Pulpit Minister
Wisteria
I find myself captivated by Wisteria every year at this time. Partly because it was Cathy’s favorite spring time flower. She really like the purple blooms. But we never planted any and neither does Jane have any...
Got A Question?
Do you have a question you would love to ask Jesus? What would it be? He was certainly asked a lot of questions. Like the one Peter asked about the future of his fellow apostle, John. Jesus’ answer? “What is that to...
After God’s Own Heart
David, King of Israel, was described as a man after God’s own heart. I can imagine other biblical characters who would fall under the same category. What about us? Can we come close to that kind of heart? How did David...
Groundhog Day
14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the...
Provided
And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." (Job 1:21 ESV) Those words spoken by Job need to be pondered by...
Some Wisdom for the Day
When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan. (Prov. 29:2 ESV) One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor. (Prov. 29:23 ESV) Scoffers...
In Him
In Christ we have every spiritual blessing heaven has to offer. It was God’s choice even before he created the world to choose those who are in Christ to be his chosen people. In Christ we are considered holy and...
It Is Written
It may have been about 2005 when we moved into our current subdivision. Our house was one of the first houses built in our area of the subdivision. I’m not trying to offer that as an excuse for what happened, but then...
Out With the Old, In With the New
A common slogan as we bring to an end the current year and look with anticipation to the coming new year. A slogan good for the passing of a year that is ending, but not good for everything. There is no “new” word of...
Some Things Change, Some Don’t
We headed South to spend a couple of days with our vacationing grandchildren and their parents. On the way, our GPS kept giving me directions toward our destination. It kept saying, “Go toward Mobile”. It kept...
What’s Your Custom?
What are your habits of life? How would your family describe your customs? Twice in the New Testament the phrase is used, “as was his custom,” in reference to Jesus. In Mark 10:1 it is used to refer to his custom of...
Follow Me
From time to time I will see trucks with a “Follow Me” sign on their tailgate. As a matter of fact, I followed one just last week who was directing traffic around the construction of a new bridge in our area. I...
Treasure of Truth
The Bible is a vast treasure chest of truth. It is ours for the digging and the searching. Not just in every book or chapter. But in every verse and word of each verse. Consider this verse: Afterward He appeared to the...
Pine Straw
put out fresh pine straw in our flower beds each year. From my local gardening experts (my wife Jane and Terry Pruitt), I understand that pine straw is great for our plants. It helps to retain moisture, insulate the...
Love Lifted Me
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 ESV) By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to...
None of Self and All of Thee
The title of a song I remember as being a favorite when I was a child. I’m glad we still sing it today. Theodore Monod wrote the words in 1874. “O, the bitter pain and sorrow that a time could ever be, when I proudly...
Practical Application
Is the following an example of Jesus using practical application? A man asked Jesus, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus in essence replied, “What does God say?” “What do you understand the Bible to say?”...
Ironing
I finally caught up on my ironing last night. I had been putting it off for a few days. Uh, yes, I know how to iron. Our mother made sure her boys knew how to iron, vacuum, clean house, wash dishes and clothes. Was...
As In The Beginning
Genesis is the first book of the Bible. We learn a lot about God in the first three chapters and none of it changes. The Bible is a big book, but the lessons of the first three chapters remain. God created man as male...
An Opportunity To Help
We help support the School of Biblical Studies in Jos, Nigeria. It has been and continues to be a very productive work in various countries in Africa and even other continents. Several years ago, two students from...
Freedom
We all want it. We often misunderstand it. Too often, we consider freedom to mean our ability to do whatever we want to do. But the problem with that is the reality that we cannot live that way. What we want to do may...
VBS 2022 The Big Four
Our very special thanks to our “Big Four” of VBS, Jina O’Clair, Karen & Jason Smith and Eric Gott. Jina, Karen and Jason have been the “brains” and drive behind our Vacation Bible School for years. Now they are joined...
Washington Speaks
As we prepare to celebrate Memorial Day, I thought it would be good to remember some words of final warning given to us by George Washington in his Farewell Address. He spoke of the great care that needed to be taken...
Focus On The Text
I really enjoy using my computer Bible software. It is called BibleWorks. Early on, it would always start with a reminder to “Focus on the text.” God tells us to do the same thing. "So you shall observe to do just as...