Each December our Christian school performs a Christmas play. This year’s presentation is at 7:00 tonight—”We Worship Him.” Parents, grandparents, and family friends come to watch the children’s production. From before the play begins until the last child in costume exits the stage, one can feel the enjoyment of the audience.

But the play really begins long before the audience arrives. Months before the performance, teachers have begun the work of preparing for the play—writing the script, selecting the cast, practicing with the choir, constructing the costumes, and preparing the props.

With far greater precision than the most elaborate school production, God meticulously and precisely prepared and set the stage for the birth of Christ. From eternity past this event was planned. Prophets foretold it; Old Testament saints watched for it; and God’s people longed for it. (more…)

My new grandson, Camden, has reminded me just how much a baby changes things. This one little person has the incredible ability to change the schedule, plans, and budget of every adult in our family. And he doesn’t even realize the stir he has created!

Every mother can attest to the changes a baby brings, but when that baby is the Son of God, He changes everything! This evening and Sunday evening our church choir, orchestra, and drama team will present the musical “A Baby Changes Everything.” Watch it via livestream at http://www.lancasterbaptist.org/live.asp—6:00 pacific time. Please pray for the many visitors who are coming from our community to see this presentation on the birth of Christ. Pray they will respond to the Gospel and allow the Lord Jesus to change everything in their lives—especially their eternity!

On Saturday, we said goodbye to a very dear friend and a wonderful example of a godly Christian husband and father. Brother Bob Lane lived a life of dedicated service to his country and to His Lord. He was married to the love of his life, Joyce, for sixty years. He served our country in World War II, and he raised his family to live for Jesus Christ. For the past twenty years, he has been a faithful member of Lancaster Baptist Church and a friend and encourager to me.

Brother Lane was in church for every service, and after each service he would come by for a moment, shake my hand, and give me a word of encouragement. He always had something good to say, and his life abundantly exhibited the joy of Jesus Christ.

What an honor it was to preside at his homegoing service and to see his memory and his family honored for his military service. (See photo gallery for a few more photos.) Brother Bob Lane will be missed by all who knew him, and I look forward to seeing him again someday in Heaven.

This past Sunday, we conducted our annual Open House Sunday at Lancaster Baptist Church. (See new photos in gallery at right.) Over the course of a year, we have three or four special days that are designed for the specific purpose of reaching out into our community and reaching souls for the Saviour. These days often require some sacrifices in order to fulfill the mission; however, at the end of the day, the sacrifices always pale in comparison to the spiritual fruit they produce.

There are at least seven ways in which I have observed our church family engage to reach the lost on these days: (more…)

Ten years ago this week, Los Angeles Baptist Church opened its doors to the inner-city of downtown Los Angeles. And yesterday evening, I had the privilege of preaching for the church’s tenth anniversary celebration. As I looked around at the faces of joyful, growing Christians in this young church, I praised the Lord for the opportunity Lancaster Baptist had in planting this church.

Several years ago, some of our young men at West Coast Baptist college asked if they could begin door-to-door soulwinning in Los Angeles, a city of 3.5 million people that, at that time, had only one independent Baptist church. After months of faithful, weekly soulwinning by these students and many Lancaster Baptist members, a deacon in our church approached me about organizing and pastoring a church in this area. (more…)