We were horrified by the recent assassination attempt on President Trump. Sadly, a good man lost his life, and others were injured. While extremists are openly lamenting the missed shot that failed to kill a president, many Christians believe that God spared President Trump for a reason.

In Exodus Chapter 3, Moses encounters the burning bush near the mountain of Horeb, known as the mountain of God. As Moses focuses on the burning bush, he is met with a divine revelation. God speaks to him about his mission to lead Israel out of captivity from Egypt, identifying himself as the God of his forefathers. When Moses asks for God’s name to tell the people, God responds, “I am who I am.”

There have been a couple of prominent pastors who have stepped away from their ministries recently. Tony Evans has stepped down due to an unnamed sin from his past. While we do not know what it was, it would have to be significant since no one is perfect, and everyone is sinful on some level. Disqualifying sins usually involve sexual immorality, infidelity, or a question of integrity. Evans claims that his sin was nothing involving a crime. Hopefully, he can be restored to the ministry after he works through a process of counseling and recovery.

When you gaze upon a rainbow in the sky, do you contemplate the Noahic Covenant? In an earlier passage, we learn, “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Humanity was on the brink of extinction, but “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”

If you have not heard by now, Harrison Butker, the kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, was highly criticized for voicing Catholic beliefs during a commencement speech at a Catholic college. He said many things that could be considered political by today’s standards. In our society, it is not the clergy, but politicians who have taken up the mantle of being the primary instructors of morality. When clergy attempt to speak on moral issues, they are dismissed as being politically divisive. Only one viewpoint is tolerable. If you are too conservative, you will be labeled, mocked, and possibly cancelled.

A pastor friend, Andrew Green of FBC Marble Hill, brought an article to my attention. Derek Thompson, an agnostic, wrote an opinion piece in The Atlantic titled "The True Cost of the Churchgoing Bust". It is an interesting read.

If you follow social media, you may have heard about a Christian men’s conference that had a shirtless male sword swallower entertain the audience by climbing a stripper pole on center stage. Yes, that is correct, a homoerotic performance at a Christian men’s conference.

Have you ever been moved by music? Movie soundtracks often have full orchestras, so even people who think they do not like symphonies, may have a greater appreciation for the genre than they realize. Feelings of joy, fear, suspense, and awe can be evoked by music.

Did you know that there is a phrase that is trending on social media that does not mean what you and I might think it means? The phrase, "Christ is King", is being used to express antisemitism. You have to consider who the people are who are using the phrase. Many of them are not Christ followers. Christians might repost the phrase without realizing how it is being misused...

Have you considered how Christians are portrayed in sitcoms? In many TV shows and movies, pastors and priest are viewed as predators or con artists. Sometimes the religious characters are silly and awkward ignoramuses. Consultants are hired and painstaking efforts are taken to accurately portray various professions and fields of study. When it comes to religion or theology, there is little concern for accuracy...

When I was a child, I would hear the expression, "Born again Christian". It meant someone who was serious about his or her faith. This was a person who was deeply committed to Jesus and someone who would actively try to get others to believe as well. Today, we may prefer the term, "Evangelical Christians"...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be able to tell if someone was telling the truth or lying? Would it be helpful if you could discern someone's character before entering into a friendship, a business relationship, a dating relationship or even marriage?...

I enjoyed watching the NFL playoffs and am thrilled that Missouri's Kansas City Chiefs are in the hunt for a title for the fourth time in five years. One thing that encourages me is the many professional athletes who openly share their faith in Jesus...

It is usually a good thing to have your name on a list. We may think of an "A" list of Hollywood actors, a top 100 list of professional athletes in sports or maybe the dean's list. There are also lists that no one would desire to see his or her name, such as a sex offender's list. I will say more about that later...

When I was a theology student at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, I earned a concentration in Communications. This was like a minor in college. There were courses in television production, repertory drama, playwriting and other classes of this nature. ...

For many people, Christmas is their favorite time of year, but for others, it is a time of frustration and depression. How about you? Do you love Christmas, or do you tolerate it as you focus on other things? When you celebrate the holidays, do you think about the reason we set apart those days, or are you more focused on a day off work, parties, and presents?...

An important Christian doctrine is that Jesus was sinless. His virgin birth and the incarnation teach that Jesus was fully man, born of Mary, but also fully God, that God supernaturally placed Jesus in his mother's womb without her ever having had relations with a man...

Have you ever wondered why people are divided over the right of Israel to exist as a nation? Can you think of any other country where it is acceptable to hope for its inhabitants to be obliterated? On college campuses, anti-semitism is openly practiced by many who claim to be liberal or tolerant. Do they not know that anti-semitism is racism?...

Last Monday was Patriot Day, also known as the anniversary of 9/11. Did you take time this past week to reflect on the events that led up to this tragedy? Innocent civilians were savagely murdered by Islamic extremists. Up until that time, many Americans did not take the threat of terrorism too seriously -- even though we had been warned. We were confident that our battles would always be fought on foreign soil...

When I was a seminary student, I learned an evangelistic outline by the late Dr. D. James Kennedy, pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was better known as, "Evangelism Explosion". Have you ever had a conversation with someone about where you will spend eternity? Many Christians would like to tell their friends and family how to get to heaven, but they are afraid they cannot explain it adequately. ...

