SOWING SEEDS
Offering seeds of encouragement and hope
The stranger who entered the church was young and new to the community, struggling with her faith and her identity while facing serious problems. She ...
Larry Davies, Author at Farmville
SOWING SEEDS
Remembering the real meaning of Easter
If you walk through Walmart and look for Easter, you will find candy — lots and lots of candy. If you read the newspaper ads, ...
by Larry Davies, Friday, April 9, 2021 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
I saw what I saw…
Inspired by what she witnessed on a mission trip, Sara Groves wrote the following song. I saw what I saw, and I can’t forget it ...
by Larry Davies, Friday, April 2, 2021 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
Are we working as cathedral builders?
An older man was hiking in the woods with a young friend when they stumbled upon a big, angry bear. Both men took off running, ...
by Larry Davies, Friday, March 26, 2021 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
Who can you be a servant for today?
Before the pandemic changed everything, there was a once-a-year ritual for United Methodist pastors and leaders called Annual Conference. Several thousand people gather in a ...
by Larry Davies, Friday, March 19, 2021 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
Jesus was much more than a really nice guy
She was in high school, the same age as my daughter, when I became her pastor. She went out of her way to welcome my ...
by Larry Davies, Friday, March 12, 2021 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
Give up your way, take up a cross and follow Jesus
I read about a helicopter ride for pastors and church leaders. The concept is to fly over the community and gain a new perspective while ...
by Larry Davies, Friday, March 5, 2021 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
If we could do things over, what we would do differently?
If you had it to over, what would you do? This question was asked in a survey of older people. Of the many answers given, ...
by Larry Davies, Friday, February 26, 2021 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
Life lessons from Mary Ann
My favorite character on the old TV sitcom “Gilligan’s Island” was Mary Ann played by Dawn Wells. She was wholesome and down to earth, always ...
by Larry Davies, Thursday, February 18, 2021 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
Some tips on how to overcome anxiety
It was a stressful day. Later, feeling anxious and concerned, unable to sleep, I started praying and searching through scripture. I searched Google for prayers ...
by Larry Davies, Friday, February 12, 2021 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
Aprons and the rice pastor
Wearing an apron is a practical symbol of service. Jesus wrapped a towel around him similar to an apron to wash the disciples’ feet. If ...
by Larry Davies, Friday, February 5, 2021 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
We need a desire to follow and a trust in God’s path
“My Lord God I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain ...
by Larry Davies, Friday, January 29, 2021 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
Church full of dead people
I dreamed God placed me in a church during Sunday worship. I walked up and down the aisle among lots of people. They all looked ...
by Larry Davies, Friday, January 22, 2021 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
COLUMN — Dona nobis pacem
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, ...
by Larry Davies, Friday, January 15, 2021 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
Goodbye to 2020
Here is an anonymous posting on social media — “Observations for 2020” 1. The dumbest thing I ever bought was a 2020 planner. 2. I ...
by Larry Davies, Friday, January 8, 2021 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
COLUMN — Experiencing clown communion on Christmas Eve
Christmas has passed. We lit our candles, opened our gifts and celebrated the birth of Jesus. Because of the threat of COVID-19, many of us ...
by Larry Davies, Thursday, December 31, 2020 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
Sending a message of peace from the moon
The year 1968 was difficult. The Vietnam war was raging. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy were assassinated. Riots occurred at the Chicago Democratic ...
by Larry Davies, Thursday, December 24, 2020 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
Lessons on spiritual leadership
EDITOR’S NOTE: This column is continued from the article by Larry Davies in the Friday, Dec. 11 edition. Thanks to my less than inspired leadership, ...
by Larry Davies, Friday, December 18, 2020 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
Properly leading a choir is harder than it looks
Recently, during worship, I interrupted the director just as she was about to lead the choir. “Excuse me. I’m sorry to interrupt, but do you ...
by Larry Davies, Friday, December 11, 2020 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
‘I pray for snow and a hamster’
A few years ago, our children’s ministry set up a Christmas tree. Next to the tree, they provided markers and paper that could be folded ...
by Larry Davies, Friday, December 4, 2020 6:00 am
Columns
Lessons from Ed about giving thanks
I like Thanksgiving. It’s a time of food and family togetherness. People come together from all over to gather, eat, share family memories, watch football ...
by Larry Davies, Thursday, November 26, 2020 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
COLUMN — A bag of mulch and a message
I just wanted a bag of mulch at the discount store, but the cashier discovered a hole in the bag, so someone was sent to ...
by Larry Davies, Friday, November 20, 2020 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
God can turn failure into great success
“Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something ...
by Larry Davies, Friday, November 13, 2020 6:00 am
LIFESTYLES
The little church that could
While obsessed with a worldwide pandemic and Election Day worries, it’s helpful to remember that God is still in control and often provides the best ...
by Larry Davies, Friday, November 6, 2020 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
Confessions of a potato race cheater
A few years ago, I participated in a Halloween gathering at church to support our youth group. As a part of my participation, I was ...
by Larry Davies, Friday, October 30, 2020 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
God can work miracles through us
Drayton wrote about tense moments he experienced while waiting for his wife’s surgery. “It was 10 o’clock at night and Robin was outside looking at ...
by Larry Davies, Friday, October 23, 2020 6:00 am
SOWING SEEDS
The old-fashioned, fire-engine-red water pump
In my office, there is an old-fashioned, fire-engine-red hand water pump given to me by a dear friend. I have seldom used one, but there ...