Front-porch gospel

Welcome to our first “front porch” visit – at least, our first such visit in the last decade or more. Back when I still roamed the halls and the gym at Red Oak High School – teaching and coaching – many of us spent time together here in the newspaper. We are glad to be back.

The believer’s mission statement (part 8)

“To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” – Luke 4:19 The acceptable year of the Lord is the year of Jubilee, a type and shadow of all the Old Testament feasts and ordinances being fulfilled by the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

OUT TO PASTOR: I’m really enjoying my naivety

Someone recently said to me, “You sure are naïve.” I’m not sure what the incident was about at the time, and I was a little bit hurt by that saying. What did he mean that I am naïve? I have been giving this some thought and at this point, I remember quite a few people labeling me as naïve.

HOPE FOR TODAY: Choosing hope

Jill, a high school senior, took the emotional wrenching drive to the clinic. Nervously she sat, seeming unsure of herself. It felt like there was no other way to handle her unplanned pregnancy. There she was, all alone, in front of the abortion clinic. Where is the hope for her?

The believer’s mission statement (part 7)

“To set at liberty those who are oppressed.” – Luke 4:18 Oppression means to crush by abuse of power or authority and there are millions, even in the church who are oppressed by the devil. Satan has no authority over the believer or power other than what we have given him.

OUT TO PASTOR: I don’t miss my teacher’s hickory stick, but she never did

I am not sure why I think of some things, however, every occasionally I remember something that happened a million years ago. Or so it seems. This week for some reason, I happened to think of my fifth grade elementary school teacher, Miss Ammon.

HOPE FOR TODAY: Easter... and the danger of religion

“Come on. Let’s go!” Every Sunday morning, including every Easter, since I was three years old all six of our family were rushing out the door to church. In the early years, dad was driving with us, later on he was already there because he was the pastor.

The believer’s mission statement (part 6)

“Recovery of sight to the blind.” – Luke 4:18 Jesus prayed for many who were blind, some even blind from birth and gave them their sight back.

OUT TO PASTOR: A smile is both contagious and healthy

My grandfather had a favorite saying that went something like this, “A frown is just a smile upside down.” Nobody could smile quite like my grandfather. He never waited for any reason to smile, he just smiled. In fact, thinking about it today, I do not ever remember seeing my grandfather frown.

HOPE FOR TODAY: Victory through defeat

College basketball fans live for “March Madness”. It is about this time a particular name is remembered each year – Coach John Wooden, the legendary coach of the UCLA Bruins.