Rite of passage: Winner, winner, chicken dinner
I didn’t know that hosting the inaugural Baptist Messenger Cookbook Contest would be such a difficult task. Sifting through a mound of tasty recipes, I knew I was in trouble when I came across one that contained the instruction: “cream your butter.” I have seen many cans of whipped cream, but I don’t know where to look in a store for a can of creamed butter (I had to Google it). It didn’t take long to realize I was in way over my head...
Rite of passage: Coffee, anyone?
The other day, I was talking with some old college friends, all of whom happen to be in the ministry. Every one of them was either coming from, going to or currently at a Starbucks. Two of these friends (I’ll call them Jim and Marcia to protect their identities) think I’m an odd sort of fellow because I’m not into the Venti Grande Hocha Mocha whatever-it-is coffee world. To tell the truth, I’m not a fan of any kind of coffee. Yes,...
Rite of Passage: Car talk
Back in August, I wrote about my troubles with my Honda Accord . While I was on a road trip to speak at a missions conference, the transmission quit working, and I had to have the car hauled the two and a half hours back to Tulsa. A small repair was made, and I was back on the road. Two months later, I was driving around one day and felt the familiar slipping of the gears. I knew what was coming next, so I pointed my car toward the...
Rite of passage: Where’s the love?
Recently, I had a birthday, and many have asked me how old I am. Let’s just say I am getting close to the age where I can plan my own surprise birthday party. While I was out speaking one night, Grammy had Titus the Honorable and Cohen the Goodhearted come over and secretly make Poppy a birthday card and some gifts. I guess someone didn’t tell Cohen the Goodhearted it was supposed to be a secret, because as soon as I opened the door,...
Rite of Passage: Here to Serve
Last week, I participated in my 33rd year as one of the Tulsa State Fair chaplains. All the chaplains are volunteers. We don’t get paid; many take time out of their jobs to serve in this capacity. I look forward to this type of ministry. I sometimes find myself stuck every day going to a “Christian” building, working with Christian people and teaching the Bible to Christian people. I often feel I work, live and play inside a Christian...
