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.

Walking Our Wives through the Valley of Miscarriage: An Encouragement to Husbands

Ben Francis

Sep 97 min read

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...

1,125 views0 comments

Ben Francis

Jul 26 min read

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...

87 views0 comments

Pastor Ben's Reading List: A Guide for Christians, Bible Students, Pastors, Parents, and More.

Ben Francis

Mar 278 min read

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,...

562 views0 comments

10 Leadership Lessons from the Movie: Greyhound

Ben Francis

Mar 55 min read

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...

153 views0 comments

10 Lessons about Church I've learned from the Gym…

Ben Francis

Mar 16 min read

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...

167 views0 comments

Our Responsibilities in Baptizing Our Children

Ben Francis

Jan 268 min read

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...

184 views0 comments

How Should Christians Practice Santa Claus?

Ben Francis

Nov 20, 202313 min read

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...

868 views2 comments

The Priority of Sunday Christian Worship

Ben Francis

Nov 13, 20237 min read

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...

213 views0 comments

The Unique Grief of Miscarriage and the hope and help of Jesus Christ.

Ben Francis

Jul 20, 202315 min read

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...

650 views0 comments

Ben Francis

Jul 5, 20239 min read

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...

167 views0 comments

Ben Francis

Jun 27, 20233 min read

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...

159 views0 comments

Raising Kids in a Screen-Saturated World

Ben Francis

May 23, 20234 min read

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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Parents: Don't Give Your Kids a Smartphone...

Ben Francis

May 16, 20237 min read

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,...

113 views1 comment

Ben Francis

Apr 11, 20235 min read

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...

245 views0 comments

Ben Francis

Apr 4, 20238 min read

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...

58 views0 comments

Ben Francis

Jan 9, 202310 min read

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...

153 views1 comment

Ben Francis

Dec 21, 20222 min read

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...

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Giving Thanks for the Small, the Difficult, and the Sometimes Ugly.

Ben Francis

Nov 27, 20224 min read

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...

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Ben Francis

Nov 23, 20224 min read

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...

64 views0 comments

Ben Francis

Nov 14, 20225 min read

Lord, Thank You for this Sickness.

Learning to thank God for our afflictions… Throughout our lives, we all experience the normal pains, sufferings, and struggles of having...

115 views0 comments