Celebrate Reason?

The American Athiest Association is asking that we celebrate REASON this season. But what could they mean? Is everything reasonable or reason able?

Is it reasonable to spend so much money with Lamar on such a sign? What will it accomplish? They spent $1,000's of dollars and could have done something secular with such an investment. Instead they just motivated Christians to promote faith that much more. Called an unreasonable backfire.

The Lamar executives might just give some of it away to one of the 100's of mission causes that Christians have sponsored for the sake of such an unREASONABLE myth. They might just give it to a church or religious institution (God forbid) or (Reason forbid).

What are the "REASON" intellectuals doing in their quest to not beleive that is helping. What did they give last year to AIDs research, starving people in Darfur, the homeless in New York City or to the poor children in Minco, Oklahoma?

Probably some of them got their education at a school built by a Christian organization or were born in a hospital that was supported by Bible beleiving donors who promote health. They might even be the product of Christian parents who loved the, took them to church and taught them what they know about Christianity.

I just challenge them to do someting REASONABLE and intellectually honest and just take time in 2011 to read the Bible. Most of them are taging unREASONABLE an ideology they have never considered. It may remain unREASONABLE to them and it is unreasonable to me as well.

It defies reason that a woman could become pregnant without the seed of a man. It is unreasonable that a being outside and in this universe could speak through fire, use a star to guide people and bring a man back from the grave. It is not reasonable. But it might be more reasonable than the alternative.

The athiests association should take a look at Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell or The Case for Christ by Lee Stroble. It may take less reason and more faith to believe there is no God than to believe there is. Anyway the Bible does say that "...a fool says in his heart there is no God."

So let's celebrate the lack of reason and the emergence of faith even among the Athiest Community. Remember Mortimer Adler, Kirk Cameron, C.S. Lewis, Malcom Muggeridge, William Murray (son of founder of American Athiests Association), John C. Wright and others who were once athiests.

No fooling this is important. Let's do what they say and celebrate reason but add faith that can coexist even if some things cannot be explained humanly.

John the Baptist

Meet my friend John. He is from my church and he sits behind me on the pew and sings next to me in the choir. In this picture he is preparing a booth our church sponsored at the 20th annual Honey Festival in Minco.


One word to describe John would be "EAGER." He is eager to help. He was at the booth early when the guys set up and wass at the booth late when it was time to take down. He is available, teachable and faithful.

He helped to prepare about 800 sticks with leather straps and beads. The beads were for telling the gospel. Now, John has a hard time telling the story but he is telling the story everytime it is told because he is essential to the process. He is eager to help.

John prays for his church and in particular for me. I have asked him to do that and he does. Everything he does he does it will all his might and soul. He puts his heart into everything. His prayers will sustain me, his energy will inspire me and his enthusiasm will make me tired. Did I say enthusiasm. Did you know the word itself has a lot of God in it? Yes the root of the word is "theos" the name for God.

Now if I were to pick a person to be the Baptist or Christian of the year it might just be John. You know my friend John the Baptist. Better known as John Shafer. Keep it up John.

Getting Acquainted

Well, I am going to get acquainted in Minco even if I have to crash a party to do it. You are wondering what happened? It was the eve of Halloween and our class was having a party, hay ride and just fun in the country. However, I got the location mixed up and decided to go to a house that had lots of cars parked in the drive.

Laurie and I got the cookies we baked (she baked) and went to the door. The people in the house looked familiar and we asked if this was the right place and they said "Yes," "come on in." So we did. We introduced ourselves to the new faces, placed our cookies on the kitchen table near the plates that were already used with food residue remaining in them and started visiting. The O.U. game was on and I watch a little while Laurie took a tour of this beautiful two story restored older home. Then we went outside to see the new play house that was built for the children, one of which was having a birthday.

In the yard I asked the question, where is the hay ride going to start? They said, there is no hay ride here. Then all the little signs I noticed begain to come together. Food already eaten, the host couple not in the room, the lack of others our age and the large number of children present. We were at the birthday party of a 9 year old not at the hay ride of 50 somethings. How embarrasing. The new preacher and wife crashing the party of a 9 year old.

When we left, with laughs and cookies in our hands we began to imagine the conversation in the room. "Did you invite them?" "No." "Did you?" "No." Then how did they know about it?

