Pastor’s Study

Intersections. They are all around us. I often find myself standing at the office door looking out toward Little Rock and Blalock as they cross a short distance away. From rolling stops to close calls, you can observe a little bit of everything in only a few seconds. Our theme for this year’s “Freedom Week”Continue reading “From the Pastor June 2025”

The arrival of May means this year’s “Change for the Children” campaign for the benefit of the OFWB Children’s Home is underway. In the past week, you should have received an insert in your worship bulletin providing information about this denominational ministry as well as a plastic bag for the purpose of collecting spare changeContinue reading “From the Pastor May 2025”

“Are we there yet?” I am pretty sure you have heard that question if you have spent any amount of time with a child on a long drive. Who knows? You might even be an adult who has posed that very question. My answer to you this day is “not quite.” In fact, it isContinue reading “From the Pastor April 2025”

March? Really? Didn’t we just celebrate Christmas? The turn of the calendar reminds us “the hands of time stand still for no one.” In just a few weeks, spring will arrive and with that we will see things all around us come to life. This brings to my attention the words of Revelation 21:5 whereContinue reading “From the Pastor March 2025”

“Reach, Provide, Grow” Why are we here? What is our purpose? What are we trying to do to people? They are all questions I have heard over the years within the Church, denominational committees, and the academic classroom. Just recently, I was in a meeting with other Original Free Will Baptist ministers and laity, andContinue reading “From the Pastor January 2025”

 “Happy New Year!”  You may be puzzled by that wish as January 1 is still a month away.  No, I haven’t turned an extra page in my office calendar and I haven’t gone completely crazy (yet), but, with the First Sunday of Advent, we start something new.  It’s the beginning of the Christian year whichContinue reading “From the Pastor December 2024”

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High, to declare your steadfast love in the morning and your faithfulness by night.” Psalm 92:1-2 NRSV I’ll admit Thanksgiving Day isn’t exactly what it used to be.  Time changes many things, new traditions develop, and certain practices driftContinue reading “From the Pastor November 2024”

“So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 (NRSV) The trail of tobacco leaves along the route of my drive home this afternoon reminded me the harvest continues.  When I was a child, practically all farmers hadContinue reading “From the Pastor October 2024”

“Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:14 NRSV Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! It’s time to wake up! For nearly three months, teachers, parents,and students have been able to avoid the dreaded sound. They have turned over, pulled the covers tighter, and settled in for a few more Zs.Continue reading “From the Pastor September 2024”

“For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 (NRSV) “Don’t go there!” That’s pretty much Paul’s line of thought in his correspondence with the people of Galatia (Central Asia Minor/Modern-day Turkey). Why would theyeven think of doing so? I mean, someContinue reading “From the Pastor July 2024”