The Prodigal Son is arguably the most touching and best remembered of all the parables. In our Bible class yesterday, a woman got choked up simply from reading the text. It resonates because we can typically relate to one of the characters:

You may feel like the lost, wayward son—either thinking about running/falling away or thinking about coming home. Maybe you find yourself in a pig pen, of sorts, even this very moment.

Some parents may identify with the father who longs for the son’s return; or perhaps you have forgiven someone and celebrated their return.

Some of you may at times feel like the jealous older brother. You feel like you’ve been wronged—treated unfairly. You’ve been the good, reliable sibling (or co-worker or student) and haven’t gotten credit for that. 

“Prodigal” means being wastefully extravagant or foolish. In this story the man’s son recklessly and wastefully spends his inheritance. In the context of this famous parable, the prodigal son has also come to mean someone who is spiritually lost and someone who has returned after an absence. The title is not inspired—it was added later. It could have been called “The Gracious Father” as the parable is really more about him.

A reminder of context: As discussed last week, the Pharisees and scribes didn’t like Jesus eating with sinners—the godly shouldn’t mix with the ungodly. Jesus responds with a series of parables about God’s love for those who have fallen away.

This parable is only found in Luke 15:11-32—please open your Bibles and take a moment to read that now. To recap, a young son is apparently unhappy. He takes his inheritance early and leaves his father. He blows it all in wild living—I’m sure it was fun while it lasted. A famine comes and he’s desperate. He gets a job feeding pigs which were considered unclean (See Leviticus 11:7). He’s starving. He eventually realizes his sin, repents, and goes home, longing just to be a hired hand for his father. The father sees him at a distance, runs toward him, shows compassion, and showers him with hugs and kisses. His father calls for a robe, a ring, sandals, and a fattened calf—He throws a party! The older brother is jealous and angry. He’s been good and yet has never gotten a party. The father tries to console and reassure him. He tells him that his dead/lost brother is now alive/found!

Let’s get right into 7 Lessons for us:

1. Don’t love the world. The young man was obviously drawn to the world. 1 John 2:15 states, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” This also takes us back to the weed-infested soil of the Parable of the Sower. You’ll recall the weeds kept the plant from growing and thriving. They crowd out the plant, suck up all the nutrients, and eventually kill it. We can’t let that happen! Keep the faith! Don’t backslide. Don’t be enticed by the world.

What are some things in the world that can entice us? Drugs, alcohol, illicit sex, pornography, gambling, covetousness, etc., are all things that will lead to pain and heartache. Be smarter than that. Live counter-culturally. Learn from others’ mistakes.

Notice the young son pursued sinful things in a far country where there would be no accountability. It’s always best to have accountability in your life, whether you’re struggling with church attendance, some particular sin, or even exercising regularly. If I tell my friend Joe that I’m trying to run every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, and I want him to touch base and make sure I’ve done that, I’m much more likely to stay on track. The same goes for not doing certain things. In the parable, there was no one in the faraway place to hold this young man accountable. 

By the way, avoiding “worldly living” doesn’t mean you can’t have nice things or enjoy nice things. They just can’t be a higher priority than spiritual things. 

2. Respect your elders. Strive to make your parents happy. This young man does not. Proverbs 10:1 states, “A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.” He also disrespects his older brother. He bypasses him to ask for his inheritance while his father is still alive—kind of uncool, rude. The inheritance was usually shared after the father’s death (See Hebrews 9:17). 

By taking the inheritance early, he also denied his father the opportunity of taking advantage of those assets while still alive. Proverbs 20:21 states, “An inheritance claimed too soon will not be blessed at the end.”

The young man walks out on his parents, runs away from home, and probably didn’t tell anyone where he was going. He caused heartache for his parents. Don’t do that. Proverbs 27:8 states, “Like a bird that flees its nest is anyone who flees from home.” As a parent of two sons, I can tell you these actions would have broken my heart.

3. Desire your Father’s will, not your own will. The prodigal son focused on his own will—not his father’s. The father didn’t want this but granted the request. Sometimes, God allows us to have our own way. He gives us freewill, even to do dangerous things. In discussing the Israelites, Psalm 106:15 states, “So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease among them.”

This father allowed the rebellion even though he knew it was a foolish and greedy request. It’s ALWAYS best to align with the will of God. John 4:34 states, “’My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.’” In Luke 22:42, Jesus states, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” In Matthew 6:10, He adds, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

How can we know God’s will? By reading our Bibles, praying to God for guidance, and attending Bible classes and worship services, among other things. 

4. Don’t be wasteful, foolish, and reckless. Even after leaving home, the prodigal son still could have done good things with his inheritance. He could have gone to a far country and invested wisely. He could have proved his critics wrong. But he didn’t because his motive was wrong from the outset—wild living.

Don’t waste the investment of God in your life—the gifts and opportunities God has given you (See the Parable of the Talents). Be a prudent manager of the resources given you. The prodigal son is accused by his brother of spending money on prostitutes. If true, this is yet another way he squandered his money. Proverbs 29:3b states, “but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.”

Note that the son asks two things of his father in the parable: “give me” and later “make me” (or “treat me”). Underline those phrases. Only the latter—“make me”—humbly offered, brought joy.

5. God has a crazy love for us! Romans 8:37-39 states, “No in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This father’s love waited and never forgot. He completely forgave his son. He didn’t put him on probation—didn’t make him grovel on the front pew. It seems like he didn’t even let him finish his prepared repentance speech. As one commentator put it, “The depth of the son’s repentance is matched only by the depth of the father’s love.”

Our loving Father wants us in his house, under his care. He sent His only Son to fix the broken and the torn. He picks us up and puts us on his shoulder like the lost sheep. When we fall away, it breaks his heart. He longs for us to return, even when we’ve sinned against him.

In that culture, older men didn’t run. This was an unusual action, but he couldn’t contain himself. Like the shepherd finding that lost sheep, or the woman finding the lost coin, God is thrilled when we return. Heaven celebrates.

The father in the story gives his son the family ring. This signifies ownership, belonging, and legitimacy—he’s a part of the family. The ring means he’s a full partner in the family business and possesses the family credit card. Similarly, God showers us with blessings—why would we give up the ring and walk away from that?

