For the past year I’ve interviewed pastors of local churches as part of a new weekly column established by my local newspaper. This story was one of those columns. I particularly like the fact that members of the congregation have dedicated themselves to reading to children at a local school. What a vital part of... Continue Reading →
Children Experience Worship at Bethel Church
“Everything we do at this church is based on the word of God,” said Ron Garner, pastor of Bethel Church in Bluffton, Indiana. He replaces Pat Harris who pastored at the church for 26 years before retiring to the South. Garner is a native of North Carolina, but graduated from Bluffton High School in 1994... Continue Reading →
Liberty Center Baptist Church: From Surviving to Thriving
In a change from my regular format of posting a devo each Sunday I’m posting a story about a local church in my area that I wrote for the Bluffton News-Banner with permission of the editor. Each week for the past year I’ve been blessed to interview a different pastor in my county. The stories... Continue Reading →
Share with Your Preschooler about God’s Love
Play: Assemble these objects—feather; cork; penny; stick; metal paper clip; bowl ¾ full of water. Talk: Look at these items and tell me which ones you think will sink or float in the water. (After child shares guesses, have child place each item one at a time into the bowl). Some items sink (stick, penny,... Continue Reading →
Small Churches Offer Opportunities to Love Jesus
Climbing big steps to enter a brick building through heavy wooden doors may not sound like something a five-year-old would enjoy, but I couldn’t wait to go inside! My Sunday school teacher, Miss Winnie, had big teeth, lots of white hair, and a funny voice that sounded like she spoke through a... Continue Reading →
Child-like Praise Pleases God
Today's devotional thought is in honor of my daughter Lindsay who had a birthday this week. She's a wonderful daughter and has taught us so much. We could not be prouder of her. Happy birthday, Lindsay! ** 'Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies' Ps 8:2... Continue Reading →
Father’s Day Tribute to Dad — Wear Blinders to Serve God
Josh 24:15: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord ** Dad taught me many great things like the value of hard work, creativity, honesty and loving people. He also taught me to love horses. I recently came across this photo taken as a slide of my sister and me as toddlers.... Continue Reading →
What Heavenly Ramparts Are in Your Life?
“Consider her ramparts; go through her palaces that you may tell it to the next generation.” Ps. 48:13 In biblical times the best cities were built on hills for protection. The city’s inhabitants strengthened their defenses by building a wall, or rampart, around the city. Marauders would have to ascend the steep hillside and pass... Continue Reading →
Are You Sinking or Swimming Through Life?
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:8, New American Standard Bible) Read Philippians 2:6-11 When my kids were small, I took them to swim lessons. Trained instructors demonstrated how to perform each stroke. But there was... Continue Reading →
One Thing Christian Singer TobyMac Would Change
One of the great things of being a freelance writer for a major daily newspaper like the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel is doing interviews with celebrities and singers. I had the opportunity and pleasure of interviewing TobyMac by phone for the News-Sentinel and also a story for Focus on Your Child, a magazine published by Focus... Continue Reading →