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Telling the Story: Sharing pie and God’s Word
I didn’t want to share my pie. That sounds terrible, but it was blackberry—my very favorite. While Mr. and Mrs. Walker gave it to my beloved for pastor appreciation, I knew it was actually for me because they know it’s my favorite. My beloved doesn’t like the seeds, so it was all mine. It’s one…
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Facing down a mountain lion
Did you know that in the United States, mountain lions are the number one predator of human beings? So says author and naturalist Craig Childs. On one occasion, he was doing research on the lions in Arizona’s Blue Range Wilderness. As he approached a water hole from downwind, he spotted a mountain lion drinking water,…
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God really does love us
“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Matthew 24:10-12 Over the summer, like many of you, my wife and I were able to get…
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Telling the Story: The Ball Fork Monster
In the land of the Hatfields and McCoy’s, we have many stories. Some are true, some not. A nearly famous tale told in the mountains of eastern KY at this time of year is of The Ball Fork Monster. There are many versions. This is the one I know. “Blue Eyes” was a likable fellow…
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Whose job is it anyway?
“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers…
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A $2 million mistake
John D. Rockefeller built the great Standard Oil empire. Not surprisingly, Rockefeller was a man who demanded high performance from his executives. One day, one of those executives made a $2 million mistake. Word of the man’s enormous error quickly spread throughout the executive offices, and the other men began to make themselves scarce, not…
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Telling the Story: Following the guide
“They just put a deer head in the back of the car.” Not a usual text to my kids. Still, it was true. I could see antlers sticking out of the bag. My beloved had killed his first deer (an eight-point) and was having it processed. The body was at the butcher being prepped to…
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Pursuing the Peace of God Part 2
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 Continual peace of heart and mind is God’s intention for His children. There has never been a day that He has desired…
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Forgiveness written in stone
“Stephen Felker, How Often Should I Forgive?” is a story told of two friends who were walking through the desert. At some point in the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand, “Today…
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Telling the Story: Not here for all that
Five-year-old Ryleigh and her older sister, Maddie, came to the office last week to have their teeth cleaned. When it was their turn, we called their names and they skipped back in festive Halloween attire. Ryleigh was decked out in a purple and black dress with bats on the skirt. Her ankle boots set off…