In this week’s Bible class, a Sister shared something she had recently heard in a podcast. In that culture, a representative from a family or community would often throw a piece of pottery at the feet of someone who had dishonored the community. The broken pieces at their feet were a visible reminder of their shame and the harm they had caused. I can picture the older brother handing the pottery to his father and reminding him to throw it at his wayward son’s feet. Instead, the father in the story showers him with love and affection.

Bottom line: We should also have a crazy love for others and be willing to forgive them. For more on God’s crazy love for us, I recommend reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan.

6. God wants us to repent. Many people read right over the response God wants us to have to this parable. We love reading about Jesus forgiving the woman caught in adultery in John 8 but sometimes forget that he tells her, “Go and sin no more.” Throughout the Bible we see that God desires for us to repent and be reconciled to Him. He “commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).

The Son humbles himself and is truly sorry; he’s hit rock bottom—“Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” Even though the son ends up in a pig pen through his own bad choices, we can still feel sympathy for him. 

Do you have anyone in your life in a “pig pen” like this? While witnessing their suffering is difficult, the benefit is that it can drive repentance. That’s what we need to pray for.

Verse 17 states, “when he came to himself”. What’s that mean? It seems he finally started to think clearly. Prior to his repentance, it was like he was a different man. Can you think back to some “pig pen” moments or seasons in your life, before you became a Christian? It’s like you are now an entirely different person now—a new creation. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Repentance is a change of heart and a change of mind, along with a change in actions. The prodigal son didn’t try to improve conditions in the pig pen. He didn’t blame his father, brother, boss, friends, or the pigs. He owned it. His thinking led to believing which led to action. He didn’t get stuck on just thinking about making a change. 

When I talk to prisoners (and others) about repentance, I compare it to a car’s GPS system. You realize you’re lost and you type in “God” on your GPS. The voice comes on telling you to make a U-Turn because you’re headed in the wrong direction. Repentance occurs not when you think about going toward God but when you turn the car around. Even then, as you head toward God/faith, you’ll still get off track from time to time. We all do. We miss the mark. We sin. Thus, repentance is not a one-time thing but something we should do daily—always adjusting course to align ourselves with God’s Word.

Note that the prodigal son focused on his father—“I will arise and go to my father.” Jesus didn’t say that the man thought of his village or his home, but of his father. When the son returned to the father, he also came back to the village and to the house; but his focus was on returning to his father. That is how we need to come back to God—to come back to Him first and foremost. Coming back to church and our Christian friends is important, but coming back to God is the key. 

Without repentance, this story wouldn’t have a happy ending—and a happy ending it was! A celebration! It was a happy thing to find the lost sheep and the lost coin. It was much happier thing to find the lost son. They had a wonderful party with special clothing, jewelry, and food. It wasn’t just finding a lost son; it was as if he were back from the dead.

No matter how far you fall away from God, the door is always open to return.

7. Don’t be the petty, jealous older brother. The older brother felt like his father’s reaction was an insult to his own faithfulness and obedience. “I never transgressed… you never gave…” These exaggerations are common for those who hold on to bitterness. The older son finally showed this bitterness to the father, but only after it had done its damage in his heart over many years.

One commentator describes the older son as obedient, yet far from his father’s heart. In this sense he was a perfect illustration of the religious leaders who were angry that Jesus received tax collectors and sinners. Morgan states, “His story reveals the possibility of living in the father’s house and failing to understand the father’s heart.” 

Why should the older brother have been excited to see his brother’s return and reception? Because he should have loved his brother and been happy for him. He still had his ring—still had all the blessings of being in the family. He still had his inheritance—actually a double portion. Yet he was unappreciative of what he did have.

So don’t be petty and jealous. That attitude will only put a barrier between you and the Father. Besides, someday you may be the one that needs forgiving. 

With the lost sheep, coin, and son, we’ve seen how deeply our Father cares for the lost. When we repent, He runs toward us. He never gives up on us. And when we return, all of heaven celebrates!

Homework: The Wise & Foolish Virgins, read Matthew 25:1-13.

Welcome back to week 2 in our Parables of Jesus series. I compile these notes and present these lessons by drawing from a number of commentaries and videos, along with John MacArthur’s excellent book, Parables—The Mysteries of God’s Kingdom Revealed Through the Stories Jesus Told. I add my own insights and take-aways but rely heavily on the work of others.

Before we get to this week’s parable, let’s examine why, toward the end of his second year of ministry, Jesus switched from straightforward sermons (e.g., the Sermon on the Mount) to teaching in parables. The change followed Jesus’ encounter with the hostile Pharisees over legalism and observing the Sabbath (See Matthew 12 and Luke 14).

Imagine a schoolteacher with a classroom rule that students are to remain quiet and listen while the teacher is talking. A good rule, right? The Pharisees would add to that. Students must sit up straight in their chairs, with their hands on their laps. There must be no sneezing, coughing, or moving one’s chair in order to see the board better. There must be silence! The Pharisees took a good rule and made it burdensome. Additionally, they added that to be a good, faithful person, you must follow ALL of those rules—even though they did not! By establishing their own pet system of rulemaking and keeping, they had missed the whole point of the Law.

Jesus’ change in style—a shift to parables—was a judgement against Israel’s religious elite. Their hardened hearts kept them from finding Jesus. Only someone truly seeking Jesus would find Him and that included making a good faith effort to understand the parables.

In Luke 8, Jesus is out in a boat on the water and a crowd gathers along the shore. Starting in verse 5, He says, “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear.’”

Although the story would have resonated in the agricultural society of His day, the scene may be less familiar to us. In those days, farmers sowed seed in long, narrow, rectangular fields surrounded by footpaths. A farmer would use the broadcast method to throw the seed, a handful at a time, over a wide swath. A skilled sower could cover the entire plowed field with no unseeded margins. However, using this method, it was nearly impossible to keep all the seed within the boundaries.