School supplies taking prominent places in stores, reminding us that another school year is about to begin. We are blessed to have good schools in our area. I am thankful for people of faith who are involved as teachers, staff, administrators, coaches, school board members, etc. Parents who take an active role in their children's education are especially essential for our schools to perform well. They appreciate our prayers...

Although I am from St. Louis, I grew up listening to country music. One thing I love about living in Cape Girardeau is that we have a strong sense of community. People from this county and surrounding areas tend to share common values. When I heard about the controversy concerning Jason Aldean's "Try That in a Small Town," I was surprised...

When you want information, do you go to a library and seek the answer from books or periodicals? Do you have an encyclopedia set at home? Or do you find all the answers you seek on your smart phone or computer? Do you prefer to hold books in your hands, or would you rather use an application on a tablet or smart phone?...

To gain a better understanding of any subject, it is good to ask questions. A good instructor will respond to questions by giving answers or suggestions on where more information may be obtained. However, authoritarians consider questions as a challenge or a criticism. Can you think of a recent example of people not being allowed to ask questions?...

Have you ever watched a documentary that dealt fairly with both sides of an issue? Everyone tells their side of the story, we are given all the facts and left to form an educated opinion. That was not the case with a recent documentary, "Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets", on Amazon Prime Video...

Father's Day used to be an irrelevant holiday for me. I grew up without knowing much about my father. My parents separated before I was born. I did not know details until I was 17 years old, but I was always told that my father loved me and would have been part of my life if things were different. I was also aware I had two older sisters from his first marriage but assumed I would never meet them...

Have you ever been a place in your life where you felt like asking God to leave you alone? There is a classic Christian hymn, "Have Thine Own Way, Lord". Someone has said that we can say that to God, or God can say that to us. When God allows us to have our own way, he allows us to rebel against him and miss out on the benefits of his grace...

Sunday is Mother's Day. I was blessed by a godly mother who reared me as a single parent. She worked full-time and was assisted by my grandparents with my upbringing. While I had a happy home, I always wanted to have a family of my own. It was important to me that my children would have both mother and father. This was a driving force throughout my dating years. I was careful to avoid dating anyone I did not consider someone I could marry. Friends accused me of being too picky...

When I was growing up in the Baptist church, there was a saying, "I do not drink, smoke or chew, nor do I date girls who do." This reflected a stance against alcohol and tobacco. As a long-tenured pastor within the Southern Baptist denomination, I realize that fewer people abstain from alcohol...

On Tuesday, April 18, we learned that Dr. Charles Frazier Stanley passed away at the age of 90. You have probably seen him on television or heard him on the radio through In Touch Ministries. Stanley was the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta, for more than 50 years, and he authored more than 40 books. He founded In Touch Ministries in 1977 and has been seen or heard in more than 115 million homes per week and in more than 126 countries worldwide...

What are your favorite Easter childhood memories? I would get an Easter basket filled with candy, and sometimes, it would include a stuffed animal. My grandmother would give me a carton of chocolate-covered marshmallow eggs. We might eat a decorated cake in the shape of a cross. There would always be chocolate rabbits to consume -- ears first. Most Easter Sundays, we would put on uncomfortable new clothes and go to church...

Have you noticed how the devil is no longer hiding in our society? Performers at awards shows are dressed like demons dancing in Hell. There is an open effort to groom our children sexually. Any legislation to protect minors is treated as discrimination. We can say with the prophet Isaiah, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil...." Isaiah 5:20...

I can remember a couple things that stood out in my grandparent's house. One was a picture of Jesus on the wall and the other was a thick black bonded leather KJV Bible that sat on the coffee table. As a young person, I assumed that everyone had at least one Bible in their home. Over the years, I have accumulated many Bibles. I do not know the total number. I have several different English translations, and I have copies of the Old Testament in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek...

Have you ever heard of the term "Clobber Passages"? According to progressives, the six passages of Scripture that clearly forbid homosexuality are used by conservatives to make people feel guilty. These passages are Genesis 19:4-25 (the story of Sodom and Gomorrah), Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, and 1 Timothy 1:9-10...

Do you follow sports? Who do you think was the greatest athlete of all time? We see records broken in professional sports. Some athletes are achieving feats that may never be matched. However, most records are broken at some point. Many Missourians were happy to see the Kansas City Chiefs become Super Bowl champions for the second time in four years. However, the quest for the top spot will begin all over again next season...

Have you heard about the Asbury Revival in Wilmore, Kentucky, near Lexington? I am not referring to the 1970 revival that sparked the "Jesus Movement." As I write this, there is an ongoing revival at Asbury University. It began Wednesday, Feb. 8. During a midweek chapel service, campus minister Zach Meerkreebs led an invitation for personal confession and testimonies. ...

There are many professions that deal with tragic situations. Most of us only face a crisis a few times in a lifetime. Most of us know of someone who has faced a tragedy that we have not faced. Natural disasters, fires, heart attacks, strokes, accidents and injuries happen all the time. Have you considered how first responders, doctors, nurses, clergy and others deal with their emotions?...

Do you remember learning about the First Great Awakening? The sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," by Jonathan Edwards was considered an influence on the movement. Like most writings or sermons, it should be viewed in a historical context. The reader needs to understand the environment in which the sermon was delivered. Who could doubt the impact of this message on the congregation and how it went beyond the walls of the church to influence the culture?...

