Crystal and I finally told Trey and Natalie that Shiloh Church would be voting on a new pastor. We also told them that we needed to pray hard for Shiloh, because I was one of two names that would be submitted to the church for consideration. They were both speechless. So I encouraged them to say something. H.B. spoke up, asking, "Daddy, you said we have to pray. But can we pray what we want to pray?" "Sure," I replied, not really knowing where this was going. He leaped into the air cheering and instructing his little sister to vote...

Sunday was my first Lord's Supper Sunday at Shiloh Church. And it was a very special day. As I am getting started in this new work, the love, prayers, kindness, support, and encouragement of the membership has meant more than words can express. What a joy and privilege it is to be in any worship service where new believers are being baptized and the saints are sharing the Lord's Table. Praise the Lord! On a practical note, it was remarkable to see how fast the brothers served the Communion elements to the congregation. It was decent, in order, and efficient....

Blessed Spirit of God, Four evils attend my ministry - The devil treads me down by discouragement and shame    arising from coldness in private meditation. Carelessness possesses me from natural dullness and dimness of spirit;     because in the past I have met with success        and have been highly regarded,     so that it does not matter if I have now failed.Infirmities and weakness are mine    from want of spiritual light, life and power,     so that souls have not been helped,     and I have not felt thee to be near. Lack of success has followed even when...

Last night, I had one of the most unique, special experiences of my life. I was invited by the Church Council members of Mt. Sinai - the church that I served for almost 18 years - to return to Los Angeles and moderate one more church meeting. In this meeting, the Church Council, functioning as the pastoral search committee for the congregation, unanimously recommended George E. Hurtt - the man who has served as my pastoral assistant the past several years - to be the next senior pastor of MSMBC. And the congregation, in a brief, prayerful, and joy-filled meeting,...

One big weekend in my life was followed by another big weekend. After spending my final weekend as pastor of Mt. Sinai, this was my first weekend with my new congregation - Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church. I got very little sleep Saturday night. I was thinking and praying about Sunday morning. I chatted with several prayer partners. I even watched a little boxing (Sugar Shane wins by KO at 2:59 minutes of the 12th round. Wow!). I only got a couple of hours of sleep. But I was not sleepy at all when it was time for me to get...

Thank you for praying for Crystal and the kids, as they made their way to Jacksonville yesterday. Their flight arrived about an hour late, but it was otherwise uneventful. Praise the Lord! Thanks, again, Pastor Letson for helping me round up my clan and get them home. It was a little past midnight when we arrived home. We were tired but wired. After looking around, doing some unpacking, and checking up on one another, we finally laid done for sleep sometime past 4 am. We were up at 8 am, as the movers returned to empty boxes and finish setting...

O My Lord, Let not my ministry be approved only by men, Or merely win the esteem and affections of people; But do the work of grace in their hearts,     call in thy elect,     seal and edify the regenerate ones,     and command eternal blessings on their souls. Save me from self-opinion and self-seeking; Water the hearts of those who hear thy Word,      that seed sown in weakness may be raised in power; Cause me and those who hear me     to behold thee here in the light of special faith,     and hereafter in the blaze...

Lido and I made it safely to Jacksonville yesterday afternoon. Pastor Letson took us to the house. And I prepared myself for worship. An hour or so later, I drove myself to church for the first time. If Jacksonville's rush hour was any reflection of what I experienced last night, driving here will be a breeze in comparison to Los Angeles. I went down to the main auditorium about thirty minutes for the worship service to check on something. I went another route back to the study and got lost. Thankfully, I bumped into one of the staff members in...

Our dog Lido and I are on our way to Jacksonville. I will be traveling most of the day and should arrive in Jacksonville this afternoon, God willing. This is Lido's first trip anywhere, besides the vet. For Trey's sake, for God's sake, pray that Lido makes it safely to Jacksonville. Tonight, I plan to continue the study of Psalm 119 I began last week's Midweek Service. The message will cover the second stanza (Beth) of the psalm - verses 9-16. I have labeled the message, "How to Clean Up Your Life." May the Lord richly bless the worship of...

Thank you for praying for me, my family, and Mt Sinai this weekend. The Lord blessed us. It was a long, busy, special weekend. There was a lot of laughter. A lot of tears. A lot of hugs. A lot of pictures. And a lot of farewells. Not good byes. Just farewell for now. This week, my family and I will be moving to Jacksonville, Florida, to begin a in earnest my new pastorate at the Shiloh Church. But I do not believe I would be able to making this transition and follow the Lord's leading to this new assignment...

This is a pretty big weekend for me. It is to be my last Sunday services with my beloved congregation at Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church.Several events will mark this celebration. A luncheon is scheduled for this afternoon, which will give us an opportunity to fellowship with one another outside of the formal setting of a worship service. Dr. R.A. Williams, pastor of the McCoy Memorial Baptist Church of Los Angeles, was scheduled to speak. But he is not feeling and will not be able to attend. Please remember him in your prayers. Tuesday, we asked Dr. A.D. Iverson of...

What are personal devotions? Personal devotions are intentional appointments in which you spend private time with God. Scripture warns us not to neglect the corporate meetings of God’s people (Heb. 10:24-25). But your faith will be shallow and your growth will be stunted if you only pay attention to God during public, corporate gatherings. In fact, you may need to examine yourself to see if you are in the faith if you have no desire for God outside of attending church services. After all, salvation is not just “fire insurance.” It involves a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ....