Meeting the Qualifications
If you know anything at all about serving in the local church as a volunteer or even in a paid ministry position, you know that the days are long gone for individuals to pop into a classroom on a whim and join the ministry. Also, long gone are the days of seeing pastors stand behind the pulpit and quote the beginning of Mark 8:34 "Whosoever will come" and then immediately march the volunteers off to their new "forever" home. In most churches, a person wanting to serve in any capacity must first fill out an application, have an interview with the ministry leader, and then pass what is...
The Importance of You
While I can go through and give the names of a long list of people mentioned in the Bible and get a "yep, I know all about that person" from most churchgoers, I want to mention a name that would cause many to at best give me an I-don't-know shrug or produce a haphazard guess. In this post, I am referring to a person named Ananias. (Are you a shrugger or a guesser?) Let me help you. For some, immediately you might think about the Ananias who along with his wife Sapphira mentioned in Acts 5 had an encounter with God that no one would want to have. That's not the Ananias that I am referring to....
The Holy Spirit’s Problem
Back when Vickie and I started in the ministry (somewhere in or around 1492), carrying business cards was a prerequisite for evangelists. Do you remember those days? On it, we listed our ministry name, contact information, and the emphasis of our ministry. With the business card generally being only 3 1/2 inches by 2 inches, there wasn't much room to add too many details about our ministry. Well, those days are long gone. Now, with the enablement of modern technology, those desiring our contact information will ask me to airdrop or email my contact information. Within a microsecond or two,...
Through You and Me!
Here's a startling revelation. The days of signs, wonders, and miracles are over. Yes, you did read it correctly. Those days ended centuries ago. You don't have to spend much time searching the internet and/or watching numerous sermons on YouTube to learn this reality. (I really did write the word "reality".) And, to these individuals espousing this teaching, I say that they are absolutely, undeniably 100% correct. Yes, the days of the display of God's miracle-working power are completely ancient history. Oh, let me complete my thought by adding two words to that last sentence. Yes, the days...
Your Operator’s Manual
Floridians and those living in the states alongside the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean coastlines, here is a public service announcement. It is hurricane season and time to double-check the items on your storm preparation list. With the exception of food items, Vickie and I completed our preparation list a few weeks ago when we purchased a have-to-have biggie - an 11000-watt dual-fuel generator. For those having weathered previous hurricanes, you know the importance of having a generator to provide power to your house for the days following the hurricane should you lose electricity. Now,...
Get Billy’s Updates
Sign up to receive blog updates and news from Billy.
