Use A Journal This Year It was quiet in the house and I was sitting in my favorite chair, reading and reflecting. The little, leather books around me were not published volumes. No one else has ever read them, but they are books that mean a great deal to me. Perhaps someday my children will…
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Today is the first day of a new month, the first day of a new year, and the first day of a new decade. God has allowed us to live to this day and to labor for Him. How blessed we all are! Joshua gave the children of Israel instructions from God as they moved…
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Life is not a series of endings, it is a series of new beginnings. Five years ago we finished a season of ministry at a wonderful church and college, and began the gospel and revival work that God has given us. Now, we stand at the end of our fourth year and the beginning of…
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A few days ago, it was my great joy to untangle the many strands of Christmas lights that somehow magically weave themselves into ridiculous knots during the off season. Why can’t these things be easy? I muttered to myself (again), “There has to be a simpler way!” Something in all of us, at all seasons,…
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Around this time of year it is not uncommon to hear someone refer to “a Christmas miracle.” A miracle is something that cannot be explained by natural wisdom or human ability. It is an intersection with almighty God! To be sure there are many miracles associated with the coming of Christ to Bethlehem: There is…
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Is your Christmas shopping list complete? Christmas card lists, grocery lists, gift lists…tis the season for written reminders! What about your Christmas prayer list? At this time of year it is easy to grow overly introspective. In fact, that can even become selfishness. It is easy to fixate on your own family and contemplate only…
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“Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.” The greatest way to impact the future of a nation is to reach another generation of children. More than ever, we need people with a passion to reach and teach children for Christ! My friend, Pastor Mark Fowler, worked with children for many years.…
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They have been playing in our home for nearly a month now… You know the ones! Songs of the season. Christmas carols. It seems the whole world begins to sing at this time of year. The great philosopher, Charlie Brown, asked, “Why can’t it be Christmas all year long?” Lucy sarcastically replied, “You are a…
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Over the last few days it has been my privilege to be on conference calls with a number of pastors from across the country. We have prayed together that somehow, by God’s grace, the Lord would send another spiritual awakening to our land. I believe 2020 will be a pivotal year for our nation and,…
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This is my favorite season of the year! I love the time with family and friends. But the older I get the more I realize that the greatest Christmas blessings are the ones that are wrapped up in Christ. Ones that are priceless and that do not change with the calendar. It is what Paul…
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Do you love your hometown? Who will reach your town, your Jerusalem for Jesus? Today we meet with pastors from around our region for a time of prayer. This meeting will be held at the convention center where in July 2020 we will be conducting a gospel crusade. The goal is simple – we want…
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A friend remarked to me recently that men often struggle with discontentment. It is one of the deceiver’s ways of leading us to things that God has not chosen for us. Discontentment at its core is just the sin nature – desiring what we cannot have and thinking we know what is best. We live…
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Recently God has used a Bible verse in my life in such a profound way that I have chosen it as my “second half verse.” Along the journey there have been hundreds of Scriptures that have given me definite comfort, rebuke, instruction, and guidance. But there have been four verses that I have adopted as…
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December?!? Yesterday was the first day of the month and we are now in the last month of the year. Spiritually speaking, this is not the time to shift into neutral and coast through the rest of 2019. How you finish this year will likely determine how you begin the new year. December is in…
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We are so excited about the Conference On Revival And Evangelism (CORE) , January 7-9, 2020. This is a powerful way to begin a new year of ministry. The theme is VISION 2020, and the emphasis is on a renewed vision of God, a vision for souls, revival, and the local church. Today is the…
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Through the years I have written a number of brief articles on the subject of gratitude. From time to time we all must be reminded how good God has been and how worthy He is of our praise! I thought that today you may enjoy reading one of these Bible meditations in your personal devotional…
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Our December itinerary and a brief word of thanks.
