Turning Goals into Gods: Is Pragmatism the New Holy Spirit?

Pragmatism in church life is such a powerful magnet. It can be used to turn goals into gods. Pragmatism makes the end the ultimate goal. Whatever it takes to reach the end is essentially justified. You can see this in Wall Street investors who will stop at nothing to produce a quick return or in…

Finding Relevance

It’s almost impossible to wade into these waters these days and come out unscathed, but here goes. I am in shock at what is happening in my country as I write this. Most of us have heard our parents or grandparents try to instill in us the truth that it is never right to do…

Footmen & Horses

In the January/February Baptist Times, I made a really bold statement—a statement I was asked about then and have been pelted with questions about ever since. My statement was this: “There is a storm coming to America, sooner than we think, that will reveal whether our churches have developed mature disciples or attracted hollow consumers.” …

The Greater Yes

In 2013, I wrote an article about my dogs entitled “It’s Not About the No.” It describes such a vital mindset for independent Baptist churches and families that I’ve chosen to expand it into a full feature. I refer to the topic as the greater yes because it challenges us to wrap a very passionate…

Little Red Milk Caps

She couldn’t have weighed more than 110 pounds and he couldn’t have weighed less than 300. “So how did she throw you through the wall of your bedroom?!” She looked down at the floor and tried unsuccessfully to suppress a slight grin while he stumbled over an adequate answer. Her smile equally betrayed both a…