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…
I made an “F” on Thanksgiving again. Can’t seem to do any better than Family, Food, and Football. I overdosed on all of them, even to the point of digging out my old model train set to show my almost-four-year-old-grandson, who has recently become enamored with trains. My Dad attached my model train village to…
A few Thanksgivings ago I re-read Paul’s comments in Philippians 1:3, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you . . .” Then I decided to do an out-of-the-ordinary thing, which has become an annual ritual. I selected a few people for whom I had been especially thankful that year and let them know…
I received an e-mail this past week informing me I had been nominated and elected to the Alumni Association of my alma mater, Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. Do they do background checks for these positions? Like many, my college years were not the brightest lights on my tree. Too much freedom resulted in…
I’ve been thinking and reading about holiness lately. Holiness is not knowledge-Balaam had knowledge; nor great position-Judas Iscariot had position; nor doing many things-Herod did many things; nor zeal for certain religious matters-Jehu had zeal; nor outward respectability-the young ruler was respected; nor taking pleasure in hearing preachers-the Jews in Ezekiel’s day enjoyed that; nor…