What I’m Reading: April-May 2023
“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of...
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Shepherding Thoughts
by Pastor Ben Francis
Welcome to Shepherding Thoughts: An inside look at a Southern Baptist Pastor's comments on navigating popular topics in Christianity and Religion.
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Ben Francis
- May 25
- 5 min
2023 Southern Baptist Convention: A Preview
In just a few weeks, the Southern Baptist Convention will gavel itself into session in New Orleans, Louisiana. As a reminder, the...
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Ben Francis
- May 23
- 4 min
Raising Kids in a Screen-Saturated World
A Review I am thankful for Eliza Huie and the folks at the Biblical Counseling Coalition. They are producing some great work in really...
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Ben Francis
- May 16
- 7 min
Parents: Don't Give Your Kids a Smartphone...
We are living in a day and age that revolves around technology, especially smartphones. Our days are filled with them: Tasks, jobs,...
96 views1 comment
Ben Francis
- Apr 30
- 3 min
Minnesota Oversteps: Christian Parents Beware...
Trans Rights and the Loss of Parental Authority The Transgender Revolution marches on… “Silence in the face of evil is evil itself. Not...
88 views0 comments
Ben Francis
- Apr 28
- 8 min
What Does it Mean to Be Pastored?
Life in the Local Church Belonging to a local Church of the Lord Jesus Christ entails all sorts of things: Membership, fellowship,...
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Ben Francis
- Apr 15
- 8 min
A Lament for the Hard Things: The Joy of Pastoral Ministry; A Follow-Up…
When I sat down to write the previous post, “A Lament for the Hard Things,” my goal was to share a tangible illustration of what I had...
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Ben Francis
- Apr 11
- 5 min
A Lament for the Hard Things…
A Day in the Life of a Pastor-Shepherd... Pastor-Shepherds occupy a unique position in that they get to share in the various life...
242 views0 comments
Ben Francis
- Apr 4
- 8 min
What's Shaping My Life?
This question lodged itself in my mind during our Sunday morning Bible study. "Are Christians in danger of living in a delusion?" We were...
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Ben Francis
- Mar 31
- 5 min
What I'm Reading - March 23'
"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.” -George R.R. Martin Theology Powerful...
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Ben Francis
- Mar 3
- 12 min
An Ongoing Struggle: The fight for Life in a Post-Roe Culture.
Recently, I had the privilege of speaking at a Pro-Life event for our local Pregnancy Support Center. The full text of my address is...
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Ben Francis
- Feb 27
- 4 min
What I'm Reading - February 23'
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” -Dr. Seuss Here's this...
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Ben Francis
- Feb 23
- 5 min
Was Disfellowshipping the Right Move? Yes.
On Wednesday, February 22, 2023 the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention reported out that it had voted to Disfellowship...
201 views1 comment
Ben Francis
- Feb 4
- 8 min
Pregnant Men? The Transgender Revolution Marches On...
A New Fight for Life... In the mid 2000's, Thomas Beatie was announced as the first ever pregnant man. It took the media by storm, but...
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Ben Francis
- Jan 31
- 5 min
What I’m Reading: January 2023
Well, another year has come and the pages continue to turn! I have been encouraged lately that many of my friends have posted about their...
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Ben Francis
- Jan 25
- 5 min
Food, Exercise, and Struggle: A Personal Health Update - January 23'
I’ve been on a health journey for the past few years. I’ve written about it on the blog, so I won’t rehash everything here. But, it's...
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Ben Francis
- Jan 19
- 7 min
Sing Louder, Men!
A Guest post by Rev. Justin Morehead Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another...
205 views0 comments
Ben Francis
- Jan 18
- 6 min
The Sanctity of Human Life.
Sunday, January 22, 2023 is Sanctity of Human Life Day. Sanctity: The quality or state of being holy or sacred : INVIOLABILITY. What is...
41 views0 comments
Ben Francis
- Jan 9
- 10 min
Manliness: The Needed Virtue of Our Day
“Be a man!” - The Apostle Paul What does it mean to be a Man? -I tend to like how the ancient Romans defined manliness, which was “living...
142 views1 comment
Ben Francis
- Dec 22, 2022
- 7 min
The Fragile Mission of the Church...
Can We Keep It? “The Church exists for a mission. Jesus did not give a mission to His church; He formed a Church for His mission…”. -...
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