Is it fair to consider “2020” a four-letter word? I am fully aware that it is actually four numbers that, when fully spelled out, has twelve letters. It feels appropriate to classify 2020 with the other “bad words” of the English language. If we’re being honest, it sure feels like a bad word. You sort of have to gag it out of your mouth and, once you do, you feel a little dirty for having said it...
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...
Election season is always at least moderately uncomfortable and contentious in the very best of times. The first presidential election I can recall was between then Vice President George H. W. Bush and Michael Dukakis. I was in second grade at the time. We held a mock election in our class. Leading up to the election my classmates and I were asked to read some information about each candidate and...
Some of my earliest memories come from when I was two or three years old living in California. I remember our brown apartment and the fat “woolly worms” that used to crawl on the sidewalk in front of it. I remember walking with my mother to a nearby library to get books about a dinosaur. And, I remember going to Sunday School and singing songs in “big church” at Calvary Baptist Church (They also...
We have some incredible state parks here in Indiana. One wouldn’t think that the plains of Indiana would provide rugged trails, deep ravines, and incredible overlooks, but they do. Much the opposite of the mountains of West Virginia, our topography drops down into the ground rather than rising out of it. It provides quite the playground for weekend adventurers. My family and I visited two of...
There are some stories that stick with you, increasing in significance and meaning as you get older and have a little more understanding. It is amazing to me how what we often label “children’s stories” present timeless truths in practical ways that can provide some perspective for current realities. Two that seem particularly useful in my life revolve around chickens. One is “The Little Red...
It’s that time of year again. Time for all the ghouls and goblins to make their way out to haunt the world. No, I’m not talking about the forthcoming children’s holiday, when kids get dressed up in costumes and request candy from their kind-hearted neighbors. That happening carries with it joy, community, and cooperation. It is election season and it is coming in hot. It brings with it division...
John Wesley is considered by most to be one of the titans of the Christian faith in recent centuries. We see the evidence of his impact in communities all around the world. One Christian denomination bears his name, the Wesleyan Church. Another denomination is a product of his life’s work, the Methodist Church. The faith of countless millions has been and continues to be informed and strengthened...
Many people, myself included, have taken to calling our shutdown in the spring “The Great Pause.” As we have moved through the summer, efforts have been made to reintroduce greater levels of activity into society at a variety of levels. There is no denying, however, that the world isn’t quite as busy as it was before the muddy mess of 2020. The constant state of wait-and-see has greatly limited...
The First Baptist Church of Seymour, Indiana was established in 1839. We are just under two decades from celebrating 200 years as a church. During that time, we have gone through one name change (originally it was Liberty Baptist Church) and we have been housed in five different buildings at five different locations. We have a rich and robust history of community involvement and engagement...
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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