Tag Archives: Family

Sep 12 2025

One Last Ride With My Dad: A Quiet Ride With My Father’s Memories

Today, I took one last ride with my dad.
At least, it felt like it.

I drove his old truck, the one I’ve had since he passed a few years ago. It’s still full of little reminders of him. And today, it carried something that felt especially close.

Recently, my mom made a difficult decision. She decided it was time to let go of some of Dad’s clothes. She didn’t want to just drop them off at Goodwill or Salvation Army, not that there’s anything wrong with those places. But she wanted it to matter. She wanted it to go somewhere personal. Purposeful.

I told her about His Way, a Christ-centered recovery ministry right here in Huntsville. Men overcoming addiction find not only sobriety but also community, counseling, and Scripture-driven transformation. His Way runs several thrift stores in the area, called The Saving Way. They employ the very men going through the program. Redemption finds hands and feet there.

Dad would have loved that.

So this morning, I loaded his clothes into the back of the truck. Shirts he preached in. Jackets he prayed in. The kind of clothes that hold stories. And I drove them across town, talking to Dad the whole way, just like we used to.

Growing up, we must’ve ridden tens of thousands of miles together in that truck, headed to ball games, church events, late-night drives home after tournaments. We’d talk about everything and nothing. Just a dad and his son, filling the cab with life.

And today… one more conversation.

One more ride.

I found myself telling him about His Way, about how his clothes would clothe someone trying to get their life back. Someone he’d pray for if he were here. Someone he’d cheer on.

Whoever picks up one of Dad’s shirts at the Saving Way Thrift Shop won’t know his name. They’ll never hear his laugh, or see how deeply he loved Jesus. But maybe, just maybe, they’ll feel a little warmth in the fabric. Maybe they’ll sense something sacred in the ordinary. Because love lingers. And grace has a way of sneaking into thrift store aisles.

Today wasn’t just about dropping off some bags.

It was one last ride with my dad.

And somehow… I think he smiled the whole way there.

Feb 2 2020

Family Focused February – A Discipleship Initiative for Your Home

Family Focused February

I recently announced another new discipleship initiative here at the Mayfair Church of Christ that I’d love for all of you who are reading to participate in as well.  We’re calling it simply “Family Focused February.”

The idea behind this month is simple – spend time teaching, admonishing, encouraging those you are closest to – your family.

Some simple ways to do this:

  • Family bible readings each night
  • Family prayer time
  • Visit someone in the hospital
  • Make a visit to encourage people in the nursing homes
  • Make some homemade cookies and take them to a neighbor
  • Cook a large home cooked meal and take it to the local fire station
  • Make a commitment to be in church every Sunday of the month
  • Make a pledge to reach out to one nearby neighbor you don’t know
  • Memorize scripture together
  • Perform some random acts of kindness for people you don’t know

The list goes on and on – and it’s not something that ends at the end of February.  Make this is a pattern in your family.

If you’re not married, or if you don’t have a family living with you – find some of your closest friends and make a commitment to do some of these things.  The goal is this: to grow in your relationships with each other as you grow closer to God.  Do all these things for HIS glory.

What ideas can you come up with?

Jan 21 2020

Bottles of Blessings – How YOU Can Be Ready to Help Next Christmas

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Perhaps you’ve heard of churches that did an all out benevolent campaign to help others at Christmas by simply giving members of the church money from their budget, or from a wealthy benefactor, to give to those in need at Christmas.  This is a wonderful idea, and I’m so glad there are churches and people who are able to make this happen.

But it got me thinking – what if instead of me handing out someone else’s money, I handed out my own?

I believe with all of my heart that deep within every person is the desire to be benevolent to others.  The biggest hindrance to that almost always seems to be this: “I want to help, but I just don’t have enough extra in my budget to give and help others.

As part of the Mayfair Discipling initiative, I launched a program on Sunday simply called “Bottles of Blessings.”  The idea is simple – take this bottle, place it in a spot in your home where everyone sees it, and as you have spare change, dollar bills, etc., you place it in this bottle.  At the end of the year, tally it up, and use it to bless someone’s life.

Do you give your kids an allowance?  Give them their allowance in such a way where they can automatically put something in the bottle to bless someone at the end of the year, so they are a part of it.

I set a goal for our members – to save at least $100 for this cause.  They won’t be turning it in to anyone, there won’t be any checks and balances on it – it’s all between them and God.  But it’s always good to have a goal, right?

If you’re a member at Mayfair, we have a few bottles left at the front desk and by the auditorium doors.  If you’re just reading this and you won’t to participate – grab a mason jar or a cup at home, and put it somewhere with a sticker/label on it to remind you to participate.

But here’s the next step – start praying for someone to come into your life that you can help at Christmas in 2020.  Start praying that God will place someone in your life that needs the blessing you have to offer.  That way, when you hand them the blessing, you can tell them “I’ve been praying God would put you in my life so I could help someone.  Let me tell you about the mighty God I serve…”

Blessings to you all.