I learned that preparation matters. I learned choices have consequences. I learned moldy tents smell terrible. And I learned that three McDonald's cheeseburgers taste mighty good after two days of living on candy bars.

When they hear their name, they know it is their turn. They know their names, and I know them. I know which one is going to listen, which one is going to push the limits, and which one is probably going to act like he suddenly forgot every bit of training he has ever had because there is a bowl of dog food twenty feet away.

There she was. A big ol’ Black Angus cow, swollen up like somebody had hooked an air compressor to her, all four legs sticking straight toward heaven. Now, a couple days earlier we’d had one awful lightning storm. Apparently ol’ Moo-Moo had been standing in the wrong place at the wrong time, caught a ride on the lightning, and lost.

One of the things I have always loved about dogs is their loyalty. A good dog doesn't care much about your bank account, your position, what kind of truck you drive, or whether somebody down the road has better treats. If you're his person, you're his person. There is an old joke that says if you want to find out who is really loyal, lock your spouse and your dog in the trunk of your car for fifteen minutes. Then open the trunk and see which one is happy to see you. Now, plea

I was sitting at a local gas station the other day having a cup of coffee and just letting my ears catch up on all the local news. I’ve found that’s a whole lot cheaper than buying a newspaper and, depending on who’s sitting around the table, sometimes more accurate than social media. Around here, gas stations, beauty shops, and little country stores have always had a way of getting right to the heart of a matter. By the time you finish your coffee, you can know who got marri

As I get older, I find myself looking back down roads I’ve already traveled. And like a lot of folks, sometimes I catch myself thinking things were just better years ago. You hear people say, “We need to get back to the old days, when life was simpler. Folks raised their own food, worked with their hands, and didn’t have all these modern distractions.” I was talking to an older gentleman one day and mentioned that to him. He laughed and said, “The only people wanting to go ba

I wasn't winning the fight. I was just holding on while somebody else fought it for me.

"I know exactly what you boys were doing...I can catch you anytime I want...now get yourselves back where you belong." He never wrote us a ticket. He never stopped us. He simply gave us an opportunity to do the right thing.

I’ve always said, sometimes it seems easier to convince an old drunk or a thug that he needs Jesus than it is somebody who has spent their whole life believing they are a pretty good person. The man who knows he is broke isn’t counting his money. But the person trusting in his own goodness keeps collecting cans. The Bible says: “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it.” Psalm 127:1

Love isn't always candlelight dinners, romantic vacations, or staring lovingly into each other's eyes. Sometimes love is staying. Sometimes love is forgiving. Sometimes love is saying, "I was wrong." Sometimes love is putting down what I want because the person sitting across from me matters more. Sometimes love is walking through sickness, disappointment, bills, family struggles, changing seasons, and ordinary Tuesdays together. And somewhere in all of that, God does s

Now if you've ever lived or been around much, you know every community has one fellow who's about 50% helpful, 50% troublemaker, and somehow 100% lovable.

A wise man once told me, after a lifetime of working with dogs, never say “my dog will never do that.” No matter how well‑trained or well‑mannered they are, you’re still dealing with the unpredictable.

One of my favorite things about growing up around old country preachers is they could tell a story that would have you laughing one minute and under conviction the next. Years ago, my pastor told me one that I've never forgotten. I don't know whether he intended it to become one of my favorite illustrations or not, but it has stayed with me for years. There was a fellow in our area who held a pretty important public position. Because of his job, a few threats had been made ag

So let me leave you with one question. When you open your Bible, when you bow your head to pray, and when you come to Jesus, what are you really looking for? Because if you seek Him, He promises you'll find Him. "My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth." Psalm 121:2

Life has a funny way of getting into your head. Have you ever been mowing the yard, trimming weeds, or walking through the woods when you suddenly spot a copperhead or a rattlesnake? From that moment on, every crooked stick looks coiled up, every vine seems ready to strike, and even an old garden hose lying beside the shed will make a Baptist dance. I remember one day mowing at the cabin when I spotted a big rattlesnake. I pulled my 9mm and emptied the magazine at him. My dad

There are some childhood memories that never leave you. They sit in the corner of your mind like an old faded Polaroid, waiting for somebody to mention county fairs or cocker spaniels before they come rushing back in full color. This one happened sometime in the early 1980s and still has enough embarrassment packed into it to make me grin and cringe at the same time. I've written before about my cocker spaniel named Scotch. Scotch was a handsome dog. He had long, beautiful ha

One thing I have seen about training dogs, is it definitely has to do with teaching them to stay or come. But also when training it has a lot to do with realizing that a dog is constantly reading the person holding the lead. Long before they respond to your commands, they're paying attention to your attitude. They notice when you're calm, sense when you're nervous, and can tell when you're frustrated, anxious, or angry, often before you've spoken more than a few words. You ma

When I was a kid, the fall often involved me grabbing a .22 rifle and heading behind our house in the woods with all the confidence of a kid who thought he could survive indefinitely on bologna sandwiches and Kool-aid. I heard somebody say the other day that letting a young kid head off into the woods by himself nowadays with a 22 would probably get Child Protective Services called on you. Back in the 1980s, we just called that a Monday after school. I'd wander ridges, and ho

The little boy looked up with tired eyes and said, "I'm too tired to be anybody today." I chuckled the first time I heard that story because, if we're honest, we've all had those days. Sometimes we're so mentally tired we don't even know who we are anymore. The smile disappears. The joy dries up. We wake up already exhausted.

Political freedom is a wonderful gift, but freedom from sin is an eternal one. If you've experienced both, you've got two mighty good reasons to celebrate this Fourth of July.