Dr. Johnny Pope is the pastor of Christchurch Baptist Fellowship in Houston, Texas. His Spirit-filled preaching has always been a tremendous help to me. It is full of Scriptural substance that makes you think and stirs your heart. Brother Johnny has been a friend and encourager. I believe you will be helped by his writing.…
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Many of you faithfully read our Enjoying The Journey blog. Thank you for taking time to read, comment, and share the resources. This year we have had a guest author to post each month and the feedback has been very positive. I am excited to continue sharing the helpful thoughts and resources of others. A dear friend,…
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Hello, praying friends! Thank you for standing with us on your knees. We need your prayers more than ever and are conscious every day that someone is praying. God bless you. The summer is a busy one. We are taking a few days off the road in the middle of this month for some much…
Read MoreJust a few days ago we hosted a county-wide baccalaureate service for the graduating seniors of our home county. God blessed in a marvelous way. Hundreds of seniors, parents, grandparents, and friends gathered at a local high school auditorium. The Lord used a great team of volunteers, local churches, business sponsors, donors, and prayer partners.…
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Last week we celebrated our 100th “Enjoying the Journey” episode. Yesterday we concluded our journey through the Old Testament. On today’s broadcast we are examining what God was up to between Malachi and Matthew. Soon we will launch into the next phase of our journey as we begin to walk through the New Testament. I…
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Tomorrow is a big day for our family. In just a few hours Lauren will turn 16 and Morgan will graduate from high school. As a dad it is both joyful and sobering to watch my baby girls grow up. Later this summer our youngest, Grant, will turn 13. (Pray for us, please!) Today is…
Read MoreI love preachers. It was my privilege to grow up in a pastor’s home. For eighteen years I served under a faithful pastor. Now, it is my opportunity each week to spend a great deal of time with preachers across the country. One thing I know to be true: God’s men need times of refreshing…
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Proverbs opens with a father speaking to his son and closes with a mother speaking to her son. Children need the influence and instruction of both dad and mom. In the first chapter of this book of wisdom Solomon wrote, “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy…
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I was baptized as a five-year old boy. I chose to be baptized to show that I had recently trusted Christ as my personal Savior. Now, in fact, I simply chose what Jesus had already chosen for me. 2,000 years ago He told His disciples that those who believed on Him should be baptized (Mark…
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Almost every day, the topic of the devotional life comes up. Let’s be honest. We all struggle with it. Not just consistency, but truly having a meaningful time with God. How can my quiet time become a true meeting with the Lord? In college I was given a copy of George Muller‘s Soul Nourishment First. It has…
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For nearly two decades I had the joy of serving on the staff of a wonderful church and college. After the first few years I had the responsibility of not only being a staff member but also having staff who answered to me. I told someone recently that I learned more about serving on a…
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I remember well the first Bible word study I ever did. It was an easy word. I already knew what it meant…or at least I thought I did. On that day one word opened up one of the greatest principles in Scripture to me. The word is found in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess…
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Pastor Scott Hooks is one of my dearest friends on earth. The work he has been chosen to lead in Hickory, NC is being blessed of the Lord in a wonderful way. In a personal way, God has used him in my life. I am pleased to share his guest post with you and to announce a…
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“This is the Lord‘s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:23-24). Every day is a gift. Every good thing the Lord does is grace. I am more conscious every day, in the words of Hudson Taylor, that…
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Our world and our churches are full of hurting people. Far too often, those hurts come from those who are supposed to be fighting in the same army. Friendly fire. The sword of another brother in arms. We are commanded in Scripture to use a spiritual sword – “the sword of the Spirit,” which is…
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It is something I hear often. People are interested in the “great churches” in our generation. What are they? Where are they? Who is even qualified to say that they are great? Over the last thirty months on the road full time I have had the joy of being in hundreds of churches. Churches of…
Read MoreDid you know that the first time the word “worship” is used in the Bible is in the context of the home? On top of Mount Moriah Abraham taught Isaac what it truly meant to worship God (Genesis 22:1-18). I promise you this was not a lesson that young man forgot! The first “worship leaders”…
