Originally posted on Facebook on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

Is our reaction to the novel Coronavirus COVID-19 faith or fear?

The goal of fear is to prevent (pain, suffering or death). The goal of faith is to produce (well-being, productivity and life).

A defining characteristic of worry and fear is that it hinders productivity -the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Are you preventing or producing? If you want to know whether you're operating under faith or fear, look at the fruit -or the lack thereof.

[SOURCES:]
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Luke 8:14
14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

Matthew 7:16-20
16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, September 16, 2019.

I have a bad habit of letting my email inbox dictate my day because frankly, it's easier than clearly defining my own goals, thinking through how to achieve them and maintaining the discipline to consistently refocus and execute on the next step toward success.

But, this is much like everything else in life. Either I decide or someone else will decide for me. And, when someone else decides, it is seldom in your best interest.

If there is something I desire to achieve, I have to decide how I am going to spend my life to attain it. Either way, your life will get spent. So, decide every day. #Thriveday

Originally posted on Facebook on Thursday, July 11, 2019.

We've lost some legends over the past few weeks. I was a college student when I met Dorothy Issac. She recruited me to attend a NAACP meeting in the basement of (the old) Griffin United Methodist Church and personally registered me to vote there.

She was an avid proponent of civil engagement and political involvement. She so often admonished people to get involved that her common statements such as, "It's just like I say…" became catch phrases that we lovingly use around our house to this day.

Whatever your politics, we can agree that Dorothy Issac was involved in the progress of Starkville, she got others involved and we're a better community for it.

http://bit.ly/2G64y3C

Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, June 10, 2019.

Found this little guy right outside my back door. Wanting to limit any risk to my family, I called my friend Richard Linley with NorthEast Exterminating LLC. I asked him what I could buy to prevent snakes. He replied, "The best way to prevent snakes is to keep your grass cut low. They don't like to be out in the open." I'm not sure if he intended it to be, but that's a sermon and some of the best advice I've ever received. #ThatWillPreach

Practically speaking, my wife has the password to everything, including my phone and is encouraged to go through it at any time for this very reason.

Originally posted on Facebook on Friday, May 31, 2019.

I am humbled by the number of extraordinary people I meet on a near daily basis in Starkville -people eager to roll up their sleeves to make the city we love and call home a better place. Tomorrow, a group of these extraordinary people will be spring cleaning the J.L. King Center to prepare it for its new life.

If you're seeking an opportunity to volunteer, or just interested in investing in the community, you are welcome to join. Clean-up of the offices in the J.L. King Community Center will begin at 7:30 AM, Saturday May 31, 2019, 700 N Long St, Starkville, MS 39759.

Please feel free to bring any extra brooms, mops, or gloves you can spare. It's dusty in places, so please prepare accordingly.

Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, May 20, 2019.

I thought nothing about crushing bugs on sight. Now, this woman has our entire family gently ushering them out of our home and stopping to appreciate all manner of wildlife. She accomplished that, not by putting something down (e.g. you're bad and you should feel bad if you don't think the way I do), but by lifting something up and elevating it in our eyes (e.g. nature is beautiful and here is why).

Friday, students of the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District honored Dr. Jessica Witt Tegt, sharing one-by-one how their lives had been impacted by her as the founder of Starkville Science Club, Science Olympiad and the YES! Program. Dr. Tegt taught a lot of great lessons, but her commitment to elevating appreciation of something by elevating people is by far the greatest lesson she's imparted to us all.

Melissa Luckett and I thank you for all you've done for our community and our family through your science programs and your friendship.

Originally posted on Facebook on Wednesday, May 1, 2019.

I've been on an encouraging journey with a group called SOUL (Starkville Oktibbeha Unity League). These are people who want to see Starkville become the best it can be by building on our wonderful diversity rather than being divided by it.

Our most recent get together, organized by Michael Valentine, was to the Islamic mosque here in Starkville. We were graciously hosted and educated about Islam by Dr. Rani Sullivan.

Besides a number of surprising things we share theologically (such as the virgin birth), what struck me most was the common decency of people: kindness, hospitality and a willingness to help. This is the vantage from which I choose to see my Muslim neighbors. This is the commonality from which I hope we all build.