The Apostle Paul, like Jesus, was hated by Jewish leaders out of their envy and jealousy. So they had him arrested. Later, he appeared before Felix, Festus, and finally King Agrippa in Caesarea. Paul very eloquently preached Christ to the King and other officials.

“Do you really believe a fish swallowed Jonah?”  The question came after I preached a chapel service at a “Christian” college.

Once again, we are planning for our annual Christmas prayer tours at the Georgia State Capitol! This is a great opportunity for people to get a close-up look at the Christmas decorations at the State Capitol and participate in a series of prayer tours beginning Dec. 10.

​A cartoon showed a turkey and a fortune teller hovering over the crystal ball. The fortune teller said, “I see you surrounded by family... well, not your family!”

Ask people to name their number one Psalm and Psalm 23 will likely show up at the top of the list. And while I love those comforting words from David, Psalm 16 has long been at the top for me. That said, at this season of my life, Psalm 131 has worked its way into the co-favorite position.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you are by definition a saint. And though I would never call or even think of myself as a saint, I acknowledge the truth of the Apostle Paul’s statement to the Roman believers.

When Jesus gave the Great Commission, the plural form of the verbs He used indicates that He called His Church to go together. Across Georgia, pastors and congregations are rediscovering that missions thrive when churches partner shoulder to shoulder, crossing cultural and linguistic barriers to make disciples among the nations.

On a recent Friday night, I was invited to bring a message of encouragement to an associational gathering of some of our finest pastors and their spouses. While it would seem odd for any of those pastors to get together to show appreciation for themselves, it was completely appropriate for their local Baptist association to plan and execute this gathering. 

Trials can take various forms, but often they drive us to the point of despair. Some relationships never heal. Some illnesses never go away. Some dreams remain out of reach. Some burdens never ease. Some problems have no solutions.

With all major sports leagues now knee-deep in sports wagering revenue—courting gambling companies for sponsorships and ad dollars—is it any wonder we’ve ended up here? The latest scandal, announced last week, saw an NBA player and coach caught in yet another gambling web. It won’t be the last.

Studies show that our brains shrink as we grow older. Anne Ravndal, a neuroscientist at the University of Oslo, Norway, and an international team of researchers pulled together more than 12,000 brain scans collected over the years from participants ages 17-95. Everyone had two scans about three years apart.

Every disciple of Jesus needs voices that sharpen, stretch, and strengthen their walk with Christ. For leaders especially, a mentor can mean the difference between leading from exhaustion or leading from overflow. The right one multiplies gospel impact—not just in your ministry, but in your life as a disciple.

The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” Today, we still only know in part.

"Loving God and loving people is all that matters.” Those were the words in an angry email I received the day after preaching a sermon about personal holiness. Intended as a less than subtle rebuke, the writer was eager to correct what he labeled as my “overemphasis on obedience.”

The Georgia Baptist Mission Board encourages all our churches to make sure their members are aware of upcoming elections on Nov. 4. In Georgia, there are many local elections happening as well as the statewide Public Service Commission races. Early voting has already begun for these races, and it runs through October 31.

The church service had ended, and families were gathering their belongings to head home. But in our small church, a few of us remained behind. My father, serving as a lay leader, quietly signaled for the doors to be closed. What happened next would stay with me for the rest of my life.

I pastored a military church for 11 years and witnessed regular leadership turnover like I had never seen. While the average church may have an annual attrition rate of 10%, this church saw roughly 25% of its members leave each year — mostly by transfer to other military installations. 

Once upon a time, a conscientious man decided to take his faith to a deeper level by joining a monastery. One of the requirements was a strict vow of silence. Every seven years, the monks were brought in for a two-word statement. 

Long life has taught me to value humility. It has also made me desire to desire humility in myself. God has taught me through His Word and other sources that I truly am not good. I am infested with selfishness and lack of concern and love for other people at times.

I once saw the familiar words taped above a weight bench in an athletic facility. Their Scriptural address later appeared on the eye black of a famous athlete set to play in a major SEC showdown. Another time, I heard the same verse recited right after a friend shared an ambitious dream for his future. Chances are you’ve heard it, too.

My first real job growing up — apart from farmwork — was as a dock worker at a marina on Lake Barkley in western Kentucky. The job responsibilities included pumping gas for boats, dipping minnows for fishermen, taking out garbage, and preparing fishing and sailboats for rental customers. 

Recently, my wife, daughter, and I hiked portions of Black Rock Mountain state park in Mountain City, Georgia, located in Rabun County. Named for its various cliffs of dark-colored rock, this place is the highest state park in Georgia with an altitude of 3,640 feet.

Walking in God’s Spirit requires a relationship with the Holy Spirit. It means to be led by the Spirit. All believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but not all believers follow Him.

Sitting in the front row of a recent church service gave me a direct view of a pastor sharing his weekly children’s message. He immediately captured their attention by distributing currency and sharing that every time a dollar is placed into the church’s offering plate, 20 cents is sent to support missionaries through the Cooperative Program.

The older I get, the faster birthdays seem to come around. Admittedly, celebrations look much different as an adult than they did during my childhood, yet every trip around the sun is a gift worth commemorating.