[This was written by my son, Michael, for an English class assignment during his senior year in high school.] I want to make a deal with you, the reader, before you read any of this paper. I want you to agree to keep an open mind while reading this. Assume that I have a chance…
Author: Alan
Alan is an ordinary guy, living in a small, high plains Colorado town...and humbled to be a minister of God...
And When You Have Turned Again
Sermon Topics On Wednesday I still hadn't settled on a subject for this week's sermon, and since I was hitting up Barry Duke for a potential ride to our 7:15 activities, I also figured I'd ask him if he had any suggestions for a sermon topic. Somehow in the text messages he thought I had…
Was it a Bad Bird?
In my last sermon I mentioned how social media options like Twitter and Facebook are great places to get topics for talks and articles, but there is one thing that definitely beats both hands-down… The utterances and actions of a 4 year-old. 🙂 A couple weeks back I had a bunch of stuff to bring…
Heaven…I’m In Heaven
The Palazzo Las Vegas If you preach quite a bit or write bulletin articles, one of the best inspirations for topics are things posted by those you have friended or have followed. I'm not saying that they are a better source of wisdom than the Bible itself—quite the opposite. However, it's amazing how a quick…
You Prayed for What?!
Have you ever seen a football game where the guy gets the ball and promptly runs to the wrong end zone? Or a basketball game where a player gets disoriented and sinks one in the opposition's basket? Although in some ways it's funny (as long as it wasn't an athlete on your team that made…
Two Trees and a Tomb
Introductions Before I begin my first sermon here at the Pleasant View Church of Christ, I figure it would be good to provide a quick introduction. I imagine most of you either have met me or are aware of me, but I am a recent transplant from New Hampshire…sent out ahead of my family, half…
How Soon We Forget
It probably comes as no surprise that leaving my home of eight years in Antrim, New Hampshire has, to varying degrees, been emotionally painful. As a whole my mind is busy on other things, but when it is allowed to slow down (for instance, early in the morning or late in the evening) a certain…
“Whose Damsel is This?”
The first time I visited a Half Price Books was last year in Arlington, Texas. Like Radio Shack, it's the kind of store I like to stop in whenever I see one, but generally I don't buy anything. It's not because there is nothing I'm interested in, quite the opposite. Instead, if I were to…
The Gospel for Hair Bands
I'm not entirely sure, but the first time I heard Europe's "Wish I Could Believe" was while listening to the Internet radio station XERS earlier this year. Having an ear for songs that speak to spiritual topics, this portion of the chorus caught my attention: Cause I, wish I could believe in God So I…
“I’m Sorry if I Offended You”
Although there are myriad other reasons to be aggravated with politicians and government leaders, perhaps one of the most annoying is how they apologize. First, they are unlikely to actually admit they did anything wrong—for instance, they don't say, "I'm sorry I said something really stupid." Instead, they proffer an equivocation like, "I'm sorry if…
Three Strikes You’re In
Growing up in Canaan, New Hampshire without a whole bunch of pocket change, baseball was something that entertained my friends and me because it didn't take more than a ball and a glove to enjoy it. Well, it generally was better if there were at least two gloves. 🙂 I suppose just like cricket in…
This Means War!
Has there ever been a time in your life where you woke up in the morning convinced you couldn't face the day? Perhaps a distressing situation at work that has gone on-and-on, and you can't take another minute of it? Perhaps the overwhelming grief of loss from the death of a person or of a…
3,000 Miles and the Tower of Babel
This past weekend I was able to successfully take my wife's Nissan Cube on a 3,000 mile road trip from New Hampshire to California. Even during the dead of winter, the landscapes visible from a northern route on American interstates was amazing. Perhaps more remarkable, however, was the fact that over 72 hours I was…
Traditores is Moving!
Well, Traditores isn’t moving, but it’s main writer, Alan is. Tonight he’ll climb in a car and start a 3-ish day journey to his new job in Pleasanton, California. There won’t be anything there now, but if all goes as planned you can follow him across country by using Channel 03440 (Antrim, NH’s zip code)…
Friends
As I write this I have a track repeating over-and-over on iTunes. It is a reminder of many things, including the fact that I was once young. 🙂 The main voice is that of Michael W. Smith, and the other is of his good friend Amy Grant. If I remember a conversation with a more…