The Most Important Principle I've Learned in 2012

The most important principle I've learned in 2012- I'm not responsible for the outcome; I am responsible for the effort.

So much in life is beyond our control, yet we constantly focus on outcomes. For instance, each of us know parents who did their best to raise God-honoring children, yet their children are now far from a relationship with Christ. We each know a couple that appeared to be in a happily-ever-after marriage, but then either the husband or wife "met someone" or "fell out of love" and a divorce followed shortly thereafter. Job layoffs occur. Concerning test results come back from the doctor. You get rear-ended in traffic. People doing the best they can but yet the outcome isn't what they hoped for or expected.

This principle is seen throughout Scripture:

• Noah built a boat for decades. He offered to rescue anyone who would listen. But yet only Noah and his family survived the flood. Noah wasn't responsible for the outcome, but he was responsible for the effort.
• Jeremiah preached of the need for repentance for years and years. Yet we would not think of his ministry as a success due to a lack of converts. But Jeremiah wasn't responsible for the outcome, he was responsible for the effort.
• John the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord. He baptized Jesus at the beginning of Christ's public ministry. Ultimately, John was beheaded in prison for the cause of Christ. Not the outcome he'd expected. John wasn't responsible for the outcome, but he was responsible for the effort.

Why should it be any different for us? Many times we find ourselves in situations not of our own making, in the middle of circumstances beyond our control.

In these times we'd do well to remember- we're not responsible for the outcome; we are responsible for the effort.

4 Bowl Predictions

Music City Bowl
North Carolina State (7-5) vs. Vanderbilt (8-4)
Parker's pick: Vanderbilt
My pick: Vanderbilt
N.C.State is going through a coaching change. James Franklin has Vandy playing one of its best seasons ever.

Sun Bowl
USC (7-5) vs. Georgia Tech (6-7)
Parker's pick: Georgia Tech
My pick: USC
Parker's pointed out that Tech actually has some better statistics than USC. I'm thinking USC has better athletes. USC will be missing Matt Barkley due to injury. Could go either way.

Liberty Bowl
Iowa State (6-6) vs. Tulsa (10-3)
Parker's pick: Tulsa
My pick: Tulsa
I was surprised to learn Iowa State even qualified for a bowl. Tulsa won its conference.

Chick-fil-A Bowl
LSU (10-2) vs. Clemson (10-2)
Parker's pick: Clemson
My pick: LSU
Clemson offense vs. LSU defense. The unit that wins that battle wins the game for their school.

Bowl Predictions: 5 Bowls

Armed Forces Bowl
Rice (6-6) vs. Air Force (6-6)
Parker's pick: Air Force
My pick: Air Force
Air Force should win the Armed Forces Bowl, right? The Air Force offense leans heavily toward the run and is based on assignment execution. Rice finished the season well and has had time to prepare for the Falcons. If Air Force gets behind early, this game will likely be decided. Go Air Force!

Pinstripe Bowl
West Virginia (7-5) vs. Syracuse (7-5)
Parker's pick: West Virginia
My pick: West Virginia
Anyone who saw the Mountaineers dismantle Clemson last bowl season knows that West Virginia knows how to prepare for a bowl. The West Virginia season bottomed out mid-year but the Mountaineers closed with two victories. Syracuse is a team on the rise and got better as the season moved forward. Geno Smith should lead West Virginia to a win against a long-time rival.

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl
Navy (8-4) vs. Arizona State (7-5)
Parker's pick: Navy
My pick: Arizona State
Parker thinks Navy's stellar rushing attack will be the difference. I think Arizona State's superior athleticism will be decisive. I hope he's right. We always cheer for the military academies in bowl games. Go Navy!

Alamo Bowl
Texas (8-4) vs. Oregon State (9-3)
Parker's pick: Texas
My pick: Oregon State
Parker thinks Texas is due to finish strong, especially playing in Texas. I think Oregon State is ranked for a reason.

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl
TCU (7-5) vs. Michigan State (6-6)
Parker's pick: Michigan State
My pick: TCU
A toss-up. Michigan State's run game leads Parker to choose the Spartans. I'm going with TCU because Gary Patterson usually has his teams ready for bowl games.

Fun on Friday- More Parkerisms and Turnerisms

Raising two sons, 8 and 5, means we have lots of fun conversations in our home. Here are some more:

Parker loves basketball. After recently watching a game featuring former Kentucky Wildcat and No. 1 overall NBA draft pick, Anthony Davis:
Parker: It sure would be great to have a unibrow.
Me: No. No it wouldn't. That's not something you really want.
Parker: Why? Why wouldn't it?

