8 Ways to Improve Your Church’s Care Plan

Loss is hard. Although everyone handles grief differently, I’m convinced that nobody handles it easily. One of the ways that Christ comforts His children is through His body –the church. Romans 12:15 reminds us to “weep with those who weep.” After all, that’s what Jesus did. When His friend Lazarus died, He wept with Mary …

Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad!

My parents recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. I am so thankful for the testimony of their love for one another, for Christ, and for me. My dad spent years in pastoral ministry before serving in leadership at Central Baptist College. God has blessed him with a pastor’s heart and a businessman’s mind. I am …

Why Conflict Between Believers Betrays Christ

Two different groups of my friends are engaged in conflict. They both have legitimate complaints against the other. Nobody is innocent and yet nobody is completely to blame. In other words, the complaints against one another are not really the issue. In fact, the complaints could be easily resolved. Instead, however, the two parties have …

We Love Gay People

Several years ago, I published this article in a denominational paper. Needless to say, it received mixed reviews -some positive, some negative. Nonetheless, I think the issue is just as important as it was then -and certainly more relevant. I look forward to hearing your feedback.   Let’s put this in perspective. Fact: Homosexuality is …

A Christ-Like Tip

We’ve all been there: It’s been 30 minutes and the food hasn’t arrived and the server hasn’t bothered to refill drinks. You’re stomach is growling when, finally, the food arrives –cold. Even worse, the order is all wrong. By the end of your dining experience, the server has ignored you, neglected you, offended you, and …

The Moment I Wish Could Last Forever

If I could go back in time and make one moment last forever, it would be the evening of August 30, 1998. I was spending the weekend in Lufkin, Texas with two of my best friends, Keri and Brandon. They were helping me pursue the girl of my dreams –Jill Jarvis. My friend Keri was …

How’s Your Service?

Customer Service. Has anybody heard of it? Apparently not the young lady at the store where I bought my groceries today. She talked to her friend the entire time she was scanning my items. Even worse, she would stop scanning items to look her friend in the eyes occasionally (her communications skills far exceed her …

Tension in the Church

What is your goal for unbelievers who visit your church? Do you have one? Hopefully your church has thought about this issue and communicated clear intentions regarding visiting unbelievers. In I Corinthians 14, the apostle Paul addressed the need to think strategically about how your church ministers to believers vs. “unbelievers” and “outsiders” (I Cor. …