40 Years Ago

Almost forty years ago, a man named Keith sat with me on a curb in Bakersfield, California and explained the grace of God to me. I took Christ at His word, believed in Him, and received Him as my Savior.

A few years ago, Judy and I reconnected with another couple from those Jesus Movement years in Bakersfield. Like Judy and me, Keith had touched their lives for Christ.

Since then, Judy and I have raised a Christian family and pastored three churches. God has privileged us with opportunity to equip many saints who have had worldwide impact for the Lord Jesus. The scope of our friends’ service for the Lord Jesus is enormous. Millions have been introduced to the grace of God through their ministry.

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Battling the Blues?

I know Christians who never seem to get down, feel depressed or battle the blues.

I’m not one of them.

Neither is one of my best friends. Like me, Kevin is almost always ready to wander into the shadowy world of melancholy. Whenever his wife sees him slipping into the abyss of despair, she asks him, ”Kevin, are you getting depressed?”

His answer is classic: “No, but I’m thinking about it.”

That’s just how it is, isn’t it? Life seems overwhelming, we’re worn out, everything seems meaningless, and we start “thinking about” getting depressed.

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