One Pastor's Perspective

Falling

I know I am getting older, because I’ve become less and less tolerant of some things. Specifically, when people act selfishly or expect the world to bow down to them, I resist. There is something inside me, and I KNOW it is pride, that makes it really hard for me to “play along” when I know I am being manipulated. As a pastor, unfortunately, THAT happens all of the time.

However, a simple observation from the past few days is this: IF you treat people badly, don’t be suprised when they do not like you! Don’t fuss or whine that people don’t like you when you treat them like dirt!! I know that sounds specific and pointed, but it is not . . . With all of us working close together in VBS these past few days and weeks, I have seen this play out time and time again in several scenarios.

Jesus said we should treat other people THE WAY we want to be treated. If we all obeyed that one, life would be a whole lot easier . . .

We left the house at 6:30am yesterday, and returned around 10:15 last night . . . YES, we had a softball tournament in Sumter. And I am glad to report that we returned so late last night because we WON!

Krissy pitched in several of the early games, and did well. This was her first tournament from 43′, and she proved she could hang with it. And, we brought home hardware and a nice patch. I guess it was a successful day!

This one was from the Willow Film Festival:

Yesterday I did something that I really love doing . . . We loaded up the camera, went to Timrod Park, and made a movie. It is a clip of Adam Swindler telling the story of the time he fell into a well on a youth trip. We can laugh about it now, but it was a serious thing and could’ve been life-threatening. I think we captured that on the video.

There is something powerful about a real person telling a real story about God and His provision. The video is actually part of my sermon . . . I think its gonna work, but we’ll see!!!

REALLY?? I hadn’t noticed . . . All sarcasm aside, I’ve said for months that the presidential candidate that solves the gas crisis will most assuredly win the election. And then, W goes and releases a four-point plan for easing the gas crunch (It makes no sense that #3 was to abandon Dick Cheney at an undisclosed location in Anartica, but I figure W is President, so we do it his way). After all, if we have learned ANYTHING in these past eight years, it is DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS.

I must confess . . . If there was oil in MY backyard, there would be a well built as soon as I could pull together the funds, get the plans off the web, and get the materials delivered. YES, my homeowners’ assoc would have SOMETHING to say, so I would tell them it is a TEXAS SWINGSET.

And, I would drill. And I would once again hit the web and figure out how to refine it. Then I would convert it to gas and dump whatever waste is involved in Paul Frazier’s back yard. And if I have to build one of those big tanks, I will tell the HOA it is a TEXAS PLAYHOUSE.

And I would share with my friends (my REAL friends, not all those who SAY they are my friends once they hear I have free gas.) I guess I will have to give Paul a DOUBLE PORTION to make up for the EPA disaster I turned his backyard into . . . And if my friends line their cars up and cause a commotion amongst my neighbors, I will tell them it is a TEXAS BLOCKPARTY.

Oh, if I just had a little bit of money, I would be dangerous . . . We call all of this a TEXAS HOBBY. Or maybe a TEXAS DAYDREAM.

No, I am NOT a bandwagon fan. I have been a Celtics fan for years and years, since the days of Larry Bird, Robert “the Chief” Parrish, Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge, et. al.

Honestly, I haven’t watched the Celts in years . . . Had no idea who was playing for them. Until this year and the Big Three. And the fact that TWO of the Big Three are South Carolina boys didn’t hurt things (Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett).

So, I watched this playoff season. And my dislike of the Lakers even drew me in MORE. And THEY WON, and they won BIG.

And somewhere, up in Heaven, Red Auerbach just lit a cigar . . .

Last night we had a great training session with RSI. We now have much to do in preparation for the upcoming capital campaign and our building project (YES, work does go on in spite of gas prices).

I heard a story yesterday about a misunderstanding months ago involving our building proposal in which a pillar of our church told that he was just a “nobody.” It shocked me for a couple of reasons . . . Number One, as this proposal was formed and fashioned it was necessary to keep it within a circle of about ten people – they were the TEAM helping form the project! They were sworn to secrecy. As we unveiled the plans, we decided to start with a small group of leaders . . . Our active deacons. We rolled out the plans to them and asked them to critique the presentation. They did so, and it helped us take it to the NEXT level. There we decided to roll it out to a little larger of a group – our Sunday School teachers. Again, they listened, asked questions, and really helped us hone the presentation to make it better for the NEXT level, which was the entire congregation.

Apparently, someone somewhere heard a portion of the truth and determined that we were having secret meetings with “chosen” members of the church to make decisions and the scuttle was our building team was not even listening to Joe Churchmember, just their chosen lackeys. NOTHING COULD BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

There are NO nobodies in this thing . . . Everyone has a voice, everyone had a vote when we voted for it. Everyone had a chance to pray, everyone had a chance to ask questions, etc. It troubles me that someone would tell ANYONE that they were a nobody and not worthy of the secret meetings . . . There really wasn’t any of that going on, except for the core work of the team itself.

But, off my soap box . . . “Hose me down . . . Feed me slop . . . I’ve got SHOWS to do!!!”

(I will be VERY impressed if any of you know where that quote came from, and you are NOT allowed to search the web for it)

Are there things in my life I won’t blog about?? YES. And sometimes that bothers me. But, to keep peace in my life I have no choice. Let me just say that the difference in 8:30 and 11am worship at Ebenezer is sometimes breathtaking, and not in a good way. Yesterday, 8:30 was ALIVE and there seemed to be a thick fog in there at 11. That is all I can say, knowing that there ARE people at 11 that are really into what God is doing in worship. I would never discount them. But the nonverbal feedback at 11 can be very cold, and that makes it harder for me.

I have often contemplated doing an anonymous blog about being a pastor, and telling NO ONE I know about it. Just doing it to do it. Not to call names or embarass anyone, just to have an outlet. (Okay, maybe the occasional “Did you SEE what DEAN was wearing today???” . . . NAH – too girly)

Self-sensorship is unfair, and I am protesting against myself for the rest of the morning.

United (or should I typo UNTIED) Airline FINALLY brought us back to Columbia last night. We were in the airport for four hours, two more than we expected, and count ourselves LUCKY based on others experiences. The final analysis on Willow is not in yet, but I can safely say that it was awesome. Yesterday was a great finale; we were constantly challenged to think and rethink what God is doing around us vs. what we THINK is happening.

EVERYONE on the agenda yesterday was awesome, and I was particularly impressed with Kendall Payne (singer/songwriter from California). She was genuine. In fact, I did not come across anyone at Willow that was not REAL, and that is impressive.

Yes, we are home again, but home will never be the same. It CAN’T be anymore if we are really obedient.