A Thanksgiving List

Waiting for Thanksgiving dinner I am reflecting on some of the things I am thankful for this year:

Having both of our daughters home for a few days, watching the Rockettes and Santa in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and a Thanksgiving movie—all family traditions.

Living in Charleston, a place of great history, beauty around every corner, and fabulous food!

Driving over the Wando River in the morning and seeing the marsh, the river, the beauty.

The fact that Wake Forest has come to the point that winning only 6 football games is considered a bad season.

Saturday morning bike rides on Daniel Island that end with a Western Wrap at Island Town Café.

Reconnecting with friends on Facebook.

The privilege of being the pastor at Providence Baptist Church, a healthy congregation where I am continually challenged to do better.

Staff colleagues who have all been together for 8 years—a real rarity in the world today!

Walks on the beach, or through downtown Charleston on a day off.

Health insurance and doctors with whom I can be a partner in my care. (Thanks Dr. Chavis and Rubano and Abou—all female and all wonderful!)

Bike rides to the Isle of Palms, and on Seewee Road, and just to the grocery store.

Oyster roasts—can you have too many oysters?

Church members who are friends and friends who are church members

A great group of ministerial colleagues in other places who are my pastor and friend and confidant and encourager and challenger.

Daughters who tell me about really cool websites, like Channel 131

Friends in other countries who remind me that there is more than my little world.

Newspapers in the morning, both at the kitchen table and online.

Church members who are so incredibly gifted and offer their abilities to the world.

Long straight drives, great chip shots and birdie putts. All of which happen so rarely that when they occur they are almost a miracle!

Shrimp and Grits, and She Crab Soup.

A wife who is my anchor and best friend and the best thing that ever happened to me--even after 25+ years!

I could probably go on and on, but the call has come from the kitchen. Thanksgiving Dinner is ready—oh, I need to add turkey and dressing and cranberry sauce, and of course, Leftover turkey sandwiches which are almost better than the first time around!

Thanks be to God for all the gifts of life!

We Know Why We're Here

The excitement in the Lowcountry of South Carolina is almost too much to bear. After so much bad news--from schools to crime to the misadventures of our governor and other public officials, at long last there was some good news to share.


OK, maybe not good news. GREAT NEWS!


Boeing announced that they would open a second line for the 787 Dreamliner in North Charleston, bringing with it over 3,800 jobs! It was the kind of news that made Democrats and Republicans hug at a news conference! We are thrilled about the possibilities of what this new industry might mean to our area, and to SC.

But there is another reason I am excited about Boeing being around. I hope that their answer might become our question.

I heard it on their commercial.

I love the line--"We know why we're here...to build a new generation of airplanes..." But I have to wonder, how many churches could answer that question?

What is it that we are here for?

Could we put is so succinctly that it would fit in a 30 second commercial?

"We know why we're here..."

Really?

Why?