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...

Yesterday, I continued our studies in the book of Joshua. I finished chapter one, challenging the congregation about the matter of spiritual partnership. Here is the sermon skeleton from yesterday's message:Title: "All In!"Text: Joshua 1:10-18Theme: Joshua takes command and gives begins to lead the children of Israel to claim and conquer the promised land of CanaanPoint: Spiritual progress, victory, and rest require partnershipOutline:I. Taking new territory involves spiritual partnership with God (1:10-11) A. We must do for ourselves the things that we are able to do. B. We must depend on God to do the things that only God is...

Tonight I am beginning five nights of preach here in Los Angeles. This is a joint-session for the New Vision and New District Associations of the Western Baptist State Convention (President J. Benjamin Hardwick). Pastor Marvis Davis is giving leadership to the meeting. The services will be help nightly at the 7 pm at the Cochran Avenue Baptist Church, where Pastor Percy Hill serves. Please remember me and this meeting in your prayers.

Be safe. Have fun. God bless.

Here is a little devotional I wrote for our July church newsletter:Let’s face it. We’ve all done it. We have all had those times when we participated in corporate worship services without truly worshiping God in spirit and truth. We have all gone through the motions. We have all sat in services with our minds and hearts being at some distant place. Why does this happen? You love God. You have been looking forward to going to church. The worship was uplifting, the music was inspiring, and the sermon was edifying. But, somehow, you missed it all. As the worship...

I finally began the exposition of Joshua I have been planning to do for some months. I have scheduled to begin this study three different times, and have run into roadblocks each time. But I was settled in heart that this was the time to start. And I was really excited about preaching this past Sunday. I was scheduled to be in Detroit last week. But flight cancellations, weather, and providence prevented me from going. However, my bags did make the trip - my bags that I packed with about 15 commentaries to help me in my study. I usually...

Well, I am still in Los Angeles. This morning, I tried again to get to Detroit. And, again, the flights were delayed out of LAX. I was able to get a flight to Chicago. But they would not book me on any flight from Chicago to Detroit. Things were backed up at O'Hare too, so I would have had to get to Chicago and then see what happened from there. It would have been a big gamble for me to try to get to Chicago and then try to get a flight into Detroit in time enough to preach. Most...

Last night, I completed a series I had been doing on Tuesday nights from 2 Peter 1:5-7, called "Saved for Sure." In this passage, Peter exhorts believers to supplement their faith with seven qualities that will bring the believer to a place of assurance, growth, stability, and fruitfulness in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Last night, we finished the series by studying what it means to add to love to your faith-development process. This has been an enriching study for me. And it has been a joy to teach what I am learning to the church. May the Lord give...

This morning I went to the catch my flight and found the airlines terminal in chaos. Many flights had been cancelled today because of weather - mine included. So I will miss the first night of the meeting I was to begin in Detroit for Pastor Nathaniel Caldwell and the Burnette Baptist Church. I regret that I will not be able to begin my meeting as scheduled and preach the word of God tonight. But I am not too mad. There's no place like home!