Did you know there is only one verse in the Bible that has the word eternity? Similar terms like everlasting and eternal are used frequently, but the Holy Spirit reserved the word eternity for one passage in Isaiah 57:15: “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with…
Read More“The entrance of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple.” – Psalm 119:130 Shortly, we will begin a new year…2024! The best way to start your year is to begin with the Bible. January is a natural time to start again in your reading of Scripture. Many believers look for ideas they can…
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“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” – 1 Peter 3:18 While serving as Pastor of Cranberry Baptist Church, I volunteered as a chaplain for a local hospital. Several years…
Read MoreOn Monday, November 7, 2022 I was sitting in a hotel room in Iowa when I received one of the most difficult phone calls of my life. My friend, my brother, and fellow worker, Stephen Troell, had been taken to Heaven unexpectedly. Just fifteen minutes before he saw Jesus we had spoken at length by…
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Everybody Needs a Friend Some time ago I walked somberly through an exhibit that showed the horrors of Auschwitz. It was a stark reminder to me of how hatred consumes darkened hearts and how much pain it can inflict on others. We all would do well to remember that in these days. Near the end…
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The only real and lasting joy is found in Jesus. The only way to enjoy the journey is to find the companionship of Christ along the way. What a thrill to know that in the midst of a sad world, God has made provision for His children to have a glad heart! Are you a…
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Imagine going back in time more than 4,000 years and finding the ancient world, in many ways, like the world we are living in today. Some things never change. Solomon spoke the truth when he said, “there is no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Noah is the classic example. The Lord Jesus said,…
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Let me begin by saying this is not an article about food or a healthy diet. The truth is that most of us are physically very well fed – perhaps even over fed! There is almost no preaching on gluttony today and the practice of fasting has become almost nonexistent. On the other hand, there…
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How well do you know the Holy Spirit? Many live their entire Christian life with the Spirit of God within, and yet fail to understand how He works in and through the believer. A true and growing knowledge of God includes knowledge of all three members of the Godhead – the Father, the Son, and…
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The last few months have been some of the most blessed and some of the most challenging of my life. I don’t understand how those two things coexist, but they usually do. The season we are currently in can be described best in one word: transition. You know – the “in between” times of life.…
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For the last thirty-three years my dad has faithfully served as the pastor of Cranberry Baptist Church in Beckley, West Virginia. He and my mother have labored tirelessly to reach the lost and minister to God’s people. Next month dad is retiring from the pastorate and beginning a new season of life and ministry. We…
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A preacher’s sermon should simply be an organized expression of a biblical message. The right kind of preaching will not be rooted in a man’s idea but in God’s Word. The “life” of any sermon is not personality, oratory, humor, gestures, or the antics of the one delivering it. True life comes from the life-giving…
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Eight years ago God began stirring in my heart about the evangelistic work He has now given us to do. The Holy Spirit led in unmistakable ways and we have simply tried to follow. More and more I am reminded that we are incapable of accomplishing anything of eternal value, but the Lord is able…
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Do you remember why you first got into the Lord’s work? In the early days of our Christian service there was a beautiful humility and sincerity about serving Christ. It truly was a “labour of love” (1 Thessalonians 1:3; Hebrews 6:10). Sadly, for far too many the joy has devolved into a job. Many in…
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Last year a wonderful group of friends traveled with us to Israel, and the Lord gave us such a precious time studying the Word together in the Holy Land. We are excited to announce that another ETJ tour has now been finalized for next year. God willing, we will journey through the land of the…
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The uttermost…ends of the earth…all the world…every creature…whosoever will. Scripture repeatedly emphasizes the length of our mission and the breadth of God’s message. Christ’s gospel is not regional, national, or cultural. Its only limitation is the one we put on it by failing to share it! Let there be no doubt: God loves all people…
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Recently I was on a flight next to a fine Christian man. When people find out at 30,000 feet that I am a minister they usually have one of two reactions – they are either really glad they are sitting next to me or really wish they weren’t! My new friend kept me engaged in…
