A Statesman Goes Home

The news is breaking even now that NC Senator Jesse Helms has died. The Fourth of July is a good time for us to think about the history of this statesman.

Like him or not, you must admit you always knew where Jesse Helms stood. He did not wait for poll results to see what his opinion would be. With a large percentage of the population, he was unpopular – for that very reason.

Today (and this is SO evident during the political season) we have a bumper crop of politicians. I don’t know how Webster defines the terms, but allow me to give you my definition. A politician is one who will cut a deal in a heartbeat in order to get (and stay) elected, driven by the desire to be popular – they give no evidence of personal convictions. Polls and popular opinion are their moral compass.

A Statesman is motivated by a desire for national good, even at the expense of their own popularity. Their convictions are such that others are drawn to the truth that there are unwavering rights and wrongs.  A statesman will sacrifice their own career (and even their life) before they will compromise their convictions.

It was statesmen who gathered to prayerfully construct such documents as our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. It was statesmen who then pursued at all cost the dream that all men are “endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights. . . “ they are a dying breed. We have lost one more even this day.

 May God grant peace to the Helms family during their time of loss and may God continue to bless America.

Could Barney Have Been Wrong?!

Say it ain’t so, Andy!

For those of you who are fans of the old Andy Griffith shows (and who isn’t . . .)

There was an episode where Barney proclaimed giraffes were selfish. (Dogs help each other out.)

Well, it seems at least one giraffe took that as a call to be more community-minded.

In an article entitled “Police Suspect Giraffe in Circus Breakout” Reuters reports

“Fifteen camels, two zebras and several llamas and pot-bellied pigs escaped from a circus visiting Amsterdam early Monday, police said.

“We suspect that a giraffe kicked open a pen,” Dutch police said in a statement, adding that the animals did not get far before they were rounded up and returned to the circus.”

The suspect’s photo is included below.

Taking a Hike (The Waterfalls)

The second day of our journey into the Pisgah National Forest included a tour of the waterfalls in the Brevard area.

We used Kevin Adams’ book North Carolina Waterfalls – Where to Find Them, How to Photograph Them as our guide. This turned out to be both a very informative guide for deciding which falls to go see as well as how to get there. There are a few such as Looking Glass Falls which are well marked and visible from the highway. Others, such as Moore Cove Falls, require a mild hike – but are well worth it. This is especially true in the summer since you can walk down behind the falls and get wet J

    

Take a Hike (Pt. 1)

(Maybe) you’ve noticed my recent absence.

My wife, Eileen, and I just returned from a week of camping in the Bent Creek area of Pisgah National Forest. It was great to get away and relax. We did some geocaching, waterfall looking, she did some painting and I did some reading. But, we did a LOT of hiking.

On Monday we did a couple of miles (and backtracked) along the Mountain to Sea Trail off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Then we watched a beautiful sunset on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Some may say, a preacher should never take a vacation! A heard of a deacon once who heard his pastor announce he was going to take a vacation. The deacon said, “The devil never takes a vacation!” The pastor replied, “You’re right, my friend, and I try not to live like the devil!” ‘Nuff said J

I’m going to share the trip with you over the next few days. Here are the pics from the trail and parkway sunset. Hope you enjoy!

 

Here’s One You Probably Haven’t Heard

As I stated in a previous post, I am bi-vocational. My “other” job is as an instructor at the NC Justice Academy.

I have been a sworn law enforcement officer for almost 25 years. With that disclaimer in place – I continue . . .

There are a lot of things which have been said about Barack Obama some are untrue and others are, at best, unsubstantiated. This is one thing about him you probably haven’t heard.

When he was in Portland, OR shortly after Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Day, he drew a large crowd. Whenever a large crowd is expected there is a need for Porta-Johns. In this instance those portable toilets were set up on the Law Enforcement Memorial, at the base of the flagpole.

You can see the photo here
http://www.policelink.com/news/26729-obama-uses-police-memorial-for-porta-potties

Folks, this is at best an act of ignorance and at worst blatant disrespect for the family of those officers who gave their life and those who are willing to put theirs on the line. The photo was taken by one of those officers who were there to ensure the safety of Mr. Obama and those attending his rally.

Within the past week we have lost two officers in North Carolina. My heart goes out to their loved ones, and to think that a toilet would be set up on a monument to honor their sacrifice is unfathomable.

