Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, April 21, 2019.

I remember as a young man being frustrated and shared, "I thought when you were earnestly trying to do the right thing and trying to lead, people would appreciate that -not fight you." The response of my friend and mentor, Dr. Gregory Jones, was a watershed moment and has guided me through many a dark hour. "Sometimes," he said, "a man must walk alone."

Decades have passed and I have since learned that resistance can provide a healthy opportunity to re-evaluate whether you're headed in the right direction. As a leader, you have to keep moving True North. But, leave a trail. Sometimes, people just have to meet you there.

Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, December 3, 2018.

Connie Griffin was my high school counselor and is one of the 5 most influential people in my life. She sought out every possible opportunity I could take advantage of; extracurricular activities, essay contests, summer camps, college scholarships -the list is virtually inexhaustible.

Aside from that, she gave me something of such tremendous value it only comes second to my faith in Christ. She implemented a student service organization called Natural Helpers that served as counselor's assistants. We were a network of students trained to support and encourage other students. Through that, she taught me how to listen; to suspend my judgement (or at least try) and hear what another is saying. I cannot tell you the positive impact those lessons have had on my life -lessons I'm trying to pass on now to my children.

What's more amazing is that she did not just do that for me. I watched her do that for scores of other students that walked the halls of Bailey Magnet. Today is her birthday, a day that she should be honored with gifts but I wanted her to know what a gift her life has been. God has used you to do so much good and to help people you will never meet or that hasn't even been born yet. You often say how proud of us you are but I'm sure I'm not alone in saying how wonderfully blessed we were to have you in our lives and how proud we are of you. Happy Birthday!

Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, February 25, 2018.

An enduring government requires equal access and protections for all citizens, otherwise it discriminates, which makes it possible for you to someday be discriminated against. Therefore, the best thing any of us can do as citizens is to actively seek a government that works well for every citizen, including those with whom we disagree.

Now, to my family in Christ in particular, we would be much more productive if we understood that our city, state or nation is neither the Church nor the Kingdom of God. What we believe is a matter of faith and it cannot be legislated or imposed -it comes by believing Jesus. But, let's not pretend that many of our reactions over the Starkville Pride Parade have anything to do with a love of God. Because if it did, we would be just as incensed about lying on our taxes as we are about homosexuality. Many of us are simply gripped by a fleshly desire to elevate ourselves above others. That's pride and discrimination and has nothing to do with God. Come out of the fire! Let us repent of our hypocrisy and seek God for wisdom on how to function profitably in and outside the household of faith and for the discernment to know the difference.

Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, May 7, 2017.

I don't reach out and stay connected with people like I should because Satan's always in my ear convincing me that I have nothing to offer because of my failures, because my life is not perfect or because I haven't attained a certain level of wealth or success. I feel like once I get my life together and do something important then I can be around people because I'll have some value to offer and then it will be worth it for them to have me around.

But if I pay attention, Satan's tactic is always diversion. In this case, he deceives me into placing the focus on myself. Satan cannot overcome the Light so he works to turn us from the Light. As a follower of Christ, I know that the Power to help others is not in me but in the One who uses me.

And so, I must fight to make myself available because my faith is in God who is able to make straight paths with crooked lines. I must trust He is powerful enough, brilliant enough… God enough to use me. Yes, even me. #MakeWar #TurnToTheLight

Originally posted on Facebook on Tuesday, February 28, 2017.

You know, my dad wasn't particularly expressive when I was growing up but there were was things he did that spoke volumes. One example is how he would always be looking for change on the ground. It didn't matter where we were or the condition of the coin -it could be in the bottom of a puddle, covered in mud or even bent and mangled, my dad would stop in his tracks to pick it up. I also observed the same attitude when he would help people. I can't tell you how many times we were late getting somewhere because he would stop to help someone on the side of the road. Somehow as a child I put the two things together and what I learned from watching my dad was that all people have value, no matter where you find them or how they come to you. So, now I stop to pick up loose coins wherever I am, no matter the condition I find it in because it's a reminder of a lesson I learned from him. Happy Birthday Rev. Paul Luckett. I love you.

Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, January 23, 2017.

His flight leaves Jackson International Airport in 2 hours and we're still in Starkville. Undeterred, we hop in his gold Cadillac, and speed down 25 in a heroic effort to make a two hour trip in an hour and thirty. On the way, Dr. Gregory Jones and I are having a discussion about grace and mercy because, being new to grace, I was struggling to make a distinction between the two. And, just as as we get out of the Starkville city limits, we are met by the blue lights of a Mississippi Highway Patrol car. As the officer leans down to take my license, he sees Pastor Jones and recognizes him immediately. They chat, they laugh and the officer lets us go with a warning. As we pull back onto the highway, Dr. Jones says, "See, the officer letting you go without a ticket is mercy. He didn't give you what you deserved. Now, had he let you go and also gave you $100, that's grace – giving you more than you deserve."

I could tell a story every day for years about what this man invested in my life. But what's more important is that you get what Dr. Gregory Jones life was all about, what God shared him with us to give: Your innermost desire is to see your Heavenly Father smile, to know that "you're good". And, all it takes to make God smile, is to accept the Gift that He gave -Christ. The Gift, through acceptance, does the rest. That's grace.

Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, January 22, 2017.

One first Sunday in 1996, I attended Greater Ebenezer M.B. Church in Starkville, MS. The church was packed with college students and as I was leaving, Pastor Gregory Jones stopped me at the door and said, "Why didn't you take communion?" I responded flatly, "Because, I am unworthy," thinking of 1 Corinthians 11:27. Pastor Jones replied, "Thinking you're not worthy and knowing Jesus is, makes you worthy."

Up until that moment, I only knew the exacting requirements of God, I saw Him as judge I could not please. I knew nothing of the provision God had already made to satisfy those requirements Himself through Christ, so that I could enjoy the endless pleasures of fellowship with Him. Everything I know about grace began with Dr. Gregory Jones. He died today. I will miss him but I know where to find him -in Christ.

Originally posted on Facebook on Wednesday, March 5, 2014.

Son, popular opinion says it's undersirable for a guy to be a virgin and what women really want is for a man to be "experienced". This is a deception embraced by the shortsighted, who have no hope and would give up longterm success for shorterm satisfication. What a woman really wants, more than knowing what you can do in bed (which will come with time and attentiveness to your wife), is knowing that she is safe with you because by preserving yourself for marriage, you've demonstrated faithfulness, determination, discipline, purity and that you can be trusted with what's sacred. #VirginityMatters

Originally posted on Facebook on Thursday, February 6, 2014.

As I set out each day to share the love of Christ in serving others, sometimes I'm discouraged and tempted by the evil one to think, "Hell, I've got issues that no one is helping me with. I'd be doing a lot better if I focused less on others and more on myself." This assertion from Satan would be true IF my pursuit were worldly things. But, what I seek is to have the heart of God and there is no better way to get it than through the practice of following Christ's example of laying aside self to help others know the love of the Father.