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Do you have a favorite portion of Scripture? Keith Kiser, one of my early Bible teachers, used to say that his favorite Scripture was whatever portion he was studying at the time. Good answer! It is all the Word of God, and it is all-sufficient and all-profitable to our lives. Yet you will find at…
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When Paul was sitting in a Roman prison, facing death, he was still growing. In his final letter to Timothy he requested a number of things, and notable in the list is the phrase: “bring…the books” (2 Timothy 4:13). Throughout the apostle’s writings he quotes from a number of sources and it is clear that…
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One of God’s greatest gifts is memory. If you have lived long enough, you have discovered that it can be both a blessing and a curse! Spurgeon said that “by some strange perversity we tend to remember what we should forget and forget what we should remember.” How easily we remember every hurt we have…
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The following story is not original. It has been shared by other preachers, and I am passing it on because of the way it has affected me. Our Lord Jesus often used simple parables to teach profound truth. He was not just a “story teller” but He could tell a story in such a way…
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Christian liberty. It is a term frequently used and rarely understood in our age of no restraint. The Scriptural expression is actually “the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free” and this is an important designation (Galatians 5:1). Our liberty is not license to do as we please; it is the life we have through identification with…
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Welcome to the Family of God! Recently I have had the privilege of saying to several new believers: “Welcome to the family!” The joy of seeing others come into the family of God is second only to the joy of knowing you are in the family yourself. There are only two ways a person can…
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This past Lord’s Day we commemorated the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. True believers celebrate this every Sunday! In fact, we celebrate our living Savior every day because He lives within us! A few months ago I stood in the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem and remembered the words of the angel, “He is not…
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Spiritual Exercise Medical doctors and health professionals are consistently reminding us to give attention to “diet and exercise.” Henry Drummond believed that everything we see in the natural world is simply a shadow of some spiritual reality. It is interesting to me that these two principles of diet (proper intake) and exercise (regular working out)…
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So much of life is measured in values. Real estate, the stock market, retirement portfolios…everything is discussed in terms of worth. But the greatest “values” are not physical, financial, or material – they are spiritual! Adrian Rogers used to say, “To find out how rich you are, add up everything that money cannot buy and…
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Today’s ETJ podcast concludes our study of the first section of Acts. What an encouragement this portion of Scripture has been to my faith! The Adventure Continues…and shortly we will return to our series in this amazing book. Over the next two weeks, leading up to Resurrection Sunday, we are excited to share with you a…
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There are all types of memory. You may have an extremely good long term memory, or perhaps your short term memory is better. This is different for every person – and it is often different at varying stages in life! There is one type of memory that all of us must constantly work at. It…
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Unlike my wife, I do not read music. Though the notes on the page mean little to me, I know a good note or a bad note when I hear it! As you open the Hebrew Hymnal, known as the Psalms, there are certain notes that are very definitely sounded. We do not know the…
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Do You Want to See More People Saved in Your Church Meetings? All of us would like to see more souls come to Christ in the regular meetings of our local church. There is not a pastor that would not rejoice to see sinners consistently responding to the gospel. Some believe that those days are…
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Itinerant ministry, like any work, has its unique challenges and its special blessings. There is ample evidence in the New Testament that itinerant ministry has a valid place both in the advancement of the gospel and the edification of the local assembly. The early believers “went everywhere preaching the Word” (Acts 8:4). Study the life of…
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Few things are more important than children hearing and understanding the gospel. The Lord Jesus Christ openly received little children (Matthew 19:14), and taught that every one who is saved must come with the simple, humble faith of a child (Matthew 18:3). It is beautiful to see the plainness with which our Savior explained divine…
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10 of the Oldest Tricks in the Book Satan is a deceiver – he always has been and always will be (John 8:44). Some things never change! The enemy often dresses his lies in new clothes, but beneath the surface, they are the same deadly deceptions that Eve faced in the Garden. Read Genesis 3…
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Ask any veteran who has seen conflict – wartime is serious business. When people are engaged in conflict, some things don’t matter, and a few things become increasingly important. Selfishness and pettiness must be laid aside. There is an enemy to fight! Division and distraction can be deadly when the battle rages. This is war!…
