"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials.....But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you."   -- I Peter 1:6; 5:10   What better verses to attract our … [Read more...]

"I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant." Genesis 32:10 There are certain subjects I have never felt comfortable approaching, and definitely not writing about.  Humility is at the top of that list.  If you speak or write about humility, you must have it, right?  Pride and arrogance … [Read more...]

I once read of a pastor who announced in a sermon on sin that there were 789 different kinds. That week in opening his mail there were 94 requests from members of his church desiring a complete listing of all 789 sins! Concerning the seven deadly sins, Norwegian Lasse Tonnesson, in 1982, somehow managed to successfully commit all seven deadly sins … [Read more...]

"...what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." James 4:14 Early Sunday morning, April 18, my younger brother, Roger, entered into the presence of the Lord. A veteran of the Viet Nam war, he was part of a cargo crew that flew scores of missions in and out of enemy territory delivering supplies and … [Read more...]

"The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the crowning proof of Christianity!" --Henry Morris From an old clipping, here is the way author Robert J. Morgan recalls the news of how the victory at Waterloo arrived in England. There were no telegrams or telephones in those days, of course, but everyone knew that Wellington was facing … [Read more...]

When I was young and enjoying the beginning days of my ministry I often recall reading Paul's testimony in II Timothy 4:7, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." I also recall hearing sermons preached on that text at Bible conferences encouraging us to "stay by the stuff." I also remember reading a chapter … [Read more...]

"Should such a man as I flee?" Nehemiah 6:11 The above text grabbed my attention when reading one of the heart piercing chapters from V. Raymond Edman's delightful book, "The Disciplines of Life." You will recognize them as the words of Nehemiah who had been called of God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. The enemies of Nehemiah were planning a … [Read more...]

Philippians 2:5-11 Through the years I have enjoyed preaching about the Christ of Christmas from various Bible texts. Some would never consider Philippians 2:5-11, well known as the kenosis passage, as such a text but it really is. In these verses we have not only the Christmas story but so much more. Here we see the fullness of Christ's life, … [Read more...]

A mighty  fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; Our Helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe-- His craft and pow'r are great, and, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not His equal. … [Read more...]

Saint Patrick (389-461) was the son of a British deacon captured in a raid by Irish pirates when he was sixteen and sold into slavery, where he rebelliously served a herdsman in Northern Ireland.  After six years he escaped, found his way to Gaul, there entered a monastery, and as history has it, one day had a vision to return to Ireland and … [Read more...]