Church Blog (Page 19)

December arrived like a thief in the night this year and the Oliver family in a quandary. In younger years, I despised the times when Thanksgiving was a week to ten days before the arrival of December. This was when Christmas seemed so slow in arriving and simply being in December meant that Santa has his sleigh packed and he was ready to ride. It was also in December when we could officially start playing Christmas music. Today, Christmas tunes…

My friend Justin texted me with some welcomed and appreciated words this morning ……”Wanna get sushi today?” My first response was, “No Justin, it’s Monday and I have too much to do.” It was then that I experienced the conviction of turning down a young man who probably needed to talk to a wise and seasoned clergy figure. God was calling me to eat sushi and help Justin find one of those figures. Not wanting to disappoint God or miss…

It wasn’t just good news, it was great news. I haven’t been this happy since Jolene Litton showed me how to start a new paragraph when I was writing on my computer. The great news is this. Boiling Springs, NC now has a bagel shop. Have you been there yet! Life is worth living! My world has achieved completeness and my Parkinson’s disease is now only a headache and some muscle stiffness! I am happy and I know it though…

No one appreciates a guilt trip whether they are deserved or not. We have all received our share of these excursions from family, in the workplace or it could even be an unintended consequence of church membership and participation. I am a firm believer that guilt is a very temporary motivator and a most unsatisfying way to fulfill any task. In church activities we are hopefully motivated by none other than the The Holy Spirit, who makes us aware of…

We are a family that loves the beach. In the Carolinas you are either a beach person or a mountain person and you have to declare a preference. It could be a state law but don’t take my word for it. The B. Andrew and Kimberly H. Oliver family many years ago declared our allegiance. We are a beach crowd. One of my favorite pastimes on the coast is playing on the beach. This vague recreational designation includes a number…

You can call me spiritually insensitive. You may think I am irreverent. You could even believe that I am unconcerned about spiritual preparation. But I was energized and prepared for worship by the enthusiastic banter and the occasional peal of what I would describe as hysteria or at least unbridled laughter heard on Sunday morning, prior to our sanctuary service. There is a very legitimate school of thought that believes the moment prior to the entrance of choir and worship…

I recently established contact with a great friend that I attended school with for twelve years in Gaffney and at least one semester at CCU ( Clemson Christian University). We enjoyed a lengthy discussion as we covered quite a few topics. We talked about our wives and families. It was a joy hearing about spouses and the accomplishments of our children. Career paths were discussed. Mark was the strength coach for the Utah Jazz and I used my association with…

In Second Corinthians, Chapter 13, verse 12, Paul exhorts those in the Corinthian congregation to, “Greet one another with a Holy Kiss”. In today’s culture, expressions of affection can be misinterpreted , awkward, and sometimes even illegal. We are in a day and age where caution is a sound decision when evaluating “touchy” situations. It’s particularly difficult for me and I am sure others who are apt to side hugs, put an arm around a shoulder or slap a back.…

I am giving the current weather conditions and, I guess, Thee One who controls the climate, none other than the Almighty God, a heads up… As if he doesn’t already know my feelings. It is getting to the point where I may start complaining about the heat. I, the most Rev. B. Andrew Oliver, am a man of principle and one of my beliefs is: Never complain about the heat because January is coming! But it’s October and I am…

My friend Richard was being recruited about 100 years ago by my college alma mater. He was a rather gifted athlete and the football team wanted to get to know some of the talent pool. The weekend event was basically a sales pitch, complete with meals and a variety of gatherings and Richard was allowed to bring buddies. He did not need to convince me that I needed to go with him when he asked. Free meals, hobnobbing with coaches,…