Rev. Dr. Jeff Garrison
Haw River 1975 I pause, standing in the door of the gas station at the edge of Pittsboro, a Coke in one hand and a pack of peanuts in the other. Ripping open the peanuts with my teeth, I shake a few from the bag into my mouth, chasing it with a swig from the … Read more Haw River: a short memoir and a book review
Jeff Garrison Bluemont and Mayberry Churches February 28, 2021 Hebrews 8 c2021 At the beginning of worship Today, as we’re continuing our work through the book of Hebrews, the author turns toward a topic he mentioned in the previous chapter: a new covenant. A covenant is a contract between two parties, in this case, between God and … Read more The New Covenant
The sun drops below the hills.It’s time to leave the broad waters of Laurel Forkand follow the sounds of rushing water paralleling the muddy dirt road lined with mountain laurel. Reaching Hereford Road,the mare in the pasture looks up from her hayand gaits over to the fence. I rub her head and she presses tight against my … Read more Walking up Laurel Fork Road
Barry Lopez, About This Life: Journeys on the Threshold of Memory (New York: Random House/Vintage Books, 1999), 273 pages. This is a wonderful collection of essays. I listened to an abridged edition as well as read the essays. The Audible version of the book was wonderful because the late Lopez read his work. The collection (in the book … Read more About This Life
Jeff Garrison Bluemont and Mayberry Churches February 21, 2021 Hebrews 7:1-22 c2021 Thoughts at the beginning of worship Today as we continue working through the Book of Hebrews, I want to get off on the right foot and remind you of the doctrine of Total Depravity. There’s no place better to start than at the … Read more Hebrews 7:1-22, Christ as High Priest, part 2
Last week, I wrote about my last day in Korea. This week, I’m resurrecting another story about that wonderful trip. I had taken a bus from Seoul to Wonju early on Sunday morning. Seung Hwan met me at the bus station. I preached to his congregation at the medical college in Wonju, then we spent … Read more The Magpie Crags
Jeff Garrison Bluemont and Mayberry ChurchesHebrews 6:13-20February 14, 2021c2021 At the Beginning of Worship:Today, as we continue working our way through the book of Hebrews, we’re reminded of the certainty of God’s promise. Christians are people of hope because God has given us his word. Our hope is not in our own doing, it is … Read more Anchored by Jesus
In early 2000, I spent a two weeks in Korea, preaching and visiting friends and my parents (my father’s company had assigned him to a Korean factory making power plants near Pusan). I preached at a couple of churches, one of which had nearly 2000 in attendance at one service, which is the largest congregation … Read more Leaving Korea
Jeff GarrisonBluemont and Mayberry ChurchesFebruary 7, 2021Hebrews 5:11-6:12c2021 With the possibility of more bad weather tomorrow, I am posting this earlier and including an outline of the bulletin along with announcements for both churches. -Jeff At the beginning of worship In our worship today, I want you to ponder a question. What does it take … Read more Hebrews 6: Motivation
Ronald W. Hall, The Carroll County Courthouse Tragedy (2013 printing, Hillsville VA: Carroll County Historical Society,1998). 272 pages including sources and a few b&w photos. This is another book that I’ve read in order to learn about my new locale. In March 1912, there was a shooting at the Carroll County, Courthouse in Hillsville, Virginia. When all … Read more The Carroll County Courthouse Tragedy