“Stevie, you know a little something about adversity.” That’s what my old Grandpappy said yesterday, during our conversation. He’s my old buddy and has stuck by me through thick-and-thin. And he’s right. Not to toot my own horn, but I have had my own share of struggles and setbacks in the last several years, but through it all, God has been with me. Some hardships have been at the hands of others, and some have been because of my own... Read more
I am sitting in the lobby of the Hampton Inn this morning and listening to the replay of President Obama’s touching speech from the school grounds. He quoted Jesus as saying, “Suffer the children to come unto me” and proceeded to name each child, each victim of this horrendous tragedy. Across the room, the cleaning lady and I shared a knowing glance. “That is just so sad,” she said. It is so sad. And equally as sad is the star... Read more
I had just left a meeting at Children’s Hospital and was walking across the parking deck. The place was packed. The concrete citadel was loaded with automobiles plus hurried and worried people and I had previously struggled with a place to park. I was weaving through the maze of cars and traffic, trying to remember where I had parked (just ask Gigi…that is always an adventure), when out-of-the-blue, a man zipped up behind me in his little black Beemer and... Read more
Beside collecting shells, people watching is my favorite beach activity. You just never know. Three guys caught my eye, and not in the beachy eye-candy way. I guess they were in their late-40’s/mid-50’s, making their way to the water, and each were what I call “home grown” (think Paula Deen’s cooking). What made me keep looking at this good ol’ boy trio? They were standing oddly close to each other. Touching close. Three sweaty, half naked, middle-aged men, hugged up... Read more
It was a normal “Mr. Mom” moment: I was changing Ben’s diaper. He has always been fascinated by lights: Christmas lights are the first ones I remember, because he was about three months old at that time, but he loves the lights in the youth room, the light from my phone, and light just about anywhere you can imagine. Butt…back to the diaper changing (see what I did there?)… As I finished changing his diaper, I picked him up and... Read more
Matthew 22 was the text for this morning’s sermon. I was taught something new, and I love that. The story was familiar. The Pharisees were trying to trick, trap, and kill Jesus. One question they asked him was this: “So tell us honestly: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Matt. 22:17 MSG Jesus asked if anyone had a coin. He wanted to see it. So he was handed a silver piece. “This engraving- who does it... Read more
Remember “puppy love”? That time in life when love seemed blind and you felt on top of the world? Girls, your parents and your best friend told you “He is a loser“, your Grandpa assured you, “that boy ain’t nothing but trouble“, but you were blind, deaf, and basically completely handicapped in love. With a loser. In those instances, we want to say, “love is blind”, but really the opposite is true of both love and grace. It’s the fact... Read more
It’s involuntary. It just happens. You don’t have to think about it, it doesn’t require focus and concentration, you just DO it… Until you’re underwater. Until you’re drowning. Until that life-giving oxygen gets replaced with something that doesn’t belong and your lungs and nostrils fill up with something that’s not supposed to be there and you begin to choke and cough and clamor, just trying to breathe again. HELP! You might scream inwardly or publicly. HELP ME! I’m drowning! I... Read more
Thursdays, I am the faculty sponsor for the Christian club at the high school where I work. “First Priority” starts at 7:15am, which means I have to leave my house by 6:15am to arrive on time. As I was backing out of my parking space, I noticed the tire pressure sensor was on, so I stopped at the gas station, which just happened to be half a block from the fire station where my Dad works. I hurriedly pulled in... Read more
We have been taught to avoid messes. “Wash your hands.” We have been taught that tidy is preferred. “Clean your room.” We have machines that wash our clothes, clean our floors, and sanitize our dishes. Who doesn’t know the slogan for Bounty paper towels? I know in your brain you are saying “The Quicker Picker Up-er!” Why shouldn’t God’s grace be neat and tidy too? Here is how dictionary.com lists messy: mess·y 1. characterized by a dirty, untidy, or disordered... Read more
Grace is Messy
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