Podcast appearances and mentions of stephen glenn

This week Shelley and gather performers together and compete in  3 Ring Circus by Remo Conzadori and Fabio Lopiano from Devir then we enoy a couple of classic 2-player titles: Balloon Cup (also published as Pinata) from Stephen Glenn from Rio Grande and KOSMOS and Die Pyramiden des Jaguar by Gunter Burkhardt from KOSMOS Thanks to Bezier Games for their support, and you can support the podcast directly by heading over to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or checking out our list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Openers: Knarr, Faraway Closers: Ordering games nominated for the IGA and SdJ awards Mark Johnson @MarkEJohnson Mark Jackson @akapastorguy Recently I asked my listeners for more feedback about this old podcast. What I heard back was very encouraging--thanks for that. Most of you just tell me to keep doing what I like & want. Good, I will! Some other comments called back to the All About… episodes I used to do, deep dives into individual games. Others remembered the 100 Great Games series fondly, a collaboration I did with Mark Jackson and Stephen Glenn. More ideas came up, too. I've mulled those over and devised something that should be fun for me and worthwhile for the listeners. I've invited an old friend to join me in discussions about the Spiel des Jahres winner from a particular year. That makes it kind of a deeper dive into that title, but we also talk about the other nominees from that year. Not only that, but the longer list of recommended games, too. Along the way, we briefly mention the winners of the Kennerspiel, Deutscher Spielepreis, and the À La Carte, all notable awards in Germany where the Spiel des Jahres is still the preeminent award for our hobby.     When this podcast is released, we'll be only a week away from hearing the list of nominees and recommended games for this award year, 2024. I'll be very interested in that, however this new, occasional podcast series is about the SdJ in prior years. The award itself goes back to 1979--and I may cover those oldies someday--but for this episode I'm starting with something much closer to our present time. Five years ago seems like a good place to start--recent enough that the games are familiar, but distant enough that most gamers will have had plenty of opportunity to play them, if desired. Future episodes may jump around to other years that interest me, like a goofy time machine. My co-host for this episode is Mark Jackson, a well-known writer about boardgames. He's had multiple websites, is active on social media, is part of the Opinionated Gamers editorial board, a member of the International Gamers Awards panel, and has been on my podcast several times. I'm happy to call him my friend, too. Really, the only downside to this guy is the confusion we generate with our similar identities. Mark & I have similar histories, but not always the same taste in games. Nonetheless, I know I can count on him to appreciate the kind of family strategy boardgames I focus on in this podcast--it's in the opening to every episode! That's what the Spiel des Jahres awards and selection jury are all about, too. It's a great fit.      By setting our Spiel des Jahres Wayback Machine to 2019, Sherman & Peabody Mark & Mark will be going back to when Just One took home the prize over fellow nominees Werewords and L.L.A.M.A. Do you know all of those? How about the list of recommended titles, Belratti, Dizzle, Krass Kacke/Who Did It?, Reef, and Sherlock? We do our best to talk about all of those, while also mentioning that Wingspan won the Kennerspiel & DSP, while Belratti won the À La Carte. Let us know what you think about these games, and the SdJ Wayback Machine itself. Is there a particular year you want us to visit next? With 44 more years to choose from, we're not going hit them all or go in any order. Future episodes will be occasionally interspersed with the “regular” episodes of Boardgames To Go. Very soon we'll have this year's nominees to discuss on our Discord server or elsewhere. I'm looking forward to all of it. -Mark

Shelley and I get in some games with the guys, checking out Ecos: First Continent by John D. Clair from AEG and Garden Guests by Stephen Glenn from Van Ryder Games Sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This one was a doozy! The WCHS boys basketball coaching staff, led by Chris Sullens, joins the WCSA podcast - brought to you by Ben Lomand Connect. Sullens details his reasons for stepping down before he, Adam Wood, Camron Bond, Stephen Glenn and Trevor Evans talk about their favorite moments from being with Pioneer basketball. WCSA editor-in-chief Jeff Simmons hosts. 

