Today’s date is Monday, October 17, in the year of our Lord 2022. And so, it is with great joy that I wish you a very happy Bosses Day! Though the day will have passed by the time you read this, I’m sure you celebrated with great gusto and enthusiasm. Here at the offices of First Baptist Church, my Office Czar, as we call her, brought me a box of doughnuts in recognition of this most august of...
Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen is an old African-American spiritual song, first published in 1867. The original version of the song was written during the time of slavery. While the author remains unknown, the song has been covered and adapted numerous times over the years. The original lyrics of the song are as follows… Nobody knows the trouble I’ve been through Nobody knows my sorrow Nobody...
Certain sights, smells, and sounds seem to hold supernatural powers. They have the ability to transport us back through time to the good old days, to simpler times. And, while the sensations that trigger this experience are different for each of us, I am fairly certain we all have them. Whenever I smell freshly cut grass or hear the rustling of leaves, I am immediately transported to a cross...
How many gifts do you think you received throughout your childhood? The number would undoubtedly vary from person to person. But, it’s probably reasonable to say we all received more than a few in our day. Now for a couple follow-up questions: How many of those gifts do you still have in your possession? And, how many do you still utilize today? As I reflect back over my own childhood, the number...
I am constantly surprised when, in the course of living my adult life, lessons taught during my grammar school years provide profound insights and practical solutions to problems. It’s interesting how the keys to mitigating complex struggles often rest in a return to simplicity. As I was reflecting on a particularly messy struggle I’ve been wading through with some dear friends, the words of...
We all have had “one of those days;” days when it seems nothing goes our way and it seems like the whole world has conspired against us. On those days, we perceive and experience everything through a hazy pall of shadow and dust. Even as I write these words, it strikes me as being comical and overly dramatic. It brings to mind the iconic children’s book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No...
The origins of the Labor Day holiday are disputed, but it is believed that the first observance of Labor Day took place on September 5, 1882 in New York City under the direction of the labor unions. The intent for the holiday was to demonstrate the great strength and recognize the many contributions of the working class. In truth, the original observance of Labor Day was less of a party and more...
Church signs are a mixed bag. You never quite know what you’re going to read as you pass. Sometimes, the messaging is incredibly clever and inspires a good laugh. At others, it is utterly cringeworthy and elicits an uncomfortable eye roll. And, at others still, the signs simply provide information about the church. Here are a few examples I’ve personally seen in recent months. “Ch_ _ch…...
In the year of our Lord 2019, the makers of the classic card game UNO made an announcement that nearly broke the internet by challenging long held understanding of how the game was to be played. The official UNO Twitter account posted a meme with a red background and bold, capitalized white letters that read, “YOU CANNOT STACK DRAW 2 CARDS & DRAW 4 CARDS.” They explained further in the tweet...
Not too far from the neighborhood where I grew up, there was a creek. Every once in a while, some of the other neighborhood kids and I would jump on our bikes and ride down to the creek to explore and play in the water. One of our favorite activities when we were there was to attempt to stop the flow of the water by building dams. We would scout out a good location, usually somewhere the water...
Jeremy Myers is the Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church of Seymour, Indiana, where he has served since 2017. He has over 25 years of experience in local church ministry and not-for-profit leadership. He has a passion for helping emerging and existing generations learn to make space for each other and caring for the under-served and marginalized. In 2016, he earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Palmer Theological Seminary, with his thesis focusing on developing connections between senior adults and youth in the church. He is a passionate and gifted communicator and is regularly invited to speak at retreats, camps, conferences, and other events. He lives in Seymour, Indiana with his wife Robyn, their two children, Mikayla and JJ, and their Golden Doodle, Evie.
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