It’s so easy to be passionate about spiritual influences, but it takes a heart totally in love with Jesus to put feet in His footprints. It’s fun to be thrilled by spiritual successes, but difficult to walk in lock-step in the midst of hardship. Paul told Timothy to “endure hardship as a good soldier of…
Ever grow weary in well-doing? Paul referenced that idea in Gal. 6:9 and again in 2 Thess. 3:3. Most have experienced it. In our instant everything society, we mistakenly think we can plow, plant, nurture, and reap all at the same time. When that doesn’t happen, we grow weary. Part of the problem is that…
Among the lessons I’ve learned through the years is a good way to minister to people is to get away from them on a regular basis. Before you brand me as something weird, I learned this lesson from Jesus who “often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed” (Luke 5:16). One difference is that Jesus withdrew…
The images were all too familiar. A church surrounded by emergency vehicles. Church members in shock. Yellow crime scene tape everywhere. Various interpretations of what happened. Many worshippers thinking it was part of a skit. This time it was First Baptist Church in Maryville, Illinois. Nine and a half years ago, it was Wedgwood Baptist…
The images were all too familiar. A church surrounded by emergency vehicles. Church members in shock. Yellow crime scene tape everywhere. Various interpretations of what happened. Many worshippers thinking it was part of a skit. This time it was First Baptist Church in Maryville, Illinois. Nine and a half years ago, it was Wedgwood Baptist…
The Christian Post conducted an Internet survey of 37 million Bible references and revealed that 87 of the top 100 favorites are in the New Testament with John 3:16 coming in on top, twice as popular as the second choice of John 1:1. The highest ranking Old Testament verse was Genesis 1:1 finishing in 7th…
We loved to hear sixth grade teacher Myrle Acton read to us from Miss Minerva and William Green Hill, as she did each day following lunch. But it was the moments following the reading that I enjoyed most. In those moments, she talked personally to us, just love-words from our gentle teacher. Among the things…
“Pitchers and Catchers report!” Baseball FANatics live for these words. It signals a new beginning when every team has a mathematical chance of being a champion. The past is forgiven, hope springs eternal. Even though baseball had not yet been invented, New Testament Christians understood the feeling. “Old things have passed away; behold all things…
“I’ll be in touch!” Ever hear that and then not hear from the person for days? I hear it all the time. At last count, I could be reached via three phone numbers, six E-mail addresses, three web sites, two post office mailing addresses, and Facebook. So, what’s the problem? Probably time management, hopefully not…
The Praying Pastors Project (www.prayingpastors.com) officially launched at the end of 2008 as a part of America’s National Prayer Committee. Their goal is to place a copy of “Giving Ourselves to Prayer” in the hands of every pastor in America, plus link them to a pastor’s web site. Of course, this is the eighty-chapter book…