Gospel meetings are a thrill. I love the atmosphere, the energy, and the excitement. I love meeting new people, visiting with folks in the foyer, and getting attached to another group of God’s people. There’s only one thing I don’t like about going other places to preach. I miss home.

I always miss Melissa and the kids. Every six-year-old reminds me of Morgan. Every five- year-old makes me want to play cars with David. It’s never soon enough to finally walk in the house and have them tell me all that went on while I was away.

Even our everyday conversation admits to our propensity to procrastination. We say things like, “never put off til tomorrow what you can do today,” or “there’s no time like the present.” Then, there is that most insightful saying that “procrastination is the thief of time.” Sayings like that just serve to point out the fact that we tend to put off things.

Our word “sincere” has an interesting history. Etymologists tell us that in Ancient Rome, men who made statues, sculptors, and other artistic endeavors used wax to cover up their mistakes. They became so proficient about it that only the most trained eye could spot the charade. The pretense looked good until the sun came out on a hot summer day or the wear and tear of weather came to bear. Then the wax melted and the pretender was unveiled.

Well, they’re over. The 28th edition of the Southside Lectures has gone the way of the previous twenty-seven. And this one just may go down as the best one yet.

I always have mixed emotions about seeing the lectures come to an end. My body is weary. My mind can hardly concentrate. But my heart is full.

The Southside Lectures originated in 1980 as an effort to give special emphasis to some subjects which the Elders here thought would be of benefit to our members. The Lectures were well received—right from the beginning.

Oliver Goldsmith, the Irish-born British writer, once said, “As I take my shoes form the shoemaker, and my coat from the tailor, so I take my religion from the priest.”

Evil is everywhere. It is all around us. It’s in the workplace and in the school houses. It’s in the neighborhoods and in the media. It’s even in the church buildings and in the home. It is, indeed, a very clear and present danger.

[For several issues of Christianity Magazine, Dee Bowman ran a series of articles entitled “I Am Fred.” This piece is taken from the February 1989 issue. It’s truths are just as relevant and practical today.]

I guess you’re beginning to see by now that Fred is fairly complicated. Even though he is not famous and hasn’t done anything to distinguish himself, he’s still a fairly intricate fellow.

I am a Law and Order fan. A few evenings ago I made the comment to Janet, “I know these stories are not based on actual criminal cases, but they obviously get their materials from real life goings-on!” It’s hard for me to imagine the difficulty people get themselves into that lead to violent acts against their spouses, children, other family members, co-workers, or the total stranger. They call these programs “TV drama” and that’s exactly what they are—programs where people act out what is actually taking place beyond the four walls of the televisi

Everybody’s going somewhere. The kids are going to school. Mom’s going to the grocery store, Dad’s going to work. Uncle Zeke’s going to the dentist, Grandma’s going to the doctor.

The fullback’s going toward the goal, the baseball player’s headed for home. The point guard’s shooting toward the basket, the tennis star’s hitting toward the line.

Everybody’s going somewhere. No matter who you are, you’re going somewhere.

Where are you going?