Decades ago, while pastoring a previous church, some interesting things happened. A few weeks after starting at the church, I was there alone and decided to snoop around. There I was looking through closets and other storage areas. Everything was what you would expect stored inside a church. A lot of seasonal decorations, costumes, and … Continue reading What About The Children?
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Signs of Backsliding
The story of the Prodigal Son is the go-to story of a backslider in the Bible. The man demands his inheritance early. Dad gives it to him, and he is off to the party life. Wine, woman, and song become the norm. Eventually, the money runs out, and the fellow finds himself working on a … Continue reading Signs of Backsliding
Why Did Christ Die?
Easter is approaching, and it is time to ask, "Why?" "Preacher, what do you mean, 'why?' Easter is the season when Christians celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ." Everyone has opinions, and with those opinions come reasons for those opinions. Even people with opposing opinions have reasons for their own beliefs. Example: … Continue reading Why Did Christ Die?
Generations
I overheard a conversation between a mother and her twelve-year-old daughter about ten years ago. The scene was a parade. A local church had a float in the parade with a man on a cross. "Why is that man hanging on that cross?" "That's church stuff. You don't need to worry about that." Something to … Continue reading Generations
Does America Have Hope?
History was always one of my favorite subjects in school. Wars move borders, crush and strengthen ideologies. They are pivotal to human history. Wars occur for various reasons: a power-hungry leader wants more power, a nation is hungry; hence, the decision comes to grab land from a neighbor to grow more food, two leaders are … Continue reading Does America Have Hope?
How Close Are We?
I came to Christ at age fifteen, and God called me to preach at sixteen. From the get-go, I was fascinated by prophecy. When I was younger, I desired (and thought the odds were good) that I would live to see the rapture. However, as time passed, I began to think that maybe the rapture … Continue reading How Close Are We?
Seeking A Church Home
Loyalty is one of my attributes. I am loyal to my God, family, church, country, and employer. The list goes on, but those are the main things. You may have noticed that God and church are listed separately. That is because they are not one and the same - the church is not my God, … Continue reading Seeking A Church Home
The Truth VS Our Truth
What a person believes dictates their actions. Most people I know are honest people. By that, I mean if they tell me something, they at least believe what they have said to be the truth. I also think the people who know me consider me to be honest. Using myself as an example, as a … Continue reading The Truth VS Our Truth
The Coming Persecution
Prophecy is a popular topic. People seem enthralled by the Biblical accounts of the end times. Whenever there is news of saber-rattling with nations involved in end-time prophecies, my mailbox fills with questions and predictions. Large earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, blizzards, hurricanes, and other natural events that are Biblical signs of the times also spark increased … Continue reading The Coming Persecution
I Pray The Answer Is Not What I Think It Is.
The technological differences stand out more than anything else when thinking of yesteryear. But let us set technology aside and look at how things have changed. I was a kid in the 1960s and a teenager in the 1970s, so my vantage point comes from that period. The school year ran from Labor Day until … Continue reading I Pray The Answer Is Not What I Think It Is.