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THE THEOLOGY OF REST
2008-01-02 16:16:00
(Our Hideout)Glad to be back after about an eight day break. The Morgan family spent Christmas in the snowy mountains away from phones, responsibility and the fast paced life I'm used too. We spent an entire week doing nothing but drinking cocoa, playing games and eating (and I feel no guilt). It was great to just relax. I'll tell you more about it tomorrow, but here are a couple of things I learned on my break. It's important for me to slow down for the purpose of reflection. Busyness is often my arch enemy. The older I get the more I realize that busyness often stunts my spiritual growth. As I've said before, if Satan can't make you sin, I think he'll be content with keeping you really busy. This past week I spent some time doing what others would call "wasting some time." It has been a great reminder that I don't always have to run, go, buy, help, serve, sign up ... sometimes I just need to rest. I also needed to slow down for the purpose of enjoyment. I believe there is r...
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BLOG BREAK
2007-12-26 15:11:00
I'm going to be taking a blog break for a few days. I just didn't want you to think I had died or something! Have a great week. ~ Trey (PS- Wasn't sure whether or not to include the picture of the tombstone. So, I showed it to Lea and asked her what she thought. She said it was a little gross and morbid. There was my answer ... that meant it must be pretty cool.)
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WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT
2007-12-24 15:38:00
I really wanted to share with you what I thought Christmas was all about. But I couldn't explain it any better than a kid named Linus Van Pelt. So I'll let him tell you in less than two minutes... Wishing all my blogging friends a very Merry Christmas!!!

CHRISTMAS CARTOON
2007-12-23 00:20:00
Okay, so I thought they were funny!
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IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME
2007-12-21 15:08:00
I'm sure Max Lucado is an avid reader of my blog :) so I must apologize to him up front ... I have a confession to make. I absolutely loved your first two books, "God Came Near" and "No Wonder They Call Him the Savior," but after those two all your other books paled in comparison. Sorry.Actually in Max's book "God Came Near" there is a chapter called "Christmas Night" that has always pulled at my heart strings at this time of year. Every year this special chapter is unpacked with our Christmas stuff and placed on the refrigerator or somewhere close in our home. I'm then reminded by this story just how special this time of year is. Here's how the chapter goes ...IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME. A time for Christmas cards, stockings, tinsel, and that smell of fresh cut Christmas trees. Spiced tea. Cranberry sauce. A time when you will eat until you’re sick, and then some way, work in dessert. A time when old, dusty Christmas records are gotten out for one more year's use. A time when you ...
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CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
2007-12-20 02:48:00
Growing up, my family had a lot of Christmas traditions. There was the annual reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas," lots of games and every year my dad would say, "Let's wait until after Christmas to open these presents" just to get a scream out of us kids. Christmas Eve night was when we'd open our presents that had been under the tree for weeks. The mystery of what was in those boxes drove me crazy every year. Trying to get a little hint of what might be in those beautifully wrapped little treasures, I would shake them, sniff them, lick them and touch them at least 82 times before we finally got to open them. One of the biggest Christmas traditions my family had growing up involved opening presents. We never really just opened the presents, we made a production out of each one of them. They were never opened all at once. I guess to make it last longer, we'd pass out all the packages, and then one person at a time (from youngest to oldest) would open one. We weren't all...
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BETTING ON THE LORD'S PRAYER
2007-12-18 15:48:00
John Cassis is one of our nation's finest motivational speakers. He told a story recently about a time when he was serving as one of the chaplin's for the Chicago Bears during their glory years of the 80's.As John tells it, Mike Ditka was about to deliver a locker room pep talk one day. He looked up and saw defensive tackle William "Refrigerator" Perry. How could he not see him? At 338 pounds the Fridge stood out even in a crowd of pro football players. Ditka gestured to the Fridge. "When I get finished," he said, "I’d like you to close with the Lord’s Prayer ." Then the coach began his talk.Meanwhile, Jim McMahon, the brash and outspoken quarterback, punched John Cassis. "Look at Perry," McMahon whispered, "he doesn’t know the Lord’s Prayer."Sure enough, Perry sat with a look of panic on his face, his head in his hands. He was sweating profusely. "Everybody knows the Lord’s Prayer," said Cassis to McMahon in disbelief. After a few minutes of watching the Refrigerator le...

