Churches are beginning to open back up. Pastors are trying to find some rhythm again. It will take some time to get everyone back and schedules fully normal, but it is a start. In fact, it is an opportunity for a new beginning! Over the last months I have had the privilege of working with…
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Every Christian should read biography. Through the years God has used the story of believers in history to both instruct and inspire me. First, let me say that not every biography I read is Christian. There are lessons to be learned from military leaders, businesspeople, athletes, and government figures. Sometimes we learn what to do…
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America is in desperate need of revival. Our nation needs the healing that only God’s holy presence can bring. But great awakenings never begin as national movements – they begin as personal meetings with God. Spiritual awakenings come when God’s people connect their prayers to God’s purpose. I am frequently asked when I plan to…
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These are unusual days for everyone and unique days to serve in a church. Over the last few weeks I have spent a great deal of time talking and praying with pastors who are doing their best, under God, to lead their churches through this crisis time. While these faithful pastors are working to help…
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“Truly God is good…it is good for me to draw near to God” (Ps. 73:1, 28). In these unusual days I am reminded that God is good, and that it is good for me to stay as close to Him as possible! Thank you for continuing to pray for us as we seek to fulfill…
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Everywhere we look, we see reminders of our desperate need for godly men to set the pace for another generation coming along behind them. Personally, I am grateful that my dad is a spiritual man, hopeful that my son will follow Christ all of his life, and convicted that I must be the link that…
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We live by lists! Grocery lists, to do lists, lists to keep up with our lists. At this particular time in our world people are more reflective. God has providentially allowed us to have time to meditate and ponder what is truly important. The question is: will we remember what we are learning? Someone said…
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Yes, that’s what I said. Stop it. Stop reading the Bible. It is not that the Bible should not be read, rather, it is that too often we substitute Bible reading for the greater work. Reading Scripture passages is just the entry point! Our communication with God must be much more than that. American Christianity…
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It is a great privilege to stand and preach God’s Word to others. In fact, it is a high and holy calling that should never be taken for granted! Preachers who are serious about what God has given them to do will not only work on sermons, they will work on themselves. You cannot separate…
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As many of you know we have been praying and working for some time toward a regional God Bless America Rally in our “Jerusalem” of southern West Virginia. 33 churches are laboring together for this gospel effort and there is a real expectancy about what the Lord will do! This is a pivotal time in…
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How well do you know the Spirit of God? Though we live in the age of the Spirit, there is so much confusion about Him. Some fall short of really understanding the Holy Ghost, while others go beyond what Scripture reveals about the third person of the Godhead. I love the Holy Spirit. He is…
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Perhaps like me you are beginning to get impatient or bored with the current state of things in our nation. A little stir crazy? We must remember that, like everything in this world, “this too shall pass.” Soon the crisis will be over. The great question is not: “Will the crisis every pass?” but, rather,…
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Yesterday we concluded the first stage of our journey through the Psalms. The Genesis Psalms, Psalm 1-41, help us to see God as the beginning of all good things. I have greatly enjoyed the trip so far! Today we take a brief stop before continuing our journey. Along the path of life sometimes the Lord…
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This is a hard one. I have so many books that have been a tremendous help to me on the subject of prayer. There are a host of “classics” – such as the writings of E.M. Bounds – that you would expect to find on this list. However, I would like to simply recommend a…
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Today a precious friend, a faithful preacher, a man of prayer went home to be with Jesus. He walked with God and, in the last few hours, like Enoch, “he was not, for God took him.” I imagine that at this moment he is rejoicing at the throne, and while I grieve for his loved…
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Someone said that man plans and God laughs. Scripture says it better, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). In recent weeks we have all been reminded that we may schedule and plan but the final direction is given by God alone. While our itinerary over the last…
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The wisest man who ever lived said, “There is no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). That is because truth is never new – it is eternal. One of the dangers in our world today is the Athenian nature to always “tell, or to hear some new thing” (Acts 17:21). While there are good…
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The most dangerous battleground on earth is the human mind. Each day is a war zone. Satanic attacks must be met with God’s help, and every thought must be captured and yielded to Christ. The victory or defeat of your Christian life hinges on your thought life. “For though we walk in the flesh, we…
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Many of God’s people believe that we are on the verge of a revival in our day. There is a disruption of norms, a hunger for God, a deep sense of need. Only the Lord knows – and only He can send a spiritual awakening. In the words of G. Campbell Morgan, “We cannot organize…
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Mobile devices and on-demand media have changed our world forever. More specifically, they have changed our families and our lives. Homes no longer revolve around a big screen in the living room, but around little screens in our hand. That is a greater danger now than ever. As we spend less time with people there…
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Did you know that the word “quarantine” actually comes from an Italian word that has biblical roots? It means 40 days – a reference to the 40 days of purification and the 40 day testings found throughout the Scriptures. While the immediate purpose is medical and physical in nature, I believe that God is using…
