My dad rose early, worked hard, and mastered stoicism. He sat at the head of the table like a modern Indian chief. He said things like, “A lock is to keep an honest man honest,” and “Take everything with a grain of salt.” Grandmother taught me checkers and repeated phrases like, “When do you believe a liar?” and “If a bullfrog had wings, he wouldn’t bump his rear every time he jumped.” Papa had pranks, fishing, and stories. His hat was a signal to move, and his humor brought

I read an account recently: A man's wife had confided in him about some conversations with a female friend. Her friend had been having some commonplace difficulty in her marriage. She had seen a video online that caught her eye about relationships going poorly and had dwelled on it just long enough for the platform's algorithm to decide she'd want more. Before long her social media had convinced her that her spouse was either cheating or would at the first opportunity and she

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;” Philippians 2:12 What a nasty word! Who likes responsibility? Yuck! That means I must do things. I must take care of things! No way, Jose! You do that. I’ll just sit over here and play. Someone will take care of all that other stuff. I haven’t heard anyone talk like that either. We act like it, though.

If you have lived around Huntsville very long, you know how this time of year works. One day may be mild and comfortable, and then suddenly the forecast changes. Temperatures climb into the upper 90s, humidity rises, and stepping outside feels like opening the door to an oven. Local weather reports begin warning people to stay hydrated and seek relief from the heat. A heatwave is coming... We respect heat because we understand what it can do. Too much exposure can d

“Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” - Romans 6:16 We see ads all the time that say, "Save money," "It is free," or "50% off." They all sound good! The truth is, they are all lies. You can't save money unless you spend it on these ads. You're not saving money. It can't be free. There is a price you have to pay for it. There

The first words of a favorite church song are, “To God be the glory…” We enthusiastically sing those words with meaning. Maybe we would do well to consider how often it is that the same sentiment is foremost in our thinking when someone gives us praise for a personal accomplishment. People who literally blush when someone praises them aren’t those who pursue personal glory. We all know people whom we would say have their “heads swell” when they are praised. Those are the oppo

Our mission trip to Honduras each year has a special place in my heart. As Myles indicated in his Lads speech, it has a way of giving you a different perspective on life. Things we take for granted here would be considered a luxury if you lived in Honduras. John 13:35 says: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Building houses, food bag preparations and delivery, clothing drives, Vacation Bible School, medical drives, and D

The Lads to Leaders Convention has come to an end for this year. Our youth have worked hard over the last few months. They prepared speeches, led songs, preformed puppet skits, created artwork, designed scrapbook pages and studied for Bible Bowl. The main theme this year was "Faith Works.” This theme comes from James 2: 17-18 and it is very important to Christian life. In James 2:17, James writes, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” James is a

Any time we eat in a restaurant, I prefer to have the seat facing the door. Same goes for standing in line at the gas station. I like to be able to see who’s coming in and who is in my immediate vicinity. I do this because I know we do not live in a perfect world. Evil exists. Danger exists. Uncertainty exists. Yet God calls men to live neither in fear nor in denial, but in sober readiness. In Luke 22:36, Jesus told His disciples, “Let the one who has no sword sell his c

In a world full of disagreement, hate, and speaking your mind, as followers of Christ, we must seek to establish peace. In Jesus’ sermon on the mount in Matthew 5, He speaks about those who will be blessed. Verse 9 says “blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” I get it… it’s frustrating to see transgenderism, homosexuality, murder, lawlessness, false accusations, and many other sinful behaviors rampant in our society today. We must take a sta

“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15:53 As their exploration of the backyard came to an end, his father asked, "Now what will you do?" "Rest". The young boy replied, “Nope, it’s time to go to the moon!” We too often set low goals. We seek the least amount of achievement possible. Yet, in Christ, we have the greatest achievements at our fingertips if we would just try. You will never know what you are

Have you ever wondered what it takes to keep a forest healthy? Millions of acres are actively managed to help them thrive and to minimize the risk of wildfire. Forest managers have to know which species grow in their woods. How else can they figure out the best ways to nurture a healthy ecosystem? They walk through it and may designate small plots of land to study. They research the history of the area. Maps, aerial photos, and Google Earth are consulted. Laws and regulations

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." - James 1:2-3 The trials we face are the consequences of the world we live in and the lives lived around us without God. These are not things we did to ourselves, or facing the consequences of our selfish actions. They are the things that happen because we choose Christ, and in that choice, things come our way. We cannot know for sure when they wil

We are blessed to live in one of the greatest countries in the history of mankind. It is no coincidence that many strive to live in America, and even more sought after is citizenship. What is a citizen? It is defined as “a native or naturalized member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to its protection.” Paul enjoyed the benefits of Roman citizenship, and on one occasion in Acts 22, even relied on its benefits when he was unlawful

“ Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. ” - Luke 9:23 We all have our comfort zones. The difference between each of us is what they look like. Some people would loathe the idea of someone being in their home for a visit. Others have an open-door policy. Some people can't stand big gatherings of people, while others thrive in them. Those comfort zones dictate how we live our lives.

I’m not quite middle age yet but it’s creeping up on me. I’m not sure what would be more of a sign that you’re getting older than an interest in trees. I’ve tried planting several trees recently in a place where there aren’t any so that probably has something to do with it as well. I think that as we age, we gain an appreciation for time. There’s a saying that goes, “The best time to plant a tree was 15 years ago, the second-best time is today.” Another Greek proverb states,

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:5-6 Our minds can be such a place of confusion. It can seem as if we are lost in a wild jungle of a far-off land full of pitfalls and dangers all around. It can seem as if we are in a storm surrounded by darkness, where eve

Some of you have memories like a steel trap. I feel like mine is more like a swinging gate, something goes in and then quickly leaves. My memories of my childhood are faint and few. I do, however, remember spending the night with Pa and Granny Jo. It was something I often did, maybe it was an escape from my parents or my loveable but ANNOYING siblings, or maybe it was the late-night milkshakes, westerns, Braves games and the homemade breakfast. On one of my “sleepovers,” I st

Mature souls have an understanding that transcends the world. Over time, through Christian discernment and the use of God’s word in their lives, they see things differently. For mature souls, some things are of less value that many consider priceless. Cars, houses, social status, career, and financial success would fall under this category. Mature souls see some things of no value to others as truly priceless. Things considered of less value by the world are faith, hope, and

It’s the most wonderful time of year! The Christmas holiday recalls all sorts of joyous feelings and memories. Everywhere you go, people seem a little happier and a little friendlier, especially in the church. For many of us, the biggest care on our minds is finding that perfect gift for a loved one. Seeing the look on someone’s face when they open my gift on Christmas is one of my favorite experiences of the holiday. I love being a blessing to my family, friends and brethren