This week at ABC

Happy Birthday, America! We are celebrating 249 years this week, and I wish you many more. I love our nation. But I still have something I want to say . . . that as a pastor I…

The essential question for believers when thinking about any issue is always, “What does the Bible say?” It matters little what politicians, leaders, or celebrities say. My goal…

I’ve lived in a border state for most of my life, so I’ve heard much about legal and illegal immigration and the border. I’ve heard so much that I am confident that I could…

I am deeply interested in science, recognizing it as the study of what God has made. An exciting astronomy headline caught my attention last week, “Scientists find ‘strongest…

America is being challenged to answer a question that we have historically had difficulty answering. And when we have managed to answer it correctly, we’ve struggled to live by…

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20, NIV I love my country. There is no country on Earth in which I…

NOTE: I regularly read or listen to scientific studies from National Public Radio, the Associated Press, and National Geographic. Though I am not a scientist, they help me stay up…

Let me start this blog with the same disclaimer as I did for the last one. I want to be Biblical. I try hard not to be either conservative or liberal. I don’t try to align my…

I want to be Biblical. I try hard not to be either a conservative or a liberal. I don’t try to align my thoughts with any political party. I don’t like to accept any labels the…

DISCLAIMER: I’ve been preaching, teaching, and writing the same things since the late 1980’s. Over the years, I’ve offended both Democrats and Republicans, but I’m not purposely…

The 2024 election is over except for the final tallies. We will soon have a new President and new Senators and new Congressmen. I’m hoping and praying that the new legislature…

We’re closing in on a major election, and one of the issues taking the spotlight is a woman’s right to abortion. I’ve been scanning the flyers that land in my mailbox and the…

I have cancer. For many, that is an incredibly scary statement. Cancer can lead to months and even years of treatment. Some of the “cures” (radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery)…

I don’t preach candidates or political parties. I tell no one (other than my family) who I am voting for—not because I’m ashamed of it but because I want the focus of my life and…

Southern Baptists, there is something we need to recognize, even if we don’t want to and we don’t like it. Right now, we don’t have the greatest reputation outside of our own…

I was disappointed by the Southern Baptist Convention voting once again that a church with women pastors was “not in friendly cooperation” with Southern Baptists. The church in…

I’m a pastor. Not a lawyer. Here’s what that means for me and how I interpret my calling. I teach the Bible in an effort to make disciples of Jesus. I want people to believe in…

Let’s fight. Or not. There are a thousand things to get mad about in today’s world, and the almost instantaneous and twenty-four news cycles and onslaughts of social media throw…

There are many points of doctrine and church practice in which there is ample room for differences of interpretation and opinion. I can articulate my opinion and others can…

This article first appeared in our weekly newsletter in 2019. I’ve updated it for 2024. I had a good question posed to me this week. “What makes your church different than any…

How far can a church go to house homeless people? Should it be illegal? There’s a court case in Ohio that is both interesting and distressing. The pastor of a church in a small…

This Sunday, January 21, 2024, is Sanctity of Life Sunday. Because I preach through Bible books like I’m doing now with Proverbs, I don’t focus my preaching on the various…

I want to tell you a love story tonight. It’s the greatest love story that ever occurred and I want you to know it. No other love story—and there have been thousands of them lived…

But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.…

It’s now November, and families and churches are beginning to plan the holidays, if they haven’t done so already. There’s a lot to think about. Are we serving traditional food or…

That was a question I received recently from someone who had visited many churches and noted that my preaching style was different than others. Let me start by saying that there…

There is a debate in Christian circles about the role of women in church life and worship. (Actually, it’s been a debate for as long as I’ve been a pastor.) The issue I want to…

Am I a crazy conservative or a looney liberal? I have been called both in the last month. I should probably go ahead and admit to the crazy and the looney part, but much to the…

This season promises to be an exciting one for your (and my) Arizona Diamondbacks. If the early results continue, the Diamondbacks may make a strong push for the playoffs and…

