One of the Best Birthday Presents Ever

My wife and Grace Hill Media gave me one of the best birthdays I've had in quite awhile. It was a great way to mark 62 years. Grace Hill Media invited pastors from the area to a premiere screening of the movie 42, the story of Jackie Robinson. It will open in theaters on April 12.

It was an incredible movie. It was obviously written and directed by people who want this story of courage and faith to be told. For themovie is filled with compassion, pathos, laughter, intrigue and a sense of a mission. I tis not overbearing or preachy but addresses the issue of racism and breaking the color barrier head on with humility and courage.

I really appreciated the role faith played in the life of Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson. While it was overly played up or presented in a sappy self pious manner, it came off as being something true and genuine aobut both of these men. It was part of the fabric of their bery being.

One of the reasons this movie was so meaningful for me, is the scene with Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson. One of my old friends and a member of my home church was Preacher Roe. Preacher Roe began his career with the St. Louis Cardinals but later became a part of the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was part of the team when Jackie became the first black major league player.

In a conversation we had, Preacher Roe described that moment when Pee Wee Reese walked over and put his arm around Jackie as he was being booed and called all sorts of dispicable names. It was exactly as I imagined it in my mind when Preacher was telling the story. He told me that Pee Wee and Jackie became close friends.

The movie challenges us to continue to live their legacy today. Racism isn't over. It's still prevelent. We don't use that same language we used back then. Things have gotten better, a lot better, but even that is not enough. I dream for the day when no one will be thought less of because of the color of their skin, their nationality or their gender. I believe that world IS possible through the love of God in Christ. In the movie, Branch Rickey was talking to another General Manager and said something to the effect that God told us to "Love our neighbors as ourselves" eight different times in the Bible. It's the thing God told us to do the most, so it must be important. It will take that kind of love to get us closer. And it was that kind of love, put into action, which was portrayed in this movie.

He Is Risen Indeed

Today was a fantastic culmination of a great series of Holy Week services. Palm Sunday was a unique presentation of music, scripture, videos and dramatic readings retelling the story of Jesus final week. It began with the entire congregation participating in a Palm Procession. Wit lots of song and laughter we circled the Sanctuary and laid out palms at the foot of the cross. These palm branches will be saved, dried out and burnt. Their ashes will be the ashes we use during next year's Ash Wednesday Service.

After the procession, we moved into the telling of the story. Our choir did a fantastic job singing the hymns and music our Music Director Wendi Bernau chose for the service. The videos, Scripture and vignettes brought the events of the week to life.

Thursday, Maundy Thursday Communion service, was based on an idea I saw somewhere online. We followed the events in Jesus life just before Passover until His death on the cross by looking at the various watches and hours, Beginning with the ninth hour, both bells and a shofar announced the times. We sang, read Scripture and reflected on the events together. Of course, we also celebrated the Sacrament.

Friday was a protestant version of the Stations of the Cross. I have worked on and developed this service ever since I found a pilgrim's guide and brief form of the Stations in the pocket of the seat on our bus while on our first trip to Israel back in 1992. Over the years I have enhanced it with pictures and music. But it wasn't until I visited the Cross of the Plains in Groom, Texas, that it came alive.
Around the 19 story metal cross is an artists lifesized sculptures of the various stations.  I found them extremely inspiring, so much so that I have taken three seperate trips to both photgraph and film the various statues. Currently, the artist is working on the Last Supper.

This Sunday morning was supposed to be dark and storm with thunderstorms rolling through. Instead it was a beautiful day with a cool breeze. A big crowd showed up for our community Sunrise service at Vesper Point on the grounds of Glen Lake Camp and Retreat Center. I was blessed to be asked to preach this year.

Back at FUMC Glen Rose, both our 8:30 and 11:00 worship services were packed. If not a record crowd, then close to a record crowd was in attendance. Again, the choir outdid themselves. During both of these service the Bell Choir also added to beauty of this day.

Between services we held an Easter brunch inviting all of our guests and friends to share in light meal as we celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus. I made a cake for the event, however, no one would eat it. They said they couldn't eat art. However, I did send it home with one of the families.

All in all it was a great celebration of the Resurrection. Remember: The Resurrection is real. I know it's real because someone I trusted told me it was real; it has withstood the test of time and I have experienced Resurrection in my life and seen how the power of Resurrection has not inspired others but given them both hope and new life. HE IS RISEN. HE IS RISEN INDEED.

Jesus Loves Me Even When I'm Not Expecting It

Wierd title right? Well, this past week has been incredibly, incredibly joyful and stressfull all rolled into one. Glen Rose, Texas is a small Central Texas town filled with wonderful people and a great United Methodist Church which I'm privileged to Pastor. Most small town churches have a small Confirmation class. This has been true for the last two years but this year it was different. We had 20 young people in Confirmation. The church and the staff were ecstatic, as was I. With parental input, we chose Mother's Day as Confirmation Sunday.

With preparations fully in swing for this joyful event, three short days before, a tragedy struck which rocked the foundations of our our church and most of the famlies in the community. My mind, heart and soul as well as those of every family in the community were torn between celebration and grief. We went from the heights of glorifying God to the depths of cursing God for letting such a tragedy occur and trying to figure out why something like this could happen.

To top it all off, with the uncertainty of timelines for funerals and mourning, due to the investigation into the event, it left everything unsettled and tentative. I was scheduled for a week of Continuing Ed at the Homiletics Festival in Atlanta, GA. All that was on hold.

When plans were finally set and arrangements with hotels reconfigured, my wife and I made a mad dash for Atlanta arriving in time for the last two days. Physically, mentally and spiritually exhausted I arrived to soak up as much of God's presence through worship and study as possible. I needed a refill. I wasn't disappointed.

Friday morning worship. I realized how tired and irritable I still was. Sitting in the last pew, I also observed how noisy we clergy are. It was really starting to bug me. More than a couple of people came in and stood behind me discussing where to sit or plans for lunch or whatever. I was still so fatigued and a little ADD that I couldn't focus. And it was making me mad.

I was still in this irritable funk when Karoline Lewis began her sermon. She was talking about the joy of Jesus entering into every abandonment, every hopelessness, every pain, something I needed to hear. But still the noise bothered my soul. I couldn't let go of the irritation. She went on to say that the Resurrection is where Joy truly breaks into the present, now and in what is to come. It allows us to hold together every hard thing it means to be human.

She then began to describe her son's desire to grow up and be taller than she is. She described both the joy and the pain of the actuality of the day it happened. No mother wants to see their baby grow up and yet it is the one wish mothers have for all their babies. It is a time of joy and grief.

Once again, the noisiness of us clergy intruded on my thoughts as a young child in our midst began to make noise and I could hear Mom trying to hush him or her. And then suddenly in this poignant story by Rev. Lewis all those around me realized that this young child was humming "Jesus Loves Me."

I couldn't help but think that somehow God was speaking to me. The irony of my irritation being interrupted by a love song from God was rather overwhelming. In the midst of my funk God was dealing with my junk and I wasn't even aware of it. The words of Rev. Lewis' sermon were being brought to life right before my eyes as the joy of Jesus entered into every abandonment, every hopelessness, every pain I was feeling.

All I can say is Thank You.

Stewardship Thoughts

An article and blog I recently read gave me pause to think. The title of the article was "Preaching On Money" it went on to talk about how difficult it is to preach on money and how most preachers avoid doing so or approach it very timidly and reluctantly. The auther gave some sound advice on how to Help People Find Balance, Create an Atmosphere of Grace, Address Real Life Issues and Draw People to Invest in a Higher Calling.

While I found the article helpful and full of grace filled thoughts, never did the author use the word Stewardship. Never did the author come out and connect Stewardship and Discipleship. Personally, I think it is wrong to "Preach On Money." However, having said that, I do believe we are called to preach about Stewardship. That may sound like straining at gnats but "money" and "giving" is only one small aspect of the Stewardship of Life and Discipleship. I don't believe we can even talk about money without putting it into the context of the whole Stewardship of Life package. Too many people hear the word Stewardship and immediately and mistakenly equate it to exclusively mean money. But they are wrong.

Stewardship is a soul issue. Stewardship is a Discipleship issue. You can't be a faithful Disciple unless you are a good Steward. And you won't be a good Steward if you aren't seeking to be a faithful Disciple.

Stewardship begins with a change in mindset. You see most of us think this life and all we have in it is ours to do with as we please. We look upon all this stuff in our lives and think of it as "Mine." We forget that life and all it entails is a gift from God. God has placed this small part of God's creation (our life and all it entails) into our hands and asked us to be good stewards, good caretakers of God's stuff. We have to get out of this "Mine-set," if you will, so we can grow in our Discipleship; so we can grow more and more like Christ.


So, how's your "Mine-set?" Do your realize it's really not yours? You're really not yours. You belong to God and are called to live a life that glorifies God by being a good steward of the life and the gifts God has given you. How's your "Mine-set?"

A Day of Silence and Gloom

Saturday. There is no special worship service on the Saturday of Holy Week. But it is known as Holy Saturday or The Day of Silence and Gloom. It was on Saturday that the world exeprienced the darkest day of all.

The disciples couldn’t have been any more fearful, distressed or depressed. All their hopes and dreams had been broken and then shattered with each successive hammer blow on the nails. And when they heard Jesus’ last words, “It is finished,” their hearts and spirits concurred as they spiraled down into to the darkness of depression; the kind of depression that only comes following the loss of someone you deeply love or the knowledge that everything you hold dear is gone or wrong.

Not only are there feelings of depression and anxiety there are also feeling of abandonment coupled with profound loneliness, even in a group. In their group there was a feeling of dread. Gloom covered their hearts and their eyes. So, deep and thick was the gloom and despair; so thick and overbearing that it silenced them. So they hid in the silence of their grief; hiding from the Romans as well as the Temple guards; hiding from each other; hiding from themselves.

Night was falling. The growing darkness all around matched the darkness of their hearts as they watched the stone rolled into place sealing the tomb. Shoulders slumped in defeat. Tear stained faces filled with grief covered heads hung low. They welcomed the night. It hid them from His accusers and those who had crucified Him. It hid them from each other.

They slid away into the darkness, silent and mute, too shocked, too grief filled to speak. The silence was almost deafening. Ironically, they each made their way back to the Upper Room. Where else could they go?

They sought each other's company but then remained silent and alone in their compnaionship. They could hear their own ragged breath, subdued sighs and moans of grief as loud as thunder across ocean waves. It was so loud in their own ears it occasionally made them jump in fear.

Jesus, the one they had hoped and believed was the Messiah, was dead and sealed in a tomb. It was a Day of Silence and Gloom.

National Tell A Lie Day

I love weird Holidays. Yesterday was Don't Go To Work Unless It's Fun Day (I went to work) and National Work Place Napping Day (I didn't) or Sauturday which is National Carmel Corn Day (I may or may not have some). But really, National Tell A Lie Day, that's what today is. We'll probably never find out who started this holiday. Those who say they did probably didn't and the anyone who says they didn't could be lying.

My observation is that, generally speaking, we are a very tolerant and forgiving people. We are tolerant of people's little foibles and eccentricities. We are even tolerant of little white lies. I'm sorry he can't come to the phone right now or she has someone in her office when we don't want to talk to a salesperson. Fisherman are known for the ever growing size of their latest catch. Grandparents are noted for grandizing their grandchildren's exploits. Most of us just consider this to simply be a part of life. But is it? Is it necessary? And what are the consequences?

