Submitted by Tim Perkins

Across The Preacher’s Desk: What Can I Do?

August 5, 2022 - Quite often, we don't feel like the church is what it ought to be. We just feel like the church doesn't quite measure up to its potential. In his inaugural address, January 20, 1961, John F. Kennedy made the now famous statement, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." Warren G Harding said something similar at the Republican National Convention in Chicago in 1916. He said, "we must have a citizenship less concerned about what the government can do for it and more anxious about what it can do for the nation."

Across The Preacher's Desk: Don't Look Back

July 29, 2022 - Satchel Paige was a professional baseball player noted both for his longevity and his numerous witticisms that are often quoted. One of those was, dont look back, something may be gaining on you. You know, that is pretty sound advice, something that the Bible also calls for.

Looking back hinders forward progress, it can cause us to be depressed and it may be bringing defeat into our lives.

Across the Preacher’s Desk: Conformed To The World

July 21, 2022 - When Paul wrote to the church in Rome, we find these words in chapter 12 and verse 2, “Be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Across the Preacher’s Desk: Take A Branch From a Tree...

July 14, 2022 - Take a leafy branch from a tree. Lay it carefully aside and watch. Slowly the color fades, the leaves go limp, they curl up and it is dead.

Take a fish out of the lake. Lay it carefully on the sand and watch. Frantically it twists and struggles and gradually weakens, moving its gills slower, then quivers and it is dead.

Across The Preacher’s Desk: Come To Yourself

July 7, 2022 - Imagine visiting in a home and having the opportunity to get to know the family that lives there. Then, you do not see them for a year or so and then go back for another visit. This time you notice one of the children is not there when it’s time for dinner and everyone is around the table.

So, you ask, “Didn’t you have a little boy named Billy when I was here before? I haven’t seen him tonight. Where is he?”

Across the Preacher’s Desk: An Unexpected Act of Love

July 1, 2022 - There is a tender story told in Mark 14:1-9 of something which happened during some very difficult days for Jesus. The Jewish leaders were plotting his death and He was surrounded by his critics and His enemies. In this narrative, we see Him going to the little village of Bethany. It is the night before Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and He goes to a party in His honor in the home of Simon, a leper.

Across the Preacher’s Desk: Whatsoever He Saith...

June 23, 2022 - Most if not all of us are familiar with the first miracle Jesus performed. It was at a wedding in Cana and Jesus and his disciples were there. Jesus’ mother, Mary was there too. They ran out of wine and Jesus changed six pots of water into wine. It was not just any wine, it was better wine than what had already been served.

Across the Preacher’s Desk: For Christ’s Sake

June 9, 2022 - I can remember as a small boy, often hearing people close their prayers with the phrase, “In Christ’s name and for his sake we pray”. What are we saying with that expression? We are asking God to look upon the face of his son and to deal with us on the merit of our suffering substitute. However, this is only one side of the equation. God wants us to look upon the face of his son and for Christ’s sake suffer, serve and glorify the father.

Across the Preacher’s Desk: Written In The Heart

June 2, 2022 - The writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 8:10 quotes a passage from the 31st chapter of Jeremiah where he writes, “I will put my laws into their mind and write them in their hearts”. God is telling us there will come a time when his laws, his precepts, his commandments will not be written on tablets of stone, but it will be a law written in the heart.

Across The Preacher's Desk: How Would You

May 26, 2022 - This week we have witnessed another example of man’s inhumanity to man. The tragic school shooting in Uvalde which took so many innocent lives breaks our hearts. We sympathize with those parents and grandparents who have lost their children in such a horrific manner. Our hearts ache and our eyes become misty with tears as we consider what it might be like if we were in their shoes. As we pray and ask the God of Heaven to give them strength, courage and comfort, we also express our gratitude that our own dear little ones are safe, at least for now.

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