Paul W. Powell Legacy Library

In his interesting little book on Christian fundamentals, This I Believe, Louis L. Austin writes: “The Lord gave us two hands. One to hold to him, the other to our fellow man.” Two-handed religion. Loving God with heart and mind and soul—loving your neighbor as yourself. They go together and you cannot separate the two. Love is not mere sentiment and...

Showing respect of persons is one of the oldest sins in the world. It means to respect one person over another person. It means to accept or reject a person on the basis of some outward standard such as race, wealth, education, or position in life. The Bible warns, “But if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors&r...

2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: 3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Introduction In an episode of All in the Family, Archie and Edith were having a recommitment ceremony to celebrate their wedding anniversary. In the service Edith said, “I, Edith, take you Arch...

Learning that one has a terminal illness is about the most shocking experience a person can have. Former Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey said, “The worst and most shattering day of my life was the day I learned I had cancer.” Life was never intended to be lived as a solo but as a chorus. We must therefore stand ready to help one another through these di...

One of the most important things in building a good marriage is to keep yourself attractive. When I say that, most people immediately think in terms of physical attractiveness. They think of keeping their body in good shape, their hair neatly fixed, and wearing beautiful clothes. However, I am talking about keeping yourself inwardly attractive. The Bible tells us tha...

How do we serve God? Once when Jesus was talking about feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, visiting the sick, and helping those in trouble he said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40). We serve God by helping other people. Feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, and visiting th...

Ethel Waters, the beloved America gospel singer, was converted at the age of 12. Then due to some unfortunate circumstances in her life she did not stay in the church or close to the Lord for many years. She was 61 years old before she came back to him. She renewed her relationship to the Lord at a Billy Graham crusade in 1957. She said concerning that experience, &ld...

I once read an address delivered by Dr. Douglas Freeman at the dedication of the library at the University of Florida. Dr. Freeman was for many years the editor of the Richmond News Leader and the author of a Pulitzer Prize–winning biography of Robert E. Lee. At the close of his address he made a rather startling observation that the most important thing ab...

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...