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We are fast approaching the season of the year where vast sums of money will be spent on things. More stuff. Newer stuff. Nicer stuff. But, just stuff. It would be good for all of us to take a fresh accounting of true riches. As a boy I heard Adrian Rogers say, “To find out…
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Augustus Toplady, author of the great hymn “Rock Of Ages,” was twenty-eight years old when he spent an afternoon in London with an older preacher whom he admired greatly. The advice that an aged Mr. Brewer gave to that young minister has been passed along to me. I am amazed at its relevance to our…
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In just over a year we will be hosting a special Bible study tour in the land of the Bible. If you have ever wanted to go to Israel, this is a wonderful opportunity. Tammy and I hope that you will come and go with us, November 30-December 9, 2020! You can find the itinerary…
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Rarely do I post anything on a Saturday night but this is special. On Tuesday one of my dearest friends and fellow laborers is leaving for Iraq. God has called him and his family to labor in that needy part of our world. I have been challenged by their faith and believe that our Master…
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Have you noticed? Everyone is looking at their mobile device…constantly! In the grocery store. Around the dinner table. Driving down the road. Walking through town. Consumed with a digital world, we are no longer conscious of the world God placed us in. Concerned about connections and messages we are losing real relationships with those who…
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The Word of God is an amazing book. Only through its divine lens do we begin to see clearly. Without it our view of reality is skewed by sin and clouded by the world around us. God’s Word is a window that shows us God. The Bible sheds light on who God is. As we…
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Today we conclude our podcast series on “What The Bible Says…” I am more convinced than ever that this is a day where we must know what we believe, why we believe it, and how we can share it with others. If you missed any of the episodes you can listen to the entire study…
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I often hear it said, “They are good people.” This is a subjective statement, of course, because it is filtered by the person’s standard of goodness. We know from Scripture that “there is none that doeth good” (Romans 3:12). The Apostle Paul, by any measurement, a good man, testified, “In me (that is, in my…
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It is a question that we hear frequently by those who are serving us in some way. Perhaps it is a question that too often we fail to ask others. It reveals the spirit of a servant. In the words of Christ, he “came not to be ministered unto, but to minister” (Matthew 20:28). A dear…
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This week Tammy and I are speaking at two different couples’ retreats. It is wonderful just to be together and a privilege to invest in others truth that has been invested in us. Marriage is one of God’s greatest classrooms. In it He teaches us so much about ourselves, about Himself, and about one another.…
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As I write these words I am sitting in my study on a beautiful fall day, overwhelmed with the goodness and faithfulness of my Lord. This has been a truly blessed year and we give God all of the glory. Soon 2019 will come to a close. Let’s all pray that we can finish this…
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This month has been designated as “Pastor Appreciation Month” in many places. I am grateful to God for the faithful pastors who have influenced me. The Lord has used them to shape my life. At this time it is my joy to call my dad my pastor again. For nearly thirty years he has pastored…
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We live in a world of lies because people have rejected the truth. The condition of Isaiah’s day is much like our own, “And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter” (Isaiah 59:14). God’s eternal truth is forever settled in heaven…
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The passion of my life is to get the good news of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible. Time is flying and eternity is coming. We must do what we can while we can! Who are you taking to heaven with you? Some time ago I gave a message from the oldest Psalm…
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We are in the season of the year that many churches hold revival meetings. I have been in many of them over the last few weeks. Whether they are truly revival or not is another issue, but it is what we pray for – a spiritual awakening among God’s people, fresh life breathed into the…
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Several years ago we relocated from Tennessee to West Virginia. It was the first big move in our married lives. There were a host of little details to care for, but one of the most important was to leave behind a forwarding address. It was our personal and business connection with so many people. Someday…
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Frequently I am asked if I plan to continue in evangelism, if I want to pastor, or if I miss what I did in the past. They are good questions that all have the same answer. I love what God has given me to do and plan to do it as long as God desires.…
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American Christianity (which is a far cry from Acts Christianity) has done much to develop consumerism in the minds of the average church member. People shop for a church today. “Where can I be happy? Who has the best music and programs? What will my family get out of it?” I have a suspicion that…
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Have you heard the news today? It is easier than ever in our digital age to keep up with what is going on in the world. Usually if you listen for 15 minutes you have the general picture…the next several hours will just discuss it in 100 different ways. While it is good that news…
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It is ironic that we are living in a world where people are easily offended by others and yet so often hardened to the needs of others around them. Such skewed sensitivity is really just the sin nature – the self-life on full display. And Christians are not exempt. Selfishness is often robed in church garb.…
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Just a quick note today to tell you what the Lord is doing here in southern West Virginia. A great number of preachers and people have been praying for some time for revival. We are burdened to see a real spiritual awakening among God’s people and others brought to Christ. More than 20 churches have…
