Baby Steps...

Firstly, don't get your hopes up. The only baby around here is our new little black duck that hatched the other day. Also, do not let this post get your hopes up, I am a terrible blogger. I miss the connection and encouragement, the personal attacks. Yes, that was all great. Somehow my life is just too crazy right now. I do have a Myspace page that I from time to time update my status and the like. Mainly it has become a tool to reach out to the families of those that come to Church in Paragould.

I have really learned much in this first year of pastoring. I could hardly say it when I first began, "pastor." At times it still seems surreal. I have enjoyed it though. With our convention looming and everyone's future up in the air, I can honestly say it has been a wonderful experience. I appreciate more fully the sacrifice of those that are chosen to lead. Case in point...the Church is clean, yard mowed ready for Sunday's service. My house is less than perfect...yard a little shaggy (not bad). If Better Homes and Gardens showed up today I would ask for airbrushed photos. They would look like white pages I fear. Service Sunday will be a special Heritage Celebration as I am sure many will be doing.

Let's see, this past year...we have celebrated Grandparents' Day, been blocked out of service for an ice storm and downed power lines, had services at Hardee's restaurant, homes, Lake Frierson, been the the hospital, funeral home, homes, held Christmas Communion, a Christmas dinner and card exchange, had bake sales, yard sales, Olan Mills pictures, had a pastor birthday party, Old time Homecoming, mowed, cleaned...The list goes on.

Many hours of sacrifice both in preparing for service and in maintaining the property have been invested. I count it a wise investment. The stock market has seen perils and will no doubt see more, but these treasures are laid up where there is no danger of collapse. These sacrifices have meant that there is less time for other things. Unfortunately my beloved blogging was one area that saw a cut. As I learn to adapt to these changes in my life, perhaps one baby step at a time, I will post again soon. But for now there is a dirty pool asking to be cleaned, animals ready for walks, weeds to be pulled, details for Sunday to be planned out, a nap to be taken before work, what is a feller to eat, Children's Church for regional convention is a month away...this list goes on, too. Whew!!

You may never see this...

You have probably long forgotten my blog by now since I am rarely ever here myself. I just read my last post and boy do I have some stories to tell, but can't because the things I find to humorous, the person that it is about might not. We have just gotten back from a long drive to Helena, AR. Our member, Sis Mary Burch, lost her dad and we traveled to be at the funeral today. It was so crowded that we never got to speak to Sis Mary. She knew we were there, though. So did the congregation because the minister in charge had me stand for the everyone to see. I just expected to be put on spot for some reason. He just asked me to stand and recognized me and our sacrifice to be there. It was very kind of him to do so although a little strange. We made the journey home after a quick stop at such a fine eating establishment...Sonic. Our local Sonic has been closed for a couple of months while they build a new one. Tabithia is crazy about the place and crazy when she is not about it. She is very tired. I forget sometimes about the the limitations of the slightly weaker vessel. She does very well though.

Speaking of weak. We had a bake sale last Friday. It went very well. I was up until 3 am, and them back up at 6 the night before, getting things ready. I had to go pick up a load from a coworker of mine that has been so faithful to attend our Sunday morning service. He made so much stuff. What a generous guy! It is good because between me and him that was all there was. Bro Fred did manage to talk some of his relatives out of a couple of jars of goods. We raised somewhere around $100. That is very well considering our yard sale raised $20 and there was good stuff in there. Augh... I think I shall retire and keep those stories to myself. They are really good though!

Unfaithful at Some Things...

I have learned that my new life as a pastor enables me to fulfill the calling of God on my life. It is a satisfying and gratifying feeling that cannot be explained. Even at the most difficult moment, it is not in my heart to turn tail and run. I have worked tirelessly at promoting and sending out cards and invitations, organizing and cleaning and doing all things possible to ensure a warm welcome and a spirit of worship. The stage is set so to speak. It is an unending job where there is never ample time to do all that I would love so much to do. I yearn to paint and hang new lights and do other work, yet souls are in need of rescue. So, I pace myself and do what is needful for now.

