Category Archives: Personal

Selling Hamburgers

Posted on August 16, 2017 by

I have never served as the pastor of a megachurch, and I don’t figure that I ever will. My pastoral ministry has always involved small, rural churches. Still, I’ll admit that, like megachurch pastors, I feel the internal pressure to … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church Attendance, Personal | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Kateland’s Answer

Posted on July 24, 2017 by

Last week we had a good Bible School at Oak Grove Baptist church. Yesterday we had the commencement service as part of our Sunday morning worship service. I can’t ever get through a Bible School without thinking of a certain … Continue reading →

Posted in Baptism, Children, Church, Evangelism, God's Work, Humor, Ministry, Parenting, Personal, Reward, Salvation, Witnessing, Youth | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Worship Wars

Posted on June 8, 2017 by

Some years ago I met with the pulpit committee of a certain church about the possibility of me becoming that church’s next pastor. I don’t normally take Tonya along for such meetings, but this committee wanted to meet her as … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Balance, Change, Church, Church Attendance, Doctrine, God's Will, God's Work, Ministry, Music, Personal, Sunday School, Truth, Worship, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jesus As a Friend?

Posted on June 6, 2017 by

In the 15th chapter of the gospel of John, Jesus makes a point of explaining to His remaining 11 apostles that He will now call them “friends” rather than “servants.” He says to them: Greater love has no one than … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Friendship, God's Love, Obedience, Personal | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Fine Line Between Hard Work & Idolatry

Posted on May 13, 2017 by

This past Thursday night Tonya and I attended an academic awards ceremony for our son Royce. He is finishing up his sophomore year in high school and received what the school calls an “Academic Letter” for having a grade point … Continue reading →

Posted in Balance, Business, Choices, Commitment, Desires, God's Will, God's Work, Idolatry, Personal, Priorities, Prosperity, Service, Sports, The Sermon On The Mount | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What Should Have Been

Posted on May 5, 2017 by

I was a little under two years into my first pastorate when one afternoon, as I was driving in my car, I happened to drive past the sign for a certain church in our area. It was a sign that … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Church, Counsel, Disappointment, Disobedience, God's Timing, God's Will, God's Work, Ministry, Obedience, Patience, Personal, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Preaching, Rebellion, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Filling In the Gaps of My Learning

Posted on May 3, 2017 by

I grew up in a small, rural, conservative Southern Baptist Convention church. I believed in Jesus as my Savior at a young age, was baptized, and joined the church. I went to Sunday School just about every Sunday and stayed … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Bible Study, Children, Church, Disappointment, Discipleship, God's Omnipotence, Parenting, Persecution, Perseverance, Personal, Prayer Requests, Problems, Scripture, Spiritual Warfare, Suffering, The Bible, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment