Blog
Coulrophobia Has Me in a Tizzy
I doubt I will ever play this fool again, Tizzy, my alter ego. Even before the recent insane outbreak of scary clowns that have terrorized children across the country, coulrophobia has been on the rise, mainly because of the use of clowns in a deranged way in movies,...
Life Lessons from Jose Fernandez’ Death
This week the Florida Marlins and major league baseball lost two-time All-Star and 2013 Rookie Pitcher of the Year, Jose Fernandez, who was killed along with two friends in a night-time boating accident in Miami. Sportswriter Tom Verducci said that Fernandez is the...
Tractor and Implements Donated to Ricks Institute
After a decade of faithful giving, enough money was saved to buy a Mahindra Max 24 4WD HST tractor and three implements for Ricks Institute, a 700-student Baptist school 16 miles outside Monrovia, Liberia. The purchase was made through The Bricks for Ricks...
Our Work is About the Stewardship of Our Gifts
According to one recent report, one in twenty Americans lost their job in the last five years. Imagine what the percentages are over a lifetime. Yet most think this will never happen to us. We don’t think our company will close, downsize, or move jobs overseas. We...
Boudia and Johnson Find an Identity Outside of Diving
During the Olympic opening ceremonies 205 countries and two independent teams participated in the parade of nations. Teams were identified by their national flags, colors, and distinctive uniforms. Rio is awash in jerseys, uniforms, flags, t-shirts, hats, and pins...
Pedaling Through Life Alone Leads to More Burnout
August 8, 2016 Here's a life lesson from the Cycling Road Race at the Olympics in Rio De Janeiro--"Trust Others, Work Together, Reap Results." Rafal Majka of Poland (men's event) and Mara Abbott of the United States (women's event) were both overtaken in the final...
Meet Dr. Dolittle’s Cousin – The Tomato Man
What if you could talk to the animals like Dr. Dolittle? Which language would you learn: elephant, eagle, buffalo, beagle? How about alligator, guinea pig, or flea? Recently, I spent some time with Dr. Dolittle’s cousin who knows how to speak to both the animals and...
Chandler Lanier Told His Story Forrest Gump Style
On the short list of many people's favorite movies is "Forrest Gump." Savannah, Georgia already had a storied history before the filming of this movie. The movie added to tourists’ favorite places for pictures, like Chippewa Square and the Independent Presbyterian...
Georgia Baptist Pastors Tempted With Reach for Power
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...
Haley Exposed My Roots Too
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...
God is Great at Connecting the Dots
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...
What Seemed Impossible Began With a First Step
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...