Hold the Line
A couple of weeks ago I preached a message for the people of outpostChurch called “Hold the Line.” It was an encouragement to stand strong in the face of temptation, and a reminder that Jesus is with us in our time of greatest need. You can listen to the message here. I shared a short poem in closing, and wanted to share it with you. I pray it’s a blessing.
-Pastor Phillip
A Prayer for Independence Day
July 4th, 2003 O Lord, our country is sick. In so many ways our nation is dying. Those we trusted to lead us have lied. Those we looked to for guidance have betrayed. Selfishness has triumphed over service. Greed has won over goodness. Instead of holding sacred the public trust, so many of our leaders […]
How to Survive When Your Armor Fails
It’s times like this I’m grateful for a poor sense of smell. There it was, sitting in the middle of the grass, an armadillo carcass interrupting the serenity of my morning walk. I didn’t know what killed it, how long it had been there or how long it would be before someone or something removed […]
Sitting Shiva
I’ve never seen this grill before. I’m sitting on the worn striped seat cushion of an old metal chair. Along with its three blue wire-frame counterparts and matching table, this chair has kept watch over my grandparents’ patio for years. In front of me sits a new shiny new grill with a dozen settings and […]
Stillness Brings You Clarity
The backwater lake shimmered in the light of the mid-morning sun. Ripples danced through the water like figure skaters on ice, making chaotic patterns interspersed with brief moments of circular perfection where the fish poked up for a bite to eat. Across the water was a stand of cypress trees, their ghost-white forms stretching high […]
Let the Past be the Past
The white metal sign looked so lonely, its faded yellow trim standing out in a field of brittle grass and flowing weeds. Once upon a time it had been an important warning marker to approaching boats. At some point in the past it had served a purpose, had helped travelers avoid danger by not letting […]
It’s a Good Thing Your Bag Has Holes
Seriously? Another one??? I stared at the grocery bag in annoyance, one hand holding its flimsy form up to the light as the other spread open the beige plastic for examination. Yep, two nice-sized holes in the bottom made this one a no-go, too. You see, I use grocery bags for trash liners in my […]
Sometimes God’s Love Has to Take You Apart
“Why won’t this stupid thing work???” I had been so blessed when my friends gave me their old Playstation 3 video game console, even though the disc drive didn’t work. I’d heard that replacement parts were available online for cheap, and I’ve been known to do a bit of fix-up work on electronics before. Maybe […]
God Wants to Expand Your Boundaries
It’s hard for a two-year-old to stay in the boundaries. “I will run in the way of your commandments, when you enlarge my heart!” -Psalm 119:32 There they were, my godson and his friend, two little boys running ’round in the fresh-cut grass with a solid blue sky overhead. As the sun slowly set behind the […]
Jesus Makes Dead Things Live Again
It was obvious to everyone: the boy was dead. “And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, [the unclean spirit] came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, ‘He is dead.’” -Mark 9:26 Nice try, Jesus, but this one was too much. Sorry, dad, better start making funeral plans. Sorry, […]