With that context, consider the four types of soil that the farmer’s seed could land on:

1. Roadside Soil (verse 5) – “Some fell by the wayside” or “along the path”

• Refers to the well-beaten footpaths that separated the fields
• Unplowed; in that arid climate, hard as concrete; “hard-baked earth”
• Seed couldn’t penetrate the soil; it was trampled on or eaten by birds

2. Rock (verse 6) – “on the rock”

• Not a rocky slab on the surface
• Not even rocky soil (as some translations have it); no self-respecting farmer would leave stones in his farmland; he removed those during/after plowing
• Rather, a rock bed, typically limestone, under the surface, perhaps 12”-15” deep, covered by a shallow layer of good soil
• Invisible to the farmer during plowing; plowshare only went 8”-10” deep
• Especially in a dry climate, the soil was not deep enough to sustain moisture
• The seed goes in, germinates, starts out looking lush, then withers away; roots can’t get passed the rock layer
• Might initially look healthy and full of potential, but can’t sustain life in the sunlight
• This soil is frustrating to farmers; high potential; might grow more rapidly than the rest of the crop at first, as there is no room for roots to grow; really leafy—not a good sign

3. Weed-infested soil (verse 7) – “among the thorns”

• Full of useless, wild vegetation—thorns, nettles, thistles
• These weeds take over the field and choke out everything else; grow faster (key aspect of the Genesis 3:17-19 curse)
• Seed in this soil will not mature to a healthy harvest
• Plow it up and more will grow, even from the mutilated remnants of old roots
• Freshly plowed, weed-infested soil has a deceptively promising appearance; on the surface, it looks rich, well-cultivated, and ready for seed
• But underneath there’s a tragic reality: leftover roots and seeds are still alive under the soil, ready to spring forth with worthless foliage
• Weeds will suck up the soil’s moisture and nutrients, block the sunlight from the crops, and choke the life out of everything growing in the field that is beneficial

4. Fertile soil (verse 8) – “good soil”

• Seed flourishes in this plowed field
• Roots go deep; birds can’t eat it; feet can’t trample
• Clean, weedless soil; plenty of room; “prepared”
• It yields an abundant crop—See Matthew 13:8, Mark 4:8, and Luke 8:8—30-fold, 60-fold, 100-fold
  o 100-fold = extraordinary blessing from God (Genesis 26:12-God blesses Isaac with 100-fold crop & he became very prosperous)
  o Not talking about what a seed can yield (1 pumpkin seed = 10-15 pumpkins = thousands of seeds: 100 would not be good)
  o Rather, it’s talking about the farmer’s original financial investment; for every denarius spent on seed, he earns 100 denarii on the sale of crops (10 very good; 30 or 60 is spectacular; 100 is a staggering profit)

The Explanation

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:11-15)

The seed? God’s Word; specifically, the Gospel message…the good news of the Kingdom. It’s also pictured as seed in James 1:18-21, 1 Peter 1:23-25, Psalm 126:5-6 and also a hint in Isaiah 55:11.

The sower? Not identified. It could be Christ himself; in the parable of tares, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man” (Matthew 13:37). But this is a different parable with different imagery. We can’t always mix the details. For example, in the tares parable, the good seed represents “the sons of the kingdom” (true inhabitants of the Kingdom) and “the field is the world”. So, we must be careful not to mingle the symbolism of the parables. If the identity of the sower was important/essential, Jesus would have provided it. For our purposes, the sower is anyone who distributes the seed—you when you share your testimony, a Bible class teacher, a preacher from a pulpit, a missionary, etc.

This parable is all about the soil—a picture of the human heart. Specifically, there are four different kinds of hearts with varying degrees or receptivity. (See Luke 8:12,15) The parable is about hearts in different stages of preparedness, which determines whether they’re in a suitable condition to produce fruit.

The Four Heart Conditions

1. The Roadside Hearer

• The hard heart; unresponsive to biblical truth—most disturbing and hopeless of all heart conditions
• Unbelief + love of sin = a heart that is dense, like concrete; truth can’t penetrate it, much less take root
• Hearer is oblivious, hopeless, spiritually dead—totally susceptible to Satan’s strategy… Luke 8:12 – “Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.” (That also tells us our goal, that hearers might be saved.)
• The Old Testament calls these hearers “stiff-necked” (Exodus 32:9, 2 Kings 17:14)—they deliberately hardened their hearts (Jeremiah 19:15, 2 Chronicles 36:12, and Acts 7:51)
• This heart is the well-worn, barren footpath; not fenced; exposed to the evil stomping of everything wicked that comes along
• Never cultivated with self-searching, self-examination, contrition, honest assessment of guilt, or true repentance
• Indifferent to grace or judgement; love of sin; a dense, dry, impenetrable heart
• This is the fool of Proverbs—the person who despises wisdom & instruction (Proverbs 1:7)… “has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart” (Proverbs 18:2)
• Primary target here is not atheists—He’s speaking to people in a highly religious culture; the hardest of all hearts were the religious aristocracy—the top scribes and Pharisees
• Have you ever had that kind of heart? Or taught someone with that kind of heart?
• The good news: If you’re reading this blog and reflecting on this parable, it’s highly likely you are a seeker of righteousness, to some degree, and not a roadside hearer—someone who is spiritually dead with a hardened heart.

2. The Shallow Hearer

• A shallow-hearted person who responds immediately but superficially
• Luke 8:13 – “Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.”
• Without deep roots, vegetation cannot live long in a dry climate; it grows leafy quickly, but dies just as quickly, before reaching fruit-bearing maturity
• Psalm 129:6 compares the wicked to “the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up.” Grass/weeds may sprout in a thin layer of dust, but can’t sustain
• They seem receptive; show keen interest… “receive the word with joy”; nothing wrong with joy (we should have joy), but it’s superficial and temporary
• Not a question of if but when such a person will fail; the “time of testing”/temptation will come (persecution, calamity); person will fall away—abandon faith completely
• The lack of fruit will reveal it’s not a deep and lasting conviction (See Matthew 12:33)
• We see this type of hearer with some (not all) of our “Bible camp conversions” or “mission trip conversions”. A young person has had a great, spiritually uplifting week at camp or on a foreign mission field. They’re all excited about their faith but then they get home and soon fizzle. There are no roots. Maybe they thought Jesus would fix all their problems or make life easy; they don’t count the cost.
• Have you ever had that kind of heart? Or taught someone with that kind of heart? You/They were all excited at first, but the passion soon fizzled.

