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Wisdom for Pastors

Pastoral Nuggets

Delve into a collection of profound insights drawn from our pastoral teachings. These nuggets are designed to inspire, challenge, and guide you in your daily walk of faith. Whether it’s finding peace in the midst of chaos or understanding the power of prayer, each piece offers a unique perspective to enrich your spiritual life.

Temporarily Pausing Devotions with Brother Aaron.

In today's devotion, Brother Aaron highlights the distinction between America needing God's blessings and needing His healing!

Years ago, Marianne and I attended a fundraising event at Troup High School in LaGrange, Georgia. It was a concert that featured Southern Gospel Music recording artists, “Ernie Haas and Signature Sound.” As part of their show, they performed their rendition of “God Bless America.” Naturally, because it was a patriotic song and most of the crowd was my age or older, it was warmly received, and they got a rousing standing ovation. However, before Ernie let the crowd take their seats, he began to speak. He spoke about how messed up America is right now, how we are living in unprecedented times, and how seemingly everything we have been taught and know about morality, common sense, right & wrong, and Spirituality, is either inverted or sideways! He then said, “In my opinion, America doesn’t need another blessing. We are already blessed beyond measure. What America needs today is healing!” I thought, “Wow! He is absolutely right!” He then told the crowd that he wanted us to sing that last chorus again with them. However, this time instead of singing, “God ‘bless’ America,” he wanted us to sing, “God ‘heal’ America!” Folks, what a difference changing one word made!

As I pondered what he said, I thought about all the people life has blindsided. The situations are too numerous to name. However, they may be hospitalized and, in the ICU, fighting for their lives. Sure, it would be a blessing if somebody went to the bank and paid off their mortgage. It would be a blessing if somebody deposited $10,000 into their checking account, bought them a new car, purchased them a new wardrobe, or even just prepared a meal for their family. But a blessing is not what they really needed or wanted. What they need and want, and are praying fervently for, is healing. Now, I want you to meditate on what I just said, and let it really sink in! Blessings are nice, but healing is what we need! God Bless America? No! God, please HEAL America! ...

Devotions with Brother Aaron: "God Heal America" 20261009.

In today's devotion, Brother Aaron speaks about commitment.

“Commitment is a line you cross… it’s the difference between wishing and doing.’ Successories Magazine, Spring 2000.

Most people have an inbred desire to be better at what they do, or who they are. Politicians want to be better politicians. Policemen want to be better policemen. Preachers want to be better preachers. Mommies want to be better mommies. And daddies want to be better daddies. Yes, even we Christians want to be better Christians. But what prevents most of us from achieving our goal of self-improvement is a little thing called commitment. Or, perhaps better stated - the lack of commitment.

Most people think self-improvement is a by-product of becoming smarter, stronger, or trying harder. This simply isn’t true. Self-improvement is a by-product of one thing - commitment. Now, commitment may require more education, more strength, or trying harder. However, we will never become smarter, stronger, or try harder until we first cross the line between wishing and doing - a line called commitment! Commitment

In his famous speech, ‘What It Takes to be Number One,’ Vince Lombardi, Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers, spoke about winning as the by-product of commitment. Listen to what he said: “Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all the time thing. You don’t win once in a while; you don’t do things right once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.” ...

Devotions with Brother Aaron: "Crossing the Line of Commitment" 20261008.

In today's devotion, Brother Aaron draws on personal experience to remind his listeners that "attitude" is one of the most critical factors in receiving miracles.

Some would argue that the day of miracles is over. And in the context of how the miracles recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and other books of the Bible look … maybe miracles today do look different. I dare say that none of us have ever watched as somebody stopped a group of pallbearers, commanded the dead person inside the casket to get up, and they did. But let me be clear – the day of miracles is not over! Miracles today just sometimes look different than those recorded in the Bible! ...

Devotions with Brother Aaron: "Miracles" 20261007.

In today's devotion, Brother Aaron pontificates about the power of partnering with others.

In his book, “The Power of Partnership in the Church,” author John Maxwell tells a story about a Methodist Bishop and his two sons. He says, “In the latter part of the nineteenth century, when the Methodist Church was holding its denominational convention, one leader stood up and shared his vision both for the church and society at large. He told the ministers and evangelists how he believed someday men would fly from place to place instead of merely traveling on horseback. But the concept was too outlandish for many in his audience to accept. One minister, Bishop Wright, stood up and angrily protested. ‘Heresy!’ he shouted. ‘Flight is reserved for the angels.’ He went on to elaborate that if God had intended for man to fly, He would have given him wings. Clearly, the bishop couldn't envision what the speaker was predicting. When Bishop Wright finished his brief protest, he gathered up his two sons, Orville and Wilbur, and left the auditorium. That’s right. His two sons were Orville and Wilbur Wright. And several years later, on December 17, 1903, these two sons did what their father called impossible. They made four flights that day. The first lasted only 12 seconds, but the fourth lasted 59 seconds and flew 852 feet. Soon the Wright brothers built the world’s first practical airplane, the Flyer III, and by 1908, the brothers had demonstrated and improved a model in France that flew 60 miles in less than two hours. The two brothers partnered together to accomplish the impossible – and in the process, they changed the world.”

