by Greg | May 30, 2012 | Blog Posts
Summer is the time for travel: to beaches; to ballgames; to the mountains; or just simply wandering along the back roads of Georgia and taking in the sites. Summer, in other words, is the time for road trips! Have you ever been on an honest-to-goodness road trip; eating at questionable diners; stopping at shady gas stations because you just cannot go any further; all the while foregoing a map? (who asks for directions anyway?) With that in mind I am going to focus for the next four weeks on a road trip. The Christian faith – or taking a road trip with Jesus – is as much a reminder that the journey is the point. The destination is just a result of the journey. How do you travel on the road when covering a long distance? Most of us seek out the quickest way possible, which probably includes interstates and major highways. Taking side roads and driving through small towns is usually avoided. I do not wish to pick a fight with the DOT, but for the most part I do not care for all these by-passes that have been built around many of America’s small towns. These bypasses take the traveler around a town, instead of through it. I realize it saves time and it perhaps reduces unwanted traffic through a town, but think of all the traveler is missing when they choose to take a bypass. They never get to see the mom & pop stores, or the turn of the century architecture, or the sheer character that every small town holds. For most of us...
by Greg | Mar 1, 2012 | Blog Posts
Day 9 Soon we will be making our way to the airport in Delhi (our flight leaves at 3 AM) and head back to the United States. This has been a tremendous time with Sam Bandela and participating in just a bit of the CBF work he is overseeing in Nepal. Regrettably we were not able to visit the slum churches in Delhi since they do not even convene until 9 pm and by then we need to be focused on getting our belongings together for our jaunt home. While I have visited developing countries before and lived in one for nearly three months, Nepal is like nothing I have ever experienced before. It is exotic, mysterious, beautiful, grimy, struggling, searching, at times hoping and at times despairing. There are great people doing great work for the sake of God’s kingdom. Two words come to mind: hope and love. Hope is the one thing that keeps a human being from sinking fully into despair. Hope can come through things (like food and shelter) and it can come through people. Hope is the essential message for the Christian. Such hope, however, is not merely a profession, but lived out in the second word I mentioned: love. Love is what compels people to give of their lives into a different culture to redeem the innocents and stand in the face of injustice. I have seen both hope and love at work among Christians from across the globe gathered in the country of Nepal. Milton Martin and I are most blessed that we were able to travel here in the name of...
by Greg | Feb 27, 2012 | Blog Posts
Day 6 Nothing like waking up to a view of the Himalayas! The morning was clear and the view from our room was outstanding. After a nice simple breakfast we hiked through the village of Nargakot and took in the scenery. Even though this is a “tourist” area because of the hotels facing the mountains, the locals live in structures that resemble something like chicken coops. Yet everyone was busy about their day, reasonably happy and content. Butchers were chopping slabs of something atop a plywood counter along the dirt road; several ladies were huddled around a blanket full of onions and garlic, preparing something for a wedding; and idol makers were busy carving masks for sale to Hindu homes. Yes, that last sentence was completely accurate. In fact there were several idol makers working on masks in a village that could not have been more than a couple of hundred in population. We left around noon to head back to Kathmandu. The road seemed more bumpy and rough than I remembered it going up. By the time we were down the mountain I was a green as my winter collards. In fact, even as I write this I am not sure when, if ever, I will eat again! I am sure I will get over this soon enough. I am not sure when I will have internet connection again, so let me share with you what remains of our trek. Tomorrow morning I will be preaching at the Kathmandu International Christian Congregation, which ministers to English speaking residents of Napali. While some Nepalese attend the church, the...
