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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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Do Church Members Have Responsibilities?
What does it mean to be a Church member? What is required of those who join a local Church in covenant church membership? Perhaps you’ve...
Ben Francis
Feb 55 min read
73 views
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Walking Our Wives through the Valley of Miscarriage: An Encouragement to Husbands
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they...
Ben Francis
Sep 9, 20247 min read
1,153 views
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How God Decorates our Lives
“Sunday morning worship is a Saturday night decision.” Maybe you’ve heard that said, or maybe you’ve said it yourself. And it's right. It...
Ben Francis
Jul 2, 20246 min read
89 views
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Pastor Ben's Reading List: A Guide for Christians, Bible Students, Pastors, Parents, and More.
I’ve put this list of resources together for Christians, Church ministry leaders, Sunday School teachers and small groups leaders,...
Ben Francis
Mar 27, 20248 min read
578 views
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10 Leadership Lessons from the Movie: Greyhound
In 2020, the Movie Greyhound was released on AppleTv in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. It was a groundbreaking movie for several...
Ben Francis
Mar 5, 20245 min read
201 views
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10 Lessons about Church I've learned from the Gym…
I go to the gym 5 days a week (most weeks anyhow). I do it for several reasons, but mostly for my own personal well-being. Caring for the...
Ben Francis
Mar 1, 20246 min read
176 views
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Our Responsibilities in Baptizing Our Children
In Matthew 19:13-14, we read these words, “Then children were brought to Him that He might lay His hands on them and pray. The disciples...
Ben Francis
Jan 26, 20248 min read
186 views
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How Should Christians Practice Santa Claus?
Christians, Christmas, and Santa Claus. And Elf on the Shelf, the Easter Bunny, and More… SHHHHHHHHH! Don’t tell the kids…but, Santa...
Ben Francis
Nov 20, 202313 min read
874 views
2 comments
The Priority of Sunday Christian Worship
Is Sunday morning Church important? With the rising list of activities and committments facing us today, is gathering with our Church...
Ben Francis
Nov 13, 20237 min read
219 views
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The Unique Grief of Miscarriage and the hope and help of Jesus Christ.
We recently lost our daughter to miscarriage. It happened somewhere in the 10-14 week range of the pregnancy. My dear friend summed up...
Ben Francis
Jul 20, 202315 min read
652 views
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Making Boys Into Men
“It’s easier to bleed than to sweat.” - Flannery O’Connor I was reminded recently that boys don't become men on their own. "Maleness...
Ben Francis
Jul 5, 20239 min read
174 views
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The Virtues of Masculinity
It's not popular to be manly anymore. It's not even popular to be a man. More and more, our culture is coming to reject manliness. And...
Ben Francis
Jun 27, 20233 min read
213 views
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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...
Ben Francis
May 23, 20234 min read
65 views
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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,...
Ben Francis
May 16, 20237 min read
114 views
1 comment
A Lament for the Hard Things…
This painting hangs in my study reminding me of days like today. Like the man in the painting, pastoral ministry calls men to come in...
Ben Francis
Apr 11, 20235 min read
245 views
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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...
Ben Francis
Apr 4, 20238 min read
58 views
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Manliness: The Needed Virtue of Our Day
“Be a man!” - The Apostle Paul (1 Cor. 13) What does it mean to be a Man? I like how the ancient Romans defined manliness, which was...
Ben Francis
Jan 9, 202310 min read
154 views
1 comment
The Importance of Fathers...
We are living in a time when our society is not only devaluing the role of the father, but also the very idea of manhood. For most every...
Ben Francis
Dec 21, 20222 min read
52 views
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Giving Thanks for the Small, the Difficult, and the Sometimes Ugly.
The Discipline of Spiritual Gratitude It doesn’t take long to look around a Church or spiritual community and find problems. Whether it's...
Ben Francis
Nov 27, 20224 min read
52 views
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A Glimpse of Life without Worry...
Wild things, Peace, and Wendell Berry “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.Day to day pours...
Ben Francis
Nov 23, 20224 min read
64 views
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