I flunked out of accounting 40 years ago, and that’s how I became the new editor of the Baptist and Reflector. I should explain. I enrolled at Ouachita Baptist University to study accounting. I wanted to be rich, and I figured accounting was my best shot. I mean, accountants deal in money, so they must all be rich, right? However, apparently one must actually pass accounting to eventually get to
We should hang a sign on the door as you enter the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board Church Support Center that reads: “Renovation in Progress.” The renovation is not for the building but for the organization. The TBMB is aligning its staff with the future ministry direction Tennessee Baptists have overwhelmingly decided they want to go. That’s why 2025 will be a year of major transition. Tennessee Baptists determined change through
Should Christians make New Year’s resolutions? While no such biblical requirement is explicit, Scripture does admonish us to contemplate our lives and commit them to the Lord (Prov 16:9). We are told to set our minds on things above (Col. 3:2) and to put our immoralities to death (Col. 3:5) while pursuing compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Col. 3:12). Admittedly, none of these aims are date specific, but adopting
Of all the things on our wish lists for Christmas each year, being home for the holidays with the people we love ranks at the top for most. So profound is the desire that we sing about it: I’ll be home for Christmas, you can count on me, Please have snow and mistletoe, And presents under the tree. … I’ll be home for Christmas, If only in my dreams.
As I began mulling over the words that I would write for this column, I started thinking about all the things that I could say about Lonnie Wilkey, my boss. But after thinking it over, I determined this space would be better served if I discussed Lonnie Wilkey, my friend. Certainly, it would be easy enough to tell you about what a great and extremely easy-to-work-for editor Lonnie has been
A familiar spotlight returned to the sky near my home in early December. The spotlight sits at the base of the newly rebuilt outdoor nativity scene on the property of First Baptist Church Hendersonville, Tennessee. The glow of the light was a welcomed sight after it suddenly went out a couple weeks before Christmas last year, when about a dozen tornadoes hit the central part of the state. Tornadoes snapped
Grief is an emotion that everyone experiences. Grief is often a reaction to the loss of a loved one, but grief can also be a reaction to other types of loss as well (employment, stable housing, security, close family and friends due to relocation, abilities due to a decline in physical health or cognitive functioning, etc.). The central theme to grief is loss. Grief often includes emotions such as disbelief,
First, I want to say how grateful I am to be a Tennessee Baptist and what a humbling honor it is to serve a second term as president of our convention of churches. God is moving in our state, and I am looking forward to another year of traveling and seeing first-hand what He is doing from Memphis to Mountain City! Multiple times throughout our Summit in Murfreesboro, I was
God is good, all the time. All the time… You know the rest. It is providentially fitting in this year of celebrating 150 years of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, and on our way to next year celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program, that God would slip in the number 1.5. As in $1.5 billion.
I became a Tennessee Baptist in 1983 when my wife and I joined Tulip Grove Baptist Church, then a small congregation in Old Hickory. Five years later I became the associate editor of the Baptist and Reflector. I have seen and reported on Tennessee Baptist history — both good and bad — over the past 36 years. I can honestly say that I have never been more proud to be
I flunked out of accounting 40 years ago, and that’s how I became the new editor of the Baptist and Reflector. I should explain. I
We should hang a sign on the door as you enter the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board Church Support Center that reads: “Renovation in Progress.” The
Should Christians make New Year’s resolutions? While no such biblical requirement is explicit, Scripture does admonish us to contemplate our lives and commit them to
Of all the things on our wish lists for Christmas each year, being home for the holidays with the people we love ranks at the
As I began mulling over the words that I would write for this column, I started thinking about all the things that I could say
A familiar spotlight returned to the sky near my home in early December. The spotlight sits at the base of the newly rebuilt outdoor nativity
Grief is an emotion that everyone experiences. Grief is often a reaction to the loss of a loved one, but grief can also be a
First, I want to say how grateful I am to be a Tennessee Baptist and what a humbling honor it is to serve a second
God is good, all the time. All the time… You know the rest. It is providentially fitting in this year of celebrating 150 years of
I became a Tennessee Baptist in 1983 when my wife and I joined Tulip Grove Baptist Church, then a small congregation in Old Hickory. Five
