Order of Servoce

It may be exceedingly trivial, but I've decided to include the Order of Service from the church services in which I participate. If there is a discrepancy between the OS given here and that listed in various church bulletins it is because I have modified this listing to reflect what actually happened, not what was planned. Here's yesterday's services.

First Baptist Church, Duenweg, MO. (AM Service)

Prelude
Sunday School Report
Welcome & Announcements
Hymn: O Worship the King (#16 in The Baptist Hymnal)
Invocation & Scripture
Hymn: Heavenly Sunlight (#424 in The Baptist Hymnal)
Hymn: Speak to My Heart (#281 in The Baptist Hymnal)
Worship with Tithes & Offerings
Special Music: Eddie & Glenda Smith
Children's Church: Penny March
Message: Jon Smith
Invitation
Benediction

First Baptist Church, Duenweg, MO. (PM Service)
Prelude
Opening Hymn: He Keeps Me Singing (#425 in The Baptist Hymnal)
Hymn: Heavenly Sunlight (#424 in The Baptist Hymnal)
Hymn: Make Me a Channel of Blessing (#564 in The Baptist Hymnal)
Message: Jon Smith
Benediction

Winter Olympics XX (Part 12)

Okay, the fever is breaking. For now, but like malaria, I'm sure it will return in two more years. I'm a junkie, that's when I get my next fix. Mmm... Beijing 2008... Who would think that I'd ever want to go to China? I mean, no offense to the Chinese, who seem to be wonderful people, but I just have never had any desire whatsoever to visit there. Maybe its because I don't like large cities, and I know that China is full of them. Maybe its because I like places where I have a reasonable chance of understanding the language. I don't know, but whatever the reason, the Olympics trump all. Period.

Tonight is the closing ceremony. I won't watch. I can't stand the idea of the games coming to an end. How bad am I? I am actually looking foreward to the men's 50k Cross-Country race this afternoon.

And, by the way, "Apolo Anton Ohno rox my face off." That's what one of our students (Noelle Ott) wrote on the rear window of my 4-Runner last week, and although it was funny at the time, its true now. Ohno understands the spirit of the games, and truly was a good teammate. His comments after the men's 500m short-track speed skate and the 5000m relay were entirely team oriented. It was beautiful. He made clear that to him any medal counts and to win with a team was truly special (actually, the team got bronze, but that's beside the point.) If I had to single out an athlete to represent American ideals, Ohno would be the one. I'm sure there are others who could do as well, but Ohno did a great job. He was gracious in victory, selfless in competition, and supportive of the team. Great job.

Citius, altius, fortius.

Winter Olympics XX (Part 11)

Alright, couple of things here. First, I can’t wait for Vancouver 2010! I can see now in my mind’s eye three American women on the podium in women’s figure skating. With our ladies going 2, 6 & 7 last night, and given that they are all young enough to say that they haven’t peaked yet, why shouldn’t we sweep the medals in four years? Mandi and I are already making plans to attend.

Second, what are we to think about Shani Davis? I just saw him in an interview this morning on the Today Show on NBC and I have to admit that he said all the right things. He talked about camaraderie and ‘team’ and excused his brusque attitude toward the media with an explanation of how much he wanted to celebrate with his family first. There were no pot shots at At Chad Hedrick (who is not exactly a pillar of purity in this whole affair). Gone were the insults and attitude. He looked like a kid with a new toy, holding his medals in his lap, and even brought out 'Flat Stanley' for some children who had rooted for him. He was almost normal in repose.

Is it possible that we have simply misunderstood him all this time? Could it be that the street-kid from Chicago was just acting different than the thousands of other athletes at the game because he’s just a hood at heart? Is it okay to be a hood at heart? Ultimately, I think the answer to these questions must be no. I think that in spite of one good interview, he’s still ultimately a selfish, me-first, prima donna, who is maybe a little misunderstood, certainly committed to family, but completely ignorant of what it mean to be a team player and how important it is to set aside personal glory for team gold.