by Greg | Feb 24, 2012 | Blog Posts
Day 3 Hard to believe that it is only until day three that I can post of my first night’s sleep, but such is the way of air travel and time zones. Sam (the CBF missionary), Milton and I share a room here in Kathmandu and while we each have our own cot there is hardly room for anything else except snoring. The house we are in is rented by several Christian workers associated with the Apple of God’s Eye Ministry, which was started by Brazilian believers but now is largely run by local Nepalese. Our house is clean and efficient, and although the cots are reminiscent of what it is like to be camping on the ground, we are snug and dry. Electricity is scarce throughout Kathmandu with daily outages lasting 12-14 hours. I have to make certain both the computer and phone are charging during the night (because the electricity usually comes on around 10 at night) so that I can have them when I need them during the day. The weather is pleasant and cool. As I write this paragraph it is just after seven in the morning and the sun is starting to rise, shining through a thin fog of mist and smog. After a delightful breakfast prepared by one of our hosts, we took a bumpy ride out of our suburban home (there are pot holes here that could have swallowed my old MINI), we arrived for the Pastors Conference that I was invited to address. The church that hosted it is called the “Listen and Believe Church.” It is one of the largest...
by Greg | Feb 21, 2012 | Blog Posts
The first leg of our trek was happily uneventful in the grand scheme of travel. My overhead bin was already occupied with what looked like a tour bus load of luggage. Eventually I found enough space for a shoe box and with so maneuvering, shoving, and cajoling I was able to cram my backpack into it. I did warn the passengers beneath to not hastily open the overhead, less they suffer an avalanche. We left Atlanta around 8:30 PM, more or less on time, and it was about that time that I realized I left my books in the backpack, in the overheard, 10 rows back. [vimeo clip_id=”37282912″] After a delightful meal of what looked like lasagna, Milton and I settled in for the remainder of the 8 hour flight to London. In spite of a toddler that cried all night and the chronic hacking of someone who obviously had swine flu, I managed to get some sleep. I had nothing else to do since the lady in front of me reclined to the point that her scalp was just beneath my gaze, which meant for frustrating reading unless I propped my book on her forehead. Later into the evening an attendant noticed my dilemma and quickly determined that her seat was broken, which was not at all inconvenient to her since this allowed her to fully stretch out. All of this is rather minor in the larger context of our mission. At Heathrow we whiled away a few hours before boarding our flight to Delhi for the second leg of our trek. This flight was about 8 ½...
by Greg | Feb 19, 2012 | Blog Posts
As much as time and WiFi connections will allow, I will be blogging about my opportunity to speak in Nepal and India. Last summer I was invited by Sam Bandella, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Field Personnel to Nepal and India to come and speak to Christian workers in both countries as well as visit several mission sites that our church helps support through the CBF. Our flight leaves Atlanta tonight with the first leg ending in London. There we will connect and fly to New Delhi, India and will change planes one final time to fly into Kathmandu, Nepal. All total we will be traveling 25 hours to begin work in a country that is 10 hours and 45 minutes ahead of eastern time zone (I have no idea what is up with that 45 minute block but when in Kathmandu). Milton Martin will be traveling with me and joining me on each of these mission stops. We covet your prayers throughout this time. Click on the following link to several videos I have posted regarding our “Trek to Nepal” – http://vimeo.com/37066235. Peace be with you and as the say in Nepal, “Namaste”,...
by Greg | Feb 2, 2012 | Blog Posts
Philosophy New Proofs for the Existence of God: Contributions of Contemporary Physics and Philosophy, by Robert J. Spitzer The Physics of Immortality, Frank J. Tipler Religion/Spirituality Have a Little Faith, by Mitch Albom Jesus Wept: When Faith and Depression Meet, by Barbara Cawthorne Crafton Shaped by God’s Heart: The Passion and Practices of Missional Churches, Milfred Minatrea A Door Set Open: Grounding Change in Mission and Hope, by Peter L. Steinke Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth, by Richard J. Foster The Naked Now, by Richard Rohr Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life, Richard Rohr Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India, by William Dalrymple Guide for Grief: Help in Surviving the Stages of Grief and Bereavement After Loss, by Rodger Murchison Fiction The Book of Sorrows, by Walter Wangerin The Red Tent, Anita Diamant Poetry The Back Chamber, by Donald Hall Leadership The Secret: What Great Leaders Know and Do, by Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller Ecology The View From Lazy Point: A Natural Year in an Unnatural World, by Carl Safina Drifting Into Darien, by Janisse Ray Miscellaneous Non-Fiction Salt: A World History, Mark Kurlansky Harlan Hubbard, by Wendell Berry Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand Travels in Siberia, by Ian Frazier Operation Dark Heart: Spycraft and Special Ops on the Frontlines of Afghanistan – and the Path to Victory, by Lt. Col. Anthony...
