https://www.cyberparson.com/blog daily 0.75 2026-03-29 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/car-shopping-in-wartime monthly 0.5 2026-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1773526115536-L7PJSI55MK4LQPSEZ6VS/unsplash-image-9-RbADHFoyU.jpg Blog - Car Shopping in Wartime - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1773760841675-58L67RHB0UBM9N5LNDWW/unsplash-image-ejkp3RgYVIg.jpg Blog - Car Shopping in Wartime - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/reflections-on-a-reunion monthly 0.5 2026-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/b3b06537-631b-4fee-aba3-637a19288988/IMG_4109.jpeg Blog - Reflections on a Reunion - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/c98d3ed4-7fe2-456d-a546-a1feb2bdb2e3/IMG_4128.jpeg Blog - Reflections on a Reunion - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/a-psalm-of-single-mindedness monthly 0.5 2025-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1747079620340-2KUI3B7HQTCRORU4ZRD9/unsplash-image-kSJMF4AKyO0.jpg Blog - A Psalm of Single-Mindedness - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/eight-hours-two-couples-two-pictures-of-marriage monthly 0.5 2025-05-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1746723643054-G0ZJU8GQTBQQSJ2QNV1S/unsplash-image-1Bs2sZ9fD2Q.jpg Blog - Eight Hours, Two Couples, Two Pictures of Marriage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1746726049446-UUQOOF7EYKAF7AFUBIQA/unsplash-image-uLMEcr1O-1I.jpg Blog - Eight Hours, Two Couples, Two Pictures of Marriage https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one monthly 0.5 2025-04-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1745532189305-2MCX1ZPEKA29YU16LVDM/unsplash-image-B9YbNbaemMI.jpg Blog - A Good Idea or a Bad One? - Make it stand out By the way, this is not me or my brother. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/when-did-jesus-die monthly 0.5 2025-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1745001335163-K3GERVEJDSQ24NWIRWH3/unsplash-image-y2-FG8oiSiQ.jpg Blog - When Did Jesus Die? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/epiphany-celebrating-the-magi monthly 0.5 2025-01-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1736190798013-RPYX872OVTBPWCFMGZDJ/unsplash-image-5LVDGFamy4Q.jpg Blog - Epiphany—Celebrating the Magi - Make it stand out A carving representing the Magi visiting the infant Jesus. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/jesus-knocking monthly 0.5 2024-09-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/2b4c94b1-f561-4413-9c3c-523c96885c3b/christ-knocking-at-the-door.jpg Blog - Jesus Knocking - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/strong-crushed-renewed monthly 0.5 2024-07-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/d20cb752-b1bf-4d4a-aa1b-c8c2f3769348/Unknown.jpeg Blog - Strong, Crushed, Renewed - What is the condition of your spirit? Proverbs 18:14 says, "A man's spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?" This offering from the wisest of teachers tells us a few things about that part of us that we can't see but governs the whole of our life—our spirit. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/keeping-first-things-first monthly 0.5 2024-07-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/e96dac2f-3b54-4d42-a6b2-e3c778e8c25b/Screenshot+2024-07-10+at+2.11.39%E2%80%AFPM.png Blog - Keeping First Things First - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/the-path-to-a-restored-heart monthly 0.5 2024-07-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/2fe1910c-6bc6-4979-941f-d7708fd56b2a/Screenshot+2024-07-10+at+2.32.57%E2%80%AFPM.png Blog - The Path to a Restored Heart - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/who-are-the-least-of-these monthly 0.5 2024-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/a6a1153c-a225-448a-a6de-1cf4319fa1ea/Image+5-27-24+at+10.13+AM.jpeg Blog - Who are “The Least of These?” - Make it stand out https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/a-strange-ordination monthly 0.5 2024-05-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/bfdd9301-c437-423e-8f5e-bfebb6d372ab/6521bb83963be.image.jpg Blog - A Strange Ordination - Make it stand out This is a typical-looking Baptist ordination, like mine. I don’t have any pictures of my service in 1981. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1714593127032-95FJCSBJAJIB279F5LJH/download-3.jpg Blog - A Strange Ordination https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1714593130484-XV1ONG0JXFDSDJGG9C1U/download-2.jpg Blog - A Strange Ordination https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1714593034207-B569SSOKSZS8BSHE1H7U/download.jpg Blog - A Strange Ordination https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/16b3deae-41a3-4a65-a240-314014e5a9eb/1627677288998.png Blog - A Strange Ordination - Make it stand out An artist’s rendering of the anointing of Aaron and his sons as priests, described in Leviticus. