The Day Cotton Died

This little piece of poetry came to mind while walking Dallas around the streets of Comer, Georgia USA.

I remember the day cotton died.
Momma fried a chicken.
Daddy hung his head and cried.
An Empire gone.
A King Dethroned.
A Way of Life no more.
Yes I remember the day cotton died.

We said good bye to fancy balls.
And big dinners in downtown hotel halls.
No new cars or Cuban cigars at the end of pick'n time.
We were happy to get a penny for the cost of a dime
When the price of cotton hit the floor.
We worked like fools with nothing to show
Except barely saving the family farm.
Yes I remember the day cotton died.

I went back to the place where I used to grow
To see what I could still see.
The family farm was such a sad sight it nearly brought me to my knees.
Where long white rows of cotton used to grow
All I saw were grass, weeds, and trees.
The old gin was gone cause it was scrapped for the tin
Back in 1973.
Yes I remember the day cotton died.

Doggy Day Camp

I had to make my way to Atlanta today for another fun clergy meeting. On days like this I take Dallas with me to Atlanta and drop him off at Doggy Day Camp.

On the way to Atlanta this morning Dallas slept in the car. He woke up when we arrived at the Doggy Day Camp. He was so excited. I think he likes this place. He was ready to play with his friends.

I spent most of my scheduled day off in a meeting. Afterwards I helped my Aunt with her computer. She needed help installing a new printer. It wasn't as easy as I hoped it would be. Then I journeyed through Friday afternoon traffic while running errands around town.

I caught a quick dinner at a favorite Chinese place (Glad I had some extra Weight Watcher points to spend!) and made my way to the Doggy Day Camp. When I arrived Dallas was happy to see me. However, he wasn't ready to go home. He had a great day playing with friends and didn't want to leave.

On the way back home I got to thinking about Doggy Day Camp. The meeting I went to today was about strengthening clergy. Folks were talking about practices and programs that could make clergy more effective in their ministry. Some people mentioned learning from top notch clergy and innovators. Some folks mentioned the need for worship. Others mentioned the need for coaching. I wonder if we just need to spend some time a Doggy Day Camp.

Think about it-Clergy Day Camp. Spend a whole day or half the day in play with friends. We would be in a safe place where we couldn't get hurt by passing cars or other dangers. Our play friends would be other clergy who want to play and are good playing with others. There could be a Camp Counselor to lead play and stimulate recreation. When the day is over we would go home and get back into the routine of ministry.

At the end of the day we would be tired, but it would be a good tired. Not the tired from sitting in a meeting but the kind of tired you can only experience when chasing tennis balls and a Frisbee. The kind of tired that comes from fellowship with friends. The kind of tired from a day well spent in play and recreation. The kind of tired the tills the hard soil of the soul and mind and makes it ready for the planting of seeds.


Clergy Day Camp? I wonder if Dallas would let me go.

Home Alone

Over the past few weeks I've been letting Dallas, my four year old beagle, stay home alone. For the most part he has done very well. That doesn't mean he hasn't chewed up anything while left unattended; however, the damage list is short: his leash (Lupine Leash with a lifetime replacement warranty), a puppy house training pad (just in case he needs to go), and part of the table cloth on my breakfast table (I think he was trying to pull off the box of Wheat Thins I left on top of the table). So far so good. I hope and pray for continued success.
Leaving Dallas home alone has got me thinking theologically about life. First of all, God has not left us home alone. God has sent the Holy Spirit to be with us. The Holy Spirit is God with us. It isn't a thing but the third person of the Trinity. Several years ago, Kenneth Kinghorn wrote "Fresh Wind of the Spirit." It is a great, approachable and sound book about the Holy Spirit. If you have questions about the Holy Spirit I suggest you read it.
So God has not left us home alone. We have the Holy Spirit to comfort us, guide us, and sustain us along life's journey. We have the Holy Spirit to bring us into intimacy and realness with God. We have the Holy Spirit to make the Christian life Christian.
I don't know if my dog is personally aware of the Holy Spirit. I know God created animals. I believe animals are part of God's redemption of creation. I wish I knew that Dallas was aware of the Holy Spirit. Then he would know that he is never actually home alone. Perhaps, then he would find that perfect peace that comes from sleeping soundly on the couch?

