Today, I’m worshiping with and preaching for the brethren in Cosby, Tennessee. We were here back in March when COVID-19 ramped up and they had to suspend their services, like so many other churches around the country.
So much has happened in the past 7 months that it seems almost surreal.
-Almost 8 million Americans have contracted COVID-19 and more than 39 million worldwide.
-Over 216,000 have died in the US, and more than 1.1 million people worldwide. Continue reading
Filed under COVID-19, Sunday Seed Thoughts
“Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile,” once quipped Billy Sunday, the baseball player turned preacher.
As a result of seeing so many professed Christians going to church, but not living out their profession in their daily lives, some have supposed that religion is a bad thing. “I’m not religious, but I’m spiritual,” has become a popular and oft-repeated mantra of many today. Continue reading
Filed under Passage To Ponder
Today we’re worshiping with Eastside church in Shelbyville, Tennessee, where I’ve been holding a weekend meeting.
This is the first time I’ve preached at Shelbyville. And the first time to meet most of these brethren. But we’ve bonded quickly. Even though COVID-19 restricts shaking hands or hugging and respecting the physical space of others, our interaction is based on something greater. Continue reading
Filed under Sunday Seed Thoughts
COVID-19 has altered our lives in so many ways. And none more profoundly for pastors, preachers, and churches than the impact on our worship services.
All of my spring and summer meetings were canceled. In fact, most churches did not even assemble in their meeting houses for several weeks. During our travels to Montana and back to Florida, we were privileged to preach several Sundays at various congregations. Yet, it wasn’t quite the same. Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
Since we are only a few miles from the Gulf of Mexico, we were tracking two tropical storms, Marco and Laura, heading toward the Gulf in the past week.
Marco fizzled. But Laura turned westward from us, increased to a category 4 and slammed the southern Louisiana coast. Lake Charles was hit hard.
While not as destructive as predicted, the worse storm to hit the state since 1856 has disrupted lives. Flooded homes. Damaged property. And at least 14 people have died.
Yet during this time, there have been many other storms. Perhaps you have been in one of them. Continue reading
Filed under Sunday Seed Thoughts
“The name of Jesus is not so much written as plowed in the history of the world,” once wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson.
When the angel appeared to Joseph and said Mary had conceived a child of the Holy Spirit, He instructed, “You shall call his name Jesus. For he shall save his people from their sins.” Yet, there are over 200 names, titles, and designations for Jesus in the Bible that attest to his greatness, prominence, and Preeminence. Continue reading
Filed under Sunday Seed Thoughts
Today when we come to communion, we come to the cross. A song is sung. A passage read. Often we’re asked to remember Jesus and visualize Him hanging on the cross.
While we glamorize, romanticize, and celebrate the cross, the crucifixion was a shameful, humiliating, and painful means of capital punishment for the worst of criminals.
However, it’s also good to remember there were three crosses on Golgotha’s hill that day. Each has a message for us. Continue reading
Filed under Sunday Seed Thoughts
As we prepare to go to church services this morning, the admonition of the late Bill Fiest from a 1996 Florida College Lecture, is worth our serious reflection and thoughtful consideration. Continue reading
Filed under Sunday Seed Thoughts
“A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, a wonderful Savior to me” begins the hymn written by the famous songwriter Fanny Crosby. Yet the circumstances of Crosby’s life were anything but wonderful.
Three tragic events impacted Fanny Crosby that could have rendered her discouraged, depressed, and impotent to accomplish success in her life. Continue reading
Filed under Sunday Seed Thoughts
“The message of the cross was perplexing to Jews and Gentiles alike–a scandalous stumbling block to the Jews and a meaningless act of self-sacrifice to the Gentiles,” writes Mark Templer in the Cross of the Savior.
“But to us as Christians, it is power and wisdom of God, the focal point of our faith. It is the light that shines in our darkest night. It is the hope that keeps us sane when all are losing their heads. It is our lifeline when we are drowning in the muck. It is our only hope in a dark and sinful world, Templer affirms. Continue reading
Filed under Sunday Seed Thoughts
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