By God’s good grace to me, I don’t have to do much decorating for Christmas. I love the decorations and the lights. I hate putting it all up. My loving heavenly Father gave me a son who is passionate about Christmas lights and actually enjoys the installment process. And he’s good at it. Thank you, Luke; and praise be to God’s glorious name. Add to this the beautiful reality that my wife now allows me to own and put up… Read more
West Franklin Family, Earlier this week, Tiger Woods emerged from hibernation. Very little had been heard from him since he lost control of his vehicle on February 23rd of this year. Nine months. No Tiger. A social media post emerged of Tiger on crutches. And recently a short video appeared of him attempting to hit an iron on the driving range. Other than that? Nothing. For nine long months. Then, out of nowhere, to the delight of golf fans everywhere… Read more
West Franklin Family, As you know, I did not grow up hearing the word “Advent.” The season of Advent has been, until recently, foreign to me. Quickly, however, Advent has become one of my favorite seasons on the Christian calendar. It gives me (and the Church) permission to ache. Permission to long. Permission to recognize and acknowledge that life is hard, a struggle, a slog. Advent means “coming.” It carries with it the idea that we are living in the… Read more
Advent music is not the same as Christmas music. Yes, both are usually played around the same time. But they are not the same. Advent expresses longing, waiting, deep desire. Advent expresses the tension we have as we live between the first and second coming of Jesus. He has come. He is coming again. For now, we wait. We hope. We long. We ache. This is Advent. Christmas music focuses on and celebrates the event of Jesus’ first arrival in… Read more
West Franklin Family, Paul told the church in Philippi not to “worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6) That’s a good word anytime, especially this week. When I am in conversation with God, everything should be discussed with a posture of thanksgiving and gratefulness. It was Paul’s posture. It was the posture he called for the Philippian church. It is what I desire for myself and our church…. Read more
Believe it or not, Advent begins the Sunday after Thanksgiving (November 28th). Advent. Longing. A season where we get to be real about our deepest longings. A season where we express our hope of what is to come, along with our authentic struggle to endure the here and now. A season where we are given the freedom and permission to be real and raw. Advent means “arrival” or “coming.” We know what is coming, but we struggle in the present…. Read more
West Franklin Family, I noticed something Thursday morning. Something unique. Something convicting. Eddie (as in, Eddie the dog) knows there is always going to be a Greenie for him pre-breakfast. He’s sure of it. He has zero doubt one is going to be handed to him by yours truly. Each and every morning when I get in from my walk, he knows what time it is. All I have to say is, “want to eat?” and he is ALL IN…. Read more
Henry Ruggs is in a lot of trouble. Like, A LOT of trouble. A week ago today (11.02.2021) he was involved in a car accident that left a 23 year old woman and her dog dead. Since the tragedy, authorities have learned that Ruggs was driving under the influence (twice the legal limit) at 156 miles per hour. In addition, a firearm was found (which a big “no-no” if you are under the influence) and new felony counts have emerged… Read more
West Franklin Family, What’s that one thing God has designed you for that you would do, regardless? What is that thing He has made you for, where you most feel His presence? What is it that you would do no matter what? As you well know, I love sports. Especially this time of year. College football. Playoff baseball (Go Braves!). College Football. Professional Football. And, of course, college football. This week there were three – THREE! – instances where an… Read more
Without a doubt, Psalm 23 is one of the best known and most beloved chapters in all the Bible. It’s memorized. It’s on our walls in our homes and church buildings. It’s read at funerals and gravesides. It is meditated on during dark and difficult and depressing days. David’s writing of the 23rd Psalm is a thing of literary and psychological and theological beauty. The Lord is my Shepherd. Yes. But have you ever thought about the first line of… Read more
