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New Hope Baptist Church, 1621 Highway 128, Sparkman, AR (2026)

08/26/2026

God’s Grace in the Storm
I want to talk to you about what it looks like when life hits you from every direction…

…and somehow, God still shows up.

Because that’s exactly what I lived through.

And if you’re in a storm right now—I want you to know:

God hasn’t stepped away from you.

During one of the hardest seasons of my life, I started doing something simple—but it changed everything.

I began writing down my prayers.

Not just thinking about them.
Not just hoping.

Writing them.

Names. Needs. Situations.
Things I was asking God to do.

And over time… something incredible happened.

God started answering them.

One by one.

Fourteen out of fifteen prayers were answered within months.

Not perfectly.
Not always how I expected.

But clearly.

And here’s the part that still amazes me…

The last prayer—the biggest one—I actually forgot about.

Years later…

God answered that one, too.

A ranch.

Land.
Cattle.
A life I once only dreamed about.

And today, it’s real.

Why am I telling you that?

Because you need to hear this:

God hears you—even when you forget what you asked Him for.

He doesn’t lose track.
He doesn’t overlook your prayers.
He doesn’t stop working just because time passes.

But life didn’t suddenly become easy.

Not even close.

To get through that season, I took work wherever I could.

One job took me to Fort Worth—huge project, bigger than anything I’d done before.

I learned. I grew. I stepped into rooms I never expected to be in.

And for the first time, I started realizing something:

God was expanding what I thought was possible for my life.

Then came another opportunity.

Planting trees in the mountains.

Hard work. Long days. Unpredictable weather.

And slowly… people started quitting.

Until it was just me and my foster son, Lynn.

We were holding it together.

Until suddenly…

Everything changed.

Lynn left.

And not long after…

I got the news.

He had taken his own life.

There are moments in life that stop you in your tracks.

That was one of them.

Maybe you’ve experienced something like that.

A loss that doesn’t make sense.
A moment that leaves you asking “why?”
A kind of pain that words don’t fix.

I remember going back home for his funeral.

Hundreds of people filled that place.

And even in the middle of my grief…

I knew I had to say something.

Not because I had answers.

But because I knew where hope was found.

So I spoke about Jesus.

About life.
About eternity.
About the hope that still exists—even in the middle of death.

And here’s what I’ve learned through all of it:

God doesn’t disappear in your darkest moments—He becomes your anchor.

Through the ups…
Through the losses…
Through the prayers…
Through the pain…

God was there.

Steady.
Present.
Holding me up when I didn’t feel strong.

And He’s doing the same for you.

So if you’re in a storm right now…

If life feels heavy… confusing… or even overwhelming…

Hold onto this:

God’s grace is still working—even here.

You may not understand everything.

You may not see how it all fits together.

But that doesn’t mean He’s not moving.

Keep praying.
Keep trusting.
Keep holding on.

Because even in the middle of the storm…

God is writing something bigger than what you can see right now.

08/25/2026

God’s Lifeline in the Fallout
I want to talk to you about what happens when everything you built starts to fall apart.

Because sooner or later…

Life will shake something you thought was secure.

In 1982, the oil bust hit Oklahoma hard.

Businesses collapsed.
Money disappeared.
Dreams dried up almost overnight.

And I felt it.

The restaurant struggled.
The carpet business slowed.
The bail bond work thinned out.

Everything I had built…

Started slipping.

Maybe you’ve had a season like that.

Where things you counted on suddenly aren’t there anymore.

Income.
Stability.
Plans.

And you’re left wondering:

“What now?”

That’s where I found myself.

And for the first time in a long time…

I didn’t try to fix it on my own.

I went back to what I knew.

Prayer.

As a kid, I remembered praying with my family.

Simple prayers. Honest prayers.

So I went back there.

And I started praying again—every day.

Not casually.

Intentionally.

An hour at a time.

Writing down needs.
Praying for people.
Bringing everything to God.

And something began to shift.

Not just around me…

Inside me.

Peace started replacing panic.

Clarity started replacing confusion.

And I realized something I hadn’t been living:

Prayer isn’t a last resort—it’s a lifeline.

One day, I was at the courthouse working a bond.

And out of nowhere…

The judge asked me if I’d take in a 15-year-old foster boy.

I had been praying for a family.