3. The Worldly Hearer

• The weedy soil represents a heart too preoccupied with worldly matters
• Luke 8:14 – “The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.”
• This hearer responds positively at first, initial signs of receptivity—seed germinates, they “go on their way”; potential to be fruitful
• But sometime later… “but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” (Mark 4:19)
• Not a hard-hearted person or a shallow, emotional person; this time the soil is well-plowed and deep enough
• But there are all kinds of impurities in it! Weeds have germinated under the surface and will always outgrow the good seed. Weeds and thorns own that ground.
• The person is too in love with this world, too obsessed with the “cares, riches, and pleasures of life” (Luke 8:14)—sinful pleasures, earthly ambitions, money, prestige, and a host of trivial diversions all deluge the heart and muffle the truth of God’s Word
• Double-minded man, unstable (James 1:8); No servant can serve two masters (Luke 16:13)
• 1 John 2:15 – “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.”
• Material wealth and pleasure are not inherently evil, when properly prioritized and God is given credit (rich young ruler)
• None of the first three soils bring fruit to maturity
• Have you ever had that kind of heart? Or taught someone with that kind of heart?
• This kind of heart is prevalent among many (not all) of the hundreds of prisoners I’ve had the privilege to teach and minister to. Drugs, alcohol, and other bad influences drove behavior that landed them in prison. And many, upon release—even those who spoke passionately about God and getting their lives right—once again succumb to the weeds/thorns/worldly influences around them. Despite our pleas that they seek out better friends/Christian influences, they often return to their old ways, and many end up back in prison.

4. The Fruitful Hearer

• Well-cultivated and produces the desired crop!
• Luke 8:15 – “But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”
• This is a truly prepared heart; a person “who hears the word and understands it” (Matthew 13:23); “those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit” (Mark 4:20)
• The person receives the gospel with true understanding and genuine faith
• John 8:31 – “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.”
  o The mark of authentic faith? Endurance! Temporary faith isn’t true faith at all.
• What kind of fruit will this heart produce?
  o “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Gal. 5:22-23)
  o “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” (Heb. 13:15)
• How much fruit? Abundantly! (30/60/100-fold)—which tells us Christians are not all equally fruitful, and that’s okay. Do what you can with the talents and opportunities you’ve been given
• We’re made to do good works — see Ephesians 2:10
• Fruitfulness is the expected outcome of saving faith. This can only occur in a heart that is clean and well-cultivated
• Note: We can’t do it on our own—we are hopelessly unclean. (See Romans 8:7-8) Only God Himself can plow and prepare a heart to receive the Word (See John 16:8, Romans 8:11, 1 Corinthians 2:10, Ezekiel 36:25-27, Jeremiah 31:33, 2 Corinthians 3:3, and Romans 5:5)
• We who believe in Christ are dependent on the indwelling Spirit’s work in our hearts to keep us tender, receptive, and ultimately fruitful
• I hope this describes our hearts today! And the hearts of the people we teach!

Other take-aways:

1. When we proclaim the gospel or teach the Word of God to our neighbors and loved ones, the results will always vary according to the condition of the hearts of the hearers. Success or failure does not hinge on our skill as sowers. In fact, in the parable, nothing is said about the skill of the sower. I’m not saying your talent as an evangelist doesn’t matter—it’s good to study, prepare, and become more effective. But it’s really not about your talent—it’s about the heart of the hearer.
2. If you are faithful to the task and stick to it, it’s highly likely some of the seed you throw will find well-cultivated soil, and the result will be abundant fruit. If there’s zero fruit in the life of the hearer, something’s amiss with the heart/soil.
3. In the parable, the method of casting seed is not mentioned. Have you ever been reluctant to share your faith because you’re “not good enough” or “don’t know the right way to do it”? Move past that—it’s not about you. Again, that’s not to say you can’t work to improve your methods. That might make you more confident in sharing your faith. But the emphasis is on the soil—the hearer’s heart.
4. Nothing is said about the quality of the seed. The seed that bears fruit and the seed that gets choked out is all the same kind of seed. There’s no need to replace or update the message, tone down the offense of the cross, or leave the hard or unpopular parts out. Just preach God’s unchanging Word. Scatter seed.
5. It’s all about the soil—the receptiveness of hearts! Simple enough, but that’s the true meaning. That seems to be what Jesus is talking about.

• Luke 8:8 – “He who has ears to hear, let him hear”
• Jesus says listen, pay attention, dig deeper, look beyond the surface; Luke 8:18 – “Take heed how you hear.”

6. Perhaps the greatest take-away for me this week is this: I used to think one became a Christian and soon found themselves occupying (being) the “fertile soil”. “I believe in God, I study and am receptive to the Bible, I’m good to people, etc. so I must be the good soil. I’ve arrived and can check that off.” For me, I think it’s more accurate to say, “I love God and I’m striving every day to become good, fertile soil. I want to be responsive to His Word. That’s the goal. But sometimes I let weeds creep in—I sin. Sometimes my thinking is shallow on a teaching and I don’t allow it to take root. And sometimes my heart is just hard. It’s possible for me to be all four soil types in the same week—maybe even the same day! That’s why I need to “tend my garden”—constantly adding spiritual nutrients and pulling weeds. And since even those efforts will ultimately fail, I must rely fully on God’s grace and mercy. If we were able to be “good soil” 24/7/365, Jesus would never have had to come.

May God bless us as we strive to have pure, receptive hearts and may we have opportunities to teach and reach others who are open to hearing the good news.

Homework: The Good Samaritan – read Luke 10:25-37. Which character in the story do you most identify with?

I had the opportunity this week to solo caregive my 3-month-old grandson, Chapman. Over the course of four days—36 hours—my primary jobs were to keep him alive and empty the smoldering diaper bin before the neighbors complained. My wife and I took over this role two weeks ago, but with her out of town on family business, I was flying solo. I had some dated experience, of course, having raised two sons of my own. But Janet did much of the heavy lifting around the house then, while I was out saluting and such.

So, how’d it go? Spoiler alert: Chappie survived the week. I thank God for that! But the week was about more than just survival. I learned some things.

1. I’m a nerd. Many of you already know that. I kept copious notes, not because Kyle and Laci asked me to but because there was data to be captured. I feared a tricky end-of-day question like, “Did you feed him?” and not being able to come up with a good answer. So, I took notes. I was exceedingly careful, like when Janet asks for my opinion on a new outfit. The tale of the tape? I’m glad you asked!

