The signs of the season are all around us. It is that time of year when people put on masks and costumes and pretend to be something they are not. They roam our streets seeking offerings of approval from those who live in the region. They promise tricks if they are not given the treats they desire. No, I’m not talking about Halloween and the many children who will parade around our community in...
Sitting on my desk is a daily calendar. Across the top, it reads, “MENTAL FLOSS: AMAZING FACTS.” While it would be a stretch to call any of the tidbits of information “amazing,” they are usually at least mildly entertaining. For instance, before authoring the wildly popular Goosebumps series of children’s books, author R. L. Stine wrote the jokes found inside Bazooka bubble gum wrappers. Another...
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” I’m not sure who first uttered these words, but it’s hard to deny the wisdom they communicate. Early and often are the times that life goes sideways on us. In those times, we must decide if we’ll let our circumstances make us sour, or if we’ll find a way to make something sweet and enjoyable out of it. In my own life, I’ve found that many of my best...
“God will never give you more than you can handle.” I can’t tell you how many times this phrase has been uttered to me throughout my life. My guess is you have heard or even used this phrase yourself at some point in time. The phrase undoubtedly comes from the right heart. The only problem is the message communicated is wrong. Even the most blessed of lives will have a fair share of moments that...
I recently heard a story that has continued to resonate in my heart and mind. The story, often told as a joke, is called the Parable of the Drowning Man. The story goes as follows… Torrential rains came upon a small town. As the rains came down the floods came up. Seeing the water rising, a local man began to call out to God for help. He prayed, “Lord, please save me!” Looking down the road, the...
Mark 9:14-29 contains one of my favorite examples of faith in the Bible. This passage tells the story of a desperate father trying to get some help for his son. For years, this man’s son had dealt with “a spirit” that had made the boy mute, caused him to have seizures, and had often put the boy in mortal danger. We don’t know exactly how long this poor man had been forced to watch the suffering...
Today is the most Mondayest Monday of the year. Mondays are notoriously difficult days of the week. There are the noteworthy exceptions to the rule during holiday weeks on which Mondays serve as functional extensions of the weekend. But, on most occasions, Mondays serve as the reentry point to the grind of the working week. To borrow a biblical parlance, it is a day of great “mourning and...
It was a dark and stormy night. Rain beat against the window, the wind shook the house, and periodic bolts of lightning faintly and briefly illuminated the bedroom. In the bed at the center of the room lay a young boy with only his frightened eyes peeking out from under the covers. With every flash of light his eyes search the room with full certainty that, particularly on a night like this, evil...
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the...
Certain songs have a way of sticking with us over time. The music may enter through our ears, but it is able to bore down and burrow into the very center of our souls. These songs can lie dormant deep within us, often for years, only to emerge at the opportune moment to provide inspiration, insight, or encouragement. Many are the songs in my own heart. Some are deep and spiritual; a great many...
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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