I don't think the little lies are necessary. I think they are habits we fall into. Habits can be changed. Especially when we become aware that something we are doing is detrimental. Instead of saying, "He or she's not here," simply say, "I'm sorry they're not available at the moment, but please leave a messgae." No need to lie.

The recent outburst of Alec Baldwin (which was probably justified) over the two papparzzi who signed up for his new fiance's yoga class just so they could get a photo of the ring is an example. It's only a small "white" lie, so what's the big deal. The big deal is that we are the ones who have arbitraily categorized and prioritized what is and isn't a "white" lie. We've chosen what is acceptable. The problem is, every time we draw the line, someone else moves it and consequently the line just keeps moving.

Lying breaks trust. While we are tolerant and even forgiving of little "white" lies, they still chip away at the trust we have in others and the trust others have in us. If you've ever seen the movie The Shawshank Redemption, you know what can be done over a long period of time with a small rock hammer. Andy Duquenes didn't dig his way to freedom over night. But chip by little chip he continued to dig until that day that he was able to escape. Lying slowly chips away at the trust we have in and for each other. When you chip long enough, the wall you are chipping away at, suddenly collapses and you find yourself under the lies and mistakes of the past.

People generally begin crying out, "Why me?" when that happens. They forget all the other lies and wrongs that undermined their wall.

The point is, our descent into this current level of hell is not a giant leap, we descend one small step at a time. Sometimes the steps are nearly impercieveable but with each step down it gets harder and harder to turn around and head back up. Once you've lost the moral ground it's hard to gain it back. The gravity of your lies or what you have done holds you down like chains and weights. Trying to turn back and undo something is sort of like running up a down escalator that keeps speeding up. With each step you have to run faster just to maintain the current level.

So, please don't celebrate "Tell A Lie Day." Avoid it. You'll be much happier without this little holiday. And that's the truth.

Resurrection Restoration Car Show

Saturday, March 31st, our church, First United Methodist Church of Glen Rose, Texas held its First Annual Car Show. Someone asked me Why? Why are we hosting a Car Show?

That’s easy, I like cars. But that’s not the real answer. We wanted to do something unusual for the community as a nonthreatening outreach to those who may never darken the doors of our church or any church.

One of the most intimidating things for some people, is entering the Sanctuary of a Church for the very first time. Will they accept me? Will I make a mistake? Will I sit in the wrong place or a host of other fears.

We held our awards ceremony in the Sanctuary. They came in where it was cool, where we had a PA System and where a slideshow of the days events was being played. all in all it was a very inviting experience.

The other reason is that car show officianados and churches have very much in common. Those who restore and rebuild classic cars and everyone who drives a restored or rebuilt car has something in common with the church. We are all in the Restoration and Resurrection business.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NRSV) the Apostle Paul wrote: “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!”

We have one thing that is very basic which we share. When restorers look at cars and when the chuch looks at people, we both see what they can be and not what they are now. We see them as they were originally created. A thing of beauty.

We do resurrection and restoration work. In the church we preach and help people live a life that reflects the resurrection of Jesus from the grave. And we help Restore broken lives and broken relationships. Car officianados raise the dead and restore life to old classics which, to most, are rusted and broken beyond repair.

We are all in the Resurrection Restoration business. What better way to celebrate that than on the Saturday before Palm Sunday, which is the beginning of Holy Week and leads up to Easter.

Now That's Justice, Mercy and Grace

http://www.thisistrue.com/

One of my favorite email newsletters to receive is from Randy Cassingham. This is True is a weekly e-mail newsletter which reports on bizarre-but-true news items from legitimate news outlets from around the world. Each story ends with a comment -- a tagline which is humorous, ironic or opinionated (or with luck, some combination of the three).

Every week Randy tickles my funny bone and challenges my brain with his tagline quips. This past week was no different. This is from The Premium Edition of This is True #865: 9 January. I think it is a perfect example of Justice, Mercy and Grace.

PUSHOVER: A 63-year-old man from Manila, Philippines, was in line to buy a lottery ticket when a woman cut in front of him. He did the gentlemanly thing, stepping back and allowing her in. The ticket she bought -- that would have been his -- wasn't a winner. The ticket he ended up buying, however, was: 741 million pesos (US$17 million). "When he won, he kept thinking: how sad for that woman," said Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chair Margie Juico, "She could have won the big prize if she had just been patient." (MS/AFP) ...Chivalry not only isn't dead, it sometimes pays quite well.

Now you might be wondering why I said this is a perfect example of Justice, Mercy and Grace. Well, the Mercy is shown by the 63-year-old man who did the gentlemanly thing of stepping back so the pushy woman could cut in front of him. He could have protested and made a scene. But his heart was such that he didn't and was actaully saddened by the fact that she could have had all that money if she hadn't been so pushy.

The Justice, of course, was the fact that she didn't win. And the Grace, well of course it was the $17 million dollars he won simply because he was polite. While I don't want to laugh in sardonic glee because she DIDN'T win, I do want to shout for joy that the nice guy was rewarded. It might not have been Divine Grace but it was a form of Grace none-the-less. And that kind of thing always makes my day.

Blame Someone Else Day

According to one of the calendars I check, tomorrow, January 13th, is National Blame Someone Else Day. Why anyone would set up a special day to blame others is beyond me but it did get me to thinking. We have been doing this since the creation of humanity. As long as Adam was a solitary figure everything was fine. He was lonely but he hadn't found anyone else to blame stuff on because it was just him. He wasn't bright enough to blame God. That didn't come until after the incident with the apple.

God, being the compassionate loving God which God is, saw Adam's loneliness and created Eve. I realize I wouldn't be here writing this if things had stayed the same but maybe . . . No, we like to blame others. We don't like to take responsibility.

