OUT TO PASTOR: What if I don’t want to act my age?

Throughout my life, I have often heard people telling other people what they should be or do. I do not know where they get the right to say that about other people. I first encountered this attitude with my mother. She would often say to me, “Son, you need to start acting your age.”

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: A teacher’s sanctuary (Chapter 1)

Welcome to the “Front-Porch.”The gym, the magical classroom, waterfalls, old friends, watching movies and westerns with the amazin’ blonde – my wife of 50 years and – let’s see… three-and-a-half months – listening to the singing in church, especially to my favorite song of all, “How Great Thou Art”...

RESTORATION TRAINING CENTER: Lawlessness

“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) part 97

Red was already in rare form that morning as I and the sweet Nova pulled up into the McClain drive.

OUT TO PASTOR: Boy, oh boy, what a day it was

Throughout my years, I have had many crazy days.I guess it’s crazy days that develop character.If so, I have a lot of character.I never had a day quite like last week. Everything seemed to go wrong for me.When we got up, our electricity was off.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) part 95

The scene of the raging waters of the Jordan, the sermon Preacher Harvey preached to overflowing crowds across the country on many sweltering summer nights, and, naturally, the serene arm-in-arm crossing of that stormy bridge with Corrina – they all passed through my mind again as I looked out over...

OUT TO PASTOR: I didn’t have Google... I had Grandma

It was Thursday, and as usual, I was busy working on weekend projects.My biggest project, of course, was my Sunday sermon.Most people don’t understand the amount of hard work that goes into preparing a Sunday sermon.And I work hard.I was spending time researching some ideas on Google.Until...

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) part 93

Those memories flashed back that Monday on the job as soon as I heard the opening music of Vicki Lawrence’s song, and they made me feel good, at least initially.But the further she got into the song, the tone and tragedy of the song hit me, and I had to find a place where the boys couldn’t see me.I...

OUT TO PASTOR: Practice doesn’t always make perfect

This month, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and her amazing husband will celebrate 54 years of marital bliss.I can’t believe how fast the time has gone. It only seems like yesterday that we got married. Maybe that’s the benefit of getting old.I remember the beginning of our life together.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) part 92

When I came back, they were engaged in lady talk, as I call it. Mama reached out to feel Corrina’s dress, which was a pretty combination of green and red with white laces girls like to wear.