Martha and I want to thank you for our time to be away. We are enjoying the rest and already looking forward to returning in August. Several people have written to encourage me and to remind me how blessed we are to have pastors we can count on to preach and to do congregational care during this time. I agree …

I am excited about my sermon this weekend. (BTW, if the pastor who preaches is not excited about the sermon, we are in trouble). The story is the call of Matthew to serve as Jesus’ disciple and what Matthew did in response (Matthew 9:9-17). This is what Matthew did. He invited other tax collectors and sinners to a dinner party. …

This past Wednesday night First Baptist Church voted to move forward with an 80,000 square foot addition to our campus. The building will provide space for preschool, children, and adults of all ages. It will allow us to provide office space and a large welcoming area which will figuratively and literally become the front door of the church. This will …

Here are several important events we need to remember for the coming days. First, this is Memorial Day weekend in America. We need to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We especially need to teach our children about this day and its significance. I will have a good story in tomorrow’s blog of a great way …

Thanks to all of you who read this blog. The following words are about events at the local church where I have been privileged to serve as pastor for 24 years. This will give you an idea of my philosophy of leadership and the practical ways I use to inform the congregation. May God bless you in your places of …

Advertisements abound about changing some aspect of your child’s life or behavior. Whether these work or not, I don’t know. Earlier in the week, I talked with someone burdened with kids (mainly teens) who have checked out on life and who, at such an early age, have little hope in life. We talked about what the church can do and …

Last week I had the privilege to visit Metairie Church and preach in person at the morning worship service. These are words which characterized my experience: warm, inviting, friendly, caring. In other words, Metairie Church is becoming exactly what we wanted it to be. The building itself is warm and inviting. The location is easy to find, and Christ is …

Metairie Church is progressing nicely. I am looking forward to preaching at Metairie Church this weekend. Of course, I preach each week by means of media, but this week I will preach “live.” After the service in Metairie we have a lunch fellowship. I am excited about being with new and current friends at Metairie Church. This is the way …

This Part I of a two part series on Finishing Well. Please come back to the site tomorrow to see Part II. Last week, I received an email from friends in Arkansas. David and Shirley Smith traveled to Israel with us last year. That’s how we became friends. We have continued our friendship at a distance since that time. This …

As a boy in church, I thought I understood our offering. After we gave our offerings, the ushers placed the plates on the Lord’s Supper table in front of the pulpit. Like the whole burnt offerings in the temple, I assumed the offering went up to God sometime after the worship service ended. Eventually, I learned it doesn’t work that …