For several reasons, this has been an emotional week for me. I was thinking about life and the lessons I have learned, and keep learning over and over. In honor of my seven grandchildren, here are seven lessons I pray they learn and incorporate into their lives. Maybe they will resonate with you as well

This was my 19th year working at the Georgia Capitol on legislation dealing with social and moral issues. It was my 13th year with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. This year was very busy, with a lot of new legislation and a lot of changes to current legislation in the final days. More than 2,000 bills were submitted through the two-year cycle.

It seems like every day on social media, there are numerous friends and ministry colleagues celebrating wedding anniversaries. Whether they have been married three years or sixty-three years, it is a joy to wish someone a happy wedding anniversary.

This short essay begins with what should be abundantly obvious: the issue of abortion is not an ethically complex issue for Christians.

Jericho was crowded when Jesus passed through, but He did not let the crowd keep Him from seeing one person. In Luke 19, Jesus looked up, noticed Zacchaeus, and called him by name. That is the picture many churches need after Easter.

Did you hear about the giant chocolate Easter bunny for sale at Cosco? “Pete the Bunny” weighs ten pounds, is made of milk, dark, and white chocolates, and contains 151 servings. The cost? Around $140!

More than 700 million people are chronically hungry. But your church can be part of the solution, starting this month. Through Global Hunger Relief, Southern Baptists are uniting to meet needs and share the hope of Christ.

On Sunday, April 5, we celebrated Easter. “Easter” is a word of Saxon origin. Originally, the celebration was to honor Estra, the goddess of spring. It occurred around Passover time each year, but by the 8th century, the Anglo-Saxons had adopted the name as a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Every day I am thankful for Jesus’ sacrifice, but even more so at Easter. This year, my mind has often turned to His mother, Mary. Standing at the cross, memories and emotions would have surely warred within her.

I just love this time of year.  The weather is warm but not too warm.  The flowers are blooming, which is great, minus the pollen.

Seemingly contradictory qualities or phrases are what we call a paradox. These competing ideas are often as mysterious as they are antithetical. We remember the Great Depression. We crave jumbo shrimp. We talk about old news. We refer to leather as genuine imitation.

I recently received a text from a friend who had suffered a mild stroke. He shared that he was okay and there were no long-term effects, but the experience was a wake-up call for him. He added that he had made lifestyle changes and was learning to embrace his limitations.

All other major “religions” in the world are built on a great but departed leader or philosopher. Christianity alone centers around a living, resurrected Savior.

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1). The Lord God has afforded me 81 years thus far to roam the earth. And to Him I am very grateful.

I was heading to Louisville to meet with a group of ladies from Crossroads Baptist Church. There was a lot to do, so I made a list: a return to Walmart, stops at the post office, gas station, and bank. I marked off one thing after another.

Churches do not usually burn people out because they care too little about ministry. More often, they burn people out because they care too little about process. The problem is not always the people. The problem is often the pathway. When churches exhaust people, they blame the situation rather than the process.

Several days ago, some pictures from 2021 showed up on my Facebook account. One of the pictures brought back a vivid memory of a special day.

Easter is a unique opportunity for churches, as it draws both the regular congregation and occasional visitors. Making a lasting impression is crucial. This guide will help you strategize for a memorable Easter Sunday.

When my wife and I said “I do” more than 20 years ago, neither of us knew much about marriage. We were certain, however, that dreams, not exit strategies, were our primary ambition for the future. No couple walks down an aisle in the presence of their family and friends thinking about courtrooms, custody battles, or dividing assets. Love, family, and a lifetime of memories are always the goal.

If you have ever watched a modern TV show about SWAT teams entering a building, you may have noticed a particular tactic used when the team is advancing. A SWAT team "tap on the shoulder" (or hand on the back) is a non-verbal communication method employed during high-risk engagements to ensure team synchronization and safety.

“The same constitutional principles that ensured equal protection for black Americans also protect defenseless children in the womb.” That was the opening line in a 2023 National Review article titled, “The Pro-Life Movement Should Follow Its North Star: Equal Protection.” 

​Dr. Allan Moseley of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary ate lunch with a friend who asked, “Have I ever told you about my name?”

Easter Sunday is one of the most sacred and strategic moments in the life of a pastor. We proclaim the resurrection of Jesus Christ while shepherding a room filled with faithful believers, spiritual seekers, and people who may not step into a church again for months—or years. 

Alfred Lord Tennyson once said, “Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers.” This is easily understood as true, for knowledge is quickly acquired with effort, but wisdom requires experience, the best of all teachers. 

Most church members will never fully see the weight their pastors and ministry leaders carry. That is not a criticism, but a reality. Healthy churches do not happen by accident. They are shaped over time through faithful preaching, steady service, and humble dependence on the Lord. At the center of that work are pastors and ministry leaders who shoulder a responsibility that is both sacred and demanding. One of the most meaningful ways a congregation can support them is through consistent, intentional prayer.