Do you remember where you were on this day nine years ago? I do. I was sitting in my basement bedroom wasting time on my computer and watching some TV. Nothing special about that night. Nothing special about that day either. I got home from work at the usual 3:30pm and went down to my … Continue reading Nine Years Later
On a Serious Note
Grounded
In September of 2010, I spent a weekend at Smith Mountain Lake, here in Virginia. It was a weekend spent playing games, sitting on the dock, and going out on the boat while catching up with some of the best friends I've ever known. After those few days, my abs were in pretty good shape … Continue reading Grounded
Come Hell or High Water
I was only five years old when the infamous Flood of '85 washed away a chunk of southwest Virginia. I really don't remember much about it, and most of what I do know has been pieced together from old news footage and exaggerated memories. I was in kindergarten at East Salem Elementary School. When the … Continue reading Come Hell or High Water
The New Pharisees
What follows is something that I wrote several years ago when I was going through a difficult time in my life. I was struggling with my faith after having a number of negative experiences in a particular church and in dealing with particular church leaders. This is something that I wrote from a place of … Continue reading The New Pharisees
Letting Your Freak Flag Fly
Kids, there's been a lot of controversy involving the Confederate flag recently. Really, I suppose there's been a lot of controversy about the thing for 150 years. But it's really heated up in recent months. Disclaimer: I've stated in the past that I avoid writing about polarizing issues such as this. But it keeps coming … Continue reading Letting Your Freak Flag Fly
Church Family
Depending on when you were born and where you were raised, the word "family" can have a lot of meanings. In some cultures, family could strictly mean you're bonded by blood and they're the most important relationships you'll ever develop. In other cultures, family could be extended to include a great number of people to … Continue reading Church Family
Blame
It's human nature to pass blame on to someone else. The Bible shows us that, even from the beginning, man was busy trying to shift blame for his own sin. When God asked Adam if he'd eaten from the only tree He commanded him not to eat from, Adam blamed Eve, and in turn, blamed … Continue reading Blame
Close to Home
I'm a creature of habit. I dare say most of us are, whether we like to admit it or not. Growing up in Roanoke, Virginia, it seemed that we always had two choices for local news and weather. There was the NBC affiliate, WSLS-10, or the CBS affiliate, WDBJ-7. In our house, it was always … Continue reading Close to Home
Pain
What's your response when someone you love is hurting? The pain I'm referring to isn't a physical one. It's not as if you just saw your best friend trip over their own feet and skin their knee. If it were me watching that happen, there's a good chance I'd laugh. Sure, I'd ask if they … Continue reading Pain
Urge
Something happened to me that's never happened before. Yesterday, as I was driving to work, I felt an odd urge. It was an urge that I have felt before, but I usually don't follow it. I just ignore these random things and logically push them away by busying myself with the things I need to … Continue reading Urge
The Confusing Middle 