Our Blog
The Missionary in us All
[16 February 2018 --Cornelius, NC] As our team of six boards airplanes and sets out on the physical journey to Africa, we are keenly aware that everyone reading this blog is a part of the missionary journey. In a recent post from the International Mission Board of the SBC Zach Bradley wrote, Over the past decade, John Piper’s categorical way of thinking about missions and the local church has invigorated countless people. Originating from Bethlehem Baptist Church’s “Driving Convictions Behind Foreign Missions,” the decisive paradigm places one of three roles on every Christian when it comes to missions. Goers: those...
Final Countdown
[12 February 2018 – Cornelius, NC] We are in the final week of preparation for our next ministry project in Ghana, West Africa. Everyone, on both sides of the Atlantic, is eager with anticipation for all that God is going to do. We are believing, through faith, that we will all witness a supernatural work of God in and through the lives of many people. The preparation has not been without trials. As I mentioned in the last blog, Jeff Andler is still struggling with vocal issues. Each day seems to show improvement but he still has a long way to go. I know that you will continue to...
The First Steps Toward Ghana
[31 January 2018 – Cornelius, NC] As we come to the end of January several things are on the immediate horizon for me. Next week, Mary and I celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. She continues to be my best friend, most ardent supporter, and love of my life. I am sure you will all agree that she is deserving of sainthood having put up with me all of these years. We are looking forward to a few days away together. On Friday 16 February a group of five will join me for our first ministry project to Ghana this year....
Recognizing the How
(moving from Duty to Delight) Last week I wrote about “Remembering the Why” in our lives. One of the keys to knowing the “why” is that of perspective. Let me ask you a question: Do you love what you do? Is life and work a duty or a delight. This past weekend Mary and I had the opportunity to travel to Charleston to visit with our eldest daughter for a belated birthday weekend. (Her birthday was January 6, but she was out of the country.) We had a great time and it was wonderful to see her and just hang out. Mary and I left Charleston...
Remembering the Why
(while embracing the Grind) This time of the year does not always lend itself to closing deals, and completing world-class objectives, it is nonetheless an important time of the year. Last time we talked about becoming better at the basics that most everyone else. Perhaps you identified a few things that you would willfully work on in changing your habits so that the better you would become more evident. I am discovering that too many of us have forgotten was it means to embrace the mundane things of life. We watch too many movies, read too many books, and play...
Back to the Basics Again
At age 45, Vince Lombardi became a head football coach in the NFL for the first time in his life. It was 1959, and he had the challenging task of leading the Green Bay Packers, a team that had only won two games the previous season. He clearly had his work cut out for him. But Lombardi wasn’t going to let last year’s record shape his expectations. This was a new season, after all—just as 2018 can be a new season for each of us today! When the discouraged group of players gathered for their first preseason meeting, I’m sure they wondered how their...