With everything going on, where should we focus our attention?

The world is in a mess. Every day there seems to be something to disturb or shock us! Operation Warp Speed resulted in vaccines for the novel virus COVID-19 in months instead of years. However, there are concerns about the safety and the efficacy of these miraculous developments. The New York Times published an article worrying, “it’s unclear how well they will curb the spread of […]

2021-01-18T18:47:06+00:00January 18th, 2021|

How did we get here? More importantly, how do we get out of here?

I imagine the first question on the mind of the person sailing the boat in the photo accompanying this blog was, “How did this happen?” Even if fully conscious, I am confident they were astonished at the results. The second question surely was, “How do I get it out?”

Harold Watson “Trey” Gowdy III recently asked this question about the current level of political strife and conflict in […]

2021-01-11T19:26:43+00:00January 11th, 2021|

Lessons to treasure as we all move on from “a year to forget”

Recently, I have noted people saying they were glad to see the coming new year and the end of 2020. Yesterday, I listened to a friend tell the congregation, “Never before have I thought that I was really glad a whole year was over…but if I am honest…I am glad 2020 in is the rearview mirror.”\

We would never wish another world pandemic on anyone. Vast changes in […]

2021-01-04T19:29:56+00:00January 4th, 2021|

It’s time to examine ourselves and prepare for the future

December of 2020 is not only a time to eagerly await turning the calendar, this is the opportunity to take our final exam. How have we conducted our lives, and how will we prepare for the coming days ahead?

It is worth noting Rodgers and Hammerstein didn’t include final exams in the lyrics of “My Favorite Things.” I endured examinations as a student, often murmuring along with fellow […]

2020-12-07T18:19:23+00:00December 7th, 2020|

Let’s help create a better financial future for those serving in ministry

If you are an elder or staff leader in a local church, this blog post is intended for you. If you serve on the board of a mission work, I hope this reaches your desk. Likewise, if your service includes the responsibility for directing a Christian camp, campus ministry, or nonprofit organization, I hope you will carefully think about the important issue of the future of those […]

2020-11-30T19:07:20+00:00November 30th, 2020|

Men, let’s talk about creating something more important than our retirement

Today, I want this post to be different. First, we predominantly focus on financial issues, but today let’s look at something more important than money. Second, I want to talk specifically with the men who read. This isn’t sexist, but we need more men to accept a challenge left for us in Scripture. The challenge presented applies to women as well, but I will leave it for […]

2020-11-16T19:02:46+00:00November 16th, 2020|

When the fog burns away, clarity and beauty awaken the mind!

Forty-eight years ago, my new bride and I moved onto a college campus outside Knoxville, Tennessee. Set among the hills along the banks of the French Broad River, the beauty of the area and the clarity of the blue sky easily awakened the mind and excited the senses. It was a seemingly ideal location to study and prepare for a life of Christian ministry. Nearly thirty years […]

2020-11-09T19:29:02+00:00November 9th, 2020|

It is time to charge into the future…confidently!

We can hear the voices of concern, “Confidently charge into the future? With all this uncertainty? How can anyone be confident about the future when France, Germany, and London have all entered month long lockdowns, and COVID infection numbers are on the rise in the USA? How can anyone charge into the future confidently when the supporters of Presidential candidates attack one another with ferocity unremembered from […]

2020-11-02T18:28:28+00:00November 2nd, 2020|

We are all in our 50’s. How can we improve our retirement?

Planning for the future for those in their 50’s may seem easy, but it isn’t! People in this general age group know they NEED to get really serious about their future, but they live in the “land of a 1000 obstacles” to borrow from the title of the 1960’s R&B/Hip-Hop song. There are family demands as children graduate, move into their first career, marry, and buy their […]

2020-10-12T18:50:00+00:00October 12th, 2020|

Help, we are in our 60’s. What should we be doing about retirement?

We are asked that question frequently. Sometimes, it comes from those who have saved little to nothing for the future. Occasionally, it comes from those who are seeking investment advice about how to manage their savings and investments. Today, we are offering thoughts on what those in their 60’s should be thinking about and doing to plan for the future.

The most important question for someone 60+ does […]

2020-10-05T16:59:24+00:00October 5th, 2020|