I haven't blogged in awhile because I've been extremely busy lately.  June 18th was moving day for United Methodist pastors in the South Carolina Conference, and as such was my first day as pastor of New Zion United Methodist Church in Smyrna, SC and Shady Grove United Methodist Church in Sharon, SC.  It wasn't really a moving day for me, at least as far as my residence is concerned, since neither church on the charge has a parsonage.  Vicki and the kids are happy to stay in our present house for a while longer.

New Zion meets every Sunday at 9:00 am, while Shady Grove only meets for worship the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month.  This will take a little getting used to, since I have to plan my sermons accordingly ... I can't start an idea one Sunday and continue it to the next, unless I condense the message into one for the people at Shady Grove.

My first Sunday in the pulpit was June 22nd.  Our family vacation was ...

Here we are, the week following father's day, and I come across this passage unexpectedly:

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4, NIV)

This is something that I've given a lot of thought about lately.  I'm pretty new to the whole idea of Fatherhood, but if we submit ourselves to age-old lessons we have much to gain.  Ignoring God's wisdom as revealed in the scriptures is a mistake.

This is a tough verse to crack.  Oh sure, it sounds easy the first time you read it, but when you really look at it, and try to view it in context, it raises some questions.  First of all, what does it mean to "exasperate your children"?

Maybe some insight is gained from reading Colossians 3:21 "Fathers ...

In the gospel of John, the thirteenth verse of the 15th chapter, Jesus told his disciples "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."  This verse is on my mind as we head into another Memorial Day tomorrow. 

Memorial Day in the United States began as Decoration Day in the post Civil War years.  Memorial Day was set aside as a day to honor the individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice -- their lives.  To this day we commemorate and honor the brave men and women and their selfless sacrifice.

Right now our country is very divided over war.  Indeed war is always a divisive topic.  War is horrible and deplorable -- even those who consider it necessary will acknowledge this.

But when it comes to honoring the dead -- the men and women who showed the kind of love Jesus was speaking of -- let us put aside our differences.  Let us all ...

Well, the cat is out of the bag.  The Good Samaritan-St. Paul charge is being broken up.  Good Samaritan UMC will be on its own charge, and St. Paul will now be yoked with Kings Mountain Chapel UMC.  The Reverend Stephen Gaither will be moving to India Hook UMC in Rock Hill, SC.  He will be missed, but it was necessary to change pastors in order that Good Samaritan could be placed on its own charge for various administrative reasons.

Good Samaritan UMC will be welcoming the Reverend Jim Elder.  Jim is coming from Camp Creek UMC.  The PPRC had our introductory visit with Rev. Elder this past Thursday.  We also met his wife and daughter.  I am very impressed with Jim and really believe that he will be very good for the Good Samaritan family.

Meanwhile, I have been appointed to pastor two churches.  I will be the pastor of New Zion UMC in Smyrna, SC as well as Shady Grove UMC in Sharo ...

Last night I was teaching a class on Methodist Heritage at Good Samaritan UMC when a man walked into our church.  He had a scruffy overgrown reddish-brown beard that hung down 5 inches from his chin.  He wore his tattered clothes in layers -- I could tell because the tatters were just that severe.

I excused myself from the class and asked that they discuss the Wesley Quadrilateral while I was out taking care of something.  As usual for our bible studies, Vicki and I had brought a raw veggie tray, small pastries, and nuts to eat, and various beverages to drink.  I offered the man food to eat and something to drink.  He graciously accepted a coke but didn't want anything to eat just yet.  He said he had been walking all day and was dehydrated.

I introduced myself and learned his name was Pete.  He said he wan ...