One Pastor's Perspective

Yes, Goldielocks would say that Florence is JUST RIGHT . . . And I would agree with her. Sure, I get aggravated sometimes when I watch the local news and see what the producers actually think QUALIFY as news. But, then again, watching SportsCenter this morning I had the same feeling. Makes me feel better about our local stations (although now one could argue that we don’t have any local stations). And I do NOT miss hearing about the murders of the week as we would hear EVERY NIGHT in New Orleans.

Florence is close enough to the beach, but not too close. And not too far from the mountains. You can dine at almost any type of restaurant you can imagine. Shopping is okay, but that is not my forte ANYWAY. Florence has good schools (for the most part) and all kinds of entertainment options.

But the greatest thing about Florence is the people. I cannot say enough about the people. I was talking to someone last night who moved here recently, and I think she and her family will be very happy in Florence. And the people will make the difference. I just hope we never change. Yes, change IS inevitable, but I really hope we remember what makes Florence great.

Every person preparing to date should have to read this:

THINGS I WISH I’D KNOWN BEFORE I DATED
~ Never date anyone who is rude to the waiter/waitress.
~ Never date anyone who is rude to their mother.
~ If they have a tendency to be rude to you now, just wait.
~ If you date someone who doesn’t share your standards, they’ll lower yours.
~ The five most essential words for a healthy, vital relationship: “I apologize” and “You are right.”
~ Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
~ If he/she says you’re too good for him/her, believe it.
~ If they have a tough time apologizing now, just wait.
~ Never date anyone who spends more time gazing into the mirror, than they spend gazing into your eyes.

today’sTHOT============================
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused.

(Copied from http://www.mikeysfunnies.com)

In all of the Barry Bonds talk lately, there has been a revisiting of Hank Aaron’s breaking of the Babe Ruth homerun record. I was eight when it happened. I will never forget seeing it. I really don’t know if I watched it live or saw it as a news clip, but I think it was live . . . And, it was meaningful.

Hank Aaron did it as a average joe — Well, he was WAY above average, but he did it on his own strength. Not a massive, hulking figure . . . Just an average-build guy who could knock the cover off a baseball. He was the REAL DEAL.

Some did not like him because he is a man of color. Some, because he stood up for civil rights at a crucial time in our nation’s history. But whether you like him or not, you must respect the fact that he did it RIGHT. No steroids . . . no massive muscles . . . Just determination and ability. That is the way to break a record!!!!!!!

What of the steriod generation of today? I don’t know. Their foreheads sure are HUGE, and they look massive. And, for the most part, they deny steroid use. Time will tell the true story. But when it is all said and done, none of them measure up to ole Hammerin Hank.

Okay, I left yesterday morning to take the boys to RA Camp at 6:30am. The cost of a gallon of gas, at that time, was 2.69 at the Kangaroo across from the church. I noticed in the upstate that the EXPENSIVE stations were at 2.69, so I know it was much cheaper at some of the other stations. That made me a little bit ill.

Imagine my surprise when I went by the Kangaroo this morning and it was up to 2.81!!!! Twelve cents in 24 hours!!! WHAT IS THE DEAL?

And, it is always much cheaper in the upstate!!! I really do not understand and I think we are getting a raw deal.

What do YOU think?

Jimmy Norton says we all need to be driving cars with a Mr. Fusion processor onboard.

Beautiful Sunset, SC, provides the backdrop for the Royal Ambassador Camp of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Everytime I go back, I am reminded of years past: of Lake Chillywater, of being WET for a solid week (it was really only three days, but it seemed like a YEAR), of Greg Miller golfing a mole (yes, a mole) we caught in our cabin with a broom at 2am one morning, of Keith Pettigrew’s encounter with a mouse hole he thought was a clown car, of Little Kanpai Tokyo being initiated into the McCall tribe, of hikes, of chapel services with my son, and of lots of other fun things.

And then, there are the smells. OH, the smells. ‘Nuf said.

Today I had the great honor of taking eight of our boys to RA camp for a week. We got them registered and they charged up the hill without looking back. I remember the first time I left Drew there and how nervous I was. That seems like a lifetime ago. Today he was in the front of the pack, hard charging to Cabin 8, and very excited that Jake Barrett is one of his counselors.

I watched all of those guys charge up the hill and it made me think of the years I have either dropped them off OR stayed with them. That group of boys will always be special to me because Drew is one of them. But he is not the only one I have watched grow up. And we will blink, and we will be dropping them off at college. Watching them build lives and families. Watching them follow God and LEAD when He calls.

I watch all of that and I am humbled that they call me pastor and coach . . . It really puts a lump in my throat to realize that not only are they growing up, but I am having some impact on them. Fact is, all of us are having SOME kind of impact, whether it is good or not. But it humbles me that they would call me pastor.

I don’t know what God will do with those guys, but I just betcha it is something really special. And one day, I will look back to all of those times I have watched them hike up that hill at Camp McCall and realize what a treasure they all are.

