Category Archives: Uncategorized

When we think of Heroes of Faith our minds go to Hebrews 11. We think of Abel. Enoch. Noah. Abraham. Isaac. Jacob. Joseph. Moses. And Joshua. Their stories are well known. We preach sermons about them. And model them as examples of faith to our children in VBS.

However, this morning I am reading about some other faithful heroes.
Epaenetus. Andronicus. Junia. Amplias. Urbanus. And Stachys. Recognize any of them? Continue reading →

Well, the journey continues. Or it really begins in earnest. The past two weeks we have been moving from North Texas, helping Kenny move, unpacking, and storing stuff in our storage unit. And, of course, enjoying our four grandchildren here in Florida.

Today, we begin our trek toward Ontario, Canada for the summer. And hope to arrive by Friday. While there has been a good deal of planning into the next several months of our journey, I haven’t come up with a really succinct explanation of what we are doing. Continue reading →

Last week while in the midst of moving from North Texas and helping Kenny’s family move from Louisiana, we learned of the passing of our friend Bill Hammontree.

Bill was known to many of our readers either through his association with Florida College, his years of selfless service in Rotary, or his dedication and commitment as a Christian.

As I have been reflecting on his passing this week, it reminds me of how many of my mentors and older friends who have positively influenced my life are putting off this mortal body for the immortal one in eternity. It reminds me that I am also quickly moving in that direction.

Continue reading →

“Words mean things. When you put them together they speak,” once observed Samuel R. Delany, the award-winning Science Fiction author.

Politicians, Political pundits, publishers, poets and of course, preachers make use of words to prove a point, push an agenda, or to provide insight. They may be used to challenge preconceived notions. Continue reading →

This morning as we finish packing and await Altas Van Lines to move us from North Texas, I’m reminded of the late and well known Texas preacher, Robert Turner, who wrote a column called “Stuff About Things.”

The regular feature, on the back page of his bulletin “Plain Talk” which was published for 20 years, was a potpourri of thoughts, ideas and spiritual lessons from a variety of sources. Later “Stuff About Things” was published in a book, which I remember packing with all my office stuff. It was good stuff. Continue reading →

“Recall it as often as you wish, a happy memory never wears out,” once observed the mysterious quoter with the pseudonym, Libbie Fudim.

Indeed memories, “can warm you up from the inside,” as the Japanese author, Haruki Murakami once wrote.

And then one of my favorite quotes by author Kevin Arnold, “Memory is the way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.” Continue reading →

Presently I am involved in the massive job of cleaning out both my home and church office. I am discovering things I had either forgotten about or didn’t know I had.

One serendipity is finding short quotes I’ve jotted down on a card or scrap of paper that never got filed. Here’s one on the back of a card from Miss Mary Bobo’s in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Apparently I heard it there. Or maybe read it on a plague in their gift shop. Continue reading →

Yesterday was a historic day in modern day Israel. On the 70th anniversary of the United Nations recognition of modern day Israel, the United States moved our embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, recognizing it as the capital.

While ThePreachersWord does not hold a political position on moving the capital to Jerusalem, it is interesting from a Biblical perceptive. Especially since this decision has been applauded by most evangelicals including the Dallas preacher, Dr. Robert Jeffress, who was invited to offer the dedication prayer. Continue reading →

“All that I am, or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother,” once reflected President Abraham Lincoln.

I’m sure Lincoln’s sentiments are the feelings of many of us as we approach a celebration of mother’s day this year.

The two most influential women in my life have been my mother, Mattie Weliever, and my wife, Norma Jean, the mother of our children. My life is better, stronger, and richer because of their profound influence in my ministry. Continue reading →

Legalization of same-sex marriage is now supported by most religious groups according to a study released on May 1st by the Public Religion Research Institute.

The survey was based on more than 40,000 responses collected during 2017. It found that 61% of Americans now support same-sex marriage. Only 31% oppose it.

The support is the strongest among politically liberal groups such as Jews (77%) and Unitarians (97%). Those identified as unaffiliated approved at 80%. Continue reading →