The Preacherman

2011-01-12T09:36:00.001-06:00

Good morning, everyone. I was planning on doing this tonight in our Prayer Meeting time to help us prepare for our Sacred Assembly on Sunday, but since we are not meeting tonight, I am asking you to help me through e-mail. I know that this will not allow for anonymity, but I promise that if you respond to this, I will be the only one who sees it and will not pay attention to who writes what.

A New Year's Prayer

2010-09-08T15:21:00.003-05:00

Lord Jesus,Are you coming back today? It is Rosh Hashannah, but you know that. It would only be fitting to start the Jewish New Year in heaven with you. The signs are all there. They are talking peace in Israel while all the world is aligning against them. Even the good old U.S. of A. is adding pressure to Bibi to make concessions. But that doesn't mean much because this great country has just

Partnership Building

2010-07-28T11:24:00.001-05:00

I read this great article, and I thought I would share it with you today. It speaks volumes as to what we need to be doing to reach people today.Brad Lomenick on Partnership-Building“Building a bridge is an art...I’m referring to building bridges in business, friendships, co-workers, mentors, and key partnerships,” says

How To Listen To A Sermon

2010-07-22T09:56:00.001-05:00

I have stood before congregations large and small along with Sunday School and Discipleship Training classes to proclaim God’s Word on the average of 3 times a week for about 25 years. Figuring in vacations and guest speakers along with the times I filled the pulpit in churches where I was not the pastor, I calculate that I have done this about 3,900 times. I have seen just about every reaction

I'm Not Insecure! Am I?

2009-12-08T07:59:00.002-06:00

For those of you who might not get that, if you have to ask the question, you probably are. Insecure, that is. I believe that it is the incredibly well-adjusted person -- the exception to the rule even -- who is not at least a little insecure. Am I doing enough to keep my job? Do they like me? Does he love me? Are they laughing at me over there? Our insecurities evidence themselves in so many

Drifting Away Again

2009-09-22T08:37:00.002-05:00

What a way to start the week! Thank you, God, for giving us great times of worship on Sunday at Southside and Monday at FBC Hartselle. The choirs were fantastic, and the message by Dr. Frank Lewis from FBC Nashville was right on target. He used the illustration of whitewater rafting to describe the Christian life. I wish I could remember all of his points, but here are just a few:If you always

Hear My Heart

2009-09-11T12:45:00.004-05:00

Us versus them. Why does it seem that it has always been and will always be so? Gentiles versus Jews. Jews versus Christians. Christians versus Muslims. Religion seems to have a way of creating division. The good news is that Christianity is about relationships – not religion. So at the forefront, let me say that it is all about a relationship with Jesus Christ that brings us into God’s family

Father's Day Weekend 2009

2009-06-20T11:52:00.004-05:00

What a weekend it's been so far. Even though my wonderful daughters and their husbands can't be here, they have blessed me with gifts and the knowledge that they love me. Thank you, Jennifer and Rob and Jon and Ashley for being so great. And thank you to my wonderful wife for being such a blessing. She is absolutely the best. Thank you, dear friends, for an evening of good food and fellowship.

Great Things!

2009-06-15T07:20:00.002-05:00

Sorry it's been so long since my last post.Things tend to get busy this time of the year. But God is doing great things at Southside and in my life. Church is going well -- new members, great Spirit/spirit, people excited about what God is doing, VBS, youth missions.... As a pastor, there aren't many things that could make me happier. Well, maybe a few. But this is not the place to talk about

Already Loved Follow Up

2009-05-20T09:14:00.002-05:00

I sent this out by e-mail to our church family, but I thought it made a great blog post, too. So here it is.I received this e-mail yesterday and asked permission to share it with you. I was given that permission on the basis that I preserve the anonymity of the sender. I have done my best to do this because I believe this summarizes what Already Loved is about. Thank you to all of you who made

