Over the past several months, the Lord allowed me to partner with Brother Clayton Reed on one of the most thrilling projects I’ve been able to work on. Church Still Works details the results of a thorough nationwide survey of independent Baptist churches for an unbiased perspective of our growth and spiritual health.

It was encouraging to see that, even during a time when many denominations are losing members, our churches are actually growing! From the survey, we examined what specific practices growing churches follow that we might all benefit. Not surprisingly, the seven practices we found are the same practices given throughout Acts and the New Testament epistles.

The most exciting and challenging aspect brought out in this survey is the potential of even greater growth if we will continue to strive together in planting new churches at home and around the world. We can make a difference in a world that is turning from God, but to do so, we must labor together to plant more local churches in more places.

I am thrilled for this resource to be available. This book will encourage and strengthen independent Baptist pastors and churches to fulfill the Great Commission. View a video interview, reviews, and a sample chapter at churchstillworks.com.

Filed under: Book Reviews on July 1st, 2009 | No Comments »

My wife and I returned last week from one of the most incredible vacations we’ve ever been privileged to take—a trip to the Holy Land. These days were a time of spiritual growth and renewal, even beyond my expectations. I felt like a race horse pausing for a long, refreshing drink.

Our schedule was packed from early morning to late night as we tried to fill every minute and absorb every bit of what the Lord might teach us through this trip. Below is a partial list of the many sights we were privileged to visit:

Caesarea

• Saw amphitheater where Paul confronted Agrippa
• Saw the emperor’s seat where Agrippa said to Paul, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian”
• Saw recently excavated ruins of the city
• Saw where Paul set sail for his missionary journeys

Mount Carmel

• Stood on the mountain where Elijah had his showdown with the prophets of Baal
• Viewed the Valley of Armageddon

Megiddo

• Saw one of Solomon’s chariot cities
• Saw a great view of the Valley of Armageddon

Nazareth

• Visited the boyhood town of Jesus

Cana

• Visited the village where Jesus attended a marriage feast and turned water into wine

Sea of Galilee

• Took boat across and docked at Ein Gev and visit Kursi, located in the land of the Gadarenes

Capernaum

• Visited a synagogue built in the area where Jesus taught

Mount of Beatitudes

• Traveled to the top of the mountain where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount

Spring of Gideon

• Saw where God chose Gideon’s army of 300 men

Bet She’an

• Saw where the Philistines hung the bodies of Saul and Jonathan

Masada

• Visited the fortress where Jewish zealots made the last stand of the Judean revolt against Rome

Qumran

• Saw the caves where some of the Dead Sea Scrolls were found

Bethlehem

• Saw the Church of Nativity, the traditional site of the birth of Jesus
• Visited the Plains of Boaz and Shepherd’s Field

Temple Mount

• Saw where Abraham offered up Isaac
• Walked behind the Eastern Gate
• Saw the Pools of Bethesda where Jesus healed the man who had been infirmed for 38 years

South Wall Excavations

• Walked up the steps Jesus would have climbed when He entered the Temple
• Saw a great view of the Mount of Olives

Western Wall (Wailing Wall)

• Saw portions of the wall that were built by Harod the Great
• Toured the Western Wall tunnel and saw excavations underneath the Temple Mount area

Garden of Gethsemane

• Prayed among the olive trees in the garden where Jesus was arrested

Calvary and the Garden Tomb

• Viewed the sight where many believe Jesus was crucified
• Toured the garden holding Jesus’ tomb
• Entered the tomb where Jesus was buried and found it empty!

Throughout the trip, the Lord opened some unique witnessing opportunities, one just outside of the Garden Tomb. What a joy to stand outside the empty tomb and tell of a risen Saviour! I was able to pass out over five hundred tracts, and the Lord allowed me to lead one person to Him.

Returning from a vacation is always a reminder of how thankful I am for my family, the Lancaster Baptist Church family, and the USA!

Filed under: Israel Trip on June 30th, 2009 | No Comments »

My wife and I are thrilled to announce that we are going to be grandparents! Our daughter, Danielle, and her husband, Peter, are expecting their first baby in November. Even though our grandbaby has not yet been born, I’m already planning what kind of legacy I want to leave for this little one.

God intends for His truth to pass from one generation to the next. “One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts” (Psalm 145:4). Whether you are a first generation Christian or a fifth generation Christian, you have the privilege and responsibility of passing God’s truth to the generation following you.

Leave a legacy of faithfulness for succeeding generations.

