OUT TO PASTOR: What is a day off, really?

I’m not one who gets excited about holidays. If up to me there would be one holiday per month, and that’s it. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage loves holidays, no matter what it is. For her it is a time to have a “Day Off.” If anybody knows how to celebrate a day off it is her.

FRONT PORCH GOSPEL: Ode to Charlie, the world’s greatest kisser

Good day to all. Welcome to the “front porch.” A month or so ago I sat down to write a column that started this way: “Charlie has grown old, and we know that his time with us is growing short.

OUT TO PASTOR: Eating out of my comfort zone

One pleasure the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and myself enjoy is going out for a quiet dinner together. It does not happen often, at least not often enough. When it does, it is always a delightful time and we try to take advantage of it.

FRONT PORCH GOSPEL: Thin-ice faith

Good day to all. Welcome to the “front porch.” On my trips, I always pack a little book called “The Case For Faith” by Lee Stroebel. I have long been intrigued by the idea of “faith” and how fragile it sometimes can be. You understand, I’m sure.

OUT TO PASTOR: Understanding the Grandpa rules

As circumstance would have it, and I like to give circumstances due credit, I was visiting my grandchildren without the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. With the opportunity before me to go solo with the grandchildren, I determined to make the best of it.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: It’s all right to be a Mama’s Baby!

Welcome, friends, to the “front porch.” I know Mother’s Day is past; but, really, every day is Mother’s Day, if you think about it.

HOPE FOR TODAY: Why God? Why?

I was recently visiting with some high school seniors and asked them what their classmates thought about God. “They’re sometimes confused,” they said. I asked them to explain. “They see bad things happen in the world and wonder why. If God is God, then why didn’t He prevent it?

OUT TO PASTOR: And then, it was Friday

Like many people, I try planning and arranging my week so I can accomplish as much as possible. For example, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage on Monday morning hands me her “honey-do-list” to complete by the end of the week.

FRONT PORCH GOSPEL: The shot

This week I want to give you a breather and just tell you a story. I will tell you from the start that I may get in trouble for it. Go ahead and bank on it. Or, as I told my ballplayers through the years: Put it in your notebook. The trouble won’t come from just one side.

OUT TO PASTOR: Finding good in our world is challenging

In our world today, it is difficult to find anything good, let alone anything good to say about anything or anyone. One area of life I have a very difficult time finding anything good is politics. I stay completely away from politics as much as possible.