I believe in religious liberty. It is a Biblical concept. Our first responsibility is to God and not to the state. Peter and John stated it very well when called before the Jewish…

An Update of a 2020 Blog I vote. And I encourage you to vote. But I won’t tell you to vote for. I don’t endorse candidates and I don’t endorse parties. I know some pastors endorse…

I’m a pastor and so I’m primarily concerned with spiritual matters, and I focus on teaching people to love God, love people, and follow Jesus. But that does not mean that I am…

Last week, a leak from the United States Supreme Court indicated that the court may be considering reversing Roe v. Wade, which made abortion widely available. We don’t know yet…

I am not an earth worshipper. I am not a tree-hugging environmentalist. I know that there are those in the environmentalist movement who deny God, who worship “mother earth,” and…

Let me start by saying that I am not a Roman Catholic, and so I don’t want to be overly critical. Baptists, too, make serious mistakes, and we should be called out—lovingly, I…

I am pro-life. Completely. Totally. Absolutely. I believe abortion is wrong. Period. I state that right up front because I want you to know where I stand. I am occasionally…

A “civilized” nation has the responsibility to act with civility. If we lose that—and we are dangerously close to losing all traces of respect and civility in our public speech in…

Let me start by saying that the world is broken. And there is plenty of blame to go around. But it’s unhealthy to spend too much time playing the blame game. Need evidence that…

Let me start with a disclosure: I have been vaccinated, and I encourage others to be vaccinated. If you’re looking for an anti-vaccination statement, you won’t find it here. I…

I don’t want to overstate my frustration. I’m not thinking about giving up on the ministry. I’m not facing burnout. I’m not mad at anyone. I don’t plan on going on a rant. And I’m…

The Bible doesn’t directly say anything about the minimum wage. It is a modern political issue. But the Bible does teach us to be fair to those who work for us. For example,…

I’m not sure when Christians in Arizona stopped fighting and began embracing legal and public gambling. Perhaps it started when Arizona voted to approve a lottery in November of…

Sexual harassment. Flirtation. Inappropriate touching. Obscene comments. Questionable remarks. Improper advances. Suggestive compliments. The news has been full—repeatedly—of…

I’ve been inundated with questions from members and friends on, “Why didn’t you endorse a candidate last year?” and “Who did you vote for?” To the frustration of many, I didn’t…

Congratulations! Your party has won the presidency as well as control of the Senate and the House. That puts a significant responsibility on your shoulders for leadership in our…

On November 3, America will choose a President. It may be our existing President Donald Trump elected to another 4-year term. Or it may be that we elect former Vice-President Joe…

I vote. And I encourage you to vote. But let me state right up front that I am not going to tell you who to vote for. I don’t endorse candidates and I don’t endorse parties. I…

We are now deep into election season, which seems to get longer every year. It’s easy to get cranky and frustrated—and maybe even more than a little bit angry—during political…

Like many families with school-age children in the 1960’s and 70’s, my parents bought a very expensive but very helpful encyclopedia set. It had 30 volumes and came with 10…

Many churches have used their church parking lots as a drive-in worship service. The concept is pretty simple. People drive to church, stay in their cars, and listen to the…

Like most churches (but, unfortunately, not all), we have decided to close our doors through at least April 30 or until the stay-at-home order by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey…

“”I don’t know if this is true or not.” I know it’s not true, but I wanted to get people’s reaction.” “I just reposted it. It’s not my job to verify it.” “I know it’s not true,…

Questions I Ask Before I Vote As a pastor, I do not publicly endorse candidates, nor do I share my party affiliations publicly. I’d rather be known as a follower of Jesus than a…

We trace the history of Thanksgiving in the United States of America to 1621, when the Pilgrims celebrated their first harvest in the New world. It was a three-day feast attended…