Already Loved Update

2009-05-12T11:02:00.002-05:00

We started our confirmation calls last night. Remember, we had 75 households representing 199 people who said they would attend this coming Sunday. We had 184 households that said they were interested. Last night, we completed 72 phone calls basically asking if they were still planning to come. 65 people said they would be here Sunday morning. We still have 191 calls to make. Statistically, by

Sorry It's Late

2009-05-06T14:58:00.002-05:00

Hey, folks. It has been a busy week, and I have fallen down on getting the reports out for Already Loved. We did have a man to call last night after everyone had gone home. I took the call and went through the script. He was churched, so I asked if he had any prayer requests. He said, "Sure, I do. I would like for you to pray that God would send me a godly wife." I'm beginning to see a theme here

I'm Back

2009-04-29T15:47:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the delay in communications about Already Loved. Sonya and I took a few days off to go to Atlanta. We had a powerful worship service at First Baptist Atlanta. Got some ideas for Bro. Wayne and the choir: hydraulic risers. While it was actually the orchestra pit that was on hydraulics, I think we could get the same response with the choir. Can't you just see them beautifully rising up

Wednesday's Wonderful

2009-04-23T08:25:00.002-05:00

I never knew how OCD I was until I realized that using two different colored markers to keep track of the totals bothered me. Thanks, Mary. And by the way, the remark about how quiet it was on Tuesday -- right on track because with the presence of those who were missing, the noise levels went right back up. Thanks, Mrs. June. It was great. And another very successful night, too.126 completed

Tuesday's Totals

2009-04-22T08:30:00.002-05:00

It was a quiet evening at Southside Baptist Church. I'm not sure why other than the absences of certain people from the conference room who shall remain nameless. But it was a well-deserved night off, and the rest of us were able to get the job done. Some of our callers had the experience of calling some of our members, but I don't think any feelings were hurt. In fact, some had extended

Monday Number 2

2009-04-21T11:05:00.002-05:00

Well, it was a Monday alright. No, our folks were all alert and working hard -- especially that Ali Johnson. She walked around and around and around all night long picking up paperwork. Everyone else did their part as well -- especially the boss Helen Hill. She keeps a tight ship all night long. We had a little trouble keeping some of the prayer team out of the brownies, but we won't mention any

Sunday's Team Shook the House

2009-04-20T14:43:00.002-05:00

What a dramatic evening. Just as I was about to start my sermon, Sonya bursts into the room to tell us there was a tornado watch. Then just as I was reading my Scripture, Sonya and Amy came in to tell me what I had just heard -- the tornado sirens were going off. So we quickly closed the service and headed to the basement. Our Already Loved callers and intercessors joined us until the all clear

Week One Is In the Books

2009-04-17T16:14:00.006-05:00

Drum roll, please! I guess not. Well, Thursday night was great. Rachel had kind of an odd prayer request that she interpreted as God telling her to clean out her closet. Mike said that would be a miracle in itself. Another great group of Christian men and women worked hard to do what God has called us to do -- reach Decatur with the message of hope by offering them a listening ear, a group of

Wednesday Went Well

2009-04-16T09:52:00.002-05:00

It was another great night for Already Loved! Once again, everyone was nervous at the beginning, but after that first phone call, things got exciting. The great news is that by the end of the night, callers were enjoying the experience and had lots of stories to tell -- some fun and some sad. We even received a call back from a lady that was contacted Monday night. When she received her post card

Tuesday Team Rocks

2009-04-15T09:04:00.005-05:00

I cannot believe it. I just thought Monday night was going to be hard to duplicate. "O, ME of little faith." Here are the numbers hot off the report:104 completed calls. (192 total)57 households attended church. (119 total)47 households did not attend church. (73 total)7 households said "Yes" to our invitation. (8 total)12 households said "Interested, send me more information." (19 total)60

Already Loved

2009-04-14T09:45:00.002-05:00

What a night! I've never seen such activity at church. All the phone lines lit up. People walking in circles to pick up prayer request after prayer request. Listening to bits and pieces of conversations: "Are you regularly attending church anywhere?" ""Our church is having a special event for those who are unchurched?" "Is there anything we can pray about for you?" There were a few other

What a Day!