We are blessed to live in the United States of America. Christians attend churches without fear of being arrested. We have free access to Bibles and religious materials. It is usually when we take our religious beliefs from our place of worship into the marketplace that we see opposition...

Do you watch NFL football? As a child growing up in St. Louis, I cheered for two St. Louis Cardinals teams. We had the baseball team and the football team of the same name. As a matter of fact, I got an autographed photo of Jim Hart who came to my elementary school, and then when in high school, Otis Anderson and Roy Green attended our football banquet my freshman year...

We are celebrating the birth of Christ, and many of us have been counting down to Christmas by lighting the Advent Wreath. Over the past few weeks, we lit candles representing hope, peace, joy, love and, finally, the Christ candle that is in the center of it all. The love of God is present in every aspect of this Christian tradition...

"The world is not driven by greed. It is driven by envy," said 98-year-old billionaire Charlie Munger. He made this statement earlier this year at the annual meeting of the Daily Journal newspaper where he is a director. (Source, Tom Huddleston Jr. on CNBC.com.)...

Have you been watching the World Cup Soccer Tournament? We rooted for the USA, and because my wife has family in the Netherlands, we were not too disappointed when they beat us. The Babylon Bee (Satire) headline: Nation Relieved to No Longer Have to Pretend to Like Soccer. "Thank God for the Dutch." We got a good laugh from that line...

Do you make a regular practice of saying a prayer before you eat a meal? In some traditions people pray specific phrases such as, "Bless us O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from thy bounty, through Christ our Lord, Amen." Others pray spontaneously before they eat. Even if we do not use a previously memorized prayer, we tend to repeat ourselves...

Do you follow any groups on social media? I follow a group of pastors from various states who are within my denomination. One pastor wrote that he was concerned about the youth workers hanging up posters, at church, of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. He asked for our opinions and expressed that he has mixed emotions...

Have you been following the political debates? Many people want to ignore politics and end up voting with little or false information. They base their vote on the candidate's reputation. As a Christian, I appreciate voter guides that clearly state where candidates stand on the issues. Every voter has a right to know how candidates have voted in the past...

There are many things we take for granted, such as clean running water. A water main broke in Cape Girardeau this week. Many residents had no running water, and a boil water advisory was in place. Schools and businesses were affected. What would you do if you no longer had access to clean water? For many people in the world, this is a struggle...

Are you proud to be an American? Do you love your country? If so, what do you think about people criticizing this nation and calling patriotism things like "Christian Nationalism?" Is it possible that we take the love of country too far? How far is too far?...

Sept. 11 was on a Sunday this year. For many of us, Sunday is a busy day filled with worship, lunch, meetings, more worship, then maybe more meetings. For others, it is the last lazy day before the start of the workweek. Did you think about the terrorist attack in 2001? Did you remember those who died in Benghazi, Libya on Sept. 11, 2012? When we reflect on these kinds of acts of terrorism, we have to ask honest questions about the role religion plays...

When I completed my education in 2005, I had already paid off all of my academic debt. Like many people, I relied on my family to pay the majority of my expenses so that I could gain an education. I did not attend the most expensive schools. I commuted to a nearby university for my undergraduate degree, and I worked while earning the next two fully accredited degrees...

How does a cult leader get people to follow him or her? In an episode of the Netflix series, "The UnXplained," William Shatner introduces us to a man who had recently graduated law school. He was having a hard time getting started in his career, so he sought motivational training from a highly recommended instructor. ...

Have you been concerned about the state of our nation? We are alarmed by stories of brutality in our inner cities. While people are being attacked, others stand by videoing with their phones. No one tries to stop the assault. It is as though they are watching a movie with no sense of personal responsibility...

During our Sunday school promotion with the children's ministry, we had an event called, "Pop-Tarts with the Pastor." The children were served Pop-Tarts and given an opportunity to ask me questions about being a pastor. I was impressed by how thought-out the questions were. One question that caught me off guard was, "What is the most difficult part of being a pastor?"...

Did you see the video of the young children in their diapers and underwear who were cussing out the police officers? My heart breaks to think of how this must make our police officers feel. This is learned behavior to disrespect authority. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it." Skeptics believe that our Christian faith is nothing more than socialization, and they deny the truth behind our religious convictions. ...

Our church has just concluded Vacation Bible School or VBS. Our theme at Bethany this year was, "Treasured: Discovering that you're priceless to God." Children from our church and local community participated with around 50 children registered and 30 volunteers who served. ...

You may have seen or heard negative stories concerning pastors and religious organizations. Most pastors struggle financially, and most churches give sacrificially to minister to the needs of their members as well as their communities. However, there are people who believe all clergy live like health and wealth televangelists. Such people are calling for the removal of pastors' tax-exempt statuses...

My denomination made the news last week. Did you hear about the Guidepost investigation? At last year's annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, allegations were made accusing key leaders on the Executive Committee of covering up cases of abuse that occurred in churches and institutions. The messengers (people representing congregations) approved an investigation to uncover whether such claims were true. The report came out recently, and the findings were upsetting...

One of my favorite passages of Scripture concerning the Christian attitude is found in the book of Philippians. The Apostle Paul writes, "Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. ...

