Ever been to see gorillas at a zoo?  They are big and bad and have extremely poor social manners. If you have ever been to a gorilla enclosure at a zoo you recognize the impressive nature of these beasts. The largest of the primates, gorillas are massive apes. You probably know the little joke: Sam; “What does a 500 pound gorilla do?” Jim: “I don’t know, what does a 500 pound gorilla do?” Sam: “Anything he wants!” That just doesn’t … →

On this date 15 years ago I began my days as a professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. When I think about the ways our great God has allowed me to teach, to mentor, to love on students from then until now I am in awe. I watched Emmitt Smith give his acceptance speech for the Pro Football Hall of Fame last night. He talked about how he yearned to be a Dallas Cowboy from age six, how his life … →

Note: this is taken from my ebook With: A Guide to Informal Mentoring. Download it here. “Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ.” Paul, in I Cor. 11:1 Great men lead people, but greater men train leaders.” Bill Bright Andy had only been a believer a short time when he came to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Young, fiery, and full of zeal, I liked him from the first day of class. He had another feature I greatly … →

Do you ever go to a worship service not expecting too much, minding your own business, when the Lord reaches down and shakes your cage? That has happened to me more than a few times. A while back my friend, co-author, and colleague Mark Liederbach spoke in chapel at SEBTS. In his message he spoke with great eloquence on the importance of the local church in the life of the believer, even noting he served as professor at Southeastern with … →