The family has been a good sport but it was all over the community because I told on myself and news does spread you know. I hope everyone is having as much fun as we are.

Oh, by the way we did make it in time to eat at the hay ride, ride on the hay hauling bus and have a really good time. This is a fun place. Thanks for your laughing with and at us. We are glad to provide the entertainment at any party. Just let us know.

We will bring cookies.

Talk To Me Through Commode 6 on 4th Floor

I visited the county jail the other day ( I am not going to tell you which county) and the female inmate was on the sixth floor. We had a great visit and I got her hooked up with a Bible Study in the jail conducted by one of our special ladies at Minco.

Some information I had about her brother I was not going to share with her but she beat me to it and disclosed that he was also in the jail on the fourth floor. I was there to also visit him but did not want to tell her to make her sad.

We had a great visit, prayed and just before I left she asked if I was going to see her brother. I said yes and the next bit of information caused me and her to laugh. She said, "can you tell him that if he will go to commode 6 on the fourth floor that we can visit through the commode plumbing. " You have got to be kidding. Innmates can talk to each other via the commode. Now A Tand T should not know about this. It could be a swirl in the engineering department. They could just plunge that information into the community or put a lid on it so none of the other providers will know. I guess the roto rooter guys have known this all along.

Now that gives a whole new meaning to potty talk. But regardless of the method when you are in a place where you cannot see the people you love any communication is better than no communication at all. So, those not in jail, and not privy to the crude methods of communication available should take advantage of the phone, internet, visit or any line of communication to speak hope, blessing and love.


By the way make sure to flush before you talk.

Enter At Your Own Risk

Well, I found this sign above my office door and no one will claim it. All I can say is such boldness is admirable. The only problem is that is it not about going beyond this door but going to home that counts. The Giants did that more times than the Rangers and the rest is history.

Pitching, pitching and pitching is the key. There was also better defence for the Giants. They made the plays that shut the Rangers down. Who is the better team. The answer is both are. They are better because it is about which team shows up on any given day. Sometimes it is the A team and at other times it is the B team. When the B team shows up they will lose.

I really hope that everyone shows up on Sunday ready to play the A game. Each teacher should be prepared as if every sunday is the World Series. Every greeter should be in their place as if the next person they greet will become the next person entering the Kingdom of God by faith. Staff, choir and musicians should be ready to present their A game to the group and every worshiper should be prayed up and ready to receive God's message.

First Baptist Church at Minco has no reason to play the B game when the A game just takes a little more effort. I will not settle for anything but our A game every sunday. There is no time to let up.

So all I can say is enter at your own risk. When Minco FBC is at its A game the lost will be saved and beleivers will be encouraged.

Pumpkin and Punkin

This little punkin and mom charmed the cameraman in this shot, my favorite of the evening.

I can just see this little guy or gal, I don't know the gender, in our wonderful nursery/pre-school department in Sunday school some day.

What was on this little one's mind in this busy, noisy and confusing event? It must have been that he/she is safe in the arms of mom and that some guy made it flash in his/her eyes. It did not seem to create a great concern.

Life is busy but times like this with mom and child together are the spice of life. Creating an atmosphere at FBC for this kind of thing to happen is priceless. I want to know this family. I want to be a person helpful in guiding them to faith and purpose.

This is better than pumpkin pie.

Want My Autograph Pardner

Hey this little bull rider with the Garth Brooks hat was ready for the rodeo at the Family Fun Night at FBC Minco. He also might just give you his autograph.


He was just one of the more than 350 kids, parents and grandparents to grace the grounds of the church's family life center last evening.


It blew me away the number of volunteers that showed up to make this thing happen. They decorated, cleanned up, poured pop, tasted chili, served hot dogs, popped popcorn and just did stuff to create an atmosphere of success.


I got to share Jesus with a fimily that had just moved into the community and met lots of members of the church.

Today I am thinking of the opportunities we have to be constructive in the lives of families. I want to be a resource in helping them find what they want in their spiritual journey. Thank you for giving me the opportunity of serving here and meeting such wonderful people.


I just might benefit from this guys autograph. Who knows he might be the next Lane Frost.

Giants Win

Brian Wilson (right) the guy with the wierd, grecian formula treated beard was the hero for the Giants leading them to a big win over the Phillies and putting them into the World Series. What a night.

He put out the last five batters for the save.