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
2007-12-17 14:03:00
I saw "It's A Wonderful Life " for the first time Saturday afternoon. Yea, I'm a little slow, but what a fantastic movie! George Bailey directly or indirectly touched a lot of lives. My friend Billy Wilson has written a favorite book of mine called, Zuzu's Petals (Our Wonderful Life with God). I've read the book twice and remembered after watching the movie that there was a chapter in the book about George Bailey. I went back and read the chapter again last night and now it makes much more sense to me. Here is what Billy says about Fathers... Fathers are fixers. They fix things. That's what they do. Everything from broken toys to broken hearts are placed into the hands of our fathers in full expectation that given enough time, everything will be all right. It's winter and children should be wrapping themselves up nice and warm. Zuzu, however, has a different agenda. She has a flower she doesn't want damaged. So, at the expense of her health she makes sure the flower gets home ...
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A CORNUCOPIA OF THOUGHTS
2007-12-15 17:24:00
What? We have to pay consultants to name our babies now (read story here)? You need help coming up with a name? Come on people, just name your babies. But then I read a few minutes ago about the latest in a bizarre trend to make your baby's name so unique that they'll standout. Some recent real names include the following: ESPN, Armani, Timberland, Del Monte and Chevy. It will only be a matter of time before we'll see Motorola, Diet Coke and Survivor. Incidentally, let me apologize in advance if any of my readers are actually blighted by one of these names. I take pity on you, especially if you're called ESPN. After looking at some of these names, maybe we do need to pay a consultant to help some folks name their kids.For those still doing some Christmas shopping, here's a list of the Top 10 Worst Christmas Gifts ever. You'll never believe which one was number one (shuddering).My good friend TA has been sick and in the hospital lately. In the past he has served as one of my el...
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5 GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO GIVE YOUR KIDS
2007-12-14 15:17:00
Still wondering what to get your kids this Christmas ? Here are 5 perfect gifts that will really last a life time.THE GIFT OF A GOOD MARRIAGE: I wish as parents we’d realize that a vital marriage between you and your spouse is the best gift you could ever give your kids. It's better than a Wii or an X-Box, and it's the gift that would really last their lifetime.THE GIFT OF TIME: I wish as parents we’d stop believing the lie that quality time is enough for your children. The only way to give quality time is to invest quantity time in your children's lives.THE GIFT OF DISCIPLINE: I wish as parents we’d see that discipline is a debt that we owe our children. I thought it was interesting that a recent survey showed that eighty-seven percent of college students said their parents weren't strict enough on them. Make rules and set boundaries and stick to them.THE GIFT OF SPIRITUAL TRAINING: I wish as parents we’d see that spiritual training is not optional but essential. Familie...
More About: Kids , Gifts , Great , Give

I WENT BACK TO SCHOOL
2007-12-13 14:21:00
My sons, Taylor (Senior) and Parker (Sophomore), are both blessed to attend school at Childress High School . Yesterday they had "Bring Your Parents to School" day, and I got to hang out in the boys' classes with them.I went first to Parker's speech class with Mrs. Lathem, and I felt right at home. Wow, that was fun because I like speech. They were doing demonstration speeches. They had a demonstration speech on how to shoot a basketball, how to shave your legs (didn't help me much), how to text your friends on your cell phone (still learning that one), and Parker did one on how to putt a golf ball. I was so caught up in the "speech" moment that had Mrs. Lathem asked, "Who's next!" I would have said, "Me, pick me."Next I went to Parker's math class with Mr. Bowman. Mr. Bowman is a great guy, a great friend and a great teacher, but going from speech class to a math class was like going from heaven to hell. I was like a fish out of water in that class. They were doing triangle mat...
More About: Back , Back to School

TWO REASONS I LIKE MIKE HUCKABEE
2007-11-29 17:53:00
I'm still trying to sort out who I like and who I don't like when it comes to possible Presidential Candidates. I'm beginning to like Mike Huckabee more and more. Here are two reasons ... VIDEO #1 - Chuck Norris (This made me laugh.)VIDEO #2 - Evolution (A perfect response to a really stupid question.)
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DRESSING UP FOR CHURCH
2007-11-28 17:14:00
A friend asked me recently what my opinion was about "how to dress for church." I've been giving it a lot of thought on how to answer her, but I haven't really come up with any solid answers. So I thought I might ask for your help and opinion today on this subject.I grew up with three sets of clothes: the play clothes, school clothes and church clothes. And you better not have been playing around in the yard with your church clothes on or you were in big trouble. I was raised believing that when we went to church on Sunday mornings, we wore our Sunday best. My "church clothes" were by far the nicest clothes I owned. I also still vividly remember my hand-me-down, avocado green leisure suit I wore for years as a pre-teen. And I can still recall a time when women only wore dresses and men always wore a suit and a tie to church.These days things have changed in dress, some for the good and some for the not-so-good. Gone are the days of everyone wearing their Sunday best to church ever...
More About: Church , Dressing

