Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. – Philippians 4:8 ESV Have you ever had an “earworm”? I’m not referring to an infectious disease, but to a song you hear repeatedly in your mind. They can be annoying or they can be inspiring. An annoying earworm is a common ailment of VBS workers immediately...

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Matthew 20:25-28 ESV One of the most popular topics in the past couple of decades has been...

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. – Proverbs 19:21 ESV In May 1985 I was called by the congregation of Kanawha City Baptist Church in Charleston, WV to serve as their full-time pastor. As a 24-year-old single, recent seminary graduate, I was honored to serve in that position. My plan was to get married sometime in the future, but I was in no hurry. I had other things on my mind at the time. If I did date someone, I was adamant she...