Paul W. Powell Legacy Library

Newscaster Lowell Thomas (1892-1981) told how early in his life his father moved his family to Cripple Creek, Colorado, during the gold rush days. That western town, like many mining communities, was a wild and wicked place. In fact, Thomas made a telling comment when he said, “In this wide open atmosphere, I soon felt right at home with sin.” Many Ch...

In 1960 the country of Surinam had only one entry in the Olympics. For four years their athlete had trained for the 800-meter run. He was entered in the trial heat. He didn’t win. In fact, he didn’t even run. He slept through the event. Think of it! He slept through the most important event of his life. Christians are in danger of letting something like 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...

I talked with a businessman this past week who made an investment some time ago. At the present time, he is getting back every month as much as his original investment. Do you know what he said to me? He said, “I wish I had been able to put more into it.” If you ever look at life as the kind of investment that brings back to you according to what you put i...

There was a time when I thought that all churches wanted to grow. In fact, I had grown up in a church that was progressive and dynamic. I thought that my church was typical of all churches. Then I went to be the pastor of a church. I was meeting one night with the long-range planning committee, and we were discussing a new building. I said to that committee, “Me...

One man said concerning his wife, “My wife has a terrible memory. She never forgets anything.” Another one said, “Every time we argue my wife gets historical.” His friend said, “No, you mean hysterical.” He said, “No, historical. She always brings up the past.” Learning how to forget is important in getting on with being...

Maybe I’ve shared with you the experience of one of the greatest football coaches I’ve ever known. He was the athletic director at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, where I pastored, and he was a small college Bear Bryant. He had the kind of record, disposition, and reputation that Bear Bryant had. Most everybody was afraid of him. But he cam...

Paul said to the church at Thessalonica, “Quench not the Spirit.” That word quench means “to put out.” Some of you worked in the yard yesterday like I did. You were watering the yard and wanted to move the water hose from one flowerbed to another. You didn’t want to go back to the house and cut the water off at the faucet, so you just que...

Have you heard about the country preacher who went to a conference in the city one time? He heard all the preachers talking about lethargy and procrastination. He didn’t really understand what the words meant, but they sounded good. He went back to his own church the next Sunday and he preached about lethargy and procrastination. When he finished, one of his de...