“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed, To proclaim the acceptable year of the…
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“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed, To proclaim the acceptable year of the…
Mary responded to the angel, in Luke 1:34-38, “How will this be?” The angel answered in v. 35, “The Holy Spirit (called the Holy Conception) will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Elizabeth, Mary’s rel…
Panola County’s total appraised property value skyrockets. Will the county and school districts responsibly manage the windfall?
“Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!” (Psalm 103:1)
The appearances of the risen Christ were not confined to Jerusalem and Galilee, as revealed in Acts 9:1 20. On the road to Damascus, Christ appeared to Saul of Tarsus and left him blind for three days. Ananias, a disciple, was commanded through a vision to lay hands on Saul, “an instrument w…
We have some beautiful weather going on around here (except for rainy days and Mondays, that is). Gardens are coming alive, strawberries have been picked by the gallon and thumbs are turning green. So, what are you planning on doing with all that good produce? Here’s a suggestion that should…
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Romans 8:16-17).
Fear had scattered the disciples. They all forsook him and fled. Later, when they gathered again, it was a relatively secret meeting behind closed doors. The Sunday following Easter records an appearance of the risen Christ behind closed doors, as indicated in John 20:29-31. His greeting was…
“By this, we know that we love the children of God when we love God and keep His commandments” (1 John 5:2).
Unlike Elon Musk, I'm not going to spend my billions on a broken system like Twitter! Seriously, I agree with his remarks about freedom of speech as well as his comment that the world needs to listen to opposing views on subjects. We need to know both sides of an issue. America needs to make…
The women went to Jesus’ tomb and found the tomb empty in John 20:1-18. This news sent Peter and disciples running to the tomb. The lesson from John tells of the weeping Mary meeting the risen Christ in the garden. She went and told the disciples, “I’ve seen the Lord.” The empty tomb made th…
“But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
If you’ve been raised in the South (especially if you’re a Southern Baptist in the South), you know that on Easter Sunday, when the pastor says “He Is Risen!”, the proper response is “He Is Risen Indeed!” Jerry was raised Presbyterian/Methodist. He didn’t get that memo when he was growing up. One Easter after Ryker went away to college, he called to wish us Happy Easter. Jerry answered the phone, and Ryker said, with much exuberance, “He Is Risen!” to which Jerry replied, “Yes, He Is!” Ryker was mortified that Jerry did NOT answer correctly. That has since been rectified.
God’s plan of salvation was passionately moving toward a culmination, as revealed in Luke 22:14-23:56. Jesus said, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (22:15). In another part of town, the ecclesiastical elite met behind closed doors and “plotted to arrest …
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).
Spring brings with it the promise of growth, renewed energy and lots of fresh vegetables. Early spring is the perfect time to enjoy asparagus. Not a fan, you say? You just might change your mind after trying some of these recipes!
Mary of Bethany showed her love for Christ, in John 12:1-8, by anointing him with about a pint of costly perfume. She poured it over Jesus” feet and then dried his feet with her hair. Judas complained that the oil could have been sold and the money given to the poor. Jesus replied, “Leave he…
Believing that the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead is essential for Christians. Merely recognizing that He died for our sins is not enough; we must accept His resurrection to receive eternal life. Christ paid our debt, but His sacrifice on the cross means nothing unless He possesses pow…
Jesse Watters of Primetime said this evening that, “Now is the time to let your voice be heard!” I didn’t get in on just what he had in mind. However, I agree that anytime is a good time to let one’s voice be heard if one is going to speak the truth! Many memorable statements have been made …
Editorial cartoonist Ben Sargent once penned a masterful sketch of a newspaperman — a skinny, bug-eyed fellow in a baggy suit with a press card in the band of his porkpie hat.
Many people consider Moses a biblical “pillar” of Old Testament days — a man without equal in godliness (Hebrews 11:24-25). And certainly, he encountered the presence of the Almighty most unusually and was called to do mighty things with the Lord’s help. But, like us, he was a normal, sinful…
Jesus was being criticized by Pharisees, in Luke 15:1--31 for eating with sinners. So, Jesus told the stories of the triple tragedy as parables. The three tragedies of our text have to do with the attitude of the religious folks toward God’s wonderful work of grace. Reconciliation begins wit…
Genuine repentance is the gateway to new life in Christ. Seeking the Lord as revealed in Isaiah 55:1-9. There is only one way to find the happiness, security, and meaning in life that every person desires. You find it in relationship with God. The people of Old Testament Israel needed to be …
As the new Regional Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Region 6 South Central Region, one of my focal points will be helping disadvantaged small businesses get a bigger piece of the federal contracting pie. And I couldn’t be more pleased with changes taking place now to help SBA accomplish this goal.
