One Pastor's Perspective

Remember that song from nursery school??? Remember how I always remind us that we are being watched, and people know who we are?? I got a taste of that medicine this afternoon, walking in to the YMCA.

My usual routine is taking Drew to school and then going to the Y before going in to the office. I was unable to do that today, and went just a little while ago. Walking in, I saw a guy who is usually there EVERY MORNING like me. I do not know his name, but recognized him. As we walked in the door, I said “Wait a minute, you are a morning guy. What are you doing here?? Did you day get as messed up as mine today?”

He said, “Yep, it sure did.” Then he said something that made me smile and think. He said, “I guess as a pastor, your days get messed up a lot.” “Yep!” I responded.

Of course, I wanted to know all about him then. Has he visited our church?? Is HE a pastor, too? A million other questions come to mind, but the one thing for sure is: He knew who I am. And he might just know who YOU are, too.

Oh, be careful little hands . . .

THAT is exactly what Tyler Self would say if only he could get on The Price is Right. I would almost buy Tyler a ticket, because I know he would win if he could get on the show. The law of averages states that as much as he watches Bob Barker and company, he would HAVE TO WIN.

We spent this Easter with family. No, not our families in the upstate, but our family here in Florence. We had lunch today with the Selfs, the McAlpins, and Anita. We don’t get to spend enough down time with each other, and boy it was fun. The food was great, but the fun was spending time with Justin, Ed, Drew, and Tyler. It helps you realize what family is all about. I love my folks and wish I could have seen them today, but I was with family. And that is a good thing, too!

Back to the Price is Right . . . Ed and I are going to the Purpose Driven Worship Conference at Saddleback. If anyone out there is willing to foot a ticket for Tyler, I will make him share half of his winnings!!!

Webster’s Dictionary defines integrity as “firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values.” Good definition, in my book. However, on SportsCenter this morning, something was said about a rookie pitcher, that his pitches have INTEGRITY. I wondered (as I chased health on a treadmill), “What does that REALLY mean?”

His pitches are true to what they appear?? Batters would love that, but any pitching coach worth his salt would not see that as a compliment. But it would be impossible for his pitches to hold to a moral code . . . Pitches cannot choose right from wrong (can they)??

I love how we redefine words on the fly. That is a mark of modern culture, and SportsCenter is masterful in that art. But the truth is, INTEGRITY is INTEGRITY and that is that. We need pitchers who are PEOPLE of integrity. We need coaches and influencers in sports who are people of INTEGRITY, from the major leagues right on down to all of the Maple Parks of the world. Without people of integrity, we have chaos. And, in my opinion, there is a little too much chaos in this world today because of a lack of integrity, many times in the lives of people who claim to know Christ.

What can we do about this?? Know what integrity is and LIVE IT!!!

The perspective on Holy Week and Easter is interesting when spring break collides with it in the wrong direction. That is exactly what is happening this year, and Sunday will be a big indicator of that. I am curious to see what happens. After all, Easter is the HIGHEST of Christian holidays in significance, right??? I know some will travel to family this weekend, and that is a great thing.

Some will be like the kid that told me I should be a man and go to Garden City this weekend and party. I told him I am a man, and I pastor a church. It flew right over his head. I wonder what Holy Week will mean to him this weekend?? He is a member of a church (not Ebenezer), so at some point I would assume he has made a profession of faith. But what does Holy Week mean to him??

Some, no matter where they are, will put Christ first this weekend. I am thankful for them. Even more so, God is thankful. He knows our hearts, He knows our thoughts, and He sees all that we do. Would it be safe to say that Holy Week marks the most pain He has endured for us?? We know what Holy Week means to Him.

What does it mean to YOU??

The 15 British sailors and marines are HOME! Crisis averted . . . For now, anyway. So, if the Iranian captivity has caused gas prices to go up, NOW THEY CAN COME DOWN!! I am not usually a suspicious person, but the last couple of years and the price of gas has changed me. Somebody is making money on all of this, and I am afraid I don’t want to know who it is.

I want a car that runs on recycled trash, with a Mr. Fusion mounted on the fuel tank and a flux capacitor so I can travel in time. But, alas, those options only come on a DeLorean, and I don’t think there are any of those left on this earth.

So, gas prices must come down. I wonder if we the people should start lobbying our senate for an investigation???

All of the students I know have it . . . Most of the teachers do, too. EVERYONE is ready (it seems) for spring break next week. When it is all over, just a few weeks left in school. And then the long summer. Next year, Florence School District 1 is starting on August 20 (YES, I did type “20” as opposed to “2”. Hard to believe, but we might actually HAVE a summer this year.

But back to spring fever. The pollen. The 80 degree weather. YES . . . I love it.

And thanks to our friends in the global warming department, the forecast for our Easter Sunrise service at 6:30am on Sunday is 29 degrees (not 79 or 59). BRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

I am so ready for summer!!!

Okay, I have to tip my hat to Florida. I really didn’t think they could handle Greg Oden, but they did . . . Like child’s play. What they have done is quite impressive in this day and age. Billy Donovan is a good coach and they are a talented team. I have to confess that I was one of the nay-sayers. And they proved me wrong.

And now, time for the ladies . . . Dare I say that I think Tennessee looks pretty strong???

If I said we had a bunch of significant events at Ebenezer this weekend, that would be a huge understatement. This weekend, two of our families saw death; then, renewal and hope (in the dedication of our Habitat house); God spoke (at our adult choir musical) and then He spoke again (at the Disciples’ musical). And, at the end of the day, God added to His church . . . Three of the Disciples joined our church as candidates for baptism.

Lately, I have really been burdened to make sure we are not the Church at Sardis in Revelation 3. My burden is to make sure we are never a church that appears to be alive on the outside, but really dead on the inside. When I look over just this weekend, I see the hand of God moving in our midst over and over again. That reassures me that we are on the right track, but we must be vigilant. It all comes back to YOU and ME!

I just went to a March Madness basketball tournament at Moore Intermediate, where different classes played each other in what must be considered intramural games. WOW . . . I now understand completely why our basketball league is the way it is. I saw more muggings today than a New Orleans beat cop during Mardi Gras. I thought about encouraging Drew to leave and not play in his second game, but two things stopped me: 1)He was really having fun. 2) I am not his momma. Dads are supposed to laugh at danger.

If #2 is true, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. (I am just catching up after what I saw today)

I love to hear that! It usually means that a kid I know (through the church or through coaching) sees me and wants to say hello! Or, at kid at church has a significant revelation they want to share with me. Either way, I love it.

This morning I had to go into school with Drew to get his drum that he left yesterday. Coming back out, four Ebenezer girls came walking up the walk and they all yelled it. I responded, “Do I know you guys??” They all replied “YES!!!” They were glad to see me. It is funny, because when they get to Sneed Middle School next year, they will cover their faces and run when they see me. It is not cool to talk to your pastor in middle school. A couple of them hugged me and they went on in. And I thought about Sneed and was thankful that they will still talk to me right now.

I have pastored, youth pastored, and coached a lot of kids in my lifetime, and one thing I will tell you is this: “Hey, Mr David” means as much to me as anything I have ever heard. Church politics and ball park politics can really drive you nuts, but nothing can negate or replace the opportunities YOU have to impact kids. That is what it all really is about: The chance to make a difference.

Are YOU making a difference today???