FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) – part 28

“It really was the night they Drove Ol’ Dixie Down,” I said to Cheyenne, with a grimace, referring to our 1970s hit song on Pee Wee’s radio on the way home that July evening.I don’t think I’ve ever been as scared as I was that night, I told him.

OUT TO PASTOR: Another turkey in the oven

Thanksgiving is always my favorite time because the focus of Thanksgiving is food.Nobody loves food more than I do.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: Good news – it’s Thanksgiving again!

Welcome to Thanksgiving edition of our Front-Porch Gospel.You won’t mind if we take a break from our 1973 life story for a week.After all, it is Thanksgiving. And besides that, when we pick up with our life story, there will be a great deal of Thanksgiving there to talk about, too.

OUT TO PASTOR: I don’t eat crow on holidays

I enjoy the holiday season because of the food I get to eat.From Halloween to New Year’s Day, the focus is food.

SPEAKING TRUTH: Thankfulness for the people we denounce

Our eyes light up when we see our holiday table filled with multitudes of Thanksgiving favorites. Moist and flavorful turkey. The best homemade mash potatoes. Warm and buttery dinner rolls, tasty desserts, and much more.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) – part 27

For the two years prior to our re-crossing this river of '73  (although we recently had been reminded that no man crosses the same river twice),  Cheyenne and I had been busy reading great novels together, something brought on initially by the world’s standing still, all together, in the year 2020.

OUT TO PASTOR: The Cookie Monster has returned

Sitting in my office working on some projects, I was suddenly surrounded by a familiar aroma. That aroma was familiar, but I couldn’t identify it.I’m like that most of the time. My nose doesn’t work quite like The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) – part 26

“Did all this drama with the young dark-haired girl affect things on the job from then on?”

OUT TO PASTOR: I don’t believe in superstition… but

I don’t believe in any of the superstitious nonsense that seems to be going around these days.Some people have a fear of numbers like 13 and 666.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) – part 25

“When did you learn the girl’s name?”Cheyenne had asked the question then sat back on the log he had sat on by the creek, and waited. I looked out over the muddy water rolling over the rocks and dead limbs dangling in the water as I let the question soak in.