Fall at G.S.M.P

Last October we went and camped in Cataloochee.This was a herd(?) of elk just relaxing just up the road from the campground.

This is Lex(i) after she went for a swim at the falls.She does not like having her picture taken.not sure why.

Jacks River Falls IIn the Cohutta Wilderness.

A couple of weekends ago I took our dog up to the wilderness and ran down Beech Bottom trail to the falls.Wow-it was sight to see.

Financial accountability for pastors.

Alright, there was an article in today's paper relating to an ongoing inquiry into the financial records of several high profile wealthy pastors(churches).Many claim that this is a violation of so-called church-state separation.I definitely believe that the government has no business messing with church policy.However, since they usually claim a tax exemption(non-profit?) it does bring up a few questions.Should some/all churches pay taxes.?why or why not?If a church was to pay taxes then how money was spent would be nobodies business but those who gave the $ in the first place.At what point is a pastor making too much $$.For myself I figure the pastor should be somewhere in the average range of the congregations income. To me if the pastor is the wealthiest person in the church than something is definitely wrong.Growing up in the North where all of the pastors I knew of had another paying full-time to job to supplement there income.
As a Christian I am told to not let my good be evil spoken of-and also to be above reproach.In this case that would tell me to be open with my finances esp. to the people who are paying me(so to speak) to be their pastor.(I may add more to this depending on responses I get)....