However, it was Clothboy’s 1 point loss at last week’s semi-final match to a 33-2 kid that hurt the most. Instead of going to the finals and vying for a state championship he suddenly found himself having to wrestle two more matches to secure 3rd place – which he did.
For the first time we all felt what it must be like for an Olympic athlete who has worked his whole life and has a real shot at winning gold but instead falls just short and takes home the bronze. It is still a great accomplishment but it hurts much more than just being thrilled to be in the top 5.
I am so proud of Clothboy that I almost burst; and yet it is so painful to see him come up just short of his goal of a championship. He spent 21 days in Iowa at a tough camp and much off season time training for that …not to mention all the years he’s spent wrestling and learning. But as a senior that was his last chance and the loss was so final.
In the years to come that 3rd place will continue to be a reminder of much pride and much pain. I just pray that he uses this as an opportunity to better himself as a man in the years to come. And from what I know of my son that is exactly what he will do. Congrats Clothboy!!
Clothman Cautious To Not Offend ...Too Much 12/12/09
This week’s column represents the evolution of Clothman.
On the one hand, I had a difficult time allowing myself to write it because I knew one sentence would be disturbing to my Evangelical friends. On the other hand (because there’s always another hand), I was strongly compelled to write this column because I wanted to point out what I see are dangerous expectations of some over-confident Christians as well as the loss skeptics may experience by totally dismissing Jesus.
Obviously, I overcame my personal conflict and chose to write the column. Still, I went over it and over it to try and state my opinion with as little offense as possible to my friends. That isn’t easy because conservative Christians can be quite touchy about their beliefs. I know this for two reasons: 1) I was one for over two decades. And 2) I was excommunicated a few years ago because I no longer believe all of the conservative Christian party line.
One of the areas where I’ve had a change of belief is what I now see is a dangerously inflated confidence of knowing who God is and how he behaves – based upon “our” correct interpretation of the Bible. The assumption is that no one else has as accurate of an interpretation as “us” and thus “they” need to be shown the truth and the light – “our” truth and light.
Like a good conservative leader, I tried to teach my flock to be kind and loving to everyone, but we also knew we (and others who thought like us) were the only ones who were getting it right. If we loved others it was primarily to help them see our light. If they refused to agree with our beliefs we stayed polite to them but basically wrote them off – as many now write me off. (Of course there are many conservative Christians who don’t fit that profile and are genuinely loving toward all.)
In my initial draft of the column I included a line that said something like this: “Being overly confident of who God is and how he behaves is a dangerous thing because there is a fine line between being so certain about God and making oneself out to be God.”
On the other hand, I think skeptics and agnostics have much to gain by reexamining Jesus. Even if they don’t swallow the God/Man, virgin birth stuff there is a tremendous amount to be gained by studying the teachings and life of Jesus. I still believe such a study can result in a radical life change. Thus my line in the column that they should not throw the Christmas baby out with the bath water.
Silver Lining of this Economic Downturn 12/07/08
I grew up on a third world country (northern Idaho) so having little money to spend for Christmas wasn’t any different than having little money to spend for food, clothing and housing. It was as natural as wearing patched secondhand pants and old socks for mittens.
Thus, all of the hullabaloo about people not having a lot of money to spend on Christmas this year doesn’t have me very stirred up. So what! We don’t need to spend a lot of money at Christmas to have a great time with family and friends celebrating Jesus’ birth. In fact, it just might be that not spending a lot of money might cause us to actually have a better time with one another.
Without all of those presents distracting us perhaps we will naturally find ourselves more focused on family and friends and God.
I’ve had a lot of opportunities to visit with lots of people facing the soon and certain end of their life. Not one of them has ever told me they wished they had bought more stuff; nearly all wished they had spent more time with their loved ones. Interestingly, those who don’t have any regrets in this area are typically folks who spent more time with family and friend then money on them.
So this economic downturn seems to a silver lining doesn’t it? Less can lead to more.
Extremists Driving Clothman Crazy 11/1/08
I won’t lie, extremists are really starting to bug me. Here’s the latest example of people living by fear and anger instead of by faith and love.
Dan Cooper owns Cooper Firearms just south of where I live. I’ve had the privilege of meeting him a couple of times and he has generously donated some of his custom make rifles for raffle items to help support the youth and handicapped hunts that High Point Outdoor Adventures sponsors every year. Not only is Dan a fine man, his company indeed builds some of the best firearms in North America.
Well just this week, Dan was forced to leave his company. Why? Because he supports Barack Obama. Yip, that’s his crime.
Somehow, word of his support for Obama got out and spread like wildfire over the Internet. Soon fear driven, angry people began calling for a boycott of Cooper Firearms and labeling Cooper a “traitor.” Then, after his own company turned against him earlier in the week, Cooper resigned on Thursday.
