Recently I wrote a post on the discipline and joys of staying where God put you. Like the Psalmist David we sometimes feel like we would like a change of scenery and circumstance. He wrote in Psalm 55, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at…
Read MoreIt is often easier to leave. Problems come and we think that is our cue to go. Our transient world tends to promote this idea. “Leave the marriage! Quit the job! Forget the friendship! Find another ministry! Move on and things will get better.” The result is a plethora of broken marriages, empty churches, and…
Read MoreOn Friday, January 24, 2014 the USA Today ran an article on a Texas politician. It opened with these words: “We don’t need a hero.” Perhaps. But there is something in all of us that desperately wants one. Even more, there is a tendency in many of us to think we have to be one.…
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3 Dangers of Technology Overload and What to Do About It Look around you. Heads are bowed. People are quiet. No, they are not praying. They are all looking at the device in their hands! The technological advances of the last few years have placed the whole world in the palm of our hand. And…
Read MoreThe wisest man who ever lived teaches us that “he that walketh with wise men shall be wise” (Proverbs 13:20). Friends have tremendous influence. For many years I have counseled teenagers to choose their friends carefully, not to let their friends choose them. Standing near the midway point of life (at least from my perspective)…
Read MoreTwo of life’s greatest enemies are the past and the future. I cannot change yesterday. I do not yet have tomorrow. And if I am not careful, I will allow the regrets of my past and plans for the future to rob me of God’s precious gift called “today.” We all have a past. The…
Read MoreI like to be liked. So do you! There is a great danger in seeking to please men – desiring to gain their compliments and avoid their criticism. “The fear of man bringeth a snare” (Proverbs 29:25). Living for the praise of men is empty. Accolades and acknowledgment do not bring fulfillment. Beware! Compliments will…
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7 Things to Pray for Your Pastor Everyone expects the pastor to pray for his people. But pastors need prayer too. In fact, they need much prayer. Their responsibility is great. Satan’s attacks are strong. We have made a practice of praying for our Pastor every day. We pray for wisdom, for strength, and protection.…
Read MoreHave you ever wondered why God blesses any of us? One thing is sure. It is not because we deserve it. All of His blessings are mercy. And all of His blessings are for more than our consumption. This consumer crazy culture has affected all of us. “Enjoy! Get all you can! Keep it for…
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I am not a morning person. The older I get I am not a night person either! That being said, I have come to realize the power of the morning hours. A few extra minutes in the morning and the right priorities can make a world of difference in the entire day. Early this morning…
Read MoreSome of life’s greatest defeats come after great victories. Call it a lack of vigilance, a false sense of your own strength. There are many reasons. Be sure of this: If God is blessing, the devil is fighting! He always opposes what God ordains. The story is told of a young man in Napoleon’s army…
Read MorePresident’s Day should be a reminder to pray. To pray for our president and for our nation. It is easy to complain. It takes no effort to criticize. But prayer is hard work, and it is the only work that can truly make a difference. Our country is in great need of leaders that know…
Read MoreI know, I know – I sound like an old man. Suddenly all of the things I heard the “old people” say years ago are making so much sense! Last week Morgan (our oldest) was going through some old pictures. Really old pictures. Back before iPods, iPhones, and digital photography. Back in the “old days”…
Read MoreMany years ago someone suggested to me that I make a practice of reading a passage in the book of Proverbs every day. It is a book of wisdom for living – and I for one need that wisdom! If you read the chapter that corresponds with the day of the month you can easily…
Read MoreOn a Thursday night in July of 1989 God made clear to me that He wanted me to be a preacher. I was 12 years old and full of fear about the future. Today I am more grateful to God than ever to be in the ministry. My first sermon behind a pulpit was given…
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What to Do When You Have Questions Questions are opportunities to teach. God gave explicit instructions to Israel about what to say when your children ask (Deuteronomy 6:20-25). And ask they will! All of us who have young people in our homes are well acquainted with the question, “Why?” It is the way we answer…
Read MoreI enjoy laughter and love life. I wish that every thought could be a happy one. But that is not the world in which we live. Ours is a day of spiritual warfare. It seems the attack is stronger than ever and the casualties are great. War is a terrible thing. Death is inevitable. In…
Read MoreCharles Dickens’ classic novel Great Expectations is on my Kindle. I must confess that I have read…and stopped reading the story several times through the years. It is a strange book. Pip, the young orphan in the tale, provides insight into the ambition of the human heart. We all have it. Great expectations. Some would say…
Read MoreThere are few things as refreshing to me as standing on the shore and watching the ocean waves. I have always loved it. In Scripture the sea represents change. It is never the same. Life’s journey is in many respects a voyage. We have launched out, but we have not yet landed. The tide is…