by Greg | Jan 17, 2012 | Blog Posts
Last weekend Amy and I did something that was good for our marriage and good for our souls. We were having an early lunch together right after yoga class and I reminded her that I did not have any commitments that day or the next. Furthermore Aaron would be away at the church’s Jr-Sr. retreat so we had two days to ourselves. After a bit of exchanging comments like, “I don’t know, what do you want to do,” we decided to swing by the house, hastily pack a bag, and head up to the North Georgia mountains and spend the night in a cabin – all without making any kind of reservations. Not only did we find a delightful cabin, but we found a music venue in Dahlonega that had as their special guests a guitar duo we had heard on NPR this past fall (Storyhill, in case you are curious. You listen to their music on www.storyhill.com ). It was not a complicated weekend. The music venue was a small restaurant that seated maybe fifty people all to listen to two guys with two guitars sing into two microphones. The cabin was sparse, rustic, but cozy and warm overlooking a creek in the mountains. We did a bit of shopping, but spent very little money on the pottery, fudge, and beef jerky we brought home. We both agreed it was one of the best weekends we have enjoyed together in a long, long time. It is amazing how often the simple things are also the best things. Yet just as often we tend to enslave ourselves with the...
by Greg | Jan 7, 2012 | Blog Posts
Most every year, following Christmas Day, I try to take a few days and backpack up in the mountains of North Georgia or North Carolina. I admit that it is, weather-wise, somewhat of a gamble. In years past I have found myself trudging through snow and generally frozen to the bone. Other times I find those last days of the year unseasonably warm. This year was a bit normal I suppose. Along with a friend, I trudged through some light snowfall, a little rain, and through a lot of clouds. Still, a bad day in the mountains is a good day overall. On our last night of the hike was were forced to dine inside our tents while rain sputtered outside. The fear of bears looking for food in my sleeping bag was sublimated by my wanting to stay dry and reasonably warm. A rising sun (and no bears) greeted us the next morning and on New Year’s Eve I emerged from the mountains – a bit grimy and, shall we say, smelling a bit woodsy – and joined my wife as we heralded in the new year with dear friends. A New Year…a clean slate…an opportunity to do something new…or start over again. On the one hand it is just another day on the calendar. Some of you may not have had any time off in the last week or so, and so the transitions means little. Yet the days are indeed getting longer, and like a blank canvas they stretch before us waiting our creative marks. We mistakenly assume that Christmas marks the end of the holidays...
by Greg | Dec 22, 2011 | Blog Posts
There are plenty of places where I am completely out of my element: department stores, especially the cosmetic section; a golf course, any golf course; and watching an episode of “Glee” on television. I do not pretend to be adept in any and all environments. Barns, however, I know about. I was practically, much to the chagrin of my beloved wife and other refined folk, raised in a barn. The dairy barn of my childhood was unbearably hot in the summer, with the body heat of twenty cows mixed in with the stifling air perfumed with grain, dust, and goodness knows what else. In the wintertime it could be equally miserable. Often cold and wet, the only source of warmth was a small gas heater that thawed our wet hands in between milkings. On particularly bitter days the end of a cow’s tail could provide an uncomfortable swat if the dangling mud and manure was frozen. Nonetheless the barn was more or less home for a good portion of my childhood and it was in the barn that we shared stories, memories and passed along wisdom. A stable is a more polite word for barn, but it is basically the same thing: housing for livestock. Even the cleanest of stables are nothing more than a barn filled with the sights, sounds and, yes, smells of animals. Quite an amazing beginning for the birth of God, don’t you think? Over the centuries we have domesticated our stables and imagined them as quaint Italian villas along a hillside, forgetting or not really considering that it was just a barn. Perhaps we...