The Supreme Court's discussion about ending Roe V. Wade has been leaked. Do you realize that, for anyone 50 years of age and younger, your mother had the option to legally kill you? Whether or not you have a good relationship with your biological mother, you should be grateful to be alive. That is something we can all celebrate on Mother's Day...

Have you ever asked yourself why should you go to church? If you ask churchgoers why they go to church, they may give answers that seem self-centered. For example, they may talk about enjoying the music or being encouraged by the message. They may highlight programs for their children. It is true that we benefit from going to church, but Scripture provides deeper reasons for church attendance...

We will sing, shout and preach about the empty tomb this Easter Sunday. Jesus is alive. Death did not stop him, the grave could not hold him, and through his resurrection power we may have the gift of eternal life. Do you believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead? That is the essence of the gospel--the story of Jesus...

In Matthew 5:39, Jesus makes the statement, "But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." It is hard to imagine anyone not hearing about the unusual event that took place during the Oscars last Sunday. ...

Are you starting to question everything you have believed all your life? Is your faith and values being shaken by current events? Have you become cynical in your approach to life, questioning like Pilot in the Bible, "What is truth?" Who is wise and who is foolish?...

My wife and I were able to take a much-needed vacation recently. She found a bed and breakfast in Minnesota, so I went along with the plan. I was concerned about heading that far north in February, but thankfully the weather cooperated. We stayed in the historic town of Stillwater. The scenery was beautiful, but it was different than southeast Missouri...

If you are like the people at Bethany Baptist Church, you are praying for Ukraine. Perhaps you are concerned that World War III has begun. Only time will tell. The Bible informs us that there will be difficult times on Earth during the last days. Each generation has its share of struggles. However, are hearts are broken as we consider the civilian casualties in Ukraine. Our prayer is that the Russian officials will have a change of heart...

I read that there were more than 100 million viewers for this year's Super Bowl. Did you watch it? Los Angeles was the host city, and since the hometown Rams were in the game, the celebrity turnout was unusually high. We are not sure how many of these famous people are football fans. What we do know is that they wanted to be seen. And they were seen without masks...

Without a moral compass, it is difficult for many people to make a distinction between an opinion and a principle. We have leaders on all levels making decisions that do not seem logical, and they are enforcing rules that do not apply to themselves. ...

The Bible teaches the principle of the Sabbath. During creation, we read that God rested on the seventh day. Keeping the Sabbath holy is one of the Ten Commandments. If you have studied the Old Testament or if you have Jewish friends, you know that technically the Sabbath is Saturday. Some denominations worship on Saturdays for this reason...

A friend recently told me about a challenge to read a short book of the Bible each day with a goal of reading it 30 times in a month. For the month of January, we are reading the epistle (letter) of 1 John. I saw a social media post in which he asks if we made any discoveries and how they may have made an impact on our life...

Most people have heard of the Golden Rule. I saw an interview with Elon Musk by the Babylon Bee, a group that produces religious satire. At the end of the interview, they jokingly asked him to accept Jesus. When he started asking questions, they fell silent as if they had no idea what the Bible teaches about salvation or how to answer his elementary questions. ...

I heard that a popular New Year's resolution is to become closer to God. People are seeing the need for spiritual growth and understanding. It makes sense to follow Christmas with a resolution concerning faith. Many Christmas services mentioned the following Scriptures:...

If you are like me and my family, you were concerned about the storm system that was forecast Dec. 10. To comfort our daughter, who never ignores a severe storm alert, we spent the night in our basement. There were at least 50 tornado reports across several states during this weekend. More than 80 people have died in Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee...

The holidays can be stressful as we try to plan parties and buy the right presents. Christmas is supposed to be about the birth of Jesus, but it has become a time of overindulgence. We tend to spend too much money and eat too much food. Then when January rolls around, we resolve to get out of debt and lose weight. After the holidays, will we remember our presents? How many of those gifts will be returned?...

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1. The Greek word for "Faith" means to believe or trust. In Hebrew we get the word "Amen." When a person says amen, it means that he or she agrees and believes it to be so. The important aspect of the Christian faith is not the person's positive or hopeful attitude, but God in whom the faith is placed...

Psalm 100 says, "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."...

There are many wonderful churches in our region. Although I have been at Bethany Baptist Church for 18 years, several area pastors have longer tenures than me. One recently celebrated 30 years as the pastor of a prominent church. That speaks well to what a wonderful place Southeast Missouri is to work, live, and rear a family...

For most people, Oct. 31 is Halloween. It is not a favorite holiday for many Christians due to its evil and dark themes. Many churches, such as mine, have offered safe alternatives to door-to-door trick or treating -- usually calling them "Fall Festivals." We intentionally hold our Fall Festival on Oct. ...

Did you try to get on Facebook Monday and have difficulty? I was busy most of the day, but I checked my Facebook page a few times unsuccessfully. This blackout was suspicious because of the timing. The day before, Frances Haugen, a whistleblower from the company had been interviewed on "60 Minutes." She exposed several concerns that everyone, especially people of faith should consider...

Did you hear the one about the atheist who was appointed head chaplain? You may be waiting for the punchline, but this is not a joke. Can you imagine someone who is against believing in God leading groups that practice faith in God? How about a pro-life/anti-abortion person heading Planned Parenthood? Is that any more outrageous than an atheist leading a religious organization?...