Hospitality Gone Bad

So I was at a special church service last week when I saw an example of Hospitality Gone Bad. At this special church service it was common practice to announce special groups who were visiting such as Sunday school classes and other church groups. The worship leader would read off their name and ask the group to stand while the congregation clapped and said hello. On this evening a large group from the local homeless shelter was visiting and without thinking about it the worship leader asked the group to stand.
I didn't think much about it until the next day when somebody came up to me and asked me what I thought about it all. They assumed I was as upset as they were. After thinking about it, I realized we put the homeless in an awkward situation. However, homelessness itself is an awkward situation of its own.
Turns out that some of the regular attendees at this worship service were upset about the homeless being with them. I heard tell that some folks thought the group was a bunch of criminals. They felt their safety was at risk.
Looking back I wish I was paying more attention to it all. I should have stood when the worship leader asked all of the homeless to stand. Even though I have a roof over my head each night, I am actually homeless. You see, I have a strange conviction that this world is not my home.

First Year Lessons

Yesterday (Sunday June 26, 2011) marked the end of my first year as the Pastor-in-Charge of the Colbert-Comer Parish. For the last twelve months I had the sacred privilege and honor of pastoring two special congregations. To be honest I really didn't know how things would work out when this appointment began twelve months ago.
I began my pastoral ministry with a part-time student pastor appointment to Highview UMC in Raywick, Kentucky. Highview met for worship on the second, fourth, and fifth Sundays. I was able to do most of my pastoral care work on those Sundays. It was common for me to come back to Wilmore after a ten to twelve hour Sunday.
After Highview I moved to my first full-time appointment to Smith Chapel UMC in Tunnel Hill, Georgia. Smith Chapel put me on a regular schedule of preaching every week. Office hours became normalized. My pastoral care work was spread across several days.
When I came to Colbert and Comer I didn't know how I was going to work out a balanced, effective, and practical approach to pastoral ministry. I said this when I was appointed and will continue to say it, "Serving a multi-church appointment is a lot like going to the prom with two dates and expecting both dates to leave the dance happy." You might think that is impossible, but I've learned a few lessons that are working so far.
1. Realize that each church is unique. Each church has their own strengths, weakness, growing edges, and needs.
2. Realize you can't be in two places at the same time. Do not double book yourself.
3. Realize you can't nor shouldn't do it all. Invite the laity to partner with you in your pastoral work. After all pastors are charged to equip the laity and inspire the laity to fulfill the call of their baptism.
4. Do your best to keep separate church business separate. Think about the prom metaphor. Would one date want to hear you talking about the other while you are dancing with them?
5. Be flexible. I try to have office days set aside for each church. It is a great way to ensure you are balancing your time with each church. However, emergencies do not follow office hours.
6. Have fun. I am really enjoying my time of ministry with the people of Colbert and Comer. I am doubly blessed. I am doubly grateful.

If you have insights, comments, or suggestions they are certainly welcomed.

The Prayer Mailbox

Every Sunday morning and several times during the week I check a special mailbox that stands right outside the front doors of Colbert United Methodist Church. This mailbox isn't there to collect mail. The evangelism committee erected this mailbox for two important reasons.
1. To collect prayer requests from the community and church members.
2. To redirect cars from cutting through our parking lot when going to the bank. Instead of putting up a barrier (something I am very much against) we put up the mailbox. In my opinion we redeemed the space.
Since we put up the mailbox three months ago, I've yet to open the door and find any prayer requests. That was until Sunday.
On Sunday morning I found the a request that makes this box and its ministry to the community worth all the days it stands empty. On Sunday morning I found a prayer request written by the hand of a child. It read, "My mom."
We do not know this woman's name or who wrote this heartfelt request, but I do know that Colbert UMC prayed and will continue to pray for "My mom."

The Walk

The street I walk is dimmer now
For one who lit a lamp is gone.
The song I hear is quieter
For one less voice sings along.
But in my grief I do recall
good bye is not farewell.
For one day soon
The street we’ll walk
will never dim no more.
And the song we'll sing will never end
For we’ll sing it with the Lord.