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𝗔 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻It’s that time again—the Artist in Residence program in Blowing Rock at Edgewood Cottage is in full swing for the summer! Each week two really good artists will be displaying and selling their art. I will be in the cottage the week of June 29 - July 5.  My artist partner who will be showing her art is Barbara Capeletti, who lives in Florida when she isn’t at home in Banner Elk. Barb does marvelous watercolor art, and it is my delight to be with her this week. Both Barb and I are Christians and love to paint and [...]

Barney and Wine Kegs Do you know anybody named Barney? There is a Barney in the early church in the book of Acts. Actually his real name is Joseph; but he was such an encouraging man that his fellow church members got to calling him Barnabas, which means “Son of Encouragement.” And I’m sure that Barnabas got shortened to Barney. At least that’s what happened to my great-great uncle Barney, who was not quite all there due to being gassed as a soldier in WWI.   Anyhow, a couple Sundays ago while preaching on the story of Barnabas in Acts I asked my congregation [...]

The Sunday Zoo For the last couple of Sundays a new young couple has been attending our church. Not just on Sunday morning but also on Wednesday nights when she isn’t working at a local store. In conversation with them,  the young man shared that he has recently been feeling a need for church involvement. A feeling just out of the blue. It set me thinking. Thinking about the folks who fill the pews on Sunday mornings.    That reminded me of some of the characters I have told you about who have been in my congregations in twenty different pastorates in my decades [...]

The Hinge Time The little girl was very talkative, and indeed, bright beyond her years. I first met her when I talked with the church committee seeking an interim pastor for their church. Her father was a part of that committee, and after they and I had talked for while and the committee needed to huddle to make decisions on various aspects of the call, she was assigned to get my wife and me a coke and show us the sanctuary. We got the full tour of the church, including what our little guide called the “special” room, the baptistry. I think most [...]