We can learn much about human nature and character by reading the Bible. I love the story of Joseph. If you are not familiar with Joseph, his great-grandfather was Abraham, his grandfather was Isaac, and he is the son of Jacob and Rachel. Joseph is the favorite child of his father, and this causes his half-brothers to dislike him. Jacob gives his son a special coat of many colors that serves as a visual reminder of Joseph's privilege...

Many of us pray for the persecuted church all over the world. There are many places where it is dangerous to express faith in Jesus Christ. Christians, in the United States, are often mocked for claims of religious intolerance even as they are targeted for lawsuits. When Christians are in the minority, their lives are often in danger. Where does this hatred come from? Remember, we are facing spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6)...

It is back to school time in our area. I always enjoy seeing photos on Facebook from friends, family and acquaintances of first day of the school year. These can be times of mixed emotions. In my family, my wife and daughter are part of our Cape Public School system, so it is back to work for both. I like the structure of the school year. As a pastor with some flexibility in my schedule, I am pulled in two directions when they have more free time...

When we consider the Armor of God in Ephesians chapter six, we see our only offensive weapon is the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. We usually imagine a medieval longsword, but the Roman soldier's sword would have been no more than 18 inches long. Tony Evans said this shows us that spiritual warfare is up close and personal. It is in your face...

We have been discussing the armor of God for spiritual warfare in Ephesians chapter 6. The first three pieces of equipment we are to put on are the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, and shoes of the gospel of peace. Then we considered items we are to take up, the first was the shield of faith. This column will focus on the next piece of equipment, the helmet of salvation...

As we continue to look at the equipment the Apostle Paul instructs us to put on for spiritual warfare, we read that we are to take up the Shield of Faith. Previously, we considered the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness and the gospel shoes that enable us to stand firm in the Christian faith. The Roman soldier would wear these items continuously. Beginning with the Shield of faith, the next three items were readily available, but not always in use...

We have discussed the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness. The third piece of equipment Paul instructs us to put on is "shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace." Ephesians 6:15. The idea behind the shoes is the ability to stand firm and not be moved. ...

Last week I began writing about the Armor of God found in Ephesians, Chapter 6. The belt of truth was the first thing Christians are instructed to put on as they prepare for spiritual warfare. For decades, I have heard people say that truth is relative. ...

I recently concluded a sermon series on the Armor of God. Ephesians chapter six informs us that we are not in a battle against flesh and blood, but there is a supernatural adversary who is behind the evil in the world. This encourages us to pray for people whom we might otherwise choose to hate. God's grace has changed us, and we know that grace can change others as well. We are all a work in progress, but faith in Jesus enables us to become Christlike in our attitudes and our conduct...

Do you have plans to celebrate Independence Day? Have you visited the fireworks stand with the intention of burning money for the excitement of loud bursts of color? Or did you buy things that sparkle and smoke intentionally getting less "bang for your buck?" Maybe you prefer to let your neighbors spend their hard-earned money while you watch the skies for free entertainment. For me, it varies from year to year...

When we think of pride, we often mean that we are not ashamed of certain things or people. I might say that I am proud of my daughter, or that I take pride in a job well done. Hearing such phrases may lead some to conclude that I am being boastful. Do you consider yourself to be a proud person? What does our society value most, pride or humility?...

Memorial Day weekend is a time when people welcome summer with cookouts and outdoor activities. Most people appreciate an extended weekend. What is sad, is that many have forgotten the significance of Memorial Day. Some want to thank those who are serving, others want to thank those who have served. ...

Do you remember seeing images of clear city skylines and clean lakes and rivers in large metropolitan areas during the shutdown? I do. What struck me was how quickly the environment was able to recover from what seemed to be permanent damage. That is not to say that we should not be concerned about environmental issues. Has anyone told you that Christians do not care about the earth? The reality is that the Bible teaches us to be good stewards over God's creation...

In last week's column, I misspelled Hannah and Cain's names. A couple of friends brought the errors to my attention. Unfortunately, I did not allow enough time for my wife or anyone else to proofread my article. Sometimes it is difficult to see your own mistakes and spell check is unreliable for proper names. Have you ever found errors in books that the editors missed? It happens. It is humbling to make such mistakes. I thought it would be appropriate to write a column on learning from mistakes...

We honor mothers on Mother's Day. I hope you have been blessed with a loving mother. There are many prominent women in the Scriptures. For this column, I want to discuss lessons from several biblical mothers. Mary, the mother of Jesus, teaches us there is only one perfect child. ...

Probably the most famous sermon of the 20th century was, "Payday Someday." It was preached over 1,200 times by R. G. Lee, a Southern Baptist Pastor. I first learned of this sermon as a graduate student at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Fort Worth, Texas. One evening I decided to go to the audio-visual section of the campus library and check out the sermon on a VHS tape. I sat in a cubical and viewed the sermon in its entirety...

It saddens me to see so much divisiveness in our country. Much of the division has to do with economic factors as well as immutable traits. As a Christian, I believe God created all men and women in the image of God. Life is not fair, and no one owes us anything. ...

