Today is my five month aniversary at High Shoal. It's been great. I look forward to even better days.
Recap of the last five months
We have had four join the church
Two folks have been saved
We completed a renovation project in our education wing
Held a revival and the church's first Jubilee
Also heard a cool quote today,
"You gotta quit reading Jesus like metaphor, it'll change your life and your faith. He really did it, he really tipped over tables." - Brad Stine
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
I Got to Meet Brad Stine
I got to meet Brad Stine (http://www.bradstine.com) last night. I don't have to say more than that, it was an awesome night.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Closing McCraw Rd. May Close Some Local Churches
This was sent to the editors of all our local papers.
Dear Editor,
Closing McCraw Rd. May Close Some Local Churches
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"
This one statement has made our country a great beacon of hope for people all over the world. People from all faiths and those with no particular faith at all have found solace because of the protection our country affords to worship in the manner most suiting to the individual. While the proposal before the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners to abandoned an quarter mile section of McCraw Rd. that leads into Rutherford County may not seem like one that would inhibit a citizen's free exercise of religion, for many of the citizens in southern Cleveland and Rutherford Counties, it is just that.
Many churches in both counties, including my own, have members who travel across county lines to attend services each week. Many of these church's members use this portion of McCraw Rd. to go to and from their church and with the closing of this road will no longer have reasonable access to their place of worship. Their alternatives include driving to Kirby Rd., a poorly maintained dirt road miles out of the way, or going all the way into South Carolina even further out of their normal route. With gas at over $3.50 per gallon, many church members are going to have to make some very tough decisions about where they are going to worship, and yet why are they being put into that position? Many churches in both counties face sharp drops in attendance, maybe even the possibility of closing, and yet a question remains. Why?
This small stretch of road is vitally important to everyone who uses it and it needs to be kept open. If the board is bent on closing it, they should provide a convenient alternative to the people of both Cleveland and Rutherford counties. For those who do not use McCraw Rd. it may be viewed as just a stretch of asphalt, but for those who drive it on the way to church, it is how they get to worship.
Rev. Micheal S. Pardue
Senior Pastor, High Shoal Baptist Church
Henrietta, NC
Dear Editor,
Closing McCraw Rd. May Close Some Local Churches
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"
This one statement has made our country a great beacon of hope for people all over the world. People from all faiths and those with no particular faith at all have found solace because of the protection our country affords to worship in the manner most suiting to the individual. While the proposal before the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners to abandoned an quarter mile section of McCraw Rd. that leads into Rutherford County may not seem like one that would inhibit a citizen's free exercise of religion, for many of the citizens in southern Cleveland and Rutherford Counties, it is just that.
Many churches in both counties, including my own, have members who travel across county lines to attend services each week. Many of these church's members use this portion of McCraw Rd. to go to and from their church and with the closing of this road will no longer have reasonable access to their place of worship. Their alternatives include driving to Kirby Rd., a poorly maintained dirt road miles out of the way, or going all the way into South Carolina even further out of their normal route. With gas at over $3.50 per gallon, many church members are going to have to make some very tough decisions about where they are going to worship, and yet why are they being put into that position? Many churches in both counties face sharp drops in attendance, maybe even the possibility of closing, and yet a question remains. Why?
This small stretch of road is vitally important to everyone who uses it and it needs to be kept open. If the board is bent on closing it, they should provide a convenient alternative to the people of both Cleveland and Rutherford counties. For those who do not use McCraw Rd. it may be viewed as just a stretch of asphalt, but for those who drive it on the way to church, it is how they get to worship.
Rev. Micheal S. Pardue
Senior Pastor, High Shoal Baptist Church
Henrietta, NC
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