Off to PepperdineEvery year since 2002 I have made the pilgrimage to Malibu, California. It has sort of become a family tradition. We load the girls onto a plane or into a car and go off in the wild blue yonder to that place by the sea. For whatever reason Jerry Rushford has graciously asked me to participate in the lectures four or five times now. I think he has been getting desperate since he has asked me ... no really it has always been a...

Read More

Leaves from the Codex ... Here it is a Tuesday evening. I had some hot wings for dinner and put off coming "home" as long as possible. Most evenings I am by myself these days and I do not do "alone" very well. When God said it was "not good for man to be alone" there are actually some mss that read "it is not good for Bobby to be alone!" ;-) But here I am. In the evenings I cannot watch TV so I read. I have been preparing for my Pepperdine...

Read More

In Christ Alone

One of my favorite songs. We sang this at our Manly Men's Retreat Friday and Saturday. I have not arrived yet but perhaps I am closer today than yesterday. May it bless y...

Read More

Tears: God's or Mine (Reflections on Jeremiah from the Pit of Divorce)

Here are some late night thoughts ... so take them for what they are. My friend John Mark Hicks was providentially moved to post a series on What Divorced People Feel and How to Minister to Divorced People. I know God had a hand in that. I don’t think John Mark set out to write for me … but perhaps James A. Harding would say that he was lead to do so. Danny Dodd also has a very good reflection on this scourge. You see I am divorced. Not by choice...

Read More

the Beatles- Taxman

A Tribute in honor of April 15 ... Smile As we all chip in today, ...

Read More

Take a Break: Sabbath Rythms of Grace

Take A Break: Sabbath Rhythms of GraceIntroductory Thoughts “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey, or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD...

Read More

God's Outlaws

God's OutlawsJohn Wycliff and William Tyndale are giants in Christian history. Both worked with great courage to bring the Word of God to English speaking people. They also had something else in common ... they were Outlaws!Here are two of God's Outlaws on the staff of Palo Verde. One is on a miniature pony and the other is on an Iron Horse, ;-) We won't say which is which though ... But these outlaws are good friends . . .Here they are again enjoying...

Read More

Psalms: Singing the Blues

Sometime in 2007 I accepted an invitation to do a seminar on the Psalms for a mid-Atlantic state. Psalms has always been among a handful of "favorite" books of mine in the Bible. I have read them and prayed them and studied them ... not always in that order. I was caught by the grittiness of the Psalms. But more often than not, I wasn't quite brave enough to embrace their white-hot passion. Still they appealed to me.It is ironic that one of...

Read More

The Irony of Moses E. Lard: In Light of Contemporary Questions

The Irony of Moses E. Lard: In Light of Contemporary QuestionsIrony surrounds Moses Lard’s place in Stone-Campbell history. He is idolized by some and vilified by others. Richard Hughes calls him the “rationalist par excellence” and a brother a few years ago told me he was the "soundest man" ever produced in Churches of Christ. Some ignore him totally, James North’s history Union in Truth never even mentions Lard! I believe that both of these perspectives...

Read More

On the other hand my friend John Mark Hicks has been blogging on What Divorced People feel. Those feelings cannot be put in words. But Creed does a good job of evoking something like them in their great video and song, note the tears of blood ...

Read More

A Beautiful Day - U2

Well there is brilliant sunshine and a deep blue sky. God is on his throne, even when it seems like he is looking away. Thus it really is a beautiful day. Enjoy this song by one of the truly great bands in the world ...

Read More

Ten Commandments of True Worship: Thoughts on Ps 15

INTRODUCTIONHe (we'll call him Jeff) had never gone to church in his life, but after six weeks of attending our congregation, he told me that while he didn't understand the language we used and often failed to grasp the significance of what we did, one thing was clear to him. The more he came to "worship" the more he felt his life was wrong. He concluded either his life must change or stop coming to worship. He changed his life.She (we'll call...

Read More

John Mark Hicks ... New BlogMy good friend and teacher, John Mark Hicks, has a new blog on word press. I want to encourage all my readers ... all four of you ... ;-) to check it out. John Mark is one of those guys who has formed his theology not simply in a library but rather with a journey through the dark places that many can't even imagine. And he is usually a reliable guide except for his misguided devotion to the Chicago Cubs. Here is a link to his new spot on the web: Theologian. I think you will be blessed.Seeking Shalom,Bobby Valen...

Read More