Theme for 2020

During the last number of years when I was engaged in full-time local church work, we had an annual theme that we focused on for the year. We built our sermons and classes around that general theme. It was a spiritual challenge to the congregation to zero in on a single idea.

Although we’re now engaged in an international itinerant ministry, I’ve decided to make this my theme for the year–2020 Vision: Restoring Our Focus. It’s a personal pursuit. One that I will be blogging about on ThePreachersWord. And as I have opportunity it’s a theme I want to share as we visit various congregations. Continue reading

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2020 Preaching and Travel Schedule

Norma Jean and I are on the way to Pompano Beach, Florida, where I will be preaching for the Northside church of Christ for the month of January.  It will give my friend and their local preacher, Steve McAllister a short “sabbatical,” from the pulpit and provide for me a wonderful opportunity to enjoy fellowship with these fine folks and share the Word.

We’re often asked by friends, brethren, and readers of ThePreachersWord about our travels, where we’ll be living, and where I’m preaching throughout the year.  Although there are some gaps to fill in regarding specific meetings and preaching appointments, here is our basic schedule for 2020.  (For periodic updates you can check the schedule tab on this blog site). Continue reading

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2020: Year of the Bible

This year has been declared the “Year of the Bible” according to various religious leaders around the world.

Founder of “Year of the Bible,” Nick Hall told Fox News “They’re bringing together resources to help believers and nonbelievers alike to engage with the Bible like never before. He said the Bible is the most influential and misunderstood book in history and the movement simply would ask people, ‘Look to the Bible for yourself, and what if this was your year to be inspired?” Continue reading

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Some Sage Advice for Your 2020 Dreams, Goals and Plans

 

In response to yesterday’s post on ten tips for making your new year great, one of our readers, Eric Bradshaw, shared three really good quotes relating to our goals, dreams and plans for 2020.

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” –C. S. Lewis

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language, and next year’s words await another voice.” –T. S. Eliot Continue reading

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Happy New Year: Ten Tips To Make It Great

“Cheers to a new year and another chance to get it right,” opined Oprah.

There is something wonderful about January 1. A certain magic in new beginnings. The feeling of a fresh start. The anticipation of what lies ahead.

The new year is a time of resolution. Declaration. And decision making. We also receive a lot of advice from various sources about our chance to get it right. Here are 10 tips that will help you make 2020 your best year ever. Continue reading

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What is Love?

Love triumphs in the end. This Valentine’s day post was the runaway #1 post of 2019. Thanks for reading ThePreachersWord. I appreciate everyone’s encouragement and support. I hope you enjoyed this 10 day trip down memory lane.

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On this day, February 14, 270 A.D., a man by the name of Valentine, a religious leader in Rome in the days of Emperor Claudius II, was executed.

According to History.com, The Roman Emperor, known as Claudius the Cruel, “was involved in many unpopular and bloody campaigns.” Apparently, he was having a difficult time getting men to join his army because of their attachment to the wives and families. So, Claudius banned all marriages and engagements in Rome.

According to one of the legends, Valentine, “realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.”

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Bachelorette on show’s sexual relations: ‘I can do whatever, I sin daily and Jesus still loves me’

This June post elicited a good bit of response from our readers and finished the year as the 2nd most read of 2019. In addition, the links provided in the post will be helpful to further amplify some of the points made.

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In a new promotional video for the so-called reality show “The Bachelorette” Hannah Brown is talking with contestant Luke Parker, who is telling her what he thinks about sex.

“Let’s talk about sex and how the marriage bed should be kept pure,” Luke told Hannah.

“Let’s say you have had sex with one or multiple of these guys, I would be wanting to go home,” Luke admitted.

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Celebrating a Sinful Lifestyle

As we are winding down the year, we are down to reblogging the final 3 of our top 10 posts of 2019 based on reader views. This one came in at #3. It’s a reminder that we cannot be conformed to the sinful lifestyle of the world, nor approve or appalud it.

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“I stand before my family, friends and graduating class today to say that I am proud to be a gay son of God,” announced Matthew Easton in his valedictorian speech at Brigham Young University last Friday night.

The “coming out” announcement which came as a surprise to the majority of the 10,000 in attendance, including some family members, was received with cheers and applause that echoed through the Marriott Center.

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Beware, Brethren!

This warning and exhortation from Hebrews 3:12 in a February post was the 4th most read 2019 post. Even if you’ve read it before, take the time to read it again. It speaks to an ever-present challenge that each of us faces.

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I recently read a story shared by Texas preacher Donnie Martin about Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper.” It is told that da Vinci looked for models to sit for Jesus and His disciples.

He found a handsome and innocent looking man in a choir in one of the churches in Italy. He portrayed him as Jesus in the painting. The man’s name was Pietro Bandinelli.

Years passed as da Vinci continued to work on the painting. He left the face of Judas Iscariot till the last. One day da Vinci went out into the streets of Rome and looked for the most forlorn person he could find.

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Masculinity That’s Not Toxic

This January post has resonated with readers throughout the year gathering enough hits to rank #5 in 2019. I appreciate the encouraging words on my blog site as well as facebook. Feel free to share. it.

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This week all the rage has been Gillette’s controversial ad. It opens with the narrator asking “Is this the best a man can get?”

The opening scenes show men and boys bullying, being obnoxious and harassing women. As men stand behind their barbecue grills and two little boys fight, the men are muttering “boys will be boys” implying that bad behavior is justified.

Interestingly the response has been mixed. First there was a backlash. Now there’s a backlash against the backlash. The YouTube video currently stands at 145,000 likes and 454,000 dislikes.

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