This was the sign we made for the Pine Street Parsonage in Fremont, Michigan. I believe the graphic was made by my brother, Kevin, for our original web-site. Larry Barber created the sign for us. I still have it in my study where it reminds me to pray for the good folk at First Baptist […]
Young People Leaving the Church
This morning I came upon this thoughtful article about young people who are raised in the church, leaving the church during their post-high school years. It’s worth your time. Somehow I have a feeling that young people are not leaving the church because we didn’t have enough rules. They are not leaving the church because […]
The Grace of Receiving
A classic from 2003 When we moved to Flint to assume the direction of the ministry here at the Character Inn we discarded or gave away many, many things. We now live in an apartment on the sixth floor in six rooms. We have a storage room in the basement. In preparation for our move […]
Stories from Licking County Farm
Lately I have been wearing a “costume” sometimes when I tell stories of my grandfather Pierpont’s farm. I’m working on publishing a collection of these stories soon. It may be an eBook. Grandpa, who died in October of 1980 would never have believed the stories of his humble farm would be told all over the […]
You Will Never Find the Bottom
Photo by Bill Fortney Jess was born in a little house back in a remote “holler” in Kentucky. The nearest town was the county seat of Wolfe County–the little mountain town in Eastern Kentucky where my wife Lois was born. Jess married Lois’ grandmother. They met at the Senior Citizens Center there in Campton. It’s […]
Easter Sunday in America
I have to admit to some quaint ideas. I still feel an inner warmth and get a little misty-eyed when I see a picture of a family walking to church on a spring morning. In these warm fantasies the sun is always shining, birds sing, and the walk is lined with daffodils. The trees are […]