Dear Faith Family, Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds! (Psalm 148:9-10) That dude was doing the breaststroke! In my birdbath. The birdbath was freshly cleaned and...

Dear Faith Family, But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep, (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). The turkey gobble ringtone alerted me that someone was calling...

Dear Faith Family, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate," (Genesis 3:12). Are you aware that if you reverse the wires coming to and from a ground fault circuit interrupter receptacle it won't work. Who knew?! See, I had a bad gfi receptacle that would trip whenever I would turn on the electric smoker. Bummer right? After numero...

Dear Faith Family, First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way, (1 Timothy 2:1-2). This morning you awakened to a dream or a nightmare. Maybe you're not awake yet? Or is it possible ...

Dear Faith Family, Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might, (Ephesians 6:10). "My fellow citizens: let no one doubt that this is a difficult and dangerous effort on which we have set out. No one can foresee precisely what course it will take or what costs or casualties will be incurred. Many months in which both our patience and our will will be t...

Dear Faith Family, Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord, (Psalm 27:14). You can already taste it. The post oak wood chips are soaking. The domestic Boston Butt is swimming with the wild ham and its adjoining loin in a sea of saltwater brine. The GFI outlet that keeps tripping has been remedied. The multi-probe thermometer await...

Dear Faith Family, Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God, (Ephesians 5:1). Technology bridged the six-hundred-mile gap between us, as I talked with my son on the phone. I could hear my precious grandchildren in the background, sometimes in the foregroun...

Dear Faith Family, "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress, (Psalm 46:10-11). The pictures are overwhelming. We're still watching the videos of Helene's trail of destruction. And now we're watching Milton make its massive, malignant presence kno...

Dear Faith Family, I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth, (Genesis 9:13). It was Sunday evening. There were dark clouds looming over the city of Columbia. A light drizzle weighed heavy in the air. Hurricane Helene had left her mark as she continued her northwestern trail of destruction. On the phone as I traveled...

"zzzzzzzzzzz" Dear Faith Family, In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety, (Psalm 4:8). Insomnia. The practice of engaging the mind when the body is ready to disengage. The inability to stop. The uncomfortable ability to stare endlessly at the ceiling and accomplish little to nothing while lying down. An ugly picture of a s...