Monthly Archives: April 2020

We’re All In This Together. Or Are We?

We are now 45 days into the government shut down due to COVID-19. Although some states are gradually opening up, it will admittedly be some time before we’re back to some sense of normalcy, which some are calling a “new normal.”

It may be another month before some states will allow churches to resume public assemblies. When will sports venues open? Or theme parks? Or concert halls? How long will people be wearing masks? Social distancing? Or working from home? When will we be able to cross the Canadian border? Travel to Europe? To take an Alaskan cruise? Who knows? Continue reading

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A Passage To Ponder: Acts 10

Have you heard the one about the preacher trying to “sell” a new idea to his elders. After his most impassioned plea, they voted down the proposal 6-1.

The elder leading the meeting said to the preacher, “Sorry, but it looks like you’re the only one voting for the proposal.”

“Well, that’s all we had on the agenda tonight,” the elder concluded. So he asked the preacher to lead a prayer to close the meeting. Continue reading

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Seeing The Unseen

“No one could have seen this coming,” is an often repeated phrase used by President Trump in his press conferences referring to the current crisis caused by COVID-19.

Critics, of course, are quick to point out there are certain signs our leaders should have seen that were red flags. There have even been predictions of a global pandemic for years by some health officials. Continue reading

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Word of the Week: Anticipation

Last week Tennessee Governor, Bill Lee, announced the gradual process of reopening the state.

Today, restaurants will open with some restrictions. That means we can go eat breakfast at Crockett’s or lunch at Applewood Farms.

The Canadian Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, announced that he will be revealing plans to reopen Ontario’s economy “early next week.” He said the plan will be “a gradual and measured approach.” But, I’m hopeful that means the U.S.-Canadian border will open soon. Continue reading

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Sunday Seed Thoughts: Virtual Worship

Good Lord’s Day morning!

Today is our fourth Sunday of worship by ourselves from our Smoky Mountain retreat.  The local church where we normally worship in Cosby and where I preach when we visit, is not meeting during this current crisis.

Like many of you, we’re participating in a virtual worship service. We’ve visited Temple Terrace and Henderson Boulevard in Tampa as well as the Kettering church in Ohio. Virtually speaking Continue reading

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Weekly Recap: April 19-25

For those of you who may have missed one of our posts this past week, here are  the quick links to get you caught up.

Also it’s an opportunity for you to share ThePreachersWord with others who are looking for devotional material while we’re “sheltering in place.”

If you’re receiving ThePreachersWord by email, you can forward it to others who you think might enjoy and profit from our posts.  Facebook users or Twitter followers can share this one link and give your friends access to the links for all of our posts this week. Continue reading

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Overcoming the World’s Influence

A Peanuts cartoon showed Peppermint Patty talking to Charlie Brown in which she said, “Guess what, Chuck? The first day of school, and I got sent to the principal’s office. It was your fault, Chuck.”

Charlie Brown responds, “My fault? How could it be my fault? Why do you say everything is my fault?”

To which she declares, “You’re my friend, aren’t you, Chuck? Then you should have been a better influence on me.” Continue reading

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The Lord is Speaking. Are You Listening?

I remember one occasion when our son Kenny was a boy, maybe 11 or 12 years old, and he was telling me something. I don’t remember what it was. But his story dragged on. And my mind was preoccupied with other matters.

However, my attention was quickly restored when he blurted out: “Dad, you’re not listening!”

Ouch! Continue reading

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A Passage To Ponder: Acts 5:1-9

“Half of the misery in the world comes from trying to look, instead of trying to be, what one is not,” once wrote the 19th century Scottish minister George MacDonald.

This practice can be summed up in one word. Hypocrisy. It’s wearing a mask. Pretending. Acting instead of being. In a twisted way, “Hypocrisy is an homage that vice pays to virtue,” suggested the French writer La Rochefoucauld. Continue reading

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There’s Something About That Name

Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.
There’s something about that name
Master savior Jesus
It’s like the fragrance after rain

Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.
Let Heaven and Earth proclaim
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away
There is something about that name Continue reading

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