Happy Anniversary

As always, Christmas is a busy time of year here on N. Wintzell and, as such, a pretty important day in the life of our family often gets neglected. On the 18th, Suzanne and I celebrated our 6th anniversary. It's been quite a journey, and I can't say enough how blessed I am to have Suzanne as my wife.

For those of you who know us, you know that our entire relationship has been a whirlwind. We met at the end of February, went on our first date in March, and were engaged on the 1st of June. At her insistence, we waited until December to get married. We married at Cottage Hill Baptist on December 18th and started a new life together. Within a few months of our marriage, I was dealt a blow as we lost my grandfather. As we mourned his loss, unexpected joy would come to me via text message, as I sat in a classroom in Pensacola: "You need to call me". "What is it?" "We're having a baby!"

So it was that, just like we knew what we were doing, we celebrated our first anniversary with a one month-old. In the spring of 2006, I finished seminary, and we did something a little crazy. I took a church in Wetumpka, Alabama. We thought we were moving to the other side of the world. She had questions. We talked. We prayed. She supported me every step of the way.

We spent four joyful years in Wetumpka. During our time there, we welcomed a little boy into the world, and celebrated anniversaries 2, 3, 4, and 5. In the months following #5, I found out more news via text: "Do you want your 3rd child to be a boy or a girl?" She would be a girl. We moved again.

Moving home was easy, changing jobs was more difficult. I had a lot of questions and fears. Youth ministry was a lot of fun. Never let any boohooing over-wrought student minister make you feel sorry for how bad they have it. I loved being the minister of fun trips, media, and eating after church. I had always wanted to be a pastor, but to actually do it? What if I mess this up? What if I fall flat on my face? She's been my encouragement and my support every step of the way. She saw what God was doing in our lives bringing us back here before I did.

I'm happy to report that, to this point, I haven't fallen flat on my face. I believe that God is at work in our church, and I believe that He has some good things in store for the future of First Baptist. We're living the good life. There have been a few bumps along the road, and things haven't always been easy, but we're blessed people. We've crammed a lot of life into the past 6 years: 3 kids, 3 jobs and a Master's degree a piece, and now I'm back to school again. We've moved half-way across the state and back again. And now, here we are.

Today on N. Wintzell, I'm in my office, and as I sit here typing, I can look through the window to see my wife pulling up at our house. Two shining children are piling out of the minivan as she pulls the third out in a baby carrier. In just a few minutes, I'll join them for lunch. We'll share a smile and a laugh (hopefully) and she'll probably give me a little scolding for something I've left undone. What I hope that she knows is that I love her, and I can't imagine my life without her. Above all men, I'm blessed. As we share a few minutes together, I'll be able to echo Solomon and say: "This is my beloved, this is my friend".

A Quick Christmas Post

Greetings,

Christmas is almost here! I hope to have something more substantial up in the next few days about Christmas, my anniversary, and some of the other exciting goings on here in the Bayou, but for now, I wanted to share this with you. If you are involved in any kind of social media, you have probably seen a number of Christmas videos this year. Some are old, some are new, but I've been amazed by the way my life has been touched by several of them. Here are a few of my favorites. So, take a few minutes, sit back, and enjoy the show.

First up is a little bit of fun as we combine Handel with a flash-mob:


Admit it, you secretly wish this would happen to you at the mall one day.

Second, we have a real classic:


This never gets old.

Third, we have a modern take on a timeless story:


I can't believe how touching this is. My curmudgeon gene wants to make an ugly face like my two year-old when I see facebook and nativity combined, but this was excellent.

Finally, my personal favorite, as we have some young New Zealanders giving us their take on the Christmas story.


I dare you not to smile!

Blessings to you and yours, and a very merry Christmas.

My View from N. Wintzell 12/16/10

Tomorrow marks an important milestone in my life and ministry, as the 17th will see celebrate my 6-month anniversary in the pastorate. It's been an exciting ride so far, and it's been filled with more joy than I could have possibly imagined. Like any other job (yes, I know it's a calling. I'm not trying to be unspiritual, I just recognize that the calling that God has placed on my life also puts food on my family's table) there are some days that are better than others, but in the past 48 hours I've been incredibly blessed by the opportunity to minister in a unique way.

When I arrived in my office on Wednesday morning, I was greeted with a voice mail that had arrived early that morning. The person on the other end is someone that I know fairly well, and he requested that I call him as soon as possible. A bit later as I returned his call he passed on a bit of surprising news. Someone he knew had felt led of God to provide a financial gift to a particular person in our community. The money passed through several channels to get to this person, and I was the last stop. My instructions were to deliver the gift along with the message that "someone was listening to God and wanted you to have this".

After meeting the previous courier, I made my way towards the recipients house and after two fruitless trips Wednesday afternoon, I decided I would have to wait for Thursday morning when I knew that this person would be home. This morning, I headed over first thing and had a good visit and had the opportunity to listen for a few minutes as this person shared about a significant and unexpected need that had arisen the previous afternoon. This was the reason they were not at home when I made my earlier attempts. As I presented this person with an envelope and told my story, I listened as the person I was visiting with confessed that they had not been able to follow through with fixing their problem the day before because, as you've guessed, they didn't have the money. Over the next few minutes we wept together, we rejoiced together, and we lifted up a prayer of thanksgiving to God together. As I walked away from this mornings experience, the words of this dear person rang in my ears throughout the rest of the day: "How could God be so good to me?"

That's a good question. I don't believe in the prosperity gospel. I believe that suffering is a real part of the experience of a disciple of Christ. Today I was reminded that my God is a provider. As this dear saint had spent the previous night crying out to Him for help, they had no idea that a Baptist preacher had knocked at their door two times that afternoon with the necessary provision for their need.

I'm glad that somebody listened to God. I don't know that this story will make it backwards through all of the necessary channels to get to that person or not, but I hope it does. I know that God is a provider, but sometimes our blessings come as gifts from others. I noted to myself this morning that I had the best job in the world. I got to deliver a gift from somebody to somebody. I was entrusted with someone else's money and I got to pass it along to someone with a need.

I think that's probably the way that it always is with God. Perhaps if we recognized that the money that we cling on to is His anyway, we wouldn't worry so much about giving it away. Maybe if we realized that it was His, we could let go of it, and be cheerful givers. If I recognized that I am a steward of God's resources and not their owner, I might experience the joy of blessing others more often. Maybe I'd worry less when I'm in need myself. I think I could say like Paul,

18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 4:18-20

That's my view, anyway, from here on N. Wintzell.

Christmas Time

It's the most wonderful time of the year. So, the song says and who am I to argue with the song? As we prepare for Christmas around here on N. Wintzell, I'm finding it more and more difficult to take time to reflect on the birth of Christ. Maybe you're in the same boat. Around the Landry house, I find myself surrounded by decorations, candy, and gifts hidden in every available nook and cranny. Even apart from the upcoming holiday events, life in general has been jam-packed.

As we make preparation for the last few weeks before Christmas, I wanted to let my friends out there online know about a few upcoming events that we hope will help place our focus on Christ during Christmas. Sunday morning at 11, our choir will be sharing with us in music as they present this year's Christmas musical. It's full of classic Christmas music, and I know that it will be a blessing.

Also, on Sunday night at 6, our church will be hosting a Candlelit Lord's Supper. This service will include David Akridge as our special musical guest and will be followed by a time of fellowship. I believe that both of these events provide us with a great opportunity to worship Christ during the Christmas season. If you're out there and don't have a church to call home, I'd like to invite you to come out and share in one of these services with us!

A Little Reading

It was a late night, last night, on N. Wintzell. Those of you that know me probably know that reading is one of my favorite pastimes, and the last week has seen me revisit a few old friends from my library. After catching a few minutes of the latest movie from the Chronicles of Narnia series, I took the opportunity to break out my copy to peruse again.

