Communication in Marriage by Roger Pauley
5 Keys to Communication in Marriage The number one ingredient for a successful marriage is the foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ! We realize that Christ desires to be the...
What Does It Mean to “Train Up A Child…”?
How can we "train up a child in the way he should go"? “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will...
For Married Couples: Dealing with Difficult Days
For Married Couples: Dealing with Difficult Days Marriage is fun. But not all the time. Newlyweds rarely think of this when they say, "for better or for worse." Every young...
Wounds of Grief: Bible Truth for Broken Hearts
The greatest illustration of grief is a wound. Wounds vary in severity. Wounds heal differently. Different injuries leave different scars. Generally, there is a sudden shock as the initial pain...
Family Night
Family Night Friday night was family night at our house growing up. Dad traveled for business through the week and, once he started preaching, preached in area churches many nights....
Christians You Should Know: Susannah Spurgeon
“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” – Isaiah 41:10 Listen to a Traveler's Tales episode about this remarkable woman: A Snapshot of the Life...
Hymn History: Tell Mother I’ll Be There
"Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice." - Proverbs 23:25 We are thrilled to share a series of brief accounts of how...
The Scariest Job In the World
Every job has its drawbacks and even its dangers. But, what is the scariest job in the world? It is a job that many of us have! The scariest job...
An Idea for Your Christmas Cards
Have you sent out your Christmas cards yet? Through the years it has become increasingly difficult to send cards to everyone that we love and want to greet. For the...
Recent Reads & Recommendations
A few nights ago I had the privilege after a meeting to spend some time with a group of young preachers. We had a wonderful conversation on a range of...
5 Books to Read On Marriage & Family (And One I Am Starting To Read)
This week I had the privilege of speaking in a special seminar on the Christian home. The people in attendance were young and old, single and married, people with children...
5 Books Every Man Should Read
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...
How’s Your “Screen Time”?
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...
What Will Change In Your Life When This Is Over?
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...
5 Ideas For Teens @ This Time
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...
Revival of The Family Altar
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...
3 Talks To Have While You Are “Social Distancing”
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...
Stop Blaming The Pastor
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...
Your Christmas Prayer List
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...
Marriage And Friendship
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...
Obedient Children
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...
7 Truths My Dad Taught Me
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...
Why Everyone Needs Some Time Away
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....
God Hates Abortion
A pastor that is being mightily used of God told me this week that doctors had advised his parents to abort him. Today, I am thinking not only of the...
My Wife’s Ministry
Our First Valentine’s Day, 1995 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....
A Guest Post From My Wife
Throughout 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...
Reflections On The Death Of My Childhood Friend
Last 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...
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas…”
"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,...
It’s Family!
Family was God's idea. It is the perfect expression of the Heavenly Father's heart. "God setteth the solitary in families" (Psalm 68:6). From the beginning He knew that it was...
From The Back Of My Journal
I am nearing the end of another journal and, God willing, will begin another soon. This is always a reminder to me of the passing of life and the importance...
Thank God For Christian Education
The last two days I have been speaking in Michigan at a wonderful Christian Educator's Convention. It has been a privilege to spend time with men and women who are...
Thank God For Faithful Church Members
American culture has invaded American churches. The desire for novelty, the tendency to boredom, the love for entertainment - all are now very prominent in the average local church. One...
An Epidemic Of Loneliness
Recently NBC aired a special news report on the increase of loneliness in people around the world. The British government has now instituted a "minister for loneliness." This new undersecretary...
How To Help Your Kids Make The Most Of School Days
All over the country young people are returning to school. Our own children start back this week. New beginnings are a wonderful opportunity to set so many things in motion....
“Thank You, God, For 13 Years”
Today is my son's 13th birthday. We have had a wonderful time celebrating this week as a family. How could we have three teenagers?! I asked Grant to lead us...
When Two Worlds Collide by Pastor Mark Fowler
Mark Fowler and his wife Stephanie have been special friends to me and Tammy since college. The Lord is using them to lead a growing church in Elizabethton, TN. We...
How To Make This The Greatest Summer Of Your Life
How To Make This The Greatest Summer Of Your Life Everyone looks forward to summer. Students will tell you that summer begins the moment they are out of school. For...
