People in my line of work get used to reruns. That’s not to say I’ve heard it all before, but stuff has a way of repeating itself when you’ve been a chaplain for a few decades.
Another thing I get accustomed to: clichés, especially those derived from biblical passages. Some I love. Others, not so much. Here’s a list of several unhealthy clichés:
I occasionally get emails from readers who reminisce about the good old days. They hope I’ll commiserate with them about how horrible the world has become.
One reader blamed the fall of America on the entertainment industry. “Back in my day, ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ led the way in promoting wholesome values,” he wrote. “Today’s shows promote violence and sexual promiscuity.”
We’ve watched news stories of Honduran families making the treacherous journey toward our southern border.
So today, I have only two questions.
First question: What makes those families take such a risk?
Why do they trek thousands of miles through harsh weather, rough terrain and threats of violence? Why do they risk arrest or even worse—rape, robbery, human trafficking or being separated from their children?
In the aftermath of the Dixie Fire, the largest single wildfire ever recorded in California, I am curious how chaplains aid in the physical and spiritual recovery of victims.
I meet my pastor, Mike Bivins, in the church parking lot at 6 a.m., and we head into the heart of the disaster zone for a strategy meeting with local pastors, hosted by Greenville Southern Baptist Church.
Bivins directs volunteers from California’s Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief Ministries. On the four-hour commute, he assures me that the group goes only where it’s invited.
A long, long time ago in a land called Waco, I began my freshman year at Baylor University inside the dilapidated off-campus housing reserved for penny-pinchers.
Fortunately, the Student Affairs Office mismatched me with two seniors, Tommy and Ken. Both were top of their class. Tommy was a ministerial student already pastoring a church. Ken was co-pilot for the university plane, flying every weekend to help recruit Baylor sports talent.
They both graciously offered their guiding wisdom. In return, I gave them the If-ever-I-can-do-anything-for-you speech. The upperclassmen laughed