Bi-vocational is not a Dirty Word

I am in the (VERY slow) process of writing a book. The working title is “Bi-vocational is not a dirty Word.”

You see, I serve as a bi-vocational pastor. That simply means I have two vocations. There are many of us who serve in such a capacity, yet there still seems to be a stigma associated with the role. So, I’d like to attempt to help clear up some common misconceptions.

Bi-vocational does not mean “part-time.” If you pastor a congregation, regardless of size, it is a full time job. In fact most mega-church pastors do less “pastoring” than smaller congregation pastors. That is not a slight toward them, but you just can’t minister one on one to 5000 folks the way you can 50-100.

Bi-vocational pastors, at least the ones I know, are serving in their capacity because that is where God has called them. We aren’t in a bi-vocational setting because we “can’t get a big church.” Some of the best sermons I’ve ever heard were preached by bi-vocational pastors. We aren’t bi-vocational because we “don’t trust God.” In fact, I think one could argue you have to trust God a whole lot more to be able to keep it all together when serving in both roles.

There are many challenges to being bi-vocational. Time management is one of the greatest which goes hand in hand with maintaining perspective and priorities. A short list of advantages to being bi-vocational include, a greater understanding of the current culture and challenges facing church members and greater opportunities for evangelism.

So , whether in a “fully-funded” position or bi-vocational, the blessings of serving in the place to which God has called the pastor far outweigh the challenges!

Proud Papa :-)

Okay, I’m not passing out cigars or having to change diapers – but we do have a “birth announcement.” A new blog has been born. And we all know the world needs more bloggers, right? J

My wife, Eileen, has kicked off her art blog. Eileen has always been an artist. Sometimes her art is expressed through drawing, sometimes in cooking, sometimes in painting and, at times, through music. I have always been one of those blessed by her creations.

Her blog can be found at www.psalmart.wordpress.com

Now, you can join in her in on her journey. I know, you’ll be blessed as well.

Those Crazy Artists

Have you eve seen those old photos with an artist painting a scene on a street or a park? Believe or not, those folks are still around. This was news to me – then I found out I was married to one of those crazy artists!

They actually have a name – plen aire – that’s French for “open air.” The plen aire painters in our county even have a group called Onslow Outdoor Painter Society (OOPS). Their blog can be found at http://oopsnc.blogspot.com/

Their work is currently on display at the Onslow Council for the arts

Here is a photo of my wife, Eileen, hard at work – you can learn more about her here http://oopsnc.blogspot.com/2007/12/meet-oops-artist-eileen-garbett.html

She is soon going to have her own blog . . . I’ll keep you posted. I guess my favorite artist link may have to change then J

 

My Endorsement Available?

I just wanted to let you folks know I am potentially available to endorse you for any office you may be seeking this political season.

In the interest of full disclosure, I think I should tell you that as a pastor, I:

1. Do not cuss. So, if there is something attractive to you about a preacher who cusses and takes God’s Name in vain from the pulpit, you should look elsewhere
2. Do not demean people for their race. Regardless of what race that may be. DC Talk’s song “Colored People” is still a favorite. So, if you want someone who will run down folks for being white, black, red, yellow – I ain’t your man.
3. Do not promote individual candidates from the pulpit. While addressing issues which may be political in the sense that politicians have delved into promoting or taking sides on a moral issue, I don’t do politics in the pulpit. That place and time are for promoting only one Person and that is Christ. So, I’m not going to do you any good there.

I guess this may explain why the phone isn’t ringing.

The Turtle on the Fencepost

Have you ever heard the statement – when you see a turtle on a fence post you know he didn’t get there by himself?

The essence of that quote is that every one of us are who we are, what we are and where we are first by God’s mercy (otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this) and then by the contribution of so many folks who have built into our lives.

Think of that Sunday School teacher who, for absolutely no pay, prepared and came every Sunday to share the truth of God’s Word. Or that school teacher who, for far too little pay, patiently taught not only the subject matter but valuable life lessons of perseverance and pushing farther than you thought you could go. A parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or even a neighbor who believed in you and supported you when no one else even gave you a chance, much less a kind word or helping hand.

All of those folks helped you get on the fence post. Take time today to write a card or letter (yes, an old fashioned pen and ink letter) to let them know you remember what they did and you appreciate them for it. It’ll do more for them than you can imagine.