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They arrive in my email INBOX almost every week. A desperate cry for help from a person in deep despair, like the one I received two weeks ago (Please note – I have been given permission to share this email message). “Michael, what do I do? I wasn’t raised this way. I have made a total mess of my life. My aim in life has been fun and excitement but that has led me to problems. Bad decisions upon bad…

We all have them. I have one on the underside of my arm as a box cutter slipped one day while I was working in a grocery store as a teen and I sliced open my arm. I have another one on my upper arm as proof of a childhood vaccination. Just two weeks ago, while recording a video lesson, I gained a new one as I took a wrong step leaving the podium area and fell in the auditorium…

Our 40 DAYS OF PRAYER officially ended this past Friday. Over the last few days, I have heard back from many people regarding this united effort of Christians around the world. From Kenya, “Thanks to the 70 West church for spearheading this effort. Our church here has been involved. We have seen faith grow. We have seen better cooperation. We have felt good about doing this with you.” From the Philippines, “40 DAYS OF PRAYER has helped me become dependent…

I can’t remember having feelings like these from just reading an email from a stranger. The email was from a Christian woman dealing with a very real problem. I read her question and her problem struck a nerve. The words on the computer screen gripped me. The emotions flooded my mind. I was immediately drawn in and like Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus, I wept. Why was I crying? I was experiencing empathy for this woman I only knew…

As I write this article another terrible hurricane has struck our nation’s coast and remnants of the storm are approaching southern Arkansas. Storms happen as our weather changes seasons. Storms also happen in life. It may be the fearful words from a doctor concerning a diagnosis, marital unhappiness expressed by a spouse, getting the ‘pink-slip’ at work, family issues that rear its ugly head, or one of the hundreds of problems each one of us can face in life. What…

This world has amazing transformations around us constantly. We see caterpillars change into butterflies. We see tadpoles change into frogs. We see leave change color. We see our children grow from babies into adults. When we see these changes many times we don’t even give them a second glance. We are so accustomed to seeing these changes. Change is a good thing. We, however, do see change when a person obeys the Gospel. Notice how Paul was inspired by God…

Saturday was my anniversary. You might say, “But Michael, I thought you celebrated your anniversary a couple of weeks ago.” Well, that was my wedding anniversary. I’m talking about a different anniversary. Saturday was the 3rd anniversary of my FIRST WORKDAY here at 70 West. I remember the day so well. Danny Vaughn met me the prior day and helped me get set up in a temporary apartment. That first workday was filled with getting my office arranged and going…

It has been very well said throughout the years that sin will take you further than you ever wanted to go. Sin will keep you longer than you ever intended to stay. Sin will cost you more than you ever wanted to pay. Sin will require of you more than you ever wanted to give. In our modern culture, the word sin is rarely, if ever, used. However, God’s Word speaks plainly to the idea of sin. Sin is the…

Growing up on the farm, Sunday dinner (city people call it lunch) was always a treat. Mom threw out all stops as the table was overflowing with homemade dishes she had cooked during the early morning hours before we left for worship services. I called Sunday dinner FEAST DAY, as my entire family gathered at our house after worship service for this grand meal.  Today is the kickoff for our SPIRITUAL FEAST DAYS as our elders have lined up a…

This has been a strange and weird time for everyone, especially our young groups. We all have gotten very comfortable with summer fun, weeks of camp, VBS and evangelistic efforts to other states. When the pandemic of COVID 19 hit our nation and the subsequent quarantine, everything changed. It is important to live after the following motto: “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!”  Under this motto, we reinvented the wheel. Every Tuesday morning for the past two months, we…

II Kings 6:15-17 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord…

This past week I was recording the MANNA IN THE MORNING classes that will run just after our upcoming ‘Virtual PTP: God’s Vision for Hot Springs’ and the text was the last chapters of Acts.  Acts 26:25-27 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things…