by Greg | Nov 29, 2011 | Blog Posts
How have your “Holidays and Holy Days” gone so far? For me they officially started with the annual Jr.-Sr. Backpacking Trip (which has now been dubbed “Back to the Wild”). It was a great walk in the woods for a few days and the only incidents encountered were a few tents that leaked. Still, everyone in the group maintained a great attitude and I returned with the same number of campers I left with. There was one casualty. On the first day of hiking my hands were starting to swell a bit, which is not unusual given the amount of sodium ingested in a typical meal around the campfire, and so I slid my wedding band off and put it in my pocket. Later that evening at Betty Creek Gap where we were setting up our tents for the night I reached in my pocket to retrieve the ring. You guessed it…gone. There is probably little need to elaborate further. Suffice it to say my wedding ring appears to be lost forever. This was the original ring Amy placed on my finger over 23 years ago and outside of occasional events like this hiking trip, I have never had the need to take it off, even briefly. Amy was understanding, even sympathetic towards me. She knows how sentimental I am. I can replace the ring with another ring that will look like it, but it will not be the same ring. It is just a symbol, I know, but it is an important symbol of a promise that I am to keep until death. For years I could look...
by Greg | Oct 25, 2011 | Blog Posts
Not so many years ago when my boys were toddlers the church I was serving as pastor was very close to our home, which happened to be the church’s parsonage. Most everyday I would go home for lunch with Amy and the boys. These were very simple years of ministry. Neither the church nor my schedule was unduly demanding and our routines as a family mirrored the same simplicity. More than once when I would push away from the table after lunch head back to the church, one or both of my sons would grab my leg and start crying asking me to not leave. They would rather have me at home all day, but I knew (or I thought) that was just unreasonable. I still remember clearly seeing them stand behind the glass door at the back porch crying and waving as I was pulling out of the driveway. “For goodness sake,” I thought, “I will be home in just a few hours.” I thought about this image as I was leaving Young Harris College last weekend. Amy and I enjoyed a beautiful time with our oldest son for “Family Weekend.” We met his professors, saw his dorm room (no comment), and met his many friends. While I know he was glad to see us, we could tell after a day or so that we were starting to get in his way. Right after Sunday lunch we were wrapping up our weekend together and saying our goodbyes. By the time we were driving off the college campus, my oldest had already turned his back and was walking with...
by Greg | Sep 19, 2011 | Blog Posts
Brenda Williamson captured this beautiful sunrise as we were flying out of Athens Our wake-up call roused us at 3 AM in order to have time for a cup of coffee before boarding our bus for one final journey – to the airport and then home! We left Athens around 7 AM and landed three hours later in Paris for what was suppose to be a four hour layover. Unfortunately the airline moved us all to a later flight and our layover was extended for another three and half hours. The good news is that we had a day in Paris. The bad news is that we could not leave the airport. We consoled ourselves with the reality that a good flight is one that will get us home safely. Indeed we arrived back at FBC Augusta around 12:40 AM and by 1:30 AM I was in my own bed fast asleep. Our journey is complete but our fond memories will continue to bloom as we reflect on this great experience. We followed Paul through a beautiful land. His message then and now continues to transform generations of followers of Jesus. Our guide reminded us that during the period of pagans, Greece was defined by its wisdom. Christianity introduced the time of love. May they define our footsteps as well. As you readers know one of our stops was in Ephesus. It was there that Paul penned the following words: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God– what is...
