Like a locomotive barreling down the tracks, emotions often fuel the motion and direction of pastoral relationships. While many will want to exchange any emotional drive for a perceived healthier “rational approach,” God designed every human with emotions. How you, as...
John Maxwell popularized the leadership quip “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” True enough. Hang around in ministry for a hot minute and you recognize that even leadership depends upon relationships. Oklahoma Baptists recently welcomed Ken Sande to our...
I am a celebrator. My family chuckles at how excited I get about such a wide variety of things: A freshly painted wall A good movie A delicious meal A gorgeous sunset Christmas presents An accomplishment An event God’s word Some say: I go over the top. I say:...
By James Swain, President of Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children When I started to write this article, I realized that I have been President of Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children (OBHC) for 50 days. In these first 50 days, I have been affirmed in the fact that God...
We all wear hats. Many, many hats. I know. I see you. I do too. As ministry wives, we somehow get the “leader” hat placed on our pretty little heads just because of our husband’s positions on a church staff. We may have had no training, no...
Something powerful happens when people and churches work together. Beyond our commitment to scripture and passion for the gospel, no other characteristic better defines Southern Baptists than cooperation. We combine our resources and coordinate our efforts to shine...
Both of my grandmothers spent a few years in nursing homes during their final years on earth. During part of that time I served as the interim pastor in the town where they stayed. I visited them routinely, and came to realize how significant such visits were. One of...
It stinks to feel unnoticed. When someone doesn’t see you, hear you, or understand you, it can cut deep into your insecurity and sense of worth. It’s an even deeper wound when it’s from someone that you love. Every one of us has experienced that type...
One of the joys of expositional preaching is preaching through a book of the Bible. Great joy and real challenges exist in preaching through books of the Bible, but I want to focus on the benefits for the congregation. First, they are receiving the actual word of God,...
Pastor, one of the two biggest moments in the history of the cosmos centers upon the ministry of presence. What is the incarnation if it is not the ministry of presence? Think about the promises given to us in scripture promising that “God is with us.” Remember...
