"for I was hungry and you gave Me food; for I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; for I was a stranger and you took me in" - Matthew 35:25 (NKJV) [emphasis mine] You can read the same Scripture passage a thousand times, and it may come across the same way each time, until you live out its application. This was certainly the case with my recent short-term mission trip. Dover partnered with Corinth Baptist Church and The Hope Project to launch our first collaborative mission tri

As the school year revs up, I am reminded of the tradition I participated in as a student, See You at the Pole™, which takes place on September 24th this year. Christian students participate in this prayer meeting by gathering before the bell rings at the flagpoles on their campuses to pray over their school, peers, teachers and faculty for the year. It reminded us students that faith is not only a right and privilege to practice in the public square, but also a responsibilit

Chief Adkins speaks at Historic St John's Church “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” – Revelation 7:9-10 (NKJV) “But we’ll never be truly free until those in

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” - Matthew 10: 32-33 (NKJV) I’ve been thinking a lot about compromise lately. When we should, and when we shouldn’t. Thousands of government and supporting workers are back on the job because a Virginia politician compromised. He now faces backlash from his own party. Thousands of mar

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." —Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV) This past weekend, so many good things were going on. A celebration service and reception were given for a pastor, who is retiring after 28 years of faithful shepherding. A patriotic ceremony and reception honored another pastor who retired

“No, this is the kind of fasting I want: loosen the chains of injustice, lighten the burden of those who work for you, and set the oppressed free.” - Isaiah 58:6 I have often remarked, that if God had a nickname for me, it would probably be “Amoeba Boy.” Over the years, I have come to the realization that my intellect and wisdom, compared to God’s, is comparable to that of an amoeba’s with Albert Einstein (or Solomon, if we’re staying in the theological wheelhouse). Nowhere i

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." - John 14:27 There’s a lot going on, in the name of peace, these days. Since I started writing this blog, athletes from around the world walked in symbolic unity during the Parade of Nations to open the Winter Olympics. A Super Bowl commercial featured rock star Lady Gaga singing her version of Fred Rogers’ “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

"We're a bunch of misfits." These were the words of quarterback Fernado Mendoza, after giving “all the glory to God.” If you’re a sports fan or just following this feel-good story, you know that Mendoza led his team of “misfits” to the National Collegiate Football Championship. A team, mostly comprised of little known and often disrespected players, defeated a team chocked full of highly recruited, elite athletes. The key, most experts agree, was that the less talented indiv

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Mark Twain is credited with the quote, "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." I’ve been thinking a lot about the latter as one year closes and another begins. I’m one of those guys who often writes out New Year’s Resolutions, as a fun (and nagging) way of goal setting

Congratulations to Dover's Executive Director of Missions Win Davis and his wife Debbie on the birth of their grandson, Julian. As I’m writing this blog, my heart is filled with joy as we celebrate a beloved family’s first-born son. As we draw closer to Christmas, that joy will undoubtedly increase. Travelers from afar bringing precious gifts. A baby boy swaddled from head to toe to keep him warm. Every heart, every eye, every prayer focused on this child. This Christmas, one

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:23-25 (NIV) At your Dover Baptist Association’s Annual Meeting last October, we announced something unprecedented. In a struggling economy with an uncertain fut

"To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up." - Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 (NKJV) As I’m writing this blog, a new season is about to begin. There’s crispness in the air. Faithful followers are getting excited. Inspirational words will be written and rehearsed in hopes that lives will b

"Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance." - Proverbs 1:4 (NIV) Legendary college basketball coach, John Wooden is credited with saying, “If I’m through learning, I’m through.” Wooden, also well respected for his devout Christian faith, was an avid reader of his Bible, which sat on his office desk. After an illustrious career, which included ten national championships, he co-authored a devotional (Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success: B

Have mercy upon me, O God! According to Your loving kindness! According to the multitude of Your tender mercies! Blot out my...

Sabbaticals, Sabbaths and The Power of Rest & Renewal And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the...

"Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said,...

"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will...

Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him,...