Let's look at the whole apple incident. God created Adam and then Eve so they could be companions together in this life. But then one of the disgruntled, actually the chief of the disgruntled angels, decided that what God had done wasn't right. Maybe he was jealous that Adam and Eve were getting more attention than him. Maybe it was because of his own vanity. He did think he was the most stunningly beautiful archangel ever. I never have understood the serpant's motivation.

Anyway, if you remember God had said everything in the garden was theirs to use and eat except for the fruit from two trees: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The serpant knew that by eating from the apple of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil he could ruin this young couple's idyllic existence. I'm mean really, if he couldn't have it, no one should, right? At least that's what I think he was thinking.

So, the serpant tempts Eve with the forbidden fruit. "Oh, go ahead. It's delicious. No one will know. It'll be our little secret. Besides once you eat you'll be just like God." Now I have a bone of contention here with most commentators and writers. Most assume that Adam was off doing guy stuff and Eve was just puttering around in the garden on her own. I don't find that to be the case, Scripturally. Adam was right there by her side. Eve was a stone cold fox and he wasn't going to leave her side for anything. At least not yet. Now he may have been doing the inactive listening which most men do, which is to ignore all the chatter. He may have been looking for the remote or checking for sports scores or whatever. He was there but he wasn't paying attention. He didn't do his job of protecting her.

Eve, probably thinking that because Adam hadn't said anything, thought it was OK. We do that you know. Because no one has said we can't do something, we assume we can. Or maybe Eve just fell fully for the huckster's charm. Whatever, Eve bit. And then, with juice running down the corner of her mouth, turned to Adam and said, "Oh, wow, you've got to try this. It is SOOO good." So, Adam, still looking for the remote, took a bite and wham, everything changed. Their eyes were opened up; they looked at each other in surprise, discovered they were naked and ran in the woods to "Hide."

The next day God comes walking through the Garden and immediately notices a change. Everything just seems about a half a bubble off. Adam and Eve are nowhere to be found. Then they come out in their ridiculous clothes. God's reaction was less than pleased. But God did ask the ultimate question. Whose idea was this?

Since Adam was created first and had the deepest relationship with God, God asked Adam first. It wasn't because Eve was a woman as some speculate, as if women were inferior not equal. It was a matter of courtesy not heirarchy. But what did Adam do? With dried apple juice still on his chin, Adam pointed at Eve and said, "Not my fault. She made me do it!" Whereupon Eve pointed at the serpant and said (Not unlike Flip Wilson's character Geraldine) "The devil made me do it, honey!" And thus began the steady flow of blame.

What we need to remember is that NOT EVERYTHING IN THE BIBLE is supposed to be emulated. God wanted and still wants honesty. God wants us to take responsibility for our own actions. If we can't admit when we are wrong, then there's no room for forgiveness. If we can't admit that we have done something wrong in the eyes of God, then what's the good of repenting? There's nothing to repent. And that's where we make our mistake.

So, here's the challenge. Fess up to your mistakes. Be honest with yourself. Celebrate this day NOT by blaming someone else but by taking responsibility. It may very well be the single most pleasing thing to God ever. Try it, you'll be pleasantly surprised how light your heart and soul feel. And how close to God it brings you. Be a rebel today. Celebrate by doing what's right and taking responsibility for your own actions NOT blaming someone else.

"Woob, woob, woob!"

Today is Curly Howard's Birthday, "N'yuk, N'yuk, N'yuk!" I don't know how many others grew up watching the Three Stooges like I did. I loved their slapstick humor. The whole pie in the face schtick always makes me laugh. So, does Curly every time he flops on the ground, running in circles with his shoulder as the pivot point saying, "Woob, woob woob woob!" or "Moe. Larry. The cheese!" My Dad thought they were hilarious and remembered seeing their shorts in the theater on Saturday mornings, so, often times he was laying on the couch laughing with us as we watched Captain 11's Showboat featuring the Three Stooges.

I do remember when we got banned from watching the Stooges, though. I was probably 8 or 9, which would have made my brother about 4 or 5. It was before he was in school. One day a friend of ours was over and we were all watching the Stooges and laughing how Curly's head had bent the axe or hammer or something like that after Moe whacked him with it. My brother was laughing, too. But the next thing we knew, he had gone and gotten a little wooden hammer out of the toy box and (You Guessed It) whacked our friend.

Unfortunately, we knew nothing about special effects or sound effects because there wasn't that bouncey "Boink" of Stooges fame. Instead it was more the sound of a "thunk" with loud crying and lots of tears.

To me, the Stooges weren't the Stooges without Curly. Sure, Shemp was funny, Joe Besser was irritating (though funny, too) and Curly Joe was better than the other two, though in my opinion, seemed too intelligent to be a true Curly. But no one could truly replace Curly. If Moe was the brains and Larry the heart then Curly was the soul and funny bone.

I don't know what you think of the Stooges but to me they are a serio-tragic American Icon. They had no idea the joy and the laughter they were bringing to both the adults and youth of the day because of the studio contract system. And because of that system, they never really reaped any of the benefits of their popularity until long after.

Now excuse me, I have to go dig out my DVD collection of Stooges (8 volumes so far) and watch "You Natzy Spy," "Punch Drunks," and then laugh as Curly tries to outsmart an oyster in his Oyster Soup.

"B-A, bay. B-E, bee. B-I, bicky bye, B-O, boe. Bicky by boe, B-U, bue, bicky bye boe bue."

The Old Country Store and the BEST Fried Chicken in the World

At mile marker thirty of the Natchez Trace Parkway, you get off on highway 522 and head toward Lormar, Mississippi. You go about a mile then take a right, About a mile further down on the right you come across an old, old building, kind of run down and not really very appealing. I’m pretty sure after 40 years of marriage that we wouldn’t have stopped had someone hadn’t told us about this place, The Old Country Store.

