I am in Texarkana (part Texas; art Arkansas. Get it?). Tonight, will be my last of three nights preaching for Pastor Reginald Reid and the Polly Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. The first two nights of the meeting have been great. Pastor Reid, a new friend, has been a warm and gracious host. And the worship services have been very warm and encouraging, which make for a "in season" setting to preach in. The Lord is doing a great work here through Pastor Reid and the Polly Chapel family. Please pray for the final night of this meeting. And continue to...

I had an interesting experience last week that I keep thinking about. The first night of the meeting I was preaching, I stood to and called my text. And there was a weird response by the congregation. Something strange was happening, but I didn't know what. Lots of thoughts flooded my mind. But I really couldn't catch the vibe. The congregation, to whom I had preached the past four years, was quite tentative throughout the entire message. But I couldn't figure out why. A few minutes after a sat down from preaching, it all became clear. One of the pastors...

I'm an idiot. I missed my flight to Oakland this morning. I tried to check my bag in and looked at my ticket information, only to discover that I was right on time for my return flight on Saturday, not my departing flight today. So I am had to catch a standby flight. Good thing Oakland is only a hour's flight away from Los Angeles. Before I move on, let me repeat the point of that last paragraph loud and clear: I am an idiot! I don't have any other excuse to offer. Anyway, I am here to preach the...

This past Sunday, I had the privilege of preaching at the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church in Houston (TX), which is led by Pastor Dennis C. Jones. When Pastor Jones invited me to preach this meeting some months ago, we had not yet met. We only knew of each other through mutual friends. But in the providence of God, a schedule change resulted in us preaching together for a week in San Antonio earlier this year. I thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship with Pastor Jones, was blessed by each of the messages he preached, and left the meeting with a new friend....

We have just began a television broadcast on local Time Warner Cable stations. The broadcast airs on Sunday afternoon at 4:30 in Los Angeles and Inglewood. We taped my Sunday messages for several weeks, with the plan to use the material for the broadcast. But it did not come out the way we wanted it to. So we have decided to run to DVDs of messages I have preached on the road, until we are able to work out the kinks in our recording process. This is a new venture for us and is definitely a step of faith. Please...

I am in Clarksville, Tennessee. Tonight will be the second of three nights I am preaching for my friend, Pastor Lawrence Vaughn and The Liberty Church. The church is about five or so years old. And I have been preaching for them for most of those years, with last year being the only exception. I really like Lawrence Vaughn. He is a sound, faithful preaching. Presently he is preaching through the book of Matthew. He finished chapter 13 Sunday. In this regards, I would say that he's a better man that I am. I don't think I could take on...

I read two posts on preaching this afternoon from Ray Pritchard's "Keep Believing Ministries" blog. I have not had the opportunity to hear Pritchard preach in person... yet. But I have seen videos and heard audio of Pritchard online. And, of course, I have read many of his sermons. And he has become one of my "homiletical heroes." His preaching is sound, clear, and practical. And it was really cool to read his insights about preaching. I have placed the post links below. May you find these writings as helpful as I did. So You're Preaching This SundayMy Sermon Prep...

Sunday, I continued our studies in the book of Joshua. I am enjoying my personal study of Joshua. But it has been an absolute nightmare to organize my work for preaching. I am more comfortable in New Testament passages. I am not really skilled or comfortable dealing with historical narrative passages. But, of course, all scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching (2 Tim. 3:16). So it's important for me to work at Old Testament passages. So I have been pressing my way through the long chapters of Joshua. My goal has been to read the texts for the God-centered...

Here is a list of the speaking engagements outside of MSMBC that I have scheduled for the month of August. Please keep me in your prayers. And pray that these the Lord will open a door for his word to run swiftly through in these meetings. And if any of these dates are near you, and don't conflict with is scheduled at your home church, please join us. I would love to meet you there. God bless.· 8/10 – Speaking @ Solid Rock B.C./Pastor C. Devereaux (Los Angeles)· 8/13-15 – Speaking @ The Liberty Church/Pastor L. Vaughn (Clarksville, TN)· 8/19...

Young David was just minding his business. Doing his duty. Obeying his father’s orders to take food to his brothers who were soldiers and to find out how the battle with the Philistines was going. But David got more than information. He got involved. With great jealousy for God’s reputation, David faced Goliath when none of Israel’s army dared to accept the giant Philistine’s challenge. Not his big brothers. Not the best of Israel’s fighting men. Not King Saul himself. How could a little boy like that ever hope to defeat a giant like that? Simple. Or is it? You...

I am in Wichita, Kansas. Last night, I preached the first of three nights for Pastor Terrance C. Floyd and the Mt. Gilead Missionary Baptist Church. This is a rather unique meeting for me, in that this is the fifth year in a row I have preached for this congregation, which is only five years old. I was their first evangelist. And I have had the privilege of preaching for them each year, watching the Lord continue to develop this young congregation more and more each year. It is also great to see how the Lord has been developing Pastor...

I watched portions of the YouTube/CNN Democratic Presidential Debate last night. I kind of watched and channel-surfed at the same time. One of the times I turned back to the debate, Senator Joe Biden was speaking. I don't know what question he was answering, but his line was great. Quoting his father, Biden said, "Don't talk to me about your values. Show me your budget." Amen. May we, as Christ-followers, embrace this principle as a clear way to measure our spiritual values. Indeed, how me manage our money is an objective indicator of our spiritual devotion. Jesus stated it in...