“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) Most of my North Carolina readers already know that I was fired from my position as county manager where I live. The 3 to 2 vote that resulted in my dismissal came as quite a surprise. I had committed no offense. In fact, the local county commission chairman characterized it as a “hatchet job.” In the days that followed, I was hounded […]

“When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’ ” (Matthew 27:54) When you stop and think about it, there is a wonderful salvation story in the above verse because that Roman Centurion was the first man to publicly confess that Jesus died on the Cross to save him. I am sure he felt the shame that many of us felt when our eyes were first […]

“The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one.” (Matthew 13:38) There’s a Christian song sweeping the country about the faces we’ll see when we get to Heaven; faces that were touched by the things we did for the Lord Jesus in our service to Him. I couldn’t help but to think of Mr. Harris, my Sunday school teacher when I was a twelve year-old boy. He’ll certainly see a lot of faces […]

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) Several years ago, I visited another church in my community. While waiting for the service to begin, I watched the orchestra ready itself for worship. A reader of mine recognized me, came up to me and asked me for my continued prayers for him and his family. I was mildly startled by his plea because when I looked into his eyes, I noticed a deep sense of hopelessness that I had […]