An old song played on our local radio station earlier this week that really got me thinking. The song is Unanswered Prayers by country music legend Garth Brooks. In particular, I have been reflecting on the chorus. In it, Brooks sings: Sometimes, I thank God, for unanswered prayers Remember when you’re talkin’ to the man upstairs That just because He may not answer, doesn’t mean He don’t care...
There are large stained glass windows at both ends of the sanctuary at First Baptist Church of Seymour. This isn’t at all unusual. Stained glass was and remains a common feature of many church buildings. What is uncommon, however, is the images contained within those windows. Often, stained glass windows depict major biblical stories or symbols. Common symbols include crosses, stars, roses of...
The full heat of the season is upon us. Yes, the summer sun has been at peak performance for several weeks now, but that is not what I am referring to. Shining right along with the sun are the smiling faces in all of the “back to school” photos. Every time I open Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter (I refuse to call it X), I’m greeted by images of excited, and often mildly annoyed, young people...
You may ask yourself, what exactly does a pastor do on an extended break from serving at his or her local church? I’m not sure what other pastors do, but this pastor went to church, or rather churches. It would be difficult to estimate exactly how many churches we visited during our travels. In Rome and the cities we visited across Greece, there seemed to be churches on every corner and more than...
Over the last several years, we have done a lot of work on our church building. We have replaced heating and air conditioning units, repainted walls in classrooms and throughout the main corridors of the church, and we have installed new flooring throughout much of the church. In fact, the last piece of business we conducted as a church before I headed out on sabbatical for a month was vote on...
One of my favorite weeks of the year is when I get the opportunity to join our student ministry, The Attic, on their summer mission trip. We work with an amazing organization called Mission Serve that specializes in facilitating mission projects designed to engage and equip students, grades six through twelve, for the work of ministry both in word and deed. We provide some basic training on how...
I have a little Jesus figurine that rides around in a little nook on the dash of my truck. A friend gave him to me in an Easter egg a few months ago. I am under no illusions about the significance this little Jesus. He simply serves as a gentle and somewhat humorous reminder that Jesus is always with me; a much-needed reminder given my temperament and the skill level of most American drivers.As I...
April showers are supposed to bring May flowers. Apparently, the good Lord has decided to alter the script this year. April showers have flowed into May showers, which are currently giving way to, you guessed it, June showers. The weather has continued to be overcast, drizzly, and more than a little dreary. It is a proven fact that the quality and character of the weather can have an impact on...
“Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.” It is likely you have heard or used this phrase at some point in your life. It is often said that this phrase developed due to bathing practices in the middle ages. Due in large part to the absence of indoor plumbing and water heaters, bathing took a lot of effort. The process of preparing to bathe was quite the undertaking as enough water had to be...
There are certain passages in the Bible that make you go “HUH?!” One such passage is found in 1 Peter 3:18-22. Apparently, I am in good company. Even the great Martin Luther struggled with this passage of Scripture. He wrote, “This is a strange text and certainly a more obscure passage than any other passage in the New Testament. I still do not know for sure what the apostle meant.” The...
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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