Last night we concluded a meeting with the Northside church in Hillsboro, Ohio. It was special to return where we first began full-time preaching 47 years ago.
Our theme was WHAT MATTERS MOST based on Acts 2:41-47. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Purpose
Great Verses of the Bible: Daniel 1:8
I recently read a story about Charles Spurgeon, the 19th-century British evangelist, who was conducting a boys Bible class on the book of Daniel.
One of the boys was asked to read some verses aloud, and he came to the passage in Daniel 6:3 which reads “…Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him.” Continue reading
Filed under Great Bible Verses
Answering the Call of God
When you’re a preacher you get some pretty interesting questions. Particularly from people who are not familiar with the church. One question received several times through the years, especially when we move, has to do with my “calling.”
“When did God call you to preach?”
“How were you called?”
“Did you feel called to move to Texas?” Continue reading
Filed under Providence, Purpose
God’s Purpose For My Life
On Wednesday Ohio Governor John Kasich told reporters “Throughout my campaign I have always said the Lord may have another purpose for me.”
Kasich commented that those words always perplexed the pundits regarding his commitment in his quest for the Presidency. He said, “It shows to some degree how little they understand about life.”
The Governor then concluded his prepared remarks by announcing, “I have always said that the Lord has a purpose for me as he has for everyone. And as I suspend my campaign today, I have renewed faith, deeper faith, that the Lord will show me the way forward, and fulfill the purpose of my life.” Continue reading
Filed under Purpose
Do You Know Where You’re Going?
Oliver Wendell Holmes, who lived from 1841 to 1935, is regarded as one of the greatest Supreme Court Justices of all time.
Justice Holmes was extremely intelligent, highly respected and often quoted. However, it is said that he was a bit absent-minded, as illustrated by this story.
Apparently, Justice Holmes was riding a train one day, when the railroad Conductor began walking down the car, checking tickets. As the ticket-checker approached, he watched Holmes search his wallet, unable to find his ticket. Frustrated, Holmes then checked each of his pockets. Still no ticket. Continue reading
Filed under Goals
Can We Be Like the Jerusalem Church?
The 2013 theme of the Hickman Mills church where I preach has been RESTORING OUR FOCUS.
In yesterday’s post on “minister” I mentioned a different emphasis we had each month this year. One of our new readers asked if I would list the other goals that we have been focused on for the year. I thought others might like to know about the process in which we have been engaged. Continue reading
Filed under Purpose
How Can I Know God’s Will?
I was talking to a lady last week who was being evicted from her apartment. She expected the Judge to evict her in three days. However, to her surprise, she was given two weeks.
She suggested to me that it was God’s will. God gave her an extra two weeks. I’m not so sure that apartment manager thought it was the will of God for this woman to get two months of free rent! Continue reading
Filed under God, Providence, Purpose
WORD OF THE WEEK: PURPOSE
The Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the “Seven Wonders of the World.” It is called “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.”
The Temple’s inspiration was supposedly based on the great love the Moguel emperor Shah Jahn had for his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. When she died he was devastated. Grief stricken, he ordered this edifice erected as her final resting place. No expense would be spared in honoring his beloved. Continue reading
Filed under Purpose, Word of the Week
Five Purposes of God’s People
Sir Christopher Wren was England’s greatest architect of all time. There is a legend that when St. Paul’s Cathedral was being built, a visitor walked on the site where three stone cutters were working.
He asked the first one, “What are you doing?” He replied, “Cutting stone. I work four hours in the morning. Four hours in the afternoon.”
He asked the second man, What are you doing?” The worker looked up, wiped his brow, and said, “Just making a living. I earn six pence a day.” Continue reading
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The Power of Purpose
There is an old story, told by James White, about a lighthouse keeper who worked on a rocky stretch of coastline. Once a month he would receive a new supply of oil to keep the light burning so that ships could safely sail near the rocky coast.
One night though, a woman from a nearby village came and begged him for some oil to keep her family warm. Another time a father asked for some to use in his lamp. Another man needed oil to lubricate a wheel. Since all the requests seemed legitimate, the lighthouse keeper tried to please everyone and grant all the requests. Toward the end of the month, he noticed his supply of oil was dangerously low. Soon it was gone, and one night the light on the lighthouse went out. Continue reading
Filed under Purpose
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