One Pastor's Perspective

As Iron Sharpens Iron

That is what a article on scnow.com says . . . We have seen all of the snow we will see for this winter. WOW . . . That is a bummer. Growing up in Easley, we had snow almost every year, and with some accumulation. And every three or four years we would have a big one that would shut things down . . . (Put that into perspective: Where it takes a FOOT to shut things down in Detriot, it only takes about 5 inches in Greenville and 2 – 3 inches in Florence).

The kid in me loves snow . . . The parent of a teenage drive DOES NOT. However, all things considered, I hope that article is wrong.

That is what UNC was last night . . . Very lucky. Georgia Tech played great game, and I don’t see how in the world they could be 7-9 now. They played UNC point for point last night and it all came down to GT having a chance to win. And, UNC was lucky. I guess luck IS involved in a run like they are having.

On the campaign trail, this: Mike Huckabee brings in the big artillery. Gov. David Beasley is a great advocate to have in South Carolina, and especially in the Pee Dee. AND, to bring the great Chuck Norris today, that is impressive. But, to bring the Nature Boy himself, Ric Flair??? Somebody is specifically working hard to get MY VOTE!!! I would probably verbally commit IF he also brought Rowdy Roddy Piper or Wahoo McDaniel . . . Hear THAT, Huckabee campaign???

America is AWESOME!! I watch the news and see all of these guys running for president, bouncing to and fro within our nation, and it is really cool. And then , I get home and have messages from people like McCain, Huckabee, Thompson, Romney, etc. EVERY DAY!! These guys are so busy campaigning and yet they have time to call me . . . EVERY DAY! WOW!

Okay, seriously guys, STOP CALLING and sending me mail EVERYDAY. I get the message . . . YOU are the only one that can do the job. Please don’t make me disconnect my phone . . . My church members would NOT like that. Enough is enough!

(Seriously, America IS AWESOME!!!)

From last night, the choice for mindless entertainment was TV, specifically George Lopez on Nick at Nite. Good stuff.

And now I will tell you who to vote for . . . Why not, pastors do this all of the time, right??? I’m gonna tell you, and if you do not do it, you are a bonehead. Yep, I said it . . . If you don’t listen to me on this one, you are an idiot. (Wow, that was a little stronger than bonehead)

Okay, for WHOM does the bell toll?? Who do YOU have to vote for?? I am telling you to vote your conscience . . . Vote for the candidates that best represent how you believe and feel. (Whew, I said it . . . I was afraid I was really going off the deep end with this one.)

All kidding aside, the right to vote is one of the most valuable privileges we have in a democracy. One vote, one voice. We can each express our opinions and ideas by VOTING, and we each have an equal voice. That is a wonderful thing, and something of which I believe God wants us to be good stewards.

(now, I am whispering, and I will tell you about who I am voting for in the Presidential race . . . I have no idea. I really don’t. I wouldn’t tell you if I did, but I can honestly say, right now, I have no idea. As a pastor to Democrats, Republicans, AND Independants, I would probably not say if I knew, and I really do not know right now. But you had better believe I WILL vote. And, YOU SHOULD TOO.)

I finally sit in my recliner at 9:45 pm. I was here once before, this morning, at 7:00am. Needless to say, it was a long day. But a good and productive one. And that is a great thing to be able to say on a Monday.

Now I am tired and want some mindless entertainment . . . So, will it be TV??? Or surfing???

I will let you know.

Do you know the Way?

So says Jeff Pearlman, writer for ESPN, in a recent article on Clayton Holmes. Read it here and let him and ESPN know how you feel . . .

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=pearlman/080110&sportCat=nfl

My family and I have lived here for almost 13 years now. I have seen every neighborhood and know there are some tough areas in our city. But, all in all, this guy is way off base and I know Florence is a growing, vibrant, living city with much hope and a great future.

Have you ever had a day that was so stressful that it took a dentist’s chair and the first stage of a new crown to CALM you down??? Well, now I have . . . If everone would just play basketball (in our league) by the rules, all would be good . . . But, apparently that is not going to happen.

And that does make me angry. It probably shouldn’t, but it should. I guess I should approach this more in a Christlike attitude and with His grace and mercy. But it really gets to me, especially when it is people who know better and have been involved for a while. I can really be a boy scout when it comes to rule, and it boggles my mind when others are not.

Yesterday I was caught in a crossfire between being the enforcer of league rules and being pastor of Ebenezer. We got everything worked out, but if you graded stress from 1 – 10, that one was a 17.

It is a scary thing when it takes your dentist, mining in your mouth to install a crown, to CALM you . . .

I got up this morning and realized I left my map light on in my car overnight. I immediately grabbed my keys to go turn it off and see if my car would crank . . . It did, and I let it run for a couple of minutes before coming back inside.

Nothing unusual here, except the fact that I went out in a t-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops. And I was completely comfortable! NOT cold at all . . . I guess I can thank our friends in the Global Warming department, but all kidding aside, this is serious! It was over 70 in Florence yesterday . . . I am a fan of warm weather, but enough is enough. My head has a hard time adjusting to 70 degrees one day and 27 the next . . .

Please, Mother Nature, pick a theme and stay with it for a couple of weeks!