And then, my eyes will water a little like they are now . . . And I will blame on allergies then, as I do today.

May God bless those little men!!!

Sincerely,
Little Kanpai Tokyo

What did YOU do yesterday?? Earlier I had visions of cooking out and a relaxing day at home. For the most part, I got the relaxing day until I broke our food disposal with MACARONI AND CHEESE!!! Then it was a quick trip to Sears (it was a Kenmore, so I bought a comparable model). After an hour up under the sink, we had a more powerful food disposal (auuugh auuugh [Tim the Toolman’s primal grunt]). It really was interesting how that thing slid right in there with a little modification to the drainage pipes.

We had talked about going to the Redwolves game, so we set out around 5:30 to find some supper and get out there. I never realized that there are very few restaurants open on the evening of July 4th. We finally landed at Ruby Tuesdays, and that was a BIG MISTAKE. Diana and I had the salad bar, Drew had a burger, but we STILL did not leave until 6:55. We got to the game around 7:05, and there were NO SEATS. Diana and I ended up sitting on a picnic table in the family picnic area. We could see everything BUT homeplate. What a bummer!!

I love watching them play and will not refuse to go back. Next time, however, I will buy a reserved seat! The ‘Wolves won, the fireworks were great, and my food disposal sounds STRONG (auuugh, auuugh). All in all, a good July 4th!

Have you ever gone to a place, expecting to be a blessing (to serve) someone else and instead, they BLESS YOU?? That happens to me all of the time. I go in as the “pastor” to a situation and to be honest with you I bring very little to the table. I am not a talented man, not as perfect as some other pastors, not that handsome (okay, now I am exaggerating), but you get the point . . . When I go and visit someone there is not a whole lot I can do but talk, listen, and pray. And that I WILL do . . .

And sometimes I go and visit someone who blesses me far more than I could ever bless them. That happens alot, and it makes me glad to be a pastor. How do they do that?? In a variety of ways, too many to name. But it is very cool. If you want to see what I am talking about, go and visit a church member who is sick or not doing well. You will see. You will be blessed, too.

Sorry for the delay in this posting. Friday was a FULL travel day with no time to even pull the computer out. We arrived at the rental car agency at 5am and then at LAX about 15 minutes later. After checking in and going through security, we had breakfast and boarded the plane. For the most part, Friday was uneventful with the exception of the flight from Charlotte to Florence not having any air (it was HOT).

All in all, the worship conference is a great experience. We were exposed to what hundreds of other churches are doing, how Saddleback approaches issues and ministries, and reminded that our job is to find how GOD wants us to proceed (not to attempt to emulate what He is doing in another church). The exposure to technology and technical procedure was awesome. And, worhip was UNREAL. I hope we can bring some of that back with us!!

As for flying out of the Florence airport, I am not sure if I will do it anymore. I have heard so many stories about what happened to us happening to business travelers all over Florence, with many of them telling me they just drive to Charlotte now. True, I don’t fly often, but when I do I need good service. I am not sure Florence Airport is the place for that.

Will we go next year?? God willing, YES. And I would love to take a plane full of Ebenezer people. Would YOU be willing to go???

Clearing up a couple of things . . .

Diana did not get the “mango salsa” reference, so just to explain . . . Watch the EARLY Geico cavemen commercials. That is what they order in the restaurant as the TV commercial guy is apologizing to them.

In an e-mail I told Jimmy Norton that Ed and I were riding low in the seats of the Lincoln in honor of Norton Car Stereo. He corrected me that the appropriate term is “Mac-n da hood.” Thanks, Jimmy. Jimmy told me he is also registered on Google under the alias “jimpedia/translate-ignorant-talk-to-english.”

Did I thank the fine folks at Delta Airlines for global warming?? It IS all their fault, you know.

Anyway, day two is at a close and it was really enlightening. Not only was our worship awesome, there were key issues for Ebenezer that came out in my seminar and Ed heard some awesome testimonies from the “house band” of the day. The house band was an ensemble of jazz and pop music professionals that could wail like nobody’s business.

The picture above is the cream Lincoln Towncar that we have been cruising in for the last couple of days. See the previous blog for the story on it.

Last night we went down to Laguna Beach looking for a restaurant recommended by our resident Southern California expert, Jon Crowe. We somehow missed it, drove WAY south of it, and found it on our way back up the Pacific Coast Highway. IT LOOKED LIKE A HOLE IN THE WALL!! We thought terrible things about Jon, but being adventurous, we decided to try it anyway (remember, Ed and I USED to eat at the original House of Louie). The name of this place was Eva’s and its menu was Carribean cuisine. IT WAS AWESOME!! I had the roast duck with the mango salsa . . . Ed angrily lost his appetite. No, seriously, they DID have mango salsa. Ed said it was interesting, but was frowning when he said it.

The food really was good and I would go back. Thanks, Jon!!

More to come later . . .