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/f0ccb2a4-34e1-4dd3-8919-b50de833e5df/Ezekiel-Chapter-1.jpeg Blog - A Strange Ordination - Make it stand out An artist’s depiction of Ezekiel’s vision of God’s glory in ch. 1 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/fr3vp0ef6gt5yudiy6o6lv5kpeszkd monthly 0.5 2024-01-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1706104803858-RRSOUUO4NDQVUCXRX4OM/image-asset.jpeg Blog - “You Don’t Know Everything!” - Make it stand out The Bible is only completed book that yields more truth every time it is studied. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/hard-questions-about-prayer monthly 0.5 2023-11-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1699914938484-25YCPAH42PPUEMVXJ27L/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Answering Hard Questions About Prayer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/about-our-ministry-updates monthly 0.5 2023-11-04 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/8dbg36eo9ho1tzijjmjydtvbvor61v monthly 0.5 2023-11-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1698888589807-0AGSVY3VJYHCRCK1CHL6/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Does God Hate Divorce? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/54kofvbsqke03jfu0epaihbrzr0h8z monthly 0.5 2023-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/d811a460-31f5-4c16-97e9-338918484070/02DD9005-8BE5-483D-861C-43FC325ED0C0.JPG Blog - Pentecost Eve - Make it stand out Standing in the “traditional site” of the Upper Room where the disciples waited for Pentecost https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/lessons-from-death monthly 0.5 2023-05-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/da869e23-90b8-4293-8e5d-2d64233e121c/is-tim-keller.jpg Blog - Lessons from a Death - We’ve lost a champion for the gospel. Tim Keller’s death has prompted an incredible number of tributes across the evangelical and larger cultures. One common theme leads me to reflect and repent. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/ascension-day-when-christians-should-be-looking-up monthly 0.5 2023-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/110a1124-9c99-4127-b29b-39c0cbd55faa/unsplash-image-zlIgUxR1pV8.jpg Blog - Ascension Day: When Christians Should be Looking Up! - The Ascension of our Lord Stained glass windows of the Ascension fill churches throughout the world, but it is a day that provokes little interest among most Bible-believing Christians. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/more-to-thomas-than-doubt-s646r monthly 0.5 2023-04-16 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/why-celebrate-st-patrick monthly 0.5 2023-04-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1681032331194-3E2DKEQIHILNSX53OEY6/unsplash-image-ypoEHuYeY9c.jpg Blog - Why Celebrate St. Patrick - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/happy-epiphany monthly 0.5 2023-01-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/f6ef5862-b886-46c2-b64e-f991fe9dddbd/7B62E406-C9A2-456F-9504-52EB586D3ACA.jpeg Blog - Happy Epiphany! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/a-new-years-encouragement-from-a-dying-man monthly 0.5 2023-01-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/c2123444-49d2-4d8f-bac3-2ea1c91a1675/Perronet_e.jpg Blog - A New Year’s Encouragement from a Dying Man “Glory to God in the height of His divinity! Glory to God in the depth of his humanity! Glory to God in His all suffering! Into His hands I commend my spirit.” Edward Perronet, 1726-Jan. 2, 1792 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/advent-and-christmas monthly 0.5 2022-12-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1611078893209-J9VWXKPCZ6GM6ZHDNQVJ/christcandle-300x225-1.jpg Blog - Advent and Christmas: Waiting and Welcoming - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/christmas-in-the-dark monthly 0.5 2022-12-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1670003345845-IN092EEOXPU4Q7EWAILY/unsplash-image-qHVqCxmAWd0.jpg Blog - Christmas in the Dark - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/a-body-no-body-new-body monthly 0.5 2022-09-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1656593780990-YO0U0OLPFBDV67E7H8KD/unsplash-image-Cxpqnzd3Psg.jpg Blog - A Body, No Body, New Body - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/a-momentous-farewell monthly 0.5 2022-10-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/ce63bf8d-188a-4bdf-9ee9-beef4f14cc2c/33C4E5A5-AC6D-4027-8DD8-1AEBE5333A90_1_201_a.jpeg Blog - A Momentous Farewell - Farewell, Pastor Jim. Last week, Dr. Jim Cook died after 92 years of life and ministry. His “larger than life” story and personality left an indelible impression on so many who, like me, were brought into his orbit through decades of faithful ministry. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/moms-blessed-assurance monthly 0.5 2022-05-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1f1169c1-3730-48c6-8e20-7d5a5d2c4b73/IMG_5191.jpg Blog - Mom’s Blessed Assurance - Marjorie Mae Miller Born: September 9, 1932 Entered into Glory: May 5, 2022 A Committed Follower of Jesus, A Devoted Wife, a Dedicated Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother. We’ll see you again when we see Jesus. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/unfinished-first-chapter monthly 0.5 2022-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/6c132cc1-1f7a-45e8-9ad2-baeba5a81547/unsplash-image-omeaHbEFlN4.jpg Blog - The Unfinished First Chapter - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/courage-conviction monthly 0.5 2022-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/67f68851-6e66-41f0-9838-1828e23094be/iu-2.jpeg Blog - The Courage of Conviction - Make it stand out Luther before the Diet of Worms https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/he-is-risen-indeed monthly 0.5 2022-04-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/b065c902-2087-4292-a83a-682f9a6c527b/timthumb.php.png Blog - He is Risen Indeed - Make it stand out I've actually been to this tomb in Israel many times--a rolling stone tomb along the road that is probably the closest we will get to a good representation of what Jesus' empty tomb would have looked like. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/waiting monthly 0.5 2022-04-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/e7595486-8a25-4f5c-9687-b56a67a13753/download.jpg Blog - Waiting - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/what-is-truth monthly 0.5 2022-04-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1e627b22-1a1a-4832-804d-ab617d7de6e8/Joachim_Beuckelaer_-_Christ_on_the_Cross_-_WGA2107.jpg Blog - What is Truth? - Make it stand out Beuckelaer’s Christ on the Cross https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/a-new-commandment monthly 0.5 2022-04-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/e6f8b234-01df-40ac-9d70-0e957ab02737/The_Last_Supper_-_Leonardo_Da_Vinci_-_High_Resolution_32x16.jpg Blog - A New Commandment - Make it stand out DaVinci’s “The Last Supper” https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/betrayal-and-fake-faith monthly 0.5 2022-04-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/ea0d1397-6b08-4a6a-8a75-ab5425c721b4/pp-30pcs1.jpg Blog - Betrayal and Fake Faith - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/final-temple-teaching monthly 0.5 2022-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/ebae374d-6da2-43fd-9889-90c05d80178a/Disciples+Marvel+at+Temple.jpg Blog - Temple Teaching - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/curses monthly 0.5 2022-04-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/8d8db829-ac00-4e75-8b5d-dba885d8469a/FIG+TREE.jpg Blog - Curses! - Make it stand out A mature fig tree. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/palm-sundaythe-first-day-of-holy-week monthly 0.5 2022-04-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1649597568313-J851NOC4V5TQTZ355N01/unsplash-image-bmM_IdLd1SA.jpg Blog - Palm Sunday—The First Day of Holy Week - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/St-Patricks-Breastplate monthly 0.5 2022-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1647522128004-03E3S3NPJIH503DI3PV9/unsplash-image-3rmKJs2FvBc.jpg Blog - St. Patrick’s Breastplate - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/a-birthday-in-a-refugee-camp monthly 0.5 2022-02-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1644948656310-RS0I4RWKOU69JFJY0P8U/IMG_9448.jpeg Blog - A Birthday in a Refugee Camp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1644948662208-UTIB4SKB00ZSDHEFHVXQ/IMG_9440.jpeg Blog - A Birthday in a Refugee Camp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1644948669131-5AXG0S1SYAGUG7W3C9YO/IMG_9421.jpeg Blog - A Birthday in a Refugee Camp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1644948675086-06832KUFN7TTU0QEQTLZ/IMG_9426.jpeg Blog - A Birthday in a Refugee Camp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1644948681023-40RXB5R81BV8V7D9NX4M/IMG_9443.jpeg Blog - A Birthday in a Refugee Camp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1644948687062-MR2F6N2HGISF783ZGK15/IMG_9450.jpeg Blog - A Birthday in a Refugee Camp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1645000820433-H35XAJSKTH0LBZUO33HO/IMG_9498.jpeg Blog - A Birthday in a Refugee Camp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1645000826028-6NEPSGMEFKRJEG1ZRXAA/IMG_9486.jpeg Blog - A Birthday in a Refugee Camp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1645000827991-IPLCM1YHUZ4TLZJB3WRL/IMG_9490.jpeg Blog - A Birthday in a Refugee Camp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1645000843084-K416HACRMTAOG601OPUU/IMG_9509.jpeg Blog - A Birthday in a Refugee Camp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1645000846665-S5AOS4XZCEEP2PDKF6PM/IMG_9510.jpeg Blog - A Birthday in a Refugee Camp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1645000860620-FQZI89DSF6IMQF37GTKL/IMG_6129.jpeg Blog - A Birthday in a Refugee