2009-04-13T10:48:00.003-05:00

Wow! I can't believe it's been a month since I have posted. Life has been a little crazy around the Hayes' household and Southside. But it's all been good. God is blessing in so many ways I couldn't begin to list them all. Well, okay, just a few: my wife, my children (and their husbands), my church family. I could go on and on, but I won't bore you too much more. However, there is one more

Deeply Troubled

2009-03-11T09:42:00.002-05:00

I am deeply troubled in my spirit today. I have been for the last several days. Maybe it's because I am tired -- I still haven't gotten that hour of sleep back from DST. Or maybe it's because of everything that is going on in the world. Death is everywhere. Senseless murders of a pastor in Illinois and people in Samson, Alabama and everywhere else. Predictions of economic collapse. Prophecies of

A Hero's Reward

2009-02-28T10:42:00.002-06:00

In a day when there are very few real heroes, I heard a story about one. His name is John Cook, and he has gone home to his eternal reward. Ever since I have been in Decatur, I have heard about this godly man, about all the things he does for people and organizations -- how he prays with his employees and ministers constantly. But what impressed me most was a story I heard about Mr. Cook on

February is Romance Month

2009-02-15T13:36:00.003-06:00

Well, what more can I say. The month of February is filled with hearts and love and Valentines. So why shouldn't it be about the second most important relationship in our lives: our spouses. Last week we focused on becoming best friends with our spouses. Isn't it funny how we sometimes get married and then prefer to spend time with other people? I guess funny isn't the right word for it. It

Belize--Final Report

2009-02-02T08:07:00.004-06:00

We made it home -- finally. It was a long day yesterday as we waited in the Belize airport and then we waited in the Houston airport. We were a little worried in Belize when one of our team members was pulled out of the line and searched. I know this is a common occurrence, but we were worried because there was a slight situation in which she misappropriated some muffins from the Mennonites. We

Belize--Day 8

2009-01-31T15:12:00.004-06:00

Well, we finally made it back to Belize City and the hotel -- after LOTS of shopping. We first stopped at a corner market where they had all kinds of goodies. The woodworking over here is amazing. But in some of the shops, they are aware of just how amazing it is. I tried to get Gorman to buy me a wooden elephant for my birthday in August, but he wouldn't do it. It only cost $400 Belize which is

Belize—Day 7

2009-01-31T06:28:00.001-06:00

What a great day. We left early for the Mayan ruins called Xunantunich. The guide says it rhymes with tuna sandwich. He was a funny man with a lot of information in his head. He told us all about the Mayan civilization, its rise and downfall, as well as about some of the religious rituals they performed. Needless to say, I don’t think many in our group will complain about tithing ever again. The

Belize—Day 6

2009-01-30T06:28:00.002-06:00

Today is our 27th anniversary. I am blessed that I was able to start the morning off with a phone call to Sonya, my lovely wife, whom I miss very much. As Bro. Berry said this morning, when you get married, God truly makes us “one.” And as the years pass, it just gets better and better. I love you, sweetheart, and I can’t wait to see you Sunday night.Thankfully, no one was hung over from the ice

Belize—Day 5

2009-01-28T20:20:00.001-06:00

Another beautiful day in Belize. It started out foggy, but that didn’t last long. The sun is out with a vengeance, but the breeze keeps it from being too bad – although the guys with the shovels probably wouldn’t agree with that. We have accomplished a lot of different things this week so far: everything from changing faucets to renovating and painting the cook’s room to laying pipe. Today we

Belize—Day 4

2009-01-27T17:01:00.003-06:00

Last night, several of us gathered in the Rainey’s living room and enjoyed quiet conversation about plans for today. The engineer/construction experts talked about loads and diameters while the rest of us listened in and pretended to know what we were talking about. Terry and Sammy looked like they were about to nod off a few times, but then I realized I probably did, too. So we went to bed early