Read MoreI love hymns and am grateful to be part of a church that still sings them. Meditate on the words of songs like Charles Wesley’s And Can It Be? Few modern songs exhibit such an understanding of doctrine. Real depth. The great hymns of the faith are not just for public worship. They are deeply personal.…
Read MoreAs I sit in my study at home there are two pictures of my parents on the desk in front of me. One is a photograph taken on the night that I graduated from high school. It is hard to believe that I will soon be the age that they were then. This picture is…
Read MoreSilence is a beautiful thing. Our noisy world seems to clamor for attention more and more. In a home with little children quiet is often at a premium. When our children are small we spend a great deal of energy trying to get them to quiet down. When they are teenagers we spend our time…
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A Message Christian Young People Desperately Need It is my privilege to speak to young people on a regular basis. I have to admit that they are my favorite group to preach to! You always know where you stand with teenagers. My heart is always stirred as I look into their faces and consider the…
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All of my books have my name in them. They are like members of the family (just ask my wife!). In part, I put my name in the flyleaf of my books because I enjoy sharing them with others, but I always want to get them back. To share a good book is to invest…
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How to Make Prayer More Meaningful The new year brings with it fresh thoughts about our devotional life. We all need to give more time and attention to prayer. To God. Recently a fine young man sent me a message to ask for a few pointers on prayer. I felt ashamed to speak on the…
Read MoreAnother “how to” post? Not exactly. There will be no formula. No equation. No list. No step by step instructions. But there is a truth – one powerful truth – that can help you make the most of the year ahead. We measure our lives in years. God measures them in days. Read Psalm 90…
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It is Christmas, 1939, in London, England. King George VI addresses the British Empire as he does every year at this time. In his speech he quotes a beautiful poem that his daughter has just given him. The powerful words would continue to be connected to the Royal Family for years to come. They are…
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Down times can often be down times. Activity, or lack of it, has a great deal of effect on our emotions. The closing days of a year or school year are a very reflective time for most people. Holidays and summer vacations mark the end of yet another season. Life is passing quickly. The danger…
Read MoreOne of the most famous Christmas songs of all time says, “I’ll be home for Christmas if only in my dreams.” Bing Crosby made it popular but few people today know the background of the song. The lyrics are written from the perspective of an American soldier stationed overseas during World War II, writing home…
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We are only days away from the biggest birthday celebration in the world! No birthday on earth has more celebration or more misunderstanding. A recent Pew survey suggests that half of Americans will not celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday this year. For more and more people Christmas is becoming a cultural holiday. “Happy holidays,”…
Read MoreI was walking across the parking lot. I did not see anyone watching me and was deeply engrossed in some meaningless thought. Then I heard him say, “Why are you grimacing?” Grimacing? Me? Was I grimacing? Perhaps, or perhaps my friend could not see my expression well. Either way we had a good laugh…
Read MoreThe wisest man who ever lived wrote, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). Death is mentioned first because it is what naturally comes out. Only the grace of God can enable us to speak life. Those of us that basically talk for a living are always in danger. I…
Read MoreEarlier today our students at Crown College completed their final exams and departed for Christmas break. There is something terribly exciting about the successful conclusion to another semester of college. (Teachers feel this way too!) Miraculously, everyone seems to have a good day on the last day of school. It is one thing to finish…
Read MoreEvents are not everything; life is made up of many ordinary days. Yet special events are simply a way of emphasizing what is important. We have just returned from our annual Christmas Mission to New York City with the Crown College Choir. God blessed in an unusual way. It is my joy to be involved…
Read MoreI love books. Not long ago I was rummaging through my study, searching for a book that I knew was there… Instead, I found one that I didn’t know I had. It was a volume published in 1958 of one hundred and one famous poems. Poetry has always intrigued me. Frost’s The Road Not Taken and Kipling’s If are…
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“A prudent wife is from the Lord.” This verse means more to me the longer I am married. Tammy and I were driving along in the car recently. The kids were strangely quiet in the back seat, and we were talking. About nothing. About everything. I really don’t remember how we came to the topic,…
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A fine young man was driving me to the airport in another state recently. We had a pleasant conversation about many things. He is soon to be married and has much to look forward to in life and ministry. He reminded me of so many young men that I have the privilege to work with…
