John Leland was born in the colonies — a native of Massachusetts. While raised a Congregationalist, he had conversion experience and was baptized by a Baptist minister at eighteen. In 1776 and at the age of 22, Leland and his wife Sallie Devine moved to Virginia where he began pastoring various Baptist congregations and working…

There were three times in the past week that I found myself in conversations with persons and I made reference to one of the questions I use and recommend often in discernment when the choice is unclear: “Which choice will help you sleep best at night?” This could be worded different ways to arrive at…

In 1926, Opal was born in Marshall, Texas. She was the oldest of three children, who moved to Fort Worth, Texas, when Opal was ten. Two years later, a mob of 500 white rioters burned down her home, angry that the family for moving into a predominantly black neighborhood. Of the incident, Lee said: “The…

This week, I came across an article celebrating that for the first time ever, the New Testament had been fully translated into a language; for the first time ever, a people would be able to read the New Testament in their native language. In 2026. It was only in 1875 that Christian missionaries first encountered…

If you’ve driven by the church facility in the past couple weeks, you may have noticed I’m not being welcomed anymore — by which I mean the sign no longer says “Welcome Pastor Michael Strickland!” In truth, I had assumed someone was in charge of the sign and would change it, but it turned out…

One of those things that my siblings and I joke about quite often is that when we were growing up, we never had toys that made noise — mechanical or battery-powered. Or actually — the truth of the matter — we never had toys that made noise… and that still made noise after a month or two. Somehow, mysteriously, the…

“Now for the next exercise, you are to go outside, find a tree, and invite God into your consideration of it. Write in your journal as you go, and be back here in an hour.” These were instructions I was given as part of a spiritual retreat some years back. And they left me more…

On Wednesday this week, I was conversing with someone I know in Denmark. In the midst of chitchat, they remarked how they had to make sure they went to the grocery store because everything would be closed the next day. I quickly scanned my brain and could not come up with any reason for a…

This past week, I attended a webinar involving Miguel De La Torre, a theologian and ethicist who holds a professorship at the Iliff School of Theology. I have known of Dr. De La Torre for many years, having first been introduced to him by our former Regional Executive Minister, Larry Greenfield. In his writing and…

The scenario is one any parent is familiar with: one child has inadvertently harmed another. There was no ill will. There may not have even been an awareness that harm was done or that they were involved in any way whatsoever. Their ignorance may be genuine. Their heart may be good. But they still — without meaning harm…