Belize-Day 3

2009-01-26T18:53:00.002-06:00

What a beautiful day—overcast and cool. We started off in light jackets, but by lunchtime, the temperatures had increased. Both nights we have been blessed with very cool temperatures and the amazing aroma of skunks. I’m not sure what we did to deserve them, but man what a smell. Someone told me that it was just Ryan Grisham taking off his socks, but I didn’t believe them. Sometime in the early

Belize-Day 2

2009-01-26T06:33:00.002-06:00

What a day! We were up bright and early for breakfast: pancakes and sausage. I won’t mention any names, but at Greg Johnson’s table, lots of pancakes were eaten. If we hadn’t had sausage, I might say they made pigs of themselves. Just kidding. The food has been very good, and the quantities have been more than sufficient. Our hosts, Lyle and Rose, are taking good care of us. After breakfast, we

Belize-Day 1

2009-01-25T06:47:00.004-06:00

Well, we finally made it to Belize. A little engine trouble kept us on the runway in Houston, but the flight was great. Gorman was a little nervous, but according to his seatmates, a couple of $5 beverages calmed him down. I think that was just a joke. But we made it just fine. It is an amazing place. Flocks of green-headed parrots flew all around us as we looked over the work to be done. They

Exciting Days

2009-01-21T09:58:00.002-06:00

I can't believe it's been two weeks since I posted. Time has surely flown by. Sonya and I were blessed to be in Memphis last week at Kirby Pines, a senior adult community, for their Crusade For Christ. I had the privilege of preaching on Thursday night. It was great fun, and the staff there was extremely nice. Thanks, Bro. Berry, for the invitation.Next week, I am headed to Belize with our

Your Priorities

2009-01-07T10:08:00.001-06:00

Well, as promised, here is what I feel should be the “priorities” of every Christian. But before I give you my list, I wanted to share with you my heart. I was reading Ephesians 4 this morning which reminded me of my true ministry priorities. In vs. 11, Paul gives a listing of church leaders, and in vs. 12, he gives their responsibilities. What he says is that God has given to the church apostles

My Ministry Priorities

2008-12-30T10:44:00.001-06:00

As promised, I have tallied up the scores and have come up with a summary of your priorities for ministry. Without question, Prayer and Bible Study were number 1 and 2. Evangelism came in right behind these two while Pastoral Ministry and Preaching were tied for 4th place. Just below the middle of the pack was Supervision/Administration followed by Time with Family, Missions, Counseling, Teaching

Ministry Priorities

2008-12-23T09:55:00.003-06:00

Following you will find the responses to my survey about Ministry Priorities. Some of them are "tongue-in-cheek" responses, so enjoy them for what they are meant to be. I will share some more as they come in and give you my list next week. Merry Christmas!I feel that the most important aspect of your life and work is Prayer and Bible Study and after that Our God will guide you as to what you need

Something About Angels

2008-12-18T13:55:00.001-06:00

There are angels in our midst! Now I must confess that these are unusual angels in any sense of the word, but what else would you call someone who will stand in the rain, direct traffic, help you get all your stuff out of your wrecked vehicle, and then bring you breakfast the next day? What do you call someone who drives you to the hospital and sits in a waiting room full of violently ill people

I Want Your Input!

2008-12-15T16:13:00.005-06:00

Hey, folks. I know it's been a while since I have blogged. I'm sorry about that, but sometimes you have to drop one thing in order to juggle all the rest. Which brings me to the reason that I want your input. As with all pastors, there are multiple demands on my time. (I know, I know -- you think pastors only work one or two days a week. But just humor me, okay?) Every so often, I pause to

Cheer Up: It's Raining!

2008-10-07T10:09:00.003-05:00

On this wonderfully dreary day when we are finally seeing a few drops of rain, I thought I would attempt to cheer people up. So I decided to go back through some of my favorite sayings and share some of them with you. I hope you like them.Eat American Lamb. Ten million coyotes can't be wrong.Procrastination: Hardwork pays off after time, but laziness pays off right now!Demotivation: Sometimes the

Hummingbirds -- Do they ever get out of tune?

