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Summer is the busiest time of the year on our island, with lots of family, friends, and tourists coming to enjoy our community.  As a direct result, various entities such as the church plan for more activities, which means that more people are doing more work to help make these activities and events successful.  Certain… Continue reading Pastor’s Perspective June 20, 2024

As a pastor with preaching and teaching responsibilities, it is critically important that I know not only what the Bible says, but also what it means.  At the same time, I also acknowledge that I neither know nor understand perfectly what the entirety of Scripture says.  There are several points that will remain a mystery… Continue reading Pastor’s Perspective June 13, 2024

We are now officially in hurricane season.  For those of us who live along the coast in the southeastern United States, that means time to consider the “what ifs” and plan accordingly, knowing that it is possible that the atmospheric and oceanic conditions could conspire in just the right manner at any time over the… Continue reading Pastor’s Perspective June 6, 2024

If someone tells you not to touch a hot stove but you do it anyway and get burned, what do you think about the pain that results?  Or if someone warns you not to jump off a ledge that is ten feet high, and you do it anyway and break your ankle, should that be… Continue reading Pastor’s Perspective May 30, 2024

During our firefighter training this week, the crew went for a site visit to the tallest building in our community to walk through various fire attack scenarios.  What makes this building unique to our island is that it has a standpipe system that allows a fire truck to attach a line from the truck to… Continue reading Pastor’s Perspective May 23, 2024

According to an often-referenced legend, when Napoleon Boneparte was leading the French army, a summer heatwave struck with debilitating effect.  One of Napoleon’s aides asked the general what the appropriate action would be.  Napoleon’s response was to have the army make encampments under the shade of the trees.  However, there were not many trees to… Continue reading Pastor’s Perspective May 16, 2024

Is it just me, or does it seem like people are a little bit more on edge than normal these days, with less margin for grace, and quicker to respond with anger?  It feels like, when given the opportunity to see the cup as half empty or half full, people are more likely to just… Continue reading Pastor’s Perspective May 9, 2024

There has been a considerable amount of work done on our historic church building over the last two years.  The final bit of work, prior to a fresh coat of paint, is the steeple, which needed new siding and a new roof.  Unfortunately, as can happen with a wooden structure that is 140 years old,… Continue reading Pastor’s Perspective May 2, 2024

There is something romantic, adventurous, and appealing about living on an island without a bridge.  I’m not suggesting that it is universally appealing, but there are quite a few folks who are really drawn to the idea of escaping the mainland for the road less travelled, so to speak.  They start out as visitors, and… Continue reading Pastor’s Perspective April 25, 2024

I recently received a phone call that brought me tremendous joy.  A friend who has had a very difficult life, including time in jail, had finished the sentence and was back in society as a reformed and changed person.  The voice on the other end of the phone was happy and hopeful, taking complete ownership… Continue reading Pastor’s Perspective April 11, 2024