Musings

By Sean Dietrich The two girls knocked on my door. They wore Kelly green berets and green vests. I greeted them. The two Girl Scouts went through their spiel. “We’re selling cookies, sir,” they began. “Do you have any identification?” said I. They exchanged looks. “Wait, what?” “Well,” I said amiably, “how do I...

By Pastor Jeff Wade, The Rock of Panama City Beach February, the month of love, right? If I am to write an article for the newspaper, it’s got to be about one of my favorite pastoral topics. Love. As a pastor of a local church, I cannot think of an easier...

By Sean Dietrich We were newlyweds, living in a grungy apartment. Each morning, I would wake before her. I would pass my morning hours writing poetry on a yellow legal pad, sipping coffee. Mostly, I’d write the kinds of god-awful things you’d expect newlyweds to write. I’m talking painfully corny stuff. I’d...

By Pastor Jeff Wade, The Rock of Panama City Beach Who doesn’t love new stuff!?!? Christmas was just a few weeks ago and everyone was excited about the new things they got. For some it was new clothes, new toys, new jewelry, a new bike or maybe you were even...

By Sean Dietrich Eighteen years. That sounds like a long time, but it’s not. Not when you think about it. Eighteen years is nothing. It’s hard to believe that eighteen years ago we were just two ordinary people with two very different last names. It’s almost hard to conceive of a...

By Pastor Jeff Wade, The Rock of Panama City Beach Can you believe it? Christmas time is here again. How can it already be Christmas again, right? I believe that if you asked everyone collectively what their favorite holiday is, most would respond without even having to ponder it at...

By Sean Dietrich “When I was a kid, we didn’t have no Christmas tree,” said the waitress, placing a hamburger on the table before me. I was in North Georgia, in a restaurant attached to a gas station. My waitress’s name was Sharon. I know this because her name tag said...

By Pastor Jeff Wade, The Rock of Panama City Beach When it comes to writing monthly articles, the month of November is a no brainer right? THANKSGIVING!! They go hand in hand and I find it impossible to not speak to it today. Thanksgiving, after all, is one of my favorite holidays....

By Sean Dietrich I‘m sitting with my Methodist mother-in-law in the living room. We are replaying old memories like worn out records. There is a ballgame playing in the background. Braves are winning. She sits in her wheelchair, nursing a nightly glass of Metamucil. I am sitting in a fold-up rollator...

By Pastor Jeff Wade, The Rock of Panama City Beach I noticed that things are a little quieter around here today than usual. I just returned from a trip “into town” for a couple of things, something I wouldn’t have dared to do just even a month ago. I’m one...