TREY AND LEA
2007-11-27 15:39:00
I was playing with Microsoft's Movie Maker and didn't realize how simple it was to make a video. So I made this for Lea. There are about 19 years that go by in this two minute video. You can probably tell which pictures are the old ones. I'll warn you upfront, it'll be a little sappy for some. But I'll also admit that I'm one whipped man over my girl!(If you get Trey Morgan.net through a blog-reader like Bloglines, FeedBlitz or email you'll have to click on this link to see the video.) Oh, and yes, the Christmas tree is up. You can click here for pictures of decorating the tree. Now if I could just get one of my nice neighbors (Zach) to help me get up the outside lights. ;)

AN OLD COWBOY'S FIRST CHURCH SERVICE
2007-11-26 17:40:00
I saw John while I was preaching. He was packed in church with three hundred other people, and I can't begin to imagine how uncomfortable he must have been. Not because he was crowded that Sunday morning, but because it was his first time in his adult life to ever attend a church service, ever. He'd told me he was coming, and I should have believed him. Deep down I really didn't believe he'd show, but this past Sunday, there sat an old cowboy who'd lived life hard. He was in his best "Sunday" clothes, and even his best clothes were what most folks would call their everyday work clothes.I met John a couple of years ago at a mutual friend's funeral. It was John, who following the funeral told me in his most sincere attempt to pay me a compliment, "Hell of a funeral, preacher."The last couple of years John has been doing lots of thinking about his life and how he might get it straightened out. Then two months ago John came down with cancer and knew he had to do something soon. He...
More About: Church , Service

SATURDAY MORNING THINKING
2007-11-24 15:46:00
I don't know if you're a regular listener to my sermon podcasts, but I think this past Sunday's was one of my most challenging lessons..."Real Forgiveness." If you get time swing by and tell me what you think. Did you see where a 102 year old British woman is going to bear all for the Miss November Nude Charity Calendar. Yea it's true. While it kind of makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about it, I did come up with 3 words that'd probably fit well with her picture: "She Needs Ironing!"If you need something to read today, here are three posts on the church you really need to read if you haven't already... here, here and here.This is probably one of reasons there are so many unchurched in our country.I think the thing I like best about Thanksgiving dinner is the cranberry sauce. When else can you put a big glob of sugary jelly on your plate, eat it with a fork and no one give you flack about it? Another reason to give thanks.The Christmas tree goes up today. Yea!!!
More About: Saturday , Morning , Thinking

NOT EVERYONE IS THANKFUL THIS YEAR
2007-11-21 16:56:00
Poor Big BirdHappy Thanksgiving
More About: Year , Hank

GROWING KIDS NOT GRASS
2007-11-20 15:04:00
Famous child psychiatrist Fritz Redl used to say to groups of parents: "Get out your paper and pencils. I am going to tell you the three most important things you will ever need to know about raising children." The parents would wait breathlessly for his words of wisdom. Then he would say, "Example, example, example."In case you doubt the importance of teaching by example, think about your own childhood. How were you most influenced to become the person you are now? Chances are that the person you have become was influenced mostly by the example set by your parents.One of my biggest fears as a preacher is preaching the "how to live" on Sundays and not actually living that at home with my family. Making my walk match my talk is so important to me. I try to ask my kids periodically, "Am I doing at home what I'm preaching on Sundays?"I was reminded recently about my walk matching my talk when my sarcastic son Taylor, who's just like his father, reminded me of something I said in a se...
More About: Kids , Growing , Grass

A FEW THINGS ON MY MIND
2007-11-19 13:50:00
CHRISTMAS TREES: I asked Lea if we could put up the Christmas tree before Thanksgiving and she said "No! Wait till after Thanksgiving." We even had a poll on TreyMorgan.net to see if I should get to. The final tally came out to "59 for and 52 against." May I just say you 52 "against" people are party-poopers. Lea actually relented and told me I could put up the tree if I wanted, but believe it or not, we just haven't had time. We're hoping to get it done this weekend. I can't wait.THANKSGIVING: We're headed to Amarillo this weekend for Thanksgiving with Lea's family. We swap out having Thanksgiving and Christmas with each family every year. I'm looking forward to a plate full of turkey, dressing (my favorite) and cranberry sauce. Thankfully we'll plan the meal around the Dallas Cowboy football game.COWBOYS: We had about 15 high school kids over at our house last night watching the Dallas Cowboys game. Wow, can they ever get loud when something good happens. Who would have eve...
More About: Mind , Things , On My Mind

