The senior year of high school can be both frightening and exciting. I love talking and praying with young people at this stage in life. Following the Lord is a great adventure if you keep your eyes on Him. Here are a few suggestions I like to share with teenagers as they approach graduation and…
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Google the word phobia. Fear has reached epidemic proportions. Millions of Americans live in fear every day. Worse, many believers have become content with allowing fear to control their lives. The first mention of fear in the Bible is in Genesis 3:10. Adam and Eve had sinned against God and, because of their sin, are afraid of the very…
Read MoreOne of the great joys of my life is the privilege to speak to young people. Recently I was listening to one of our youth workers at the Temple Baptist Church as he taught the Word of God to teenagers. He was doing a great job and the Lord used him. He is not a…
Read MoreMy favorite group of people to speak to is young people. There is something special about their energy, their authenticity. Some time back I was preaching to a fine group of teens and referred to “us” as “young.” After the service my wife lovingly and diplomatically reminded me that I am not young to them…
Read MoreHome is the greatest classroom on earth…and not just for the children. Every day there is more to learn, and our failures serve to remind us that we have not arrived. In addition to the thoughts I shared in the last post, the Lord is teaching me: 8. Never argue in front of the children.…
Read MoreThe kids are growing up so quickly. At the same time I feel like I am getting old so quickly! Life moves along at a rapid pace and God is teaching me many things. I am not the husband or father that I should be. More and more I thank God for the wife that…
Read MoreFamily is a very precious thing. I have been blessed with a wonderful heritage that I hope, by God’s grace, to pass on to my children. Last night I stood and preached the funeral of my 54 year old uncle. On the platform with me were two of my spiritual fathers, my Uncle James and…
Read MoreOn this Father’s Day my heart is full of gratitude for my dad. He has always been my best friend, but he is also the best man I know. He has been a faithful man – faithful to God, faithful to my mother, faithful to his friends, and faithful to his life’s work. Dad has taught…
Read MoreMarriage is a joy, but it takes work to have a truly Christian home. The “oneness” which Jesus intended between a husband and wife must be guarded every day. I am very grateful that Tammy and I had the privilege of growing up in godly homes. Both of our parents modeled Calvary love. We were…
Read MoreThrough the years that I have been privileged to work in a Bible college I have met so many extremely talented, capable young people. And yet, it has always puzzled me that the ones who seem to have the greatest promise often do not finish. On the other hand, there are students with far less…
Read MoreOne of the greatest privileges of my life has been the opportunity to work with young people. Youth ministry is not a stepping stone to another ministry. It is the work of a lifetime! D.L. Moody said if he had his whole life to live other he would give it all to working with children.…
Read MoreWinter is a strange time in Knoxville, Tennessee. Snow one hour…sunshine the next. This morning I awoke to see a thick, freezing fog. The Lord reminded me of one of the most powerful verses in Scripture: “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour,…
Read MoreEverybody has one. A story that is. My story is not yours and yours is not mine. The details vary – except for one thing. God is the Author. If you have a story to tell it is really just the story of what the Lord has done for you. Most often we refer to…
Read MoreSocial media is here to stay. Over 2 billion people actively use the internet and it is estimated that more than 69% of them now use some social network site (Pew Research). Of course, young people lead the way in this trend. One research group suggests that 98% of 18-24 year olds now use social…
Read MoreToday has been a wonderful Lord’s day – the last Sunday of the year. Some Sunday will be our last Sunday on earth. The dawn of a new year will be nothing in comparison with the dawn of a new age. Jesus is coming! Pastor Sexton unveiled the new year’s emphasis for Temple Baptist Church…
Read MoreShiny packages and suspense are part of the excitement at Christmas. Fascinating, isn’t it? We spend weeks buying the gifts (or one crazy day if you are like me) and in about 30 minutes it is all over! My grandma used to say, “It is just a big build up for a big let down.”…
Read MoreThe Mayans were wrong. Today was not the end of the world. At least if it was, it has not yet arrived in Knoxville, Tennessee. History is full of speculations and predictions about “the apocalypse.” Again and again God’s Word has been proven true: “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no,…
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Just for Men “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 In a day of effeminate men, I am more grateful than I have ever been for real men who have influenced my life. My grandpa was a real man. He taught me how to get my…
Read MoreChildren are often the best teachers…”out of the mouth of babes.” Tammy and I want to teach our kids everything we possibly can, but I realize that often God is using them to teach us. Many lessons have been learned through my own failures as a parent. School is in session every day and the…
Read MoreToday I had the opportunity to be with a group of the elementary children in our Academy. What formative years! As I watched the wonderful teachers that God has given us I was reminded again of the powerful influence a teacher has in the life of a student. It was a kindergarten teacher that led…
Read MoreI am sitting in Michigan this morning listening to the wind howl outside. Eighteen years ago I started making regular trips to the great white north. Not to see the sights or exchange ideas with people who speak a different dialect than me. No. It was a much bigger reason. You see, the love of…
Read MoreIt was a great privilege to grow up in a pastor’s home. My dad has pastored the same church for over two decades. My grandfather was a pastor and several uncles are pastors. I love pastors. For the last 15 years I have served under the same pastor, and am very grateful to God that…
Read MoreIn recent weeks the Lord has been dealing with me about so many weaknesses in my own prayer life. One of the most glaring has been my failure in the matter of intercessory prayer. Perhaps no where is our selfishness more on display than in our prayer life. “Lord, bless my four, and no more”…
Read MoreWalking with God is a life long journey. I am very grateful that along the way there are people who come along side to encourage us. So many distractions would have become detours if it had not been for more mature travelers who guided us forward. The beloved apostle John tells us about a good…
Read MoreThis past Sunday our oldest daughter, Morgan, turned thirteen. Is that possible? Where have the years gone? Tammy and I are very grateful to God for all of our children…and our teenager. I told someone recently that I have been preaching to teenagers for years, but I never had to take one home at night!…
