By Phil Cooke
philcooke.com
I’m a preacher’s kid, so growing up, I sat on a church pew every time the doors were open — and they were hard wooden things back then. Mom was pretty strict about attending church, and I’ve sat through about a million worship services, weddings, funerals, Vacation Bible Schools, Sunday School classes, revivals, youth rallies and more.
Tough rules
Along the way, my mom had some pretty tough rules that have mostly fallen out of fashion since those days. But after a few decades, I wonder if they weren’t so bad.
Here are a few of those rules:
- Dress up. My mom felt that church was about honoring God, and looking right was a big part of that honor. I had a whole collection of clip-on ties, and she ensured I was dressed up before leaving the house. Today, even pastors preach in jeans and T-shirts, and the truth is, I love being casual. However, attorneys and other professionals have learned how your dress impacts your attitude and perception. As my mom said, it shouldn’t be about pride but about honoring God. Looking around most congregations these days, I wonder if we could use an occasional dose of my mom’s advice.
- Pay attention. I got slapped a lot in church for not paying attention. Even as kids, my mom wouldn’t let us lay down on the church pew, draw in coloring books or scribble on paper. We had to pay attention — which, if you know how easily distracted I am, was like a personal nightmare. But looking back, it taught me discipline and a remarkable amount of Bible teaching.
- Send the babies to the nursery. Back then, we didn’t have a “Children’s Church.” All we had was a nursery for the babies, and my mom thought they should go. Nothing was more rude to her than parents allowing a screaming baby to interrupt the congregation’s worship. I thought about my mom last Sunday, sitting behind a young couple with a screaming baby who just sat there, and sat there, and sat there. What did the pastor preach about? I can’t remember.
- If you show up late, sit in the back. Mom thought church wasn’t the same as a movie, concert or classroom. It was holy, and we need to respect that. Although 99% of the time, our family sat in the front row, if we showed up late for any reason, we sat in the back. She would never distract anyone from my dad’s message by walking down the aisle after the service had started.
- Bring your Bible. My mom’s motto was “Buy a Bible, read it and underline it.” She never understood how people could come to church without their Bible. To her, it was like showing up at a baseball game without a bat. I’ve tried the “pew Bible” and Bible apps on my phone, but for me, I can’t get my mom’s rule out of my head. So I bring the real thing — marked up and all.
- Sunday School matters. Few churches have Sunday School programs anymore, and I’m often surprised at the number of church members who think a weekly sermon is enough. Mom felt we needed to go deeper, and Sunday School was that place. Obviously, that was before many churches started to encourage small groups — although most small groups I’ve attended are more about “reflection,” “what’s new in my life” and “sharing.” My mom would probably puke.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Christian media expert Phil Cooke and originally published by philcooke.com.
The church at the end of the road
Nestled in the quiet hills of Stone County, Missouri, 12 miles down a winding dead-end road called Y Highway, sits Cedar Ridge Baptist Church. It’s a Southern Baptist church with a congregation almost as small as the road is long, but don’t let the size fool you. What we may lack in numbers, we more than make up for in heart.
When I first stepped into Cedar Ridge less than a year ago, I knew I wasn’t just walking into a building. I was stepping into a story — one of faith, perseverance and deep-rooted love for God and one another. The drive out here alone feels like a retreat, the kind of road where cell signal fades, and the world’s noise falls away.
One of my favorite moments every Sunday morning is the quiet walk from my car to the church door. There isn’t a house in sight, just the trees, the rolling hills and the stillness of Table Rock Lake nearby. It’s a sacred moment — a pause before the day begins, where the world feels hushed and expectant.
I spend those early hours, going over my sermon and praying, letting the quiet calm my heart and sharpen my focus. My favorite moment comes when I hear that first greeting — “Hello, Pastor” — as the first person arrives. That simple greeting, filled with kindness and familiarity, sets the tone for the morning. It reminds it’s the people who make this church.
If you ever find yourself longing for a place where the world feels smaller and faith feels bigger, I invite you to visit us.
Pastor Rich Bitterman
Cedar Ridge Baptist Church in Galena, Missouri
“During concerts, I hope to encourage people and lead people to Christ and to encourage believers,” said Guy Penrod, Grammy and Dove award-winning recording artist. “Music is a vehicle by which the Lord has blessed us. I mean, like anyone, if you follow the Spirit of the Lord’s promptings and a new heart that He has given each one of us in Christ, then you yield it to Him and acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will direct your paths.
“Therein lies the secret to happiness. It’s that right there — just resting and waiting on Him for doors is advice I would give. Don’t push. I have done that as a young man and as a middle-aged man probably, pushed on a few doors out of hard headedness, but usually it’s a matter of waiting on the Lord, who will open the doors. We walk through them. The building of family, the relationships, the influence and all those things are gifts from the Lord. So I just pray for His wisdom and strength to walk in that honorably.”
My suffering can become more bearable when I like who I’ve become because of it. As strange as it feels to admit, I really do like who I’ve become since my stroke … and because of my stroke. God used the worst experience of my life to develop the best parts of who I am today. In fact, I feel sorry for the hypothetical version of me who never had a stroke.
If my life had been less challenging, my spirit would be less resilient. I can’t thank God for the worst thing. But I can thank Him for who the worst thing has made me. I can recognize both the gifts and the darkness. And the gifts in the darkness.
Katherine Wolf
@hopeheals on Instagram
Forgetfulness is part of aging, and we sometimes joke about it, but serious memory issues are no joking matter. By some estimates, 10% of people over 70 have some form of dementia, and over 7 million Americans are suffering with Alzheimer’s disease.
As Baby Boomers grow older, those numbers are expected to rise. If you, or someone you love, is suffering from either of these problems, my prayers are with you. Those are not easy roads to travel. By all means, please don’t try to travel them alone.
Bill King
writer and entertainer
“For there, suspended between heaven and earth, hanging in the Middle Eastern sun, beaten beyond recognition, pierced through His hands and His feet, there is the only hope of our eternity.
“The Bible says there were three crosses that afternoon, and that’s what this passage describes, the three crosses. Two thieves, one on each side of Jesus. Someone said one was the cross of rebellion, one was the cross of repentance and one was the cross of redemption.
“One man died in sin, one man died to sin and one man died for sin. One man died as a sinner, one man died as a saint, and one man, praise the Lord, died as a Savior.”
Randy Bostick
Senior pastor
Oakland Baptist Church in Corinth, Mississippi
“If you are not walking with Christ, there is an urgency to the cross that you can’t miss. You can see all of the beauty of what Jesus is doing. Don’t miss the urgency of what Christ is calling you to, the stakes cannot be higher. … The way to escape is found in Him.”
Ryan Adams
Senior pastor
Philadelphia Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama
