Dear Cobham Park Church Family, When people visit a new church, they often feel simultaneously welcome and unwelcome. For instance, I recently visited a thriving Baptist congregation in another state. I was uncertain of where I was supposed to park as I drove into the church lot. A few empty unmarked spots were near the… Read More »

Dear Cobham Park Church Family, Over a year ago, I began seriously planning to see last month’s total eclipse of the sun. I knew it might be my last shot, since it will be 2044 before another one will be visible in the contiguous United States. In a total solar eclipse, the sun is completely… Read More »

Dear Cobham Park Church Family, On a typical April day, will you need a warm coat, a flannel shirt, or just a t-shirt? Who knows? Virginia’s spring weather tends to be unpredictable. We can sometimes enjoy all four seasons in the same day! This uncertainty doesn’t make it any easier to set the church thermostat.… Read More »

Dear Cobham Park Church Family, Well, it’s official: I’m a Grandpa. Before my grandson’s arrival, I asked friends what being a grandparent was like. One said: “Oh, it’s wonderful! It feels like your heart is exploding.” Another said, “Just wait: when you see that baby, you’ll want to kiss all his skin off!” I was… Read More »

Dear Cobham Park Church Family, Have you heard the parable of “Cobby Cat”? I didn’t think so. I must admit that I’m not a huge cat fan. I don’t have anything against them, but, compared with dogs, cats strike me as a bit aloof. If I’m in close quarters with a cat for more than… Read More »

I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies. —Psalm 119:59 (NKJV) Dear Cobham Park Church Family, I’m not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions. But January’s lull provides an excellent opportunity for me to take stock of my life and ministry. While physical fitness may be important, I’ve been thinking… Read More »

Dear Cobham Park Church Family, Don’t have a Kudzu Christmas! Since you probably have no idea what I mean by that, I’ll first need to give some Kudzu background before getting to the Christmas part… Kudzu is an invasive vine that grows up to a foot a day and covers innumerable acres of this country… Read More »

Dear Cobham Park Church Family, Temperatures have finally cooled, but the church parking lot was a blast furnace a few weeks ago. I was therefore surprised to find cherry tomatoes ripening at the pavement’s edge. We hadn’t seen rain for weeks, and that area had been recently treated with asphalt sealant and herbicide. Vegetables can… Read More »

Dear Cobham Park Church Family, The ocean lies still as a mill pond. Not even the slightest breeze makes sails flutter. The ship and her crew are helplessly stranded. There is no refuge from the stifling heat. Freshwater supplies are dwindling—along with hope. Becalmed sailors can only wait and pray for wind… All in a… Read More »

Dear Cobham Park Church Family, After last month’s Tuesday revival service, our guest preacher and I finally pulled into my driveway around 10 p.m. As we walked toward my front door, the humid night was instantly illuminated from above. Spasmodic lightning strobes lit various regions of an immense cloud bank in the distance. Every silent… Read More »