By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
Coach, pastor, member of the ministry team at First Baptist Church in Athens, animal lover, history teacher, and committed “joy-slinger” Tee Jackson has just released his ninth and tenth books, and I think that given the fact that the evening newscast seems to continually take its cues from the Book of Revelation, the timing is impeccable. The titles of the two latest books are Lessons Learned On Mama’s Lap And Daddy’s Knee! along with It Boils Down To This.
As of this writing, a terrorist in Boulder, Colorado, sent several people to the hospital by setting them on fire at a peaceful pro-Israel demonstration. One was a Holocaust survivor. Our country is deeply divided politically. Christians in Seattle who had a park permit to gather, again, peacefully were attacked and blamed for the attack because they disagree with the lifestyle of the attackers. The war between Ukraine and Russia drags on. The economy is fragile and showing unsettling cracks in the bond market. Even local politics has some uncommon nastiness as elections start up. It is indeed a time, as Jesus said, of “nations rising against nations,” and the Greek word is ethnos, meaning, people groups who appear different from each other are going to be literally at each other’s throats. So, how in the world can we be joyful? By gaining a “30,000-foot view” through Scripture and stories, which is what Tee has done yet again.
All of Tee’s ten books are Christ-centered and designed to make you think, pray, and strengthen your relationship with our Savior, and if you have never walked with Jesus, how to start that walk right away. With regard to all ten, Tee says the following: I have published ten books. Each has six chapters, and all stories are true. I have attempted to accurately record how the Lord has worked in and influenced my life.
Tee has designed each book to have a 3-5 minute read time per chapter, and on purpose, each book is short.
As dear as are the stories in Lessons Learned on Mama’s Lap And Daddy’s Knee, Tee understands that not everyone had the kind of parents he did, and the greater story is how to access the love of a Father who has no bad habits or bad days. It is also a reminder to be thankful for people such as teachers, bus drivers, friends, and relatives who helped us along the way. The cover photo for Lessons Learned On Mama’s Lap and Daddy’s Knee is of Tee and Jackie’s son, Trent, his wife Anna, and grandsons Reed and baby Cole.
The back story behind It Boils Down To This is that Tee realized it’s a phrase he has used often for decades. He uses it when he is “encouraging himself in the Lord” as David did because it quickly points him to the truth as it pertain to the facts of the situation, and more importantly the Truth as it pertains to the person of Jesus. It has shown up in sermons, in conversations, when he was coaching, and when he was in the classroom. The Old Testament lesson comes from Zephaniah, which makes it plain that God is not kidding around, and like a good parent, when He warns you He is going to follow through. And one of my favorite parts of the book of Zephaniah has a tender promise, and that is that God actually sings over us! It Boils Down To This reminds us that at the end of the day, no matter how rough or easy life is at the present moment, the answer is to apply Jesus to whatever in the world is going on.
Tee finished our time together by saying: I hope these books will encourage others to stop and recognize how the Lord uses His Holy Spirit, His Son Jesus and ordinary people to do His Kingdom Work. As followers of Christ we can be vessels, witnesses and proclaimers of His goodness!
Lessons Learned On Mama’s Lap And Daddy’s Knee! and It Boils Down To This are gifts that you can give to yourself or others, and are just in time for Father’s Day. Tee’s books are published by Christian Faith Publishing, and can be purchased on Amazon. Get yours today, and discover once again or for the first time that joy can be found in uncertain times.
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
June 6, 2025