And while I’m ranting about team gold, would everybody just shut up about the whole “First-African-American-to-Win-Individual-Gold” thing. Hi, my name is Vonetta Flowers. I won a GOLD MEDAL in two-man bobsleigh in Salt Lake City. Remember me? Personally, I think that drawing attention to race in the Olympics ought to be illegal. Who gives a flying pooh whether Shani Davis is black, white, or pink with blue polka-dots?!!! Dude, get over it already. He’s an AMERICAN, and the last time I checked, ‘all men were created equal.’ So rather than celebrate his race, which only serves to further drive a wedge in between the plethora of races in America, why don’t we just LET IT GO?! He’s an Olympic gold medalist. Honor that. Honor the fact that he, like every other athlete at the games, worked his tail off to get there. Why is the color of his tail an issue? Its pathetic, really.

And kudos to Shani for not being an a-double-squiggle about THAT whole thing. He might be the only one with a mic in the cita di Turin who hasn’t made a big deal about the fact. Maybe he understands, like most thinking people do, that his accomplishment was never about race. He wasn’t racing for black America, but for himself. He wasn’t trying to become the next Jackie Robinson, he just wanted to win Olympic gold, and he did. If you want a black hero Olympic hero, call on Vonetta. She was the real trailblazer. Just don’t expect her to be sitting next to the phone when you do call, because she too understands that the Olympics aren’t about race, but about all of humanity united in sport. "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well." (Olympic creed)

Citius, altius, fortius.

Devo IV

"We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

I love that verse. It reminds me that regardless of my circumstances, God has a purpose for me. I don't always understand why things happen, I'm just glad that no matter what happens, in God's mind, it will all work out well in the end. I don't have to understand, I just need to trust. Isn't it comforting to know that regardless of the way things seem to us, God is ultimately in control?

Winter Olympics XX (Part 10)

Did anyone see the post-race press conference for the men's 1500m speed skate? I hope not. The Americans acted more like a pack of wolves than a team. Shani Davis, you are the reason people have stereotypes about black men. Sorry, but your attitude is simply ridiculous. Yes, your teammates are to share in the blame, but dude, you have GOT to grow up. Right now you look selfish, petty and dumb (as in unintelligent). If that's the way you want to be remembered, congrats, you made it. Otherwise, you need to check yourself in a major way.

Winter Olympics XX (Part 9)

So, I was thinking yesterday about the men's team pursuit in long-track speed skating, (you know, the event that Shani Davis was too selfish to skate in), and I'm thinking, here's a 'sport' where each 'team' just sends out their three 'best' skaters and whoever has the slowest guy loses. Now, here's my question: Why send out the first two guys? I mean, each team pretty much already knows who's number 1, 2, and 3 anyway, so why send 1 & 2 at all? Why don't they just get together, say, "Hey our slowest guy is faster than your slowest guy," then just put the slow guys on the ice and let them duke it out head-to-head? It could be like slug racing, olympic style! Seriously, has any winter olympic sport ever celebrated mediocrity more directly? Yes, yes, I know, relays all have weak legs, but team pursuit isn't a relay, its everyone on the ice at the same time. So, again, why bother with 1 & 2? Why not just slide your weak link out there and be done? Of course, then it wouldn't be a 'team' sport, but it isn't anyway, as Shani has so clearly pointed out. Really, team pursuit is about whose dog has the least fleas, so why put the good guys on the ice in the first place? If you want a team sport, do a relay. It works for everyone else.

Now that my daily rant is over, and I do apologize to my loyal reader (I can't imagine there's more than one) for ranting and raving so much about the ugliness of the American team, but they do deserve it, I want to take a moment to point out that this has been our most successful games not on American soil, and may very well end up as our most successful winter games ever. In spite of their blundering stupidity, thundering boorishness, blatant selfishness and cocky attitudes, this 'team' is getting good results. A disappointing bronze in women's hocky is still medal. Silver in ice dancing, (our first medal there in 30 years!) is still a medal, even if one must stretch the definition of 'sport' to recognize it. Seven golds is our best haul ever and that number will probably go up. So, although they may not represent the best of American values, they are certainly world-class athletes. And for that, we should be proud.

