In times of spiritual light or darkness, I need thee. In times of wealth or poverty, I need thee. In times of sickness or health, I need thee. In times of war or peace, I need thee. In times of political turmoil or political tranquility, I need thee. In times of disbelief or belief, I […]
Category: The Sunday Sermonette
The Sunday Sermonette – Old Hymns. Wise Words.
Because of THE OLD RUGGED CROSS, WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN, we can sing BLESSED ASSURANCE Jesus is mine. We should always HAVE FAITH IN GOD and pray for JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE. Never forget HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION is God’s love for His children. Like you, WHEN I SURVEY […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Between Two Worlds.
When I was a teenager in the mid-60s, Saturday mornings at our house were busy: washing clothes, dusting, vacuuming, and cutting the grass. The afternoons, however, were not, and watching the Saturday Matinee Movie via Dad’s Zenith TV was part of the even tenor of those long-lost days. Dad had already seen one […]
The Sunday Sermonette – No Greater Love.
As the bow of the magnificent RMS Titanic sank deeper into the fridged, indigo-blue waters of the North Atlantic, the sound of screeching escaping steam from her boilers and the deep rumble of twisting, snapping steel from deep inside her filled the air. Surrounded by a pushing crowd of frightened children, weeping women, and stalwart […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Kindness.
This will be my last Sunday Sermonette for a while, as I will be on holiday in England for three weeks. In my absence, please remember that we sometimes fail to extend simple acts of kindness to those we know. You can think about what you should do, but do you usually wait? For peace […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Jesus Is Coming Again!
Good morning Family and Friends! I’ve seen this post shared on many Facebook pages. And now, after a few embellishments of my own, I’m sharing it with you. I haven’t studied the Bible nearly as much as I should have in my life, and there are many things in it that I don’t understand, yet […]
The Sunday Sermonette – From Stumps to Eternity.
For those privileged to have grown up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, we know that in the oven of August, two dates—and two alone—stand out: the 17th and the 29th. Those dates conjure haunting memories of masses of towering debris, the screech of chainsaws, and the briny stench of death. As we dug […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE – Pushin’ Forward.
Long ago, my sweet Granny from D’Lo told me, “Andy, what ain’t pushin’ you forward is draggin’ you down.” In life, who or what is either pushing you up the mountain or dragging you into the valley? Ponder this and go forth. (Originally published August 21, 2022)
The Sunday Sermonette – Marble and Paint.
“Cart this back to the quarry if you want to,” a struggling Renaissance sculptor said, putting down his hammer and chisel in exasperation. “This block of marble’s useless.” And then it sat for 24 years, exposed to the elements in a church’s backyard until another Renaissance sculptor said, “Bring it to my shop. I see […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Almost Persuaded.
In the early days of World War II, the British War Cabinet was split over whether to discuss peace terms with Hitler or to continue fighting. In those dark days, the Luftwaffe was bombing London, along with other cities and towns. The devastation was horrific, the loss of life appalling. In the face of seemingly […]
The Sunday Sermonette – The Backwaters of Time.
The backwaters of time are teaming with precious, lost moments. Those moments flash before our eyes and then sink into the quicksand of memory. Quickly seize the moments that God bequeaths to you today – – once gone, lost forever. Ponder this and go forth. (Originally published August 14 2022)
The Sunday Sermonette – Chasing Memories.
While motoring west on Hwy 90 a few days ago, a street sign caught my eye: Camellia Street. The name conjured days of long ago. My mind began chasing memories, and I followed. In the distance, I saw a church. And suddenly, I was a child again. It was Sunday morning. Dad parked our 1960 […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Chopped Down?
No matter how many times Life chops you down, you can always begin again. That new beginning can be difficult though. Talk to God and Jesus. Ponder this and go forth. (Originally published August 7, 2022)
The Sunday Sermonette — Keystone or Cornerstone?
Early Christmas morning, 1958, I dashed to our Christmas tree to see what dear Santa had left during the night at 5204 Greater Avenue, the address of our little house in Biloxi. It was a damp cold morning, with a drizzling rain that lacquered everything it touched with bone-chilling dampness. Our old floor furnace roared […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Decisions.
