By Rick Elsey Pastor, West End Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Judges 6:11-16, 22-24 In the movie Field of Dreams, James Earl Jones’ character sums up our culture when he says, “They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom … They’ll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won’t mind if you look around, you’ll say. It’s only $20 per

By Rick Elsey Pastor, West End Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Exodus 17:8-16 As a high school football official, I love spending Friday nights in stadiums across the state. Before the game begins I stand side by side with other officials as “The Star-Spangled Banner” is played. Sometimes it is a recording; sometimes the local band plays. No matter how it is played I always think of the same things. I

By Rick Elsey Pastor, West End Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Genesis 22:1-14 Do names matter? Ask the Hatfields and the McCoys. Throughout Scripture names play an important role. They reflect the character or nature of an individual or serve as a reminder to a promise. This is especially true when it comes to God. The names of God not only reveal His character but they encourage and challenge us

By Joshua Franks Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton Focal Passage: Ephesians 5:8-14 Every four years we come to one of my favorite sporting spectacles. I love the Winter Olympics. I’m not really sure why, but for two weeks in February sports like figure skating and alpine skiing suddenly matter in my life. But the Olympics have become a ritual in my home. Every cycle we gather around the TV at

By Joshua Franks Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton Focal Passage: 1 Peter 2:11-17 I was shopping in Walmart a few days ago and I struck up a conversation with an acquaintance. Our talk started cordially enough but I soon asked why I never saw him on Sundays. His demeanor changed quickly and he replied, “You’ll never see me in church. There’s too many hypocrites!” Having been in ministry long enough

By Joshua Franks Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton Focal Passage: I Peter 2:4-10 On April 2, 2005, Pope John Paul II passed away. At the time, I knew very little about the Catholic church but I remember being fascinated by all of the pomp and circumstance surrounding the selection of the next Pope. I watched the news as thousands of people crowded into St. Peter’s square and waited for the

By Joshua Franks Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton Focal Passage: II Corinthians 3:4-12 If you’re going to be an infantryman in the Army, then you’re headed to Fort Benning, near Columbus, Ga. There are other places that offer basic combat training, but only Fort Benning transforms soldiers into infantrymen. There, the soldiers go through rigorous training that lasts 14 weeks. At the end, they have a final rite of passage.

By Joshua Franks Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton Focal Passage: Galatians 4:1-7 In 2000, I had the opportunity to hear Billy Graham preach in Nashville. I don’t remember what the sermon was about. I don’t remember how many people were saved. What I do remember is how brief it seemed. In my young life I had heard thousands of sermons but I had never heard one like that. He preached for

By Joshua Franks Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton Focal Passage: Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 One of my favorite memories growing up was getting to watch Saturday morning cartoons. Very few things brought joy into my little heart like waking up and running to the living room to see what kind of hijinks Bugs Bunny and his friends were up to. Every now and then they would have a storyline that featured “The