2008-09-25T14:06:00.000-05:00

Have you ever viewed a hummingbird up close? I had the privilege two mornings in a row. Sonya and I were sitting on our patio drinking coffee enjoying the cool mornings of fall. Suddenly there was a buzzing right behind me. Sonya said, “There’s a hummingbird right behind your head.” Of course, when I turned, he was gone. But then this morning, he was back. In fact, he came and hovered a foot in

You Can't Change the Laws of Physics When You Want To

2008-09-24T15:44:00.002-05:00

I was driving down the road the other day when I noticed I was behind a car with a Darwin fish emblem and several NASA bumper stickers. It really started me to thinking about the Laws of Thermodynamics. Now, understand that my knowledge of physics is limited, but I do remember that the second law of thermodynamics basically states that things have a tendency to deteriorate into disorder. For

The Most Important Thing

2008-08-14T12:53:00.003-05:00

Following a conference I attended last week, I began to think about the question, "What is the most important thing we do as a church?" Of course, most people would answer that question with, "Whatever I'm involved in." And there are lots of important things that we do: witness, teach, fellowship, minister, etc. But as I thought of all these things, I came to the conclusion that the most

One of Life's Biggest Problems

2008-08-04T13:33:00.002-05:00

Today I write about a problem plaguing our churches. Sometimes I think it is a scourge set free on the world by the technology industry. At other times, I feel it is the bane of every church's existence. To what am I referring? Cell phones! Yes, cell phones. Have you been there? Right in the middle of the worship service and boom! You hear the James Bond theme or the Alabama/ Auburn fight song or

Summertime

2008-07-28T11:40:00.003-05:00

Hey, sorry I haven't posted much lately. I thought that the Summer was supposed to be a little slower pace, but not this summer. It has been great, though. I have thoroughly enjoyed the things we have been doing at Southside -- especially the Prayerwalking. I know I have blogged about this already, but it has truly been a great blessing to me personally to join with so many of our church members

Following the Rules

2008-07-14T10:29:00.002-05:00

Let me ask you a question -- do you follow the rules because you want to or because you have to? That question, of course, assumes that you do follow the rules. Now if you are like me, you say it's because you want to, but is that really the case? Answer the following questions honestly and see: When you see a policeman on the side of the road, do you immediately hit your brakes and look at

Prayerwalking

2008-07-08T20:09:00.003-05:00

Have you ever done it? It has been one of the greatest blessings of my ministry. This summer, we transformed our Tuesday evening visitation into Family Ministry Night. People of all ages are involved in going into our community and praying for the people who live here. We walk and we pray and we talk to people who are outside. It must be connecting with our people because we are averaging about

Whew!

2008-06-28T12:15:00.003-05:00

The drama has been written. The decorations have been hung. The songs have been rehearsed. And now it is time for it all to come together. Tomorrow we will gather as the body of Christ called Southside Baptist Church with a few hundred of our closest friends in attendance all for the purpose of...? The first thing that pops into our heads, of course, is to "Celebrate America." After all, isn't

Be Careful What You Pray For -- or You should have listened to your wife

2008-06-21T18:57:00.003-05:00

Well, we are finally home from our trip down to South Alabama. We went with several purposes in mind: to bring my pickup truck back home, to check on Sonya's mother, and to spend time with our girls (and Jon and Rob). We were almost 100% successful. We checked on Sonya's mom and had a great time with the girls (and Jon and Rob). The bringing the truck home didn't work out too well. Let me give

I Love Vacation Bible School

2008-06-13T16:05:00.002-05:00

O. I., O. I'm living God's unshakeable truth.... What a great song! Everything about VBS excites me. The first day was kind of shaky with all the running around like crazy and the crying for mommy. But the teachers eventually settled down, and everything went smoothly. No major accidents. Just a few bumps and scrapes. At the end of the week, though, we saw nine children profess their faith in