And old it is. The building itself is 130 years old. Believe me, it looks it, too and that’s why we probably wouldn’t have stopped. But we did. So, how did we get there? Wha tmade us stop? Well, while traveling up the Trace Parkway, which is gorgeous and well worth the trip, we stopped at one of the original Inns on the Trace. The Inns were actually called “Stands.” Mount Locust Stand was one of the first stands and the only surviving stand. It was restored and set up to show both what travelers on the Natchez trace saw and how the owners lived on the plantation/farm after the stand closed.

Ranger Rick, the Park Ranger, was very knowledgeable and friendly. When the tour was finished, Ranger Rick asked if we wanted a good place to eat lunch. I said, “Sure.” Ranger Rick directed us to The Old Country Store and told us it was “the best fried chicken you’ll ever taste.” So, off we went to Mr. D’s Old Country Store.

You have to climb steps or walk up a long wooden ramp, to get there. The hand rail was loose and wobbly. Everything needed at least two coats of paint. When we entered the door screeched and all the floor boards creaked but we were greeted warmly and told to sit anywhere. We were then welcomed to the buffet where the chicken was.

Let me tell you about the buffet. Everything was fresh made. There was nothing canned. Mr. D, Arthur Davis, cooks it all. I got a cucumber, onion and tomato salad. The old southern kind with vinegar and some other seasonings. Of course, I got the fried chicken but I also got one of Mr. D’s ribs. Then there was dirty rice, blackeyed peas (thick with ham and hulls); and cornbread stuffing. I also orderd sweet tea. I usually drink unsweetened but this was recommended.

We sat down, said grace and dug in. I went after that cucumber salad first. It was just right. I looked over at Mary just as she was taking her first bite of chicken. One bite and her eyes lit up like it was Christmas morning. And even though it is impolite to talk with your mouth full, she let out a little moan and said, “Ohhh, this is good!”

Well, I couldn’t wait any longer then. And was she ever right. All it took was one bite and I was in taste bud heaven. I honestly have to say that this was THE BEST fried chicken I have ever ever ever tasted. And as a United Methodist minister I’ve had plenty of opportunity to eat my share of fried chicken. Sorry Mom. Sorry Mary. Thanks Mr. D.

Mr. D. says the recipe and cooking technique was passed from his grandmother to his mother and then on to him. When I get to heaven, I’m going to personally thank his grandmother for passing it on so the rest of us could share. The chicken was moist and succulent, not overcooked or undercooked but just right. The crust was crispy and the balance of seasonings (whatever they were) absolutely perfect.

I’ve got to tell you, Arthur Davis can fry chicken better than any old man from Kentucky, any old sailor with a squinky eye, and while I “know what good is” I just discovered what “great” is and it’s not cornflakes, it’s Arthur Davis’ fried chicken at The Old Country Store in Lormar, Mississippi. Thanks for the tip Ranger Rick.

To top off our visit, Mr. D. came out to greet us all. Without even asking, he autographed a flier for the place to Mary and I and gave it to us. And then he serenaded the whole place with “My grandma was a cornbread making queen.” Beautiful voice. He told the whole place, “Don’t feel sorry for the man in the kitchen, this ain’t a job, it’s a hobby.”

When we checked out I told Mr. D that I fully expected he would be the chief cook for Sunday Dinner when we all got to heaven. He laughed and said, “Well, my Mama’s got that job right now, but when I die, I’m gonna relieve her so she can finally rest.”

If you’re ever traveling along the Natchez Trace be sure to stop in Lormar, just off the Trace, and sample Arthur Davis’ heavenly fried chicken at The Old Country Store, You won’t be disappointed.

Laura Plantation, Louisiana: A Creole Plantation. Some Thoughts

Prior to becoming a state, Louisiana women had full equal rights, could own land and did the business. Laura Plantation was perfect example, for three generation women were the President (Presiding officer of the plantation) and they made beaucoups of money.

They were so successful that at one time there were 69 slave cabins each which housed two families averaging 4 per family. That’s some 276 slaves. Not that I’m in favor of slavery, but that shows the size of the plantation, some 12,000 acres of fertile Mississippi bottom land and swamp.

That got me to thinking about a conversation I had with our youth during one of our Wednesday Night Bible Studies. We were talking about Abraham, Sarah and Hagar. First the youth were appalled that Abe had more than one wife. Second, as we talked about inequality of the patriarchal society and the few privileges and freedoms that women had, the girls were really appalled. They just couldn’t understand how or why society was that way, then. One of the young ladies was pretty perturbed.

I reminded them that, thankfully, the role of women has changed over the centuries. And it has changed significantly over my lifetime. That’s not to say that there isn’t still a long way to go to break down all of the inequalities.

I didn’t grow up in the church, so I didn’t have all that baggage of being told women had no place in leadership in the church. My experience with women in leadership was my mother. Mom was a strong independent woman who worked as a business administrator for a couple of different firms over the years taking on more responsibility with each job.

When I did accept Christ and get involved in the United Methodist Church, one of the first people I met was a retired Methodist Preacher by the name of Hazel Allen. After I answered the call to preach, Hazel became one my unofficial mentors, always checking on me; always praying for me and my ministry; always letting my home church know how we were doing. Hazel had gone into ministry after her husband, a Methodist preacher, died. I don’t think she was never in full connection but was an Associate Member of the Annual Conference. That didn’t stop here from being an excellent, gifted minister.

When I was in college, a number of the students I knew who were studying for ministry were women. There were already several ordained female clergy in the Missouri East Annual Conference when I was ordained Deacon in 1979. A seminary colleague was ordained Elder the same year I was, 1984. We’ve come a long way.

