I wish that you could have been with me last night.  Al Phillips and I had a great time having dinner with our students who are at Southeastern Seminary.  It is so exciting to see their enthusiasm for the work of the Lord.  Seminary can be a very difficult experience. There are great time pressures, academic pressures, and just the daily things that come from going to work, going to school, and, in some cases, having a family.  I can tell you these young people are handling it well. They are hungry and they are eager to make a difference for the cause of Christ.

I sometimes think that it is easy to get discouraged when you look at the state of our culture, but when I am with these young people, I am energized and have great hope for the future. They are not afraid of what is out there and they are willing to do what it takes. You can certainly be proud of them, and we can rejoice in the fact that as a church we have had a part in their development.  Just our conversation challenged me and renews in me a greater sense of excitement for what is to be done.

Like all of our seminaries, Southeastern does a great job of preparing our students for ministry. We can be proud of the next generation of leaders that are being produced here.

Please pray for me today as I have an opportunity to share with the student body in chapel. One of the things that I can do is encourage them with the fact that the ministry often times give you the opportunity to work with a lot of great people. That’s what I continue to experience day by day.