In the 1950s, Gulfport’s Angelo’s Italian Restaurant was nationally known for its spicy spaghetti and meatballs, scrumptious stuffed flounder, and delicious salads. Owned and operated by Mr. Angelo Xidis, it was THE place to dine. Many a Sunday after church, Mom, Dad, and I would savor the food and take in the restaurant’s atmosphere. As […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Old Clocks on Boling Street.
As this old world winds its main spring tighter and tighter every day, I often turn my mind’s clock back to languid summer days spent in the early 60s with my sweet Granny from D’Lo. She lived in Jackson, Mississippi, in those days, and they were some of the happiest of my life. […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Worry.
THE SUNDAY SERMONETT – Worry does not negate tomorrow’s fears, hurt, and sorrow. It does, however, empty today of its strength! Ponder this and go forth. (Originally published July 24, 2022)
The Sunday Sermonette – Merthiolate, a Lesson in Life!
For those of us who are a wee bit long in the tooth, a bottle filled with an antiseptic-smelling, red-orange liquid is more than just a nostalgic scent. It’s a time machine that whisks us back to summer days filled with scrapes, scratches, bites, and stings. That little brown bottle, a staple in […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Faulkner and the Past!
Mississippi’s own William Faulkner wrote: The past is never dead. It’s not even past. That may well be. However, your past should never dictate your future. Past mistakes or failures, where you come from, or who your family is—don’t let these things dictate where you are going. Talk to God, He can help. Ponder this […]
The Sunday Sermonette – A Firm Foundation.
Hurricane season is upon us. With a bit of fear and trepidation, each year at this time, those of us living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast look out across the tawny-brown waters of the Gulf of Mexico and wonder what the season will hold. However, if you live near the water, you know […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Hope!
What are the hardships in your life? Work? Family? Friends? Relationships? Your health? Unfortunately, hardships are an inescapable part of the process we call living. How we endure them though, ah, therein lies the rub, as the Bard once wrote. One way to endure them is to moan, to groan, and complain. Oftentimes that ends […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Inner Beauty.
I have always been intrigued by stage and movie makeup. From the cotton and collodion build-ups, gum, and greasepaint that movie actor Lon Chaney used in 1926 to create his frightful “Phantom of the Opera” to the complex arrangement of prosthetics Christopher Tucker used in his remarkable 1980 movie transformation of John Hurt into […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Composure.
Maintaining your composure in the face of unjustified criticism is a trying, emotional drain. However, if you can’t stop the criticism, it’s best just to ignore it. Remember: The Good Lord knows what you are going through. He will vindicate you if you’re in the right. Ponder this and go forth. (Originally published July 3, […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Summertime Plums.
When I was a child, I spent many happy summers with my sweet Granny from D’Lo, who, at that time, lived in Jackson, Mississippi. Many a summer morning, I’d look out my bedroom window at her plum trees, hoping that by some mysterious alchemy in the night, the tart, yellow-green plums had turned a juicy […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Do You Listen?
Advice? Do you seek truthful answers to your questions, or only those that make you feel good about yourself? Failure to listen to wise counsel contributes to conflict. Ponder this and go forth. (Originally published June 26, 2022)
The Sunday Sermonette — The Titanic and the Titan.
In the weeks leading up to Titanic’s maiden voyage, many people had premonitions about the ship and the excessive pride and confidence its owners and the world bestowed upon the “unsinkable” liner. George Vanderbilt, the builder of Biltmore, was warned by his mother that “so much can go wrong” on a maiden voyage. Her premonition […]
The Sunday Sermonette: NO!
Sometimes, accepting God’s NO requires more faith than carrying out his YES. Ponder this and go forth. (Originally published June 19, 2022)
The Sunday Sermonette – Father’s Day 2024.
When I first tread the boards at Gulfport Little Theater in the mid-70s, my dear parents came to the shows I was in. They never stayed for the after-show greetings in the lobby and were some of the first out the door, heading home. As my theatrical endeavors increased, they continued to attend every show. […]
The Sunday Sermonette – A Tender Voice.
Who remembers their first answering machine? Do you remember recording your outgoing message and replacing the cassette when it filled up with recorded messages? While rummaging around in my garage, I found an old box of answering machine tapes, some dating back to the 1980s. Talk about memories! I remember what fun I […]
SUNDAY’S SERMONETTE – Just Make Amends.
Do you respond angrily and defensively rather than admitting your mistakes and apologizing? Why not do so, make amends, and seek peace. Ponder this and go forth. (Originally published May 29, 2022)
The Sunday Sermonette: Memorial Day 2024.
