Category: From The Desk of Pastor Gene

I stood at my desk in the headquarters building about 16 years ago basking in good news. I just received a coveted Air Force assignment and was on my way to eventually commanding a squadron. The news was so good people were coming by my office and congratulating me. I thought to myself, all this...

As most of you know, I don’t get to sit and listen to a sermon on Sunday mornings much because I’m typically preaching. However, this past Sunday, following a week serving with youth at a World Changers project in Little Rock, I was able to worship with family in Russellville. As the preacher read the...

My mentor and friend, Mark Elliott, made a statement that will stick with me and is likely one I will repeat.  In a conversation about the death grip of status quo and resistance to change in many churches, Mark stated, “I’ve visited several churches over the years and if the 1970s return these churches are...

Since the church is the “bride of Christ,” how would Christ want us to treat her?  For that matter, how would Christ want His bride, the church, to treat him? Some people say, “I believe in Jesus, but I don’t care much for the church.”  Others claim, “I can be a good Christian without any...

There are numerous churches all across America of various sizes, styles, and visions with variations of primary doctrine. These churches consider themselves evangelical, orthodox, mainline protestant or catholic. However, regardless of the traditions and denominations of these churches, there seems to be something missing in the broader spectrum.  There seems to be “The Great Omission.”...

If you played football for my high school coach, you did “whatever it takes” to win.  “Whatever it takes” ranged from strength and conditioning, studying the playbook, learning the fundamentals of your position, doing well in class, adhering to a standard of conduct, attending practice and team meetings to putting it all together on the...

In most cases, as Christians, we know what we should be doing.  It is clear from the mouth of Jesus that our mandate is to “make disciples.” With that said, even though most of know what we need to do, many of us struggle with how to do it. And, surprisingly, even many pastors are...

There has been innumerable arguments and controversy over the concept of the tithe over the history of the New Testament Church.  Here are just a few things that have been said over the years, and some are still parroting these arguments today:  The tithe is purely an Old Testament concept There isn’t a command in...

Have you ever thought about the difference between a volunteer and a servant?  The word “volunteer” is very common in every community.  People generally volunteer at the local school, hospital, soup kitchen or mission.  But when you hear the word “servant” it has an association with lowly humility or slave so we resist any association. ...