I’m Done, But I’m Not Finished
Here I am with my 2 sons in 1995, the year I began working at Dallas Baptist Association.A YouTube exercise coach I follow concludes each session by saying “We’re done, but we’re not finished!” That’s how I feel about my retirement on July 17. I’m done, but I’m not...
On Being Non-Essential
Two weeks ago my city, county, state, and national governing authorities decided I am non-essential. Or more precisely, my work is non-essential. I was advised to stay at home because my job wasn't crucial to the welfare of my city, county, state or nation...
Sewing in Reynosa
Last month I went to the border town of Reynosa, Mexico, with 7 other women from my church. We spent several days with migrant families who were staying at a church shelter while they were navigating the difficult process of securing the documentation required to be...
It’s Cold in Siberia
I'm reading a fascinating book called Travels in Siberia. As the title indicates, it's a travelogue of the author's adventures in Siberia. Ian Frazier describes himself as being "infected with a love of Russia" (16).One anecdote in Frazier's book describes...
The Best Church Welcome I’ve Ever Received
Addy, a young girl at First Baptist Church, Garland, gave me the best church welcome, ever.In the 24 years I've served with Dallas Baptist Association, I am sure I have worshiped with more than 100 different churches. Most of our churches are great at...
How to Practice Godly Wisdom: Part 2
"How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver" (Proverbs 16:16).In my first post of 2019, I confessed to being terrible at keeping new year's resolutions. So instead of committing myself to self-improvement tasks, I...
In Over My Head: How VBS Taught Me to Be a Leader
LifeWay research confirms that Vacation Bible School is one of the most effective evangelism methods that God uses to call children to salvation.* That reason alone should encourage churches, of any size, to provide a summer VBS for kids in their churches...
Gentrification: How Does It Affect Our Churches?
The energy that new construction, new businesses, and new people bring to a community is wonderful. However, the downside of gentrification is that many times lower-income people (especially renters) are priced out of the neighborhood.
Improving Church Unity by Loving Your Neighbors
The unity of the hearts and minds of believers in the earliest days of the church led them to share “everything they had” with each other. “And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them” (Acts 4:33-34). These...
Now
For a few weeks before Christmas, AT&T displayed this sculpture on its plaza at Commerce and Akard streets in downtown Dallas. Zoom in on the photo, and you'll see that "NOW" is composed of laptop computers. This unusual piece of art prompted questions in my mind...