The heat has been brutal. With reports of 105 in places like Chicago and 104 in St. Louis, what must Mississippi be like? A week ago when we were in Columbia, SC the temperature hit 109, and we arrived home to find our yard parched in spite of investment in a sprinkler system. Patches of […]

“The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant” (Psalm 25:14). In previous devotionals we have reviewed how the fear of God is the compelling motivation for living a holy and godly life for His glory. It is the source of wisdom and understanding for […]

We have just spent a delightful week at Columbia International University in South Carolina, primarily to teach a summer intensive course in the College of Inter-Cultural Studies and to convene a meeting of the Advisory Board of the Zwemer Center of Muslim Studies. My time on campus over the years has been to attend a […]

“There is no want to those who fear the Lord” (Psalm 34:9). We understand there are big issues that shape the direction of our life. As Christians we should serve God, faithfully worship with the people of God and live to make a difference for eternity. Hopefully, we have nailed down the foundational values that […]

There was a great deal of rhetoric appealing for unity preceding and at the recent Southern Baptist Convention. Meanwhile, not so subtle suspicions were being expressed and barbs being cast in articles, blogs and verbal communication toward those perceived of tilting toward reform theology. A vast diversity among those who identify themselves as Southern Baptist […]

Jambalaya, crawfish étouffée, shrimp po-boys and beignets! Great time in New Orleans at the Southern Baptist Convention. Oh yeah, there was a lot of preaching and politicking, too, but the eating and fellowship was what it was all about. It was nice to get there with a leisurely 3-hour drive down I-55 instead of being […]

“Teach me your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth. Unite my heart to fear your name. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify your name forevermore” (Psalm 86:11-12). Continuing our focus on the fear of God, the Bible reveals that this is the […]

Family and friends often comment on how busy we seem to be. Colleagues who preceded us into a retirement lifestyle alerted us to the reality of being busier than ever. That’s true, but we have found the difference is we are busy with what we choose to do rather than what we have to do. […]

Recent research reveals that over the last decade an average of three countries a year close their doors to Christian missionaries. That is based on an unfortunate perception that missionaries are interested only in proselytizing their people, corrupting their youth and disrupting their cultural traditions through enticements to people to change their religion. They don’t […]

For the second year in row it was my privilege to participate with Embrace–the womenʼs ministry of the North Carolina Baptist Convention–in their partnership with Moldova, a small country in Eastern Europe between Romania and the Ukraine. Last year we spoke at conferences for pastorsʼ wives, but this year the trip focused on ministry alongside […]