FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: Remembering “Daddy”

Good day to all. Welcome to the “front porch.” On Dec. 12, 2007 I wrote my first column about my father. Every column has a context, and that one came on the day of his death forty years prior on Dec. 12, 1967.

OUT TO PASTOR: In praise... of crazy

I made a mistake the other night of complaining out loud. It is one thing to complain under your breath so that nobody hears you or knows what you are complaining about. But when you complain out loud, then you run the chance of somebody... hearing you.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: “By the way, I’ve got a job for you!” – The Lord

“What Lord?” Joshua must have said to the Lord. “Will you say that again, and slowly, please, so I can let it sink in?” “Yes,” the Lord says, “Moses my servant is dead.” (Joshua 1:2) “Why Lord?” the bewildered young leader of Israel must be thinking. Moses dead? Why?

OUT TO PASTOR: What did we know before Facebook?

To paraphrase one of my favorite humorist, Will Rogers, “All I know is what I read on Facebook.” I must admit that I also get information from Facebook. I can keep up with my family and friends, know what they are doing, and know what they are saying.

OUT TO PASTOR: Please don’t mess with my peanut butter

Anybody who knows me knows I am not easily rattled by anything. I let the chips fall where they may because I know from whence they came. I am not susceptible to the various rumors making their way around on a regular basis.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: Weight lifted for another great LaGrange preacher

My hometown of La-Grange, Georgia has the distinct honor of being the home of three of the most influential preachers of the churches of Christ over the last century. Two of those men have warranted writings in this place for as long as we’ve shared life here on the “front porch.”

OUT TO PASTOR: To one it’s Monday, to another it’s Wednesday

Recently, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I spent some time in St. Augustine for some vacation days. We don’t often get to have vacation days, but when we do, we try to enjoy it. Just down a few blocks from our motel is a place we love dinning. It’s called the Village Inn.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: Hit the stage a-runnin’ in 2020

So, how are those new goals coming? Oh, I know, we're only half a week into the new year; but I still thought you might need a little nudge to keep you on track.  Well, maybe I thought I might need a little nudge. I’m just pretending to nudge everybody else.

OUT TO PASTOR: Oh, those alluring lizardly eyes

After months of planning and rearranging our schedule, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage finally organized a little vacation time for Christmas. She scheduled us to stay for several days in St. Augustine. We always enjoy our stay there and look forward to going there.

HOPE FOR TODAY: The heart of Christmas

What is the heart of Christmas? Is it the children, helping the less fortunate or being with family? Also, what is the significance of the baby Jesus in a manger that we observe in holiday plays and hear about in Christmas carols? Is it just a nice seasonal story or does it mean something?