Alaska

This weekend Bill and I will fly to Seattle to begin an Alaskan cruise. I love the anticipation of a vacation. I have fun visualizing our destination, planning the excursions, imagining the people we will meet. But this vacation is different for a couple of reasons.

First, it is difficult to plan a vacation that requires you to shop for sweaters, scarves, hats, and gloves when the current temperature is over 100 degrees.

Second, I’m mad at Alaska, not the Alaskan people, but the state of Alaska—every square mile of it—and I’ve been mad for fifty-one years. Yes, it’s a long time to be angry; especially if you don’t realize you are angry. But I’m here to tell you I’ve never forgiven Alaska for making Texas the second largest state.

I was ten when Alaska became a state; immediately, I knew something was wrong. How could Alaska replace Texas? Texas had dirt and rocks, hills and valleys, lakes and rivers. It had presence. After all, Texas had been an independent country. Six flags had flown over the land and we had a giant amusement park to prove it. Texas was home to the Alamo. Big Tex stood guard over the State Fair. Pump jacks dotted the landscape. Wealthy and powerful men surveyed their “kingdoms” from behind the wheel of their white Cadillac convertibles. Texas was the land of polished boots and Stetson hats.

Alaska was an interloper. It was Seward’s folly—a giant ice cube. What if it was all ice and snow? What if it had no dirt, no rocks, no substance? In a heat wave, Alaska might melt and once again we could sing the state song—

Texas, our Texas! All hail the mighty State! Texas, our Texas! So wonderful so great! Largest and grandest, Withstanding ev'ry test; O Empire wide and glorious, You stand supremely blest.


After all, that’s way it should be sung.

The Gospel of John

Tomorrow my Tuesday Bible study group will begin studying the Gospel of John. I can hardly wait. We don't meet in the summer and three months is too long without these friends. It will be enlightening to explore the Gospel of John with these women. My favorite gospel account? Why the one I'm reading right now, of course. I love that God gave us four remembrances of Jesus' life on earth. The differences in the gospel accounts keeps the good news fresh and exciting. If you want a fresh perspective on the gospels, I recommend Four Gospels, One Jesus: A Symbolic Reading by Richard Burridge.

New School Year Begins

The end of August and the start of classes is just around the corner. Convocation is Sunday and I'm looking forward to the start of classes on Wednesday. It will be great to see students in the halls, in the library, sharing lunch in the student commons, attending chapel. Students bring the mission of Austin Graduate School of Theology to life. They remind me that I play a part in promoting the knowledge, understanding, and practice of the Christian faith as the school equips Christians and churches for service in the kingdom of God. I can hardly wait to see what God does this year at Austin Grad. I pray I will be attentive to the opportunities he sets before me and that every student will see Jesus in me.