• 20 full or partial feedings, totaling 58 ounces of formula
• 14 diaper changes—11 wet and 3 nasty (“Chernobyl”, “Fukushima”, and “The View”)
• 14 naps, ranging from 10 to 80 minutes (and those were just mine!)
• 15+ periods of “playtime” – exercising, tummy time, coddling, bouncy chair, listening to Steely Dan, etc.
• 1 new song learned—“If you’re Chappie and you know it…”
• 1 meltdown, 10 minute duration
• 2 stroller rides to apartment lobby (on one, a roaming woman with dementia referred to him as “she” three times!)
• 1 penile spray, soaking my right hand, his clothes, and the changing table; followed by a giggle. Well played, Chappie, well played.

2. I am in love with this kid! Chappie and I bonded. There is something about caring for a little one that brings you closer—makes you vested. An infant is totally dependent on you for everything—high stakes. I didn’t think I could love Chappie any more than I did on Monday, but I do. It’s like putting your heart and soul into restoring an old car. The more effort involved, the fonder you become of the ever-evolving, growing product. Chappie and I (not unlike his brother Bradford and I) are buds now. I will be unequivocally in his corner for life.

3. I have profound respect for single parents and others who fly solo as caregivers. I got breaks at night. Some caregivers don’t. Janet and I have our Saturdays-Mondays mostly off. Some caregivers don’t. I only had one child to keep up with. Some have multiple. I received positive feedback from Chappie’s parents and from Chappie himself. The big smiles. The cooing when I laid him on my chest. Not all caregivers get “positive feedback” from the ones they care for. You may care for a special needs child who is unable to communicate appreciation or for a parent who doesn’t recognize you anymore. You may never get a “thank you” or even a smile. Kudos to you folks! God sees and loves everything you do! Don’t give up! I have a newfound respect and appreciation for you.

4. I used to think of a grandparent’s love as something that gets “divided” amongst their grandchildren. Like if you have four grands, they each get a quarter of your heart. I was so wrong about that. A grandparent’s heart doesn’t divide; it multiplies! I didn’t think it was possible to love any child as much as I love my first grandchild, Bradford. That kid is special! His love for animals, especially ducks. The way he puts his hands behind his back when he runs. The way he gorges on scrambled eggs and clings to his mom when she comes home from work. The way he calls me “Bob” because he can’t quite pronounce “Papa Fob”. Then Chappie comes along and, miraculously, my heart has doubled in size! I’m not dividing anything. I’m multiplying. I’m somehow growing capacity. And guess what? Sometime in the next week or so Janet and I will drive to North Carolina for the birth of our third grandchild and first granddaughter! What a blessing! As Rachel’s belly shrinks, my heart will be growing—bursting at the seams. Multiplying, not dividing. More family. More memories to be made. More love. More capacity.

Maybe even a little glimpse at the kind of love God has for us.

If you come to St. Louis to visit us and/or spend some time in the area, there are a ton of things to do! Schedule permitting, we may be able to accompany you on some of these adventures or just provide a comfortable place for you to stay while you’re here. If you prefer a little more room/privacy (or we don’t know you!), our apartment complex offers a fully-furnished apartment for rent for a day, week, or whatever you need. Also, be aware that starting in August, we’ll be caregiving our infant grandson Tues-Fri most weeks, so our availability will be more limited during the day.

You won’t be able to do it all, so choose what works best for you depending on your available time, health, interests, kids or no kids, budget, the weather, etc. For those with limited time, here are some things close by (walkable or a short drive from our apartment) …

• Apartment pool (however, guests are not allowed to use the fitness center)
• 24/7 Coffee bar and internet/fireplace room in the apartment lobby
• Excellent, wooded walking/jogging trails – Riparian Trail, Central Park, Monarch Levee Trail, River’s Edge Park Trail, etc. – I’ve done them all!
• Amazing, massive new playground – Central Park
• Fishing – Central Park
• Chesterfield Family YMCA
• Chesterfield Amphitheater – concert venue, some free (looking forward to the ELO Tribute band next month!)
• Chesterfield Family Aquatic Center
• Chesterfield Antique Mall
• St. Louis County Library
• Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, East Coast Pizza, Chick-fil-A, Kaldi’s coffee, Red Lobster, Brick House Tavern, Annie Gunn’s, 54^th Street, Firefly Grill, Syberg’s, GIO Modern + Italian, Buzzetta’s Italian, Sauce on the Side, El Salto Mexican, Mellow Mushroom, French Creperie, Edgewild, Stoney River Steakhouse, Billy G’s, Black Salt & Taj Palace (both Indian), The Old Spaghetti Factory, Siam Thai, Bishop’s Post (best patio in the region), YaYa’s Europ Bistro, MiMi’s Café, The Original Pancake House, Duck Donuts and, if you don’t mind blowing up like a Hezbollah pager… Taco Bell! 
• Marcus Movie Theater… has those horizontal reclining seats that almost put me to sleep two nights ago… during Mission Impossible!
• The Largest Outdoor Shopping Mall in the U.S. – at “The Valley” – Walmart, Old Navy, Golf Galaxy, Target, Dick’s, Kirkland’s, Bath & Body, Michaels, Best Buy, Sam’s, Lowe’s, World Market, Home Depot, etc.… you get the idea. If that’s not enough, we’re 5.9 miles away from the St. Louis Premium Outlets.
• Top Golf
• The Factory – music venue (Everything from Michael W. Smith to David Lee Roth! Upcoming acts include: Little River Band, Boz Scaggs, John Legend, The O’Jays, and if you want to “do a little dance”, K.C. and the Sunshine Band!)
• The District – shopping, restaurants, outdoor big screen TV w/ sporting events
• Main Event indoor playground
• Go Play! indoor playground
• Slick City Action Park – family fun center
• All of the above are walkable or within 2.5 miles of us!

If you are willing and able to branch out farther, there are SO MANY things to see and do! You can Google the ones you’re interested in for hours, prices, parking and other details, so this blog doesn’t turn into a guidebook!

Note: I’m not including the area’s best hiking/running/walking trails as I’m systematically working (hiking/running) my way through the book 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of St. Louis. That’s a blog for another time. I’m also not going to get into the restaurant scene, other than what’s above/very close to us. Again, that lends itself to a separate blog. However, when in doubt, go to The Hill and get Italian food. Or Pappy’s Smokehouse.

