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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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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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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Are You Still Running? 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 weather occasionally pose challenges – but, if it is not one…
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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 who 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…
Read More“Do you enjoy what you are doing?” I hear this question often. The answer for me is…absolutely! While there are challenges in every work, there is nothing as fulfilling as being in the will of God. There are many needy places around this world and one individual cannot go everywhere or do everything. We all…
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This afternoon I am helping to conduct a prayer rally in the Akron-Canton, Ohio area. This meeting with churches from around the region is for one purpose: to set ourselves right with God and to seek God’s face for revival and the advancement of the gospel. Will you help us pray? Today’s prayer meeting is…
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We all know we ought to pray more. We all want to pray more effectively. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if God wrote a manual on prayer? Indeed, He has! God’s Word is the most thorough, powerful prayer book in the world. If you want to be a person of prayer then you must be a…
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We are all concerned about the direction of our communities and our country. It is easy to spend all of our time listening to the commentators and talking about how wicked the world has become. God’s people have a work to do – the one work that can truly make a difference. Only the gospel…
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Dr. Mike Edwards served for 37 years as the pastor of the Heritage Baptist Church in Woodbridge, VA. He is a man of wisdom and a great encouragement to those who are serving the Lord. I am very grateful to call him my friend and happy to pass along this helpful article. He and his wife are now traveling…
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The bad news and news of bad people seem to keep piling up. Like many of you, I am sickened this week by the blatant rebellion in our country against what is true and good and decent. Our beloved nation is quickly moving toward the judgment of God. We need a spiritual awakening! One of…
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It is a privilege to labor with others for the cause of Christ. The Lord is doing some wonderful things in churches all over this country. I thank God for faithful pastors and praying people in so many places. Let’s pray for one another and commit to be faithful until Jesus comes! January has been…
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This week I am preaching for a dear friend and wonderful pastor in south Florida. Tom Odom pastors the First Baptist Church of Southwest Broward in Cooper City. God is using him and his beautiful family and the work is being especially blessed of God. One of the joys in the ministry God has given…
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Podcasts are a wonderful resource for personal, daily growth. Listening to the faithful teaching of God’s Word has often been used to instruct and inspire me along the way. My prayer for our Enjoying The Journey podcast is that the Lord would use it to help people get into the Word of God for themselves. Nothing should…
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One of the early gospel efforts Tammy and I were privileged to serve in at Temple Baptist Church was the Christian Volunteers ministry on the campus of the University of Tennessee. During that time over twenty years ago God stirred a deep burden in my heart to reach college students for Christ. Kyle Austin also…
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Bible reading schedules have not been a great help to me. While I can appreciate the discipline they develop, for me they often became a distraction, a duty, a drudgery. Personally I have found it better through the years to take a smaller portion of Scripture each day and meditate on it. Each person has…
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Early this week I was in Fort Myers, Florida. One afternoon between meetings I had the joy of visiting Thomas Edison’s and Henry Ford’s winter homes. It was fascinating to read about the lives of these famous innovators. And a little sad. As I sat watching a film about the bitter relationship between Henry Ford…
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I love the gospel. It was the good news of Jesus Christ that changed my life and my eternal destiny! Every good thing in my life grows out of the gospel. Day after day I am witnessing the power of the gospel to change hearts and homes. It is the only true light for our…
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It was embarrassing to say the least. There I stood in a public restroom waving my hands furiously under the faucet, grumbling that someone really should fix the sensor. Why on earth wouldn’t the water come out? Then I realized – it’s not automatic. That’s right, it was one of the old fashioned kind. The…
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Today I have the opportunity to preach to a wonderful group of preachers. My heart is to encourage them. Thank the Lord for faithful ministers! Like their Chief Shepherd they live “not to be ministered unto, but to minister.” Yet in the midst of busy lives and labors ministers must pause long enough to minister…
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It was 5:30 a.m. when it went off. I am used to early flights, wake up calls, and alarms. This was different. In fact, the noise was so loud it almost vibrated me out of bed! The fire alarm in our hotel was deafening. In a matter of moments a knock on the door confirmed…
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In the world of finance it is referred to as the Pareto Principle. Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian economist, suggested that 20% of a nation’s people will control 80% of the wealth. This 80/20 rule has been applied to churches, not as it relates to money, but as it relates to manpower. The Lord does not…
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Henry Longfellow was once asked how he managed a long and happy life. He pointed to an apple tree and said, “The secret of the apple tree is that it grows a little new wood every year.” Today many of us are returning to work and school, to the schedules and demands of normal life.…
Read MoreToday we stand on the threshold of 2019. How gracious God has been to us! If the Lord allows us to live until tomorrow, we will turn another page in the calendar of time. Will you make it a new beginning in your Christian life? All this week on Enjoying The Journey we are looking at great…
Read MoreThese are days of preparation as we look forward to the year ahead. Thank you for praying for us. We would love to see you at one of these meetings in January… Wednesday-Friday, January 2-4 – Conference on Revival and Evangelism, Beacon Baptist Church, Raleigh, NC, Pastor Tim Rabon (more details at core2019.com) Sunday, January…
Read MoreThroughout this year I have had a number of guest authors on our blog. This one is my favorite. I thank the Lord for my sweet wife. Tammy is a precious helpmeet to me and a wonderful mother to our three children. She has been an inestimable blessing in the work God has called us…
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As many of you know, my favorite book of the Bible is the New Testament book of Philippians. But, like one of my college professors, I too would have to say that my favorite book of the Bible is whichever one I am studying at the time! “All scripture is given by inspiration of God…
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As a boy my dad taught me that there are two types of people in the world: takers and givers. Our world is full of takers, but givers are the ones who make a real difference. These are the ones who live Christ’s way, “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).…
Read MoreLast night I was asked to share a few thoughts at a memorial service for one of my childhood friends. Ramie and I attended kindergarten through high school together. He was my friend and now, at age 42, he is with Jesus. He leaves behind two beautiful little girls, a grieving mother, and a host…
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When I first went into evangelism a dear friend serving in a “closed country” asked if I would ever consider having a podcast. I must confess that at the time I barely knew what a podcast was! She explained to me and my wife that most Christian programming and preaching is blocked in that part…
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Occasionally I enjoy passing along a resource that has been a blessing to me. My friend Dan Cox from New Smyrna Beach, FL has written a thought-provoking article on the difference between seeking goodness from God and greatness in the eyes of men. Just this week I read in Charles Spurgeon’s The Soulwinner these words: “In…
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In our last article I wrote about the geographical and circumstantial reasons that some loved ones cannot be home for Christmas. But there is another reason. Some people may even be around our tables and under our roof, but they are still away from home. Spiritually they are wandering from the Lord and His people.…
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“I’ll be home for Christmas…” Familiar words from one of the most beloved Christmas carols. There truly is something wonderful about being home at this time of year. And yet, they are not always reality. Some cannot be home for Christmas this year. As a frequent traveler I often think at this time of year…
Read MoreThis week a dear pastor friend and I corresponded about helpful books to share with others. As we near the end of the year I would challenge you to create a reading list for the next twelve months. Be intentional. Begin collecting the ones you do not have. Make a plan to read purposefully in…
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I will join you in prayer for a spiritual awakening among God's people and the advancement of the gospel.
