I’ve only been thinking about starting a blog for about 170 years.  Ok, that’s a bit of a stretch…but it has honestly been on my mind forever.

As a pastor, the opportunities to speak are many.  Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, and Wednesday nights come around like clockwork.   Threaded neatly between those occasions are often other opportunities, some planned-some not.  So…I get to talk a lot.  Sometimes I am able to make the most of the allotted time…other times I struggle through and end up wishing I’d said a lot more than I did.  Those are the moments that drive me personally crazy.  In the end, time never permits anyone to say everything.  It’s a rule.  Blogging is a means to say some things I couldn’t normally say.  Truthfully, as one just getting started, I’m not exactly sure of the direction I want to go.  I can foresee discussing a sermon point I only got to briefly mention because the silent alarm every preacher has to deal with started beeping.  I can also see me addressing topics that might not be best touched on from a pulpit.

With the help of a couple of dear folks from our church hypothetically named “Leslie” and “Calvin,” we settled on the name of the blog as OnMarksMind.  I can see you are bustling with excitement at the very thought of what might be on my mind!  🙂  (Yes that was sass!)  But in adhering to the title of the blog, I might find myself just “thinking out loud” from time to time.  For example, our friends at Dish Network have added the Traditional Holiday music channel.  So right now, I’m listening to Burl Ives’ “Have A Holly Jolly Christmas.”  Since I started writing, I’ve also heard “Frosty The Snowman” and a very slow sappy song that could easily pass for a nightclub tune that doesn’t mention baby Jesus or Frosty the Snowman.  I’m tempted to call Dish Network and tell them it’s November 3rd…just in case someone there isn’t paying attention.  I’m also tempted to talk about the Presidential election.  I know many pastors are comfortable addressing the heated subject from their pulpits.  I guess I’m from a different school.  Rest assured I have thoughts aplenty. (“Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer” by Perry Como has me singing along)

Thank you for taking the time to read this first endeavor of a pastoral blog.  Lord willing, this thing will become a normal part of my life and I will hopefully sense direction on how to make the most of it in my own life and the life of our church family at FBC Monticello, KY.  For the record, it’s 72 degrees and Mel Torme is going on about chestnuts roasting on an open fire and Jack Frost nipping at your nose.  AND…now Elvis is declaring Here Comes Santa Claus.  haha.  I think that’s funny.  That’s what’s OnMarksMind for now.  Blessings to all.  More to come.  Stay Classy Monticello!  🙂