Archive | November, 2006

Did North Carolina play football yesterday??

19 Nov

OF COURSE I know the answer to that one . . . It was one of the few UNC games I have been able to watch this year, and boy, did they play! I guess all of those NC State fans I know will not come near me this morning . . . Oh, well.

Yesterday I took Drew to his last soccer game of the fall. It was a tournament game, and we lost. Once again, oh well! We will get ’em in the spring. Diana and Krissy went out and worked on the Habitat house. It looks like they got all of the beams up and began the rafters. I can’t wait to see it with a roof on it. That project is really addicting . . . I don’t see how some people can continue to bring it down. I guess they will have to answer to God for that one day.

In the mean time, UNC won yesterday, so it was a great day.

Habitat Update

18 Nov

Yesterday we saw a crew of seven Ebenezerites go out to build the porch onto the house. For about an hour and a half we were joined by a small crew from South Florence High School. It was a good day to be out there and we got a bunch of stuff done.
I think we are very fortunate to be on this project. God has entrusted us with something special here, and we need to treasure the opportunity. I heard this week that “the Habitat project is such a mess.” Well, that is a untrue. In fact, nothing could be farther from the truth. Satan wants us to lose hope, to lose faith in this project. I believe God wants us to stand firm. He called us to do this, and He is blessing this, and He is blessing our church because of it. I am convinced of that.
God is really good, and He trusts us to do the RIGHT THING with this project. If you have not worked out there yet, please call Diana and sign up!! My theory is, the more people who work on this project, the more the truth will be out there: THIS THING IS AWESOME!!

The Pursuit of Excellence

17 Nov

Paul reminded us to be excellent in everything we do for the Lord. No one out there would disagree that EVERYTHING we do for the Lord should be done as well as we can do it. If it is worth doing at all, it is worth doing well. RIGHT???

I absolutely agree with all of that. Now, here is where REALITY hits the wheel. Our church is “staffed” by 10 full and part time positions, and by 200 volunteers. Some of the volunteers not only believe in excellence, they DO pursue it in everything they do. And, some do not. Plain and simple. We have such a vast volunteer army that we must depend on each one and are at their mercy. How do you motivate a volunteer to excellence??

As I said before, some ARE already motivated for it. And some are just getting by, and freely admit it. And, there are people all across that spectrum as well.

I am appreciative of EVERY person who makes up the body of Christ at Ebenezer Baptist Church. I am also buying in to this idea of simplifying our strategy to make disciples at EBC. My prayer (and my new theme) is setting the example and then motivating OTHERS toward excellence. Pray for me AND JOIN ME in this!!!

And, remember . . . We do not pursue this to make Ebenezer better . . . We pursue this because our God deserves NOTHING LESS.

DMV Experience

16 Nov

I had to take Krissy to the DMV today to apply for a waiver, allowing her to drive home from church, softball practice, and other events after 6pm. She does have a little p/t job, as well as all of her activities at church and school, so this will be very helpful.

I was taken by the new DMV. They really are trying to get customer service RIGHT at our DMV. We walked in and were handed the proper form. Before we could settle and start filling out the form, we were called to a window. Our DMV person was very helpful and courteous. He got the job done and sent us to the camera.

THAT is where the new DMV really lit up: The person at the camera made sure Krissy was happy with her new picture, and even made sure she was happy with her SIGNATURE!

That truly is the new DMV . . . When I was a kid, they did not give a RIP!!

The Simple Revolution

15 Nov

I am reading a recommended book from the SCBC. Thom Rainer wrote “The Simple Church.” He explores the concept that many churches have become so compartmentalized, so complex, they have moved away from what is important. The book promises NOT to be the program of the month, but to show church leaders how to simplify and streamline the process of discipleship.

Simple = better

Look at the iPod. Apple has mastered the SIMPLE rising out of the complex, and right now the iPod is the best selling MP3 player around.

What could we do better?? What could we simplify to make Ebenezer a better place??

HMMMMMMM . . .

