West Franklin Family, I read this week that sports betting is a $120 billion business. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of online gambling in 2018 and, well, the floodgates burst. According to the article, “Before the legalization of online gambling, the great majority of Americans would go their entire life without being tempted to seek out a bookie or fly to the handful of jurisdictions in which in-person sports betting was permitted.” Things are different now. “What millions face... Read more

West Franklin Family, Jesus placed high value on little things. His go to analogy of the kingdom included small objects. A mustard seed. Yeast. A little leaven. A child. A grain of wheat. Salt. Pearls. A sheep. A coin. A son. Seeds falling in particular areas. You get the idea. Jesus loved to highlight the little things. Why? The things that generally go unnoticed tend to make the biggest impact. In the economy of the kingdom of God, the little... Read more

West Franklin Family, Wednesday I heard the most beautiful Christian message in a very surprising place. Current country music star Morgan Wallen (who rocks a killer mullet by the way) recently released a song called “Don’t Think Jesus.” When I saw the title, my first (and very judgmental) thought was, “oh great, another secular artist singing heretical thoughts about Jesus.” I was badly mistaken. It’s actually one of the best and accurate theological songs I have heard on the radio... Read more

West Franklin Family, Thursday morning I drove to Hartselle, Alabama. My mom wrote a book and was part of a home-town book signing at the Train Depot in the center of downtown. My sisters were there, along with some of their children (11 out of 15 grandchildren were present and accounted for). I got to see a couple of faces I had not seen in a long, long time. A fun day for sure. One gentleman I met for the... Read more

West Franklin Family, Tomorrow morning, God willing, we will gather for Easter Sunday services like we used to. You know, before we were quarantined or masked or separated by six feet. Tomorrow should feel like a “normal” Easter Sunday. He is Risen! I can’t wait. I bought a new shirt and coat for the occasion. Three services. Newly renovated sanctuary. Pretty dresses. Pastel shirts. Smiles. Hugs. Singing. Praying. Preaching. Earlier this week I commiserated with friends about what we “had”... Read more

West Franklin Family, Tomorrow morning we will gather on the first day of Holy Week. The week named for the final days leading to Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. The week that included real events that changed the course of history. Events that changed the eternal fate of every believing human. Events that still change our lives on a continuous basis to this day. Holy. Beautiful. Excruciating. Dark. Light. Night. Day. Pain. Exhilaration. Holy Week. I strongly encourage you to... Read more

West Franklin Family, I’ve heard Mike Glenn say on numerous occasions that he has pastored several different churches at the same address. He means that Brentwood Baptist has morphed into a different church multiple times during his 30 year tenure as senior pastor. Prior to coming to West Franklin, I pastored three churches. Friendship Baptist in Amite, Louisiana for almost five years. Wynne Baptist Church in Wynne, Arkansas for nearly eight years. And First Baptist Church in El Dorado, Arkansas... Read more

West Franklin Family, We Baptist’s are pretty good at celebrating Christmas and Easter. The other parts of the Christian calendar? Well, if you’re like me, a bit of education wouldn’t hurt. For instance, did you know according to the Christian calendar we are currently smack dab in the middle of Lent? Now. I get it. Most of us associate Lent with the Catholic faith and other denominations. At least I do. But what if the six weeks between Ash Wednesday... Read more