Finally, ice dancing. What a drama! First there's the Italian tiff: watching their number one team (Barbara Fusar-Poli and Maurizio Margaglio) literally give each other the cold shoulder even as they skated onto the ice was awesome. You didn't know if she was going to bite his leg, or if he was going to drop her from a hold or what, but the suspense was wonderful. And to see them make up at the end was equally good. They skated well, finished in who-cares place, but made up at the end of their program. After they fell in the second portion of the even they went into a 24-hour standoff where they wouldn't even acknowledge one another's presence backstage, but they kissed and cried when the music faded out. How touching. Truly olympic.

Then there was the Ukrainian team that skated to Bolero. Sacrilege. Bolero ought to be forbidden, retired, from olympic competition. It belongs forever to Torvill and Dean.

Winter Olympics XX (Part 8)

You know you are an Olympic Junkie when you stay up late watching ice dancing, which, as near as I can tell, is pairs figure skating without all the athleticism. It reminds me of the flag team in high school, where all the cheerleading washouts wound up. (Apologies to those who are offended, but that's the way it was at my high school.) The dancers have all the footwork, but none of the jumping or overhead lifts. What they lack in athletic ability however, they make up for with sex appeal, and isn't that what makes an Olympic sport? (Can you sense the sarcasm?)

Anyway, I found tonight's competition rather interesting. Basically, it was foreplay on ice, which the American team of Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto excelled at. I really hope they're married, for decency's sake. Seriously though, short of falling, the only way I can tell one program from another is by the color of the costumes. The subtleties are entirely lost on me.

Meanwhile, the rest of Team U.S.A. (Ha!) continues to pull down medals at a rate slightly faster than molasses in January, but just barely. I down't mean that to sound negative, but these guys were hyped like crazy, and they just aren't delivering.

Winter Olympics XX (Part 7)

SO, I just watched Shani Davis win the gold medal in the men's 1000m speed skate... and I am more convinced than ever that 'Team U.S.A.' is a misnomer that should never again be used to descibe this collection of American athletes. Yes, there are great team athletes out there (i.e., Ted Ligety), but there is also Shani Davis. What a jerk! He refused to skate the team pursuit, then he refused all media interviews (which normally isn't such a bad thing, but here only magnified the fact that he's an idiot), then he pretty much blew off the post-race interview. He did say in one of his last interviews before he cost us a chance to medal in the pursuit, "I could care less what other people say about me. I didn't come here to skate the team pursuit." Apparently he didn't come to represent his country either, although he might be said to resent it. His disdain is just too much. Could we maybe pull his citizenship or something? Seriously, I'm 35, and I've never seen such atrocious behavior in an athlete at the olympics. (Tanya Harding was close, but her biggest gaff- having her rival whacked in the knee- happened before the Olypics.) Even the NBC commentators said that to call the speed skaters a team would be a mistake. Did I mention the backbiting going on in among the ski jumpers? Yeah, they got into it to. Or was it the cross-country guys. Either way, pathetic. Maybe I'll immigrate to Norway or something. They have better sweaters anyway.

Winter Olympics XX (Part 6)

So, Lindsey Jacobellis. Wow. I'm almost ashamed to be an American. Seriously. I mean, does anyone ever address Team USA and tell them that they are at the Olympics to represent their country, not themselves? First Bode, then Shani (Davis- the jerk who wouldn't skate the team events in men's speed skating for fear of hindering his individual chances), now Lindsey 'Me First' Jacobellis. Pulling a stunt in the middle of a race?! Lins, ARE YOU STONED, OR JUST STUPID???!!! Pu-leese, somebody, anybody, kick these idiots upside the head and remind them that they represent 300 million people, not just themselves. These acts of infinite hubris are embarrassing, really. If you're going to go out there and act like a punk-a-double-squiggle, do it on your own time, in your own clothes, and preferably out of sight of the world media! Do NOT do it while claiming to represent the United States of America. Knuckleheads! Man, what have we got to do to get people to understand that competing at the Olympics are a privilege, not a right? It is to be taken seriously, not treated like a weekend getaway in the snow. To the rest of the ENTIRE WORLD, I apologize for the poor sportsmanship, stupidity and downright ugliness of Team U.S.A.

