After the Civil War as early as 1868 towns began to take a day in May to remember the fallen on both sides of the conflict by placing flowers on the graves of those who died in battle or as a result of injuries sustained in battle. By 1890, Decoration Day had spread across the … Continue reading Memorial Day Weekend

I was listening to inspirational music while working around the house and heard a song using the words to Psalm 23 as part of the lyrics.  My mind began to wander as I thought about that classic psalm for a while.  I began thinking about the words of that psalm and wondering. I wondered how may … Continue reading Thinking Out Loud

Someone said Adam and Eve had the perfect marriage: Eve never had to hear how good a cook him mother was. Adam never had to hear about all the men Eve could have married. Adam could honestly say Eve was the best looking woman in the world. Adam never went fishing with his pals. Eve … Continue reading Mawwage or Marriage

Isaiah records, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" (Isa 5:20). You know what was going on. The people decided that if what they were doing was sinful, then they would decide that it is … Continue reading Whoa! Whoa! Woe!

May 1985, I was where five of our young people here at Central are in their lives. Like Landon, Gretchen, Abby, Marlee, and Chase, I walked across a stage and received that piece of paper I spent my life working for. I had plans, I had dreams, and some of them came about. I would finish … Continue reading That was Then, What About the Future?

I am thinking about a friend who passed away this weekend. Yesterday morning at about 3:00.  I have the privilege of speaking at his memorial this week and as I prepare my words for Mike's family, I recalled this poem by Nancy Byrd Turner: Death is a Door Death is only an old door Set … Continue reading Death is a Door

The leaflet in 1924 that served as an introduction to this style of modern art began with these words, "We have the distinguished honor of introducing to New England the founder and supreme master of the DISUMBRATIONIST SCHOOL OF PAINTING, Pavel Jerdanowitch." His paintings like the one shown above were a new modern style of … Continue reading Disumbrationism

I had just pulled off of I-10 in Baldwin County, Alabama and I turned north onto AL 59. I had traveled about 1/2 mile when I realized I was still going interstate speeds. Just as I lifted my foot off of the accelerator to allow friction to slow me down, an Alabama State Trooper topped … Continue reading Why Did He Stop Me?

If you are a minister who has served in ministry for any length of time, you have faced hurt. You were there when the two teenage boys whose father was in a coma from an industrial accident lost their mother in a wreck. You hurt with them and for them. You walked with the entire congregation … Continue reading When the Preacher is Hurting