Thoughts Along the Way
I’m traveling a lot during 2009. Already, I’ve been to Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri, mostly speaking to pastors and seminary students. Plus, I’ve been to Oklahoma to speak at the Heartland Bible Conference at FBC Edmond, then returned to Tennessee for our annual ReFRESHTM in the Smokies Conference, followed by ten days in the Holy
An Amazing Month
The past month has been a whirlwind and a blessing. In the last 30 days, I’ve spoken at a conference on revival in Edmond, Oklahoma, and the annual ReFRESH™ Conference in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Plus, I’ve taken a week for study and traveled for ten days to Israel. I’m both exhausted and exhilarated! This is
Blessed Be the Tie that Binds
When I served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference in 2008, I told the twelve men on the program to preach in “what they were comfortable with.” In other words, I wanted them to preach however they normally preached in their congregation or as they traveled the country. Some preached in slacks
Write a Letter!
Handwritten letters are a thing of the past. Email and text messaging are taking over. Think of the implications. We have books of letters from famous people lining library shelves today. Will there be books of emails? I doubt it. My parents wrote letters during World War II. They both saved their letters, and a
The Choices You Make and the Road You Take
Every year millions of people in America make News Year’s resolutions. Most of them don’t last six weeks. It’s much like what happens when we see people rededicating their lives to Christ. They mean well, they have good intentions, but soon after that decision, they go back to their old rut and routine. They lack
Words, Words, Words
I am grateful to be an American. I am grateful for the freedom to assemble and to speak, and the freedom of religion. What I hate about it is the rhetoric, the empty words of politicians. They make promises they have no intention of keeping. They say things to flatter their particular audience and then
Meeting with a Giant
A few weeks ago I was able to spend the day with Warren and Betty Wiersbe. Since we are hundreds of miles apart and they rarely travel these days, it was a special joy to see them. Jim McBride and I were in Nebraska for a Fireproof screening and spent most of the day with
When Will We Take Worship Seriously?
I think a great deal about worship, corporate worship specifically. When I served as president of the Pastors’ Conference, I noticed something that disturbed me. While I am committed to minister to ministers, I do not think all ministers get it. In fact, I wonder why some are in the ministry. During the Pastors’ Conference,
Can You Compartmentalize Christianity (Part 2)
Unfortunately, we have an unwritten rule in the church: “If you don’t bother me, I won’t bother you.” Thus, when we are confronted by someone concerning an area of compromise in our life, we hold a grudge rather than receive the word humbly. Douglas Webster warned that “casual Christianity turns religion into an excuse for
Can You Compartmentalize Christianity (Part 1)
“This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your
Be Careful What You Ask For
In recent months, I’ve been on trips to North Carolina (twice), Florida, Tennessee (twice), Oklahoma, and a few other places that I can’t recall at the moment. Most of these trips have been by car. In April, I put enough miles on my Acura to have to change the oil after only 16 days. Add
How’s Your Reading Plan?
Every day I get an A. W. Tozer devotional online. Recently, the devotional contained thoughts by Tozer on reading. Check it out. “A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel (Proverbs 1:5). When a very young minister, I asked the famous holiness preacher, Joseph H. Smith,