Mitchell Landress

Reflections On Biblical Wisdom And Cooperate Ideology I have a friend, who some would consider young, who pastors a moderate size church in, well ...we will just call it a large state. Paul graduated High School on time and went straight to College. After college Paul went to Seminary with no break in between. He finished both college and seminary in a timely manner. It also needs to be said that his academic achievements were outstanding in both college and seminary. Paul, however, finished seminary at the age of 26. By most peoples standards Paul is a young man. He is not immature. He married and has one child. Most importantly, he is a man of strong convictions, all of which are grounded in the truth of God’s Word. Worldly experience is not on his resume, neither is any bad church experience. So why do so many men like Paul have a hard time gaining trust for leadership in their church? More than this, why are so many churches reluctant to hire young men as their pastors? The answer ...

Reflections on Sending Our Students Back To School Each August brings a big day for many of our students. The first day of school yeilds feelings of both excitement and anxiety. Several of our students are entering into their last year of public school before they go off to college. They are excited about senior privileges; parking spaces, graduation photos, college applications, and completing the work that will lead them to their graduation day. Others are starting over at a new school with all of the fears and expectations that accompany that process. Part of me wants to go with them, not just because I enjoyed my days in school, but because I genuinely want what is best for them. While I cannot get on the school bus with them (nor would they want me to) that faithful morning, my prayers will go with them. When the Apostle Paul was writing to the church at Ephesus, from his prison cell, he had this same sort of concern. He wanted to be there with the congregation, but could not. So ...