Few things are more difficult for a pastor than watching people hurt. The number of times I have stood by when a loved one takes his last breath is too numerous to count. Bad diagnoses, broken marriages, rebellious children, abusive relationships, and significant losses are but a small sampling of the heartaches that seem increasingly common in our broken world. Hardships like these can leave us reeling.

We recently bought a new car. My 2017 Nissan had 196,000 miles on it and had seen its better days. My new car is taking some getting used to as it has so many different warnings. If I don't put my seat belt on right away, it will beep continually until I do. If I change lanes and another vehicle is in my blind spot, the steering wheel will vibrate along with an alert.

Tech leader Bill Gates is often quoted as saying, “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in 10 years.” The same could be said about five-year goals.  

Oh, look! Another artificial intelligence-generated church logo, promotional graphic, or meme. It looks clean — sort of. And anyone can type a few words and suddenly become a graphic artist. Think of how much time and money churches can save by using AI to create all the images they need.

I am the middle child in my family. I have two sisters on either end. The great thing about being the only boy was I usually had my own room growing up. The only drawback was that I also had the extra bed in my room. That meant when family came to stay with us, they bunked with me.

A church can offer evangelism training, host outreach events, and run community ministries without ever developing an evangelistic culture. Programs fill a calendar. Culture shapes a people. The difference matters.

C.S. Lewis called pride the utmost evil (Mere Christianity). He said pride leads to every other vice and is the complete anti-God state of mind. Pride has been the chief cause of so much misery in every nation and family since the great “fall” of man.

Ever since Zoran Mamdani won the New York City mayor’s race, candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America have been winning primaries across the country. In several cases, newcomer socialists have defeated long-standing Democratic incumbents. Now, politicians on both sides of the aisle are left wondering what happened.

I keep picturing their faces. They sat on a mattress, fully focused, listening intently. I’ve told you countless times that we have a small team of ladies (a small army, really) who go to the jail every Sunday morning at 6:45.  We take it very seriously, cherishing every opportunity.

Picture a church meeting that ends with hope. The need is clear. People agree that something must change. Heads nod, the motion passes, and the pastor goes home encouraged. Six weeks later, little has happened. The same questions return. A few hallway conversations grow louder. The people who said yes begin asking whether this is really the right time.

When I was in high school in the mid-1980s, I took a class that taught me how to use a typewriter. One of the first things we learned was the importance of margins. Margins gave definition to the page, provided breathing room for the reader, and framed the words so the page looked balanced and organized. Without margins, the page would feel crowded and chaotic.

The Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s Annual Meeting will be held November 9–10 at Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins. We look forward to gathering for a meaningful time of business, worship, fellowship, and encouragement.

Several years ago, one of my granddaughters came home with a questionnaire she had filled out for something at school. One of the questions was “What are you afraid of?” Her answer was, “Well, basically I’m afraid of everything.”

As we think upon the subject of Christians and politics, it may seem odd to many that we would put the two together. Politics is seen in such a negative light these days. The reaction to hearing the two mentioned together often elicits the same response as hearing Christianity coupled with pornography or drug use.

I remember hearing Paul Chitwood pass along leadership advice he had received from General Colin Powell, who advised leaders to do their job, take care of their troops, and not worry about their next job. That is great advice for all leaders. 

William Randolf Hearst, a famous newspaper publisher and politician, is known to have invested a fortune collecting valuable art from around the world. On one occasion, hearing of particular items he dearly desired, Hearst sent his agent abroad to find them.

​If you’re an Atlanta Braves fan, you’re probably familiar with the Ray Kerr saga. The Braves acquired Kerr from the San Diego Padres in December 2023. After graduating from high school, he played baseball at a small college in California. ​Eventually, Kerr left California, returned to Reno, and went to work, stocking shelves at a 7-Eleven convenience store and working at a movie theater.

The author of Hebrews says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). C. S. Lewis suggested that we have to train the habit of faith.

My car smells incredibly delicious. Yesterday, I went to pick up lunch for my coworkers at a local barbecue place. The yummy smells of pulled pork, chicken wings, and loaded fries teased my nose all the way back to the office.

Last week, Tennessee attempted to execute convicted killer Christa Pike, who lured her classmate, Colleen Slemmer, into a wooded Knoxville area to torture and murder her in 1995. After being on death row for more than 30 years, authorities finally attempted to carry out her sentence on September 30. By now you have heard that things did not go as planned.

I love the beach. I am not necessarily fond of getting in the ocean, but I love everything else about it.

Short-timer’s syndrome, according to one online definition, is “a psychological and behavioral state where a person loses motivation, focus, or emotional investment in their current role as their departure date approaches.” 

REMINDER: Early voting for the November 3rd Election opens this Tuesday, October 13th, and runs through October 30th. You can check on your voter registration, polling location, and more at the Secretary of State's My Voter Page (https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/).

We read in Genesis 6:8, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” The Bible also tells us that Noah was a just man, perfect in his generation, and walked with God (Genesis 6:9). This was not because Noah was very different originally from all other men. Noah too was a sinner, before and even after the flood.

​Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). The Greek word translated “abundant” means “exceedingly, very highly, beyond measure.” Jesus referred to the full and meaningful life that comes from having a personal relationship with Him.