Rustlings (November 1, 2021)
How long have you been a member of First Baptist Greenville? Are there still people and places mentioned that haven’t made it into your field of experience? Let’s clarify a few today in our First Baptist Greenville Glossary. Columbarium—A structure containing multiple niches for the respectful holding of the cremated remains of the deceased. Call […]
Rustlings (October 25, 2021)
It is not uncommon to hear some ministers demean the celebration of Halloween. The typical critique involves claiming the holiday has pagan or Satanic origins. So that you can feel more comfortable sending your goblins out to collect gobs of candy, allow me to share the origins of Halloween… The Roman Catholic Church made it […]
Rustlings (October 18, 2021)
I never knew a childhood friend who could resist the hypnotic power of a good poem, especially if it was also colorfully illustrated—but I do remember hearing the older kids say that poetry was for sissies. It was years before it began to dawn on me that much of the appeal of the heavy metal […]
Rustlings (October 10, 2021)
It seems to be a phrase I have been speaking a lot lately. Being a person of faith does not make us immune to the worst life has to offer. While some proclaim faith provides a protective barrier to the pain of this world, the biblical record says differently. Job—reputably one of the most faithful […]
Rustlings (October 4, 2021)
Two weeks ago, our congregation collected cans of fruit for my birthday. Okay…that’s not completely true. The fruit was actually collected to stock the food pantry of United Ministries. These cans of fruit will now find their way into grocery bags—filled with other food items from other churches and donors—and eventually make their way to […]
Rustlings (September 20, 2021)
BY JIM DANT You and others have begun to ask the question, “What do you want for your 60th birthday this year? (The vocal emphasis always seems to be on ‘60th.’) I’m at that stage in life where I have all I need and most of what I want, so I really don’t ask for […]
Rustlings (September 7, 2021)
Francis was kneeling in an abandoned church in the countryside of San Damiano just outside of Assisi. He was fervently praying for God to give some direction to his life. As a young man, he had lived frivolously with an abundance of wealth. Much to his family’s dismay, he gave away everything he owned and […]
Rustlings (August 30, 2021)
It was a rainy-day game in my first-grade classroom. When the playground was puddled and we were forced to stay indoors, Mrs. Hicks would circle our chairs and lead us in a game of Fruit Basket Turnover. For those who’ve never played, each participant is given the name of a fruit with multiple players having […]
Rustlings (August 23, 2021)
It was a common refrain during the pandemic-laden days of 2020. We miss gathering. People missed gathering in restaurants, in theaters, at concerts, at weddings, at dinner parties, and of course, at church. Gatherings are beneficial—essential—to our personal psychological health and the health of our community. In the coming months, we are focusing our thoughts […]
Rustlings (August 16, 2021)
In the Fall of 1988, I began a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at Columbia Theological Seminary. I decided—for some unknown reason—I needed a new backpack to begin the journey. My shopping venture took me to a luggage store at the local mall, and I spent (what at the time seemed) far too much money […]