Benjamin Franklin gave the world a lot of wisdom in his adages. One of my favorites is, “Deny self for self’s sake.” The wisdom of this pithy saying is that we often desire things that are not good for us or that are not in our best interest.

My eight-year-old friend Emerson loves Legos. And not just the big chunky ones most kids his age tend to build with. This young guy just completed the Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle and Grounds, which has over 2,000 pieces and is suggested for 18 years and up.

I may have said this before, and I will say it again. I am a lover of cards and notes. I like to write them, but I also like to receive them. I mean, who doesn't like to get something in the mail besides junk mail or a bill?

Some pastors have quietly concluded that young adults are not interested in church. We understand why. You can stand in the back of a sanctuary, look across the room, and feel the absence. The college student who came twice is gone. The young professional says she is busy. The young couple is tired. The single adult comes alone and leaves quickly. Over time, discouragement can become an assumption.

How do you know when it is time to leave one ministry assignment for another? Some ministry leaders seem to leave a church or ministry too soon, while others may wonder if they stayed too long. At the end of the day, we rest in the sovereignty of God. But at the same time, we do not want to be unwise about transitions.

While attending their annual convention, a group of barbers decided to demonstrate the value of their skill. Finding a man living on the streets, they gave him a haircut, shave, and bath. Then, they fitted him with a new suit of clothes in the latest style. Satisfied with their work, they sent him on his way.

As many of you know, we are approaching the Georgia primary election on May 19. On April 27, early voting will begin and run through May 15. It is a time for Georgians to make their voices heard for those they support for the General Election coming up on Nov. 3, 2026. 

Visiting cemeteries is always sad to me. As I look at someone’s grave, I always have to wonder if the person interred was saved. I always hope he was, but I realize many of the deceased died without Christ as their Savior.

This Mother’s Day, May 10th, will see many churches celebrating Children’s Home Day. It’s a special day of prayer and offering to honor and help continue the ministry of Georgia Baptist Children’s Home’s and Family Ministries.

It seemed like a genius idea, and I felt I was being efficient, filling every resting moment with something. Having a small computer in my hand for several hours a day, I wanted to be productive - not wasting a minute.

There are moments in the life of a church that simply cannot be explained by strategy, planning, or human effort. They are the kind of moments that remind us why the Church exists in the first place—not as an organization we manage, but as a movement God leads.

A shocking act on a dark New York highway once left a nation demanding justice, but what followed told a far deeper story about the power of love and forgiveness. In 2004, Victoria Ruvolo drove through freezing rain when a group of teenagers hurled a frozen turkey through her windshield.

Recently, Wayne and I were on a "bucket list trip." We went to Greece.

Prayer is the great elevator of hope for the people of God. Prayer holds out the possibility, even the certainty, that things can be different than they are now.

The Georgia Baptist Mission Board is once again launching a new round of Public Affairs Training events this month! These sessions are designed to equip pastors and church members with the tools and insights they need to effectively engage in today’s cultural and governmental landscape. 

There has never been a time like this in the life of the church. Every week, hundreds—maybe thousands—of new worship songs are released. With platforms like Apple Music and Spotify, songs are instantly available. Add in social media and independent artists, and the stream never really stops.

Someone said, “We can’t cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.” Joy is the hallmark of the Christian life, that inner gladness and delight rooted in our relationship with Jesus.

Jeff Bezos is a billionaire and has an interesting history. Reportedly, he worked at a McDonald’s at age 16. Obviously, he used his head when he started selling books online. He went on to make his company, Amazon, into an internet behemoth.

My beloved and I recently began celebrating special events with quesabirria tacos at our favorite Mexican restaurant. (Our friend Bubba Stewart got us hooked on them.) Quesabirria. We say it over and over, never getting it exactly right. It’s a struggle to roll our “r’s.” Ignacio and Ariel patiently repeat the correct pronunciation to no avail.

Have you ever wanted revenge? The common, unseemly impulse to settle every score often rears its ugly head when we least expect it. Someone abruptly cuts you off on the highway. A boyfriend or girlfriend does you wrong. Your spouse betrays your trust. A lifelong friend throws you under the bus

I have preached lots of evangelistic sermons and many revival services. I have a natural God-given bent toward evangelistic preaching, but I am by no means an expert.

Eighteenth-century German writer and statesman Johann Wolfgang von Goeth once said, “Give me the benefit of your convictions, if you have any; but keep your doubts to yourself, for I have enough of my own.”

Sir Walter Scott, on his deathbed, asked his son-in-law and biographer, John Gibson Lockhart, to read to him. Lockhart, observing the many books written by Scott, asked him, “What book shall I read?” Sir Walter replied, “Why do you ask that question? There is but one book; bring the Bible.” 

I love this time of year. Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday is a highlight on every church calendar. Additional worship services, large crowds, and first-time professions of faith create lasting momentum that churches often ride for months. Social media posts and pictures ought to bring a smile to our faces as we celebrate all that God is doing in congregations across our nation.

Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that the Bible is alive and active, meaning it applies to today, it applies to now. No matter how many times we read it, we can find something new and exciting – like buried treasure – hidden in the pages.