My guest blogger kicking off the new year is my youngest daughter, Lauren Drapal. She’s our brain injury survivor. She’s also a successful hairdresser in Kansas City - check out her Instagram @hairlikeaqueen. But first and foremost, she loves Jesus. And she’s a pretty good writer, too. She doesn’t have a blog, but posted this…
Busy, Busy, Busy
What is the most difficult of God's commandments to keep in the 21st Century? No, I'm not talking about the Ten that God handed down on Mt. Zion. They're all plenty hard to keep, some harder than others, but they're not what I'm thinking of here. This is one of the most basic one of…
Sunday Perspective
Having a contentment issue? Think about Psalm 16:5-6: LORD, you have assigned to me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. To me, that means if God doesn't want something for me, then I don't…
Give Thanks for 2020? Really?
One of the most difficult commands of the Bible? "Give thanks in all circumstances." 1 Thess. 5:18 Against the daunting backdrop of 2020, this is a real stretch. The usual joys of life - concerts, live sports, plays - all gone. Personal liberties - church attendance, gathering as families, hugging and shaking hands - voluntarily…
It’s All Right to be Little Bitty: Colossians 3:23-24
NOTE: In one of my favorites posts from 2019, here are my thoughts on Colossians 3:23. Fame. In 2019's social-media driven world, it's all about being famous. Today's American culture considers entertainers, sports stars and "influencers" as the only people who are really important. That's why the simple, plaintive words of the old country song…
The Right Sword: John 15:4
The young dad, not yet in his mid-30s, sat unsuspectingly in the church pew on that Sunday morning, unaware that the course of his life was about to change. These days, you might think a gun was involved. But there wasn't. Instead, there was a sword. On that summer Sunday in 1994, the pastor pulled…
Priorities
It's fall, y'all! And this time of year, and in this part of the U.S., people celebrate the crisp, cool mornings and the warm, dry afternoons with weekend crafts festivals of all types. And among the wonderful finds at these festivals are various decorations that celebrate our Christian faith. Many are poignant and thought-provoking, some…
What Will Your Grandkids Call You?
I've picked "Papa." I am well aware that grandchildren pick their own names for their grandparents. And yes, I'll answer to whatever name my grandson calls me. But for what it's worth, I'm going to at least suggest to the little guy that he call me "Papa." That's not "Paw-Paw," as they say it in…
Conversation Starters
On a back road in Southern Illinois, heading home for a Memorial Day visit, I saw these words on a church sign in Thompsonville, Illinois: Jesus is God's selfie. I love clever church signs as much as the next guy. And I understand the desire to engage the culture "where it's at." As long as…
Love Is…..
A spring break trip to Waco, Texas last month landed us at the Magnolia Market, the home of the design and decor empire founded by HGTV's Chip and Joanna Gaines. We were well aware of the Gaines' Christian faith before we arrived. And true to form, beautiful items of home decor incorporating Bible verses into…
Mike G. Smith 