Paul W. Powell Legacy Library

Who wants to be average? The person who is average is either the sorriest of the best or the best of the sorriest. Too many people are content to be just average. We too readily allow the world to level us down to the same plane. It is a part of the purpose and work of Jesus Christ to help people rise above the average. Jesus helps people rise above the average in th...

Many years ago when the Baltimore Ravens were the Baltimore Colts I saw them play the Houston Oilers in a thrilling exhibition game. The score seesawed back and forth until, with one minute and 15 seconds left to play, the Oilers got the ball and methodically moved down the field to score and go ahead. Only 30 seconds were left when they kicked off and it looked as if...

All too often the newspapers tell us of some terrible crime that has been committed. What causes a person to do such a thing? While no man can know the heart of another, part of the answer must lie in the Bible truth: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Any student of psychology knows that habitual thinking along a certain line wil...

We have accumulated enough knowledge to conquer outer space and the computer chip, but we lack the wisdom to govern our inner selves. What we are desperately lacking today is not technical know-how but moral and spiritual want-to. Where can we get the true wisdom we need for living in today’s world? The Bible says in James that God will give us the wisdom we se...

Christian author Jill Briscoe tells of going into a child’s room once and seeing a poster on the wall showing a little boy after a football match. At the top it said, “I quit.” And the little boy's body language was saying it all, sitting dejected and alone on the bench. But on the bottom of the poster was a cross and in little letters it said, &ldqu...

When you get where you are going, where will you be? Every life needs a goal. Much of the boredom and unhappiness in life can be traced to a lack of purpose for living. This New Year is an excellent time for you to stop and examine your own goals in life and perhaps reset some of them. The only goal worthy of your highest and best is to do the will of God. Many great...

3 Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? 5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none...

Luke 14:16-24 6 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excus...

7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. 8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: 9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation w...