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Below is one of the longest posts I have ever made and yet it will be one of the most enjoyable reads. As a college student, learning to learn, I was introduced to an old story that made a powerful impression on my life. It has helped me to study, to think, to meditate, to…
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Over the last few weeks I have been privileged to spend time with a number of high school seniors. One of them is living in my own home! Just yesterday I was on the campus of the school I graduated from twenty-four years ago. My heart was filled with both memories from my past and…
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Most Sunday mornings I am asked to address a combined Sunday School class or spend time with a particular Bible study group. This is always something I enjoy doing and is a little more informal than the preaching services. Recently I began a special meeting on a Sunday morning and the pastor asked if I…
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This generation has grown accustomed to the 24-hour news cycle. Our eyes, ears, minds, and emotions are bombarded by the constant flow of headlines and pictures. We know more detail and digest more information than any people who have ever lived. Yet our souls are starving. Hopelessness and despair are at an all time high.…
Read MoreIn just a few days Lincoln would “belong to the ages.” His life, like the Civil War, was soon to end. The final stages of battle were underway. Lincoln has always been my favorite president. On my desk are two volumes of Lincoln’s letters and speeches from 1832-1865. From time to time I enjoy seeing…
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As many of you know I spend a good deal of time on the road. Another frequent traveler, the Apostle Paul, once wrote, “all things are yours” (1 Corinthians 3:21-22). F.B. Meyer observed that everything is God’s classroom and serves to teach me something. Sitting in a hotel room recently I began to make a…
Read MoreEvangelist Byron Foxx has been a tremendous encouragement to me. He is a happy Christian and his enthusiasm is contagious! You may learn more about his ministry at BibleTruthMusic.com. I believe his brief article on attitude will be a help to you today… Have you ever had an experience with a person who had a…
Read MoreThis generation needs the good news of Jesus Christ! Young people are growing up in a world of violence and hate. Only the love of God can make the difference. In the past months we have seen repeated shootings on school campuses. Students are hurting. Families are afraid. Bullying is on the rise. Kids are…
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No two people are the same, and no two preachers are either. The gifts and callings of God are unique in the life of every one of His servants. It is a beautiful revelation of the wisdom of God and a reminder that He can use others who are not exactly like us. In my…
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When I was in college someone gave me a copy of an anonymous poem about the Bible as God’s revelation of Himself. Today we begin a new podcast series called “Journey Through the Scripture.” My prayer is that we all will come to know the written Word in a greater way, and through this journey,…
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It is hard to imagine that we are near the end of the first quarter of 2018! Next week we will publish our quarterly family newsletter with several special reports. We would love to send it to you. If you have not subscribed to our email newsletter you may do so here. We have seen…
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My Advice To A Young Preacher Recently a teenage boy wrote to tell me that God had called him to be a preacher. What a joy to see another generation of young people yielding their lives to serve Christ! He asked if I would give him some advice. Below are the simple things I wrote…
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Just this week as I was reading God’s Word I noticed a reference that Jesus made to the reading of Scripture. In Luke 6:3, Christ spoke to religious people when He said, “Have ye not read so much as this…? Those who knew so much about God had failed to read some of the most…
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I am so very excited about the news I am going to share with you today! At the beginning of this year we began a daily podcast to promote the study of God’s Word. It is a joy to meet people who are being helped by the daily episodes. Friends have shared with me that…
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Cliche Christianity So much of our Christianity has become trite and cliché. Words often overused and underappreciated are commonplace. Do we even think about the things we are saying? I hear this cliche Christianity in my own prayers. It is easy to criticize the “vain repetition” of other groups and false religions, but what about…
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For many years I almost prided myself in not reading fiction. “I read real stories.” Some time ago I was given a work of Christian fiction to read. As I read the book I came to a stark realization… I was wrong about reading fiction. Now, like any other genre of books, all fiction is…
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Not all investments are good ones! Investing in the gospel is always a wise investment. Today I am traveling to preach the Word of God. Continually I am reminded that many people who I will not see (some who I do not even know) are investing in the work God has called us to do…