SC Bapt Conv, Part Deux, aka Sixteen Candles

14 Nov

Justin and I finally got back from the convention. It was a good trip up, and we got to reconnect with several folks to assist in ministry. So, now all that is left is the birthday party. Yes, that is correct: Krissy turns sixteen TODAY.

WOW . . .I really cannot believe it. It seems as if only yesterday she was born, and now I am officially old! This week I saw a lot of old friends from seminary and from my past, and when I told them today was Krissy’s 16th, they ALL felt old along with me. Seth Buckley (my longtime friend and fashion consultant) even grayed his hair to make me not feel so bad!! What a pal!

South Carolina Bapt. Convention – Part 1

14 Nov

Today was the Pastor’s conference. I wish they would just let these guys speak without all of the fluff in between, but that is another story for another day.

Some of the reminders given to me this week surround an idea I am not sure Ebenezer will receive well. Ideas about freeing our ministers up to do more ministry and less administrative stuff. Right now at EBC, we are under staffed. There is no other way to say it. Don’t take this the wrong way, but it is true. For the number of people we have in attendance, we have too few ministers. I also look around and see ministers (including myself) doing things that, although necessary, are not fulfilling the ministry God called us to fulfill. That concerns me.

Today Daniel Akin and John Avant spoke of the purpose of deacons and other servants in the church, and the true job of every pastor and minister. I will confess I am not anywhere near where I need to be, but I need some help. So do Ed, Justin, and Pam. Pray for us!!! We need to be freed up TO SHARE THE GOSPEL!!!

You guys might wish you had not allowed me to come up here by the end of it all!!!

A Tale of Two Cars

12 Nov

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . . Okay, maybe not. But there were TWO cars that caught our eyes this weekend in our quick jaunt to Easley. The FIRST car is the Sprite Mobile pictured above. We saw this homeboy chariot somewhere south of Newberry on I-26. The picture says it all.
The next is a car from my childhood, a 1946 Mercury Coupe my dad bought when I was in high school. It spent FOREVER in our garage, but when my dad retired, he started on this. It is back from the shop with a Chevy motor, an automatic transmission, and air conditioning. It needs to be painted, but it was great to see it finally come home!

Best laid plans . . .

12 Nov

It made perfect sense: Jason Dorriety is preaching today and the SC Baptist Convention is here in Greenville this week. I would come to Easley with my family on Friday because of a previous engagement, take the Sunday off, allow my family to return without me, and hook up with Justin tomorrow to go to the convention. Ah, the best laid plans of mice and men.

It all would have worked, too, if NOT FOR THOSE PESKY KIDS! (Wait . . . this is not a Scooby Doo episode) No, seriously, I am packing to return to Florence to do a funeral for a friend. Actually, I return for two friends. “Coach” Steve Hicks passed away on Thursday. He was a great guy. His son is a great friend (Steve, Jr.). Today I gladly return for them because of a deep respect for BOTH of them.

It just goes to show you that God always has a plan, and His plans are best! Justin and I will return tomorrow, go to the Pastor’s conference, come back to my mom and dad’s house, and go to the convention on Tuesday. And it will all work out!!!

There is something about Easley

11 Nov

I don’t often get the opportunity, but I am spending the weekend in the house where I grew up. Florence is home, but Easley will always be home, too. And there is something about being here that immediately relaxes me and allows me to recharge. Diana went to a ladies’ dinner with her mom last night, so I took Thelma & Louise and Drew to Frodo’s Pizza (AWESOME) and to the infamous Haywood Mall. Hanging out at Haywood Mall is exactly what I used to do on Friday night, so it was not unusual to be there. Some of the PEOPLE I saw were unusual, but it is familiar territory to me.

Greenville has really changed since I lived here last. I moved to New Orleans in May, 1992, just before BMW announced their North American plant to be built in Greer. So much industry has moved in since I left and Greenville is truly a cosmopolitan city. I guess that is okay, but I saw some really strange things last night at Haywood. Makes me appreciate Magnolia Mall even more!

Today, I will go with my dad to pick up his 1946 Mercury Coupe that he is having restored. It is all done now but the painting. I remember the day he bought that car, and all of the years it kind of sat waiting to be restored. This is a great day!!!

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