I just read that Bible sales are up 21% over 2024 at this point. Sales have doubled since 2019.

If you are one of those people, let me encourage you to take a class on “Hermeneutics.” There are rules for reading your Bible. It is vital to understand genre, context, Biblical themes, and the author’s intended meaning. My alma mater, Ozark Christian College, has put a class online HERE.

If you don’t do that, then get a book on proper interpretation like “How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth.” There are other very reliable resources out there on how to understand the Bible correctly. Buy one and read it carefully.

I am excited that Bible sales are up, but I also want people to understand the Bible as it was meant to be read. As Paul tells Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15)  

The world needs more Bible readers. It also really needs more Bible “understanders.”

I am the father of four adult children, boys to be specific. All four of them were athletes. They loved playing basketball and football. They did a little track and baseball as well. I know what it is like to spend countless hours in the field or in the gym.

Parents with younger children do not believe me when I tell them this. One day, you will look back in amazement at all the hours they spent in sports, AND most of it will be forgotten or have little impact on their life.

On the flip side, most parents spend little time on character development and intrapersonal skills. One day, you will look back in amazement at how you neglected significant areas of their life.

For me, this includes faith and how it works into our everyday lives. Our young people need to be taught how to interact with people, especially those they disagree with or perceive as enemies. They need to be taught how to manage their emotions and offer forgiveness. Young people need to grow up able to confess their weaknesses and to utilize their strengths. They need to be taught how to view money, the opposite sex, authority, and those who appear inferior to them for some reason.

If you are a parent who uses sports to accomplish some of this, then good for you; that is what my wife and I tried to do. Whatever tool you use to achieve these things is not significant; the fact that you personally teach, not just how to score a point, but succeed in life, is indispensable.

One day, you will look back in amazement at the life YOU shaped. I hope you are happy with the adult version of what your child becomes.

Our Church has been reaching more people with the gospel than we ever have. Each week, people show up for the first time to worship with us. Numbers and connections are soaring.

And in many ways, I have no idea what to do. 

I have never led a Church of this size, handled this many guests, or taught this many people. That means I am praying now more than ever for God to show up. Growth has not increased my ego; instead, it has increased my need for God. Without his guidance, I would not be able to lead this Church any further for his kingdom, but with him, we are unstoppable.

Each day I pray for my leadership, my staff, my elders, my deacons, and my wife. Many days, I ask God to direct me to the right podcasts, books, and articles to guide my thinking. But most of all, I ask him to do things that are far beyond my control.

Life and ministry can seem pretty big at times. Thankfully, God is bigger.

Everyone in the Church community wants a high-quality worship program each week. They want the sound to be flawless, slides for the songs to always match, and music that is engaging.

For that to happen, our Church needs at least 12 people to serve during each worship program. We need another 2-5 people behind the scenes before and after the Sunday event. We need singers, musicians, and people to run ProPresenter and the sound board. Someone needs to pick out the songs; make sure they have all the correct lyrics on the screen and the right musical keys on the music stands. The stage needs to be set up and clean, and the instruments tuned and tested.

Numerous small pieces go into having a quality worship program, especially in a small town and Church. And all of it is done by volunteers. So whenever you feel that God has touched your soul through what you experienced on Sunday morning, be sure to praise God and the power of the Holy Spirit. It is also good to stop and thank the people who give their time to make it all happen.

God is glorified by people who serve selflessly and never ask for recognition. Sometimes it is good for Church attendees to stop and say to them, “You are noticed, and I thank God for what you do.”

And if you are so inclined, you can be a part of what makes our worship great. All you need is a humble heart and willing hands, and God can use you to touch people’s hearts in ways you will never understand.

Satan is a deceiver. He lies, and he tricks us into not doing God’s will for our lives.

You are also a deceiver. I don’t mean you are out to deceive other people, although some do. I mean, you are gifted in the art of self-deception.

James, the half-brother of Jesus, writes to the believers, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22).

Christians can easily convince themselves that Bible knowledge equates to spiritual maturity. People can recite Bible verses, explain theology, and even quote C.S. Lewis, then walk out and do the opposite of what God desires.

Still other Christians are very proud of the instructions of Jesus that they keep and ignore the ones that they disobey. These people give a tithe, take communion, and show up to worship weekly while ignoring their family, using the Lord’s name in vain, and drinking to excess.

The devil might be out to get you, but then again, maybe you are your own worst enemy.

Three weeks ago, I finished writing today’s blog post. Then something happened in our community that made it seem like I was responding to current events, even though I had written it before anything occurred.

After praying and thinking about it, I decided to set that post aside and write something new.
The situation reminded me of Solomon’s statement in Ecclesiastes: “There is nothing new under the sun.” I had written about my own experience from 24 years ago, only to see a similar scenario unfold last month. Solomon was correct; there really is nothing new.

As people have shared their thoughts on what happened, my response has stayed consistent: people are broken, temptation is powerful, Jesus offers grace and forgiveness, and God remains in control.

So here’s my replacement blog. But honestly, it’s the same message I always preach at its core. We all fall short of God’s glory, which is exactly why Jesus came to show us God’s love through his saving grace.

