Nine Misconceptions About Love

Nine Misconceptions About Love

February is the month when almost every ministry theme revolves around love. Shades of red are the prevailing colors and hearts are the dominant decor. The people in our ministries are hungry for love. Unfortunately, the world has sold them a poor excuse for the real...
Q&A With Pastor Greg Bell

Q&A With Pastor Greg Bell

What is your title in the church? Senior Pastor How big is your church? We have about 230 members, but we run about 120 in Sunday School and Worship. How far in advance to you prepare for services? During November or December of the year, I begin to prayerfully seek...
Happy are Those who Share their Faith

Happy are Those who Share their Faith

It has been said, “There is one thing that believers and nonbe­lievers have in common: they are both uptight about evangelism.” Maybe that’s why statistics indicate that 95 percent of all Christians have never led another person to Christ. For many followers of Jesus,...
Is The Past Ever Behind Us?

Is The Past Ever Behind Us?

I’ve been watching the news lately. I’m a bit addicted to it. The political battles that take place in our nation display a reality that illustrates an untenable situation. What is that reality, you ask? It is the reality that no one’s past mistakes are ever truly in...
Is There Value In Prophesy?

Is There Value In Prophesy?

“The Antichrist will be Muslim.” “No, Jews would never accept him. He’ll be a Jew.” “Barack Obama is the Antichrist! Why can’t anybody see that?” Of course, President Obama is not the Antichrist. But I’ve actually heard this conversation Who hasn’t?). The truth...
Resolution for a Lifetime

Resolution for a Lifetime

For as long as people celebrated the “New Year,” I’m fairly convinced that they have been making resolutions. Each first day of January millions of people resolve to quit this or to start that or to change something else. However, each year those same millions of...
How to Avoid Going Spiritually Tone Deaf

How to Avoid Going Spiritually Tone Deaf

Like the exercise of our physical bodies, if we don’t exercise our spiritual bodies, our spiritual antennae will become tone deaf–unable to hear the whisper of the Holy Spirit. Although most pastors have good goals for the New Year when it comes to their...
How Women In Ministry Should Behave

How Women In Ministry Should Behave

I am part of a denomination that allows women to preach. There are some that don’t. And that’s OK, if that’s their interpretation of Scripture. I won’t delve into that here. Each side could argue its “rightness.” The question is, in general, how are women to conduct...
When the Sky is Made of Iron

When the Sky is Made of Iron

Step into your prayer closet for just a moment. Do you hear it? It’s that dull, hollow sound which reverberates across the heavens as your prayers are banging against an iron sky. Do you ever feel that way? I know I do. I offer prayers and petitions to heaven, spend...