One Pastor's Perspective

NO GAS…On May 15th 2007

Don’t pump gas on may 15th! …in April 1997, there was a “gas out” conducted nationwide in protest of gas prices. Gasoline prices dropped 30 cents a gallon overnight. On May 15th 2007, all internet users are to not go to a gas station in protest of high gas prices. Gas is now over $3.00 a gallon in most places. There are 73,000,000+ American members currently on the internet network, and the average car takes about 30 to 50 dollars to fill up. If all users did not go to the pump on the 15th, it would take $2,292,000,000.00 (that’s almost 3 BILLION) out of the oil companys pockets for just one day, so please do not go to the gas station on May 15th and lets try to put a dent in the Middle Eastern oil industry for at least one day.

Okay, this IS an e-mail I received yesterday, but what an interesting thought!!! What if we really did this??? Would it make a difference? Couldn’t make things any worse!

One of my missions today was to get the warranty work on the newest bus finished. Donnie Carter takes care of that stuff for us, but was unable to do it today. I volunteered, and have actually had a productive morning sitting here with my laptop somewhere in Marion County. (I will not name the place to give them a little protection)

Of course, the story has changed on this repair. The guy told Donnie it would take X amount of time, and we are already over that. I am sitting in a waiting area outside of the office. The folks in the office were having their usual Monday morning bull session and they realized a guy was sitting out here with an open Bible and a computer, typing away. They finally closed the door, a move I appreciated more than they could ever know. But I could still hear them.

This is a warranty repair, but my money says they will try to get me to pay for it. If so, I have Donnie’s cell. I will just dial it and hand the phone to them. Even here, though, I have an opportunity to be Christ. To be kind. To NOT BE JUDGMENTAL. To be open and available.

Have you ever thought that God might just use an inconvenience like this to do something??? He might. My job is to be available. Sure, I could be worried about the people I need to see in the hospital, the 100 phone calls I need to make today, or the 50 people I need to go visit. But I can’t do anything about that right now but be obedient concerning what God has placed before me.

Mother’s Day . . . PAINFUL?? You bet it can be. Some of you reading this could tell the story so much better than I can . . . We think of Mother’s Day as a time to celebrate our moms, and to celebrate the hardest working leaders in every church. As children maybe we made macaroni picture frames and molded ash trays (even though no one in our family smokes). Hopefully, as we have grown, we have continued to honor our moms.

However, we cannot forget those who experience pain on this day . . . There are some who long for nothing more than to BE a mom. There are some who no longer have a mom to celebrate. There are some moms who have buried children. There are some dealing with personal tragedy with their children that tax them to their limits. There are some who have lost other loved ones on Mother’s Days in years past. Not to turn Mother’s Day into a downer, but it can serve as a painful reminder of the past.

So, do we celebrate it?? ABSOLUTELY! But be aware, and pray for those who feel pain on this great day.

I purposefully have not blogged about the WF Lady Knights post season until now. Yes, they made the playoffs. Yes, they won their regional tournament. Yes, they were one game away from the lower state championship game when they were knocked out last night. They did a great job this year, shocked EVERYONE in the SC softball world. And another season is down . . .

I particularly appreciated the coaches this year. This was Krissy’s fourth year playing, and each year I have grown to know and appreciate our coaches even more. Denise Carter is the varsity coach and head of the entire thing. Amanda Raniszewski (I call her Coach R) is the JV coach. Both coaches set great examples this year and instilled character into their girls. And it is obvious to a dad.

And then, there is HERB. Herb Carter (Donnie’s brother and Denise’s husband) helped with both. Some of you who know Herb ask, “What in the world did he do??” He was the spirit of both teams when work did not prohibit him from being their. He kept them talking, kept them loose, and kept encouraging.

I write about these guys because I appreciate them. I know they made a great difference in one of those girls, and I am sure almost every parent feels the same. If anything, I just want to say THANKS to them for all they have done!!

And, GET ‘EM NEXT YEAR!!

Don’t bust me on the grammar . . . I have earned it this week. One of the roles of any pastor is to equip others to lead. They always told me in seminary the proof of me doing my job well would be if ministry continued on if I died tomorrow. Well, at Ebenezer, ministry would continue on and praise God for it. Maybe not because of my hand, but it would.

One of the true challenges of this is helping develop other leaders and teaching them to handle others well. I always tell others that one of the true keys to success in life, in this world today, is the ability to handle people well. The ability to talk to others, to understand, and to operate in this environment.

Whether you are dealing with volunteers or with paid employees, the principle is the same: Treat others the way you want to be treated (I wonder from where I borrowed THAT??) If you do that, others will like working with you, will follow you onto a difficult battlefield, and will give you their all.

Maybe this is not the Marine Corps way, or even the Air Force way, but it does work. And, leadership by intimidation seldom EVER works in a church environment.

No one ever said leadership would be easy . . . It takes work, work, and more work. But it can be one of the most rewarding roles you will ever play.

One of the most quoted movie lines EVER comes from a movie from 1948, “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.” Here is a webpage that tracks the quote throughout the history of film and into the present age. If you recognize the quote, go watch some of the film clips. They are GREAT!

I think I first heard this one in the listed episode of the Monkees. (PS – Be careful on this page . . . There might be some rough content)

http://www.darryl.com/badges/allindex.shtml

Last night in midweek Bible study, we looked at the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke. I have always said it SHOULD be named the parable of the Forgiving Father, but after looking at that story hundreds of times, something new and cool jumped out at me last night. Now, you can call me thick headed if you want, but check this out:

When the father killed the fatted calf and threw a party because his son had returned, and the brother came in all jealous and would not attend the party, it hit me . . . the party was not another chance for the little brother to party: It was because of the JOY of the FATHER!! The party was for HIM!! And, who wouldn’t feel that way if a son had come back from “as if being dead” ?????

Think about it!!!

Radar O’Reilly . . . He was a true hero of the Korean War. He kept the 4077 in supplies, ice cream, steak, and anything else they wanted or needed within reason . . . How?? He was the company clerk, and he had connections.

Well, I have connections. I shouldn’t even be telling you this, but every day I get the in-roads on the hottest stock tips, the best in Canadian pharamcuticals, and other things I won’t even mention here. Need a brand new Rolex??? I am your man . . . And I will gladly help you get the same information. My source?? I really cannot divulge that information. I mean, after all, the fact that I ALONE am connected to this stuff makes my value go up a little, right??

I really shouldn’t tell you . . .

Okay, you have stared long enough. I will tell you, but you have to promise to keep this a secret. My sources come to me magically, unsoliticited, to my E-MAIL address. Can you believe my good fortune?? I get the BEST OF THE BEST every day (a WHOLE bunch of it) and I didn’t even ask for it. WOW!!! Call ME lucky!!

(Yeah, I have heard of that thing called a spam filter, but there is a problem . . . When I turn mine on, I miss everything from anyone with a bellsouth.net address . . . When I missed some stuff and got in trouble for it, I turned it off.)

In the mean time, If you DO need a hot stock tip, a Rolex, or a re-fi that will cost you NEXT TO NOTHING, just give ole Radar a call . . .

No matter who you are, no matter how you live, no matter what the circumstance of your life might be, you will face heartache. That is one of the certain facts of life. How will you face it?? What will you do when disappointment and just plain hurt shoot your heart into the net like a hockey puck that is on fire?

You have two choices . . . You can face these circumstances WITH or WITHOUT God. You can try to move on your own power, within your own plan, and see what happens. Or you can trust in the Lord with all your heart. The choice really is up to you.

Now, I will warn you, trust can be tough . . . But He will never let you down!!!