FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: Southern hospitality greets you heartily at the front door

Good first week of October to all! Welcome to the “front porch.” Columnists generally know that when you sit down to write a column, you need context. You scroll through your mind to think of something from the past or present that must be told in the here and now.

OUT TO PASTOR: To grin or not to grin, is my dilemma

Through the years, I have experienced one dilemma after another. I remember my father once told me, “Son, when life delivers you a dilemma, make lemonade out of it.” To which I looked at him with a big grin and said, “Is there any dilemma I can make a root beer out of it?”

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: Don’t ask the lighthouse to move!

Good week to all. Welcome to the “front porch.” There’s an old story of a warship out on the sea on a foggy night. The captain sees a light just ahead that is on a collision course with his ship. Immediately the captain radios ahead, “Sir,” he says, “we are on a collision course.

HOPE FOR TODAY: Let’s move in together

Clinical Psychologist Meg Jay writes about a young lady named Jennifer in a New York Times column. She was one of Meg’s clients who lived with her boyfriend four years prior to getting married. Then, a year after the wedding, Jennifer showed up for a session on Meg’s couch.

OUT TO PASTOR: The parsonage kitchen shutdown threat

A certain situation has been building in the Parsonage for the last several months. At first, I did not think it too serious but alas, we have reached a terrible impasse. Quite frankly, I’m not exactly sure what to do.

FRONT PORCH GOSPEL: ‘I’ll stick with Solomon’

Good week to all. Welcome to the “front porch.” During the recent sickness and passing of my father-in-law Bill Dickinson, his preacher-son Billy sent out a text to several of the family members expressing that – through it all – the Lord has been good to us.