Blog Archives

My marriage fell apart the day the dog died

Posted on May 22, 2013 by George Bullard — 1 Comment ↓

I am sure you’ve heard the old adage that married life begins again when the last child leaves home and the dog dies. Frequently I also hear people say they moved to a new house without a forwarding address so…

You don’t bring me flowers anymore

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Barry Howard — No Comments ↓

When it comes to observing Mother’s Day at church, traditions vary around the country. Factors influencing a congregation’s contextual practice include geographic location, denominational heritage, liturgical preference, and congregational precedent. In my first pastorate, I inherited that southern tradition I…

Tagged with: Mother's Day
Posted in Faithful Living, Leadership, Parenting

How to talk to kids about trauma

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Alan Rudnick — No Comments ↓

As the country saw the horrific bombings at the 2013 Boston Marathon on television, we learned that there were adult and child victims. Television crews and photographers were at the finish of the race and they captured the raw footage. Every news channel…

Tagged with: Alan Rudnick, Boston Marathon, Children, churches, community, leadership, parenting, trauma
Posted in Health & Wholeness, Parenting

Beyond our wants and fears

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Eileen Campbell-Reed — No Comments ↓

Saturday “Maaa-maaaaah!” The wail comes over my phone. It’s late in the afternoon following a beautiful day with friends at the park. My six year old is now in full meltdown, transmitting her frustration from Dad’s phone. We are driving…

Tagged with: Children, longing, lost, Luke 15, Marty Haugen, parenting, Psalm 23, singing, worship
Posted in Faithful Living, Ministry, Parenting, Spiritual Formation, Theology

Let’s drop the kids at church and go get some coffee

Posted on February 14, 2013 by George Bullard — No Comments ↓

In a recent conversation with leaders in a congregation they wondered about people who drop children off at church–particularly on Sunday mornings–and then go to a coffee shop to have some “alone time”. They indicated this was an increasing challenge in…

Baptist concerns re: common core education

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Brandon Hudson — No Comments ↓

I’m an invested party. I believe in the public education system as a grand experiment in providing the humanizing effects of education to all people. I have a minor in secondary education. I am married to a former educator. I…

Tagged with: common core, fiction, narrative, non-fiction, public school, story, Storytelling
Posted in Books, Education, Parenting, Public Policy, Social Issues, Theology

How a Nativity re-kindled a mother’s hope

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Barry Howard — No Comments ↓

During the season of Christmas and Advent, a variety of nativity scenes are being displayed in home, churches, and communities around the world. At First Baptist Church of Pensacola, there is a small nativity scene in the window of the…

Mourning with those who mourn

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Garin Hill — 1 Comment ↓

Like the rest of the country, I watched the news in shock and disbelief just days ago as unspeakable headlines scrolled along the bottom of the screen: “School shooting in Newtown, CT;” “Gunman attacks elementary school;” “More than 20 feared…

Tagged with: Connecticut, Crying, faith, Grief, grieving, Jesus, Newtown, Shooting
Posted in Faithful Living, Grief, Health & Wholeness, Mental Health, Parenting, Suffering

Raising a lover – not a fighter

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Natalie Aho — No Comments ↓

Chances are you haven’t met my almost five-year-old, except for those obligatory readers from my extended family (hi mom!). I happen to think he’s amazingly brillant and brilliantly amazing. I’m sure this is why he has a healthy self-esteem. Every…

Tagged with: autism, baby, Children, Church, disabilities, Little Tree Preschool, parenting, potty training, pregnancy
Posted in Health & Wholeness, Humor, Parenting

Over and under

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Karen Curry — No Comments ↓

Overwhelmed and under qualified. That’s how I feel many times when I survey the things that fill my plate. Actually, I should say plates, because on any given day there are a number of plates that I juggle to keep…

Tagged with: Balance, Children, Marriage, ministry, Motherhood
Posted in Faithful Living, Marriage, Parenting, Women in Ministry