A Gospel Preacher, A Home Run Hitter, and A Junior High Football Player
I spent a little time this past weekend pondering the impact Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Since I was born in 1963, my firsthand memory is only of a post-legal-segregation world. That doesn't mean our world was truly integrated by any measure; it simply means the laws had changed and the courts were forcing compliance. So, I went to integrated public schools, and I, thank God, never remember seeing Colored Only or Whites Only signage. There was still plenty of separation, to
3 days ago5 min read
Chance of Snow
Georgia is pretty well in the deep pocket of the American South, and Fort Valley, the town we live in, is just about smack dab in the middle of the state. You didn't have to ace Geography class to know that means we don't make many snowmen around here. In fact, we get a lot more tornado warnings than forecasts for anything frozen to fall from the sky. Humid subtropical , I believe, is the official classification for our climate. That's best described as a place having long, h
Jan 163 min read
The Power of Influence
Alden and Hazel Flanders Bennett Flanders I grew up loving the University of Georgia. In 7th and 8th grade, I wore some sort of Georgia shirt at least three days a week to school. I dreamed that Vince Dooley, the Bulldogs' legendary coach, would discover me. After I led the team to a National Championship and brought home a couple of Heismans, I'd be the biggest hero to ever put on that red jersey and the helmet with the beautiful black G . I did meet Coach Dooley once, but i
Dec 26, 20254 min read
Waiting: Christmas Day
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being gre
Dec 25, 20253 min read
Waiting: Day 25
Christmas Eve 2025 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a Son. And he called His name Jesus. Matthew 1:22-25, English Standard Version My focus the last 24 days has been on these four
Dec 24, 20252 min read
Waiting: Day 24
Tuesday December 23, 2025 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a Son. And he called His name Jesus. Matthew 1:24,25, English Standard Version Well, there you go. Joseph wakes up and does what he’s commanded to do. Matthew is just so matter of fact about it, as if instant obedience is the most natural and obvious thing in the world. Reading this 2000 years after Joseph
Dec 23, 20252 min read
Waiting: Day 23
Monday December 22, 2025 But as he (Joseph) considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20,21, English Standard Version Faced with a monumental decision, Joseph opts to . . . sleep on it . Yep. He
Dec 22, 20252 min read