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One of the highlights of our blog articles last year was a special series on hymn histories. (You may access all of them in the ETJ archive here.) Each Wednesday in the new year we are excited to share with you a new series of articles on “Christians You Should Know.” I believe that many…
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Businesses, churches, and organizations often choose an annual theme for their work. Several years ago I began selecting a passage of Scripture, Bible word, or specific emphasis for my own personal study each year. It has been a good thing for me to return again and again to some anchor truth. Anchors keep you from…
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There is no adventure like the adventure of following Jesus Christ! It is the grand adventure of a lifetime and it leads to an even greater adventure in eternity. In the New Testament book of Acts we find the adventure of the first followers of Christ. This book, which has been called the 5th gospel…
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The wise men from the east arrived in Bethlehem some time after the birth of Christ. The Lord Jesus was referred to as “the young child” and the family is no longer at the manger, but in a “house” (Matthew 2:9-11) by the time they arrive. It is a beautiful reminder that the worship of…
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The Lord Jesus Christ did not begin at Bethlehem. He is the eternal Son of the living God! He, with the Father and the Spirit, has always been. Yet He took a body – a real, human body (Hebrews 10:5). That body would only walk this earth for thirty-three and a half years, but what…
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“God with us” is not just a Christmas message; it is the heart of God and the golden thread woven throughout all of Scripture. However, the emphasis at this time of year brings us face to face with the miracle of mercy: God desires to be with man. The high, holy God of eternity wants…
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Each year Tammy and I are privileged to spend time with couples across the country in a variety of retreats and conferences. After 25 years of marriage we are more in love than ever and more convinced that the spiritual battle for our nation is being fought on the battlefield of the home. Satan always…
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God Came. In many ways, these two words summarize the message of the whole Bible! They encapsulate the love and mercy of our God. We could never come to Him – so He came to us. When things are at their worst, God comes. This is the message of creation. The earth was full of…
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This week we will walk where Jesus walked. My first immersion into Bible geography came during a three day stop in Egypt soon after I graduated from college. Standing at the Pyramids and floating down the Nile caused the stories of Joseph, Moses, and the children of Israel to come alive. Twenty years ago I…
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The Lord has a way of connecting co-laborers. More than a quarter of a century ago God allowed me to get acquainted with a young man from New Jersey named Stephen Troell. He had just come to Crown College and, in the providence of God, he was placed in my dormitory. Over the years that…
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When I was a child Christmas was my favorite holiday. As I have grown older, Thanksgiving has moved into that place. I love the time of year, the emphasis, the quiet, the moments with family, and yes, I love the food! Yet there is something greater than a week of Thanksgiving, and that is a…
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This year has been a year of loss. In God’s economy, loss is so often gain if we are ready to receive it. Somewhere in the midst of loss there is grace that God will give and wisdom He wants to teach. When we are forced to look at death, we must reflect on the…
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The world calls it addiction; the Word calls it bondage. Sin always makes men slaves, and only Christ can give liberty. This is very important to realize: enslaving sin is Satan’s cheap substitute for what only the Good Master can provide. What leads to addiction? We seek relief. We seek release. We seek refuge. All…
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My memory is still vivid of the first time I heard the Hallelujah Chorus given in a pubic meeting. I remember watching that vast crowd of people stand in honor of the One who was being praised. Every time I hear the chorus it brings a flood of thoughts and emotions to my heart as I imagine…
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8 Signs of a Healthy Church Tammy and I sat in a service recently and listened to believers in a local church give spontaneous testimonies. It was evident from what the people said that they had been shepherded. Their pastor had taught them to love Christ and the Word of God. My heart was so…
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Seeing God in Every Scripture The preacher speaks about the necessity of all Scripture and people politely nod their heads. We read, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable…” and everyone gives a hearty “Amen!” Yet, when it comes to our actual attention to the Word of God the scope is…