Here, then, are 40 things to do in and around St. Louis… a little something for everyone:

• Gateway Arch National Park – an awe-inspiring spectacle, towering over the Mississippi Riverbank—STL’s #1 tourist attraction. Features a tram ride to the top, the museum of westward expansion, a documentary movie, and beautiful grounds to walk. The park and museum are free.

• Forest Park / St. Louis Zoo – take a leisurely stroll through the 1300-acre park—one of the largest urban parks in the United States. (Nearly 500 acres larger than New York City’s Central Park!) It contains the St. Louis Zoo and its famous polar bear and penguin/puffin exhibits. Both the zoo and park are free, although to save on parking, you’ll want to park at the Turtle Playground across the street (and let your kids play on the giant turtle statues). You can also rent a paddle boat, kayak, paddleboard, or canoe and enjoy Post-Dispatch Lake and Forest Park by water. Be sure to paddle up and stop at The Boathouse for lunch. 

• Sports Galore! – We’ll start at Busch Stadium with our very own St. Louis Cardinals! Go Cards! If hockey is more your thing, we’ve got the St. Louis Blues! If you prefer soccer, we’ve got the St. Louis CITY SC! We’ve also got the St. Louis Battlehawks (UFL), the World Wide Technology Raceway (NASCAR, Indy Car, etc.), the St. Louis Ambush (indoor soccer), and the Atlantic 10 conference’s St. Louis University Billikens!

• St. Louis Science Center – With over 750 exhibits in a complex of over 300,000 square feet, it is among the largest of its type in the United States. Check out the OmniMax movies, planetarium, laser light shows, discovery room, life science lab, and more! Free admission, optional fees for movies and such.

• Grant’s Farm – one of the most popular family activities in St. Louis. Hang out with the retired Budweiser Clydesdales and use a skid steer to clean up behind them. There are also 900 other animals including tortoises, cows, deer, zebras and more. Free admission.

• St. Louis Art Museum – One of the nation’s leading comprehensive art museums. Its collection includes exceptional art from virtually every culture and movement, and its temporary exhibitions range from native art to French landscapes and global textiles to ancient armor. You can view works from Picasso to Van Gogh, and it won’t cost you any “Monet”. 

• The Magic House—St. Louis Children’s Museum – Engage your children with hands-on learning experiences that spark imagination, pique curiosity, enhance creativity and develop problem-solving skills within a place of beauty, wonder, joy and magic. Free Family Night every third Friday of the month from 5-8 p.m.

• City Museum – at this giant playground made from repurposed objects, you can slide down a 10-story spiral slide, sit in the cockpit of an old plane, climb inside a treehouse, crawl through tunnels, and more. Plan on spending a couple of hours here at least to see it all – there are surprises at every turn. 

• Theater and Performing Arts – Need a culture fix? Options include the Fabulous Fox Theater, The Muny (outdoor theater), STAGES St. Louis, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Touhill Performing Arts Center, Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, and the Grand Center Arts District. 

• Riverboat Cruise – take a 2-3 mile ride in a riverboat down the Mighty Mississippi! The tour will tell you about the different bridges you pass under (there are 5 or 6) and the barges on the river along with some other historical facts. 

• Big Muddy Adventures – want to get even closer to the Mighty Mississippi? If so, this world-class St. Louis-based adventure company and professional outfitter will hook you up with its full fleet of canoes and kayaks. Whether you want to do a riverfront adventure in downtown St. Louis, embark on a full moon float to a beautiful, uninhabited river island or add a bike ride along the Katy Trail to your aquatic adventure, river trips with Big Muddy Adventures are always memorable.

• Anheuser Busch Brewery Tour – a deep dive into beer-making, if that’s your thing, and an opportunity to visit the Clydesdales in their state-of-the-art stables. You can also try the toasted ravioli—a St. Louis staple—at the on-site Biergarten Restaurant.

• The Old Courthouse – next to the Arch. Now open to the public after a major renovation. The infamous Dred Scott v. Sanford landmark decision of the Supreme Court was held right here in this very courthouse. Free.

• The Basilica of St. Louis – aka the Old Cathedral – Tour and admire the beauty of the first cathedral built west of the Mississippi River. Free.

• Missouri History Museum – One of the most visited history museums in the nation. Discover the city’s baseball history from the Browns to the Cardinals, see “The Spirit of St. Louis” — sister plane to Lindbergh’s, explore life on the Mississippi River, marvel at the magnitude of the 1904 World’s Fair, learn about the Civil Rights movement, and much more. Admission? Free.

• Missouri Botanical Garden – Enjoy, by walking or taking a tram tour, two miles of plants from around the world. Don’t miss the Children’s Garden on the inside, the splash pad, and the hands-on activities and interactive exhibits.

• City Gardens – vibrant, urban, free, one-of-a-kind playground for all ages. Enjoy and explore the captivating sculptures, relax by the fountains, watch the kids run through the splash pad or swim in the pool, climb through tunnels, slide down slides, and just simply unwind. The calming paths also light up in the evening making it a lovely spot for an after-dinner walk. 

• Bellefontaine Cemetery – Some of you creepy people are into cemeteries. I get it. This 276-year old gem has several architecturally significant monuments and mausoleums and has free admission, unless you are dead and plan to stay. The cemetery contains 314 acres and over 87,000 graves, including those of William Clark, Adolphus Busch, Thomas Hart Benton, William S. Burroughs, Rush Limbaugh, and many Union and Confederate soldiers from the American Civil War. (Note: None of the locals are buried there. They’re not dead yet.)  

• Lemp Mansion – Still not spooked? Test your bravery and tour one of the United States’ top 10 supposedly haunted properties.

• South City Hospital – Still not spooked? Drive by this now closed hospital on South Broadway in the Dutchtown neighborhood at night. (Actually, don’t do that.) Previously known as St. Alexius Hospital, the facility was founded by the Alexian Brothers and had a capacity of 178 bed at the time of its closing in 2023. It played a significant role in the (alleged) exorcism that inspired the famous movie “The Exorcist”. The exorcism, conducted in 1949 on a 13-year-old boy, began at his aunt’s house and later moved to the Alexian Brothers Hospital for a month-long period. 

