On the corner of 2nd Street and Vehslage Road here in Seymour, Indiana, there is a small field that I pass several times a day. I enjoy watching the seasonal progressions in that field throughout the course of the year. At the moment, the field is a barren wasteland. All that remains is the dead stubs of corn stalks from the previous year’s produce. But, soon and very soon, the farmer will begin...
Jesus Said: Be Different
There are few statements from Jesus that we struggle with more than His challenges concerning how we deal with enemies. Jesus makes some incredibly uncomfortable and wildly unpopular asks. Even today, when I reference these verses of Scripture, I invariably will be hit with a chorus of “Yeah, but…” in the moments and days that follow. What Jesus is asking isn’t hard to understand; it’s difficult...
Share Your Story
Acts 1:8 provides us with Jesus’s last instructions to His disciples before He ascended to heaven. It reads, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” This verse is foundational to the mission of the church and a role that each believer is called to play in it. We are ALL...
Great Cloud of Witnesses
Atop the shelves surrounding my office are numerous 8×10 pictures. There is a picture of my family from a wedding when our children were little. There is a picture of my daughter dancing to a song I had composed and performed along with her at her dance recital. There is a picture of my son rocking out on a drum set before he could even form a full sentence. There are three pictures of...
TAG! We’re It!
Over the last few days, I have spent just over 24 hours on airplanes. All of that time sitting in extremely confined spaces with dozens of strangers makes for some extremely interesting opportunities for observation. Of particular interest was a pair of sisters who were sitting nearby, one in front of the other. They “played” the longest game of tag I have ever seen. The game began by accident as...
Are You Actually Going to Help?
One of my favorite outreaches we do every year at First Baptist Church is our partnership with Anchor House, Healthy Jackson County, and numerous area churches, schools, and businesses to provide over 200 food baskets for families at Thanksgiving. Over the course of several weeks, food is collected at various locations across Jackson County. All of the items are eventually transported to First...
Get It Right at the Source
This week’s blog is a guest post by Nathan Parker, Pastor of Worship and Media at FBC Seymour We have a saying in the world of music and audio recording that is represented by the acronym “GIRATS”—Get It Right At The Source. It’s a mantra that music producers and recording engineers keep in mind throughout a session, a reminder that the quality of a recorded song is only as good...
In Whose Hands
In the final moments of the crucifixion, Jesus calls out to the Father. We find His last words in Luke 23:46. It reads, “Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” I’ve always been struck by this interaction. To a great degree, it feels like the final moment of resignation before the ultimate victory of the resurrection. Christ had spent the better part of a...
Whether You See It Or Not
My son, JJ, is what you could very rightly call a car guy. He has been obsessed with vehicles for his whole life. As soon as he was able to walk, he was commandeering my daughter’s pink Barbie Jeep to race around our front yard. He began carefully considering the vehicle he wanted to get upon receiving his license long before he was able to drive one. He has participated in the rebuilding or...
Season’s Greetings
Tis the season of greetings! You’ve undoubtedly received and given a number of said greetings in recent weeks. Whether they come in the form of Christmas cards, songs on the radio, decorations adorning houses and lawns, or through interpersonal interactions with family, friends, and acquaintances, season’s greetings abound this time of year. There are more than a few from which to choose. The...
Recent Comments