Paul W. Powell Legacy Library

In a few short years, we have gained a material abundance in America that surpasses anyone in history, yet we have become among the most lawless and violent nations among free people. Our cities are torn by riots and violence. Thousands are killed, thousands more injured, and property losses approach billions of dollars. Leaders around the world have long been calling...

Traditionally in the United States a quarter of all personal spending takes place during the Christmas shopping season. While many look with delight on this as an indication of a booming economy, there is another Christmas "tradition" that reflects our sagging morality: shoplifting generally rises about 5 to 10 percent during the holiday season. Retail authoritie...

The Bible has a great deal to say about money, and most of these teachings are in the form of warnings. The Lord realized that our interest in and weakness for material things would make it a constant danger to us. Nowhere in the Bible are the rich denounced merely for being rich. But repeatedly we are warned of the difficulty of being both rich and spiritual. In fac...

There are many people who see no need of going to church. They say, “I can be just as good a Christian by staying home, so why attend? This question deserves an answer and I have it.  First: We should go to church to worship God. This is by far is the most important reason for church attendance. We do not go to church just to hear a sermon or to see o...

The Bible assumes that God will be a part of every marriage. In most instances a man needs a wife for love and companionship. Ordinarily a wife needs a husband. But both of them need God. That’s why prayer is such an essential part of a good marriage. The apostle Peter recognizes this when he urges husbands and wives to live together in a harmonious relationshi...

In the old days sex was shrouded with three fears: the fear of conception, the fear of infection, and the fear of detection. Today those fears are largely gone. The pill and other contraceptives have greatly lessened the fear of conception. Antibiotics have greatly lessened the fear of infection, and the automobile has greatly lessened the fear of detection. With the...

One of the most serious problems facing our nation today is that of drug and alcohol use. Millions of Americans struggle with substance addictions. However the number of Americans who undergo treatment is not nearly as high as the number of those facing the problem.  There is confusion about drugs in most people’s minds. Therefore I want to share the reaso...

I loved the 2010 movie “True Grit.” For one thing, I liked the music, “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.” But the main reason was the acting of then fourteen-year-old Hailee Steinfeld who played the part of Mattie Ross. When they started filming, Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon used a lot of curse words. So, little Hailee started a “bad boy ja...

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...