Whirlwinds and fairytales

I've just finished month three of being unemployed. 3 solid months of no boss to report to (other than Michelle), and I must confess, i haven't noticed. It seems that the more free time a person has, the more that person finds themselves wasting a great deal of it in "busy" work. It's not that I've fell into complete laziness. In the past three months I've roofed a house (44 squares 12x12 pitch), fixed septic lines under a house, water lines under a house, put in three air conditioners, built and planted a huge flower bed, and painted a grocery store, porch steps, and too many other things.
I think the short simple lesson here is the same lesson I'm attempting to bring to life in "Death of a Pastor". Just as we can get caught up in the mundane and busy work of life, I guarantee that Pastors do twice as much. Pastors are caught in this paradigm of maintaining the activity and structures of the church. This paradigm prevents well-meaning Pastors from leading God's church into greater things. Because they often spend so much time in these activities they often fall short in their relationship with God, this stifles direction and vision and is ultimately a death to the church.

Just think about these things.

Part of the puzzle

A small part of the puzzle is becoming a giver. It has been said far too often in Church and knitting circles alike. "We have far too many consumers and not enough producers!" I agree. In fact, the whole of our society trains us to become consumers. Burger King will give it to you "your way". Have you wondered why the economy is shot. Too many people jumped on the have it now, and pay for it later bandwagon.

Jesus modeled for us however a giver mentality. One of the most stirring pictures of this in scripture is when He withdrew to be by himself after the death of John the Baptist. However, the crowd followed and Jesus had compassion on them and modeled producing.

One of the ironic twists is that the more you give and model giving, the more those around you begin to give back to you. It's a scary thing what can happen in the lives of those who give!

I recently roofed my parents house. I wanted to give a portion back for all that Dad and my Mother have done for me. Of course, I just couldn't get away from there withough my Dad giving me his old truck as he had bought another recently.

Just a brief note to encourage you all to give......

Satisfied with Nothin'

I just finished reading a classic. I believe that "Satisfied with Nothin'" is one of the greatest works I've read dealing with the struggles of racism in our country and growing up in the south during the integration period. Ernest does a tremendous job of awakening our spirits anew to the racism that so pervaded our culture just a few short years back. However, for once I've heard the voice loud and clear that Racism should not hold anyone back from putting forth their best effort, growing in knowledge and taking responsibility and being accountable for their own actions.

Jamie Ray Griffin is a young man that struggles with wanting more out of life, while facing oppression from the demons around him. He finds a release in sports and becomes a bit of a local celebrity. He holds college offers in his hands with money flying freely, and struggles to make the correct decison. Witnessing the death of a cousin at the hands of white men bent on racial hate, he has the choice of speaking out and risking everything he has worked so hard for, or continuing to play for the highschool coach that was a participant in the murder.

The conversational style Ernest uses draws you into the culture and brought back memories for me growing up in rural Kentucky surrounded by friends and neighbors blacks and whites alike. I've worked in the inner city doing ministry in and among the poor and downcast and I've seen the faces of dejection and talked to those with lack of hope. Beyond anything else in the book I applaud Ernest for taking a stand that Racism can only be overcome by hard work, and a personal accountability to yourself and your culture...white or black. We wear our scars, but we cannot use those scars to impact the lives we lead, or the choices we make in relation to others.

From a religious perspective I appreciate the mixing of what religion truly is versus the paradigm we have created it to be in today's culture. In the culture of the book, we learn to accept what God has blessed us with, be content, and take care of ourselves. To understand that this world is not our home. In the culture of society we have used religion as a crutch to demand that God, that society owes us something. Thank God for this stirring portrayal that we live as Christians for more than temporal pleasures, but to be vessels of God's Grace and Mercy. Racism is in effect persecution, and as Christians we all face persecution, but we do not bend, we do not break we simply carry on knowing the One who IS, and IS to come!

Preston

Larry Underwood...my friend.