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3 Simple Helps For Bible Study It is truly amazing the number of Bible study helps that are now available at our fingertips. The proliferation of tools and the accessibility of technology has changed study forever. As a person who spends a great deal of time on the road I am truly grateful for these…
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Yesterday we published our quarterly family newsletter. (If you did not receive it you may read it here.) In it we released some information that I wanted to pass along to others regarding a new ministry phone number. It is my desire to help as many pastors and churches as possible. At this juncture I…
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The words of Christ are as true today as they were nearly 2,000 years ago: “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2). As we come into the fall of the year I am praying that…
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It is a joy to study God’s Word and a privilege to share it with others. More and more people are joining our daily Enjoying The Journey episodes and we are grateful for the Lord’s blessing. Nothing brings joy like meditating on the very words of the living God! “I rejoice at thy word, as…
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Several folks have asked me recently how we record the daily Enjoying The Journey episodes. Technology has made life so much simpler in some ways! I am able to record our broadcast on the road or at home using the tools that are now available. We have a wonderful group of people who work as…
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Tammy and I are spending the day with a great group of preachers and their wives at The Preacher’s Rest. I thank the Lord for calling me to be a preacher, and I thank Him for using faithful preachers in my life. It is a pleasure to invest in precious servants of the Lord over…
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It is amazing how quickly the summer season goes. Our kids are now back in school and hints of fall are in the air. As students return to their classrooms, we must all remember what God has taught us this summer. For many, the start of school is the restart of regular schedules and routines.…
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A number of “Christian” celebrities have recently renounced their faith in Christ and begun to actively question the reality of God. Many are shocked, and some are confused. What should we make of all this? 4 Things to Remember When Others Renounce Christ: This is not new. Judas was fairly well known and respected, but…
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I love pastors and thank God for the privilege to labor with so many of them for the gospel. This week it is our privilege to host a special pastor’s luncheon with Evangelist Byron Foxx in my hometown of Beckley, WV. If you are a pastor, staff member, or evangelist within driving distance we would…
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“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9). Weariness is common among workers. You cannot always put your finger on it – it may be physical, mental, emotional, spiritual – maybe a combination of different factors. Sometimes we must press through…
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When I was a student in college, Dr. Frank Sells once challenged us to choose a “life book” – a book of the Bible to immerse ourselves in and to hide in our hearts. That book became the New Testament letter of Philippians for me. It has for many years served as both an anchor…
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Every week I have the privilege of being hosted by wonderful Christians. While there is “no place like home” it is also true that there is “nothing like being with God’s people.” It’s more than friendship – it’s family. Recently as I spent time with some very gracious people I was reminded of the necessity and…
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Delayed. One of the most dreaded words in air travel. It glares in yellow letters from the airport monitors. The very word sounds like what it represents – a long indefinite period. Few updates bring more downcast looks. Frustration rises. Immediately the questions begin to come…Why? How long? Is the new time accurate or just…
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Just a few days ago my dad challenged our home church family to take 6 gospel tracts – one for each day between Sundays – and pass them along to others. Great numbers of people took 6 tracts to share with family, friends, and strangers. It has been wonderful to see the good response of…
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One of the most exciting ways to study Scripture is to get acquainted with the great characters of the Bible. When you begin to identify with the men and women that the Holy Spirit emphasizes you find that there really is “no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9) and that “his truth endureth to…
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Let’s face it: we all like to be in control. To feel as though we can direct the course of things and determine the outcome. But this mentality works against faith. It is rooted in pride – a belief that we know what is best and deserve to be in control. As I rode on…
Read MoreIt is just after 4:30 a.m. as I write these words. No, I have not become one of those ridiculously early risers! My body clock is still on Australia time and the adjustment period is real. In spite of all of this I have known the Lord’s strength and help since returning. We had a…
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Thirty years ago tonight I surrendered my life to Christ to preach His Word. Thirty years. A few days later, as a twelve-year-old boy, I stood in a cottage prayer meeting and preached my first Bible message. What an adventure it has been serving the Lord! Thousands of times I have had the joy of…
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Every father and mother knows that one of the greatest joys in life is seeing your children obey – immediately, cheerfully, and when they don’t even know that you are watching. Our Heavenly Father is no different, except for the fact that He is always watching. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be…
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We are very happy to announce that at the end of this month the Fundamental Broadcasting Network will begin to carry our Enjoying The Journey daily broadcast. FBN began in 1988 through the faithful ministry of Pastor Clyde Eborn. Their reach has continued to grow through the addition of terrestrial stations, affiliate stations, internet radio,…
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The highlight story in a major magazine carried this title: “Living My Truth.” It was the story of a transgender airline pilot who proudly boasted that he was now living his own truth. My heart broke as I read the words of a man who had believed a lie but had convinced himself that he…
