January 8, 2022 · 4:22 am

Weekly Recap: January 1-7

Good morning from Beverly Hills,

Hope you all are off to a fantastic new year. And that 2022 brings each of you prosperity, both materially and spiritually.

Renew.  That’s been our focus this week.  “Let’s renew in ’22” is our preaching and writing theme for the year.  In a series of blog posts, we have defined, explained, discussed, and illustrated the how, when, why, and where of spiritual renewal.  If you’ve missed any or all of these posts, we hope you will use the quick links to catch up. Continue reading →

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January 7, 2022 · 1:07 am

Friday’s List To Live By #68

“Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day,” opined speaker and author Jim Rohn. The same is true for spiritual renewal.

By now, our readers know that our preaching and writing theme this year is “Let’s Renew in ‘22.” This week we’ve introduced, defined, and explained the concept of renewal.

Today, on Friday’s List, we offer some suggestions for renewal that are simple and succinct, yet powerful.

13 Ways To Renew Yourself Spiritually Continue reading →

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January 6, 2022 · 6:20 am

The Paradox of Renewal

By definition, a paradox is “a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality, expresses a possible truth.”

Jesus often spoke truths that contained a paradox. Here are three examples.

“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matt 10:38).

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14).

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matt 20:26) Continue reading →

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January 5, 2022 · 6:00 am

A Passage To Ponder: Isaiah 40:28-31

Jeff Strite relates an interesting story about a woman who came to a preacher for counseling.

The woman said her husband had become distant. Her children were rebellious. They were deep in debt. Now she was experiencing medical problems.

The preacher said the more she talked the more depressed HE became. He wasn’t sure how to advise her. He admitted that he thought, “Your case is hopeless. There is no way out.” Of course, he couldn’t tell her that. So as many good counselors do, he asked her a question. Continue reading →

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January 4, 2022 · 7:06 am

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 →

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January 3, 2022 · 7:53 am

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 →

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January 2, 2022 · 1:02 am

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 →

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January 1, 2022 · 1:01 am

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 →

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December 31, 2021 · 4:31 am

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 →

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December 30, 2021 · 6:00 am

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.

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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.

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