Now, who cares? Well, I do. I have been a Giants fan since 8 years old or younger. I collected baseball cards, wore Giants hats and watched them play on television when they were on close to home.

This team is interesting. They are a hodgepodge of misfits mostly very young and full of idealism. They think they are indespensable and I guess they are. It was the least likely thing to happen to both the Phillies and Yankees for the Giants and Rangers to be there.

It goes to show you that anything can happen.

So I am going to enjoy the series...well I will miss Wednesday but I will be doing what I like better, going to church and talking with Jesus and His family. I can watch it on my i-phone on the way home......

Go Giants.

Sweeter Than Honey

The old song goes "...her tender lips are sweeter than honey..." and it was sung by Claude King in 1962. It was a hit. Yes, you know the song. Really? Well if not it is Wolverton Mountain.

Now that tells you a lot. There was a guy Clifton Clowers who lived on that mountain and the mountain protected his sweet girl who lived there. She was sweet like honey.

Well I am at a place that has a honey festival every december. They have a famous honey producing plant and people who raise bees.

I met one of the guys involved in this business. He is the preacher at the Church of Christ church and he came buy to welcome the new Baptist preacher into the community. I can see why he is so popular here. He is loved by the folks in this community and has served here for 40 year. Now, that's a long time.

I can't wait to wrap my lips around this wonderful looking honey. I love honey. I think it has medicinal properties related to alergies. That would be nice.

So, I can have honey in the morning, honey in the evening and honey at supper time right here in Minco, Oklahoma. This is the best kept secret in Oklahoma.

I think the Bible referrs to itself and its words as sweeter than honey and the honey comb. I also beleive that in the Old Testament that they searched and found the land flowing with milk and yes, you guessed it; Honey.

This is part of that land and meeting the Honey Man and learning of his ministry here in Minco all I can say is "Sweet." I will look forward to working together with this great man and others like him.

Until I make a new discovery. Live practically.

Lori, Gene, Geraldine

I have met three miracles since being pastor of FBC for four days. There is Lori, Gene and Geraldine. Each one has a story of the grace, mercy and healing of God in their lives. They all have an outlook on life that can only come from being at the edge of eternity. They are happy, motivated and at home with themselves. They are helping others by their attitude of gratitude.

Lori told me that I was coming to a great church. She told of the care given to her by the people here at FBC. She wanted me to know the nature of this place. She is convinced of the power of God and the grace of his people at work here.

Gene was saved from a past that one would say was disfunctional at best. She is a trophy of the way God can save from the "guttermost" to the "uttermost."

Then there is Geraldine. She has fought many illnesses and been at the point of death each time. However, God raised her up so she could lead our group to Branson this year and I hope next year as well.

I cannot wait to hear the story of others at FBC. The ministry of the church is always about people. People and the Kingdom are all that matter.

I Had Fun Today

Today was fun for me. Now I must say that I had butterflys when I first started my drive to town. However, when I saw my friend Richard making the coffee I immediately settled in and became me. He is a blessing. I met him at the football game at Hinton...He told me all about Minco. What a blessing he was and is to me.

Minco is going to be my kind of place. We are going to see some good things as we experience life together. We are going to do everything we do together. I will try not to get ahead of myself and walk together with you.

The covenant we entered into was important to me. It is all about God, the gospel and the Kingdom. Thank you J.D. and people on the personell committte now and in the past who put all of this together. This ship is ran like it should be. We are a business, a special kind of businness. We must lead the world not let the world lead us.

Food, my goodness, I will learn next time not to tarry in the Auditorium. You guys don't wait on anyone do you. I like that. It was fun. Good ole Oklahoma cooking.

I am studying the book of Luke for sunday mornings and Galatians for sunday evenings for the next few weeks. On Wednesday we will go through the N.T. in a fast paced highlights reading of this covenant. We will discuss and dialogue.

We don't check roll in church but I do expect people to support their church. If you have emergencies, family needs and other presssing maters that is understandable but if not you should be here to experience worship with your family. We will miss you if you don't.

Let's have fun together. I plan to do just that.

I really mean that Laurie and I are going to need some grandchildren. So try us out when we get moved. It is free and that is cheap.

We already love you like family.

Come Let Us Reason Together

In Isaiah there is a passage where God asks His people to come and "reason" with Him. It is awesome to know we can always talk to God. His ear is not heavy that He will not hear. He is always available.

Well I am not like God. I am not always available because I am limited by time and space. I cannot be everywhere at the same time and listen to everyone at the same time. However, I do want you to know that I have a place were we can sit and visit. It is a quiet and confidential place. It is a place prepared by love by some of our special ladies at FBC Minco.

However, I want to also come to your home for a visit soon. I plan to be in the homes of all of our deacons in the next few weeks to just get to know you and pick your brain about your church or should I say "our" church. I want to also pray with you.

I will be out of the office one day a week, usually with Laurie for our day off. However, Bobbie will always know how to reach me. I want to know about people in the hospital, nursing home and others who have needs. Please call the church office.

Let's sit down for a visit. Let's reason together.

Let The Light In

In my former church I was in an inside office that had no window. It was really nice and I had plenty of space and bookshelves which is important to Laurie. However, I did not have a window. My window was my computer screen.

As I look through the window in this new place I see a well manicured lawn, our neighbors homes, an awning that protects the people from the elements and I see the sun. It comes in with radiant light. You can see it in the picture. It is bright. I could almost use sunglasses.

When the miners in Chile came out of the dark hole that could have been their grave, they had to wear sun glasses for a while to protect their eyes and their system from the sudden shock of the light.

Coming to Minco is a bright safe oasis for Laurie and I. The light from this community has already shone into our lives and we are best for it already. We have much light to share and look forward to trying to brighten the corner we enter each day. We are yours. You are stuck with us and we have made a covenant with you for the months and hopefully years ahead.

I am going to enjoy the light of Jesus and His people here in this place. Thank you for being light for us in our lives in this new chapter.

CUPS THAT TELL A STORY

These cups tell a story about the owner of the cup. Yes they have all been used for coffee at one time or another. They were all bought for less than .50 at a thrift store likely in Oklahoma City or Mustang. They are in a collection of "memory" cups collected by the new pastor of Minco First Baptist Church. They are not just cups but cups with a story. So don't go and buy me any cups thank you. I like to buy my own because they remind me of events in my life.

Next sunday evening I am going to use the cups to communicate a story. This method is not that much different from symbols in the Bible. In the Bible rocks, bread, wine, arks, phylacteries, wrist bands, fish, tablets, and a number of other assorted things are used as symbols to use in educating children.

Sunday evening I am going to tell you my story so that you can get to know me better. It is my first attempt to define my obsession with cups to try to prove my sanity. I might not be successful but I will try. After all, it is OK to try and fail but not OK not to try.

These four cups are only a few. My wife is worried that we might be there all night. Don't worry I don't think it will be anywhere like that long. You will need to be there to talk back to me. I will need some feedback.

Joshua will be hard pressed to find a hymn, or will he. Perhaps the old solo "Fill My Cup Lord" might be a start. I don't know.

We are going to have fun together. Life is too short for anything less.

Practically Speaking Minco Version

I have been writing these articles since 1977 in Pernell, Oklahoma and have done weekly editorials for a number of local small town newspapers and church publications.

I call it Practically Speaking because I am interested more in application than I am in theory in the Christian life. Debate is fun but living life is more fun to me. I can argue with you about covenant theology, eschatology, hermeneutics, the synoptic problem, and other fun things. However, when it is all brought to Facebook it is about relationships. I am more interested in you than I am in your ability to know, discuss or argue a position.

So, I start this blog for the people at Minco as I seek to be your new pastor. I have to earn that right. Just because I have been a pastor before does not mean that I can do here what you need and the Kingdom demands. It will take time for you to decide if I am really your pastor or not.

Those who voted for me are still to be convinced and those who voted "no" may become more convinced in the future or their opinion may never change. That is ok. All I want to know is the will of God for me and want to be close to you.

I want to do everything possible to get to know you. This is a marriage. We are making a covenant to each other. It is a covenant approved by the church, the deacons, the search committee and the personnel committee. I also approve of it and look forward to making the formal commitment on October 17. Some of you will be helping with this service.

In the next post I want to discuss the specifics of that covenant before Sunday's service.

On Sunday evening I will be doing something I have never done before. I am leading a dialogue on my thrift store cups and letting you get to know me through this collection. Come and find out what songs Joshua comes up with to go with a weird sermon like that.

Hey pray about our house selling in Tuttle and place to live in Minco....God knows.