It is a snow day in Arkansas. It is still hard for a boy from South Georgia to get use to snow! I sit here reflecting back on 25 years of service here in North Little Rock and over 30 years in the ministry. If there is one word that would describe what I feel it is GRACE. The Lord has saved me and kept me by His grace. It was His grace that called me to salvation, that enables me to grow as a Christian, and it will be His grace that leads me into His presence. His grace placed me in a family that loved the Lord and brought me up in a Christian home and loving church. I was privileged to have great Pastors and Youth Pastors that taught me the Word and challenged me to serve the Lord. The Lord graced me with good friends that supported each other in our walk with the Lord. I made a lot of mistakes growing up and I am thankful for the grace of God that protected me from allowing those mistakes to define me or hurt others. It was His grace that led me Welch College and into full time Christian ministry. Perhaps His greatest act of grace, a part from my salvation, was giving me my wonderful wife Debbie. God then graciously gave us three children with wonderful hearts for service. By His grace we have served three wonderful churches in Nashville, Savannah, and North Little Rock. Many have asked me how we have stayed 25 years in one church-It is grace! The people of North Little Rock have been extremely gracious to our family and especially to me. It is all about His grace! Where would we be without the grace of God? I do not want to think about that!

I know it has been awhile since I posted last. I have entered into a new chapter of my life. I am a grandfather now! WOW! My daughter and son-in-law who are serve at a church in Royal Oak, MI are the proud and grateful parents of a little girl. When she was born my mind quickly went back to the day that my daughter was born and I held her for the first time. I carried her from the delivery room to the nursery and walked past a hallway filled with our friends from college. I often think I wish I knew then what I know now. Why doesn't God give us children when we are wiser, more mature, and better prepared? I then realized because He wants us to trust Him! He wants us to lean upon Him for the guidance we need in raising our children! He wants us to trust Him to provided spiritually and financially for our families. We all want what is best for our children and grandchildren and isn't that exactly what God wants! Then why don't we trust Him? He can provide for them and protect them in ways we cannot even begin to do. Have you been blessed by God to be parents or grandparents? Will you trust God with those precious gifts?

This is the Friday before Easter Sunday. It has been referred to as Good Friday. There are many ways in which it can be considered good, perhaps the best is that our salvation was provided for on this day by the death of Jesus Christ. I was running this morning and thinking about the sacrifice of Christ. I have been blessed by a good life. I have not faced many health issues and have been supported by a great family, wife, and church all of my life. I have enjoyed some good years! Then I thought that Christ, in the prime of His physical ability and ministry potential, sacrificed it all for me. He gave the best of His life! Many people give the best years of their life to work, family or even to the church. Christ sacrificed all of that for me! What are you doing with the "best" years of your life? Doesn't Christ deserve them?

The last several years I have started to understand why Solomon asked God for wisdom when he began to lead the children of Israel. Early in my life and ministry I would always ask God for wisdom when it came to the "big" decision. I knew I needed God's direction when in came to marriage, where to go in ministry, my family, even buying a house or car. Those were things that I saw as having "long term impact" on my life and the lives of others. Over the last several years I have started to realize I need that same wisdom everyday of my life. One easy way to define wisdom is, "the ability to live a life pleasing to God." If that definition hold trues, and a Christian's goal is to please God with his life, then I need wisdom everyday! I need God's wisdom in every relationship, every task that I face, and every decision that I make. When you woke up this morning you probably asked God to protect your family, lead someone that you know that is lost to Him, or provision for a need you have in your life. Maybe we would be better off if we just asked God for wisdom. "Lord, how can I live my life to please you today? Please give me wisdom to do just that."

WOW! It has been a long time since I have posted. I took some time to finish my graduate degree. The amount of research was more than I thought but it was a great time of learning. My Dad accused me of wanting to be a life-long student so I would not have to work. I found out that you can do both! I have been challenged by the thought lately that many of us in the religious academic world like to argue doctrine and truth but few live it. I often thought of what it would be like to sit in a economics class and listen to a teacher who had just filed bankruptcy or in an ethics class taught by a teacher who was facing charges for fraud. I would probably ask to be moved from the class. Yet this same tragedy happens every Sunday in pulpits around the world.  Many have become students of the Word but not doers of the Word. This effect has also trickled down from our pulpits to our people. Many Christians will discuss their theology but do not live their theology at work or at school. This is dangerous for the Christian and the unbeliever. When I was growing up there was a saying, "If you talk the talk, walk the walk." Maybe we need to "practice what we preach." (James 1:22-25)

OK! I know it has been awhile since I have written on this blog. I had complete my thesis. The research and writing was time consuming so the "extras" had to wait. The last several months I have been reminded of how little control we have of things in our life. I try to stay physical fit by running and eating the proper foods. I try to stay spiritual fit by prayer, study of the Word, and accountability with others. The educational process has helped with mental fitness (my Dad told be I would be a "professional student"). But with all of our efforts we are still completely dependent on God. He is the Creator and Sustainer of our life. Just when you think you have it all "figured out" something comes along that you cannot understand or control. I believe God is once again reminding us to trust Him! I preached a sermon recently entitled, "Dependent or Independent?" Many of us want to live our lives independently but it is so much easier when we are dependent on God!

That Was Different

The last several Sundays have been really different for me. I had to spend several days in the hospital and then for several weeks I could not preach. Since I started ministry in 1983 I have always been in church, in ministry, except for 5 Sundays I can remember. God has truly been good to me! I had to sit and watch, via the internet, worship services at church. They were great! One of the services was the Sanctuary Choir's Christmas Worship Service! I was also able see the Christmas Day service and hear my daughter and son-in-law sing! Brother Phil Whiteaker preached an excellent message. I sat on my sofa and watched but it was NOT the same as being there. I am a dogmatic supporter of the local church. When I was in the hospital none of my favorite radio or podcast ministers came to see me. None of them sent be a card or made a phone call to ask how I was doing. I did not have any of them deliver a meal to by home. But I did have a church family who prayed, visited, and supported me through it all! All of us will face difficult and trying times in our life! God, through His Son Jesus Christ, ordained the local church to help us through this life! If you are not a part of a caring, thriving local church-Find one! Come to ours! The local church is just another way God has provided for His children. THANKS to First Free Will Baptist Church of North Little Rock!