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“Nothing is more dreaded than the national government meddling with religion.” These were the words of President John Adams in 1812 and they express a truth that translates well into this generation in our nation. We are all concerned about the protection of religious liberty…or at least we should be. Adams, who knew something about…
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For at least one day this week people thought of Christ. We have just come through Easter and much of the world has considered the story of Jesus and the resurrection. But the person and work of the Lord should not be examined once a year – He should be pursued every day! There is…
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What are you currently reading? Do you have any books to recommend? Who are some authors you enjoy? These are questions that I frequently get from friends, but in the last few days it seems everyone is trying to find something good to read! With the current world situation we all have a little more…
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My grandpa remembered where he was when Pearl Harbor was attacked. My dad remembers where he was when JFK was shot. I remember where I was when the planes hit the World Trade Center on 9/11. My children will remember the global pandemic of 2020. There are moments in every generation that fix themselves forever…
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If you are a teenager I am quite sure that your social life has been disrupted and your school year has been less than you imagined. (Or perhaps, better than you imagined – depending on your perspective!) After a few days at home most young people begin to get bored. Maybe you are way past…
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We have become a nation of “shut-ins” in many ways. (This should make us more compassionate and caring of those who truly are shut-in and unable to ever leave their homes!) The current shift in schedule has disrupted a mobile society and the ripple effects are just beginning to be felt. What should Christians do?…
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Just a few days ago it was my privilege to be back in our nation’s capitol. Washington D.C. is more than the seat of government for our country – it is a city with millions of eternal souls. Sometimes in the frustration with politics it is easy to forget that souls are at stake. National…
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The term has been lost with the passing of time – and so has the use. Few people today think much about a “family altar.” Yet in days of revival in our nation the principle of families praying and worshiping together was vital. True revival does not start at the church house, it starts at…
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Tomorrow we begin a brand new month. April is usually filled with revival meetings and Bible conferences, but the Lord has allowed a much different itinerary. Like most of you, our travel is limited and work is adjusted because of the global pandemic. I am not discouraged or worried. In fact, I have great peace…
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In crisis hours we are all reminded of what is most important in life, and who truly watches for our souls. We are all living through a season that reminds us of the importance of the local church. This season will pass but the church remains. Christ is building His church even now! He is…
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This week I had the privilege of participating in an extended discussion with a group of pastors. These are unique times for those who are leading churches and feeding God’s people. While each local church and community is unique they all have one thing in common – they are being called on to minister in…
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In recent days we have all been reminded of the positive use of technology and online resources for Christians and churches. They are platforms that can be used for the gospel and the encouragement of God’s people! We are increasingly asked where to find our full length Bible messages. Every church uses different platforms to…
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How to Enjoy the Journey Many years ago, I heard a gentleman say as a Christian that he knew he was going to enjoy the destination, but he wanted to enjoy the journey. I thought so much about his statement. My friend is with the Lord now, he is enjoying the destination, but he was…
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First let me say that I am not a pastor. I do not have the responsibility of shepherding one flock and overseeing the needs of a local church. As an evangelist I spend much of my time trying to encourage pastors and help churches advance the gospel in many places. I love pastors and local…
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Many of us are spending a little more time at home these days! The worldwide pandemic and resulting restrictions have cut down on travel, meetings, school, and a host of other “normal” activities. Most are suffering some degree of withdrawal from the lack of sporting events and simultaneous overexposure to news media. Now we are…
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One of the great desires that I have is to get helpful resources to those who are laboring faithfully in God’s work. There is no lack of available resources, but there is often a dearth of trustworthy ones. That is why I enjoy partnering with other likeminded ministers to develop tools for Bible study and…
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These are unusual and exciting days to be serving the Lord. I believe that revival is on the way and whatever God has to rearrange in all of our lives and ministries is up to Him. It is amazing how quickly things can change! As you read these words I am flying back to West…
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The world is shaking…but God is not! These are uncertain days, but the people of God have a certain future. He has not failed us, forgotten us, or forsaken us – and He never will! How can you live with confidence in uncertain times? Rest in what you know for sure. When there are questions…
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I rarely post on the Lord’s day, but this Sunday is an unusual day for many churches and church members. Social media has been filled this week with updates, instructions, and explanations from pastors and Christian leaders about the current pandemic and the varied responses. These are challenging days for those who have been called…
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What is ahead? As I write these words the news is filled with stories related to the Coronavirus that is sweeping the globe and the downturn of financial markets. Mix in the political climate and uncertainty about the future and you have a recipe for anxiety! Perhaps your fears are more connected to personal issues,…
Read MoreThis week we concluded our series on The Great Journey’s of the Bible. The Lord has been so gracious to allow us to study Scripture with people around the world through the daily podcast. I continually hear from friends, many of whom I may not meet until heaven, who are getting into the Word of…