Doctor's Appointments

2008-06-07T16:57:00.002-05:00

I had one this week. I waited two and one-half hours to see him. He breezed in wearing jeans with holes all up the legs -- no kidding! From there it turned into an Abbot and Costello routine. You see, I was there to get the results of blood tests checking my cholesterol levels. It went something like this:Doctor: I've got some good news for you.Me: Great. My cholesterol levels must be down.Doctor

We Will Miss You

2008-05-29T20:59:00.002-05:00

She was a "one-of-a-kind" lady. She always smiled. She was always ready to "go." In fact, she would tell you, "Don't ask me if you don't really want me to go." And then when you did, she would simply say, "Let me get my purse." She was a small woman, but she was full of spunk. You knew that from the sparkle in her eye and the stories of mischief that were shared. Also because a few years ago she

Memorial Day

2008-05-22T18:54:00.002-05:00

The unofficial first day of summer. The start of beach season. Not only is Memorial Day misunderstood as the kickoff to vacation time, but also it's significance is missed by many completely. From "remembering" people who have died in the past year to honoring current veterans, it seems that most Americans have no idea what it's all about. Here are the facts: Memorial Day started out as "

I Have an Office?

2008-05-13T21:39:00.002-05:00

Wow! I really do have an office. In fact, I have two offices. I have an upstairs office and a downstairs office. My upstairs office is large, comfortably furnished, and nicely decorated. My downstairs office is more like a study. It's not as nice as the upstairs office, but it has a private bathroom with a shower -- it's perfect for a quiet place to study or talk to some of my senior adults who

Stress Relief

2008-05-06T21:22:00.004-05:00

Three funerals in one week. Two in one day. Someone asked me how I deal with the stress, so I thought I would share my secrets. By going to a great high school band concert -- great job Drew, Whitney, Emily, and the rest of the Hartselle band students. By watching a Little League baseball game -- good games Cole and Matthew. By the prayers of God's people -- thanks Southside family. By listening

Pet Peaves and Powerful Pleas

2008-04-29T09:11:00.000-05:00

Have you ever listened to how the media words things? Sunday, I was listening to Fox News as they were talking about the tragic death of the man attacked by a shark in California. I know the family is grieving, and I would never make light of that fact. But immediately after the reporter finished his story, they began to talk about the number of “unprovoked shark attacks.” Why do you need to say

Am I Making a Difference?

2008-04-22T10:07:00.005-05:00

No, I am not having a pity party. No, I am not looking for compliments. I think sometimes we all need to do a little introspection to see if we are really making a difference in this world because isn't that what we are supposed to be doing? I read the Sermon on the Mount that way. We are the salt of the earth -- flavoring, preserving, changing the world. We are the light of the world --

Revival -- What a Lift!

2008-04-17T18:48:00.004-05:00

We just finished four nights of revival services at Southside, and it was a great time. Dr. Edwin Jenkins and Ryan Leffel from FBC Athens served as our evangelist and music minister. It was great preaching and great music, especially last night. There was an air of expectancy last night as the Celebration Choir from First Baptist came to sing. Dr. Jenkins preached a powerful message on spiritual

What a Week

2008-04-14T09:42:00.002-05:00

Have you ever had someone pray the Prayer of Jabez for you? Thanks, Charlie. For some people, the prayer of Jabez is supposed to be some magic formula for success, wealth, riches, fame, etc. But when you pray that prayer for me, you are asking God to give me more ministry opportunities than before. Thanks again, Charlie. Now I know I sound like I'm being sarcastic, but I don't mean to be.

The End is Coming! The End is Coming!

