he said, "They'll shred us!" Talent level is a little different though.
Also I took some grief from my friends in Philly about the two losses. Hope the Braves can sweep the A's this weekend.
Celtics and Cavs game seven. I just don't think the Celtics have realized that they need to play offense and defense all game long. The good thing I saw for the Celtics is that with this game they will make money this year after all the trade money spent.
Hoping for a Celtic win, but realizing that the Lakers offense along with the officials are too much in the end. And Charles Barkley needs to pay that $400,000 gambling debt and do you notice no one is asking him anything more about this?

Last Place:
Mike Huckabee made a mistake yesterday, apologized but why he said what he said I don't understand because it wasn't even funny. Sad moment.
http://www.breitbart.tv/html/97143.html

This week alot of stink at the end of the week over Bush's speech in Israel where he mentioned appeasement of a politician in 1939/Hitler and the Obama campaign used this all day against Bush, even Channel Nine in Chattanooga had a slant. This interview with Newt Gingrich is really good about it but c'mon. 1) Bush didn't mention Obama, or Jimmy Carter or Nancy Peloisi. This is a pretty rational speech to those Israelies sitting there. And when did one person's point of view become a political attack with not mentioning your name? WOW!

This is headed continually downhill. We are getting awful close to just calling us modern day Romans. We need term limits and the Mississippi vote this week for the Democrat showed the GOP, Americans do want change.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zDJmbOUzmY&feature=related

Last but not least we finished a breakfast series on The Power of Prayer this week where we read thru EM Bounds book on Prayer for pastors and prayed for our next senior pastor. It was a wonderful spring on Tuesdays. There were about 12 different men that lead the morning discussions. Truly wonderful. Thank you to Gary Masterson for recording them. They are all on WP's website under BridgeBuilders Audio Resources if you want to listen and review. God's method is men.....he is just looking for better men....

Laminin

Louie Giglio always seems to find different ways to acquaint you and I with the realities of the wonderful God of this universe. Take a few minutes and watch this video of what holds you and I together inside:

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=152b5103d741aca61093

Late Saturday afternoon adds-just saw this where Johnny Hunt is being nominated to lead the SBC. Al Mohler has declined due to health if you have been following:
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080507/32287_More_Southern_Baptists_Vie_for_Presidency_.htm

This history of Israel page by the BBC is very well put together as 60 years is celebrated:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7385661.stm

Have a wonderful weekend.

"Can I show you the real me?"

I remember when I came to Christ, I was a wrecked man. Broken by the result of bad choices with nowhere to turn. No one could help me. I didn’t care what people thought of me or said about me. All I cared was, “how can I start over”? “How can I fix this mess I’ve made of my life”? I wanted another chance, any chance. God had me right where He wanted me. A lot has changed since that day…….. and a lot hasn’t. I’d like to talk about the part that hasn’t.

When I was willing to admit the real me, God was there to accept the real me. Don’t miss this point because this is the part that has not changed. God still requires the real me. We lose sight of that so easy. Being real or transparent is hard because we want people to think that we are good. Good people are, well….good, right? Good people don’t cause a lot of trouble. Good people don’t think bad thoughts, or do bad things. But……. are we good, really? The bible says that a young man ran up to Jesus and said, “Good teacher”, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”, “why do you call Me good?” Jesus answered, “No one is good except God alone.” Paul teaches in the book of Romans that there is “none good, no not one”. The bible plainly says that God alone is the only one that is good. God sets the bar for good, not us. In God’s eyes good is holy and pure and without sin. Holy and pure and without sin leaves me out.

It is humbling to admit that we are bad, but it’s even harder to admit when we see ourselves as good. Let me explain. I’ve been a Christian 31 years and you would think after that long I’d be good by now. Well, I have changed, but that change has been God’s work not mine. The more I hang out with Christ and godly people, the more my spirit becomes Christ like. But it is Christ working in me, it is not me but Christ. This is where it gets confusing. Over time we see a difference take place in our lives which is a good thing, but then it becomes harder and harder to admit we are still flawed or defective, especially if we have to admit it to other people. What will they think if I admit I’m having a problem? For crying out loud, I’ve been a Christian for 31 years, how long is it going to take to straighten me out?

So…… we are afraid to be honest and real. We are afraid if we tell someone about our problems they will no longer respect us. We will no longer be strong in their eyes, but weak. We will lose our godly influence we’ve worked so hard to get. Boy that’s a hard one to swallow for a Christian, especially a leader, a teacher, or preacher. If I lose my influence I’m out of a job.

Is that a fair assessment of what we all think? It appears to be close….. because we see very little confession today until it’s too late. Why should we admit we have problems to someone in the first place? Paul seemed to think confession was pretty important. He wrote under the influence of the Holy Spirit that we should confess our faults and our sins to one another. Why would he say that if it wasn’t important? Why can’t we admit our failures, could it be our pride?

It may hurt or sting a little, it could be humbling to admit we need help, but we must follow Paul’s instructions. We need to be real and bring our problems to the light. Exposing them for what they really are, snares that lead to more problems that could destroy our life. If you think that’s a little extreme just look around at the lives that have been destroyed because they were to proud to admit they had a problem. God’s mercy and grace can heal us and restore us to a place of service even greater than we had before if we’ll only admit our need to Him and to others. Admitting our failure to others is part of the healing process we can’t leave out.

God help us not to cause anyone to stumble as they share their needs and failures. Let us “always seek after that which is good for one another”. God give us a spirit of gentleness and love that invites healing for those that are struggling. “Can I show you the real me?”