Do you know what Easter is all about? People celebrate the Easter Bunny and have Easter egg hunts or large gatherings for food, fun and games. I remember as a child our family had a cake in the shape of a cross with yellow and white icing. It was delicious, but I wondered why anyone would want to eat the cross. There is no doubt strange practices get mixed into our holiday traditions. Let us not forget the resurrection of Jesus...

Do you carry a flashlight? If you have a smartphone, you likely have an application that serves as a flashlight. I prefer to carry a dedicated flashlight that runs on a AAA battery. Did you realize police officers always carry a flashlight? One of the reasons is a lot of bad things happen in low-light situations. Criminals prefer to operate under the cover of darkness...

When churches shut down during the early days of the pandemic, many turned to the internet to communicate with their congregations through livestreaming. These pastors and congregations were excited to see the metrics given for large online audiences. Local church worship services can now be seen all over the world. I had family in the Netherlands view my Easter sermon. Perhaps online worship could lead to another Great Awakening?...

You may have noticed I have referred to the deity of Jesus in several of my columns. As a Baptist pastor, and theologian, I was surprised when someone wrote to tell me I was misleading my congregation by teaching the deity of Christ. I do not know of any Christian church that would want a pastor who did not believe Jesus is "fully God and fully man." I thought it would be helpful to explain why Christians believe in the Incarnation (God in flesh)...

These have been challenging times for churches. Recently, the weather forced us to cancel services at Bethany Baptist Church. Our parking lot is a great place to go sledding, but not for parking when there is ice or snow. The elderly members are committed to church attendance, so they will not stay home unless we cancel the services. This is for safety like it was with COVID-19. Now there is a vaccine, and it is time to get back to church...

Most of us would be better off if we watched less television, limited social media and read more good books. However, when it comes to what is being sold in bookstores, there is a battle for ideology. We hear of book deals being canceled because of unpopular political stands. ...

Are you praying for a prodigal child? As a pastor, I talk to many parents and grandparents who are praying daily for their children and grandchildren to return to the faith. Along with parenthood comes the responsibility of protecting and teaching our sons and daughters. There is no question there are competing worldviews. While followers of Jesus want their children to follow a biblical worldview, many forces pull them in the opposite direction...

"And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, 'Save us, Lord; we are perishing.' And he said to them, 'Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?' Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. ...

Have you realized how easy it is to find fault in someone else, but difficult to see the same traits in yourself? The Bible says, "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good." Romans 12:9 (NASB9). There are different Greek terms for love. ...

For the last several years I have heard much criticism aimed at any member of the clergy who openly supported or prayed for the President of the United States. I have been a pastor since the '90s, and I have seen both political extremes use religion to further their agendas. ...

We assume that everyone understands the restrictions that have come about because of the pandemic. However, as a pastor, I am concerned that our most at-risk people will feel abandoned by their families, friends and their faith community. I am thankful for chaplains who work on the staffs of hospitals and nursing homes, but most people prefer a visit from their minister...

There have been good things that have happened over the past year, but for the most part, 2020 has been one of the most difficult years in American history. How do we deal with people who are discouraged? Do we tell them they are not allowed to complain and that they are not owed an explanation? Does the church handle controversial topics like the large tech companies -- with censorship? I hope not. ...

Many of our churches are celebrating Advent as they are counting down to Christmas. This Sunday, our topic is Joy. Sometimes we confuse joy with happiness. No one is happy all the time. I once read that the record for smiling was 10 hours. When I worked retail jobs, I would have managers remind me to smile, has anyone told you to smile lately? Someone said that happiness happens, and that joy is a condition of the heart. I believe that we can learn to be joyful...

Have you have finished your Christmas shopping? If you are like me, I shop up until Christmas Eve -- even after Christmas depending on when I am going to exchange gifts. Sometimes the hardest part about Christmas shopping is finding the right gift for each person. Most people appreciate money or a gift card -- at least I do...

It looks like tougher times are ahead for conservative Christians in America. Many of my peers speak as though they welcome persecution by the government to combat complacent Christianity. Their hope is that the church will wake up and become more evangelistic. They believe persecution will bring about the spread of Christianity...

The Babylonian captivity took place between 597 BC to 538 BC. The kingdom of Judah was conquered by King Nebuchadnezzar. The people did not have a vote or a fair election. Daniel and his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were selected to be renamed and to serve the new king. Daniel was renamed Belteshazzar. The others were renamed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego respectively...

One of the best things about being an American is exercising our right to vote. As a Christian, we have the same rights as anyone else to vote our values. We should always seek God's will and pray for our nation--before, during and after elections. Author, and speaker Jamie Rohrbaugh wrote a prayer guide to help us pray for America...

These are confusing times for Christians. You may have noticed that most politicians claim to be religious so that you will vote for them, but at the same time they openly ridicule Christians for clinging to their religion. Something does not add up. ...

It is hard to deny that we are all influenced by our environment. We are influenced by the people we listen to, whether it is on the nightly news, sports or entertainment. As we are drawing near to the presidential election, voices are competing for our attention. ...

One Sunday morning, early in my ministry, I overheard a few of the church workers discussing the possibility of quitting their positions. The conversation centered around being tired, and it being someone else's turn to serve. I was panicked because the ministry of a local church takes many volunteers -- the pastor cannot do it alone. ...

Many people are living with fear and anxiety because COVID-19 restrictions. Russell Falcon, NBC Austin, Texas, quoted the CDC report that shows 40.9% of adults say they've had at least one mental health effect, including symptoms of anxiety or depression (30.9%), symptoms of trauma or stressor-related disorder (26.3%) and starting or increasing substance use to cope (13.3%)...

There is a false narrative that all law enforcement personnel are evil. If you side with police over protesters, you could be fired from your job. However, events from this past weekend shed light on this national deceit. Not only were two Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies ambushed, but supporters of a popular mainstream movement tried to block the hospital and stood outside cheering for the officers to die. ...

Last weekend we celebrated Labor Day, and this weekend the NFL is beginning its regular season. In both we see capitalism highlighted. Many of us get a day off from our jobs on Labor Day. The idea is that workers have earned a day to be honored. While many people today are complaining about income inequality, no one seems to mind it in sports. ...

This is an experience that I have observed too often, and it happened again just the other day. A friend lamented about how his daughter started college intending to gain a degree and serve on the mission field, only to graduate denying her Christian faith. As I listened to this heart-broken father, I thought of my own daughter and what she might experience in the future...

Does it seem as though evil goes unpunished? It is difficult to watch the news and see what is going on in some of our major cities. While the destructive mobs are described as protesters or demonstrators, we get the sense that something else is going on. Why are these organized groups damaging the homes and businesses of the people they claim to be fighting for? One of the phrases we hear repeated is, "No justice, no peace."...

Last weekend, groups of people prayed for all the schools in the Cape Girardeau Public School District. I am thankful that we live in a community where people of faith can participate in community activities. This was strictly voluntary, and everyone followed strict social-distancing guidelines. ...

My family and I just returned from a vacation. My wife instructed me to take a break from work, so I did not submit a column last week. On the drive home, I was reminiscing about the vacations that we have taken since I have been married. I realized that my memory is foggy on the details, I am happy if I can remember where we went what year, let alone the itinerary for each day. I decided when I got home, I would write down something about each day last week...

The First Amendment reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."...

On Monday, the Cape Girardeau County Health Department issued an order for us to wear masks. For some, there was relief and a sense that making everyone wear masks was long overdue. For others, another piece of our individual liberty being stripped away. This is another silly move like telling us which way to walk down store isles. Some people like rules and some do not. For the Christian, we have a set of principles that guide our behavior in all circumstances...

Like most Americans, I have gone through a wide range of emotions over the past several months. Today, we see so much hate. People are angry at injustice. Some are upset that churches are closed while abortion clinics and liquor stores are open. Some believe there is an entire system that is working against them. ...

Julie Roys is the host of a national radio program on the Moody Radio Network called, "Up for Debate." She has written an article called, "Five Reasons Socialism is Not Christian." She cites research that indicates many Americans believe Jesus would favor socialism over capitalism. According to a Barna poll, 24% thought Jesus would support socialism, 14% thought he would support capitalism, and 62% responded neither or not sure...

Recently, activist Shaun King stated that all images of a light-skinned Jesus whether they be statues or stained-glass pictures need to come down. He claims the only reason Jesus was depicted as white was because of white supremacy. I disagree. While we do not know exactly what Jesus looked like, we should be able to agree that it is human nature to portray God in our image...

One of my best friends from my teenage years died in a plane crash June 10. Earlier that Thursday, I saw a Facebook post with him and his family in a group photo. I hit "like" and scrolled on without reading. I assumed he had received another award from the Navy. Hours later, a mutual friend messaged me and informed me, "Vincent Segars was killed in a plane crash yesterday. He was training a friend (Commander Joshua Fuller) who was trying to earn his commercial license."...

In an article written by John Piper, founder and teacher from www.desiringGod.org, he discusses the subject, "What Is Christian Unity?" He said that unity among two or more people is not necessarily good or bad. It remains neutral until it is given goodness or badness by something else. ...

If you are like me, you are having a hard time coping with recent events. We live in a fallen world that is wrecked by sin. If we expect utopia, we will always be disappointed. However, I had hoped that the images of people burning down their cities was a thing of the past. ...

Tuesday morning, we learned that the world-renowned apologist and evangelist Ravi Zacharias died. It was not long ago, about two months, when Ravi was first diagnosed with a rare form of cancer within his spine. The other day I had read that there was nothing more the doctors could do for him. We knew then that it was only a matter of time before another of God's great pastors would no longer be with us...

Have you ever shared something on social media or through email that you later found out to be false? We live in a time where information comes at us from many directions. In the past, there were only a few television networks and news organizations. ...

Are you afraid? There are many people who are living in fear right now. No one wants to die or face a serious illness. Apparently, there are very few Patrick Henry's who say, "Give me liberty or give me death." The saying today could be, "I will forfeit my liberty to live." There is little doubt that fear can be a master. Is it always wrong to be afraid? Shouldn't we fear certain things? How do we handle fear?...

The message of Christianity is that God can give us a new nature. While some claim to be Christian, Jesus told us that we could know the tree by the fruit it produces. A closer look at the characteristics we can expect from true believers will encourage us. The Apostle Paul describes the fruits of the Spirit in detail in Galatians 5:22-23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."...