I don't know how many times I've read the Chronicles of Narnia, but I've spent considerably less time with them than I have with the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Lewis's friend and fellow writer. (My relationship with Tolkien can wait for another day) My view of this collection was tainted at an early age when my PACE teacher required our class to watch a BBC presentation of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. At that time in my life, it was terrifically important to me that I not associate myself with anything "uncool" (at this point, any of you that know me at all are probably thinking what a good job I did of hiding this inclination towards "coolness")and this movie was definitely not "cool". Alas, I avoided the Chronicles like the plague.


Check out the most annoying British children in the history of the universe!

Fast forward a number of years later and I found myself in a new stage of life. I was a ministerial student preparing to leave for seminary and found that the Chronicles were acceptable reading material. I had long since left behind most of notions of cool/uncool but had never really given Narnia a second thought. At this point, I began to read a lot of quotes and references to C. S. Lewis and Narnia, and my curiosity was piqued. I picked up a copy of the entire collection and the rest is history.

Narnia will never replace Middle-Earth in my hierarchy of mythical lands, but it certainly has earned an important place at the table. In my current re-reading, I started in the middle, with Prince Caspian and have since worked my way through The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, and The Last Battle. After finishing The Silver Chair last night, I felt compelled to go ahead and get a start The Last Battle. One thing led to another and I didn't sleep until I had finished it.

If you are familiar with the story, then you know that it presents a sort of Narnian apocalypse with Aslan bringing all things to right and the book closes with the Pevensies (minus Susan), Jill Pole, Eustace Scrubb, Digory, and Polly all joining with the other Narnians in Aslan's Land. It turns out that the humans from England were all killed in a railway accident and have joined Aslan for all eternity. (If you have never read the books, it's probably a good idea if I let you know that Aslan is a symbol for Christ throughout the story) After many adventures in the land of Narnia and having been drawn back and forth from their own country, the friends of Narnia are finally getting what they always wanted, to stay with Aslan.

This week, like many others, I've found myself with people who are spending their last days on earth. Like all of you, I wonder about the circumstances and details of my own passing. I don't know what it will be like. I carry within me the same fear of death that is the hallmark of humanity. When faced with the reality that this life will come to an end, I'm thankful that I have had my own glimpse of the great Lion and have experienced His grace, love, and presence. Knowing Him has given me a future to look forward to, because I know that He will be there. What will life be like on the other side? For those who have known Christ, He says this:

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you." John 14:18-20

We'll be going to a place where He is, forever, and that's enough for me. After much waiting, little Lucy heard it put this way, "The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning."

Turkey Time

What we hope the final project will look like

It's turkey time again and, if you're like me, this is likely to be the only time of the year that you cook a turkey. In the past 10 or 15 years, we've seen a big upswing in alternative turkey preparation methods. I'm certain that the classic roast turkey meal that has been an everpresent staple at most Thanksgiving gatherings for the past century is still the most popular presentation, these other methods are increasing in popularity.

The two most popular of these alternative preparations are the now ubiquitous Cajun fried turkeys and the smoked turkeys. For a number of years, we Landrys were invested in the fried turkey camp. The turkeys were always quite good, and overall they were considered a great success. Unfortunately, between the cost of the oil and the widespread popularity of the dish, we felt the need to move in a new direction. (Editor's note- fear of a fried turkey-nuclear-napalm holocaust never entered into the equation. This risk is the type of price that we will willingly pay to engage in food preparation at the far extremity of redneckery.)

Last year, we experimented with the smoked turkey, and we hope that this year will see the art perfected. This is a two-stage process: brining and smoking. In the rest of this post, I will spell out the details for you.

Stage 1: The Brine

Brining is a process that is designed to increase the moistness of the meat by the introduction of copious amounts of sodium into the meat before cooking. This is achieved by allowing the turkey to sit in a saltwater (or brine) bath overnight. For more information on brining check out this article:

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups salt
1 tbsp. dried rosemary
1 tbsp. dried thyme
1 tbsp. dried sage
6 bay leaves
1 yellow onion- quartered
4 cloves of garlic- crushed
1 lemon- halved
2 oranges- halved
2 qts. water
2 8 lb. bags of ice
1 turkey

In a large pot, heat the water. As it begins to heat, add the salt, herbs, onion, and garlic. Squeeze the citrus into the pot and add the rest of the citrus to the mix. When the water reaches a boil, immediately cut the heat. In a small ice chest or bucket, insert your turkey. Please be sure that you have removed any of the unpleasant bits inside of the turkey before adding it to the brine. Add the hot brining mix and one bag of ice. Add extra water until the turkey is completely covered. Shake the bucket or ice chest to mix. This step is best performed two nights prior to the consumption of the bird. After sitting overnight, check your bird, and if necessary add some of the ice from the second bag. After 12 or so hours, you can remove the bird and allow it to rest in the refrigerator.

Stage 2: The Smoke

Smoking the turkey will add the savory tang of hardwoods to your bird. I will be using a small electric smoker, but the same principles will apply to the process regardless of the type of smoker used. My only word of caution would be to choose wisely as you select the type of wood that you will use. Your turkey will soak up the smoke flavor more quickly than a piece of beef or pork, so take care that you do not go overboard with the amount of smoke that you produce. I would recommend against the use of mesquite altogether. Hickory will bring an excellent flavor, but it requires great moderation. Cherry and applewood are good choices and bring slightly different and delicate flavors to the party. For my money, the wood of choice for this project is pecan. It has an excellent flavor that complements the turkey without overwhelming it.

Ingredients:
2 sticks of butter- slightly softened
green onions
1 apple- quartered
4 bay leaves
Old Bay Seasoning
Kosher salt
black pepper
Butcher's twine

To prepare the bird for the smoker, remove it from the brine or the refrigerator, making sure to pat dry any excess water. Begin by inserting a good handful of green onions, the bay leaves, and the apple into the bird's body cavity. Pull the skin back on the turkey breast. Take the softened butter and use it to coat the meat as much as possible. This will give the bird a nice brown color, while also keeping the meat moist. Sprinkle the skin with a generous coating of the Kosher salt, black pepper, and Old Bay seasoning. Finish by trussing the wings and legs (if they're not already tied down) with the butcher's twine. Smoke according to your smoker's settings for 8-12 hours and you will be in business!

I hope to bring you a good report from tomorrow's feast. So, break free from the tyranny of the same old tired baked turkey, and prevent a fried turkey catastrophe by smoking your Thanksgiving bird this year. Remember: This could be you!

Welcome!

See, she looks just like me!

Amelia,

After many months of waiting, I'd like to be the first to say, "Welcome"! Your mom and I have been hoping, praying, and expecting for quite some time now. It seems that a lifetime has passed since I sat in my office in Wetumpka, Alabama reading a text message from your mom that asked, "Do you want your 3rd child to be a boy or a girl?" Since then, we've started a new life in a familiar place. Your brother and sister have adjusted well, and they're ready for you to be big enough to play with. One of the great advantages to being here right now is that our family, extended and immediate, is here. I should go ahead and warn you, we have a big family. Before you and your siblings get old enough to date, we'll probably have to move for you to have any chance of finding a match that is not a cousin of some variety.

I think you'll like it here. I'm excited that my children are going to get the opportunity to enjoy the nurture and care of so many people that were important in my life. I took your sister to school this morning, and I couldn't help but think about the days that I spent walking down kindergarten hall at Dixon on my way to Mrs. Steber's class. Sunday morning as I walked with your brother into Sunday School, I remembered butter cookies, Kool-Aid, and stories about Jesus, Noah, and Moses, all shared with love. Saturday, they got the chance to go on a boat ride with your Nana and Pop. Don't worry dear, your time will come soon enough.

I've got a lot to share with you. You're kind of a big deal. Really. When we told your brother and sister about you, big sis had a pretty good question. "Daddy, why do we need another baby?" Putting on my Mike Brady hat...



(Season 1 Mike Brady. After the perm entered the picture, I think it would have been difficult for him to wear a hat)

I came up with the most fatherly answer I could think of: "Because our family has so much love that we thought we needed one more person to share it with." It turns out I was right. You've stolen my heart already. I know that there will be some hard days along the way and you may not always like me very much, but I can't wait to see what your future holds. So, stretch out, make yourself at home, and make plans to enjoy yourself, Miss Landry.

Love,

Your Daddy.

It's Been Awhile

I've missed you, here at my perch on N. Wintzell.

It's been a busy few weeks. Suzanne continues her steady march towards setting the record for most pre-labor hospital stays following a particularly nasty bout of food-poisoning last week. We had the opportunity to celebrate Maggie's birthday a little early Saturday, and a good time was had by all. For a significant portion of the high school teams in Alabama, the football season has come to an end. As I've mentioned numerous times before on the blog, I've had the privilege this year to serve as a chaplain for the Alma Bryant High School football team. They wrapped up their season on October 29th at Ft. Walton Beach High School. Unfortunately, I was unable to make the trip, but you can read more about their victory here.

I can't say enough how proud I am of that group of guys. There were some tough losses along the way, and I know that they didn't meet all of their goals, but I watched a group of kids turn a corner this year. Something clicked, and the team made great strides through the second half of the season. As I spent time with the team and the coaches, I was reminded of the old axiom: "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". In the first part of the season, I could sense a growing frustration as the coaching staff and players struggled through some tough games. The realization that methods and modes of thought that had been employed in previous seasons would not be effective made for some difficult days.

The great news is that the team turned the corner. I don't know how or why, I just know that they did. The team that took the field on October 29th was a fundamentally different team than the one that kicked off the season back in August. While the cast of characters remained the same, over the course of the season, I got to watch transformation take place. Kids that couldn't get out of their own way early in the year became impact players over the course of just a few weeks, and it was incredible to watch.

It seems that transformation is a difficult business. It's a lot easier to continue to do what we've always done. Our present methods are safe, inasmuch as the risk factors have been measured and understood, they have shown a level of effectiveness in our previous experience, and they are our familiar friends. We know them, we don't have to think about them, we just continue to do what we have done. In every system, every organization, and in every life, I believe that a moment (or more likely many moments) of transformation must come. How do we respond to this need? Will we embrace the need and pursue it, or will we always return to the safe and familiar. The cost of thinking transformationally is great, but the cost of living in a continual state of loss is greater.

That's my view anyway, from here on N. Wintzell!

My View from N. Wintzell 10/26/10

Sorry for the radio silence. It's been an exciting few weeks here on N. Wintzell. For those of you who aren't so intimately acquainted with the activities of the Landry family, let me bring you up to date.

10/17/10- Homecoming at FBC. A great day of worship and fellowship with friends and family was enjoyed by the church. Immediately following the festivities, my son developed a hacking cough and fever. Dr.'s diagnosis- bronchitis.

10/18/10- Dad and Joseph enjoy a sick day together. A smashing time was had by all. Compliments of Hollywood Video, we enjoyed Toy Story, Pete's Dragon, and The Great Mouse Detective.

10/19/10-10/20/10- all was quiet on the southern front.

10/21/10- at 7:15AM I received a text message from my 33 week pregnant wife: "I think my water just broke!" We live in an amazing age of technological wonder. My wife uses it to communicate a number of important messages to me. It was via text message that I found out about two of my wife's pregnancies. I like text messaging. For future reference, I think such an announcement (ie the breaking of water) deserves a phone call.

We arrived at the hospital and Suzanne was examined only to determine that her water had not broken. She was, however, having contractions. After stopping the contractions, the Dr. determined that the best course of action was for her to stay over night.

10/22/10- Good news! Everything looks great and we're going home at noon. All in all the trip was a smashing success and we hope to hold off the onset of labor as long as possible.

10/23/10- Suzanne wakes to symptoms of Joseph's bronchitis. After a phone call to her doctor, we return to the hospital. While there, contractions began again and, you guessed it, we settled in for another overnight stay.

10/24/10- While I was at church, the doctor made the decision to release Suzanne again. Upon arriving home, she discovered that our son was running a 102-degree fever with redness in his throat. Three hours of Urgent-Care later, we had a diagnosis of strep throat.

It's now Tuesday, 10/26/10 and everyone seems to be doing well. Suzanne went back to work today and we have made our best effort to keep the medical establishment in Mobile County afloat for another week. Thanks to all of you who have been praying for us. We're blessed to have such an incredible group of people to call our friends and family. Please keep praying!

Clint Landry?

Have you met my alter-ego?


If you weren't aware yet, your humble blogger/pastor has gone Hollywood. OK, so maybe it's not me, but there is a guy with my name. If you haven't had the chance yet, should take the opportunity to check out Swamp People on the History Channel. I was first alerted to the show by some observant folks here at the church who noted that the show's true protagonist, Troy Landry shared my last name. (Also, if you dropped Troy between my dad and uncle, you might think he was the 3rd Landry brother) We've got some video of Troy below:




Troy Landry is a Swamp Person. During alligator season, he takes the opportunity to hunt alligators, commercially, and employs a "hired gun" named Clint Landry (no relation to Troy or the author) to do the actual shooting. You can find out more about the show here: I was immediately intrigued, as it's always good to see a fellow Landry enjoy fame. I took the opportunity to find the actual Clint Landry on Facebook and friend him up. Apparently, I wasn't the only one with this idea, as I've recently received friend requests from folks around the country. In checking out their profiles, I've found that they are, inevitably, Swamp People fans who think they have befriended "the" Clint Landry.

Unfortunately, I'm not "the" Clint Landry. I do not regularly "Choot 'im in da head, yah!" (that's a little Swamp People joke for us insiders) I am a Clint Landry, though, and I am now endeavoring every day to do my part to act as a Swamp Person. No reptile shall survive my fury. I will begin to speak in the dialect of my Cajun forefathers. I will wear the exact same shirt in every episode of my new show. OK, so maybe not. Maybe I'll just have a bowl of gumbo and buy one of these sweet t-shirts: here

As for me, I'll just enjoy my new-found pseudo-celebrity here on N. Wintzell.

A Homecoming Note

Thanks to all of the folks who came out and participated in Homecoming 2010 at FBC. I believe that the day was a great success! If you were not with us, here's a copy of my letter to the congregation in this year's homecoming book:


October 17, 2010
Greetings!
Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate our 129th Homecoming Sunday at First Baptist Bayou La Batre. It’s a joy to welcome you. Whether you are a member, former member, or guest we want you to know that we appreciate your presence this morning. It’s a blessed thing to be a part of a church that has enjoyed an enduring witness in the community for so many years. In a day in which most of our life is marked by the transient nature of change, there is great comfort in worshipping the God who has not.

Our church has seen a lot of changes over the past 129 years. There have been good days and difficult days. We’ve shared joys and sorrows together. In the midst of storms, our God has faithfully seen us through to this day. Today is a day that we share together in hope, the hope of a risen Savior.

Today is a day of celebration! We remember those who have gone before. We consider their sacrifices and we examine the impact that they have made on our lives. We give thanks for men and women with the foresight to invest in the lives of future generations, to the glory of God.

Today is also a day of reflection. As we look to our past, we reflect on our present situation? As we share the joy of a family reunion, we remember those who are separated, lost, and searching for the hope that we share.

Will there be a lighthouse to shine a beacon of hope for them? Will we embrace the challenge of a new day? Will our city know that the God who has been at work in and through our church for so many years is seeking them? 129 years from now, will we be remembered as men and women who carried the Gospel to a lost city?