I’ve sung this song before, but it needs to be repeated. RESPECT—in American culture—is sorely lacking. The latest issue that led to this blog is the booing of the President at a…

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Those are the opening words of the very first amendment to the…

Most people have heard the story of the Good Samaritan. It may be the most widely known of all of Jesus’ parables. What you may not know is that the story was particularly and…

We’re doing it wrong. Christians are fond of quoting 1 Peter 2:17, “Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.” We have no emperor…

With copies to Senator Martha McSally, Senator Kyrsten Sinema, Congressman Paul Gosar, and Congressman Raul Grijalva. I’m a pastor, not a politician. I usually focus on…

Today is Earth Day. It isn’t normally considered a Christian holiday. But I think it should be. Unfortunately, I have some Christian friends who consider Earth Day as an…

I love my wife. I met Dawn when I was 14. By age 16, I was, to use a word from the old movie Bambi, hopelessly twitterpated. We dated for 4 years, and we have now been married for…

Twice in my recent sermon series (Basic Christian Growth, based on the Book of Acts) and once in my Christmas series (when we got to the Magi), I made a comment that raised some…

The Houston Chronicle published an investigative report last week detailing reports of sex abuse in Southern Baptist Churches. It was an honest article detailing the awful trauma…

The recent decision by the State of New York to pass an “abortion-until-birth” law has refueled our public abortion debate. But rather than focus on the specifics of that…

I originally published this last year. I republish it this week in honor of Sanctity of Life Sunday, which is celebrated on January 20 of this year. I am a pro-lifer, but I want…

In a recent blog, I challenged President Trump to take the high road in his choice of language and to respect his opponents. It’s only fair, especially in light of remarks of the…

On Wednesday and Thursday of this week (December 26-27), we accepted into our care 94 refugees from Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras. Over half of them were children. We fed…

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Dear Mr. President; One of the things I teach as a pastor, a father, a grandfather, and a volunteer basketball coach is that we need to respect our national leaders. I believe…

I have been besieged with requests to boycott the NFL. And to buy burgers at In-N-Out. (Except that other people have asked me to stop buying burgers there.) I’ve been told that I…

Some find it easy to choose their candidate and make their vote. I don’t. Maybe it’s because, as a Christian, I have unusually high expectations for leaders, and we aren’t always…

United States Senator John McCain passed away this weekend. As a pastor who wants to focus on Jesus, I usually don’t say too much about politics and politicians. Nevertheless, I…

Many celebrities, politicians, athletes, and social media users seem to be having trouble determining what is right or wrong. (Or they just don’t care.) As a result, we are seeing…

The words of a prominent Southern Baptist leader (made several years ago but brought to public attention in the last few weeks) has caused a firestorm of anger, accusations,…

I believe in respect. Unfortunately, I don’t see much of it anymore. American culture seems to run on disrespect. Politicians show complete disrespect to other politicians. Crowds…

I love Arizona. I’m not a native, but I’m close. My family moved here when I was 2. I’ve lived in Arizona for 54 of my 59 years. And I’ve never really wanted to live anywhere…

I follow politics rather closely, but, as a Pastor, I don’t endorse candidates from the pulpit or in my official position as Pastor. Nevertheless, I think and pray about political…

There is an interesting case before the Supreme Court right now that is of great interest to believers. And despite what you may have heard from both sides, it’s not an easy…

Several weeks ago, I shared on a Sunday morning that we are considering a name change. Nothing has yet been decided, but we want to answer some of the many questions we have…

This blog was inspired by a friend and church member–and a fine human being–who is a DACA recipient. You can call them “dreamers.” I like that. Or you can call them “DACA…

Earth Day (April 22) isn’t normally considered a Christian holiday. I think it should be. The Bible starts off with “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”…

We began a homeless ministry in January, and we have housed from 2-10 people each night since then, using the existing facilities of 8 different churches. This IHELP model…

I am often on Facebook and Twitter, and I enjoy it. (I also try and keep up with my kids and grandkids on Instagram and Snapchat, but I don’t post much there.) I use social media…

