
The World I Desire for My Kids
This has been a difficult week, both as a pastor and a father. We’ve seen an insurrection – a failed … Continue reading The World I Desire for My Kids
This has been a difficult week, both as a pastor and a father. We’ve seen an insurrection – a failed … Continue reading The World I Desire for My Kids
On Sunday, we announced that my wife and I are expecting the birth of our second child. I still smile at the reaction from the congregation as we played the announce video and the ultrasound image flashed onto the screen. There was excitement, joy, and, yes, hope.
We are right there with those emotions. We have long desired a second child, and that it is finally happening is a blessing and a joy. There is a part of me that wants April 2020 to come now. I don’t have a lot of patience for standing around waiting. I’m pretty sure Abbi is ready for me to find something to occupy my mind so I’m not bugging her about getting ready now.
There is, however, a lot of work that goes into getting ready for a new baby. There are the obvious preparatory needs, such as the doctor’s appointments, purchasing new items, and getting the house ready for a new child. There is also the harder work of preparing your children, if you already have any, on what that new life will look like and, of course, that you will not love them any less.
All of this work makes me wonder … what does it look like to get ready for new families and children in the church? Continue reading “Making Room for Children”
On a bookshelf in my office is a new decorative piece that I received in Jerusalem. It is an olive … Continue reading The Embrace of Jesus
Today, I had the privilege and honor to officiate my grandfather’s funeral. My grandfather, Papaw, passed away on July 28. We’ve known this day was coming, but it still does not make it easy.
As I have done on several other occasions, I was asked to officiate the service and offer a few words of reflection upon this man we miss so dearly. What follows after the jump is the homily from today’s funeral. I provide it for you so that you may get to know this man who will live on through the legacy that he leaves behind. Continue reading “Some Words about My Grandfather”
Tonight, we had a reflection service to focus on the meaning of all that transpired during Holy Week. It was a great service that also including the baptism of my son. The manuscript for the homily follows after the jump. Continue reading “Holy Week Reflection Service Message: A Week for All”