Rite of passage: ‘Goooood job, Poppy!’
The other day, I went to help my son Caleb paint the inside of the previously-owned home he just bought. I enjoy these tasks, as they give us some quality time together. But this day, I was particularly excited because I got to hang out with Titus the Honorable and Cohen the Goodhearted. Cohen came by as I was climbing up the ladder and watched as I meticulously cut in the living room ceiling. He yelled up, “Good job, Poppy, goooood...
Rite of passage: Save the day
Dear Cohen the Goodhearted, On Thanksgiving Eve, you and I were outside playing when you started walking toward the house with real intensity. I stopped you and asked, “Where are you going?” You looked up at me and sang a line from the theme song of the “Mighty Mouse” cartoon, “Here I come to save the day!” It caught me by surprise. I didn’t know you knew who Mighty Mouse was, let alone that you could sing the theme song. I grew up...
Rite of passage: Christmas traditions
A quick question: What kind of music do you listen to the week before Christmas? Wrap music. Enough of the Christmas puns. With our grandsons getting older, Christmas has taken on new life in the Moore home. Titus the Honorable is already anticipating presents, Christmas trees and family. Cohen the Goodhearted is just looking forward to ripping into something. Having these young ones has sparked new interest in the Christmas season...
Rite of passage: The great dish migration
In my den, I have a large picture window that overlooks my backyard; it is my favorite feature in our house. My man-chair faces this window, and here, I have spent many hours watching the world go by. For me, that window has provided some of the best medicine. When I return home after a long weekend, engaging with people and their spiritual struggles, I will sit in my chair and stare out. I like seeing the first snowflake as it makes...
Rite of passage: J+0=E
The crops hadn’t been too good that year, and the offerings were down. The small, country Baptist church struggled to keep its doors open and pay the bills. For a long time, the church had wanted to install indoor plumbing. The old outhouse was getting rickety, and the people who came to visit were put out that the church hadn’t moved with the times. As the leader of the congregation, the pastor struggled with how he could best help...
Rite of passage: First lap
My inspiration for carrying the cross up Mount Kilimanjaro a few years ago came to me through a man named Keith Wheeler. I have known Keith for a long time, and he is one of my favorite missionary speakers. Several years ago, I was talking to Keith about my upcoming 40th anniversary of entering the ministry. I asked him, “How do you thank Jesus for allowing you to represent Him around the world?” Keith looked at me with those steely...