by Greg | Sep 17, 2011 | Blog Posts
Before I get to Day 12 let me say a few concluding words about Day 11. We headed for a “late” lunch at 2 pm. I believe I have mentioned before but Greeks eat both their lunch and supper much later than we do. In fact, it is fairly common for the traditional suppertime to be around 9 pm. Our drive back to Athens was a good two hours and so by the time we arrived most of us were good and tired. There was some time to jump in a very chilly pool and then freshen up for an evening in Athens. We had arranged a supper at a family diner that provided live folk entertainment, complete with a band, dancers and singers. The meal included dishes of veal, feta, and stuffed peppers. Of course what was most memorable was the entire group laughing, clapping, dancing (well some of us) and shouting “Opa!” at every opportunity. We were back at our hotels by 11:30 pm, and this writer/tour guide/pastor was pooped! Day 12 This morning we were out for a final day of a sightseeing tour of Athens including the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Our stop at Mars Hill where Paul addressed his followers was most memorable. Aeropagus in Greek or Mars Hill as called by the Romans is a bare marble hill next to the acropolis in Athens. Acts 17:15-18 In Paul’s day Epicurean Philosophy was known among the thinkers of Athens. Epicurus (341–270 B.C.) founded one of the major philosophies of ancient Greece. The Epicureans originally taught that the supreme good was happiness. By Paul’s time,...
by Greg | Sep 16, 2011 | Blog Posts
I finally have internet access! How did the world get along so long without it? Anyway, we have had a long day today and it is now 11:31 PM in Athens. Nonetheless, below is an update of our last several days. Sorry there are no pictures. I will have to add them later. Day 7 For the next four days we are out to sea and visiting some of the many islands that are part of Greece. Our ship is modest compared to most cruise line with just over a thousand passengers. Like everywhere else we have traveled there is plenty to eat, although there are a few in our group – including yours truly – who still smuggle fruits, rolls and muffins in our backpacks, just in case. We left our dock shortly after 11 am and traveled for about seven hours before reaching the beautiful island of Mykonos. Here I must admit is a place in Greece that as far as I can tell Paul, nor any of the other apostles ever traveled. Too bad, because this is one beautiful place. Narrow streets filled with shops of every variety. Making our way into the little town there were several little restaurants that specialize in all sorts of fish products, especially octopus. Since the food on the ship is covered, I am too cheap to eat off of the boat. Too bad beause grilled octopus looks good. We will have to try that when we get home. Nighttime came quickly and thankfully our bunks (or is it perch) were a comfortable respite for the evening. Day 8 We awoke...
by Greg | Sep 11, 2011 | Blog Posts
Today is our day for ancient Delphi – a place of “mythic” legend. This is not saying much since I suppose most all of Greece is the stuff for mythic legend. Perhaps what is most mythic of all is the quantity of food I am taking in! Large breakfast buffets followed by marvelous and unique lunches and of course breaks in between before finally concluding the day with a big supper. As they would say in Greece, “Opah!” – which no one knows what it means but somehow the collection of vowels and consonants succinctly sum it up. Following breakfast and after loading the bus we gathered alongside the Harbor of Itea (which means willow) and held a brief worship service. I used Philippians 2:1-11 as the text and we reflected on not only the land in which Paul traveled, but the call of Paul to take on the mind of Christ. Together we prayed for those who lost loved ones on that fateful day 10 years ago as well as this world which is still filled with uncertainty. We closed with Keith leading us in singing “Holy, Holy, Holy” and after the benediction we departed. Several “old men” of Greece were near-by and smiled and greeted us after we worshiped. There presence and indulgence of all these tourists holding a worship service while they were visiting was a simple and nice gesture of hospitality. Fifteen minutes later we were in the ancient town of Delphi, which was once a thriving town and is now just a small village of about 2000. Delphi, according to the Greeks, is considered...
by Greg | Sep 10, 2011 | Blog Posts
By now both the blogs and the mornings begin routinely enough: wake-up call that always seems to be a bit too early and a breakfast that is bigger than we normally consumer. Everyone has maintained both good attitudes and robust appetites! Today we traveled just a few miles to the beautiful and famous Meteora Monasteries. Christians arrived in this region in AD 800 initially occupying caves at the base of these huge natural spires. As our bus winded its way to our first stop we could easily view the countless “niches” carved out of the side of these mountainous spires where hermits would dwell to separate themselves from society. “Meteora” is Greek for “suspended in air.” In the 1300s entire monasteries were built atop these cliffs. Originally reached by hinged ladders there are now roads and stairs that provide access. During Meteora’s heyday there were 24 monasteries but now only five remain. Our first monastery stop was Varlaam, and while our bus was able to get us close to the monastery we still had to take 150 steps to make it to the top. The small church of this monastery was painted from ceiling to floor with 15th century frescoes. Byzantine in style they were all striking in spite of the muted colors that come with age. In the narthex the scenery was of the martyrdom of the saints. If a person was not baptized that person could go no further. On one level it was a bit ghoulish, with scenes of all kinds of ways a Christian could have been tormented and killed for his or her beliefs....
