When Lisa and I were in Australia in August (2024), a story was related to us by a believer from the Pacific southeast.Some years back, a Christian group was wanting to hold a celebration on a particular beach but were denied a permit based on their faith..… read more
One of my favorite subjects to teach is teamwork, and while that is a tremendously important topic, we should never forget the power and significance of “one” and of individual effort. .… read more
In this article, I’m going to address “hard-to-understand” verses in the Bible. Maybe you’re not aware of any, and you believe you have perfect clarity and understanding regarding every spiritual matter. If that’s you, you probably won’t benefit from this article. But for everyone else — those who sometimes scratch their heads because they don’t fully understand something they read in the Bible — I think this article will be beneficial. .… read more
Abraham Lincoln once remarked, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” He had probably seen people who were motivated positively by challenges and setbacks, and others who were corrupted by success. Don’t get me wrong. .… read more
When a person is called to preach, the urgency of that call (especially in the early years) can be all-consuming and all-important. If a person lacks maturity and perspective, the call to preach can seem so important that all other aspects of life seem to pale by comparison. Hopefully the young preacher will grasp the idea that other issues are vital as well — such areas as character development, building healthy relationships, and giving proper attention to the practical areas of life.… read more
Something believers need to strongly consider these days is the issue of authority, and more specifically, God’s authority. A fundamental question every human being must answer has to do with whether or not they will submit their lives to God’s rule and reign.… read more
When people travel, even domestically, they’ve got to be aware of the time zone they are in. If you travel from New York to California, you will experience a three-hour time difference. If a person hasn’t adjusted, they might be hungry for lunch when it’s really time for breakfast.… read more
Are you ready for change? Some are afraid that things will change. Others may be afraid that things won’t change, or at least, that they won’t change in the way they want them to.… read more
While vacationing in Indiana last week, I visited the home of Billy Sunday (1862-1935) in Winona Lake. At his wife Nell’s request, it has been kept just the way it was when they lived there. … read more
One of my early recollections in life pertains to my grandfather going after a good-sized nest of bees (or wasps) that was attached to a garage type of building next to our house. I watched in amazement as he used a broom to dislodge it. … read more
Having established the church in Ephesus, Paul issued an emotionally-charged farewell to their elders and made this powerful statement.… read more
Some of the highlights included seeing a copy of an original Gutenberg Bible (printed around 1454), one of 21 known to survive. An archivist also showed me a hand-written copy of a letter from Jonathan Edwards to his mother. Edwards enrolled at Yale when he was 13 years old and became a leading figure in America’s great awakening. I also saw a handwritten letter from George Washington in which he thanked Timothy Dwight (see below) who later served as Yale’s President. … read more
Over the years, much wonderful teaching has been shared on how God leads us by his Word and Spirit, and I am most thankful for it. In this article, I want to address another way that we are enabled to make decisions and take action: common sense. … read more
When Lisa and I first moved to Tulsa in June of 1979 (one week after we got married), I worked for a few months at a K-Mart in the toy department. … read more
In May of 2024 I spoke at OliveBrook Church, pastored by Abu and Yinka Jibril. Pastor Abu shared with me how much Faith Library books from the States had impacted his life. … read more
Many in America are watching, with concern, events that are happening on many university campuses. To help prepare for an upcoming trip to Connecticut, and hopefully to the Yale campus, I just read Two Centuries of Christian Activity at Yale. … read more
There are many things of which we may easily make too much in our ministry, give them too much attention, think about them too much. But we can never make too much of Christ. … read more
Imagine that it is blazing hot and you are extremely thirsty — parched. Would it help if someone came up and communicated the following? … read more
What gloriously distinguishes the gospel of Jesus Christ from other faiths and belief systems is the literal, physical resurrection of Christ himself. There are two great resurrections taught in the Bible, one in the past (Jesus’ resurrection) and one in the future … read more
“No one was sorry when he died.” Theos is the Greek word for God. It is where we get our word “Theology.” Though it typically is used regarding God the Father, it is also used at times of the Lord Jesus. Let’s look at some of these New Testament instances.… read more
“No one was sorry when he died.” I’ve often thought of Paul’s grace-empowered ministry… how he found strength from God in spite of the intense challenges and adversities he faced. He said, “I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong”… read more
Moses is an amazing case study of an individual who was called by God, and his initial reactions provide lessons from which we can all learn. His initial response to God was not, “Here am I, send me.” Instead he offered five revealing excuses — he apparently felt he had to convince God how unworthy he was.… read more
“No one was sorry when he died.” That is a tough statement to hear, but it was made of Judah’s fifth king, Jehoram.… read more
I just had the pleasure of visiting the grave of one of America’s greatest preachers, Jonathan Edwards. Edwards has long been one of my heroes, and his name is linked inseparably to America’s Great Awakening.… read more
If you are shocked at the title and answered back, “Oh yes he did,” please read it again. Jesus certainly said “you must be born again,” but he never said “you must be bored again.” The Lord never envisioned a church filled with disinterested, apathetic, and complacent people.… read more
