I am in Corpus Christi, preaching a "citywide" meeting for three nights. I was originally invited by Pastor Kevin Pullum and the Friendship Baptist Church. And he graciously expanded his plans to include other local congregations. The meeting is now taking place at St. John Baptist Church, which is led by Pastor Derrick Reaves. The meeting opened well last night. I like preaching in Corpus. And I enjoy being around all the pastors that I have met here over the years. And so I really had a good time in worship with them last night. And the fellowship with the...

It has been a rather busy week or so. Last week, I preached the citywide revival in San Diego California. The meeting was Monday through Thursday. Friday morning, I flew to Beaumont, Texas to close out the family conference for Pastor John Adolph and the Antioch Baptist Church. I preached Friday night and flew home Saturday. I mostly rested Saturday and goofed off with Crystal and the kids. Sunday, I continued our exposition of Ephesians with a message of 1:8-10, entitled "The Mystery of his Will." We had a good day. I have been in the office most of the...

I am in San Diego this week preaching the annual citywide revival of the local Baptist Ministers United group. Pastor Willie J. Smith is both the president and the host, along with the Calvary Baptist Church. I am preaching each evening with Dr. David Kelly who pastors the Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York. The meeting closes this evening. It has been a good week of worship and fellowship. And I praise God for the lives that have been touched and changed by the ministry of the word this week.

Thank you for praying for my family last week. Crystal is feeling much better and is getting stronger every day. Praise God for that. I appreciate all of the cards, phone calls, and expressions of concern. God bless.

I am in Louisville, Kentucky. I am preaching at the 137th Annual Session of the Central District Baptist Association. Pastor Bernard Crayton, of the Little Flock Baptist Church, is the moderator. And Pastor Gregory F. Smith and the Hill Street Baptist Church are the hosts. The meeting began on Sunday night and ends tonight with the moderator's address. I brought the closing message during the preaching conference yesterday afternoon. And I also brought the message during the youth session last night. I have one more message to preach, this afternoon, during the Women's department session. Though no one really knows...

Yesterday, was a long but good day. I continued our exposition of Ephesians with a message on verses 5-6, entitled "Spiritual Adoption through Christ." In Sunday School, I began a four-part series I'm calling, "A Biblical Understanding of Charismatic Experiences." Yesterday's lesson was called, "Should Christians Pray in Tongues?" I actually lost my voice during the first service yesterday. And by the time Sunday School began, I had a sour throat. But by the time I got to the second message, I was feeling a lot better. God is good. I don't usually preach my way out of hoarseness. I...

This weekend is our Youth Explosion weekend at MSMBC. Last night, we had a banquet for our youth, led by Pastor John Scroggins. It was a wonderful evening of fellowship. Our guest speaker was Pastor Reginald Payne, who serves the Full Gospel Baptist Church here in Los Angeles (by the way, the name of the congregation does not reflect its theology). Reginald and I grew up together here at Mt. Sinai. He is a few years older than I am. His mother was one of the key lay leaders here in the churc during my father's pastorate. And Aunt Pat,...

I recently read Shayne Lee's book, America's New Preacher: T.D. Jakes (NYU Press). I cannot begin to tell you how fascinating this book is. I almost couldn't put it down. First of all, Lee is a talented writer. A professor of sociology, currently teaching at the University of Houston, Lee analyzes both the good and bad implications of Jake's phenomenal success. And he carefully connects Jakes' rise to prominence to the larger religious scene in America today. This is one of the first major biographies of the life and work of T.D. Jakes to be written. Yet later writings on...

There is no Midweek Service at MSMBC tonight. We have the night off. But I am scheduled to speak at the First Goodwill Baptist Church here in Los Angeles. By brother-in-law, Clinton Smith, is the pastor. He is also a son of MSMBC, who served here with me for about 10 years before he began his pastorate. I believe he is in his third year of service there, if I remember correctly. The congregation had been throughout a lot before Clinton arrived. And and Lord has and is using Clinton to stabilize the congregation to continue its great legacy of...

Yesterday, I continued our exposition of the book of Ephesians in our Sunday morning worship services. I am still in the "Hymn of Grace" (1:3-14). And yesterday's message was on verse 4: "even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him" (ESV). Basically, it was a sermon on the doctrine of election. The 8 AM message was a disaster. I am still adjusting to the time frame of this new 90 minute service. And it was close to 9 AM when I got up to preach. So...

Be safe. Have fun. And God bless.

Tonight, I am scheduled to preach at the Calvary Baptist Church here in Los Angeles. The Rev. Virgil Hill is the pastor. Calvary is the congregation that was pastored by the late, Dr. Manual Scott Sr. Later, Pastor Jarvis Collier, who now serves in Kansas City, was the pastor. Hill has been at Calvary for a few years now as it doing a great work. Not only is he actively working to develop his congregation, he is also passionate around reaching young people. He leads a college preparatory ministry that is helped many young people in the Southern California area....