by Greg | Oct 4, 2013 | Blog Posts
…and in your hair, your beard and your clothes. During this time of year, Amy and I like to take “retreats” up into the mountains and camp. There is nothing particularly rugged about it – just a few days enjoying the outdoors and God’s handiwork. Some folks have beach houses, mountain cabins, or a quiet place on the lake. When we can find two days open on the calendar we like to find a cool place in the mountains to watch the stars go by. No matter the temperatures, we will keep a fire going in the early morning and late evenings. As with all such retreats there comes a time to head back home, sort through our gear and throw our smoke-infused clothes into the wash. In spite of a drenching shower I still emerge wondering if the smell of smoke will follow me into Sunday morning. Anyone working for the Fire Department will tell you that just one of the many ways a house fire destroys its contents is with smoke damage – it can permeate everything. If you spend much time around a grill or a smoker you can count on walking away smelling like a hamburger or maybe a brisket. Smoke, when left alone, can infiltrate almost anything and leave its distinct smell. Much of the time this is not welcome, but in the case of food it can be a good thing. Since I have been preaching on the Old Testament last month it is convenient for me to point out that burnt offerings we read about throughout the Hebrew Scriptures are frequently described...
by Greg | Sep 18, 2013 | Blog Posts
I love my backyard, I really do. I often say that two of my favorite rooms of the house is the back porch and the firepit at the edge of the woods. From both vantage points I can watch the world go by spinning. Just this morning while it was still dark an owl was calling out, claiming some of the dawning land. Each day I can count on seeing a number of fellow shareholders in my little Garden of Eden. Bluebirds and doves, mosquitoes and bats, deer and possums all call this home. Occasionally I will even see a snake, or two. Most of the snakes are harmless – blacksnakes, garters, and every few years a king snake will show up. Of course there are also the copperheads and water moccasins to keep us alert and remind us that not every snake is welcome in the garden! Amy is a great respecter of nature but I am learning after all these years that I best keep my snake sightings to myself. More than once she has threatened to put a “For Sale” sign in the front yard. “Remember,” she somberly states, “what happened the last time someone met up with a snake in Eden.” Note to self: Be careful what you say out loud. As a preacher I know better. After all Jesus said pretty much the same thing. “… For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. I tell you, on...
by Greg | Aug 28, 2013 | Blog Posts
Jake Malone has pretty much travelled all over the world as well as throughout this great country of ours. Along with his beloved travelling companion Delores, he has led church members, family and friends to exotic places like searching for the Loch Ness Monster, as well as not so exotic destinations, like simple Sunday afternoon outings here in Augusta. All the while Jake provided the assurance of a safe journey. It should be no great surprise that one of the last things Jake talked about was some of the places he has seen and places he would still like to go. With a steady supply of oxygen refreshing his lungs, in between deep breaths he said to me, “I hope I can see the Horsehead Nebula,” that wondrous nebula located in the constellation Orion. It is impossible to see with the naked eye here on earth, but Jake was hoping his upcoming journey might take him there. Jake did not just accompany others on trips. He was a traveling companion with so many who were on those remarkable “life journeys” that have their own unique turns and surprises. Whether celebrating with new parents or consoling the grief-stricken in loss, Jake has been there. He was a presence of compassion to drug addicts, to the sick, and to the searching. He travelled alongside numerous ministers in his 33 years of service to this church offering wise counsel, loyal friendship, and an empathetic ear. Through a big hug, a kind word, or a simple smile, he communicated, “I am with you.” On any given day I knew I could go in...
by Greg | Aug 21, 2013 | Blog Posts
Those words usually come in the reverse order – invocations and benedictions. An invocation is a prayer offered at the beginning of something where we are asking that our hearts may be full and open to receive the presence of God in this particular gathering. In simple terms, it is a way of saying “Good morning God!” Benedictions come at the end and they are blessings spoken over our departing. “Go with God.” I thought of these prayers as we pulled away from Georgia Southern University last Friday afternoon. We spent a muggy but otherwise mild day moving our youngest son into his college residence. It really does not take that long to move in a freshman. There are relatively few positions to have to transport since his new “home” comes furnished. In some ways we were the ones dragging this chore out, but it was apparent after just a couple of hours that it was time to go. His friends had arrived and they were making plans for the evening and weekend before the inevitable first class on Monday morning. After a quick hug and kiss we shared with him the ubiquitous parting many parents give on similar occasions. They went something like, “We are proud of you…have fun…but not too much fun…if you need us call us…here’s a little spending money…be careful…remember that we love you.” Driving away felt like a benediction, a blessing over his new journey and our new journey as empty-nesters. And yet it was an invocation too. We are saying goodbye to one part of our life and hello to another. In both...
by Greg | Jul 31, 2013 | Blog Posts
This past weekend we took in a couple of days camping in the Great Smoky Mountains. Ordinarily I am not much for camping in the middle of the summer, but temperatures were mild, the trees were in full leaf, elk were grazing and the rivers and creeks were still swollen from a long summer’s rain. On our first afternoon we decided to take a little dip in the river that runs alongside our campsite. When I say “we” I mean “Aaron and Amy.” I do not do cold water, which I know must come as a surprise considering my frequent dips in the baptismal waters, oftentimes a shade on the chilly side. Soon enough that afternoon, however, I succumbed to their taunting and took the plunge into the rushing, crystal-clear current. I immediately realized and my mistake. It was not just that my skin felt as though it was being completely flayed from the subarctic temperatures (only a slight exaggeration). My glasses that were on my face when I dove in were now gone…below surface and presumably downstream. This was not a mere inconvenience or just another expensive mistake (why leave home, right?). The first thing I do when I wake up is put on my glasses and the last thing I do before going to sleep is take them off, because I am woefully and fearfully nearsighted. I have to confess I immediately was resigned to going about half-blind for the remainder of the trip, which would be no fun at all. There was no way my glasses could be found in a fast-flowing river of water that...
Recent Comments