The following email arrived this morning: “A couple asked me if there was any biblical teaching on interracial marriages (whether or not they were right or wrong). I recall verses about being unequally yoked but believe that applies to believers and unbelievers. Any thoughts you could offer would be appreciated.”The whole …
When I went outside this morning, I heard several loud blasts from a shotgun. That can only mean one thing—dove hunting season has started in Mississippi. From now until sometime in January, you can hear guns blasting early in the morning, especially on the weekends. Dove season starts in September, but it is only the warm …
When I sent out my weekly sermon email a few days ago, I commented that Pastor Wes Sherman had told me that the highlight of the week would be a concert by Marty Haggard, son of country music legend Merle Haggard. Turns out he was right. This morning we had at least 125 people, which meant there were chairs in the aisles to …
On Thursday night I began speaking for a Homecoming Revival at Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church, located on a hill overlooking a country road, not far from Batesville, Mississippi. The way things worked out, I am driving back and forth from our cabin, 180 miles each night. That means we will be driving approximately 720 miles t …
So what is the state of religious freedom in China? It depends on who you are and where you are and who you know and what you are doing. There have been many recent examples of crackdowns in China involving the house church movement. But there is some good news to report. A story out of Beijing this week offers an example o …
Scott Mahlstedt sent me this email: Doreen and I are watching the PBR event from Chihuahua, Mexico this evening. We just saw a young bull rider named Tyler Thomson buck off a bull named Pastor RayThought you might be flattered? amused?I don’t know what to say, except that it reminds me that back in the late 90s Gary a …
Here is the final sermon in the series “Understanding God’s Plan” from Romans 9-11:Our Awesome God
Two other notes from my visit to Hawthorne Gospel Church. Every service the pastor commented that I live in Tupelo, MS. At one point he said, “I just like saying that name.” I don’t think they get a lot of Mississippi preachers up in New Jersey—even though I’m originally from Alabama and have spent nearly all o …
I had a great time preaching yesterday at Hawthorne Gospel Church in Hawthorne, New Jersey. My head is spinning a little bit because I flew in on Saturday, had supper with Kevin McCullough and his family, and preached three times on Sunday morning. Pastor Russell Huizing took me out for lunch, then I preached again on Sund …
Here are the pictures (taken by Nick Borton) of Josh and Leah’s wedding, July 22, 2006, at the First Congregational Church in Bennington, Vermont.