September 1997 -- We didn't have a time machine or a magic carpet, but we did take a whirlwind tour of 2,000 years of church history during four full hours this past Saturday in a seminar titled "Putting the Puzzle Together -- Together." My hosts were two Advent Christian churches in north-central Florida, where I also spoke three times on Sunday. Their gracious Christian hospitality sent me home Sunday night invigorated in spirit even if exhausted in body. I wish to thank Pastors Joe Currens and Butch Nelson in particular, for their hard work in planning, announcing and facilitating these … [Read more...]
STRONG ROOTS THAT GO DEEP
August 1997 -- Sara Faye and I enjoyed 30 hours in a car together this past weekend, driving from our home in Houston to attend niece Leslie's wedding in Huntsville, Alabama, then back again to Texas. Three of my five siblings were there, plus Mom and stepfather Joe from Ohio, and we spent some fine time catching up all around. Sunday morning, I preached at Winchester Road Church of Christ as guest of my brother Henry, father of the bride, whose pulpit ministry God has blessed the past couple of years by doubling the size of his congregation from 55 to more than 100. Besides preaching, Henry … [Read more...]
GOD’S ‘POEMS’ (2)
April/May 1997 -- Yesterday we noted Paul's use of the Greek word poema (from which we get "poem") to describe God's workmanship in Creation (Rom. 1:20) and in his New Creation in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:10). I described the divine handiwork in Creation, which we experienced recently in California. It aawed us into silence and then elicited outbursts of adoration. God's "poem" in his New Creation awed us as well these past eight days. For four days at Pepperdine, we joined an estimated 5,000 believers who packed the Fieldhouse twice each day to worship God in song and to enjoy soul-stirring … [Read more...]
GOD’S ‘POEMS’ (1)
April/May 1997 -- Our English word "poem" comes directly from the Greek poema which means "a piece of work," whether an act, deed or -- as in this instance -- a literary product. Paul uses this Greek word twice in the New Testament to describe God's workmanship. God's first "poem" is Creation itself (Rom. 1:20). His second "poem" is the redeemed life of women and men who constitute God's new creation in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:10). These past eight days Sara Faye and I have thrilled to both of God's "poems." First at the Pepperdine University Annual Bible Lectures in Malibu, California, then … [Read more...]
MINISTRY IN FLORENCE/TUSCUMBIA, ALABAMA
March 1997 -- With praise and thanksgiving to God, I report on a full and fruitful weekend of ministry in North Alabama during Saturday-Sunday just past. Saturday morning the preachers and elders of the three sponsoring congregations in the Florence/Tuscumbia area met at 7 a.m. at an area restaurant for breakfast, fellowship and a time of prayer. I was privileged to join that meeting. Then, for four hours on Saturday, we examined many Scriptures from both Old and New Testaments regarding five truths. (1) God saved us once for all, in the perfect and finished atonement wrought by Jesus … [Read more...]
PRAISE GOD WHO GIVES ALL BLESSINGS
August 1996 -- We returned safely about 11 pm Sunday night from ministry in Athens, Alabama, my hometown, where God moved mightily through his Spirit at "Seven Mile Post Road Church (a church of Christ)." By his provision, I spoke seven times (Friday p.m. through Sunday) through most of the Book of Romans to assemblies who came ready to receive from God. Also preached 30 minutes via radio from Hebrews 10, and we had a men's prayer breakfast and a booksigning as guests of a Methodist brother and sister who own a local Christian bookstore. The worship times were mighty and God's presence was … [Read more...]