Will you pray with me that God would raise us up to fulfill the Master’s call to lift His name high? I’m convinced that God wants to work through faithful men and women to do a new thing here. Will it be like the old days? No, it probably will not. I do believe, however, that God has a new vision for us and it is greater than anything we can imagine. What will our future hold? I don’t know, but I know that I’m excited to be a part of it.



Blessings,



Rev. Clint Landry
Pastor
First Baptist Church
Bayou La Batre


As part of yesterday's service, I've asked our church, along with the many friends of First Baptist out there to join us in 40 days of focused prayer for the future of our church. From now until November 25th (Thanksgiving), we're going to praying for a renewed sense of vision and direction. Will you join us in seeking God's vision for FBC?

Homecoming

Consider yourself invited!


It's an exciting week here on N.Wintzell. The church is abuzz as we prepare to celebrate Homecoming here at First Baptist. I believe it's going to be a good day in the life of our church. If you've never had the opportunity to participate in homecoming at a small-town church, you've missed out. Sunday will be a day of reflection and remembrance, of celebration and of tears. We'll fondly think back to days gone by and we will join hands in a prayer of hope for the future.

The old girl will celebrate her 129th this week. That's quite an accomplishment in an era where our institutions struggle to survive. She's been battered by storms, physical and otherwise. She's had some bad days. She's still here.

This will be my first opportunity to participate in a homecoming since I was a child here. The homecoming committee asked me to preach this year, given the unique set of circumstances concerning my call as pastor. I'm happy to do it and I'm praying that God would speak to His people through me Sunday. I look forward to welcoming old friends and family back home Sunday. We'll embrace and celebrate what the Lord has done.

As I look back on my relationship with the church, I smile when I think about good days. I remember many hours spent playing in the church yard, enjoying fellowship meals with the best gumbo in the world, and the men standing around the coffee pot chatting about the goings on in the wide world. The kitchen here was where I first learned that the coffee pot was the men's territory. I think about children's camps, youth trips, and Vacation Bible Schools. I was the worst arts and crafts student in the history of VBS, if you were curious. My mediocre abilities ruined the experience for all parties involved. I still break out in hives when I see popsicle sticks and pipe cleaners. I remember old friends. Some of them have been taken home and some of them are away.

Sometimes I think about the difficult days that we've been through. I'm thankful for faithful men and women who cared enough to keep things going through dark times. I'm glad that through the ups and downs of the life of the church, God's seen us through. I'm glad that He's given us "a future and a hope".

Over the past 129 years, I know our church has made an impact. I don't have to go far to see it, hear it, and feel it. If you are out there reading this post and you're one of those folks, consider this a personal invitation to come out and join us this Sunday. Whether you are nearby are far away, come home this Sunday at 10:30. We'll have the gumbo ready for dinner on the grounds and we'll be waiting for you, here on N. Wintzell.

A Little Spark?

Will it Grow?

Forgive me for the light posting over the past few weeks. I've been preparing for a doctoral seminar that I'm participating in this week and the work has kept me from posting as much as I'd have liked. I spent the day in Pensacola participating in a seminar on leadership and church growth. During the course of today's class, we were confronted by some startling statistics in regard to the state of the Church in America today. I hate to admit it, but some of the information was disheartening.

Faced with this information, we are tasked with coming up with solutions for the state of decline that so many of our churches are experiencing. In considering these issues, I was reminded of a conversation I had earlier in the week with one of my church members. She had mentioned to me once that she had met one of my former students from my first church, Durant Chapel. At the time, I didn't know the context of their conversation. This lady was in the hospital and my former student was her nurse. The patient was quite nervous concerning her physical difficulties and the nurse took the time to minister to her and pray with her. In the course of the conversation, it came up that they both knew me.

As a youth minister, I can't tell you how much it excited me to see one of my students living out the principles that I worked hard to pour into her life. I certainly can't take credit for it, but knowing that one of my students was ministering to someone else reminded me that the Kingdom will multiply. Jesus put it this way:

30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

Mark 4:30-32

How are we going to make an impact on our culture? How can we make a significant difference in our communities? How can our mustard seeds grow into great plants? I think the answer is clear: one person at a time. When that happens, one will become two. Two will become four, and so it goes and grows.

If you were ever around any youth ministries from 1972-1993, you probably heard or sang one of the most iconic Christian songs of the era, Pass It On by Kurt Kaiser. For a person of my generation, it's a song that's usually met with a few snickers and visions of cheesy campfire scenes at youth retreats. It does remind us of that important truth: the Kingdom will multiply as we share what God has done in us, one person at a time.

So take a moment, imagine you're around the campfire in 1982, and enjoy the song:

Perks of the Job

Greetings, friends!

So, I don't have anything profound to write about today (ok, maybe I never have anything profound to write about, but thanks for reading anyway). But I thought I would share a little bit of my week with you. Wednesday I got to enjoy one of the real perks of my job as pastor here at FBC Bayou La Batre. One of the ways that church members often show appreciation to their ministers is by providing them with food. Over the course of my years in ministry, that food has come in the form of scuppernongs, barbecue, yard eggs, and a number of other delights. All were good. This week, that tradition of dining excellence reached an apex as a church member called me to give my family some shrimp he had caught the night before.

Needless to say, I was happy to receive the gift. Last night, our family sat down to one of the best meals I've ever eaten. It was a simple meal: fried shrimp, french fries, and hush puppies. It was perfect. What made the meal? First and foremost, the company was outstanding. Sharing a great meal with family is an incredible joy, that most of us don't do often enough. Second, it was nice to be blessed with a gift from a church member. I'm thankful that God's people appreciate the service I offer to the church and choose to bless me in return.

I would be remiss, however, if I failed to make note of the crucial role that the main ingredient made in the meal. Without the shrimp, the fries and hush puppies would have made a pretty mediocre meal. You can go to almost any grocery store in our nation and buy shrimp, but there's nothing like those beautiful white shrimp caught on our Alabama Gulf Coast. For my out of town friends, they may cost a little more and you may have to look a little harder, but I promise you, it will be worth the effort.

For more info on Alabama wild shrimp, check out thislink.

In the Air

It's Here!

If you are one of my local readers, then you've probably joined me over the past two days in savoring one of the best experiences of the year: The 2 weeks of Fall on the Gulf Coast. This morning I left the house early, with the slightest nip in the air, low humidity, and bright sunshine for the remainder of the day. Enjoy it folks, because it will be gone before you know it.

During our sojourn in central Alabama, we grew to enjoy Fall even more, since we got to experience it for more than a fortnight. One of the highlights every year was watching the leaves change color. For Suzanne and I, this was a new experience. Growing up in a pecan orchard, I was used to leaves that just turned brown and died. Not so in Wetumpka. Every year, we watched with delight as the trees around town provided a pleasant display. We would take the kids to the pumpkin patch, take lots of pictures, and grab a pumpkin for jack-o-lantern carving.

Last year, our interest in Fall rose to new levels as Suzanne and I took an anniversary trip to New England. We were there for Columbus Day weekend, and drove through Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. For a kid from Bayou La Batre, Alabama, it was a little overwhelming. As we drove through the Berkshires, Adirondacks, Green, and White Mountains, it looked like the world was on fire. We visited farmers' markets, apple orchards, and a bed and breakfast. It was all very Newhart. It changed my perspective on Fall and was a trip that Suzanne and I will never forget and would love to repeat.

I was amazed by the reaction of some of the people we met along the way, to our leaf-peeping adventure. "Why would you want to come here"? "They're just leaves". "They have a means of conveyance in Alabama that will bring you here"? "They let you in"? The marvel we observed with fresh eyes had become commonplace to the people who were most familiar with it. We had the experience of a lifetime; they were just experiencing life.

And so it is in my walk with Christ. How often do I treat the grace of God as a base thing? Have I lost my sense of wonder at the mystery of the faith? When I consider the returning King, am I filled with awe at His majesty?

That's what I'm wondering, here on N. Wintzell.

