Blog - Pastor’s Pen

Dear Church, April may bring showers ahead of May flowers, but it will also bring us some special Sunday events at First Baptist. Sunday, April 7, our children will lead us in worship. I’m grateful for a congregation that cherishes and celebrates the gifts of all ages – from children to seniors. I look forward […]

Dear Church, As your pastor, one of my top priorities is to ensure the safety of all children, youth, and vulnerable adults participating in and interacting with our congregation. As a cooperating church with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF), we are participating in a CBF-sponsored initiative to strengthen safeguarding practices in our church. Since November, […]

Dear Church, At a recent Wednesday church meal, a mom shared with me how much her children love coming to church, how they are sad if the calendar or snow keeps them from coming, and how much joy it gives her knowing her children love what they experience at FBC JC.   Stories like these […]

For some of us, it is unfathomable that we are entering the year 2024. Just yesterday, people were preparing for the end of the world with the Y2K bug. In this potential programming flaw, technology-dependent industries and products would fail when the calendar turned from December 31, 1999, to January 1, 2000. If all this […]

The mortality rate for human beings is hovering at around 100 percent. Death is the great equalizer. It comes for us all. So, it makes sense that many of us have serious concerns or questions about death. While we speak of death often at funerals, we rarely tackle the subject head-on in our Sunday routine. […]

“Parts Unknown with Anthony Bourdain” was a popular television travel and food documentary series hosted by the late Anthony Bourdain. The show, which aired from 2013 to 2018, followed Bourdain as he traveled the globe exploring different cultures, cuisines, and the human experience. Bourdain’s unique storytelling style combined culinary adventures with cultural immersion, providing viewers […]

On September 10 at 9:00 a.m., I will be installed as the next Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church. Wait … does this mean I haven’t really been the Lead Pastor since March 1? No! I’ve officially been your pastor these past six months. This hasn’t been a trial or probationary period. You’re stuck with […]

BRAGGING WARNING! Friends, as summer winds down and our attention turns to a new school year rhythm, I want to brag on you for a few moments. I mentioned recently in worship some comments I’ve received from individuals visiting our church this summer. The common theme I hear is about the friendliness of this congregation. […]

On my recent trip to Italy with my nephew, a regional train carried us to a small city an hour west of Florence. We had a 10 am tee time on a beautiful Tuscan golf course we were eager to make. Upon arrival at the train station, we were greeted by a concrete platform and […]

June begins the hectic travel season for so many of us. Family vacations, traveling sports teams, summer camps, missions trips, and more. Summer is a season of memories and adventures! I’m a big fan of traveling, often reflecting on Mark Twain’s wise words, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our […]