Author Archives: ThePreachersWord

Three Beginning Steps to Renewal

“None of us has enough inner strength to last a lifetime. We simply can’t make it,” wrote my friend and preaching colleague Gary Henry in his Daybook Enthusiastic Ideas.

“If we are to keep going, we must be ‘renewed’ fairly often. And this process must take place deep inside of us,” Gary opined.

Our preaching and writing theme this year speaks to the issue of renewal, which we want to introduce and define in each blog post this week.

If we are to make renewal real, if it is to become more than just a catchy slogan, then we must get deep inside ourselves. We must begin with three very important, fundamental steps. Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under Discipleship, Renew in '22

Word of the Week: Renew

Kenneth Cober was a 20th-century hymnist who wrote a hymn in 1960 entitled, “Renew Thy Church,” In recent years, some songbooks have adapted the hymn. The first verse goes like this.

Renew your church, our ministries restore:
both to serve and adore.
Make us again as salt throughout the land,
and as light from a stand.
‘Mid somber shadows of the night,
where greed and hatreds spread their blight,
O send us forth with power endued,
help us, Lord, be renewed.

Our word of the week, “renew,” will serve as our preaching and writing theme for 2022. Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under Renew in '22, Word of the Week

A New Page. A New Year.

For the past 20+ years, I have read this poem by an unknown author on the first Sunday of each new year.

It was a tradition that was passed on to me by my friend and preaching mentor Paul Andrews. After Paul’s passing, his son Bob continued that tradition. And I have as well, where ever I’ve been preaching.

It’s short and simple. But offers a significant and sanguine message. Continue reading

5 Comments

Filed under Sunday Seed Thoughts

Another Year

The year is closed, the record made,
The last deed done, the last word said.
The memory remains
Of all its joys, its griefs, its gains.
And now with purpose full and clear,
We turn to meet another year.
–Robert Browning

Another year provides us with an exciting opportunity to make a fresh start. To begin again. To set new goals. To redefine our priorities. To reevaluate our values. And to refocus our purpose in life. Continue reading

2 Comments

Filed under New Year

Ministry Report 2021

Recently someone inquired how I have enjoyed retirement. Apparently, they don’t read ThePreachersWord. Or else they define “retirement” differently than I do.

While in May of 2018 we stepped away from full-time, located church work, we immediately began a different type of ministry. We spent the next 33 months traveling full-time. Our journeys took us to 36 states. 10 countries. And 48 congregations. Preaching almost every Sunday somewhere.

In February of this year, we bought a house in Beverly Hills, Florida, in Citrus County, which is about 25 miles southwest of Ocala. We’ve been worshiping with the West Citrus Church in Crystal River, where I preach most Sundays when we’re home. Currently, I’m teaching both the Wednesday night and Sunday morning Bible class. Continue reading

5 Comments

Filed under Preaching

Friday’s List To Live By #55: A Tribute To Dee Bowman

Today concludes reblogging the top 10 posts of 2021 with this Friday’s List that was a tribute to Dee Bowman. It was a runaway #1 for the year in terms of reader views. We miss Dee, but his work and words live on in our hearts.

ThePreachersWord's avatarThePreachersWord

Yesterday, my friend, Dee Bowman passed from this life to go be with the Lord. He was a friend, mentor, and encourager to fellow preachers and brethren all across this nation.

My wife, Norma, along with Dee and his Norma have enjoyed many good times together for which we are thankful.

Dee was not only a powerful presenter of the Word but an excellent writer. In memory and honor of Dee, today’s list will feature various quotes and sayings from his books, Christianity magazine, and sermons throughout the years.

View original post 425 more words

1 Comment

Filed under 2021 Top Posts, Discipleship

Boys in the Girls Locker Room

As we are quickly drawing to a close of the top 10 posts of 2021 based on reader views, this January post ranked #2.

ThePreachersWord's avatarThePreachersWord

Since taking the oath of office, President Biden has signed a flurry of executive orders at an unprecedented rate from previous Presidents.

One that has raised concerns not only from Conservatives but Moderates and even some on the Left is the directive titled “Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation.”

This order, writes Ramona Tausz in a New York Post article, “spells disaster for women’s shelters, sports and health care in the name of transgender equality.”

View original post 647 more words

1 Comment

Filed under 2021 Top Posts, Discipleship

#NotMyCaesar

We are down to the final three days of our holiday blogging break, counting down the top 10 posts of 2021 based on reader views. This January post came in at #3. After almost a year of the Biden Presidency, I would suggest we all need to read this again. Then apply it.

ThePreachersWord's avatarThePreachersWord

“Politics have caused a vast divide in our country. Some Christians want to think that a president being elected by a suspicious or even illegal method means they need not recognize or honor him,” wrote Illinois gospel preacher David Diestelkamp in an article entitled #NotMyCaesar.

“Some conclude,” David continued, “that a president who is immoral, accepts the killing of babies (abortion), or condones the sexually deviant, is not ‘their president.’ And some are judging the validity of a presidency based on their perspective on law, rights, taxes, foreign policy, or free trade.”

View original post 513 more words

Leave a comment

Filed under 2021 Top Posts, Discipleship

In Honor and Memory of Ed Harrell

2021 saw the passing of several gospel preachers. This March post in memory and honor of Ed Harrell received the 4th most hits of all the posts this year. It also provides a link to a post regarding a Florida College Lecture Ed presented that I believe you will enjoy.

ThePreachersWord's avatarThePreachersWord

Author, historian, University professor,  gospel preacher, and our beloved brother in Christ, David Edwin Harrell, Jr. passed from this life to his eternal reward last Monday afternoon, March 15th.

Today there will be a short graveside service for brother Harrell at 2:00 p.m. at Mandarin Cemetery in Jacksonville. Saturday, there will be an online service that you can register to view by linking here.

Almost 20 years my senior, I have known Ed Harrell since my college years. Like anyone who knew him, I was impressed with his unique intellectual insights combined with genuine humility. Sometimes preachers with educational credentials take simple truths and complicate them. Ed possessed the ability to simplify the complex.

View original post 1,023 more words

Leave a comment

Filed under 2021 Top Posts, Discipleship

The Danger of a Bible App on Your iPhone

We are in the middle of a 2-week blogging break, However, we are reblogging the top10 posts of 2021 based on reader views. We resume today with #5.

ThePreachersWord's avatarThePreachersWord

Many Christians have Bible Apps on their iPhones. I bet you never thought once about it posing any danger, did you?

It doesn’t. Unless you live in Afghanistan.

I’ve received two emails this week, one from my Rotary friend, John Grant, another from a preaching colleague, Max Dawson, reporting that the Taliban are going door to door demanding people’s cell phones.

View original post 505 more words

Leave a comment

Filed under 2021 Top Posts, Discipleship