Mama, Is That Tacky?

A long time ago, I was a preacher at the First Baptist Church in Blakely, Georgia. It was a small town with many good things, but if we wanted to really go “uptown” we’d go to Dothan, Alabama, across the Chattahoochee River, all the way in the Central Time zone. And our girls especially loved going to the Wiregrass Commons Mall. One Saturday we were there shopping and came to the food court. Lo and behold, a wedding was going on. A bride and groom, groomsmen wearing tuxes and bridesmaids in pretty dresses. In the food court of the Wiregrass … Continue reading Mama, Is That Tacky?

Dogs, Giraffes and Why Barney Had It Right

The national outpouring of gratitude and mourning over the death of Andy Griffith goes on.  It has spawned a jillion tribute video clips on YouTube and endless comments below each one about the comfort and familiarity each one brings.  So here’s one of my favorites. I have been plowing through James Davison Hunter’s book, To Save the World, which isn’t about Andy Griffith, but about culture and faith.  It is nearly 400 pages, and reads like a scholar summing up his work to me.  Mostly it is about the misguided foray of the church into politics over the past few … Continue reading Dogs, Giraffes and Why Barney Had It Right