Really, pastor, is a new identity that is unlike who I was before. Not entirely, but mostly. It has meant the death of parts of me or at least rest. I am not the avid gardener I was, that part of me just does not have the time to come out. I am not such a busy neat freak. That part now sleeps. I am not complaining, but for now those things that identified me before are as the old cliche goes..."back burner." Even blogging is one of those things I have so little time for. I ask myself now what I think I am doing. Time moves so quickly. Where does it go? I would love to tell the quirky crazy stories here I once did, but I just incorporate some of that insanity into the pulpit.

So if you wonder where I have been, I am not dead, just parts of me wait until the day is spent and the work is done. That crazy preacher has just redirected that energy to a different place. I may seem unfaithful here, but in other areas I am giving my all. Maybe soon I will have some hilarious, riotous story to post. Don't count me out. Lord willing I will post again!

Okay, I Can't Stop...

I thought I would try one more desperate attempt to redeem myself. Let me first say that I picked a more mature (probably in many ways) man than I with a wee bit of gray around the edges (cause there is only hair on the edges) Just kidding. I want to be sensitive here. I ran some one's picture besides mine to see what results would come up. If the program runs me as older, then someone more advanced in years should probably come up looking like the Crypt Keeper. Well, la ti da, guess what...they didn't!!! I am still older. Bro Ray, than you for volunteering for this experiment (well, maybe I volunteered you) and being such a good sport.

I will not whine or cry (at least I am not typing those sentiments). *bites lips* Okay! That is all okay!

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebs - Collage - Morph

GRUMBLE!!!!!!

Even a not very good picture of my adorable bride brings much better results than the old man!!!!

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity - Collage - Morph

Not A Bit Better!!!!!!!

Well, I may have to take that back. The beady eyed Pierce Bronsan was on this list. That first one though, Joe Perry, he looks like he was beaten with an ugly stick and his neighbor...eeewwww!!!!! Really. I am so not being nice today, but it is true. People know when they are ugly. I am apparently having to come to terms with that. Reality, how harsh, how cruel. I really do not think that I will perform another such test. It just keeps geting worse. Alas, I will alow you to go back to you daily tasks as will I! Cinderfella is just to ugly for the ball...home for me...a life of scrubbing floors...chores!!!

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities - Collage - Morph

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Descendants - Blank family tree

I Look Like Old Men...

AUUUUUGGHHHHHH! I saw on some one's myspace how they did the celebrity look a like thing. I had a patient tell me one time that I looked like Brad Pitt. Although I think that is far from the truth and I am not a Pitt fan, I took it as a compliment. Well, one of my coworkers has always mouthed about that and just hee hawed! That is southern for laughing to the point of incontinence. Ahem. Now where was I. Oh, yes! Look alikes my foot! These are all old men. I was expecting quite different results. I picked my professional picture...AAAAAUUUGGHHHHH!!!!! These are all old men. Now, if you find yourself in the same age range as these people please do not be offended. There is nothing wrong with that if that is how old you are but to have my youthful essence and be classified as ancient is unacceptable. You could probably put your pictures in and look like a young Shirley Temple or Ron Howard. I look like him now!!!! Not Fair!!!!! Okay, maybe I am being offensive again. Perhaps I should be honored to rank so highly among the more mature men. Come on Dan Rather!!!!!!! I don't look like Dan Rather!!!!!

All of this with my birthday less than a month away! I think I shall forget the day all together. The way I look I probably will anyway!

Really, I am not that shallow (those wrinkles evidently look like glaciers receded across my face). Let me also say that David Carridine is homely! (pause for laughing). Really, he is! I am going to have to find a more scientific site and see who I really resemble. This is too much!

Where Have I Been...

