“I can’t believe it… everything I owned was swept away in one night.” The North Carolina farmer’s words, heavy with grief, echoed the voices of many throughout the region still trying to process the devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Helene. A violent flash flood had torn through his...

Our family has spent considerable time in the Smoky Mountains. My wife and I honeymooned in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, almost six decades ago. For years, our family vacationed in the region. I’ve taken golf trips to Waynesville and Maggie Valley in North Carolina and have often spoken at The Cove in...

Several months ago, I received a really nice compliment from my twenty-year-old grandson, Andy. He came home after his first year of college, and when the whole family was eating together, he asked, “Pop, how come you and Nana aren’t grouchy like a lot of older people?” Now, I know...

“It is I; be not afraid. It is I; be not afraid.” The little boy kept repeating his line for the Easter play, making sure he had it down perfectly. On the day of the program, his stomach churned with nerves. It was just one line, but his teacher had...

Last week, a young pastor asked me if he should address the upcoming election during a sermon. He explained his dilemma: “Over the years, I’ve tried to stay clear of anything political, but some of my leaders are pressuring me to speak out on the spiritual issues connected to this...