Not Too Far from the Tree

Like Father, Like Son...

As most of you are probably aware, the picture above features myself and my son Joseph. Sons are a blessing. If you don't have one, I highly recommend them. In the aforementioned picture, we're inside "Donald's Boat" in Mickey's Toontown Fair in Walt Disney World. By the looks on our faces, we're probably wondering exactly why we spent 10 minutes of precious vacation time walking around inside of a plastic boat with nothing inside of it. Or maybe that was just me.

As I write this post, Joseph and I are sitting up together. The women around here go to bed early, but Joseph and I like to stay up for a bit. Actually, it's more like we do everything we can to fight sleep. Right now, I'm typing on one couch while Joseph lies sprawled across the other one. As an aside, I'm on the short couch and he's got the long one to himself. I'm afraid I see a pattern developing here. Over the past 45 minutes, he's been in and out of his bed 5 times, he's readjusted to 37 different positions to find the optimal sleeping position on the couch, he's taken blankets on and off, and he's still not particularly close to being asleep. That's my boy.

Thursday is the only day during the week where I pick Joseph up from school. So, I thought we'd have a quick after school adventure. We made the trip down N. Wintzell to Landry Boatworks to see Pop after work. This is always a fun trip. Pop's got boats, you know. Today was a special treat, as we got to take a ride down the Bayou in one of Pop's boats. Joseph had a blast. It made my day. I think Pop had a pretty good time as well. As our three generations enjoyed our brief cruise, I reflected on the blessings I enjoy, as both a father and a son.

So, as I sit here and type, and Joseph swaps ends of the couch again, I'd like to say thank you, Lord for fathers and sons, and the joy of being both and having both. God, help me to guide him towards You. Let my example point him in the way of godliness.

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;
he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
Proverbs 23:24

My View from N. Wintzell 9/21/10

Here fishy, fishy...

One of the joys of coming home has been the opportunity to spend more time with family. The past two Saturdays, I've been able to do that by fishing with my dad. There's nothing quite like being out in time to watch the sun rise over the Mississippi Sound. The weather's been nice. It's not too hot out in the early morning hours, the fish are biting, and we don't run out of things to talk about on the boat. Following this Saturday's trip, I've come to an unfortunate conclusion: we're not very good fishermen. Reasons follow below:

1) I'm a wave magnet. If you're ever looking for choppy conditions, take me fishing. We set out Saturday morning under absolutely beautiful skies. At the mouth of the Bayou, everything was as slick as glass. We ran towards the West end with nothing but smooth seas ahead of us. We made it to our fishing spot just in time for the wind to pick up and attempt to beat us to death. The fish weren't biting, so we moved on.

2) At this point we arrived at the Katrina Cut. The good news was that the winds had laid down and we were in smooth seas again. The fish were biting. Unfortunately, we found ourselves amongst bluefish and sand sharks. They hit everything that we threw into the water. Unfortunately, the fish were better prepared than we were. The bluefish enjoyed our bait and cut our lines. The sand sharks made it to the boat to give us a little excitement.

3) We didn't have long to fish, so we headed back to the Bayou. As we passed Coffee Island, you can imagine the conditions we encountered. Smooth seas with fish boiling the top of the water as far as you could see in every direction. Picking locations to fish is apparently not one of my stronger suits.

So, on the negative side of the ledger, I attract bad weather, am improperly prepared, and make bad choices regarding location. On the other hand, the morning was nice, the company was better, and I was fishing. I suppose it all evens out in the end. Here's to next Saturday and my chance at redemption. I'll be better prepared. I'll give greater consideration to where we fish. Regardless, it'll be a good day, and that's my view from here on N. Wintzell!

Football Friday: Homecoming Edition

It's that time again! Friday night's almost upon us and excitement is in the air as the young men and women along N. Wintzell and other points across southern Mobile County prepare for Homecoming Weekend at Alma Bryant High School. Tonight, the class of 2001 will be honored, the Queen will be crowned, and preparations will begin for Saturday night's dance.

If you live in Bayou La Batre, Irvington, or Grand Bay and need a haircut tomorrow, good luck. Teenage girls in search of the perfect 'do will be out in full force, and they'll get started early. Our girls will transform into beautiful young ladies, while our boys will look like big-eared kids with bad haircuts wearing Dad's suit. (Sorry guys, I was there once myself) I don't really know why this works out that way. I think girls must be born with a certain amount of glamour built in. Boys obviously do not. Regardless, our handsome (goofy-looking) young men and attractive young women will have a good time this weekend, while we old timers will hang around the game and remember when.

On with the Preview!

1) Bryant vs. Baker
Looks like a great opportunity for the Canes to jump start their season with a win in the region. Here's hoping our boys are primed to go out and make a good showing.

2)Alabama vs. Duke
I think the Tide will get to test out their young defensive backfield against a team that has had a lot of success throwing the football under Coach Cutcliffe's tutelage. I want to see them pass this test with flying colors, stay healthy, and get ready for a tough road trip to play the Hogs in Arkansas next week.

3)Auburn vs. Clemson
I don't know a lot about Clemson and based on the quality of their first two opponents, it's hard to get a bead on where they stand as of right now. They're going into a hostile environment to play the other Tigers and we should find out a lot about Clemson. Auburn's a bit of a mystery right now as well. If you could combine the defensive performance against Mississippi St. with the offensive output from the Arkansas St. game, you've got a team that could make a lot of noise. Conversely, if you swapped it around, you'd have a whole heap of mediocrity. The truth usually lies somewhere in the middle. Regardless, I believe that the Tigers will win this one.

4)New Orleans vs. San Francisco
Have I mentioned that the Saints won the Super Bowl last year? I'm still flying high after last season, so I don't think I would be that greatly affected by even the worst possible outcome for this year. The Saints travel to San Fran for a Monday Night match-up. I don't know how to handle success. I keep waiting to wake up from this beautiful dream. Will it happen at the hands of the 49ers? I think not!

The Bayou Top 10: #6

How do I love thee red drink? Let me count the ways...

In preparing this Bayou Top 10 list, the item listed above was one of the very first things that came to mind. Some of you may be thinking, "Clint, that's a Strawberry Fanta. You can get one of those anywhere." Bear with me for just a moment. The beauty of this beverage (from this point on to be referred to as "red drink") is in its pairing. I could go to just about any convenience store in the region and have a bottled red drink. But, how many places could I go and enjoy it on tap in a local fast food establishment? So far as I know, only one place: The Bayou.

Take a little trip with me back to the late 90's. As a teenager, one of my favorite meals involved a short jaunt down to Sidney's (check them out here) for a COB (we'll discuss this beauty later on) and a red drink. The COB is excellent by itself, but the addition of a red drink moved the meal into the realm of the sublime. Red drink developed quite a cult following in those days and I was glad to partake.

With that back story, you can imagine my disappointment when I walked into Sidney's for lunch during my move-in for a COB (hot mustard, add cheese) and a red drink, only to find that Sidney's no longer serves red drink. At this point I faced an existential crisis. Was I prepared to live in a Bayou without red drink? My entire sense of gravity vanished in an instant. After an extended internal dialogue (and if you've read my blog very often my internal dialogues are often extended), I decided that I would make the most of the situation and move forward.

A few weeks after moving in, I made an executive decision to have lunch at Subway. During my absence, we added a new restaurant to our dining options, and I have become a regular customer. After paying for my sandwich, I made my way to the drink counter, where I found myself face-to-face with an old friend: red drink.

Since my return, I've had a number of similar encounters. One night at Greer's, I ran in for milk and bread and ran into three of my former classmates from high school. It was like old times. It had been nearly 12 years since I had seen any of them, but we had a few moments of good conversation, catching up on news past and present. So it was with my red drink.

Red drink makers, I salute you!

(For more information on red drink, visit its website here.

