ON THE JOB TRAINING (part 26)

“Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” – MATTHEW 13:22The cares of this world are on the nightly news, available to choke the living daylights out of anyone who...

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: Lost in Yellowstone (Chapter 10)

CHAPTER 10“The dividing of a river, the parting of friends.”

OUT TO PASTOR: The epitome of boredom

I have never considered myself to be boring. I may be boring to other people but not to myself.As you get older, you find out that there are many boring things in this world.When younger, I can’t ever remember being bored except when my father was lecturing me on how I should behave.

ON THE JOB TRAINING (part 25)

“But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: Lost in Yellowstone (chapter 9)

CHAPTER 9“A danger greater than the bear.” The next morning, I was up early, as usual, getting the bags down from the tree and getting ready for our fourth day of hiking. I remember our being especially tired that morning and not very talkative.

OUT TO PASTOR: Ready or not, here I quit

I do not quit easily. When I start a project, I like to work until it’s finished. I hate to quit before something is completed.One thing I have learned through the years is not to start something unless I have the time and resources to finish it.

ON THE JOB TRAINING (part 24)

“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: Lost in Yellowstone (Chapter 8)

CHAPTER 8“Bear in the darkness.” Two nights in a row we slept in a bear meadow – perhaps ‘bear wilderness’ would say it better, even. But this one may have been more of a dangerous place to camp than the first.

OUT TO PASTOR: Are you ready for Fall?

With such a tumultuous summer, I’m glad we are now beginning the fall season. There for a while, I didn’t think it was going to come. But, contrary to my negativity, it has arrived, and I’m delighted.Summer wasn’t quite the way summers have been in the past.

ON THE JOB TRAINING (part 23)

And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”