I was looking for the right image, artwork, or photograph for this blog, so I googled “love” and I looked at the resulting images trying to find what I wanted. There were hearts.…

I had an interesting interview a couple of weeks ago. A doctoral student was conducting research, wanting to find out why a few pastors are able to stay in the same church for…

Dear President-Elect Trump: Congratulations on winning the presidential Election! To be honest, I was among the many Americans who were frustrated with the choice between you and…

Dear Mr(s). President: I write this well before the election, because I don’t want you to think that this letter is overly personal. The things that I say and the prayer that I…

I admit it. I was getting cranky and frustrated—and maybe even a little bit angry—during this very strange presidential election. The lies, the filth, the innuendos, and the…

It’s popular to trash talk and put down police departments and officers in America today. A few NFL players (see my previous blog) have refused to stand during the National Anthem…

Colin, I respect your right to take a stand by choosing not to stand during the National Anthem. I admire the fact that you have a social conscience and the desire to speak to the…

I preached on Sunday, August 21, on A Christian Response to Government and Politics. In part, I taught that Christians must operate with a much higher standard than do…

This was originally published in the FSBCA Weekly. It has since been moved to this blog. I knew it was coming, but it still infuriated me when it did. There are enough people on…

The media this week has deservedly put great attention on a story coming out of Stanford University. A male college athlete raped an unconscious drunk female after a party. The…

This may just be the strangest blog I’ve ever written. It’s on a topic that I hope you never need to use, “How to leave a church with integrity.” I will start with some honesty. I…

I believe in religious liberty. I don’t just believe in religious liberty for Christians. I believe in religious liberty for all people. So I am deeply frustrated when politicians…

It is well known at FSBCA that I don’t endorse candidates in my position as a pastor. My role is to preach and teach the gospel of Jesus, to lead the church, and to show God’s…

I’ve been asked many times recently my opinion about Kim Davis, the Kentucky County Clerk who was jailed (but now released) for her refusal to issue marriage licenses for gay…

I continue to answer questions submitted by FSBCA members, and I must admit that I’ve received many good questions, far more than can be answered in Sunday morning sermons this…

In my current sermon series, I’m answering questions submitted by FSBCA members. I won’t have time to answer all of them in a sermon, so I will be answering some of them in my…

We are entering into the political season, with more announced (and unannounced) presidential candidates than I can count or keep track of. So it’s time for me to make some…

I believe in religious freedom. I also believe in serving people and loving people regardless of their background, their morality, and their faith. So if I’m a baker of cakes, and…

On the night Jesus was born, according to the traditional reading of the Christmas story, the angels said to the shepherds, “ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good…

The recent events in Ferguson, New York, Cleveland, and Phoenix have opened old wounds that have never fully healed in our country. Ugly truths that have long existed were brought…

I received another good questions this week on a Connection Card. Are there still prophets today? This was submitted by someone with many friends who are Mormons, who call their…

I received a good question regarding my sermon on October 26 on prayer. The series of questions on prayer included, “Can prayer change God’s mind?” and “If we pray for someone’s…

The very first amendment of the United States Constitution states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;…

You probably don’t see many of these kind of tributes. In this day and era, it is more common to trash in-laws and put down the extended family than to thank God for them. But,…

This was written prior to this week’s issues regarding Adrian Peterson or the latest allegation announced on September 17 about Cardinal player Jonathon Dwyer. It is officially an…

Our staff has been busy thinking, studying, and praying about how to reach the unchurched. As part of that study, we read the book, “The Rise of the Nones,” by James Emory White,…

FSBCA is in a neighborhood of increasing poverty. Sometimes, people are poor due to circumstances totally beyond their control. Sickness or injury hits and destroys earning…

Last Sunday, I preached a message on, “What Happens When a Believer Dies?” It was based on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, an excellent and encouraging passage. I want to further explain…

