Pastor Pusch

It seems that the last week or so has been the week of celebrity deaths. Ed McMahon, Billy Mays, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, and Steve McNair all left this world and made their way into eternity. That’s a sobering thought. Even more sobering is the fact that hundreds, if not thousands of people die every day. It kind of gives you a different perspective on just how short life is. The book of James describes our lives as a vapor; here for a moment and then vanishes away. What if the vapor of your life vanished today?

Last Saturday, the football world and others were shocked when they heard the news about the death of one of it’s good guy quarterbacks, Steve McNair. McNair was found shot to death on July 4, 2009 in a Nashville apartment. It was tragic news to those who loved the Tennessee Titans and quarterback Steve McNair. McNair’s death was the result of a murder/suicide as his girlfriend, Sehel Kazemi, shot McNair 4 times before turning the gun on herself.

Perhaps even more tragic than the actual death of Steve McNair were the circumstances surrounding his death. Steve McNair was husband and a father to 4 children, yet he was killed by his 20 year old girlfriend, Kazemi, who may have shot him out of the suspicion of yet another girlfriend. It’s possible that McNair was cheating on the girlfriend that he was cheating on his wife and children with. This is the more tragic story.

It seems that friends, coaches, and confidants have a different way of defining what “greatness” is about a person. While it is true that McNair may have been a leader on the football field and the different charity organizations he was committed to, the fact the Mr. McNair failed at the one responsibility that matters most makes me reconsider His greatness. As a husband and father myself , the responsibility that matters most in my life is the responsibility I have to my wife, Rena and daughter, Jovie Madelyn. That’s it. With that being said, there are other responsibilities I have in life that are important because it affects my family, my greatest responsibility.

Below is a portion of an article I read on Yahoo.com concerning the life and death of Steve McNair…

Publicly, McNair was a happily married man and proud father of four sons who split his time between his Mississippi farm and a home in Music City, where celebrities are cherished, not hassled.

His death, however, thrust a darker side of his private life into the spotlight.

“People have certain things that they do in life,” said McNair’s longtime friend Robert Gaddy, who called 911. “We don’t need to look on the situation at this time (but) on the fact we just lost a great member of society.”

After reading this small portion, my heart sank at the fact that one can be considered such a “great member of society” when that person is not a champion in his own family. Perhaps I’m a little old-fashioned in my thinking, but what was happening in the “darker side of his private life” truly determines the kind of man he indeed was. A man who cheats on his wife and by doing so neglects his children may have been good football player and giver to charities, but by no means does that make him a “great member of society.” It’s one thing had McNair slipped up and got caught in a sticky situation, it’s a completely different and more defining thing when family neglect becomes a lifestyle. While I am not here to judge the eternity of Mr. Steve McNair, I do think there are lessons we can learn about family and the society in which we live.

The question is floating out there concerning the legacy Steve McNair leaves behind. Will his personal life play a role in the history, or has our society simply turned to utter and complete apathy. I am sad today that McNair will never have a chance to make things right with his family. I am sad about the loss of a football giant and one who worked hard for people around the country. I am sadder still for his family who now has to piece together the tragic lifestyle their husband and father left behind.

Well, did it work? The Man in the Mirror. If you thought I was going to blog on Michael Jackson, I am so sorry to disappoint. It’s Tuesday a.k.a. “Weigh-in Day”! What have I been writing about every Tuesday for the last 7 weeks? That’s right kids, WEIGHT LOSS! The title to this blog does play a role in weight loss. Here’s how…