Some soldiers lie in hallowed ground, Beneath rows of crosses white. Death can no longer touch them, With his blackened wings of fright. Others lie in less hallowed ground, Beneath the hard, cold sod. Their final resting place unknown, Except by Holy God. Yet, soldiers are still called today, And […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Weaving?
What you leave behind won’t be carved on a stone monument. It will be woven into the hearts of those you called friends. What are you weaving? Ponder this and go forth. (Originally published May 22, 2022)
The Sunday Sermonette – Kicked to the Curb!
Some time ago, I went “antiquing.” It was a beautiful early spring morning; the trees were budding, daffodils were blooming, and, to paraphrase Mr. Browning, “God was in his Heaven, and all was right with the world.” It was until I saw a stack of oil paintings leaning against a garage wall at […]
The Sunday Sermonette: Motherhood
Greetings, Family and Friends! Happy Mother’s Day to our mothers, those living and those who have passed away. My dear mother wrote this poem while attending Clark College in 1946. She typed it on an old Remington typewriter, along with her other poems and thoughts on many subjects. She and her friends were in a […]
The Sunday Sermonette: Acts of Kindness.
We live in a society where selfishness rules the day. In this dog-eat-dog-eat world, we are surrounded by self-absorbed people who care nothing for others and only do things that benefit themselves. Many times, though, unselfish acts of kindness remind us of the goodness in humanity. They can also remind us that it is always […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Mistakes. (Originally published April 30, 2023)
Richard Jones, a naval engineer, was trying to invent a meter using tension springs to monitor power on maritime battleships. One of the springs fell off a table but bounced around the room. From this mistake, the Slinky was born. Working for the 3M Laboratories, Spencer Silver was trying to invent a strong adhesive but […]
The Sunday Sermonette: Erased.
Joseph Stalin. The name alone conjures evil. And evil he was. Stalin ruled Russia for twenty-five years, instituting a reign of death and terror that by the time it ended, an estimated twenty million people had been killed, either directly or indirectly, through famine, forced labor camps, and executions. Over 750,000 people alone […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Lingering Scars. April 23, 2023.
“Sorry, Mr. Kalberg. Once I got to digging, I had to cut much deeper than I thought I would.” “Doc, this hole in my head! Will it heal properly? Will it leave a scar?” “Yes, it will heal just fine.” Then with a wry smile, the doctor said, “Sorry about the scar.” “Yikes! Why was […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Help Me to Sing.
When I wander where I shouldn’t, please, Father God, help me to sing – Come home, come home, you who are weary come home. Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home! When I ponder the world and its madness therein, please, Father God, help me to sing – Blessed […]
The Sunday Sermonette: Messages Ignored.
At 2:18 on the morning of April 15, 1912, the lights on board RMS Titanic flickered and went out forever, plunging her luxurious interiors into darkness, along with over 1500 passengers, all clamoring for a spot on her rising stern. The screams of those aboard echoed through the inky blackness of the starry nighttime sky. […]
The Sunday Sermonette – The Last Sunset.
Easter, 1912, fell on April 7th. England’s magnificent cathedrals would have been packed, their soaring, columned interiors filled with the sweet bouquet of incense and majestic choral music. But on the RMS Titanic, its luxurious interiors were being readied for her maiden voyage. 30,000 fresh eggs, 800 cases of shelled walnuts, and 15,000 […]
The Sunday Sermonette- Expiration Dates.
In June 1962, Mom, Dad, and I moved into our house on Wilson Drive in the College Park Subdivision. Vast stretches of College Park were then nothing more than palmetto-invested pine thickets crisscrossed by streets. I remember seeing our new house for the first time. Naturally, I bounced ahead of my parents and dashed […]
The Sunday Sermonette – No Greater Love.
Is there anything cuter than a little baby? Squiggling around. Cooing. Smiling a toothless grin. Squealing with joy. Little arms stretched out, wanting to be held. And then, something that’s not supposed to happen, happens. The child’s heart begins a downward spiral for no apparent reason. Doctors rush in. Tests are completed. The baby’s sedated. […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Home.
For the first fifty years of the 20th Century, ocean liners were the largest man-made moving objects on earth. They ruled the seven seas with their glamour, speed, and style. They were floating cities, a microcosm of society in those days. And because they were the only way to navigate the globe, the rich and […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Chosen Last.