Emma, Gil, and Scott go back to a topic that Ryan and Geoff discussed earlier in the show's history: Deckbuilding! With all that's changed (including Emma having designed a deckbuilder), what has changed, and what have we learned? 0m41s: The episode that Ryan and Geoff did was Ludology 119 - Deck the Halls. 0m46s: Dominion (which did come out in 2008) 2m39s: StarCraft: The Board Game, which is generally believed to be the first game with an in-game deckbuilding component (if we assume that Magic: The Gathering's deckbuilding component is technically not "in-game," but is part of the metagame). 5m12s: Trains, and A Few Acres of Snow 6m26s: Smash Up 14m45s: Concordia, Aquatica 17m13s: Ascension, Thunderstone, Nightfall 22m26s: Eschaton, Copycat 30m08s: Aeon's End, Thunderstone Quest, Big Book of Madness, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle 31m39s: Puzzle Strike 32m36s: The Quacks of Quedlinburg 33m19s: I think we have the name to Scott's next game... :) 34m03s: Black Friday 34m47s: Quarriors (and its themed re-implementation, Dice Masters) 36m58s: Rattlebones  37m40s: Dice Forge (which Gil mistakenly called Dice Vault) 38m25s: According to designer Stephen Glenn, Rattlebones had been in the works since 2009.  40m05s: Blank White Dice (which Emma called Blank Dice) 41m07s: Abandon All Artichokes, Xenon Profiteer, Fine Sand 44m18s: Mystic Vale, Edge of Darkness 46m21s: The game Scott was thinking of is Dead Reckoning 46m36s: Slay the Spire 48m09s: Gil is using the definition of "atom" from the book Characteristics of Games: "The smallest complete unit of play, in the sense that the players feel they've 'really played' some of the game." 49m51s: The bits in question 50m05s: VENOM Assault 51m27s: Monster Train 54m17s: Self-promotion time! Gil High Rise The Rival Networks (Gil was totally wrong, but the rulebook is with the graphic designer now, so it's close to done!) Gil's Twitch channel Gil's games at Gen Con Gil's remote playtest group Gil's upcoming storytelling game Weird Stories (watch a playthrough here) Check-In Cards Emma The Seattle Tabletop Game Designers group on Facebook Abandon All Artichokes The What's Eric Playing review Top 10 Games on our Radar The Abandon All Artichokes design diary Ludology Live at Gen Con Online Scott Comic Book Crisis Gamemaster film

This is our Fun-Friday Segment. We were delighted to roast our co-host Stephen Glenn. He has suffered an injury. Due to his injury he was roasted. We talked about the rallies that are happening the northern states. This is our quarantine chronicles.

This pastor discusses his joys of preaching and pastoring and gives pastoral advice... He also introduced the book "Ashamed of the Gospel."

Openers: Root and Krass Kariert Closers: Playing boardgames solo; Stephen Glenn's tweet about Phase 1 & 2 in our hobby: [/floatright] Doug Adams (dougadamsau)   Doug and I have "known" each other via the internet for over twenty years. He, Joe Huber, and I were the three that started emailing each other to form the Desert Island Gamers (DIGers) mailing list that was a main source of boardgaming information before sites like BGG were around. Heck, we go back far enough that we knew each other from IRC chat sessions. Although the distance between California (me) and Australia (Doug) has prevented us from meeting in-person, we've kept up an irregular correspondence for all of those years. Doug was on my wargames podcast a couple years ago, and at that time I knew I had to get him on Boardgames To Go, too. He maintains his wargaming days are mostly behind him, and he's almost exclusively a eurogamer now. When he dove into his own private, Knizia boardgaming marathon challenge, I knew straight away that this was the topic we'd discuss. Being gamers from way back, I knew he'd be exploring lots of classic Knizia titles from the 1990s. He didn't stop there, though. He played every kind of Knizia game he could, from those early titles that impressed so many of us, through some recent years when Knizia was less visible, all the way up to the present day's "Reinerssance." Though this challenge was big enough to begin with, Doug kept adding to it as the year went on. Then he managed to actually complete this gargantuan challenge by the end of September. Amazing! I invited him on the podcast to talk about that entire experience, both the Knizia games he enjoyed, and the very nature of personal boardgaming challenges. With the new year coming soon, I bet some other gamers will be inspired to try their own challenges. More power to you. Be sure to also check out Doug's excellent blog here on BGG, full of great photos and tidbits about the games he plays. It's called Reducing Doug's To Play List, which gives some sense of its general purpose. He posted monthly recaps of his progress through his "Great Knizia Challenge." A fitting reward for Doug from Dr. Knizia -Mark