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Two months from today is primary election day in West Virginia. While I do not believe that politics is the answer for our nation, I am convinced that believers should not retreat from our political system. God’s people must do their part to be “salt and light” in the world. Christians should be the best…
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Pastor Kenny Kuykendall is being mightily used of the Lord in Lawrenceville, Georgia. It was my privilege to review his newest book on preaching. I know it will be a great help to all of us whose passion is to effectively preach God’s Word. We are happy to share these brief thoughts and recommend his…
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Like so many days, I am flying through the Charlotte, North Carolina airport this morning. Four miles from the terminal a private memorial service is being held for the most famous preacher in the world. Billy Graham has preached the gospel to more people than any evangelist in history. While there are things that Graham…
Read MoreThe Lord has been so faithful to us in the opening weeks of this year. Thank you for your continued prayers. I closed out a missions revival in Florida last night and am flying home this morning. We added a local meeting tonight and details on that service may be found at enjoyingthejourney.org/itinerary. Below you…
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Today on “Enjoying the Journey” we conclude our study through the book of Philippians. I have heard from people across the country and even outside the U.S. who have joined us over the last few weeks. Thank you for taking time to listen! If you missed some of the broadcasts you may find all 41…
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Use A Story! Everybody loves a good story. Some preachers and teachers are known as storytellers. This should never be our goal. Our mission is to be truth-tellers. However, learning to tell a story that reveals the truth – that is another matter entirely! THAT is teaching and preaching as Jesus did. Communicators in every…
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This is the time of year when so many people become sluggish. Schedules are hectic. The newness of the new year has worn off and the freshness of spring has not yet arrived. Weather is wearying. Illness is rampant. Christmas vacation has long since vanished and summer vacation seems far in the distance. For all…
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A President’s Day Prayer Today is President’s Day in the United States. In the war zone that is the American political system it is often easy to forget the spiritual conflict that is always raging. The enemy of souls is far greater than any perceived enemy on the other side of the aisle. “For we…
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There are a few men who are admired by believers of all backgrounds. These are special men. Men who make an impact far outside their immediate realm of influence. They are the encouragers. People who do not agree on many things often agree that these men helped them along the journey. Preachers and churches of…
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Tammy and I are on our way to speak at a marriage retreat for the next couple of days. This week is, of course, a special time for sweethearts and I am truly grateful for mine. On Valentine’s Day, we often think more about the romantic aspects of love. Yet God’s love is the same…
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It has been said that the most beautiful word in the English language is your own name. Even if you don’t care for the name you have been given, it means a great deal when others care enough to use it. Everyone loves to be known. To be acknowledged. Several months ago I was having…
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Several years ago when I served on a church staff a college student came to me at the end of a service with an interesting question. He said, “I hear you pray publicly for the preacher when he is about to come with God’s Word. You always pray the same things for him. Why?” My…
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My first guest author this year is my pastor and hero. He has been my best friend all of my life. I am grateful for dad’s testimony of faithfulness. He has lived at home what he preaches at church. As we focus on marriage and family this month I am happy to share with you…
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My Favorite Chapter of the Bible Do you have a favorite portion of Scripture? One of my Bible teachers used to say that his favorite passage of Scripture was the one he was studying at the time. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable…” (2 Timothy 3:16). Jesus said it this…
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In recent years we have seen an epidemic of high profile people committing terrible acts. Preachers, politicians, prominent entertainers, powerful business people. It seems the news is always new and yet always the same: leaders whose lives do not match their labor. This is nothing new. It is as old as sin. But our age…
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The first month of 2018 has exceeded our prayers and plans. In the words of the Psalm 118:23, “This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.” So many of you have been praying and God is answering your prayers. Thank you for laboring with us for the gospel. I am happy to…
