A man lived on the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota. He had assumed that he lived in Minnesota, but a new survey showed that he actually lived in Wisconsin. “Thank goodness,” he exclaimed, “I never could bear those cold Minnesota winters.” Thank goodness it is possible to rise and shine. There is always a group […]
Outside the Walls: You’ve Got One Job
“You’ve got one job.” That’s what my wife, Leisa, tells me every time she sends me to the grocery store. Notoriously, she will send me at the most inopportune times, like when I’m trying to watch college football. This should be a part of all pastors’ premarital counseling. I would share a few rules with […]
Wholly Healthy: ‘Pawed’ Friend May Affect Health
By way of full confession, my family has five dogs. All of them are mixed breed critters who have already outlived their warranties, but they keep living happy dog lives. We also have two large cats who are vocal and social at mealtime, but otherwise generally prefer not to be touched. The point being: We […]
President’s Perspective: Anxiety over Upcoming Meeting Causing Recurring Dream
As we get closer to the annual meeting, my anticipation and anxiety continue to grow by leaps and bounds. Over the last few weeks, I’ve had a recurring dream that I’m trying to get to the meeting, and I just can’t get there. Every road is blocked. Every which way I turn, there seems to […]
Editor’s Word: Don’t Overlook Pastor Appreciation
The pastorate can often be a rewarding experience, but it can also be a discouraging valley. Far too many pastors suffer from depression, and most of them go untreated. When I first came to The Courier, I wrote a three -part series on pastoral burnout, suicide, and forced termination. South Carolina was the leader in […]
Outside the Walls: Questioning Your Faith
“Why are you here?” It is probably one of the most powerful evangelism questions that anyone can ask. There have been other questions that have been asked through the years. “If you were to die tonight, where would you spend eternity?” “If you were to face Jesus today, and He asked you why He should […]
Editor’s Word: Remembering September 11
While focusing on the month of September for my column, I was struck by the powerful images of the deadly attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four American passenger planes, turning them into lethal bombs, as they targeted key sites in our country. I was on a plane to New Orleans […]
President’s Perspective: Changing Times
They say that nothing is as certain as death and taxes. I would add change to the list of life’s certainties. Sometimes we choose change, and sometimes it chooses us. Sometimes it’s a combination of the two. I’ve seen a lot of change in my 45 short years of life. A lot of that change […]
Wholly Healthy: Medicine Can Be Mission Field
Many young Christians grow up with a deep desire to be missionaries. I applaud this. I’m always amazed at the devotion and dedication of those who spend years in training and go around the world for the sake of the gospel and, in the process, shun temporal reward. But for years now, God has put […]
Mary Beth’s Kitchen: Crustless Quiche
My favorite lunch or dinner is my Crustless Quiche. You can serve it with a salad of fresh vegetables and your favorite salad dressing. The quiche keeps very well for a couple of days in the refrigerator. May God bless you and your family this fall! “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; […]