Mrs. Smith has actually been the premier apple pie maker in our home. My wife makes the best coconut cream pies in the world from scratch, which is the only way I will have pie. Since I don’t like apple pie, it never bothered me to just let Mrs. Smith handle that area. read more 1:00AM EDT 9/5/2011

Have you ever been stuck? If you’ve ever driven a 4- or 5-speed car and tried to shift gears you know what I mean. It’s not always easy. Sometimes it can be frustrating and what is meant to help propel you to another place instead hinders your journey. read more 1:00AM EDT 8/29/2011

None of us wish to leave work, return from college, or visit our family and walk into a lion's den of anger, a fiery furnace of strife, or an atmosphere of tension. I suggest there are four methods that can help you make your home a dwelling place of peace and joy. read more 1:00AM EDT 8/22/2011

If you’re accustomed to praying in the power of Holy Spirit, you’ve probably experienced seasons of spiritual warfare. Sometimes it may seem as if all hell is breaking loose—literally.

People may seem to get mad at you for no reason. Others may begin gossip campaigns. Your car breaks down and the kids act up. Your husband says you are spending too much time in prayer. Your friends tell you to back off—that you’re just no fun anymore. In these seasons, problems can feel as though they are pouring into your life from every angle, and you can end up feeling misunderstood, confused, rejected and alone. read more

1:00AM EDT 8/15/2011

Few of us are privileged enough to inherit millions. Even so, those who do must wait to tap into their inheritance. That is not so with the believer. We receive a portion—or “down payment”—of what eternally awaits us when we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ redeemed us from the curse by His death, paid our debt and has called us to an eternal inheritance. We read in Hebrews 9:15, “And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance” (emphasis added). read more

1:00AM EDT 8/8/2011

I was born again 41 years ago. At that time I had such a thirst for God’s Word that I would read it for hours, often staying up until 2 or 3 a.m.

One of the Scriptures I encountered that set me on this course was Joshua 1:8: “this Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success” (NKJV). read more 1:00AM EDT 8/1/2011

Peanuts. It is amazing that I still love them after all the drama they caused me as a very young boy.  My mom kept a very large can of them in the cabinet.  She kept a container the size of a tub of coffee, or an old “Crisco” can shut up tight with a plastic lid.

It is funny how certain events that happened even when we were very young are forever burned into our memories. This is one such incident. One night I was watching TV and had one of those “I need a snack” thoughts. I quietly went into the kitchen, climbed up in a chair where I could just reach the elusive peanut can. I got it down. It was very heavy … a good sign … it meant LOTS of peanuts to enjoy as I watched “Lassie.” I carried the can into the TV room and proceeded to climb up into my mom’s favorite overstuffed chair.

By all outward appearances, this was shaping up to be a great night.  When I tried to get the lid off of the peanut can I noticed that it was very tight.  I turned the can slightly on its side to get better leverage.  POP. The lid came off.  Instant tragedy!  Used fried chicken oil spilled all over and worse, all over my mom’s special chair.  My mom had used an empty peanut can to save her fried chicken oil to use again.  read more

9:19AM EDT 7/22/2011