Faith

Criticism is everywhere. It's a constant. If you're in any form of ministry leadership (or any kind of public service), you don't have to go looking for it. 

Trust is hard for me. Not because I've been let down or burned by people I had once trusted, but because I like to think I don't have to trust people to begin with. 

When I was growing up, my parents gave me a rectangular plastic bank divided into three sections labeled "Give," "Save" and "Spend" in that order, specifically in that order. 

Let me tell you a story of a girl who chased a lion.

At the African American Fellowship Conference in Sugar Land last week, Reverend Tomiko Jones of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Mansfield outlined a few important points churches need to make in regards to reaching the 21 to 39-year-old age group.

Twenty-five years ago, I preached my first sermon, and it was a fiery, cliché-driven message about sex, drugs and effects of media. 

In a span of 24 hours, I was stopped twice by police officers.

Sometimes, I'm overly sensitive to what people say to me about my sermons. I have no idea how common this is among fellow ministers, but I have a particular bent which the Lord continues to hammer out of me. 

My junior year of high school, I broke my arm. Caused by a cheerleading accident, the incident ruined all my plans, activities and basically everything I had going.

Amid all the awareness of death and loss in the last few weeks, God has proven faithful to show He makes all things new.

I've been called by many names in my lifetime. Nicknames like Rach, Rae or Cricket. I've been called champion, All-American, ambassador, athletic, healthy and creative.

I love the 4th of July. We are able to celebrate the independence of our country and come together to barbecue, watch baseball, eat some ice cream, spend time with friends and sing "America the Beautiful."

Within a short period of about four weeks, I've been impacted in some way by about 10 deaths. Each life lost has a story. 

I've always heard losses come in "threes." Well, the past few weeks have gone way beyond that number in my world. I know there are many families and friends grieving – some I know personally and some I only know by name as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Benjamin Skye's dream was to return to America from his home in Malaysia, get a college degree and live here permanently.

The BGCT has stood strong in faith and character for 119 years because of leaders who inspire servant hood and excellence. 

I have never claimed to have a green thumb, but I am an eternal optimist. So recently, when my peace lily was just about on her last leg, I decided I couldn't let her give up without a fight. 

A life-long Texan, I did something last week I had never done. I visited Big Bend National Park.