Didn’t know how it would happen.

Didn’t have a plan.

But there it was.

An answer.

And it hit me:

God was listening the whole time.

Even in the middle of loss…

Even in the middle of uncertainty…

Even when everything felt like it was falling apart…

God was still working.

I also found a place to breathe again.

Out by the river.

Breaking horses.
Hunting quail.
Just being still.

And in those quiet moments…

I could feel it:

God was near.

You need that too.

A place to slow down.
A place to reconnect.
A place where the noise fades, and you can hear Him again.

Because here’s what I want you to remember:

When life falls apart…

God doesn’t step away—He steps in.

He meets you in the fallout.
He steadies you in the storm.
He provides in ways you didn’t expect.

So if things feel uncertain right now…

If something in your life is shaking…

If you’re wondering how it’s all going to come together…

Go back to Him.

Not as a last option…

But as your first move.

Because what feels like an ending…

Might actually be the moment God begins something new.

08/24/2026

Learning to Trust God (Again)
I want to talk to you about something that’s easy to miss:

You can be moving forward in life… and still be drifting away from God.

That’s exactly where I found myself.

On the outside, things were coming together.

I was teaching.
Building relationships.
Starting a life that looked promising.

I met Kathy, and it felt like everything was lining up.

For a while, it felt right.

Maybe you’ve had a season like that.

Where things are working…
Doors are opening…
Life feels like it’s moving in the right direction…

But deep down…

Something’s just a little off.

I had moments where God was trying to get my attention.

Looking back, I can see them clearly.

But at the time?

I brushed right past them.

One of those moments came in a way I couldn’t ignore.

A crash.

I was hauling a load…

And suddenly—it was over.

Fire.
Destruction.
Everything gone.

Except for one thing.

My Bible.

Sitting there in the middle of the ashes.

Untouched.

I didn’t fully understand it then.

But now I do:

God was trying to wake me up.

Maybe you’ve had moments like that, too.

Not always dramatic…

But clear enough that you knew:

“Something’s not right.”

But instead of turning back…

I kept going.

Kathy and I got married.

We built a life.

I worked hard—real estate, business, coaching, chasing success.

And for a while, it looked like I was winning.

Money came in.
We had a house.
We had things.

But here’s the truth I had to face:

You can build a successful life… and still be building it on the wrong foundation.

And eventually…

It started to crack.

Our marriage struggled.

Arguments.
Tension.
Distance.

And then the truth came out.

And just like that…

Everything I thought I had built…

Fell apart.

If you’ve ever had something like that happen—

A relationship break…
A dream collapse…
A moment where everything changes…

Then you understand this kind of pain.

And here’s the hardest part:

I had to face my own role in it.

My choices.
My priorities.
My decision to ignore God when He was trying to lead me.

That’s not easy.

But it’s necessary.

Because you can’t move forward honestly until you face what’s real.

I had built a life on hustle.

Work harder.
Do more.
Make it happen.

But I left God out of the center.

And here’s what I want you to hear:

When God isn’t at the center… even good things can fall apart.

But even in that failure…

Even in the mess…

Even in the consequences…

God didn’t leave me.

He stayed close.

Quietly guiding.
Patiently waiting.
Ready for the moment I would finally trust Him—not just believe in Him.

Maybe you’re in a place like that right now.

Where something has fallen apart…
Where you’re dealing with the weight of your own decisions…
Where you’re wondering how to move forward…

Here’s the truth:

You’re not too far gone.

God isn’t done with you.

He’s not walking away.

He’s inviting you back.

Not to shame you.

Not to condemn you.

But to rebuild your life on something stronger.

So if you feel that pull today…

Don’t ignore it.

Don’t push it aside.

Because that might be the very moment…

God is calling you to trust Him—fully, this time.

08/23/2026

From Drift to Purpose
I want to talk to you about something that doesn’t get said enough:

You can be busy… working hard… even surviving…

and still feel completely lost.

I know that feeling.

Because after college, that’s exactly where I was.

I was getting by—but just barely.

Winter hit hard. Pipes froze. Heat ran out. The trailer we lived in wasn’t much, but it was what we had.

We made it work.

Friends came around.
We laughed.
We survived.

And sometimes, that’s all you can do.

Maybe that’s where you are right now.