• Union Station – Ride the St. Louis Wheel, a 200-foot high observation wheel with 42 fully enclosed, climate controlled gondolas that seat up to eight riders each. Wheel passengers will take three to four rotations high over the St. Louis skyline. If heights aren’t your thing, visit the on-site St. Louis Aquarium, play mini golf, view the mirror maze and fire and light show, and maneuver the ropes course.

• World Chess Hall of Fame. Whether you’re a nerd or not, this is a cool, free place to stop and check out. If nothing else, get a photo with the world’s largest chess piece! 

• Purina Farms – Take a short 35-minute drive outside the city to one of the most fun places for kids in St. Louis. The whole family will love watching the dog show filled with super-talented canine friends and walking through the training center. Purina Farms is also home to horses, sheep, cows, chickens, and more that you can interact with. Free.

• Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site – Take a short drive across the river and tour the central section of the largest prehistoric Native American city north of Mexico. Occupied from 700 to 1400, the city grew to cover 4,000 acres, with a population of between ten and twenty thousand at its peak around 1100.

• Eckert’s Farm – While you’re across the river, go pick your own apples, pumpkins, and such, ride the wagon, shop the country store, and eat at the country restaurant. If you’re with the Johnsons, you’ll also play a pick-up game of Bocci using mild to moderately rotten apples. If you still have gas in the tank, stop by nearby Mascoutah High School, where I played football circa ’80-’81. Go Indians!

• World’s Fair Pavilion – have a picnic in this pavilion that was originally built for the 1904 World’s Fair. Free.

• Museum of Transportation – Check out the collection of over 300 locomotives, cars, airplanes and other vehicles. Kids will love the ‘Creation Station Express’ miniature train ride and the ‘Throw Mama from a Train’ interactive exhibit.

• Grand Basin – A beautiful spot for some photos with water cascades. An ideal place to just relax and reflect. Free.

• Museum of Illusions – An interactive experience that will trick your eye, entertain your mind, and show you the exciting science behind illusions!

• National Blues Museum – Immerse yourself in the birthplace of the blues genre, discover stories about legendary musicians, and the cultural impact the blues has on music around the world. 

• The Jewel Box – A greenhouse with vibrant floral displays. Truly a hidden gem. $1 admission.

• Laumeier Sculpture Park – A unique and immersive outdoor art experience. Good place to capture artistic photos with the sculptures as your backdrop. Free.

• James S. McDonnell Prologue Room – the kids will love checking out the large-scale models of planes found here while learning about the history of aviation. Free.

• Loan Elk Park – Scenic wildlife habitat with tranquil drives, hiking trails, and picnic spots where elk, bison, and deer roam. Free.

• ChocoCulture Saint Louis Half-Day Private Tour – If you love chocolate and feel like splurging on something unique, this tour is for you. https://www.viator.com/tours/St-Louis/ChocoCulture-Saint-Louis-Half-Day-Tour/d24780-209615P227

• Moto Museum – rare and vintage motorcycles galore! Free.

• Miniature Museum – This is the place for anything miniature. Have a little fun and make this museum into a scavenger hunt or a game of “I Spy”. 

• Campbell House Museum – Built in 1851, the first house in the elegant Lucas Place neighborhood, the Campbell House was the home of renowned fur trader and entrepreneur Robert Campbell and his family from 1854 until 1938. 

• Ulysses S. Grant National Historical Site – Also known as White Haven, the site commemorates the life, military career and presidency of Ulysses S. Grant. Five historic structures are preserved at the site, including the childhood home of Ulysses’ wife, Julia Dent Grant. Free.

• Soulard Farmers Market – Established in 1779, this is the oldest farmers market west of the Mississippi and is open Wednesday-Saturday. Free.

While visiting St. Louis, you simply must check out one or more of the fascinating, historic neighborhoods. Janet and I pick a neighborhood and go walk it in search of interesting bookstores, coffee shops, and eateries. As an example, we recently went to Cherokee Antique Row and visited Hammond’s Books (straight out of a Stephen King novel), Riverside Architectural Antiques (never seen anything quite like it), Myrtle Haus books (with a fireplace!), The Mud House coffee shop, and Taqueria Hectorito (the best street tacos you’ll ever consume). Maplewood offered a festival, The Book House, and La Cosecha Coffee, featuring a bakery in the back with free samples! Central West End served up Left Bank Books, Northwest Coffee Roasting Company, and The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. We’ll update this blog annually as we explore new ‘hoods in the area. For now, though, check out this link for some options: https://explorestlouis.com/plan-your-trip/neighborhoods/

Confession time: while visiting Kyle and Laci a few years ago, they took us on a walking tour at dusk around Clayton, just west of Forest Park. As we walked by the beautiful Concordia Seminary (a primary seminary for the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod; founded in 1839), I noticed a large crowd of people gathered on the upper grounds outside the institution. Curious, and going against the urging of my family, I climbed the hill like the 20th Maine at Little Round Top on Day 3 at Gettysburg. Kyle followed me with the earnestness of a 28-year-old preacher following an aging parent with declining cognitive abililites. At the top, we discovered what appeared to be a freshmen/parent mixer, and I slipped into the back of the line at the large food tent, with my incredulous junior progeny in tow. I smiled, lovingly grasped the back of Kyle’s neck, and gave reasurring nods to other anxious parents. Ten minutes later, Kyle and I descended the hill, each toting a styrofoam container with a brat, french fries, German potato salad, and a packet of spicy mustard! No guts, no glory!

I hope this blog will inspire you to come see us in St. Louis! Did you notice how many things are free? Even the Lutheran brats! We actually live in Chesterfield, a very safe, low-crime city about 21 miles west of downtown St. Louis.

As for St. Louis… yes, like most cities, there are some rough, dangerous, high-crime parts of town, especially at night. We avoid those areas, especially at night.

So come see us! We might even show off our adorable grandsons!

Welcome to the Johnson’s 37^th consecutive Christmas dispatch! Let’s talk about some beautiful things…

I’ve long made fun of over-the-top, doting, bragging grandparents… and now I am one! Janet and I have joined the club. Out of nowhere, the next generation has arrived! Having a grand has given us a boost of energy and renewed purpose. Little Bradford (actually, thick, muscular, 99 percentile length and head-size Bradford) fills a space in our hearts that we never knew was empty. That is truly a beautiful thing. I’ll come back to that.