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Over the last few weeks I have been meeting people everywhere who are “Enjoying The Journey” with us through the Word of God. If you have been listening, thank you! If you have not yet joined us, today would be a good day! Starting today we are studying specific Scriptures that will help us know…
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It is easy to fuss at the darkness around us and fail to do the very things that bring true light into our dark world. Political conservatism and true Christianity are not the same thing. As followers of Christ our hope is in God and our help comes only from Him. This week we celebrate…
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Tammy and I are very grateful for those who have ministered to us through the years. Ministers need ministered to as well! There are moments that the best thing you can do is slow down, refresh your own soul, and prepare for the next season of ministry. It is with this in mind that Pastor…
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Thank you for continuing to pray with us for souls and the revival of God’s people. We covet your prayers as we approach the heart of the summer! Monday-Tuesday, July 1-2 – 25th Annual Jubilee, Capitol Baptist Church, Dover, DE, Pastor Terri Moore Wednesday-Friday, July 3-5 – America’s Christian Youth Congress, Temple Baptist Church, Powell,…
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A few days ago I had the joy of speaking in a local church to a group of deacons and their wives. It was a wonderful meeting of true servants. At the end of the session a man came to speak to me. He has just been installed as a new deacon in that church…
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Tonight I had the joy of sharing these thoughts with our church family. Perhaps they will be of some help to your family. My dad has been one of my greatest teachers. All fathers teach more than they realize, and more than their children realize until later in life. As a boy I enjoyed asking…
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Call it a vacation, a holiday, a sabbatical…whatever you call it, at some point everyone needs it! We were made to work and God made us to rest as well. It is the pause that gives strength for the next advance. We have just returned from a few days away with our family and I…
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As we grow older (and hopefully wiser!) we begin to discern more about what is most important, what is more important, what is less important, and what is not important at all! One of the most difficult things to do is to eliminate good things so that you can emphasize better ones. Recently I wrote…
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Growth is essential to life. Throughout the years I have heard countless people say that the only way to grow is to be willing to change. Change has become the contemporary buzzword and measurement of growth. This is very dangerous. Just because a man is changing does not mean he is growing – he may…
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Yesterday I opened the USA Today to find a full page ad with the names of a wide range of religious leaders calling for a day of prayer for our President. Sunday, June 2, has been unofficially declared a day of prayer for the President of the United States. I am very happy that many…
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“Living on the edge” is considered to be adventurous or dangerous, depending on your perspective. The person on the edge is close to peril. In fact, we are all living there! Every person alive is at this moment living on the edge of eternity. At any moment we may be face to face with a…
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We all love the lunch hour! A few moments of quiet from the busyness of the work day. The halfway point. And, most of all…the food! But have you ever considered how your lunch hour could be used for God? It could actually be the most important work you do all day – and the…
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June is a big month for families and always a special time for young people getting out of school! I love this time of year for the opportunities to minister to both. Would you help us pray for these exciting days just around the corner? Saturday-Monday, June 1-3, Sunday services & Deacons/Staff Training, Faith Baptist…
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Several months ago, I preached a message on the tears of Jesus. Our Savior was a “man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:5). This is more than mere emotionalism or shallow sentimentality – it is a reminder that He cares and that He carries our burdens. There are three times in Scripture that…
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When the Queen of Sheba came to visit King Solomon it was not just his riches and wisdom that she observed with amazement. It was his servants. She noted, “Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom” (1 Kings 10:8). The joyful servants were…
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A dear man asked me the other day where we were going next in our “Enjoying the Journey” Bible study. It is a pleasure to walk through Scripture together and to know that many of you are making that journey with us! Here is a brief overview of our next steps… Today’s episode is very…
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Have you ever thought you would like to study the Bible in the very places where it all happened? Just this week I read devotionally the account of Moses looking over into the Promised Land from Mt. Pisgah. I recalled what it was like for me, several years ago, standing in that same mountain range…
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The last few weeks have been some of the busiest and most blessed we have seen in our evangelistic work. I know this is due to the Lord’s grace and the faithful prayers of so many people. With the intense schedule I have not posted as many articles as normal. We hope to return to…
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Today I leave for a 10 day preaching trip. The Lord is helping us and we are seeing His hand. At the same time there is always spiritual warfare because everything God ordains, Satan opposes! The “great door” and the “many adversaries” always go together (1 Corinthians 16:9). I know that I need the Lord…
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On Tuesday a dear man in the church where I was preaching asked if we could go witnessing together. It was such a privilege to listen to him share Christ with holy enthusiasm. He has been doing it for over half a century. I asked him how he started sharing his faith. He said that…
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Thank you for praying with us and for us month after month. The Lord is so very gracious and we are humbled just to be in His work. Several folks have said recently, “I would never want to do what you are doing.” The truth is that when God calls you to something He gives…