Regardless of how you feel about their politics, the last presidential race was an historical landmark. Not discounting President Obama being the first African American President ever elected, Hillary Clinton ran a hard race for that nomination as president (and nearly won.) While Sarah Palin ran as the Republican candidate for Vice President. Never before has this been possible. And no, I’m not forgetting Geraldine Ferraro but women in both parties at the same time is something new.

In Nashville, in a prominent Baptist church, I was invited to receive communion by the senior pastor who was being assisted by his female associate pastor, ordained the year before. Not only that but I was served communion by female deacons. That’s a big deal.

The world and leadership as many have known it is changing. There are many of my colleagues in ministry and women my age or older who fought the battle and have paved the road for the full equality of in ministry. There are those who paid a dear price who are no longer in ministry. The suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous treatment by churches, clergy and the system to make the ministry what it is today.

I’m not saying that there aren’t still large pockets of resistance. Nor am I saying that the fight is over. However, these fights seem more like skirmishes rather than full out battle.

I’m glad that the youth of my church are appalled at the notion of women not being equal. I’m thankful that I live in a time when I have to explain “that’s how it was,” NOT “how it is.” I’m thankful for people like Hazel Allen and others who were the pioneers who fought the good fight and persevered despite the personal cost. I probably should have done this along time ago. Thank you.

Roadfood Seafood Quest

One of the reasons we wanted to go to New Orleans was to eat the fresh seafood. Well, to be truthful, "I" love seafood, Mary likes it bot would rather have a hamburger but she is tolerant of my passions. Unfortunately with the BP debacle the fishing and seafood industry has been decimated and many of the small Seafood Restaurants and Markets are struggling or worse, have closed. We were able to find one place open on a Sunday night in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Neither one of us really wanted to drive around looking. I tried my Yelp app and it suggested a couple of places but when I called, no one answered. So, we headed down the street figuring we were going to have to settle for something other than seafood. Anything Cajun would have been OK, but hey, you're by the sea, you'ld like to have seafood.

We found a little place, a dive really, called Steamboat Bill's Inc. Steamboat Bill's is one of those neighborhood fish markets and restaurant all in one. You walk in and one side is the fish market where you would normally be able to order all kinds of fish. The other side was the restaurant with a walk up counter where you ordered just like in a deli.

It was obvious that they had been hit hard by the spill. The normally full fresh fish display case was empty. There were only a hand full of people in the place. I asked how bad they had been hurt and it was obvious from their reaction that it was more than just business which was hurting.

We were afraid they weren't going to have much to offer. But most items except crawfish, boiled shrimp, oysters and soft-shell crabs, were on the list. Mary ordered a cup of gumbo and the fried catfish fillets. She said it was the freshest catfish she'd ever tasted. I ordered the shrimp etouffe and a shrimp po' boy.

The etouffe was very good. Nice and thick with plenty of that back of the throat pepper kick that you find in Cajun food. It wasn't too salty and it wasn't too hot. It was excellent. The shrimp po' boy was nearly as long as my forearm. And man was it loaded with shrimp. THEY DID NOT SCIMP ON THE SHRIMP. There was so much shrimp that when I picked up the first half to take my first bite, fried shrimp started falling out all over my plate.

And it was delicious. The shrimp was lightly battered, not so thick that you got mostly batter but just a light batter deep fried perfectly. The batter was crisp and crunchy. The shrimp was not overcooked but still tender and sweet. It's obvious they've done this awhile. (My guess is that it was probably either imported or fresh frozen but it was good.)

The po' boy was so big that after finishing 1/2, I simply opened the other half of the sandwich and just ate the shrimp.

If your'e ever in Lake Charles, Steamboat Bill's may not be the classiest place but the portions were great, the people friendly and the food was really good. They need our support. Who knows how long before they recover, if they ever do, so they also need our prayers.

Friends and a Cinnamon Roll

As you can see, I'm catching up on actually posting some blogs I'd written while driving (actually Mary is driving, I'm writing on my mini) but hadn't actually taken time to post yet.

We went to visit and worship with some good friends of ours. He is the Pastor of the United Methodist Church in Flatonia, Texas. We've known Rob and Sandra Clopton for years. I was their pastor in Arlington, saw their kids grow up, performed the wedding for their daughter Tracy and her husband Preston. And I had the privilege of being Rob's pastor when he answered the call to ministry. His job, prior to ministry, took him to the Southwest Texas Conference, but I was there through all the struggle with the call. It was a joy to be with them today.

Anyway, they insisted on taking us to lunch but I told them we were bringing dessert. After a great worship service and great lunch at the local eatery, we went back to the parsonage. I honestly had not looked in the bag from the time we bought the Cinnamon Roll until we took it out of the bag. Everybody had the same reaction. "Oh my God, it's huge." It was as big as your head. I kid you not. It weighed in at 3 1/2 pounds. Franken-Roll.

We couldn't wait to try it. It took Sandra awhile to figure out how to serve it. But eventually she cut some slices off of this thick heavy cinnamon roll and warmed them up in the microwave. It was absolutely heavenly. It was rich and warm with just the right amount of everything. Sandra cut what was left in half and we each have enough for at least two more desserts. As big as this thing is, I think you could possibly die if you tried to eat the whole thing. You have to wash it down with a little coffee or milk and that added to all the dough, well it probably wouldn't be pretty.

And lest you think I'm exagerating about the size of this thing, here's a picture of one of the waitstaff standing in front of the "Cinnamon Roll To Go stand." You can see her hand next to one of those delicious monstors, on the right hand side of the picture.

If you're ever in San Antonio, you have to go to Lulu's Bakery and Cafe located at 918 Main St., if for no other reason than to try one of the delicious Cinnamon Rolls. If you just can't wait you are able to order them online.

