With this July issue we are paying tribute to members of the “Greatest Generation.” Particularly, we are focusing on those who served in the military, especially those who fought in the Pacific and European theaters of war. The Fourth of July is a national holiday, and we can certainly pause and give thanks to God […]
President’s Perspective: Hearing What’s Not Being Said
If there’s anything I’ve learned from 18 years of pastoring, it’s this: What’s said and what’s heard can be two entirely different things. If you attended the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting last month, you probably overheard a number of sidebar conversations involving Critical Race Theory, sexual abuse, and Executive Committee transparency, just to name […]
Wholly Healthy: Mental Health Crucial
I have spent my life in the church, and, from about age 15 on, I was one of the dreaded “PKs.” That’s right, a preacher’s kid. Right up there with MKs (missionary kids) in our capacity for disruption, PKs can be a handful. But one of the great things about being a PK was having […]
Outside the Walls: Shifting from Quarrels to Love
“Quit fighting! You’re on the same team!” No, that was not a motion at the Southern Baptist Convention. However, I said this quite frequently as my two young boys were locked up while attempting to do something together. When my boys were younger, I would purposely get them to work together to try to accomplish […]
Comic Belief: The Good Stuff
Do you ever feel as if you dated Jekyll and married Hyde? One wife said she would always cherish the initial misconception she had about her husband. Someone said marriage is composed of three rings: engagement ring, wedding ring, and suffering. One pastor visited a children’s Sunday school class and asked them what God said […]
Comic Belief: The Angels Are Laughing
I travel around the country telling people that their attitude is either their best friend or worst enemy. It isn’t the position in life; it’s the disposition. Now I’m not one of those positive blab-it-and-grab-it guys. I do tell everyone that it’s a fallen world, that Murphy was an optimist, and that there will be […]
Bible Study For Small Groups: The Disturbing Foundation Of the Church – Acts 17:1-9
The Anglican bishop N.T. Wright is reputed to have said, “Wherever St. Paul went, there was a riot. Wherever I go, they serve tea.” Over the next several months, we are going to look at two books by one of the most important writers in the Bible: the Apostle Paul. The Jew named Saul had […]
Wholly Healthy: Love Heals
Many years ago, I was reading “In His Image,” a book by Dr. Paul Brand. Brand, some will recall, was a pioneering plastic surgeon doing incredible mission work in India, operating on those afflicted with Hansen’s disease, or leprosy. Prior to that, he had experience operating on pilots who survived crashes during the Battle of […]
Outside The Walls: Developing Disciples
Graduation Day! I remember it vividly. It was the culmination of months of anticipation and preparation. I had listened to the instruction of my teacher and thought I was ready to tackle the years ahead. When the day arrived, a flood of anxiety came over me and I didn’t know if I could go through […]
Legislative Update: 2021 SC Legislative Session
Thursday, May 13, marked the official end of the 2021 South Carolina Legislative session. State lawmakers will return to Columbia later to wrap up final approval of the budget, deal with any vetoes issued by the Governor, and work through redistricting when the census information is released at the federal level; however, work on bills […]