Dr. Sheila Jenkins is a pediatric neurologist at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco. She has broad expertise in neurological conditions affecting children, with specific interest in the diagnosis and management of developmental delay, epilepsy and seizures, headaches, concussions, and movement disorders. Dr. Jenkins is passionate about helping families to understand the root cause of their child’s condition and working together with them to find the best solution to help them improve. While traditional therapies may be pharmacologic, she is also a strong advocate of non-pharmacologic approaches wherever applicable. She has seen a shift in her practice through the last 16 years, with increasing numbers of conditions that are exacerbated by excess stress and decreased self care. Dr. Jenkins grew up as a military brat, traveling with her family in Asia before ultimately settling in her home state of MS. She received her MD at the University of South Alabama and completed Residency in Pediatrics, followed by a Residency and Fellowship in Neurology and Child Neurology at UCSF. Dr. Jenkins and her husband co-founded the Roatan Volunteer Pediatric Clinic in Roatan, Honduras, which has provided care for 30,000+ patients to date through the work of 250+ volunteers. She has also served for 14 years on the Board of Directors of the non-profit Global Healing, working to help improve access to high quality healthcare in developing countries worldwide. Dr. Jenkins cared for patients at Children's Hospital Oakland and California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco prior to taking her current position at UCSF. She currently sees patients in UCSF's multi-specialty outreach clinics in Pleasanton and Fremont. What you’ll learn about in this episode: The difficulty teens have managing technology, self-regulation, and dealing with increased expectations in academics and competitive sports How much sleep teens really need Why teens need time away from screens, especially before bed Why increasing homework is an unfortunate shift in the education system Why focusing on a single sport isn’t the best thing to do Why parents aren't great at providing the boundaries their children need The types of patients that Sheila is focusing on right now What teens should be doing to deal with personal stress What parents need to be paying attention to in their teens’ lives Why it’s so important for teens to get outside more Recommended books, films, and apps Resources: Raising Resilient Teens: A practical guide to preparing your kids for life and work in the real world” by Lisa Allanson & Lisa McDonough: www.teenhackz.com “The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age” by Catherine Steiner-Adair: www.catherinesteineradair.com “Raising a Self-Reliant Child in a Self-Indulgent World” by H. Stephen Glenn and Jane Nelson: www.amazon.com/Raising-Self-Reliant-Children-Self-Indulgent-World/dp/0761511288

As you may recall, Stephen, Mark, and I already finished our countdown of 100 Great Games in an earlier episode. However, for a long while we'd planned to do one more episode together--this one--where we talk about our own picks, surprises, disappointments, trends, and so on. I foolishly thought this would be posted before Christmas! Will I never learn?! :-)   -Mark

Stephen Glenn of the SdJ-nominated Balloon Cup joins Shelley and me on the podcast for a discussion of game design and Essen (2006) anticipation.

We take a look at Stephen Glenn's new and innovative dice building game, Rattlebones.Listen:"Listen Live" Wednesdays @ 6 PM CST at www.KXTR.netSearch "KXTR 100.7 The Planet" on TuneIn RadioRSS Feed: feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundclo…508/sounds.rssTalk:www.Facebook.com/BagsandBoards@bagsandboardstxLanceTX12 on BGG

We take a look at Stephen Glenn's new and innovative dice building game, Rattlebones. Listen: "Listen Live" Wednesdays @ 6 PM CST at www.KXTR.net Search "KXTR 100.7 The Planet" on TuneIn Radio RSS Feed: feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundclo…508/sounds.rss Talk: www.Facebook.com/BagsandBoards @bagsandboardstx LanceTX12 on BGG