It was a dramatic scene, and the actor walked to the center of the street and shouted to the villain, “I have come here to speak my piece.”

I admit that, for years, I thought people were saying, “I need to speak my peace.” What they meant was they had something they needed to get off their chest. Once they had spoken, they would find peace.

But that is not actually the correct phrase. It is “say your piece.” The concept is that people know a story but not the whole story. So, someone stands up and shares information that will change how people view what occurred.

You likely need to do both things. There are things you need to get off your chest and tell someone, and at the same time, you will be sharing a piece of your story that others need to know.

Who do you need to go to today and say your piece so that you can find peace?

Walking through the cemetery, you will notice several headstones where a married couple is buried together. There will be a single name at the top, and on the left side will be the name of one spouse, and on the right side, the other. Often, one of them has already passed away, and under their name are their birthdate and date of death. The remaining spouse will have a birthdate under their name, possibly with a dash. The final date is missing.

This person knows when their life began and understands that it will one day end. But for now, they are, as one person called it, living the dash. They are living in those days between our arrival and departure.

For whatever reason, even when their beloved spouse died, their life continued. Their time on earth is unfinished. And I believe that means God has a purpose for their life.

I admit, sometimes that purpose is hard to see. As time has taken its toll on the body, and the faculties have failed, it is common to ask, “Why am I still here?” I am firmly convinced that God still has a purpose for each of us as we follow him.

Suppose you are wondering what you can do for God. My encouragement is to find ways to use your time for his glory. Praying for people can fill your time. Writing cards, emails, and letters can help you connect to people when travel is challenging. Visiting with others who are struggling is always needed. Offering kindness with a meal, a dessert, or a snack is welcome. These are just a few of the hundreds of things that can be done for God’s kingdom.

Our culture tends to push people whose lives are unfinished to the margins because they can no longer produce as others do. I believe there is untapped knowledge and resources for Jesus if we stop waiting for heaven and choose to finish this life strong.

Some blogs are written out of necessity. Here is one that Church people need to hear (at least the people that I lead).

Whenever you receive an instruction, whether in person or on a sign, what is your reaction?

Are you the type of person who does what it says while asking a few questions?

Are you the kind of person who ignores it and says to yourself, “I will do whatever I want.”

As a Church leader, I am continually asking people to do things. I do not mean in my sermons, where I have time to speak each week. No, I am referring to things that occur in the building. I ask people to open or close doors, adjust the thermostat a certain way, fill out this form, do this, or don’t do that. After years of doing this, I am still greeted by both types of people.

What most people do not understand from their limited perspective is the reason I desire compliance. There is always a reason behind the request. If you see a door open, leave it open; if you find it closed, leave it closed. It sounds meaningless. Who cares? But you need to know that, because of how the HVAC system is set up in our Church building, this one simple measure saves us money each month. That money can then be used for ministry.

Opening and closing doors, understanding how the thermostat works, filling out the building request form properly, leaving towels at the Church, taking old food home when an event is done, returning items to where you found them, picking up after yourself, and a hundred other things help us to do ministry and do it more effectively.

The staff and I are working to instruct people through print and verbal instruction, and your compliance is necessary for us to provide the best possible ministry.

Now, I know some of you will read this and think, “What is the big deal? I am an adult, and I think I know how to handle things.” If you are thinking that way, you need to go up and reread what I just wrote.

I am not a very “touchy, feely” type of person. I pride myself on being a thinker who depends on his brain more than his heart. No one would consider me overly emotional, and some might think me cold at times. So when I was first encouraged to be led by the Holy Spirit, I was understandably skeptical. It sounded like a person searching their deep emotions and making decisions that were counterintuitive and illogical.

After years of following Jesus and careful study of the scriptures, I discovered that following the Spirit primarily consisted of listening to the instruction of the scriptures, God’s word is the sword of the Spirit, and it gives us meaningful instructions for life.

Another tool I used in following the Spirit was the people of God. I would pray about an issue, then seek the wise counsel of mature Christians to help guide my decisions. Often, their advice pointed me toward God’s desire for my life.

Finally, I have become a student of situations. Often God will open a door of opportunity or close one to guide me in the right direction. If I prayed, seeking his will, the circumstances that followed would be the Spirit pointing me in the right direction once again.

Lately, I have been trying to listen to the Spirit’s inner voice in new ways. I have been attempting to dial into my emotions and feel my way along this journey. I do not mean I am following the selfish desires of my flesh. I mean, I will feel like I need to do something. Then I will pray about it and do it. Sometimes that has meant sending a random text of encouragement. Other times, that has meant going out of my way to visit someone. In my life, there are now these little gestures of love and encouragement sprinkled throughout my day and week.

Most of the time, I do not hear of anything amazing that God has done through these moments of yielding to the Spirit, but I know he is working. Even if it is not dramatically touching the other person’s life, it is shaping me. It is making me more positive and forcing me to spend more time encouraging others than wallowing in self-pity.

I know the Spirit will never lead me outside of God’s will found in his word, but sometimes he will work on our emotions to prompt us to do random acts of kindness. These small encounters are moments of grace. This is typically not within my nature to do these things, so I am sure it is God at work in the deepest recesses of my heart.