West Virginia offered a host of recreational activities not available where I grew up in the northern plains of Indiana. So, when I moved to the “Mountain State,” I took advantage of as many of the outdoor adventures as possible. My wife Robyn and I hiked the hills of nearby state parks, I took a college course on Whitewater Rafting and served as a guide for a summer, and I purchased a mountain...
One of my favorite memories from my time in youth ministry involves a speech given by one of my amazing volunteer youth workers in a cornfield in Kentucky. It was my first major event for First Baptist Church of St Albans, WV. I had been at the church for several months, but I didn’t know the teenagers very well, nor they me. So, as is often the case, some of the teenagers were pushing the...
There is a lot of talk these days about superheroes and the powers they possess. This is certainly the result of the deluge of superhero movies that have poured into the theaters and into our homes over the past decade. While watching one such movie recently, I was intrigued by a question asked by one of the mortal characters in the film. The character simply asked, “If you could have any...
Social media provides us with an interesting tool for observing current social norms. When we create accounts and agree to the terms of service provided by these companies, we are afforded entry into a massive fishbowl of sorts. Anyone with access to a computerized device, which is literally everyone in our modern world, is able to watch as the insanity ensues. It is both entertaining and...
Over the years, I have developed quite the collection of nativity sets. For those unfamiliar with this term, the nativity is the depiction of the birth of Jesus. It is often referred to as the manger. These sets often contain the virgin Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, a donkey, an ox, some shepherds with sheep, wisemen/magi with their accompanying animals, and an angel or a star. These nativity...
I don’t like the term “ugly Christmas sweater.” While, I would certainly agree that most Christmas clothing is incredibly eccentric, attention grabbing, and perhaps a bit on the bright side, I enjoy seeing the different pieces throughout the holiday season. I own quite a few of these modern works of art myself and wear them loudly and proudly (emphasis on loudly). Don’t get me wrong, there is no...
One of my favorite Christmas decorations is an animatronic caroler that sits in the corner of my living room. We found her during a trip to a local antique market last winter. She is wearing a green dress with a red cape and a red hat in the Elizabethan style (think A Christmas Carol). She is holding a candle in her right hand. When you turn the power on she begins to rotate her head to the left...
Last year around this time I conducted a little social experiment. The holiday rush was in full-swing and I was struggling to feel the spirit of the season. I was feeling a spirit caused by the byproducts of the season, but they were on the wrong end of the spectrum. With all of the wonderful goodness that goes along with Christmas and the holiday season there is a fine line between “holly...
For about 20 years now, I’ve wanted the same thing for Christmas. I often feel much like Ralphie, the main character in the Christmas classic, A Christmas Story. In the movie, all Ralphie wants for Christmas is a “Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model, air rifle.” At every turn, poor Ralphie is stymied by the prevailing sentiment that he will “shoot his eye out” should he get one. The...
Tis the season… to debate about when it is appropriate to decorate for Christmas! There is a plethora of opinions, as varied and diverse as the decorations on a family Christmas tree. Some argue that each holiday must be given its own individual time to be properly observed. Each holiday should be observed in its own due season and the next holiday ought not be celebrated until the preceding...
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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