At long last, here are the Top Ten! As we count them down in reverse order, we stay true to form--having a few personal grumbles about these amazing titles. At the same time, we're honestly respectful and enthusiastic for all of these games. Several of them are in our personal top ten lists, too.  Though this is the end of the list of 100 Great Games, it's not quite the end of this podcast series. We promise to come back one more time for an epilogue episode, one that shares some analysis of the overall list, considers what games only missed the list because they were released post-2012, and what our own votes were. Remember, this list is a compilation of many experienced gamers' input. By now it's pretty obvious that we each have our own personal tastes that differ somewhat. If you have topics you'd like us to cover in the epilogue, let us know.In my poll associated with the last installment of 100 Great Games, I asked for your favorite Knizia auction game. Of the many options available Ra came out as the clear favorite. As you may have heard last time, Stephen preferred Ra, I went with Medici, and Jackson picked Traumfabrik.Now that we've reached the top of the list of 100 Great Games, are there ones you thought we missed? Of course that will be true--everyone has different tastes. However, any game released after 2012 didn't even get a chance to be on this list because that's when the project started. Below I've put together a poll of notable titles less than two years old that might have made it onto the 100 Great Games list. It's a tough choice, but which one do you think would've made it on the list? As always, if you've got a good suggestion that's not included in the poll, write it in the comments below. Thanks.

Here are #11-20 on the list, counted down in reverse order as we discuss them on the podcast. I thought we'd have nothing but praise for all of these highly-ranked games...but perhaps I should've known that that the three of us would take turns expressing reservations about even these amazing games. (It's going to make my upcoming "Mark Hates Games" episode all the more relevant.) ;)   In my poll associated with the last installment of 100 Great Games, I asked about the theming--or lack thereof--in Knizia's landmark cooperative game, [thing=823][/thing]. The smallest portion felt this was a mechanical, pasted-on theme kind of game. Instead, most felt that the theme does come through from the cooperative gameplay (mechanisms), while several more credited the amazing artwork for evoking the theme.   This time I'm returning to Knizia for the poll. It just worked out that way. We discussed Medici in a previous episode (and I recently played the unfortunately-ugly latest edition), and now Ra has come up. We used to ask ourselves which of Knizia's "auction trilogy" was our favorite (these plus Modern Art). That's what I'm asking here, only Mark Jackson suggested I widen it to include several more of Knizia's excellent auction-based games (including Mark's favorite, as you can hear in the episode). Did I forget to include your favorite? Tell me so in a comment, below.

Here are #21-30 on the list, counted down in reverse order as we discuss them on the podcast.After the previous episode of 100 Great Games, we received some (ahem) feedback regarding the games we didn’t like (I’m looking at you, Taj Majal), or didn’t know much about (such as War of the Ring). I’m pleased to say we don’t have that issue this time. I get to look over the still-secret list going all the way to Number One, and I can safely say that we’re familiar with all of the remaining games. Which is as you’d expect, right? As we get near the top we’re getting into even more of the modern classics that every self-respecting gamer should seek out & play. But, since you’re only hearing three voices from a survey of many more people, we may not all LOVE the remaining games. But we certainly respect them. (And as you’ll hear, in many cases we do love them!)We’re nearing the end, only two shows left after this one to finish the countdown! We’ve already had suggestion for a supplemental episode, and it’s under consideration. Other ideas are welcome. Finally, taking a page from Geek Weekly, I’m going to try adding a poll to each of my podcast episodes. I’d like folks to check out the blog (perhaps comment below), and there’s always a good question to pose after a podcast. Be sure to listen to the episode first, to get the context for the question. In this case, it’s about the theming (or not) in Knizia’s Lord of the Rings.