Lulu's Bakery and Cafe

Roadfood From Diner's Drive-in and Dives and Man vs Food

This past week, during the start of our vacation we ate at two awesome roadfood places. De Wese's Tip Top Cafe and Lulu's Bakery and Cafe. Tip Top was featured on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives and Lulu's was featured on Man versus Food. Both have been voted the best Chicken Fried Steak in San Antonio at different times from different people. It's vacation. I don't get to San Antonio very often. I love Guy Fieri and Adam Richmond's shows, so I put them to the test.

The first stop was Tip Top Cafe. It's been awhile but I think DDD featured Roast Pork with gravy on toast but also mentioned the Chicken Fried Steak. Anyway, that's what I ordered. Any place that advertises their CFS as the best needs to be put to the test. I remember going to a place that I had heard so many people rave about in Ft. Worth and ordering their CFS. It was supposed to be the best. Instead it was tough, greasy and seemed to me to be pre-formed and frozen. I was disappointed big time and won't go back to that place for any kind of food.

However, we were greeted warmly and seated in an old fashioned booth in a room with knotty pine walls. It was like being 14 or 15 again and going to the Dew-Cum-In Cafe with my Dad. Talk about Time Warp. The minute I saw the menu I knew what Mary would have. The Meatloaf plate. One of her favorites. I ordered the CFS.

When they brought out the food, the poritons were Texas size. And as far as the CFS, if you want anything other than CFS and fries or mashed potatoes, it comes as an extra side.

The first thing I noticed was that the gravy was on the plate and the steak was laid in the gravy. (French style) That left the perfectly golden brown, skillet fried, CFS to shine in all of its glory. The next thing I noticed was after the first bite. I didn't really need a knife. The CFS was cut with a fork melt in your mouth tender. The breading wasn't overly thick like a lot of others I've eaten. Nor was it extemely heavy. It was just right, as babay Bear would say. It was excellent. A little black pepper was all it needed for my taste. I'd definitely go back for more. Be warned, if you go, they don't accept credit cards, just cash or checks.

The next night we went to Lulu's Bakery and Cafe. Their CFS also claimed to be the best in San Antonio. It certainly could lay claim to the biggest. They had three different sizes. There was the Deputy Special, the Sheriff's Special and the Chief's Special. I ordered the Deputy's Special, 16 ozs of Chicken Fried Steak.

The Sheriff's special is a double order 32 ozs and the Chief's Special is a garganuan 48 ozs of CFS smothered in Queso and jalepenos. I didn't see anyone eating it but one of the bubba's in the booth down from our table was working on the Sheriff's Special when we left. Don't know if he finished or not. Me, I left about 1/3 of my mashed potatoes and 1/2 of my fried Okra and just barely finsihed the CFS. One notable The dinner roll which came with the meal was more like a small loaf of bread, hot and fresh and sweet. I only had three small bites because I was stuffed.

This CFS was smothered in cream gravy like normal. I thought the gravy needed some salt and of course more black pepper. It too, was a huge portion, maybe a bit larger than the one at Tip Top. It had a really good flavor. The breading was crunchier and the steak a little thicker. It wasn't as tender, though, as the one at Tip Top but was still scrumptious. It was definitely right up there in taste.

I can see why both places have been listed as best CFS in San Antonio. I'd go back to Lulu's, too.

Now, one of the things we bought but didn't try until later when we could share it with some friends, was Lulu's 3 pound Cinnamon Roll. That's right 3 pounds. It's a monster. We saw several families of 4 to 8 working their way through one of these things. Three of the four families had to ask for doggie bags. They just couldn't finish it. If they use dough similar to their rolls, I can see why. It was very filling. We'll find out when we share it with our friends tomorrow.

Reflections On CTCYM Mission Trip

One of the incredible aspects of CTCYM is that through the earnest dedication and faithfulness of the Adult Leaders and the Youth Workers a little bit of the Kingdom of God is opened up on Earth. It may only be a glimpse, a week long glimpse covered in sweat and dirt and saw dust, but it is a glimpse of the glory that is yet to come.

Embodied in the Mission Trip is the fullness of United Methodist Wesleyan Theology. The Youth Groups all gather in a Living Center prepared just for them. Most, if not all of them, know absolutley nothing about the host church; the leaders who chose this church, why it was chosen, who would be preparing meals, where they would sleep, all of the details of simply "living." And yet, there it is, ready for us to "live in."

Then there are the clients and the work projects that each team will be doing. We don't know any of these people or their needs. But someone does. At least a year's worth of planning goes into the choosing of living centers, center leaders, work projects and all the other aspects of Mission Trip. It doesn't just happen.

God's prevenient grace is just like that. God goes before us to prepare the way. To make straight the paths, as Scripture says, to open our hearts and the hearts of the clients we will meet. To prepare the way. There is nowhere that we can go that God hasn't already been, making everything ready for whatever happens.

All of the projects, chores, and activities are how we live out the Grace of God in a physical way. The evening worship, the noon time devotionals, the evening activities and even the meals are all Means of God's Grace. They draw us closer to God and closer to each other. God's love and Grace are felt deeply in and through the giving of ourselves in Christian Service and in Christian Community.

The dedication to finishing the project, the projects themselves, the tears at the end with clients who began as strangers who we leave as friends and sometimes family, the tears as team members and leaders depart each others company, the lives that are changed are all part of the Sanctifying Grace of God. Each person on Mission Trip has been drawn close to the presence of God. They have seen a microcosm of what the Kingdom of God can and does look like. They have been used as instruments of God's Amazing Grace.

What a privilege it is to be used in this way. What a privilege it is to see God's hand at work in thelives and work of the Youth of the Central Texas Conference Youth Minitry Mission Trip.

Fry Bread and Grape Dumplings

One of the things I expereinced on Mission Trip with the Youth this year was Fry Bread Tacos and Grape Dumplings (on the left). I have had Fry Bread before.

