September 6, 2020 · 5:49 am

Sunday Seed Thoughts: Worship Strengthens

We are beginning our annual anniversary blogging break today. But here’s a 2016 post I hope you find encouraging on this day of worship.

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Seed Thoughts

Christians find spiritual strength in many ways. Bible study. Prayer. Fellowship. But one way in which we can derive strength on a regular basis that touches all of our senses is through worship.

One writer defined worship as “an encounter with the living God.” I like that better than “worship experience.” Sometimes too much emphasis is placed on a subjective experience, or a manufactured or contrived experience. It is possible to have an experience, but not experience true, spiritual worship.

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September 5, 2020 · 4:05 am

Weekly Recap: August 30-September 4

Good morning,

Here’s your weekly recap of our posts this week.  If you’ve missed one, it’s a good way to catch up.  And to share ThePreachersWord with a friend via email or social media.

Beginning tomorrow, we’re taking a blogging vacation for our annual anniversary trip.  I know one could argue that we’ve been on one continual trip for over 2 years.  However, we’ve taken a week for the past several years, to enjoy an anniversary getaway.  Since our trip to England was canceled, because of COVID -19 we’re going to stay in Florida and enjoy a couple weeks at the beach.  Continue reading →

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September 4, 2020 · 4:04 am

Friday’s List to Live By #9

Today’s list is adapted from Dr. Charles Stanley’s book “Success God’s Way.”

It’s very succinct but each statement is packed with profound thought and transforming applications. In fact, I have linked each point to a past blog post, so, if you desire you can give the points greater thought and study. Continue reading →

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September 3, 2020 · 7:12 am

Lying To Yourself

Yesterday, we wrote about the sin of lying.

The lies of others are obvious. To us. And we detest being lied to. Yet, we tend to justify our own lies. They become as William Paul Young expressed it,  a “little fortress.”

Young opined, that “inside them, you can feel safe and powerful. Through your little fortress of lies, you try to run your life and manipulate others. But the fortress needs walls, so you build some. These are the justifications for your lies. You know, like you are doing this to protect someone you love, to keep them from feeling pain. Whatever works, just so you feel okay about the lies.” Continue reading →

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September 2, 2020 · 7:30 am

A Passage To Ponder: Ephesians 4:25

Little Ethan had a habit of “stretching the truth.”

One day, while walking home from school, he saw a large black dog run across the street right in front of him. He rushed home as fast as he could and hollered, “Mom! You’re never going to believe what I just saw!”

“What did you see Ethan?” His mother cautiously asked. Continue reading →

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September 1, 2020 · 6:59 am

The Divide Between Politics and Christianity

Susan Eisenhower has recently written a book about her grandfather, Dwight D. Eisenhower, entitled “How Ike Led: The Principles Behind Eisenhower’s Biggest Decisions.”

Cal Thomas recently reviewed the book in one of his columns and referenced Susan’s admiration for what she called Ike’s pursuit of “the middle way.” In the book is this quote from a letter that Eisenhower wrote to a friend in California in 1954. Continue reading →

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August 31, 2020 · 8:08 am

Word of the Week: Spirituality

As August ends and September begins with Labor Day just around the corner, I’m reminded that much of 2020 has been consumed by various crises.

Many of the challenges we’ve faced seem to be centered around COVID-19 which have contributed to health care crisis, financial crisis, and national and international crisis. This has affected families, churches, businesses, colleges, sports and our most cherished institutions.

Additionally, issues of racism have been reignited with the death of George Floyd, a black man, at the hands (or more specifically, the knee) of a white Minneapolis cop. Since then there have been other deaths that sparked further racial unrest. Continue reading →

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August 30, 2020 · 4:30 am

Sunday Seed Thoughts: Surviving the Storm

Since we are only a few miles from the Gulf of Mexico, we were tracking two tropical storms, Marco and Laura,  heading toward the Gulf in the past week.

Marco fizzled. But Laura turned westward from us, increased to a category 4 and slammed the southern Louisiana coast. Lake Charles was hit hard.

While not as destructive as predicted, the worse storm to hit the state since 1856 has disrupted lives. Flooded homes. Damaged property. And at least 14 people have died.

Yet during this time, there have been many other storms. Perhaps you have been in one of them. Continue reading →

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August 29, 2020 · 4:29 am

Weekly Recap: August 23-28

Good Morning from Homosassa, Florida

Norma Jean and I are continuing to enjoy spending time with our family while adapting to the daily rains and the incredible August heat.   We’ve also enjoyed worshiping with the brethren at the West Citrus Church in Crystal River, where I’m preaching again tomorrow. Continue reading →

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August 28, 2020 · 4:27 am

Friday’s List To Live By #8

With so many things around us that are discouraging, it’s easy to become a discourager.

Adapted and condensed from Mike Lee’s “Get Hope” website, our list this week offers simple, specific ways you can be an encourager.

To access past lists to live by, click here. Continue reading →

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