THANKFUL

Celebrating Thanksgiving as a holiday and giving thanks are as different as night and day.  The holiday (it seems) has become a bump on the way to Christmas.  Black Friday and Cyber Monday as well as football games headline the day.  There is food and there are family gatherings that we work in.

Thanksgiving as a holiday for our family always meant...FAMILY!  It also meant travel.  Before kids, with kids and after kids we traveled.  One car, van, two cars and even four to five cars from our family would show up at Granny's (Phyllis' mom) and soon aunts and uncles, neices and nephews were close behind.  It got loud, it got crowded and you had better be ready to be flexible and watch plans change in seconds (I was never ready).  Today, although locations change and there are some who are not with us anymore and others just from time to time...we get together.  Yeah, we travel...at least for the time being.  Hopefully, one day we will live closer.

WINNERS, LOSERS AND THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER

Baseball post season is in full swing. Fans whose teams have started the off season early are getting over the disappointment of not cheering for their favorite team in October. But then there are the eight who made it. It IS A new season for them.

All teams start out 0-0. These fans have renewed hope. I just finished watching a game on one of my rare nights at home. Any fan of baseball (and other team sports for that matter) know that TV will move cameras onto the crowd from time to time. Tonight was no different. Intense faces showed how important this game was to them. You would think that world peace, or even eternity was riding on the outcome. IT'S JUST A GAME! Or is it? It is, but we don't act like it.

The Master

I live in the Peach State of Georgia.  In April of each year the most prestigious golf tournament of all, The Masters, is played in Augusta, Georgia.  For those fortunate enough to get a ticket (even to a practice round) they are in for the time of their life.

Now if you’re not a fan of golf, it might not mean that much to you. But all week long the world’s top golfers converge on Georgia’s “Garden City.” All week long golf fans from all over the world attend. This in one of sports most coveted tickets. I know...I have coveted one...or two.

Do you know that people actually rent out their homes during Master’s week? Yes, and for exorbitant prices, too. Some of the professionals arrive two to three weeks early just to prepare for this tournament.

I checked this out and many people make their actual mortgage payments from the income of this season.

Wedding Ring: To Wear or Not to Wear....That Seems to Be The Question.

Prince William and Kate seem to have stirred up a great deal of interest  in the wedding ring.  Prince William has announced that he will not wear a wedding ring. 

Now the question is being asked about its importance.  How important is it that a man wear or not wear a ring.  Does it mean that he is not committed?  Does it make it easier for him to be unfaithful?  Does it mean....???

I for one never considered anything but receiving a ring from my bride and wearing it proudly.  Does it make me anymore married?  No!  Does it prove I am married?  No!  Does it declare I am married?  LOUDLY!!!

I wear a ring because my bride gave it to me.  It is a symbol of our commitment.  It is a token of our love.  It is an unending circle representing the permanence of our commitment.  It is made of precious metal symbolic of the purity of our love. 

I do take my ring off when I play golf.  I took it off when I use to play softball.  There were two reasons.  To keep from damaging it and to keep it from hurting me. 

My son-in-law lost his wedding ring playing beach volleyball.  You know what he did?  He went back to the court and dug methodically in the sand until he found it.  Miracle!  Of course he was praying all the while.

Men, when people see that ring on your finger it tells them you belong to someone else.  It should declare a commitment and love.

Whether Prince William wears a ring or not is his business, but it is also Kate's.  For one I think she should make a big deal about it.  She probably won't, but making a big deal about it now might keep it from being a big deal later.  Just saying.

Man up guys.  Declare to the world that you are committed.  Wear her ring and wear it proudly.

Honor thy....mother!

I know that Mother's Day is still a month away, but this could not wait.  For weeks now our youngest daugther (Katie) has been planning to take her mother on a surprise birthday getaway.  The date and certain information has been available, but the destination was a secret until they got to the airport in Atlanta.  Although we were guessing New York City, it was only a guess, but a good one, because when they arrived at the airport the boarding pass revealed the destination.  So a couple hours later I received a text that they had landed. 