Winter Olympics XX (Part 5)

So, I hate to admit this, but as an Olympic Junkie I must: the U.S.A. is not nearly as impressive as they have been made out to be. And I am not referring to the fact that this year's team is over-hyped as the 'best ever,' or that we are projected to win the most medals of any U.S. team, but to the fact that without sports made recently popular by the U.S., we'd be a bunch of pathetic losers right now. Look back over the past four or five Winter Games at all the new sports that have been added and what you will find is that they are all sports dominated by U.S. teams, for the most part. Of course there are exceptions, but the snowboarding events, the moguls, aerials, women's hockey. Without these recently added bonuses, where would we be? Pathetic, that's where. Thank goodness we have enough clout to push such progressive sports into the media mainstream, I guess. So congratulations to our own Seth Wescott on winning the inaugural Snow Board Cross event, but isn't it sad that we have to resort to adding sports just so we can win? Can't we find SOME way to compete with everyone else in the traditional winter sports? Please!

Winter Olympics XX (Part 4)

My Olympic fever definitely spiked yesterday when Ted Ligety came out of nowhere to win the Nordic Combined. This junkie needed a fix and Ted hooked me up. Yeah!

Meanwhile, Bode Miller just doesn't have what it takes to be a true Olympic Hero. Sorry, Bode. He is the ultimate in egotism. He will only do what makes him happy, which is fine for an unemployed plumber, but not for an Olympic icon. The Olympics are the ultimate competition, only World Cup soccer even comes close, and you have to come ready to COMPETE. Bode's lacsadaisical me-first attitude just won't cut it. It may be popular with his fans, and its certainly a hit with his competitors, who love watching him self-destruct on the slope, but it won't make you an Olympic champion. 'Citius, altius, fortius' isn't a suggestion, its a command, and those who disobey wind up last. Yesterday, Miller DQ'd. Need I say more.

And, of course, there's Evgeny Plushenko. Why are the Russians so good? He didn't just dominate the field in the men's short program, he made everyone else look like they were skating in sand. Again, I'm not a fan of the Russians, but WOW! You have to root for perfection like that.

Winter Olympics XX (Part 3)

Never in my life have I rooted for a Russian to win at anything. But the Olympics (ahh, the olympics) can change a man, and especially a junkie like me. Last night Tatyana Totmiyanina and Maxim Maranin won Russia's 11th straight gold medal in Pairs Figure Skating, and they deserved it. They were flawless in the short program, and nearly so in the free skate.

So why did I root for this team? Two reasons. One, they were so beautiful in the short skate you HAD to pull for them in the long. I mean, really, they were head and shoulders above everyone else. And, two, the last time we saw these two was in 2002 at the Salt Lake City games; she was unconscious on the ice after he dropped her in the middle of an overhead lift. The fact that they could come back at all is truly OLYMPIC. To see her crumple and limp on the ice then and skating so perfectly now was the kind of inspirational story that deserves Gold.

Winter Olympics XX (Part 2)

Yes, the Olympics are going on as we speak, and deep in my heart there is a pain because I am not there to attend every event. I am an Olympic junkie. If I could watch evey minute of coverage on all the networks, I would. I would have to quit my job, but its almost worth it.

How bad is my O-fever? There are times in my life when I fervently wish I'd been born on some obscure South Pacific island nation so I could found a Luge or Skeleton Federation and attend 7 or 8 Olympiads as an athlete. Aahhhh... Olympics... Beautiful...

If I was wealthy enough I could retire and train tirelessly to be on the curling team. Yes, curling. It may not be glamourous, but you stay in the village and compete 'til you die of old age. I wouldn't need a medal, just the opportunity to compete, to hang out in that environment and meet all those people. It would be amazing.

Alas, I am now too old and poor and American to be an Olympic athlete, but I can still dream. Maybe one day I'll get to at least go as a fan. There is, perhaps, solace in that.

Winter Olympics XX

Last night Mandi and I watched the opening ceremonies of the twentieth Winter Olympiad being held in Torino, Italy. Over the next two weeks I will spend an inordinate amount of time watching television at all hours of the day and griping about the fact that there is a channel somewhere on cable showing some obscure olympic event that I really want to see but can't. I LOVE THE OLYMPICS!!! Particularly the winter games. I am an olympic junkie. Unashamed and greedy for more... It is a life ambition of mine to actually attend one sometime before I die. Maybe Vancouver 2010? Ahh, just the thought of it sooths my olympically tortured soul.

