I was reading a story the other day about a man who set out to climb a high mountain and put many things in his back pack. People warned him that he would never make it with all of those things – and urged him to only take the essentials  – like water. The man did not listen, but as he climbed, he realized that he had to begin to take things out of his back pack if he was going to be able to go on. The man did arrive at the top of the mountain, but most of what he started with was a trail up the mountain – he had to let go of the non-essentials if he was to reach his goal. read more...

My transcript for elementary school read o.k., my transcript for high school a little better; my undergrad transcript – all over the place depending on what was going on in my life; but by the time I got to grad school – I had it settled – no more playing – the money for these courses was too hard to come by  – only an “A” would suffice! read more...

Of the two ordinances that most Christian churches still celebrate – baptism and the Lord’s supper, there is nothing quite so beautiful as really partaking of the Lord’s supper. When offered in the spirit of the scripture it is a high and holy time – a real communion with the Triune God and with one another. Most of the time when communion is offered, 1 Corinthians 11 is read from the KJV, today we want to look at it from the Message: read more...

Far too many of us tend to put off until tomorroww so many things for a variety of reasons which we feel are good at the time. We make excuses for not taking that trip, or going back to school, or even visitng old friends because we get caught in a routine that renders us stuck in a rut!  We keep feeling like tomorrow we will have more time, or more money, or even more energy.  The saddest thing of all is that we who name the name of Christ use those same excuses not to fulfill our destiny. Myles Monroe said in one of his books, that “the richest place in the whole world is the graveyard” – because so many take the treasures of gifts and talents with them untapped to the grave! read more...

This season of celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord brings with it the possibiity of life and living that of course for us in America coincides with the advent of springtime. The buds coming out on the trees are so symbolic of the potential of new life that can spring up in us if we will allow the rains and even the storms of the season to do their work.  read more...

We’ve all been there at one time or another. There’s a special friend we have that we have lost contact with. Maybe it was a disagreement, maybe a betrayal, maybe just time and life happened and somehow we don’t keep in touch any more. What a wonderful feeling when somebody makes the first move and reconciliation occurs – we become friends again - the friendship has been restored – we are connected again – life is good! read more...

Today the Christian world marks the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ on what has come to be known as Good Friday. It was not a good day for Jesus, as He endured the chastening of the Roman soldiers, as He bore the sins of the whole world upon His shoulders; as He withstood the beatings, the scourings, the ridicule, the humiliation – without the comfort of His Father, who could not look upon the face of sin. No, Good Friday was not good for Jesus, it was good for us – for those of us who believe the work on Calvary paid the ransom for our sins, rendered our debt paid in full, and with the resurrection that followed, embrace the privilege of a new and everlasting life in Christ! read more...

Every day we are bombarded with messages from people who are trying to sell their products.  They come at us on the radio, television, billboards, through the mail – advertising is essential for merchants to give the consumer product familiarity. It can easily be said that even in the church – some aspects of marketing are essential for growth – there are many churches to choose from – letting the public know the specifics of what makes your church, what it is, and then getting that information out is certainly a necessary factor for growth.` read more...

The last few days I have been on vacation. When I planned the trip I was very hesitant to leave because I knew I had so many things up in the air that I felt it was not going to be fruitful (still got too much type “A” in my bloodstream). By the time the days came however, I was so-o-o ready to leave. I felt like it was just what I needed. What I realized when I arrived is something that I know about myself  all too well – “you can run- but you can’t hide!” read more...

It is amazing that no matter how you are feeling – if you even crack open the Bible, God will have a word for you that will be personal – speaking right to your situation. After over forty years of serving the Lord I still am amazed that  He longs to commune with us to such an extent, that even when we try to hide our faces from Him and turn away, He will pursue us with His love and find a way to let us know that in fact He loves us and wants to talk! read more...