Just trying to make it through.
Doing what you can with what you have.

And I want you to know:

God sees you in that place.

We worked hard.

Oil fields.
Long shifts.
Cold mornings.
Exhaustion.

Then I started hauling hay—built something of my own.

When that shifted, I pivoted again—cutting firewood, working with a crew that depended on it.

Nothing about it was easy.

But it was provision.

And I want you to see this in your own life:

God often provides through your willingness to keep going—even when it’s hard.

But here’s the part I couldn’t ignore anymore:

Even though I was working… even though I was surviving…

Something still felt empty.

I could stay busy all day…

…but at night, it caught up with me.

And one night—it really hit.

4 a.m.

Quiet.
Dark.
No distractions left.

I picked up the phone and called my dad.

And I broke.

Maybe you’ve had a moment like that.

Where everything you’ve been holding in finally comes out.

Where you realize…

“I can’t keep living like this.”

That moment changed everything for me.

Because instead of trying to figure it all out on my own…

I listened.

My dad said something simple:

“Why don’t you try teaching?”

It wasn’t part of my plan.

Honestly, I hadn’t even considered it.

But sometimes…

God redirects your life through simple conversations.

Two weeks before school started—I got a job.

Teaching. Coaching.

And I threw myself into it.

Something came alive in me.

Working with those kids… especially the younger ones…

Helping them believe in themselves…
Coaching them to push harder…
Watching them win—not just games, but confidence…

It lit something up inside me I didn’t know was there.

And that’s when I realized something:

Purpose isn’t found in chasing more…
It’s found in pouring into others.

For the first time in a long time…

I wasn’t drifting.

I was planted.

Church became part of my life again.
My faith started growing deeper.
My days had meaning.

And I finally felt it:

This is what I was made for—at least in that season.

And I believe God is doing the same thing in your life.

Maybe you feel stuck.
Maybe you feel off track.
Maybe you’ve been drifting longer than you want to admit.

But hear this:

You are not too far gone to find purpose.

Sometimes it only takes one moment…

One conversation…
One step of obedience…
One decision to say “yes”…

…and everything starts to shift.

So if something inside you is telling you there’s more…

Don’t ignore it.

That’s not restlessness.

That’s direction.

God took me from a cold trailer…
From confusion…
From drifting…

…into a place of purpose.

And He can do the same for you.

You don’t have to have it all figured out.

You just have to be willing to take the next step.

Because your purpose isn’t lost.

It’s waiting for you to step into it.

08/22/2026

Mark your calendars for Fry-day!

08/22/2026

Rising from the Dust
I want to talk to you about what happens when life knocks you down.

Not just a little stumble…
I mean the kind that takes the wind out of you.

Because I’ve been there.

And if you’re honest—you probably have too.

At 19, I was working oil rigs—roughnecking.

Hard work. Long hours. Dirty. Dangerous.

But I was making money, and for a young guy, it felt like I was finally getting somewhere.

At the same time, I was raising hogs, trying to build something of my own. I had plans. I had vision.

And then just like that…

Things started falling apart.

Missed a day of work—lost the job.
Plans shifted.
Nothing was as steady as I thought.

And that’s when you start to realize something:

Life doesn’t always go the way you planned.

But here’s what matters:

What do you do next?

Because you have a choice in those moments.

You can sit in it…
Or you can get back up.

I chose to keep moving.

Building houses.
Going to college.
Doing whatever it took to stay in the game.

And I want to tell you this:

Progress doesn’t always look like winning—sometimes it just looks like not quitting.

There were people who helped shape me along the way.

One of the biggest lessons I learned was simple:

Just show up.

That’s it.

Not perfect.
Not impressive.
Just consistent.

And if you’ll do that in your life—keep showing up even when it’s hard—you’ll go further than you think.

I started having some wins.

Small ones—but they mattered.

Working a feedlot.
Learning the business.
Making my first real profit selling cattle.

It felt like things were finally turning around.

And maybe you’ve had moments like that, too.

Where things start clicking…
Where you feel like you’re gaining ground…

And you think, “Alright… maybe this is it.”

Then I made a bigger move.

I went all in.

Borrowed money.
Bought hundreds of cattle.
Took a real swing at building something big.

And for a moment, it felt like I was on the edge of something great.

But then the market crashed.

