Blog

One Sunday morning during my junior year in high school, the pastor announced the church had hired a new youth minister. His name was Wayne Dismuke. Up to that point, I had attended the church for four years, and in that time the church had one youth minister resign and a new minister of activities filled in with some camps and socials in the interim. Following the service that evening, a group of the teenagers decided to grab some pizza. Wayne and his wife, Ann, were invited to join us.… Read more

It was easy to see the end was near for the old man.  He was quite ill and not seeming to show any improvements.  The family got together for what might be Grandpa’s last get together with us.  I was a senior in high school and had already lost Grandma (his wife) and my grandfather on Mom’s side.

Grandpa was opening the get well cards, and due to the circumstances, most of them were from the “sentimental” section of Hallmark’s selection.  He was getting rather emotional at the sentiment offered by the cards.… Read more

I never ran track. I possess an incredible amount of slowness. A few years ago, I watched a videotape a church member made for my son in which the church’s father and son softball team was playing. There were several men in the church with sons who were juniors or seniors in high school. Since I was the recreation minister, I put this group together for a team in the church sponsored men’s slow pitch softball league.

In the video, I get up to the plate for my at-bat and hit the ball down the right-field line.… Read more

The giants mentioned in the Bible are never on the side of the good guys.

Take Goliath for example. I can only imagine what it was like to be an Israelite soldier when the giant Philistine from Gath, stepped out and began trash talking the entire army. This huge soldier steps forth and challenges a one-on-one battle with any Israelite warrior. There is fear all around.

It was quite apparent Goliath was not leading the group in singing the camp and fellowship songs, In a Cabin in the Woods or Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree.… Read more

I sat in a hotel room looking over the city of Amarillo on a recent book tour. Whenever I’m headed to this town the tune of the song Amarillo by Morningplays through my head. The famed city of the Texas panhandle has been the stopping place for many a trip throughout my life. Youth groups on their way to the Glorieta Baptist Encampment in New Mexico, conferences at the same location, various ski trips, book tours, and vacations have all found Amarillo the perfect place for a night’s lodging.… Read more