Camp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1645000869479-ZK0VUQC20SCEBJ0EXMBP/IMG_9520.jpeg Blog - A Birthday in a Refugee Camp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1645000871785-BAO9MT6CXZKL2UU2Q43Q/IMG_9555.jpeg Blog - A Birthday in a Refugee Camp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1645000878493-HYRQYH1H8R97IOLVX9U2/IMG_9573.jpeg Blog - A Birthday in a Refugee Camp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1645000186418-Z5G2BZ1O23WR8D7YT59P/IMG_5779.jpeg Blog - A Birthday in a Refugee Camp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1645000161644-1PMLIVK6VXSSAYOF1322/IMG_9476.jpeg Blog - A Birthday in a Refugee Camp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1645000164576-QU4O9JD2134TB0LFA7OB/IMG_6091.jpeg Blog - A Birthday in a Refugee Camp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1645000180813-F8VN14ODC9XIIG1KWEKR/IMG_9478.jpeg Blog - A Birthday in a Refugee Camp https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/changing-up-my-quiet-time monthly 0.5 2022-01-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1642277593085-PG2B8EQ02V9TF3ZFJ4PF/unsplash-image-TNlHf4m4gpI.jpg Blog - Changing Up My Quiet Time - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/what-a-difference-a-year-makes monthly 0.5 2021-12-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/dd8a75ed-8a78-48a0-a38f-bdd9e83ca777/IMG_9089.jpeg Blog - What a Difference a Year Makes! - Make it stand out Christmas lights at the Millers’ place! https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/praying-in-a-smyrna-moment monthly 0.5 2021-08-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1629473317494-1N8VB8ZX44V2OA7UJ1C7/42026205_303.jpg Blog - Praying (and living) in “Smyrna” - Make it stand out Ruins of the ancient city of Smyrna (now Izmir, Turkey) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1629473419501-FIKU16S9AU2JVK77XIEO/unsplash-image-X8eIlUS3n90.jpg Blog - Praying (and living) in “Smyrna” - Make it stand out A village in Afghanistan, prior to the Taliban takeover. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/thats-not-who-we-are monthly 0.5 2021-08-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1628185000095-3ET00E3YDQUIB5BAIX5Y/unsplash-image-sxQz2VfoFBE.jpg Blog - “That’s Not Who We Are!” Recently I watched as a well-known pastor I admire had to address a significant problem within his congregation from the pulpit. He was clear, measured, and appropriate in his comments. He described the situation and what made it particularly awful. And then he said, “This is not who we are.” https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/too-many-friends monthly 0.5 2021-07-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1624721313108-PFETIGVSQSSAYIFTOB0W/unsplash-image-W8dP1Ra04lU.jpg Blog - Too Many Friends? - A man of many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 In what is surely one of the more confusing proverbs, this seems to be a warning against having too many friends. Can you have too many friends? Most of us would say “No!” And yet there seems to be a two-edged sword to friendship that we are supposed to consider. One of the first things to clear up is what, exactly is the text of Proverbs 18:24. The second part of the contrast is clear in all translations—there is a friend who “sticks closer than a brother.” But what about the first part of the verse? https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/before-i-was monthly 0.5 2021-07-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1624909197382-SY5CVZ3BP6M3YGMN9U38/image-asset.jpeg Blog - “Before I Was” - Amy Carmichael, Beauty for Ashes, by Iain Murray I recently read this wonderful (and for Murray, very brief) biography of this remarkable missionary whose work in India shaped lives and changed missionary thinking. Mother to hundreds, she was her generation’s Mother Teresa, but with a decidedly Evangelical bent. After one visit home to Northern Ireland early in her career, she returned to India, never to leave. She was a prolific writer and her poems are strong medicine for the soul. Some other time I’ll share “No Scar,” my favorite, but here is one that I found near the beginning of the book that I wish I had come across earlier in my life. If you click on the picture, it will take you to Amazon, where you can get the book for yourself. I highly recommend it—along with Elisabeth Elliot’s earlier biography, A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/when-the-church-doesnt-meet-your-needs monthly 0.5 2021-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1622926801659-IIMEPB04BBOMPV7QAGO2/unsplash-image-rNd_P5R7kE0.jpg Blog - When the Church Doesn’t Meet Your Needs - For the last year, we have been churchless. Not in the universal church sense of the word, but in the local one. Having stepped down as the pastor of our last church without a clear future plan, we were in a “nomad-style” existence. We lived with my parents through a season of helping them make choices