Senior Adult Sunday Revisited

Saved By the Bell: The Golden Years


As I mentioned last week, we had the opportunity to celebrate our senior adults in this Sunday morning's service. We had a great time recognizing the committed service that these men and women have offered to the Lord through His church. We recognized a lady who has been a member of our church for 80 years. We recognized several others who have been a part of our church since they were on the "cradle roll" in the 20's and 30's. Seeing their faithfulness gives me hope. I recognize this: the same God who has strengthened their hands for the work of ministry is alive and at work in my life and in yours. If He will use them, then He will use us as well.

As I reflect on the legacy that they've blessed us with, I was reminded of the need to honor these saints. We live in a culture that is increasingly obsessed with youth. We want to do whatever we can to avoid the appearance of age. Even to the point of foolishness, we seek to project an image of youthfulness. The English have a saying for this sort of thing: Mutton dressed as lamb. We fear the coming of old age and fail to respect those who are facing its consequences. In preparation for this week's message, I found this folk tale from the Grimm's collection:

Once there was a little old man. His eyes blinked and his hands trembled; when he ate he clattered the silverware distressingly, missed his mouth with the spoon as often as not, and dribbled a bit of his food on the tablecloth. Now he lived with his married son, having nowhere else to live, and his son's wife didn't like the arrangement. "I can't have this," she said. "It interferes with my right to happiness." So she and her husband took the old man gently but firmly by the arm and led him to the corner of the kitchen. There they set him on a stool and gave him his food in an earthenware bowl. From then on he always ate in the corner, blinking at the table with wistful eyes. One day his hands trembled rather more than usual, and the earthenware bowl fell and broke. "If you are a pig," said the daughter-in-law, "you must eat out of a trough." So they made him a little wooden trough and he got his meals in that. These people had a four-year-old son of whom they were very fond. One evening the young man noticed his boy playing intently with some bits of wood and asked what he was doing. "I'm making a trough," he said, smiling up for approval, "to feed you and Mamma out of when I get big. "The man and his wife looked at each other for a while and didn't say anything. Then they cried a little. They then went to the corner and took the old man by the arm and led him back to the table. They sat him in a comfortable chair and gave him his food on a plate, and from then on nobody ever scolded when he clattered or spilled or broke things.

Let us take great care to treat our elders with love, respect, and honor. Lord willing, I hope to be one of them one day.

That's my view, anyway, from here on N. Wintzell

What I'm Reading

Even though you're probably not all that interested...

I thought I'd give you a quick rundown on some of the things that I've been reading over the past week or two, with some thoughts on each.

For Business:

1) Leading Congregational Change: A Practical Guide for the Transformational Journey
Jim Herrington, Mike Bonem, and James H. Furr


This book is a collection of principles for leadership during times of change in the life of the church, put together by members of the staff of the Union Baptist Association in Houston, Texas. It's a pretty good guide that provides a good model for leading the church to embrace a new vision for its future. I was particularly impressed with the emphasis on preparing the congregation spiritually for change. All around good read and good info.

2) Spiritual Leadership: Moving People on to God's Agenda
Henry and Richard Blackaby



Another one from the guys who brought you the popular Experiencing God study. This work focuses on the spiritual preparation of the change leader. Sprinkled in are some wise thoughts about the pitfalls of leadership. I was challenged in a few areas about my own leadership style, as well as being encouraged about some things that I may be doing right.

3)A Sense of Urgency
John P. Kotter



Kotter is highly regarded in corporate circles for his work in leadership. In this book, he invites leaders to develop a sense of urgency to move their organization forward. While the book is secular in nature, I found a number of parallels to the life of the church. What situations in our life move us to urgent action? Are we dominated by complacency? How can we move forward?

For Pleasure

1) The Once and Future King
T.H. White



Those of you that know me well know that I'm a sucker for nearly any kind of fantasy literature. Listening to Arthur's story being told from a thoroughly modern narrator is a real joy to me. The wit hits just the right notes, while the characters feel relatively approachable. Further, this book served as an inspiration for one of my favorite movies of all time The Sword in the Stone.

2)Nerds: Who They Are and Why We Need More of Them
Dr. David Anderegg



It's been an interesting read to this point. Anderegg makes the case that nerds are the last great class that we can openly get away with persecuting, particularly through childhood and adolescence. While I think that he may overstate the case just a little bit, I agree with him that our cultural obsession with being "cool" (i.e. not good at math or science) is harming our nation's long term ability to advance in those fields.

So, that's a quick overview of what I've been reading, here on N. Wintzell

Senior Adult Sunday

It's been a good week so far, here on N. Wintzell. The Labor Day holiday was beautiful. I had the opportunity to spend a little bit of time with Dad out on the water and it couldn't have been a better day for it. The lunch menu included shrimp and bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin. Shrimp, bacon, and pork tenderloin all make the list of foods that are hard to mess up.

Going into the weekend, I was concerned about our attendance, given the holiday weekend and the beautiful weather. We launched a new young adult Sunday School class, and I was hoping for a big day. Imagine my surprise when I saw that hope realized! I'm blessed by people who are faithful to the church and take the opportunity to be involved in it. On Labor Day weekend, we had our highest Sunday School attendance to date in my short tenure at FBC. I'm excited about what God is doing in our midst and hope to see God continue to grow the ministry of His church.

I'm excited about this Sunday because it will see us recognize a group of folks that may often go overlooked in the life of the church: Senior Adults. Every time I talk to people that are "in the know" about church growth, we inevitably talk about the challenges of involving young families and young adults in the church. How can we engage them? What are their needs and interests? What can we do to minister to them? I believe that these are important questions and that we should be asking them. I recognize, however, that none of us is asking those kinds of questions about our senior adults. For many congregations (ours included) those seniors have been the backbone for years and continue in that role today. They are faithful to pray, give, and participate in the ministries of the church. Unfortunately, their faithfulness leads us to take their contributions for granted. When someone has served in the church for 40, 50, or 60 years we may not see the value of their service.

With that in mind, Senior Adult Sunday provides us with an opportunity to recognize these men and women and to thank them for the many ways that they contribute to the work of the Kingdom, both in days past and in days to come. My life has been enriched by many seniors. I'm continually blessed by their prayers, love, and encouragement. I'm thankful for the legacy of faithfulness that these men and women have prepared for myself and other leaders to inherit.

This week, when you see a Senior Adult, take the opportunity to hug their necks. Engage them in conversation. Spend time with them. Let them know that you care about them, and thank them for the love that they have offered you. Hopefully I'll make it to Senior Adult status one day (discounts at the Golden Corral!)and I hope that when I do I will carry with me the same kind of legacy that I've seen in the lives of so many men and women I've known in my life. That's my view, anyway, from here on N. Wintzell

The Weekend Ahead

Since football has officially arrived with the kickoff of the college football season last night, I thought I'd give y'all a quick overview of my thoughts going into the weekend! Disclaimer: I don't plan on giving any predictions on scores etc. Because I really have no idea what I'm talking about, but perhaps I'll be able to provide a little bit of out of the box insight.

Friday Night: September 3rd

Alma Bryant vs. Mattie T. Blount

I'll be on the sidelines for this one, and I'm hoping for a good showing by the alma mater. Both teams are coming off of tough losses. Bryant fell to Daphne last week, while Blount took it on the chin in Prattville. This is a region game, and a win would go a long way towards Bryant's aspirations to return to the playoffs in 2010. Whenever I think of Blount, I will always remember their 1998 squad, which featured DeMarco McNeal and Deandre Green, two of the most physically imposing high school football players I've ever seen. As a senior, we watched game film of them in preparation for our matchup with Vigor, and I remember thinking "I'm glad they're in 5A".

Saturday: September 4th

Penn State vs. Youngstown St.

I don't really have any doubt about the outcome of this one, but I will be interested to get a preview of Penn St. prior to next week's clash at Bryant-Denny.