Oh, my!! Nearly a month has passed and nothing from me! Not a thing. Well, lets see what all has taken place. I had surgery...yes, oral surgery. Don't try to down play that like it was nothing. I got up the next day like a had cheeks full of nuts. the next day was even worse, cheeks full of grapefruits (whole grapefruits). I wish I only had pictures with me now to prove it. During all of that I was contacted by Bro Dewayne Smith about pastoring a Church this year. That dialogue went on for a couple of days. I accepted because I had always felt a connection with that Church. If there ever was a place to start I knew it was there in Paragould, AR. I thought I better say where. It is about 30 minutes from my home. So no moving involved now. I did have to move from the Congregation I love so dearly though. Jonesboro is such a wonderful place, the Church. It is all about LOVE! You can feel it. It was no small undertaking moving out of the Children's Church room there. I had so much stuff that now takes up nearly half of my garage.

Once done there is was time to start moving into Paragould. It is a really cute little country church type feel. There are some opportunities for building improvements. There are really great members, though few. Thus far many have visited with us. Some neighboring Church members, some first time guests. It has been great. I have really enjoyed it thus far.

The day is slipping away from me and I have yet to get my CPMA service together for tonight. God bless you all! More later!!!

A Little Behind...

I am just a little bit behind my goal for posts in 2008. Not by very much though. I am also behind in information. Let's see...Hunter, my nephew, came home from Arkansas Children's Hospital last week. He had a check up on Monday in which they said he was better than when he was discharged. So that is wonderful news. He came to Church on Sunday. That kid needs a haircut. He was cooped up in the hospital for a month. He is looking shaggy. It was a great sight to see him home though. He is still on a special children's renal diet with all kinds of restrictions about what he can and cannot have. No milk, not bacon, no nuts, no salt, no chicken nuggets. I am not sure if the kid can eat anything really. Don't think that he can have his favorite condiment either, ketchup. Poor, poor, Hunter. I think the girls are glad to have him home and their mother of course. I have felt so sorry for all involved. It has been quite an ordeal. Hunter really was spared, THANK YOU JESUS!!!! Although he looks quite ghostly (pale white) he is very lively. It is wonderful.

In other news, since my last post I have continued comping at Wal Mart and coupon clipping. At Kroger the other day, I saved $27. That falls short of the $35 at Walgreens just days prior. I have had other savings in the past couple of weeks in excess of $100 total. It has been very impressive. It is a thrill to go into the store and walk out with free stuff and have done nothing illegal. With double coupon the other day at Kroger that is just what happened. Free stuff!!!! No five finger discount. No dash out the front door. No security chasing me! I think that, too, might produce an initial thrill but guilt would set in later.

Well, I am a post closer to my goal and really must be cutting this off. I have much, much, much to do. Have a great few days!

I Did It...I Did It...

Finally I have found some kind of template out there that I could make work. When everyone else had such cool blogs, I was stuck with Mr. Soto. Now that everyone else has just about quit blogging, I finally figured it out. It seems I am often a day late and a dollar short. Speaking of dollars, I hope, I think it is payday. I had $4 in the bank yesterday. I felt poor. I have been spending a little extra lately in an effort to save money. That sounds crazy so let me see if I can make some reason out of it. I heard somewhere that you don't buy things because you need them right then. you buy because the price is right to buy them. Like for instance, Walgreens had Windex, BOGO at $2.79. I also had a manufacturers coupon for $1 off. So I got 2 bottles of Windex for a little over a dollar bottle. I also bought instant coffee at such a terrific bargain. I saved $35 in there.

I have turned sale watcher, coupon clipper. It really pays. I am not one of these people that are terrified about gas/food prices. I am being wise though and making an effort to reduce spending and store up some things. I found canned goods on sale the other day and filled the pantry back up. I am not going crazy though. I will not have to buy vitamins for a year. I think it is kind of like the thrill of the hunt. I love a bargain. The other day I went to a local thrift store and found 5 student desks for our children's church room. They were $5 each and in great shape. They even had the books of the Bible taped on top on a bookmark. I went to TSC the other day and found dog food for about $4 less per bag than Wal Mart. Good times!!!! It is great. At Wal Mart, I found cereal in the bag for $1. My old way of shopping was crazy!

Well, I gotta go. There are bargains outs there calling my name, if my check hit the bank! I will have to find that out first. I off to find a bargain!