Sunday, December 30, 2012

A Pastor?? ME!?!?!

I don't know if this would fall under the category of "Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses, let every word be established", but here it goes...

As you know, I have a background in radio and graduated from broadcast school.  Speech and speaking are "tools of the trade", as one might imagine.

When I wrote my status quoting the song earlier, I didn't expect the comment I got...the one about receiving my pastoral calling.  Little did I know that that would set up a chain of "divine appointments".  I went to church today expecting to hear what God had in store for me, just didn't expect it to fall in line with this.  Today's sermon was from 2 Cor. 5:17-21. (New International Version, with added emphasis from me)

17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

And then I see ads on my Facebook, "Study to be a Pastor".  Really, God?  Is this what You want me to do?  We've been down this interstate before...

Let's set the "WayBack Machine" to October 1991.  I had been wanting to go to broadcast school at that time, but my pastors under the guise of "Thus Saith The Lord" (it was more like "Thus Saith Us"...) said that I should attend Bible College.  So like the Colts moving from Baltimore to Indianapolis, we left Clinton, OK in the middle of the night for a little community called Cleveland, TN.  I will spare you the rest of the details.

I know I'm sounding like Moses here when he's at the burning bush,  and God's been known to use the ordinary to do extraordinary things (Jesus' Disciples being the prime example), and I've heard all the quirky quotes "Who He guides, He provides" and so on.  I just got to know that this is Him.

With that being said, 2013 is going to be an interesting year for me.  It'll be interesting to see what God has in store for me...and if it is that I am to be in the ministry, then "not my will, but Thine be done."

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Christmas 2012 Thoughts....

Hi, hello and greetings everybody!!!

Well...it's been an interesting year to say the least.  For those of you who have followed me throughout the year know the journey that yours truly has taken so I won't get into the gory Rated R details, but suffice it to say there are about as many bumps and dips on Route 66 as there has been in my life in 2012.

(Before I go on, I am not writing this today in advance of the supposed "end of the world" that is alleged to occur tomorrow.)

Anyway, my prayer is that it only gets better in 2013.  May everyone have a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous new year.

Love, Robert

Saturday, November 3, 2012

A little bit about a lot...

Greetings to one and all.  Welcome to my latest rant and/or rave.

Since November is the quasi-official month of Thankfulness, thought I would take a couple of minutes and say a collective "Thank You" to all of you, wheresoever you are on this Earth.

I know I have just over 2,100 friends on Facebook and I was thinking about y'all the other day.  A lot of you I know from growing up in Clinton and know and have become acquainted with you in various stages of my life, whether it be attending and graduating from Clinton Schools or working in radio or attending SWOSU for the cup-of-coffee I was there for a/k/a two semesters or serving our country in the National Guard or wherever.  Yes, I am friends with some news reporters and anchors that probably wouldn't know me from the "Man on the Moon" but they know that at least one person watches their work.  Y'all have seen me shine and then fall on my "blessed assurance".  You've comforted me, encouraged me, prayed for me, lit fires under me (figuratively speaking of course), but nonetheless you have been there for me.  I thank each of you for being there even if it is a simple as lending me an ear or a Facebook poke.

Again, thank you everyone for the love, support, shoulder, boot and everything in between.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

"But then I realized..."

It's not often that I get woke up with thoughts to write down (that are fit for publication, that is), but today was one of those days.   So here it goes...



  • I would complain about how hot it has gotten here in Western Oklahoma recently, but then I realized...I'm not halfway around the world wearing full BDU's and a ruck sack and carrying a weapon fearing each day could be my last on this earth.

  • I would complain about the lack of speed of me obtaining a job out of state so I can basically start over, but then I realized...there are thousands of Americans in the same predicament (although it is unknown how many of those whose spouses kicked them out of the house) and I should be thankful that at least I have family to fall back on -- probably for most of them, their families wouldn't give them as much as a "kiss my foot".  <---notice I kept that G-rated

  • Yep, I would sing my "Gloom, Despair and Agony on Me" song (Look it up on YouTube, kids), but then I realized...I do have so much to be thankful for.  For my family, for my friends, for my brothers/sisters in the church.  I just can't really complain about anything.
Now, on the other hand...(great, now I'm sounding like Tevye from "Fiddler on the Roof")

  • I'm ready for 50-60 degree fall weather and Football season
  • I'm ready to start over in all aspects including (hopefully) having someone that will stick with me through thick AND thin.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Being a "Practicing Christian"

There is a phrase that I use a lot that may not make sense with a lot of people, but once you get the premise hopefully you understand what I try to get at.

I use the phrase "practicing Christian" to describe my relationship and walk with Christ, much like a doctor would say he or she is "practicing medicine" or an attorney would be "practicing law".  You no doubt have heard the old adage "Practice makes Perfect".  Have the doctors and lawyers perfected their profession?  No.  Otherwise, we would have a cure for cancer or any other major illness or see criminals become permanent residents of the prison system without them burning appeal after appeal (at taxpayer expense, I might add).

You can say that in some ways we are "practicing Christians".  Even the Apostle Paul thinks of himself in that matter.

"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me His own.  Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the Upward call of God in Christ Jesus." -- Philippians 3:12-14 (Revised Standard Version)

If I have said that I have perfected my relationship with Christ, I would be lying and most everyone that knows me would tell you that.  Have I slipped up in my walk with Christ?  Uhhh, yeah!  Do I take pride in that? No, that would be very stupid on my part.

I have just recently become among the ranks of the wedded.  Am I the "perfect husband"?  Not hardly.  I wouldn't rank myself among the great Dads of television lore like Ward Cleaver, John Walton or Cliff Huxtable. (I know that's a stretch, but bear with me)  I do what I can to be a great husband and a great father and grandfather.  Yes, I am going to make mistakes.  To quote a popular song from the 80's by the Human League, "I'm only human".  Trust me, If I was the "perfect husband", my wife Teresa and I would be a lot better off than we are now. Then again, if I were to take a survey of the couples who live in the Rolling Hills area of Clinton, I can bet that not one of them would say they have the "perfect marriage" but that they are working hard to make it so.

This isn't aimed at one particular person...I was just getting some thoughts off my chest and giving you something to think about.