Stephen Glenn and Mark Jackson rejoin me (Mark JOHNson) to continue this series. In 2012, these two guys polled a number of experienced gamers (a few designers, many reviewers, all enthusiasts) for their top games, consolidated their answers, and asked to come on my podcast to count down the results. I was pleased to be part of the poll, and doubly pleased to have them on Boardgames To Go. I really like how Stephen describes this:  "a fun list to discuss over coffee & pie." The poll was for our favorite games, not necessarily the best games. We even got to submit a top fifteen, which took the usual tough request for a top ten and gave us more breathing room for five more titles. I know in my case, it made it easier to add some very recent games to my longstanding favorites.  On each podcast we're counting down a bunch of titles  until we get to a final show with the Top Ten. I'll be interspersing 100 Great Games countdown episodes with my other podcast episodes. Here are #31-40 on the list, counted down in reverse order as we discuss them on the podcast. This show was especially fun because BGG had gone down for maintenance when we did our recording! That meant that we had to go on our own knowledge and memories of the games' designers, publishers, and years, in addition to usual opinions about how they play. Fortunately, we're getting so high up in the list now that the games are very notable. I think we did pretty well without our normal reference material...but you tell me! Note: we had a little audio problem with Mark Jackson halfway through the podcast, but stick with us! I edited around it as best I could, and it gets better after the Ave Caesar/Ausgebremst/Q-Jet discussion.

Stephen Glenn and Mark Jackson rejoin me (Mark JOHNson) to continue this series. In 2012, these two guys polled a number of experienced gamers (a few designers, many reviewers, all enthusiasts) for their top games, consolidated their answers, and asked to come on my podcast to count down the results. I was pleased to be part of the poll, and doubly pleased to have them on Boardgames To Go. I really like how Stephen describes this:  "a fun list to discuss over coffee & pie." The poll was for our favorite games, not necessarily the best games. We even got to submit a top fifteen, which took the usual tough request for a top ten and gave us more breathing room for five more titles. I know in my case, it made it easier to add some very recent games to my longstanding favorites. On each podcast we're counting down 15 titles until we get to a final show with the Top Ten. I'll be interspersing 100 Great Games countdown episodes with my other podcast episodes.Here are #41-55 on the list, counted down in reverse order as we discuss them on the podcast.Now we're really getting into some notable titles with firm reputations of being great games. And yet, one or more of us keep finding games that we take issue with. There's nothing wrong with that, of course--these are the compiled results of many gamers, not just us. You should understand that we can respect a game, and its place on this list, even if we don't like it personally. In fact, I hope that sort of different opinion makes for a good listen, and will spark some feedback in the blog comments, below.

For our seventh episode, we talk to designer Stephen Glenn, who produced games such as Balloon Cup and !st and Goal.

Stephen Glenn and Mark Jackson join me for part 3 of our 100 game countdown series. http://www.boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/19524

The guys join me for part 2 of our 100 game countdown series.

Several years ago, Stephen Glenn and Mark Jackson polled a number of experienced gamers (a few designers, many reviewers, all enthusiasts) for their top games. I was pleased to be part of it. They consolidated the results, and published them with commentary in a blog called "The One Hundred." It carried the tongue-in-cheek subtitle "The Official & Completely Authoritative 100 Best Games of All Time Ever Without Question...So There!" Not everyone got the irony of that title, but if you knew these guys you'd know they never take themselves too seriously.  Now in 2012 they felt it was time to do the survey again, adding some new people to the mix to get a broader range of input. I was happy to be asked for my input again, and then pleasantly surprised that they asked for my help with Boardgames To Go to get the survey results out via podcast. Hurray! This time around, I really like how Stephen describes it: "a fun list to discuss over coffee & pie." We were asked for our favorite games, not necessarily the best games. We even got to submit a top fifteen, which took the usual tough request for a top ten and gave us more breathing room for five more titles. I know in my case, it made it easier to add some very recent games to my longstanding faves.  

