An excellent spirit attracts people. When found in a young lady, it attracts a young man. When found in a dad, it attracts his children’s loyalty. When found in a wife, it attracts her husband’s heart. When found in a soulwinner, it attracts an unsaved person’s attention and time. When found in a church, it attracts repeat visitors. Simply put: an excellent spirit is attractive.

The prophet Daniel had such a spirit, and it even attracted a heathen king: “Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm” (Daniel 6:3).

How could we define an excellent spirit?

1. The spirit of humility

Humility is not a matter of thinking less of ourselves, but of thinking of others before ourselves. Humility recognizes the privilege of serving others, while pride tires of service and feels entitled to be served. (more…)

I wanted to take a moment today to thank our many friends who are praying and trusting God with us regarding the physical needs in our son Larry’s life as well as our spiritual need for God’s sustaining grace and power.

About a week before Thanksgiving, Larry was summoned to the hospital for an emergency surgery. After the initial surgery and further consultations and studies conducted, it was determined that Larry should have a second surgery. This surgery (RPLND) was conducted at Kaiser hospital in Los Angeles, California, in late December. Although Larry had some post-surgery complications with the condition on his ileum, we are thankful that God brought him through the surgery and has blessed him with healing since the surgery. (more…)

Nearly twenty-four years ago our family moved to Lancaster, California, to begin ministry at Lancaster Baptist Church. At that time, we had two children, Danielle and Larry, and God soon blessed us with two more children, Kristine and Matthew.

This past week, our youngest son, Matthew, was engaged to Katie Crockett of Redmond, Washington.

Matt and Katie have just begun their senior years here at West Coast Baptist College. Matthew is a church ministries major with a desire to pastor someday, and Katie is an elementary education major with a desire to teach and serve along side her husband.

Following family tradition, Matthew arranged a special place for his engagement to Katie, which was followed by a special dinner with our family members and the Crockett family who traveled from Seattle to join us for the occasion.

Terrie, our daughters Danielle and Kristine, and our daughter-in-law Ashley took Katie on what she thought was simply a trip to have a special lunch time together. Instead they brought her to a conference room where Matthew was waiting with a video that chronicled the last few years of their dating experiences. At the end of the video Matthew brought Katie outside where he proposed to her on a beautiful Southern California coastal bluff.

Katie’s family serve the Lord in an independent Baptist church where Katie’s father serves as a deacon. Katie attended public school in Seattle, and her life was significantly influenced by a missions trip to Africa with her grandfather, Brother Gary Williams, who pastored for many years in Missouri.  Later, her youth pastor, Bro. Sam Green (a 2003 graduate of West Coast Baptist College) brought Katie and her youth group on a trip to the college.

Soon after meeting here at West Coast, Katie and Matthew began dating. It has been a joy to watch them grow and develop a heart for God and a desire to serve Him.

Matthew currently preaches at our Fontana chapel ministry on Wednesday nights and has recently concluded expository studies with them in Philippians and Ruth. The chapel is located about 10 minutes from the Ontario airport, and the folks in the midweek study are enjoying the ministry provided by Matt and the team of young men from the college.

Third John 4 says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

By the grace of God, we have seen three of our children honor the Lord through their teen years and then marry godly spouses. Each of them now serve the Lord in full time ministry.

We covet your prayers for Matthew and Katie as they continue to develop a relationship in Christ. Pray that our Lord will direct and guide their paths as they make plans to give their lives to the Lord in full time ministry.

The music program in the local church is vital, and it’s impact—for good or bad—on a church service is immeasurable. While some may view music as simply a form of entertainment and emotional conditioning, godly music plays a much larger role in a church.

Scripture gives at least seven purposes for Christ-honoring music. Use these principles as a gauge to evaluate the biblical soundness of your music ministry:

1. The Purpose of Worship—“And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished” (2 Chronicles 29:28).
2. The Purpose of Thanks—“Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God” (Psalm 147:7).
3. The Purpose of Rejoicing—“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm” (Psalm 98:4–5).
4. The Purpose of Consecration—“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts” (Psalm 139:23). (Spoken in song!) “Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation” (Psalm 111:1).
5. The Purpose of Edification—“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16).
6. The Purpose of Evangelism—“And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:3).
7. The Purpose of Preservation of Faith—“One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works” (Psalm 145:4–5).

May the music of our churches bring glory to the Lord and lift our hearts in His praise.

Note: West Coast Baptist College is hosting Bible Truth Music’s National Church Leadership Conference this week, February 10–12. This is a preaching and teaching conference focused on the biblical principles that apply to music. It is primarily aimed at the pastor and all music ministry leadership.

In several days the Olympics will begin in Vancouver, British Columbia. Athletes from around the world will compete in various winter sports, each seeking a gold medal.

Throughout Scripture, the Christian life is often compared to athletic events, giving us insights into how we can finish our race with joy. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13–14).

Allow me to share a few thoughts with you that I have been pondering this morning about the race the Lord has given me to run:

1. I must continuously look to Jesus as my goal.

In the Christian race, my main objective must never be the approval of men, keeping godly standards, or following a particular creed. While the encouragement of fellow Christians is a blessing, and biblical standards and creeds are needed, these are simply meant to be landmarks guiding me along my way to pleasing Christ. (more…)