SPEAKING THE TRUTH: Why should we pray over our meals?

Have you ever been in a restaurant where at one table, after people received their food, they just plowed right in and started eating, while at another table you observe a family bowing their heads over their food in prayer first?Where does this tradition of praying over meals come from?Is it a...

OUT TO PASTOR: Do I really talk in my sleep?

For a long time, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage has accused me of talking in my sleep.I never believed her and just thought she was joking.At least, I thought it was a joke.One time she accused me of that and said, “Why do you talk so much in your sleep at night?”Thinking this was a...

OUT TO PASTOR: Do I really talk in my sleep?

For a long time, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage has accused me of talking in my sleep.I never believed her and just thought she was joking.At least, I thought it was a joke.One time she accused me of that and said, “Why do you talk so much in your sleep at night?”Thinking this was a...

The dynamics of discipleship (part 32)

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, to proclaim liberty to the captives.” – LUKE 4:18There are many forms of captivity in the Bible, enslavement, bondage and imprisonment to various kinds of masters.Whatever holds you in captivity is your master, whether sin or the things of the world, but Jesus...

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: Thanksgiving is... well... it’s Hallmark in real life

Welcome, friends, to the “front porch.”I don’t know how many times I have told you that Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that stays with you the way that the turkey and dressing from that most notable Thursday does.It hangs around all the way from sometime in November through December, from...

OUT TO PASTOR: If only I would take notes

As a writer, I always have a small notebook in my shirt pocket to take notes when I have an idea. I don’t have too many ideas, so I want to write down any I get so I don’t forget them. That has helped me out on many occasions.There is one exception.

The dynamics of discipleship (part 31)

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to heal the brokenhearted.” – LUKE 4:18As the old song says, “Only love can break a heart and only love can mend it.”True, true, but the only love that can mend our hearts is the love of Jesus.We have been given that love to not only mend...

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: Preacher Miller sure did learn to walk the walk

Welcome, friends, to the “front porch.”In August of 1997, we started writing for my hometown paper in LaGrange, Georgia.

OUT TO PASTOR: A day trip in the “Sissy Van”

Last week was the first anniversary of my heart attack.My celebratory plan was to go to McDonald’s for a double cheeseburger, large fries, and a chocolate milkshake.I tried to keep my plan secret, at least from someone in the house, but I failed most miserably.Somehow The Gracious Mistress of the...

The dynamics of discipleship (part 30)

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”...