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A huge billboard in South Georgia in Senator Josh McKoon’s district bears witness of Georgia Baptist Convention money being spent for his support of “religious liberty” legislation. Governor Nathan Deal, a Baptist, wisely vetoed the legislation. Much more will be...

Alex Haley’s miniseries “Roots” in 1977 was my first understanding of family systems on a macro level. I certainly would not have used the term “family systems” in the ninth grade, but I knew that Roots was about my family system as much as it was about the roots of...

Jesse and Jessica Phillips have not even reached their mid twenties. They have been married less than three years. Yet they have set out on an adventure that has taken them far away from their New Sharon, Iowa home.  They are now missionaries in Africa. Many people...

Not long after I arrived at Trinity Baptist Church in 1996, I had a big decision to make. Henry Peabody, a Liberian, had asked me in a letter to help him get out of the Buduburam Refugee Camp in Ghana and come to the United States to get an education. I’d met Henry at...

The prophet Hosea boldly told the people of his day that God was tired of being placated by their symbolic measures of worship.  Instead he told them:  "I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings" (Hosea 6:6...

Recently I’ve been letting go of some things.  I sold a Harley motorcycle, my 65 Ford Comet, my 4-wheeler, and my Mohammed Ali and Rocky posters.  O.K, so those last two items didn’t bring as much money as the first three.  In fact, I was a little insulted that the...

Each month our church staff leads chapel for nearly 70 children at our church day preschool.   We typically divide up responsibilities, but honestly, my role is usually minimal.  I might do a prayer or a welcome.   However, I'm always there because I love seeing the...

February 20, 2016 I don’t like to lose. I don’t know anyone who does. I especially don’t like to lose to braggarts.   There’s one sure way to shut up a braggart and that’s to beat one. Maybe that’s why I’ve always liked the story of David and Goliath. It’s hard to...

My father-in-law, as a master gardener, has a close connection to the earth. He has enriched his garden through the years with hundreds of loads of pecan hulls from the local pecan company. Because the earth gives back so freely and because he believes it’s a biblical...

All religions attempt to make sense of death. Death is an enemy, the ultimate enemy. It represents an exit from what we know into what we don’t know. While our religion has some effect on how we grieve, grief is a universal response to loss. Everyone grieves. It’s our...

The University of Georgia’s football coach Mark Richt was praised recently for his ethics and integrity. The USA Today article written by Dan Wolken cited Richt as being among the best in college football in these areas, but pointed out that seven colleges within a...