A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, suddenly stopped coming to church.  After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.  Guessing the reason for his pastor’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a… Read More ..read more

What is worship, that is, true Christian worship?  Worship is easy to understand but rather hard to define.  We mostly recognize when we are doing it, but the concept is sometimes difficult to put into “just the right words.”  I remember a high school biology class assignment some years back in which I had to… Read More ..read more

I LOVE America.  I am so grateful for all the countless men and women who have given sacrificially over the many years to help make the United States of American the greatest nation on earth.  Our ultimate gratitude and praise, nonetheless, should always be directed toward the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Creator… Read More ..read more

New things, new hopes, new beginnings.  The Bible, God’s word, has much to say about these thoughts—for example, a season of new wine (Gen 27:28), an offering of new growth (Lev 2:14), the care of a new wife (Deut 24:5), anticipation of a new covenant (Jer 31:31), the giving of a new commandment (Jn 13:34),… Read More ..read more

Fellowship—a “togetherness,” a sharing of one life with another, a uniting of selves, a sense of common mission, a mark of acceptance, a partnership in life.  Fellowship—modeled by God Himself and commanded within His Scriptures. We find the perfect example of fellowship rooted in the Trinity, the “oneness” of God expressed in God the Father,… Read More ..read more

Brothers and Sisters—how is your prayer life?  Is it excellent, good, average, poor, or terrible?  Wherever we may land on the grading scale, always remember that God sincerely desires to hear the heart cry of His children. Prayer is that special gift of God that, by the power of the Holy Spirit and through the… Read More ..read more

“Does Hell know your name?”  This was the penetrating question ask of me by one of my former seminary professors.  “Are you a threat to Hell?” he continued . . .  In other words, is my love for Jesus Christ and my Christian witness to the world such that the demons of Hell know who… Read More ..read more

Some years ago, a deacon in one of my former churches handed me a piece of paper containing a story called “Musings of a Country Preacher.”  I remember chuckling over its content and, at the same time, recognizing its truths.  Experience has taught me that individuals, basically, will live their lives according to their passions… Read More ..read more

I have many fond memories of my grandfather.  In my early years, I grew up in Grayson County, Virginia and had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with Grandpa.  He was a farmer for the better part of his life, and I often spent time “helping” him around the farm.  Mostly, I simply… Read More ..read more