What an outrage! This man’s life work has been stripped from him in a week all because fear and anger. Where does such fear come from? Certainly not facts. No way in hell is Obama going to take hunting rifles away from Americans. But fear makes people believe the unbelievable and do the unconscionable.
I began praying that somehow Dan Cooper could return to his company and that somehow this will help, not hurt his company. But how does one go back to the company that turned against him? Only grace, forgiveness and love can bring about a win in this situation.
Clothman Proud of Clothgirl 2/6/08
I was so proud of Clothgirl today. As a senior, she was just voted by her classmates as “Most Likely to Succeed.” She got to pose for one of those yearbook pictures with a fellow classmate.
I don’t know if such a designation is a blessing or a curse. For as long as there is a Big Sky Eagles yearbook on Earth, Clothgirl’s actual future (more than any of her classmates) will be compared to her predicted future.
I never had to worry about such forecasts for my future. If there was any category I might have won back then it probably would have been “Most Likely to Chug a Coors.” Or perhaps, “Most Likely to Get a Speeding Ticket.” Regardless, there wasn’t much expectation that I had to live up to.
What is so cool about this honor is that Clothgirl isn’t one of the “popular” kids, a “jock” or a “cheerleader.” Her GPA isn’t even in the Top 10 of her class. She’s just a neat kid who works hard at everything she does, brightens a room or hallway with her presence and treats everyone with respect. Maybe it says as much about her classmates as it does her, that they would bestow such an honor upon a person because of character, not mere looks, brains or brawn.
For the record, Clothgirl has always talked about becoming a doctor someday, even though her primary goal right now is to get her Nursing Degree and then decide. But who knows, maybe she’ll become a full-time mom. Either way, I agree with her classmates; Clothgirl will certainly succeed at life.
Clothman Watering Down the Gospel? 12/08/07
“Clothman, you’re watering down the gospel.”
“Why don’t you use the influence of your column to tell people the most important truths of the gospel – that Jesus died on the cross so that those who put their faith in him can go to heaven and not hell.”
“Our church is praying for you to come back to the truth Clothman and stop going down that slippery slop of liberalism.”
These are some of the comments I’ve gotten recently. (By the way, I don’t want to sound negative, I have received much more positive feedback than negative.) I know these folks mean well and I do appreciate them passing on their feelings. Even more, I know that they are giving me their input from a sincere heart and with good intentions. Thus, I strive to receive such feedback in this way.
The recent feedback comes from my treatment of traditional advent texts; namely, my discussion of the Magi and Mary. However, I must say that I couldn’t disagree more with their appraisal of my gospel presentation.
For years, I and others like myself (including those who are giving me the negative feedback), were in fact the ones who were watering down the gospel when we said the good news was primarily about getting to heaven. The most important thing was to get souls saved.
However, in the process I completely mistreated the biblical text. For example, in my column about Mary’s Song I talk about how off track this all-about-getting-to-heaven notion is. This portion of scripture has little if anything to do about Mary being humble, as most preach it. Furthermore, Mary nowhere sings anything about the fact that her son was going to save people from hell. Nowhere!
Read Mary’s Song for yourself in Luke 2. She’s talking about God reversing the current upside-down order of society. To say Mary’s Song is about humility or saving people from hell is the true “watering down” the gospel; furthermore, it is completely distorting it and this biblical text.
The fact is (and I somehow missed it for years and years) the gospel is social, it is political, it is about God’s order in heaven becoming real on earth. And, it is about getting to heaven and being saved from sin. That is the “full gospel.”
So if you think I’ve been watering down the gospel, please re-examine the biblical texts you think I’m diluting and then write me. Don’t just parrot the company line – look for yourself to see if what you’re saying is true.
Abortion Columns Create Stir 11/13/07
I’ve received some terrific responses to my abortion columns. One of the best is from Terry who among other things made this very good point:
If nothing else, by default our goal of reduction in abortions automatically gives aid and comfort to those who are still mercilessly killing millions of the innocent unborn and doing great harm to just as many women and many others in the process. Thus the "good goal" strategy we may adopt can become the enemy of the ultimate righteous goal, which is the preservation of unborn human lives and the prevention of great harm to women and many others across the board. Both reduction and relative elimination can certainly be pursued at the same time, and in fact they are.
Terry goes on to point out the great work that some, such as crisis pregnancy centers, are doing to in fact reduce abortions every day.
Terry’s right, but I still believe there is a higher goal that we can strive for without sacrificing our core values of life and choice.
What I didn’t say in my columns was a forthright statement that I am either pro-life or pro-choice. That was intentional. I think there’s something inherently wrong with such a statement. I’m for life and I’m for freedom. I don’t think the lines that we’ve drawn between the pro-life and pro-choice movements are as clear as we think they are. I tried to point this out in my columns.