Read MoreHaving Good Days in the Midst of Evil Days One of the great privileges of serving at Crown College through the years was the opportunity to hear so many wonderful Bible messages. Pastor Sexton brought faithful preachers to the college chapel hour each week. I recall when my friend, Dr. Dan Reed, brought one of…
Read MoreIt is often after victories that the greater defeat comes. We win. We rejoice. We let down our guard. The problem is that Satan never lets down his attack. Vigilance is in short supply today and more desperately needed than ever. Remember that it was after the Spirit descended on Christ at the baptism that…
Read MoreThis is a true story. I know that it is true because God told it in His Word. It is remembered as one of the saddest stories in all of history. Sadder still, it is being repeated in homes everywhere. Cain and Abel were the first brothers. They must have been close to one another…
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My Favorite Biography Many years ago I learned that reading biographies of great men and women was a good way to keep my own heart hungry for more of God’s blessing. Well-written biographies both instruct and inspire. I have in my library many books that have been a tremendous blessing to me through the seasons…
Read More“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 It is significant that the only thing God commands us to do without ceasing is to pray. Dr. John R. Rice said often that, “All of our failures are prayer failures.” Every matter in the Christian life grows out of our personal walk with the Lord each day. In…
Read More“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” Daniel 6:10 The decree was clear that no one was to pray for 30…
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Why Was Jesus Tempted? Why is the temptation of Jesus Christ given to us in Scripture? We know that our Lord was without sin. In fact, as God, it was impossible for Him to sin. Yet, the Holy Spirit chose to record His earthly temptation three distinct times (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13). Jesus…
Read MoreI have always enjoyed travel. As a little boy I had the opportunity to visit a number of wonderful places with my dad and mom. Now, it is a thrill to take my own children on adventures to new places. One thing has changed about travel for me. Like most young people I was always…
Read MoreMy elders were right when they said the years go faster as you get older. I am sitting here this morning reflecting on another year of God’s goodness in my life. The Lord has been so gracious to me. My heart is full as I think about the wonderful heritage I have been handed through…
Read MoreI have always loved the thought of visiting foreign lands. My mind is still fresh with memories from my first trip outside of the United States. It was a thrill to minister in Ghana, West Africa and Cairo, Egypt. The faces of little children, beautiful children, remain in my thoughts to this day. My dad…
Read MoreI was asked recently to speak to a group of parents on the subject of pitfalls in the home. I read. I thought. I asked questions. I made a list. Hypocrisy, unrealistic expectations, division between those in authority, inconsistency, rules without relationship, religion without joy, passiveness, overuse of media, and on and on the list…
Read MoreAdoniram Judson was born August 9, 1788. I first met him as a freshman in college through the pages of his life story. Growing up in church I had heard the name of Adoniram Judson. To me, he was a pioneer missionary to Burma. Judson and his wife Ann were some of the first Baptist…
Read MoreFrank Boreham was a pastor in New Zealand about a century ago. He had been trained in Charles Spurgeon’s Pastors’ College, being the last student personally admitted by Mr. Spurgeon. Boreham became a prolific writer. I am reading a collection of his fascinating essays right now entitled Mushrooms on the Moor. Anything you can find by…
Read More“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 For many years I have heard this verse quoted and preached. Now that I am about to have a teenager it is beginning to mean more to me personally. Recently, I told…
Read MoreAs a boy my parents encouraged me to read. Without such encouragement, television, video games, and other distractions are apt to keep a young person away from the riches found in a good book. My sixth grade teacher took a special interest in me. Mr. Hess would often have me stand before my classmates and…
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The Same Things The ancient city of Athens was famous for its schools and emphasis on philosophy. When the Apostle Paul arrived there he simply preached the same gospel message that he preached everywhere. This was very unusual because we are told that “all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in…
Read More“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” Proverbs 29:25 Over forty million people in the United States live in what they consider to be a state of constant fear. One million of them live in such fear that they will not leave their homes. …
Read More“Great men are not always wise.” Job 32:9 Greatness is difficult to define. One thing is sure: men view greatness much differently than the Lord does. Some men are considered great because of intellectual power, others because of financial resources or business acumen. But such men are not always wise. A careful study of history…
Read MoreA parenthesis is a peculiar thing. Parentheses are used by writers to set apart information which they want you to know but do not feel is essential. The material in a parenthesis could be dropped without doing damage to the overall story but it does make a contribution. Not so with Scripture. The Word of…
Read More“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 Men are remembered for their outstanding days, but they are made during their ordinary ones. William Carey, known as the father of modern missions, said if he were remembered as a plodder he would be described justly. Life…
Read More“Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.” Job 31:6 Integrity is not a product of environment or natural ability. Imagine an orphan boy who struggled academically. He was socially awkward and uncoordinated. When he spoke it was in a high-pitched voice. Yet he became a man renowned for…
Read More“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” Proverbs 22:1 I have always been grateful for our family name. My dad and mom have lived lives of integrity and have given my sister and me a wonderful heritage. The longer I live the more…
Read MoreAs a boy I remember people saying that in school there were three indispensable subjects: reading, writing, and arithmetic. I am sure that the history and science teachers took issue with this, but it is true that these three subjects form the foundation upon which all other learning builds. Again and again we return to…
Read MoreIn a family of preachers perhaps it is inevitable that the men of the family receive much of the attention. The older I get the more I realize how little those preachers could have accomplished without the women God placed into their lives. I am very grateful for the ladies that have influenced me. It…
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I will join you in prayer for a spiritual awakening among God's people and the advancement of the gospel.