In the weeks leading up to the trip I had told my wife not to be surprised if the other two daughters showed up.  She said, "No way!"  I said, "Way!"  Well maybe not those exact words.  No we did not know, but I know my daughers and they can plan and connive with the best.  How they did it is still not certain, but that they did is for sure.

After landing the second surprise showed up in the person of Natalie (our middle daughter).  When they arrived at the hotel the third surprise appeared (our oldest daughter Shauna).  They had t-shirts, and they went all over NY

My brother says that NY will never be the same.  Well, what does he know but I know that my wife will never be the same.  She will never forget this precious gift from three precious daughters.  I have never had a time that I was more proud of my girls and I have had many proud moments as a father.  Thank you girls for honoring your mom in this way. 

And....oh yeah...Happy Birthday, baby.

The Need for Mentors

One of the many blessings of my ministry has been the mentors that God has brought into my life.  Men like A. B. Hatfield, A.C. Hamilton, L.R. Whiddon and Robert Thompson are just a few of the pastors that had personal and hands on influence.  These men were patient and candid.  They allowed me to follow them around and watch them.  They gave me opportunities to exercise my spiritual gifts and hone my preaching skills. 

This brings me to an observation and the realization that MENTORS are not only needed by necessary.  None of the above were intentional mentors.  Three of them were my pastors and supervisors another was and is a friend.  They were more than anything just there for me.  On more than one occasion they would offer rather caustic suggestions that helped me avoid "messing up."  They provided constructive criticism and great encouragement.

We need pastoral mentors today.  I can remember those older pastors that attended our pastors conferences when I was a young idealistic pastor and provided encouragement, balance and perspective. We need some men who have been on the frontlines and in the trenches to have a cup of coffee with our young pastors and just listen and encourage.

I am on the backside of ministry.  That in no way means I am through, but it does mean that I hope to be an encourager or a mentor.  Timothy and Titus had their Paul as well as Barnabas.  Iron sharpens iron.  I want to be a whetstone in God's hands.

Transitional Interim

I began my second interim pastorate three weeks ago.  Although I have pastored for almost 30 years, I do not know it all.  I have failed at more than I have succeeded and am still in the process of becoming the leader that God has called me to be.  I love the church.  I love the Lord.  I love the Lord of the church.  Yet in too many places the Lord of the church is not Lord of the church.

With that said I believe that the interim period for a church is one of the most crucial times that church will experience in their existence.  God is at work preparing them for their next pastor and preparing their next pastor for them.  Church leaders have the opportunity to "step up to the plate" and lead biblically.  For some church leaders that may be a long shot because they simply know nothing of being a biblical leader.  One of the reasons for this is that they have not been trained to and so they do what is natural...lead from a natural standpoint.  In some cases that means "run the church" like  business. There could be nothing more detrimental to a church than that.  The church is not "a" business it is "His" business.  In reality if more businesses were run like "His" business they would be better off.  Case in point...Chick-fil-a.  But that's another issue.

Unfortunately during the interim period many church members look at it as a time to just "keep the boat afloat."  Others take a "wait and see" attitude. While some might "fly the coup" and leave for "greener grass."  It is time for "all hands on deck" and servant's attitudes to show up.

It is not a time for great change, but there is usually room for change.  A church should take care of any controversial issues and situations before the next pastor.  Don't put the new pastor in the position of dealing with land minds that he does not even know exist.

Paul sent Titus to Crete to "set in order what remains."  Such is the role of an interim.  It is fun.  It is fulfilling and it can be fruitful.  To God be the Glory.

Corry, PA

After a week of GBC meetings Phyllis and I flew to Corry, PA (via Cleveland, Ohio and Eerie, PA).  We were the guests of Mike and Ann Alger and their family for the weekend.  What wonderful friends that arrange for you to be greeted with what looked like 10 feet of snow.  I may be exaggerating, but when you come from where they measure snow in thimbles...10 feet is a pretty accurate assessment.

On Saturday we had the privilege of being the guests and speaker at FBC, Corry Valentine Banquet.  Mike and Ann's son, Jon, (a fledging chef) prepared a sumptuous meal.  The youth of the church served and as we say in the south, "A good time was had by all."