Fifteen years ago today, I became a dad. I guess I “officially” became a dad nine months earlier. But according to a certificate I got from McComb, Mississippi, I became a dad a decade and a half ago. Fifteen years ago today, I was pastoring in Amite, Louisiana where God gave me the privilege to serve for nearly five years. Fifteen years ago today, I was halfway through the PhD program at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. I was consuming... Read more
“Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to a heart. . .” (Proverbs 15:30) West Franklin Family, One of the things I miss most right now is your eyes. I love looking you in the eye. I need to look you in the eye. Your lips can lie to me. Your eyes can’t. You can tell a lot about a person by their eyes. I have often joked with my wife that the Lord didn’t need to give her a... Read more
“Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.” (Proverbs 12:11) I’ve always assumed this Proverb was about hard work. A quick flyover takeaway is simple: Work hard. Stop fantasizing. Do the work. Don’t daydream. True, the inspired author of Proverbs did mean hard work is essential and wise. But that’s not all this word of wisdom is teaching us. In fact, it may not even be the main point of the... Read more
West Franklin Family, If you tune in tomorrow morning, you will hear me say this sentence: “There are times when the Father doesn’t want to share you with anyone else.” It’s an implication of the way Jesus uses the word “secret” in Matthew 6:1-18. The Father is eager, jealous even, to be with you. Though I wouldn’t go so far as to say He’s desperate (He is not insufficient and has zero needs). However, His heart is incredibly zealous to... Read more
“To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again.” (Isaiah 54:9) When God brings up the past, it is always to reveal His gracious character. When God gets nostalgic, it is to show what He intended. When God reminisces, He tells us how it benefits us. God is. So when... Read more
“For you will not leave in a hurry, and you will not have to take flight; because the Lord is going before you, and the God of Israel is your rear guard.” (Isaiah 52:12) I cannot get this verse out of my head. The implications of this are many and massive. This is Isaiah prophesying to Israel that they will be delivered from being exiles in Babylon. When delivered, after 70 years of captivity mind you, they were leave – get... Read more
West Franklin Family, “If you want to know the mind of God, do what he says. Jesus, who knew the Father completely, also obeyed the Father completely.” Andrew Peterson from his Adorning the Dark “Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.” (Proverbs 1:23, emphasis mine) There’s a practice I have noticed about us, West Franklin. A practice that, if I am being honest, isn’t helpful. It’s... Read more
A few weeks ago, I heard a quote I didn’t like. I didn’t like it because I was afraid it might be true. Too true. The quote went something like this (I am paraphrasing): “After World War II, we had the baby boom. After COVID-19, we will see a divorce boom.” See what I mean? Don’t. Like. It. Then yesterday, I read this quote from a very startling article entitled “People Are Getting Busted for Affairs in Coronavirus Lockdown“: “But... Read more
“Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth. . . ” (Isaiah 42:10) “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:18-19) West Franklin Family, When was the last time you sang a new song to the Lord? I don’t mean you learned a new praise chorus or a modern hymn (which I highly... Read more
“. . . she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.” (Isaiah 40:2, emphasis mine)  Though a dream for the consumer, it would be a horrible business model. Completely unsustainable.  What if CarMax gave you two cars for every one you agreed to pay for? What if every item at the grocery store was buy one, get two free? What if every time you bought a tank of gas, you got a voucher for... Read more
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