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Evangelists are not typically known for series preaching. For many years I thought that sermon series were basically pastoral in nature. More and more I believe that such preaching is simply Bible preaching and it can be done over a long period of time or in a short season. Preaching through a portion of Scripture…
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After days of flying it takes a little time for your body (and your mind) to get back to normal! I’m not sure I am completely there but each day I am able to reflect a little more on our recent gospel work in Asia. While I am rejoicing in the work we were able…
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A Personal Testimony that Taught Me A Powerful Truth Preachers do not always preach the most powerful sermons. Sometimes church members do. Not long ago, I sat in an auditorium as a humble man rose from his seat to share a simple testimony. While he spoke, God spoke to me. I cannot tell you all…
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I wrote this post while ministering in another country. No matter where I travel in this world, I can boldly proclaim that God loves all people and Christ died for every man. Our heart for humanity must be bigger than one people group because God’s heart is! While it is a privilege to labor in…
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Last year we provided a free resource each month to encourage and equip believers. In 2018 I would like to make available a different type of resource. Each month a special guest will publish a blog post on Enjoying the Journey. People are the greatest blessing of all! The writers will all be different and will…
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I do not normally publish a post on the Lord’s day, but today I have a special prayer need to share with you. In just a few hours we will leave for India. Much prayer and preparation have gone into the next few days. Our team has been praying specific Scripture and definite prayers as…
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The Lord’s Love for Little Ones Recently, I had the joy of spending a few minutes with a group of children who have given and prayed for our upcoming gospel work in India. What an encouragement to be with boys and girls and see the excitement about life and the Lord on their faces! As…
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Every close to the day is a reminder that God has not failed or forsaken us. Weariness should remind us that His strength was sufficient. Memories should remind us that His wisdom was perfect. Quiet hours should remind us that His presence was real in the busiest hours of the day. Evenings are a time…
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I am in another time zone this morning. Next week I will be in a time zone ten and a half hours different from home! It is easy for mornings and evenings to get mixed up at times. God makes a definite distinction between evening and morning in His Word. This is true from the…
Read MoreToday is the last day of the first week of a new year. Imagine each year as a puzzle with fifty-two pieces. The first piece is now in place. Recently I heard someone talking about “chance.” Christians should not view life as an accident. Life is about choices. There are two kinds of choices: There…
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How are you doing with your goals for the new year? It is just the first week but how quickly we can forget and fail in the very areas we resolutely said we would do better in! Do not be discouraged. The year is a marathon, not a sprint…and you are just getting warmed up.…
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When God speaks to us it is natural to respond to Him. The Bible should lead us to prayer! Several years ago someone gave me a book about praying the Scriptures. That truth changed my devotional life. If you pray in the will of God you can know you are praying in the will of…
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There is power in one word from God. I hold a personal conviction that the very words and every word of Scripture are given by inspiration of God. They have been preserved for us. Every word. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable…” (2 Timothy 3:16). “…It is written, Man shall not…
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Many of us have made definite commitments to give renewed attention to God’s Word in the new year. For me, that means something different every year. I try not to use the same reading schedule or plan. This keeps the routine from becoming a rut and helps me to approach it with fresh expectancy. I…
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The first day of a new year. What will we do with it? It will never get any easier than today to take action. Never. Do you want to learn more from God’s Word this year? Take the first step – read a chapter of the Bible today. Do you want to pray more this…
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Six years ago this month I began writing on our blog. At the time God led me to call it Enjoying the Journey. (You may read more about why I chose that name here.) Now, on the threshold of a new year, we are taking another step on that journey. We are launching a daily podcast. There…
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If God lets us live until Monday we will begin a brand new year. What a privilege to serve the Lord! Below you will find our scheduled meetings for the first month of 2018. We need your prayers especially for the evangelistic crusade taking place in India during the middle of the month. Please help…
