It’s now the 2011-version of this great cultural phenomenon, so I feel compelled to re-visit this wonderful subject, to re-share my thoughts, and to re-affirm my accolades for all those involved right now. Read More»

First, I promise Father Paul that I will not continue to “steal” his format of questions and answers which he uses for his most excellent articles here in The Citizen. Read More»

If you’ve read any of my articles here in the Citizen or if you know me and my ministry at all, you know that I strongly believe marriage is “God’s idea” and that His sole intention, specifically declared in Scripture, is for marriage to be the life-long union of one man and one woman. And I believe that marriage and family are still the backbone of our country and our society. I believe that we in the church need to help people in their marriage in the beginning and throughout the years. I believe that marriage is wonderful and exciting and fun. Read More»

The following is a direct quote from an article entitled “God Bless America, Land That I Love” by Richard K. Hayes at www.katesmith.org. It has a wealth of wonderful information.

“Today’s younger generations may not be familiar with the origin and history of the song Irving Berlin considered his most important composition. It was written during the First World War, for an army camp show where Berlin was stationed: Camp Yaphank on Long Island. The show’s producers rejected it as too jingoistic, so Berlin placed it in a trunk of rejected manuscripts. Read More»

“What are you going to do this summer?” When someone asks you this, I have some suggestions for your answer. Tell them this:

• “I’m going to dedicate myself to worship.” Read More»

(Recent reports of increased child/youth suicides prompt this information again.)

“Pastor, can a person who commits suicide go to heaven? Or is this an unforgivable sin?” The inquiring voice of the teen on the phone needed the answer.

And not just the sweet, “Now, now, there, there, don’t worry your little head, everything will be alright,” answer. Read More»

This is the third and last installment of this series of articles entitled “The Manhattan Declaration.” I ask still a third time what in the world could a declaration by that name have to do with those of us living here on the south side of Atlanta? Well, it simply bears the name of the place in New York where a gathering of well known and respected national Christian leaders met a year ago last November to make an important and historic faith declaration, much like the governmental declaration that was made in Philadelphia in 1776. Read More»

I write today about Spring Training. But, no, not the baseball kind. The Spiritual kind. Yes, we do actually need a good Spring Training for our spiritual lives, just as the baseball players need a good Spring Training to learn the game all over again and get themselves ready for another long and successful season. We need a good Spiritual Spring Training to get ourselves ready again for a long and successful Spiritual experience in this life and our life for eternity. Read More»

I ask again what in the world could a declaration by that name have to do with those of us living here on the south side of Atlanta? Well, it simply bears the name of the place in New York where a gathering of well known and respected national Christian leaders met a year ago last November to make an important and historic faith declaration, much like the governmental declaration that was made in Philadelphia in 1776. Read More»

“Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright, ‘round yon virgin mother and child. Holy infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.”

Each face is aglow in the amber ring of candlelight. Each set of eyes twinkles with the flicker of the small flame. Each heart is full and warm with the message of peace on earth. Each family is brought closer to God and closer to one another as they stand together in almost perfect union. It’s one of the best moments of the year, one of the best memories of a lifetime.

It’s the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. Read More»