When a baby is born in the state of Alabama, after all the necessary information is taken, the next question asked is this:  Is he/she an Alabama fan or an Auburn fan? There might even be a place on the birth certificate for the answer to that question. (There isn’t.) The fact is that college football is taken seriously in the state of Alabama.

Growing up, it was quickly made known to me that I was an Auburn fan. My dad had graduated from Auburn and I was constantly dressed in orange and blue. Things were almost different though. My dad’s dad was an Alabama graduate and my dad was a Bama fan growing up. He wanted to attend Alabama, but decided on a whim to visit Auburn with a friend one weekend while deciding where to go to college.

He said he would never forget the man’s name that came walking up as soon as he opened the car door in Auburn. “Hi, my name is Cal Friddle. Welcome to Auburn, can I help you?” Cal wasn’t a representative of Auburn. He wasn’t the tour guide. He was just a student who loved Auburn. And my dad quickly loved it as well. Changing the course of his life and most likely mine as well.

Tonight, the Auburn Tigers play in the BCS National Championship game. It’s a day that most Auburn fans weren’t sure would come.  Something always seems to happen when Auburn goes undefeated. Whether it’s probation or being the odd man out when 3 teams go undefeated – something has always kept this day from happening.  This season was no different, but Auburn is in the game.

Fans can aruge (and will) all day long about who is better and it can get ugly, but in the end it doesn’t really matter. I think it’s important that we keep that in mind, but there is something special about a father and son connecting over a sport. Some of my favorite memories are from watching Auburn games with my dad. We would jump up and down and scream at the TV.

I remember that I got mad at my dad one day during a game and declared my loyalty to Alabama. Auburn scored a touchdown on the next play.  My first Alabama/Auburn game was with my dad and Auburn won in the closings seconds. When I was in college I got the opportunity to work for Auburn football and got the chance to share more Auburn games with my family.  I rang in the New Year in 2008 with my dad in the car driving back from surprising him with tickets to an Auburn bowl game.  Great memories.

I will never forget those times.

So tonight, I am asking Auburn to win it for my dad.  He’s loved Auburn for a long time and I want nothing more than for him to see Auburn win it all.  It would be one more memory that I would cherish.

War Eagle.

Wow.  It’s been a while.  I could give you all the reasons in the world why there hasn’t been a blog post since before my wedding. After all, I started a new job, settled in a new home and got married.  That means I am very busy, right?  Well yes, but there were plenty of chances for me to write.  I actually sat down and started to a few times only to be distracted by what was on TV or chasing my wife around the house, just because I can.

The real reason why there hasn’t been a post in quite a while is, honestly, a lack of discipline.  You know discipline, the word that sent shivers down your spine as your kid.  Well, as an adult it doesn’t quite mean the same thing but it still causes hairs to stand up on end.  Discipline is tough to get.  It seems that some people just have it and while sometimes I do “just have it”, there are also times that I “just don’t”.

My friend Grant Jenkins, who will be upset with me that I didn’t just link his name, has encouraged me to do a #OneWord2011 post.  After initially saying “yeah, maybe” but in my head really saying, “no chance” I reconsidered.  So without further adieu my one word for 2011 is…..

Discipline

Discipline in taking my wife out for a weekly date.
Discipline in reading the books on my list.
Discipline in exercising.
Discipline in writing creatively on this blog more.
Discipline in serving.
Discipline in learning all of the kids in my ministries names.
Discipline in engaging my kids more on their level in their environments.

Discipline in writing messages in advance and showering them in prayer.

But if I somehow failed in becoming better in all of those and improved my discipline in this one area, it will still be a win. Discipline in spending meaningful time with the creator of the universe and savior of the world.  I used a qualifying word in that sentence.  ”Meaningful.”  No more sitting down with only 10 minutes to spare to speed read a passage and say, “thanks for the day.”

Meaningful time spent in prayer and study.  Conversations with God on a deeper level more consistently.  If I accomplish that, then I am a firm believer that most of the other things I desire discipline in will come.  I also believe that the more consistent I become in meaningful prayer and study, the less it looks like “discipline.”  The discipline becomes more of a passion and the hairs on my arm will remain laying peacefully down.

That’s my #OneWord for 2011.