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The latest trend in social media is a new platform known as “Be Real.” Its niche is notifying users once each day to capture and share a post within two minutes. Oh yes, and it has to “be real.” No staging. No filters. No special lights. In fact, it actually shares two pictures – one…
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Western culture is far removed from the ancient culture of Bible times. Sadly, in the midst of so much modern “progress” there are many eternal values that have been lost. One of those is revealed in our attitude toward the aged. Contemporary culture, driven by media perception, places a premium on youth. Yet in Scripture…
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Just a few days ago we shared a helpful article on using gospel tracts. That post was written by Pastor Tom Sexton of the Gulf Coast Baptist Church in Cape Coral, FL. Soon after that resource was made available Hurricane Ian made landfall in the place where he ministers. Their church sustained damage and Pastor…
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Truth and the Danger of Overcorrection All of us who have driven for any length of time have experienced or witnessed the danger of overcorrecting. A slight distraction, a sudden movement by another driver, or an unexpected object in the road can cause an overcorrection that leads to disaster. This is true in all of…
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It is a great privilege to serve Christ in any way. The highest calling on earth is not the calling to be a preacher, but to simply be a follower of Jesus (Mark 3:14)! Out of that call the Lord makes clear to every minister his own calling from God. I am very grateful that…
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Over time believers tend to reduce their Christian lives to a list of things “to do.” This was the error of the Pharisees and is a mark of empty religion in every generation. Busyness, conformity, and externals too easily become the measurement of spirituality. Perhaps this temptation is because it seems simpler to just give…
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It has been a great joy living with Joseph for the last few months. Just think – we will spend eternity with all of these godly Bible characters! The more I have grown to know Joseph the more I have grown to love the God who was faithful to him at every season. He is…
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It is a pleasure to walk through God’s Word with so many of you on our daily podcast. The paths of Scripture are full of adventure and spiritual refreshment! Thank you for being a fellow traveler as we seek to follow our tour guide, the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus said of the Holy Spirit,…
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It was my privilege to moderate last year’s Southwide Baptist Fellowship in Raleigh, NC. God gave us a very special meeting and real encouragement from His Word. (You may watch the 2021 messages here.) Now, we are just over 10 weeks away from the 2022 meeting! Pastor Tim Rabon is serving as this year’s moderator,…
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A few weeks ago, I asked friends who follow us on social media if they would help me pray for a mountain that needed to be moved. Since that time, I have had a number of kind, praying people ask me if the Lord has moved our mountain yet. It has been humbling to hear…
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Dreams. Opportunity. Favor. Power. Blessings. Purpose. Jealousy. Conflict. Betrayal. Temptation. Prison. Difficulty. All of this and much more is found in the story of Joseph. His is a representative life in so many ways–an example for us all. Follow the adventures of Joseph and you will see both the positive and negative experiences of life.…
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(The following article is by Chase Whitten. He is now serving as an associate evangelist with ETJ and assisting with a number of gospel projects. You may read more about his evangelistic work here and reach him at ch***@****************ey.org.) Over the past fifteen years we have had great gospel opportunities in a variety of ministries,…
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Do you have a favorite psalm? The psalm I hear most often referred to is Psalm 23. Unfortunately, it has become so associated with funerals that we easily forget that the powerful words were not written for death, but for life! Psalm 23 is given to help sheep know their Good Shepherd. His presence brings…
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This week I have been speaking in a church in south Georgia. (Let me say that I am grateful it is not an outdoor meeting – it is hot!) In each place where God allows me to minister I am always looking for the message He has for me, not just the ones I am…
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Several years ago I heard the story of Australian, Arthur Stace. During a visit to Sydney I was able to verify the legitimacy of the account. The story of this man, who became known as Mr. Eternity, so affected me that I began to share it across the country. Recently some friends reminded me of…
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One of the divine designs in ministry is that we are to labor alongside one another. God gave Moses a Joshua and Elijah an Elisha. The Lord Jesus Christ sent His disciples out two by two on their mission. Paul took fellow laborers with him on each of his gospel journeys. There are many reasons…
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Have you noticed? It seems the whole world is “out of sync” and people everywhere have gone crazy! At times like these people reveal what is really in their hearts. At times like these the Lord’s people need to view our world through the lens of Scripture. Anxious, searching souls are looking for answers, and…
