Last night, my friend and brother, George Hurtt (Sr. Pastor of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles) spoke for our midweek service at Shiloh. George served alongside of me during my ministry at Mt. Sinai. And after my departure, George was selected as my successor. Under his ministry, the church continues to grow and have a strong witness for Christ in Los Angeles. George is my dear friend, brother in Christ, and fellow Gospel soldier. And it was a great honor to have him minister to the saints at Shiloh. And my goodness did the Lord use him...

Let me begin by putting my cards on the table (pun intended): I BELIEVE THAT GAMBLING IS A BIBLICALLY INDEFENSIBLE ACTIVITY.• I agree with GEORGE WASHINGTON: “Gambling is the child of avarice, the brother of iniquity, and the father of mischief.” • I agree with MARTIN LUTHER: “Money won by gambling is not won without self-seeking and love of self, and not without sin.”• I agree with AUGUSTINE: “The devil invented gambling.”• I agree with MARK TWAIN: “The best throw at dice is to throw them away.” • And I agree with STANLEY HAUERWAS: “Tell the people who are involved...

I am in Baltimore, Maryland. I am participating in their Simultaneous Revival. I am speaking for Pastor Stephen Russell at the Calvary Baptist Church. This afternoon, I spoke during the noon mass service. The Lord blessed the meeting. And I was able to see several of my friends from around country. This evening, I had the opportunity to minister to the Calvary Church. It was also a good meeting. Please remember this citywide gospel effort in your prayers.

Today was a warm, beautiful day in Jacksonville. And the Lord blessed us with a wonderful day of worship at Shiloh.I am grateful for all the guests who were in worship with us today.In new members class, I taught on "What Shiloh Expects From You." I plan to list the seven points of the lesson in a post later this week.Our choir sang up a storm today. It was rich. And the pre-message solo really set the tone for the preaching of the word.Our elementary choir also led us in music today. As always, I praise God for the participation...

Yesterday was my son's - H.B. Charles III - tenth birthday. Or, as he put it, he is now in "double digits." I remember the day of his birth as if it was yesterday. I was on an overnight trip to Atlanta when he was born - almost two months premature.He had a slow start. But God has been faithful. And I am grateful that he is healthy and strong today. I am praise the Lord for how I have watched his personality develop over the past year, since we have been in Florida.When I was considering the possibility of...

This past Monday and Tuesday, I had the rare and special opportunity to speak in the chapel services at The Master's College and the Master's Seminary in Southern California.I was invited to speak at the Master's College last year. But my move to Jacksonville forced me to cancel the engagement. And I concluded that it was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I would never have again. But I was graciously extended another invitation to come. And I was extremely grateful.Monday, I spoke in the chapel service at the college. It was the beginning of their Outreach Week. It...

We have a new monthly prayer meeting at Shiloh that I am calling the "Kingdom-Focused Prayer Meeting."During this prayer meeting, it is my goal that we would focus on prayer for kingdom, spiritual, eternal matters, not just personal matters. Of course, there is nothing wrong with praying about personal matters. You ought to pray about everything. But we often error by praying mainly for matters of health and finances and the like, without concentrating on the things of God in our prayers.I am guilty of this myself. And I need this prayer meeting just as much as the congregation does...

I love first Sundays. The celebration of the Lord's Supper is a special time in the life of our congregation. Today was no different.I am grateful for our deacons and deaconess who serve quietly and diligently to make the Lord's Supper (and baptism) a meaningful time of worship and fellowship.I was out of town last Sunday. So I think I was additionally excited about being in worship today with my own church family.In my new members class, I taught on "What You Can Expect from Shiloh," sharing some of our fundamental doctrinal convictions and spiritual priorities. The time seemed to...

I resumed my study of the Sermon on the Mount tonight in our midweek worship service. I am still in the beatitudes. My text was Matthew 5:6: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" (ESV). I entitled the message, "How Is Your Appetite?"I addressed three aspects of this beatitude tonight: The Menu for True Satisfaction: "righteousness"   The Appetite for True Satisfaction: "hunger and thirst" The Blessing of True Satisfaction: "they shall be satisfied"There was a section of the first point that I failed to cover. But I thought it was important. I wanted...

I was in Chicago yesterday to preach the 5th pastoral anniversary services for Pastor Romell Williams and the Lilydale Progressive Missionary Baptist Church. Romell and I have been friends for some time. I preached for his installation services six years ago. And have preached every year since then, last year being the exception. The day of his anniversary last year was my first Sunday as pastor of Shiloh. He graciously understood. Not every did when my schedule abruptly changed. It was a honor to be invited to be a part of this celebration again. It was good to be with...

As I wrapped up a phone conversation with a friend yesterday, we exchanged prayer requests. I was hesitant to share my prayer requests, even though this brother is a longtime and trusted prayer partner. I was hesitant, because I did not know how to express what my sense of need is. I have been struggling with that a lot lately. I concluded that if I could not share where I am with this brother, I wouldn't be able to do it with anyone. So I took a shot at it. And, once again, I rambled. When someone asks me how...

The past three nights, I have had a great privilege of preaching for Pastor George Hurtt and the Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church. As I said to the congregation, of the many undeserved honors that have been graciously bestowed upon me, I do not know if there are any that are comparable or as special to me as the invitation to minister again to the church in which I grew up, met Christ, began my ministry, and served as pastor for many years. George Hurtt is my friend and brother, not just my successor. And I praise God for all...