Category Archives: Discipleship

Thomas B. Wheeler, who served as CEO of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company for many years, loved to tell this story about himself.

Wheeler and his wife were driving along an interstate highway when he noticed that their car was low on gas. He got off the highway at the next exit and soon found a rundown gas station with just one gas pump. He asked the lone attendant to fill the tank and check the oil, then went for a little walk around the station to stretch his legs. Continue reading →

Norma Jean and I have been enjoying our annual Fall trip to the Smoky Mountains.

Not only do we never tire of drinking in the beauty of the colorful foliage, but we also like a morning fire in our cabin. We’ve rented some places with gas fireplaces, but we like a wood-burning fireplace. Sure, it’s a bit messier, takes more work, and costs more money, but we enjoy the flickering light, the radiating warmth, and the crackling sounds. Continue reading →

Yesterday, we published a post with some thoughts spawned by the recent “No Kings” protest. If you missed it, take a couple of minutes to read it now.

I noticed on Facebook that several people have posted a video by late 20th-century African-American minister S. M. Lockridge. These words came toward the end of his famous sermon, “He’s My King.”

Today’s post offers our readers the transcript of that powerful presentation. It speaks to the greatness of Christ and his absolute supremacy and preeminence. Read it slowly. Thoughtfully. Reverently. And adoringly. Continue reading →

Greetings from Gatlinburg

After a wonderful week sharing the Word with the brethren at the Christian Home  Church in Butler County, KY, we have made our annual Fall foliage trip to the Great Smoky  Mountains.

This Sunday and the following Sunday, I will be preaching at the Cosby Church, 15 miles east of Gatlinburg on 321.  It’s a lovely, easy drive.  If you visit, you will enjoy the fellowship of these fine brethren.  They are served by their 93-year-old preacher, Olie Williamson, who preaches every Sunday, unless he can twist the arm of a guest preacher! Olie is amazing.  He still plays golf twice a week. And along with his lovely wife, Mary, he is a servant leader for this little mountain church and community. Continue reading →

Jonathan Banning is one of the fine young preachers in our brotherhood today. He is a co-laborer with Don Truex at the Temple Terrace Church.

On their church facebook page, which I recommend, Jonathan shares some excellent, thought-provoking posts. Here’s one I recently read that may challenge your current view of church attendance.

Don’t skip it because you are a regular attender. You may be the one who needs to reflect on this the most. Continue reading →

Have you ever felt like you were living a righteous life–reading your Bible, praying daily, worshiping God, participating in fellowship, serving others, growing in discipleship–yet life still seemed unfair, hard, and nerve-wracking?

If so, you’re not alone. Continue reading →

Various news outlets report the remarkable yet sobering story of a 27-year-old Chinese student studying in Japan who was rescued from Mt. Fuji. Not once, but twice. And within the span of four days.

According to authorities, the student was airlifted from Mt. Fuji due to climbing difficulties. Following the rescue, he realized he had left behind some personal possessions, including his cell phone. So, he returned to retrieve his belongings. Continue reading →

In Oprah Winfrey’s lifetime achievement award acceptance speech at the 2018 Golden Globes, she said, “What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have.”

“Your truth.”

“Those two words are so entrenched in our lexicon today that we hardly recognize them for the incoherent nightmare that they are,” wrote Brett McCracken in The Wisdom Pyramid. Continue reading →

In his book Not Too Old, David Faust recounts the story of the writer George Plimpton, renowned for his writing about sports.

By the time he died in 2003, at age 76, Plimpton had experienced “an amazing variety of adventures.”

He boxed against Sugar Ray Robinson and Archie Moore, who gave him a bloody nose. He trained with the Detroit Lions’ football team, played golf with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, and pitched less than one inning in an exhibition baseball game. Continue reading →