New Kid on the Block

Sunday the new kid on the block will be in the pulpit. Sadly, many have withdrawn their holy presence, feeling dumped. Kinda like that thing of going home with the one that brung ya...

This change is not so traumatic for me, coming from a Methodist background [many years ago, I hasten to defend, when they had just begun to turn into merely a community social club]. Every June we were not sure, or had no idea, who our spiritual leader would be for [only] the next year. Sometimes it was a disaster, mostly mediocre and then there were the really good ones.

Once we had a humble sweet man for seven years and were in shock when the "businessmen" who ran the board decided our youth needed someone younger that they could relate to... Ironically "the youth" had thought of our loving Pastor as a grandfather who encouraged and cared for them. They felt divorced; a parent snatched from their lives and instability was ushered in.

That was the beginning of the great downward slide and the succession of one year preachers. It had been thriving community of believers; growing in numbers and faith, flourishing, creative, active... The once friendly family church is now a haven for a small huddle of elderly sweeties who are living on memories of the past.

Scott, our former pastor, may have changed positions but he will always be an important part of my life. He is the only preacher I have known, over several years, that was totally unintimidated by the success and achievement of other men. I love the way the men of LWC have grown into strong leaders and not yes-massa-men.

I appreciate his sense of humor and was so falling-down impressed when he laughed at my attempts of humor without having to "top it" or turn things around to put himself in the spotlight. I have even heard him conduct funerals for people and not talk about himself ... how refined is that! Only a really strong man can be humble. [and not compete with a dead man???]

He is quick to encourage with the heart of a teacher. However he will hit you with a paint ball on any body part that is not hidden behind that thar tree. And do not play solitaire with that man-- he will cheat [but charmingly so].

So Pastor Scott is charging off into the future to conquer whatever mountain gets in the pathway of a Bishop. And Pastor Dave cometh.

He will be who he is, unlike any before or after. And we will explore this man with our sheep microscopes and magnifying glasses. He will make changes and some will be irritated for they want only the water changed in their vase of roses and phettt! on watering the taters in somebody else's patch. He will charm; for they teach that in Preacher-school. He will aliterate 'cause they teach that too. And he will dissappoint because he's human ~sigh~ that last will be a problem. The whole place is just full of them. And we all expect the others to be better than we are. It never seems to work out like that though...

Welcome Pastor Dave. And remember to always wear your seatbelt. There are some crazy drivers in Georgia. Most of them preachers.

MM