Prior to the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the opioid epidemic was the healthcare crisis that grabbed and held our attention. In the State of Tennessee, where I live, deaths related to drug overdoses increased by 18% from 2018 to 2019. In Wilson County, local …
Continue...“Getting old is not for sissies!” That’s what Charlie, who’s north of 90 years old, tells me just about every time I see him. Despite his infectious smile and magnetic personality, there’s a tenderness in his eyes that says life is hard. Driving a vehicle is tenuous. Preparing meals is a challenge. Sleeping through the …
Continue...Can one day really make that big of a difference? The calendar turns 365 times every year, but there’s something special when the last day of the year gives way to January 1. The New Year promises a fresh start. So we review, we dream, we plan, and finally, we resolve. We do these things …
Continue...Watching is a big part of the Christmas season. We watch plays, movies and musicals. We watch parades. We look at light shows. We are awed by the beauty and décor of Christmas. But the good news of Christmas is that God has posted a casting call inviting us to join his story of redeeming …
Continue...The tone on social media, in the news, and in the public square in general is really harsh and often negative. It seems when we’re backed into a corner or in a situation we would not choose, we feel intimidated. When we feel overlooked, we want to be heard. When someone else asserts control over …
Continue...Reading the headlines or clicking on the latest bad news stories can lead to one of two conclusions: (1) If everyone would just do their part, society would be rescued from this chaos and things would get better, or (2) This world is just going to burn up one day anyway, so let’s just get …
Continue...Our community was just making progress in recovery efforts from a recent tornado when threats from the coronavirus re-ordered our lives again. Our daily rhythms changed quickly, but neither a tornado nor a virus has changed our gospel mission. In fact, we are discovering that we were built for this kind of moment. Just as …
Continue...How is it possible that a virus could create so much disruption, travail, and death? We see many good news stories of heroes stepping up to serve people affected by this disease, but the dominant storyline here is devastation. Many people are fighting for their lives, and many are losing that battle. Others face financial …
Continue...Our community was just making progress in recovery efforts from a recent tornado when threats from the coronavirus re-ordered our lives again. Our daily rhythms changed quickly, but neither a tornado nor a virus has changed our gospel mission. In fact, we are discovering that we were built for this kind of moment. Just as …
Continue...Recently, our church hosted an event called “Truth Talks,” covering the issues of gender and sexuality and led by Dan Darling and Josh Wester. Our purpose for the event was to help students and parents navigate these important topics from a biblical, Christ-centered perspective and to provide context for ongoing conversations between parents and children …
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