Tanner Rednecks

Well this weekend I work harder at making Betsy a little more red around the collar! Mrs. Furman - Lawyer girl went with me to watch one of our students (Amanda Benner) race in her dragester! FUN TIMES at the Carolina Dragstrip. This is apparently one of the best dragstrips in the south east. If you knew my girl Amanda you would NEVER know she is a racer. But she GOOD.

Since our involvement, not only now have we been to the dragstrip, but also to a NASCAR race! Betsy had NEVER been into NASCAR until Walter. Two years ago for my birthday....she bought us tickets to Bristol (how awesome is my wife). She even has a driver now - Darrell Jarrett. Her theory was she used UPS - so that would be driver.

Don't let her fool you - she had a little country in her. She did do a year on the Rodeo circuit as a barrel racer! You can take the girl out of the country, but ya can't take the country out of the girl - even in the court room! Her is to all the UNDERCOVER rednecks out there - YEE HAW! (one of the greatest TV shows ever!!!!!!)

End of the Spear

Betsy and I did not see this movie when it came out in theaters. I knew the true story of the missionaries, and had heard that the movie was great. Well Bets and I rented it the other day.
WOW! Never have I seen such an example of grace and forgiveness. It was amazing. As the family goes to live with tribe that KILLED their husbands and fathers you ask, "Could I ever forgive like that." Then there was the final scene by the river where Jonny's dad was killed and the tribal leader who speared him. Crazy good! If you haven't rented it - DO IT. And it isn't bad movie making either. Quality actors and great camera work for the jungles of Ecuador. It is not your traditional Hollywood movie - actually some good stuff!

Element

If anyone was wondering what it looks like on Wednesday's at Element - here ya go! Thanks TJ for the pic...not only does TJ rock out by leading our student band, but also clickin' the pics!

Our current series is called "Face Off: facing lifes issues." The crowd is facing each other. Fun times. This is our Middles School Crowd.

Great Story...

As I continue to push through read the ENTIRE bible (something I have started many times, but actually never finished in one time frame) I came across a story I read long ago. This is a GREAT Story for bald student ministers, but not a bed time story for the little kiddies. Why? Because kids die for mocking Elisha for his bald head:

"As he (Elisha) was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. "Go on up, you baldhead!" they said. "Go on up, you baldhead!" He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths." 2 Kings 2:23-24

And who says our God isn't a just God. God took out an entire YOUTH GROUP! Actually this is a crazy story and leaves me scratching my head. But I know God has my back if I scratch it too much and become bald.

"We're not going to kick any more" Tommy Bowden

The title of this blog is the most honest thing Tommy has said in a long time. There was no hiding behind words - our kicking STUNK! I have been watching football a long time. NEVER IN MY ENTIRE LIFE have I seen what I saw Saturday night! Are you kidding me?

BUT a HUGE win for the Tiger Nation! Bowden Bowl XIII goes to the younger Bowden. I was at the first Bowden Bowl and they said Papa would never be beat! What an amazing game. Now classic Clemson football will be we will lose to Wake Forest and Temple - then beat Virgina Tech. But this year is a new year! A new year where we can just give points to FSU and still win! Go Tigers!

Five Years Later.

Today marks the five year remembrance of Sept. 11. This morning Betsy and I watch the Today show's pieces on Sept. 11.
All those feelings and emotions of that day five years ago came charging back when watching the shocking videos, the interviews of those who lost loved ones, and remembering where I was during this time.

The moment will forever be burned into my memory. We were getting ready for a presentation in Lee Hall (Clemson Architecture School) and listening to the radio. Honestly when the report came in on the radio I thought it just an accident. Then I SAW the second plane hit - and knew that our world would be forever changed.

I pray that we never forget! Knowing that we live in a fallen world, evil overflows into our lives. A lot of people knew I was a Christian in my Architecture Studio at Clemson and they came asking what all this meant, did God let this happen, is the world coming to an end, how do they find God. It was truly a time of seeking for everyone. I was honest in that I didn't have all the answers, but I did know the Light during this dark time. My prayer is that we continue to hold that light high in the air. A light that brings hope, salvation, healing, goodness, and love.

Today five years later - a lot has changed! The people who surround me now in work and worship, I didn't even know exsisted. Our country has made changes to adjust to this new era (post 9/11). Americans eyes now light up in fear at the word of terriorism. But one thing that is constant is that our God is still God! May we never forget.

W.W.J.B.D

It seems like everywhere we go the questions that pop into my mind is What Would Jack Bauer Do! Would Jack Bauer let that waiter talk to his wife like that? Would Jack Bauer drink Diet Drinks? Would Jack Bauer wear boxer or briefs?
Don't we all wish we were more like Jack Bauer! Minus the killing hundreds of terrorist, not peeping for over 24 hours, and faking your own death.


Post by Walt - the things expressed on the Tanner blog in no way represent the theories, sayings, or even thoughts of the other half of the Tanner blog...Mrs Betsy Tanner!