“To those of us who knew the pain of valentines that never came. And those whose names were never called when choosing sides for basketball…” When I first heard Janice Ian’s song, “At Seventeen,” in the fall of 1975, it reminded me of gym class at Gulfport’s Bayou View Junior High, where football teams, […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Miserable Comforters.
You remember poor, old Job, don’t you? There he was in the lap of luxury. Rich. Comfortable. His family large and successful. He was healthy, and life was good. He was righteous and faithful to God, too. He was truly blessed! Then, suddenly, his life took a turn, and Job lost it all. When […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Watchmen.
In the Old Testament, watchmen stood on Jerusalem’s ancient walls, searching the horizon for those who might attack the city. Because of their crucial tasks, these men had to be reliable, honest, and trustworthy. Reliable and honest in what they saw and reported to their commanders. Trustworthy that what they did report was accurate, whether […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Photography.
The Sunday Sermonette – Photography. Photography irrevocably changed the way we see the world. No longer dependent on artists to dab paint onto a canvas, thus creating their version of the world, photographs allowed us to view it as it really was through the camera’s eye. The oldest surviving photo was taken around […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Well done!
In the early 1990s, the Kinetic Neo Skene Theater (KNS) was known for its lavish productions of some of Broadway’s most beloved musicals. Its production of Showboat at the Biloxi Saenger Theater was no exception! The show was directed by KNS’s resident director, Kinard Fite. He was a genius at his craft. His […]
The Sunday Sermonette: Prometheus.
As an only child in the late 1950s, my two best friends were me and the World Book Encyclopedia. On cold, rainy days, I had to make my own entertainment in those wonderful days before 24/7 children’s television shows and cell phones. When Mom and Dad were busy around the house, and I was […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE – Rude or Kind?
Rudeness is easy, takes no effort, and tells the world you are weak and insecure. Kindness, on the other hand, is not so easy, especially when dealing with rude people. However, showing kindness indicates self-discipline and strong self-esteem. A kind person is someone who has studied Life and has chosen to be kind over being […]
The Sunday Sermonette – The Stained Glass of Life.
The first four months of the New Year are some of my favorites. Yes, there are those dreary days of rain and darkness. However, the sun always breaks through the dark clouds, spreading its warmth into the marrow of our bones. Each time I watch the sunlight shimmering through my stained glass rose window, I’m […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE – Forgiveness and Reconciliation. (Originally published February 5, 2023)
Ever been hurt or betrayed by someone you love? A friend or a family member? You might choose to keep a safe distance from that person, fearing that rekindling the relationship would again put you in harm’s way. Regardless, you should forgive and not allow your heart to overflow with bitterness, which, like scalding cancer, […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Lyin’ Eyes!
In the summer of 1977, Gulfport’s First Baptist Church loaded its infamous Bluebird bus with a gaggle of young people, and off to Mobile they journeyed, excited to hear The Eagles in concert. It was my first rock concert; it was my last as well. The screaming, singing crowds were too much for my twenty-five-year-old […]
The Sunday Sermonette – Tied in Knots.
The gentle, methodic ticking and rich, melodic chimes of antique clocks can provide a sense of comfort and add an air of security to their surroundings. Such was the case in the clock and watch shop of Casper ten Boom, once located in the city of Haarlem, Holland. But his sense of security […]
Sunday Sermonette – The Angry Cardinal.
Many mornings, while washing the breakfast dishes, I’m greeted by feathery friends flying around my back door. They often see themselves in the reflective sun film on the door, and when they do, they think they’ve seen a feathery enemy. And thus, the fight begins. This little cardinal was partially vicious one morning, tapping at […]
The Sunday Sermonette – They Did Their Duty.
The Titanic was known for many things—stunning public rooms, carved oak paneling, stained glass, and delicious cuisine, even for 3rd Class passengers, many of whom had never seen food in such abundance. A swimming bath. A gymnasium. And miles of promenade decks on which to walk and enjoy the brisk, salt-sea air. An army of […]
The Sunday Sermonette: It Started At Versailles.
World War I was a meat grinder! Its vicious teeth devoured over 16 million lives. It gnawed away many of Europe’s empires and saw the abdication of the German Kaiser and the Russian Czar. Due to four vicious years of death and destruction, animosity toward Germany overflowed in 1919 at the Treaty of Versailles. […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Keep On Carving.
