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W. Scott Lamb

W. Scott Lamb

slamb@123washingtontimes.com

W. Scott Lamb is an author of biographies, literary agent and Baptist preacher. A native of St. Louis (go Cardinals!), he lives on a Tennessee hill outside of Nashville with his wife and six kids. Readers may email him at wscottlamb@gmail.com.

Articles by W. Scott Lamb

Louisiana State Representative Beryl Amedee

Once a homeschooling mom, now a Louisiana state representative

Sometimes, being involved could simply mean praying. We're all supposed to do that. Other times it means taking action like showing up at your local government meetings and speaking up. But other times it might mean jumping in and running for a particular office -- especially those offices where the decisions are made.

May 24, 2017
Roy Costner III and Roy Costner IV, of Pickens County, South Carolina

Like father, like son: The Costners on Christianity in public places

My son says, "You can't take God out of me if I go the school. So they can tell me all day long not to bring God to school, but I'm taking him with me." The same thing is true with me whenever I serve in public office. Everywhere I go, I've got God right there with me. And, as Governor Jindal said, "Christians need to wake up." We don't need to be the voices that are hiding in the closet. We need to be the guys that are sitting right out front telling the good news about Jesus Christ.

May 17, 2017
Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla, speaking to a question about religious liberty at a recent gathering of Missouri Baptists.

Sen. James Lankford on religious liberty, the Johnson Amendment

Lankford said, "I'm talking about the ability for a pastor to be able to speak without worrying that there's an IRS agent in the back monitoring their speech. That's not the role of the IRS--and a pastor...shouldn't have the government monitoring their speech."

May 9, 2017
Gary Miller, pastor and author of the newly released book, "Talk Less. Pray More Through the Prayers of Jesus."

Gary Miller recommends we ‘Talk Less! Pray More!’

Miller describes prayer: "The fundamental thing is that it's not eloquence. It's dependence. As a child runs to the father who he knows love him -- the child expects an audience. Prayer is running to God. It is getting over yourself and running to him."

May 6, 2017
Don Hinkle, editor of The Pathway, and a leader in public policy among Southern Baptists.

Missourians taking Jesus into the Public Square

Hinkle said, "God created all of reality. It all belongs to him. Government is one of only three institutions that he ordained, and there is no way that you can make me believe that God doesn't intend for his children to be actively engaged in every facet of reality. Not for ourselves, but for our fellow citizens, so that they may prosper and live Godly, peaceful lives."

April 27, 2017
Screen shot from C-SPAN video of 1978 "Firing Line" debate over the Panama Canal Treaty. And book cover from Craig Shirley's recent release, Reagan Rising.

Ronald Reagan-William Buckley debates of 1978, the state of civil discourse

There are endless numbers of anecdotes or quotes that I highlighted for future use. But if you asked me for one specific story from the book that struck me, it would be Craig Shirley's account of the 1978 "Firing Line" debates over the Panama Canal Treaty --between Ronald Reagan/Pat Buchanan (against the treaty) and William Buckley/George Will (for the treaty). What keeps us from having this level of discourse today?

April 18, 2017
Judge Walker administers the oath of office to Jason Weger, Sharon Wilcoxen and James King (2013). Photo courtesy of MicroplexNews.com.

Issachar stories: From military to police to judge to mayor — and a pastor too

Today's interview is with James King, a lifelong public servant in Eastland County, Texas, who has moved into full-time pastoral ministry. But even now, he holds the part-time position of mayor for his town of Cisco, Texas. King attended two Issachar training events, including the inaugural event in 2015, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

April 9, 2017
Raymond Cruz of Simi Valley, California, preaching to 350 former prisoners.

Issachar stories: Raymond Cruz — running for office and preaching to prisoners in Simi Valley

I'm beginning a new series of interviews with Christians who have worked to take "Jesus into the Public Square" by running for local elected office. Many of these people attended Issachar Training workshops -- campaign and election training sessions for Christian pastors who are considering a run for public office. I caught up with Simi Valley resident Raymond Cruz this week and talked to him about his involvement with campaigning for local office and his prison ministry too.

April 4, 2017
Rick Ankiel, former Major League Baseball player and now a life skills coordinator for the Washington Nationals, has published a new book that chronicles his meteoric rise and sudden fall in baseball.

Play Ball! Time for a baseball biography by Washington Nationals’slife coach Rick Ankiel

Ankiel's book releases this month--The Phenomenon: Pressure, the Yips, and the Pitch that Changed My Life. This book is a wonderful read as Ankiel bares his soul and provides the reader with an intimate look at the psychological unraveling he experienced. To throw in a baseball cliche, Ankiel left it all on the field with this book. Don't miss it.

April 3, 2017
Megan LeGrand, center, and Lindsay LeGrand, right, pray as they stand with their grandfather, Rep. Phil Stephenson, R-Wharton, during the opening of the 85th Texas Legislative session at the Texas State Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas Toilet Seat Award for Legislators

David Lane directed readers to watch a video filmed this week by 100 Houston area pastors. The topic is the Texas Senate Bill 6 (SB6), otherwise known as a bathroom bill. Lane said that after he saw the video: "I wanted to throw my hat in the air and shout Hallelujah! Pastors are turning the corner, a new paradigm is being constructed in the public square to restore America to her Judeo-Christian heritage and re-establish a Biblical-based culture."

March 30, 2017

American Renewal Project wins Pollie Awards

Congratulations to my friends at the American Renewal Project, Victory Enterprises and Murphy Nasica & Associates for winning two Pollie Awards for their campaign work during the 2016 election cycle.

March 24, 2017
Image courtesy of Chad and Dana Connelly.

5 questions with congressional candidate Chad Connelly

Evangelical voters launched President Trump into the White House. Chad Connelly knows firsthand about the effort to organize the Christian voting bloc, as he began working for the Republican National Committee in 2013 as the Director of the Faith Engagement Initiative. In other words, "Jesus in the Public Square."

March 22, 2017