Early last December, Chad  Hembree, the son of Ron Hembree, the president of Cornerstone TV, called and invited me to represent Lebanon Presbyterian on their Focus4 television talk show with Ron and Cathy, Ron's wife and Chad's mom.  Chad said that they had heard that some great things were happening at Lebanon, and they would really like us to share a little about what we are doing.  I thought it would be a great opportunity for the church to be highlighted, because I think that we are doing some good stuff to "Meet Needs and Offer Hope" to the folks in West Mifflin and throughout the South Hills and beyond by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We scheduled the interview for January 14th at 2:00pm.  I thought Chad had told me that it would be a live recording, but I'll get to that later.

However, have you ever been in a situation where you agree to something, only to later wonder if it was the correct decision and even more so, whether or not it might have been a big mistake?  After almost eight years as your pastor, many of you may or may not know that I am by nature an introvert, and I find it very difficult at times to speak in front of people.  Only by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit am I able to do it every Sunday.  It is always anxiety producing, but I've worked through a lot of that anxiety because I know when I preach that I am standing before brothers and sisters in Christ, who not only love me, but are gracious when I flub what I am saying.

Now, as I approached the Cornerstone TV interview, I began thinking about all the WHAT IFS!  What if I freeze?  What if I choke (literally)?  What if I say something really ridiculous, or worse yet, inadvertently heretical? Did you know that the conflict over the Nicene Creed was the result of a misstatement by the Bishop of Alexandria, that lasted for more than 85 years? Now I certainly did not think that anything I could say would have that type of impact, BUT, what if I did say something out of nerves that would make the church look silly?

Finally the day of the interview arrived and like a school boy unprepared for a big test or not having done all of his homework, I thought of telling Nancy that I had a stomach ache and would have to cancel the interview.  Nevertheless I got out of bed, got to the church and watched the clock run down the hours until I had to leave for the TV station in Wall, PA.  As I drove there, I again began wondering if I was dressed appropriately, with just a jacket, or should I have worn a suit.  Arriving on time, I went into the TV station, met Chad and was then ushered into the Green Room.  It was there that I discovered that the show did not tape for another hour and that it would be a live recording, NOT a live broadcast.  The difference is that in a live broadcast, the public is watching in real time.  A live recording means that they tape the show without any DO OVERS, which is then aired at a later time.  Now, I had the anticipation that if I did mess up, then people who would have missed it live, could not catch it later in the day and even later in the week.  Oh Happy Day!

As the minutes ticked down, the other person in the Green Room introduced himself.  He was going on before me, and would be talking about a documentary he had made on Israel.  His premise is that the media always portrays the nation of Israel in a negative and even false light because of either an anti-Jewish/Israeli or pro-Palestinian bias.  He was interesting to talk to and knowing that he was going first gave me a little bit of relief.  However, soon after making is introductions, he was called into MAKE-UP.  Earlier in the day, Tim Slater had asked me if I wanted him to do my make-up for the show, and then it hit me that I would have to be MADE-UP with MAKE-UP.  This did not excite me.  I sought to graciously turn down Tim's offer, knowing that the first time a Slater puts make-up on me will probably be the last time I will ever need any. (Sooner or later, you end up at...)

The make-up lady had actually worked in funeral homes for many years and then she decided to start putting make-up on TV folks.  She was very kind as she asked me if I wanted various blemishes covered up.  I told her to do what she thought was best, and then like an engineer trying to figure out the best route to dig out the Panama Canal, she went to work by trimming my beard (to make it look tidy), covering my face with pancake make-up so I wouldn't shine, and finally, darkening my eyebrows and beard, so that the gray would not be so pronounced.  When she was done, I thought to myself as I looked into the mirror; "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, but even a sow's ear can look a little bit better with enough make-up."

Now it was time to go into the studio.  I was told that I would have two or three six minute segments to talk about the church.  However, the gentleman with the movie went first and Ron and Cathy spent a great deal of time with him, which was fine my me, because by this time I was getting extremely nervous and wondered whether or not I would even remember my name.  With only about ten minutes left, it was my turn and I was suddenly in front of the lights.  Cathy and Ron were very kind and the eight to ten minutes flew by.  I was able to speak about our Missions and Christian Education programs, as well as our worship times.  Before I knew it, the time was over, and I was done.  All my anxiety was for naught, because I actually didn't even think of the cameras as I was talking with Ron and Cathy, and whenever I did speak, I sought to show and speak the church's love for Jesus Christ.  I will let those who saw the interview speak to whether it went well or not, but I don't think I said anything heretical or that would cause an 85 year conflict.

In reflection, what this showed me was several things; the first is that we must trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to speak those words that proclaim Jesus Christ.  The passage that kept me calm was Mark 13:10–13 (ESV):

10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 

I know that I wasn't standing in a trial, but I also knew that if I trusted in the Holy Spirit that anything I might say wouldn't be too far off the mark.  It was an interesting experience, but not one I will be looking to repeat anytime soon.  In closing, I would like to share that about two weeks later, I was on the Northside, when someone approached me and asked, "Didn't I see you on TV!"

In the Love of Jesus Christ, Pastor Bob