On the job training (part 8)

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: The lovely lady made from a rare cloth

Good week to all. Welcome to the “front porch.” Mother's Day, much like Thanksgiving and Christmas, is one of those days that is just too big to put it into one 24-hour period.

OUT TO PASTOR: Who doesn’t like a Girl Scout cookie?

This week the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage made a little slip. To her, it was a little slip, but to me, it was a big mistake. It is not always that she makes mistakes that I can profit on, but I’m always on the lookout for those times. When it comes to me, I’m always making mistakes.

ON THE JOB TRAINING (part 7)

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: Don’t lose that childlike wonder

Today’s front-porch visit is for all of you who feel a little stressed. Okay, I guess I can rephrase that: It’s for all of you. You understand. You have definitely come to the right place, though.

OUT TO PASTOR: A shortcut is not always that short

I take pride in coming up with a shortcut that actually saves me time. However, not all of my shortcuts have really been that short, and I have paid the price. Last week, for example, I had to go clear across town for my appointment with my eye doctor.

ON THE JOB TRAINING (Part 6)

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in Heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: MawMaw

This is her story, here in the Front-Porch Gospel. Ninety-nine years she led a lovely, quiet example of what a good Christian woman and mother and wife looks like. Then she left us this past week, leaving an empty place inside.

OUT TO PASTOR: What would the world be without apple fritters?

Stress is not something new in my life or anybody else’s, for that matter. The thing about stress is that you never get used to it, or at least I don’t. This past week has not been one of those stress-free weeks. Starting on the very first day of the week, stress poked its nose into my business.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: “You are no Moses, sir!”

Good week to all. Welcome to the “front porch.” One day some years ago, my Houston friend Chuck Sears teased me while we were talking about the greatness of Zig Ziglar.