The Trifecta

Here is the obligatory, "Wow, the time sure has passed since our last post." Now that that is done...

This weekend presented Laura and I with the ability to go out of town three days in a row to three different towns and cities, mixing the familiar with the unfamiliar in our continued journeys around Georgia.

Friday evening gave us the distinct pleasure of supporting our former classmates at McAfee School of Theology at the annual commissioning service at Smoke Rise Baptist Church in Stone Mountain, GA. There was, of course, the mandatory stop at the newly opened Chipotle in Tucker just miles from the Mercer-Atlanta campus. If it had only been there when I was in school... We arrived at the church with plenty of time to hug necks and catch up with some of our favorite people in the world before things got underway. The event is a highlight each year for the McAfee community as it brings together graduates, faculty, alumni, family, and friends in the sending off new graduates on the evening before the official Mercer graduation. To our community, the real graduation is on Friday night.

The opportunity to share stories and smiles with individuals I love honestly was the highlight of my week. It is amazing how connected one becomes with others when you spend years wrestling with some of the toughest questions people of faith will ever face. I am proud to be a graduate of McAfee School of Theology and welcome the new group of alums that finished their MDiv studies to MAM (Ministry After McAFee)!

Saturday was a catch up day for us, full of the enjoyable chores of cleaning, laundry, and most importantly, trying to figure out if all the containers we tote our lunches in each week had matching lids. These formerly routine chores were made a shade more difficult after our first 'Butts and Guts' class at Mercer on Thursday evening. A few of my colleagues in Admissions alongside some student workers and my lovely wife have created a pact to weekly workout together at this class that works well you guessed it, butts and guts. Having never attended a workout class in my life, I knew it may be difficult. Little did I know that not only would it kick my gluteus maximus, but it also caused me to be sore basically up until this (Monday) morning. I am going to follow through on my promise to attend weekly this summer, but now having full knowledge that this thing is no joke! All I know is that I had to sit down to piece together those Tupperware containers on Saturday in the bottom cabinet.

The day finished on a fun note as we visited one of the only towns within another city in the nation. A sort of Vatican of the American South, if you will. The great establishment of Payne, GA, known locally as Payne City, is a former mill town made up of 178 people that is completely surrounded by the city of Macon. We had visited Payne City before to check out a great antique store with some friends, but this trip was to sample the tastes of The Shamrock, an Irish pub actually located in the old mill building. Our friend Rusty from McAfee invited us to join him for dinner and to watch a band play connected with his church. The food was great! We went with traditional Irish choices of fish and chips and shepherd's pie. It wasn't completely Irish as the chips were actually chips and not fries, but that is not bad for a town that the US Census states takes up 0.0 square miles of the country. Nonetheless, we had a great time catching up and enjoying the ambiance that Payne City has to offer! We'll stop in for a pint with you if you visit!

Sunday brought about an opportunity for us to venture a bit farther away than a town located within our own city. Laura was asked to preach both the 11 a.m. and baccalaureate services at First Baptist Church of Manchester, GA. We celebrated Mother's Day with complete strangers, aside from the pastor's family who welcomed us in for a great Mother's Day lunch, and got to visit a part of the state neither of us had spent time in. The beautiful country road drive took us through towns like Barnesville, Molena, and Meansville before arriving in Manchester. I kid you not, we passed by Means Street in Meansville. A mean place to be indeed!

Laura did a wonderful job relating the story of Ruth and Naomi to the story of mothers and the need for mother figures in our faith at 11 a.m. She did equally great work in connecting with graduating seniors from Manchester High School in the afternoon. She spoke about the story of Esther in order to portray a biblical figure that stayed not only steadfast to her roots, but one whom believed in the path of God before her.

We definitely plan on making our way back to the Manchester area soon to visit the nearby town of Warm Springs. For you history buffs, Warm Springs is where FDR would spend time in the pools warmed by geothermal heat hoping to improve his paraplegia. The Little White House, where FDR retreated and eventually passed away in 1945, is also located in this small Georgia town. We are excited to go and explore and will share here with pictures when we do!!

Three towns in three days. Some farther than others, but all great ways to further explore this state that we call home.

The Blessing of Ordination

Laura and I had the opportunity to attend two ordinations in two cities on Sunday. Some may think watching paint dry would be more enjoyable than sitting through about two and a half hours of worship across the state of Georgia, but for the two of us we were thrilled to be able to celebrate the calls to ministry that each of these McAfee graduates feel upon their lives from God.

We had the chance to experience two well crafted services by our former classmates and now members of the cloth, first in Macon and then in Atlanta. We were able to hear from former professors and employers about the sincerity with which of these individuals have already begun to act upon God's call on their lives and gave advice for the bumpy, but rewarding road ahead. Words of encouragement and challenge filled the air as these members of the church were set apart to lead God's people in distinct and unique ways.

The opportunity also brought memories rushing back to me of my own ordination in July of last year. The event that sometimes seems so far away due to my current professional position became very close and real as I recalled the emotions, words, and faces of that day at First Baptist Church of Elon, NC.

The emotions were so real that day. I felt the joy of love from friends and family from near and far. I also felt the burden with which had been and still is placed upon my shoulder as a minister seeking to follow God's will in a special way. I in no way count myself as the shepherd, but instead attempt to be among the leading sheep that help others become closer to the shepherd. The tears that ran down my face that afternoon as individuals whispered words of love and challenge are still fresh and push me as well as uplift me to this day.

The opportunity to relive these emotions as well as offer my own words of care and challenge on Sunday was a special one. I look forward to the days that lay ahead in my own call to live up to the challenges placed before me as well as to rely upon those who were with me or sent their prayers along to me. I also look forward to seeing the call of God upon Rachel and Zach grow and flourish as they build the Kingdom up with each life they encounter.