What does the Bible say, if anything, about cremation? That was the question I received this week. The truth is that the Bible has very little to say about cremation. Burial was…

I received another excellent question, “What does the Bible say about suicide?” The suicide of comedian Robin Williams shocked the nation and has brought both depression and…

I received another good question in the offering plate this week, “Who do we pray to? Do we pray to the Heavenly Father, to God, or to Jesus? Or does it matter, because of the…

I received another good question this week. This question is particularly timely considering the news that Arizona executed a man last week by lethal injection. The two hours it…

I encouraged our members to submit questions, and this excellent-but-tough question came in anonymously, “Why do believers endure constant pain?” Before I answer, let me share my…

In my sermon series on “Questions: A Study of 1 Thessalonians,” I encouraged our members to submit Biblical questions to me. The first question I received was a good one. The…

I am not a politician, just a believer who has many deeply held political beliefs based on my faith in Jesus and my love for my country. Most of the time, I keep my political…

Fellowship. It’s a word used predominately in church life to describe friendship—except that it’s more than friendship. It’s describes something like the close bonds you get in a…

Years ago, when everyone went to church, you didn’t need much of a strategy for reaching people. Everyone already came to church, so the strategy was not much more than (1) call a…

It’s old-fashioned. Most people wouldn’t consider it exciting. We don’t serve food. The chairs aren’t the softest. The music is old-style, right out of the hymnal, with only piano…

It’s not unusual for me to set goals. I set them all the time. They help me think through what I should be accomplishing. They help me know where I’m going. And they help me…

Some people think I’m just cheap, and after you read this blog, you might agree with them. However, I think of it differently. I’ve learned to be content without constantly buying…

Common courtesy is no longer common. We were taught it. Or at least I was. I was taught to treat people—all people—with a basic level of respect. They didn’t have to earn it,…

I am often on Facebook and Twitter. For the most part, I enjoy using social media, and I use them for fun, to communicate with people who are important to me, and to promote my…

Last year, I blogged about a young man living in our dumpster behind the church. He had a host of issues that led him to our dumpster. He had major family issues. He didn’t know…

I hear a lot of complaints and negativity, so from time to time, I like to point out the good in the world! This last week, I was highly encouraged by the story of golfer Phil…

Guns have been high on the list of controversial issues in recent months. Some lawmakers are proposing new restrictions on gun ownership, while others just as ardently defend our…

Christians have been using technology from the beginning. We were among the first to employ scribes to repeatedly copy the Bible. We were among the very first to use the printing…

Several people have asked for a copy of my Christmas Eve sermon. We didn’t record it, since we met in the gym. This is an abridged, after Christmas, version of those remarks. The…

Like most Americans, I have prayed deeply for the families in Connecticut who lost children. I have been angered by the evil that seems ever present, and I have recommitted myself…

As many of you know, I recently completed a four month stint on a Maricopa County Grand Jury. A Grand Jury is different from a trial jury. Instead of determining guilt or…

I wrote this primarily for me, for I find it quite helpful for me to count my blessings. Nevertheless, I thought that some of you might find it helpful to read as a springboard…

Another major American leader had his career destroyed this week when an adulterous affair was revealed. And at this point, no one knows for sure just how far this investigation…

Note: I’m purposely writing this post before I know the results of the election. Although I have strong opinions about politics and I take my role as a voter very seriously, I…

Its rewarding to see Christianity at work at church, but its even more rewarding to see it in a business. Did you read about the retiring auto dealer? Howard Cooper of Ann Arbor,…

On Sunday, the church I mentioned in my last blog (First Baptist Church of Crystal Springs, Mississsippi) read an apology decided upon by the leaders of the church admitting that…

Like many other Southern Baptists, I read with dismay of the situation that occured at First Baptist Church in Crystal Springs, Mississippi. A black couple who had been attending…

