A few years ago, my beloved was asked to preach the annual sermon at the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s annual meeting. (He’s from Big Creek of Pike County. Neither of us saw that coming.) He would have the privilege of sharing a sermon with his preacher friends and peers from all over the state.
Last weekend, my wife, Edie, and I attended the Georgia–Florida football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. As you might imagine, the atmosphere was electric.
Wayne and I had a friend who recently passed away, totally unexpectedly. From what we were told, he was working on a church project and had a massive heart attack and died. We were talking about this, and Wayne commented on how short life is. He actually said we are on the downhill of our life, and he wanted to finish well, enjoying every day to its fullest.
Life as a Christian carries with it many benefits. First and foremost, our sins have been forgiven as a result of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Not only does that provide eternal life in heaven, but the potential for an abundant life here on earth.
Man is inherently sinful. Ever since the Garden of Eden, every person on earth has been, by God’s standard, desperately wicked, with one exception: Jesus of Nazareth. We are every one of us sinful because we have inherited a sin nature from Adam.
For years, church attendance has been declining. Reportedly, it is beginning to increase among people referred to as “Gen. Z.” Hopefully that is true. At any rate, church attendance, if you are able to go, is very important and should be a top priority.
The women of Fitzpatrick are helping me with one of my New Year’s resolutions. In January, I made 15 goals for 2026 and have been working on them, keeping my list visible for motivation. Some have been marked off as they were completed/fulfilled.
A church can offer evangelism training, host outreach events, and run community ministries without ever developing an evangelistic culture. Programs fill a calendar. Culture shapes a people. The difference matters.
C.S. Lewis called pride the utmost evil (Mere Christianity). He said pride leads to every other vice and is the complete anti-God state of mind. Pride has been the chief cause of so much misery in every nation and family since the great “fall” of man.
I keep picturing their faces. They sat on a mattress, fully focused, listening intently. I’ve told you countless times that we have a small team of ladies (a small army, really) who go to the jail every Sunday morning at 6:45. We take it very seriously, cherishing every opportunity.
When I was in high school in the mid-1980s, I took a class that taught me how to use a typewriter. One of the first things we learned was the importance of margins. Margins gave definition to the page, provided breathing room for the reader, and framed the words so the page looked balanced and organized. Without margins, the page would feel crowded and chaotic.
Several years ago, one of my granddaughters came home with a questionnaire she had filled out for something at school. One of the questions was “What are you afraid of?” Her answer was, “Well, basically I’m afraid of everything.”
As we think upon the subject of Christians and politics, it may seem odd to many that we would put the two together. Politics is seen in such a negative light these days. The reaction to hearing the two mentioned together often elicits the same response as hearing Christianity coupled with pornography or drug use.
If you’re an Atlanta Braves fan, you’re probably familiar with the Ray Kerr saga. The Braves acquired Kerr from the San Diego Padres in December 2023. After graduating from high school, he played baseball at a small college in California. Eventually, Kerr left California, returned to Reno, and went to work, stocking shelves at a 7-Eleven convenience store and working at a movie theater.
The author of Hebrews says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). C. S. Lewis suggested that we have to train the habit of faith.
My car smells incredibly delicious. Yesterday, I went to pick up lunch for my coworkers at a local barbecue place. The yummy smells of pulled pork, chicken wings, and loaded fries teased my nose all the way back to the office.
I love the beach. I am not necessarily fond of getting in the ocean, but I love everything else about it.
I knew today was going to be a tough one. I needed my full armor of God, all the Fruit of the Spirit, and a guard over my mouth. I had prayed for every crevice to be filled with the Holy Spirit; for the Holy Spirit to lead me, embolden me, and hush me if necessary. So, I dug into God’s Word.
Last week I wrote about that old saying, “Don’t let your talent write a check your character can’t cash.” I thought I was probably finished with it, but I’ve kept thinking about it this week, especially as I’ve thought about my own years in ministry and some of the conversations I now get to have with leaders.
Renowned advice columnist Ann Landers is said to have received some 10,000 letters per month. When asked about the most common problem in her readers’ lives, she answered, “The one problem above all others seems to be fear. People are afraid of losing their health, their wealth, and their loved ones. People are afraid of life itself.”
Why are we on earth? Why do we exist? What are we doing here? These are questions that people often ask. So many have rejected the very idea of God that they have absolutely no idea of the answers to these questions.
The story of Jericho in Joshua 6 is familiar. Yet, no matter how many times we have heard it, when we slip our feet into the sandals of the Israelites, we can learn something new. Our age and our situation can lend a new perspective on following God when it doesn’t make sense.
I don't know about you, but there is just something special about watching your children and grandchildren do something they love. In the last few days, we have watched one granddaughter play in a softball tournament and another granddaughter's chorus concert. They both love their respective activities, and you can tell it by the enthusiasm and joy while they are performing.
William Arthur Ward said, “Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.” If you want to learn something new, then ask questions, right?
Have you done the single most important thing you can ever do on this earth? Have you trusted your immortal soul to Christ for His salvation? What act could possibly compare in importance to securing heaven for your soul?