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We all want someone to blame. When things go wrong in life – and they inevitably do – it is human nature to point the finger at someone else who failed to do their part. Typically the person who bears the greatest blame is the leader. That is true in a family, in a church,…
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He was only 39 years old when he died, but he looked much older. War will do that to a man. His death by human logic was unnecessary and untimely – he was accidentally shot by his own men. Yet Stonewall Jackson would see the providence of God in the details. My travels this week…
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Today I am on my way to speak at a very special men’s conference in North Carolina. It is the last meeting of what has been a very busy month. God has been so gracious and we have seen Him at work individually in many lives and corporately in many churches. I thank God that…
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As a boy my dad told me, “Son, there are two kinds of people in the world – givers and takers – and you’re going to have to decide which one you want to be.” I have lived long enough to know that there are more takers than givers. Which are you? Giving Living In…
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Do you have a difficult time loving some people? Do you struggle to express love to others? Does it seem that even with those you love that your love falls short in so many ways? I am convinced that one of the greatest needs in families, churches, our nation is a fresh understanding and experience…
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It is amazing how sometimes the most far reaching things are the ones we did not plan at all. Several people have asked me recently how our daily Enjoying The Journey programming began. It was not a big idea or some personal vision. Instead, it was the providential work of God. A conversation. An open…
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This week I am preaching at the historic Sixth Avenue Bible Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY. This beautiful 150-year old church is the continuing fruit of a faithful man. Robert Lowry is now famous for the many hymns that he wrote. Great songs like “Christ Arose” and “Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus” came from…
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Several of you are planning to study God’s Word with us as we tour Israel at the end of this year. We are excited about touring the land of the Bible with friends. If you are still praying about joining us I would like to encourage you to care for your registration and deposit before…
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There is nothing in this world quite like seeing an eternal soul come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that Scripture teaches God’s love for all people and that Christ died for every person (John 3:16). Believers are privileged and responsible to share the good news of salvation with “every creature” (Mark…
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Our world has some mixed up ideas about love! The devil and the flesh always try to pervert what is perfect. Only the God who is love can teach us how to love. God’s love is deep and wide. It is inexhaustible and infinite – because God is. It is greater than our sin. Greater…
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3 Positive Ways To Use Your Social Media There is a lot of negative talk in this world. Social media has only amplified it. Sadly, many believers use their social media just like those who do not know God. Disagreements are aired for the world to see. Accusations are thrown flippantly. Complaining is the norm. “My…
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God is at work in our nation. He is working in individual hearts and homes. The awakening of a country always begins with the awakening of God’s people. As I travel across our land I am encouraged by the burden many now have to pray and seek the Lord. In our own region like-minded churches…
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“As thy days, so shall thy strength be” (Deuteronomy 33:25). These words, given by God to His people, have come to mean more and more to me with the passing of every day. Though we schedule into the future and plan for days ahead we can only live one day at a time. Each day…
Read MoreI thank God for faithful evangelists. They are a gift to the local church (Ephesians 4:11), and properly used, a help to both pastor and people. It has been a joy at this stage in my life to learn more about evangelism both from personal experience and from the experiences of others. Larry Clayton…
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When I was a young man someone told me, “Choose only a date who would make a good mate.” That was good advice. A casual relationship can quickly turn into a serious one. Friendships often become lifelong commitments. There are many choices in life, but few have more lasting consequences than who you will marry.…
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Long before I was a preacher I was a sinner. We would like to think that this changes over time, but I am still a sinner! One of God’s great preachers said it best: “O wretched man that I am!” (Romans 7:24). For sure, we should be sinning less but we are not sinless. Only…
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Are you hungry to know God in a deeper way? We come to know God through His Word – literally, through His words. We believe that the very words of Scripture are given by God and that every word is essential (2 Timothy 3:16-17). “Every word of God is pure…” (Proverbs 30:5) The Lord Jesus…
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7 Excuses For Not Sharing Christ Through the years, I have had the privilege of speaking at conferences and meetings for revival and evangelism. My heart has been stirred and my hope renewed. Christ is still “able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him” (Hebrews 7:25). The gospel has…
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How are you doing with your devotional Bible reading so far? Many believers begin at the first of the year with some goal. Perhaps you have already started. For many of us the first weeks of the year are fairly easy…then comes the daily grind. The routines of life have a way of distracting us…
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If you have been traveling with us through the Word of God, thank you! If you have not yet joined us on this journey I would like to encourage you to begin today. We have just completed our second year of podcasts. (You may find the archive here.) As we begin this third year of…
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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 to conservative news for 15 minutes, you have the general picture…the next several hours will just discuss it in 100 different ways. While it is…
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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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I will join you in prayer for a spiritual awakening among God's people and the advancement of the gospel.