And just like that…

I lost it.

Not a little.

A lot.

Let me tell you what that feels like.

It’s not just financial.

It hits deeper than that.

It’s the weight of knowing you gave it everything…
And it still didn’t work.

It’s the kind of moment that makes you question yourself.

Maybe you’ve been there.

A business that failed.
A deal that fell through.
A season where everything you built just slipped through your hands.

If you have, then you understand this:

Loss has a way of shaking you to your core.

And it didn’t stop there for me.

My truck ran out of gas.
Someone broke in and smashed my window.
Debt stacked up.

And right when I should have been celebrating graduation…

I felt like the poorest guy walking across that stage.

Then came heartbreak.

A girl I loved… someone I thought I had a future with…

She walked away.

Not because she didn’t care—but because my life had become too unstable.

That letter hit hard.

And if you’ve ever had someone walk out of your life…

You know that kind of pain.

I didn’t handle it perfectly.

I leaned into things I shouldn’t have.
Spent time around guys just as broken as I was.

We even joked about it—called it the “Cowboy Hall of Shame.”

But underneath the laughter…

We were all carrying something.

And maybe you are too.

But here’s the part I want you to hold onto:

That wasn’t the end of my story.

I didn’t quit.

I didn’t file bankruptcy.
I didn’t walk away.

I just kept going.

One paycheck at a time.
One step at a time.
One decision at a time.

And slowly…

Things started to change.

Not overnight.

But steadily.

Because here’s what I’ve learned:

God doesn’t always pull you out of the pit instantly…
Sometimes, He gives you the strength to climb out.

So if you feel like you’re in a low place right now…

If life has knocked you down harder than you expected…

If you’re carrying loss, regret, or disappointment…

Hear this:

You are not done.

This is not the end of your story.

You’ve got more strength in you than you think.

And more importantly…

God is still with you in the middle of it.

So get back up.

Take the next step.

Keep moving forward.

Because even when you feel like you’re buried in the dust…

God is still in the business of raising people back up.

08/21/2026

Trusting God’s Path
I want to talk to you about stepping into something new—because sooner or later, life will take you there.

A place that feels unfamiliar.
A season that stretches you.
A path you didn’t fully plan.

I hit that moment at 15.

And maybe you’re standing in one right now.

That summer, I joined the harvest crew.

Left home.
Left what was familiar.
Stepped into long days, hard work, and a whole new way of living.

Driving tractors. Running combines. Sleeping in a converted school bus with a bunch of guys just trying to make it through the season.

It wasn’t comfortable.

But it was exactly where I needed to be.

And here’s what I want you to see:

Growth almost always happens when you step outside what’s comfortable.

We didn’t have much out there.

We rigged up showers under tarps.
Washed off in ponds.
Lived rough.

But there was something about it…

Freedom.
Purpose.
A sense that I was becoming something stronger.

And I think you’re wired for that too.

You’re not meant to stay where it’s easy—you’re meant to grow into who God created you to be.

Now, I didn’t get everything right.

Not even close.

One day, I grabbed a beer with the crew—felt grown up for about five minutes. Ended up getting caught, standing in front of a judge late that night, paying the price for it.

It wasn’t my proudest moment.

But it taught me something:

You’re going to make mistakes on the journey—but that doesn’t disqualify you.

It shapes you.

If you let it.

Back home, I stayed busy.

FFA.
Sports.
Working.
Learning.

Every experience—good and bad—was building something in me.

Confidence.
Discipline.
Resilience.

And I didn’t fully realize it then…

But God was using all of it.

There were moments I’ll never forget.

Driving combines under huge Montana skies.
Laughing with my cousin.
Even chasing a porcupine just because we could.

Those weren’t just random memories.

They were markers.

Reminders that life is bigger than where you started.

And the same is true for you.

God has more for you than what you’ve seen so far.

Then came another shift.

My dad and Dorothy moved to Oklahoma City.

And just like that… I was on my own.

A trailer.
A few dishes.
A quiet kind of freedom.

But if I’m being honest—it also felt uncertain.

Maybe you’ve felt that too.

When you finally get what you thought you wanted…
And then realize you’re not exactly sure what comes next.

That’s where trust comes in.

Not knowing every step.
Not having everything figured out.
But choosing to move forward anyway.

I decided to go to college.

