I don't know about you, but I am not a big fan of storms. I do not like to drive in the pouring rain, nor do I even like to get out of my house when it is storming. I think the storms I dislike most are the ones that show up in the middle of the night - uninvited, unexpected, and unplanned.

A dental office is made up of two parts: the front and the back. The front half is where paperwork is done, appointments are made, money transacted. The back is where the action is: teeth are cleaned, cavities are filled, teeth are extracted, and where we work on braces and Invisalign.

As the fourth week of strikes on Iran approaches, Americans are bracing for soaring gas prices and sustained inflation. With an April 15 deadline looming, many taxpayers dread their final bill from the IRS. Here in West Tennessee, tornado season is now underway, often leading to numerous sleepless and watchful nights. As the completion of another school year looms on the horizon, students are anxious about final exams and GPAs.

Wayfinding is the system that helps people know where they are, where they need to go, and how to get there—without stress or embarrassment. In the world of church ministry, it is the intentional use of space, signs, language, and people to guide guests confidently from arrival to destination, especially on their first visit.

Six years ago, our family was somewhere between what had been and what would be. Christina, Harper (then 6 years old), and our dog Holly were in the car, headed toward Atlanta. I had accepted a new role with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, and we were transitioning into a new season of ministry. The future felt full of possibility. Then the phone rang.

One of the joys of reading through the Bible on a regular basis is coming across a word or phrase that may have gone unnoticed before. I discovered such buried treasure recently in Psalms 2. “Kiss the Son, that He not be angry and you perish on the way” (vs. 12 NASB 2020, italics added). 

The author of Hebrews says, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 6:19-20).

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding, (Proverbs 3:5). Sometimes it’s not so easy.

The 1631 edition of the King James Bible infamously became known as the Wicked Bible due to a printing error of Exodus 20:14. Because editors inadvertently omitted the word “not” from the verse, God’s marital commandment read, “Thou shalt commit adultery!” Though only ten to fifteen copies of the misprint remain, a quick survey of our modern commitment to marriage aligns better with the adulterous version of Scripture.

“Being thoroughly listened to feels so much like love that most people can’t tell the difference.”  Not sure who said that, or why it’s stuck with me.  The saying isn’t particularly well-crafted.  (It’s actually a bit awkward.)   But in its own quirky way, it captures a powerful truth – something effective ministry depends on.

Georgia Baptist pastors and ministry leaders are invited to join our next Church Renewal Conversations webinar titled “Why Good Churches Resist Good Change and What to Do Next.” This live conversation will take place Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 9:00–10:00 a.m. Eastern, and I will be joined by Dr. Rob Peters, founder of Corpus and a trusted voice in church revitalization

A group of Buddhist monks spent 108 days walking on a 2,000-mile march from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. The “Walk for Peace” began on October 26, 2025, and was completed February 10. Their journey went viral, capturing the fascination of millions of Americans who were curious about their effort to promote compassion.

Over the years, I have come up with a personal slogan: Do it now. It is a good philosophy and practice, for when we procrastinate, we often never get around to doing things.

My favorite thing is when the Lord speaks tenderly through His Word. Alive and active (Hebrews 4:12), He gently leads, encourages, and directs.

Bedtime at our house is always so interesting. The "routine" of getting ready for bed can at times be very drawn out. Distractions are rampant.

Georgia Baptists are once again looking forward to participating in The March for Life at the State Capitol. This year’s event will take place on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 11 am in Liberty Plaza, across from the Georgia Capitol building. The march in Atlanta will start at noon.

Murder is a jarring word. The very thought of it creates an anxious fear within all of us. Here in the United States, there are roughly 20,000 killings each year, or 56 each day, excluding abortion and suicide. Our cultural capacity to take human life unlawfully is staggering.     

Crises come without warning. When they arrive in a church or ministry, they require the fully devoted attention of pastors, elders, and ministry leaders. No matter what is written on your calendar for the day, it all changes when there is a crisis.  

I heard this story about a monastery in Portugal that sat on top of a cliff. At 3,000 feet, the only way to reach it was by a terrifying basket ride. Attached to a single rope, the swaying basket was raised and lowered by a group of monks from the top.

Our society today seems to almost rival that of Sodom and Gomorrah. Thank God for what remains of the “Bible belt.” However, our problem with sin is not limited to our society. It is also personal.

We are studying about anger in Sunday School. So, we made volcanoes. Stirring flour, salt, and warm water together, we kneaded the dough, then shaped it around cans to make volcano shapes. This Sunday, we plan to paint them.

A normal scenario at our house involves "strong discussions" over who will get to shower last. Now, mind you, most things at our house are based on who gets to go first.

After preaching the Bible for over twenty years, I continue to be amazed by the transformative impact simply declaring the truth of Scripture can have on people’s lives. On a weekly basis, I witness firsthand how the Word of God is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16) for those who will simply yield to it. 

As church leaders, we must be careful not to treat leadership development as an add-on. For example, we may program discipleship in one space and leadership training in another—different rooms, calendars, and expectations. It’s common, but it creates a quiet problem: when formation and responsibility are separated, neither grows the way it should.

Each year, I am invited to bring greetings at gatherings of faithful servant leaders. And each year, the organizer gives me the same instruction: “Just share from your heart.” Those instructions always make me nervous because I know the truth about the heart.