As Ukrainians fight and die for democracy, Russia is arresting its own citizens who are protesting the war and threatening prison for journalists who report the truth.
Abram discovered that the right word was “the word of the Lord.” Abram’s circumstances did not match his understanding of the God’s purpose. This believer was no apprentice, but during a difficult moment his life was reminded that God was his “shield and exceeding great reward.” In a vision …
The primary purpose of a mountaintop experience is to prepare us for the valley. That’s why we can’t stay up there. When Peter, James and John came down from the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9), they encountered many difficulties that eventually led to their witnessing Jesus on the…
Jesus was lead into the wilderness where he was tempted by the devil three times, but stated the course and would not yield, as illustrated in Luke 4:1-13. The three temptations of Jesus were (1) bread to satisfy physical hunger, (2) power to rule the world, and (3) a spectacular attraction.…
Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, bringing sin into God’s perfect creation. They experienced an immediate separation from their Maker, and from that moment, all of creation began longing for redemption.
I’m still hoping for warmer weather. But while it’s cool, we might as well heat up the oven, right?
The Transfiguration was the glorification of the human body of Jesus. On this occasion His body underwent a change in form, metamorphosis, so that it shone as brightly as the sun. At the time of the Transfiguration, Jesus’ earthly ministry was coming to a close. He had acknowledged that He w…
Veterans are an important part of all our lives because they protected the freedoms we enjoy. After their service in the U.S. military, veterans go on to be valuable members of our communities. With that in mind, let us honor them this Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11, thank them for their service and celebrate them.
Veterans are an important part of all our lives because they protected the freedoms we enjoy. After their service in the U.S. military, veterans go on to be valuable members of our communities. With that in mind, let us honor them this Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11, thank them for their service and celebrate them.
The Creator has a specific plan for each person’s life, and He’s arranged our talents, abilities, and circumstances to fit with these individualized goals (Eph. 2:10). When we connect with our God-given purpose, we feel deep satisfaction and great joy. However, it’s important to understand t…
Why are many Christians ignoring the Old Testament? Genesis 15: 1-18 gives an excellent reason not to pass over the Old Testament in preaching and study. Here, one discovers the “gospel” centuries before Christ’s ministry on earth. These scriptures remind Christians of Paul’s words: “who wal…
How well do you know God? Is He someone you come to when you need help but give little thought to otherwise? Furthermore, what some people claim to believe about God is contradicted by the way they live.
A news commentator asked the question, “Can New York City come back?” As we know, it is not the city that it used to be and will not ever be the same unless the leadership (past and present) makes a big change. My question is “Can America come back?” America, (in my opinion), has lost its wa…
What are Christ’s three temptations, as revealed in Luke 4:1-13? There were (1) bread to satisfy physical hunger, (2) power to rule the world, and (3) a spectacular attraction. Three times Jesus rebuked the tempter: (1) People shall not live by bread alone; (2) you shall worship the Lord; (3…
Salvation occurs when we trust Jesus as our Savior. He forgives us, transforms us, and sees us as righteous. At that moment, we are redeemed, and though we will continue to struggle with sin, it is a defeated foe. Then as time goes on, our service, gifts, and love for God should naturally be…
BECKVILLE — The last time the Beckville Bearcats won a district title in basketball, the seniors on this year’s team were small children.
Veterans are an important part of all our lives because they protected the freedoms we enjoy. After their service in the U.S. military, veterans go on to be valuable members of our communities. With that in mind, let us honor them this Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11, thank them for their service and celebrate them.
After 40 days and nights on Mount Sinai, Moses veiled his face. Paul, in II Corinthians 3:12-4.2, interpreted Moses’s veiled face as “a fading splendor,” with the abiding glory of Christ. He concluded that we, with unveiled faces, are being changed into Christ’s likeness.
The story of Daniel illustrates the key elements of obedience (Daniel 1:1-8). We see the wise young man doing what the Lord commanded, both in the right manner and with the right timing.
The month of February marks many things – finally seeing the end of cold weather (keeping my fingers crossed on that one), Valentine’s Day, something called the Super Bowl...
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).
God calls us, young and old, women and men, to be witnesses; and we will know God’s presence, as Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:4-10 did, even when we are rejected for speaking God’s word. Jeremiah’s name means “the Lord hurls.” Michelangelo painted him on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel as a man …
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Jesus began his ministry in Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, as revealed in Luke 4:14 21. At the synagogue in Nazareth, he read from Isaiah concerning the beginning of Jubilee—release for the captives. Having the people’s complete attention, he announced, “Today this scripture has been f…
Have you ever met someone who said, “Jesus never called himself God.” People with this belief fail to acknowledge a number of key pieces of evidence to the contrary. At least 11 times Jesus verbally expressed His deity to His followers: