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Precious Death
Psalm 116:15 is one of those verses that causes people to stop and think. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.” We often see death as our greatest enemy. We do all we can to insure against an untimely demise. The idea of death is frightening to most people. We may Continue reading
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Honoring Memorial Day
Colonel Allen West said, “Many Americans have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At cemeteries across the country, the graves of the fallen are sadly ignored, and worse, neglected.” We have just celebrated Memorial Day. It has been called the unofficial start of summer and often features backyard barbeques, trips to the beach, Continue reading
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The Moving Line
I have heard ever since I was young that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. There seems to be something irresistibly enticing about things that are across barriers or even forbidden. I guess it’s human nature to push beyond barriers. It’s that curious, questioning, daring nature that has allowed Continue reading
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Content?
Contentment seems to be a moving target. If I get this raise or this job, then I will be content. When I find Mr. Right or Miss Right, then I will be content. We are always waiting for something or someone else to fill a hole in our lives. The Bible addresses that attitude – Continue reading
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Bible Beating
1 Peter 3:15 tells us, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” Our attitude is important when we tell others about our faith. It should never be done in a mean-spirited, angry way. Speaking the Continue reading
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Danger: Psychic Ahead
ABCNews.com reported on the erroneous prediction of psychic Sylvia Browne that Amanda Berry, the woman recently set free after 10 years of hellish captivity, was dead. Browne shared this heartbreaking information with Berry’s mother Louwanna Miller on The Montel Williams Show. And this was not the first time she had given wrong information to a Continue reading
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The Two Exchanges
In re-reading Romans 1 today, I could not help but reflect on two major exchanges recorded in Scripture. The first one is found in Paul’s letter to the church at Rome: The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, Continue reading
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23 Lessons I’ve Learned in 23 Years of Ministry
I graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in December, 1989. I was degreed and believed I was ready to take on my first pastorate. What I discovered was that despite the best efforts of my professors, much of what it takes to be a pastor can only be learned “on the job.” I have now Continue reading
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Does God Care How We Spend Our Money?
Does God care how we spend our money? The very short answer to that is “yes, He does care.” Let’s consider it a little more. The Bible mentions money and possessions a lot. Sometimes it is a passing reference; other times we find principles that we can apply to life. We’ll start our pondering on Continue reading
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Redefining Church for the Culture
Is Church That Important? Surveys by Gallup and others have shown that on an average Sunday 40% of Americans say they attend services. When compared to actual attendance records, that number may be half was pollsters reported. That’s right – as few as 20% of Americans may be in a church service on a typical Continue reading
beyond the sermon 