A simple claw hammer, a two foot metal stake, and a yellow jacket nest… On first glance, this could be the start of a really bad joke. And, just like a really bad joke, there’s nothing funny about where this story goes. In late summer of 2018, the third largest Californian wildfire was set ablaze as a result of these simple items. One article about the fire explains, “California’s largest...
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…...
“I’ve got good news and bad news. Which do you want first?” I have heard and uttered this phrase countless times over the years. In my experience, the phrase falls into one of two categories. It is either funny or foreboding… Or rather, it is an attempt to be funny in order to mitigate the foreboding. The good news, in these instances, is rarely good. It is really just a slightly less ominous...
I have a love/hate relationship with technology. Nothing makes me tense up more than feeling that all-too-familiar vibration in my pocket alerting me that someone is either calling or texting. That being said, digital communication tools have been essential to maintaining both personal and professional connection over the last eighteen months. Computers, cameras, cellphones, and the programs we...
I have a word of the day calendar sitting on my nightstand. My wife and kids got it for me this past Christmas. I’ve wanted one for quite some time now, since I was in high school, to be exact. A good friend who attended school with me had one. I’m not sure if it was the calendar or the fact that he was disgustingly intelligent, but he was never without an interesting, if not insanely obscure...
Every winter, Seymour, Indiana goes to the birds in the very best of ways. Local wildlife authorities estimate that somewhere between 20,000 and 45,000 Sandhill Cranes call this region home. Sometime around late November or early December they begin showing up in the sky above and the fields around town. They are usually heard before they are seen, though. They aren’t exactly the quietest of...
“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...
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...
My daughter learned a very important lesson when she was in first grade. She came home from school one day with a particularly challenging homework assignment. I can’t remember exactly what the assignment was, but I will never forget the interaction I had with my daughter while she worked through it with her mother. Mikayla very diligently focused on each portion of the activity. I could tell her...
I had quite the interesting experience before church began on a recent Sunday morning. As my daughter and I approached the doors, all of the lights were off and the doors were locked. This isn’t unusual as we currently don’t open our doors until 30 minutes before the service starts. As I fought with my keys in an attempt to unlock the door, it suddenly and extremely unexpectedly opened. Standing...
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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