O-MAZING GRACE
2007-11-16 14:22:00
A few things came to mind when I saw this video....If you're going to lead the singing, know the words.In this case I'm all for instruments in worship (it helped drowned out the singing - ha).Don't be drinking anything when you watch this video... you'll spew it all over your computer before it's over.I wonder if my friend Shane Coffman, who is a worship minister in Tulsa, has ever seen anything like this in real life?Didn't I see this guy on one of the American Idol audition shows?Enjoy...PS - Want to have a little fun with us? We're raising some money for some people in need this weekend. So, if the holiday season moves you to share with someone in need ... here's a great place to share. Stop by and check it out. Please!
More About: Grace

SPIRITUALLY TIRED
2007-11-15 16:25:00
I've been spending a lot of time in Psalm 57 this week. And let me tell you why ...I have a confession to make, occasionally I get really tired, really tired. I'm talking tired emotionally, physically and yes, spiritually. Sometimes I get this way because Satan has been pounding on me. Other times it's because I'm pushing myself to the limits, over-scheduling, or sometimes it's simply because I've been giving all the spiritual food and not taking time to feed myself. But when it happens, as it has the last couple of weeks, the effects in my life are obvious. When I get tired, here are some of the signs I see...Instead of feeling like getting up and attacking the world I begin feeling overwhelmed.Instead of feeling compassion for others I feel callused.I become critical of others.I get frustrated easily.The amazing thing is, most people would never believe that a minister, elder or leader would ever get tired, spiritually drained or emotionally worn down. Believe it or not, it ...
More About: Tired , Tire

MY BLOGS FIRST BIRTHDAY
2007-11-14 13:45:00
About one year ago I was encouraged by my Blog-Mother, Mommy Smart, to start a blog. She helped me get started and encouraged me daily during that dull first month. So today I celebrate my blog's 1st birthday. On November 14, 2006, "Rediscovering Church" was born. A few months later "Rediscovering Church" was changed to simply "Trey Morgan.net." Now as I look back on one full year of blogging one thing comes to my mind, "I can't believe I've stuck with this thing for a whole year."Seriously, one year later, and 80,000 visitors later, I am amazed at how my life has been blessed by all of the wonderful friends I have made through this blog. You have become such a blessing in my life. I enjoy your comments, your opinions, your emails and your friendship.As I spent some time this week looking back over a year's worth of posts, I had mixed emotions. Some posts I read I thought, "Wow, that was harsh. Did I really say that?" and others I thought, "What was I thinking when I wrote that?...
More About: Blogs , Birthday

MY ALL STARS
2007-11-13 13:58:00
When they asked me to coach a football team this year, I wasn't sure I wanted to. This past weekend when the season was over, I wasn't sure I wanted it to end.I'd coached baseball and basketball before, but I'd never coached a football team. I learned very quickly that it was really easy to get attached to the kids. My eight little guys made every practice and played every down as hard as they could. These guys even "called me out" after the first four games for not having a team prayer before the games we played. The three things I preached to them all season was that every kid will get to carry the ball at some point during the game, whether we win or lose always be a good sport, and have lots of fun. They did great all season and somehow our team went amazingly farther than anyone (especially me) ever expected.This past Sunday we made it all the way to the Super Bowl game. As I stood there looking at our team, I got a lump in my throat thinking to myself that this was our las...
More About: Stars , All-Stars

10 THINGS YOU CAN'T DO WHEN YOU'RE REALLY TIRED
2007-11-12 15:05:00
10. Blog9. 8.7. 6.5. 4.3. 2. 1.See you tomorrow...
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REDNECK WEDDINGS AND COUNTRY MUSIC
2007-11-09 13:37:00
Being from Texas, I've found out that most people automatically think you're a redneck and that you listen to Country music. Although I like NASCAR I'm really not a redneck, and I've never been a big fan of Country music. But I must admit Country music has the best song titles ever. So since we haven't had much fun on the blog this week I thought I'd poke-fun (ever heard that phrase) at those who are really redneck country music fans. Top 10 Signs You’re at a Redneck Wedding: Your rehearsal dinner held at the Waffle House.Instead of "Friends of the bride or friends of the groom?" ushers ask "Ford Or Chevy?" Bridesmaids: Pink Tube Tops; Groomsmen: Travis Tritt T-Shirts Phrase "I Do" replaced by "I Heard That." Tender rendition of "The Wedding Song" performed by Hank Williams Jr.When the minister asks "Who giveth this woman to be married"… some guy in the back stands up and hollers "Earnhardt! Yee Haw" Reception conversation includes the phrase, "So what have you been doing ...
More About: Music , Weddings , Country Music

