Be an Encourager

Many years ago Dr. Howard Hendricks invited me to join him as an associate professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. This experience opened the door to explore with my students indepth what God wants the church to be! Consequently, I eventually became a church planting pastor.A number of years later, my wife and I invited Professor Hendricks and his wife, Jean, … Read More

The amazing story of the Life Essentials Study Bible continues to unfold.

This time in the heart of Africa. Many years ago now, I had the privilege of serving as pastor to a young couple and their two young daughters. They attended the first Fellowship Bible Church I started in Dallas. Ken was in the building business with his dad, Bob. Years passed! Eventually his father entered heaven’s gates and Ken took … Read More

Essential Vulnerability

Recently one of the pastors at the church where I attend gave a sermon that included a number of statements in which he chose to be very open in confessing his human imperfections to the congregation. It reminds me of the importance of making ourselves vulnerable to others as an essential driver of personal spiritual growth. Notice James’ words:   … Read More

What Coincidences Teach Us about God

I love to share the story of my wife Elaine’s father’s journey to the USA from his native country of Sweden. When he arrived at the port in England to board the ship he was notified that a mistake had occurred in his paperwork. The confusion resulted in his coming to America on the Franconia rather than the Titanic! Had … Read More

God’s Memorial Day

The recent observation of Memorial Day can serve as a reminder of a wonderful reality as revealed in the Word of God. Notice the special recognition and commendation that God bestowed on those living in an earlier time of moral and spiritual decay who were willing to stand apart from the crowd and serve God:   At that time those … Read More

God’s Memorial Day

The recent observation of Memorial Day can serve as a reminder of a wonderful reality as revealed in the Word of God. Notice the special recognition and commendation that God bestowed on those living in an earlier time of moral and spiritual decay who were willing to stand apart from the crowd and serve God:   At that time those … Read More

Respecting God’s Name

  USA Today Sports Internet site recently published the following headline:  Fan ejected for racial slur at Red Sox game:  ‘no longer welcome at Fenway Park.‘ The moral outrage exhibited against the offender makes me wonder why so many people today fail to respond with similar outrage at the common practice of violating the sanctity of God’s name. It is … Read More

The Bible’s Three Most Important Words

The celebration of Easter means far more than commemorating a historical event.  It reminds us of a timeless, transcendent reality embodied in perhaps the three most important words in the entire Bible—“It is finished” (John 19:30)—the final utterance of Jesus Christ before He died. His words are more descriptive than it might appear. Specifically, “It is finished” can also be … Read More

One Gift to us All

One Gift to us All In recent years in my role as guest speaker at numerous churches across the country, I’ve raised the question: To what extent do I really appreciate the fact that I have the Bible—all 66 books—in my own language? I then share the story of William Tyndale. He translated the Bible into English, and as a … Read More

Intelligent Life: Only Here on Earth?

A recent article published on the Internet began with the following statement: Astronomers have found a nearby solar system with seven Earth-sized planets, three of which circle their parent star at the right distance for liquid surface water, raising the prospect of life, research published recently showed.   It is natural to ask the question if Earth-type places exist in … Read More