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Continue reading →: On the Road to a Pastoral Sabbatical 2026
The First Baptist Church of Vero Beach aspires to afford Rev. Dr. LaGuardia a sabbatical in late summer of 2026 that will incorporate a church-wide season of renewal, rest, and refocus. What is a Pastoral Sabbatical? According to Rober Saler, director of the Lilly Endowment Renewal Project, a pastoral sabbatical…
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Continue reading →: 2025 Presidential Election Takeaways, and a Warning to the Church
Let’s get one thing straight: Kamala Harris did not just lose to Donald Trump; she lost to Joe Biden as well. I saw this phenomenon in the election polls on Election Day around 8:30 PM, when results started coming in: Vice President Harris’ numbers in Democratic counties were coming in…
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Continue reading →: The Spiritual Work of Becoming
How do you preach a sermon on the art of living? Recently, I preached on the “future vision” of our church and decided against addressing the big things that often come with ministry. I didn’t get into budgets or missions or some far-fetched dream of exponential growth. Instead, I addressed…
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Continue reading →: Ant-Man, the Wasp, and the Fear of Death
I went to see Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania this evening with my family, and if you would rather not have me ruin the movie for you, stop reading now. It is not that I will plunge into some juicy spoilers (I’ll warn you when I do); it is just…
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Continue reading →: A Hardy Welcome to 2023! Goals for the New Year…
I have always been a “goals guy”. You know the one guy in class or in the office who plans everything, seems to be ahead of schedule, or makes numerous lists? Yeah, that’s me. This past week, I set out to make goals that will make 2023 nothing like 2022. …
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Continue reading →: The Importance of Interfaith Engagement
In an age of globalization and massive migration, religious radicalism across the world has been increasing over the last half-century. Religious persecution is a world-wide human rights crisis, and even religions once claimed as most peaceful have resorted to authoritarianism and violence to commit violence against others. In our own…
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Continue reading →: We will not be Silent about Sexual Abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention
We will not be silent about the culture of Sexual Abuse among Southern Baptists In my sermon last Sunday (May 22), I used the “interpretative lens” of trauma to unpack Jesus’ words of encouragement and love in John 14:15-24. I reflected on the aftermath of recent shootings over the past…
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Continue reading →: Remembering Alma Lee Loy
This weekend, we have the opportunity to honor the life and legacy of that someone-special person who helped make Vero Beach a something-special city: Alma Lee Loy. Alma Lee Loy was member of First Baptist Church of Vero Beach and served as the first woman mayor of Vero Beach in…
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Continue reading →: Rev. Tammy Snyder selected to lead CBF Florida/Caribbean Islands
Grateful and excited about Rev. Snyder’s ministry with the CBF FL/CI… CBFblog April 25, 2022 By Aaron Weaver DECATUR, Ga. — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida and the Caribbean Islands (CBF FL/CI) has selected Rev. Tammy Snyder as its next Coordinator. Rev. Tammy Snyder A servant leader with 21…
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Continue reading →: Living the Easter Life
In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers writes, “Our Lord’s Cross is the gateway into His life: His resurrection means that He has power now to convey His life to me. When I am born again from above, I receive from the Risen Lord His very life.” I’ve been…
Engaging Heart, Mind, and Soul
Rev. Dr. Joe LaGuardia
Rev. Dr. Joe LaGuardia is a pastor, writer, and chaplain residing in Florida. He is author of three books and regular contributor to Smyth & Helwys’ Formations Series. His articles have appeared in USA Today, Baptist News Global, Christian Ethics Today, TCPalm, and Rockdale Citizen.
Baptist Spirituality explores the intersection of faith and culture incorporating biblical scholarship, culture and the arts, politics, science, and theology.
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