Curtis Shelburne

Thoughts from the cemetery

By Curtis K. Shelburne: Local columnist

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Several years ago my younger brother told me he’d taken his bag chair out to Paint Creek Cemetery near Robert Lee, Texas, unfolded it on his cemetery plot, sat down, and written a column or two for his church newsletter. He said he figured he might... Full story

Swimming, Shaving, Soap, DDT, and Theology

By Curtis K. Shelburne: Local columnist

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Swimming right after you eat is dangerous. Using antibacterial soap significantly decreases your chance of getting a cold. Shaving makes your hair grow back thicker. Getting chilled gives people colds. Road rage is an epidemic. Mouthwash cures bad breath.... Full story

Perspective always changes as we age

By Curtis Shelburne: Religion columnist

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Lots of things change as we get older. If you don’t believe that, just take a look at your kids. And I don’t even have to look that far. I can just look at my kids’ dogs.Ol’ Zeke, the college dog, is a Great Dane. Our son Chris... Full story

The Parable of the King’s Bridge

By Curtis K. Shelburne: CNJ columnist

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Once upon a time in a land far, far away, a large and ornate bridge connected two bustling villages and spanned a mighty river. The bridge had stood for decades, having been built by a great king who had spared no expense in building it to last for many... Full story

Thank the Lord we don’t get what’s comin’ to us

By Curtis K. Shelburne: CNJ columnist

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I don’t remember exactly when Garrison Keillor told the story, but the tale I find myself recalling today is definitely one of his. The details are fuzzy, and Keillor tells the story much better than I can, but . . . I seem to remember that it... Full story

Real contentment is as rare as it is priceless

By Curtis K. Shelburne: CNJ columnist

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During these difficult economic times, I’ve often heard someone say, “Well, one good thing always comes from tough times. People are reminded of what matters.” I think those folks are saying that difficult times often cause us to reassess... Full story

We can be safe or we can be alive—not both

By Curtis K. Shelburne: CNJ columnist

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We can be safe, or we can be truly alive. Not both. Opting for “safety” is an illusion both unsafe and pathetic, a gag gift all wrapped up with three bedraggled ribbons: fear, arrogance, and control. When safety is our highest goal, we betray... Full story

Two words tacked onto the 'Great Commission'

By Curtis Shelburne: Religion columnist

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My wife and I and some fine friends just returned from a four-day motorcycle trip to the Texas Hill Country. It was wonderful! As we were rolling back into the Greater Muleplex on Sunday evening, trip meters rolled to 1200 miles. It takes time to get... Full story

Two Words Tacked Onto the “Great Commission"

By Curtis K. Shelburne: CNJ columnist

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My wife and I and some fine friends just returned from a four-day motorcycle trip to the Texas Hill Country. It was wonderful! As we were rolling back into the Greater Muleplex on Sunday evening, trip meters rolled to 1200 miles. It takes time to get... Full story

"I Love You, Mrs. Blackburn”

By Curtis K. Shelburne: CNJ columnist

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One of the finest gifts pastors and authors and, for that matter, friends of many sorts, can do for us is to help us think new thoughts and learn new things. One of the most important ways they do that is by reminding us of old but true things we’ve... Full story

It’s time for some time out of town

By Curtis K. Shelburne: CNJ columnist

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With any luck, within an hour after I get this column written and e-mailed to the newspapers, I’ll be headed out of town for a few days. It’s time, in more ways than one. It’s the time of year again when my three brothers and I all... Full story

Some Floods Are Caused By “Leaky Faucets”

By Curtis K. Shelburne: Local columnist

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We all have times when the winds and waves of sorrow or pain or perplexity threaten to swamp us and send the vessels of our lives to the bottom. When those winds howl, we recognize the threat. It’s no fun to ride out a storm. [Marker] But I’m... Full story

Preacher father and four preacher sons

By Curtis K. Shelburne: CNJ columnist

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People are sometimes surprised when they learn that I am not only a minister, I am the son of a minister and the brother of three ministers. You should have been at the wedding when my widower father in his eighties married a slightly older but wonderful... Full story

Defining a genuine disaster

By Curtis K. Shelburne

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In the event of a disaster, I am now ready. I think. I don’t suppose I’ll know until I’m faced with one. But I just installed software to back up my computer and create a disk for “Disaster Recovery.” So now all I need is... Full story

Preaching politically correctly is not easy

By Curtis K. Shelburne

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I just talked to a friend who’s mighty close to boiling over. Since we’re the kind of friends who prefer to boil over together rather than letting off steam on the general populace, he vented, and I listened, offering helpful comments and... Full story

'Curtis Shelburne' Archives