A church I pastored some years ago thought I came to fill the shoes of the previous pastor. In an awkward moment the church gathered around our family for prayer. One person, who either represented what Marshall Shelley would have termed a "well-intentioned dragon" or my own perception of … Continue reading
Read MoreOver the past five or six years we (many in our congregation) have observed the Season of Lent. Often I am asked why in a Baptist Church, and in particular a Southern Baptist Church. This is not a highly polemical piece. It is an attempt to see the Season … Continue reading
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Achievers face the tyranny of accomplishment. Precision and speed often mean missing the impact of content. Dr. Pretlove may have hinted at this with me when he told me, "Some people go to church just so they can go home again." Failure to engage the content of a worthy … Continue reading
Fresh eggs. Nothing quite like them. A few weeks ago Micah gave us a dozen fresh eggs from the farm in Amber. Delicious. I asked Micah about the trials and errors of raising laying hens. He really suggested a good fence, a sturdy house and to be prepared to … Continue reading
The curse of pursuing individuality … avoiding formative relationships …
A retiring school Superintendent once told me, "You cannot overcome heredity and environment." He expressed frustration in attempting to work with young people whose parents and social context distracted them from learning. How could educators expect to impact students who spend more time in adverse conditions? Countless parents asserted … Continue reading
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