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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
Feb 55 min read
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...
60 views0 comments
Ben Francis
Sep 9, 20247 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...
1,147 views0 comments
Ben Francis
Jul 2, 20246 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...
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Ben Francis
Mar 27, 20248 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,...
571 views0 comments
Ben Francis
Mar 5, 20245 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...
181 views0 comments
Ben Francis
Mar 1, 20246 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...
168 views0 comments
Ben Francis
Jan 26, 20248 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...
185 views0 comments
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...
874 views2 comments
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...
217 views0 comments
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...
652 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...
173 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...
194 views0 comments
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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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,...
114 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...
154 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...
52 views0 comments
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
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