I’ve watched this abortion battle go on and on for 30+ years with the constant polarized, partisan ranting from both sides. I want to move to higher ground, where we can finally begin to resolve this issue.
I think if we begin a dialogue and team up where we can, both sides will get what they want. I believe we can arrive at a place where both sides recognize that the pre-born are fully human. And I believe both sides can agree that a woman deserves to be able to make choices about her body. But we will never get there until we start walking in such a direction together – something we’re not doing and haven’t done…
Clothman On Abortion, Part 3 10/29/07
There are some things that parents should find out only when they get to heaven. The story in my latest adventure (Clothman On Abortion, Part 3) is one such thing. Please God, don’t let my mother see it …actually mom has macular degeneration so the chances of her reading it are slim.
Perhaps the worst three days of my life were those thinking that I had gotten Mary (not her real name) pregnant. Unless you’ve been in such a position I don’t know if you can really appreciate the fear, shock and confusion of it all. And the crazy thing about it was that (for obvious reasons) I couldn’t for the life of me remember even having sex with Mary and thus loosing my virginity.
But my appreciation for those caught in the web of a crisis pregnancy has always been nurtured by this experience. Pat answers and rigid solutions really blur when you’re living out a crisis pregnancy and not just speaking about the morality of it from an ideal point of view.
And what about my buddy who pulled this prank on me? I have to say that I was so incredibly relieved that I didn’t kill him. I was pissed that he let it drag on three days – although in fairness I didn’t tell him for nearly two days because I was so scared. Still, I know he was just trying to be funny and it went sideways. In retrospect, I have to say it will forever be the best practical joke ever played on me and I have tremendous admiration for that.
Why didn’t I recognize his handwriting? Somehow his feminine side emerged and he really did make it look like a nervous girl’s handwriting. He even had the cute little curls on the letters like girls do. Dang, he was good.
Are we still friends? Yes. How can you not be after sharing so many bonding experiences like these? In a way I was pregnant by him – that is a tie that binds.
Clothman On Abortion 10/15/07
I have become unbelievably frustrated with the abortion debate in America. Both sides sling mud at one another without realizing that they are both grabbing it (the mud) from the same stinking swamp of anger, hatred, bitterness and greed.
In thinking that they are superiorly correct (and often times that God is on their side), each side grabs a pile stinky pride and hate from the swamp and throws it at the “enemy” in the form of vicious rhetoric. Both sides have descended into a battle to maintain a battle line that was formed three decades ago by people who have long since left the front lines.
I believe it is time to throw off the huge political machines of the pro-life/pro-choice movements. Forget them both. They are stuck in a 30 year old war without end or victor.
Let’s embrace the politics of faith and cooperation. We don’t have to agree on everything to work together on something. In my column I gave just two ways both sides can move toward the other with the shared goal of reducing the number of abortions in America. Pro-choicers, acknowledge that the baby is a person. Pro-lifers, give up the notion of a constitutional amendment making abortion illegal.
These steps together toward a common goal will never be accepted by the giant political machines, which is why I say forget ‘em. Stop sending them your financial support. Let them dry up and blow away like chafe.
Let’s stop making abortion political and join with those who are already extending love and support to those in crisis because of a pregnancy.
Clothman's First Cover Story 10/1/07
Plain Truth Magazine was kind enough to ask me to write a feature for them about global warming – then they published it as their cover story. How cool. I originally got connected with PTM when they reprinted the column which won 3rd place in the national Amy Writing Awards.
I can’t post a copy of the global warming article on my website yet; however, I encourage you to go to Plain Truth Ministries and simply request to get on their mailing list for their magazine and their emails. I have found their material to be quite helpful. (I also had another column published in the same issue about Clothwoman and I having no curfew for Clothgirl and Clothboy.)
I’ve received a fair amount of response from both columns.
Another interesting outlet that has developed for my writing is a column called “Back of the Bus.” It is the last page of a magazine called Student Transportation News. It is the nation’s largest trade publication for school bus companies. It is based in CA.
I originally got connected with them when they awarded me their top prize for original writing in for a local bus company newsletter (I didn’t even know I was entered in the contest). Afterward they asked if I’d submit some material for their publication and now I'm a regular columnist.
Crazy how doors open for writers. Crazy how other doors don’t. I have some other columns out there that I’m waiting to get news about for publication with some other magazines. We’ll see.
Clothman's Forest Fire Adventures 9/27/07
I spent 24 official days working forest fires this year. That’s a record for me, normally I just do one two week tour of duty. This year I had some short jobs before I was assigned to a crew from central and northern Saskatchewan, Canada (eh) for 17 days.
I had a great time as usual; however, the forests were the most dangerous I’ve seen. Two times we just got out of there by the skin of our teeth.
