One Pastor's Perspective

I don’t watch TOO much NFL football. I am a much bigger college fan. But I found my self drawn into the Saints – Tampa Bay game yesterday. And it was a good game. New Orleans is a finicky city and the Saints have NEVER done too well. I would love to see them contend for a league championship. But that might be one of those things that is never meant to be.

I saw the Saints in the Superdome ONCE in my three years in the Crescent City. It was a Thursday night game against the Washington Redskins. A group of guys from the seminary got tickets and went down together. One of my buddies wore his Redskins cap (which we ALL knew was a mistake) and the funniest things happened to him. The funniest was how the two sweet little old ladies that sat behind us treated him once the game started. In SC, we THINK we know how to talk smack about sports. These were the sweetest little old ladies UNTIL KICKOFF. Then, they spent the next few hours TORMENTING Richard. And that in itself was FUNNY. And, of course, it was one of the few games New Orleans actually WON that year.

Yesterday I found myself really cheering for them and it was a good game. Not a fluke win, but a well-played game. I hope they have many more of those this year.

When we showed up to the Camden High stadium and had to walk through a METAL DETECTOR, I knew it would be an interesing evening. And it was. To make a long, painful story really short, the first half was tainted by so many bad calls, and they ALL went Camden’s way. TWO tds called back for holding . . . One other long run, same call . . . A “completed” pass by Camden that bounced two feet in front of the receiver before he trapped it on the ground (that happend right in front of us) and NONE of the officials wanted to make a call after it. They all just stared at each other for a few seconds and the head guy finally signalled it complete. And on the same drive, a pass interference call where two of our defensive backs collided and dropped an interception because the receiver pushed one of them into the other one as the ball got there, and the ref threw a flag and called it AGAINST US!! That call led to us going into the locker room in a 14-14 tie.

The second half was no better. I sure hope WF videos, and plans to send it to the SCHSF. There was no question we would have to beat Camden AS WELL AS five zebras. In the end, WE DID!! And a ninth grader, Justin Gainey, who is the JV kicker, was the difference in the game with a field goal and three extra points as we won. And some great kickoffs. Because of some team problems, he was pulled up and the weight of the whole world was placed squarely on him. AND HE HANDLED IT WELL. And we won, 24-20.

And, as we got out of dodge after the game was over, I understood why that metal detector was there and just hoped they made the fans on the other side of the field walk through one, too.

Have you ever been to a store, or on a quest to purchase something, and had a salesman say “You wouldn’t want to buy this WOULD YOU?”  If you did, you thought twice about it.  Most salespeople are trained to speak positively, speak supportively about their product, and de-emphasize the use of the word “dollar.”  A negative-talking salesperson is the quickest way to get rid of me.

WHY does the price of gas stay up after the Gustav jump even after the price of a barrel of oil has DROPPED almost every day this week???  WHY does gas JUMP at the sign of trouble, even BEFORE the price of a barrel jumps, but it takes days for us to see it at the pump after the price of a barrel FALLS???

A police officer pulled a guy over for speeding and had the following exchange:

Officer: May I see your driver’s license?
Driver: I don’t have one. I had it suspended when I got my 5th DUI (Driving Under the Influence).
Officer: May I see the registration for this vehicle?
Driver: It’s not my car. I stole it.
Officer: The car is stolen?
Driver: That’s right. But come to think of it, I think I saw the registration in the glove box when I was putting my gun in there.
Officer: There’s a gun in the glove box?
Driver: Yes sir. That’s where I put it after I shot and killed the woman who owns this car and stuffed her in the trunk.
Officer: There’s a BODY in the TRUNK?!?!?
Driver: Yes, sir.

Hearing this, the officer immediately called his captain. The car was quickly surrounded by police, and the captain approached the driver to handle the tense situation:
Captain: Sir, can I see your license?
Driver: Sure. Here it is. (It was valid.)
Captain: Who’s car is this?
Driver: It’s mine, officer. Here’s the registration.
Captain: Could you slowly open your glove box so I can see if there’s a gun in it?
Driver: Yes, sir, but there’s no gun in it. Sure enough, there was nothing in the glove box.
Captain: Would you mind opening your trunk? I was told you said there’s a body in it.
Driver: No problem.The trunk was opened; no body.

Captain: I don’t understand it. The officer who stopped you said you told him you didn’t have a license, stole the car, had a gun in the glovebox, and that there was a dead body in the trunk.
Driver: Yeah, I’ll bet he told you I was speeding, too.

today’sTHOT============================
Diplomacy is the art of letting somebody else have your way.

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Went to the late game tonight for our co-ed team. It really wasn’t so bad until one of the umps, whom I will not name, went from zero to furious after he blew a call and we let him know about it. All kinds of things were exchanged, both during and after the game, that make me wonder if I am done at that league, and if we should try another league next year?? If the umps don’t like your team and your team is the ONLY one complaining, (which I find hard to believe) maybe it IS time to move on. I don’t know, but am glad I don’t have to make that decision tonight.

I won’t recap the previous signs, but this one is definitely a sign of the end of the world: PAUL FRAZIER HAS A BLOG!!! I will GUARANTEE everything he writes to be worth a read. His link is http://pauldfrazier.blogspot.com. CHECK IT OUT!!

Now, to be completely serious for a moment, things DO look hopeful for New Orleans, but it looks like south central Louisiana is going to take the hit. And where New Orleans is the most vulnerable geographic area, the south central part of the state is the poorest. SO, I do breathe a little sigh of relief, but I am still praying and you should be, too. Don’t be fooled . . . The devastation and destruction WILL be there, just not in New Orleans.

I THOUGHT I was under the gun in the last post. The House of Worship campaign is going to rock steady once we get things cranked up and rolling, but WOW . . . We were NOT the only ones who feel under the gun. I have spent most of the last two days NOT preparing for Sunday, but putting out fires and talking people down from proverbial ledges.

I think on today, my day off, I will break my cell phone and home phone! And if I ever write that I am under the gun again, just shoot me and put me out of my misery!

That’s is where I find myself with Kerry, Amanda, and Deano on some things for our House Of Worship campaign. Last night we met (until a few minutes ago). It was good and it moving ahead in a positive direction, but there is much to do. And I am glad to see God at work in it, and God at work in our church.

But there is nothing quite like being under the gun.

(With my sincerest apologies if I borrow from King Lemuel a little)

A woman of great value . . . Who can find her?

She works to make sure her family has everything they need to survive.
She remembers what it was like to be a teenager, and she sacrifices greatly so her children can have.
She is always looking for the best deals, always manages to feed and clothe her family well, and always knows the schedule of everything and how her family will deal with it.
She honors her family by loving her mother and helping all she can; she remembers her father with such love . . . I hope my children remember me so fondly someday.
She is tough on the outside, but it is only a protective exterior . . . Inside she is tender, warm, and loving.
She protects her children with the ferocity of a mama bear, she guides them with the wisdom of an owl, and she teaches them to survive with the cunning of a fox.

Yes, charm is deceptive and outer beauty a mere mirage. But a woman of character, SHE is to be praised.

Who can find a woman of great value?? I have no idea what to tell you fellas, because I married the only one I found!!!!