One of my oldest and dearest friends, Pastor Mike Miller, recently reached out to ask me to offer some insights into an article he was writing for his church newsletter. As I read what he had written, I found myself both convicted and encouraged. His words cut through the mess of our current crisis and through the mess we often make of this time of year and point us to the true heart of Christmas...
The Christmas season inspires a great many feelings in each of our hearts. For the vast majority of us, fear is not one of them. It is of particular interest, then, that in several portions of the Christmas narrative angels are issuing the encouragement, “Do not be afraid.” As a matter of fact, almost every time an angel appears in the Christmas story, this is part of their message. This comes as...
“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all.” I have the utmost confidence that all of us have either heard or uttered some variation of this phrase at some point in our lives. While the grammatical integrity of the statement is suspect, the personal integrity it encourages is above reproach. Generally, when the phrase is utilized in conversation it will be directly preceded by “My...
I am a coffee lover. I enjoy everything about it. I love the way it smells, the way it tastes, the way it keeps me from doing harm to other humans throughout the day. You know, the little things. I also very much enjoy the brewing process itself. I don’t brew my coffee in the same way most people do. I don’t even own a properly functioning coffee maker. I have a vast collection of brewing devices...
Is it fair to consider “2020” a four-letter word? I am fully aware that it is actually four numbers that, when fully spelled out, has twelve letters. It feels appropriate to classify 2020 with the other “bad words” of the English language. If we’re being honest, it sure feels like a bad word. You sort of have to gag it out of your mouth and, once you do, you feel a little dirty for having said it...
As Americans, we are extremely protective of our rights. It’s part of our DNA as a nation. The American Revolution revolved around a foundational understanding and expectation that people within a nation are promised various rights and it is the government’s duty to protect said rights. Those rights have adapted and adjusted with the passing of time and some new rights have been added. One such...
Election season is always at least moderately uncomfortable and contentious in the very best of times. The first presidential election I can recall was between then Vice President George H. W. Bush and Michael Dukakis. I was in second grade at the time. We held a mock election in our class. Leading up to the election my classmates and I were asked to read some information about each candidate and...
Some of my earliest memories come from when I was two or three years old living in California. I remember our brown apartment and the fat “woolly worms” that used to crawl on the sidewalk in front of it. I remember walking with my mother to a nearby library to get books about a dinosaur. And, I remember going to Sunday School and singing songs in “big church” at Calvary Baptist Church (They also...
We have some incredible state parks here in Indiana. One wouldn’t think that the plains of Indiana would provide rugged trails, deep ravines, and incredible overlooks, but they do. Much the opposite of the mountains of West Virginia, our topography drops down into the ground rather than rising out of it. It provides quite the playground for weekend adventurers. My family and I visited two of...
There are some stories that stick with you, increasing in significance and meaning as you get older and have a little more understanding. It is amazing to me how what we often label “children’s stories” present timeless truths in practical ways that can provide some perspective for current realities. Two that seem particularly useful in my life revolve around chickens. One is “The Little Red...
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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