Here is something I published on medium.com about reweaving the social fabric of our community, particularly in the area of education "In many cities around the state and country, school districts and charter schools fight each other tooth and nail to protect their own interests, and we see people try to pit traditional public education … Continue reading Weaving Our Lives Together →

I preached this sermon at the end of November at Rising Star Baptist Church. At the end of the sermon, I talked fairly openly about my dad, saying confidently that he "will be eighty next year." Little did I know, of course, that he would die from injuries sustained in a car wreck before Christmas. … Continue reading Chasing a Blessing →

This was beautiful and powerful when I first read it almost 13 years ago, and it is even more so today. A Thousand Little Maps by Gordon Atkinson Summers are hot in South Texas. Unthinkably hot. Impossibly hot. Your skin starts to sting the minute you step outside. In the hottest part of the day, … Continue reading A Thousand Little Maps →

Honestly, I rarely listen to sermons on the internet (even though I usually post my own when I preach). But earlier this week I saw a link to a sermon by my friend Chris Thacker, Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Alexandria, Louisiana. I don't know what got my attention exactly, but the title is … Continue reading Beloved →

This is today's entry in Frederick Buechner's book of daily readings. I know it doesn't speak to everyone the way it does to me, but I imagine there are others, like me, for whom this feels like it was written directly for you. Humanly Best After Buechner's father's death, the family moved to Bermuda, rather … Continue reading Humanly Best, Holy Best →

Charter Schools and District Work Together on Choice Fair for Parents In many cities around the state and country, school districts and charter schools fight each other tooth and nail to protect their own interests, but in Fort Worth, the Fort Worth ISD and local charter schools are working together every way they can with … Continue reading In the Interest of Kids →

December 17, 2018 Wilshire Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas We didn’t expect to be here today. But we are grateful to be here with all of you. I was sitting on the couch with my wife Jamie and my mom Helen last Sunday afternoon watching the Cowboy game, and suddenly I started getting phone calls. My … Continue reading Eulogy for my Dad →

I had the privilege of preaching this fall at Rising Star Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas to help them celebrate their 87th anniversary. They got their start in 1931 meeting in a restaurant/bar called The Greasy Spoon near what is now the corner of Rosedale and I-35. They have grown and done great work … Continue reading The Lord Has Renewed Our Strength →

Our new house is right across the street from a Fort Worth ISD elementary school. A school is a busy place, it turns out. Starting early in the morning there are the sounds of food deliveries and dumpsters being emptied and teachers and maintenance and cafeteria workers arriving for their day. Lots of sounds. Our … Continue reading The Sights and Sounds of the Kingdom of God →

Arthur Brooks has written a thought-provoking reflection on a new book, “Them: Why We Hate Each Other — and How to Heal,” by Senator Ben Sasse, Republican of Nebraska. You can read it here. Brooks writes: "Mr. Sasse worries … about a pervasive feeling of homelessness: Too many Americans don’t have a place they think … Continue reading That Hometown Gym on a Friday Night Feeling →