A.W. Tozer said, “God is looking for [people] through whom He can do the impossible – what a pity that we plan only the things we can see.” Orville and Wilbur Wright embody what Tozer said ...

Devotions with Brother Aaron: "The Power of Partnerships" 20261006.

In today's devotion, Brother Aaron teaches about the importance of rest.

“The Law of First Occurrence” is a principle that Biblical scholars use when studying the Bible. In very simple terms, it means that when something first occurs in the Bible, understanding it in its original context sets the stage for understanding it wherever it recurs. The principle of the Sabbath Day of Rest is a great case-in-point for what I am saying.

We find the Biblical creation story in the book of Genesis. It teaches us that in six days, God created the world and everything in it. Then the Bible teaches us that on the seventh day, God rested from all His labors. And in a strange twist, even while resting, God was still creating. What He created was the principle of the Sabbath Day of Rest. He taught that for six days mankind should labor, but on the seventh day, he was to rest from all his labors.

Go with me for a moment. A car comes from the factory designed and equipped with a “passing gear.” The passing gear maximizes every available resource to make the car go as fast as it can, as quickly as it can, to pass another car. When engaged, the fuel injectors dump massive amounts of fuel into the motor, the transmission shifts into a lower gear, and the engine RPM’s increase exponentially. Now, as necessary and useful as a passing gear is, an automobile was never designed to operate at maximum capacity (passing gear) all the time. It was meant only for short, controlled spurts. In fact, operating an automobile at maximum capacity for any extended period will destroy it.

We human beings are not too dissimilar in our design. God did not create us to operate at maximum capacity all the time. This is why He created the principle of the Seventh Day of Rest, then reemphasized its importance by making it one of the Ten Commandments.

Rest is essential to us. Therefore, we should adhere to the principle ...

Devotions with Brother Aaron: "The Principle of Rest" 20261005.

In today's devotion, Brother Aaron expounds and expands on the truth that when we totally surrender ourselves to God, He will take us to places we do not belong.

Pastor Doug Bingham, who was serving as the pastor of Unity Baptist Church in LaGrange, Georgia, spoke at the Troup Baptist Association’s Monday Morning Pastors Prayer Fellowship. He quoted something that resonated with me and captured how I felt about completing my sixty-sixth trip around the sun. He said, “I find myself in a place where, by nature, I do not belong.” (Full stop!) Wow! This could be my life mantra. All my life, God has elevated me into places, positions, and situations where, by nature, I do not belong. At the risk of sounding boastful (I am bragging on Jesus!) I could tell you how, in my secular manufacturing career, with no formal training or education, God elevated me from packing car floor mats on the midnight shift at a local manufacturing company to inventory control, production control, and shift supervisor with that company. Then He moved me to another company as production manager, and later as plant manager. I could tell you how, in my Christian ministry, with no formal training or education, He placed me in several bi-vocational pastorates, two full-time pastorates, and how, for 21 years, I served as the Associational Missionary for the fifty-four Southern Baptist Churches that comprise the Troup Baptist Association. Fast-forward to today: after retiring, I went back into the pastorate for a few years and now serve in a preaching/teaching/writing/training/consulting/radio/social media ministry. At 70, Marianne and I installed a full audio/video production studio at our home. Who would have ever thought it? And I could tell you how that in my personal life, on June 8, 1974, at age nineteen, God allowed me to marry the most beautiful sixteen-year-old girl (by two weeks) I had ever met, Marianne Hale. We have now completed 52 trips around the sun as husband and wife. I jokingly tell her we are the Dynamic Duo: Fatman & Robin! God has also blessed us with three children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. And on and on I could go, but as I said earlier, this sounds boastful – and I do not mean it that way.

Everything I have said in this devotion leads to this conclusion: After 71 successful trips around the sun, I have discovered God is more interested in a person’s “availability” than their “ability.” (Talent) When we make ourselves available, it will not be long until we find ourselves in a place where, by nature, we do not belong.

Devotions with Brother Aaron: "A Place Where by Nature I Do Not Belong" 20261002.

In today's devotion, Brother Aaron shares some philosophical truths he has learned with listeners.

As I get older, I find myself becoming more philosophical about life. In a more logical, calmer, deeper-thinking way, I'm realizing that life, as we know it, isn't that complicated. Is it confusing? Oh, yeah! Is it frustrating? Yep! Is it always fair? Nope! And even though it isn't complicated - often, we make it complicated! As the cartoon character Pogo once said, “We have met the enemy, and he is us!” Amen! I am my own worst enemy. I have died a thousand deaths from self-inflicted wounds! But even so, life as we know it is just not that complicated.