Read MoreThe greatest heroes often work behind the scenes. They labor where others cannot see and carry burdens when no one else knows. I am increasingly convinced that at the judgment seat of Christ many very public people will have to step aside as the real servants are brought to the forefront to receive their crowns.…
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Have you ever been so weak, so weary, so wounded that your legs gave out? You did not even have strength to stand up! Occasionally, I have heard people use the expression “weak in the knees.” It is just another way of stating what all of us experience at some point: we cannot stand on…
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The only way that we can truly know what another person is thinking is through their words. Words are an expression of the mind. In the words of Jesus, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). But, have you ever considered what Jesus Himself was thinking about on the cross?…
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Days are longer, schedules are different, and young people have more free time. Summer is the perfect season to give extra attention to your family. Over the next couple of weeks we have intentionally kept our travel schedule lighter, in order to give some time to our family before the summer marathon of meetings begins.…
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7 Things Christians Must Remember in Financial Crisis History does repeat itself. The most prosperous nations on earth have eventually and repeatedly faced their economic downturns. All of us who have lived a little while can echo the sentiment of the Bible writer that, at some point, “riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away…
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Have you ever stood in your mind at Calvary on the day that Jesus died? Use your sanctified imagination and stand quietly with Mary and John on that sad hill. There must have been an overload of the senses that afternoon. Not only in what they saw, but in what they heard… Listen to the…
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Questions About the Evangelist (Part 2) The gift of the evangelist has been sorely (and sadly) neglected in many places. This is to the detriment of the church and its work in this world. If ever there was a time that we needed a strong emphasis on calling both believers and unbelievers to repentance and…
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Questions About the Evangelist (Part 1) A few months ago, I answered a number of questions that had been given to me related to the work of the evangelist. Many of these same questions come up regularly in conversation and I thought that perhaps it would be helpful to share the answers with a wider…
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Dear friends, In 2018, Scott Pauley and I hosted the first Rest Conference at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Hickory, NC. Our friend, Shane Lewis, who is now with the Lord, was our guest speaker. More than one hundred of our fellow laborers and friends, along with their wives, joined us for a special time of…
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Last night was a very special night for me and Tammy. For more than twenty years we had the privilege of being a part of the work of God at Crown College. We participated in a host of graduation ceremonies, but it is different when it is your own children. Morgan, our oldest daughter, has…
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Recently I was sharing with a friend some of what God is teaching me through Psalm 119 this year. (Read more here.) It has been a joy to study it both personally and on our podcast and every visit to that diamond mine yields new treasures! In passing, I mentioned that all but a handful…
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These are days for the advancement of the gospel! People need the message of hope that is found only in the Lord Jesus. This is not the time to mumble and moan about how bad everything is; this is the time to speak clearly about the good news of salvation in Christ. This is not…
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Are you a life-long learner? We are all supposed to be life-long students of Scripture. It is impossible to exhaust God’s infinite truth! You can search the Scriptures but you never find it all. For me, one of the greatest joys is seeing someone who has been a student of Scripture becoming a teacher of…
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5 Ways You Can Help Your Pastor On Sunday For those who know Jesus every Lord’s day is a celebration of the risen Christ. We are all aware that Easter Sunday is one of the Sundays that more unchurched people attend. Preachers of the gospel around the world are diligently preparing to preach the message…
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Several people have reached out to let us know that our studies on the Bible App have been helpful to them devotionally. We are happy to provide these short series on that platform and pray that the Lord will continue to use them to help others get into God’s Word. Today a new 10 day…
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By 7 am, a tremendous group of pastors had identified themselves as being on the call. It was my privilege to share a brief thought from Scripture and pray with these faithful shepherds from across the state of Michigan. Since COVID these men have been connecting each morning, seven days a week, to pray for…
