It's been lovely, but I have to scream now.

The Arizona Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl!!

Nobody thought that was possible 6 weeks ago. They'd been whooped on the end of the regular season, entered the post-season with the worst record of any playoff team, and had a defense holey enough to play Sunday mornings. Nobody gave the Cards a chance. But here they are, headed for the big one. And for those living at our house the best part is Kurt Warner's performance. Besides being an outspoken Christian he has a reputation for very generous service in the community, above and beyond the normal for a pro athlete. Warner is one of three candidates for the NFL's "Man of the Year" award, named in honor of Walter Payton. That award is given to honor off-the-field service to the community.
Everyone here wants the Cards to win the Super Bowl, but regardless the outcome we're all thrilled with the team's surprising success. And nobody gives them a chance to win. (hehe)

Unrelated to any and all political issues I am uncomfortable with the hype that is already rising around Tuesday's inauguration. The official events began today and will run straight through to late Tuesday night, all focused on our next President. Not unlike a pastor, the President is first and foremost a servant. Monarchs have subjects and get a coronation. Presidents have citizens and are inaugurated, they are installed into office. Human nature being what it is, too much hoopla surrounding that induction seems to significantly raise the risk of hubris within that public servant. And recent history has shown us that arrogance at the highest level creates serious problems. This is illustrated by a line from the recently released movie Frost/Nixon: "If the President does it, it's not a crime." But we don't have to go that far back, do we?
A post-election victory celebration is appropriate, but the time for that is past. An inauguration doesn't take three days; arguably shouldn't take three days. King Saul taught us that humility entering office is no guarantee that pride won't become a besetting sin.
The Bible tells us that we should pray for our leaders, and I will try to be faithful in praying for President Obama. He will certainly need it given the country's current problems. But he'll also need prayer if he's to maintain a servant's heart and mind in the face of the fawning that is already at fever pitch and will only continue as sycophants come to curry favor.

Tomorrow morning I'll head back to that job in Scottsdale. I'll put up the cement backer board and then install the tile for the surround. I'll use mastic, not thinset, which will make it easier.
The most important part of tile work takes place before the first tile is set in place...the layout. In this case I have to determine where my outside and top edges should be and work down and in from there so any cut tiles are at the bottom next to the top of the tub. Normally I could work from what was there before I ripped things out but the owner wants a wider and taller surround. Because math is not my strength I'll do the figures 18 times before I spread the first section of mastic!

I think we had a good morning. God is the decider, but I certainly felt better about the preacher's efforts than last week.
"We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."