After I had graduated from seminary, I met with a local pastor to discuss my options. I had to decide if I wanted to pursue a “senior” pastorate or if I wanted to pursue a staff position. He told me to go and “cut my teeth” at my first position. What a graphic, yet accurate, description of many pastors’ first experiences. After much prayer and other counsel, I took a
According to an insect identification database, 647 types of bugs and insects are found in Alabama. Some downright scare me. I looked at images of each until I located the entry most resembling the flying insect I watched from a chair on my back deck. I believe it was a common whitetail skimmer dragonfly that captured my attention. I can’t be totally sure since there are 5,000 species of dragonflies.
Southern Baptist Convention president Bart Barber, a pastor in Farmersville, Texas, recently announced on a Twitter video that he expects there will be a motion to amend the SBC’s Constitution and Bylaws along with the motion for the newly elected SBC president to appoint a committee to study both the Constitution and Bylaws and the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. The proposed amendment from Virginia pastor Mike Law would clarify
One of the adventures I love is leading tours of the Holy Land. Seeing God’s Word come alive in people’s lives is something that I really enjoy. Each time I go to Israel, one of my favorite places to go is the boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. I seem to always think about that time Jesus came to His disciples walking on the water, and Peter called out
Last month a sold-out crowd of satanists descended on Boston for SatanCon 2023 to celebrate The Satanic Temple’s 10-year anniversary. Many within my tribe were upset, and I get that. I really do.“They’re not even hiding their satanism anymore!” Be that as it may, brothers and sisters, “Satan (also) disguises himself as an angel of light” (II Corinthians 11:14). So, if we’re going to be offended by misguided souls parading
Dedicado a todos aquellos que compartieron valientemente sus luchas personales contra la salud mental, con la esperanza de que su valentía inspire una mayor comprensión y compasión hacia aquellos que sufren en silencio. El Evangelio y la salud mental están interconectados porque ambos abordan la condición humana y nuestra necesidad de sanación gracia, compasión y restauración. Más importante aún, demuestran cómo deben responder los cristianos a un mundo que está
Editor’s Note: The following column is also available in Spanish here. The gospel and mental health are closely related because they both address the human condition and our need for grace, healing, compassion and restoration. More importantly, it also demonstrates how Christians are to respond to a suffering, broken world. Unfortunately, there is often a stigma surrounding mental health in Christian circles, and many people feel ashamed or embarrassed to
A best-selling author popularized an illustration to show the importance of knowing your priorities. He filled a bucket with sand and pebbles and then attempted to put the big rocks in the bucket. There was no room. However, when he first filled the bucket with the big rocks, then added the sand and pebbles, it all fit, and what didn’t fit wasn’t essential. The point: If we want to live
I have heard all my life that the “squeaky wheel gets the grease.” According to Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia) the phrase is “an American proverb or metaphor used to convey the idea that the most notable (or loudest) problems are the ones most likely to get attention.” According to a Pew Research report in June of 2022, only 1.6 percent of the United States population identifies as transgender or binary;
We waited. I was the first to arrive. The bride was the second. We waited for the groom. Others began arriving. Suddenly, we heard a siren. It was a Tennessee state trooper, going in a direction nobody we knew would be coming from. Then an ambulance, followed by a Sherriff’s deputy. All went in that direction where we thought we had nothing to worry about. I began taking pictures of
After I had graduated from seminary, I met with a local pastor to discuss my options. I had to decide if I wanted to pursue
According to an insect identification database, 647 types of bugs and insects are found in Alabama. Some downright scare me. I looked at images of
Southern Baptist Convention president Bart Barber, a pastor in Farmersville, Texas, recently announced on a Twitter video that he expects there will be a motion
One of the adventures I love is leading tours of the Holy Land. Seeing God’s Word come alive in people’s lives is something that I
Last month a sold-out crowd of satanists descended on Boston for SatanCon 2023 to celebrate The Satanic Temple’s 10-year anniversary. Many within my tribe were
Dedicado a todos aquellos que compartieron valientemente sus luchas personales contra la salud mental, con la esperanza de que su valentía inspire una mayor comprensión
Editor’s Note: The following column is also available in Spanish here. The gospel and mental health are closely related because they both address the human
A best-selling author popularized an illustration to show the importance of knowing your priorities. He filled a bucket with sand and pebbles and then attempted
I have heard all my life that the “squeaky wheel gets the grease.” According to Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia) the phrase is “an American proverb
We waited. I was the first to arrive. The bride was the second. We waited for the groom. Others began arriving. Suddenly, we heard a