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Years ago I used to hear some people refer to “praying through” as a metaphor for praying until you breakthrough to Heaven. I understand what many of these sincere people meant, but always believed that the expression was in many ways misplaced. The length and intensity of our prayers is not what “gets through.” The…
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“After the War We Shall Go to Jerusalem.” The life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln have always been of special interest to me. He has been one of my favorite Presidents. A few months ago, I read something about his final night at Ford’s Theatre that I had never come across. As Lincoln sat with…
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When my dad was in his 30’s God called him to be a preacher. I have heard him tell the story of seeking counsel from his older brother James who had already been in the ministry for many years. James challenged my father to read and listen to sermons every week – to put himself…
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Each Saturday on “The Weekend Pulpit” we share a full-length Bible message from a recent meeting. Currently we are posting messages that I gave at the Wilds youth camp last summer. These messages deal with a variety of Scripture passages: The morning messages came from selected Psalms and each dealt with a particular aspect of…
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Behavioral scientists have suggested that it takes 21 days to create a habit. I don’t know about that but I do know that in three weeks time much can be set in motion for the Lord. At the beginning of January I took Psalm 119 as my Scripture for the year. You may know that…
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Men often fail in their strengths, and too often, those of us who are called and gifted to communicate God’s Word fail in that very area. It is not always that we intend to say something wrong or to leave something unsaid. In the words of Proverbs 10:19, “In the multitude of words there wanteth…
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Satan hates prayer and will do anything in his power to stop it. Samuel Chadwick observed, “Satan dreads nothing but prayer. His one concern is to keep the saints from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, he mocks our wisdom, but he trembles when we…
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There is nothing quite like the excitement of being with first generation Christians! They do not use all of the cliches or know the church culture. But neither do they have the coldness that so often seems to creep into the hearts of those who have allowed their faith to become mundane. In some ways,…
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Prayer is a discipline and yet there is a danger in it becoming simply a dutiful routine. How quickly the time of prayer – our communion with the God of the universe! – can turn into mere motions and mechanics. Perhaps you do not have this struggle, but I find that constantly I must work…
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Do you have a favorite preacher? I love anyone who preaches the Bible, but there is a preacher who has profoundly affected my life and ministry from the time that I was a boy. More on that in a moment… Each Saturday we post a full-length Bible message on Enjoying the Journey. The addition of…
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There are varying expressions of love – friendship love, marital love, love for enemies – but there is only one Source of love, and that is the God who “is love” (1 John 4:8, 16). Over this month there has been a great deal of emphasis on romantic love. (As a husband I must confess…
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God gave His Word once and promised to preserve it to every generation (Psalm 12:7). No new truth is being revealed and it is our conviction that God’s last word to man on this side of eternity is found in the final Revelation of Jesus Christ that was given to John. When I speak of…
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Yes, these are dangerous days. Illness, violence, accidents and a host of other unknowns surround us. However, some Christians have forgotten that our lives are not in the hands of men, the devil, or chance circumstance – they are in the all-powerful hands of God! George Whitfield, the great preacher of the Great Awakening, faced…
Read MoreCanada is a beautiful country and home to so many wonderful friends. My family and I love Canada and have enjoyed the time we have spent with our neighbors to the north. The need of Canada, like our own nation, is great. Its greatest need is not what you may see on the news but…
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Last month we made available for the first time a devotional plan on the YouVersion Bible App. “Which Way Do We Go?” is a fifteen day study on discerning the will of God along the journey of life. Thousands of people subscribed to the plan and we have heard so many wonderful reports from people…
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Every Christian worker should desire to render their very best service for the Lord and His church. One of the Bible principles of labor is: “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might…” (1 Corinthians 10:31). If this is God’s will in every arena of work, it is most certainly vital when…
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The 3-2-1 of the Great Commission Over the last few days we have been sharing some simple thoughts about the Great Commission that Jesus gave and the work that we are to be engaged in. Every Christian must find their place in God’s plan. You may want to go back and review the truths we…
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I will join you in prayer for a spiritual awakening among God's people and the advancement of the gospel.