RELIGIOUS SECTS, CAVEMEN and NEW FRIENDS
2007-11-08 15:24:00
It's been a crazy two days for Childress county. The tired folks that did all the counting came up with three different final numbers three different times. Finally yesterday afternoon they officially said going wet passed by seven votes. Tuesday night it was 47 votes then early Wednesday morning it was 2 votes, now it's 7. Everyone has been saying that it's like we're living the Miami-Dade 2000 presidential elections all over again. Remember the story of hanging chads and not knowing who the president was going to be for weeks?I'm already tired of talking about last Tuesday's vote. Had I not promised you yesterday that I'd tell you about getting called a name, I would have skipped this altogether. I found the following quote in the "comments" section of this story about the Childress wet verses dry issue. Here's the quote about those who were against going wet."When you have a group of people in a community that do not allow it to grow the town will die. Alcohol is not the ...
More About: Friends , Religious , Cavemen , Sects , Cave

CHILDRESS VOTES TO GO WET
2007-11-07 03:51:00
I just wanted to let you know that the Childress community chose to go wet today by 2 votes. Yea, two little votes. Amazing isn't it? And some people probably wondered if their one little vote would be all that important.So what happens now? Now it's time for those of us who were on the losing side to be kind, respectful and Christlike to all those who we have differed with for the past two months on this issue. Let's pray that going wet will bring all the good to our community that has been promised without including the bad.If you'd like, you can read more about some of the arguments from both sides here and for the election results click here.And, you won't believe what those who voted "no" got called. I'll tell you tomorrow...
More About: Votes

WHY I'LL VOTE NO TODAY
2007-11-06 14:07:00
As I told you yesterday, Childress, Texas and Childress County will vote today to decide if the county will begin to sell and serve alcoholic beverages or remain a dry county as it always has been.Here are some reasons I'm choosing to vote "No" today...If Childress goes wet, we could have both bars and nightclubs open up throughout the city of Childress? Going wet is not just about selling alcohol in the stores, but it opens up more problems when we allow bars and nightclubs to open. Not too long ago we had a "bring your own drink" bar that opened in the downtown area of Childress. The place was a constant source of problems for the local police department. The police were called out there nearly every night. When the place was finally shut down, the community applauded. Now if we choose to go wet, many more may come just like this one. Why would we want to make alcohol more accessible to our young people? Our school district does such a great job fighting against drug and alcohol ...
More About: Today , Vote

THREE STORIES THAT CONCERN ME
2007-11-05 15:44:00
ONE: Maine Middle School Handing Out Birth Control. King Middle School will become the first middle school in Maine to make a full range of contraception available, including birth control pills and patches. Condoms have been available at King’s health center since 2000. Arg...TWO: Church Ordered to Pay 11 Million Dollars. I'm really not a believer in suing people, and I especially hate to see a church getting sued, but I have to say I have no sympathy towards these idiots who got slammed with an 11 million dollar settlement in a legal case against them. People who carry signs that say, "God hates fags," and "Thank God for Dead Soldiers," make me want to puke. Sheesh...THREE: Childress, Texas to Vote Tomorrow on Going Wet or Staying Dry. Tomorrow will be a historic day for those of us in Childress, Texas. Tomorrow we go to the polls to decide if Childress county will begin to sell and serve alcoholic beverages or remain a dry county as it always has been. Those in favor of going ...
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A POST FOR MOM
2007-11-02 15:59:00
Since my Mom has become a regular reader of my blog I have learned some things about my posts. For one, my Mom still gets on to me about using words I shouldn't. Here I used the "F" word (no, not that f-word) and here I used the "B" word. After each of those posts she reminded me that those two words weren't words I should be using. I would tell you exactly what there were, but she might get me again for using them :)I've also learned that my mom likes it when I post about family news and put up pictures up of her grandsons. It helps her to see what's going on in the Morgan family. So Mom, here are some pictures for you. I love you.Taylor asked to go to an Atlanta Braves game for his 18th birthday. So here are Taylor, Parker and I in Houston at Minute Maid Park, to see the Braves play the Astros. Although it was a 1000 mile trip in less than 24 hours, we still had a great time.Out in front of the baseball stadium you'll find Parker & Taylor with a statue of Craig Biggio who...
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