For example the day when the temperature climbed to 90 degrees and the relative humidity dropped to 12%, then the winds picked up with gusts of 30mph. That is a receipt for explosive fires when the woods are a dry as they were this year. Sure enough huge, and I mean HUGE smoke plumes erupted both above and below my crew as the fires exploded to life. As I hurried in to get my crew they were literally running up the road and leapt into my bus. I mashed the accelerator to the floor to get out of there – the flames were converging on us so fast that it sounded like a freight train.
Of course much of the time it was not dramatic at all and I used my free time in the day to read a couple of fascinating books and write a lot of material. One of the books I can’t recommend highly enough is called, “The Language of God” by Francis Collins. He is the dude who cracked the DNA code – one of the greatest (perhaps the greatest) scientific accomplishment of human history. His book makes a brilliant case for theistic evolution or what Collins calls biologos. A must read. If you think evolution is a crock you need to read this book by one who is a strong Christian. More on that at another time.
Anyway I am back out of the woods and thrilled to be re-united with my family and still trying to dig out from under all the stuff that I feel behind on.
Another Clothfriend Dies of Cancer 11/28/06
Dustin Mitchell, 44, died of liver cancer on Saturday, November 25th. The Clothfamily was with his family as Dustin breathed his last breath on earth and his new one with God.
The first time I met Dustin was 15 years ago. He came over to visit a friend of mine and immediately the Lord told me (however the Lord does stuff like that), "You are going to be his pastor." Sure enough a year or so later I was, and we've been friends ever since.
Dustin battled liver disease for the past 18 years. It got very serious 5-6 years ago and Dustin was placed on the liver transplant list. However, God miraculously healed him and he got unbelievably better - so much so that they removed him from the transplant list. But this summer he began feeling weird again. About that time he came and told me that God showed him that he was going to die.
Indeed, a month or so later he took ill again, only this time his liver (still healed) was functioning properly, but tests showed that Dustin had cancer. Several exams, including a trip to the Mayo Clinic, finally confirmed he had cancer of the liver.
Dustin didn't last but a few weeks after that. He died Saturday, the 25th, at 8:04pm. He leaves behind his wife of 22 years, Becky and their five children all under the age of 15.
One of Dustin's requests (in addition to not wanting to die in a hospital) was that I help finish out his job as father to his five children. I've laid awake at night the couple of days since he died wondering how I can do that. The youngest is 8. That's a lot of responsibility and I need to respond in a way that I can do this for the long haul while keeping my own life in balance and respecting Becky's authority. Lord give me wisdom.
Dustin's funeral will be Friday, Dec. 1st, at 5:30pm at SHEC (1919 North Ave. W.) in Missoula.Another Clothfriend Nears Death 11/24/06
Arg. Another long time friend of mine, Dustin Mitchell is on his death bed with (apart from a miracle of God) mere days to live from liver cancer.
Dustin is only 44 years old and has a wife and 5 children the oldest of which is 14 and in the 8th grade. Recently, while Steve (see below) was in the cancer center receiving treatments, Dustin was on the 5th floor as doctors tried to evaluate his quickly worsening condition.
Apart from that miracle, both will pass away in the same month.
Dustin has battled liver disease for 18 years. But after a miracle 5-6 years ago, he appeared to have it whooped. However that all changed this summer. Dustin stopped by my house one day to tell me that something really different was going on inside his body this time and that for some reason we was certain he was going to die - yet, amazingly he was a peace with that.
Sure enough his condition began to worsen, slowly at first. Then just a month or two ago, all hell broke loose in his body and he began to fade away like a garden after a severe frost. Now, it appears he has but days, perhaps hours, to live - when just a few weeks ago they weren't sure if Dustin's condition was even all that serious.
Oh Father, please be near to the Mitchells. Comfort Dustin, his wife Becky and their 5 children. Help us as friends to know how to truly be friends. And may you be their best friend of all. One who is there no matter how dark it may seem.
Clothman Says Good-bye To Steve 11/9/06
One of the reasons why I've been behind on updating my website is because much of the time I would have spent updating I instead devoted to visiting Steve. I'm a highly relational dude so if it comes down to a friend or a website, the friend will win out every time. Sorry.
During those visits I think I did most of my good-byes by just being with Steve. So when I attended Steve's funeral today it was more to show support for his wife and his church. Our of that funeral I also wrote a part 8 to the series on Steve's Terminal Cancer. (See Steve's Terminal Cancer, Part 8.)
It has been a tough year having to say good-bye to friends. And today I just got word that another friend of mine in his early 40's has terminal liver cancer. He and his wife have 5 children of whom the oldest is only 14. I'm feeling pretty numb with all of this and am praying that God will give me the endurance and compassion to again be a friend to a buddy whose life is quickly fading away.