I want to encourage you to think of life as a party. Three great, uncomplicated truths define the Party of Life. First, every one of us arrived late. You see, unless you were with God when He stepped out onto the vastness of nothing and said, “Let there be…” and it was - the party was already going when you made your arrival. (Even Adam & Eve were latecomers!) Secondly, unless Jesus comes before we die, all of us will leave the party before it is over. The Bible teaches that all of us must die. And finally, the party will continue without us. Now, that hurts my feelings! Why, I thought that when I die, God will surely tell the angels to strike the tent, break camp, and go home. After all, how could life possibly continue without me? Right? But He will say nothing of the sort, and the party will continue without me! So, hear these philosophical truths: Life is just not that complicated: 1. We arrive late. 2. We leave early. 3. It continues when we are gone ...

Devotions with Brother Aaron: "Philosophical Pondering by Brother Aaron" 20261001.

In today's podcast, "Faith, Fun, and a Touch of Foolishness with Dr. Paul and Brother Aaron, Dr. Paul and Brother Aaron continue in the series How to Experience Good News in a World Filled with Bad News. This is the third video, but it's actually the conclusion of the 2nd video.

How to Experience Good News in a World of Bad News Part 2 (Cont) 20260930.

Recent Sermons Highlights

The Miss Piggy Syndrome

by Aaron McCollough | May 9, 2025 | Pastoral Nuggets | 0 Comments

You remember Miss Piggy. She was the loud, flamboyant, glamorous, excessive, vain girlfriend (or wife, I’m not exactly sure which) of Kermit the Frog on The Muppets. Miss Piggy had a no-holds-barred attitude and outlook on life. Her view of life was, Eat what you…

ME

by Aaron McCollough | May 9, 2025 | Pastoral Nuggets | 0 Comments

The most significant detriment to my testimony – is me. The person who stands in the greatest need of forgiveness, both from you, others, and God – is me. The person I know who fails God more than anybody else – is me. And the most undeserving person of God’s…

Life is Hard but God is Good

by Aaron McCollough | May 9, 2025 | Pastoral Nuggets | 0 Comments

Last week, Marianne and I took a long-overdue, much-needed vacation. We spent a glorious week with my sister and brother-in-law, nestled in a picturesque log cabin on a lake near Sevierville, Tennessee. My story today begins with my good friend, Pastor Ron…

Change (It Sneaks Up On You!)

by Aaron McCollough | May 1, 2025 | Pastoral Nuggets | 0 Comments

Last week’s column was about change.  I want to continue with that theme today. April 9th, I turned seventy.  Have you ever noticed how the older you become, the more the terminology regarding your birthday changes? Infants are celebrated by months.  People will…

Change

by Aaron McCollough | April 24, 2025 | Pastoral Nuggets | 3 Comments

Mark Twain said, “The only person who likes change is a baby with a wet diaper.” Let’s face it: change is a difficult thing that most people don’t handle well. Several years ago, I decided to do away with our home phone and only use our…

Red Roses in a Coca-Cola Vase

by Aaron McCollough | April 15, 2025 | Pastoral Nuggets | 0 Comments

It was just a simple Coca-Cola bottle vase that contained six red roses. And while it may not have appeared extraordinary to anybody else, it was a great treasure to me. Let me explain. A few weeks earlier, I mentioned in a sermon that we should give…

A Few Things I Gleaned From Others While On My Way Somewhere Else

by Aaron McCollough | April 9, 2025 | Pastoral Nuggets | 0 Comments

Note: I usually preach three times in any given week and write a Pastor’s Column for several newspapers. So, to say the least, I am constantly in acquisition mode for fresh material. This material can come from anybody, anywhere, anytime, and in the most…

Strugglers Welcome!

by Aaron McCollough | March 14, 2025 | Pastoral Nuggets | 2 Comments

I have attended a Monday Morning Pastor’s Fellowship sponsored by the Troup Baptist Association in LaGrange, Georgia, for many years. This past Monday, Associational Missionary Rev. Andy Buchanan told us preachers about a church sign/marquee he had seen over the…

Lowering the Standard

by Aaron McCollough | March 14, 2025 | Pastoral Nuggets | 1 Comment

In Proverbs 14:12 (KJV), the Bible states, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” I have noticed that when something seems right to mankind, it usually involves lowering the accepted standard and making an…

Change the Recipe

by Aaron McCollough | March 14, 2025 | Pastoral Nuggets | 0 Comments

In Galatians 6:7-8, we find where the great Apostle Paul articulates an irrevocable law that reverberates throughout the entirety of the Bible, and for that matter, the entirety of creation. It is the law of sowing and reaping. He said, “Be not deceived;…

A Thoughtful Reflection

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s essential to pause and reflect on the deeper meanings of our faith. How do we navigate the complexities of modern life while staying true to our spiritual values? This section invites you to ponder these questions and share your insights, fostering a vibrant dialogue within our community.

Daily Encouragement

Every day presents new opportunities to grow and strengthen our faith. Embrace each moment as a chance to shine your light and inspire those around you. Remember, even the smallest acts of kindness can have a profound impact.

Find joy in the simple blessings and let gratitude be your constant companion. Through prayer and reflection, discover the peace that surpasses all understanding, and let it be your anchor in turbulent times.