Continuing Series in the Life of a Pastoral Care Pastor

March 29, 2010 – Tuesday; Another wakeup without my wife…she will be home this coming Friday evening. Had a nice beginning…breakfast at Mimi’s and left the restaurant without my phone…got to church for a counseling meeting and had to go back. Interesting the lady at the restaurant wanted me to describe the phone and all I could remember was it was a flip phone - Anyway she let me have it PTL! Had several chances today with counseling meetings to share God’s love for his people. One lady came in during the afternoon that had a live in boyfriend and told me they were both Christian. She needed help with her rent…I ask if she thought God was pleased with the living arraignments and she said no and He had been convicting her…I agreed to help with the need and then spoke directly to her situation…she ask for forgiveness and promised to get things straight…not sure she will but at least she has heard confirmation from several sources..Another lady came in for help and when she was telling me her story shared she was scared that when she died she did not know where she would go…Gospel shared and she crossed the line of salvation and assurance of where she would go…seemed like God gave me several chances today to share His love. I was also trying to put the finishing touches on my talk to the Prison Fellowship headquarters in Lansdowne and set up for the Jewish Seder I am conducting on Wednesday evening. So I had a busy day and very full filling. Thanks Lord…It’s now about 9:30 and I just finished cooking the lamb’s shank bone for the Seder…house smells…might have to sleep with the door to the deck opened…

Continuing Series in the Life of a Pastoral Care Pastor

March 28, 2010 Monday; Started out with some good devotions from Mark chapter 8. I am speaking at the Prison Fellowships monthly devotion time and I am pretty sure I will be speaking form this chapter. God is good. Had a light day today…Spring Break so not many people were around. Met with one lady who wanted to be baptized and share with her about what is going to take place…looks like we will have at least 20 to baptize on Easter. Later took a young man out to dinner and bought him a pair of baseball shoes…he is 10 years old and is excited about playing. Ahhhh to be 10 again….I thinkkkkk, sorrrrrry what am I thinkingggg WOW…that was a slip…anyway had a great time. My wife is on a business trip so it was nice to have someone to eat dinner with…he’s a good kid.

Continuing Series in the Life of a Pastoral Care Pastor

March 28, 2010 Sunday – Today, 40 years ago my daughter was born. As I did my devotions I thought back on her birth and how wonderful it was to have her in our life. She has been a great joy and I have loved watching her grow into a young woman and then into married life and motherhood. She has done a great job raising her two daughters and my two grandbabies. Today was very good at church, Pastor Phil preached from John 15 about staying connected to the vine. My Sunday school class was better than usual this morning…we studied about who is in charge…the state or God…also in our lives…Had a relaxing afternoon before going to our home fellowship group. We are looking at a very good series called Conversations with Fathers of the Faith. Watched some basketball as the final games were played selecting the final 4 to play for the NCAA Championship. The lone ACC team, Duke is favored. Hope they win.

Continuing Series in the Life of a Pastoral Care Pastor

March 27, 2010 Saturday – As part of my devotions this morning I read some about a modern day hero that most do not know about. Colonel Bob Howard. Colonel Howard was nominated three times for the Medal of Honor. Since you can only receive one the other nominations were reduced to awards of honor just below that of the MOH. For us old soldiers who served in the Army during that time period and remember hearing stories about this man have a deep appreciation for his gallantry. Hopefully God was waiting at the doorway to escort him into eternity. It inspired me to remember my love for this country in spite of what we may perceive going on within her borders at the moment…she still is the greatest country in all of human history and that somehow makes me very proud. It also encouraged me to pray more for our country and its leaders that they would make Godly decisions. If you would like to see a brief mention in the media click this wave file.
Later in the day I went to several stores locating Passover material for the Seder I will be conducting on Wednesday evening the 31st. Had lunch at a new restaurant in the Wegman’s Shopping Center called Brooklyn Pizza…I was able to share some with the owner, David, and invited him to church. He wanted to treat our staff to a lunch…told him I would think on it and get back to him. He wanted to serve our church staff which I thought was very good…by the way…the food was very good and the hospitality was outstanding. I am taking my granddaughter to New York in a few weeks and David recommended an excellent Italian restaurant where the locals go for good food…let you know how that works out.

Series on a day in the life of a Pastoral Care Pastor

This is the beginning of a blog that I hope will document the things that God is doing through me personally and through the church I am serving as its pastoral care director. I am not sure who will be reading this or if anyone will read and try to follow but I will be as faithful to the postings as I can. So, if you are following or are interested please pray that I will be able to record some of the things that go on during a day in the life of a Pastoral Care Pastor.
Today, Friday March 26, 2010 is the beginning and today is my “normal” day off. My wife will be going out of town on a business trip and she leaves tonight. This morning after walking my dog…little terrier…for her “morning constitution” I begin looking over a message I will be sharing with the staff at the national headquarters of Prison Fellowship. My message is about whether God makes mistakes and as I was thinking and praying about this I thought I should at least share something regarding Easter, since we are entering into a season whereby we remember the last week of Jesus’ life. That’s still in the process. Finished doing my daughter and granddaughters taxes and got them filed. After lunch I took my weed blower to Sterling Mower. Had to replace the fuel filter and the plastic tubing…Chris who works behind the counter got me the necessary material and then actually did the work for me…great customer service!! I recommend them for all small engine repairs. Since I “really needed” a haircut I then proceeded to the barber and got my “ears lowered” as we sometime say.
Since this is the end of my work week, so to speak, let me summarize the week quickly…
Sunday – great message by Pastor Kent, I taught a class on the Truth Project. Later in the evening had a scheduled counseling session before our monthly prayer and praise meeting
Monday – very busy with one appointment right after the other all morning…one lady wanted to know how to listen to God…she asked Jesus into her life and now she will be able to more clearly hear what the Master has to say.
Tuesday – again several appointments, one gentleman asked Jesus into his life; made one hospital visit and bought grape juice for communion…25 bottles…that’s a lot of juice…
Wednesday – made a home visit in the early morning before going to the office, had several appointments in the afternoon leading up to our evening bible classes…I am teaching Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace class…people are really are getting set free.
Thursday – many meeting…another young lady asked Jesus into her life and had a session with another person who works way too much…shared how they should be taking some Sabbath rest for their sake…
So, there you go…sorry for it being a little long this time but as I write each day they will not be that long…blessings to all of you and “keep your eyes on the cross”