1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Household Words:

THAT’S PRACTICAL. My Johnny Derouen Story. Psalm 27:4.

Image: Johnny Derouen’s first day at FBC Houston, spring of 1984. Also pictured, Joel Nettles. Photo courtesy of Lance Vinson. The story goes that in the early ‘80s, Associate Pastor Felix Wagner interviewed 70-some people before he found the right man for the job. Let’s call it 77—the perfect number. After a two-year quest, FirstContinue reading “THAT’S PRACTICAL. My Johnny Derouen Story. Psalm 27:4.”

Things Are Gonna Get Better.

Sometimes it’s hard. It just is. There is the grief of emotional loss. There is the pressure of responsibilities. There are health concerns and disappointed hopes and crushed dreams. You gained weight when you were trying to lose it. You gave up three walks when you had a chance to strike them out. Another dayContinue reading “Things Are Gonna Get Better.”

Surprise! Your Work is a Gift.

As a child, I was sometimes surprised by negative attitudes adults had about work. First, there were the Garfield cartoons everywhere: “I hate Mondays!” Then in the lunchroom, there was a calendar on the wall in the serving line and at the end of every day a cafeteria worker would put a huge “X” throughContinue reading “Surprise! Your Work is a Gift.”