How to recognize a preacher

The dental hygienist was a new employee whom I’d not met.

“Where do you preach?” she asked.

“Why do you think I’m a preacher?” I responded.

“I just know,” she said.

I’ve wondered what the signal flag was.

Maybe it was the coffee stains on my teeth. Pastors must drink coffee since people often invite us to do so — coffee and conversation.

My dad had ulcers and we didn’t grow up drinking coffee. Ruth Barnes one day said, “I

MICHAEL BROOKS Columnist

can’t believe our pastor doesn’t drink coffee! Come to my house.”

I drank coffee for the first time at her kitchen table. It tasted bitter to me. She then added sweetener and cream, and it tasted better. I was 30 years old when this happened and got hooked.

Bethlehem East Baptist Church

Bethlehem East Baptist Church will have all Sunday school classes beginning at 9:45 a.m. Sunday morning followed by regular service at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary. We will continue with Facebook Live Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and Worship Service at 11 a.m.

Carrville Baptist Church

Regular hours of service are Sundays- 9 a.m. Sunday School and 10 a.m. Morning Worship. Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. the church offers Children’s

I later used this as an illustration of how the devil makes sin appear sweet and attractive, and everyone, including Ruth, had a good laugh.

Maybe the hygienist didn’t see tobacco stains and this was a clue. Smoking has never been one of my chosen sins, though I’ve known a handful of pastors who smoked. I suppose they thought they could hide it, but not so much.

One of my mentors smoked a pipe in his office. When you knocked on his door you could hear the desk drawer open where he hid the burning pipe,

Gospel Project, Youth Bible Study and Adult Prayer Meeting.

Regular office hours are Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

East Tallassee United Methodist Church ETUMC is holding services on Sunday at 11 a.m. and at 5 p.m.

The “River’s Edge Flea Market” is open every Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. The flea market is sponsored by the East Tallassee UMC and is located at the side of the old East Tallassee Hospital, across from the library. We will offer various priced booths. To and then hear him spray air freshener in the room. You walked into the aroma of fresh pine or whatever. I thought this was a lot of bother. He should’ve just told people he used a pipe.

Nor did I wear any particular preacher clothes to the dentist’s office.

One of my Judson College colleagues, an Episcopalian rector, often wore his clerical collar. We Baptists don’t have such identifying clothing, especially these days. I remember when pastors and staff at least wore a tie to work, if not a