Encourage: A storm is brewing
When the weatherman shows a storm coming your way, you prepare. You pull the cars into the garage, put the tractor in the barn, take care of the livestock, cancel the ballgame and pick up the lawn chairs and the kid’s toys from the yard. You protect your property, your pets and your people, while taking timely action. There is a storm brewing this fall. If I had a giant siren, I would sound it. All the conditions are right and ripe...
Encourage: A psalm when we feel clueless
I want to make a confession to all Oklahoma Baptists: I feel as clueless as a small child. This year has made my head spin. As we enter the second half of 2020, I am more confused, not less. We are trying to make decisions about starting schools, playing sports, holding events, balancing budgets; in general, about how to finish the year. Yet, so often we are confronted by a simple reality: We just don’t know. Psalm 131 comes to my...
Encourage: First, let’s deal with that plank
The summer of 2020 will likely go down in history. You don’t need for me to explain that to you. You are living it—virus precautions or the lack thereof; economic headwinds, whirlwinds, shutdowns; protesters marching in the streets; racial tensions; and political divisions. As I watch the news, listen to conversations, read the paper and, occasionally, scroll through social media—one important teaching of Jesus keeps coming to mind....
Encourage: Responding to racial injustice
I am writing this article on the last day of May 2020, six days after George Floyd died under the knee of a white police officer. Since then sadness, disgust, confusion, frustration, anger and even violence have filled our hearts and our streets. Public figures are responding, our families are responding, yet how should we, as the church, respond? Tomorrow, I will record a series of Podcasts titled, “Responding to Racial Injustice.” I...
Encourage: Don’t pause, prune
Our patterns of life have been changed this spring—school cancelled, work altered, agendas changed and events postponed. Our lives were driven by important pursuits like winning a championship, walking down an aisle or donning a cap and gown. Our days were consumed by less important things like weekend trips or little league games. The pattern of church life has been changed this spring. Weekly schedules came to a sudden stop....
Encourage: Advancing amidst uncertainty
When Matthew tells the resurrection story, he moves quickly to our task. He writes 15 verses to tell the resurrection story, five verses to give the Great Commission, and then abruptly ends—as if to say, “Now get busy!” The primary implication of the resurrection of Jesus is His Lordship. Since He is alive, He is Lord. He is Lord of the living and the dead, the Lord of men and nations, the Lord of lords. All authority has been given...
