-
“Martha, Martha”…and Parenting
Recently at Central, I have used the account of Martha and Mary in a couple of sermons. The imagery of that text is so relatable. Mary is sitting and listening to Jesus, while Martha is just all over the place, but doing something good. Martha is (at least) frustrated with her sister and even demands that Jesus make her do her part. Jesus, though, begins his response with “Martha, Martha.” He further tells her that she is distracted, basically because her mind is here and there. Then our Lord adds that Mary chose what was good, the “one thing” that “is necessary.” With that, Jesus added this eternal insight: “which…
-
Three Sermon Outlines
One of my favorite things about being part of a family of preachers and teachers is the number of lesson ideas and outlines that are tossed back and forth between us. There is nothing like a good scriptural idea from a fresh perspective to get the gears turning and motivate deeper study for the purpose of sharing that study with others. Over the years, I have probably been given upwards of 50 sermon outlines from different members of my family (and used a few of them, too) and have also shared several with them. Today’s “article” has three goals in mind. The first is to give you, dear reader, three…
-
The Red Lemon (#2)
During the recent lectureship at Freed-Hardeman University, our family carved out a little time between sessions to celebrate the twenty-fourth birthday of our oldest grandson. I was totally unaware of the significance of the location of our little party until a friend and brother in Christ mentioned it in a comment on the picture I posted on Facebook. When he saw the background of the picture, it reminded him of one of our family’s “inside jokes” which we have shared with others. What follows below is a version of something that I wrote for A Legacy of Faith on our grandson’s seventeenth birthday. This version has been edited quite a bit,…
-
It’s That Time of Year
It seems as if Spring has sprung! What a blessing it is to see the green grass, the blooming trees, and the beautiful flowers that wake up in this season. I love all of the seasons, but Spring is one of my favorites. So many beautiful things come along with Spring and Summer. We can open our windows and let the fresh air in. We can get outside and enjoy some physical activities. We can shed those heavy winter coats and boots. We can also shed our heavy clothes. And we can put on… What exactly will be put on during these warm months ahead of us? For many people, the…
-
18 (or, “On Raising Adults”)
My post this week just happens to coincide with a special day in the life of a special young man. Today, my son turns 18. That means that both of our kids are now legally adults. I guess that empty nest really is drawing near. Turner is a delight. Is he perfect? No. We still have things to work on. But it has been nothing short of impressive to watch him mature and to work on some of his shortcomings himself. He has a heart for doing what is right, and that is all I can ask for. When Mary Carol turned 18 something struck me, and it has struck…
-
He Gave Me a Song
Our family moved to Cookeville, Tennessee from Lawrenceburg when I was young, and while I have few clear memories of our life before that transition, those that remain are special to me. My first friends in elementary school, my first watchthrough of the original Star Wars trilogy (a core memory), the building where I first remember attending church, and many others standout in my mind. However, there is one memory that I hope I will have for the rest of my life. Actually, the image in my head is a composite of many similar days throughout the years. It always includes the swing-set in our backyard, with the woods behind…
-
Getting Into the Lane (or Something Much More Important)
I’m not sure that I can think of a sport (at least one that I follow) that has exactly the same rules in place that were in place when I was growing up. Before some smart aleck suggests that the only sports that existed when I was growing up were the original Olympic Games, I can assure that this is not the case! There are a variety of reasons for changes in the rules for certain sports. Sometimes, those reasons involve concern for the safety and protection of the participants. Maybe there is an effort to speed up the game, to make the event more exciting, to include more participants,…
-
Week of March 10 “Into the Heart of the Bible” and “Something from the Margin of My Bible”
On her video series this week, Leah discusses a period of Bible history that is often overlooked, the period of Judah alone. You can watch the video below or, if you choose, click here to watch on her YouTube channel. On the “margin” podcast, Adam gives a note this week from the time of preparation for receiving the 10 Commandments. Click here to listen.
-
The Most Intolerant People You Will Meet
The word “tolerance” has certainly come into wide use in recent years. We are told that we have to be tolerant of any number of things. Even if you do not agree with something, you just have to tolerate it. After all, to do any less just is not a Christian attitude. We can set that aside very quickly by pointing out that Jesus did not tolerate anything and everything. He clearly condemned religious bigotry. He told people that they had sinned. He even taught in such a way–via parables–that some would understand and some would not. But I want to go down a different road. Maybe by now I…
-
So Close, and Yet So Far
Our young people at West Side are some of the best ever. Yes, I know I’m biased when I say that, but I do have evidence to back it up. About three months ago, a few of them approached me with a request. They had noticed that several people had expressed difficulty with daily Bible reading and wanted to set up a system for coming up with topical Bible readings and keeping one another accountable in their reading. They asked me if I could make a group chat that people could join and, if the members of the group chat would decide on a topic each week, whether I could…