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Why Was Jesus Thankful? Like most of you, I try to make a list each Thanksgiving of reasons for which I am grateful to God. Obviously, it is never complete because the blessings never end. This year, I have decided not to make a list. I am taking the list of Another who is far…
Read MoreRoad trips are fun. At least if you make them that way! This week I drove several hours to speak in a youth rally. Often I travel alone and have learned that quiet moments to reflect are helpful. As much as possible I try to take my family or some member of the family with…
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Victory Over Temptation We all want to live in victory over sin. The key to victory over sin is learning victory over temptation. “Resist small beginnings”, a wise man once said. Deal with the seed and you will not have to overcome a forest of sin’s consequences. Temptation is a fleshly assault by the enemy.…
Read MoreMy dad and I had the privilege to be part of training several Iraqi pastors a number of years ago. For over a week we taught a group of men in Ammon, Jordan who were going back to Baghdad to start Baptist churches. It was an exciting work in a needy place. Near the end…
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Why I Believe in Local Church Youth Ministry For the last twenty years I have had the joy to be involved in youth ministry in some way. It is the passion of my life to point another generation to the Lord Jesus and His truth. I am more convinced than I have ever been that…
Read MoreThrough the years I have met many interesting people on airplanes. Everyone has a story and a simple conversation with a stranger can be memorable. I have tried to pray as I board a flight that God would put me next to the person He wants me to get acquainted with. Often it has allowed…
Read MoreSomeone once said in my presence, “Be kind to others. Everybody is having a hard time.” They were right. We all have our struggles and you may be surprised at the people who are hurting the most. Only God truly knows, and the all knowing God has designed a way for us to minister to…
Read MoreLife is full of questions. One of the first questions children ask about God is a question that continues into theological discussions of people of all ages. Ask a child, “Where is God?” and you will see them point up. Heaven! God is in Heaven. And so He is. Almighty God sits on the throne…
Read MoreWe have a lot of conferences and special meetings at Temple Baptist Church and Crown College. Without a doubt, the meeting we have just concluded was one of the richest and sweetest meetings we have ever enjoyed. God did a deep work in my heart. Pastor Sexton has said for years, “A great meeting is…
Read MoreSome of the most beautiful words I ever hear are: “I am praying for you.” (Especially if I know they are more than just words!) My precious wife prays for me. I have a praying mom and dad. My children pray for me. My pastor prays for me. I have many friends who pray for…
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Dealing with the “Noise” of Life Ours is a noisy world. Growing up in the country, there were certain noises you grew accustomed to. Crickets chirping at night. Birds singing in the trees. The sound of gunfire during hunting season. And at times, quiet. Beautiful quiet. I remember one of the first trips I ever…
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The Greatest Method of Bible Study “I have been reading the Bible but I don’t know how to study it. Can you help?” We have all been there at some point. Have you ever felt this way? There are many systems and methods. I thank God for many lessons that have helped me deepen my…
Read MoreA friend and I were enjoying a time of fellowship together just a few days ago. During the conversation I asked about a man who had been a pastor in the town where I was visiting. The answer was all too familiar – he was no longer in the ministry but doing very well in…
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Like most children, when I was very young, I memorized the Ten Commandments. The fifth commandment says, “Honour thy father and thy mother.” It is repeated eight times in the Bible. As a boy, if my mother said something once I was supposed to listen. If she said it twice, I was definitely supposed to…
Read MoreGoodbyes are hard. I was standing in a security line at an airport not long ago preparing to go through the regular process that has become so much a part of flying. In front of me was a young lady who was weeping. Occasionally she would turn around and strain to see if her loved…
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Pop Culture and Pop Christianity The attitudes and ideas of “popular culture” expressed through music and current trends have exploded through the various means of mass communication. It is, in many respects, the enemy of God and God’s truth. Popular culture is not new – it is Satan’s way of binding generations by convincing them…
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The Power of a Personal Letter Recently I was sitting in my study at home when my oldest daughter came in and proudly announced, “Dad, I am about to write my first letter.” She is thirteen. How is that possible? Now, she has written cards, short notes, and plenty of text messages – but a letter?…
Read MoreFall is my favorite time of the year. At least in the fall! I actually love all of the seasons and am blessed to live in a part of the country where there are four very distinct seasons. The older I get, the more I enjoy the change of seasons. It reminds me so much…