My wife used to make Fry Bread (on the right) when we first got married but it has been years since we ate it. I believe the last time we had any was when we were on vacation in New Mexico. I can't remember the last time she made it. Let me tell you, as good a cook as my wife is, hers did not compare to the delectable delight of the women of Davis Chapel United Methodist Church and Broken Arrow United Methodist Church.

The Davis Chapel women fixed Fry Bread Tacos for lunch for our work team and the Broken Arrow crew fixed them for the whole Mission Team and served them before worship on Wednesday night.

Fry Bread Tacos (on the right) consist of a fresh, hot piece of fry bread topped with deliciously seasoned pinto beans, seasoned hamburger (like taco meat), lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese jalapenos and hot sauce. They were so big and so filling I could only eat one, though one of the teenage boys ate two.

What a treat from the women of the church. Without all the taco fixin's and a little bit of honey, you can have a sopapilla like dessert. I'll bet they would be good with a little cinnamon, too.

Grape Dumplings were a little bit of heaven. All of us were fascinated by just the name alone. We couldn't wait to taste them. We were told that the dumplings were made with Possum Grapes, a variety I had never heard of. I've heard of mustang grapes, fox grapes, muscadines, concordes and a host of others but not Possum Grapes. Whatever kind of grape they used made these little dumpling absolutely deliecious. How do you describe it?

Imagine old fashioned dumplings but with a hint of grape flavoring. Now imagine the thick sweet gooey juice of a cobbler, one made with grapes. Mix the two together and serve them hot with either a little cream or some fresh homemade ice cream (that's how we had ours). Sweet and tart and gooey. They are rich and delicious and you don't want to stop eating but you know you have to cause if you don't stop you'll pop and if you don't pop then you'll be as big as a bus.

I've got to find a recipe, though where I'll find Possum Grapes, I don't know. I'm sure if I make it with anything but thos grapes it won't taste the same. But I'll try. Truly Mr. Welch should be jealous.

Hope For The Future Of The Church

This old geezer of a preacher just got back from a week long mission trip with the youth of our church and Annual Conference. The Central Texas Conference Youth In Mission is an awe inspiring event. Youth and Adults from all over the Conference pay to sleep on the hard floor of a church, shower in some high school gym and work like there's no tomorrow in the heat and humidity. And to top it all off, they love it. They can't wait to do it again.

In a very short time, a Christian Community is built where everyone is treated with respect and diginity; where everyone willingly does their chores; and where Christ is represented in the actions of every participant. This year the group I was with was in Coweta Oklahoma. We stayed at First United Methodist Church, Coweta. Rev. Susan Whitley and her church members were so gracious even after we broke their building (the plumbing backed up and the grease trap had to be cleaned out). This wonderful congregation even fixed hamburgers and hot dogs for us for Friday night supper. What an awesome church and commmunity. Thank you Pastor Susan. I hope we left everything clean and as we found it.

We had eight work teams of five youth and two adults. As one of the pastors on the trip, I got to float or be with a different team every day. I was able to meet and interact with so many more of the youth and adults, offering encouragement and what little building expertise I had. Each of these teams worked hard and the love of and for Christ was eveident in each of them.

During this trip we cleaned out drainage ditches so rain water would flow; mucked out gutters; scraped and painted the outside of homes and sheds; painted both inside and outside; built wheelchair ramps and porches; hung doors, poured sidewalks, A/C pads and installed kitchen cabinets, counters and sinks.

The teams I worked with worked at three seperate homes and two seperate churches, The Broken Arrow United Methodist Church (on the left) and Davis Chapel United Methodist Church (on the right) both part of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference. I won't ever be able to complain about the chairs or seating at our Annual Conference without remembering that the OIMC holds their Annual Conference OUTSIDE. IN JUNE. NO A/C. (You put me to shame Pastor Ben).

During this week of hard work and sweat, I never heard a cross word. I didn't hear a single youth complain about the hard work, the food, the sleeping conditions or much of anything except maybe the heat and humidity. Instead there was laughter, smiles a deep sense of comradery and a dedication to serving Christ by helping our clients.

I can't tell you how inspiring it was for me to see the 60-65 youth and adults at our site joined together for a single purpose: "To glorify Christ through missions." And they did. While a lot of people in the world put down our youth for being self centered and uncaring with no moral compass, I say they are wrong. And these youth prove that. In my opinion, the church has a great and glorious future as God calls these young people into a deeper sense of ministry and leadership within the Church. If the youth of this Mission Trip are any indicatation of what the future of the ministry and the future of the church are going to be like, then I'm here to tell you it will be in great hands lead by God filled, Christ centered hearts.

What a blessing. What an inspiration. What a witness.
You Go! CTCYM!

Join Me In Prayer For Our Youth

One more blog before bed.

40 Days of Prayer for Youth starts next Wednesday!

Please join with our conference youth April 28 - June 6 to pray for youth each day for 40 days. Please download and print the Prayer Guide in the link. The Student Leadership Team of the Central Texas Annual Conference created this initiative. Look for it on Facebook and Twitter under 40 Days of Prayer for Youth!

This is from the Prayer Guide: "We will be praying to support every local church youth group in their mission of Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World. We will be praying for support, courage, and strength for every youth in every local church. We will be praying for every youth group who is engaging in missions within their church, their community, and around the world. We will be praying for further connection within our Districts and within our Annual Conference."

Prayer Guide

A Bit Of God's Blessing For You

I find myself deeply humbled, extremely blessed and in complete awe of the varied musical talent within the First United Methodist Church of Glen Rose, Texas of which I am the pastor. God has truly blessed this congregation. And I get to share in that blessing.

Last Friday night, April 16th, 2010, 10 year old Morgan Kirby, of First United Methodist Church in Glen Rose Texas, sang the National Anthem at Texas Motor Speedway. I guess there's just too much grandpa in me, for even though we are not related, I have to share it with you. Enjoy.