In life, while carving your way through its stone-hard architecture, there are times when you must struggle to see the fresh light of day. But, in the end, when you do, how delightful it is to peek back through the stones of life and be happy you kept on carving. Ponder this and go forth. […]
The Sunday Sermonette: New Year’s Graduation 2024.
Going from the Old Year to the New Year is like graduation. And like graduation, it can be a meaningful time to pause and reflect on the past year while looking ahead to a fresh new year and all its possibilities. Taking stock of the past year, with its positives and negatives, is beneficial for […]
The Sunday Sermonette New Year’s Eve Dec. 31, 2023.
As you know, the Olympic Class Liners, especially the Olympic and her ill-fated sister, Titanic, have fascinated me since childhood. In the Olympic’s 1st Class Smoking Room, a painting, “The Approach of the New World,” hung above the fireplace. I’ve often wondered how many people studied that painting and pondered what was in store […]
The Sunday Sermonette: Christmas Eve, December 24, 2023.
The mere mention of Christmas evokes memories of times, places, loved ones, and friends, perhaps now long gone. Remember twinkling Christmas tree lights reflecting off Shiny Brite ornaments? A gooey-delicious pecan pie? A loved one’s perfume? Crisp, cold air? Crunchy snow? The high-pitched laughter of children opening presents on Christmas morning? Tears when it […]
Sunday Sermonette: Emotion and Reason.
Sometimes, our emotions are more powerful than our reason. Sometimes, our emotions bury reason behind words and actions that should have been thoroughly considered before making them a reality. So, today and in the future, take a breath and pause before you react. Ponder this and go forth. (Originally published December 18, 2022.)
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE – In the Darkness, there is Light.
When I graduated from High School in May 1970, Mom, Dad, and I loaded up our brand-new Plymouth Fury III and journeyed West. Dad took annual leave from Kessler, and because Mom and I were out of school for the summer, we were gone for a month, touring all the sights between […]
The Sunday Sermonette: Victory or Mediocrity?
Are you a person of immediate action but without an ultimate purpose? Are you within sight of victory, or have you settled for mediocrity? Ponder this and go forth. (Originally published December 11 2022.)
The Sunday Sermonette: The Magi, the Manger and You.
“Only one dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time… Three times, Della counted it. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas.” This is how O. Henry opens his famous 1905 short story, “The […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Accentuate the Positive.
The old WWII song, Accentuate the Positive, comes to mind if you are attempting to make constructive changes in your life. First, banish the negative things or people that prevent you from being the person you want to be or doing the things you want to do. Remove their negativity — cruelty, deceit, hypocrisies, jealousy, […]
The Sunday Sermonette – The First Frost.
Imagine my delight earlier this week when I peered from under my snuggly-warm, eiderdown quilt and saw Fall’s first frost sparkling atop my neighbor’s roof just as the sun christened the dawn in a lavender-tangerine wash. The frost was thick, forming a blanket of white. It covered car hoods and children’s bikes with feathery […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Sincerity and Truth.
Sincerity and truth, like a Vermeer painting, are rare in today’s culture. People smile bright Pepsodent smiles, but their smiles hide everything from lies to flattery and deception. Don’t be deceived. Look for sincerity and truth in those you love and call family and friends. Ponder this and go forth. (Originally published November 27, 2022.)
The Sunday Sermonette: Grandeur to Ruin and Back Again.
When I was a teenager in the 1960s, Mom, Dad, and I often paid weekly visits to the Harrison County Library on Hwy 90 in Gulfport. I enjoyed walking up its modernist spiral staircase, grabbing a book from the many shelves on art and architecture, then planting myself in a comfortable chair to read and […]
The Sunday Sermonette: Are You A Lighthouse?
In the early days of sea travel, lighthouses guided ships to a safe harbor. Without them, those ships would have crashed onto the rocky shore. You’re like a lighthouse! The painful events of your life, which you endured and educated you, could be a lighthouse to your family and friends. The wisdom gleaned from your […]
The Sunday Sermonette: Worthless Trash.
Throughout history, many things were thought to be worthless, only to be deemed valuable at a later date. Some seemingly useless things helped change the world for the better, helped shine a new light on ages past, or filled our eyes with beauty. Let’s dig around in history’s trash bin for some worthless things. […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE : Knowledge November 13 2022.