Read MoreToday we open the doors of Crown College for its 23rd year. I remember well the day 19 years ago this week when I showed up at Crown College for the first time. I remember those who showed me around. I remember Pastor Sexton’s interest in every student. I remember those I roomed with (some…
Read MoreI live around history…and I love it. Just outside my office at Crown College is a 30,000 square foot Christian Heritage Center. For me, history is alive and exciting. Yet with all of the access we have to historical information, it seems that the appreciation for it is sadly lacking in most young people. A…
Read MoreJust a few days ago I had the privilege of being back where I grew up in West Virginia. It was refreshing to walk around my grandparents farm again and enjoy a meal that only mom could make just right. I walked the halls of the school that I attended from the time I was…
Read MoreEvery generation requires true men of God who carry on the work of the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit. An entry in the journal of Henry Martyn reads, “Let me be taught that the first great business on earth is the sanctification of my own soul.” George Muller said, “The first great…
Read MoreToday is a day for rest and reflection after a very busy week. We have just concluded our annual Baptist Friends Conference. This is always a special time of reunion with friends and wonderful preaching. This year was special. I cannot remember a meeting where the Lord’s presence was so strong. Day after day and…
Read MoreGod grants special gifts every day. Little do we realize all that He provides. One of the most wonderful gifts God gives is sleep. We live in a busy world. God has designed sleep to renew the body and refresh the mind. Psalm 127:2 says, “It is vain for you to rise up early, to…
Read MoreToday we begin our annual Baptist Friends Conference at Temple Baptist Church and Crown College. Pastor Sexton and our precious people love hosting this meeting and seeking to encourage hundreds of friends in the work of world evangelism. There are always so many people working hard to prepare for a meeting like this. Yet we…
Read MoreNapoleon said that in every major conflict there is a ten to fifteen minute period when the battle is won or lost. It is the critical time. Conquer it and you win the battle. Lose that moment and all is lost. The spiritual battle is raging as never before. The enemy is attacking on every…
Read MoreEvery day is a precious gift from God. Even difficult days are reminders of God’s mercy and grace. I have enjoyed some wonderful days along the journey. June 13, 1997 was a great day. It was the day I married my best friend. (It was Friday the 13th, proving that good things do happen on…
Read MoreFrequently I have said to youth workers that the key to connecting with young people is simple: BE ENTHUSIASTIC! Not the fake, plastic “put on” that often passes as a cheap substitute, but the heart felt thrill of pointing people to the Lord. Many years ago I was driving to speak at a youth rally…
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Aquila and Priscilla: A Biblical Marriage God’s design is for families to serve Christ together in a New Testament church. As we find our place in the Lord’s work, every member of the family is blessed, and the local church is strengthened. Aquila and Priscilla demonstrate what a married couple should be in a New…
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Married Couples Serving God Together My wife and I just returned from our annual couples’ retreat. We had the joy of spending some extra time with my favorite couple: my dad and mom. Their example has been wonderful instruction. One of the great joys of my life has been to see my father and mother…
Read MoreToday we had the privilege to host a number of youth directors on our campus at Crown College. In the luncheon we discussed plans to begin a new youth fellowship for East Tennessee, the Smoky Mountain Youth Fellowship. I am excited about the possibilities and encouraged to know so many youth workers with a heart…
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10 Reasons I Use A Journal Every Day At the end of 2008, I decided that I would try to begin writing in a journal each day. I am sitting in my study tonight looking back through old journals. The Lord has been so very good to me. There have been difficult days, but these…
Read MoreWe all have 1,440 minutes in a day. Try as you might, it is impossible to add time! It is possible, however, to make a wiser investment of the time that you have. Paul was led of the Holy Spirit to tell us twice about “redeeming the time” ( Eph. 5:16; Col. 4:5). Are you…
Read MoreToday the Lord spoke to my heart again concerning the matter of prayer. When I think of prayer I think: what a great privilege! Then I think…what a great failure! My greatest opportunity is my greatest neglect. Today’s chapel speaker at Crown College, Pastor Steve Kilpatrick, said something that helped me to see my lack…
Read MoreThe 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…
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Social Media and the Great Commission Social media is here to stay. Over 5.35 billion people actively use the internet and just over 5 billion use some social networking site (Facebook, X, TikTok, Etc.). Of course, young people lead the way in this trend. One research group suggests that 98% of American 18-24 year olds…
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…
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I will join you in prayer for a spiritual awakening among God's people and the advancement of the gospel.
