Category Archives: Uncategorized

For most pastors, there a few times of the year with more anxiety than when “the budget” is presented to the church for adoption.  Most churches have some type of open discussion time regarding the budget prior to the vote to adopt the budget. That can get interesting! At times, this is a point ofContinue reading “A Few Words about “The Budget””

As a pastor, one of the most common issues that I walk with people through is depression.  Questions are all over the map.  Is it wrong for a Christian to be depressed?  Doesn’t going to a counselor mean I don’t have enough faith?  What about medication?  Back in January, I preached a message on theContinue reading “Depression and the Christian”

“The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9, NASB95) The year was 2001.  I was a young husband and father and in a season of feeling “unsettled” at the church where I was serving as pastor.  One day my phone rang and it was the chairman of aContinue reading “The Step Not Taken”

This week in my Bible reading, I was blessed anew by a parable of Jesus that I had read hundreds of times.  It is what is commonly known as the “Parable of the Unjust Judge” in Luke 18…. “Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to prayContinue reading “Prayer that Won’t Give Up”

As I have so many times before, I arose this Sunday morning and headed to church with my Christmas message prayed over, prepared, and ready to go.  However, this year the Sunday before Christmas was different for me.  In the early years of my ministry, I walked with families through tremendous pain and difficulty duringContinue reading “Reclaiming the JOY of Christmas”

This past weekend, Becky and I enjoyed attending my 30th high school class reunion. It was a joy to see friends that I grew up with.  It was a simple reunion – a couple of hours with barbecue catered in. There were lots of laughs and a few tears. I saw people I had notContinue reading “Reflections from a Reunion”

We tend to think of conflict in terms of warfare – when it’s REALLY bad.  The truth is that conflict comes in many forms and there are levels of conflict.  Has someone said something that “rubbed you the wrong way?”  That is a conflict.  Is there someone that you believe isn’t doing their job inContinue reading “Handling conflict like Christians”

This question is one that pastors still get asked frequently.  At the risk of starting an argument, I want to give my personal answer to this question. First of all, there are two equally bad extremes when it comes to the issue of Bible translations: 1.  Believing that only one translation is “the” one 2. Continue reading “Which version of the Bible is best?”

It was a blessing to be able to attend the 2018 SBC in Dallas.  Considering the well publicized issues and conflicts that were in the air heading into the convention, I am grateful that the convention ended with a minimum of open conflict and with a good deal of unity as we move forward. ForContinue reading “Southern Baptist Convention 2018 – an honest evaluation.”