Katy and Justin get engaged

So, last night I get a call, around 6:00. I’m at church for an annual budget planning meeting. Beth is in Charlotte with work.

“I’m engaged!”  she said with a lilt in her voice. So matter of  factly but with that twinge of excitement. Last time I heard that was in high school: “Well, I’m graduated.” ( not great grammar but an  awesome statement)

I knew it was coming…and I was ready, at the time. I was proud for her, and for Justin. So right for each other. They will take each other to places they never would go alone, I thought to myself. Then it began to sink in… “engaged”..to be married. The next man in her life was already the man in her life.

So much prayer, and laughter and tears and dirt and basketball and dolls and trips and church and…it’s only part way through.

To quote a great line…”Party on, Dudes” (Rufus)

and an even better one…”I have come to give life…and life as it was meant to be lived” (Jesus) and for Katy…it is with Justin.

Another Day in Paradise

Last week I shared a message to my congregation that I had shared the week before in St. Croix.  The content centered on Matthew 18:1-4 and calls all of us to live our life as a child. I used a message by Tony Campolla as the inspiration for the outline.

In short…watch how a child plays and responds to a loving parent and you see how we are to live in relation to God.

Living as an adult, in this way, is living everyday in paradise…it’s not a perfect life…neither is any paradise I have ever been to.

A side note…a member of my church who heard both messages felt that the presentation was more personal at our home church. Makes perfect sense to me: I know my flock and them and they know me. I talked to them personally, as opposed to talking to the congregation in St. Croix. At home , I will address comments to individuals anonymously, or small groups the same way.

Have a day of great Peace-

We have arrived

The plain with 94.736842 % of us arrived at 2:45PM. And we are all safe and begin to adjust to “island time.” The 5.3 % missed the first leg of the flight and has been following us all day long.

Tonight we head over to the church for dinner and set up for bible school. A grocery run will take place at the same time.

We Are HERE…and tired, and resting…and in just an hour or two…READY TO DO THAT VBS AND REPAIR THING!

God has provided traveling mercies…and we rely HOLY on His stength…keep us in prayer…

Check back daily for pictures and updates

When the buzzing becomes a bite

Last evening I was asked by a church member what the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship was and why we supported it. They had heard that I had stopped the church from supporting the Southern Baptist Convention in favor of the CBF. I am sure that because I neglected to add the SBC to our web presence that someone perceived I had made a policy change at church. Not hardly. Never would I stoop so low as to undercut the work of one of God’s agencies, especially when I have close friends who work for both groups. Nor would I even consider taking action of any form on behalf of Christ’s Bride, the church with out direction from the church.

I tried to explain to them what both groups were, and that we, the church made decisions to support both baptist mission resource groups.

The CBF came to life when the leadership of various churches did not agree with the direction that the SBC was going. The issues are personal and spiritual for me. Because I pastor a church that supports both groups, I will lead the church to support both. And when asked my opinions, I will share them plainly and honestly.

In the meantime, I will pray that God stop Satan from planting seeds of mistrust into the minds of our members.

The BUZZING is when someone doesn’t like something and they start going around quietly whispering in peoples ears partial or complete untruths. It bcomes a BITE when someone belives the untruth and others get hurt. Hey…those of you who are buzzing around BBC…in the name of Jesus…come to me with your issues and let’s enjoy the opportunity to talk.

peace

What’s that buzzing?

Letting the dogs out this morning was an adventure. Getting them to get their feet wet after the rain was the first challenge, but not the biggest. The real effort came when I was attacked.

The first dog was off the deck and in the yard when the first one hit me. Within seconds there was another hit, and then another. The struggle was on! It was my blood.

The mosquitoes hit my left ear and right ankle as if they had planned it. And they wanted my blood almost as much as I wanted them off me.

But it’s my fault. I had heard them coming, the buzzing around my head started the moment I opened the back door. Buzzzzzzzzzzz….buzzzzzzzzzz! It was then that I should have slammed the door, told the dogs to hold their bladder until I got the bug spray out…but I didn’t. It was the routine we had in the morning. I ignored the warning signs…the buzzing…

Each day there is buzzing in our ears. Irritating buzzing. Distracting buzzing. These are all those little things that distract us from what we should be doing, and ultimately cost us something. (with mosquitoes…it’s the blood)

Daily walking with, and focusing on the tasks given to us by God is our ultimate goal. It’s a daily effort and requires all of our attention. But along comes that buzzing in our ears…those distractions…minute irritations in life that yank us off course. They are different for all of us. The telemarketer, begin cut off while driving, forgetting your wallet when you are half way down the street…you get the picture.

Stay focused…avoid the buzzing by asking God to help you stay focused each day.

peace-

Load ‘em Up…

In a little over a month 16 folks will gather at the Richmond airport very early in the morning. They’ll be bleary eyed, sipping coffee, fumbling for their drivers license and heading towards their flight. They’re loading ‘em up for another mission trip.

Tomorrow, in little more than 24 hours from now, about 100+ folks will gather at Bethlehem Baptist. They won’t be quiet so bleary eyed, still sipping coffee, fumbling for their Bibles and heading to their Sunday school class or a worship gathering. They’re loading ‘em up for another mission trip, too.

Our mission statement at BBC is to Seek, Share and Serve Jesus Christ. Each time we gather as the family of faith, that is what we are doing. We are always on mission. In our home, at the store, while at school or where ever we find ourselves.

Jim Summerville, of Richmond’s First Baptist Church, made a great point when he asked his congregation to recall when the children’s choir sang recently. After seeing them perform, he asked if it would not be appropriate to have them singing on a stage in a shopping center in a resort, or in a small country church in Appalachia performing. Would they not be considered a mission team? I’m asking  the same question.

This past Mother’s Day  our Bethlehem Stars children s choir  reminded us why they are the favorite group of Jesus. The most hardened heart would be surely be cracked after experiencing the singing and sharing of God’s missionaries that morning.

Where are you heading today? What mission location are you going to be at? Remember, when ever you load’em up you, who are God’s children, are on mission.

Peace-

one of many

This morning my eldest left for Costa Rica with a group from her church. One more trip abroad, one more brick laid at rebuilding the world, one more life to improve…not by mans hands but the Spirits power.
Katy, Justin, Anne, Sally,et.al., SHALOM!

Race Day!

Today BBC is sending 8 “missionaries” to the races here in Richmond. They will give away homemade cookies, lemonaide, and testimonies of several of the drivers on cards. But mostly they will give away themselves…their smiles, their encouragement, their joy and a sense of purpose. They are Jesus for those going into the stands!

A new beginning…

I have been taught a great deal about life by my Father these past few years. About the incredible power of Life and Love and Relationships. It all has to do with the View…

the title of the blog…A Lone Palm Pastor’s Blog…is just that…how I see the world I Live and Love and Relate in.

I am blessed…

My garden is filled with papayas and mangos
My life is a mixture of reggaes and tangos
Taste for the good life
I can’t live it no other way
While out on the beach there are two empty chairs
That say more than the people who ever sit there
From under my lone palm
I can look out on the day

J. Buffet “Lone Palm” 1993