If being offended were an Olympic event, there would be some stiff competition for the gold. I’ll be honest; I was personally a little offended by the opening ceremony. I wasn’t offended because of any specific scene I witnessed, though the organizers definitely crossed lines of propriety from my perspective. I was offended because it was boring and confusing, and especially because they...
It’s likely that you have seen an artistic rendering of Lady Justice at some point in your life. It’s an important icon in American history and culture. She serves as a personification of the concept of justice and judgement. She is usually blindfolded and holding a set of scales in one hand and a sword in the other. A lot of information is being communicated through this image. In our current...
Amazing Grace is arguably the most well-known hymn ever composed. Truly, a solid case could be made that it is the most well-known song in history across all genres (The Guinness book of world records lists Happy Birthday in the top spot). The song was composed by the Anglican clergyman John Newton in 1772. More than 250 years have passed since then and still this song is sung in churches around...
Few ideals, if any, are more valued in our current cultural climate than individuality. The great pursuit of past eras was to find one’s place within society. Today, we place a premium on discerning and highlighting what sets us apart. We all want to be spectacularly different… just like everybody else. Many have endeavored to discover where this shift in focus and drive took place. Most agree...
Just over a week ago, my nuclear family traveled to Puerto Rico to join with our family of faith for the Biennial Mission Summit of our denomination, the American Baptist Churches USA. It was an incredibly busy weekend of listening to reports from our missionaries and agencies, celebrating shared successes, recognizing areas that require improvement, and engaging in discussions to discern...
Towards the end of every month I receive a “special” document in my church mailbox requiring my attention. It is a credit card statement for my church expense card. Various items on the document will have been highlighted by the church business manager, thus indicating that action is required on my part. Each highlighted item represents a receipt that I have, to that point, failed to submit to...
Who doesn’t love seeing a beautiful rainbow in the sky? I know that a vast majority of people in the community of Seymour, Indiana are just as fascinated by them as I, because every time one appears in the Seymourian sky it dominates my social media feed for the next 24 hours. This leads me to believe that a vast majority of people do exactly as I do when I learn that a rainbow has appeared...
Much like most other elementary schools throughout these United States, trips to the library were a regular part of our schedule. I can still see the layout of the library in my mind’s eye. In my early years, I was not what you would call an avid reader. I was never diagnosed with ADD, or any of those lists of letters that indicated it, but attention was not a form of capital of which I had an...
Several years ago, I received a summons to jury duty. I know there are mixed feelings about receiving such a summons, but I was fairly ambivalent about it all. Like most people, I had other responsibilities and commitments calling for my time, but I also was extremely curious about how the whole process worked and was more than willing to fulfill my duties as a citizen of this great nation of...
I have a confession to make… I DO NOT LOVE EASTER. It’s OK if you’re judging me a little upon reading this revelation. I judge myself. We can just add it to the ever-growing list of things that make me an unfit pastor. I just don’t enjoy this holiday. I hate the soft, pastel colors that dominate this season. I find the human-sized rabbits that attend our parties and that supposedly deliver candy...
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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