I grew up on a small farm in central Indiana just West of Indianapolis. In addition to a few cows and pigs and some field corn for the animals, we always had a garden. A large garden. At least an acre.
We grew green beans, sweet corn, tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage, potatoes, peas, peppers, carrots, cucumbers, squash, radishes, turnips, beets, onions,
eggplant, watermelons, cantaloupes, and strawberries.
Can you guess why we planted such a big garden every year? Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship, Sowing Seeds for Spiritual Growth
The year is closed, the record made,
The last deed done, the last word said.
The memory remains
Of all its joys, its griefs, its gains.
And now with purpose full and clear,
We turn to meet another year.
–Robert Browning
Another year provides us with an exciting opportunity to make a fresh start. To begin again. To set new goals. To redefine our priorities. To reevaluate our values. And to refocus our purpose in life. Continue reading
Filed under New Year
My friend, Jim Dorn, shared this story with me a couple of years ago.
There was a family that lived out “in the sticks”, far from civilization. One day the family made their first trip to the “big city” and visited a mall. They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny, silver walls that could move apart and back together again.
The boy asked his father, “Pop, what is this?” Continue reading
Filed under Change, Word of the Week
Sometime ago I read a devotional piece by the minister and writer Bill Crowder. He told about going to the Hallmark store to get a birthday card and came across one that read, “You are only young once, but you can be immature forever!”
I suppose if you are a fan of Peter Pan there is something attractive about never growing up. But hopefully most Christians know that perpetual immaturity is not only inappropriate, but unacceptable. Paul encourages us to mature through these words to the Ephesians. Continue reading
Filed under maturity
ThePreachersWord 