Paul W. Powell Legacy Library

Trouble knocks a lot of nonsense out of us. It often knocks us off our high-horse and onto our knees. It's then that it reminds us of our need of God.   The instructions on some medicine bottles say, “shake well before using.” That’s what God has to do to us sometimes. He shakes us to make us usable.   American novelist Thornton...

A man once asked the Lord, “How long do I have to live?” He answered, “Long enough to make a difference.” Here are some lessons that will help us make a difference: Life starts and ends with God. Establish priorities to do the important things first. Don’t give your best to life’s second best. Give your best to God. &nb...

A San Francisco psychiatrist once made an interesting observation about the young ladies who followed Charles Manson, the convicted orchestrator of the murder of Sharon Tate. He said, “Most of Charlie’s girls were hysteric, wishful thinkers, seeking after some absolute.” I think much of the turmoil and confusion of our age is due to the fact that pe...

The old proverb says, “It’s an ill wind that blows no good.”  When the storm winds of life blow your way, when trouble comes, when you experience suffering, look for the good in all of it. It is not always easy to see, of course. When Winston Churchill, the man who led England safely through World War II, was then defeated in the election of 19...

I wrote this piece on the day that my wife and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. As you could guess, in our 25 years we’ve had many ups and downs, joys and sorrows, victories and defeats, but all in all, for me, it has been a confirmation of the scripture, “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtaineth favour of the Lord” (Proverbs...

It is a disquieting thought, said Charles Dickens, to do anything for the last time. I love the story from Fred Smith’s book, You and Your Network. He writes, “A young preacher in his first pastorate in a small northern mill town was talking for his first time with the mill owner, who said, ‘Young man, you have not seen me in church and you...

Years ago a man called our church office wanting me to do the wedding of his daughter.  When he found out I was going to be on vacation that week he said, “Why do preachers need a vacation? The devil never takes one.” I thought to myself, “If I didn’t take a vacation every once in a while I’d be as mean as the devil.” &nb...

One more word about suicide, for it is as prevalent today among the young and the old as any other ill. Suicide is in many ways the most tragic form of death. It usually entails more shock and grief for those who are left behind than any other. And it leaves us with many questions. However, the Bible can address the matter with three truths.  The practice of sui...

When Billy Curry was drafted by the Green Bay Packers it was the fulfillment of a lifetime dream. He had always wanted to play for the famed coach Vince Lombardi. At the first training camp Lombardi said to the players, “Men, around here, our priorities are three and in this order:  God, family, and the Green Bay Packers.”  Then, Curry remembers,...