Twenty-five years later, the experience remains vivid. The Lord still whispers the lyrics of that time across my heart, "this is My church". Church as He intends it to be. It was an ordinary church retreat, until He touched us with His presence. Five hours later, we were closer to each other. We were closer …
Month: March 2012
Unexpected Directions
"Lord… am I getting this right? I am about to speak to a group of people and you are changing the message?" On May 22, 2011, I was driving to Monticello, Arkansas to speak in the morning services at First Baptist Church, where I had been serving as interim pastor for over a year. Each …
Junk Mail Faith
In 1984, Gail and I were serving in Southern California as missionaries with the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board (HMB). Living in a small apartment in West Hollywood, we were working alongside veteran missionaries Bob and Glenda Tremaine, nurturing the small First Baptist Church of Beverly Hills congregation, and laying the groundwork for new churches to …
8 Reasons Why Our Marriage Works
Marriage is amazing-- but for too many of the people I love it's miserable. Why does our marriage work? (afternoon brainstorm)... 8 reasons that came to mind... why 8? I don't know! I gave directional control of my life to Jesus in 1978 and He calls the shots -- marriage was His invention -- He …
Doing a “New Thing”
Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 God does a "new thing" when He comes into our lives. We are cleansed and changed from within, immersed into His body …
growing faith
Romans 10:17 "…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Be careful what you pray for. When I first married, I asked God to make me a man of faith. I thought that was the thing to do. Then… … he allowed us to experience a deep financial crisis; … he led …
Grieving for the Lost
Romans 9:2-3 "…I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren…" What makes you really sad? Imagine a circle of relationships around your life. In the middle of this circle is your life. For most of us, our response grows …
Chosen
Romans 8:15-16 "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” How can I know for certain that I am a Christian? God wants …
Longing for the Presence of God
In the early 90’s, I worked for an environmental engineering firm in south Louisiana. Occasionally, I would go into a chemical plant or refinery to draw water samples. In the lab, we analyzed the samples for the presence of various chemicals.After a worship service, I often hear people say “God was here today.” How can …
Pray Hard, Live Hard
On August 2, 1745, David Brainerd penned the following words in his diary after 28 discouraging months of serving as an early colonial missionary to native Americans in New England:"I began to entertain serious thoughts of giving up my mission. I do not know that my hopes respecting the conversion of the Indians were ever …