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A LETTER TO A FRIEND REGARDING ADULTERY

(Below is a letter I wrote to a friend about 30 years ago. The friend was involved in an adulterous relationship and about to leave the marriage. Names are withheld out of respect for the parties involved. I am posting this letter here because I believe there are those today who are struggling with temptation, who may be in, or about to enter a sinful relationship, and who need to read the appeal and warnings given in this letter). ---Billy Long A Letter Regarding Adultery Dear ____ I have been wanting to communicate with you for some time now but have delayed because of the awkwardness of the situation. Laurel and I have grieved over the news of your leaving [spouse]. We have been thinking about you and obviously have been very concerned. We have wanted to talk to you but have been unsure as to your potential reaction to us and have been waiting on God’s timing. I’m sure you already have some idea as to what we might be saying to you, given the circumstances. But I think you know in...
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THE FAITH OF A CHILD

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them…And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.”  Mark 10:13A, 16. The Power Outage There was a power outage in our area one evening a couple of weeks ago. We lit a couple candles and had our flashlights in hand when our fourteen-year-old grandson, Mannie walked into our bedroom and stated, “We need to pray for the power to come back on.” He seemed to have faith, and so I asked him to lead us in the prayer. He prayed a very simple prayer asking the Lord to turn on the power. About two or three minutes later all the lights came back on. The power was back. Mannie got a big smile on his face as we all thanked the Lord and realized the Lord had heard the prayer of a young boy who had asked sincerely knowing the Lord listens.   Finding the Documents This past week we had another opportunity for Mannie to see God in action. Our daughter Hannah had a stack of important documents t...
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MANIPULATION AND CONTROL IN LEADERSHIP

LEADERSHIP: UNHEALTHY CONTROL OF COMMUNICATION This chapter deals with a couple problems seen in leadership. The issues are principles I learned while serving “as referee” in a couple difficult situations and were originally written with the intention of helping pastors understand these issues that get them into trouble. Initially I was reluctant to share these with a broader audience, but then realized the principles are apropos to any discussion of healthy leadership. Many readers will identify with the problems discussed. For every issue there is a flip side. There is always the “other side of the coin.” This “flip side” issue is especially true for some of the areas covered in this article. For example, pastors usually teach on gossip, and they legitimately try to prevent unhealthy and destructive communication within their community of believers. But my emphasis here is the other side of the issue, which is leadership’s unhealthy control of communication among members. CONTROL O...
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HOW DO WE EXPECT PEOPLE TO ACT WHEN THEY ARE BEING USED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT?

A fellow once said to me, “My preacher is so anointed he pure foams at the mouth.” That is a strange one, and I am thankful that the Lord does not expect us to do that. So what style do we use in our presentation? The Spirit-filled Harvard professor very calmly walks up to someone and in a very dignified and stolid voice and says, “This is what the Lord is saying to you, Your canines will develop acariasis and become acaudal.” A backwoods farmer then walks up to the same person and in a very emotional and energetic manner says, “Thus saith the Lord. Thy dogs-uh will become infested with ticks and lose their tails-uh.” The fact is, these men said the exact same thing, but each one spoke out of his own personality and style. The Lord’s word was in the content while the style represented the individual vessel. I want to share three examples below that show us that we can be ourselves and not have to act a certain, expected way when we are being used by the Holy Spirit. A Casual word that ...
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A MATTER OF THE HEART

”As in water face reflects face, so a man’s heart reveals the man.” Proverbs 27: 19 In commenting on the two previous posts a friend said, “Billy, I hope your next post will include some REHAB.” His statement highlights the fact that it is easier to list problems than it is to provide solutions. “How To” books are generally disappointing to me. They give insights, inspire, and point in the right direction but are limited in their ability to bring us to full satisfaction in the results we anticipated. This is because the solutions lie primarily in the heart rather than mechanically following a list of steps. The heart, not the mind, determines our spiritual state. It is the heart that determines how a person perceives God, and how he deals with life, other people, and his environment. The mind is the battlefield, the mind can be blinded and confused, but it is a product of the heart. The disposition of the heart determines the revelation a person can receive, the clarity and accuracy of...
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SPIRITUAL STRENGTH

  HERE ARE A FEW TRUTH NUGGETS FROM MY TEACHING ON "TOUGHEN UP." Prov 24:10;   Jer 12:5; Gen 41:52; Christians tend to naively believe they will have victory without battle, but when faced with adversity they tend to skeptically think they will have battle without victory. We must remember that we will have battle, but we will also have victory. Luke 22:39-46 When the load cannot be lightened, we must be strengthened. In the agony of Jesus’ prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane He knew He would have to carry that load. It was not lifted, but the angels came and strengthened Him. Sometimes He lightens the load or lifts it, but at other times we must carry it. He will strengthen us if we stand in faith and call out to Him in prayer. Luke 21:19; 2 Thess 3:5; Rev 2: 10-11, 13, 19, 25-26; 3: 8-10; Rev.1:9; 13:10; Rev 14:12. The mark of spiritual strength is perseverance and endurance, not glory clouds and glitter. We can be tempted to grow soft on the mountain top. Comfort...
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BURNT STONES

"...The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire."    Nehemiah 1: 3                                                                                                                         "...Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?"      Nehemiah 4: 2                                                                                                   ...
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