SERIES ON SECOND COMING BEGINS THIS WEDNESDAY
I begin a series of three lessons on the Second Coming of Christ at the Hikes Point Christian Church this Wednesday night. Services begin at 6:30 and the series will continue on April 2 and 9. I enjoy going back to our first church building at 2601 Hikes Lane, a place where I preached for twenty years.
I titled this series, “11:59” because I believe we are nearing the midnight hour on God’s timetable. While no one knows the day nor the hour we can be confident we are living in the season of the Lord’s return. Why else would Scripture instruct us to encourage one another, “…and all the more as you see the day approaching”? If you are in the Louisville area, I would love to see you there.
AN IDEA FOR YOUR PERSONAL DEVOTIONS
Shortly after I retired from Southeast Christian, I teamed up with Standard Publishing Company to provide a series of Bible studies through the book of Genesis. The DVD’s were designed for use in small groups. There are 24 lessons in all and each lesson is about 30 minutes in length. I’ve received numerous encouraging comments from believers that have used them from across the country.
This past week I purchased the remaining inventory from Standard Publishing Company. It’s a sizeable inventory and the DVD’s will do no one any good sitting in a storeroom. So, now that the DVD’s belong to Bob Russell Ministries we are dramatically cutting costs and trying to make them available for individual use. The original cost was $19.99 for each of the four DVD’s (six lessons on each). Very soon, we will have them available for $5 each.
This may be a good way to experience a change-of-pace in your daily quiet time. Open your Bible to Genesis and slip a DVD into your computer and follow along for the study through the first book in the Bible. If it’s helpful, share your DVD with others you know. This was not intended to be an in-depth study but my original purpose was to help average believers become familiar with the content and relevance of the book of Genesis.
Be watching for an announcement when those are available at the reduced price.
NEW “ACTS OF GOD” BOOK SIGNING
Next week Moody Press is releasing a new book I’ve written called, “Acts of God.” I wrote it in conjunction with the movie of the same title. The book deals with the difficult question, “Why does God permit so much pain in the world?” and uses the life of Joseph as the basis for discussion.
Next Sunday, March 31, I’m scheduled to be in The Living Word bookstore at Southeast Christian before and after the services to sign books. Hope to see you there.
KEEPING BASKETBALL IN PERSPECTIVE
Like most people, I get excited about basketball this time of year. If I’m not careful it can become too important to me. Last year I published ten signs that suggest maybe basketball is becoming too important.
1. When you become uncharacteristically profane.
2. When it threatens friendships.
3. When it negatively affects your personality for days.
4. When it’s your primary topic of conversation for months.
5. When you miss church because of it.
6. When you spend more money on tickets and trips to basketball games than you give to benevolence.
7. When it makes you so nervous that your heart pounds and threatens your health.
8. When you boldly proclaim your loyalty to a team but are too cowardly to ever say a word about Jesus.
9. When basketball games take precedent over more important matters.
10. The Final four weekend becomes more important than Easter Sunday.
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,..”
Enjoy the games. Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.
