Author: Gary Furr

I am a musician, writer and Christian minister living in Alabama. I am founder and President of the Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children.
Ash Wednesday, Ukraine

My Ash Wednesday Prayer

Gary Furr

My Ash Wednesday Prayer Eternal God, We have been horrified by a Russian army that uses banned weapons. By order of their war criminal President, they kill civilians. The Russian army has invaded a free sovereign nation. Vladimir Putin, as the agent of evil, spews the same language of grievance that Hitler used to deceive his nation into a grandiose lie. God, pour out your judgement on him and those who bow to him, but also on us who watched him do it before and said little. Bring the world together to do Your will. Grant us discernment to choose … Continue reading My Ash Wednesday Prayer

Writing1 Comment
Sticky post

New book, SHADOW PRAYERS by Gary Furr

Gary Furr

My new book is now at the publisher and will be available in a few weeks. SHADOW PRAYERS is a journal of my final year in pastoral ministry at Vestavia Hills Baptist Church. The book is a combination of pastoral prayers, poetry, narratives, timelines and reflections on my final year of ministry which coincided with covid, the death of George Floyd, the 2020 election and January 6th. ORDER Book NOW click here ORDER AUDIOBOOK ONLY ORDER BOOK AND AUDIOBOOK TOGETHER Or use the QR code Continue reading New book, SHADOW PRAYERS by Gary Furr

change, Citizenship, Culture, Higher Education, hope, Institutions, Leadership, Modern Life, Selfishness3 Comments
Sticky post

Your Bag of Wedges: A Commencement Address

Gary Furr

I was invited by President Beck Taylor to give the afternoon Commencement Address for Samford University’s winter graduation on Saturday, December 18, 2021 2 p.m. This is my text.. This reflection was originally part of a sermon that appears in my forthcoming book, Shadow Prayers. it will be out soon through Mossy Creek Press. Congratulations, graduates! What an accomplishment! We are proud of you today and you should be, too. Let me share the three measures of maturity that I gave my three daughters years ago: You’re out of the house, out of school and out of my money. My … Continue reading Your Bag of Wedges: A Commencement Address

Advent, Art, Christmas, Poetry, Writing

The Ringer

Gary Furr

A gyrating Salvation Army bellringer fresh off a successful run at Little Caesar’s sidewalk guards the doorway to the Stone Mountain Walmart He deftly dances and offers his extended hand with an underhand swoop. His lithe body in perfect unison with the music in his headphones, his beautiful brown face beaming with joy, In the parking lot, sedentary men in cars watch the show Glad for something interesting while waiting to ride up and pick up their mothers as they exit the store. A few annoyed shoppers avert their gaze but he pursues them. General Booth would never have imagined … Continue reading The Ringer

Uncategorized

Ted Lasso and the Hope That Doesn’t Kill You

Gary Furr

I am one of the last people to binge watch “Ted Lasso,” so I’d already heard plenty before viewing it. If anything, it was having to sign on to one more app (Apple TV) that took me so long. They count on you forgetting that you’re paying $4.95 a month to so many places. Television is that complicated. Jason Sudeikis surprised me. I am not young enough to have watched all of his work, so my impressions from SNL and a few movies cause me to mentally typecast him as a funnyman in slapstick comedies. I was disarmed in the … Continue reading Ted Lasso and the Hope That Doesn’t Kill You