One Pastor's Perspective

One of my favorite mysterious friends in Florence, SC, is the Flossip. She blogs about the HEART OF FLORENCE. Check it out at www.theflossip.com

This was posted by mikeysfunnies.com a couple of days ago … It appears to be a true story:

Yesterday I was buying 2 large bags of dog food at Wal-Mart. I was about to check out when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog. What did she think I had – an elephant?

Since I had little else to do, on impulse, I told her that no I didn’t have a dog, and that I was starting the Purina Diet again, although I probably shouldn’t because I ended up in the hospital last time. On the bright side though, I had lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of every hole in my body and IVs in both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry and that the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to give it a try again. (I have to mention here that everyone in the line was enthralled with my story by now.)

Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care because the dog food had poisoned me. I told her no; I had stopped in the middle of the parking lot to scratch my fleas and a car hit me.

I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack, he was laughing so hard.

Wal-Mart won’t let me shop there anymore.

[forwarded by Amelia Lanning]

today’sTHOT============================

Studying economics may not give you the answers to serious economic problems, but at least you’ll learn to avoid being deceived by economists.

I was talking to a friend today, who also happens to attend Ebenezer. He told me an interesting story about something that happened to him last night at his house.

He answered an evening knock on his door last night to find two people. He said he knew what was coming next: “Hi, we are from X church (a local, non-denominational church in Florence) and we would like to visit with you.” He told them he and his wife are happy to attend and be members of Ebenezer. That was not a good answer. The woman asked if this was the home of _____ (his wife’s name) and he said yes, and they attend Ebenezer. The visitor asked “Are you satisfied with Ebenezer?” He was shocked. He said he felt like he was getting a spam call from ATT or Verizon. He answered yes, for the next shocking question: “Are you sure you are going to heaven?”

As a student of evangelism, I have no problem with the second question. The context, and how it was asked, seemed to be a reflection of WHERE he attended church. The first question was very much an impersonal marketing ploy, but it all got me thinking:

Are those folks over there trying to build the Kingdom of God, or THEIR OWN KINGDOM?? Wouldn’t a better question have been “Are you satisfied with your walk with Jesus Christ?” WHY AIM IT AT THE CHURCH??? Not a direct statement, but that was certainly a passive-aggressive way to say “Ebenezer is really not connected to Jesus and how could you be satisfied??”

Oh, the games churches play!! I will go on record as saying I don’t play those games. I don’t think I have ever asked someone where they go to church, and followed their answer up with a slam against their church or their pastor … Regardless of what I really thought. I’ve even had people visit me, tell me all of their church’s dirty laundry and why they feel they should leave, and tell them the best thing they can do is stay and try to help the church work through the problems. We at Ebenezer have our share of problems, and running from it is never a good idea. I write all of this and freely admit that I am not perfect. I make mistakes. I get angry (I almost AM right now). But I could never orchestrate such against another Christ-believing church, a sister church of mine, and stand before God one day with a clear conscience.

Because, the New Testament clearly tells us we are ONE BODY OF CHRIST. ANYONE WHO BELIEVES CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN IS MY BROTHER OR SISTER. End of story. Regardless of where they go to church. Or Sunday School. Regardless of whether or not they believe Adam had a belly-button, or where they stand on the all-important fried chicken vs roast beef Sunday lunch debate, or anything ELSE equally important in the grand scheme of things.

There is ONE GOD. We worship Him at Ebenezer. I happen to know they worship Him at Calvary Baptist, Central United Methodist, First Presbyterian, Effingham Presbyterian, and the list could go on and on.

The ONLY WAY we can make a difference here is to make sure WE ARE BUILDING GOD’S KINGDOM as a church. As churches. Will you join me??

I MUST be the luckiest guy in the world!!! In the past three days, I have ONCE AGAIN won the Internet lottery, been contacted by multiple people: barristers in England, wealthy people from the Ivory Coast, soldiers in Iraq, ALL needing to bring some money to the states and they chose ME (I fell so honored) to help them, and in doing it I will get a fee of several MILLION pounds.

I have HIT THE BIG TIME!! Now, I just don’t know which one to choose …

1. Clemson IS THE RIGHT SCHOOL for Krissy. I’ve been struggling with this, and God has been working it out. Sometimes RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY EYES. He has surrounded this environment with people who already know Krissy and care about her, and will help her make it. All I can do is bow my knee to Him once again!!!

2. Clemson is the RIGHT PRE-MED program for Krissy. Clemson has only had a pre-medical professional degree for a few years now and just brought a professor in from U of Miami to firm things up two years ago. His goal is to build the premier pre-med program in the state. MUSC is already thanking him for what he has done, stating that Clemson grads are their best and most well-prepared students right now, hands down.

3. Krissy is the RIGHT PRE-MED student for Clemson. We found out yesterday that she is one of 40 people accepted into the program this fall out of 700 (yep, seven HUNDRED) applicants. Wow.

4. Clemson wants to see her succeed as much if not MORE than Diana and I do.

5. Whenever I am in Clemson and need a good restaurant recommendation, JOEL FOWLER will NEVER let me down. He has already done this several times. We were walking downtown and it was time to eat, I called Joel, he told me EXACTLY where to go and how awesome it would be. EVERY TIME he does this, IT IS AWESOME. As Diana said, “when it comes to food, Joel DOES NOT FOOL AROUND.”

Well, I sit here in my old bedroom waiting to get a shower. The Princess is in there, so it might be a while … She is getting ready for one of the biggest days of her life to this point. She might not think so, and you might not think so, but I have this feeling by the end of this day she will either be in love with Clemson or hate it … and, I think it will be the FIRST thing!!

From where I sit, things are starting to fall into place. And that is a GOOD thing. God is using some people in the periphery of my life to help me through!! He IS kind of awesome that way!

Tomorrow, my daughter will take her next step. Although it might be considered a small step, it is a HUGE one in her dad’s eyes. This afternoon we will drive to Easley, to my parent’s home. Then, bright and early tomorrow morning, Diana, Krissy, and I will begin her orientation at Clemson.

To be really honest here, there are TWO major concerns about Krissy going to Clemson: How will I pay for it? and How will her car survive?? Honestly, I KNOW Krissy is ready. She has had her moments (as ALL kids do), but all in all, she is ready for this step. I know it. It will be hard for her to be over three hours away, but a lot of other parents have made it, so we will.

So, I AM a proud dad. I might be a little grouchy around the middle of August (when I have to move her up there FOUR DAYS BEFORE MY BIRTHDAY), but just ignore me. I will get better!!!!!