A Red Neck In The Mall

The mall, the back bone of American Capitalism. The bain of communism. It is also a favorite place for my two daughters. I would prefer to do many things other than go to the mall. Dental work, procto exam, take a beating....are just among the many things that I would rather do.

But for, I have 2 wonderful beautiful daughters. They love to go to the mall and shop and look at stuff and buy it. So I get to go. It is not so bad with them. I concentrate on them enjoying themselves and being happy to hang with dad.

We went to a store called "The Limited Too." This is a place your average self respecting red neck would never go. But for, my 2 little girls. As they frolicked about looking and exploring the wonders that are this haven for young women, by son and I sat on a "pretty chair" and held each other waiting patiently. All the while reading the tags of the clothing hanging too close to the "pretty chair." Did you know that they make "Cami's with built in bra's?" I am barely dealing with the fact that I have little girls who are growing up, now I am eye level in the "pretty chair" with my son begging to take him to a "guy store" looking at cami's.....????? I don't even know what a cami is.

Finally the girls were bored and we moved on. Just in time for me to avoid the anxiety attack that was coming on.......

A Pastors Work is Never Done

While doing my house husband duties, I got a call that one of my church members is dying out of state. I have been on the phone with the family helping them to make arrangements for a service and comforting them. The lady who is dying is 85. She was saved last year and was baptised. I think that was the funnest most sweet baptism I have ever done. She was visiting her daughter in Colorado Springs when she became ill.

I am praying for this family. They are wonderful members of our church. They are have gone through a lot in the last year. Now they are having to travel from East Texas to Colorado to take care of their mother and grandmother.

I love being a pastor. I love going through life with people. I love being able to see people experience birth, death, tragedy, suffering, hope, challenges, victories and all things that this side of glory has to offer. I count it all joy to be able to be a part of this. When my people hurt, I hurt. When they rejoice, I rejoice.

Paul said that he "travails like a women in birth till Christ is formed in you.." (T.L.P - The Larry Paraphrase) Having witnessed my children's birth as well as others while I was a paramedic and a police officer (I have even delivered on) I see the pain a women goes through. She hurts while at the same time something wonderful is taking place. When victory comes i.e. the birth, the pain is secondary to the joy of creation that has taken place.

This is how I feel at times. I have been told by some not to get emotionally involved with your people, stand aloof at a distance. My answer is, Jesus did not. Jesus sat at the table, went to the weddings and the funerals, hung out in the temple, the river, the lake, the side of the road where ever folks were. I do live by one example that Jesus practiced, He often withdrew to lonely places to pray and have communion with God. I do that as well. So I can, like Jesus, go back among the people and poor into their lives.

nuff for now...

House Husband

Today is Friday. My day off!!! I get to play house husband and run errands for the family. I really enjoy it. I am off to the orthodontist with Savannah our 11 year old first. Then it is off to get the dry cleaning, have the car serviced, do some banking and tax stuff.

It is good therapy for me to do this sort of stuff. Nothing deep, nothing spiritual, just normal husband stuff. Liz usually leaves me a honey do list and lets me sleep late. She is so cool. I could not have dreamed up a better wife than what I have.

More Later.....

What I am reading

I usually read several books at a time. At home I am reading a book called Ike's Spies. This is a book about President Eisenhowers use of the OSS and the CIA. At my office I am reading The Peacemaking Pastor.

If you attend my sunday school class right now I am teaching through the book of 2 Peter in the New Testament. This is the last thing Peter wrote before he was killed. I have found it interesting to know what people are thinking when they know they are going to die.

My First Blog

This is the first time I have had one of these and posted anything. I have been thinking about doing this. I had thought of doing this as an online journal to share what I was reading and studying. I guess we will how it goes.