by Greg | Jan 22, 2014 | Blog Posts
We bought a TV. There, I said it. I have confessed our indulgence. We are conspicuous consumers just like everyone else. For the first six or so months of our marriage we did not even own a television. Amy’s grandmother gave us her old set, complete with knobs that changed all thirteen channels! Back then we did not have cable, just an antenna on the roof. I discovered that if I climbed up on the roof and carefully turned the antenna I could pick up most of the channels on the knob. That television was old when it was given to us and it lasted for ten or more years. Lightening finally took it out, which brought joy to my life. Finally we can buy a television with a remote control! We bought this current one not because we wanted the latest model, but, quite frankly, our old set was getting smaller and smaller. Actually, our eyes are getting weaker and weaker. For the last year or so we would take turns getting up from the sofa and walk to the set in order to read the score of the ball game or the scroll announcing weather alerts. I argued that we did not need a bigger TV, we just needed “his and hers” binoculars. “It would be like going to the opera,” I said. Amy reminded me that she hates the opera. So last week we upgraded from a 30 inch screen to a 40 inch one! We discovered with our new television that a lot has changed over the years in regards to television technology. For starters,...
by Greg | Dec 11, 2013 | Blog Posts
Have you ever retrieved mistletoe from treetops? There really is only one way – a twelve-gauge shotgun. I know this sounds a bit drastic, but take my word for it the stuff grows in out of the way spots on a tree. First you find an oak tree whose branches are marked with the distinctive green clumps of mistletoe. Next you take careful aim, squeeze the trigger and – BLAM – you have mistletoe showering down on the ground. Today school rules prohibit public displays of affection but when I was in middle school mistletoe was the perfect tool for soliciting affection from cute 7th graders. On any given day during the Christmas season I could be seen boarding the school bus with feed sacks full of mistletoe. I wonder why we don’t use mistletoe in the Hanging of the Green service? Along with the draping of garlands, lighting of the Chrismon tree and hanging of wreaths we could post mistletoe above all the doorways of the sanctuary. Think of the implications – every time you entered the house of worship you stood a reasonable chance of getting pecked on the cheek (of course Gloria Patrick does this anytime of year with or without mistletoe). Before you think I am too off the wall turn to your Bibles. In several of Paul’s letters he exhorted the believers to greet one another with a “Holy Kiss” (Romans 16:16; I Corinthians 16:20; II Corinthians 13:12; I Thessalonians 5:26). Perhaps a kiss to someone outside the family is just too much for some of us to take in, but I dare say...
by Greg | Dec 5, 2013 | Blog Posts
For the fourth year in a row we have taken a group of High School juniors and seniors on a backpacking trip. Many of the youth have never been camping, let alone backpacking, and so this is a time of new experiences and a shared journey. And what a journey it was. While the trip itself was a rather brief three day event, we tried to pack a lot in the experience. We ambled uneventfully by way of a caravan of cars to Franklin, NC, headed twelve miles west and pitched tents in the shadow of Standing Indian Mountain. Nightfall was upon us and with it came colder temperatures. Some of the guys voluntarily built a fire while the rest of us were looking for nice spots to set up a small village of tents. Each was responsible for their own meal, which by the evidence of the detritus of wrappers seemed to be ramen noodles and beef jerky. That night as the tents were zipped up and folks were nestled deep in their sleeping bags I glanced at the thermometer and it was 33 degrees. “Not bad,” I thought. The next morning it was 21 degrees and some of the water bottles of the youth were frozen. The irony is that was the nice part of the day. I guess I am exaggerating…a little. While we did not cover many miles up the mountain and along the Appalachian Trail, we found beautiful spots along the way for viewing, resting, exploring and eventually for sleeping. Our final night was a bit warmer – upper thirties – which gave everyone...
by Greg | Oct 30, 2013 | Blog Posts
This past weekend I found a couple of hours to do something I have been putting off since we moved to Augusta – clean out the garage! Well, in particular, what I did was clean out a couple of filing cabinets that were taking up space in the garage. They were stuffed to capacity and it was high time I did something about it. I created two piles: one was a box that would be sealed and stored in the attic and the other was a box that would be taken out to the fire pit for a proper cremation. This turned out to be a lot harder than I thought. Things like old bank statements and tax returns are relatively easy to deal with – box it up and send it up (to the attic). Most of the other stuff, however, distracted me to the point of near indecision. There was the appraisal for Amy’s wedding band (kept it); annuity statements (burned them); and a handful of church directory pictures for 20 years ago (Amy thinks I burned them, but I secretly re-filed them!). One file was marked “bills” and that proved to be most amusing. I kept the bill from the hospital and doctor when Clark was born 21 years ago. Insurance did not cover that delivery and I guess I kept the bill with the secret hope that the insurance industry would feel sorry of us and reimburse us for expenses. I am still waiting for the check. I decided to hang on to that bill – you can never be too certain. Other items quickly...
by Greg | Oct 23, 2013 | Blog Posts
A few nights ago I was leaving the church rather late – about 8:30pm or so. It had been a long day, I was tired, and I was ready to get home and stare blankly at the television and think of nothing for a few minutes before heading to bed and starting all over again the next day. On the way home my appetite directed me to a convenient drive-thru to carbo-load so that I could have the fortitude to make it home! Placing my order I reached for my wallet in anticipation of the bill. It was there I discovered… …my wallet was gone. Actually it is not a wallet. It is really just a glorified money clip, thin on money, but thick with cards, slips of paper, maybe a photo or two. At that point I simply assumed I left the wallet at home. Perhaps, I thought, in my haste to leave that morning I just forgot it. Maybe I absentmindedly placed it with the coffee beans or in the refrigerator (I have done stranger things). When I got home (hungry and not a hamburger in sight) I could not find my wallet anywhere. Not in the car, not in the fridge, not on the counter where I usually keep it. The wallet was not at home. The next day I discovered it was not in my office either. It was then I began to mentally retrace my steps wondering where I could have left my wallet. “When was the last time I needed, I used my wallet? Just how long had my wallet gone missing and...
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...
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