The devoted Quaker, Thomas Kelly, once said, “People nowadays take time far more seriously than eternity.” How true! Too often, I find myself more concerned about my responsibilities and time restraints than I do about the actual eternal significance of my life. And I am the...
In just a few days, Baptists from across the state will arrive in Ruston for our Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting. This meeting is designed to allow us as Louisiana Baptists to worship and fellowship together while we do business that affects our ministry and mission. It is a great...
Leadership. Through the years, God has certainly blessed us at Temple in this area. I know! Because I get to work closely with these men and women daily! Our staff is committed, both personally and professionally, to Christ’s mission. They get along (praise the Lord!), and they are...
Over the past few months, both of our ministerial search committees have been working hard to follow the Lord’s leadership in finding the right staff members to join our leadership team. It has been my joy to meet with them and discuss His vision for us and our ministry. In each case, we...
Marriage is an unspeakable blessing. No doubt! Through the marriage relationship, we experience one of the most rewarding journeys imaginable. We get to explore spiritual terrain together, enjoy life together, work through difficulties together, and even discover the value of real commitment...
We now refer to them as “The Seven,” a group of men who stepped up to serve the early church at a critical moment. Remember the story from Acts 6? As the number of believers grew, so did its needs. Unfortunately, some congregants (e.g. Hellenistic Jews)...
“Maggie.” Her real name could not be used nor could her face be shown during the ceremony. Only a few individuals know which Level 3 security area she will be serving. Yet, she stood with determination before the commissioning service crowd and accepted her “official&rdquo...
None of us have arrived where we should be. That statement continues to echo in my heart and mind as I have attempted to process it more fully over this past week. Indeed, I am becoming more aware of how God wants to take us from where we are and move us to where He wants us to be. Call it...
“The Art of Neighboring.” In today’s culture, it can be difficult to know our neighbors in real and meaningful ways. Between the ever-increasing responsibilities of our jobs and the hectic schedules of our kids/grandkids, we just don’t seem to have the time to build...
“I said, Georgia, Georgia, the whole day through. An’ just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind.” (Carmichael and Gorrell) Even reading through those lyrics brings the sound of the sweet, distinctive voice of Ray Charles. As a native Georgian, Charles often reflected upon...