Knowledge is simply information you glean from the local library. Wisdom is the ability to discern the best knowledge and the strength of character to act upon it. Therefore, wisdom is the application of knowledge learned to make good decisions in life. Wisdom and knowledge are two essential character traits that we should all strive […]
The Sunday Sermonette: Running Away.
At the ripe old age of seven, I could no longer take my parent’s tyrannical rules and regulations. Saturday mornings were the worst. I only wanted to eat Mother’s homemade pancakes in peace while watching The Lone Ranger in my Bug’s Bunny footie pajamas. Neither Mom nor Dad seemed to appreciate the importance of those […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE Don’t Forget To Vote (Originally posted November 6, 2022)
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: November 8th is just around the corner. Please remember to honestly evaluate those running for office. Make sure their charisma, grand entrances, apparent concern for justice, and friendly embraces are nothing more than a mask – a mask covering their graft, lies, and hunger for money and power. Ponder this and go […]
The Sunday Sermonette Sorrow + Prayer = Friendship
I was at the gym last week, running nowhere on the treadmill, lickety split! The telly was on, and as I raced along, I could not help but be saddened by the news reports coming out of Israel. In war, children and the elderly suffer the most. They are helpless in many ways, yet they […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Advice.
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE – October 30 2022. Advice that goes against your wishes is sometimes hard to swallow. However, your decision must be based on the quality of the advice, not on its attractiveness. It’s best to separate advice from your personal desires. Seek it from those who will tell you the truth, not just […]
The Sunday Sermonette: Blunders and Mistakes.
The Sunday Sermonette – Blunders and Mistakes. October 29, 2023. As a child, I loved playing with dragonflies! I’d see one buzzing around, wait for it to land, then grab it and hold it in my hand. I was fascinated by its bulging, yellow-green eyes, its tiny mouth viciously chewing my index finger, and […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Mediocrity.
The Sunday Sermonette DEC. 11, 2022. Are you a person of immediate action but without an ultimate purpose? Are you within sight of victory, or have you settled for mediocrity? Ponder this and go forth.
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Past and Present.
The Sunday Sermonette March 13, 2022. Oft time we allow past experiences to determine our future actions. If we had one bad experience at a local restaurant, we vow to never return. If we go our socially or to church and no one speaks to us, we tend to think all social events and all […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Beauty Born of Pain
The Sunday Sermonette October 17, 2023. In the mid-sixties, I took art at the Gulfport Recreation Center. The building was located east of City Hall, where the current fire station is. The art classes were taught by a frail-looking dynamo of energy, Mrs. Effie Gridley. She taught hundreds of children and adults the art of […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Famous Last Words.
The Sunday Sermonette October 15, 2023. The last words of people have always fascinated me. Sometimes, in the closing moments of our lives, we find the most clarity and say the things we most want to say. I’m sure “When the Roll is Called up Yonder,” we all wish to be surrounded by those we […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Satisfied?
Sometimes, if I can’t sleep late at night, I fire up the old computer and watch Reels and Short Videos on Facebook.The silverback gorillas and their offspring tumbling around with their happy purrs, hums, and sighs bring a smile to my face. Baby elephants dancing a jig during muddy baths, their little trunks blowing water […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: The Old Hymns Say It Best.
The Sunday Sermonette September 17, 2023.In times of spiritual light or darkness, I need thee. In times of wealth or poverty, I need thee. In times of sickness or health, I need thee. In times of war or peace, I need thee. In times of political turmoil or political tranquility, I need thee. In times […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Musings About Prejudice.
The Sunday Sermonette September 10, 2023. My dear mother grew up in hard times. Old Man Depression roamed around D’Lo, Mississippi, like a roaring lion, devouring much of what he saw. Life on the farm was a struggle, to say the least. Then came the onslaught of World War II. Times got worse. Those hard […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Broken Pieces and Dusty Dust.
For Baby Boomers, Saturday mornings were magical times. The telly was bursting at the seams with cartoons and serials. Sky King. Roy Rodgers. Looney Tunes. And The Lone Ranger. I was especially fond of Bugs Bunny and his outlandish foolishness. One bright Saturday morning, I watched dear old Bugs piece together a “steam engine” from […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Failure and Rejection.
