OUT OF THE BOX

  I posted this article one year ago. It was primarily written for pastors and church leaders, but I think many others will be interested in the subject. I am sharing some relevant thoughts related to church growth. I am not claiming to be an experienced expert. I am not saying, “Follow me.” I am simply sharing some perceptions I have had over recent years. I am not giving the answers, but hopefully giving some questions that may inspire some of us to be more receptive to the Holy Spirit’s leading. It is God’s favor that establishes and builds a sure house. I remember years ago looking at the church we had planted. I thought, “This is solid. God has given us some great people. This will stand firm.” Then something happened that caused me to realize that whatever we have built, no matter how great it seems to be, is like a dandelion in the wind apart from the grace of God. We are always on the verge of keeping it all and losing it all. There is something spiritual that holds things ...

FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT Don't be disillusioned by adversity, hardship, and struggles of battle. We must realize we are on a battleship and not a cruise ship. We must face "Og" at the border, and then deal with “giants” after we cross the “Jordan” to possess the “land.” Christians often naively tend to expect victory without battle...and if there is adversity, they become cynical and expect battle without victory. The scripture tells us to persevere and stand in faith. We will see battle...but also victory. Matthew 11: 7-12; 1 Cor 16:9, 15:32; Eph 6:10-19; Ps 18: 31-34, 39; Rev 12: 7-11; John 16: 33; 2 Cor6:4-9; Acts 14:22; 2 Tim 2:3-10 FAITH TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE In our walk with God, we have to deal with people. This complicates matters and requires more faith on our part. When David played his harp, the evil spirit fled...but Saul did not. David had to walk in the Spirit, in faith, obedience, and perseverance in order to deal with Saul. We can cast out demons; we cannot cast...

CHILD SACRIFICE Dear Friends This post is more like a booklet. It contains three articles I wrote on the subject of Abortion. I posted these articles a year and a half ago. I re-post them now without apology because of the seriousness of this issue and because state legislatures are about to vote on sadistic bills (sponsored by Planned Parenthood) that could legalize infanticide (the killing of babies) up to 28 days AFTER birth. This follows laws recently enacted in New York allowing babies to be aborted even during the 3rd trimester, which would be right up until the time of birth, allowing them to kill the child if the aborted baby is born alive. This is a cruel and wicked abomination. It is child sacrifice. This practice will bring the judgment of God upon our nation. It is time for Christians to pray and for pastors to speak up in the pulpits. Please read this post and pass it on to others. --- Billy Long PART ONE THE BRUTALITY OF ABORTION BODIES IN JARS Excavations of pre-Isr...

When you're young, the moments and the time you're in seem to last long, and you subconsciously think "this is the way life will always be." But one of the salient features of growing older is you become more aware of change. You see more and more of the old folks leaving, while you see the "babies" and children becoming adults. The culture and landscape that you thought were permanent segue into new and often surprising territory.  You young folk should look up two words in the dictionary: "change" and "surprise." For you will not be a stranger to these. One other concept that will become real to you is the term "Short." You will realize more and more how short life is and that it goes by fast. In a flash, we all will face eternity. For myself I might add the words of Solomon, "Remember now your creator in the days of your youth." Take hold of something that will not change, something that will endure eternally. God h...

TERMS THAT STAND IN CONTRAST BUT NOT IN CONTRADICTION A CHALLENGE FROM FRIENDS I had four separate conversations with friends that caused me to have concern with some of the doctrinal trends that have been developing in the church over recent years. One friend was telling me that, under the New Covenant, Christians do not have to repent. Grace has brought forgiveness and a believer does not have to “repent” of sins. A second friend was telling me that the terms “obey” and “obedience” were part of the Old Testament Law, and therefore, not appropriate for the New Testament Christian. A third friend expressed concern over my sermon entitled “The Blessing is On the Other side of Obedience” and that this message undermined faith. On a fourth occasion a friend expressed a mild disapproval at my teaching on “travail and labor in Intercession.” His implication was that travail seemed to suggest “works” rather than faith. The error in my friends’ approaches is that their positions rested on one...

DRIVING GRANDMA TO THE DEVER FIELD I was ten years old, talking with my grandmother (Ma Ma) in her back yard, when my grandfather (Pa Pa) came walking out the back door. She said to him, “Tharon, I have to do some work down at the Dever field, and I need you to drive me. The field was a half mile away at the end of a dirt road. Pa Pa did not want to drive her to the field and have to wait on her. Neither did he want to leave her there and have to guess at when to go back and get her. He thought for a few seconds, reached into his pocket and took out the car keys, looked at them, looked at the car…and then looked at me. “Son,” he said, “Can you drive a car?” I was 10 years old and had never driven a car, but many times I had sat in Daddy’s pick-up truck going through all the motions of changing gears while pretending to drive it. Without hesitation, I responded, “Yes, Sir. I can drive it.” I was not about to miss this opportunity. Without another word, he handed me the keys and went bac...

Steve was a homeless fellow at Myrtle Beach when one of the hurricanes came through a few years ago. Huddled in a corner alone and frightened he cried out to the Lord for mercy and said, "Oh God, if you will bring me through this thing safely, I will get rid of my cigarettes and my false teeth!” Then having made it safely through the storm, he got rid of his false teeth and went around toothless, but hung on to his cigarettes, profanity and whoremongering. When I asked him about his logic in the matter, he told me that it is a sin to wear false teeth because the Bible warns us about things that are false. He told one of his friends, “You don’t want to be wearing false teeth when Jesus comes back. But then again, you just as well go ahead and smile and look pretty because it will be too late then.” This story is true, and we smile at the ridiculous logic involved. How is it that Steve could think he was doing God a service by laying down his teeth while holding on to his lifestyle ...