by Greg | Sep 9, 2011 | Blog Posts
Our day started off with another great breakfast (preceded of course by an inconvenient wake-up call at 6 AM). Amy and I had a little more trouble falling to sleep due to lingering affects of jet lag and air travel, but that is to be expected this early in the journey. We boarded the bus and toured the ancient city of Thessaloniki which is not so ancient anymore. To be completely honest with you, it is more or less a sprawling litter of neo-facist architecture that is rather monotonous and bleak. It is of course the second largest city in Greece, so commerce is vibrant. We visited the statue of Alexander the Great, since Thessaloniki is the chief city of Macedonia. It is a rather dominating statue (to fit the man I suppose) but place in a rather gloomy spot alongside the harbor. It turns out we left the city just in time. A few hours later protesters occupied city hall because of the Prime Minister’s visit this same day. According to our guide, Grecians are quite upset with the state of their economy – lower salaries, higher taxes and very high unemployment, especially for young adults. We had long since left the city so we knew nothing of the occupation until our guide heard it on the radio. It is interesting to discuss international politics and listen to the perception of others. It is a big world that is getting smaller every day. Just outside of the city we approached Beroea, where Paul visited a synagogue where we read, “for they welcomed the message very eagerly and examined...
by Greg | Sep 8, 2011 | Blog Posts
Day 1 (or is it day 2?) For the last twenty-four hours 32 devoted pilgrims have hopped shuttles and planes making our way from Augusta to Athens Greece. In between we have experienced a three and half layover in Paris, which might sound extravagant but trust me this part of the airport looked as though it was designed by an architect trained in the Soviet Union. Everyone has kept a great attitude and a positive sense of adventure. We had a total of three flights to catch: Atlanta to Paris; Paris to Athens; and a short flight to Thessaloniki (in the Bible we know it as Thessalonica). I guess we should not complain since the first-century Christian travelers had to make the arduous journey on foot and small boats taking several months at a time. When we arrived at our hotel in Thessalonika they had a lovely dinner waiting on us, although it was already fairly late – 9:50 PM. I need to add, however, that many in Greece do not take their supper until about nine in the evening. Tomorrow begins our first full day of touring starting with the village of Philippi. Day 2 Even though we just spent the last day and half traveling nearly half way around the world, we were up bright and early with a wake-up call at 6:15 AM. Amy chose to ignore and told me to just tell her about breakfast when it was over. I had already been up for about a half hour because I do not want to be late for a meal, even if we did just...
by Greg | Aug 23, 2011 | Blog Posts
This past Tuesday at noon our church began a new ministry to the community: Faith@Work. It was, I believe, a great success made up of business leaders from all parts of the community. Here is an abbreviation of my remarks I shared at the Faith@Work luncheon. Four Things I hope My Son Packed for College Now that I have seen my first born off to college I guess that makes me an expert on family transition – well, not really. The most vulnerable part of dropping your child off to college is the feeling that he is not adequately prepared. The truth is, now that they are adults they have to make their own choices. Here are four things I hope my son packed for college and plans to take with him through life: Hard Work I grew up where hard work was not just valued; it was essential, yet I was a lazy student for many years. In Colossians 3:17 we read. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus… Don’t cut corners; whether you punch a clock or are salaried or a student or a volunteer. Your primary employer is God, to Whom we dedicate all our labors. Even the most menial and mundane of tasks are offerings to God. Honesty No doubt we all consider ourselves to be, by and large, honest folks. Indeed I hope so. We sure need more of it. One of the many reasons we are in the mess we are in regarding the economy is the lack of honesty in the workplace....
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