“Cart this back to the quarry if you want to,” a struggling Renaissance sculptor said, putting down his hammer and chisel in exasperation. “This block of marble’s useless.” And then it sat for 24 years, exposed to the elements in a church’s backyard until another Renaissance sculptor said, “Bring it to my shop. I see […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE – A Pier. The Fog. And a Light.
The Sunday Sermonette August 27, 2023. The days were black, but the nights were blacker. Depression is a dark force, squeezing the light out of a person with its unrelenting tentacles of fear and doubt. For me, the early 90s were dark times. Through a series of bad choices—my choices, no one else’s—my life, as […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Crosswords and Hurricanes.
The Sunday Sermonette July 23 2023 “Andy, what is another word for dictionary that starts with G and has eight letters in it?” Mother asked, sitting calming in her old rocker, seemingly oblivious to the storm raging just outside our living room window. As the green oven of July melts into the fierce eye of […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Personality Test.
The Sunday Sermonette August 13, 2023. “Andy, ever take a personality test?” As we rode home from a long, delightful weekend, a dear friend asked me this question. When I said I hadn’t, my friend sent a link to an online test I took once I got home. I had to answer a series of […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE – FISHING or Moving On?
As a child, I often went fishing with my sweet Granny from D’Lo. She taught me how to bait the hook, where best to fish, and how to wait patiently for the little red and white bobber to tantalizingly bob up and down. One day, the bobber went down and didn’t come up, but oh, […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE HARDSHIPS
The Sunday Sermonette July 9, 2023. What are the hardships in your life? Work? Family? Friends? Relationships? Your health? Unfortunately, hardships are an inescapable part of the process we call living. How we endure them though, ah, therein lies the rub, as the Bard once wrote. One way to endure them is to moan, to […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE TUMBLEWEEDS
The Sunday Sermonette June 4, 2023. Growing up in the late 50s and early 60s, I watched many TV Westerns like Gunsmoke and Wagon Train. I was always fascinated when the camera panned the desert and tumbleweeds came rolling by. Like Cowboys, Indians, and buffalos, those dried-up tangles are icons of the Old West, and […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE FOREVER AMBER
The Sunday Sermonette June 11, 2023. One day, millions of years ago, our little friend in the snap was attracted by the smell of resin oozing from a tree, perhaps a prehistoric pine. Deciding to rest his weary wings, he came to rest in the resin and found himself trapped. As the resin fossilized, forming […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE – SOUR ON THE VINE
The Sunday Sermonette May 21, 2023. Hurt? Angry? Bitter? Rejected? Maligned? Like grapes on a vine, relationships with family or friends can sour, their sweet love and affection turning bitter. The first step toward reconciliation, however, comes when you pray to Father God for healing—YOUR HEALING. Gather all your bitterness and resentment and bury it […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE THE END OF TIME
The Sunday Sermonette – May 28, 2023. These Bible verses from II Timothy 3 were written over two thousand years ago. Whether you believe in the Bible or not, you might agree that these predictions are spot on for the present-day world in which we live. When will Christ return and call his children home? […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE HONESTY AND DISHONESTY
The Sunday Sermonette May 7, 2023. How honest are you about being dishonest? Have you ever looked back on your life and seen where dishonesty worked against you, causing you great mental anguish and others to distrust you. The Good Book reminds us that honesty is wiser because “the wicked are trapped by their own […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE TENTACLES
The Sunday Sermonette April 2, 2023. In today’s world, trouble wraps itself around us with vicious tentacles. Earthquakes. Horrific tornadoes. Wars. Fatal illnesses. Personal trials and tribulations. The senseless murder of children and adults. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were hounded by trouble as well. They often turned to God to help solve their […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE LINGERING SCARS
The Sunday Sermonette April 23, 2023. “Sorry, Mr. Kalberg. Once I got to digging, I had to cut much deeper than I thought I would.” “Doc, this hole in my head! Will it heal properly? Will it leave a scar?” “Yes, it will heal just fine.” Then with a wry smile, the doctor said, “Sorry […]
THE SUNDAY SERMONETTE WATCHMEN
The Sunday Sermonette March 5, 2023. In the Old Testament, watchmen stood on Jerusalem’s ancient walls, searching the horizon for those who might attack the city. Because of their crucial tasks, these men had to be reliable, honest, and trustworthy. Reliable and honest in what they saw and reported to their commanders. Trustworthy that what […]