I lost a great friend recently. My friend, Larry Underwood was like many of you possibly. A wife of several years that he desperately loved. A darling daughter with a beautiful young grandson for Larry to have in tow. Larry soaked it all in as well. I often thought that Larry would be the poster child for trying to live as much of it as he possibly could. Sure, Larry had his eazy chair (what man doesn't?) and there are a few humorous stories floating out there we heard today. But all in all, I have a desire to live life as Larry lived it. To love family and friends, and to enjoy the simple things of life such as hunting and fishing.

More than anything though Larry loved God. In his life here on earth Larry wasn't the guy gathering at main street with Bullhorn in hand and tracks to pass out to "them" sinners. Larry attended Hickory Grove Church of God in Richton, MS (where I pastored) all of his life. He maintained a simple lifestyle of church, and dinner at "Mamaw's" on Sunday afternoons with family. He loved his job and worked hard at it. In fact, if you travel down Hardy street in Hattiesburg in the future take a glance at the beautiful Rose garden at the University of Southern Mississippi and you'll see Larry's work in all of it's grandeur. Beneath the quiet and unpressing exterior was a man who loved to laugh. Larry also had a secret prankster built in that were I not the "pastor" I'm sure I would've seen more of. I would love to hear some of Charlotte and Lisa's stories on that as well, as I'm sure there are plenty from the sisters!

I have this burning within me right now to find some great platform that Larry stood for, or to rail for some particular cause to which he devoted all of his time. I'd like to leave you with some awe of who he was. But, I'm simply struck with a pondering within my soul as to how Larry was able to fit so much of life, love, family, and friendship into his time here on earth. I think the answer is found in my question. Simple. Don't get caught up in all of the craziness. Don't mettle in things that don't make a "hill of beans". Just laugh, love, hug, kiss, cry, and find joy in every little moment of life. Larry did that!

I was thrilled to share this morning that Larry began playing a song some time ago, and now that he has left this place and time to take on his new life in eternity; we are now left with the task of finishing the song. Like any song it has transitions and ups and downs. It has high points and low points. Points in the song may lull you into some state of peace, while others may move your soul beyond anything you've ever experienced. My unending prayer for this family is that they will continue to hear Larry's song. To hear the low points and the high points, and to continue to play along. While Larry has received his reward for his faithfulness, we still must press on.

Susan, Paula and family....continue to play to the song Larry began writing. Take joy in the laughter of children, take pride in each step of life Carson takes. Take joy in celebrating along with family when they celebrate. Cry when you need to cry, be silent when you need to be silent, but always love, always love.....always love. Larry would want it...Just...that....way!

Forever friend,

Preston

Interesting these times are....shadowy is the path of the dark side. Vague, sleep, eat, health, wealth, car, sickness, health, pain, joy, prosperity, notoriety, significant, insignificant, glee, mortality, death. Wow, just a plethora of words. Yes, I said Plethora! Yes, you have a plethora of presents. But, I'm more interested in what you don't have. Let me ask you one question. It's certainly a question I am plagued with recently. Do you have direction? You see I have so many things I enjoy doing. I love playing basketball, and golf, and surfing the internet. But, then if I narrow those down to the things I'm great at, then I'm basically an internet surfer with a blog writing meaningless drivel that no one will read anyway. But what is my direction? I enjoy writing, and feel I have somewhat of a gift for making readers think beyond just merely existing. I think I can prompt you to look inside and to become a better person. But, I also think I can beat you at Monopoly. But what is your direction, what is mine? I want to make a difference, I long to have someone say that the world was a better place because of me. I long to have more than family to show up at my funeral to talk about my sense of humor. I think direction is finding what you are great at, and then developing that to make a difference. If you are a great cook, then figure out ways for people to make great tasting low cost foods, and make a difference in your community. If you are great at shopping and picking out bargains, then make lists of the best paper towels and other assorted goods to purchase and pass those lists out. Maybe perhaps my direction then, is to teach people how to google?!?!?

Direction, purpose, sense, direction, help, find, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, self-control, humility, for, you, God, we, Trust!

Preston