We have a great day of worship at Shiloh on this first Sunday of the new year! Grateful for all the guests who worshiped with us today. Alice Martin, a longtime and faithful member of MSMBC in Los Angeles worshiped at Shiloh today. Crystal and I were shocked and happy to see her. Our worship team was really on point today. Great job! Special Note: This Sunday was the start of our new Partners In Prayer ministry, consisting of teams of intercessors who pray for the worship services during the services on Sunday. Thanks to West Wilson for his leadership...

We had a good day of worship yesterday at Shiloh. The choir sung my “anniversary” song: “The Joy of the Lord.” It is one of my favorite choir songs. And I was blessed beyond words to hear it in worship. Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10 (ESV) Grateful for all of our guests who were in worship...

When I catch myself comparing myself to others or thinking, I could be happy if only I had what they have, then I know i need to withdraw for a while and listen for another voice. Away from the winds, earthquakes, and fires of human recognition, I can again hear the still, small voice, posing the question it always asks of self-absorbed ministers: What are you doing here? I reply by whining about some of my Ahabs and Jezebels, And the voice gently reminds me, as it has reminded thousands of Elijahs before me, that I am only a small...

I am in St. John’s in Antigua & Barbuda, preaching for the Dr. Hensworth W.C. Jonas and the Baptist Circuit of Churches. The Baptist Circuit of Churches is made up of three congregations in Antigua led by Dr. Jonah – Central, Tryells, and Covenant Baptist Church. The mother church, Central Baptist Church, celebrated 45 years of ministry today. The Tryells Baptist Church celebrated 18 years today. Dr. Jonas is also the founder and principle of the Baptist Academy of Antigua. With over 400 students, it is one of the leading schools in the country. Today is Harvest Sunday in Antigua....

Thanks, again, for your continued prayers for my wife, Crystal. Yesterday was the second anniversary of my installation as pastor of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church. I love my congregation. May the Lord make me into the man and pastor I need to be to lead Shiloh in its next season of ministry. Hebrews 6:10 kept coming to my mind throughout the day: “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” (NKJV) Throughout the weekend, I having been...

People have short attention spans. You cannot preach long series any more. It is best to keep sermon series short – six weeks at the most. Many who preach and many who teach preaching have concluded that society in general and congregations in particular have short attention spans. Churches cannot endure long sermon series anymore, they say. This conclusion is stated as an irrefutable fact. And it goes unchallenged. But is it true? Every pastor must make a personal decision about how long to spend on a particular book, theme, or biography. And there are many factors that go into...

It was coooooold yesterday!!! We had a good day of worship at Shiloh. Thanks for your continued prayers and many expressions of kindness as Crystal recovers from her surgery. Please continue to cover her with your prayers. Throughout the day, I was praying for three pastors I know of around the country who were beginning officially started new churches yesterday. I was also praying for the Diamond family and the Abyssinia Church, who funeralized their long time pastor, Dr. Tom Diamond, Saturday morning. I really enjoyed my time with the New Members Class yesterday. We discussed the good news of...

CRYSTAL UPDATE: Crystal is having good days and some bad days. But, overall, her recovery is progression with no major complications. Thanks, again, for your prayers, concern, and support. Today is Reformation Sunday. By grace alone! Through faith alone! According to scripture alone! In Christ alone! To the glory of God alone! We have a good day of worship at Shiloh today. Grateful for the guests we had in worship today. I even met a guest who watches our services from Canada. Way cool. We sung “Come Thy Fount Of Every Blessing” as a congregation this morning. Glorious! Our women’s...

CRYSTAL UPDATE: Thanks for your ongoing prayers for Crystal. She still cannot move around much. But there have been no complications from her surgery. And her recovery is coming along as scheduled. Praise God. Good day of worship at Shiloh yesterday. Our youth and young adults led the music yesterday. Good job. Thankful for all of our guests yesterday. God bless the families who participated in our parent-child dedication yesterday. I began a new series on the Epistle of James yesterday. I preached from James 1:1-4 and called the message, “Taking Advantage of your Trials.” I have been looking forward...

Thank you to all of you who have been praying for my family this past week. Crystal surgery this weekend was a success. I brought her home late Saturday night. Please continue to pray for her that she will have a full and speedy recovery. Thanks, again, for all of your kindness and concern. Two of Crystal’s adopted mothers – Beverly and Lisa – came to town from Los Angeles to be with her. I am grateful for what their presence has meant to Crystal. Praise God for those who were baptized today. Our music department was on fire today....

Good day of worship and fellowship at Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church. Grateful for all the guests who joined us in worship. Our children's choir led in song during our 10 AM service. Our mass choir looks beautiful in their new robes. Carlton Burgess led the song of preparation at 10 AM. His medley of old hymns was moving. Praise God for those who were baptized. I preached a message from Hebrews 10:24-25 that I entitled "Assembly required." I argued that Christian assembly is required for all Christians. I am very passionate about this subject. I believe that growing Christians much...

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS (Ephesians 1:3) Ephesians 1:3-14 records what is called THE HYMN OF GRACE. It is so because scholars tell us that these verses record an actual hymn of praise that was sung in worship by the early church. Whether or not this is true, the content of this passage is still accurately labeled a hymn of grace. In the original Greek text, these twelve verses comprise only one sentence, even though no English versions translate it that way. In some remarkable way, this complex passage was one simple exclamation of praise in Paul’s mind. And this high praise...