Grace… Hopeless and therefore cranky 28 Dec 201627 Dec 2016 Recently I had the "pleasure" of meeting a very cranky, disgruntled, and jaded customer. When I walked over to greet him and asked if he was finding everything he needed…
Discipleship… For where your treasure is… 27 Dec 201627 Dec 2016 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21, NIV). It is no secret that I enjoy a pipe or cigar. In fact, right now I…
Forgiveness… Lessons from Ash Buckets 19 Dec 201618 Dec 2016 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell…
Grace… Inhaling Grace 18 Dec 201617 Dec 2016 Enjoying a fine cigar is a tasting and smelling thing, not a bathing thing. Similarly, many Christians are content to enjoy the flavor and fragrance of God's grace but are unwilling…
Christian Living… Thought for the day… 16 Dec 2016 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere (2 Corinthians…
Discipleship… Questions 6 Dec 20165 Dec 2016 When it became clear to me a couple months ago that after almost 14 years in pastoral ministry God's next move was to set me up as a tobacconist in…
Pastor Padron… Being Generous 13 Nov 201612 Nov 2016 One of the regulars at the cigar shop I work at is known for sharing his cigars. He enjoys the crème of the crop too. Today I was the recipient…
Church… Body Parts 27 Oct 201626 Oct 2016 If you have been a Christian for any length of time, you are probably familiar with 1 Corinthians 12 where Paul compares the church to a body. Lately I have…
Pastor Padron… What Can a Cigar Shop Teach About Discipleship? 23 Oct 201622 Oct 2016 For the past thirteen years I have been a pastor in New England. At the end of last year, I left my last church to focus on finishing a PhD…