The first time Katie and I visited the state of Texas was in December of 2004. We had only been married a few months. When he was in Bowling Green, KY, for a meeting, Brother Bowman asked if I was interested in the preaching program at Southside. I couldn’t think of anything I would rather do. In fact, I had prayed regularly for the opportunity. I’m so glad we came.

That’s how Greg Byers closes every E-mail he sends. Not have a great week, but make one. The first time I saw it, I remember thinking, “I like that.” Because it puts the emphasis not on what’s happening around you, but what you’re doing about it.

Pride, in and of itself, is not wrong. Without it we wouldn’t take care of ourselves—physically or spiritually. “As ye would that others do unto you, do ye also even unto them.” That advice from the Lord implies that we have enough pride in ourselves to want what is best for us. Actually, pride is part of who and what we are. It spurs us to get an education, it sparks our progress, inspires a legitimate competitive spirit, it brings self-confidence so that accomplishments and achievements come. But pride, out of control, pride that is not restrained, can bring trouble&#15

The people of God are called by many names in scripture: saints, disciples, priests, and kings. But the same Bible uses another word to describe God’s children: pilgrim. It’s not one we use much to describe ourselves, perhaps because we are uncomfortable with the concept behind it. The fact is, you can’t be a saint, disciple, priest, or king without a willingness to become a sojourner, stranger, foreigner, a pilgrim.

High school graduation is recognized as a momentous occasion in the life of a young person. The commencement ceremony is to commemorate the years of work students have put into their education. We call this occasion “graduation,” because it is big step at the end of a gradual process of learning. It marks a turning point in a person’s life.

They called it “rafter heaven.” It was where the retired jerseys were hoisted in the old Boston Garden, the court where the Celtics used to play. As Larry Bird watched his No. 33 being raised to immortality, he made this statement: “I never put on a basketball uniform to play. I put on a basketball uniform to win.”

Christians are considered by the intellectual community as a group of superstitious, non- informed peoples who are wedded to an antiquated system of morality and who are clinging to an ineffective code of moral ethics. Phillip E. Johnson, in his work Reason In The Balance, says, “The most influential intellectuals in America and around the world are mostly naturalists who assume that God exists only as an idea it the minds of religious believers.” If that is true, he suggests, “then mankind invented God—not the other way around.”

“Folks, we’ve run into some bad weather. It might get a little bumpy. I’m going to turn the seatbelt sign back on.” With that warning from the captain, the airplane began to dip down and then up as it hit several pockets of air. My mind turned turbulent as I realized how helpless I was to do anything about it.

I am by nature an optimist. I have been criticized by some for being too positive. I do indeed think that sin is negative and salvation positive. So call me positive, if you like. But I’m negative, too. Right now, I’m scared. I’m sacred of where we are, where we’re headed, scared of what will be the problems faced by my grandchildren and yours.

The Old Testament is a section of God’s inspired word that is often neglected. Although few people voice this opinion, some people see little point in studying the Old Testament. Oh, they will admit that the Old Testament provides information on the nature of God, shows how He interacts with His people, and contains interesting stories that reveal the importance of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong; these reasons certainly make the Old Testament worth studying. However, if this is the only benefit we see in the Old Testament writings we have missed the point.