As I was driving yesterday, I found myself in one of those rural areas where the only radio stations I could pick up were the six NPR stations on the far left of the dial (I know, ironic isn’t it?). It was the top of the hour and I wanted to listen to the [...]
7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.” … 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some [...]
I just finished reading John Grisham’s latest book, The Confession. It is a fictional story of a young man coerced into a confession and then wrongly executed. (I just could not resist a book that involved a Pastor Keith up to his neck in a death penalty case! )
Grisham opposes the death penalty. This came out [...]
One of the great differences between following our own hearts and following Christ lies in the area of self-satisfaction.
The world seems to adore the bravado that says, “This is who I am, this is how I am, you can like it or lump it.” The individual thus establishes a self-determined standard for behavior and character—how [...]
1993 was a powerful year for us. On New Year’s Eve, I had watched Dead Poet’s Society. I had seen teenagers who were passionate about dead poets, and I felt convicted that I was not equally passionate about serving Jesus. The theme of those teenagers was “Carpe Diem,” Latin for “Seize the Day.” So I [...]
Since being called to serve First Baptist Church of Barnwell, SC, life has been a whirlwind. There have been so many things in Barnwell that needed attention — housing, setting up new office space, learning new names and faces, building new relationships, adjusting to the peculiar needs of a new congregation which I’m only beginning to [...]
All of us have heard of the patriarch Abraham, father of both the Jewish and Arab peoples. But perhaps we don’t realize that he was not always Abraham, the man of faith. He began his life as Abram, an idol-worshipper living in Ur, a prosperous city along the Euphrates River known for its worship of [...]
I just read intriguing news: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100524/sc_afp/usscienceastronomy
It seems the Hubble space telescope has found a planet (WASP-12b) 300 times the size of Earth, which is so close to its parent star that it only takes 24 hours to orbit. Imagine – one earth day is a WASP-12b year! This planet ”has the highest known surface temperature of any planet in the [...]
I am fascinated by the subject of self identification – how we perceive ourselves and how we present ourselves to others.
My interest in this subject has several sources. First, I have a few children, so I’m acutely aware of the “self esteem” push that begins the moment they enter our public school system. In the main, I think this movement [...]
I ran across a great quote yesterday. I wonder if you can guess who wrote it?
“If it is the will of God that those whom He has elected shall be saved, and if in this manner [i.e., believing on Christ] He ratifies and executes His eternal decree, whoever he be that is not satisfied with [...]