Watts' Words

  For nearly four decades, I’ve had the privilege of serving the Lord through pastoral ministry, preaching the Word, walking with families through joy and sorrow, and watching the Church evolve in both form and function. I’ve seen flannel boards give way to PowerPoint, cassette tapes replaced by podcasts, and handwritten sermon notes transformed into searchable digital archives. Through it all, one truth has remained: we serve a great God, and He is worthy of our best. That conviction is what led me to launch Faith and Tech — a space where biblical depth meets practical tools, where encouragement and challenge walk hand in hand, and where ministry leaders can find resources that speak both to the soul and to the systems we use to serve. Thanks for reading Faith and Tech: Tools for Purposeful Living and Ministry! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. A Ministry of Encouragement and Challenge My heart for this blog is simple: to encourage, uplift, and challenge...

 "A Culture of Confusion" In a time when the U.S. Supreme Court is issuing rulings that shape the moral and legal fabric of our nation—from religious liberty to gender identity, from parental rights to the definition of citizenship—one moment from a recent confirmation hearing continues to echo with unsettling resonance. When asked by Senator Marsha Blackburn to define the word “woman,” Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson replied, “I’m not a biologist.” That answer, delivered during her 2022 confirmation hearing, was more than a dodge—it was a philosophical pivot that revealed a deeper crisis: if a Supreme Court justice cannot or will not define something as foundational as “woman,” how can we trust that justice to adjudicate the complex moral and constitutional questions that hinge on such definitions? Dr. J's Substack is available! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. The Court’s Role in a Confused Culture The Supreme Court is not merely a legal body—i...

In an age of cultural confusion, spiritual apathy, and moral compromise, one truth remains timeless and unchanging: God wants and needs men. Not because God is lacking or insufficient, but because He chooses to work through willing vessels—men who will stand firm in faith, fight for truth, lead in righteousness, and embody the strength of Christ in a world desperate for direction. The Scriptures are filled with the call for men to rise up and take their place in the spiritual battle. Consider the challenge in 1 Samuel 4:9: “Be strong and conduct yourselves like men… that you do not become servants to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Conduct yourselves like men and fight !” This verse, though spoken by the Philistines, echoes a universal truth—manhood involves responsibility, courage, and action. The modern church, however, seems to have drifted from this image. Many churches today are filled with faithful women, while men sit passively, disinterested, or entirely absent. Th...

Michael Catt Was A Needed Voice There are times when God places someone in your life that, whether you realize it or not, will become an influencer, mentor, and friend. In 2011, my heart was reeling from a deep hurt and God granted me the privilege of meeting and getting to know Dr. Michael Catt. His influence and counsel on me was invaluable. The word for me was always “AMAZED” at his level of understanding, wisdom, and focus, which all were driven by his spiritual depth and heart. No, it is not my testimony that Michael and I spent hours together playing golf, praying, or laughing, but those moments that we were together influenced me more than either of us realized. In June of 2023, God called my friend home, he was only 6 months older than me. This is almost 2 years ago and, for me, I have difficulty getting my head around the fact that he’s gone from this life (I can’t imagine how Terri, Erin, and Hayley, have processed his truly untimely passing). Visiting his web page, from time...

National Christian Leader after National Christian Leader in article after article, shame those who profess faith in Christ for voting for and supporting former President Donald Trump. From videos to articles to Tweets (what are they now called "Xs"?) to Facebook posts, if you vote for the former president, you are a member of a hideous cult with a malformed brain, a questionable character who doesn't love God or neighbor, and who has been reprogrammed to believe - well - whatever. The vitriol continues to grow as we get closer to the election. (It used to be 'election day' but that term seems to be a thing of the past. Now, it's more like 'election season.') Today, I read that "Trump is the leader of a giant cult" and that "Harris is encouraging voters to choose joy and a more normal politics". Both of these would be laughable if they weren't so sad and serious. There are so many shortcuts through the truth that it boggles on...

The Urgency of Revival and the Call to Shine For the past month, our focus has been on the need for revival. But some may wonder, why all the emphasis on revival? What's the big deal? Well, the truth is, as believers, we are on a journey. From the moment we accepted Christ until the day we step foot on Heaven's shore, we are constantly in need of renewal, restoration, and refreshment. In a sermon by Vance Havner, a 20th-century revivalist, he shared a message that resonated with me. It was based on Ezekiel 21:11-12, which speaks about the Watchman and the night. This message has great relevance for us today, as we find ourselves living in a time of darkness. The Watchman In the Bible, the concept of the Watchman is mentioned over 20 times. Watchmen were assigned to stand guard and protect the community from enemies. They were like sentinels or guards, alerting the people to danger. Today, we too are called to be Watchmen, guarding against the darkness that surrounds...