Many years ago, a perceptive church member came up to me after my preaching and said, “Good message, Pastor, but what are we supposed to do?”  Apparently, I had proven my point but I did not give a very strong personal application.  Since that time, I always close my sermons with...

When terrorists attacked the World Trade towers, Americans rightly called upon Muslim leaders to condemn the acts, since the terrorists were followers of Islam.  And there was a considerable amount of consternation when the condemnations weren’t forthcoming or when they were couched in guarded terms.  My respect for those leaders...

My family and I recently returned from our Colorado Vacation.  We stayed in the Rocky Mountain National Park area (Grand Lake) and then again near Durango.  We had an incredible time.  You can see some of my children and a son-in-law in the picture at left.  Two daughters and a son-in-law couldn’t...

A candidate for president whom I otherwise respect said something this week that should cause all Americans–and especially all Christians–to stop and think seriously about our freedom of religion.  He said that communities should “have the right” to ban Muslim Mosques if they so choose.  And he was warmly applauded...

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.”  (Psalm 33:12.  Part of my text for Sunday.) On July 4, 1831, the song we know today as “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” was sung for the first time at a children’s Independence Day celebration at...

Thursday evening of Vacation Bible School is one of the toughest but most rewarding evenings of the year.  It’s tough because the workers are tired.  Most of us have worked full time jobs for eight or more hours each day and then we’ve rushed to church to spend another 3-4 hours (or more)...

In my early years of ministry, I took 1 Timothy 4:12 as a verse written to me, “Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.”  I’m now 53 years...

I’m an environmentalist. To be honest, those words aren’t often spoken by evangelical pastors.  Most of us tend to be conservatives, and environmentalism isn’t usually on the top of conservative agendas.  And sometimes, it’s for good reason.  Many of the things associated with the environmental movement (worship of “mother earth,” for example) are...

Vacation Bible School is an old-fashioned idea.  I’m now 53 years old, and I can’t remember not going to a church with a Vacation Bible School.  In any church I’ve been a part of, it has been an important part of the church’s culture. Oh, the details have changed.  We hold ours...

My daughter Angela and I were at the Southern Baptist Convention this week, which meant that we were hanging out with a lot of Southern Baptist pastors.   Angie noticed something, and when she pointed it out, it made me very uncomfortable. She noticed that most Southern Baptist pastors look alike.  We’re middle aged, with...