87. That was it. 87. No more. His condition was too bad. He was too far gone. 87 years was all he was going to get. It’s what everyone thought — except for Mom. She was determined he was going to live. He was going to be OK. As it turns out, she was right. …
Tag: Family
An Open Letter to My Dad on His 88th Birthday
Dear Dad, If I’m completely honest, this time last year I didn’t think you would be here to see this day. All my life, I assumed that you would live to be in your late 90s, strong and healthy as an ox, just like Grandma and Grandpa. All my dreams and assumptions about that came…
The Gathering 2019 Theme: Connections
A couple of weeks ago, I preached a message revealing and outlining our theme for the remainder of the year. If you weren’t there (and especially if you are a covenant member of The Gathering), please take time to watch this message and begin to look for ways in which you can make these vital…
The Twilight of Childhood: Celebrating Andrew’s 12th Birthday
It’s a hard time of life. You’re not a “little kid” anymore but you’re not a teenager, either. They call them the “tween years,” which I think means you are lost somewhere between the whacky childhood years and the chaotic teen years. Whatever it is, today our Andrew officially enters his last year of the…
In the Magnolia State of Uncertainty: Waiting to See What God Does
I made it back to Mississippi yesterday. I had waffled on when I was coming, trying to figure out timing so that I could be here when it’s most crucial for the family to be together. Not knowing which way this is going and when while living 400 miles away, timing is important. I don’t…
On Jacob’s 18th Birthday
There is that first time you hold your newborn child that redefines who you are. Wrapped tightly in the little blanket, knit hat on head, eyes tightly shut, feeble and helpless. Though the last two adjectives can also be used to describe the feeling of being a new dad, it is the child in your…
When It’s Good to be in a Gang
Paul tells Timothy that if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, “he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:20-21) This is a concept I’ve been dealing with a lot lately in messages at The Gathering,…
Milestones
Everybody knows “how time flies.” It’s the inevitable part of life and, the older you get, the faster it goes. On the eve of my 45th birthday, I’m struck again with that fact. Yes, time does fly and it does, indeed, go faster every single year. I was reflecting on this yesterday while Jacob was getting…
My 5th Grader. Growing into a great young man!
My 5th Grader. Growing into a great young man!
Snow Days
For the past couple of days, the Southeast has been blanketed with a beautiful coating of snow. Because this is the Southeast, which gets this kind of thing once a millennium (it seems), that means one thing…SNOW DAYS!!!!!! (oh, and a lot of really bad drivers). Yes, snow days. Glorious opportunities for sledding and snow…
The focus of our Christmas
Since Jacob has been able to read, we’ve let him read Luke 2 before we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus each year and eat a birthday cookie. It’s a lot of fun. Now, on to gifts. Happy Christmas, everyone. Hope it’s blessed! Posted from WordPress for Android
My Little Boy’s Day
Awakened to the chaos this morning that is my household: two dogs barking to go outside and two kids engaged in the epic struggle of the love-hate relationship they have with each other called brotherhood. The difference today? The battle involved a nine year-old and a THREE year-old. Andrew has left the terrible two’s and…
