As a little boy, it seemed to me that every really good story always began the same:  “Once upon a time…”.  The stories from this point would go in countless different directions but all started from that familiar place.  I could also tell that the story was completed when came that just as familiar ending: … Read More »

One of my favorite metaphors from Scripture regarding God and us, His children, is that of Shepherd and sheep.  I envision a beautiful pastoral scene where the Good Shepherd has led His flock to feed and to drink.  The sheep enjoy the bounty provided by the Shepherd and can do so with the calm assurance… Read More »

It is fast approaching the time when we will start to think about what we would like to see change in ourselves over the coming New Year.  I know it is perhaps a bit early to mention this but I thought I would let you know the direction I am hoping to head with my… Read More »

I have had a love/hate relationship with asparagus.  Let me explain.  Asparagus was one of the vegetables that my parents included in the garden every year.  Mom and dad really seemed to like to eat it but I thought is was really gross!  It looked funny and tasted funny.  The good news was that the… Read More »

I am not really sure of the first time I heard the word Conduit.  I believe it was when I was working within a Church that was needing to do either a building addition or new construction.  I remember thinking I must be kind of dumb to not know what that word meant but I… Read More »

This week finds me writing this blog a bit early in order to head back to Kansas to attend the funeral of my Aunt Frances.  I don’t know if she ever made a trip to Mississippi or not but I am sure that she would have if she still had been physically able.  Frances deeply… Read More »

One of Camille and my favorite pastimes is sitting on the back porch and watching the birds.  I think I learned this joy at a very early age.  As a boy growing up there were always bird feeders, bird houses and even a bird bath to provide for the birds as well as to provide… Read More »

When I was a boy, a familiar group activity among my friends was a tug of war.  It was always fun to battle it out and hope that your side would be the victor.  Many times the “prize” for winning was simply “not” ending up in a patch of mud or some other mess.  Usually… Read More »

As the daily display of beauty, otherwise known as, Fall in Mississippi intensifies, I was reminded of an earlier blog post and thought it might be good to give an update.  Maybe you will remember me writing about the challenges Camille and I were facing in trying to bring the landscape at the parsonage into… Read More »

One dimension of my life that might surprise those who are reading this is my love of cooking.  I think this comes from my mom.  In addition to being an excellent cook, she was willing to let me come into the kitchen and “help her cook”.  I know now that my efforts were hardly helpful… Read More »