“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). Our first responsibility of faithfulness is to God. Will your children and grandchildren remember you as a man or woman who placed God first in every aspect of life?

Our next responsibility is to our families. It seems as if it were only yesterday that Terrie and I were anticipating the birth of Danielle! I can hardly believe how the time has flown; now Danielle is expecting on of her own. Our time is short with our children and grandchildren. Let’s be faithful to invest in their lives.

God has also given each Christian responsibility to the local church. Looking back, I’m so thankful that Terrie and I raised our family in church. I want my grandchildren to one day remember me as a man who was faithful to the church.

Also determine to leave a legacy of doctrine.

Solomon instructed, “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law” (Proverbs 4:1-2). Teach your children the truths of God’s Word—both theological truths and moral truths. Only God’s truth can give them a firm foundation upon which to build their lives.

Finally, leave a legacy of generosity.

One of the most generous people I have ever known has been my granddad. A hard working farmer in southwest Colorado, Granddad Chappell gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Lord’s work over the years. I want to instill a love for generosity in my children and grandchildren. And I want future generations to remember me as a man who gave freely to the Lord, the Lord’s people, and my family.

Generosity involves far more than financial resources. We can give our families time, memories, prayers, etc. Invest your life into your children and grandchildren to leave a legacy of generosity.

As a young boy, I spent hundreds of hours on the tractor with Granddad Chappell. He told me how his dad, my great-granddad began the farm as a 160-acre homestead in the late 1800s. The soil in southwest Colorado is very rocky, and as we would work through the fields, we’d often come to a large rock in the field. I’d hop of the tractor and place the rock in the scoop kept on the front of the tractor for that purpose. As we’d return to the barn, Granddad would deposit the rocks in a pile of previously collected rocks. There were literally thousands of huge rocks in this pile—all collected one by one over the years.

Today, my uncle works the Chappell family farm. He drives a beautiful tractor equipped with air conditioning, GPS, and stereo. He occasionally finds a stone in the fields, but thanks to Granddad’s diligent labors, most of the stones have already been unearthed and piled out back.

I want my example to do for my children what Granddad’s painstaking labors have done for my uncle. Sure, they’ll have difficulties of their own, but if I can leave a legacy of faithfulness, doctrine, and generosity that will make their roads easier, that is a worth-while investment.

Filed under: Uncategorized on June 22nd, 2009 | 2 Comments »

As we approach Father’s Day weekend, we are reminded of the great and important role of fatherhood in our society. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 says, Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

In this passage God is challenging fathers to reflect the love and holiness of God to their families.  In many ways the great difficulties in our country today are an evidence of fathers who have neglected this spiritual duty. Here are a few ways fathers can help their children reach their potential for the Lord Jesus Christ.

God-loving example

Give them a God-loving example.  Deuteronomy 6:5 says, And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. I thank God for fathers who truly love the Lord and express their love by praying, giving and serving the Lord Jesus Christ. I heard of a scenario where young boys were debating whose father was the best. The discussion hi-lighted to who their fathers knew. The first boy started the debate by claiming his father knew the mayor. He was soon topped by the second boy who said, “That’s nothing, my dad knows the governor.” The stakes were getting pretty high, and the eavesdropping father wondered what his young son would say about him. The little boy shot back, “So what.  My dad knows God!” I wonder…would your son say the same thing?  May our children always be able to say that their dads know God.

Word-filled teacher

Besides providing a God-loving example, fathers need to be a “Word-filled” teacher.  Deuteronomy 6:6–7 commands us to instruct our children in the Word of God. Second Timothy 3:16–17 says, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Spirit-filled leader

Finally, each father must be a Spirit-filled leader.  In order to be Spirit-filled, a father must first be born again by the Spirit (John 3:6–7). A father then must be yielded to the Spirit in order that he may be filled, according to Ephesians 5:18. Also in Romans 8:6–8 the Bible says, For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. May we be fathers walking in the Spirit before our families in the coming days.

Let me encourage you to take time to encourage a dad who is walking faithfully with the Lord this weekend!

Filed under: Family Post on June 19th, 2009 | No Comments »

More and more people prefer to read blogs “on the go” through their mobile device. I am happy to announce that you can now view this blog in a mobile version through your mobile phone browser (designed for iPhone, Adroid, or iPod touch.) Simply type in the URL and the site will automatically detect your mobile device and adjust the site. If you prefer to view the site in it’s original form, scroll to the bottom and turn the mobile view off.

I pray that the posts you find here will continue to encourage and strengthen you in the Lord!

Filed under: Uncategorized on June 16th, 2009 | No Comments »