The weather is finally starting to turn more favorable. But here in central Virginia, it's toying with our emotions—30 degrees one day, 80 the next. Back and forth we go. On one particularly nice day, I was driving through town and found myself stuck in a long line of cars, waiting for a train to pass. While I sat there, I noticed four people over at the local playground. That’s not uncommon for this time of year. But what caught my eye wasn’t who was there—it was what they

This time of year is beloved by many because of the budding trees, blossoming flowers, changing weather, and college basketball tournaments . Around this time, everyone (well, almost everyone) pulls out brackets to predict who will win the tournament and be crowned National Champion. Churches, workplaces, families, and friends create pools for bragging rights—and sometimes even prizes! The reality is, most of us don’t really know what we’re talking about. We haven’t watched

This week, I had to have several difficult conversations in my ministry side gig. About two years ago, I became Co-Director of RuraLove , a ministry of the Goshen Baptist Association . When I was first asked to step up from volunteer to Co-Director, I was excited — excited to serve in a practical way and to have the freedom and encouragement to share Jesus with people. But over time, frustration crept in. Resentment followed. Two major challenges stood out: volunteer chemist

Joel, Steve, Powell, Me, JT (aka Hairy Feet, Captain Unicorn, Bearded Wonder, Clown Lips, and Chuckles) What a great weekend! I don’t know about how yours went, but I had a wonderful time. I went down to Camp Piankatank , where I served for two summers as a counselor and program staff member. Four of my buddies—guys I worked with at camp—joined me. We hadn’t ALL been together since 20

"The first 100 days" is a well-known benchmark, often used to evaluate a U.S. president’s early performance in office. These first months can set the tone for an entire term, filled with executive appointments, executive orders, and legislative priorities. A pastor’s first 100 days can feel just as pivotal. While many church leadership experts suggest avoiding major changes during the first six months, those early days are still packed with activity. At the time of writing,

As a regular at our local Mexican restaurant , I’ve witnessed plenty of amusing moments. But on a recent visit, one particular scene caught my attention. A little girl, no older than five, burst from the back dining area and hurried toward the bathroom. Judging by her pace, you’d think it was an emergency—but I wasn’t convinced. Her mother followed shortly after to check on her. As she knocked on the door, the entire restaurant overheard the child’s enthusiastic response : “I

How do you sit when you go to a restaurant? Many families choose their seats without much thought, yet the way we sit can reveal something deeper about relationships and connection. Not long ago, I was dining at one of my favorite local spots when I bumped into a couple I know through Upward Sports. They were grandparents of one of our regular participants. As we chatted about their grandson's experience with wrestling, something caught my attention. They were sitting side b

*This is not the actual desk. Recently, I was asked to substitute teach nearly every day at our local school. I had to decline several times, but finally, I caved on Friday. The lady who manages substitutes at the middle school asked me about Friday, and when I checked, there were only two spots left. I procrastinated as long as I could because, to be honest, I wasn’t excited about subbing for either class. Later, I checked again—and wouldn’t you know it, another absence pop

Basketball season is winding down for me as an official , and one of my recent games happened to coincide with a school's senior night. Before the game, there was the usual ceremony recognizing the athletes and celebrating their high school careers. I couldn't help but notice, when they got to the two basketball players, that one of their teammates was visibly emotional, with tears in her eyes. What struck me most was how one of the girls being recognized seemed genuinely s

Recently, I was officiating a high school basketball game that wasn't very competitive, but on the final play of the first half, a player for the home team drove hard to the basket and went up for a shot. With only a few seconds left on the clock, my partners and I were watching closely to ensure the shot got off before the buzzer and to confirm whether it went in. The shot was clearly released before the buzzer, and we were ready to count the basket. But just before the bal

What a crazy week! Last Sunday afternoon, my wife and I were strategizing about how to spend a quiet day at home. With no commitments or plans , we tossed around ideas—lounging around, eating lunch, tackling some laundry…you know, that kind of stuff. But then my wife called me back. I could hear the concern in her voice: “ They’re doing CPR on Grandma... ” In a blur, we raced home, jumped into the same car, and sped to the hospital. Hours later, we received the news: Grandma

Ejecting a Spectator: When heckling crosses the line ( Doug Benc/Getty Images ) The recent snowfall here in Central Virginia threw the basketball schedule into chaos. Several high school games had to be rescheduled, creating a busy week of officiating for me. While plenty of officials work more games than I do, I ended up officiating six games this week. And there was one thing they all had in common: whining . Players. Coaches. Fans. Now, before you think I’m jaded or obli

As I write this article, a lot is going on around me. I’ve just come off two weeks of vacation , Christmas, New Year’s, the start of Upward Basketball & Cheer, officiating basketball games, a special election, family gatherings, a golf outing , and even some snow . However, there’s something bigger staring me dead in the face: tomorrow’s worship service at Mineral Baptist Church (MBC). I know some of the people reading this attend MBC and will be in attendance tomorrow, but

On New Year’s Day , I played in a “for fun” golf tournament. It was more of an outing with a few elements of a traditional competition. I invited a friend from church to join me, and we were partnered with two players we had never met before. I wrestled with how good I needed to play in order to either help carry the team or not be embarrassed. I’ve never claimed to be a great golfer—just someone who enjoys the game and has played a fair bit. The challenge, though, is that I

Another Christmas Day has come and gone. I hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday season. But I wonder—was it everything you planned for? Maybe you didn’t get the gift you really wanted. Maybe a family member couldn’t make it after all. Perhaps the cookies didn’t turn out quite right, or a cherished tradition was dismissed by the rest of the family. For us, this was the second year in a row our extended family was sick . This year hurt a little more because my wi

This past week, our church ordained four new deacons , and the occasion was especially meaningful for me. Since arriving in 2018, I’ve worked closely with all of them in various ministries. Some of them have children in our youth ministry , so I also have a close relationship with their children spanning from 6th grade to 11th grade. I’ve attended and participated in several deacon ordination services over the years, but this one stood out because of a unique touch. Our inter

Have you ever found yourself in an unexpected moment where two worlds collided, leaving you with a story you couldn't wait to share? Recently, I was scheduled to officiate a basketball doubleheader. What I did not know was that the visiting opponent was not just another boarding school. The opponent was from Australia. Every year, this school comes to the United States and plays schools up and down the East Coast. Now I can say I have officiated an international basketball

This past summer, I led a team of high school students from our church to Costa Rica on our first youth international mission trip . One of my favorite parts of international mission trips is the flight. Unlike most people, I love the airport and the plane ride—even the 12–14-hour ones ! Costa Rica was my fifth of six international mission trips, and I am always fascinated as we climb to cruising altitude. As we get further from the ground, we get closer to the clouds. And t

To say this is a busy time in my life right now is an understatement. Having just returned from one international mission trip and preparing for another next month , launching our Upward Flag Football & Cheer ministry at church, arranging multiple pick-up requests for donations at RuraLove, and school starting soon - which brings football season! I recently found out that I was assigned to a specific referee crew this season. Last year, I was a floater. I worked with sever

While watching one of my favorite television shows recently, I came across an episode where one of the characters learned ( no pun intended ) that he was dyslexic. In the build-up to that revelation, he was studying for an exam in mythology and he knew the content. However, when he received his test back his grade was not stellar. He had not failed but the grade did not reflect his grasp of the material. This led to a candid conversation between the son and his parents about