Spirit and Truth

My dearly loved son

Written by the Rev. Greg Smith | 05 January 2011

Having resolved this New Year to be more intentional about finding recreation (re-creation) time, this pastor took the week after Christmas to do just that. Admittedly, my staycation (a vacation where you stay at home) wasn’t all recreation—my thirteen-year-old Lydia got a freshly painted bedroom out of the deal—but overall it’s been a great week. While our three teenagers went on a fun trip with the church youth group, my wife and I took our eight-year-old so to a movie one day and to an indoor water park the next. It was nice spending exclusive time with Daniel, as I don’t get the opportunity to spend one-on-one time with each of my kids individually, as much as I’d like. Add a comment

Plowshares and pruning hooks

Written by the Rev. Greg Smith | 08 December 2010

In 1959, the Russian sculptor Evgeniy Vuchetich crafted a muscular man with a hammer in his right hand, and a sword in his left. The industrious laborer is hard at work beating his sword into a plowshare. Add a comment

Churches and Nudist Camps

Written by the Rev. Greg Smith | 11 November 2010

Recently I shared the following story at a large gathering of Baptist women. In his book, What God Wants to Know, Bruce Larson tells about a story from a family member who was a conservationist. She and her husband and her five-year-old son were on vacation in Florida when they saw a sign saying “Naturist Camp.” The conservationist assumed that a naturist camp was the same thing as a naturalist camp, so they stopped to check it out. When they reached the beach, they learned their error. The naturist camp was actually a nudist camp, full of vacationers in the buff. Some swam, some rode bicycles—in all their glory. Eyes wide, and pointing at the naked cyclists, they boy said, “Look Mom and Dad. They’re not wearing safety helmets!” Add a comment

“Your Servant is Listening”

Written by the Rev. Greg Smith | 14 October 2010

So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. – 1 Samuel 3:9 NIV

My cat amazes me. He has an incredible ability to concentrate on just one thing, blocking out all distractions. I’ve spotted him sitting on the window ledge, staring into the house, waiting for someone to walk by the window. Then he’ll submit his request with a meow, and we’ll let him in. He lingers in this concentration for quite some time, because he has no concept of time. He simply knows that eventually, someone will come and open the door. So, patiently, he waits. Add a comment

Teachings from Toadstools

Written by the Rev. Greg Smith | 08 September 2010

And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ (Matthew 25:40 NLT)

What's with all the toadstools lately? A casual stroll down your road or a drive down the street reveals that many lawns have cropped up with toadstools. From tiny to massive, these fantastic fungi have taken over our area. Has your area been overrun as well? Where did they come from? It looks like they sprang up overnight. Add a comment

Spirit and Truth

My dearly loved son

Plowshares and pruning hooks

Churches and Nudist Camps

“Your Servant is Listening”

Teachings from Toadstools

More Articles...