Paul W. Powell Legacy Library

Running can be good for you—both physically and spiritually. The apostle Paul expresses this truth when he wrote to Timothy, “Flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness” (1 Timothy 6:11). The word flee means “to run away from.” The word follow means “to run swiftly af...

A survey conducted several years ago revealed that the average person speaks about 18,000 words a day—enough to fill 54 pages of a book. In a year’s time this would be enough words to fill 66 books 600 pages long! Since speech is such a vital part of our lives you might assume that God is concerned about its proper use. He most certainly is! Christianity...

Troubles take many forms in our lives. Sometimes they take the form of illness or death. Sometimes they take the form of financial losses or disappointments. Whatever their form, troubles do come and it's our attitude toward them that is most important. Trouble can make us bitter or better, depending on our attitude. How are we to react to problems? I offer thre...

Christians are not to hide their light. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). He commanded us to live in open goodness and service. We are not to be secret disciples. We are to stand up and speak up for God and for good. However, the Bible also warns...

Smiley Blanton, a Christian psychiatrist who helped pioneer better relationships between Christianity and psychiatry, said that one day a patient visited his office and saw a Bible on his desk. She asked, “Do you, a psychiatrist, read the Bible?” He said, “I not only read it, I study it. The Bible is the greatest textbook on human behavior ever put t...

Here is a typical day for any pastor in America today. Received a telephone call from a young lady who recently married outside of her faith. She is now having trouble from both sides of the family.  Worked on a funeral sermon for a dear friend who passed away. Visited with a young couple. They are new here in town. She is lonely. Her parents live in a distant...

Most things in life tend to tarnish. Silver must be polished; the thrill of wearing a new hat soon fades; a job that at first enthralled us soon becomes monotonous. Marriage is no exception. It too tends to tarnish unless care is taken to keep it glowing. Many couples enter into marriage with great expectations. But their dreams soon fade into disappointments and unh...

One day a tall middle-aged man pushed his way through the Christmas crowd and asked a clerk for a compass. She led him to the counter displaying mechanical drawing sets and laid out several instruments. “Oh, I don’t want one that draws circles,” the customer protested. “I want a compass that gives directions.” “Sorry,” came...

In the old Amos ’n’ Andy show on radio, Amos once asked the Kingfish why he had such good judgment. “Well,” said the Kingfish, “good judgment comes from experience.” “Then, where does experience come from?” asked Amos. “From bad judgment.” Good leaders learn from their own mistakes and from the mistakes of...