It’s Happy Hour – The Holy Ghost Is Here!
Have you ever wondered why many church services resemble a seemingly endless funeral service? I’m talking about church services that are cold, lifeless, boring, emotionless, powerless, predictable, … Need I go on? You know exactly what I am talking about because you’ve endured those services. I’m talking about services that have become so formalized and formulaic that their very life has disappeared. And, secondly, have you ever wondered why so many Jesus-loving believers walk through life with a grimacing look plastered across their faces? It's painful to be around them! As I write this...
A Personal Holy Spirit
Perhaps you know this about me — I love, love, love to eat a good, juicy hamburger. In fact, I've concluded that any day of the week whose name ends with the letter "y" is an excellent day for a hamburger — e.g., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday... Recently, Vickie and I ate lunch at a local restaurant that specializes in hamburgers. The word "specializes" might be a vast understatement. It's crazy to believe that this restaurant has fifty different types of hamburgers on its menu. Their list of burgers includes the Meatloaf (the burger is stuffed with diced green peppers, raw onions, and...
Your Present, The Holy Spirit’s Past
Many of this blog’s readers only know me by my weekly blog postings, from hearing me speak at our conferences, and/or hearing me preach in a local church service. But there’s another side of me that you don’t know about. I love practical jokes. Here’s a great example. Several years ago, while we were still living in South Florida, Vickie flew to Texas for a few days to attend a family member’s wedding. My parents picked Vickie up at the Dallas/Fort Worth airport and then took her to their home for a nice quiet night before the wedding festivities kicked in the next morning. My being in...
What If?
Have you ever heard of, or better yet, played the "what if" game? Surely, you are affirmatively shaking your head. In this game, a "what if" situation or event is given, and those participating are challenged to present different plausibilities to complete the scenario. Here's an example — what if Billy (that's me) walks into a Whataburger restaurant? I won't announce my thoughts, but rather leave the possible results to your imagination. Here’s a “what if” (well, maybe several) for you personally and/or your ministry to ask. "What if" we quit treating the Book of Acts as though it is just a...
What Translation of the Bible Are They Reading?
Many years ago, I heard the story of a group of pastors who were debating the merits of different Bible translations. One pastor told his peers that he always used the King James Version in his preaching because of its richness in conveying God’s Word. Another pastor said that the Amplified Translation was his favorite because it greatly enlarged the shades and meanings of various words in each verse. Another pastor stated that he loved to preach from the Living Translation because of its fluidity and ease. The discussion continued for some time until a young lady in the back of the...
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