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Christmas and New Year are a time for family and fun. But for a believer it is a season of faith. A time to turn our eyes to Christ and to His work in our lives. The holidays are to be more than a time for festivity. They are to be a time of reflection…
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Even among unbelievers Christmas is viewed as a season for miracles. (Think Miracle on 34th Street!) But for those of us who know Christ it is more than that – it is a reminder that we serve a God who works miracles. Christmas is merely a reminder of who God is every day. He is the…
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Everyone is busy this week. Shopping. Eating. Cooking. Eating. Traveling. Eating. Wrapping. Eating. It is easy to forget the things that truly matter in the hurry and haste. Perhaps you are working feverishly from a Christmas list. Would you add these things to your list this year? Don’t forget Christ. Remember it is His birth…
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As a boy, I heard an older man say, “If you have a handful of true friends in life you are a wealthy person.” At the time I thought it was a ridiculous statement. I had a lot of companions! I planned to make more… Now, at middle age, I am that older man! As…
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I was being introduced to speak early on in my time as an evangelist. The man who was introducing me was a fine man and very sincere, but his introduction made me laugh. “Pray for Brother Pauley. He lives from week to week as an evangelist. He has to live by faith.” Has to? His…
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We were in a meeting in a large city, a city known for sizable churches and well known preachers. One afternoon I had the privilege to visit two churches that I have heard about for years. I was not there to speak. In fact, I did not know a soul at either church. I was…
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Winter is not often thought of as fruitful. In many parts of the country short days and cold weather begin to limit the activities of the church. Depressed moods can settle in on good people, and days are just lived in expectation of better times to come. Never forget that our God is a present…
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Taken For Granted We take family for granted…until they are gone. We take health for granted…until it is broken. We take sleep for granted…until it refuses to come. We take children for granted…until they are grown. We take the church for granted…until we have to find a new one. We take friends for granted…until…
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It is inevitable that critics will come. If you obey God there will be some man who does not understand. And the critics are not always foes – sometimes they are friends and family. Even Jesus said to Peter, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” Sincere people can serve as the enemy’s mouthpiece. It is not…
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We have just come through one of the busiest seasons of the year for revival meetings. In reality, God chooses the season for revival. It cannot be scheduled or planned. It will not be confined to our calendar. Revival comes in God’s time and God’s way. As I sit in meetings week after week, preaching…
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As a twelve year old boy the Lord called me to be a preacher of God’s Word. Through the years He has confirmed that call and deepened this conviction in my heart. An old entry in my journal reads… God has confirmed His call on my life. It is not to be an administrator, a…
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We are drawing to the close of a very busy year! I am grateful to have a little extra time with the family over the next few weeks. Most of our December meetings are on Sundays and Wednesdays, and we look forward to being with several churches. As always, we are grateful for your prayers…
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The Apostle Paul rarely ever ministered alone. For each gospel advance he enlisted and engaged a missionary team. In his words, “we are labourers together with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9). Some plant. Some water. God gives the increase. This is a gospel team at work. In January we are conducting an evangelistic crusade in India.…
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If you live in central or southern West Virginia I am happy to announce that we are beginning a daily radio program in December. Enjoying the Journey will be a ten minute broadcast, Monday through Friday. This new program will air from 7:50 to 8:00 a.m. on WMLJ, 90.5 FM. I am excited about sharing God’s Word…
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I must be getting more sentimental in my old age. Over the last few years I have developed a great love for poetry. In so many ways it expresses the deepest feelings of the soul. It is my conviction that this is why the Holy Spirit used poetry in the Word of God to articulate…
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Families will gather around tables this week and briefly mention the many blessings for which they are grateful to God. For most of us the emphasis will be on the good things we have received. God truly has given us so much. This Thanksgiving I am thanking God for something else. I am grateful for…
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Over the last few days we have been building a list in our home. We live by lists! Grocery lists, to do lists, special event lists. This one is different. It is a “thanks list.” Every week this month each of us have written down one thing for which we are grateful to God. The…