Devotional III

Ephesians 5:3
“But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among the saints.”

Have you ever wondered why sexual purity is such a big deal with God? I mean, if the only answer we can give as to why we think sexual activity should be saved for marriage is that “God said so,” isn’t that a cop out? Seriously. I know that when I tell my kids they should or shouldn’t do something, “Because I Said So!” I feel like a fraud. If they don’t understand why I give them instructions, they ultimately miss the point.

What makes this verse different though is that it does tell us why. Why should we keep our cool before we’re married? Because we’re saints. And being a saint means keeping true to our nature, not our old sinful nature, but our new nature, the one we received when we accepted Jesus as our Lord, our master. Being a saint isn’t something you do or don’t do, it’s who you are! In Christ, you are pure, clean, righteous, holy, ROYALTY even! Sexual immorality? You’re better than that. Impurity? That’s behind you, beneath you. In Christ, you are pure, a child of the King. It’s who you are. Remember that, always.

Anna's Salvation

Today the angels rejoice, and so do I. Tonight, Saturday, February 4, 2006, at 9PM our youngest daughter, Anna, just prayed to receive Christ. I think what encourages me the most is knowing that we didn't ask her first if it was something she wanted to do, but rather she approached us and said that she wanted to have God in her heart. So, her mother and I sat down with her, explained the gospel to her, then asked her if she still wanted Jesus in her heart. When she said yes, we all held hands and I led her in a prayer of salvation. Time will reveal the power of her conviction, but tonight my heart is swollen with joy. It has been the prayer of Mandi and I since before any of our children were born that they would dedicate themselves to the Lord.

Two down, one to go.

Alyssa, our eldest, also asked Jesus into her heart at the age of four. Now six, she is still strong in her faith. It is such a blessing to me and her mother to know that she is still interested in the Lord. I pray even now that these two would persevere to the end, hold firm to the faith that is theirs in Christ Jesus, and lead the world to change for the glory of God. Amen.

A sacrifice of dignity

So, yesterday I had one of those low moments in life when you're really glad that at least your parents didn't see it. In accordance with the Jar Wars contest rules, I ran the Oval at MSSU three times in three hours. Of course, students being students, they called all of the local television and print media, most of which was on hand for the event. Wonderful. Anyway, joplindaily.com was one of those outlets on hand and here's their take on the story. (I can't believe I made the news this way. What would my High School guidance counselor have to say...) The story is by Kaylea Hutson and ran under the banner "BSU Director accepts students' challenge."

NOTE: The picture also ran on joplindaily.com's Sunday print edition, taking up nearly a quarter of the front page. Front page on Super Bowl Sunday? Why me?

It's not everyday students at Missouri Southern can watch as a grown man runs around the campus oval wearing only a pair of red shorts and a red cape. But three times on Friday morning, students watched as Jon Smith, the director of the Baptist Student Union, did just that.Smith painted his chest
green and gold, donned the cape and shorts, and then ran around the oval to the encouragement of students.

It was all because BSU students raised more than $500 for the organizations' mission fund. Last fall, Smith challenged the students to collect at least $500 through a "guys vs. girls" pocket change drive. If the drive was a success, Smith promised to do something embarrassing of the students choosing. After students collected $700 in change, and an additional $1,300 from other sources, Smith accepted his fate. He would, as he put it, "sacrifice his dignity" and run around the campus oval, all because his students met their goal of raising money for missions.

Mandi Smith was on hand to watch as her husband completed his challenge. "I think it's great," she said. "It's goofy, but it shows integrity. He's keeping his word to the students. Students need to see role models, even though it's goofy."

After the run, Smith said he was thankful that it was an unseasonably warm February day. "I'm eternally grateful it's close to 50 degrees," he said, with a grin.

In addition to his wife and students, Smith's children were part of his cheering section. Six-year-old Alyssa said she was proud of her dad. "I think it's cool, because he's running around campus," she said.

Approximately 30 students will travel to three different sites during spring break. One group will help plant a church in Denver, Colo. A second group will journey to Arlington, Texas, to work with children, while a third group will conduct disaster relief efforts in New Orleans, La. Approximately 100 students took part in the fund-raising efforts during the fall semester. The girls beat the guys in the change drive by $2.