The Family Vacation
The European’s have long taken their “holiday,” but it is America that has institutionalized the family vacation. American’s spend an inordinate amount of money every year on elaborate trips and...
A Big Day
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...
A Mother’s Day Meditation: “The Law Of Thy Mother”
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...
Family Worship
Did 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...
7 Specific Prayers for the One You Love
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...
GUEST POST: “A Goodly Heritage”
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...
“Thank You For Loving Our Country With Me”
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...
The Lord’s Love for Little Ones
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...
Don’t Forget These Things On Your Christmas List!
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...
How to Make Winter the Most Fruitful Season of the Year
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...
Monday’s Thanksgiving Thought
Gratitude 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....
30 Days of Thanksgiving
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...
How to Use Hymns and Why You Should
On a recent flight a lady commented to me that she loved the hymns but found it very difficult to find a church now that would sing them. This is...
A Simple Idea for Families
A Simple Idea for Families Families are busier than they have ever been. One of the most challenging things to do as a spouse or parent is to consistently read...
A Family and Ministry Update
As I write these words Tammy and the kids are with me for a conference with young adults in Florida. It has been such a joy to have my entire...
NEW: Our 2017 Summer Schedule!
Preaching at the Go Reach America Campaign On this unofficial beginning of summer our family is ministering in North Carolina. School is out and it is...
Go East Young Man!
Go East, Young Man! Our culture displays an obsession with the ability, beauty, and virility of youth. Somehow, in all of this obsession, we have forgotten the wisdom of age....
Family Vacations
In a few weeks school will be out and summer will be in full swing. This is the time of year that young people (and their parents!) begin counting the...
Think First!
As children we were always instructed to think before we speak. Now, with children of my own, I realize that this is good advice for adults too. This simple rule...
What’s On Your List?
Some time ago my wife challenged each member of our family to share three things for which we were grateful each night as we went to bed. It is easy...
Ministry Update and Our November Itinerary
In the last few days we have moved into our new home in West Virginia. Thank you for praying for our family during this season of transition. The beautiful changing...
A New Season and Our October Itinerary
My favorite season has arrived. Fall is officially here. This year our family is celebrating the changing of the leaves in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. It is a...
How to Make This A Great School Year
Our children have just begun a new year at a new school. We have been blessed to have had our children in a wonderful school through the years and are...
The Kindest Thing You Can Do for Your Preacher
Recently someone asked me what the kindest thing was that had been done for me as I traveled from church to church. That was easy. Pastors and people have been...
An Update on Our Transition
The last few days have been filled with so many wonderful memories…and so much expectation for the future! As we pulled out of Knoxville, Tennessee on Wednesday I reflected on...
A Word to the In-Laws
I know. The title has real potential. A preacher friend of mine recently said to me, "I have no problem with mother-in-laws. I love my wife's mother-in-law!" (For the record,...
A Goodly Heritage
It all started in the mountain state so near to my own heart. Anna Jarvis began to send carnations to her local church in Grafton, West Virginia in honor...
A Better Way to Say Goodbye
Over the last few months several of my dearest friends have said goodbye to loved ones and watched them slip away to Heaven. Moments like these remind us all that...
Let’s Hear It For the Preacher’s Wife!
Brace yourself for a lengthy dedication! This post is dedicated to my beautiful wife, my loving mother, my faithful pastor's wife, my wonderful sister and sister-in-law, two aunts, and my...
Daily Thanksgiving (Daily Living – Part 3)
I love Thanksgiving. But for too many of us, thanksgiving is a day of the year instead of a way of life. We have established a tradition without applying the...
Still Enjoying the Journey
About four years ago I began blogging. I have been more regular at times than at others, but it has been a good exercise for me. Many friends have been...
Turning a Holiday into a Holy Day
Turning a Holiday into a Holy Day Recently I had the joy of sharing with several young married couples a few thoughts on how to make this holiday a holy...
An Open Letter to Our Friends
December 18, 2015 The Lord has been very gracious to me and to my family. Twenty-one years ago I came to Powell, Tennessee to attend Crown College. It was here...
What I Learned from a Child About Singing Hymns
You can learn a lot from a child. Sometimes those we are teaching become our teachers. This happened to me again recently. As I walked through a certain place I...
