One summer while in high school, I was playing basketball at a camp with a group of guys from my home church against a team from Florida. That team featured a really big kid. He was tall, heavy, and athletic. He also looked older than any of us. It was a hard fought, competitive, close… Read More »
No Mall
The day had been filled with malls, outlets, and shopping centers…well; at least Monieca and Jacqueline had shopped. I spent most of the day entertaining Liam any way I could. As dinner approached we were all weary and hungry. We had planned to meet some friends from KY vacationing at the beach for dinner at… Read More »
True Love
I saw them in the corner of my eye. Seated side by side in a booth at the restaurant where I had stopped to get a take-out order for mine and Monieca’s dinner, she slowly lifted a spoon filled with food to his mouth. His frame was small and age had taken such a toll… Read More »
I Was A Jerk
When Monieca and I were much younger and living in Sumter, she worked as a social worker with DSS. We attended a picnic with her coworkers and their families. It was a large crowd and there was a lot of alcohol. I remember feeling very uncomfortable being there and I didn’t enjoy myself. In fact,… Read More »
The Love of Moms and Jesus
Our annual tradition on Mother’s Day at FBC is something I look forward to and this year was no different. It’s beautiful to watch hundreds of kids of all ages giving a carnation to their mom during our worship services. Moms cry and kids smile. It’s a neat way to recognize moms on their special… Read More »
Merciful and Slow to Anger
Read the following Bible verse several times: Psalm 86:15 “But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” Having read this verse several times, what is God saying to you? ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Answer these questions: What is the connection between God’s mercy and His… Read More »
Love One Another
Read the following Bible verse several times: 1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Having read this verse several times, what is God saying to you? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Answer these questions: What are we commanded to… Read More »
A Spiritual Man Who Missed Heaven
Read the story of Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-26 As you read the story, imagine what the young man was thinking at each moment. Having read the story and imagined what the young man was thinking, what is God saying to you? ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Answer these questions: The young man… Read More »
Love That Never Dies
Read the following Bible verse several times: Ephesians 6:24 “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love” Having read this verse several times, what is God saying to you? ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Answer these questions: Some translations use “undying” instead of “incorruptible” to describe the type of love we are… Read More »
I’m Still Smiling
The teenagers at the small church I where I was serving as Pastor were getting together on a Friday night and I was supposed to do some teaching on Christian dating standards. I was going to share with them some of the principles others had taught me when I was in high school. God had… Read More »