In Proverbs 19:23 we read “The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.” When you hear the word “fear,” what comes to your mind? Spiders? Snakes? Heights? Speaking in public? For me, I’m deathly afraid of snakes. Deathly. Afraid. Like, paralysis! And…
Stop Feeling Guilty About Resting. Five Sabbatical Reflections.
Rest is a discipline I still need to learn. My sabbatical reminded me that stepping away from ministry responsibilities is not the same as truly resting. I often know how to stay busy, productive, and engaged, but I am still learning how to receive rest as a gift from God rather than feeling the need to justify…
Christians, Engage the Questions of Church and Culture
Every generation has its own questions. Some generations wrestle openly with the authority of Scripture. Others debate the nature of justice, sexuality, truth, or human identity. Ours is no different. And faithful Christians cannot afford to retreat into silence simply because the questions of the moment are controversial. The church does not choose the questions…
The Value of Correction
I haven’t had much time to write in the last couple of weeks. Once the new year hit, I started to prepare for a longer trip away from home and the office. For the next several weeks, I’m in Ft Jackson, SC, attending CHBOLC (Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership Course at USA-IRL). It’s a course every…
In Defense of Christian Patriotism: A New Book By Dan Darling
Daniel Darling serves as the Director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement and Assistant Professor of Faith and Culture at Texas Baptist College (the undergraduate school at Southwestern Seminary in Ft Worth, TX). Dan has also served on staff at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. He is the…
SBU at CrossCon 2026
In 2006, I had the chance to attend the first Together for the Gospel conference in Louisville, KY. As conferences go, I’ve been to dozens over the years. That conference (the singing, preaching, fellowship, and resources), and the various iterations (it happened every other year until 2022), was used by God to change my life…
ReThinking Hell? Current Issues in Theology
In recent weeks, there has been renewed interest in the doctrine of hell. The reason for the renewed interest is due to the comments of Kirk Cameron, a public Christian figure. Cameron is well-known because of his time in Hollywood, his work with Ray Comfort, and his outspoken faith. Recently, however, Cameron has made headlines…
Work for the Glory of God? Thinking Christianly about Vocation
This past semester, I’ve been meeting with a few students here at SBU to read and talk about a book by John MacArthur (The Gospel According to Jesus). One of the things we’ve come back to time and again in our discussion is how Christians should see all of life through the lens of the…
Are All Christian Schools the Same? Models of Christian Higher Education
Not all Christian schools are the same. There are various ways Christian schools understand how the Christian part of their identity intersects with the educational part. That is, there are various models of Christian higher education. Over the last few years, I’ve had the chance to be part of two Christian schools. The two schools…
Worldview Formation: Cultivating a Christian Mind
This year, I’ve had the privilege of taking over the Center for Worldview and Culture at Southwest Baptist University. The aim of the center is the same as that of the University. Our aim isn’t merely vocational training but the formation of the entire person. At SBU, we want to shape our students’ hearts and…