A news article arrested my attention this morning. It featured a Chicago Funeral Director proclaiming “These Kids Don’t Expect To Live a Full Life” anymore. In his neighborhood,…

It’s a dirty little secret that really isn’t much of a secret, but our denomination (the Southern Baptist Convention) was formed in a region and in an era of extreme racial…

There is always something going on at FSBCA designed to help people, and we don’t always take the time to tell the success stories we hear. For example, in April, our church was…

As soon as I walked into the church office, I could tell we had power issues. Some lights burned dimly; others wouldn’t come on at all. Computers wouldn’t turn on. Telephones…

Some months ago, I blogged about a young man living in our dumpster. That was in January, and several of you have asked me for an update. The truth is that he has lived in our…

I’m not a University of Kentucky fan. Those that know me best (or even know me casually) know that I am a fan of another group of Wildcats. Nevertheless, I learned some…

1943 was a long time ago, and life was different in Avondale back then. Avondale (also known as Coldwater) was an unincorporated area, and the population was less than 2000…

On Monday, I heard the beep of the intercom on my phone. I was expecting the standard, “John Doe is here to see you” or “You have a call on line 1.” Instead, the message was…

Three sex scandals are in the news this week; unfortunately, that’s about normal by a Tuesday. One deals with a candidate for president, one deals with a young musician, and the…

I get the question often. Sometimes it’s in jest from a church member, “So you only work on Sundays, right?” At other times it comes from someone outside of the church that thinks…

Two weeks ago, the members of Estrella Falls Baptist Church (our Goodyear congregation) decided to stop meeting. Most of these members have started attending FSBCA. It was a tough…

I don’t brag about my wife nearly enough, but it’s time that I did. Last week, my wife Dawn went for four days to visit our daughter Kimberly and her husband Tim in Utah. Dawn was…

As I’ve mentioned before, I like to promote good movies that are also good movies. I want a movie to be both enjoyable and to present a worthy theme. I don’t necesarily expect a…

I read a disturbing blog today about race and the church, and I’ve been thinking about it all day long. Essentially, the blogger (Ed Stetzer) reminded me that churches are still…

I read this poem last Sunday, and I had several requests for copies, so I thought I’d post it on my blog. However, let me share with you a few disclaimers: (1) I have been unable…

I love a good movie. But let’s be honest about it; seldom do we agree on the definition of “good.” For some people, a good movie is set in the old west. (Especially if it stars…

Many years ago, a perceptive church member came up to me after my preaching and said, “Good message, Pastor, but what are we supposed to do?” Apparently, I had proven my point but…

When terrorists attacked the World Trade towers, Americans rightly called upon Muslim leaders to condemn the acts, since the terrorists were followers of Islam. And there was a…

My family and I recently returned from our Colorado Vacation. We stayed in the Rocky Mountain National Park area (Grand Lake) and then again near Durango. We had an incredible…

A candidate for president whom I otherwise respect said something this week that should cause all Americans–and especially all Christians–to stop and think seriously about our…

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.” (Psalm 33:12. Part of my text for Sunday.) On July 4, 1831, the song we know today as “My…

Thursday evening of Vacation Bible School is one of the toughest but most rewarding evenings of the year. It’s tough because the workers are tired. Most of us have worked full…

In my early years of ministry, I took 1 Timothy 4:12 as a verse written to me, “Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in…

I’m an environmentalist. To be honest, those words aren’t often spoken by evangelical pastors. Most of us tend to be conservatives, and environmentalism isn’t usually on the top…

Vacation Bible School is an old-fashioned idea. I’m now 53 years old, and I can’t remember not going to a church with a Vacation Bible School. In any church I’ve been a part of,…

My daughter Angela and I were at the Southern Baptist Convention this week, which meant that we were hanging out with a lot of Southern Baptist pastors. Angie noticed something,…

My wife Dawn and I recently spent a weekend away in the White Mountains of Arizona. The weekend away with her reminded me of many things: I love to preach, but every once in a…