the tentmaker

daily thoughts on the common lectionary

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Location: Sharpsburg, Georgia, United States

"...because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together — by trade they were tentmakers." Acts 18:3. Tentmaker is a title taken by bi-vocational pastors. As such, I am both a pastor and a project manager. I am a pastor of a local congregation of moderate, accepting and affirming people who worship in the Baptist tradition. We call our church "Hope Memorial Baptist" and we are about 40 in number. I am also a project manager of major construction projects for the State of Georgia. My home and church is in rural Coweta County, between Peachtree City and Newnan, with a mailing address of Sharpsburg, Georgia.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Year A - Epiphany 4


Liturgy of the Word:
Micah 6:1-8
Psalm 15
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Matthew 5:1-12

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Year A - Epiphany 3


Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 9:1-4
Psalm 27:1, 4-9
1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Matthew 4:12-23

In a land of deep darkness...
a light has shined

In Matthew, Jesus says "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven comes near you." Repentance comes from two root words: re [again] and pentos [to turn]. It means to turn again. Repentance begins with confession. Confession begins with acknowledgement. But Repentance is more than acknowledgement and confession. It is a turning away and a turning to. A turning away from that which separates from God and a turning to the grace that only God can give. We live mostly in a land of deep darkness, but amid that darkness...a light shines. That light is the Word of God that became flesh and dwelt among us. But we love darkness rather than light.

This week let us focus on the light that shines in the darkness.

Reconnecting

Yes, it's time to reconnect with all of you. I miss you all. Stopping my daily visit with each of you has brought a certain lonliness into my life. I know now that I need you.

Much in your lives have changed while I have been away. Catching up will be a pleasurable task.

I love you all...

Cancelled due to Inclement Weather

You folks in the Northern latitudes would get a chuckle out of this: Sharpsburg, GA; We got about an inch of snow yesterday, none of which stuck to the roads because the temperature stayed above freezing all day. By the time the tempertures dropped below freezing the roads were clear. But, nonetheless, the Trustees of our little church decided it was too dangerous for them to travel 1/4 mile to church. They informed me yesterday afternoon that services for today would be cancelled. So, I have the morning free to do other things.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Year A - Epiphany 2


Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 49:1-7
Psalm 40:1-11
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
John 1:29-42

Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Year A - Baptism of Christ


Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 42:1-9
Psalm 29
Acts 10:34-43
Matthew 3:13-17

I have been taking a hiatus from posting mainly because I got bored with it. Another reason is being too tired when I get home from work to try to compose my thoughts. I got to the point that I could not even put up the weekly lectionary lessons. It has been over a year since I truly felt like writing.

I'm not sure why I am writing this, other than an excuse to get the Veteran's Day picture off of the opening page of the blog. I have removed a good bit of the superfluous stuff like the pictures, book references, the clock and the calendar. Links to my prayer and study guides are still there below the archives. And my favorite blogs are still below that. Several of my favorite blogs have dissappeared, a phenomonon that, at first, I could not understand, but now I do.

I have a new computer. The desktop is gone and I am writing on a brand new HP Pavillion dv9000 notebook with a 17" screen and a full size keyboard, running MS Vista Home Premium. Contrary to the problems others have had with Vista, my experience has been trouble free.

Sandra has gone through a lengthy bout with skin cancer. She had a mole on her brow for about 25 years that began to grow and itch. It turned out to be basal cell carcenoma, amorphia type. The doctor says he got it all but the surgery left a bad scar from her hair line across her forehead and down into the eye socket. You may not know, basal cell carcenoma is caused by exposure to the sun. Who would'a thought.

The church is just hanging on. We are still meeting expenses, just barely. Attendance at worship service has dropped off in the past year to an average of about 8. I continue to have the same two regulars for Sunday School. And we started Wednesday night prayer meeting and Bible study again. This time we do it only once a month and have a covered dish supper beforehand. Attendance at these meetings have been exceptionally good. We have averaged about 15 with several new young adults.

There is no life in the church anymore. People come to church and go home. Well, there is no life in my sermons either. Alas, my heart is not in the church thing anymore. At least, not in the Pastoral Role. I long for the times when I could sit in the congregation and worship for myself.

I am back to posting for the forseeable future. Thank you for stopping by and God's blessings be on you all.