Those Incarcerated Spirits – I Peter 3:18-22

Where would you prefer to live: on the planet Mercury or on whatever Pluto is being called today? Astronomers tell us that the surface temperature of Mercury is 354 degrees Fahrenheit. I don’t know if that is on our side of Mercury or on the Sun’s side, but it doesn’t...

To Bring us to God

Elizabeth Barrett’s parents disapproved so strongly of her marriage to Robert Browning that they disowned her. Almost every week for years Elizabeth wrote letters to her parents begging for reconciliation. Not once did they ever reply. Then after 10 years of...

The Just for the Unjust

As we read this letter from Peter, remember that each word is colored by things which he had experienced. Ie. there were negative things, like his denial of Christ, when the Lord was being questioned and tortured. And then there were his foolish suggestion to build...

October 9

This little vignette is not about Christiania Polk, but I mention this extraordinary woman because she married Isaac McCoy, who was perhaps America’s the most important missionary to this country’s Indians. That Christiania was an important part of McCoy’s ministry is...

The Reason He Had Hope – I Peter 3:13-17

Do you have a sister, who used to be very close to you, but who now refuses to let you see her children, because you became a Christian, and she became a Mormon? Or did you loose your job when you told your employer that you had been saved? Have you ever been teased...

August 2022

Dear Pastor and Brethren: Latino Outreach This month several things have happened which we would like you all to know. We went to court with eight Latinos to help them with their language difficulties and to hope for a chance to be a witness to them. Some of them will...

October 2

On this day in 1919, just before a large convention of Baptists was to take place, the Canadian Baptist, that country’s largest Baptist journal, published an article entitled: “The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture.”  The worthy title belied its true purpose: to...

September 25

    The name, Luther Rice, should be held in high esteem among missionary-minded Baptists.  Appropriately, engraved over his burial place are the words, “Perhaps no American has done more for the great missionary enterprise.” Sadly that name has been...

Ready, Always Ready – I Peter 3:13-17

Have you ever noticed that every once in a while I can make some really profound statement? I have to think really hard to come up with these to make sure they are accurate as well as erudite. For example we begin with one tonight: “Life is always changing.” Have you...

Christian Resilience – I Peter 3:13-16

When the church in Jerusalem was needing help for their widows and orphans, the congregation set forth seven men to serve as servants – “deacons.” There was the famous Philip, and the not so famous Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas. In Acts 6 these men...