This past Sunday night my wife and I attended The Donelson Fellowship (TDF) church to see the 2009 National Youth Evangelistic Team (NYET) do their thing. I’ve always had a special place in my heart for these guys as I too was a apart of that team my junior and senior years of High School. Those were some great times. Anyway… My doctor, Dr. Paul Gentuso, attends TDF so it’s always interesting when I go as to whether or not I may see him. Last night was one of those times that I ran into him. Many times when I do run into him outside of his practice, it can be an extremely odd feeling, like conviction sets in or something. Why? It’s simple. Dr. Paul, the Lord, and I all know that I haven’t been to see him in a long while (for reasons described in other weight loss blogs). This time was different. As we approached each other, he looked at me and said, “I hear you have been losing some weight.” My first thought was wondering how in the world he found out. Then I realized that he’s friends with most that I work with at Randall House. So, I immediately smiled and proclaimed, “YES SIR!” Naturally, he was excited for me and I think he noticed that my approach to the subject was completely different. We talked for maybe another 5 minutes or so (I wonder if he will bill for that?), and I briefly walked him through what I was doing. I think he was proud.

It was a funny interaction. I often thought about how I would approach my doctor about this weight loss bit. I had it played up in my mind that I would just schedule an appointment for the fall and then when I got there, step on the scale and watch the nurse or Dr. Paul look puzzled. Needless to say, it didn’t work out that way, but I am really glad I got to see him and talk with him for a few.

The Man in the Mirror – All my life I have heard the same 5 words during the course of any doctor’s appointments. “You need to lose weight” has been the theme of my life. As has been explained in my other weight loss articles, I have battled this beast for YEARS! I tried weight watchers, medical weight loss program, “weight loss” vitamin supplements, crash diets, not eating, and all sorts of other things. I can’t tell you the number of times that I’ve talk to my doctors about this problem, thinking after I left that I was going to change, just to fail in a matter of days. I’ve BEEN THERE – BOUGHT THE T-SHIRT!

Today is Tuesday! It’s weigh-in day… time to step up to the scale! I can’t believe that I’m already 7 weeks into the journey and have seen some incredible results. So, what makes this time so different. I have never lasted this long. It’s been 7 weeks and the thought of quitting now is absurd.

I’ve learned that weight loss is more than weight-watchers, more than slim fast, more than medical weight loss, more than any pill, more than any pep talk with the doctor. While those items may help along the journey, it can never start there. It starts with God’s help. It starts with “the Man in the Mirror.”
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Week 7: -4lbs
Total: -34.5lbs

“Some things are too sacred to joke about.” – Dr. Robert E. Woodard

“You can tell a lot about a man’s character by what makes them laugh and what makes them cry” – Dr. Robert E. Woodard

The first time I heard the above quotations was about 10 years ago when I began my college experience. While I’m sure I haven’t always lived up to the principles found in those two statements, I haven’t forgotten his impression. I do think there is a lot to be said as they are great words to live by. Dr. Woodard, though a tough professor, was a great encourager and had a heart of gold. I am thankful for the relationship I have with him.

Death would be one of those issues Dr. Woodard would have placed into the sacred category. Death is not just the termination of life here on earth, but it is a beginning of eternity in one of two destinations. Anytime we attend a funeral or learn of somebody dying (celebrity or not), it ought to be a sobering thought.

Surely if you have any sense of awareness of what’s happening in the world around you, you are then well aware of the iconic deaths that have taken place in recent days. Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, and Billy Mays all have stepped out into eternity over the last 3-4 days. Where they are, I do not know, however, I do know that Christ was the only avenue into the Father’s paradise for them; I hope they made that discovery.

Making Fun of Death – It took only a few minutes after the pronouncement of death for the jokes to begin circulating concerning the deaths of Billy Mays, Ed McMahon, and especially Michael Jackson (mostly coming from friends who heard them first). In my humble opinion, I think it’s absurd. ”Some things are too sacred to joke about.”

Side Thought 1: While there is great rejoicing that takes place after the deaths of the most notorious evildoers a.k.a. Saddam Hussein or Adolf Hitler, it is still a sobering thought to know that these stood before their creator and all was revealed.

Side Thought 2: Thousands of people step out into eternity every day, notorious or not. That’s sobering or at least it should be.