Closets across the land are filled with favorite shirts that we just can’t bring ourselves to throw away, regardless of how faded or worn they may be. Mine is a t-shirt that promoted an Arkansas District youth camp theme, “You’ve Been Served,” circa 2006. That shirt has served me well for over 17 years, pun…
Rick Lovall
The concepts of stewardship extend far beyond finances. Anything God has placed in your life should be stewarded, or managed, in such a way as to honor God. The long list of God’s blessings to be stewarded can include time, talents, treasures, ministries, homes, friendships, our bodies, and even our families. When it comes to…
The well-being of a church is often gauged by the culture of prayer, worship, discipleship, engagement, and spiritual growth of its members. While these are essential to a church’s well-being, it is wise to look beyond the platform and pew when determining the overall health of a church. The function of administration, namely, the management…
When Jesus was asked what the greatest command was, He answered concisely: 1) Love the LORD with all your heart, soul, and mind, and 2) You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:36-39). Once you decide to give your life to the Lord, you quickly come to find out that there are many callings…
Although parents work hard to teach children to say “Thank you,“ such a mannerism does not remain unless one chooses to be intentional about it. A cross-cultural survey by the John Templeton Foundation revealed that only 48% of American adults say they express gratitude on a regular basis. One would hope this trend would not…
Countless messages have been preached about sowing and reaping. From Jesus’ parable of the sower to Apostle Paul’s admonition in Galatians 6:7. The message is clear, “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” This principle should not be restrained to just the seed sown but should also include the bread that is produced…
Tired of buying toys that break, sweaters that are never worn, and cookware that is returned because it doesn’t match what someone already has too much of? Consider giving non-traditional Christmas gifts this year. The joy of giving can be magnified when the gift truly impacts the lives of others. In this article we will…
Growing pains are common experiences during the growth-filled teenage years. Knees ache. Ankles throb. Headaches often persist for days. Such pain is often met with tears, complaints, and even emotional outbursts. The calming response of a parent can be felt in the reply of, “It’s ok to cry. Pain is proof you are growing up.”…
The realities of life must never be ignored. Storms will come. Tires will blow out. Anniversary gifts will need to be bought. Property taxes will have to be paid. The question is, how are you planning for these expenses? Building a financial safety net (aka. establishing a savings account), will allow you to pay for…
Dropping out of school at 16 years old to have her first child put Renee* into a tail-spin of reactionary decisions and unhealthy relationships. She didn’t mean to make unhealthy choices. She was just trying to survive one day to the next. Although she never embraced a lifestyle of drugs and alcohol, she found herself…
One simple question told me all I needed to know. “How much money do you have left over after all of your bills are paid?” It wasn’t the actual answer to the question that I was looking for. I wanted to know how they would answer it.
In my previous 15-year career as a lender…