Will COVID-19 kill our liberty? There are many people who want to control other people. I remember being in a men's restroom and seeing men leave, after using the toilet, without washing their hands. I wanted to chase them down and make them come back and wash. ...

What we are experiencing as a society with the coronavirus will be remembered as a significant historical event. It is hard to say what changes will remain permanent. My motivation to close my church to public gatherings is the health and safety of our community. ...

Easter Sunday is going to be different this year. Instead of churches being filled with members and guests, the buildings will be empty. By showing love for our neighbors, we are asking them to stay home and watch us on a screen. As a pastor, I really miss seeing the people. One of our members just passed away. There will be a funeral, but because he was a believer in Jesus, we have hope beyond the grave. Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5...

When things get difficult, people start looking to see who is to blame. Everyone knows that the epicenter of COVID-19 was Wuhan, China. Somewhere along the line, it became inappropriate to mention the origin of this global pandemic. Unfortunately, the visceral tendency to assign blame has shifted from the obvious, China, to a less convincing target -- the Evangelicals. Are evangelical Christians responsible for the spread of the virus?...

Just a few weeks ago, we were celebrating a vibrant economy. We were feeling pretty good about our retirement accounts, and many small businesses were expanding. Unemployment rates were at a record low. Then, suddenly, everything was jarred into reverse. Now the future is uncertain. Many of us are spending more time than ever in our homes, some without an income. How should we handle these circumstances?

The CDC is encouraging groups larger than 10 people to avoid meeting. Schools are taking a break. Some businesses are closed or finding a way to do business differently. Many restaurants are drive through only. Our hope is that by following these guidelines for a matter of weeks, we will prevent thousands from catching COVID-19. This is affecting churches in a way that I could not have imagined...

St. Patrick's Day was always a big deal for my family. My wife and I were on a vacation and met a young lady from Ireland. I asked her if she was aware of how multitudes of Americans claim to be Irish. She exclaimed, "If you are Irish, where are you from?" In other words, if you cannot name the location in Ireland where your family is from, you are not Irish. I guess she has a point. I just nodded in agreement and decided not to tell her of my Irishness...

We have all heard of the "coronavirus" by now. The term that is currently being used is COVID-19. It refers to a respiratory illness. As of now, there is no known cure and many people have died from this virus. According to a recent article in Live Science, Scientists are not certain how the disease originated. ...

When I was in my late teens, my grandfather provided me with a subscription to Reader's Digest. One of my favorite sections of the periodical was the "Word Power" quiz. I enjoyed learning new words as much as finding out how many I already knew. It is good to increase our vocabulary. Good word choices help us to communicate more effectively. Poor word choices or a limited vocabulary can cost us in many ways...

I watched on television when the Senate Chaplain Barry C. Black was praying to open a meeting to consider articles of impeachment delivered by the House of Representatives. The news anchors were anticipating the minister's message to the Senators through the prayer. ...

The National Prayer Breakfast made the news again this year. I did not know much about this event until Ben Carson grabbed the spotlight with his remarks about political correctness. His words were refreshing, although some questioned if it was appropriate for him to speak contrary to the sitting president. Times have changed. This year it was the remarks made by the president that took the headlines. Many people were surprised when he challenged the phrase, "I'm praying for you."...

I first told my wife I loved her on Valentine's Day. Although it was early in our relationship, I wanted to tell her sooner. I waited until February 14 to make it a special day to celebrate our love. As a student of Scripture -- Greek in particular, I can tell you the idea of love is more complex than many people realize...

Many Americans have been struck with grief over last Sunday's news of Kobe Bryant, his daughter and their friends fatal helicopter crash. That evening I had a church member lose two relatives, one was expected, and one was not. We are reminded that life is precious, and it can be over in an instant...

Have you ever walked into a large department store and asked for help only to be told to go online and take care of the matter yourself? This happened to me the other day. My reaction was if I could handle my needs as a customer by going online, why not just shop online in the first place? Yes, I am thankful for the convenience of modern technology, but I wonder if it comes at a price. Have people forgotten how to serve others?...

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday. This is the day we set aside to honor a Baptist pastor. Well, he was a Baptist pastor, but it is his work in civil rights we celebrate. I was born two years before he died, so the world in which he lived is unfamiliar to me. Watching documentaries about this time period reminds me how far we have come as a nation. I know we are not perfect, but to deny our progress is to diminish King's legacy...

There was another shooting at a church recently. You most likely heard about it. It was Dec. 29 at West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, Texas. There were three people who died including the killer. Fortunately, a well-trained security team leader was able to take out the threat before more parishioners were murdered...

Tessa Landrum, a senior at Cedarville University, wrote a powerful commentary in Kentucky Today entitled "Gen Z is spiritually illiterate and abandoning church: How did we get here?" As the title suggests, there are several factors that are affecting the spirituality of people born between 1995 and 2015...

It is hard to believe we are ready to welcome the year 2020. As we approach the New Year, I wonder how many people made bold and courageous plans five or so years ago that were to be met by the year 2020. My guess is that many of those plans and goals were not obtained. ...

Christmas is a wonderful time of year to gather with family and friends. It is a time when we reflect on the meaning of the holiday. Christians all over the world celebrate the idea that God became a man and made his home with us. However, as a pastor over the last 25 years, I still have to remind myself that not everyone shares the joy of the holiday season...