Read MoreGratitude begins vertical and becomes horizontal. As we offer thanks to the Source of every good gift, we are reminded of the many channels that He uses to deliver them. Sometimes it is easy to recognize blessings from a distance and miss the ones that are right in front of us. Permit me to share…
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Christ’s greatest work was not done in a Temple or a synagogue. It was not accomplished through discussion with religious leaders or debate with skeptics. His work was done outside the city where the lepers lived. At the side of the road where the beggar sat. In the fields where the poor gathered to hear…
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Going the Second Mile It doesn’t mean much to us, but to the crowd Christ was speaking to, it was radical, revolutionary, even ridiculous. “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain” (Matthew 5:41). The Jews lived under constant Roman oppression. One demand by a Roman soldier or citizen would…
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A Lesson From A Student A few days ago, I was talking with a school teacher who has a number of special education children in her class. As we spoke about the importance of this work, she told me that there was one student who had made a tremendous impact on her. This young man…
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Are You In A Holding Pattern? There are few things more frustrating than the pilot’s announcement that your flight is in a holding pattern! How long? Why? What is the problem? When will this end? In recent days, I have counseled with a number of people whose lives and ministries seem to be in such…
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A Word to Younger Preachers Recently a precious friend introduced me as “a young preacher.” I love those words. I am now at the age where I want to hang onto them as long as possible! As a preacher, I am increasingly aware of the investment that older men have made in my life. All…
Read MoreBooks become friends. They instruct and inspire. As my wife will tell you, there are a lot of books around our home! At any given time there are several off the shelf, in the process of being read. I have previously written several articles on reading and developing a library. There is both a discipline…
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Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. used to say, “When gratitude dies on the altar of a man’s heart he is well-nigh gone.” There is no way to underestimate the power of thankfulness, in a heart or in a home! For believers, thanksgiving should not be a single day – it should be a way of life.…
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10 Ways to Begin Bringing Others to Jesus Have you ever had the joy of sharing Christ with someone and seeing that person come to know the Lord as their personal Savior? If so, you know there is nothing in this world like it! We know that Jesus said, “ye shall be witnesses unto me”…
Read MoreFrequently in my sermons I tell the story of some great Christian hymn. The background to a song often opens up the message in a more meaningful way. I am currently reading Al Smith’s Treasury of Hymn Histories and my heart has been blessed again by the way God works in the hearts of His…
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This is my favorite season of the year and a busy season of ministry. God has been faithful and we are seeing Him work in many places. Thank you for praying for us. Our itinerary for the month of November is below. I would deeply appreciate your prayers and, as always, would be encouraged to…
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The service had just ended and an older woman whom I did not know came to speak to me. She told me that she prays for me and for my family every day. I cannot think of anything more encouraging than that! Then she asked the question that few people ever ask. It revealed a…
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A Simple Principle That Has Had A Profound Effect On My Life Dr. Frank Sells was one of my favorite Bible teachers. I can see him now, sitting on the platform, in his conversational way, showing some of the most powerful truths I have ever seen in the Word of God. Many of his statements…
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Suicide is More Than A Statistic Suicide is up 300% from my father’s generation. Over the last few months, I have read an alarming number of articles on the suicide rate in our nation. A quick Google search will reveal that suicide is on the rise in almost every region, and most alarmingly, it is…
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The Greatest Thing In The World What is the greatest thing in all the world? Henry Drummond was a Scottish evangelist who was mightily used of the Lord. D.L. Moody called him the most Christ-like young man he ever knew. Though I cannot endorse everything that Drummond wrote, I wholeheartedly recommend to you his commentary…
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Are you looking for a study that will stir your heart for the advancement of the gospel? Are you interested in a brief series on witnessing that could be used in a Sunday School class, youth group, or small Bible study? Are you needing a training resource to prepare believers to share their faith? It…
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I will join you in prayer for a spiritual awakening among God's people and the advancement of the gospel.
