There was a time when many Southern Baptist leaders emphasized a simple truth: what they were entrusted with did not belong to them. Men like Adrian Rogers and W.A. Criswell often spoke of leadership as a stewardship, not a throne. They understood that trust takes years to build and can be lost quickly. That is why many grassroots Southern Baptists today feel that it’s time for a serious self-examination.

I can hardly believe that this time next week, Wayne and I will celebrate our 48th wedding anniversary. From being high school sweethearts, a basketball player and a cheerleader, to having three children, seven grandchildren, and 48 years of marriage.

It’s the end of the school year, and the student ministry is hosting a graduation party. The scene feels familiar, but the conversation doesn’t. As the pastor congratulates seniors, he overhears one say, “Even though I’m moving away for college, at least my AI girlfriend will never leave my side.”

Before his passing in 2017, the late theologian R.C. Sproul remarked, “The greatest spiritual need in people’s lives today is to discover the true identity of God.” Those words are just as convicting today, if not more so, than they were a decade ago. Though many in our world would never reject God outright, multitudes are content to reinvent Him.

I admit it. I’m often forgetful. I make a mental note, but can’t remember where I put it. I lay down my reading glasses and then can’t find them (I often discover them on my head). I open the refrigerator but cannot recall what I’m looking for. I start to say something, but getting distracted, I lose my train of thought.

Years ago, I saw a most interesting ashtray in a local attorney’s waiting room. It was large and had inscribed on it, “Health, Wealth, Happiness, and the Time to Enjoy It.”

Last Wednesday night, I went in “big church” instead of helping with the kids in the back. My beloved was heading to the Southern Baptist Convention, so I wanted to just be in his presence one more time before he left.

I was shocked recently to run across a sermon online where a self-proclaimed lesbian pastor in the Lutheran church boasted of her ability to “make just about any scripture gay.”

My youngest granddaughter, Lottie, is normally the first one up in the morning. She will crawl into my bed and just get comfy and want to talk.

One of the most important parts of my daily routine is time with the Lord in His word and prayer. For all of my adult life, I have been an early riser — greeting each morning with a cup of coffee, a journal, a Bible, and prayer.  

As time ticks by, I realize just how blessed I’ve been. Far from perfect and having made my share of mistakes, I’m overwhelmed with the protection and provision God has supplied over the years. 

Each day of our lives on earth, each one of us must choose between worship of the one true God or some idol, such as money.

Last weekend, my beloved and I watched in horror as rescue workers in Laos safely evacuated four men who had been trapped in a flooded cave for over a week.

Like a silver lantern hanging in a midnight sky, a full moon possesses a gentle yet striking beauty, casting mysterious shadows while also inviting sacred reflection. Remarkably, these astronomical events occur worldwide every 29.5 days, albeit at different times throughout the calendar day. Few heavenly scenes captivate us so deeply. Nightly, regardless of their fullness, the rays of the Moon remind us that the dawn is coming.

Have you ever had just a "down" day or week, or sometimes even a month? I have had those, and some even recently.

“You are here.”  Even though Amazon is making shopping malls obsolete, most folks still remember looking for this sign -  the one with a little colored dot that showed you where you were in reference to everything else.  Before GPS or online maps, it was the only way to avoid wandering aimlessly until you stumbled across your destination.

When a church stands at the threshold of a new beginning, the transition between pastors can bring a mix of uncertainty and hope. Yet such seasons can become times of remarkable spiritual health. A congregation need not wait for its next shepherd to remain strong and faithful.

Calvin Ridley, star receiver for the Atlanta Falcons, was suspended for an entire season in 2022 for gambling on NFL games. The following year, 10 NFL and one NHL athlete were suspended for gambling-related infractions.

Pastor Kyle Idleman once spoke to a men’s conference in Birmingham. He had just published his book, Not a Fan, which challenges readers to follow Christ with deeper devotion. Our tendency, he wrote, is to follow Jesus on our terms rather than His terms.

The first lie recorded in the Bible was committed in the Garden of Eden by the father of lies, Satan, the devil.

Last weekend, our kids came in from Lexington and Indiana to visit and cook out, but especially to go to the cemeteries back home. Our niece, Cassie, joined us. She recently moved from Florida to Virginia. Having always lived away, she hadn’t known where her father had lived, nor his parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents.

Summer is often one of the busiest seasons in Next Gen ministry. Calendars fill quickly with Vacation Bible School, youth camps, mission trips, family travel, special events, and gatherings that fall outside the regular rhythm of the school year. For many churches, summer can feel like a sprint

In a recent conversation with one of our great Kentucky Baptist pastors, he shared an encouraging story. A dear older saint had reached out to hear an update on his ministry. He shared that the honeymoon phase was over and that the “shininess” was starting to fade. She exhorted him, “Honey, if you keep polishing something, it will keep on shining.” 

I’ll never forget it. At just 16 years old, I sensed the call to ministry and preached my very first message after being coached up by my youth pastor. As the message drew to a close, I did my best to present the gospel and call for a response. In the back of the room, a girl’s hand went up in the air to indicate that she was ready to trust Jesus. 

Several weeks ago, we purchased a planter box along with plants to put inside the box. Wayne spent an afternoon putting the box together, and then I planted an assortment of flowering plants in the box. They looked so pretty.