As I was preparing for the second session of training for young pastors as a part of the Valley Baptist Missions Education Center, I was reminded of how much we need each other. Ministry is both difficult and demanding. A support group is an absolute necessity. Hymn writer and author, Helen Keller, said, “Alone we…
I don’t remember the specifics of time and place, but somewhere in my early life, I memorized James 1:19 – “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” I remember someone asking why we thought God created us with two ears and one mouth. In spite of the benefits of listening, most…
“The times they are a-changin’” sang Bob Dylan. I recently did my first Podcast. I had only heard about such, but never participated in one. I learned that a podcast is “a program made available in digital format for download over the Internet.” This wasn’t my Podcast. I was interviewed on the Podcast of a friend. I was briefly…
Tomorrow, I begin a new job. I never thought I would say that at age eighty, but then there were days, I never thought I would reach age eighty. My new title is Administrative Consultant for the Valley Baptist Missions Education Center and tomorrow I will be teaching pastoral discipleship to thirty pastors, most of…
In last week’s Manna, I focused on Jonah. This week, I want to focus on the fish. God called Jonah to go to Nineveh. Jonah said, “No, I think I’d rather go to Joppa, get on a boat and go to Tarshish.” God could have stopped Jonah in his tracks, but He let him go….
As I am preparing to speak to a group of young pastors in south Texas, my thoughts have returned to Jonah and a long-ago presentation I did for another group of young ministers, entitled, “Settled at the Start.” One day Jonah received a call from God to go to Nineveh and preach (Jonah 1:1-2). Nineveh…
I guess I was not unlike others who stood in a pulpit yesterday morning to preach, with mixed emotions. The week had been marked with the report of sexual abuse cover-up among Southern Baptist ministers and the release of over 700 names of some who were found guilty or confessed to sexual abuse. Far too many…
I could have attended a large university like many in my family did. I could have attended a medium sized university where I had a baseball scholarship offer. I chose to attend a small, Baptist college in a small west Texas town. Having grown up in Houston from the third grade through High School graduation, everything at Howard…
I had been thinking lately about yesterday and tomorrow. I guess that goes with today’s age. Willie Nelson sings, “Three days that I dread to see arrive; Three days that I hate to be alive; Three days filled with tears and sorrow; Yesterday, today and tomorrow.” As much as I enjoy most of Willie’s songs, and even…
Three years before my mother was born, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson set the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. If she were still alive, she would be 105 years old and celebrating her 80th Mother’s Day. However, she transferred all of her celebrations to heaven twenty-two years ago. She was the greatest prayer warrior…