“Dad, who’s Florida State versing today?” “Versing?” I asked. “Is that what you said?” “Yes, versing,” Drake replied. Drake heard the word “versus,” normally used for “Florida vs. Florida State.” By the sound, he turned the word into “verse.” When he heard the sports commentators describing two teams competing against each other, he heard, “Florida […]
Read More »There’s nothing like the start of a school and college semester. Life seems to get back into a routine and overwhelm simultaneously. Grades, reports, schedules, conflicts, viruses– you name it. And that’s just for second graders. Before we get back to the grind, we need to think very practically about our relationship with Christ. If […]
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We live in a world of competing priorities. All of them are good things. Do I want the Honda or the Ford? Minivan or Sedan? Florida or Florida State? Public, Private, or Home Schools? Swim or Dance? Assisted Living or Independent? Each one can seem both overwhelming and mundane at the same time. When you […]
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We send Parker and Drake back to school next week. The summer break is over, but we’ve learned even more about ourselves and our boys this summer than ever before. This is one of the growing years. If you’ve paid attention to our pictures, you know that Parker has grown about 6 inches in 6 […]
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When Jesus commissions his disciples in Matthew 28:16-20, he sends them out to demonstrate what the church looks like. They are a follow-ship: a fellowship of believers that experiences and follows the risen Christ. It begins with Jesus himself calling them to a mountain and ends with his promise of presence: “Lo, I am with […]
Read More »This week God’s children have groaned in the pain of violence, war, and immigration. The Bible speaks about two kinds of groaning: the “labor pains” of creation longing for freedom and the groaning of believers longing for the adoption to be completed (Romans 8:21-22). This past week, one echoes the other in the voices of […]
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Most ministry involves three kinds of hands. A hand out to those less fortunate. We give food, extend mercy, and love unconditionally. A hand up to those trying to be empowered to make it on their own. We teach someone how to fish, or plan, or work so that they can feed their families. A […]
Read More »Over the past two weeks, I’ve preached about Life Groups. They’re outward-focused small groups in places, phases, and pursuits of life. They’re designed to reach the unreached, unchurched, and uninvolved in our community. In other words, they’re patterned after the groups that formed in Acts 2:41-46. FBC members will host and facilitate the groups, and […]
Read More »Several years ago, a friend of mine went through a terrible car accident. His recovery was slow and difficult. He never regained his full abilities, but he and his wife survived to tell an incredible story. They called it a “slow miracle.” In their testimony, they shared that the process of recovery and partial healing […]
Read More »This year’s VBS has surpassed expectations in attendance and impact. Rhonda Smith and our volunteers dedicated a week of their lives helping kids know that Jesus loves them. Using the template of “Weird Animals,” each child has discovered that they are uniquely created by God. Jesus loves them even though they are alone, don’t understand, or do bad […]
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