“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us…” I John 3:16a (NLT) Dear Cobham Park Church Family, In my fourth grade class, I had a crush on a girl named Julie. At the time, I was pretty sure that I was in love, and so I decided to make… Read More »

Dear Cobham Park Church Family, Yesterday, I heard that my grandson Shep took his first steps—four, to be exact. For months, he’d been crawling and pulling himself up to stand by gripping nearby furniture. He might carefully sidestep a bit while still holding on for balance (that’s “cruising” in parenting lingo), but he’d eventually squat… Read More »

Dear Cobham Park Church Family, I remember how proud and confident I was as I rolled off the assembly line. My chrome sparkled in the sunlight. I was painted in spotless Wimbledon White. My interior was dressed in dark blue Corinthian vinyl with matching Shetland check cloth. My big-block V8 growled at idle, ready to… Read More »

“My eyes are ever toward the LORD…” —Psalm 25:15a* “…let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus…” —Hebrews 12:1b-2a Dear Cobham Park Church Family, One evening during last month’s vacation, I went out onto… Read More »

Dear Cobham Park Church Family, I usually don’t tell creepy stories, but I’ll make an exception with this one. I’d traveled to the rural hills of South-central Virginia to preach Revival for a pastor-friend. After the first night’s service, I was looking forward to the lodging he’d arranged for me. I’d have some time to… Read More »

“I’m kind of homesick for a country to which I’ve never been before.” —from “Sweet Beulah Land”, by Squire Parsons “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” —Hebrews 11:16 (ESV).”… Read More »

Dear Cobham Park Church Family, Can you imagine living through a Northern Neck summer a hundred years ago? Our ancestors did what they could to deal with the heat and humidity. They slept with their windows open and braved mosquitoes and flies. They sat on the front porch. They went swimming. They bought ice blocks… Read More »

Dear Cobham Park Church Family, [The following story is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.] I find myself at an all-American Fourth of July family cookout. I have grass-stains on my clothes from playing ball with the kids. I feel the growing warmth of sunburn on my neck and arms.… Read More »

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 »