Author: Andy Farmer

The Worthy Goal of Friendship

The Worthy Goal of Friendship

Posted by | May 8, 2023 | |

I co-host a podcast with a friend and fellow pastor. JT is a thirty-year-old African American brother in his first five years of pastoral ministry. I’m a 64-year-old white man beginning my fourth decade in ministry. The podcast is called “That Don’t Fit.” We chose the name because our purpose is to explore commonalities and differences across ethnic and generational lines. In May 2021, we did an episode on the place of friendship in our lives. We spent some time talking about friendships in our seasons of life. Continue Reading →

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Too Old to Covet?

Too Old to Covet?

Posted by | Oct 26, 2022 | |

This past summer our church had a sermon series on the Ten Commandments. Each week I was freshly reminded of God’s commitment to holiness in his people and, just as importantly, the beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have Savior who has fulfilled the law for us, provides ample grace to live in obedience to God’s law and merciful forgiveness when we don’t.  But if I’m totally honest, most weeks during the series I felt like the Lord was pointing out some misdemeanors, but no felony lawbreaking.  Until the last message on the Tenth Commandment.  “You Shall Not Covet”.  Guilty on all counts! Continue Reading →

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A Post Pandemic Sojourn Beyond My Little American World

A Post Pandemic Sojourn Beyond My Little American World

Posted by | Jul 15, 2022 | |

This past spring, as worldwide travel restrictions eased, I found myself on two long journeys in opposite directions to teach biblical counseling. My first trip was west from Philadelphia to Sydney, Australia, to teach in several churches and meet with church leaders on issues of mental health and biblical counseling. The second trip took me east to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to teach biblical counseling in pastoral ministry to men being trained to plant and lead churches in Africa. The following are some reflections from those post-pandemic experiences.  Continue Reading →

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Schooled in Mentoring by Shaun White

Schooled in Mentoring by Shaun White

Posted by | Apr 11, 2022 | |

One of the big stories from the recent Winter Olympics was the end of the long career of snowboarder Shaun White. White was a pioneer in the halfpipe competition, a sport that sends riders down a deep chute of ice where they cross from one side to the other, launching themselves skyward into all manner of tricks and spins on the way down. White had won three gold medals in four Olympics and had come back for one more try in his fifth games at the ripe old snowboarder age of 35. He wound up finishing fourth, off the medal podium. Though clearly disappointed to finish without a medal, White put on a clinic of gracious and thoughtful reflection on the close of his Olympic career. Continue Reading →

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