"Jesus - With Me, It's All Or Nothing!"Climb Every Mountain! Jesus has given us a very high mountainto climb - asking us in today's Scripture, Luke 14:25-33, to leaveeverything to follow him - loving him more than you love your " father,mother, wife, children, brothers and sisters - even more than yourown life." "If you come to me, but will not leave your family youcannot be my follower" or to say it another way, WITH ME IT'SALL OR NOTHING!I thought a little about that when finishing seminary. It wasn't likeI was going back home to Ohio - my first call was in Wisconsin, thesecond in San Juan, Puerto Rico and the third in Miami Beach Florida!My calling would keep me long distances from father, mother, brotherssisters, nieces, nephews - all. But it was the only way I could do what Iwas called to do.Jesus did not mean that we must all leave our families. He simplymeant that we must give first priority to our spiritual task - to being aperson of Spirit. You are here on this planet to grow your Spirit and to bea force for the development of the Spirit of Christ in the world. There willbe times when you will be tested as to the kind of person you really are.In the way of illustration: Consider the man who was guiding twoclients to the top of Mt. Everest. When they were within 1000 feet of thesummit, they came across a climber who the day before had been left fordead there in the death zone - but who somehow had survived the nightand, though delusional with the cold and altitude, greeted them. He neededhelp - persons to take him back down to where he could me "medivacked"out. The guide felt that was what, as human beings they were called to do.His clients, each of whom had paid $25,000 dollars for the climb, agreedto give up their dream of the mountaintop for this necessary humanitarianmission.It seems to me, in making that decision - they had reached themountaintop - that is, THE mountaintop, of God-like, Christ-like action.The guide was not "a religious man" by his own understanding of that, notaffiliated with any church or synagogue - but connected to the Divinethread that links humanity with Divinity - connected in his heart to theHeart of the Universe.The rescue was successful. The wife and sons of the rescuedman who had been notified of his death, but then, one of his sons, followingthe event on the internet saw the latest report that his father had beenfound alive and rescued. Their joy was beyond measure. Their rescuedloved one told them that he would be missing parts of some fingers andtoes. They asserted that they would love him just as much without them.An interesting sidelight to the event was that in addition to thethree that rescued him, two others came by at the same time, andoverhearing them speaking English, indicated they did not speak English,did not understand what was being said and kept on trekking toward thesummit. Later it was learned that they did speak English - they just didn'tspeak "human being" - they didn't speak "Divinity"The question Jesus has for you today is simple - to you speak"Divinity" with your life. Ironically, speaking "Divinity" with you life couldme that you answer the call, not to leave your mother or father, but to carefor them, cantankerous and difficult as they may be, or hopefully upbeatand easy.Whatever happens in your life where a need that you can meetpresents itself, gives you the opportunity to climb the mountain - or as itwas in the climbers case - to descend the mountain! Where you expressyour Divinity is entirely dependent on where you humanity finds you - andgives you the opportunity to know who you are - if you are the Christ's ornot.Years ago, when one of our parishioners went blind, she addedme to her bank accounts so that I could pay her bills and take care of anyneeds that might arise. When she died, the way the accounts were set up,I had every legal right to take what was in those accounts - thousands andthousands of dollars - but that wasn't what she wanted. She wanted thosedollars to go the church and they did. I had no temptation to take them -I knew who I was and that I was in Christ and Christ was in me. Therewas no question.Jesus wants you to lead a "No question" life. Though it's a simpleethic, it is well worth the following - to guide your life by the life of Christ.To follow His way of thinking and doing without question.How well do we do that? We'd have to ask someone other thanourselves. As a "Christian nation", we might ask someone from Islam forexample. The fact is that the Muslims who despise us, dislike us notbecause we're free, or because we're so very Christian, but because, intheir eyes, we're so awfully godless.. It's because we appear to haveproduced a godless, sex-saturated, violent, materialistic society.We as Christians need to admit that, considering our lamentableinability to practice the teachings of Jesus, that most Muslims are distinctivelyunimpressed with our religion. We invoke God's name as we bomb,occupy and dominate Islamic countries. We may say "In God We Trust"on our money, but they suspect that oil, power and wealth are our trueheart's desire.We're going to have to look a lot more redeemed before they believe inour Redeemer or before they believe in our belief in our Redeemer!And what can we think of Islam when Islamic fundamentalistsbrought about the horror of 9/11? How religious can that be?What we need is for the main body of people in each of the majorreligions to follow their leaders' true values - the values of love and justice- the values we have in common.A young man entered Duke University. He was tall, utterly white,utterly blonde, and utterly Southern. A few weeks later, the Dean saw himwalking on campus, hand in hand with a young woman who was utterlyshort, utterly brown, utterly Muslim, and (God forbid) an Ohioan! TheDean was on personal terms with the boy's parents and it wasn't longbefore his mother called: "Have you met Thomas' girlfriend" shesaid. "Talk to him! They're serious!"So the Dean asked Thomas for a chat. "Thomas," he said,"Tell me about Maranda." He told him that they were very much inlove, that she was a wonderful person, and that they were planning to bemarried right after graduation. The Dean asked, "What brought youtogether." Thomas said, "It was because we had so very much incommon!" The Dean replied, "Thomas, you're from South Carolina,you're blonde, Baptist; She's Muslim, brown and from Ohio. Whatin the would could you possibly have in common?"Thomas said, "Well, you know me. I don't drink onweekends, don't believe in casual sex. I'm not really into the successat any cost thing. She was the only girl I met who had the samevalues as mine!"The Scripture today is wonderful because it gives us an opportunityto check our discipleship quotient by checking our Christian values andhow well we're maintaining them.The fact that you are here in God's house - that's good - for hereyou are reminded of who you are and whose you are. It's good you're inattendance as this sermon is given - at least I think it is.In one church not too long ago a man got up in the middle of thepastor's sermon and walked out. His wife rushed up to the Pastor afterthe sermon and said, "Please don't think anything bad about myhusband walking out in the middle of your sermon. It's just that heoften walks in his sleep!"Maybe that's why Edgar A. Guest wroteI'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day;I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way,The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear,Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clearAnd the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.I soon can learn to do it if you'll let me see it done;I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast mayrun.And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true;But I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you doFor I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give,But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.When I see a deed of kindness, I am eager to be kind.When a weaker brother stumbles and a strong man stays behindJust to see if he can help him, then the wish grows strong in meTo become as big and thoughtful as I know as I know that friendto beAnd all travelers can witness that the best of guides todayIs not the one who tells them, but the one who shows the way.One good man teaches many, men believe what they behold;One deed of kindess noticed is worth forty that are told.Who stands with men of honor learns to hold his honor dear,For right living speaks a language which to everyone is clearThough an able speaker charms me with his eloquence, I say,I'd rather see a sermon than to hear one, any day.Lots of people who technically aren't preachers, including youcan be preachers. "A preacher is a person who finds the switchesthat turn on the best inside of us."H.Stephen Glenn points out his fifth grade teacher as one of them.In the days before it was understood, she found ways to deal with hidyslexia that had kept him from progressing previously. She got him outof the stuttering problem that his previous nervous and stressful years inschool had caused. When he went into sixth grade, Miss Hardy becamethe teach of that class as well, much to his delight. He kept track of her formany years thereafter and ultimately learned that she was terminal withcancer. As her only "special student", he decided to travel the thousandmiles to express his appreciation. But he wasn't the only one who madethe pilgrimage to renew their association and share their appreciation ofher - there were hundreds - an interesting mix of people - 3 U.S. Senators,12 State Legislators, and a number of CEO's os corporations and businessto name a few.In comparing notes with them, Stephen figured that three fourthsof them "went into the fifth grade quite intimidated by theeducational process, believing we were incapable, insignificant andat the mercy of fate or luck. We emerged from our contact withMiss Hardy believing we were capable, significant, influentialpeople who had the capacity to make a difference in life if we wouldtry. "One life made such a difference in so many lives - as can yours -particularly if it is guided by the principles and teachings of Jesus and yourpriorities are in order, remembering the essence of what Jesus told us intoday's Scripture "With Me, It's All or Nothing!"Sermon Notes(Not edited nor proofed)The Rev. Dr. Garth R. Thompson Pastor, M.B. Community ChurchA sermon is a simple truth told by someone whobelieves it to people he knows and loves (Phillips Brooks)September 9 2007 10:30 a, m. Luke 14:25-33May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our heartsbe acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.http://feeds.feedburner.com/MiamiBeachCommunityChurch