"He missed it..."

For those of us fellow "bloggers", sometimes we just get in to mood to write. I find that I sit in front of a blank monitor with a blank thought, yet I type anyway.
Somtimes there is a moment that as soon as it happens, I can't wait to formulate my thoughts in the form of a blog. Being in ministry and an avid sports fan, these "blogging moments" happen fairly often. One happened today...

I am a pretty emotional guy. I am not in the class of former Kansas City head coach Dick Vermeil, I have mastered the "throat cry"; you know, when you feel it right at the top of your neck but keep it from reaching your eyes.

The thing that broke my heart was watching the replay of the final play of today's AFC playoff game.
The Colts hosted the Steelers in a thriller that came down to a 46 yard field goal to tie the game with 17 seconds left in the game. Mike Vanderjaqt, the most accurate kicker in NFL history, missed it wide right. The game was close and I was disappointed the Colts lost. The player's response to the missed field goal received more air-time than the actual missed kick. Steelers head coach, Bill Cowher and RB Jerome Bettis are both shown exclaiming "He missed it!" Normally I love these reactions...

Then we see the Colts sideline. A team that was "destined" to win the Super Bowl, much like the Boston Red Sox were "destined" to win the World Series two years ago.
Quarterback - and my favorite tv commercial star - Peyton Manning simply replied "He missed it." with a smile seemed more appropriate for a guy who just found out his girlfriend was cheating on him.

Next is the gut-wrenching replay of Tony Dungy, the Colts head coach. Dungy lost his oldest son in an apparent suicide last month. Dungy's response to the missed field goal is what I have to battle watching. My heart hurts for Dungy, I know there is more to this man than football. As I am typing this, Sportscenter is playing in the background and I see for the fourth time, the replay of his response. I am reminded of the weight of disappointment in his eyes. Not just the loss of the game, but the loss of his son as well. Some small part of me thought that a Super Bowl victory would ease the pain of a parent sufferning the death of a child. I hurt that Dungy will not even have that...

In our youth group, I am trying to communicate the importance of the moment when your true character shines. It may be at the lunch table when a crude joke is told, or at a friend's house when alcohol is offered or an inappropriate movie is suggested. That moment for the Colts was caught on camera. No explicitives were said by Manning or by Dungy in their moment. Dungy is a Christian. In a press game conference he even said "I felt the Lord's hand on this team..." in reference to all that has happened involving this team over the last year. Vanderjaqt - the kicker that missed the field goal - took off his helmet, yelled something I cannot repeat, and threw his helmet which in turn drew a penalty flag.

I am inspired by the class and character of Manning and Dungy. I am convicted to write a letter to both of them and tell them how moved I was. When faced with the most disappointing moment of possibly their careers, they somehow managed a force smile and simply said "He missed it."

I hope you will hold me to my conviction of writing the letter. The next time you see me, ask me about it. Also, ask me about my new Colts hat, which I will purchase tomorrow and wear with honor for the remainder of this season and wear with pride for next season.

M@

"Have a little BLOG with Jesus..."

Alright.

Here is the game. Carolyn McBryde (my mom!) has come to the realization that blogging is our way of communicating and allowing others to walk along side us.
So, the challenge is, in the title of lyric of a song - or commonly used phrase - you must insert the word "blog" for "talk", "write", "walk" or any others you can think of. Hymnals receive extra credit!

Here are some examples:

"Let's give 'em something to blog about." - Bonnie Rait
"Have a little blog with Jesus."
"Don't be bloggin' bout friends when they're not around." - Acapella
Submitted by Carolyn McBryde

"I once was blogged in sin, but Jesus took me in."
Submitted by Matt Foster

"He blogs with me and He blogs with me and he tells me I am his own."
Submitted by M@

"Can you chew gum and blog at the same time?"
Submitted by Kyla McBryde

Submit your favorites as comments.
Winners receive an all expenses paid round trip for 2 to Quebec!
Or a book...

Wedding Crashers

What is it about weddings?
Is it the distractions of the flower girl that is bored with life as she is told to sit still for an eternity, yet decides it is in her best interest to run amuk?
Perhaps it is the distant possibilty of watching one of the groomsman break the "don't lock your knees" rule and loose all grips on conscienousness?
Part of my deep, sick sense of humor wants to know if the groomsman are going to pull a prank during the ceremony at the climactic line "Do you have the rings?".
What crass graffiti did they write on the vehicle that the bride and groom will drive away in to begin their lives together?
"Ball and chain!"
"Dome on the rainbow!"
"Honk if you're horny!"
Sometimes I feel like we go to watch a train wreck. Not in the sense that the union will be a rocky relationship and destined to fail, but the wedding ceremony itself?
We went to a wedding of some very dear friends of ours over the weekend, the flower girl was relatively well behaved, especially after the tranquilizer shot. No pranks were pulled, the reception was nice.
The "getaway car" for the bride and groom pulled around to the front as they were ready to leave. I was glad/disappointed to see it was tastefully decorated.
As the bride (still in her dress) and the groom (still in his tuxedo) walked through the shower of rose pedals, he lead her to the passenger door that happened to still be locked. They asked the driver to unlock the door. As he exited the vehicle, he pushed the button and left the car. They tried the handle again only to find it was still locked...
The driver shut the door...locked.
There was this awesome moment that everyone realized that the locked button was accidentally pushed. The keys still in the ignition.
[Insert train wreck here]
The bride and groom began their lives together standing next to a car with the keys locked inside. Luckily, they are awesome people that love a great story. A few of us amateurs ran for a coat-hanger to get the car unlocked.
"Oh, I got this. I saw it in a movie once..."
And there we stood.
Finally, after we proved we couldn't break into an IHOP, my wife had the great idea to let them take our car and we would meet up with them and swap cars later.
So they drove off in our vehicle (kinda wierd) and when we did finally get the keys out, Kyla and I drove off in the "Just Married" car (very wierd); streamers, shaving cream and all.
We caught up with them about 20 miles down the road and swapped cars.

So I now remember why we go to weddings...
They're cheaper than a movie and there's free food!

M@