During spring break week several years ago, I went with my son and his family to Houston for a wedding. After the wedding, we took a little side trip to Waco. I mean, if you are in Texas you have to experience Waco.
It is mind-boggling and heartbreaking to learn that another school shooting has taken place in America, and this time in our beloved state of Georgia. Apalachee High School in Barrow County became the latest target for a deranged and troubled shooter on Wednesday morning.
In 1787, when Benjamin Franklin was walking out of the convention hall, a woman approached him and asked him a question regarding whether or not they had been given a republic or a monarchy?” Franklin responded by saying, “A republic, madam - if you can keep it.”
Have you ever thought about why a pigeon walks so awkwardly? In a devotional reading in Our Daily Bread, Martin De Haan shared a pigeon’s eyes cannot focus as it moves, so the bird actually has to bring its head to a complete stop between steps in order to focus. The pigeon proceeds clumsily – head forward, stop, head back.
Pride is possibly the one sin that God hates most. I am not talking about the pride you take in a job well done or the pride you have for your grandchildren. That kind of pride is innocent and even good. What God hates is the kind of pride in which one feels better than someone else
Never before has life been more chaotic. More stressful. More intense. More expensive. We need some calm in the chaos. Of course, the Bible speaks to that. In Mark 4:35-41, Jesus told the disciples, “Let’s go to the other side of the lake.” They did. A storm came. They were terrified.
Have you ever thought about the fact that we all have a story to tell? I don’t usually think about it that often, but it seems like the last few weeks every devotion I read and every sermon I listen to talks about how we all have a story.
The portable baptismal pool had been brought out of storage, filled with water, and placed in the sun. We were on the ballcourt at the jail, an enclosed space with wire overhead. This was our sanctuary for the afternoon.
It’s time for Friday Night Lights! Cheerleaders cheering, the crowd roaring, the thud of helmets and pads colliding, the ref’s shrill whistle piercing the air, the laughter and silliness in the student section, the electric atmosphere...
We received some disappointing news this week. After 19 months of waiting, we received word that Wayne's disability claim was denied.
"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another," Proverbs 27:17. Dr. Gerry Samson was in our dental office last week. That might not seem like a big deal to you, but it certainly was to us.
My daughter sent me a picture last week of my granddaughter's dry erase board in her room. She has a calendar on one side and then a blank space to be able to write on the other side. On the blank space she had written, and I quote, "I can do anything through Christ the Lord."
Did you hear about the brick layer who asked for a day off?
My family gets a little nervous when I go out of town by myself. When I’m riding in the passenger seat, I never pay attention to roads, route numbers, or traffic. To keep my mind off the highway (and speedometer), I busy myself with reading, writing, crocheting, cutting paper things out, and other stuff. Arriving at our destination, I rarely have any idea how we got there.
Have you ever had that heavy feeling internally - like your heart is hurting? I can think of several times in my life when I have felt that way. The one that stands out the most is the days after we had to place our daughter with autism into residential care. It was heavy and my heart was hurting.
Watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics reminded me that we live in a sinful and dying world. Shocked, even horrified at some of the things displayed, I realized again that lost people act like lost people.
At our house, we have an older refrigerator that stays in the garage. It is filled mostly with water, sodas, apple juice, and Gatorades. Basically, anytime you want a drink you go to the garage refrigerator. In the spring and summer we “host” little lizards around our house. Of course, all the adults realize they are harmless, but the kids are a different story.
I have said, and I reaffirm, that being born again (saved by trusting in Christ Jesus) is the single most important thing any person can ever do on this earth.
It’s Bible School week. One sip of strawberry Kool-Aid takes me back to VBS snacks on the creek bank behind Belfry Baptist Church in the early 70s. We lined up outside, the girls wearing dresses, then marched in to “Onward Christian Soldiers.” We said pledges to the American flag, the Christian flag, and the Bible.
I was getting ready for work Monday morning and I went to put on my favorite necklace. It has two necklaces joined together, one shorter than the other. One of the strands has a heart on it, and I love hearts. That is why this is one of my favorite necklaces. When I got it out of my jewelry drawer, it had a knot in it.
Several years ago, while serving in North Georgia, I made visits one hot Spring afternoon. I drove to the home of a lady who visited the previous Sunday. She lived a mile or two off the main highway. I located her house, knocked on her door, and no one answered. I left my card with a note, returned to my car and noticed a loud hissing sound. My tire was going flat.
Praying for God’s will is the best thing. The wisest thing. The hardest thing. One of the most difficult lessons of my life. It happened on July 20, 1994-30 years ago, this week. It was a Wednesday.
I love being around water. I love everything about it. I especially love the beach! I love the sound of the ocean, the smell of the ocean, the wind and the waves. The crazy thing is I don’t like to get “in” the ocean. I am just an observer.
Eddie Drinkard is a member of Green Acres Baptist Church in Athens, a real estate broker who focuses on selling property with large acreage, and a very gracious Christian gentleman. One of the things Drinkard does to serve his church is to maintain the grounds, including doing whatever landscaping is necessary, and providing pine straw whenever it is required.
In August of 1971, sitting side by side on a brown couch in Jerry Bottom of Huddy, KY, my sister-Teri, and I gave our hearts to Jesus. We were baptized together, went to Sunday School together and Training Union on Sunday nights.