“The idealization of poverty is one of the most dangerous illusions of Christians in the contemporary world. Stewardship—which requires possessions and includes giving—is the true spiritual discipline in relationship to wealth.” Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines, p 194 Stewardship necessarily means that we must have material goods to manage for the Lord. Jesus…Read more Neither Wealth nor Poverty
God Gives Us a Trust
“If you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?” (Luke 16:11, NLT) Here is something to think about. God has entrusted to you a certain amount of wealth to manage for His glory. It encourages me to know that God trusts, encourages, and instructs us on how…Read more God Gives Us a Trust
Blessed to Serve, Not Consume
On this bitterly cold and windy night, the thermometer reads 0º. I go outside and walk a little while, bundled up, until I shiver. Now it feels good to be inside. I think of the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. The difficulties facing them on the journey and then finding no room in…Read more Blessed to Serve, Not Consume
JOY WHEN YOU GRIEVE
Handel's magnificent musical, Messiah, has been a source of joyful inspiration for me during Advent this year. Facing bankruptcy and failing health George Frederic Handel wrote with "a heart bursting with joy," The Messiah in 24 days. When he finished writing the Hallelujah chorus he said, "I did think I did see all heaven before…Read more JOY WHEN YOU GRIEVE
My Brother in Law and Friend, Pastor Garry Wiggins
Wednesday my sister's husband and my brother-in-law and friend, Garry Wiggins, passed from this life into the very presence of the Lord. We have been friends since the autumn of 1973, when we met our first year of college at Southeastern. Garry, drove a yellow Toyota Corolla and loved the horn on that car. He…Read more My Brother in Law and Friend, Pastor Garry Wiggins
Sunday, Day of Joy
Sunday, happens between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The people of God gather in glorious praise from generation to generation to worship the Lord with thanksgiving and praise. This is a day of eternal priceless joy. The “joy of the Lord” is our strength and the Gospel is “good news of great joy.” (See Nehemiah…Read more Sunday, Day of Joy
A Missions Class with Bob Roberts
Have you ever met a group of young adults and instantly took a liking to them? Further, after a few minutes you realize that you are touching, ever so briefly, the future? And you felt hope and confidence arise in your heart that these young people were going to be leaders to my grandchildren’s generation.…Read more A Missions Class with Bob Roberts
Why at I Worship the LORD
The blood of Christ for you! It is impossible to count God’s blessings. I am so thankful for all the blessing of forgiveness of sins, new life, grace, love, family, healing, and the fellowship of the Church, particularly the church that we worship with, Woodland Church. Forgive the long sentence, but I could fill pages…Read more Why at I Worship the LORD
Teach Them to Worship
Recently, I watched one of my grandsons worship the Lord. Little hands lifted in the air in love. Immediately, I remembered his Daddy, our son worship the Lord as little one, a teenager, and a young single adult. This summer we were able to worship with him and his family together. Such joy, that I…Read more Teach Them to Worship
God’s Power for Us
Lee Iacocca and Vince Lombardi, two legendary leaders were talking. Iacocca asked Lombardi what it took to make a winning team. Lombardi said a lot of good football teams have the fundamentals and the discipline but they don’t win any games. He said there is a third ingredient if you are going to play as…Read more God’s Power for Us
Coram Deo 