On a Sunday afternoon not long ago:
Me: Why don't you go take a nap?
Turner: I can't sleep in the daytime. Now, in the nighttime, yes.
Me: Turner, you're funny.
Turner: I wouldn't say funny. Hilarious, yes.

While watching a recent NFL game:
Parker: If I were an offensive lineman, I'd tell the referee I'm an eligible receiver on every play. I'd want to catch the pass.

Bowl Predictions: Independence, Russell Athletic, Meineke Car Care

Independence Bowl
Ohio (8-4) vs. Louisiana-Monroe (8-4)
Parker's pick: Louisiana-Monroe
My pick: Louisiana-Monroe

Ohio faded mightily down the stretch. Louisiana-Monroe played some tough SEC competition this season and fared well.

Russell Athletic Bowl
Rutgers (9-3) vs. Virginia Tech (6-6)
Parker's pick: Virginia Tech
My pick: Rutgers

A toss-up. Does the traditional football power Virginia Tech show up tonight or does their disappointing season continue? Is Rutgers a good team or have they simply played alot of weak teams?

Meineke Care Care Bowl
Minnesota (6-6) vs. Texas Tech (7-5)
Parker's pick: Texas Tech
My pick: Texas Tech

Even in the midst of a coaching change, Texas Tech should defeat a team that finished 2-6 in the weak Big Ten.

Great Quote Thursday

You must be frank in the world, frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do on every occasion, and take it for granted you mean to do right. Above all do not appear to others what you are not- Robert E. Lee to his son, as Robert E. Lee Jr. was beginning college

Bowl Predictions: Military, Belk and Holiday

Military Bowl
San Jose State (10-2) vs. Bowling Green (8-4)
Parker's pick: Bowling Green
My pick: San Jose State

CBS Sports panel guys go heavily toward San Jose State. I might as well also. Parker's trying to pick up a game on me by going with the underdog. After the SMU and CMU victories, he's decided "anything can happen".


Belk Bowl
Cincinnati (9-3) vs. Duke (6-6)
Parker's pick: Cincinnati
My pick: Cincinnati

Cincinnati may miss former head coach Butch Jones who left to come to Tennessee but they should have the talent to overcome a Duke team that started the season strong but faded down the stretch. We'd both love to see David Cutcliffe win this game but that's probably not the smart pick.


Holiday Bowl
Baylor (7-5) vs. UCLA (9-4)
Parker's pick: Baylor
My pick: Baylor

In what should be an offensive shootout, we'll go with the better offense. UCLA is probably the better team, but for one game, we're both choosing Baylor.

Bowl Predictions: Little Caesars Bowl

Little Caesars Bowl
Western Kentucky (7-5) vs. Central Michigan (6-6)
Parker's pick: Western Kentucky
My pick: Western Kentucky

Excitement abounds when the 5th place team in the Sun Belt (Western Kentucky) plays the 4th place team in the MAC West (Central Michigan). WKU lost coach Willie Taggart to South Florida, replacing him with Bobby Petrino. Two of CMU's top receivers will sit out this game due to suspension.

Merry Christmas

Christ left everything, to come to nothing, to take care of everything.

Bowl Prediction: Hawaii Bowl

Hawaii Bowl
Fresno State (9-3) vs. SMU (6-6)
Parker's pick: Fresno State
My pick: Fresno State

On paper, this game could be a blowout. But it is bowl season and that's why the games are played on the field.

Bowl Predictions: New Orleans Bowl and Maaco Las Vegas Bowl

New Orleans Bowl
East Carolina (8-4) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (8-4)
Parker's pick: Louisiana-Lafayette
My pick: Louisiana-Lafayette

Louisiana-Lafayette has a slightly stronger running game and are bascially playing a home game. Plus, all the CBS Sports College Football writers are choosing the Ragin Cajuns. Hope they're right.

Maaco Las Vegas Bowl
Boise State (10-2) vs. Washington (7-5)
Parker's pick: Boise State
My pick: Boise State

This season has been somewhat of a disappointment for the Washington Huskies. Even though this Boise State squad is not playing in a BCS bowl, the Broncos historically play well in bowl games when they have weeks to prepare for an opponent.

Bowl Prediction: Beef O' Brady's Bowl

Beef O' Brady's Bowl
Ball State (9-3) vs. Central Florida (9-4)
Parker's pick: Ball State
My pick: Central Florida

The Knights from Central Florida have a solid running and are playing what is basically a home game. Parker's going with Ball State because they're the underdog.

