“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42 (NIV) What makes a true community? People use the word community to describe all sorts of social groups. But what constitutes a “true” (real, authentic, fully realized) community? If we are born into the
Author: Gary Combs
A great generation passes
“This is the generation of them that seek Him…” Psalm 24:6 (KJV) My wife’s father, Garmon Whitfield Conner, passed away this past Wednesday. He died suddenly of a heart attack. Our family is in shock. As I sit in a Roanoke hotel room writing this entry, I can’t help but think about how much I’ll not
Multi-core processors and multi-tasking minds
“Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,but only one thing is needed. Mary has
Doing the little things
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:23 (NIV) This past Monday I helped facilitate a new peer learning group for ministry leaders in the Fayetteville area with the
Time to relax or risk?
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”Esther 4:14 (NIV) After turning 50 this summer I’ve been thinking that
Praising God for a spiritual legacy
I was privileged to present a plaque to Willow Branch Baptist Church this past Sunday on behalf of my family. The little church, nestled in the Appalachian mountains of Virginia, is framed by a creek on one side and a gravel road on the other. Traveling out to the church is to experience a kind of
What Jesus builds when we have faith
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter,
Turns out I’m a Momma’s boy
“Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband–how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly
Every boy’s dream
“The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” Judges 6:12 (NLT) When I was a little boy I used to dream of being a great hero. I would daydream that someone broke into the house and I had to save my my mom and siblings from
A passion for mentoring
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” 2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV) “Can you speak to our Kiwanis Club meeting this Thursday?” A friend of our ministry phoned to ask. Normally, I’d say no to this kind of