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Recently I wrote a brief article on “Why You Should Use Gospel Tracts.” If you have not read it already I hope you will do so now. I am convinced that this is one of the great tools at our disposal for the advancement of the gospel! It is something everyone can do. Like every…
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Gospel literature is one means of communicating the message of Christ to great numbers of people one at a time. Imagine how many people could be reached if every believer simply carried tracts and gave them out as they went about their normal routines! The power of the literature is not in the words of…
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Recently I have had several kind believers come to me in meetings and ask, “What can we pray for you and your family specifically?” Nothing could be more encouraging! Such a question reveals that the people are not simply saying they will pray, but that they plan to pray – and pray specifically. The Lord…
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Every day should be a day of prayer, but it is a good thing to set aside specific seasons to give yourself to concentrated prayer. Extended periods of prayer help us to both consecrate ourselves and concentrate our petitions. In Scripture the number 40 is often associated with a season of proving or testing… The…
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Rest is not a dirty word. It is, in fact, essential to all good work. God instituted rest before the fall of man. It is hardwired into creation and indispensable to man. Rest for spirit, soul, and body is designed to bring us nearer to the God who created us! If Adam needed rest before…
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The other day a friend I had not talked to for some time asked if I was still running. Yes, my times have not been quite as good as I would like but I am still running. Travel schedules and winter weather pose challenges – but, if it is not one thing it is always…
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It is hard to believe that the first quarter of the year will soon be gone! We are grateful for the Lord’s faithfulness and the faithful prayers of so many of you. Over the last days of this month I will be preaching in Ohio, Georgia, and Florida. You can find more details on the…
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That’s right. No matter where you are or how cold it is, today is officially the first day of spring! The first of warmer, brighter days ahead…we hope. The seasons of nature are an amazing illustration of the seasons of spiritual life. Sometimes we all go through “winter” of the soul. Coldness comes. Darkness descends.…
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We are very grateful to have our daily Enjoying The Journey broadcast being broadcast on a number of traditional and online radio stations. (For a full list visit enjoyingthejourney.org/broadcast.) We have heard from many who are journeying with us through the Scriptures. New stations are being added as the Lord opens doors. I am happy…
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People around the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with little thought of the man for which the day is named. In fact, much of what is associated with Patrick is based on falsehoods… Patrick was not Irish – he was Scottish. He was not a canonized “Saint” of the church, but he was a believer…
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Questions You Can’t Answer Why did Jesus wait until He was 30 years of age to begin His ministry when He was so full of wisdom at the age of 12? Why did the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus only last three and a half years when He could have lived a long, full…
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Frequently I hear it said of someone that he is still trying to “find his way” in life. Our world is full of aimless drifters and empty souls. Another toy. Another trip. Another lover. Everyone just trying to find their way – but, to where? Many people have traveled all of life on a certain…
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Bob Crichton and I had the joy of laboring together in the Lord’s work for many years. He has been a faithful friend and spiritual counselor to me. Brother Crichton is a Spirit-filled man who walks with God. He has studied for many years the life of D.L. Moody and is full of helpful insights…
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Recently we have heard from precious friends who are watching and listening to messages given at recent meetings. Sometimes the churches that we are in livestream their services or archive their messages on their church website. A number of messages have also been made available on sites like Sermon Audio. My desire is to get…
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The True Church Business Meeting I arrived a half hour before the evening service was to start. One hundred people were already seated in the auditorium. Why were they early? The church was meeting for important business: it was meeting to pray. There was little talk to one another. The preaching would not take place…
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A pastor that is being mightily used of God told me this week that doctors had advised his parents to abort him. Today, I am thinking not only of the millions of babies who missed the opportunity to live their lives but also what we have missed! Doctors, teachers, pastors, laborers, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters…never…
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The life and ministry of D.L. Moody has always been a great challenge to me. This humble servant of God knew the power of the Holy Spirit and was used to shake two continents with the gospel. Perhaps his greatest work was in enlisting others to work for Christ. The Lord used Moody to set…
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Life is not about things “to-do” but about things “to-pray” for. Every event should be an opportunity to pray. The calendar should become part of our prayer list! As I look over our schedule week by week I am praying that in every place the Lord Jesus will be glorified, the Holy Spirit will have…
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Every preacher is different. The same all-wise God who used the unique personalities and gifts of the Bible writers continues to minister through all different types of men. Over time a man learns how God speaks to him and how he best can receive and relay the Lord’s message to others. Preaching day after day…
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My favorite traveling companion is the one that God is allowing me to make this journey through life with. Every place is better with her. Every day brighter. Tammy has been for the last nearly twenty five years my best friend, over twenty one of those as my wife. She is God’s best gift to…
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I will join you in prayer for a spiritual awakening among God's people and the advancement of the gospel.