As for the older generation, Raymond & Shirley, Janet’s parents, continue to live with us and provide blessings and humor to our lives. He struts into the kitchen each morning, with his pajama shirt tucked into his pants, and his pants tucked into his socks—next level old man gangsta! At 91 and 86, they are doing pretty well physically and can still beat us in cards.

I visited my dad and his caregiving wife Gail three times this year. One visit involved three days with him at a rehab center post-surgery, in order to give Gail a respite. Dad’s short-term memory is diminished and he sleeps a lot, but he’s a dear, sweet man. One morning, I sat by his bedside and said, “Dad, what can I get you? You have plenty of money—want a new TV? Want to go on a vacation? Whatever you want, I’ll get it or arrange it for you.” He thought for a moment and said, “Well, there is one thing, Bull. If it’s not too much trouble… I’d love a grilled cheese sandwich and some chocolate milk.” I smiled and said, “You got it, Pops!” The Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus wrote, “Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” My dad gets that. Peace and contentment at age 87 is a beautiful thing.

Speaking of beautiful, inside and out, my darling Janet had a busy, productive year. She taught several Ladies Bible classes and taught our congregation’s 5^th and 6^th graders. She loves speaking at Christian women’s events and was blessed to be able to do so this year in Kittanning, Pennsylvania and Houston, Texas. My little lady pours her heart and soul into these lessons and listeners. The college version of Janet I remember would never have envisioned herself teaching a Ladies Bible Class, much less speaking to large crowds of women around the country. Janet also went away with a group of lady friends for a cabin weekend in the woods to eat, fellowship, and watch/discuss several episodes of The Chosen. Seeing her spiritual growth and the way God continues to use her in ministry is a beautiful thing.

My year was filled with writing at coffee shops, doing disaster relief work in Valdosta, Georgia, doing prison ministry, hiking (to Rocky Top, Andrew’s Bald, and Charlie’s Bunion in the Smokies), leading a mission trip to Honduras, and teaching/speaking at Eastside and around the country. I spoke at the Kittanning PA church of Christ, the Camp Wiregrass men’s retreat in Alabama, and taught a 12-week course about my Appalachian Trail thru-hike to a local class of home-schoolers. While subbing at Knoxville Christian School, a first grade girl told me I was, “old, squishy, and 26.” She received partial credit… and remains in time-out.

In February, I published Every Scar, A Story: Act I, the first of a planned 3-part series, telling my life story. This first volume covers the first 25 years of my life—growing up in a military family, traveling the globe, falling in love, getting married, becoming a father, and the various highs, lows, and scars involved in such pursuits. Examining one’s life and capturing it in words is a useful, cathartic experience and a gift to future generations. I think everyone should pass on stories and lessons from their life to friends and family, whether that takes the form of a book or just a long note. I hope you’ll consider doing so. Having my youngest son tear up after reading a never-before-heard story about his late great-grandfather was, well, a beautiful thing.

Other 2024 highlights include:

• Visiting Bradford (and Kyle and Laci) in January, April, and November in Missouri. On the most recent visit, we celebrated Bradford’s first birthday!
• Visiting Jason & Rachel and Mount Airy (think Mayberry), North Carolina, and doing an amazing 19-mile bike ride with them along Virginia’s Creeper Trail. 
• A week vacation in July to Canada with all 7 Johnson’s—Bradford’s 1^st visit to another country.
• Being visited by Kyle and Bradford in Maryville in September. Bradford (like his Uncle Jas, circa 1994) removed Tupperware from cabinets, pushed them around the kitchen floor, and put pieces on his head and in his mouth. He has a bright future.

• Celebrating our… wait for it… beautiful 36 years of marriage at Maryville’s swanky RT Lodge (courtesy of friends Kevin & Erika!) and then in Hot Springs, North Carolina, one of my favorite stops on the Appalachian Trail. (Sadly, the town was later devastated by Hurricane Helene flooding.)
• A wonderful family reunion with Steve’s sibs and their hubbies along 30A in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.
• Going to Tennessee Volunteer football and basketball games with Joe and Jan, our friends from Missouri. Vols baseball–national champs! Vols football–made the playoffs! Vols basketball–currently #1 in the nation! Tis a good time to be a Vols fan!
• A family Thanksgiving gathering at a Kentucky Airbnb, where Steve taught Bradford how to catch a 10-lb catfish!

Last week, I visited my dad and his wife in Cincy with my sibs and their hubbies while Janet stayed home to look after her ailing mom. We went to a German-themed Christkindl market in downtown Cincy featuring bratwurst, vendors, an ice skating rink, and scores of costumed workers and visitors. As I exited the restaurant’s bathroom stall after doing my business, I looked over and Santa Claus was exiting the adjoing stall. We made eye contact, and in that moment, in the twinkling of an eye, Christmas became real.

Now for our big news. In April of ’25, we plan to move to Missouri—about 30 minutes west of St Louis! We have absolutely loved living in East Tennessee—our house, neighborhood, church family, friends, the mountains, etc. It’s all good. But the magnetic pull of a grandchild is real and powerful—if you’ve been there, you know. When you add a second grandchild on the way, well, we’re packing our bags! Our military lifestyle always kept us from being able to live near family. That’s about to change. As we enter this prime grandparenting window, we want to be present, whatever form that takes. I’m also “wired” to move every 4-6 years for a change of scenery—new jogging trails, coffee shops, bookstores, parks, neighborhoods, and people. That’s a bizarre concept to most, but the “human crop rotation” approach works for us, gives us a reset, and has allowed us to form friendships with people all over the country. To us, that is a beautiful thing.

Cathy (Janet’s middle sister) and her husband have graciously agreed to take in Janet’s parents for this next season of life. We’ve been busy painting and laying flooring in their Bristol VA home, getting a storage unit, and measuring furniture. The move will not be easy for my in-laws (and the congregation here is not happy to lose these sweet people), but we’re confident God will bless and provide for them in Bristol just as He’s done in Maryville. Their time with family in Virginia, like our time with family in Missouri, has the potential to be a beautiful thing. 

Amid this hectic holiday season, may we not lose sight of God sending His only Son into this world to die for messed up people like you and me. Jesus’ sacrifice on a cross and subsequent resurrection gives us hope and, as Andy Dufresne put it in The Shawshank Redemption, “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things.” 

To which I would add… hope is also a beautiful thing. Merry Christmas, everyone!