Mike's Heartbeat

  The 2020 Wilderness The desert is a wilderness.  The biblical terminology for wilderness is most often a reference to a rugged desert environment that presents a special blend of challenges to those who visit.  The arid ecosystem, extreme heat and cold, and the lack of water, can bring new...

  Returning to Spiritual Roots Goldie was raised in the epicenter of what has been defined as the Bible Belt. Growing up in the deep South, going to church was as customary as fried chicken and sweet tea.  Church attendance was not just an acceptable thing to do, it was a staple of the culture. ...

Watching the Battle People worldwide are watching the fierce battle raging in this moment. We are not watching it from a distance – we are in it. We have engaged the enemy face-to-face and mask-to-mask. It has been a learning journey of gigantic proportions as governmental agencies and medical...

Life in the Slow Lane Our lives changed drastically a few weeks ago. This change has impacted most (if not all) of the world. At this point, we are not sure how long this will last, but we do know that it is possible this could continue for a number of weeks. This change – the COVID-19 pandemic –...

I know what you are thinking. You think I have had another senior moment and reversed the words in the title of an old country song made famous by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. Indeed, I have reversed the words of that song title, but it is intentional. I am here to make a point. The Waylon and...

Second Samuel records a critical and difficult time in the life of King David.  His own son, Absalom, was leading a rebellion against him. Chapter 18 gives the account of the fierce battle in the woods of Ephraim where twenty-thousand men lost their lives. It was a bittersweet day for King David. ...

It is a beautiful day in the mountains of southeast Tennessee.  The sun is shining and the foliage on the mountainsides provided a feast for the eyes.  A gentle, summer breeze adds the finishing touch to a breathtaking scene. Along the ridge above the Hiwasse River, a small group of adventurers wind...

Bubba was raised on a farm in the rural deep south known for hot days, sweet tea, college football, and country music.  His personality and upbringing (For those of you not from the South, that means childhood developmental path) resulted in Bubba’s being a quiet, socially reclusive adult.  His nature...

NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Yet, any resemblance to actual persons or organizations, living or dead, or actual events, is purely intentional. Once there was a peaceful...

I was doing some research for my Sunday message this past week that focused upon John the Baptist.  My intent was to show that John found tremendous significance in embracing God’s design on his life as he submitted to the role dictated by his Heavenly Father’s plan.  That research path led...