Between the Lines

For many in Western Christianity, this Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday is traditionally a day of fasting that follows a time of revelry in some cultures (cue the Mardi Gras celebration, Fat Tuesday, and all-you-can-eat-pancakes). More specifically, it is a day of repentance beginning the season of preparation that builds up to Easter Sunday.  One of the most recognizable symbols of the day is the imparting of ashes, typically in the shape of a cross, on a person's forehead as a sign of repentance. This is done to remind worshipers of their mortality and that as humans, we all are "made from dust, and to dust we will return" (Gen. 3:19). Doesn't sound like the easiest of concepts to share with a child, does it? Ash Wednesday and Lent pose some difficult challenges for parents and others who work with children in conveying its meaning and importance. However, despite these challenges, your child's participation in Lenten activit...

     It was the end of the service, and I was standing at the rear of the sanctuary greeting people as they were exiting. I had just finished leading the service while the pastor was away on vacation. Everything from the opening, to the reading of scripture, delivering the sermon, and sending out the congregation with the benediction. I had done it all... and in my mind, I had nailed it! I felt everything went well. I hadn't stumbled in the sermon, I had noticed multiple congregants nodding their heads or laughing at my attempts at humor. On top of that, the overwhelming sense as if I was doing what I had been called by God to do! What a feeling of fulfillment and joy it was to know that I had helped others to encounter God that morning in worship.      I was shaking folks hands and receiving their standard "great sermon" comments, along with the occasional question or personal connection peppered in about a story I had shared. I was reaching the en...

NOTE : The following is an abbreviated format of material that was presented in a workshop I led on Saturday January 20 at a parents conference held by our local association of Baptist churches. The workshop was entitled "Sports in the Christian Home."  Do we have a sports fanatics problem? The picture to the left is taken from Twitter last month. It shows a person in the Atlanta area who was so excited at the Georgia Bulldogs SEC championship victory, that he saw fit to attach a flat-screen TV to his car and played the game on a loop for everyone to see on his daily commute. I have to admit... that is a first for this sports addict.  As someone who has participated in sport in a variety of ways (athlete, coach, college-administration, and a high-school official in two sports), I have seen just about everything when it comes to people's passion. This passion is not lost on our nation's teenagers and children who participate in athletics with unprecedented leve...

Creek, named for my two homes, Mill Creek and Buies Creek On days that I have the time, I enjoy taking our dog, Creek, to the park so that we both can stretch our legs a bit beyond the confines of our home. Creek is an eight-month-old black lab mix who is full of energy. He loves to run at full sprint when he can, and I certainly enjoy watching him do so. This past Saturday afternoon, Creek and I went to a local park in town, though a different one from where we typically go. This park has a recreation baseball field with an enclosed fence that I thought would be perfect for him to get all of his energy out in a safe environment since we lack a dog park in the area.                 Creek darted around the outfield chasing one of his beloved balls and frantically rolled in the grass to his heart’s delight (and mine). After about 30 minutes, I was ready to head home, when Creek noticed a group of birds out ...