Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about trials, troubles, and difficulties. I’ve been teaching about troubles, and I have thought very much about the testing of our faith. James wrote about testing (James 1:2-4). Isn’t it amazing that almost the first words of his letter to the dispersed believers was about trials? This was a group who experienced one trial after …
My Faith Has Been Tested
I can count on it. It always happens. Yesterday I wrote about “my greatest stress reliever.” My blog had to do with the wonderful experience I had with God Monday morning. I spent time in praise and worship and in prayer and Bible reading. It was a blessing to my life, and I experienced resting in God’s peace. You can …
My Greatest Stress Reliever
I am doing as much as I have ever done in my life. I am continuing to preach three times on Sunday, once on Saturday, once on Tuesday and once on Wednesday. I am working as many hours as I have ever worked. I have less stress than I have ever had. I am amazed and tremendously grateful to God. What …
What Does It Mean to “Despise Your Youth?”
By: Waylon Bailey ~ What did Paul mean when he counseled Timothy not to let anyone despise his youth? “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). As a youth, I …
How We Pray
“If I throw out a boat hook from the boat, and catch hold of the shore and pull, do I pull the shore to me, or do I pull myself to the shore? Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but the aligning of my will to the will of God”–E. Stanley Jones. “No man is greater than his prayer …
More Martyrs: “The People of the Cross”
Last week evil struck again in the form of (at least) 28 Ethiopian Christians being executed by ISIS. A week ago, ISIS released a propaganda video showing two different executions, one on the beach in eastern Libya where an estimated 15 men in orange boiler suits were beheaded by masked militants in camouflage, and the other in a desert area …
Four Things You Must Get Rid of to be Healthy
Few things in life are as valuable as being healthy. Yet we seem to persist in doing things that destroy our health–physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Here are four things which destroy health, and four things you must remove from your life to be healthy. First, you cannot feed your mind filth and be healthy. The Scripture says that as we …
Joy and Sorrow Mixed
Saturday I experienced joy and sorrow back to back. As I reviewed my email correspondence overnight Friday, I read two emails back to back. The first had to do with a news article giving details of the execution of dozens of Ethiopian Christians in Libya. Ethiopia is one of the first countries where the Gospel was taken and preached. Acts …
What Nicodemus Learned from Jesus
By: Waylon Bailey ~ Nicodemus was one of the leaders of Israel. Not only did he lead in political and religious duties, but he also taught the law to the people of Israel. When Nicodemus came to Jesus, He came as one who needed to be taught the things of God. What did Nicodemus learn? First, he really did learn …
Would You Pray for America?
I want to ask you to spend this weekend and the coming days praying for America. Churches and Christians all across the country will be praying and asking God’s blessings upon our country this weekend. The impetus for this serious call to prayer is the United States Supreme Court’s impending decision on same sex marriage. Last year, the Supreme Court …