South Georgia Blizzard

It doesn't do this often.  Quite frankly in the 22 years we have lived in either Camilla or Americus I would not need the fingers on both hands to count.  SNOW and "inches" of it.  Two inches with drifts to 4/5 started accumulating on Friday (2/12).  It is just before noon on Saturday and it is already melting.  Ten years ago we were in a tornado now a "blizzard."  Yeah, I know anywhere north of the Georgia line you have to be busting gut reading that I would call this a blizzard, but just sayin.  Here are some pics.

Intimidation, Indignation and Insolence

Far too often these days I have had a conversation with a pastor who has been threatened by a church leader, accused of something trivial and even asked to leave.  More times than not it is not over a theological, moral or character issue.  Many times entrenched church patriarchs and/or matriarchs feel their power slipping away and have to do something. At other times weak church leaders have been backed into a corner by those who won't speak up themselves but need someone else to do their ungodly bidding for them. These are days when churches and members focus on preferences rather than convictions and many times they get the two confused. How is that possible? Well, flesh can do that rather easily. Remember too, flesh can only produce more flesh.

I have talked to pastors who have been opposed for such things as "not listening," and "being disrespectful."If this is true in the life of the minister repentance is a must.  However, sometimes that means...we can't find anything really to accuse you of so we'll just make something up because we don't like you.  Your sermons convict us of sin, expose our iniquity and basically you challenge us to change and we like things just the way they are.

10 Years Later

On February 14, 2000 two category 3 tornados ripped through Mitchell County, GA with winds of 152 to 208 mph cutting swathes over 10 miles long and 300 yards wide.  I know because along with my wife and our youngest daughter we just made it to our "safe place" before it ripped through the living room of our house breaking windows, removing the roof and scaring us half to death.  "Hunkered down" under a mattress and with the hand of God holding it down we emerged unscathed about two minutes later to be met in the yard by a neighbor in whose home we spent the rest of the night.

At the time I was pastor of Camilla's First Baptist Church having served there since 1987.  Our two oldest daughters were students at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA and our youngest was a sophmore in high school. 

Much has happened since that night.  Most of what we lost has been replaced because it was just "stuff."   There were sleepless nights, long days and much cleanup and recovery to follow.  I saw a community come together because it had to.  I saw racial lines blurred as people worked together like never before.  God did some incredible things in those days, weeks and months that followed.

Thank You Pam Tebow

Today is Super Sunday (...of course for the Christian, every Sunday is Super Sunday).  They play a football game today to determine who is champion for the NFL this season.  I am a football fan.  I prefer college to pro, but I like football.  However, one cannot overlook the fact that the whole thing has gotten out of hand.  The "circus" that is the Super Bowl began over a week ago.  It has been analyzed, broken down, and discussed.  Former champions have been interviewed and given their "take" on the game.  One sports channel has replayed about every previous Super Bowl played.

The big news this year surrounds the Super Bowl Ads, specifically one in particular.  Focus on the Family purchased and produced an ad that tells the incredible story of Tim Tebow, from the University of Florida and his mom.  All kinds of pro-choice groups have come out asking CBS not to air the commercial. To CBS's credit they will play the ad.