February 19, 2012: The Prayer God Is Pleased to Answer

A dejected church member said, "Prayer does not work; I tried that!" Indeed, prayer is not a charm for those who know the magic words. It is not self-seeking prayer, ritual prayer or careless prayer that God honors; but God answers prayer. A focus on Elisha in this passage will help us learn the way of prayer that God is pleased to answer.

February 12, 2012: How Sin Is Forgiven

The world is full of Naamans. They are great and commendable people, but they are lost in sin. They are not lepers; but they are eaten up with a plague worse than leprosy. That ancient plague is a fitting picture of the incurable disease of the soul-sin. Just as Naaman was cleansed of his malady, so you may be healed of every sin. How was Naaman cleansed? How may you be cured of sin?

February 5, 2012: How God Keeps His Promises

Mary Poppins said, "Promises easily made are easily broken." Our culture seems to reflect that sentiment. Corporations promise integrity to stockholders, only later to be caught embezzling. Spouses promise "til death do us part," but rush to a divorce lawyer at the first hint of real trouble. Pastors promise moral fidelity and later fall victim to the most grievous acts of unfaithfulness. It can lead one to wonder if anyone keeps promises anymore.

January 29, 2012: Where Are God’s Joshuas?

If you are from Alabama and over the age of 35, then Jan. 26, 1983, is as etched in your memory as Nov. 22, 1963, was to our parents' generation. The last Wednesday in January 1983 is the day Paul "Bear" Bryant died. Although I am not from Alabama (I proudly hail from Georgia.), I have vivid memories of that day. I was sitting in a small café on my college campus when the owner, who had been listening to the radio, suddenly cried out, "the Bear's dead!" I immediately walked outside and wept. College football's greatest coach (the one who put southern football on the map) was dead.

January 22, 2012: The God of Second Chances

In the Summer of 1988, I was a rising junior at a Baptist college in Georgia and an excited new Christian. A Christian co-worker had told me about his sister-in-law, a student at a large state university. At his insistence, I called her and set up a blind date. I arrived at her apartment and was shocked to learn my friend had told the truth: She was beautiful!

January 15, 2012: What About Sex?

We live in a sex-crazed culture. About 65 percent of America's teens have sex by the time they finish high school. According to the 2000 census, the number of unmarried couples living together has increased tenfold between 1960 and 2000, and 72 percent between 1990 and 2000. Fifty-two percent of American women have sex before turning 18, and 75 percent have sex before they get married.