The following is a guest post written by my fried Charlie Dates, who serves as pastor of the Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. There is a reason reality TV works. Unlike sitcoms, reality TV is inexpensive to produce. Very few sets and props have to be made. No script-writers need to be hired. The typical union fees associated with high caliber actors do not apply. It is full of drama. And perhaps most importantly, televised depravity is in high demand. Like some of you, I remember when MTV first aired the ‘Real World’ series in 1992. It was our generation's...

Thanks for reading my blog this week. Saturday shout-outs is my weekly bulletin board of some of the things I have found interesting and worth sharing. You can sign up for email updates of future posts under the picture to the left. I was honored this weekend to speak at the Thriving Summit, hosted by Eric Mason and the Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia. They are doing a great work! Please remember this important work in your prayers. October 22 is the deadline to register for the SBTS Expositors Summit in Louisville. Hope to see you there. Last weekend, I began...

Dr. Mack King Carter has transitioned from earthly labor to heavenly reward. For 27 years, Dr. Carter served as Senior Pastor of the New Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale. As featured speaker of a national broadcast and the National Baptist Convention Congress of Christian Education, Dr. Carter was a preacher's preacher. He was a model, African-American expository preacher, whose ministry and legacy should be celebrated. The following tribute to Dr. Carter is written by my friend , Dr. E. Dewey Smith, Senior Pastor of the Greater Traveler's Rest Church in Atlanta Georgia. In June 1988, I was blessed...

Thanks for your prayers and expressions of concern this. I tore something in my knee. No sure when or how it happened. Still consulting doctors about next steps. Hoping to avoid surgery. Prayers appreciated. A special shout-out to Pastor Derrick Easter. I was scheduled to be in Little Rock this week. But the knee injury prevented me from traveling. I am grateful for his understanding, kindness, and prayers. Make Sure you watch the Bryan Carter Interview. More to come next week. This week, Dr. Mack King Carter moved upstairs. He was a faithful and well-respected pastor in the African American...

This past week, we hosted our Fall Church Institute at the Shiloh Church. And the sense of spiritual refreshment seemed to carry over into Sunday morning. Saturday was the third week of our men and women’s discipleship fellowships. We are to a great start. Looking forward to the weeks ahead. Saturday evening, I had the opportunity to preach chapel for the Jacksonville Jaguars. I am always amazed by how seriously the players get when the word is taught. 5th Sundays are like a box of chocolates. You never go what you are going to get. I was away preaching for...

Thanks for reading my blog. You can sign up for email updates of future posts under the picture to the left. We had a great Fall Church Institute at the Shiloh Church this week. Thanks to Pastors Maurice Watson, Bryan Carter, and Lance Watson for richly blessing our congregation with the preaching of the word of God! Thanks to Dr. George and Mrs. Karen Waddles, Ray Pritchard, and Joe Pace for teaching us to live and serve more faithfully. Thanks to the Shiloh staff and volunteers for serving our guests and congregation this week. You make it happen! NOTE: Next...

Thanks for reading my blog. Saturday Shout-Outs is my weekly bulletin board. I hope you find the following links and information. You can sign up for email updates of future posts under the picture to the left. I had the privilege of ministering at my former congregation in Los Angeles this week. Check out my post: "Thank You, Mt. Sinai!"  I am nearing a writing deadline for my next book. Please remember me and my work in your prayers during this upcoming week. Mark your calendar for the first preaching conference I will host at the Shiloh Church next year -...

This week I taught and preached at the Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church of Los Angeles, where George E. Hurtt is the pastor. The meeting was a part of the congregation's 71st anniversary celebration. I taught a class on expository preaching and was the main speaker for the evening services. My personal and spiritual roots are in the soil of this congregation. My Father - H.B. Charles, Sr. - led this congregation for more than four decades. All I saw my father do was serve this church. I met Christ and was baptized in this church. I was called to...

This weekend, we began our Men's Discipleship Fellowship with 33 The Series: Authentic Manhood (Part 3). My wife, Crystal, began a Women's Discipleship Fellowship on "The Life-Ready Women." We got off to a good start. Between our two services, I had a session with a Bible Study Fellowship teachers in preparation for the upcoming semester. I pray much fruit will come from our studying through The Master's Plan of the Church by John MacArthur Thankful for our guests in worship. And I was glad to have the opportunity to pray for our Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Nicholai Vitti. I finished...

Thanks for reading my blog. You can sign up for email updates of future posts under the picture to the left. Saturday morning, the men of Shiloh will begin 33 The Series Part 3. Our women will also begin a study led by my wife, Crystal. Please pray these Discipleship Fellowships will be fruitful. Shout out to Pastor Adron Robinson and the Hillcrest Church (Chicago) for three edifying nights of worship this week. It was a joy to preach this revival for my friend again. I hope to see you at the SBTS Expositors Summit  October 29-31. I also hope to...

 Thanks for visiting my blog. Saturday Shout-Outs is my weekly bulletin board of things I have found helpful. You can sign up for email updates of future posts under the picture to the left. Thanks for your comments on my post - Armor Bearer is NOT a Biblical Office. Apparently, I struck a nerve. Shout-out to Pastor Darren Edwards and the United Believers Church of Kansas City for the opportunity to take part in their September to Remember this week. Shout-out to Pastor Terry Brown and the Newbirth Baptist Church of Pine Bluff for two great nights of worship Thursday and...

He picked me up from the airport. We headed straight to the church. I wanted to look over my manuscript once more before I preached. But I took a few minutes to chat with my driver. I asked my standard questions, including, “Where do you serve in the church?” “I'm pastor’s chief armor bearer,” he said proudly. I summoned all the self-control I could muster. But I couldn’t resist. I had to ask. “What does that mean?” He explained the various ways he serves his pastor. “I am basically pastor’s right-hand man,” he concluded. I changed the subject. But there...