Standing by the hospital bed of my friend, I watched his cancer-ridden frame gasp his final breathe. It was over. His lifeless body was motionless. I stood still with my friend's family, our hands clasped, fully encircling the bed. Not a word, not a whisper, until softly, slowly, my friend's family began to sing. In perfect harmony... Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind but now I see. "Twas grace that

Happy Thanksgiving … the day we imagine pilgrims celebrating a bountiful harvest in the new American homeland … the day we watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade followed by non-stop football … the day we gluttonously consume turkey and cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.    Might we take a few minutes to reflect on the goodness, greatness, and graciousness of God…   Great is thy faithfulness, O God, my Father; There is no shadow of turning with thee. Thou

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,Count your many blessings, name them one by one,And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. Count your blessings, name them one by one;Count your blessings, see what God hath done;Count your blessings, name them one by one,And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.   I’m thankful for the cross and the empty grave, that Jesus paid the price for my doubts and denials and

The Psalmist sang with joyful thanksgiving because of God’s greatness and grace!   “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. For the Lord is good, and his faithful love endures forever; his faithfulness, through all generations” (Psalm 100:4–5). “Give thanks!”   “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart celebrates, and I give thanks to him with my song” (Psa

While Jesus had compassion for the Samaritan woman and encouraged her to worship “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24), He chastised the “Pharisees and scribes” (Matthew 15:1).   Quoting the Old Testament prophet (Isaiah 29:13), Jesus said: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines human commands” (Matthew 15:8–9).   The Samaritan woman, known to most of us as the “Woman at the Well,” was a despised h

I worship on Sundays at South Georgia Baptist Church. Maybe you worship somewhere else. Our church has a building with a large room especially equipped for our worship. Pulpit, piano, and pews… We call it the auditorium, the sanctuary, or the worship center.   Jesus had a discussion with a woman who was confused about the proper location for worship. “Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem” (John 4:20).   Ten cent

King David sinned a great sin! Crushed by guilt and shame, David cried to the Lord for forgiveness! “I waited patiently for the Lord, and he turned to me and heard my cry for help. He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God” (Psalm 40:1–3). Forgiven, transformed, made new, David sang a new song!   The early church sang new songs. Most likely, the ch

Moses, with God’s precise blueprints, built the Tabernacle as a dwelling place for God’s glorious presence in the Wilderness (Exodus 25-40). Again, with God’s detailed instructions, Solomon was tasked with building the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 3-5).    When Solomon’s construction project was complete, the Nation was invited to come near. Like a shining beacon of light on a hilltop, the Temple symbolized God’s greatness and glory, His magnificence and majesty,

Congregations worship. Families worship. Individuals worship.   Worship includes sacrifice, surrender, and service… giving, serving, praying, singing, listening.   Adam and Eve worshipped. Noah worshipped. King David worshipped. Peter and Paul worshipped. And the angels in Heaven worship.   South Georgia Baptist Church worships. So do sister churches around our town and around the world … in Africa, Europe, India, the Far East and the Middle East.   The first time that the wo

After wandering in the Wilderness for forty years, the nation of Israel crossed the Jordan and began the conquest of the Promised Land. Their famous first battle was at Jericho, where God miraculously toppled the walls and defeated the enemy. Their second battle, against the smaller, less fortified city of Ai, included sin, defeat, repentance, and finally, victory.   Before another battle, God led the nation to Shechem, situated between two bald hills, the place where Jacob h