Packed up.
Started fresh.
Built something of my own.

And all those skills I learned out in the fields?

They came with me.

Nothing was wasted.

And that’s something you need to hear today:

God uses every part of your journey to prepare you for what’s next.

The hard work.
The mistakes.
The unexpected turns.

All of it.

So if you’re standing at a crossroads right now…

If life feels wide open—but also uncertain…

If you’re wondering whether you’re making the right move…

Take a breath.

You don’t have to see the whole path.

You just have to take the next step.

Because God is already ahead of you.

Leading.
Preparing.
Making a way.

And if you’ll trust Him…

He’ll take every twist, every turn, every unexpected moment…

…and turn it into a path that leads exactly where you need to go.

You don’t have to figure it all out.

You just have to keep walking…

…and trust the One who’s leading you.

08/20/2026

When Mrs. Ashley says ‘clean up’ but then adds a little incentive… 😂🧹➡️🕺

Never underestimate the motivational power of “Freeze Dance!”

08/20/2026

Mrs. Ashley’s class headed into town last night for a couple of house visits.

There’s just something so special about serving alongside the kiddos and getting to watch them love on others.🩵

08/20/2026

Finding Peace in Change
I want to talk to you about something we all face… whether we want to or not.

Change.

Because after my mom passed, life didn’t just feel different—it was different. And I had to learn something I didn’t want to learn:

God doesn’t stop working when your world gets turned upside down.

And He hasn’t stopped working in yours either.

Not long after Mom was gone, my dad met Dorothy.

She was kind. Steady. Good for him.

And I could see something in him start to come back—a little bit of light I hadn’t seen since we lost Mom.

But if I’m being honest with you…

I didn’t like it at first.

I was 14.

Trying to figure out life.
Trying to process loss.
Trying to hold onto what used to be.

And then one day, I walked into the house…

…and everything felt different.

My room had changed.
The rhythm of the house had changed.
It didn’t feel like home the same way anymore.

Maybe you’ve felt that too.

When something shifts…
And suddenly your life doesn’t feel familiar.

That can shake you.

I remember telling my dad, “We don’t need anyone.”

I thought I had it handled.

I could cook.
I could take care of myself.
I could figure it out.

But looking back now, I see it clearly:

I wasn’t just resisting change—I was holding onto control.

And maybe you are too.

When life shifts, it’s natural to want to grab onto something… anything… just to feel steady again.

But here’s the truth:

You can’t grow if you won’t let God lead you through change.

My dad needed Dorothy.

I didn’t fully understand it then—but I do now.

He was hurting.
He was grieving.
And God was bringing someone into his life to help carry that weight.

Sometimes God’s provision doesn’t look the way you expected.

Sometimes it even feels uncomfortable.

But that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

Dorothy wasn’t overbearing.

She kept the house in order.
She gave space where I needed it.
She stepped in without trying to replace what had been lost.

And slowly—over time—I began to adjust.

Not all at once.

But little by little.

And that’s how it works for you, too.

Healing and adjustment don’t happen overnight.

They happen in steps.

During that time, I found my “escape.”

That red Honda 50 motorcycle.

Man, that thing felt like freedom.

When life felt confusing…
When the house didn’t feel the same…
When I didn’t know what to do with everything I was feeling…

I’d ride.

And for a little while, I could breathe again.

You need something like that, too.

Not something to run away from life…

But something that helps you rise above it for a moment.

A place.
A person.
Time with God.

Something that reminds you: this isn’t the end of your story.

Looking back now, I can see what I couldn’t see then.

God was still guiding us.

Through the loss.
Through the change.
Through the discomfort.

He was providing for my dad.
He was shaping me.
He was teaching me how to bend… instead of break.

And that’s what I want you to hold onto today:

If your life feels unfamiliar…
If something has shifted…
If you’re struggling to adjust…

God is still there.

He hasn’t stepped away.
He hasn’t lost control.
He hasn’t forgotten you.

He’s leading you—right in the middle of the change.

And if you’ll trust Him…

He can take what feels uncomfortable, uncertain, and even painful…

…and begin to fill it with a peace you didn’t think was possible.

Because real peace isn’t found in things staying the same…

It’s found in knowing God is with you—no matter what changes.

New Hope Baptist Church

08/26/2026

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