A digital commonplace for a Regular Guy called Charlie Pharis

Month: January 2008 (page 1 of 2)

My Clock Is Blinking 12:51…

Well, not right now, but it was blinking 12:51.

So why am I up, with the dregs of a pressful of Christmas Blend?

I really don’t know! We had some strong wind come through tonight, and apparently the power went out for a brief minute. Only long enough to turn off things like the microwave, the auto-programmed coffee maker, the computer, the clocks on the phones, stuff like that. So, here I sit. I got up, re-programmed all the clocks, and now I’m wide awake!

Love it when that happens, don’t you?!?!?

Holy Man or Hollow Man?

From Keillor’s The Book of Guys

In America, you don’t have to know what you’re doing in order to do what you’re doing. You become a holy man by learning to act holy. The furrowed brow, the shambling gait, the vacuous modesty, the weird verbless speech, and Abbot Bob has mastered the act beautifully, but one look in his eyes tells you that nobody is home, he is a vacant shrine. (p.11)

Analog Hyperlinks…

You regular readers of this little attempt at a blog – all two of you – will know that I fancy myself an avid reader. I love books! Always have. Right now I’m working through Garrison Keillor’s The Book of Guys, just for fun. I never would have picked up the book except for a couple of mentions in John Eldredge’s Wild at Heart.

What I love about books, about reading, is that there are often analog hyperlinks to other things. Call it serendipity. Call it synchronicity. Call it whatever you want. But there is a world of links outside cyberspace. Go figure…

Will This Trend Catch On Among Young, Hip Pastors???

(Disclaimer: The following post is posted with tongue firmly implanted in cheek. I was thinking just the other day about the interesting fact that some of those who rail the loudest against “having to dress a certain way to go to church” have their own characteristic, expected “uniform.” Funny stuff…)

We’ve all seen it – the young, hip, with-it, cutting-edge, reaching-manly-men pastors’ uniform. (C’mon…you know what I’m talking about! And you know who you are!)

I guess if they’re going to spend $150-$600 on jeans (on jeans?!?!?!?!?!) they’re not going to wash them for six months either!

Get ready for the upcoming round of conferences…and hold your nose!!!!!!

Sunday Night Unwind, 01.20.08…

OK, so I was one of the wimp pastors who canceled our services today. My buddy, Gary Lamb, told me on the phone last night he canceled Revolution’s services today because of his concerns with his setup crews being out and about, dark and early, in unknown conditions. My response was that I was concerned about some of our folks driving in perfect sunny weather, so I sure wasn’t willing to take chance on the possibility of icy roads!

Anyway, a pretty good day around the old Just Charlie hacienda…

  • Went “to church.” More than once. Got to hear and/or watch some of my favorite communicators and their services from recent weeks. Really challenged by Gary’s Confessions series so far. The best worship I’ve never experienced live has to be happening at New Spring. Perry’s messages aren’t too shabby either! Caught a little of Mark Batterson’s leadoff message in the How series.
  • Slept late. Well, if you call 6:15 a.m. “late.” It is around here!
  • Drank coffee. Lots of it…today’s variety? Community New Orleans Blend. Love that chicory!
  • Had some just hanging out time with the lovely and gracious “Mrs. Just Charlie.” Ate lunch at our favorite little faux French bistro.
  • Read some good stuff.
  • Listened to some good music, some of which I’d never heard before.
  • Still think it’s pretty cool to blog about discovering a band and having one of the band members comment on your post! (Great name, too!)
  • Made a couple of pastoral care calls.
  • Checked in on the NFL playoff games (who cares?)

That’s about how our Snowy Sunday went. How about yours?

After Midnight…

My clock says 12:12 a.m. I haven’t been awake at this time of night in several weeks! I was dozing around 9:30 p.m., but now it seems some mysterious second wind has kicked in! Or do you think it could be the five cups of French Roast?!?!?!