Alabama/Auburn vs. Directional Institution of Your Choice

Not a lot to be excited about in either of these matchups, but it's honest to goodness football featuring our state teams. If these games aren't blowouts, there will be an awful lot of teeth-gnashing around the state. Stay safe boys and get ready for next week! Also, this puts another week closer to the return of Marcel Dareus and Mark Ingram.

North Carolina vs. LSU

Will there be any Tar Heels left to play in this game? Apparently Les Miles is living right, because a win here will only be remembered as a win vs. UNC, a favorite to win the ACC, not as a win against UNC, a team that may not be able to field a complete defense because of Agentgate. A big win here also may help cool Miles' seat a little bit. All fans of the SEC West ought to be cheering for LSU (regional pride, etc.) because, otherwise, they might fire Miles and hire a competent head coach.

Monday: September 6th

Boise State vs. Virginia Tech

In the most exciting matchup of the weekend, I hope to see Virginia Tech smash Boise. I don't like Boise. Not there blue turf, not their dipsy-doo trickeroo plays, their weak schedule, or their chest-thumping about the greatness of their great win over Oklahoma a few years back. Tech, strike a blow for the big boys and end the Cinderella talk now.

A Link

Just thought I'd share a link with my readers today. I really think that Dr. Moore hits the nail on the head with this article and I think that he's articulated what a number of evangelicals are thinking. God, give us a singleness of purpose!

Check out the article here.

Kids These Days!

As I begin today's brief post, I hope that you will take a moment and enjoy the video below:



This video was produced by four of my former students from FBC Wetumpka. Rodney Riggs, Jake Levins, David Windham, and Cody Arant are the young men teaching you some basic principles of Calculus. My observations on the video:

1) When did kids start getting projects like this? I think the most technologically advanced thing I ever did in school was make a poster.

2) I'm digging the wardrobe. Guys, I think it represents a definite improvement!

3) Pretty impressive parabola you've got there.

4) I don't remember learning a lot of those things in Cal I. Apparently 1999 was farther back than I thought.

5) I'm blessed by students that are gifted by God to do great things. I'm even more blessed because I know these young men and have seen God do great things through them.

That's all for today, but be sure to check in next time for my view from N. Wintzell!

Two More Days

"Men are clinging to football on a level we aren't even aware of. For centuries, we ruled everything, and now, in the last ten minutes, there are all these incursions by women. It's our Alamo."

We're only two days away. After an entire off season of waiting, it's finally time. Preseason camps are drawing to a close and it's game week for high schools across the state of Alabama. College games will start a week later, followed by the pros a week later. Last season was the greatest season of my life. My beloved Crimson Tide won the BCS National Championship and was led by Mark Ingram en route to the team's first win of the trophy that dare not be named. As an Alabama fan, this was outstanding, but was also to be expected. For better or for worse, it's in our DNA to expect excellence out of our team. (To my wife and others that are about to complain about my use of "our" to describe a football team: I help buy the merchandise and watch the games on tv that reap financial benefits for "our" team. I'm a part of the team, and look for my national championship ring to come in any day now. Also, if it weren't for my lucky shirt, we'd have never survived that Tennessee game.)

The greatness of last season was found in the unexpected: My Saints won the Super Bowl. If that statement doesn't take your breath away, you obviously either don't bleed black and gold, or you are a bandwagon jumper. I've been a Saints fan as long as I can remember. I was born during the Aints era and I've lived through an awful lot of ups and downs with this team. I fondly remember Pat Swilling and Ricky Jackson, Bobby Hebert and Dalton Hilliard, the Dome Patrol and the antics of Jim Mora. The rhythm of the first 25 years of my life was to go to church, make it home right after kickoff, watch the Saints build a nice lead in the first half, fall asleep at halftime, and wake up with just enough time to see my Saints blow the game in spectacular fashion.



Every year I get excited about the Saints, only to see my hopes dashed on the rocks of cruel reality. During last year's run, I promised myself that I wouldn't get emotionally involved in the outcome of their games. During the NFC Championship game, I had a youth event and was unable to do anything but check my Blackberry over and over again for score updates. I got in my truck just in time to hear Bobby Hebert tell the world, "The Saints are going to the Super Bowl!" All by myself, in my truck, in a church parking lot in Central Alabama, I went crazy. All hopes of maintaining my composure were lost. I managed to stay low key through the Super Bowl, going to church and coming home in time for the second half. My wife and kids went on to bed and I stayed up in eager anticipation of the final moments. Interception. Touchdown! Ballgame. I sat by myself in my living room and did what any respectable, reasonable grown man would have done in my situation. I cried like a baby. I witnessed something that I never thought I would see in my lifetime. My Saints won the Super Bowl. My family got in on the ground floor with the Saints, and 43 years later we saw it all come to fruition. All of those years of yelling at the tv, all of those naps ruined, even the remote control that I broke throwing it on the floor in the 8th grade-- all of that defeat was swallowed up in the greatest football victory I could imagine. I thought of Buddy D. I'm not sure what Buddy D. would have said about the Saints winning the Super Bowl. I know it would have come out as completely unintelligible gibberish and it would have been great.

Now here I am. I got to spend last Thursday on the sidelines at my alma mater, Alma Bryant High School with the team. I help out as a team chaplain along with my friend Chris Taylor. I'm obviously way past my prime. I find that I relate more easily to the coaches than the players, since we're the same age. When I last walked off of a high school football field as a player in November 1998, the class of 2011 was in Kindergarten. I still love it. I love being out there, celebrating the good and lamenting the bad. I love listening to the band and watching the crowd. I love watching these guys come together and build a bond that is greater than they can imagine. The practice games are gone. Saturday morning will arrive before you know it and half of the state will be 1-0 while the other half is 0-1, but between here and there, we've got a football game to play. I'm counting down, are you?

Hungry?

Hunger is one of the least pleasant experiences we can have as humans, isn't it? Over the past two weeks, I've started an effort to lose a few of these unsightly pounds (and I carry a number of them). The problem is that I hate to be hungry and I love to enjoy food. It consumes my thoughts, blurs my vision, and drives me to extraordinary measures to pursue it. Food can only be truly appreciated by those who are hungry for it. As I drove into town today, I faced a minor pang of hunger. Even through this light distraction, all of my thoughts turned to my hunger. Each restaurant I passed called to me with the promise of some delicacy that would sate my desire for lunch. This hunger controlled everything that I did. Until I took the opportunity to eat lunch, my focus was on nothing but my desire food.

Similarly, in the past 24 hours I've found myself filled with deep spiritual dissatisfaction. I'm hungry to see God grow me more into the man that He is making me to be. I want to see Him working in the hearts and lives of our church so that He would be glorified in our midst and that we would take action to spread His fame to the world beyond our walls. Last night and today, I've prayed for God to give us a vision for how He would use us as a part of the church's mission on Earth.

Today, I was reminded of the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount:

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Matthew 5:6

May we all hunger and thirst for the righteousness of Christ in our selves, our families, and our churches. May we see that hunger filled. Would you join me in praying?

Back to School

It's that time of year again, as students mark the beginning of a new school year. At my house, it's a little different, as we are all affected by the return to class. As most of you know, my wife Suzanne is a teacher, so the return to school means that she has to go back to the grind of the daily school routine. Maggie has made the big leap forward and is joining Suzanne as a Dixon Dolphin in the 4K program. So far, so good on that count. She seems to be settling in well and is enjoying her new class, teacher, and friends. Joseph moved into 3K this week and he appears to be enjoying learning about his ABC's and 123's.

Even I'm affected by the return to school. Last Spring I started the journey back to school after 4 years out. I'm a doctoral student at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. I'm currently preparing for my Fall trimester seminar, and I look forward to what it holds. In the meantime, I've got a lot to do to get ready. So, for both of my readers, don't be surprised if posting is a bit lighter over the next month or so. Check in regularly, though, because I do plan on posting!