2008-04-06T15:06:00.002-05:00

What does a Little League baseball game on Sunday, a pregnant “man,” and Oprah Winfrey have in common? They are signs of the times. First, the baseball game. Now, anyone who knows me knows that I love a good baseball game. I enjoy the opportunities I have to watch our church boys and girls play. But this one was going on at 8:15 a.m. on Sunday morning. I’m sure it was because of a tournament or a

Note to Self: Pay the Gym Bill

2008-04-02T08:13:00.003-05:00

Does that sound as crazy to you as it does to me? Why on Earth would anyone pay good money to do something they hate? Don't get me wrong. I don't mind hard work. I'll take a group of folks tomorrow to Edwin Hodges Ministry where we will spend five or six hours loading and unloading boxes filled with literature to be sent around the world. I've sat eight hours in a hospital waiting room (now

I Am An Idiot!

2008-03-26T08:32:00.003-05:00

How many times have I preached it? How many times have I told others that the battle we are in is against "spiritual powers." In laymen's terms, lost people are not the enemy, stupid! Let me give you some background. Several weeks ago, in preparation for the Easter season, I began reading the story of Jesus' march to Jerusalem in those final days: how He was moved to compassion for the people,

I Pick...You!

2008-03-24T14:46:00.003-05:00

I long for the day that someone will come up to me before the worship service and say, "Pastor, you see that man that just came in the door? The one in the ragged clothes that looks like he hasn't bathed in weeks? Man, I have been working on him all week, and he finally came to Jesus." Please don't misunderstand. I am the pastor of a very loving, giving, ministering bunch of folks, but I have

Passion for Purity

2008-03-20T08:31:00.002-05:00

As I was driving to work today -- yes, Pastors work -- I was listening to a radio spot about an abstinence program at one of the local churches. The speaker made a statement that resonated with me: "It isn't about the sex," he said. I think that those on both sides of the abstinence argument miss that very important point. Those who preach and teach abstinence take the stand, "Just say no!" And

Wired to Cheat

2008-03-19T08:33:00.003-05:00

In the wake of the New York governors' revelations of prostitutes and extramarital affairs, the national news media has presented a story claiming that human beings are wired to cheat. In fact, they went so far as to say that the only truly monogamous species on Earth is a flatworm that lives in the gills of freshwater fish! Now I don't know much about flatworms, but I think I know quite a bit

Transformations

2008-03-18T19:45:00.003-05:00

Have you ever watched one of these home improvement shows where they completely transform your house for $2000? Well, maybe they don't do your whole house, but you know what I'm talking about. My wife is hooked on these shows, and I must admit, there are times when I enjoy watching as well. Usually, those are the times when there are no good Chuck Norris, Stephen Segall, Sci-fi shows on that I

A New Day

2008-03-13T08:55:00.000-05:00

It's over. The funeral, I mean. And the most I can say about it is that it was an adventure. A little bit of everything to entertain. There were, of course, the distant (and not so distant) relatives with their, "I remember when you were this big...." And the, "Oh, you look just like your dad." And, "You look just like your mom." And the really strange one, "You look like your dad from here up

New Birth

2008-03-10T16:26:00.000-05:00

Life is irony! As my mother, 71 years old, breathed her last breaths in the Intensive Care Unit, the sweet music signifying the birth of a child played over the hospital speaker system -- not once but twice. When we left the hospital in Kentucky, the ground was covered with five inches of snow. When we arrived home in Alabama, the trees in our front yard were budding and flowers were blooming.

Life Support

2008-03-05T13:04:00.001-06:00

I sit at my computer today pondering the concept of life and death. I feel uniquely qualified to do this because of my position as pastor, son, and friend. Let me explain. Over the 20+ years I have spent in ministry, I have stood by the bedsides of men and women taking their last breaths. I have stood at the pulpit and spoken words over many of these. I have offered hope and comfort to their

The Basic Element

2008-03-04T20:43:00.000-06:00

What must God be thinking? I'll bet He laughs a lot. A few hundred years ago, scientists declared absolutely that the world was flat. I bet God laughed. A few decades ago, scientists declared that the atom was the smallest particle in nature. I bet God laughed. A few years ago, scientists declared that our solar system had nine planets. I bet God laughed. He laughed because He knew the world was