Donald Miller Essay Contest

I'm taking a break from sports this post to submit my entry to win tickets to Donald Miller's conference in Portland.  YEEHAW!

www.donmilleris.com/conference - If you want to know more about his conference check out this link.

“Jeff!  Jeff!  Put on your glasses, LOOK!”

I grudgingly opened my eyes to figure out what this commotion was about.  Jen, my wife, was standing next to the bed with some kind of stick in her hands.  I knew immediately the meaning of that stick.  This is the moment we had been waiting for.  This was the BIG MOMENT!  We were going to have a baby! 

For 7 months I’ve been asked questions from friends and family.  “Are you excited?”  “Are you ready?”  Of course I am excited, but how do I know if I am ready?  What constitutes being ready?  In my mind I picture myself being the picture-perfect father to my little girl.  She will have my heart from day one.

But how many fathers have thought the same thing?  Bad dads have scarred society.  The downfall of many people can be traced back to a bad father.  It’s a common theme in many stories. 

I want my story to be good.  Will Smith’s character in “The Pursuit of Happiness” lived a great story.  He made his mistakes, even lost his wife and home.  Despite his bad fortunes he never let his focus leave his son.  The love for his son propelled him out of poverty into a better life and better story. 

I’ve petitioned God daily to prepare me for this battle that is so foreign to me.  How do I keep myself out of dead-beat dad land?  What kind of soul preparation do I need? Am I living a good story right now?

Jesus lived the best story of all time so I may be free from my sin and focus on His glory.  His glory must be my focus.  His love is big and loud.  I want to amplify that love to my daughter so she will see past my faults and see the glory of God.  If my story does not focus on God’s glory then I will just be a clanging symbol drowning out the gospel to her and those around me. 

In two more months my life will be changed forever.  Another character will be added to my story.  A character that will reflect much of what my character is.  This is my inciting incident that will propel me to the climax of my story. There is no better time than now for me to take a step back to edit the details of my life so that I will be best prepared for this incredible adventure. 

Here is more about the conference. 



Living a Better Story Seminar from All Things Converge Podcast on Vimeo.

It Begins

Football is back!   And so am I.

Another football season is upon us.  Tailgates, food, friends, and of course, lots of disappointment.  It wouldn't be football season without it.  This year I will continue my self torture of Aggie games on Saturday followed by a Texans debacle on Sunday.  Why is it that I look forward to this time of year?  Well, it's like pizza.  Bad pizza isn't great, but it's still pizza nonetheless. 

Football is insanely emotional for me.   I'm laid back in many areas of my life but nothing erupts a volcano of emotion than this silly little game.  Not sure what I mean?  Well....last year at a Monday night football game I found it perfectly acceptable to yell out, "rip his bleepin' head off" during a play where Vince Young ran for a first down against my beloved Texans.  I'm telling you, it's insane.  (I think it goes w/out saying, Un-Christlike as well)

So I thought it would be fun to document the emotional cycle of the 2010 football season.  I promise to have no more profanities polluting the innocent minds around me.  Hopefully my Monday morning confessions will be more brief this year. 

Let the craziness begin.