Nerds!!!

Just a little eye-candy for the readers...


Greetings from N. Wintzell! Sorry I missed posting yesterday. As I cruised Facebook earlier in the week, I came across an article that really caught my attention. One of the young ladies at our church posted a note describing the cutthroat world of academic competition. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and I think it captured the essence of what will be taking place over the next few months in high schools across the country over the next few months.

The article resonated with me because it was something I could readily relate to. Once upon a time, I was an academic gladiator. Stepping from the gridiron to those hallowed halls of academia at Faulkner State Community College in Bay Minette was something akin to taking a trip down the rabbit hole. On the football field, it was easy to spot danger. When you were faced with a hulking behemoth that appeared fully capable of tearing you limb from limb, he probably could, and you could prepare yourself accordingly. During my first Spring practice at Grand Bay, I was thrown as a lamb amongst wolves into a varsity football practice as a 7th grader. My devotional life grew by leaps and bounds as I stared death in the face multiple times a day.

Scholar's Bowl and HiQ offer a different set of obstacles. Danger was not as easy to spot in academic circles. That weird-looking kid with 1,267 buttons of bands that you've never heard of on his book bag? Silent academic assassin. The girl carrying on a conversation with her stuffed animal? Shakespeare expert. The beautiful blonde? A plant to distract you from the moderator. It's a virtual minefield designed to prevent you from achieving glory for you and your school.

I was never that crazy about HiQ, but Scholar's Bowl was my first love. There's only been one thing in my life that I was truly exceptional at, and it was Scholar's Bowl. I may not look like much, but put a buzzer in my hand and watch out! I got an early start. PACE students in Mobile County got to participate in a special, once-a-year Scholar's Bowl at Mobile College (University of Mobile). As we prepared for our first competition, another mother cautioned my Mom, "Now, he's probably going to be timid at first. Don't be surprised if he doesn't answer any questions, or if he doesn't even press his buzzer. Most kids are pretty scared their first time at Scholar's Bowl, but be patient with him, and he'll get better as he goes along."

There are a few moments in life where things just click. When I held the buzzer for the first time that day, it just felt right. I went crazy. I had no fear of the buzzer, or of the competition. It was the beginning of a beautiful relationship that would endure for nine more years. In the 7th grade, I started attending Grand Bay. By a quirk of scheduling, I ended up in the only 7th grade science class taught by the high school Biology teacher, Linda France. As fate would have it, she was the sponsor for the high school's Scholar's Bowl team. We talked one day, and she invited me to stay after school one day for practice. It was a serendipitous moment.

I made the team that year and got to hang out with the varsity Scholar's Bowl team (how nerdy does that sound?) I got to play pretty regularly, and answered a decent number of questions. 8th grade rolled around and brought me a spot as the Captain of the JV team. I was the leading scorer and team MVP. 9th grade saw a promotion back to the Varsity team and a spot on the County All-Star team. 10th grade held our first County championship and recognition as the second-highest scorer in the league. My last two years saw less team success, but greater individual honors as I led the County in scoring both years.

For a kid that nothing came very naturally to, this was a revelation. Football required hours and hours of training my mind and body for Friday Night combat. On the football field, I was an offensive linemen. Offensive linemen tend to be a rather unassuming bunch. They tend to be relatively large young men who toil in anonymity while their teammates gain glory. Even defensive linemen get the opportunity to have a moment in the sun when they make a tackle. There is no such glory for the offensive linemen. When these guys are doing their job the best, you never notice they are there. You only see them when they screw up. Offensive linemen gain attention by missing blocks, holding, or jumping offsides (great moments all). When I went to those Scholar's Bowl competitions, I got to be something of a celebrity, and it felt good.

With that backdrop, you can imagine my interest as I read the aforementioned post. I'm now a washed-up old has-been, but I still think back occasionally to those halcyon days of my youth and smile as I remember the fun that I had competing. My favorite part of the article was the comments section that followed. I got to witness actual academic trash-talk. We didn't have Facebook to do this with back in ye olden days, but I don't know if it would have happened even if it did. While I loved Scholar's Bowl, I worked to identify myself as a football player. I'm not quite sure why (other than the obvious nerd connotations) but Scholar's Bowl was as important to me as any football game.

Academic athletes, enjoy yourself this year. I love you and understand you, because I was one of you. The best part about going to an academic competition is the level of weirdness that you can encounter each and every go-around. You'll find kids at every Scholar's bowl match who are completely comfortable with expressing themselves by whatever means necessary. You never have to worry, "Is my personal interest too strange or nerdy to be expressed here?" So students, when you're up to your elbows in current events articles, short stories, or lists of dates and places, don't stress out. Remember that you are a part of a special fraternity of men and women who seek the knowledge of the obscure. Have a blast, enjoy hanging out with your team, don't get too frustrated if things don't go well, and know that you too may one day be writing a semi-coherent blog about your glory days as a member of the Scholar's Bowl team.

The Bayou Top 10: #7

Grocery stores in the Bayou have a long and storied tradition. I'm not certain that the entirety of the Internet has the space to contain the stories that could be shared about good times had at all of the grocery stores that have gone on before in our town. As a small child, a trip to the grocery store in the Bayou provided two options: Schambeau's and Greer's. Schambeau's was a longtime Bayou La Batre institution that has closed, sadly, after the death of its longtime proprietor Mr. Crum Schambeau. Volumes could be written about the original "one-stop shop" where you could find groceries, comic books, shrimp boots, and shotgun shells all in the same place (assuming you needed all of those things on the same trip). For more information on Schambeau's, check out this link.

Today, all we have left is Greer's Food Tiger. Greer's has a special place in my heart for a number of reasons.

1) First and foremost, I was an employee at the Grand Bay location for a few months as a high school student.

2) Greer's is not for the pretentious. If you live in Bayou La Batre, you never have to ask yourself if you are under dressed for a trip to the grocery store. After my kayaking adventure (see here) my wife had left a message asking me to go pick up a few things from the grocery store. I examined my situation: I was wearing gym shorts, a ratty t-shirt, a Milwaukee Brewers baseball cap, Crocs (yes, a grown man in Crocs, no shame at all!, and a healthy dose of Bayou water. I was worried for a second, and then realized, "Wait a second, I'm going to Greer's!"

3) No shoes, no problem. Greer's is where the term "grocery store feet" originated. More bare feet have walked across the floor at Greer's than any other grocery store in the world, most likely. During my sojourn in Central Alabama, I learned that amongst a certain subset of the culture, it was considered high-style for a family to send their children to church and/or school without shoes. The children would come to church in their fancy, dress-up clothes, barefooted. People of the Bayou, apparently we were far ahead of the curve.

4) You never know what you might find to eat at Greer's. Here are a few pictures that I took on a recent trip to Greer's. I'll try to let the pictures do the talking:


Chicken feet: They're what's for dinner!



Pigsnout: The other, other white meat.

5) The folks at Greer's are willing to go above and beyond to serve those of us who are in less cosmopolitan areas. Did you know that there are 16 Greer's stores in Alabama? They include a number of exotic locales: Coffeville, Eight Mile, Grove Hill, McIntosh, Millry, Robertsdale, Semmes, and Theodore.

6) For those of you who are less culturally fortunate, check out the following pictures:






That's right, Greer's has an entire section dedicated to crab boil, Cajun seasonings, and fish fry. As you eat your bland, boneless, skinless, baked chicken breast tonight, we'll think about you.

So, there you have it. I like Greer's. Earlier this week, my wife sent me to pick up some sugar for tea. There was no question where I'd go. I grabbed my little barefooted boy and we hopped in the truck for a quick trip to Greer's. I saw some familiar faces and my boy and I had a good time on our field trip. For more information on Greer's, check them out here: