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When I first started serving our local church on a ministerial level twelve years ago, I pulled back from the local political effort.  I had helped to found the local Daufuskie Island Council, serving as the chairman for the first two years then vice-chairman for the third year (although the chairman resigned and I took… Continue reading Pastor’s Perspective January 25, 2024

This week, a new ferry company took over operations of the public ferry service that so many of our islanders depend upon to access the mainland.  While there are some notable differences from the previous operator, perhaps the most significant difference is the travel time.  The previous operator had a standard plan to idle down… Continue reading Pastor’s Perspective January 18, 2024

One of the things that most annoyed my daughters during their formative years was the frequency with which I asked them the simple, one-word question of “why.”  It didn’t matter if I liked what they had been saying or agreed with them completely.  What was important to me was to know that they had thought… Continue reading Pastor’s Perspective January 11, 2024

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”  With those words, Charles Dickens began his classic historical novel A Tale of Two Cities, and with these words an islander described life here in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew in 2016, as several of us gathered on New Year’s Day, celebrating another… Continue reading Pastor’s Perspective January 4, 2024

As another year draws to a close, it seems wise to spend some time looking back on the events of the past year to what worked well and what worked not so well.  There are memories to savor and cherish, and some to put as far behind us as possible.  There are successes to celebrate,… Continue reading Pastor’s Perspective December 28, 2023

“You are just going to have to trust me.” There are very few circumstances where those words, when uttered together, bring comfort.  The audience to whom those words are directed are being told that, regarding a certain issue, they have no control.  Further, even as the audience lacks control, the party that has control is… Continue reading Pastor’s Perspective December 21, 2023

Last night, the elementary school kids put on their annual holiday extravaganza for the community.  This year, as with every year, there were new little kids in the front row, and in the back were kids who, not too long ago, were up in the front.  Most of the songs for this year were new,… Continue reading Pastor’s Perspective December 14, 2023

One of the unwritten rules for being a part of our island community has historically been to “live and let live.”  Separated from the rest of the world, with minimal government presence, people have long taken the perspective that, if consenting adults want to partake in certain behavior that seems to only impact themselves, then… Continue reading Pastor’s Perspective December 7, 2023

For the last fifteen years, I’ve served as a volunteer firefighter in our community, working alongside our professional crew whenever a call came out and help was needed.  Fortunately, we don’t get too many serious calls here, so the majority of my time as a volunteer is invested in our weekly training.  When actual fire… Continue reading Pastor’s Perspective November 30, 2023

In this nation, a quick review of our holidays reveals that we have so much to be thankful for throughout the year.  We are thankful for the birth of this nation which, despite numerous imperfections, remains one of the greatest nations to live in.  We are thankful for the soldiers who fought to establish and… Continue reading Pastor’s Perspective November 23, 2023