Fun on Friday- More Parkerisms and Turnerisms

Raising two sons, 8 and 5, means we have lots of fun conversations in our home. Here are some more:

Parker: Hey, can we drink some corn from a jar?
Me: What?
Parker: Like in the Rocky Top song.

Tonya (to Turner as she hugged him goodnight on his bed): Oh, my baby.
Turner: My adult.

Turner: Look at this little spoon I had when I was a baby. I loved this spoon.
Me: Why do we still have that spoon? In case somebody with a baby comes over?
Turner: So if another person moves into this house with a baby, they'll have a spoon.
Me: Who's going to move in here with a baby?
Turner: You never know. You never know.

Great Quote Thursday

It's awfully easy to look back from twenty years and see what should have been done. And the historian, no matter how careful, can never feel the tension, the uncertainty, hear the rumors--and put himself in the situation at the time of the action- Dwight Eisenhower

Bowl Prediction: San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
BYU (7-5) vs. San Diego State (9-3)
Parker's pick: San Diego State
My pick: BYU

Surely this bowl has one of the longest names of any bowl. A rematch of former Mountain West Conference rivals, San Diego State has a powerful running game while BYU boasts a strong defense.  This game is a toss-up.

7 Questions for Men

North Point Ministries, under the direction of John Woodall, has developed a new men's ministry study titled "7 Questions That Rattle in the Minds of Most Men". It is a work developed by Woodall to help address the different stages of life that men face:

Birth to age 20: Foundation
20's: Preparation
30's: Initiation
40's-50's: Domination
60's-70's: Consolidation
80's: Afterglow

The study looks interesting. Here are the 7 Questions:
1. Where Am I?
There is a reason for every season.
Ecclesiastes 3:1

2. From Where Have I Come?
The cost of an unresolved past is missing the present and fearing the future.
Acts 24:16

3. Who Am I?
Discovery leads to recovery.
Psalm 139:14

4. Why Am I Here?
You were created on purpose for a purpose.
John 10:10

5. Where Am I Going?
Your legacy is defined by default or design.
Psalm 90:10, 12

6. What About Women?
Don't say "Don't," say, "Help."
Galatians 5:16

7. Who Can I Trust?
Secrets are too powerful to keep.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

The Bowl Season Kicks Off

Today the 2012-2013 bowl season kicks off with two games: the Gildan New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl from Boise, Idaho.

As we did last bowl season, I've entered into a friendly competition with my 8 year old son Parker to pick bowl game winners. We'll be picking winners straight-up, none of this against the spread stuff. For the record, Parker outpicked me by 3 games last year.

Here we go:

Gildan New Mexico Bowl
Nevada (7-5) vs. Arizona (7-5)
Parker's pick: Arizona
My pick: Arizona
Parker's reasoning is that Arizona is a bigger school. Makes sense to me.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Utah State (10-2) vs. Toledo (9-3)
Parker's pick: Utah State
My pick: Utah State
Parker's going with Utah State because they're ranked. Makes sense to me.

It's predicted to be 30 degrees in Albuquerque at kick-off and 37 degrees at kick-off in Boise on that hideous blue field. Not sure qualifying for a bowl is all it's cracked up to be.

Great Quote Thursday

Good leaders consider unintended consequences before taking major actions- Thom Rainer

Fun on Friday- More Parkerisms and Turnerisms

Raising two sons, 8 and 5, means we have lots of fun conversations in our home. Here are some more:

During Monday night football pre-game:
Turner: Did they say Eli Manning is playing tonight?
Me: Yes.
Turner: Will his brother Peyton Manning be there to watch?
Me: Probably not. He'll probably be working on his own job.
Turner: You mean making commercials?

While driving through downtown Atlanta:
Parker: What's that big tent for?
Me: The sign says Cirque Du Soleil
Parker: Circus of L.A.?

Praying before a meal recently:
Turner: And thank You, God, for our house. In Jesus's name, amen.
Me: That's a beautiful prayer Turner.
Turner: Well, without our house, we'd just be walking around in the woods.

Great Quote Thursday

The great threat to our prayer and our meditation on the Word of God is good ministry activity- John Piper

Re:Group Conference Notes: Casting Vision for Groups (Breakout #4)

Last month, several members of our church staff attended the Re:Group Conference hosted by North Point Ministries. I've been sharing some notes from the conference sessions in recent posts.

The fourth breakout session I attended was "Casting Vision for Groups" led by John Ott. Here is some of what he shared:

Three results of a strong vision:
1. Thoughts are clarified.
2. Actions are aligned.
3. Emotions are engaged.