about next steps in light of advancing age and declining health. This was a gift to us—not just a place to stay but the opportunity to serve them in a hard time. But we knew that we were not staying in that home or community forever. Friends and readers of this blog’s Ministry Updates know what eventually transpired as we received a new calling and searched for and found a new home nine months after coming to Texas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1622927013819-7F7XNI7RYHZ1A5SM90WZ/unsplash-image-ATlRqTCbvV4.jpg Blog - When the Church Doesn’t Meet Your Needs - We need a church that imitates Jesus. It is a sad fact that we all know stories of churches and church people behaving badly. Let’s face it, we all have moments ourselves we aren’t proud of. But sometimes this isn’t just the normal ups and downs of growth in sanctification. We each can tell stories of churches that have been abusive in their dealings or control of members’ lives, even to the point of covering up sin by leaders at the expense of church victims. More often, there are church cultures that are, to use the popular term today, toxic. They speak and act in harmful ways that oppress those who are hurt and promote judgmental spirits, not just speaking out against sin, but using derisive language about people that would shut the door on them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1622927154711-DKGNI3A1BKRYLO831213/unsplash-image-b_SHPU5M3nk.jpg Blog - When the Church Doesn’t Meet Your Needs - 2. We need a church that is anchored in and teaches the whole Bible. Evangelicals pride themselves on being people of the Book. And yet, there are many church folk who are not aware of what the Bible actually teaches. Worse, there are pastors who don’t want to touch certain texts and subjects because they would be “controversial.” I’ll never forget having read “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards (in my public school literature class!). That was my first exposure to the doctrine of God’s sovereign election to salvation. I couldn’t believe it! I asked my pastor, “Do we believe in election?” His response was, “Yes, but we don’t talk about it!” I gathered that he thought it would be a problem, and I know that most of us in the church didn’t believe in it, largely because it was never explained. This is a precious doctrine central to our understanding of salvation, but was ignored. However, we had annual prophecy conferences where we focused on all the specific details of our particular form of eschatology. For me, it’s a problem if the church knows more about last things than first things! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1622927263196-JH7BXJT8GB64E4YH7TXY/unsplash-image-nF8xhLMmg0c.jpg Blog - When the Church Doesn’t Meet Your Needs - 3. We need a church that connects us. The NT designation for what we call “the church” is ekklesia, which means a group that is called out or called to assemble together. Israel, called and led by God out of Egypt, is labeled “the church in the wilderness” in the KJV rendering of Acts 7:38. The very name indicates that we are to be gathered. Some are wondering if the pandemic has forever changed what the church will be, with many choosing to connect only online. I don’t think so. I know that there are churches setting up online campuses with online campus pastors. That may be a temporary start or an entry point for people on their journey into the church, but it ought not be the stopping place, unless someone is physically unable to move toward face to face gathering. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1622928063078-480XBHESR57UCI5VILPT/unsplash-image--5rA4DRrEXU.jpg Blog - When the Church Doesn’t Meet Your Needs - Our churches will not hit all the marks all the time, and maybe not even most of the time. But are they striving for them, especially the most important ones? I am passionate about staying committed to a local church like we are to family. But I also recognize there are families that are dysfunctional or abusive to the point of harming family members. That can also be true of local churches and if it is, change may well be the only healthy, God-honoring solution. Change might happen in the church, but more likely it will be a person deciding to graciously move on to another fellowship. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/do-not-be-ashamed monthly 0.5 2021-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1622730428986-P5DNOTAZX3PFB6JAX3M0/Wendell-Berry-2-233x300.jpg Blog - “Do Not Be Ashamed” - Do Not Be Ashamed You will be walking some night in the comfortable dark of your yard and suddenly a great light will shine round about you, and behind you will be a wall you never saw before. It will be clear to you suddenly that you were about to escape, and that you are guilty: you misread the complex instructions, you are not a member, you lost your card or never had one. And you will know that they have been there all along, their eyes on your letters and books, their hands in your pockets, their ears wired to your bed. Though you have done nothing shameful, they will want you to be ashamed. They will want you to kneel and weep and say you should have been like them. And once you say you are ashamed, reading the page they hold out to you, then such light as you have made in your history will leave you. They will no longer need to pursue you. You will pursue them, begging forgiveness. They will not forgive you. There is no power against them. It is only candor that is aloof from them, only an inward clarity, unashamed, that they cannot reach. Be ready. When their light has picked you out and their questions are asked, say to them: “I am not ashamed.” A sure horizon will come around you. The heron will begin his evening flight from the hilltop. https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/more-to-thomas-than-doubt monthly 0.5 2023-04-10 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/i-am-barabbas monthly 0.5 2021-04-02 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/bearing-each-others-burdens-carrying-our-own-loads monthly 0.5 2021-04-02 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/what-david-never-said monthly 0.5 2021-02-01 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/why-no-postings monthly 0.5 2021-02-01 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/nomorewaiting monthly 0.5 2021-01-19 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/love-is monthly 0.5 2020-12-22 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/nnnd8wl3bau7xbs008w050mi7ngdb3 monthly 0.5 2020-12-22 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/08dgguvvcl62jy3e2soih250e648ov monthly 0.5 2020-12-22 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/tdbkvy4hdqro6exkustlnjlu1yfya8 monthly 0.5 2020-12-22 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/3tbci9awc5op6d843h9suujbllnh22 monthly 0.5 2024-12-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/437e5eca-70ee-4448-a6f5-0c5ec24066f0/IMG_1203.jpg Blog - George Mueller, Prayer, and the Will of God https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/changes-coming monthly 0.5 2025-01-26 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/strong-comforter monthly 0.5 2020-12-22 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/where-do-christians-go-when-they-die monthly 0.5 2020-12-22 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/praise-coachingpart-6-satisfied monthly 0.5 2020-12-22 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/praise-coachingpart-5-crowned monthly 0.5 2020-12-22 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/a-hrefhttpscyberparsoncom20200830when-life-gets-strange-and-smallwhen-life-gets-strange-and-smalla monthly 0.5 2024-12-17 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/2aknpmq5je4dhcj0soi6h145aqtugl monthly 0.5 2024-12-17 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/q4bdj4mzmeajcasfrxd8uy50rtsuio monthly 0.5 2024-12-17 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/uzufnwqpy710zu5udaa6r0w1evfzis monthly 0.5 2024-12-17 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/vxpm3n6w3coabwklb0qitnsfkcihkb monthly 0.5 2024-12-17 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/z5dxqb5qs92j0kbasubikhmsvufnwq monthly 0.5 2024-12-17 https://www.cyberparson.com/blog/the-texodus-begins monthly 0.5 2024-12-17 https://www.cyberparson.com/about daily 0.75 2025-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1605108758092-JNFJUHZTM16MEGDUX1HO/103866487_10101140986571974_2475948210184395575_n.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1589847833743-F4ZNTSBG6SV6QOKKH98U/image-asset.jpeg About - “With the mind of a theologian, the heart of a pastor, and sharp wit of a writer, Craig Miller always provides a delightful read. A lifetime of ministry and wisdom provides depth you can trust and will encourage everyone who take the time to listen.” — Dr. Christopher Miller, Distinguished Professor of Old Testament, Cedarville University https://www.cyberparson.com/contact daily 0.75 2021-06-08 https://www.cyberparson.com/books-and-links daily 0.75 2025-03-25 https://www.cyberparson.com/home daily 1.0 2025-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1623084435535-E7UHO7774E8LKS07EBSP/unsplash-image-AeABkasP-24.jpg Home - The Texodus This blog’s name is made up but a personal reminder that God has brought us to reside in a place that is not, ultimately, home. Our physical relocation served to remind me that our times and seasons at present are, like those of the children of Israel, a time of wandering in a wilderness, awaiting our call to the great “Promised Land.” My posts are thoughts about living as followers of our forerunner, Jesus, on the journey home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/acb86e4f-0926-4d63-a277-5a0458fed18a/IMG_8087.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5faafb8c7afd43556c148de3/1623085165997-VFP0JQGF2EML6QZIPXRA/unsplash-image-2JIvboGLeho.jpg https://www.cyberparson.com/ask-craig daily 0.75 2023-11-02