The Sacred Desk

I'll be expositing Romans 8:12-17 tomorrow morning.

Christians allow themselves to be seduced sometimes by the siren whose song tells the toiler that he need not struggle - that holiness, while a wonderful thing, is not a necessity but a bit of a luxury. This, of course, is a lie. As a desert dweller can do without champagne but must have water - so the believer can do without acclaim but must bear the fruit worthy of it. Paul argues for the importance of holiness - declaring it a duty, a defense, an inheritance, and a fellowship. Without it - the Spirit is either proven ineffectual or one's faith less than whole - both evincing that one's hope of salvation has permanent fatal errors. It's a complicated issue - love complicates everything. The thing is not so befuddling so as to inspire despair however. We can be holy.

The Life and Times . . .

The police were called to my house over the weekend along with the Columbia County Crisis Intervention Team after several neighbors called 911 expressing their great concern after seeing me attempting to erect a volleyball net by myself in the backyard. After spending a night at the West Augusta Serenity Care Center I'm happy to report that, with the help of Jeremy and Casandra, I've got my mind right and will always solicit help in the future or find contentment in less ambitious endeavors like setting up chairs.

The Sacred Desk

This Sunday I'll be expositing Ephesians 5:15-17.

A little help. . .

I am blessed by God with remarkable health - the last doctor I saw with any regularity was a pediatrician (Doctor Mahalahti!). Thank you Lord!!!

I have had one minor affliction that has been my constant companion however - cold hands. My hands are often ice-cold in even the hottest of weather. Now, this has never bothered me much mind you - I mean - who cares right? But given the frequency with which pastors are called upon to shake hands - I have had to endure this a z-zillion times upon shaking the hand of silver-haired and helmet-haired alike: "Whoah! You're hands are freezing John!"

I need some help - I'm running out of things to say in response. The last couple times I got it I just said "thank you" - which elicited only tilted heads and looks of concern. So, help me out here - what would you suggest I say?

It's funny cause I don't know him

Ok - here's a word puzzle I heard on public radio the other day. It's pretty tough - maybe even blog-burying.

Think of a six-letter word ending in a silent letter that if you remove the silent letter becomes a five-letter word ending in two silent letters. What's the six-letter word?

Lapidary

"Praise, like gold and diamonds, owes its value only to its scarcity."

~ Samuel Johnson

Live from Waycross, Georgia near the Okefenokee Swamp!

Once a year the pastors and delegates of the Advent Christian churches in the Georgia Conference meet to confer, I suppose, on the happenings of the previous year. Over the two days there will be reports from elected officials and church leaders, morning chapels, resolutions with a sometimes tenuous grip on reality, afternoon potluck lunches served by the ladies of the host church, spontaneous times of prayer called for by the president in response to an expressed need or challenge, a raucous sing on Friday night, lots and lots of laughter, elections without suspense, an ever-present refreshment table whose cup runneth over with homemade confections, a lively open-mic, a wonderfully thorough - and thus entertaining - parliamentarian, and lots of lore and stories.

I love the Georgia Conference and the way we endeavor together - it's a wonderfully colorful and committed group of people who often exhibit a good amount of faith in attempting to make the most of whatever opportunity we're presented from year to year. I'm really looking forward to the next couple of days with its agenda of encouragement, prayer, and potato salad.