Five things you must do with vision to make it stick:
1. State it simply.
2. Cast it convincingly.
3. Repeat it regularly.
4. Celebrate it systematically.
5. Embrace it personally.

Getting to simple is complex.

Answer the audience's question of "what's in it for me".

Getting the big idea down to a simple statement is difficult.

What you do everyday matters more than what you do every now and then.

Re:Group Conference Notes: Recruiting and Approving Volunteer Leaders (Breakout #3)

Last month, several members of our church staff attended the Re:Group Conference hosted by North Point Ministries. Over the next several posts, I will share some notes from the conference sessions.

The third breakout session I attended was "Recruiting and Approving Volunteer Leaders" led by Bob Hempen:

Establish the filter: the 4 C's:
Character; Competency; Culture; Chemistry

Character problems can cause problems like no other.

There are higher expectations for leaders. Lifestyle matters.

Setting clear expectations at the beginning makes it easier to deal with issues in the future.

Be willing to say "no" to a potential leader. People may be hurt by "no" but they shouldn't be confused. Don't leave people hanging with unknown expectations or no plan.

Remembering Jeremy Frye

It's hard to believe it was four years today that my friend Jeremy Frye passed away following a hiking accident in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. An accomplished hiker, Jeremy was spending the day traversing the mountains and trails he loved so well.

Jeremy (I and many others just called him Frye) grew up with me. For most of his middle school and high school years, I was his Sunday School teacher. When our student choir ministry took summer mission trips, he and I always ended up loading and unloading equipment (Frye would do most anything so he didn't have to sing or "dance"). While he was in college, I hired him to work with me as a recreation assistant (since we lived near each other I offered to let him ride with me on his first day of orientation but when I got to his house he was still asleep). Eventually, we both ended up working at Sevier Heights together.

The last conversation I had with Jeremy was a phone call on Thursday evening that went something along the lines of:
Me: Hey Jeremy, can you make sure the wheelchairs get back in the rotunda after the wedding?
Frye: Sure, I've got a couple more things to get done and then I'll take care of them.
Me: Thanks a bunch. Have a great weekend.
Frye: You too, sir. You have a good evening.

He often called me "sir". Not because he had too. He spoke that way to lots of people. He was just a very well-mannered, likable guy. How many guys in their early 20's come by your house to see your first-born son and then willingly hold your newborn for a picture? Jeremy Frye did.

As I remember Jeremy Frye, I'm reminded of the following and so much more:
•He loved his family
•He smiled all the time
•He loved the game of soccer (especially World Cup), hiking in the mountains and firearms
•Man, could he sweat
•He could prepare two softball fields for play faster than anybody I've ever known
•Everyone liked him; if you didn't like Jeremy Frye, you were the one with the problem
•He would have been a great husband and dad
•He was one of my all-time favorite people (maybe you're not supposed to have favorites, but he was one of mine and he knew it)

On this day in 2008, I had the horrible privilege of being in Jeremy's room with his family and some other close friends as he breathed his last breath on this earth. It was a moment and an event I will never forget. But there was, and is, comfort in knowing that his eternity was secured.

And today is a great day to remember Jeremy Frye.

Re:Group Conference Notes: Developing Leaders Who Lead Well (Breakout #2)

Last month, several members of our church staff attended the Re:Group Conference hosted by North Point Ministries. Over the next several posts, I will share some notes from the conference sessions.

The second breakout session I attended was "Developing Leaders Who Lead Well" led by Justin Elam:

The success of any ministry rises and falls on the quality of leaders.

When "success" and "direction" changes, people don't know what to expect.

Say it clearly. Say it simply. That's transferable.

My role= create environments. God's role= change hearts.

Group life essentials: Promote participation; Cultivate relationships; Provide care

Regular encouragement sustains Groups leaders who do consistent ministry in the trenches.

When leaders recommend new leaders to you, they are telling you they appreciate the way you've treated them.

Re:Group Conference Notes: Connecting Adults Into Groups (Breakout #1)

Last month, several members of our church staff attended the Re:Group Conference hosted by North Point Ministries. Over the next several posts, I will share some notes from the conference sessions.

The first breakout session I attended was "Connecting Adults Into Groups" led by Jenny Boyett:

You can't grow spiritually without growing spiritually.

People with great (or horrible) experiences make great volunteers.

Survey results tell us that chemistry is the biggest factor in groups connecting and continuing. The second most important factor is geography. The third biggest factor is stage of life.

People often identify in a group based on their oldest child's age.