It carved out a sense of belonging and identity for me. But my hope is not in belonging to a fleeting moment within a movement, but to my Savior who is eternally at work, by his Spirit, despite outward appearances.
Read MoreDuring one particularly challenging season with one of our kids, I felt exasperated. It’s one thing to think I’ve taught all I was supposed to teach, but it’s another thing to realize that what was taught might not have been caught. In my frustration, I reached out to a friend for help.
Read MoreIf there is anything that I battle with in my walk with the Lord, it is not praying as I go, but habitually taking time to pray alone with God. This practice was part of Jewish culture. Daniel was dedicated to prayer no matter the opposition, and Paul as well (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Read MoreWhen I was younger, I had the privilege to get to know the great evangelist, Billy Graham. And when he asked me to help him with illustrations in his sermons, I felt like I’d been enrolled in the finest evangelistic university on Earth. No one did it better than Billy. And he didn’t just do it publicly, I saw him do it privately.
Read MoreToday, the reason so many churches are blessing so-called "same-sex marriage," neglecting the call to evangelism, approving other "paths" to God, and preaching self-help instead of the doctrines of sin and salvation is because they have not taken this verse to heart.
Read MoreWe will never fully appreciate God’s grace until we understand our past condition. Colossians 2:13 says that we were “dead in [our] transgressions and the uncircumcision of [our] flesh.” Apart from Christ, we were spiritually dead.
Read MoreMay I get very personal? The pressures of our times have many of us pastors caught in the web of the most acceptable yet energy-draining sin in the Christian family: worry.
Read MoreThe word grace brings such joyful freedom to the human heart that it’s no wonder the last verse of the last book of the Bible ends with this benediction.
Read MoreLet me tell you about our time. We missed the reception for the new graduates because of construction at Samford. The commencement could have won an award for its length and tediousness. Getting the family together in one place for meals made climbing Mt. Everest look easy.
Read MoreWhen I say “work,” what goes through your mind? I don't care if you're a homemaker, a pastor, a poet, or a rockstar. I don't care if you work in the realm of technology or real estate. It doesn't matter if you're a surgeon, a nurse, or a teacher. Whatever you do, you’re involved in human labor.
Read More