Pastor's P.O.V. - Stone The Preacher

Dunkirk and the Missed Miracle

Oct 5, 2017Steve Sanchez2 CommentsGreat Books/Movies/Videos, HIStory, Pastor's P.O.V., Prayerchristopher nolan, dunkirk, miracle of dunkirk, word war 2

I recently saw the excellent film Dunkirk yet was saddened when I learned the filmmakers got everything right except for the true hero of the story.

It wasn’t necessarily the selfless citizens who risked lives in their personal boats to bring back the hundreds of thousands of troops stranded on the beach as the Germans advanced; it wasn’t even the brilliance of the commanders who strategized the rescue; it was something, someone, bigger than all that.

According to “Anglican Ink” author, John Willans: When Britain was close to defeat during the 2nd World War, and the entire British Army was trapped at Dunkirk, in desperation King George the 6^th called for a National Day of Prayer to be held on 26^th May 1940. In a national broadcast he instructed the people of the UK to turn back to God in a spirit of repentance and plead for Divine help. Millions of people across the British Isles flocked into churches praying for deliverance.

Two events immediately followed:

Hurricane Harvey: Chick-Fil-A to the Rescue

Sep 10, 2017Steve SanchezNews, Pastor's P.O.V.chick-fil-a, good morning america, houston flood, hurricane harvey, hurricane heroes

THIS AMAZING PHOTO WAS TAKEN BY A MAN WHO CALLED CHICK-FIL-A WITH THIS ORDER: “Two grilled chicken burritos with extra egg—and a boat.”

How did this come about? I was hoping to find out the back story, and I did.

In an interview with the morning show, Good Morning America, J. C. Spencer explained what happened to him and his wife during the flood and how America’s favorite chicken restaurant got involved: “Monday morning we realized we had to evacuate; we had to get out of there. And, so, I called Chick-Fil-A—now, that sounds kind of funny—but I ordered two grilled chicken burritos with extra egg—and a boat. And can you believe the manager, one of the managers of Chick-Fil-A? She sent her husband to pick us up, and we are so grateful and so thankful.

“That is incredible,” GMA host Amy Robach exclaimed, “…I know you loaded your possessions onto the boat, and there wasn’t a lot of room for you and [your wife] Karen to get in; so, all of a sudden, some Jet Skis showed up.”

“So Karen jumped on the back of the Jet Ski and I jumped on the back of another one and they evacuated us to higher ground and we are ever so grateful.”

In addition to their extremely polite and friendly service, apparently Chick-Fil-A is also in the rescuing business. Perhaps this is on the “Secret Menu”?

America the Beautiful?

Jul 4, 2017Steve SanchezPastor's P.O.V.America, blessing, immorality, wrath

See if you can spot the odd one out: earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, terrorism, domestic violence, war, droughts, God’s blessing, cancer.

Of course, “God’s blessing” is the oddity. Yet, there are many who would believe the entire list fits together in perfect harmony. Ignorant people think that the devastating things that are happening to this nation are nothing more than Mother Nature doing its own thing. Hmmm, do you think that “Mother” may be in a bad mood?

Super Bowl Faith

Feb 9, 2017Steve SanchezPastor's P.O.V., Special Daysatlanta falcons, football, new england patriots, superbowl 51, tom brady

SUPER BOWL 51 WAS THE MOST EXCITING FOOTBALL GAME I’ve ever seen. As an Atlanta Falcons fan, it was wonderful to know that my California friend was going to send me a gift card after the game was over—as he has done for many years—since he has a knack for always picking the losing team, which, of course, was going to be the New England Patriots. Yes, he has endured my razzing for about a decade.

But, as history now shows, he got the last laugh. It was a blow-out of epic proportions. Down 28 to 3, the Patriots came back, and back and back. I’d send a sarcastic text to my California friend, and he would respond with a simple “HOLD ON.” (I think he texted me that sentiment four times, one for each successive touchdown.) And, yes, I ended up sending him the gift card.

Unfriended By Politics

Dec 11, 2016Steve Sanchez4 CommentsPastor's P.O.V., Politics2016 election, 2016 presidential election, barack obama, democrat party, democrats, email scandal, hillary, protests, republican party, republicans, student protest trump, trump

SHORTLY AFTER THE ELECTION A FACEBOOK FRIEND REBUKED THEN UNFRIENDED ME.

Admittedly, during the height of election fever I got carried away, posting clever memes that made fun of the candidate I wanted to lose. (Enjoy the samples on this post.)

After the election I got particularly bugged by those misguided college babies protesting the election results and posted quite a bit of hilarity.

No, I wasn’t at my Christian best and wasn’t too pastoral either. Though nothing was too off-base and certainly not vulgar or obscene, I could have done better.

The devil made me do it?