I watched the super bowl last night. What a game! In the midst of all the on-field excitement and the funny commercials I couldn’t help but notice that the camera kept showing the backup quarterback on the sidelines. He was excited and kept shouting encouragement to his teammates, even though there was little chance of…
I just returned from the semi-annual meeting of America’s National Prayer Committee. What a great group of cross-denominational folks. I’m one of only a few Southern Baptists on the committee of approximately 100 and possibly the only one from the academic world. I love being with them. No one cares who I am or what…
Ideas from other cultures fascinate me. For instance, the Hebrews spoke of the future as though it was behind them, rather than in front, believing that you could see what was in front of you, but not what was behind you. Thus the unseen future was described as behind one, while the known past was…
Is there ever a time when God cannot provide? Have you ever doubted God’s ability to provide? I have. I can now confess that I was not sure God could provide enough income for me in retirement. How foolish! In Psalm 78:20-33 others wondered if God could provide. This time there was doubt that God…
I was asked in a recent internet interview, “What key concepts (of prayer) do you present to your students; future leaders in the Church?” I teach first that prayer is biblical, throughout the Bible from the first mention in Genesis to the final verses of Revelation, as well as modeled by Jesus. The most often…
I finally did it. I took a week’s vacation that was not connected in any way to a ministry assignment. It took me forty-four years in the ministry before I accomplished this feat. I know, I know. Save the sermons! I’ve preached those same sermons to others. But I finally did it. Joanne and I…
Did you ever plan a trip and have someone or something re-arrange your well-made plans? It happened to the wise men. I’m not sure how well-made their plans were but their instructions were clear. Herod told them to, “go and search diligently for the young child” (Matthew 2:8). Somewhere along their star-directed way, they picked…
Christmas is a costly celebration. It seems as though everyone from the lending institutions, to the counseling offices to the travel agencies makes money off Christmas. And the cost escalates each year. I read recently that if the gifts given in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” were purchased just once – from a partridge in…
One word I hear frequently spoken and sung at Christmas is the word “glory.” Among other places, it comes from John 1:14. After describing the origin of Jesus the scripture states, “We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father . . .” Later Jesus prayed that those whom the…
In my book, The Prayer-Shaped Disciple, I list three reasons why ministers need a prayer support team: (1) leaders have a greater responsibility than followers, (2) spiritual leaders are more frequent victims of spiritual conflict, (3) because of their greater visibility, Satan loves to discredit leaders and damage their ministry. I want to challenge you…